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Post by sasha21 on Nov 18, 2015 21:50:51 GMT -5
Looking forward to the nebraska match. ?
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Post by battlebot on Nov 18, 2015 21:51:59 GMT -5
What do YOU think? 1) B10 WVB is just so competitive no one can win ‘em all. 2) The refs are blind and prejudiced. 3) Magen hasn’t been the same since her injury. 4) Just plain bad luck. OR This team is good, but not great, talented, but sloppy, distracted, and very beatable. Their power/kill shots have disappeared. Long term, finesse shots are effective only as changeups, not as bread & butter. They’re out of system and confused a lot (just like their opponents used to be). I could not finish watching this match. Oh well. See yawl next season. Agree with Nyline on the top 4 answers. For the bottom portion, it seems PSU is sending over way too many free balls, because they cannot get into system, which is caused by poor serve-receive. That's it. The team is trying too hard to fix things and their play is not natural and flowing. It seems they are overthinking their movements. Although, I won't cash my coaching check until after our next win. Choices 1-4 were meant sarcastically. IN the second paragraph I meant only that maybe we have come to expect too much of our wonderful PSU WVB teams. Maybe the 2015 team is just good—period.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2015 21:52:44 GMT -5
I see those of you who were very optimistic after the Minn match are starting to come back to reality. This year's PSU team has clearly regressed, very perplexing. Not an effective combination on the court for some weeks now, they have gotten by against lesser teams but not against the better teams in the conference. Sad for the seniors to see their careers end like this. Very possibly two more losses by end of season, seeded down around 10-12 in the tournament. On the first point, I totally agree that this team has regressed, but it's not a talent problem as much as it is a mental breakdown somewhere. Don't know, I'd like to be a fly on coach Rose's office wall to hear what he's got to say. On the second point, actually, these seniors have won 2 National Championships during their tenure, so they cannot really complain about how their careers are ending. How many All-American seniors can say that in the last decade?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2015 21:54:37 GMT -5
Although, I won't cash my coaching check until after our next win.
That might be August of next year. They'll make it past the first 2 rounds of the tourney, not sure after that. Hopefully, they get an easy bracket, but it doesn't look likely.
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Post by happyvolley on Nov 18, 2015 21:56:36 GMT -5
Hi, everyone. First post after lurking for awhile.
In general: Penn State is its own worst enemy. Michigan played well--to their credit--but State should have had this match. They are flat out better, at least in theory (yikes). Seems like a classic case of young girls managing the pressure that comes along with playing for a big time program that's won back to back championships. We all expect another championship, and nothing less, every year. There are only a handful of college sports programs (singular sport, not school) across the country that has these types of expectations. Considering Bryanna was crying after the loss tonight, I think it's safe to say that this is at least part of the problem. It's a great issue to have until a team starts underperforming even slightly. Here's to hoping that they can regroup, but boy this was sad. It hurt watching the reaction to the loss. Almost like they didn't believe it was happening until it did.
Specifically tonight: I loved the way Penn State came out, but in hindsight it a seemed like they were too relaxed (not sure if that's the word because they were pretty hyped up). They really let up in that second set very quickly. Almost as if they didn't believe Michigan had it in them, but I think it'd be going too far to suggest they were arrogant enough to overlook a team that took them to 5 sets a month ago.
I've been holding off on posting for this reason: Keeton Holcomb. Not because she's struggled at times, but because of how much phishtrix she takes on this board and volleytalk. I realize that's it not anything personal towards the kid, but some of the criticism has been over the top at times. She didn't play great tonight--no Lion did--but she was not the problem. Considering she got the jersey stripped off of her last game (which can't be good for a young player's confidence), I thought she showed a lot of resiliency tonight. She had some good moments tonight; in particular, I thought she was much more consistent. Personally, I think it'd be good to keep a little perspective on her. Being thrust into such a significant role as a walk-on(?) can't be easy. Also considering that she's from such a small town and so far away from home. I went out of state for college too and it was tough that first semester. Can't even imagine what it would have been like to have the added pressure that comes with playing for Penn State. In that sense, I truly empathize with her and I wish her the absolute best. She definitely seems to have a different personality than a typical libero. Washington and others were trying to pump her up a few times tonight and Holcomb was having none of it, it was actually kind of funny. I'm not sure if Keeton is merely intense or is a little overwhelmed still. While I can certainly understand those who are writing her off for next year, I think it's a bit early for that. Who would've thought Keeton would have been able to come in and not look out of place (for the most part)? I don't think it's fair to write her off in the same way that I don't think it's fair to assume Kendall White will be an incredible improvement. Until a player comes in and actually sees Big 10 serves, you don't truly know how they will respond. It's a lot to put that on any kid right out of high school.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2015 21:59:53 GMT -5
Choices 1-4 were meant sarcastically. IN the second paragraph I meant only that maybe we have come to expect too much of our wonderful PSU WVB teams. Maybe the 2015 team is just good—period. I think the talent is there, with the exception of the libero. At this point, I think it's a mental breakdown. They're losing confidence as the season wears on, they seem unsure in their movements (not all but enough to affect play). Truth is, I said to myself last season that if PSU could win a 2nd consecutive NC in 2014, I would not hold them to high expectations this year, since it seemed to be a rebuilding year (new setter and libero); I'd give them a year off, so to speak.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2015 22:14:42 GMT -5
