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Post by elliotberton on Sept 8, 2021 15:08:21 GMT -5
Wow. Great questions and Coach seems to have had a lot to say. I particularly appreciated the discussion about back row attacking, as we have an explanation for why Jonni did not get to set much previously, and also why we have seen Kudryshova come in for Gabby in certain situations. |
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Post by jojonito on Sept 8, 2021 16:37:24 GMT -5
Wow. Great questions and Coach seems to have had a lot to say. I particularly appreciated the discussion about back row attacking, as we have an explanation for why Jonni did not get to set much previously, and also why we have seen Kudryshova come in for Gabby in certain situations. It's make sense why Jonni hasn't set much before. I can see why Coach wants Nasta coming in for Gabby in certain situations. But, I don't understand why that didn't happen before using Emily. Never mind, I think I just figured it out. There is someone like Nasta on the bench who is a good blocker who can come in for Gabby. This situation didn't exist last year. Nasta was starting and there wasn't someone to come in who was a good blocker/hitter. It's nice to see a sub coming in for Gabby at certain points in the game and being effective. Jonni seems to bring excellent play to the setter position just like her hitting. I wonder if her setting is more like Gabby than Emily's is. I could see that being an advantage as the hitters wouldn't have to adjust as much. Obviously Jonni has been setting in practice or she wouldn't be able to come in and be as effective as she has been. Course, we know what Coach thinks; if you don't practice well you don't play. I think that Jonni is really gonna have a great year, (not that she started off poorly  ). Teams can't put their best blocker on her any more with Erika around. Now it's more difficult for a team to defense PSU with more good hitters on the team. Really nice to see!!! From what Coach said about Anjelina Starck, it sounds like she's a lot like Megan Courtney. Just a really good all-around player. |
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Post by jojonito on Sept 8, 2021 16:45:17 GMT -5
Wow. Great questions and Coach seems to have had a lot to say. I particularly appreciated the discussion about back row attacking, as we have an explanation for why Jonni did not get to set much previously, and also why we have seen Kudryshova come in for Gabby in certain situations. Agreed. REALLY good questions in the press conference. I hate interviews/press conferences where the person interviewing asks, "And how did it feel to win the NCAA championship.". Answer, "It was really depressing. I thought our team didn't play nearly as well as they should." </sarcasm> Seriously?? How do you think they felt?? (To be fair, this illustrates a BIG difference between the male and female points of view. Or at least some women have told me that.) Plus, give Coach good questions and you'll get good answers. His answers are always so informative. He doesn't do coach speak. |
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Post by jojonito on Sept 9, 2021 3:28:56 GMT -5
Reminds me of an interview that Carolyn Manno did with skier Mikaela Shiffrin after Shiffrin had finished up with all of her events in the 2018 Winter Olympics. It was a delightful interview. Now, granted, it's hard to have a bad interview with Shiffrin. Manno said after the interview, "she's always herself". No pretense, just wonderful responses. But Manno asked some wonderfully leading questions that brought out the best in Shiffrin. Unfortunately, I can't find the interview on Youtube as you all would enjoy it whether you enjoy skiing or not. (No, I'm not Southern ). I thought it was so funny during a previous question and answer with Coach, Jonni and Gabby, when Jonni was saying how she and Gabby were great friends and had each others back, that Coach then pipes up with "And I’ll be a big fan if they start digging balls on that side of the court.” I'm collecting funny quotes of his. I just wish that I would have heard more as he is so funny. He usually has a couple of funnies during each interview/press conference. |
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Post by ethankasales on Sept 10, 2021 12:29:43 GMT -5
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Post by nyline on Sept 10, 2021 20:23:01 GMT -5
How will the "extra day off" work?
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Post by seeyajohn on Sept 10, 2021 23:16:39 GMT -5
The Oregon match was a good measuring stick for this year's team. They rank sixth in the Big Ten which makes them underdogs in eight of their B1G matches. Suppose that Covid doesn't enter into the picture and that all 20 B1G matches happen, I think that a 14-6 B1G season would be an excellent result. Throw in an upset tomorrow over Stanford and that would equal a 22-8 overall season which would definitely get them into the tournament. Optimistically, they could pull one more upset and make it as far as the round of 8. If all of that happens, it would be an outstanding season for these women and one of Russ's best coaching jobs. Here's hoping for the best!
