|
|
Post by cross5 on Nov 15, 2015 13:37:24 GMT -5
So here we are with a few games left and the NCAA tourney looming. 3 questions. #1 What lineup does everyone forsee in December? #2 Will we see Whitney back on the RS at some point? #3 Will Holcomb start on Wednesday? I think that once 2 and 3 are answered, 1 will take care of itself.
Personally, I like Whitney on the outside. With the right sets, she becomes the unblockable go-to hitter. That's how PSU employed her last year and how they used A. Scott the preceding two years. If Lee has to sit to make that happen, so be it.
The Holcomb/Libero situation? I wouldn't hazard a guess. I hope she's a resilient person. Having to sit for most players is not so obvious as it is for a Libero. She needed to sit. I feel for her with having to change her jersey.
Michigan will be looking to kick us while we're down. They know the feeling.
Again.......let's view who PSU was for years and years.....balance is important but having a go to outlet on the OPP/pin was the key. I believe in Courtney, Lee and Frantti but are they the type of player we can set 4 or 5 times in a row deep in a game when we sense a team back on their heals? Hodge,Brown,Scott and Whitney.....wait Whitney is still on this team.  I also saw neither one of the current middles consistently going hard to close blocks yesterday. Thelen always seemed to do this! |
|
|
|
Post by nyline on Nov 15, 2015 13:37:32 GMT -5
So here we are with a few games left and the NCAA tourney looming. 3 questions. #1 What lineup does everyone forsee in December? #2 Will we see Whitney back on the RS at some point? #3 Will Holcomb start on Wednesday? I think that once 2 and 3 are answered, 1 will take care of itself.
Personally, I like Whitney on the outside. With the right sets, she becomes the unblockable go-to hitter. That's how PSU employed her last year and how they used A. Scott the preceding two years. If Lee has to sit to make that happen, so be it.
The Holcomb/Libero situation? I wouldn't hazard a guess. I hope she's a resilient person. Having to sit for most players is not so obvious as it is for a Libero. She needed to sit. I feel for her with having to change her jersey.
Michigan will be looking to kick us while we're down. They know the feeling.
I get where you're coming from in the "while we're down" comment, but to me, it's just as likely that by their next match, the players will be like hornets in a hornets nest that someone just kicked, buzzing mad and ready to sting. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2015 13:48:40 GMT -5
I think that once 2 and 3 are answered, 1 will take care of itself.
Personally, I like Whitney on the outside. With the right sets, she becomes the unblockable go-to hitter. That's how PSU employed her last year and how they used A. Scott the preceding two years. If Lee has to sit to make that happen, so be it.
The Holcomb/Libero situation? I wouldn't hazard a guess. I hope she's a resilient person. Having to sit for most players is not so obvious as it is for a Libero. She needed to sit. I feel for her with having to change her jersey.
Michigan will be looking to kick us while we're down. They know the feeling.
I get where you're coming from in the "while we're down" comment, but to me, it's just as likely that by their next match, the players will be like hornets in a hornets nest that someone just kicked, buzzing mad and ready to sting. It is my fondest hope that "the players will be like hornets." That would be a good thing. It would be nice to see some fire, some indignation, some (dare I say), phishstixed-off-ed-ness." I'd like to see a crowd screaming for wolverine entrails! Coach Rose frothing at the mouth  -- CHECK THAT! I get too easily carried away. I'll be back, gotta take my meds.... Later...  |
|
|
|
Post by nyline on Nov 15, 2015 14:08:29 GMT -5
Good to know your limits. And your dosage.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2015 17:43:13 GMT -5
So here we are with a few games left and the NCAA tourney looming. 3 questions. #1 What lineup does everyone forsee in December? #2 Will we see Whitney back on the RS at some point? #3 Will Holcomb start on Wednesday? 1) Weiskircher, Courtney, Washington, Whitney, Frantti, Holcomb (unless she struggles again, don't know if I can trust her in big games; be ready to yank her early if she does). 2) Maybe have Whitney and Lee sharing that right side. Would like to see Thelen used tactically more (i.e., in certain matchups). 3) I would think so, but it depends on how practices go, which we are not privy too. Would like to see Pierce have the position for a full game; see how she does. |
|
|
|
Post by bob2061 on Nov 15, 2015 21:59:32 GMT -5
Last year Minnesota had several marginal lineup starters and it really affected their team chemistry. I see no reason why this would not apply to Penn State this year. Sometimes it isn't a matter of making the right decision but making your decision right.
|
|
|
|
Post by nyline on Nov 16, 2015 5:37:19 GMT -5
Last year Minnesota had several marginal lineup starters and it really affected their team chemistry. I see no reason why this would not apply to Penn State this year. Sometimes it isn't a matter of making the right decision but making your decision right. I honestly have no idea what that means. |
|
|
|
Post by phillytom on Nov 16, 2015 8:41:56 GMT -5
So here we are with a few games left and the NCAA tourney looming. 3 questions. #1 What lineup does everyone forsee in December? #2 Will we see Whitney back on the RS at some point? #3 Will Holcomb start on Wednesday? #1 is really the problem and it has been the problem all year. When Whitney's in the middle they miss some things on the outside, and when she's outside they miss some things in the middle. #3 I think probably yes. What happened to Holcomb might have been a combination of freshman fatigue syndrome and Minnesota serving out their minds. Some of those serves were just beyond what Holcomb is able to handle, but with more practice she can get there. On the other hand Kendall Pierce would do fine at libero -- maybe doesn't have the same range though. Really though these two questions might be why PSU is not going to go deep into the tournament this year. They have problems that seem to defying solution right now. PSU is a very good team but not a great team and not about to become a great team. |
|
|
|
Post by phillytom on Nov 16, 2015 8:48:35 GMT -5
So here we are with a few games left and the NCAA tourney looming. 3 questions. #1 What lineup does everyone forsee in December? #2 Will we see Whitney back on the RS at some point? #3 Will Holcomb start on Wednesday? I think that once 2 and 3 are answered, 1 will take care of itself.
