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Post by elliotberton on Sept 11, 2022 19:36:25 GMT -5
I'm sincerely curious. Some PSU fans seem consumed with cries of "disaster!" or "the sky is falling!" or "We're doomed!" How long have these ideas on the team been around? I for one did not think the team would compete for conference crown or even be able to host first two rounds of tourney. Not sure if that is the same as a prediction of disaster or doom, but in general, it is difficult to replace 5 of 6 starters and be highly successful. Pleasantly surprised with success so far, and looking forward to a fun season. |
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Post by nyline on Sept 11, 2022 19:52:54 GMT -5
I'm sincerely curious. Some PSU fans seem consumed with cries of "disaster!" or "the sky is falling!" or "We're doomed!" How long have these ideas on the team been around? I for one did not think the team would compete for conference crown or even be able to host first two rounds of tourney. Not sure if that is the same as a prediction of disaster or doom, but in general, it is difficult to replace 5 of 6 starters and be highly successful. Pleasantly surprised with success so far, and looking forward to a fun season. I think there also was considerable chatter generated on other social media by people who probably fall more into the "troll" category than the "fan" category. |
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Post by pinkpanther on Sept 12, 2022 10:45:37 GMT -5
I for one did not think the team would compete for conference crown or even be able to host first two rounds of tourney. Not sure if that is the same as a prediction of disaster or doom, but in general, it is difficult to replace 5 of 6 starters and be highly successful. Pleasantly surprised with success so far, and looking forward to a fun season. I think there also was considerable chatter generated on other social media by people who probably fall more into the "troll" category than the "fan" category. I've been watching PSU volleyball since the days when Salima was the starting setter and the student section used to put Ks up on the railing for every kill by Leanne Kling. I completely agree that we were spoiled rotten by the success PSU enjoyed from 07 - 14. Pretty soon after that, though, the doubts started to creep in. Some recruits and transfers that many hoped would choose PSU chose places like Nebraska, Texas, Stanford, and other places. I'm always of the opinion that I want to cheer for the players who choose us, and I don't worry about the ones we missed. But the discussion on that other board (and sometimes here) has occasionally been about how we were losing to players we tried to recruit, so I guess I wasn't completely surprised when losses that occurred earlier in the tournament than any of us would have liked also included doubts about why those players who beat us chose not to come to PSU. At the same time, we've had some really amazing players, and we've had some big swings that could have won us big matches, but they went the other way. Personally, I feel like if a few more breaks went our way from 2015 - 21, it would have quieted some of the doubts. But when our OHs missed big swings that then led to us losing in 5 against the top of the B1G and/or being knocked out of the tourney against top opponents, it turned into discussions like "why aren't those going our way anymore"? That then pretty easily turned into, "Why aren't we recruiting players who make those?" I wasn't someone saying those things, and I didn't and still don't believe them, but I heard them, and it seemed like the dominant storyline in these forums. This is me personally speculating, and I don't want it to sound like I'm being overly critical, but it has also seemed to me, as a fan, that once the big win streaks were over and we started being on the other side of those sorts of streaks, it felt like it was as much a mental block as it was a physical one. The team has really seemed to struggle to end some losing streaks that have now extended for most of a decade. There have been a lot of matches where we seemed evenly matched, and then we ended up on the wrong end of a reverse sweep or otherwise close 5 set loss. I'm probably one of the most optimistic people you will meet, but the last few seasons have felt like we are a good team that occasionally shows flashes of being elite, but it has also felt like the days of us being elite are getting further and further in the past as the team has struggled to win more than lose in high pressure 5 set matches. That honestly seems to me to be one of the biggest things that has looked so good this season so far -- this team doesn't seem to hang their head when things get tough, and it is giving me hope that this might be the year where we start to reverse some of the negative trends from recent years. I rarely say my worries out loud, but for the last few years, I have felt pessimistic that when something goes 4 or 5 sets that we would be successful. I think Nicole Fawcett spoiled us all when being down in set 5 in the national championship was just another hurdle to overcome, but that we could count on the team doing it. That has felt more and more like the old days, but this team has me optimistic that has changed. I know it's early, and we haven't played Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Minny yet, but it's been fun to see the team come together and gel as quickly as they have. The blocking, defense, and serving has looked better than I expected, and that has won us some of these matches. They have created a lot of good momentum going into B1G season, so let's hope this optimism we are all feeling lasts all season! |
