Volleyball ISU vs KSU

[runbikeswim]

She kind of does doesn't she? I know Andy Moser is the guy in charge of all non-football sports S&C but he has assistants that are each assigned a specific sport.

Just look at the fitness level difference of the WBB program since Link became a dedicated coach travelling with the team, monitoring their nutrition, workouts, warm-ups, injuries, etc. makes a world of difference.

We have all commented at times this teams fitness/fatigue level seems to be an issue. Heck, even CJL mentioned it in a couple pressers that they have backed off on practices, etc. because of fatigue and loss of jumping height.

I'm not saying what Moser's staff does isn't good, just that I think having a dedicated on staff nutrition and S&C coach would help.

 

[Tornado man]

Let's not also forget how young this team is. There is only one senior in the starting rotation, and only 3 seniors on the entire roster, and one of them is out. And our top reserves in are Frosh and Soph.

To quote CJL at her media day presser: "We return almost everybody; we should be better and expectations are high."

And this: "we're so deep, it's a actually a challenge to see who should be out there."

 

[Tornado man]

You can do both. Wouldn't have watched last night if I did not hope to be able to enjoy the match and the season.

I don't think CJL is too happy about last night. Here's their Facebook post. No reason we should be making excuses for it, she isn't. She's still playing for this year, not next year or the average. If the weather and roads don't suck I might run down for the Tuesday match.

I doubt she is happy either. Always enjoy CJL's honesty - she has stated several time her expectations are high for this year. We just don't have the scrappiness and hustle that her better teams have had. And on paper, our talent level is light years above what it used to be.
Watched Illinois-Wisky last night, and players from both teams looked desperate to win - flying around everywhere...

 

[StClone]

To quote CJL at her media day presser: "We return almost everybody; we should be better and expectations are high."

And this: "we're so deep, it's a actually a challenge to see who should be out there."

The season is not over and the trend is not what we want. But we do have a veteran squad next year and it will really be time to talk again next season, barring injury and what not, if the results parallel this season's.

 

[mitten1975]

I think Berta's injury has hurt the team, I didn't like the way they played against Texas and didn't get to see this game because I currently don't have ESPN3, but they appear to be extremely ineffectual, on their stat line. This is worrisome because of future games.

 

[Sobchakcyclone]

This team still has a lot to play for. I hope they'll make the tourney. I just don't want them to be fodder for some great team on their home floor. As they finish out the season, I had hoped they'd be trending upward and playing better volleyball. There just isn't consistancy there. It's hard to see how they played at TCU, and then watch the other night. Not the same. I know it doesn't happen in a vacuum, either. KSU played okay, but we made so many mistakes. Those blocks just ignited them to come after us.

We need to beat the teams we're supposed to beat. What I worry about lately is the lack of upsets. We haven't beaten somebody we weren't supposed to.

Sure, I enjoy watching, but I think you have to expect winning. Coach does. The program has grown to that, there has been a precedent set. The road to mediocrity is paved with political correctness.

I don't think this is a young team. They all have experience, sans Schaben, and she plays beyond her years in a lot of ways. The best player on the team is Nolan, and she's got more experience than most players in the conference.

Coach talked about the jump counters and new steps taken to guard against fatigue. I thought we started the year in much better condition than the past. I think they're on that.

I hope we can get Berta back, get rested, and go on an impressive run to close out.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Winning at CSU would help. If we are in we are probably in the midwest. Probably five Big 10 teams hosting and we have generally stayed in the midwest region area.

2014 Illinois
2013 Minnesota
2012 Stanford regional
2011 Minnesota regional
2010 Minnesota
2009 Nebraska regional
2008 Texas
2007 Wisconsin
2006 Wisconsin

 

[Sobchakcyclone]

Also, we over set our outsides. Of a 126 sets, 13 were set to the middle. Not hard for opponents to know where to block.

Hudson, good or bad, set this program back.

I'd be interested to know how much of where Harris sets is called by coach, or how much lattitude she has? If we're running a 5-1, and she won the position, she's what we have. She's doing okay. The problem comes in her defense. Good coaches in this league have exploited her size and hit over her. She can't do much about that. Brand for KSU is 6' 2". She had several blocks, maybe 4 by herself. That makes a difference.

Our recruiting should give us a setter every other year, I would think. We just need to hit on those recruits and what we need.

