Sorry Kansas. You’re a good team, but the Horns gave you the Subterranean Homesick Blues. Never stood a chance, and in the words of the man, “it’s all over now, Baby Blue.” Wasn’t Gregory good tonight? Not quite as SRO or raucous as for Aggies or Cornhuskers, where your head caves in from the noise. But still pretty doggone good. The team keeps getting better. They keep improving like this, it’s gonna be winners like Ricky Bobby, “... absolutely ma-am, I would love to sign your baby.” What’s working? Start with the passing. Back row studs Princess Kaiulani and Liliuokalani, our two Hawaiians, are nailing it, and Khat is coming along awesomely as well. I figure Erik’s got them grooving on body position, movement, platforms, and all that good stuff. Keep rocking it, Erik. Everyone knows he was libero on the national team, and played in two Olympics? Our coaching staff kicks butt. By the way, think he gets into it? Erik Passing leads to setting. I know, it’s heart-breaking to see a player of Kocher’s caliber on the sideline. But Hannah Allison rules in the 5-1. We lose nothing on the block, ‘cause Hannah gets air like Shaun White on Red Bull going for a Double McTwist 1260. OK, slight exaggeration. But no lie, she channeled Ashley Engle again with a wicked no-look reverse dump to the corner that just killed. And Hannah is fast, fast, fast, fast. Reminds me of the joke about super-fast neutrinos: "We don't allow faster than light neutrinos in here" said the bartender. A neutrino walks into a bar. If you don’t get it, it’s OK. Aggie. Bazinga! Moving on to the fronts. I’m liking Madelyn’s game. Intimidating blocker. Hit .300 against TCU and .571 tonight. And for part of the rotation she’s in the back row. Who says 6’5” girls can’t play D? Jen Doris knew how to throw down for a dig, so I wanna see Maddie do the same. There was a pretty impressive team dynamic tonight, concerning Bailey. She got off to kind of a shaky start. But the team and coaches kept their confidence in her, stayed tight, and she paid it back with some impressive kills and blocks. Man, she takes the ball high. When she grows into her potential, it’s gonna be epic. What about Khat and Heck? There’s a good poem that goes: “...Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Well, our frosh don’t need anybody to tell them about no stinkin’ Carpe Diem. Check this out: Khat Shoot, keep sending these girls the ball. They know what to do with it. To quote Will Ferrell again, “... just feed me the rock, through the hoop, swish, count it, go in the locker room ,...” Fittingly, our three frosh wrapped the sweep, bing bang boom, starting at 22-16 in the 3rd. Haley killed, then Khat killed, and then Maddie fired a match point ace. Eyes of Texas! Watch out, Big XII. Storms are on the ocean, storms on the mountain, too.
Well said. Khat and Haley have to be 1 and 2 for Big XII freshman of the year. I always think Yogi is too short then she has a match like yesterday where she's making impossible digs. Final Four? Certainly the team has the potential, but will the chemistry work all year?
Other things to be excited about: Sha'dare was participating in all digging and passing drills during warm-ups. It looks like she is recovering well from her knee injury. With her back in the line-up, I can see us going back to the 6-2. I'm not a fan of it as I think the line-up that's out there right now has the potential to be really good down the road. Bannister wasn't wearing her leg brace and was participating in ALL warm-up drills. It seemed to me she is trying to get her legs back because she wasn't getting as high as she usually does with her approach and not hitting as hard. But having her back in the line-up will add depth to the OH position and she will challenge both Bell and Eckerman to perform consistently at a high level to keep their starting roles. The freshmen continue to impress me as they are getting more comfortable in the 5-1. Bell is learning to play more consistently for longer periods. Eckerman has a variety of shots and can really put the ball down. She was warming up a jump top-spin serve and it looked great! Hopefully, they will let her use it soon in a match. Hutson is becoming efficient in her offensive opportunities. She is still a little slow in closing the blocks but her progress is noticeable. Another reason why I think we will transition back to the the 6-2... during hitting drills, both Hannah and Michelle would immediately alternate after setting each ball. I'm sure it's to make all the hitters get used to their setting tempos. It's definitely exciting to see this team grow each match.
The Horns have looked great running the 5-1, but can someone explain if it makes more sense to run the 6-2 when McNeal returns. That seems to be what another poster implied. Someone also posted that passing and back row defense were the keys to a successful 6-2, and apparently those are Sha'dare's strengths. Does the 5-1 work with McNeal in the lineup? Any info or further explanation would be appreciated.
My personal opinion is to stick with the 5-1 even when McNeal returns. McNeal has been playing RS though and with Bailey coming on so well lately I would insert McNeal in for Hutson. Hutson is coming along nicely but she's late to the block alot. McNeal's natural position was MB. I think her quickness would really help the block. There is also one rotation in the 5-1 where Eckerman & Webster are both in the front row and neither Palmer nor Roberson are in the back. In that rotation Yogi and Bell are the ONLY two passers which makes me nervous as hell. If McNeal was in for Hutson she could step back in that rotation and pass.
