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Shocks head to Califorunia for the Cal Poly Tournament on Thursday, Friday and Saturday after escaping week 1 with a 2-1 record which was as good as they were going to be able to do. Thought it was somewhat of a mixed bag with some the Shocks showing some good things and also some areas that need work.
One area where I thought the Shocks struggled was with the passing. I think we can score if we can get comfortably in system but we need much better serve receive and passing to do that in my less than expert opinion.
Up first at 6:00 pm CDT on Thursday is San Jose State (1-2). SJS lost to the University of Pacific in 4 sets and were swept by UC Davis while earing a sweep over Montana to open the season this past weekend. SJS does not appear to have a go to player but the do seem to have a pretty balanced and diverse attack that spreads out the scoring. SJS does not appear to have great size. Certainly not like what the Shocks faced against Hofstra and Penn State. I may not be able to follow this one real close as I have a conflict on Thursday night.
On Friday night at 9:00 pm the Shockers take on a perrenially storng Cal Poly team. However, Cal Poly is in a weakened state the year with the loss of Adlee Van Winden to grraduation and even more significanlty the possible(probable ?) absence current year 6-3 senior OH Torrey Van Winden the reigning Big West POY and a AVCA All-America Honorable Mention who has not year. Torrey has not played since the end of last season due to concussion and post concussion syndrome as she missed the entire Sand Volleyball season played last spring and has missed all 3 of Cal Poly's opening weekend matches. Cal Poly was ranked 23rd coming into the season but after going 0-3 last weekend although against a good schedule they have dropped out of the Top 25 but are still receiving votes and are ranked #33 on that basis. Those 3 losses were to #12 Kentuucky and unranked St. Mary's in straight sets and to #19 Utah in a close 5-set match. I think the Utah match shows that Cal Poly can still be tough even without TVW. I don't know if there is any chance that TVW will be available ot Cal Poly this weekend but even if she is not I think this will be a tough match for the Shocks.
On Saturday at 2:00 pm CT the Shocks take on North Texas. North Texas beat the Shocks in 2 out of 3 matches they played last year. The Shocks swept North Texas in Denton last year but in the final match of the regular season they lost to North Texas at home in 4 sets then lost ot them again in 4 sets in the 2nd round of the NIVC in Denton. North Texas lost their setter and one starting MB to graduation but they have their 2 best offensive players back in 6-1 Jr.OH Valerie Valerian and 5-11 So. OH Rhett Robinson. Valerian had 43 kills in the 2 late season wins against the Shocker last year. North Texas is 2-1 with a 4-set win over Tulsa (who is picked just ahead of the Shockers in the AAC) and a 5-set win over Pepperdine with a 4-set loss to Illinois State. I am expecting this to be a tough match for the Shockers as well.
I would be very satisfied with another 2-1 weekend but just like last weekend that will not be an easy task.
One area where I thought the Shocks struggled was with the passing. I think we can score if we can get comfortably in system but we need much better serve receive and passing to do that in my less than expert opinion.
Up first at 6:00 pm CDT on Thursday is San Jose State (1-2). SJS lost to the University of Pacific in 4 sets and were swept by UC Davis while earing a sweep over Montana to open the season this past weekend. SJS does not appear to have a go to player but the do seem to have a pretty balanced and diverse attack that spreads out the scoring. SJS does not appear to have great size. Certainly not like what the Shocks faced against Hofstra and Penn State. I may not be able to follow this one real close as I have a conflict on Thursday night.
On Friday night at 9:00 pm the Shockers take on a perrenially storng Cal Poly team. However, Cal Poly is in a weakened state the year with the loss of Adlee Van Winden to grraduation and even more significanlty the possible(probable ?) absence current year 6-3 senior OH Torrey Van Winden the reigning Big West POY and a AVCA All-America Honorable Mention who has not year. Torrey has not played since the end of last season due to concussion and post concussion syndrome as she missed the entire Sand Volleyball season played last spring and has missed all 3 of Cal Poly's opening weekend matches. Cal Poly was ranked 23rd coming into the season but after going 0-3 last weekend although against a good schedule they have dropped out of the Top 25 but are still receiving votes and are ranked #33 on that basis. Those 3 losses were to #12 Kentuucky and unranked St. Mary's in straight sets and to #19 Utah in a close 5-set match. I think the Utah match shows that Cal Poly can still be tough even without TVW. I don't know if there is any chance that TVW will be available ot Cal Poly this weekend but even if she is not I think this will be a tough match for the Shocks.
On Saturday at 2:00 pm CT the Shocks take on North Texas. North Texas beat the Shocks in 2 out of 3 matches they played last year. The Shocks swept North Texas in Denton last year but in the final match of the regular season they lost to North Texas at home in 4 sets then lost ot them again in 4 sets in the 2nd round of the NIVC in Denton. North Texas lost their setter and one starting MB to graduation but they have their 2 best offensive players back in 6-1 Jr.OH Valerie Valerian and 5-11 So. OH Rhett Robinson. Valerian had 43 kills in the 2 late season wins against the Shocker last year. North Texas is 2-1 with a 4-set win over Tulsa (who is picked just ahead of the Shockers in the AAC) and a 5-set win over Pepperdine with a 4-set loss to Illinois State. I am expecting this to be a tough match for the Shockers as well.
I would be very satisfied with another 2-1 weekend but just like last weekend that will not be an easy task.
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