Post mortem and 2016

Sometimes my writing lacks clarity. And sometimes I handicap myself by not carefully reading something I'm commenting on. I was referring to Novakovic and Rivera together. Making a connection that was not intended.

I liked the idea of Rivera and Novakovic splitting tine in a DS/front row combo role. It would have meant Rivera had serious, serious hops, and Novakovic was a 6-3 waterbug with a big arm. Oh well.

A faster game has some complexities that seem to be easily overlooked in this discussion. Hitters must change their routines and learn to hit from different locations or zones. That change is not an easy or simple correction. Add the talk about a 6/2 a and complications are multiplied.d overnight.
Recall that when Micha began some of our experienced hitters struggled with the differing setting actions and tempo. If you run a 6/2 at the same time then you have two setters that if not duplicates in tempo you are asking for an attacker to have multiple profiles. Losing an attacker from the back row is another consideration that must be evaluated before the 5/1 is discarded.

I knew Novakovic was a lefty but I hadn't noticed that Rivera is also a lefty. I'm really hoping Rivera gains more confidence next year, improves, and plays to her level of athleticism. Coach tabbed her as the starting setter in the pre-season, which says a lot. She could end up stealing the job from Bryanna or, at least, rotating time with her. Also, I'm interested to see what the new incoming MB Demure brings to the table, as a setter-option.

I'm sure the coaches will thoroughly examine the setter position for next year and that will answer many of our questions.

The initial post makes a lot of suppositions with not much evidence.  There's no evidence that this team "wasn't prepared physically" like previous years.  Pretty sure the players would tell you that the physical training/preparation was identical to past years.  In mentioning players of the past, it is very unfair (and wrongheaded) to assume that they were somehow more dedicated or determined than any player on this team.  Even more unfounded is to look at some player coming in as the undeniable answer to present holes or issues.  I can point to MANY players on the present team who would put any incoming recruit to shame when it comes to work ethic, desire, or dedication.  Like most club/HS players yet to begin PSU training, we can echo the villain in "Silence of the Lambs" as he called down into a well to his next victim, "You don't know what pain is!"  (OK--a little dark, but you get the picture.)  My point is that you are unfairly, and I think unintentionally, insulting many players who have given everything they have to this program and institution,...and then some.  And let me remind you, all but the present freshmen have something that no incoming (nor likely you or I) have--one or two National Championship trophies.  Now, if you want to argue that some new DS might have more "ability" than what PSU might have returning or what they had this year, OK.  That will only be determined next year.  As far as the stated reason that PSU "simply did not have adequate defensive players to keep rallies going against the better teams" as a main reason for failure this year, I think that would fall quite a ways down on the list of problems.  One of the MAIN reasons, and probably THE main reason, was stated by someone earlier: the team's inability to create runs of points, mostly generated via excellent serving.  2014 PSU generated 243 aces at a 1.91/set clip compared to the 2015 team's 125 at 1.12/set.  That is a significant drop-off.  And it doesn't even account for how many times Hancock's serve put an opponent out-of-system, producing free or weak down balls for easy transition points.  Dominant teams in any sport THRIVE on the ability to score easy points--in bunches: the home run, the quick strike long pass, the fast break.  If a team consistently must slug it out for points and cannot generate runs of "easy" scores, the likelihood that they will struggle at times, even breakdown, increases substantially.  Couple this problem with PSU's struggles with closing blocks (which was likely somewhat tied to serving), and the defense will be put upon to "extend rallies."  Conversely, PSU's serve receive for much of the season struggled.  Through much of 2014, PSU's SR was handled by Gonzales, Courtney, and Frantti/Pierce, and accounted for 61 reception errors (Courtney led all with 26).  In 2015, PSU passers had 89 reception errors with Holcomb and Frantti accounting for over 60% of those.  You can go look at the 2015 Reception efficiency % if you like--you might be surprised.  The main difference between this year's team and the last two was Hancock: her serving, her ability to freeze blockers or get out of a bad rotation by turning on a 2nd ball at any moment, and possibly most importantly, her intimidation factor.  This kid gave the impression that if she wasn't playing volleyball she'd be driving an 18-wheeler down I-70.  Either way, she was going to run you over.  At any rate, the 2016 PSU team has a long way to go.