Shockers at Drake (Friday, 31 October) and UNI (Saturday, 1 November)

[flyingMoose]

Dani really does a nice job with her out of system sets.

My knowledgeable source pointed out to me that some of these are actually in system. Dani stations herself at the lower right of the WuShock (for the sets 1-3-5 example), the pass is intended to go there, and she sets it. I think she was mostly a setter before coming here.

[1972Shocker]

My knowledgeable source pointed out to me that some of these are actually in system. Dani stations herself at the lower right of the WuShock (for the sets 1-3-5 example), the pass is intended to go there, and she sets it. I think she was mostly a setter before coming here.

It is intentional that Dani is the primary target for a pass if the setter is not available (i.e. the setter makes the dig) but that does not mean you are in system. My understanding is that anytime your setter is not making the set or in a position to make the set you are out of system. Perhaps that is just semantics. I would have to ask Lambo but I doubt that they intend for the pass to go to Dani if the Setter is available and they are not in an all out scramble just to save the ball. Their is no doubt about Lambo wanting Dani to be the primary option for out of system sets because he has specifically said that was the case. In any case, Dani does a nice job of setting the ball when the opportunities arise.

[WuDrWu]

I'm concerned about the health of Mikaela. She was not effective against Drake (and she should have been) and then played one empty set last night.

Appears to me the 6-2 is going to be the way we go from now on. UNI did a great job of limiting Abbey who at times over-compensated last night. Still, after a 14-1-21 .619 night at Drake, she went 12-4-30 .267 against UNI. 12 kills and .267 is pretty much shutting down Abbey these days which is remarkable for a freshman middle. 30 swings is a lot, even in a tough 4 set match. We need Raudsepp back healthy.

[xazshox]

UNI Game

The stat that stood out to me last night was that UNI had a combined 25 blocks compared to WSU's 9. That is a total of individual blocks, assisted blocks & team blocks.

MK referred to UNI & WSU at both being young teams. I looked at the UNI roster & their team stats. They have 3 frosh that have played practically none this year. WSU has 5 frosh among their top 11 players of which 2 are pure frosh & the other 3 are redshirt frosh. The other thing that stood out to me coupled with what MK said is that WSU still needs work on their team communication on the floor both with in system & also out of system.

[flyingMoose]

Appears to me the 6-2 is going to be the way we go from now on.

We played the first three sets last night in the 6-2. We were ahead "far enough" to win the first two, but only managed to win the second one. In both cases, McKenzie was on the floor when the Panthers made their move. I am not nearly knowledgeable enough to claim there was a cause-and-effect.

Mikaela played the first set, and then Jaclyn Roddy played the next two. We were behind early and never caught up in the third set. So in the fourth set, we went back to the 5-1. Again, we were behind early and never caught up.

Katie Reilly came in to serve once, but that was her only appearance of the evening. I do not know if that was a coach's decision (she played all four sets the night before), or if she was dinged up a little. Kristin Byers took her place on the court.

Looking at the stats, you wonder how we lost this match. Although in our favor, admittedly the stats were close. Perhaps the blocks and service errors were enough to make the difference.

The Panthers made their normal quota of outrageous digs.

[flyingMoose]

Perhaps that is just semantics.

Probably. My "informant" was just pointing out that the pass for Dani to set was intentional, was by design, not out of necessity. I am sure it was a function of Emily's spot in the rotation and other stuff I probably would not understand.

[1972Shocker]

We played the first three sets last night in the 6-2. We were ahead "far enough" to win the first two, but only managed to win the second one. In both cases, McKenzie was on the floor when the Panthers made their move. I am not nearly knowledgeable enough to claim there was a cause-and-effect.

Mikaela played the first set, and then Jaclyn Roddy played the next two. We were behind early and never caught up in the third set. So in the fourth set, we went back to the 5-1. Again, we were behind early and never caught up.

Katie Reilly came in to serve once, but that was her only appearance of the evening. I do not know if that was a coach's decision (she played all four sets the night before), or if she was dinged up a little. Kristin Byers took her place on the court.

Looking at the stats, you wonder how we lost this match. Although in our favor, admittedly the stats were close. Perhaps the blocks and service errors were enough to make the difference.

The Panthers made their normal quota of outrageous digs.

I think we actually made the switch back to the 5-1 during the 3rd set after UNI outscored the Shocks 6-1 during McKenzie's last stint in the match.
In set 1 UNI outscored us 11-5 with McKenzie in the game. However, in Set 2 the Shocks outscored UNI 10-6 with McKenzie in the game. So the issue may simply be the one the seems to plague this young team in general and that is one of consistency.

I thought the Shocks played UNI much better in Cedar Falls than they did in Wichita with the difference being primarily the improved play of Ashlyn and Mash.

As you point out UNI's ability to extend points with their great defense and hustle was a key factor. The 9-3 blocking advantage that UNI held was big also. 3 blocks in 4 sets by the Shocks is really pretty poor.

[flyingMoose]

I think we actually made the switch back to the 5-1 during the 3rd set after UNI outscored the Shocks 6-1 during McKenzie's last stint in the match.
In set 1 UNI outscored us 11-5 with McKenzie in the game. However, in Set 2 the Shocks outscored UNI 10-6 with McKenzie in the game. So the issue may simply be the one the seems to plague this young team in general and that is one of consistency.

I thought the Shocks played UNI much better in Cedar Falls than they did in Wichita with the difference being primarily the improved play of Ashlyn and Mash.

As you point out UNI's ability to extend points with their great defense and hustle was a key factor. The 9-3 blocking advantage that UNI held was big also. 3 blocks in 4 sets by the Shocks is really pretty poor.

I am sure all of your corrections are correct. I was watching but not paying close enough attention to claim that all of my "impressions" were actually true.

[1972Shocker]

I am sure all of your corrections are correct. I was watching but not paying close enough attention to claim that all of my "impressions" were actually true.

Actually, the reason I watched a replay and tracked those numbers was because I had the same general impressions as you did. Not just in this match but in others. It just seemed like the offense runs smoother when Emily is setting then with McKenzie is setting. Lambo is the ultimate number cruncher though and I'm sure he has this statistical evaluation refined to far greater extent than the rough observations I recorded. Obviously, the offensive effectiveness isn't solely dependent on the setter.

[Katiesteedy]

UNI GAME

I watched the UNI game this weekend and this was the first time I saw cohesion within the team. They seemed to mesh better together. Kristen Byers did a fantastic job and helped with blocking. Mash did great on the right side and Driskill did great left side. I think Hiebert does a better job being the primary setter and McKenzie continues to struggle. Abby continues to do good as well. Dani needs to improve passing being a libero you expect more from her. Jenny does a good job as well on the back row.

[flyingMoose]

...

Welcome to our little volleyball world!

[1972Shocker]

We played the first three sets last night in the 6-2. We were ahead "far enough" to win the first two, but only managed to win the second one. In both cases, McKenzie was on the floor when the Panthers made their move. I am not nearly knowledgeable enough to claim there was a cause-and-effect.

On his radio show tonight Lambo said he switched from the 6-2 to the 5-1 because McKenzie simply wasn't playing well. He thought maybe the fact we were playing UNI and they had a big crowd may have rattled her some.

Generally, though, I got the sense the Lambo would like to stay with the 6-2 for now although he said we played pretty good with the 5-1 vs UNI when we went to it.