Volleyball: Shocker Volleyball Classic (Sep 7-9)

[Critter's Pa]

Entertaining game, disappointing outcome, but still an entertaining game.

I will not mention service errors. Nope, nothing about service errors from me. Mums the word on service errors.

I thought the Shocks were going to push it to a fifth set. KU definitely did not want to go to five with WSU. KU hit .024 in the first set with 10 attacking errors. They finished the game hitting .206 (58 25 160). The shocks were just barely behind hitting .196 (51 22 148)

Mama Bear was in the house tonight. No body parts wrapped up, just a swing that is going to knock someone out one of these days. The first backrow attack by Sophia looked like a scramble, then Izzi set her several times in the back row intentionally. And it scored several times. I don't remember ever seeing Sophia ever attacking from the back row. I could get used to that being a played that gets called often.

Sophia was one dig away from a double double. 14 kills, 9 digs, and 2 block assists. MorganW had 10 kills and 9 digs and 2 block assists. Frosty was 2 blocks from a double double. 10 kills, 8 blocks.

Did Emerson get hurt? I didn't see anything happen like that, but she only played the first two sets.

Gabi tried to dent the handrail behind the visitor's bench area. I don't know if she succeeded, but she *&%$ed up some folding chairs on her attempt to get at a ball. Loved the hustle from all the players that were flying around the court.

Great crowd. 2752 according to the stat broadcast.

[1972Shocker]

You love the hustle but sometimes your wonder if it's worth the risk. Morgan Weber with a tremendous save but was lucky she was able to continue playing. She no doubt will be a bit sore and bruised for a few days. At least Gabi had the good fortune of moveable chairs. Morgan basically took on the north end of Koch Arena which does't have a lot of give to it.

[shoxlax]

It will be interesting to see the results of Colorado and Kansas.

[boyshocker]

My few incites... Weber's save might be the best I have seen at Koch, services errors with a no aces to offset were a killer and thought the setting was off too much for my liking.

[1972Shocker]

I will not mention service errors. Nope, nothing about service errors from me. Mums the word on service errors.

It wasn't the service errors in and of themselves that was the story, It seemed pretty clear to me that being more aggressive on their serve was what the Shocks felt they had to strategically against KU who is a good, aggressive serving team. Trying to make it tougher for KU to get good in system swings at the net.

As it turned out the Shocks only had 1 more service error that did the Jayhawks, 11 to 10. So the service errors were not the difference in the match. The difference was the payoff from the service errors. KU had 6 aces to only 1 for the Shocks. Even if the Shocks had no errors it probably would not have totally made up the deficit in aces. KU had a side out percentage of 65.6% in this match so if the Shocks had gotten all 11 of those errors in play KU would be expected to win 7 of those points. I think the bottom line is that we are just not all that strong of serving team in terms of producing aces.

So, yes the service errors are aggravating, but perhaps not the difference in the match which was very closely contested. KU outscored the Shocks by 8 points overall at 97-89, but 7 points of that advantage were gained in the first 19 points of the match with KU take a 13-6 lead in Set 1. By the way, in that 4th set there were 12 ties and 5 lead changes.

KU had 71 earned points (kills, blocks and aces) and 26 unearned points off of Shocker errors.
WSU had 62 earned points and 27 unearned points off of KU errors.

Now arguably some of the earned points may have involved some opponent misplays, but generally kills, blocks and aces are attacking points. And the attacking points were the difference in the match.

[WuDrWu]

For me, there just isn't that much to complain about last night. 1972Shocker nails it in my opinion. We had to take chances serving to keep them out of system (just watch how easy they score in system, like match point) and try to stay even with them.

Ku has been very good to elite for some time now. 2 seasons ago they brought in home grown and top 20 recruit Caroline Bien who was B12 FOY All American leading scorer etc etc. She's all world. Scored over 600 points her first 2 seasons. She had 2 back row attacks last night that really weren't even attacks...she's little more than a DS at this point. They just go out and buy 3 transfers that combined for over 100 attacks and 40 kills and are just physical monsters.

