|
|
Post by nyline on Oct 22, 2015 11:47:32 GMT -5
This is early, but I'm traveling on Friday and Saturday, so I most likely won't have access to internet (fingers crossed that psumaui continues his stellar work and posts the match video  )
Here's a link to the Match Day post on DigNittany: Match Day: Penn State @ Michigan State (Sparty Hearty — Early Bird Edition)
And here's an excerpt (sans the links and Stats):
On Wednesday night, Michigan State roared past #6-ranked Ohio State in straight sets (25-20, 25-19, and 26-24) in front of an appreciative home crowd in Jenison Field House. After the match, Michigan State head coach Cathy George had this to say:
We wanted to come out and set the tone. Our players did a nice job of executing our game plan, and I think that we’re seeing our team not only improve, but mature as we work our way through the schedule. We’ll enjoy this tonight, but its a quick turnaround as we get ready to host Penn State on Saturday.
Penn State’s experience on Wednesday night was somewhat different, as they found themselves trailing a determined Michigan team 2 sets to 1, before rallying to take the match 3-2 (25-18, 22-25, 18-25, 25-20, 15-7).
About Penn State
The Nittany Lions will need solid performances from RS Sr. Aiyana Whitney (who led the Nittany Lions in the Michigan match with a career-high 18 kills), So. MB Haleigh Washington (a career-high 17 kills, with a .593 attack % against the Wolverines) and So. OH Simone Lee (13 kills against Michigan). Head Coach Russ Rose will also be looking for good things from RS Fr. setter Bryanna Weiskircher (53 assists, a .268 team attack %, and 12 digs) and a bounce-back match from So. OH Ali Frantti (who led the team against the Wolverines with 17 digs, but was limited to 8 kills). If Penn State can replicate their blocking performance against Michigan, Coach Rose will be very happy: the Nittany Lions, led by career highs from So. MB Heidi Thelen (9 blocks) and Whitney (8 blocks) out-blocked the Wolverines 17.0-7.0.
About Michigan State
The Spartans have alot of firepower and talent. Here are some of Michigan State’s key players :
◾6-2 So. setter Rachel Minarick, who has played in all 20 matches (starting 19), averaging 8.82 assists/set — good for 10th place in the B1G. She also is averaging 0.57 blocks/set, 2.20 digs/set, 1.19 kills/set (.298 attack %), and 0.27 service aces/set — good for 11th in the B1G;
◾6-4 So. MB Alyssa Garvelink, who was named the Big Ten Player of the Week after totaling a combined 23 kills and hitting .588 in MSU’s wins over Maryland and Rutgers last week. She hit .647 (12-1-17) against Rutgers and .529 (11-2-17) against Maryland. She had another good match against Ohio State — 10 kills and .467 attack %;
◾6-6 So. MB/Opp Brooke Kranda, who is 12th in the B1G with 3.19 kills/set (.228 attack %) and averaging .70 blocks/set.
◾6-2 Jr. MB/Opp Allyssah Fitterer, who against Maryland had her best match (statistically) since the first weekend of the season: 13 kills (.500 attack %) and 8 blocks. She did even better against Rutgers — 6 kills and a gaudy .750 attack %. She kept up her torrid pace against the Buckeyes, with 9 kills and a .467 attack %;
◾ 6-4 Jr. OH Chloe Reinig, who didn’t have a good match statistically against Ohio State, but in the matches against Maryland and Rutgers, had her two best hitting performances since returning to the Spartan lineup after missing seven matches with injury. Against Maryland, she hit .346, with 4 blocks and 3 digs. Against Rutgers, she hit .375, with 7 kills;
◾6-2 So. OH Holly Toliver, who ranks 2nd in the B1G with 0.37 service aces/set (with 4 service aces in the Ohio State match), and had terrific matches against Maryland (11 kills, 10 digs and a block), and against Rutgers (9 kills, .333 attack %, 6 digs);
◾5-5 So. libero Abby Monson, who was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 21st, led all players with 16 digs in the Maryland match. Against the Buckeyes, Monson totaled 11 digs, and is averaging 3.59 digs per set (10th in the B1G);
◾5-7 Sr. DS Kristen Muir tallied 13 digs against Maryland 10 digs against Rutgers;
◾5-2 Fr. DS Sarah Washegesic is averaging 1.42 digs/set for the season.
