|
Post by psumaui on Dec 1, 2015 18:55:28 GMT -5
Remember people, we destroyed Nebraska at home last year in last regular season match and they still went on to beat Washington in Regional Semi-Final! I still have faith in this team to take it all! Had the spoiler (BYU) not been there, I think they would have made it to the FF. The problem is that 2015 PSU is nowhere near as good as 2014 Nebraska. I beg to differ on that.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2015 23:01:06 GMT -5
The problem is that 2015 PSU is nowhere near as good as 2014 Nebraska. Based on a quick look on the Big10 website, the 2014 Nebraska team is actually lower in almost all statistical categories than this year's (2015) PSU team (albeit not by any dramatic amount, but noticeably lower). That's one thing we all need to keep in mind (ME FIRST). Probably 9/10 teams in the 3-4 powerhouse volleyball conferences would love to have PSU's stats from this year's team (they are that good).
|
|
|
Post by phillytom on Dec 2, 2015 9:35:11 GMT -5
Let's not forget that 2015 Nebraska is a pretty gnarly team. This is the best John Cook team I've seen, by far. They are championship contenders for sure. They are really tough at the net, play floor D like Wisconsin and they have outsides that Wisconsin doesn't have, which adds up to transition points which is basically what separates the wheat from the chaff at this time of year.
This Nebraska team, playing at home, vs this PSU team with all its holes and health issues -- not surprising at all that it was a blowout.
I think PSU will probably exit before the regional final. They could actually lose to Villanova, which is a good team that played them tough in the early season when PSU was playing much better. I don't see them beating Hawaii or TX A&M right now.
But if they overachieve and make the regional final, where Minnesota will dispatch them, that is a good run for this team with its limitations.
It will be time to heal wounds and build skills and strength in the offseason.
I'm actually optimistic about next year. It will be Weiskircher, Frantti, Washington & Lee who have to lead the team and they have the talent and motivation to do it. I bet Frantti and Washington come back strong next year. I bet Lee and Weiskircher improve. I bet Rivera is ready to play -- and she is a terrific athlete who can be a difference maker at this level.
The only really serious concern I have is that PSU will be one outside short. Imagine that. PSU without enough pin hitters. This roster is a really good candidate for a 6-2 and that would be really interesting to see.
|
|
|
Post by nyline on Dec 2, 2015 11:39:04 GMT -5
Let's not forget that 2015 Nebraska is a pretty gnarly team. This is the best John Cook team I've seen, by far. They are championship contenders for sure. They are really tough at the net, play floor D like Wisconsin and they have outsides that Wisconsin doesn't have, which adds up to transition points which is basically what separates the wheat from the chaff at this time of year. This Nebraska team, playing at home, vs this PSU team with all its holes and health issues -- not surprising at all that it was a blowout. I think PSU will probably exit before the regional final. They could actually lose to Villanova, which is a good team that played them tough in the early season when PSU was playing much better. I don't see them beating Hawaii or TX A&M right now. But if they overachieve and make the regional final, where Minnesota will dispatch them, that is a good run for this team with its limitations. It will be time to heal wounds and build skills and strength in the offseason. I'm actually optimistic about next year. It will be Weiskircher, Frantti, Washington & Lee who have to lead the team and they have the talent and motivation to do it. I bet Frantti and Washington come back strong next year. I bet Lee and Weiskircher improve. I bet Rivera is ready to play -- and she is a terrific athlete who can be a difference maker at this level. The only really serious concern I have is that PSU will be one outside short. Imagine that. PSU without enough pin hitters. This roster is a really good candidate for a 6-2 and that would be really interesting to see. I am reluctant to say "No way" in a season in which several "no way" events have happened, but . . . no way Villanova beats Penn State. Dayton? Could happen in a perfect storm of bad play by Penn State and great play by Dayton, but I don't see that happening either. Hawaii or Texas A&M will pose challenges, but I take the Nittany Lions against either of them. Minnesota? Very tough to beat a team three times in a season. Plus I (perhaps overly optimistic -- irrational exhuberance?) think Penn State will play much better this weekend and next. Finally, you left out Thelen for next season. I think Thelen's blocking shouldn't be discounted.