Without the Tech transfer Cooper, we win last night. We had no answer on the left all night. Our blocking game was fantastic. But then KU dug some bombs that I was positive would find the floor. Izzy might not have had her best game, but you aren't going to beat that team with high sets to the pins. We just don't have the athletes to get away with that. I thought our game plan was excellent, and the ladies executed it about as well as they could. A couple of points here and there and it's a 3-1 win for the Shocks.

Our back row was fantastic all game long.

Sophia was great but you could tell she was gassed late (as were several of the Ku players) but the bench stepped up. Kohler showed her potential. Webby without question played her best match of her career and it was glorious. Gabi Maas is a freaking stud. Annalie and Reagan both played well. Stout and Foster were both solid. The effort was great, the execution very, very good. The ladies played with heart and passion and fire. I will NEVER complain about that. Ku is ranked, they're a lock tourney team and a borderline host team and they had their hands full last night vs the Shocks without their best player.

Really good crowd too. 97% WSU fans. Lots of student athletes including most of the baseball team who were very engaged (the new kids seems to have a bit of an edge, which I like). Also lots of WSU staff but no ADKS that I saw (not saying he has to be at every event). Chicken strips were outstanding. Not sure about the Val Wu family friendly pricing. Everything good except the final score.

I am a little concerned about how the girls will respond against a really good CU team Saturday. That effort might have taken a lot out of them. The only really frustrating thing is this team should be 5-1.

[Critter's Pa]

It will be interesting to see the results of Colorado and Kansas.

KU won in four sets. They lost the second set 27-25.

CU out hit KU right up to the last few points. CU lead in service errors 17-9 and KU lead in aces 8-4.

The Shockers can and should beat CU.

Stat Broadcast says the attendance was 713. Seems like there was less than that.

[Critter's Pa]

For me, there just isn't that much to complain about last night..

You just need to try harder. Lets break down some footwork...

Lots of student athletes including most of the baseball team who were very engaged (the new kids seems to have a bit of an edge, which I like).

I dig it too. While I'm not going to yell, "KU sucks!!!," something I did when I was much younger, I'm not going to discourage students stating opinions rooted in fact.

I am a little concerned about how the girls will respond against a really good CU team Saturday. That effort might have taken a lot out of them. The only really frustrating thing is this team should be 5-1.

If KU is what a 22nd ranked team looks like, WSU can hang with ranked teams even if they don't bring their A game. I'm not sure KU is worthy of their ranking, but I'll take it as it's great for the Shock's RPI.

[Singeril]

For me, there just isn't that much to complain about last night. 1972Shocker

Really good crowd too. 97% WSU fans. Lots of student athletes including most of the baseball team who were very engaged (the new kids seems to have a bit of an edge, which I like). Also lots of WSU staff but no ADKS that I saw (not saying he has to be at every event). Chicken strips were outstanding. Not sure about the Val Wu family friendly pricing. Everything good except the final score.

Many from the men's basketball team were there as well...and were getting into it during Set #3.

[1972Shocker]

It will be interesting to see the results of Colorado and Kansas.

KU 3 - UC 1

23, (25), 17, 20

KU 9 service errors and 8 service aces.
UC 17 service errors and 4 service aces

KU +12 in service scoring. Overall KU outscored UC by 13 points for the match.

[1972Shocker]

WuDrWu was right to be concerned about how the Shocks would respond to their big effort against KU.

So far a little concerning . Set 1 goes to Colorado 25-21.

A couple of good spurts by the Shocks but notbconsistent and too many errors.

[BAShocker]

Not very impressive volleyball by the Shocks.

[1972Shocker]

Wipeout in progress. Shocks down 6-16 in set 2.

Make that 7-19.

Total implosion this set.

[BAShocker]

Univ of Colo 25
Wichita Heights High 11

[1972Shocker]

Possible, but seems pretty unlikely the Shocks can turn this around.