Post by snj on Nov 25, 2015 23:29:44 GMT -5
Mrs SnJ et moi very much enjoyed attending game tonight, only game we have seen in person this season.
I thought PSU played pretty well as a team most of the match. Middle of the third, after the NU timeout, I thought the NU run was a combination of PSU not playing at full intensity for a few points (but not the chaos we have seen before, just not as strong( and NU playing its best VB of the night. Two weeks ago PSU would have lost the 3rd set in this situation. Tonight they fought through which was a very good sign.
NU looks to me to me to be a team on the rise. A few more talented players to go with their excellent setter and couple of good hitters, they will be a top 5 team in the Big 10.
I see Ohio State took Minn to five sets tonight. We'll know more after Saturday but as of tonight there is no "top team" in the conference, could be Nebr, Minn, Wisc or PSU. Whoever is consistently sharpest and makes the fewest errors will have the best run in the tournament.
Re the libero situation... as others have observed Holcomb was thrown into a hugely demanding role with little time to harmonize with her teammates. In retrospect she played well much of the time given her inexperience and the on court synergy issues. I suspect K. Pierce can direct her teammates more assertively than Holcomb could, which maybe why the backcourt is much less chaotic. Several outstanding digs by K. Pierce and Rivera, the latter brings impressive athleticism and a fun attitude to the floor, you can see she is having fun.
As othere have suggested we may not see Holcomb on the court again this season unless injuries or something unexpected occurs. I don't think that would be a judgment on Holcomb,just a recognition that the team is playing more consistently with other players out there at this time.
To make a run at the championship I think hitters all have to have good games every match. Not seeing that of late: several hitters have good nights, several others have so-so nights. Get all the hitters playing at a high level each set, they are as much a contender as any team in the top 5. But it will all have to be going very well for them to defeat Washington, USC, Texas, Stanford, Minn, Wisc, Nebr.
I thought PSU played pretty well as a team most of the match. Middle of the third, after the NU timeout, I thought the NU run was a combination of PSU not playing at full intensity for a few points (but not the chaos we have seen before, just not as strong( and NU playing its best VB of the night. Two weeks ago PSU would have lost the 3rd set in this situation. Tonight they fought through which was a very good sign.
NU looks to me to me to be a team on the rise. A few more talented players to go with their excellent setter and couple of good hitters, they will be a top 5 team in the Big 10.
I see Ohio State took Minn to five sets tonight. We'll know more after Saturday but as of tonight there is no "top team" in the conference, could be Nebr, Minn, Wisc or PSU. Whoever is consistently sharpest and makes the fewest errors will have the best run in the tournament.
Re the libero situation... as others have observed Holcomb was thrown into a hugely demanding role with little time to harmonize with her teammates. In retrospect she played well much of the time given her inexperience and the on court synergy issues. I suspect K. Pierce can direct her teammates more assertively than Holcomb could, which maybe why the backcourt is much less chaotic. Several outstanding digs by K. Pierce and Rivera, the latter brings impressive athleticism and a fun attitude to the floor, you can see she is having fun.
As othere have suggested we may not see Holcomb on the court again this season unless injuries or something unexpected occurs. I don't think that would be a judgment on Holcomb,just a recognition that the team is playing more consistently with other players out there at this time.
To make a run at the championship I think hitters all have to have good games every match. Not seeing that of late: several hitters have good nights, several others have so-so nights. Get all the hitters playing at a high level each set, they are as much a contender as any team in the top 5. But it will all have to be going very well for them to defeat Washington, USC, Texas, Stanford, Minn, Wisc, Nebr.