Volleyball v. Penn State Open Thread
Michigan volleyball (#15) taking on Penn State (#9) tonight at 7 at a sold out Cliff Keen. Michigan hasn't lost at home this year and is primed to take down the Nittany Lions.
If you don't have a ticket, listen live online. Tape delayed on ESPN2 Sunday afternoon.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/university-of-michigan-athletics
November 5th, 2010 at 6:40 PM ^
Also on ESPN3 live.
EDIT:
Oh, and HATE HATE HATE HATE PENN STATE.
Maize out at home has been sold out for a while. #15 Michigan hasn't beaten #9 Penn State in years. Penn State is "down" this year, which means only a top 10 team instead of a consensus #1. Michigan is still a little young, but Lexi and Hunt are fucking awesome.
I highly suggest those who can catch the game try to. The intensity at Cliff Keen makes volleyball games one of the best venues on campus (right after Yost or the Big House).
BEAT PENN STATE.
November 6th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
volleyball fans are the lowest form of humanity.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:08 PM ^
Also we got bball season tipping off tonight with the preseason game against Saginaw Valley over at Crisler
November 5th, 2010 at 7:09 PM ^
Argh. Slay is destroying us. Can't find a seam with the 6'6" freshman up front. MUST BEAT THE GINGER.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:16 PM ^
That Ginger was the first things I saw when the stream came up. Very startling to say the least.
On another note, volleyball shorts are awesome.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:12 PM ^
Lexi's set for the 3rd point was fucking amazing.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:14 PM ^
Definitely trying to distract Slay with the 4-sets to McElheny. Working pretty well if it weren't for Penn State's DS Quilico. And damn is she still something to look at (Quilico that is).
Damn, can Blair Brown graduate yet?
November 5th, 2010 at 7:19 PM ^
So is that like 7 blocks for Slay?
November 5th, 2010 at 7:22 PM ^
Is Slay the Ginger beast?
November 5th, 2010 at 7:28 PM ^
Yeah. I don't think it's actually spelled "Slay", but I'm not sure how it's spelled and this seems appropriate.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:21 PM ^
Made a good adjustment at the last timeout to be less aggressive and prepare for the blocks. Another good one to set back to McElheny and Cross. Hunt is lined up with death when it comes to Slay.
I'm not sure what else we can do in avoiding Slay. I'd like to see more pressure put on Brown, but there's only so much you can do while protecting the middle.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:27 PM ^
Sigh, 17-25. Michigan loses first set. Not looking good either. Penn State's backline are money on the tip and their block is enormous. Hunt tried to sucker them in with shooting high twice, blockers totally whiffed as if they saw it coming.
I'm hoping we see Lexi go a little more on 2 in the next set. The 2-3 attempts she had in the first set were money. We need to keep Slay off Hunt.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:30 PM ^
At least Glass graduated. Understatement, PSU has some big girls
November 5th, 2010 at 7:31 PM ^
The short ones are cute.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:37 PM ^
Quilico has been my favorite non-Michigan player the last few years. No lie.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:49 PM ^
V-ball girls are so hot, it's why I gave up basketball and started playing v-ball. Noticed all the hotties playing in the other part of the gym.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:32 PM ^
And Hodge. Still, they just reload with such talent. It's ridiculous.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:31 PM ^
Michigan hasn't been a blocking team for the last few years (as long as I've watched closely). So all this Penn State outblocking us is absolutely no surprise.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:32 PM ^
The points this set are endless. So many back and forths for lacking the drama. The Zone needs to pick it up.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:34 PM ^
No reason not to tip the attack on a triple block. Freshman error.
Great couple of points in a row. Long points are wearing down the block. It's not a strategy to play that long, but it's working in our favor.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:36 PM ^
Hunts starting to warm up with Slay off the court. SET PHASERS TO KILL.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:40 PM ^
Call time out. This run is getting too long.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:41 PM ^
TIP THAT GOD DAMN IT FUCKING
/throws-cup-at-wall
November 5th, 2010 at 7:43 PM ^
Psu has some little girls that can really jump serve. Man, what is it going to look like next year with Neb.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:50 PM ^
I don't follow v-ball closely, is Neb a powerhouse?