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Post by nyline on Sept 12, 2022 11:53:37 GMT -5
^^^^^^^^^^
Love this post 👍🙏👍
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Post by nymeria24 on Sept 12, 2022 12:52:20 GMT -5
I think there also was considerable chatter generated on other social media by people who probably fall more into the "troll" category than the "fan" category. I've been watching PSU volleyball since the days when Salima was the starting setter and the student section used to put Ks up on the railing for every kill by Leanne Kling. I completely agree that we were spoiled rotten by the success PSU enjoyed from 07 - 14.  Pretty soon after that, though, the doubts started to creep in. Some recruits and transfers that many hoped would choose PSU chose places like Nebraska, Texas, Stanford, and other places. I'm always of the opinion that I want to cheer for the players who choose us, and I don't worry about the ones we missed. But the discussion on that other board (and sometimes here) has occasionally been about how we were losing to players we tried to recruit, so I guess I wasn't completely surprised when losses that occurred earlier in the tournament than any of us would have liked also included doubts about why those players who beat us chose not to come to PSU. At the same time, we've had some really amazing players, and we've had some big swings that could have won us big matches, but they went the other way.  Personally, I feel like if a few more breaks went our way from 2015 - 21, it would have quieted some of the doubts. But when our OHs missed big swings that then led to us losing in 5 against the top of the B1G and/or being knocked out of the tourney against top opponents, it turned into discussions like "why aren't those going our way anymore"? That then pretty easily turned into, "Why aren't we recruiting players who make those?" I wasn't someone saying those things, and I didn't and still don't believe them, but I heard them, and it seemed like the dominant storyline in these forums. This is me personally speculating, and I don't want it to sound like I'm being overly critical, but it has also seemed to me, as a fan, that once the big win streaks were over and we started being on the other side of those sorts of streaks, it felt like it was as much a mental block as it was a physical one. The team has really seemed to struggle to end some losing streaks that have now extended for most of a decade. There have been a lot of matches where we seemed evenly matched, and then we ended up on the wrong end of a reverse sweep or otherwise close 5 set loss. I'm probably one of the most optimistic people you will meet, but the last few seasons have felt like we are a good team that occasionally shows flashes of being elite, but it has also felt like the days of us being elite are getting further and further in the past as the team has struggled to win more than lose in high pressure 5 set matches.  That honestly seems to me to be one of the biggest things that has looked so good this season so far -- this team doesn't seem to hang their head when things get tough, and it is giving me hope that this might be the year where we start to reverse some of the negative trends from recent years. I rarely say my worries out loud, but for the last few years, I have felt pessimistic that when something goes 4 or 5 sets that we would be successful. I think Nicole Fawcett spoiled us all when being down in set 5 in the national championship was just another hurdle to overcome, but that we could count on the team doing it. That has felt more and more like the old days, but this team has me optimistic that has changed. I know it's early, and we haven't played Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Minny yet, but it's been fun to see the team come together and gel as quickly as they have. The blocking, defense, and serving has looked better than I expected, and that has won us some of these matches. They have created a lot of good momentum going into B1G season, so let's hope this optimism we are all feeling lasts all season! We all talked about the impossible standards to maintain the old psu teams set. Everyone knew that wasn’t sustainable indefinatly yet psu still did well and scattered some more national championships so everything was fine. It wasn’t until they went into this NC drought that everyone’s like” what’s wrong with penn state ?” That spoiled on success at that level warps reality into believing something should be the norm that’s not sustainable indefinatly. Psu fans , myself included really were spoiled rotten. Looking back now it makes you appreciate more what they were able to do. Psu made it seem normal but now we see that is far from Normal. I would also like to note I was wrong about Katie. Not that I didn’t think she had potential to be a great coach cause I never thought that but that I didn’t want her as coach. Had nothing to do with skill or potential. Had to do with my personal connection I felt with players I watched over the years that gave me amazing rides through the seasons. I don’t remember ever watching Katie play. There was no connection there with me. My opinions were based solely off nostogia and wanting to see certain former players back in psu colors. I do now hope Katie does well. Katie was before my time. I didn’t first start following penn state until the harmatto / fawcette era. So my connection with players is from then on |
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Post by traveler on Sept 12, 2022 14:39:44 GMT -5
