As I write this, I suspect our team is suffering through a frustrating locker room experience, and preparing for a frustrating trip home. I am sure everybody expected a better performance tonight. Frankly, I put this one down to a lack of senior leadership. Rachael hit well overall, but her three service errors in the first set helped create an error-ball environment that killed us. In the middle of a tight third set, when our team was fighting hard, Sydney got aced multiple times in a row; another back-breaker. Amber managed a paltry three kills, and had too many soft hits. Kocher was too predictable and didn’t come up with critical defensive plays. It just wasn’t what the team needed from the most experienced players. The first set was the kind of error-prone play that makes you want to scream. Five service errors overall including the three by Adams. At least three dinks dropped clear. Inconsistent, sometimes soft hitting. Blown passes. Getting aced. Our blocks going out of bounds. Argghh! In the 2nd, we worked our way up to a three point lead, 18-15. Then everything went to hell. Errors galore, and we suffered a 3-10 streak to lose 25-21. The third was more of the same. What’s the prescription? * It’s time for the coaches to step up and make the hard decision – toast the 6-2. I love Kocher – she’s steady, sound technically, and a great team player. But time to simplify things and put Hannah clearly in charge. * Figure out what to do with Amber. I know she’s coming back from surgery still. But if she can’t terminate, put in someone else. Why not Ashley? * Get Sarah back out there to help with the passing. * Teach our players how to turn blocked balls into the court. * Tell the seniors to get their mind right. Rachael, for example, needs to cut the crap with the missed serves already. Just hitting for a high percentage isn’t enough. We need more from you. Wrapping up with more Bob Dylan for the team: And I, I don’t mind the pain Don’t mind the driving rain I know I will sustain ’Cause I believe in you - Bob Dylan
Well, I'm happy that we played better tonight then we did last night. There are not many times you side out at 68% & still lose. Did Sarah not play at all? UTVballfan...agree with everything you said but totally agree about the 6-2. Dump it. I know Coach Elliott loves it but I just don't think we can run it without Sha'dare I would add that our serving from all players needs to improve. We need to start serving tougher & cutting the errors from all players. Come on, 9 tonight. Ridiculous. Also, I would like to see better ball distribution. We seem to be setting on the left side a lot. I think this would improve if we have 1 setter.
What's the prescription? Here's my remedy: * Scrap the 6-2. Let all the hitters find their rhythm with one setter out there. The sets are so predictable b/c there is no variation in tempo. The youngsters (Bell, Eckerman, Hutson, Cameron, Webster) are having to adjust their hitting for two different setters and it's showing in the team's hitting percentage. * Sarah Palmer NEEDS to be the Libero. She and McNeal were in two-person serve receive for most of last year b/c of weak passing from Faucette, Roberson, and Dickson. And now she isn't even on the floor?!?! WTH?!?! She has an entire season of passing under her belt and she didn't even play in this last match. Again, WTH?!?! Plus, she has the strongest serve on the squad and it's not being utilized! * Let Yogi come in as a DS and pass for only 3 rotations only!!!! She's a great digger but her passing meltdowns are making me vomit. * In the 5-1 system, Hannah should be starting and leading this team. She is not a blocking liability in the front row. Again, these young hitters need consistent setting first and foremost. *Bell should play all 6 rotations. BUT....when she's in the back row for 3 rotations, all she should do is focus on passing and floor defense. When she's in the front, she should be taken out of serve-receive formation, so that she can focus only on offense. Granted there will be only 2 passers (Palmer and Roberson), but this will lessen the burden of responsibility and get her comfortable playing all the way around. *Roberson should be playing in the back row only at this time. When Bannister gets healthy (and that's a big if b/c she was limping on the sidelines in tonight's match), she should be back there. *Eckerman rotates to the front for Roberson. I think Haley has all the shots, she just needs the consistent setting from one setter. *Webster seems like she is able to hit varying angles with different tempo sets... again, she needs consistent setting. Yogi will come in for her in the backrow. *Cameron has a better feel for the position than Maddie right now and should get the start and reps. Adams is our go-to hitter but needs the passing to be consistent for her to terminate. I'm still in shock that our "glue" player is injured. Get well soon Sha'.
Any update on McNeal's injury? I'll probably be at the Nike Big 4 this weekend and it seems there's a good chance Texas goes 0-2 if we stick with the 6-2 and McNeal isn't back. Sometimes I wonder if Eliot just out-thinks himself.....
According to the preview game notes, she is still out indefinitely with no timetable for her return. Hope the matches are good - please give us a report.
Texas versus Penn State will be during the BYU game so I'll probably skip that and head down to watch Stanford/Florida afterwards. As for Texas last night, I think it's the same concerns about our teams the past few years. No consistent passing and there still seems to be lack of communication in our 6-2. I don't get it (since I'm a setter myself) why we're so mediocre on the second touch when there was a dump. We've got so much talent but really miss McNeal as the glue gal. Lots of pieces to work on over the next few months.
I still don't get why Elliot continues to run the 6-2. We don't have the consistent passing or backrow defense for it. Also, a big block on the right side doesn't necessarily score points. With the hitters on the squad, this team needs consistent setting. Neither Hannah or Michelle is providing that at this time b/c they aren't on the floor long enough to find their rhythm with any of their hitters.