Personally, I like Whitney on the outside. With the right sets, she becomes the unblockable go-to hitter. That's how PSU employed her last year and how they used A. Scott the preceding two years. If Lee has to sit to make that happen, so be it.
The Holcomb/Libero situation? I wouldn't hazard a guess. I hope she's a resilient person. Having to sit for most players is not so obvious as it is for a Libero. She needed to sit. I feel for her with having to change her jersey.
Michigan will be looking to kick us while we're down. They know the feeling.
The thing to keep in mind is that Minnesota has national champion caliber talent and is playing so well right now. Michigan is not anywhere near that level talent wise. they have matchup problems against PSU that Minnesota doesn't have. So as long as PSU doesn't come out flat I don't think Michigan is especially a problem this year. I may be wrong...if Michigan serve the way Minnesota did... PSU still has a lot to play for even if they're no longer competing for a B1G title. |
|
|
|
Post by nyline on Nov 16, 2015 8:52:17 GMT -5
So here we are with a few games left and the NCAA tourney looming. 3 questions. #1 What lineup does everyone forsee in December? #2 Will we see Whitney back on the RS at some point? #3 Will Holcomb start on Wednesday? #1 is really the problem and it has been the problem all year. When Whitney's in the middle they miss some things on the outside, and when she's outside they miss some things in the middle. #3 I think probably yes. What happened to Holcomb might have been a combination of freshman fatigue syndrome and Minnesota serving out their minds. Some of those serves were just beyond what Holcomb is able to handle, but with more practice she can get there. On the other hand Kendall Pierce would do fine at libero -- maybe doesn't have the same range though. Really though these two questions might be why PSU is not going to go deep into the tournament this year. They have problems that seem to defying solution right now. PSU is a very good team but not a great team and not about to become a great team. I generally agree with you, with this caveat: I don't think there are any "great" teams this season, whereas I think you believe Minnesota is a great team (or at least better than I do.) All the top teams have weaknesses (always true to some extent, but my fan-shaped view is that it's more true this season). So while I wouldn't vote PSU #1, I wouldn't rule them out for the title. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2015 9:57:43 GMT -5
Personally, I like Whitney on the outside. With the right sets, she becomes the unblockable go-to hitter. That's how PSU employed her last year and how they used A. Scott the preceding two years. If Lee has to sit to make that happen, so be it.
I absolutely agree with you on this one. Whitney is better on the right side and that's where she is needed for this team to be better. I would like to see Weiskircher work with Whitney more to get her the types of sets she likes on the right side and let her tear it up. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2015 10:03:44 GMT -5
Again.......let's view who PSU was for years and years.....balance is important but having a go to outlet on the OPP/pin was the key. I believe in Courtney, Lee and Frantti but are they the type of player we can set 4 or 5 times in a row deep in a game when we sense a team back on their heals? Hodge,Brown,Scott and Whitney.....wait Whitney is still on this team. I also saw neither one of the current middles consistently going hard to close blocks yesterday. Thelen always seemed to do this!Yes, would like to see Thelen come in for her blocking prowess, especially against a fast setting team like MN. She anticipates and closes fast; she would be perfect when you need to bolster the defense. What Thelen lacks in offense she more than makes up in defense and this year's PSU team is allowing way too much offense by opposing teams. |
|
|
|
Post by cross5 on Nov 16, 2015 13:10:52 GMT -5
The PSU system and personnel has not been about being deceptive, at least overy the past 10 years. The general theme seems to be "We are going to run this and good luck stopping us. As long as people do their jobs we will win"
PSU 100% still has the right ingredients on the team to do this however I think two things have been missing from the recipe.
#1. Various people at times have NOT been doing their jobs.
#2. The chemistry of the main ingredients have been wrong for most of the year and this affects #1. (Hindsight maybe)
Not totally sure why it's taking so long to figure out but it is evident that not everyone is playing hard for each other or at least presenting that way. I would say girls pick up on this kind of stuff.
The sun is shining on a new day!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2015 18:45:47 GMT -5
It's funny. I wanted to find this "thread-lette," but I couldn't remember which one it was under.
What I wanted to add about Whitney hitting right side and the hitting of her predecessors, is that their "flying" in from on high is a psychological weapon. It's "Death from Above." That's been missing. I really don't know what it looks like from ground level, but it seems to have quite an impact. I hope I get to see Aiyanna fly again and I hope they find a flyer for next year and beyond.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2015 20:44:02 GMT -5
It's funny. I wanted to find this "thread-lette," but I couldn't remember which one it was under. What I wanted to add about Whitney hitting right side and the hitting of her predecessors, is that their "flying" in from on high is a psychological weapon. It's "Death from Above." That's been missing. I really don't know what it looks like from ground level, but it seems to have quite an impact. I hope I get to see Aiyanna fly again and I hope they find a flyer for next year and beyond. Yes. I know what you mean. Watching Whitney and Courtney (from the pipe) flying in and hammering the ball through the floor is awesome. It can be a daunting task for opposing players to dig. |
|
--CHECK THAT! I get too easily carried away. I'll be back, gotta take my meds.... Later... 