I think there also was considerable chatter generated on other social media by people who probably fall more into the "troll" category than the "fan" category. .... That honestly seems to me to be one of the biggest things that has looked so good this season so far -- this team doesn't seem to hang their head when things get tough, and it is giving me hope that this might be the year where we start to reverse some of the negative trends from recent years. I rarely say my worries out loud, but for the last few years, I have felt pessimistic that when something goes 4 or 5 sets that we would be successful. I think Nicole Fawcett spoiled us all when being down in set 5 in the national championship was just another hurdle to overcome, but that we could count on the team doing it. That has felt more and more like the old days, but this team has me optimistic that has changed. I know it's early, and we haven't played Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Minny yet, but it's been fun to see the team come together and gel as quickly as they have. The blocking, defense, and serving has looked better than I expected, and that has won us some of these matches. They have created a lot of good momentum going into B1G season, so let's hope this optimism we are all feeling lasts all season! Heck yeah!! Along those lines: *the 5 setter matches went really well with us running away with it at 15-10 and 15-9, scoring the last 4 or 5 points. That really shows that determination that Katie talks about. *I remember watching Dan Fischer's team a couple years back. What an assortment of unusual players, including some very not-tall hitters, took down nearly everyone in their path. I didn't see PSU coming up with players the likes of Williams, Elesaia, Wetherington. (Trammel I sort of expected, hoped for and rejoiced at!) It seemed like a very Fischer move to me, and boy has it paid off. No other transfer to PSU since 2007 comes to mind as having come in and made more of a statement than these four. And how well the team has coalesced. Wow. I suspect we won't go 35-0 or whatever that would be, but I think we'll be a lot easier and fun to watch. And I'd be remiss if I didn't call out Katie's recruitment of Grimes. Again: wow. |
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Post by jojonito on Sept 12, 2022 16:40:48 GMT -5
What a bunch of great posts!! I've been spoiled along with everybody else with PSU's success from 07-14. One of my best memories of PSU coming back in a fifth set was the 2013 match against Stanford. Stanford was up 9-6 in the fifth, PSU called a TO, and Stanford was expecting to finish the match off. (When a team is down 3 in he fifth, generally, the match is over as the team that is down starts pressing and making mistakes. Not always but often.) PSU came out of the time out, got a side out, and then PSU got 5 straight pts with Nia Grant serving to go ahead 12-9. Stanford was in shock. PSU ended up winning the fifth set 15-11. Unbelievably, this was a regional final that Karch, who did the color for the match, said should have been a finals match. An example of he NCAA selection panel messing up. My opinion of the "drought years", 2015 to present, is that PSU was missing just a few key pieces. IMHO, the Haleigh Washington years needed a better setter, and the Hord/Gray/Jonni years needed a terminator. Also, for some reason, PSU hasn't seemed to be able to recruit top notch setters after Glass. Micha was an fortuitous accident. If the coach at the school she had committed to hadn't left, PSU would have never seen her shadow. Some may disagree with me, but Gabby, to me was a good setter, not a great setter. Granted, she may not have looked so good because of a lack of hitting talent on the PSU squad. Just my opinion, which is worth what you paid for it.  That reminds me of a comment by Karch in the interview with Terry Pettit. He said that numerous coaches talked to him about Jordan Poulter; that she was able to take a squad that wasn't that great and just keep winning against pretty high quality teams. (This overseas leagues, I think in Italy). Like many, I have been pleasantly surprised by this PSU squad. In spite of being prone to some bad games here and there, they are very resilient and really mentally tough. So impressed with both 5 set wins.
P.S. I so agree with the recruitment of Grimes. Just the recruitment in the short time Katie has been head coach has been very impressive.
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Post by nymeria24 on Sept 13, 2022 12:23:38 GMT -5
Washington still got a natty. She was a beast though on the court who seemed to have the friendliest personality in the world off court. Micha I agree we got lucky with. The stars just aligned right for her. She is still one of my fav penn state players ever. I still think if she’s not hurt psu beats Oregon and brings home another natty. Just my opinion. That natural “ I’m done messing around you guys are over stare “ always got me fired up. I’ll never forgot that service run she went on against Washington in Washington. That was one of those moment “ hop on my back guys I’m finishing this thing” moments. Her and bricio at usc were a thing of beauty to watch from service line. Think about all they players psu had through those years. Harmatto , glass, di errico , Hodge, Wilson , fawcette ,brown , McClendon , scott, Gonzalez , Courtney, grant , Hancock ect etc ect. I know white was great and Parker did good job but was only listing names of players with nattys. I guess my point being us penn state fan have been so utterly spoiled.
