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Post by nyline on Oct 6, 2024 20:14:52 GMT -5
In 2022, Coach Katie's first season as Penn State's Head Coach, the Nittany Lions won their first 12 matches (including one over then-#18 Oregon dignittanyvolleyball.com/penn-state-volleyball-beats-oregon-3-2/). For many fans (including me) and much of the media, it was a surprisingly good start -- some probably thought it was an astonishingly good start. This season's 14-1 start (with the requisite spanking of Oregon -- stats.statbroadcast.com/mobile/?id=537101) is certainly welcomed by the Nittany faithful, with perhaps a measure of surprise. If not shocked, the media is at least slightly surprised by Penn State's fast start. But I don't think Coach Katie is surprised (even though, as a coach and former star player, she is certainly aware of the potential for upsets, and cold streaks, and the unexpected). She knew this team had potential. And she believes in her players. Just like she did in 2022. And 2023. |
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Post by ethankasales on Oct 7, 2024 14:09:15 GMT -5
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Post by jojonito on Oct 7, 2024 14:18:41 GMT -5
I was just looking at the "early" B1G awards list that Emily Ehman put out. I was thinking, that instead of "Coach of the Year", maybe it should be called "Recruiter of the Year", since the players for the coaches of the year probably would be quite good with any number of coaches since they have so much talent.
I mean, look at the PSU teams of 2007 and 2008 when RR won coach of the year. Rather good. (Understatement).
Not to say good coaching is unnecessary; of course not. There are a lot of good coaches out there; but it seems like the difference between the "Coach of the Year" and the other good coaches seems to be recruiting.
I was gonna say that the "Coach of the Year" was the team that won it all, but that's not true. I was looking at the list and a large number of the winners are teams that weren't so good the year before. But the reason that they're became good is usually because of good recruiting.
As an example of not so good recruiting, I'm not a big fan of Jerritt Elliot because, for whatever reason - good recruiting(?), TX always has great hitters, but their serve receive/passing has typically been poor. Yet does he recruit liberos or libero type players? No, only Emma Halter is the rare exception to that. Another other good back row player was Zoe Fleck, who transferred in from UCLA (I think). IMHO, TX should have double the number of championships if Elliot had focused on recruiting great back row defenders from the get go.
If you look at the PSU teams of the last 15-18 years, there are few teams that didn't have a really good libero/defenders, Roberta Holehouse, Alyssa D'Errico, Cathy Quilico (DS), Dominique Gonzalez, Kendall White, Jenna Hampton. Course, in the period between 2018 and the present, (if you don't count transfers), PSU hasn't been able to recruit elite OH's. I guess nobody is perfect.
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Post by jojonito on Oct 7, 2024 14:20:55 GMT -5
I was just looking at the VT forum and there was an interesting discussion of what Defender of the Week really was. Some people were advocating that there should be two separate awards, Libero of the Week and a Defender of the Week for those players who are not liberos. I could see a case for that.
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Post by ethankasales on Oct 7, 2024 15:00:23 GMT -5
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Post by ethankasales on Oct 7, 2024 15:09:24 GMT -5
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Post by ethankasales on Oct 7, 2024 15:30:05 GMT -5
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Post by ethankasales on Oct 7, 2024 15:35:08 GMT -5
Here’s an article I wrote about Jess Mruzik and Izzy Starck earning Big Ten recognition for their week-five performances against Purdue and Michigan State. Article coming on Mruzik’s consecutive Big Ten Player of the Week nod that was announced today. Working to finally get caught up so I can post things in a more timely manner. This season has been atrocious for me in that regard. dignittanyvolleyball.com/jess-mruzik-izzy-starck-receive-weekly-big-ten-honors/ |
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Post by ethankasales on Oct 7, 2024 17:21:45 GMT -5
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Post by ethankasales on Oct 7, 2024 17:26:37 GMT -5
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Post by ethankasales on Oct 8, 2024 15:47:09 GMT -5
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Post by ethankasales on Oct 9, 2024 10:35:46 GMT -5
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Post by nyline on Oct 9, 2024 12:07:08 GMT -5
Nebraska. Oof.
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Post by jojonito on Oct 9, 2024 12:46:30 GMT -5
The grim part of it is, NEB is WAY better than other teams. I think they have the two best passers period; at least comparing the top 10-15 teams.
Now i would love to know what their passing was last year, especially since TX killed them with their serves in the championship match. So, was NEB not as good last year, or did TX just serve out of their minds for the semi and final matches?\\
Edit: I wish I had a clue as to what the headings mean.  And PITT is right behind them. |
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Post by ethankasales on Oct 9, 2024 21:07:26 GMT -5
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And PITT is right behind them.