Hi, everyone. First post after lurking for awhile. In general: Penn State is its own worst enemy. Michigan played well--to their credit--but State should have had this match. They are flat out better, at least in theory (yikes). Seems like a classic case of young girls managing the pressure that comes along with playing for a big time program that's won back to back championships. We all expect another championship, and nothing less, every year. There are only a handful of college sports programs (singular sport, not school) across the country that has these types of expectations. Considering Bryanna was crying after the loss tonight, I think it's safe to say that this is at least part of the problem. It's a great issue to have until a team starts underperforming even slightly. Here's to hoping that they can regroup, but boy this was sad. It hurt watching the reaction to the loss. Almost like they didn't believe it was happening until it did. Specifically tonight: I loved the way Penn State came out, but in hindsight it a seemed like they were too relaxed (not sure if that's the word because they were pretty hyped up). They really let up in that second set very quickly. Almost as if they didn't believe Michigan had it in them, but I think it'd be going too far to suggest they were arrogant enough to overlook a team that took them to 5 sets a month ago. I've been holding off on posting for this reason: Keeton Holcomb. Not because she's struggled at times, but because of how much phishtrix she takes on this board and volleytalk. I realize that's it not anything personal towards the kid, but some of the criticism has been over the top at times. She didn't play great tonight--no Lion did--but she was not the problem. Considering she got the jersey stripped off of her last game (which can't be good for a young player's confidence), I thought she showed a lot of resiliency tonight. She had some good moments tonight; in particular, I thought she was much more consistent. Personally, I think it'd be good to keep a little perspective on her. Being thrust into such a significant role as a walk-on(?) can't be easy. Also considering that she's from such a small town and so far away from home. I went out of state for college too and it was tough that first semester. Can't even imagine what it would have been like to have the added pressure that comes with playing for Penn State. In that sense, I truly empathize with her and I wish her the absolute best. She definitely seems to have a different personality than a typical libero. Washington and others were trying to pump her up a few times tonight and Holcomb was having none of it, it was actually kind of funny. I'm not sure if Keeton is merely intense or is a little overwhelmed still. While I can certainly understand those who are writing her off for next year, I think it's a bit early for that. Who would've thought Keeton would have been able to come in and not look out of place (for the most part)? I don't think it's fair to write her off in the same way that I don't think it's fair to assume Kendall White will be an incredible improvement. Until a player comes in and actually sees Big 10 serves, you don't truly know how they will respond. It's a lot to put that on any kid right out of high school. Welcome to the forum. Regarding Holcomb, you're absolutely correct that one player doesn't deserve all the blame or recognition. VB is a team oriented game. Keeton has done a great job passing this year in the majority of matches and the fact that she joined PSU late, she gets my support (I think a "walk-on" means she didn't get a scholarship, so not sure about her being one). I can only see Holcomb getting better in the coming years, she has a lot of upside. Even if she loses her job next year, she will be a very viable option at DS, her passing is exceptional. Her only knock, as of late, is that she's gotten aced a few times (ball dropped right in front of her). However, the losses are a team problem and, at this point, I think are mental lapses like you stated, perhaps from the pressure of playing for a top notch program with high expectations. I think most posters are trying to figure out who and what to blame, and generally, are venting their frustrations. It hurts to watch your team lose. I really like the fact that there are people out there who are not ready to bail on their team or players. Looking forward to the end of the season, although, my expectations are dropping every week. Look forward to hearing more from you and other "lurkers" out there.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2015 22:17:50 GMT -5
And then there was one. Anyone out there... out there... out there... ( echo sound). Maybe we all feel awkward being so critical? There's not much good to be said, I can still think of more critical things to say, but I've said enough.
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Post by cross5 on Nov 18, 2015 22:19:27 GMT -5
A much needed change is coming.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2015 22:21:34 GMT -5
And then there was one. Anyone out there... out there... out there... ( echo sound). Maybe we all feel awkward being so critical? There's not much good to be said, I can still think of more critical things to say, but I've said enough. Yeah, I hear. I was trying to bring some humor into the discussion while waiting for more feedback.
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Post by bob2061 on Nov 18, 2015 22:22:43 GMT -5
I think we should be thankful for all the great years and championships we have had and to realize that we now have a new normal. Sometimes in life events happen so suddenly it catches everyone off-guard, this is clearly one of those events. The chances that Coach Rose will ever make it to another Final Four have evaporated right before our eyes. I hope I am wrong but as good as Kendall White is, she can only play the libero position. We have a few other positions that need lots of help.
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Post by nyline on Nov 18, 2015 22:25:31 GMT -5
Agree with Nyline on the top 4 answers. For the bottom portion, it seems PSU is sending over way too many free balls, because they cannot get into system, which is caused by poor serve-receive. That's it. The team is trying too hard to fix things and their play is not natural and flowing. It seems they are overthinking their movements. Although, I won't cash my coaching check until after our next win. Choices 1-4 were meant sarcastically. IN the second paragraph I meant only that maybe we have come to expect too much of our wonderful PSU WVB teams. Maybe the 2015 team is just good—period. I agree with you -- the team is, at least for now -- just good. I'm certain Coach Rose is not satisfied with that (and I doubt the players are either). One interesting thing -- this forum has more lurkers than normal. I suppose there are two things that attract internet viewers -- really cool good stuff, and really macabre bad stuff.
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Post by happyvolley on Nov 18, 2015 22:26:04 GMT -5
A much needed change is coming. Well, that's vague. (And a little ominous).
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2015 22:28:14 GMT -5
Signing off. Good night y'all. Look forward to reading all the overnight posts when I wake up tomorrow morning.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2015 22:29:31 GMT -5
I think we should be thankful for all the great years and championships we have had and to realize that we now have a new normal. Sometimes in life events happen so suddenly it catches everyone off-guard, this is clearly one of those events. The chances that Coach Rose will ever make it to another Final Four have evaporated right before our eyes. I hope I am wrong but as good as Kendall White is, she can only play the libero position. We have a few other positions that need lots of help. A sobering observation. Looking back, it shows how instrumental Hancock, Gonzalez, and Fuller were to PSU's success. They are the players that proved irreplaceable. I really miss them.
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