Shocks Host Loyola (Friday), Bradley (Satruday) and SIU (Monday)

[1972Shocker]

Shocks sweep a pretty good Loyola team 15, 25 and 20. Loyola has some fire power and size and may very well have something to say about who wins the Valley this year.

Somewhat of a surprising lineup tonight. Lambo pretty much eliminated the littles from the lineup other than Dani at the Libero position. Mikaela and Tabitha along with Jody and Emily played all 6 rotations. I think the only little who saw the court was Kara Bown for one serve in place of Tabitha. If I heard correctly Lambo said he put that lineup toghether about 20 minutes before the match.

Not sure I can remember when the Shockers last took this approach, if ever.

And yes the National Anthem was an embarassment. One of the worst renditions I have ever heard, if not the worst.

[flyingMoose]

Other Friday Matches

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 3-0 Indiana State

Illinois State 3-0 EVANSVILLE

MISSOURI STATE 3-0 Bradley

[1972Shocker]

We led in blocks 6-3. Our aces-errors was 0 while the Ramblers was -10.

Despite leading in blocks I don't think the Shocks play at the net tonight was one of the better efforts. Seemed like a lot of balls waterfalled onto our side of the net.

I would think Lambo would be very pleased with the 3 aces to 3 errors service performance. Especially compared to the 1 ace to 11 error performnce by Loyola.

[1972Shocker]

In some jump-serve discussion somewhere, it was noted that if the ball is curving, the serve is more difficult to receive. Micha Hancock, a left-handed setter for Penn State from a couple of years back, had a wicked jump-serve that curved a lot. Maybe Sara's ball moved in the same way. Plus there were far fewer jump-servers in her day which was to her advantage - but certainly not enough to account for her outstanding numbers.

Perhaps being left handed helps as well. Not a ton of left handed players so the spin is opposite of what defenders normally deal with.

I am just glad that Sara stuck it out with Shocks after thinking about transfering to a California school after her Freshman year.

[JayJ79]

And yes the National Anthem was an embarassment. One of the worst renditions I have ever heard, if not the worst.

you brought in Roseanne Barr?

[1972Shocker]

you brought in Roseanne Barr?

No, but it's possible Roseanne has a sister from another mother. Actually, I think this person would be capable of doing a reasonably adequate job of singing the national anthem. I just can't fathom why she thought what she did tonight was a good idea. Hopefully, she has some friends or loved ones who will help her out.

[flyingMoose]

you brought in Roseanne Barr?

You want someone to sing the National Anthem, not interpret it. You want it to be about the song, not the singer.

In the past for cheap entertainment, I have timed the length of the National Anthem. Unfortunately, I did not do that last night for I am sure it would have set a new world record.

[Shox21]

Full afternoon and evening planned. Dinner at St. George's for their annual Lebanese dinner and then on to the volleyball game. If you've never tried the dinner, you should. Doors open at 4:00 p.m.

[flyingMoose]

I originally was going to wait until the half-way point of the conference schedule to do this, but ... I changed my mind.

Every year there is a thread on Volleytalk that projects the season-ending RPI using the Pablo ratings to determine the results of the remaining matches. Any conference tournaments are not included.

Following are end-of-season RPI projections:

34 Shockers
56 Northern Iowa
63 Southern Illinois
72 Missouri State

This suggests the Valley is way down from last year with only the Shocks having an excellent chance for an at-large bid with Northern Iowa having a very slight chance. If the Shockers win the Valley tournament, we may be a one-bid league, down from four last year. But it is early and those numbers could move a lot - I recall that the RPI of Southern Illinois did move a bunch last year.

[mickeylegal]

Why does the scoreboard show the stats from last night's game? They need to hire people who know what they are doing.

[flyingMoose]

Why does the scoreboard show the stats from last night's game? They need to hire people who know what they are doing.

Actually they are not even the stats from last night. The board was broken all last night and again tonight. They took down the entire stats portion of the board in, I believe, the third set.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 3-0 Bradley
12, 14, 22

Again tonight, Dani was the only little with Jody, Tabitha and Mikaela playing six positions.

For the match, .322 v .089 with blocks 7 v 3. The aces-to-errors ratio was 7/6 for the Shocks v 2/8 for the Braves.

Bradley got more touches and dug more balls in the third set it seemed which the Shocks closed out mostly on the arm of Jody (six of the last ten Shockers points).

Jody was 13 kills and .462, Mikaela 7 and .263, and Tabitha 7 and .188. Katie and Abbie only had eight kills combined. Someone more technical-volleyball-knowledgeable can explain that, because I suspect there is a reason based on changed tactics.

At crunch time in the third set, Tabitha hit a standing serve and Kara Bown served for her in one rotation.

[1972Shocker]

Full afternoon and evening planned. Dinner at St. George's for their annual Lebanese dinner and then on to the volleyball game. If you've never tried the dinner, you should. Doors open at 4:00 p.m.

Good plan. I have enjoyed the St. George Annual Lebanese Dinner just about every year going back to when St. George was located on Walnut Street just west of the Arkansas River just south of Douglas. Good eats. Quite an undertaking by the goods folks of St. George and a nice Wichita tradition.

[1972Shocker]

SIU goes to 6-1 with a 4-set win of over Illinois State in Carbondale tonight setting up a showdown with the Shocks at Koch Arena on Monday. That one should be a battle with 1st place on the line. Shocks needed to protect their home court.

I have to admit I am a little concerned about how the new lineup will hold up against a Valley contender.

[flyingMoose]

All of the Other Saturday Matches

(as noted) SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 3-1 Illinois State

Northern Iowa 3-0 DRAKE

MISSOURI STATE 3-0 Loyola

Indiana State 3-2 EVANSVILLE
11 in the fifth