...in our team. After listening to Elliott's video interview, I realized we fans gotta be more chill, and have more faith in our coaches and team. We opened with a quality win: Pepperdine. After all, the Waves beat UCLA last week, and UCLA is ranked #6 in the country. And how about our teams' resilience? Lost to Israel in a tough 5-setter, then came back and swept them. Lost to Florida in another 5-setter, then came back and beat freakin' Penn State. I like that. Tons of top teams are dropping matches: Penn State, Minnesota, Florida, UCLA, USC. Cal is undefeated, but they're playing much weaker teams. (I admit Stanford has a couple quality wins.) So I agree with Elliott. Better to have the tough, tough road matches than be undefeated. Strong medicine. Elliott's interview touched on all our hot buttons, and gives a great perspective. Our coaches have a plan. There is no doubt the girls are talented and are fighters. So patience, grasshoppers, and that includes me. Listen - there's a slow, slow train comin', up around the bend.
Yes, patience is a virtue... and good things come to those who wait. I'm glad to hear that Sha'dare is expected to make it back into the line-up this season. I'd rather her take the time to heal and slowly make her way back onto the court towards the middle of the conference schedule and then be firing on all pistons during post-season play. And when that happens, Palmer needs to be moved back to libero, and this team will be... Seriously though, if this team can shore up its passing, backrow defense, and left-side blocking, it will be tough to stop.
I agree that Eliott's comments in the video conference made a lot of sense. We do have three freshmen, and four others who saw little or no playing time last season, so inexperience is a huge factor. One or two key players making the transition to college ball can be tough, but six or seven? We have shown improvement, and resilience, and this team could be unstoppable by the time December rolls around. And the fact that McNeal is due back before long is great news.
Fingers crossed it works out this year. I agree that a 6-2 would have been incredible with Ashley at 6'2" serving as an extra attacker but in this case both our setters are 5'11" and with all these new hitters, it doubles the work for them to get to know each setter's foibles. I mean it shouldn't be super difficult, these are all top recruits. The frustration with Eliot is minor. I think the last two years, he brought out the 6-2 in mid-season for a try and it doesn't look as good as our 5-1. So I think there was some eye-rolling when he brings it out to start the year with a new slate of hitters....that's why there was some lack of rhythm out there (and defensive lapses). Like I said, fingers crossed.
