The Michigans: Q&A w/Talking Head, Rose quotes, Stat Joust
Oct 13, 2017 6:27:13 GMT -5
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Post by nyline on Oct 13, 2017 6:27:13 GMT -5
We've posted a new article: "The Michigans — Q&A with Talking Head, plus Quotes from Coach Rose and Stat Joust." For the complete article, Click Here. Below is an excerpt:
Put Your Game Faces On — the Michigans are Coming!
The Penn State women’s volleyball team is ranked #2 in the latest AVCA poll, and that lofty rank will be put to the test tonight in Rec Hall, when it takes on #10-ranked Michigan State (12-3) at 7 p.m. and again Saturday night, when they face a tough Michigan team (12-6), also at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall.
Michigan State is 5-1 in the B1G, and despite knocking off then-#1 Minnesota in Minneapolis and then-#5 Wisconsin in Madison, has an overall away match record of 2-3. Among their key players are 6-6 RS Sr. OH/RS Brooke Kranda (3.31 kps), 5-10 RS So. OH Autumn Bailey (3.14 kps), and 6-2 Sr. OH Holly Toliver (3.12 kps), and 6-4 Sr. MB Alyssa Garvelink (2.42 kps and team-leading .346 %).
Michigan is 2-4 in the B1G heading into the weekend (assume a 3-4 record after their meeting with Rutgers on Friday). They have lost their last two matches — 3-1 to Iowa at Iowa, and 3-0 to Minnesota at home. On offense, the Wolverines are led by 6-1 Jr. OH Carly Skjodt (3.81 kps; .238 hitting %), and 6-2 Sr. OH Adeja Lambert (2.82 kps; .235 hitting %). Defensively, 5-6 Jr. libero Jenna Lerg has been a standout, with 4.13 digs/set.
Q&A with Talking Head
Dignittany: Michigan State and Michigan come into Rec Hall this weekend, giving Penn State two more tough challenges in the very challenging B1G. Your thoughts on these two teams?
Talking Head: First of all, these are Big Ten teams, so you have to come in equally prepared for each of them. They both have nice size — in fact, Michigan State is bigger than Penn State — they’ve both had nice wins, and they’ve both put together impressive seasons — especially Michigan State with their wins over Wisconsin and Minnesota. Penn State will need to bring their “A” game both nights in order to defend the house. Having said that, neither one of these teams is an offensive juggernaut.
DigNittany: Just to interject here, Penn State is leading the B1G (conference-only stats) in hitting % at .339, Michigan State is 6th at .258, and Michigan is 11th, at .207. When you look at Opponent’s hitting % (again, conference-only stats), Penn State and Michigan State are tied for 3rd in the B1G at .215. Granted, it’s still early in the season, and their level of competition has differed, but those stats underscore your point, and also show that Michigan State is very tough defensively, with Michigan being perhaps a step below. [Editor’s note: see the Stat Joust, below, for more comparisons of Penn State, Michigan State, and Michigan offensive and defensive team and individual Stats.]
Talking Head: To your point, on paper, we appear to match up very well against both teams. However, they both possess players that if they can keep the games close, and we don’t take care of the first contact, they going to put a loss on us.
The Penn State women’s volleyball team is ranked #2 in the latest AVCA poll, and that lofty rank will be put to the test tonight in Rec Hall, when it takes on #10-ranked Michigan State (12-3) at 7 p.m. and again Saturday night, when they face a tough Michigan team (12-6), also at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall.
Michigan State is 5-1 in the B1G, and despite knocking off then-#1 Minnesota in Minneapolis and then-#5 Wisconsin in Madison, has an overall away match record of 2-3. Among their key players are 6-6 RS Sr. OH/RS Brooke Kranda (3.31 kps), 5-10 RS So. OH Autumn Bailey (3.14 kps), and 6-2 Sr. OH Holly Toliver (3.12 kps), and 6-4 Sr. MB Alyssa Garvelink (2.42 kps and team-leading .346 %).
Michigan is 2-4 in the B1G heading into the weekend (assume a 3-4 record after their meeting with Rutgers on Friday). They have lost their last two matches — 3-1 to Iowa at Iowa, and 3-0 to Minnesota at home. On offense, the Wolverines are led by 6-1 Jr. OH Carly Skjodt (3.81 kps; .238 hitting %), and 6-2 Sr. OH Adeja Lambert (2.82 kps; .235 hitting %). Defensively, 5-6 Jr. libero Jenna Lerg has been a standout, with 4.13 digs/set.
Q&A with Talking Head
Dignittany: Michigan State and Michigan come into Rec Hall this weekend, giving Penn State two more tough challenges in the very challenging B1G. Your thoughts on these two teams?
Talking Head: First of all, these are Big Ten teams, so you have to come in equally prepared for each of them. They both have nice size — in fact, Michigan State is bigger than Penn State — they’ve both had nice wins, and they’ve both put together impressive seasons — especially Michigan State with their wins over Wisconsin and Minnesota. Penn State will need to bring their “A” game both nights in order to defend the house. Having said that, neither one of these teams is an offensive juggernaut.
DigNittany: Just to interject here, Penn State is leading the B1G (conference-only stats) in hitting % at .339, Michigan State is 6th at .258, and Michigan is 11th, at .207. When you look at Opponent’s hitting % (again, conference-only stats), Penn State and Michigan State are tied for 3rd in the B1G at .215. Granted, it’s still early in the season, and their level of competition has differed, but those stats underscore your point, and also show that Michigan State is very tough defensively, with Michigan being perhaps a step below. [Editor’s note: see the Stat Joust, below, for more comparisons of Penn State, Michigan State, and Michigan offensive and defensive team and individual Stats.]
Talking Head: To your point, on paper, we appear to match up very well against both teams. However, they both possess players that if they can keep the games close, and we don’t take care of the first contact, they going to put a loss on us.