November 5th, 2010 at 7:53 PM ^
I think they are usually in the top 5 or 10 at worst. They support v-ball like how they support football.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:54 PM ^
Over the last 4 years, volleyball has gotten more support than football. Partially because football was kind of not so great there for a few years.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:53 PM ^
To put it bluntly, they and Penn State have won like 99% of their games over the last 4 years. Most of their respective 1%s are against each other. Nebraska fills up a basketball arena with fans for every home game.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:49 PM ^
At least we got out of the rotation of Erwin, McElheny, and Cross up front. Youthful mistakes killed cost us that 6 or 7 point run for PSU. ARGH. It's like watching Michigan's football secondary, but only slightly better.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:50 PM ^
Great 4 call. McElheny, redeemed.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:58 PM ^
One handed set, when I played it was usually called a lift. But, I guess I was no where near as good as Lexi.
/s
November 5th, 2010 at 7:56 PM ^
That sux, an ace to end the second set.
November 5th, 2010 at 7:57 PM ^
FUCKING SERVICE ACE AGAIN. You'd expect them to miss that backline at least once. That's 4 on the line in a row back there. ARGH!
Long break now.
November 5th, 2010 at 8:04 PM ^
I wouldn't mind doing a threesome with these announcers.
November 5th, 2010 at 8:05 PM ^
The eyes on Ann Marie are incredible.
November 5th, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
Russ Rose is a few years behind Paterno at Penn State (Rose has 32 years at PSU), but he is so the same character. Dry, coach speak. All the time. Occasional dry one liner.
November 5th, 2010 at 8:11 PM ^
Hunt tells that line judge that all those calls on the line were wrong. NAILED HIM IN THE FACE.
November 5th, 2010 at 8:14 PM ^
"Nice dig by Blair Brown" when she sends it WAY OVER AND WAY OUT OF BOUNDS. That is not, I repeat, NOT a nice dig.
November 5th, 2010 at 8:18 PM ^
Yeah, these are dedicated v-ball announcers. I hear them on other v-ball telecasts all the time. The was a nice set by the PSu girl when she was right at the net.
November 5th, 2010 at 8:20 PM ^
Too many overpasses.
November 5th, 2010 at 8:23 PM ^
Sigh... I'm about ready to pack this in. Too much youth in what was supposed to be the "rebuilding/reloading" year. Cross is still a bit behind on getting to blocks, especially on the slide. McElehny is alright as a right side. She's going to continue to play well and get better.
Passing has been rough tonight, which is disappointing with how well Donhoff has been over the last two years. I'm not sure how much of it has been Sloane, but just the backline in general has really kept us out of system. It seems like both Hunt and Busch are both slow to react to tips. Both have had trouble being in good position in the back.
Hopefully we just caught them on a bad night. I can't imagine that they've moved up to #15 playing like they'e done today. Penn State's block just broke up all momentum. Hats off to their girls. They have played extremely well.
November 5th, 2010 at 8:27 PM ^
I think Psu is better than 9. Look at that wall and Blair Brown is a beast and A Wilson as well. Why don't we play at Crisler. I like Cliff Keen and the atmosphere, but the ceiling hits make me feel like we were in high school.
November 5th, 2010 at 8:30 PM ^
It'd look bad having Crisler only 10% filled. Another problem they've had there is drafts. The way the air conditioning and air flows through the building has caused problems in the past. The last time they had the NCAA regional there, it took a lot of practice in the building, during a time when the basketball teams have priority usage. From what I understand, our players didn't like it.
Michigan has lost the last couple times they've played over there, too; superstition may hold some credence.
November 5th, 2010 at 8:35 PM ^
I thought about it, you would lose to much in moving to Crisler. Great atmosphere in Cliff Keen and love to see the elder alumni in the stands. Psu played really well. Our passing was a little weak, but those PSU girls can serve.
November 5th, 2010 at 8:38 PM ^
The old guy in the front row is THE greatest Michigan fan. No lie. Plus, it's nice being so close to the action. Crisler, you get elevated up from the bowl. With Keen, you can have kids running around the court, close, always full.
I agree, lots would be lost.
November 5th, 2010 at 8:47 PM ^
You are right about Crisler. I just know I hated to play when the ceiling got involved.
November 5th, 2010 at 8:34 PM ^
November 5th, 2010 at 8:35 PM ^
You can definitely tell they're Conan fans. They do an excellent job with all of Michigan's non-revenue sports.
November 5th, 2010 at 10:06 PM ^
Big thank you to both of you.
If we fail at analysis we try to be entertaining.
November 5th, 2010 at 8:34 PM ^
Game over. Swept. That's the worst game we've had against Penn State in at least 4 years. We were at least taking them to 5 games over the last few years. This was just bad. Sigh. Quick turn around though.
Michigan plays Ohio State tomorrow at 6pm. For those still in Ann Arbor, no better way to celebrate/get over the football game than heading to watch a Michigan team DESTROY the Buckeyes in any sport.