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Post by nyline on Nov 29, 2015 11:12:20 GMT -5
We've posted a post-match write-up for Penn State @ Nebraska. Here's the link: Huskers Sweep Penn State (Sky Holds Firm in Central Pennsylvania); 11 Things to Consider in NCAA Tournament
Here's an excerpt:
No, the Sky is Not Falling.
Yes, the Penn State women’s volleyball team (26-5, 15-5) was swept (25-18, 25-18, 25-22) by Nebraska (26-4, 17-3) last night. That’s a very disappointing result — most of all to the Penn State players and the Penn State staff. They all strive for the highest levels of achievement, and with six NCAA Championships in the past eight years, the bar has been set very, very high.
But no, the sky is not falling in Central Pennsylvania. (In fact, we have photo evidence, from our crack Cow Reporters — pictured at right, that the sky continues to be in its traditional place above Mount Nittany.)
* * * * *
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Post by seeyajohn on Nov 29, 2015 12:36:05 GMT -5
Who is not healthy?
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Post by cross5 on Nov 29, 2015 12:56:19 GMT -5
My guess is that, playing 8 of their last 12 matches on the road and most of those Wed/Sat matches has certainly taken its toll on the players. I would certainly add that if the team is fortunate enough to host and win the first 2 rounds, it will be a huge benefit for these girls to sleep in their own beds for the next 12 days and get to the training room if need be. I remember Club Coach talking about this time of year, where many players are nicked up.
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Post by nyline on Nov 29, 2015 13:54:31 GMT -5
At this point in the season, I'd expect that most of the players are nicked up one way or another. I don't think Talking Head meant that to say Penn State is any different than other teams in that regard, but for a team that has struggled of late, I'd guess that the rest can do wonders.
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Post by bob2061 on Nov 29, 2015 14:56:14 GMT -5
Call me crazy but I think our only chance to do well in the playoffs is to put Whitney back at RS so we balance our offensive attacks, which worked so well earlier this season and put Thelen back at MB.
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Post by cross5 on Nov 29, 2015 15:02:43 GMT -5
Call me crazy but I think our only chance to do well in the playoffs is to put Whitney back at RS so we balance our offensive attacks, which worked so well earlier this season and put Thelen back at MB. Not crazy at all. I would imagine some options are on the table still.
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Post by treblejig on Nov 29, 2015 15:52:55 GMT -5
Call me crazy but I think our only chance to do well in the playoffs is to put Whitney back at RS so we balance our offensive attacks, which worked so well earlier this season and put Thelen back at MB. Not crazy at all. I would imagine some options are on the table still. I'm no expert, but I think Thelen is a great blocker and brings a lot of confidence to the court. Whitney is more valuable at RS, even though she is very adaptable.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2015 16:04:24 GMT -5
Call me crazy but I think our only chance to do well in the playoffs is to put Whitney back at RS so we balance our offensive attacks, which worked so well earlier this season and put Thelen back at MB. Here's a pretty good analysis by bballnut90 from VT:Penn State just looked bad last night. Pierce/Frantti struggled passing and the setting was just poor. It seemed like 60% of the time, Penn State hitters were either too tight which resulted in a block, too far off which means reaching back and trying to keep the ball in play, or the tempo was off so they had to downball it over. The passing wasn't good, but Weiskircher needs to put up better sets for PSU to have a shot. As an aside, I have no idea why Whitney is playing in the middle. Simone Lee has put up good numbers against bottom feeders in the Big Ten, but has struggled mightily against teams with better blocks and better defense. She is doesn't do a good job of seeing the blockers and is error prone. Whitney is the most terminal and athletic player that can play on the pin right now for PSU. She is so long, hits over most blocks and could be a great outlet on the RS off a bad pass. Right now, the outlets are Courtney/Frantti/Lee. Courtney will keep the ball in play but doesn't crush unless she gets a good set, and the latter two are error prone if the set isn't in system. Thelen also was doing a great job of blocking for PSU and I thought she did a solid job of attacking the 1-2 times she'd get set in a game. Penn State is still terrifying to face because Rose might have something up his sleeve we don't know, but unless it involves better passing and much better setting, PSU is going to bow out in the regionals this year.