|
|
|
|
Post by cross5 on Oct 22, 2015 11:55:44 GMT -5
This was the match that concerned me from the outset of the two. They are big, physical and can smack the ball. I think we are better vb players in general. In looking at their stats and "how" they win, they like to win big, fast and terminate balls early in rallies. YES YES....everyone does, however it seems the longer the rallies go and longer the matches go, they struggle. www.msuspartans.com/sports/w-volley/stats/2015-2016/teamcume.html#TEAM.TEMMatch wins by #sets 1 2 3 4 5 Total Michigan State 0 0 11 2 1 14 Opponents 0 0 1 3 2 6 Sets won by set 1 2 3 4 5 Total Michigan State 17 15 13 3 1 49 Opponents 3 5 7 5 2 22 Points by set 1 2 3 4 5 Total Michigan State 500 471 485 172 38 1666 Opponents 413 400 407 190 39 1449 |
|
|
|
Post by Onthebench on Oct 22, 2015 12:07:56 GMT -5
This was the match that concerned me from the outset of the two. They are big, physical and can smack the ball. I think we are better vb players in general. In looking at their stats and "how" they win, they like to win big, fast and terminate balls early in rallies. YES YES....everyone does, however it seems the longer the rallies go and longer the matches go, they struggle. www.msuspartans.com/sports/w-volley/stats/2015-2016/teamcume.html#TEAM.TEMMatch wins by #sets 1 2 3 4 5 Total Michigan State 0 0 11 2 1 14 Opponents 0 0 1 3 2 6 Sets won by set 1 2 3 4 5 Total Michigan State 17 15 13 3 1 49 Opponents 3 5 7 5 2 22 Points by set 1 2 3 4 5 Total Michigan State 500 471 485 172 38 1666 Opponents 413 400 407 190 39 1449 If Frantti and Lee do not come with their A game, they'll have hard time hitting over or around MSU's tall front row players |
|
|
|
Post by nyline on Oct 22, 2015 12:24:04 GMT -5
This was the match that concerned me from the outset of the two. They are big, physical and can smack the ball. I think we are better vb players in general. In looking at their stats and "how" they win, they like to win big, fast and terminate balls early in rallies. YES YES....everyone does, however it seems the longer the rallies go and longer the matches go, they struggle. www.msuspartans.com/sports/w-volley/stats/2015-2016/teamcume.html#TEAM.TEMMatch wins by #sets 1 2 3 4 5 Total Michigan State 0 0 11 2 1 14 Opponents 0 0 1 3 2 6 Sets won by set 1 2 3 4 5 Total Michigan State 17 15 13 3 1 49 Opponents 3 5 7 5 2 22 Points by set 1 2 3 4 5 Total Michigan State 500 471 485 172 38 1666 Opponents 413 400 407 190 39 1449 I agree. They are bigger across the front row than PSU. This will be one tough match. Hoping Ali finds her Mojo and Aiyana goes wild. Heck, while I'm hoping, add Haleigh and Simone, and Heidi on a blocking binge. |
|
|
|
Post by traveler on Oct 22, 2015 14:08:09 GMT -5
We've been given some reasons to worry. here are Reasons for Optimism:
MSU's big stats up to this week, most recently, included the eastern-most BIG teams...against whom virtually every team should shine. Discount those a bit.
After losing set one against MSU, things got worse for OSU Wednesday night in the start of set 2. two digging players collided...one got hurt: the setter. substantial communications problems ensued for OSU in set 2. (Note for next week: She returned to the floor at the end of the match to shake hands with her left arm in a sling. For next week, this may be critical. it's reportedly with an elbow injury. have to presume an elbow injury is pretty hard for a setter to come back from. setter already had quite a leg brace on her right leg.)
