PSU - Buffs (Match Recap, with Quotes from Coach Rose)

Here's some of the things I thought I saw yesterday and at other times this season that, if repeated, will be great for the team:

1. Communication. I don't see them talking all that much, but there seems to be some excellent communication and understanding nonetheless. Few instances of players colliding; players tripping on each other; players going for same ball only to both back off. When the 2 Ss are on the floor, they seem to intuit whose is whose and how to help move the team forward.

2. Passing. It's looking better to me than last year, although I haven't been sitting and scoring them. Washington had 3 digs yesterday. Too lazy to look this up, but I don't recall her doing that well last year, and I'm judging that as a big improvement in her game; 3 digs when she's on the floor only 2/3 of the time. Pierce is very improved in digging and passing.

3. Setting. 48 assists in 3 sets from the 2 Ss last night. I think this is 20-25% higher than we'd expect of a setter in a 6-1. Partly a result of #2. Partly: we just have really good setters. Watch when they get the pass. They get an assured hold on the ball and seem to be on-point with locating the set.

4. Serving yesterday was like we did v Stan last week. Nice and clean and I hope Coach thought it was tough enough. Last year it seemed that every match serving was an issue. If we know we can have some matches where it isn't an issue, we'll have a better year.


But, Uh-oh. We were pretty badly out blocked by CO. Not sure if that's just yesterday's match-up or if it portends something down the road.

Interesting that coach cited Lee's play. Maybe I over focus on kill percentage. I thought Frantti was the difference maker and Detering was great. I hope Lee plays better tonight.

Typo??