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Post by elliotberton on Sept 6, 2017 14:55:47 GMT -5
Watched replay of US loss to China in Grand Champions Cup. Courtney was Libero and did only so/so. Aiyana Whitney played Opp in fourth set and also was not too terrific.
Carli Lloyd, who really is a terrific setter, got hurt early in Set 2. So Carlini had to play, and frankly did not do well. Part of that is because China is a lot better than we are right now, but also because back up setters are back up setters. Ultimately, Lloyd came back in and played hurt at the very end of Set 3 and all of Set 4. We got beat badly in 4 sets.
Matches are shown live and in replay on the Olympic Network and I gather on the US Volleyball site. Will be rooting on our recent grads (and yes even our recent rivals).
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Post by nyline on Sept 6, 2017 17:58:02 GMT -5
Watched replay of US loss to China in Grand Champions Cup. Courtney was Libero and did only so/so. Aiyana Whitney played Opp in fourth set and also was not too terrific. Carli Lloyd, who really is a terrific setter, got hurt early in Set 2. So Carlini had to play, and frankly did not do well. Part of that is because China is a lot better than we are right now, but also because back up setters are back up setters. Ultimately, Lloyd came back in and played hurt at the very end of Set 3 and all of Set 4. We got beat badly in 4 sets. Matches are shown live and in replay on the Olympic Network and I gather on the US Volleyball site. Will be rooting on our recent grads (and yes even our recent rivals). Thanks for the thoughtful recap. |
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Post by elliotberton on Sept 7, 2017 11:59:57 GMT -5
Demonstrating (again) how important opponent quality is to our evaluation of own players, the US match against South Korea put a balm on all who played. US swept the Koreans who are one of the two weaker teams in the 6 team round robin tourney.
Meghan Courtney played all 3 sets as Libero (ahead of Wong Orantes!) and looked great. She was all over the court, passed really well and had two diving pancake digs that would make any player proud. She had a number of assists too.
Carlini, filling in for the still injured Carli Lloyd, also did well, with solid sets, good defense and several blocks.
Whitney did not play. Which is too bad since those who got on the court had a lot of fun. In the first set, there was one rally which lasted just under a full minute.
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Post by armydoogie on Sept 7, 2017 17:54:19 GMT -5
In the first set, there was one rally which lasted just under a full minute. That volley was amazing! *Spike* *Dig*, *Spike* *Dig*, *Spike* *Dig* (on both sides). So fun to watch! |
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Post by elliotberton on Sept 9, 2017 1:56:24 GMT -5
Watching US v. Russia and seeing something new. Courtney is libero on serve receive, and Orantes comes in for her when we serve. Does subbing libero for libero count against the subbing limitation? Need to research that one.
Very back and forth match. Courtney playing pretty well but not like the Korea tilt. Carlini doing all the setting for the still injured Carli Lloyd. Whitney has not seen the floor.
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Post by elliotberton on Sept 9, 2017 2:42:56 GMT -5
Carli Lloyd, heavily taped shoulder and all, a desperation sub in latter part of set 4. It was like a light switch was turned on. US stormed back from behind to take the set then dominated set 5. Proof that there is really no replacing the starting setter.
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Post by nyline on Sept 9, 2017 3:02:09 GMT -5
Carli Lloyd, heavily taped shoulder and all, a desperation sub in latter part of set 4. It was like a light switch was turned on. US stormed back from behind to take the set then dominated set 5. Proof that there is really no replacing the starting setter. I always liked Carli Lloyd, but I confess I didn't think she was as good as she is. Maybe I was distracted by the helmeted libero? (Same team, right?) |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2017 6:14:58 GMT -5
Carli Lloyd, heavily taped shoulder and all, a desperation sub in latter part of set 4. It was like a light switch was turned on. US stormed back from behind to take the set then dominated set 5. Proof that there is really no replacing the starting setter. I always liked Carli Lloyd, but I confess I didn't think she was as good as she is. Maybe I was distracted by the helmeted libero? (Same team, right?) Carli was the Jim Kelly for the Buffalo Bills of women's volleyball, and her libero (Robin Rostratter) had that blue martial arts helmet. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2017 6:20:51 GMT -5
I'm watching the USA vs Japan match and the home crowd reminds me of the original version of Rollerball (early '70s movie).
Another thought--I wish we could get some of Japan's back row players.
Sad; at the end of set 3, when we could have gone up 2-1, we kept setting Larsen into a waiting Japanese block.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2017 8:42:12 GMT -5
Happy ending! USA pulled it together, won the 4th set convincingly and took the 5th, 15-12. Jim Kelly set the whole game (I think).
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Post by elliotberton on Sept 9, 2017 9:14:26 GMT -5
Lloyd is a talented blocker and projects infectious confidence. Lots of smiles. Micha and Carlini don't project the same body language=more intense. Not sure that intensity is a bad thing, just that the hitters in this group swing and jump harder for Lloyd. Likely it is greater familiarity between the older players more than anything else.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2017 9:25:00 GMT -5
Lloyd is a talented blocker and projects infectious confidence. Lots of smiles. Micha and Carlini don't project the same body language=more intense. Not sure that intensity is a bad thing, just that the hitters in this group swing and jump harder for Lloyd. Likely it is greater familiarity between the older players more than anything else. Good point about displays of intensity towards the national team. But don't forget, Carli is the team captain and on the floor, it is "her" team. Both Micha and Wisconsin's former setter know that's not their role. When Micha played for PSU I saw plenty of intensity. |
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Post by tillie on Sept 9, 2017 9:30:57 GMT -5
How many years was Lloyd the back up?
Give Carlini that much rehearsal time and she maybe equally as successful
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Post by nyline on Sept 9, 2017 12:18:45 GMT -5
How many years was Lloyd the back up? Give Carlini that much rehearsal time and she maybe equally as successful Great point. |
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Post by elliotberton on Sept 9, 2017 14:58:05 GMT -5
Good point. Note that Micha captained the team in Peru and started most matches ahead of Carlini. My thought is that Lloyd is a better known quantity to the older players, and she oozes confidence because she knows she belongs. Micha and Carlini are fighting for a spot and lack just that little bit extra confidence.
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