Volleyball: Under Armour Challenge (Aug 25-26)

[WuDrWu]

That was disappointing to put it mildly. ND dug a ton of tough shots, we we're abused in serve receive and won about zero jousts at the net. Not our best day.

I watched a bit of TT v HC. We could go 0-3.

[flyingMoose]

This is when you really, really miss the post-match show.

[1972Shocker]

I said coming in I thought we would have to play better than we did against OU and to some degree we did. But it wasn't quite enough.

Both teams scored 103 points. My earned points (kills, blocks and aces) and unearned points (opponent's net attack errors not including those blocked by opponents, service aces and ball handling errors) analysis looks like this:

Shocks: 74 earned points (59+2+13) and 29 unearned points (33-13+9+0).
Irish: 82 earned points (64+10+8) and 21 unearned points (20-8+7+1) There is 1 point I can't account for. Maybe an infraction that isn't reflected in the box score numbers.

Yes, we could go 0-3 in this tournament. Not sure Barbara will consistently play as well as she did today and. of course, Sophia's absence is a big issue I think.

I was pretty impressed with Notre Dame's 6-3 Sydney Palazzolo. She hit 24-8-63 = .254 and had 12 digs. No doubt the Player of the Match.

Annalie's right-forefinger was wrapped from the get go so she did not injure it during the match. Maybe why Katie did some serving after not having played against OU.

[jimshocker]

Cue up JimShocker

Hi.

The games are being played now. Will 2023 results matter? Or will the Lambs past contributions to Wichita matter more?

You all watch.

[shoxlax]

Hi.

The games are being played now. Will 2023 results matter? Or will the Lambs past contributions to Wichita matter more?

You all watch.

I don’t think this AD will be afraid to pull the trigger. You may get your wish. However, lots of season left.

[1972Shocker]

Attending SE, Agusta, Mulvane, Andover football jamboree tonight.

Just checked. TTU up 2-0. 25-15 and 25-22. Ugh.

Shocks win 3rd set 25-16. Trending in the right direction. Can the Shocks keep it up.

The answer is no. TTU 3 - WSU 1: 15, 22, (16), 18

[BAShocker]

Bottom line, as of now, we are “ok”. Not great, just “ok”.

Too many unforced errors. Possible to clean up. Just not all there.

[1972Shocker]

Bottom line, as of now, we are “ok”. Not great, just “ok”.

Too many unforced errors. Possible to clean up. Just not all there.

Didn’t see it. But hitting .088 is pretty bad.

[1972Shocker]

In the 3 sets the Shocks lost TTU and big scoring runs.

In the first set an 8-1 run by TTU turned a 5-all tie into a 13-6 lead. Then with TTU leadng 13-8 had a 10-3 run put the set out of reach at 23-11.

The Shocks seemingly had control of Set 2 leading 22-19 but TTU scored the final 6 points of the set including a bad mishit by Sophia, who did play a little in this match, and a couple of mistakes by Izzi. The Shocks simply were unable to get a side out.

With the scored tied at 16-all in Set 4 but TTU closed out the set on a 9-2 run.

Combined the Red Raiders outscored the Shocks 33-6 during those 4 segments representing about 23% of the match. Over the other 77% of the match the Shocks outscored the Red Raiders by 74-58.

Sophia started the match but clearly is not at full strength. She did not play that much. A little bit in the 1st and 4th sets. Interestingly Brylee did not play that much in Set 1. She came off the bench after the first 8 points of set 1 and left 6 points later and did not return unitl Set 4 when she was back in the starting lineup. She played two full front row rotations and 2 service rotations in the 4th set.

The attack error rate of 12.7% error rate against Notre Dame is acceptable. The 20.5% error rate for the pin hittrs against Texas Tech is way too high. But the combined kill % on the day for the Shocker pin hitters, excluding Barb's Notre Dame work, at 23% just is not going to get it done. You would like to see this closer to 40%.

I will give the Notre Dame and Texas Tech defenses some credit for these poor numbers for the Shocker pin hitters but heading into the OU exhibition match Lambo had expressed concern about his teams ability to score on the pins. I don't think he is liking he answers he has been getting so far. Not sure how you fix it. Getting a fully healthy Sophia back would help some perhaps but he needs to leave her on the shelf until she is fully recovered, which may or may not happen.

63 of TTU's 91 points (69.2%) in the match were earned points (kills, blocks & aces). 60 of the Shockers 80 points (75%) were earned. But the Shockers gave up 28 points on errors while TTU only gave up 20 points on errors. With the Shocks struggling to score on the pins they really have to minimize their error points allowed in order to be successful. And they need to avoid giving up big scoring runs. At times they simply struggle to get side outs.

TTU is actually a pretty young team. We'll see what happens tomorrow against a pretty solid and experienced Houston Christian team.