Even with these impediments, OSU almost took set 3 and MSU needed extra points to get there.
Compare to PSU:
PSU was down 2-1 and pretty efficiently and without panic booked the last two sets Wednesday night. With each set, hitting percent increased dramatically. Going into MSU, the recent history is a sweep of Purdue and a really good response to being down 2-1 against MI. This should reinforce that these fab young ladies have each others' backs and the skills and toughness necessary v. MSU.
|
|
|
|
Post by nyline on Oct 22, 2015 14:15:55 GMT -5
We've been given some reasons to worry. here are Reasons for Optimism: MSU's big stats up to this week, most recently, included the eastern-most BIG teams...against whom virtually every team should shine. Discount those a bit. Things got worse for OSU Wednesday night in the start of set 2 when two digging players collided...one got hurt: the setter. She returned to the floor to shake hands with her left arm in a sling, (For next week, this may be critical. it's reportedly with an elbow injury. have to presume an elbow injury is pretty hard for a setter to come back from. setter already had quite a leg brace on her right leg.) Even with these impediments, OSU almost took set 3 and MSU needed extra points to get there. PSU was down 2-1 and pretty efficiently and without panic booked the last two sets Wednesday night. With each set, hitting percent increased dramatically. Going into MSU, the recent history is a sweep of Purdue and a really good response to being down 2-1 against MI. This should reinforce that these fab young ladies have each others' backs. Nice analysis. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2015 21:34:26 GMT -5
This was the match that concerned me from the outset of the two. They are big, physical and can smack the ball. I think we are better vb players in general. In looking at their stats and "how" they win, they like to win big, fast and terminate balls early in rallies. YES YES....everyone does, however it seems the longer the rallies go and longer the matches go, they struggle. Size is nice, but can be overrated. PSU had the size advantage over Northwestern and lost because of poor play. Having said that, I agree with you that PSU players are generally more athletic than most other bigs in the conference. I think size without athleticism can be a big disadvantage for teams that depend on just that facet, because those bigs need to move laterally quickly in order to cover the opposite hitters. I believe Haleigh will have a feast with her signature backslide. I'm just hoping Aiyana finds a way to terminate because she's used to hitting over the block. The other PSU players usually find ways to hit through the block (e.g., Lee) and around the block (e.g., Frantti). My biggest concern is with MSU's serve. I think they can put PSU on their heels a bit. |
|
|
|
Post by phillytom on Oct 23, 2015 8:06:34 GMT -5
I just got a chance to watch PSU-Michigan last night for the first time and I was actually pleased by a lot of things the team is doing. Yes they are highly inconsistent, and when they get in trouble they don't have Courtney to bail them out. (and for that reason the MSU match will be quite a challenge for them)
But when they are clicking, they can look really good in stretches. The task is to make those stretches last longer. I think they have plenty of good stuff to build on. There is plenty of talent.
Some of the things I really liked (in no particular order):
-- This team has potential to be the best blocking PSU team in a while. Every single outside blocks well. Blocking is going better than hitting on the outside right now -- which is not what anybody would have expected, but I think that's good news because the hitting WILL improve.
-- Frantti is definitely struggling hitting but doing so many other things well, really improving in the back row. I wonder if this is a little like McClendon's soph year when she was struggling as a hitter as she worked to round out her game (and also defenses were on to her).
-- Lee is quite a player and a complete player. She just needs court time, more time to work with Weiskircher in matches but her upside is huge. I think she could be the go-to hitter by the end of the season if she can keep developing. Great on-court energy, just love watching her play.
-- I liked what Thelen brought to the match -- lots of energy, very quick to close the block. I don't know what the numbers are saying, but at least against Michigan they looked like a better team with Whitney outside and Thelen in the lineup.
