Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2015 15:42:08 GMT -5
Nebraska Rematch PreviewPenn State finishes the regular season this year at Nebraska, just like last year. Nebraska is currently ranked #5 in the AVCA coaches poll and their record is 25-4, 16-3. These two teams are very evenly matched in many statistical categories. In fact, NE may have a slight edge over the Lions. I have prepared a chart showing comparisons of the most significant statistical categories between the 2 teams. You'll notice that Nebraska has a slight advantage of 0.6 kills/set differentials difference. Also, there is a 0.4 aces/set differentials difference in NE's favor. PSU has a slight advantage over NE of 0.4 blocks/set differentials difference. Surprisingly, considering how many difficulties PSU has had in the back row this season, PSU is even with NE in the digs/set differentials difference. It is difficult to draw any conclusions as to who has the advantage, based on the stats, and who will ultimately win this match.  I have also prepared the sideout stats for each 2 team over their last 14 matches. You will notice that PSU is siding out at 64% to 52% for their opponents (difference of 12%) and NE is siding out at 67% to 54% for their opponents (difference of 13%). Again, the stats are not very telling as to who will win, as both teams are pretty evenly matched.   It seems to me that this match will come down to the individual brilliance of one or more players. Who will bring it? This match could also be dictated by which team will make less mistakes and errors. I have put together a chart of each teams' starter's stats in conference-only play. You will notice that, on average, PSU's starters have more efficient hitting percentage over the NE players.  Finally, you have to give Nebraska an edge because they are playing at home and in front of a raucous crowd (or maybe a not so raucous sea of red). Of course, Penn State will want to avenge their earlier loss to Nebraska at Rec Hall and will bring that energy and fire to fuel their desire to come out on top.
|
|
|
|
Post by nyline on Nov 27, 2015 16:24:39 GMT -5
Nebraska Rematch PreviewPenn State finishes the regular season this year at Nebraska, just like last year. Nebraska is currently ranked #5 in the AVCA coaches poll and their record is 25-4, 16-3. These two teams are very evenly matched in many statistical categories. In fact, NE may have a slight edge over the Lions. I have prepared a chart showing comparisons of the most significant statistical categories between the 2 teams. You'll notice that Nebraska has a slight advantage of 0.6 kills/set differentials difference. Also, there is a 0.4 aces/set differentials difference in NE's favor. PSU has a slight advantage over NE of 0.4 blocks/set differentials difference. Surprisingly, considering how many difficulties PSU has had in the back row this season, PSU is even with NE in the digs/set differentials difference. Although, I don't believe these stats are very telling as to how this match will play out. I have also prepared the sideout stats for each 2 team over their last 14 matches. You will notice that PSU is siding out at 64% to 52% for their opponents (difference of 12%) and NE is siding out at 67% to 54% for their opponents (difference of 13%). Again, the stats are not very telling, as both teams are pretty evenly matched. It seems to me that this match will come down to the individual brilliance of one or more players. Who will bring it? This match could also be dictated by which team will make less mistakes and errors. More coming later tonight - player comparisons. Great job, as always! |
|
|
|
Post by bob2061 on Nov 27, 2015 17:23:07 GMT -5
Well, I wish we were all a little more optimistic about winning this match, which will be the most important one so far this season. I believe in our players so I am predicting a victory though it may not be pretty. We Are!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by cross5 on Nov 27, 2015 17:27:27 GMT -5
For me, I just want them to play hard and compete well on the road, against an excellent team and in the state of Nebraska with this new lineup.
Win or lose is 2nd in concerned.
|
|
|
|
Post by nyline on Nov 27, 2015 18:45:16 GMT -5
For me, I just want them to play hard and compete well on the road, against an excellent team and in the state of Nebraska with this new lineup. Win or lose is 2nd in concerned. You nailed it. Every B1G coach would say it's tough to win on the road. It's how you play. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2015 6:15:45 GMT -5
You'll notice the only player missing is Novakovic. I wonder if she was the photographer. Isn't that here in the front of the left? I don't see Thelen so I'm guessing she is the photographer. No, that's Thelen in the front left. So Novakovic is not in the picture I'm with novalion, I think it's Novakovic in front left, Courtney is way in the back, Washington is looking to the Michigan match (which, apparently, she can see images of off to her left) and Thelen took the picture. Thelen is sitting next to Tori in the front, no question. Thelen is sitting next to Tori in the front, no question. It looks a little like Thelen but the face is to full and the hair to long. That is Novakovic in the front. I hope your comments are based on some inside info or educated guess. Not really, just the pic of her [Novakovic] on the bus.