[flyingMoose]

Live Stats for the HCU match are available via the TTU site, but not via the Shockers site. At least, for me.

I think the link is too long to Cut and Paste.

[1972Shocker]

I got the live stats from goshockers.com schedule page link.

Shocks rally from 8-12 to lead 15-13 at the media timeout winning a challenge at 12-13 to tie it up.

No Brylee yet. Sophia is playing. Shocks keeping the attack errors down so far Kill % is 33.3. Not great bot m

[1972Shocker]

Shocks take the the 1st set 25-21.

Low attack error rate and decent kill % of 37.8%. Only 2 service errors.

That's the formula.

No Brylee today. Sophia, Emerson and Barbara handling the rotations on the pins

Not sure if Brylee is injured or just not playing well.

Question is can the Shocks keep this up?

Looks like it will be a close match.

I will have to check back in later. Good luck Shocks.

[WuDrWu]

Sophia looks so much better today (hopefully getting healthy) and it makes such a difference having her on the right swinging hard.

HC is a smart team, but they don't have the firepower to match up with these schools. They have to grind and be clean and take advantage when things are in their favor. Don't misunderstand me, they may very well win this match, but WSU will need to give them a chance.

HC tip game is really strong, we should adjust, hopefully.

Our back row play, led by Gabi and Annalie, while at times much improved, has settled in (so far) to mediocrity that just won't cut it.

Regan in to try her luck, misses on her first dig attempt.

The other 2 issues where we've underperforming bigly is jousts at the net (have to be losing 60-70%) and free ball scoring. When the other team gives you a free ball, you just have to score way above 50% and I bet we're 30-40%.

[WuDrWu]

Don't think I expected Izzy, Lauren McMahon, Morgan Weber, Sophia, Reagan Anderson and Emerson on the floor together.

Lauren has been competitive in her play.

Reagan has made a couple stellar hustle plays, but has missed a tough but certainly playable one, and shanked an easy one as well. Back row is where we're losing this set. Sophia has been blistering balls on the right side.

Time out Lambo down 19-16.

Seriously, when we get a good pass it's likely a point. Case in point out of the timeout, Reagan with a perfect reception to Izzy and a point, then Gabi with another to Frosty. Then 2 mistakes and it's back to 3. Another good pass and another Frosty point.

HCU finally gets a strong swing and a point. 22-19. Sophia with another strong swing that eventually leads to a point (Izzy is going to have to trust her back row and dig fewer balls). HCU solo blocks Sophia (great block) then get a joust point (imagine that) and it's set point.

Gotta give HCU credit late, they blocked and dug some big swings and scored where they had to and put themselves in a position to win the set.

Sophia scored, Ba tools the block then Izzy dumps and HCU takes a timeout at 24-22.


Crazy out of system point goes our way and it's 24-23. HCU finally gets a good swing and the ball falls to the floor for the 2nd set 25-23.

[WuDrWu]

That solo block on Sophia was the difference maker late. If she scores there (and the ball was powdered) I think we take the set eventually.

HCU is a tough team and they're not about to quit. Mini break between sets 2 and 3.

Shocks start with Gabi, Izzy, Lauren, Sophia, Emerson and Brylee makes her first appearance.

Boy, the Shocks got 4 great swings before winning the 1st point (3 from Brylee) then 2 stuff blocks (Lauren in on both) make it 3-0. Another Lauren block leads to 4th point before a service error ends a great start to set 3.

Shank reception by Emerson makes it 4-2. A tip error makes it 4-3. Lauren hammers one home and it's 5-3.

Brylee is getting great swings, but she's going to have to adjust to the blocks. She's just pounding balls right into the block time and time again.

A couple of rare reception errors for HCU (3 actually) and the Shocker lead swells to 8-3. HCU finally puts one down on the right side and it's 8-4. Sophia adjust beautifully to a bad set and scores. Shocks lose another joust (in the net) and it's 9-5. Emerson mishandles the serve and it leads to an HCU point. A good swing on the left and it's 9-7. Morgan Weber with her best swing all year and it's 10-8. HCU starting to get into system more. Points exchanged (Frosty in the middle) and it's 11-8.

Again, Izzy plays a ball that Annalie had. Need to stop that. Couple of bad points for HCU and they take a time out. 13-8 Shocks. Sorry, not a timeout, they are challenging something. Not sure what. I guess it was unsuccessful. Brylee blocks 14-8.

Grr....I hate the swing on an overpass and NOT kill (Izzy there) and we lose a point we should have won. Put the ball down or pass.

The above is another thing we've been poor at so far this season.

HCU struggling on the back row, and they absolutely cannot have that. Shocker service error. 16-10.

Really crappy 3 points in a row. Izzy played a couple of balls she shouldn't, lost another joust, and Brylee pounds one into the net and Lambo takes a timeout 16-13.