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Post by tillie1014 on Nov 29, 2015 17:31:59 GMT -5
We may not understand why anyone is playing at a specific location or position but I HAVE FAITH THAT COACH DOES. Can he err? Yes, but not often!
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Post by bob2061 on Nov 29, 2015 18:20:44 GMT -5
True, but who said anything about erring? The coach was just checking out some ideas to get ready for the playoffs.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2015 18:58:45 GMT -5
True, but who said anything about erring? The coach was just checking out some ideas to get ready for the playoffs. We pretty much have to have faith that Coach Rose knows more about his team than we could ever hope to. Nevertheless, we're on this forum so we can question, or endorse, what the team does.
If Whitney's playing Middle, we have to believe it's for a reason. It's not unlike the Libero issue.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2015 0:20:27 GMT -5
Call me crazy but I think our only chance to do well in the playoffs is to put Whitney back at RS so we balance our offensive attacks, which worked so well earlier this season and put Thelen back at MB. I agree. And as much as you may call me crazy, they played their best "team" volleyball when Whitney was RS, Thelan in the middle and Krause as ds. They played as a team, and beat some really good teams with that lineup
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snj
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Post by snj on Nov 30, 2015 0:48:10 GMT -5
Bballnut90's analysis looks like what I saw in the match. Talking Head's perspective seems very optimistic. Its hard to believe that the last time PSU defeated a top 10 team was in SEPTEMBER vs. Minn. These recent sweeps by Minnesota and Nebraska showed us a PSU team not capable of competing with a top 5 team. Thinking that the coaches are holding something back that will produce a dramatic improvement in the tournament is a flight of fancy. If they had found a solution we'd be seeing it, they would want that unit working together against top ranked opponents. Sadly, the other three top Big 10 teams, Minn, Nebr and Wisc, have improved since September while PSU has not improved and perhaps even regressed! I cannot remember so many matches in prior years where PSU has played so chaotically, disorganized, etc.
As I have said often there is a lot of talent on the PSU team but it is not playing together effectively. Kendall is not a natural libero, she is a veteran substitution server and spot defensive player who is trying to fill a need. Bryanna certainly has volleyball talents but I suggest that we can't know from this season if she is the right setter for PSU for the next 3 years. Others are certain to get a shot.
Aiyana may very well be required on the outside if there is any chance to make a run in the tournament. Its very perplexing why Haleigh is having such an up and down season, especially lately. She will have to have huge matches blocking and hitting for PSU to even make it to the third round. It seems very unlikely that PSU can make it to the regional Final with the serve receive and other defensive problems unsolved.
Major issues in the offseason in every phase of the game. The talk about needing transfers may be relevant...any good liberos and setters potentially interested in s school change?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2015 5:48:43 GMT -5
Call me crazy but I think our only chance to do well in the playoffs is to put Whitney back at RS so we balance our offensive attacks, which worked so well earlier this season and put Thelen back at MB. I agree. And as much as you may call me crazy, they played their best "team" volleyball when Whitney was RS, Thelen in the middle and Krause as ds. They played as a team, and beat some really good teams with that lineup. I believe that coach will make some changes during the tournament according to the teams he faces and even within the matches themselves from set to set. He's too smart and knows it can end suddenly if he doesn't make adjustments. I can see him using the lineup again, which you mentioned above. My biggest curiosity is what he does at libero. Of course, I see no reason to change, though, unless Pierce begins to struggle.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2015 5:51:59 GMT -5
Not crazy at all. I would imagine some options are on the table still. I'm no expert, but I think Thelen is a great blocker and brings a lot of confidence to the court. Whitney is more valuable at RS, even though she is very adaptable. Most definitely agree. I'd like to see Thelen come in at some point in the tournament, especially against a better blocking team. Maybe coach has been changing his lineups all year so that no team can figure him out from a scouting perspective. Perhaps he can bring the element of surprise to some matches (from a lineup perspective). We'll see, in any case, it'll be interesting to discuss for the next 5 days since we don't have any VB matches to watch.
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