Open message to Crowl, Acevedo, Gilk & Kinney

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And if the volleyball gods could please keep all of our players healthy that would also be great. Losing Z was more than enough pain for us this year.
 

And Wucherer. After the S. Florida match I think we saw what Alex is capable of. Now we just need to see that night after night
 

Alex played well. Alex is so good in the back row I view her as a 6 rotation player. I think she can still get more efficient as a scorer. She took a lot of aggressive swings last night which I liked. Crowl had far and away her best match of the year too. She was solid on the attack and blocked really well. Kinney and Gilk didn't get much court time so it's tough to judge them at all.
 

Alex had a very solid weekend. As for the 3rd hitter Cook has me confused. Friday night he starts Crowl and she has her best match, maybe ever. Saturday he starts Kinney and she has her best match with double digit kills. Sunday comes and Crowl starts again and plays so-so in the first set then gets benched for Kinney who was similarly so-so. I suppose next weekend we expect Gilk to start.
 


Hoolio said:
Alex had a very solid weekend. As for the 3rd hitter Cook has me confused. Friday night he starts Crowl and she has her best match, maybe ever. Saturday he starts Kinney and she has her best match with double digit kills. Sunday comes and Crowl starts again and plays so-so in the first set then gets benched for Kinney who was similarly so-so. I suppose next weekend we expect Gilk to start.
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I was expecting to see Gilk today in at least one set. Right now I would rank them Kinney, Gilk and then Crowl.
 

I am just wondering how recruiting went for KC prior to the season. I really don't know but I have a feeling his hands are tied with only so many scholarships available every season. However, this is not new to any of us.....we have a few Gopher players who haven't seen much playing time or have contributed very little, when it comes to starting time (anywhere from 1-4 years). We can now see how those decisions will be playing out with three of our starters out for the season.

Again, I have no idea, but I am wondering if KC was not expecting Kali Engeman to transfer out. Have a feeling her decision came as a result of transferring in the former Purdue MB Lourdes Myers. I'm sure she wanted to start this season but the door still didn't necessarily open for her when this transfer happened. Again, this is pure speculation on my part. Yes this team could use her and her experience right now with the latest news of Minatee's season ending injury.

My last point is that all decisions are extremely important as we shall see how critical KC's have been for 2025. The one thing I have noticed so far watching several games, so many teams have many Freshman and Sophomores starting in many positions. As a result of this, there appears to be a lot more parity in the leagues this season. Many volleyball teams across the leagues have graduated many many starters and in some cases almost their entire team. We graduated three and IMO I feel the Opp position is the one that still has many question marks.
 

Hoolio said:
Alex had a very solid weekend. As for the 3rd hitter Cook has me confused. Friday night he starts Crowl and she has her best match, maybe ever. Saturday he starts Kinney and she has her best match with double digit kills. Sunday comes and Crowl starts again and plays so-so in the first set then gets benched for Kinney who was similarly so-so. I suppose next weekend we expect Gilk to start.
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Is it possible right now that Cook is totally confused as well? His moving of players around like chess pieces some times just adds to it. There is a rhythm a team needs to get into. IMO some of these players aren't in long enough to get a feel for the match. Opposing teams are adjusting then we need to readjust and it doesn't always work in our favor.

Great blocking teams are going to be a huge problem for us as this season continues. We now have less offense with Minatee out and the Opp position not producing, which most of us said was a big concern prior to the season starting. Jordan Taylor really needs to step up as a Freshman for the rest of this season. We shall see what she has to offer because those shoes to fill are mighty big right now.
 
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4EverAGopher said:
I am just wondering how recruiting went for KC prior to the season. I really don't know but I have a feeling his hands are tied with only so many scholarships available every season. However, this is not new to any of us.....we have a few Gopher players who haven't seen much playing time or have contributed very little, when it comes to starting time (anywhere from 1-4 years). We can now see how those decisions will be playing out with three of our starters out for the season.

Again, I have no idea, but I am wondering if KC was not expecting Kali Engeman to transfer out. Have a feeling her decision came as a result of transferring in the former Purdue MB Lourdes Myers. I'm sure she wanted to start this season but the door still didn't necessarily open for her when this transfer happened. Again, this is pure speculation on my part. Yes this team could use her and her experience right now with the latest news of Minatee's season ending injury.

My last point is that all decisions are extremely important as we shall see how critical KC's have been for 2025. The one thing I have noticed so far watching several games, so many teams have many Freshman and Sophomores starting in many positions. As a result of this, there appears to be a lot more parity in the leagues this season. Many volleyball teams across the leagues have graduated many many starters and in some cases almost their entire team. We graduated three and IMO I feel the Opp position is the one that still has many question marks.
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I believe in Engeman was in the transfer portal before we landed Myers. Gilk is the front runner for the Opp with Kinney able to play either OH or Opp. Just my opinion.
 