Katie and her staff have done a good job with the transfers brought in and seems to have instilled the right attitude with the team. I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t even really follow them until recently. Didn’t know anyone on team. I’d glance and see 3-0 then 4-0 , 5-0 , 6-0. That got attention a little but it was still really against no competition. They beat Stanford and Oregon and that got my attention and I started looking into them and their players. This kash Williams , man what a steal. How did we do that ? Lol. This team looks like they are having fun playing together. The true test is still to come. As well as they have done they have faced 0 pressure up to this point. Easier to play and take risks with no pressure. Many didn’t even have them in top 25 to start season. Now that they have moved to 11 the pressure will start mounting and the more they win the higher the pressure will get. You can determine the medal of a team by how they respond under pressure so we will see soon enough. They have done all they can up to this point. Gonna get tougher. Can’t wait to see where Katie has them mentally when the pressure starts bearing down
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Post by jojonito on Sept 13, 2022 13:10:04 GMT -5
Washington still got a natty. She was a beast though on the court who seemed to have the friendliest personality in the world off court. Micha I agree we got lucky with. The stars just aligned right for her. She is still one of my fav penn state players ever. I still think if she’s not hurt psu beats Oregon and brings home another natty. Just my opinion. That natural “ I’m done messing around you guys are over stare “ always got me fired up. I’ll never forgot that service run she went on against Washington in Washington. That was one of those moment “ hop on my back guys I’m finishing this thing” moments. Katie and her staff have done a good job with the transfers brought in and seems to have instilled the right attitude with the team. I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t even really follow them until recently. Didn’t know anyone on team. I’d glance and see 3-0 then 4-0 , 5-0 , 6-0.
Yeah, I've gone back and watched that Washington match every so often. And it wasn't just Micha in that match (I know you're not suggesting it was). Katie Slay, in the presser afterward started saying something like, "And we knew everything that they were going to do", and RR shut her down. In my limited experience watching NCAA volleyball I don't think I've ever seen a good team (Wash) shut down so decisively.
I've been following PSU for the last 12 years, but after RR retired, and I heard about the transfers out, I was so depressed that I didn't pay attention to PSU volleyball for about 4-5 months. Really glad to see how well Katie and the team have done and are continuing to do. Like you say, the tests are upcoming. Teams now know that PSU is a tough team and that they can't expect an easy match this year.
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Post by nymeria24 on Sept 13, 2022 14:33:26 GMT -5
Washington still got a natty. She was a beast though on the court who seemed to have the friendliest personality in the world off court. Micha I agree we got lucky with. The stars just aligned right for her. She is still one of my fav penn state players ever. I still think if she’s not hurt psu beats Oregon and brings home another natty. Just my opinion. That natural “ I’m done messing around you guys are over stare “ always got me fired up. I’ll never forgot that service run she went on against Washington in Washington. That was one of those moment “ hop on my back guys I’m finishing this thing” moments. Katie and her staff have done a good job with the transfers brought in and seems to have instilled the right attitude with the team. I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t even really follow them until recently. Didn’t know anyone on team. I’d glance and see 3-0 then 4-0 , 5-0 , 6-0.
Yeah, I've gone back and watched that Washington match every so often. And it wasn't just Micha in that match (I know you're not suggesting it was). Katie Slay, in the presser afterward started saying something like, "And we knew everything that they were going to do", and RR shut her down. In my limited experience watching NCAA volleyball I don't think I've ever seen a good team (Wash) shut down so decisively. Â
I've been following PSU for the last 12 years, but after RR retired, and I heard about the transfers out, I was so depressed that I didn't pay attention to PSU volleyball for about 4-5 months. Really glad to see how well Katie and the team have done and are continuing to do. Like you say, the tests are upcoming. Teams now know that PSU is a tough team and that they can't expect an easy match this year.
Omg. How did I forget slay. Shame on me. See there’s just so many you can forget someone. She’s a big one also. I can’t believe I forgot her. Oh and in that match I was just referring to the ridiculous services runs she went on. I understand other players have to play to keep the run going. It just seemed like she was serving the whole match |
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Post by jojonito on Sept 13, 2022 16:29:57 GMT -5
Hey, people are impressed by different players. Course, PSU during that period had a LOT of really good players. I remember being so impressed by the defense of Deja MacLendon. Over the course of 4 years she turned into a really good back court player. She was voted MVP of the 2010 finals as a freshman. Also by Katie Slay. Slay wasn't the most athletic girl, but she was SMART. She graduated withe either a 4.0 average or something like 3.96. I think, because of her smarts, Katie was an excellent blocker. And, like many middles (or so it appears to me), she had a very soft set of hands. She could set a great ball.
