Match Thread: PSU vs. Stanford - 9-11-21 7:00 p.m. ET

As a Stanford(and PSU) fan, it was nice for Stanford to get a win but I was not happy with the play of Stanford. The block of Stanford is downright bad. They might as well not even tried to block Hord because they weren't going to come close anyhow.

Stanford has no OH2. It's a big problem when OH2 and the setter are in the front row.

The only thing Stanford has going for it over PSU in future W/L record is the B1G being way tougher than the PAC-12. Having said that, the way the schedule is set up PSU should win the next 5 of 6 matches.

He's done that before.  Not sure what to think about it.  Maybe he's putting a player in a tough situation to see what they do.  But I don't think that's right considering Russ' view of winning and losing; i.e. that losing has no value. 

I thought PSU did better with Cassie in the backrow. I don't remember what her serve receive was like, but she had some good digs. I'm hoping that she will solidify the serve receive for PSU. She was really flying around back there. Jenna had a good match. She kept a bundle, (technical term), of balls from hitting the floor. Cassie had 11 digs and Jenna had 14. AK came in a did a good job, hitting .389. That was good to see also.  Erika and Adanna didn't have a good match.  I was surprised that Adanna only hit .200 as there was a period of time when she was the goto hitter for PSU.  Erika was hitting balls long again and she had 8 attack errors and Adanna had 5.  

The middles didn't do well at all; Hord hitting .258 and Allie hitting .167. It's very troubling to me that the connection between Gabby and Hord still seems hit and miss. Don't know what the problem is there. Hord had some attacks that were great, and some others where the timing was off by one of them where she could barely touch the ball. I also wonder why RR didn't do the double sub or the sub for Gabby with Jonni setting. It seemed to work reasonably well in prior matches.

One thing about RR reminds me of Phil Jackson of Chicago Bull fame. Jackson was not afraid to put players in and lose a lead. During the first championship, the Bulls went out west for a 7 game road trip. Just about every game, the 2nd team would come in at the start of the 2nd quarter and promptly lose the 10-15 point lead that the starters had given them. But at the end of the year, they were able to come in during some close games when the starters just didn't have it and give the team quite a boost. RR is willing to give players a chance to see how they will do in a game situation, even when things are pretty close. Of course, this assumes that they have been practicing at a high level as RR generally doesn't play players who haven't practiced well.

I'm still hoping that the team will continue to improve and be a fair bit better at the end of the year.  I guess will find out if that's right or maybe I'm just a cock-eyed optimist.  Or as a third option, just plain clueless.   (Excuse me, without clue).

One thing is for sure unless they do improve, it is going to be a long season. But I have confidence in the coaches and the girls, and I think by the end of the season they will be in it.

Here’s a recap of last night’s 3-2 loss to Stanford. The Cardinal now lead the all-time series 14-12.

dignittanyvolleyball.com/penn-state-volleyball-loses-3-2-to-stanford/