|
|
|
Post by cross5 on Dec 2, 2015 12:33:05 GMT -5
Let's not forget that 2015 Nebraska is a pretty gnarly team. This is the best John Cook team I've seen, by far. They are championship contenders for sure. They are really tough at the net, play floor D like Wisconsin and they have outsides that Wisconsin doesn't have, which adds up to transition points which is basically what separates the wheat from the chaff at this time of year. This Nebraska team, playing at home, vs this PSU team with all its holes and health issues -- not surprising at all that it was a blowout. I think PSU will probably exit before the regional final. They could actually lose to Villanova, which is a good team that played them tough in the early season when PSU was playing much better. I don't see them beating Hawaii or TX A&M right now. But if they overachieve and make the regional final, where Minnesota will dispatch them, that is a good run for this team with its limitations. It will be time to heal wounds and build skills and strength in the offseason. I'm actually optimistic about next year. It will be Weiskircher, Frantti, Washington & Lee who have to lead the team and they have the talent and motivation to do it. I bet Frantti and Washington come back strong next year. I bet Lee and Weiskircher improve. I bet Rivera is ready to play -- and she is a terrific athlete who can be a difference maker at this level. The only really serious concern I have is that PSU will be one outside short. Imagine that. PSU without enough pin hitters. This roster is a really good candidate for a 6-2 and that would be really interesting to see. I am reluctant to say "No way" in a season in which several "no way" events have happened, but . . . no way Villanova beats Penn State. Dayton? Could happen in a perfect storm of bad play by Penn State and great play by Dayton, but I don't see that happening either. Hawaii or Texas A&M will pose challenges, but I take the Nittany Lions against either of them. Minnesota? Very tough to beat a team three times in a season. Plus I (perhaps overly optimistic -- irrational exhuberance?) think Penn State will play much better this weekend and next. Finally, you left out Thelen for next season. I think Thelen's blocking shouldn't be discounted. Heidi Thelen is the best middle blocker on the team. Her technique and ability to close is outstanding.
|
|
|
Post by scooter721 on Dec 2, 2015 14:15:48 GMT -5
Agree...Heidi is a defensively smart, talented player. Her ability to turn defense into offensive is clearly lacking, but with our outsides, that shouldn't be a problem. We need the touches at the net. Nebraska just powered through our net hands. Not much resistance. She can make a difference THIS year...as well as next.
|
|
|
Post by phillytom on Dec 2, 2015 15:26:19 GMT -5
Let's not forget that 2015 Nebraska is a pretty gnarly team. This is the best John Cook team I've seen, by far. They are championship contenders for sure. They are really tough at the net, play floor D like Wisconsin and they have outsides that Wisconsin doesn't have, which adds up to transition points which is basically what separates the wheat from the chaff at this time of year. This Nebraska team, playing at home, vs this PSU team with all its holes and health issues -- not surprising at all that it was a blowout. I think PSU will probably exit before the regional final. They could actually lose to Villanova, which is a good team that played them tough in the early season when PSU was playing much better. I don't see them beating Hawaii or TX A&M right now. But if they overachieve and make the regional final, where Minnesota will dispatch them, that is a good run for this team with its limitations. It will be time to heal wounds and build skills and strength in the offseason. I'm actually optimistic about next year. It will be Weiskircher, Frantti, Washington & Lee who have to lead the team and they have the talent and motivation to do it. I bet Frantti and Washington come back strong next year. I bet Lee and Weiskircher improve. I bet Rivera is ready to play -- and she is a terrific athlete who can be a difference maker at this level. The only really serious concern I have is that PSU will be one outside short. Imagine that. PSU without enough pin hitters. This roster is a really good candidate for a 6-2 and that would be really interesting to see. I am reluctant to say "No way" in a season in which several "no way" events have happened, but . . . no way Villanova beats Penn State. Dayton? Could happen in a perfect storm of bad play by Penn State and great play by Dayton, but I don't see that happening either. Hawaii or Texas A&M will pose challenges, but I take the Nittany Lions against either of them. Minnesota? Very tough to beat a team three times in a season. Plus I (perhaps overly optimistic -- irrational exhuberance?) think Penn State will play much better this weekend and next. Finally, you left out Thelen for next season. I think Thelen's blocking shouldn't be discounted. Past experience is not a predictor because this team has more problems than any PSU team of the recent past. Minnesota absolutely can beat them again because the Gophers are better (and it would be only twice this season fwiw). But I don't know if it will get to that. Any team that can serve tough is dangerous for PSU right now -- and Nova as I recall was a good serving team. Agree about Thelen. I definitely understand the need to try to get Whitney and Lee in the rotation, but next year there won't be that problem.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2015 15:27:10 GMT -5
I am reluctant to say "No way" in a season in which several "no way" events have happened, but . . . no way Villanova beats Penn State. Dayton? Could happen in a perfect storm of bad play by Penn State and great play by Dayton, but I don't see that happening either. Hawaii or Texas A&M will pose challenges, but I take the Nittany Lions against either of them. Minnesota? Very tough to beat a team three times in a season. Plus I (perhaps overly optimistic -- irrational exhuberance?) think Penn State will play much better this weekend and next. Finally, you left out Thelen for next season. I think Thelen's blocking shouldn't be discounted. What does the text in red mean? You know we split with them this year, thus far.
