Shocker VB at Rice

[flyingMoose]

Yep, went to check in and discovered the same. Sidearm is nearly worthless. Sigh.

But the two Owls are missing on Sidearm also.

[flyingMoose]

I think the first set is over, but not because Sidearm tells me. Didn't I tell you?

[flyingMoose]

StatBroadcast via the AAC site.

25-20, 22-25, 22-25, 25-22, ...

[WuDrWu]

Tulsa sweeps ECU.

USF was sloppy but swept Charlotte.

[WuDrWu]

Very disappointing 2nd set. Come on ladies, you’re better than this!

[ShockTalk]

Very disappointing 2nd set. Come on ladies, you’re better than this!

Not looking any better in the 3rd set. Timeout WSU 22 Rice 24.

Rice wins the 3rd

[WuDrWu]

Not to offend anyone and I’m definitely not pointing to any 1 player or coach, but as a whole, this group just isn’t very tough, mentally or physically. We lose way WAY too many 50/50 points. It’s not just going to cost us this match but the regular season title that they are plenty good enough to win.

Now down 2-1 there’s a 1 in 10 chance to come back.

[BAShocker]

Not to offend anyone and I’m definitely not pointing to any 1 player or coach, but as a whole, this group just isn’t very tough, mentally or physically. We lose way WAY too many 50/50 points. It’s not just going to cost us this match but the regular season title that they are plenty good enough to win.

Now down 2-1 there’s a 1 in 10 chance to come back.

Agreed. I realize it’s not part of the program’s culture, but to have someone with a little Jamar Howard (or someone similar) in them, wouldn’t hurt.

[ShockTalk]

Shocks imploding. Up 6, 18-12, now 18 all.

[WuDrWu]

Well, tried to give up 2 big leads but the Shocks force a 5th set!

[ShockTalk]

Whew. Shocks 25-22 4th set.

[BAShocker]

Two evenly matched teams. But, you got to make plays.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 2-3 Rice
(20), 22, 22, (22), 14

.214 v .257
Morgan 20-8-45 for .267, Alyssa 14-4-37 for .270, Brooklyn 11-6-41 for .122, and Sarah 9-1-15 for .533.
Emerson is worn out? hitting negative over three sets. Gracie also played three sets with 5-0-19 for .263.

Blocks 10 v 6. Errors/Aces 3/4 v 12/2.

Points 80 v 82. (See 1972Shocker somewhere above,)

[flyingMoose]

Other Friday Matches

South Florida 3-0 Charlotte

Tulsa 3-0 East Carolina
Wow! On the road no less.

Florida Atlantic 3-1 North Texas

Tulane 0-3 Temple

Memphis 3-1 UTSA

[1972Shocker]

The Shock gave it all they had tonight but it just was not quite enough. They gave themselves a chance. The difference was Rice's two 6-1 left side hitters. Samarah Hill, a 6th year grad transfer from LSU, hit 29-6-70 = .329 playing 6 rotations and Katrina Jensen, a 5th year grad transfer from Boston College, hit 20-9-44 = .250. The Shocks simply don't have that kind of fire power on the left side.

I really don't know if Emerson is fatigued or not, but she has not hit over .192 in her last 9 matches and is not hitting the ball very hard (that my simply be lack of arm strength/swing speed). In those matches she is 70-43-289 = .093. I am not blaming Emerson for tonight's loss. After all the match was tie 1-1 when she was replaced by Gracie Morrow who actually played pretty well I thought. Emerson is probably a better blocker than Gracie, but Gracie hits the ball harder (and had no errors in 19 attacks tonight) and I think Gracie has a tougher serve than Emerson. And it is not like Emerson is that strong on the back row. I don't know how long you can afford to stay with Emerson at the level she is producing but it might be time to give Gracie a shot and see how she responds and give Emerson some rest if fatigue is a factor.

Speaking of responding, Katie continues to play very well at the libero position with her 3rd straight match with 20 or more digs since donning the libero jersey and our littles continue to play pretty well as a group. Morgan wasn't quite as good tonight as she has been but she was good and she just competes so fricken hard. Sarah and Alyssa both got back on track and hopefully can stay on track.

With the show those two left side grad transfers put on tonight I am not sure how the Shocks made this match so competitive. Morgan and Sarah were much more productive than the middles for Rice combining to hit 29-9-60 = .333 with 1 block solos and 8 block assists vs 12-4-34 = .235 with 3 block solos and 3 block assists. The Shocks also pick up a net of 11 points at the service line thanks to 12 service errors from Rice.

Looking forward to the AAC Tournament I don't see how the Shocks can beat Rice unless they can get those Rice left side pin attackers under better control.