IUPUI Hampton Invitational

[WuDrWu]

As someone who only very casually follows women's volleyball, what exactly are the tiers? Is Creighton a legit national title contender, or is it more like women's basketball where that designation is limited to 3 or 4 teams, tops? If Creighton is a legit title contender, how did they reach that level?

Nebraska area high school and club volleyball is legit. Not all of them can go to Nebraska. Iowa, Minnesota and the Kansas City region are legit too so plenty of areas for them to successfully recruit. Not sure they are national title contenders, if only because Texas is so darned good, but they are certainly a top 10ish team.

[flyingMoose]

If Creighton is a legit title contender, how did they reach that level?

I have a PM asking that very question in to a poster on Volleytalk that would come to this forum when Creighton was still in the Valley. I'll post his reply.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers v Marquette

Pre-game

From Mike: Marquette is a bit predictable. They don't do a lot of things, but they do them well. Can you stop them is the question. Last weekend, they beat then #20 Hawai'i at Hawai'i and lost to UCLA and San Diego, both now ranked.

From Lambo: Still need other people on the scoreboard beyond the Big Three. Emma was the only contributor - still need more people to be available. Marquette will see the Shockers as the same team as last year less Jody. Lambo verified Mike's comments, but thinks the Shocks have outworked Marquette the last two years - that is, one more long rallies.

[flyingMoose]

Set 1

Emma is the "odd-woman" in to start.

Chase Jackson rotates in, having few appearances (two sets) to this point.

9-7 on a kill by Mikaela is the first two-point lead of the match for either team.

Ceiling beams come into play in this venue.

At 12-8, Marquette takes a timeout.

15-16 and the Shockers take a timeout. And another at 16-19.


Shockers 20-25 Marquette

With a strong finish, the Warriors take the first set. Shockers hit .263 v .350. Marquette leads in blocks, 3-0.

[shocks02]

Shox were up 12-8 in the first set, ended up losing 20-25. Now down 6-0 in the second set and this match is all but virtually over.

[flyingMoose]

Set 2

Emma and Chase are again part of the rotation.

Two overpasses and putbacks, two blocks and Marquette jumps out to a 0-4 lead. Then a kill, another block and Lambo takes a timeout at 0-6.

Finally the Shockers score to make it 1-9, the point coming on a hitting error.

When the Shockers close the gap to 13-18 on four consecutive points, Marquette takes a timeout.


Shockers 18-25 Marquette

Phone call, so not sure about the close of this set.

I suspect Lambo is going to say that Marquette is good enough to exploit the Shocker deficiencies that he has spoken of.

[WuDrWu]

Disastrous start to set 2. 2 over passes and 4 blocks and it's 6-0 Marquette.

Timeout. Make it 7-0

Finally an error 7-1.

Call overruled. 8-0. 9-0.

[WuDrWu]

Going to have to try and find some mojo and rhythm and hope we can come out and battle back to win in 5 because this set is over. 12-2.

[shocks02]

15-12 Shox here in the third set. Showing some fight.

[shocks02]

21-16 Shox now. Hey!

[flyingMoose]

Set 3

2-5 becomes a 7-6 Shocker lead (says Mike - Sidearm has something different again), and Marquette takes a timeout.

Brooke Smith makes her debut in this set. Taking Chase's place?

Ceiling beams note: This room is used by volleyball and women's basketball. There is also a natatorium in the building.

Three-point Shocker leads sometimes become only one, but the Shockers finally get a 21-16 lead that brings on a Marquette timeout.

Tabitha comes up huge late, then Abbie and Brooke.


Shockers 25-20 Marquette

Shockers now at .175 for the match v .275. Blocks are now 4 v 10.

[shocks02]

25-20 Shox. We're headed to set 4! Seemed impossible 30 minutes ago.

[flyingMoose]

Set 4

Brooke starts this set. There was discussion on the weekly show that a coach has to consider long-term issues for the team but also the current year. Clearly, the staff decided that saving Brooke was not best for this year's team.

Three of the first four Shocker points are blocks.

No lead greater than two points until 17-14 Shockers, and Marquette takes a timeout.

When 21-15 becomes 21-18, Lambo takes a timeout.

Again, Tabitha is big late.


Shockers 25-18 Marquette

Shocker blocks are now up to 11. They are hitting .195 v .222. Tabitha has 17 kills, and Abbie has 12.

[Walker]

What a rally. Hopefully we can take the 5th.

[flyingMoose]

Set 5

Mikaela gets only her third and fourth kills of the match early in the set.

The teams switch ends at 7-8. No two-point leads yet.

At 8-10, Lambo takes a timeout.

Hitting errors helping the Shocks. 10-11.

Mikaela is blocked and it is 11-13. Lambo takes his last timeout.

After Giorgia keeps the point alive with two great digs, a Marquette hitting error brings the score to 13-13 and brings a Marquette timeout.

Emily error, Mikaela kill, Warrior kill, Tabitha kill, Brooke kill (for a lead 16-15 lead), Marquette timeout (with an unhappy coach on a recent ruling in the Shock's favor).

Warrior kill to tie, Tabitha kill, Warrior kill, Warrior error, Tabitha service ace. Shockers win!!!


Shockers 19-17 Marquette

Post-game

Turning point in playing Brooke. Brought the block and dig totals back. Six of their errors v two by Shockers in the fifth set was a difference. Brooke is getting better every day. Disappointed in the littles (Gabi by name), but the big difference (again) was the number of errors by Marquette in the last few sets.