Shocks Sweep Sycamores

[WuDrWu]

I wanted to see some more of our setter for next year. #12 (can't remember her name) needs to get more court time in these type of games to get the much needed experience.

Other notes: Niggemeyer looked great, and Wadsworth really did play pretty well. Also Jakubov had some great blocks.

Just for the record, if all goes well, the person who will be our setter for next year is not on the team right now. We have a setter from Texas coming in who Lamb describes as the most "expensive" recruit (i.e. most sought after by a lot of teams) that he has brought into WSU. She is supposed to play very similar to Panzau. She graduates a semester early and will be here to practice with the team in the spring and is expected to be our setter for next season.

I have heard about the recruit, however I don't think we should count our chickens just yet. Recruits can change their mind or there could be injuries. I'd just like to see Kaitlynn get some more experience just in case.

I have no reason to doubt that she is coming, and there is a decent chance that Granville would be our setter if for some reason she didn't pan out. I'm sure that Lamb would like to get more time for Kaitlynn, but as he pointed out yesterday, it is hard to get reps for players with volleyball substitutions working the way they do. In any case, she should be getting plenty of reps in practice, which is important for the timing between setters and hitters.

Good point and one of the real positives of our program right now is the depth. That depth allows practices to be supremely competitive. If I may harken back oh so many years ago, I remember having a fun time dominating practices but then being irritated that the games weren't quite that easy. When I began playing better talent in practice, my game elevated quickly. It is not a difficult concept for adults but can be one for kids (as it was for me).

For Example: There is not one team in our conference for whom Katie Niggemeyer would not start. Her skill and dedication are making Stephanie and Angela better every day while she is also improving and she is forced to expand her game at the same time. Angela has spent some time on the bench this season because of stern competition.....almost unheard of for a RETURNING 1ST TEAM ALL CONFERENCE selection.

That's program building. I know there is, and there should be, concern about not winning the Valley and the possible consequences therein but I truly believe these ladies are after a bigger prize. They are going to keep getting better and better.........we keep telling the rest of you out there. Get out to the games and see a wonderful product. You will not be dissappointed.

:wsu_posters: :goshocks: :posterwu: :posterwsu:

[SpanglerFan316]

WuDrWu: Do you have stats on games started or games played? Angela did not play in one of the ORU games according to the box scores but going through all the boxscores would be a pain.

[WuDrWu]

According to goshockers.com, Katie has started 15-21 matches and Angela 9-22.

[SpanglerFan316]

Doc: On Katie, any idea why she is not playing more? She is an outstanding player and, in our last loss (UNI), she had the best hitting percentage (& 3 BAs) .
17 Niggemeyer, Katie... 3| 6 1 11 .455 http://www.goshockers.com/downloads1...DB_OEM_ID=7500
However she only played in one game vs. Oral Roberts and didn't play at Creighton.


17 Niggemeyer, Katie... 2| 7 2 12 .417 Indiana State vs Wichita State
17 Niggemeyer, Katie... 1| 2 2 6 .000 Wichita State vs Oral Roberts
17 Niggemeyer, Katie... 2| 2 0 6 .333 Wichita State vs Drake
Wichita State vs Creighton
17 Niggemeyer, Katie... 1| 2 1 4 .250| Wichita State vs Missouri State
17 Niggemeyer, Katie... 3| 9 2 21 .333 Southern Illinois vs Wichita State

[WuDrWu]

Doc: On Katie, any idea why she is not playing more? She is an outstanding player and, in our last loss (UNI), she had the best hitting percentage (& 3 BAs) .
17 Niggemeyer, Katie... 3| 6 1 11 .455 http://www.goshockers.com/downloads1...DB_OEM_ID=7500
However she only played in one game vs. Oral Roberts and didn't play at Creighton.


17 Niggemeyer, Katie... 2| 7 2 12 .417 Indiana State vs Wichita State
17 Niggemeyer, Katie... 1| 2 2 6 .000 Wichita State vs Oral Roberts
17 Niggemeyer, Katie... 2| 2 0 6 .333 Wichita State vs Drake
Wichita State vs Creighton
17 Niggemeyer, Katie... 1| 2 1 4 .250| Wichita State vs Missouri State
17 Niggemeyer, Katie... 3| 9 2 21 .333 Southern Illinois vs Wichita State

I asked that exact question last week. Unfortunately, I am not nearly skilled enough to explain the details of the sport. I wish I was.

I have no idea. I have seen Katie a couple of times recently and she does not seem to be injured in any way. I think she is possibly our most dangerous net player. Others certainly have their strengths as well.

I can only assume that other parts of Katie's game are not up to snuff, I guess. I really don't know. From my unskilled point of view if she is healthy I cannot see why she isn't playing more lately.

Slightly off the subject.....While I am going to enjoy every second of this season, I am REALLY looking forward to where this program is heading.

We lose Sara and Abby after this year.....2 stars for sure. If we can replace Abby the rest of the lineup looks deadly.

