|
Post by ethankasales on Jul 16, 2024 18:25:04 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by ethankasales on Jul 17, 2024 12:09:26 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by ethankasales on Jul 18, 2024 15:14:33 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by ethankasales on Jul 19, 2024 11:22:57 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by ethankasales on Jul 19, 2024 11:23:19 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by ethankasales on Jul 19, 2024 15:56:21 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by ethankasales on Jul 19, 2024 15:56:56 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by ethankasales on Jul 22, 2024 10:01:26 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by ethankasales on Jul 22, 2024 10:01:45 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by ethankasales on Jul 22, 2024 10:11:22 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by ethankasales on Jul 22, 2024 11:21:38 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by ethankasales on Jul 22, 2024 15:33:48 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by jojonito on Jul 24, 2024 10:44:47 GMT -5
Well, it looks like the starting lineup is set for the USA women's national team. It appears that it will be the same lineup that started matches 2 & 3 against the Netherlands: J. Poulter S Annie Drews Opp Cook & Plummer OH Ogbogu & Washington MB JWO libero. Karch seems to feel that the US needs Plummer to have a chance. So bot Cook and JWO are shading over toward Plummer to try to protect her. That easier when Plummer isn't in the center receive position. The opponents, I'm sure, will be targeting Plummer on their serve. A problem that the US will have is when they play against a server with a really hard topspin serve; Melissa Vargas (Turkey) comes to mind. With the other two receivers shading toward Plummer, that will leave some space open for the topspin serve to target. In the 2nd and 3rd matches with NED, Karch was using the double substitution with Carlini(S) and Thompson(OPP). The way it works is that when Poulter (S) is rotating to the front row, Thompson(OPP) comes in for her and Carlini(S) subs in for Annie Drews(OPP) who is going back to serve. This way, there will be 9 rotations where the US has 3 hitters in the front row. When Carlini is to rotate to the front row, then Annie Drews subs back in for her and Poulter(S) subs back in for Thompson(OPP). Problem is, Carlini has been very inconsistent in her sets when she comes in to set, which causes a lot of tipping by the hitters and/or trap sets that the hitter really can't do much with. The US team has a tough pool consisting of China, Serbia and France. France is a gimme as they are pretty poor. China can be a very good time with their superstars Zhu Ting (OPP I think) back from an injury and Li Yingying (OH). Serbia is a VERY good team with an OPP name Boskovic who is a devastating attacker. The US must take one of these matches or they will be in danger of not making the knockout round. The teams that have a chance for the gold are (IMHO), Brazil, Italy, Turkey, Serbia, China. Turkey can be inconsistent, one of China's best player is coming back from an injury and Italy has a couple OH's that are injured. My pick, (which is worth what you pay for it ), is Italy, with Brazil a close second. That being said, any one of 5 teams could get hot and take it all. With 3 pools of 4 instead of 2 pools of 6, a team has no leeway for errors. Last Olympics, on the men's side, France was trounced by the US in the pool play and lost to another tream in pool play. They came back to win gold. A team can't do that anymore, because there is no time. A tream might luck out and lose 2 and advance, but that will be playing with fire. The US pool is tough; but the Netherlands pole is a killer. They'll play Italy, Turkey and the Diminican Republic.Italy and Turkey are possible gold medal winners, and DR can beat anybody on a give night. They have beat many very good teams; they have also lost to some pretty bad teams. Oh, one thing I forgot. From what I remember, Larson didn't play against the Netherlands at ALL. Whats with that? Only thing I can figure is she got an injury in the week or two prior to the Netherlands amtches. She was coming in for Plummer late in matches to provide stability in the pass receive area. With her not playing, US is up a creak if Robinson-Cook goes down with some injury. And on that wonderful note, I'll end this epistle.
|
|
|
Post by ethankasales on Jul 24, 2024 11:22:59 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by ethankasales on Jul 24, 2024 20:38:22 GMT -5
|
|