Volleyball E8 Non-Michigan Thread
Not OT due to being tangentially related to Michigan's volleyball team...
I doubt any of you have much interest in this at all, but I'm watching Penn State take on Cal Golden Bears in their Elite 8 game on ESPNU right now. I can't help but think that either of these teams would blow us out of the water. Yes, we've got to get past Hawaii first, but I'm enjoying the games anyway.
So if you're watching any of the women in spandex (yes, there's a reason I'm watching) today, discussion can go here.
Ranks are tournament seed
#1 PSU vs #9 Cal - 4pm ET
#3 Minnesota vs #11 Florida State- 6:30pm ET
#2 Texas vs #10 Nebraska - 9pm
#13 Michigan vs Hawaii (no seed but #3 in coaches poll) - 11:30pm
December 12th, 2009 at 4:21 PM ^
according to the ncaa bracket
December 12th, 2009 at 4:33 PM ^
Yeah, you're right. My interactive bracket is screwed up. It's missing 2-3 seeded teams.
December 12th, 2009 at 4:40 PM ^
I see no reason why we can't beat PSU or anyone.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team took a 2-1 lead in its upset bid of top-ranked and defending national champion Penn State before the Nittany Lions won the final two sets for the 24-26, 25-8, 23-25, 25-21, 15-12 win on Friday night (Oct. 16) at Cliff Keen Arena.
December 12th, 2009 at 4:46 PM ^
I see 99 consecutive reasons.
http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/no-1-penn-state-womens-voll…
December 12th, 2009 at 5:26 PM ^
100 consecutive after that win to put them in the Final Four. Gotta win tonight to play them again.
December 12th, 2009 at 5:21 PM ^
Penn State is deep with top talent. It's kind of like a David vs Goliath in our match up. Penn State, Goliath, has the full package of hitters, blockers, backrow defense, and solid consistent serving.
Michigan is David. It doesn't have as solid of a block (although the last few games have been a big turn around), we're not as tall, we lack a true middle, and we don't have quite the talent depth of PSU (although we're getting much closer). We utilize a bit more high risk/high reward strategy where we really push the aggressive serves to help make up for our deficiency in other parts of the game.
If Michigan's serve game is off, we generally don't perform as well. Luckily, despite not serving great last game, we played a bit more like a Goliath in the tournament so far. We've blocked a bit better, we've cut down on our passing errors, and Rood has really stepped it up in the middle.
You're right, though. We should be able to hang in with anyone, and probably even beat anyone. But PSU is definitely a better overall team, and they'd probably beat us 7 out of 10 times. Luckily this is just a one loss elimination and anything can happen.
December 12th, 2009 at 4:46 PM ^
Personally, I think we're a much improved team from the one that took Penn State to the wire way back then. Going 8-2 over the last 10 games is always a nice little bookend to a season that started on a tear then sorta wavered throughout.
BTW, anyone remember that atrocious Oregon State game? I personally took delight in the student section breaking out a rendition of "What do you do with a drunken sailor" every time this one was serving:
http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/ahhoy_camilla00.html
AHOY!
December 12th, 2009 at 5:11 PM ^
I think we played better over the last 1.5 matches than we did then, but I've yet to see consistency over the long term. The last few weeks of the regular season were brutal when we played real opponents. If we come out with the intensity of yesterday during every match, I think we can beat anyone. I think we'll have to see the focus level tonight first.
Also, Cal has been less impressive as the game has gone along. Penn State still looks dominate and they're playing one of their best games that I've seen this season.
December 12th, 2009 at 5:30 PM ^
I thought last night was Lexi's best serving match of the year. She kept the game really well balanced and used the middles effectively. Typically this year, we have been way too dependent on our outsides. If we stay balanced, we can beat anybody, as evidenced by beating Stanford in a dominant fashion.
December 12th, 2009 at 5:38 PM ^
I absolutely agree that it was her best setting match I've seen all year. I think she's really getting used to setting Rood on the front line. She was forcing less on the fake sets and really worked in Rood nicely. Having Rood as an option inside took away the middle blocker from singling out the outside.
There was definitely a difference with Bruck at the front. Karlee had an off night last night, and we have to put too much focus on Hunt and Paz, including that run by Stanford in the set we lost.
December 12th, 2009 at 5:42 PM ^
After the Nebraska game I expected it to be a breakout year for Courtney Fletcher. While that has not happened for a variety of reasons, hopefully she can rebound next year and give us that big option in the middle. If she had continued to perform well this year it would have given us a lot more balance.
December 12th, 2009 at 5:47 PM ^
She certainly didn't do poorly, but her block isn't quite there yet. Goes back to my comment about David vs Goliath I talked about above. Her serve fit our aggressive game plan over the Bruck/Busch combination. She's still young and has plenty of time to develop. I still think both Fletch and Bruck are solid players, they just haven't been as dominating.
December 12th, 2009 at 6:13 PM ^
There's a stream:
http://www.justin.tv/prd74_2
Consider it a gift for the second night of Hanukkah! ;-)
December 12th, 2009 at 7:16 PM ^
I knew Florida State was way overrated, but Minnesota is destroying them in this set. It's 20-7 Gophers.
December 12th, 2009 at 7:19 PM ^
Make that 25-7 in set two. Minnesota is up 2-0 going into the 10 minute break.
This crowd at the Barn is great. Loud, into it. Great atmosphere.
December 12th, 2009 at 7:29 PM ^
Looks like we're heading for two B10 teams in the final four. It would be quite a statement of conference dominance if we can get to three!!!
December 12th, 2009 at 9:21 PM ^
Nebraska is riding the crowd and some poor play by Texas's setter to a sizable lead.
Desintee Hooker may only arguably be the best player in the NCAA, but her name is by far the most awesome.
December 12th, 2009 at 9:33 PM ^
Nebraska has really found their game since we beat them to open the season. They look like a totally different team.
Texas is finally getting settled in. There must be 14,000 people at this game. Crazy loud on set point.