-- Whitney keeps improving as a hitter. Killed Michigan with some very nicely located tips to the back line.
-- Weiskircher continues to improve. Making some really good decisions. In the B1G broadcast of the match, Liz Tortorello-Nelson pointed out a play where PSU had to send a free ball back, and Weiskircher put it right in the center of the court where it caused confusion the Michigan side directly leading to a PSU block. I think she has all the vision, she's a really good athlete, super skilled, very good defensively, and a really good server.
The in-system setting still has a ways to go but I'd be pretty confident it's going to get there. Weiskircher has all the tools. I think she's an unselfish player and doesn't want to take opportunities away from her hitters, but as Tortorello-Nelson pointed out, it's really important for her to establish herself as an attacker and keep those middles on her. That will help her hitters more than anything else she can do. She's not going to attack the way Hancock did but she's going to find her own way.
-- Holcomb -- obviously has the athletic tools to play at this level, and plays well under pressure. I don't think you could expect much more from a true freshman. But as a freshman she does represent some risk of fatigue. The B1G season is a grind like nobody can even imagine, and that position has got to be exhausting. It's just something to watch for. Maybe the biggest unfinished business on the team, is the fact that DS roles haven't been sorted out yet, becuase there is no Lacey Fuller on the roster. And that makes it harder for Holcomb to figure out where she's supposed to be. But you know they are working on this and there are solutions in mind, it will just take time.
Really, Courtney's absence might be good for PSU's back row because everybody else is getting extra touches now and that's got to help accelerate the development back there. Courtney has such incredible range in the back row -- she just dominates when she's in there. While she's out there's an opportunity for other leadership to develop -- for next season but also for this season.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2015 8:14:29 GMT -5
Really, Courtney's absence might be good for PSU's back row because everybody else is getting extra touches now and that's got to help accelerate the development back there. Courtney has such incredible range in the back row -- she just dominates when she's in there. While she's out there's an opportunity for other leadership to develop -- for next season but also for this season. Definitely agree with that comment. |
|
|
|
Post by nyline on Oct 23, 2015 9:47:05 GMT -5
I just got a chance to watch PSU-Michigan last night for the first time and I was actually pleased by a lot of things the team is doing. Yes they are highly inconsistent, and when they get in trouble they don't have Courtney to bail them out. (and for that reason the MSU match will be quite a challenge for them) But when they are clicking, they can look really good in stretches. The task is to make those stretches last longer. I think they have plenty of good stuff to build on. There is plenty of talent. Some of the things I really liked (in no particular order): -- Weiskircher continues to improve. Making some really good decisions. In the B1G broadcast of the match, Liz Tortorello-Nelson pointed out a play where PSU had to send a free ball back, and Weiskircher put it right in the center of the court where it caused confusion the Michigan side directly leading to a PSU block. I think she has all the vision, she's a really good athlete, super skilled, very good defensively, and a really good server. I don't think Weiskircher is "very good defensively" -- at least not yet, though she did win a couple of jousts against Michigan (something she hadn't been doing with any consistency.) Earlier in the season Rose said that defense is not one of her strengths, but added she was working on it (he also said defense wasn't one of Micha's strengths when she arrived at PSU). So she looks to be making progress, but for me, I think it's still a work in progress. |
|
|
|
Post by phillytom on Oct 23, 2015 14:44:41 GMT -5