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Post by elliotberton on Sept 11, 2021 16:20:15 GMT -5
The Oregon match was a good measuring stick for this year's team. They rank sixth in the Big Ten which makes them underdogs in eight of their B1G matches. Suppose that Covid doesn't enter into the picture and that all 20 B1G matches happen, I think that a 14-6 B1G season would be an excellent result. Throw in an upset tomorrow over Stanford and that would equal a 22-8 overall season which would definitely get them into the tournament. Optimistically, they could pull one more upset and make it as far as the round of 8. If all of that happens, it would be an outstanding season for these women and one of Russ's best coaching jobs. Here's hoping for the best! This seems like a reasonable perspective. However, wasn't this Senior class rated first as a group coming in? While recruiting ratings are not worth much, perhaps some of us had higher expectations for this season? There are options for quick improvements. For example, I am not certain who is going to be the starting OH. Nasta played well against Oregon and may be the best choice right now. One of the DS group could be inserted for passing rather than using an OH. We know Coach won't hesitate to make changes if he thinks someone else has a better chance to get the job done. |
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Post by seeyajohn on Sept 11, 2021 17:14:21 GMT -5
The Oregon match was a good measuring stick for this year's team. They rank sixth in the Big Ten which makes them underdogs in eight of their B1G matches. Suppose that Covid doesn't enter into the picture and that all 20 B1G matches happen, I think that a 14-6 B1G season would be an excellent result. Throw in an upset tomorrow over Stanford and that would equal a 22-8 overall season which would definitely get them into the tournament. Optimistically, they could pull one more upset and make it as far as the round of 8. If all of that happens, it would be an outstanding season for these women and one of Russ's best coaching jobs. Here's hoping for the best! This seems like a reasonable perspective. However, wasn't this Senior class rated first as a group coming in? While recruiting ratings are not worth much, perhaps some of us had higher expectations for this season? There are options for quick improvements. For example, I am not certain who is going to be the starting OH. Nasta played well against Oregon and may be the best choice right now. One of the DS group could be inserted for passing rather than using an OH. We know Coach won't hesitate to make changes if he thinks someone else has a better chance to get the job done. It was a strong recruiting year and that is why this is a good team. But, if you review the two most recent championship teams, 2013 and 2014, you find a bunch of big hitters who have gone on to professional careers/ (McClendon, Courtney, Lee, etc.) Add in Scott, Whitney, and Slay and you have a real contender! I like all of our current left side hitters, but they are not the powerful hitters that those teams possessed. Coach sighted this issue when he picked up Rollins and Pritchard. We now have a deep roster of good OHs. But none of them are of the caliber of those on the championship teams.
I am pretty sure that Russ will make more use of his defensive specialists to improve serve receive and passing in general. But he did that last year. Wisconsin, Nebraska and Minnesota all are stronger at the outside hitting positions. I have not seen Ohio State or Purdue yet, but I suspect they have some guns too.
So, I just don't see us as having the talent to be at the top of the heap. But we are sure good enough to root hard for! So - BEAT STANFORD!!!
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Post by seeyajohn on Sept 11, 2021 17:18:02 GMT -5
P.S. Those teams also had Gonzalez and Fuller. So they passed pretty darn well too!
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Post by seeyajohn on Sept 11, 2021 20:48:20 GMT -5
The Oregon match was a good measuring stick for this year's team. They rank sixth in the Big Ten which makes them underdogs in eight of their B1G matches. Suppose that Covid doesn't enter into the picture and that all 20 B1G matches happen, I think that a 14-6 B1G season would be an excellent result. Throw in an upset tomorrow over Stanford and that would equal a 22-8 overall season which would definitely get them into the tournament. Optimistically, they could pull one more upset and make it as far as the round of 8. If all of that happens, it would be an outstanding season for these women and one of Russ's best coaching jobs. Here's hoping for the best! OK. So let's revise that hopeful season record to 21-9. |
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Post by traveler on Sept 12, 2021 13:37:19 GMT -5
P.S. Those teams also had Gonzalez and Fuller. So they passed pretty darn well too! Don't know why but Lacy Fuller popped into my mind the other day. Having her as Dom's backup...a dream. |
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Post by jojonito on Sept 12, 2021 17:27:01 GMT -5
P.S. Those teams also had Gonzalez and Fuller. So they passed pretty darn well too! Don't know why but Lacy Fuller popped into my mind the other day. Having her as Dom's backup...a dream. Yeah. A frequent comment by Coach about Lacy Fuller was how hard she worked. She practiced at a 100% pace just like the games she played. I still have memories of her diving for balls in the back row. |
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Post by seeyajohn on Sept 13, 2021 6:43:56 GMT -5
I woke up this morning feeling like I have been a bit negative in my comments about this year's team. I just checked and there are 334 Division 1 women's volleyball teams. This year's team is a top 20 team. Actually, Penn State is always in the top 20. That's really outstanding!
Spoiled much?  |
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Post by sluggo on Sept 13, 2021 9:01:44 GMT -5
I woke up this morning feeling like I have been a bit negative in my comments about this year's team. I just checked and there are 334 Division 1 women's volleyball teams. This year's team is a top 20 team. Actually, Penn State is always in the top 20. That's really outstanding!
Spoiled much? Hopeful those that participate in the rankings recognize both Oregon and Stanford are quality teams and do not penalize too much in the rankings this week. |
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). Teams can't put their best blocker on her any more with Erika around. Now it's more difficult for a team to defense PSU with more good hitters on the team. Really nice to see!!! 