You can click on either thumbnail photo to open a larger graphic.
 
Thelen and Gorrell Thelen and Novakovic
|
|
|
|
Post by treblejig on Nov 28, 2015 8:40:18 GMT -5
I can see a resemblance now that you mention it, but not so much that I would ever confuse them.
|
|
|
|
Post by nyline on Nov 28, 2015 13:29:49 GMT -5
We've posted our write-up for the Nebraska match (which, not surprisingly, given our slacker staff and near total lack of professional ethics) closely resembles the thorough charts prepared by 8M and offered at the start of this thread. Here's the link: #7 Penn State Takes on #4 Nebraska in Devaney Center (w/ 8M’s Stat Analysis)
And here's an excerpt:
The #7-ranked Penn State women’s volleyball team (26-4, 15-4 in the B1G) has dropped only four matches this season, but one of those losses was a five-set shocker to Nebraska in Rec Hall on October 2, 2015, in which the Nittany Lions took the first two sets, 25-12 and 26-24, then dropped the next three — 14-25, 20-25, and 11-15.
Coach Rose described the match this way:
Both teams undoubtedly have learned lessons since that match. For Penn State, the Nebraska match was the first as a starter this season for 6-1 So. Simone Lee. Against the Huskers, Lee registered 7 kills and hit .038. Since that match, she has shown steady improvement, starting each of the 17 matches, registering double-digit kills in six of them, and is now hitting .273 in B1G matches (4th on the team) and averaging 1.91 kills/set (5th on the team). Sr. libero Kendall Pierce registered one dig in the first match. Against Northwestern on Wednesday night, she started her second consecutive match, totaling a career and team-high 12 digs. 5-8 Fr. DS/setter Wilma Rivera didn’t play at all in the first match against Nebraska, but has performed well in a string of matches, including Wednesday night’s sweep of Northwestern, where she finished with 8 digs (second on the team). Coach Rose commented on Rivera’s recent play after that match: The same question — how will the Devaney Center crowd impact the match? — could be raised with respect to the entire team, not just Rivera. We think they’ll do just fine. It’s not the first time they’ve played on a big stage (the four seniors have been to three Final Fours, and won back-to-back NCAA championships), and they understand playing in front of hostile crowds. We’re taking the Nittany Lions, in a very tough match. |
|
|
|
Post by traveler on Nov 28, 2015 14:32:35 GMT -5
Really interesting thing about the sideout stats 8m excellently supplied for PSU and NE is PSU losses seem to correlate better with a lowered sideout percent; much less so for NE. in their losses, NE is still well into the 60's%. they just barely dipped down to the 50's once, and won that one. I suspect we'd have to look at the play by play to understand how that occurs...seems very unusual. Have never seen such a high rate occurring in lost matches, though i haven't specialized in this area.
|
|
|
|
Post by psumaui on Nov 28, 2015 14:33:58 GMT -5
Let's just hope that the basketball game ends on time. This should be a blow-out because it's between #2 Maryland and Cleveland State but those poor teams tend to stretch our games in the last minute even when losing by 30 points by fouling every 2 seconds just to get more TV exposure.
|
|
|
|
Post by traveler on Nov 28, 2015 14:36:08 GMT -5
in which case i'd suggest powering up the laptop and watching on BIG10 plus...
|
|
|
|
Post by psumaui on Nov 28, 2015 14:45:39 GMT -5
in which case i'd suggest powering up the laptop and watching on BIG10 plus... Luckily for those that don't have BIG 10 Plus, it isn't on there. No need for special subscription for TV matches. All Televised matches are included on BTN2GO with TV subscription. |
|
|
|
Post by lionsfan on Nov 28, 2015 17:43:35 GMT -5
With Wisconsin beating Purdue, Penn State needs a win tonight to avoid its lowest conference finish ever (4th)...c'mon, State!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by cross5 on Nov 28, 2015 18:25:25 GMT -5
With Wisconsin beating Purdue, Penn State needs a win tonight to avoid its lowest conference finish ever (4th)...c'mon, State!!! With all due respect that won't mean anything come tourney time. 2nd, 3rd or 4th is meaningless at this point. |
|
|
|
Post by bob2061 on Nov 28, 2015 18:59:57 GMT -5
Correct, we will just have to win it for our pride.
|
|