Angela back for her Sr. year. Front line Juniors Stephanie, Katie, Lindsey Amanda should provide plenty of firepower. Sara McGee is a star in the making imho.

The future is indeed bright.

:wsu_posters: :goshocks: :posterwu: :posterwsu:

[SpanglerFan316]

"I think she is possibly our most dangerous net player."
I think Lindsey and Sara are our most dangerous net players. Watch Lindsey; she powers through blocks!! When she spikes the ball, she SPIKES it. The person next to me last night (a former high school & CC VB player seeing her first WSU match) said, after Lindsey's spike hit an ISU player, "That had to hurt."

To me, Katie's strength is her technical skill. She plays volleyball excellently. Watch her footwork and motion. She makes it look easy. She doesn't have the power of Lindsey or Sara. She doesn't have the reach of Stephanie. She doesn't have the "it" of Emily, the MVC kills leader. BTW: HOW could you forget Emily Stockman on your list of players next year??? Emily is not a "star in the making" but a star right now!!! (Of course, I'm a fan of Sarah McGee too. I love all our Shocker players!!)

KILLS (Minimum 2.00 per game)
Player Team Cl G No. Avg/G
-------------------------------------------------------
1. Stockman, Emily..... WSU SO 70 300 4.29
2. Goc, Kelly.......... CU SR 64 263 4.11
3. Bys, Angela......... DU FR 80 318 3.97
4. Adams,Jamie......... MSU SR 81 314 3.88
5. Richmond, MC........ ILS JR 77 293 3.81
6. Stelken, Ashten..... UNI JR 79 294 3.72
7. Berwanger, Kristie.. SIU JR 59 199 3.37
8. Riessen, Peggy...... ILS SO 72 241 3.35
9. Staubach,Sara....... MSU SO 75 246 3.28
10. Staehlin, Kari...... ILS SR 73 238 3.26
11. Thomas,Sara......... MSU SR 81 263 3.25
12. Oelke, Allie........ CU FR 71 228 3.21
13. Spurlock, Megan..... UE SR 68 213 3.13
14. Lungren, Sara....... WSU SR 69 213 3.09
15. Sampson, Amy........ UNI JR 78 237 3.04
16. Rowen, Laura........ UNI SR 73 221 3.03
17. Madden, Emily....... DU SO 80 242 3.03
18. Kulupka, Sally...... UE JR 60 177 2.95
19. Tokarz, Stephanie... WSU SO 64 185 2.89

The Valley coaches seemed to see more from Lindsey than Katie but I love having both of them in a game.
Individually, Sara Lungren broke the school record for kills per game in a season (4.10) and 20-kill/20-dig double-doubles (3). For her efforts, she was named to the all-MVC first team along with Abby Harsh and Angela Jakubov. Stephanie Tokarz and Lindsey Eckenrode were named to the all-freshman team. http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticl...38&SPSID=61215

[WuDrWu]

No answer about forgeting to mention Emily.


I fell in love with her game from game 1 this fall. She has to be on the short list for conference player of the year right now.


If MEH is as good as advertised, we could be loaded for the foreseeable future.

[dregn]

I think Katie's weakness is her blocking, but if she's putting up the offensive numbers it makes up for that. What is said about how hard Lindsey hits the ball is true, but that's also her weakness. If she's getting blocked she tends to just try and hit it harder, which still won't make it threw a good block.

It seems to me that on this team you earn your playing time in practice. You don't know who's starting week from week between Katie, Lindsey, and Angela. Same with how much, if any, playing time Sara McGee gets. Although her playing time seems to be when the other middles are struggling. There's no obvious physical changes (injuries) that would change it so my only explanation would be how they look in practice.

Kim Wadsworth is a good example of someone who Lamb was giving playing time early in the year because of how she looked in practice. I think Lamb is definately willing to give those who look best in practice a chance the next match.

[SpanglerFan316]

I think Katie's weakness is her blocking, but if she's putting up the offensive numbers it makes up for that. What is said about how hard Lindsey hits the ball is true, but that's also her weakness. If she's getting blocked she tends to just try and hit it harder, which still won't make it threw a good block.

It seems to me that on this team you earn your playing time in practice. You don't know who's starting week from week between Katie, Lindsey, and Angela. Same with how much, if any, playing time Sara McGee gets. Although her playing time seems to be when the other middles are struggling. There's no obvious physical changes (injuries) that would change it so my only explanation would be how they look in practice.

Kim Wadsworth is a good example of someone who Lamb was giving playing time early in the year because of how she looked in practice. I think Lamb is definately willing to give those who look best in practice a chance the next match.

1. If you throw (or threw) a block, I'm pretty sure you're in trouble with the refs (= :-x ). ;-)

2. I have seen Lindsey had hit THROUGH some blocks. All you need is for the ball to stay on the other side of the net after you hit it; you don't need to knock down the opponents. :D (Of course, if they fall down, ... :lol: ).