I just got a chance to watch PSU-Michigan last night for the first time and I was actually pleased by a lot of things the team is doing. Yes they are highly inconsistent, and when they get in trouble they don't have Courtney to bail them out. (and for that reason the MSU match will be quite a challenge for them) But when they are clicking, they can look really good in stretches. The task is to make those stretches last longer. I think they have plenty of good stuff to build on. There is plenty of talent. Some of the things I really liked (in no particular order): -- Weiskircher continues to improve. Making some really good decisions. In the B1G broadcast of the match, Liz Tortorello-Nelson pointed out a play where PSU had to send a free ball back, and Weiskircher put it right in the center of the court where it caused confusion the Michigan side directly leading to a PSU block. I think she has all the vision, she's a really good athlete, super skilled, very good defensively, and a really good server. I don't think Weiskircher is "very good defensively" -- at least not yet, though she did win a couple of jousts against Michigan (something she hadn't been doing with any consistency.) Earlier in the season Rose said that defense is not one of her strengths, but added she was working on it (he also said defense wasn't one of Micha's strengths when she arrived at PSU). So she looks to be making progress, but for me, I think it's still a work in progress. I don't know how such things are measured, but seems like very time I'm watching, she is laying out and saving balls in the backcourt. And she may be a better blocker than Hancock. For not being one of her strengths I've seen some nice D. But how good, I can't say... Really what we need out of Weiskircher is more consistent setting. She'll make a great set off a poor pass, and then next play put a routine in-system set into an awkward spot. It's just a matter of reps I'm sure. Consistency seems to come from reps. |
|
|
|
Post by Onthebench on Oct 23, 2015 14:58:54 GMT -5
In absence of Courtney, Weiskircher has to take the role of the floor leader. I know she is a red-shirted Freshman, so there are others who may have louder voice, but the setter has to be one to make the most important decisions. Wether She is better defender or blocker than Hancock is not as important as whether she can become the leader that Hancock was. She is not yet, but she has be become one in order for PSU's success.
|
|
snj
Sophomore
Posts: 67
|
Post by snj on Oct 24, 2015 21:15:47 GMT -5
Up to 21-7, the best third set PSU has played in a long time, maybe all year. Was looking great. Then to end up 25-17...I know some will rebut my concern, say we should be happy about a 3 set sweep on the road at a good team. as we should be. But if the standard is playing at the level of the top teams, PSU seemed to go soft for a while after 21-7 and MSU came back to score 10. Didn't past teams have more of a killer instinct in sets 3? Seems like they should have won 25-12, maybe 25-14.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2015 21:41:32 GMT -5
Up to 21-7, the best third set PSU has played in a long time, maybe all year. Was looking great. Then to end up 25-17...I know some will rebut my concern, say we should be happy about a 3 set sweep on the road at a good team. as we should be. But if the standard is playing at the level of the top teams, PSU seemed to go soft for a while after 21-7 and MSU came back to score 10. Didn't past teams have more of a killer instinct in sets 3? Seems like they should have won 25-12, maybe 25-14. Yes, maybe they let up at the end a bit because they had such a large margin. Would have preferred if they finished them off quicker. You worry about how they will clinch a final set vs a better team with a smaller margin of points. Sure miss Micha, she had just enough of that good bit of "Nasty" where you knew PSU was going to close out a game. However, kudos to MSU for hanging in there at the end for 5 match points and not giving up. |
|
|
|
Post by nyline on Oct 24, 2015 21:49:46 GMT -5
Up to 21-7, the best third set PSU has played in a long time, maybe all year. Was looking great. Then to end up 25-17...I know some will rebut my concern, say we should be happy about a 3 set sweep on the road at a good team. as we should be. But if the standard is playing at the level of the top teams, PSU seemed to go soft for a while after 21-7 and MSU came back to score 10. Didn't past teams have more of a killer instinct in sets 3? Seems like they should have won 25-12, maybe 25-14. Yes, maybe they let up at the end a bit because they had such a large margin. Would have preferred if they finished them off quicker. You worry about how they will clinch a final set vs a better team with a smaller margin of points. Sure miss Micha, she had just enough of that good bit of "Nasty" where you knew PSU was going to close out a game. However, kudos to MSU for hanging in there at the end for 5 match points and not giving up. Traveling, so didn't see any of the match -- therefore can comment totally unfettered by facts ☺ But is it possible that MSU simply had a horrible start to that set, and PSU had a great start, and in the last 14 points, both teams reverted to closer to the norm? |
|
)