I've wondered over the past years whatever happened to Arielle Scott. Arielle Scott was interviewed at the awards banquet, (I think in 2013), and was asked what she learned at PSU. Her reply was classic, especially coming from such a usually quiet girl. She replied,"Coach told me to not be a baby, cuz babies don't go far in life. And she learned from Arielle Wilson, Always have your nails done." The place just roared.
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Post by nymeria24 on Sept 13, 2022 16:34:30 GMT -5
Hey, people are impressed by different players. Course, PSU during that period had a LOT of really good players. I remember being so impressed by the defense of Deja MacLendon. Over the course of 4 years she turned into a really good back court player. She was voted MVP of the 2010 finals as a freshman. Also by Katie Slay. Slay wasn't the most athletic girl, but she was SMART. She graduated withe either a 4.0 average or something like 3.96. I think, because of her smarts, Katie was an excellent blocker. And, like many middles (or so it appears to me), she had a very soft set of hands. She could set a great ball. I've wondered over the past years whatever happened to Arielle Scott. Arielle Scott was interviewed at the awards banquet, (I think in 2013), and was asked what she learned at PSU. Her reply was classic, especially coming from such a usually quiet girl. She replied,"Coach told me to not be a baby, cuz babies don't go far in life. And she learned from Arielle Wilson, Always have your nails done." The place just roared. Yeah. People like slay and I’ll throw in Megan Courtney who have that natural extremely high strategic vb IQ are usually the type that make best coaches eventually. I’m sure there’s other but I remember constantly hearing how high Courtney’s vb IQ was over and over Natural athleticism and talent are one thing and mental IQ is another |
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Post by traveler on Sept 13, 2022 16:36:46 GMT -5
Hey, people are impressed by different players. Course, PSU during that period had a LOT of really good players. I remember being so impressed by the defense of Deja MacLendon. Over the course of 4 years she turned into a really good back court player. She was voted MVP of the 2010 finals as a freshman. Also by Katie Slay. Slay wasn't the most athletic girl, but she was SMART. She graduated withe either a 4.0 average or something like 3.96. I think, because of her smarts, Katie was an excellent blocker. And, like many middles (or so it appears to me), she had a very soft set of hands. She could set a great ball. I've wondered over the past years whatever happened to Arielle Scott. Arielle Scott was interviewed at the awards banquet, (I think in 2013), and was asked what she learned at PSU. Her reply was classic, especially coming from such a usually quiet girl. She replied,"Coach told me to not be a baby, cuz babies don't go far in life. And she learned from Arielle Wilson, Always have your nails done." The place just roared. He always called her "A Scott" to not get the two Arielle's confused. I remember seeing Reed (I think it was Reed) sitting w/her mother in the empty stands at Villanova during an early season tourney. She must have been a sophomore or junior. She was all curled up in the seat and looked so young. Get those players out on the floor and they were giants...in wvb history, in prowess, in smarts. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane!! |
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Post by nymeria24 on Sept 13, 2022 16:38:38 GMT -5
Hey, people are impressed by different players. Course, PSU during that period had a LOT of really good players. I remember being so impressed by the defense of Deja MacLendon. Over the course of 4 years she turned into a really good back court player. She was voted MVP of the 2010 finals as a freshman. Also by Katie Slay. Slay wasn't the most athletic girl, but she was SMART. She graduated withe either a 4.0 average or something like 3.96. I think, because of her smarts, Katie was an excellent blocker. And, like many middles (or so it appears to me), she had a very soft set of hands. She could set a great ball. I've wondered over the past years whatever happened to Arielle Scott. Arielle Scott was interviewed at the awards banquet, (I think in 2013), and was asked what she learned at PSU. Her reply was classic, especially coming from such a usually quiet girl. She replied,"Coach told me to not be a baby, cuz babies don't go far in life. And she learned from Arielle Wilson, Always have your nails done." The place just roared. He always called her "A Scott" to not get the two Arielle's confused. I remember seeing Reed (I think it was Reed) sitting w/her mother in the empty stands at Villanova during an early season tourney. She must have been a sophomore or junior. She was all curled up in the seat and looked so young. Get those players out on the floor and they were giants...in wvb history, in prowess, in smarts. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane!! Reed! There’s another one dang it. Thanks for reminding me |
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That reminds me of a comment by Karch in the interview with Terry Pettit. He said that numerous coaches talked to him about Jordan Poulter; that she was able to take a squad that wasn't that great and just keep winning against pretty high quality teams. (This overseas leagues, I think in Italy).