 

[VeloClone]

Seems to be a trend of ISU athletics...
Eustachy couldn't do it (although we now know what may have been a factor there).
Fennelly, as you mentioned, couldn't do it.
Rhoads couldn't capitalize on beating OkSU (6-4 at that point and lost out;-been downhill from there).
CJL's teams seem to be stagnating/regressing.

I realize losing to Rutgers sucked that year but did you really expect to go on the road and beat the #5 or #11 team in the nation?

 

[StClone]

I'd be interested to know how much of where Harris sets is called by coach, or how much lattitude she has? If we're running a 5-1, and she won the position, she's what we have. She's doing okay. ...

Harris has been among the best setters in the Big 12 since ISU’s switch to a 5-1 offense. In Big 12 play, Harris ranks third in the league with 11.35 assists per set. She has also contributed 2.46 digs per set.

 

[runbikeswim]

This team still has a lot to play for. I hope they'll make the tourney. I just don't want them to be fodder for some great team on their home floor. As they finish out the season, I had hoped they'd be trending upward and playing better volleyball. There just isn't consistancy there. It's hard to see how they played at TCU, and then watch the other night. Not the same. I know it doesn't happen in a vacuum, either. KSU played okay, but we made so many mistakes. Those blocks just ignited them to come after us.

We need to beat the teams we're supposed to beat. What I worry about lately is the lack of upsets. We haven't beaten somebody we weren't supposed to.

Sure, I enjoy watching, but I think you have to expect winning. Coach does. The program has grown to that, there has been a precedent set. The road to mediocrity is paved with political correctness.

I don't think this is a young team. They all have experience, sans Schaben, and she plays beyond her years in a lot of ways. The best player on the team is Nolan, and she's got more experience than most players in the conference.

Coach talked about the jump counters and new steps taken to guard against fatigue. I thought we started the year in much better condition than the past. I think they're on that.

I hope we can get Berta back, get rested, and go on an impressive run to close out.

This is my concern, haven't shown any ability to "knock off" a top team.

 

[runbikeswim]

I doubt she is happy either. Always enjoy CJL's honesty - she has stated several time her expectations are high for this year. We just don't have the scrappiness and hustle that her better teams have had. And on paper, our talent level is light years above what it used to be.
Watched Illinois-Wisky last night, and players from both teams looked desperate to win - flying around everywhere...

I've also seen both of these teams look very bad this year. Very bad.

 

[Timberghost]

I'm still not thrilled with Harris. Many "bad" sets every night...i.e. Too close to the net, mistimed, and sometimes mislocated.

 

[cydney]

I'm still not thrilled with Harris. Many "bad" sets every night...i.e. Too close to the net, mistimed, and sometimes mislocated.

I don't watch vb with enough insight to rate to her play. However at TTU, the tweets said ISU started playing a 6-2. I don't know how long. Maybe not long, since the stats don't give Horner many sets. However, that might suggest that CJL isn't entirely satisfied with the setting game.

 

[cydney]

I doubt she is happy either. Always enjoy CJL's honesty - she has stated several time her expectations are high for this year. We just don't have the scrappiness and hustle that her better teams have had. And on paper, our talent level is light years above what it used to be.
Watched Illinois-Wisky last night, and players from both teams looked desperate to win - flying around everywhere...

Thinking about what's different, or what might not be as good as on past teams that won big --

* The setter position has been in flux, not just this year, but recent years. Our best teams have had all-Big 12 and All America caliber setters.
* A go-to hitter who opposing teams cannot stop (or devote so much attention to that it opens up other positions). Such as Henson, Jenson.
* Defensive/passing players like Mahoney and Hockaday.

For whatever reason, despite the recruiting and talent, we have gaps compared to past teams. And the hitters as of yet have not made up for it.

 

[cowgirl836]

Thinking about what's different, or what might not be as good as on past teams that won big --

* The setter position has been in flux, not just this year, but recent years. Our best teams have had all-Big 12 and All America caliber setters.
* A go-to hitter who opposing teams cannot stop (or devote so much attention to that it opens up other positions). Such as Henson, Jenson.
* Defensive/passing players like Mahoney and Hockaday.

For whatever reason, despite the recruiting and talent, we have gaps compared to past teams. And the hitters as of yet have not made up for it.

I think the setter deal the past 2-3 years has been a big issue. Was hoping Remi would be a key piece there but that seems to be back up in the air.

Definitely agree on passing - and I think Berta being out these last 2-3 games hurt us more than we realized. She's a top server in the Big 12 and I think we're also missing her passes back there which helps the setting a lot.