|
|
|
Post by cross5 on Dec 2, 2015 15:34:16 GMT -5
Maybe he was thinking of Nebraska?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2015 16:54:14 GMT -5
Maybe he was thinking of Nebraska? Maybe he's Nyline and it's our problem if we can't figure out why stuff is in red?
|
|
|
Post by nyline on Dec 2, 2015 17:01:48 GMT -5
Maybe he was thinking of Nebraska? Maybe he's Nyline and it's our problem if we can't figure out why stuff is in red? Gosh I hope that's not the case. Yes, was either (a) thinking of Nebraska, or (b) not thinking. I actually realized that error earlier today, and meant to try to sneak in and change my post before anyone quoted it (would that have been wrong?) but got caught up in multiple crises at work, and just now got freed up.
|
|
|
Post by nyline on Dec 2, 2015 17:05:58 GMT -5
I am reluctant to say "No way" in a season in which several "no way" events have happened, but . . . no way Villanova beats Penn State. Dayton? Could happen in a perfect storm of bad play by Penn State and great play by Dayton, but I don't see that happening either. Hawaii or Texas A&M will pose challenges, but I take the Nittany Lions against either of them. Minnesota? Very tough to beat a team three times in a season. Plus I (perhaps overly optimistic -- irrational exhuberance?) think Penn State will play much better this weekend and next. Finally, you left out Thelen for next season. I think Thelen's blocking shouldn't be discounted. What does the text in red mean? You know we split with them this year, thus far. It means "Friends don't let friends post in haste when they are multitasking on work-related crises"
or, put another way: "Busted! BrainO"
|
|
|
Post by cross5 on Dec 2, 2015 17:21:49 GMT -5
What does the text in red mean? You know we split with them this year, thus far. It means "Friends don't let friends post in haste when they are multitasking on work-related crises"
or, put another way: "Busted! BrainO"
I will be the DP(designated poster) next time you fall off the wagon, NY. However, I think I may be responsible for your error here. Does that make me an enabler?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2015 17:27:35 GMT -5
It means "Friends don't let friends post in haste when they are multitasking on work-related crises"
or, put another way: "Busted! BrainO"
I will be the DP(designated poster) next time you fall off the wagon, NY. However, I think I may be responsible for your error here. Does that make me an enabler? No. You're an agent provocateur.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2015 17:35:48 GMT -5
I am reluctant to say "No way" in a season in which several "no way" events have happened, but . . . no way Villanova beats Penn State. Dayton? Could happen in a perfect storm of bad play by Penn State and great play by Dayton, but I don't see that happening either. Hawaii or Texas A&M will pose challenges, but I take the Nittany Lions against either of them. Minnesota? Very tough to beat a team three times in a season. Plus I (perhaps overly optimistic -- irrational exhuberance?) think Penn State will play much better this weekend and next. Finally, you left out Thelen for next season. I think Thelen's blocking shouldn't be discounted. Past experience is not a predictor because this team has more problems than any PSU team of the recent past. Minnesota absolutely can beat them again because the Gophers are better (and it would be only twice this season fwiw). But I don't know if it will get to that. Any team that can serve tough is dangerous for PSU right now -- and Nova as I recall was a good serving team. Agree about Thelen. I definitely understand the need to try to get Whitney and Lee in the rotation, but next year there won't be that problem. One player I haven't seen mentioned in some time is Novakovic. I'm hoping she'll bring some help from the right side--being left-handed(?).
|
|