Sure is nice that players like Acevedo and Kinney (and Garr and Thibault) have stepped it up. Gilk had a nice game v Loyola too. Better competition ahead. We will see.
 

I am pleasantly surprised with this team and how they have ALL stepped up. They have had a very positive response to three of our starters out this season. I didn't expect this. We shall continue to see how they grow this season.

Opp is definitely a work in progress and I am liking KK there. But Acevedo has come up with some power hits on the right too. Also she had a fantastic match vs Michigan State last night.

Also, KT is killing it at DS so far......Keep it up!

Not sure why KCook pulled KK out and replaced her with Gilk. But she also had some nice kills from the right. IMO I am leaning toward KK for Opp followed by Gilk. I guess whoever can get the job done for a match...just do it!
 

Acevedo has definately stepped it up about 3 notches. She's playing awesome volleyball. I think Kinney has played well and seemed to be improving. I was puzzled when Cook pulled her out last night too. He seemed to be upset with her. On the positive side I thought Gilk did a nice job off the bench.
 

I for some reason just sense something behind the scenes happened or is happening. IMO KK recently is coming off like confused or lost or less confident? I think her performance has dropped off in recent matches.

For the other opps, I really enjoy AA and her improvement from last season . She has become so much more effective at OH and her back court has improved. I am hoping by the end of the season it's better yet than it already is. Nobody talks much about her serving. She has had some outstanding serves and some of them have turned into small Gopher runs. I think she is playing with lots of confidence.

Gilk is stepping up when called upon very nicely too. She has shown us some nice kills and a great desire to learn. I expect her growth to continue this season too.

Unfortunately, our expectations for Crowl haven't changed a whole lot from the last four seasons. Being behind Samedy wasn't giving her much opportunity to play. If she really wanted to, she would have had to transfer and that didn't happen, which I am assuming was her choice to stay no matter what.
 



Hoolio said:
Alex had a very solid weekend. As for the 3rd hitter Cook has me confused. Friday night he starts Crowl and she has her best match, maybe ever. Saturday he starts Kinney and she has her best match with double digit kills. Sunday comes and Crowl starts again and plays so-so in the first set then gets benched for Kinney who was similarly so-so. I suppose next weekend we expect Gilk to start.
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If we as fans are confused, the players have to be as well.
 
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I wonder if Swenson is ailing too. Her sets are so inconsistent. But recently. Everything was clicking earlier.
 

I sort of wondered that today as well. For no good reason, but a stupid reason.
 

(R)uffda! said:
I wonder if Swenson is ailing too. Her sets are so inconsistent. But recently. Everything was clicking earlier.
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I am not claiming to be in the medical profession, but I am reading she is wearing out running around the court....so maybe she needs to work on cardio. The passing just isn't going to get that much better, if it does at all the rest of this season.

I also think there is either some panicking on her part instead of just settling into the moment. Those present at the matches can speak on this......Is our new Assistant working/talking to her at all during the matches?

Julia has to be injured. Her game is struggling too. We are so dependent on her offense production.
 
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We are all still waiting, but the news cannot be real positive for Acevedo. She came down on the left foot pretty awkward. She is definitely out some matches, if not the rest of the season. She was having her best season too just like Minatee and Z. We lose some great serving runs, blocking, hitting, and an OH who was decent digging the ball.
 

4EverAGopher said:
We are all still waiting, but the news cannot be real positive for Acevedo. She came down on the left foot pretty awkward. She is definitely out some matches, if not the rest of the season. She was having her best season too just like Minatee and Z. We lose some great serving runs, blocking, hitting, and an OH who was decent digging the ball.
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😢
 



Season is over. No NCAA’s for us this year. Cook needs to figure this out for 2026.
 

Big Dawg said:
Season is over. No NCAA’s for us this year. Cook needs to figure this out for 2026.
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I agree with the no NCAA’s but Cook had the team to make a good tournament run. You can’t lose 25% of your team to injury and put the blame on the coach for a season that’s going to go south.
 

I know people get upset when I say we need a roster of 18 moving forward. This season is a great example why. Sure our present situation just doesn't happen that often to a team but it did and we find ourselves out four starters.

A functioning team needs depth at all positions. I don't mean a bench full of players for the sake of them being there but players who can step out on that court and not miss a beat when starters go down.....unfortunately, we don't have that.

Examples:

1 - Besides our Freshman setter we have two other setters as backup. One who hasn't started for 4 years and a transfer-in who, IMO, needs an in system team to set her best.

2 - We have 3 DS/L players and in all honesty one of those can pass/dig but is now out for the season. One is doing her best at L but is better at DS. Our third just is our best DS and not so much at L. No secret you need great passing to have an in system offense and we don't have that. By the way, OUR PINS SINCE COOK ARRIVED CANNOT DIG/PASS.

IMO a Head Coach is responsible for putting together a team roster season after season. Cook needs to recruit players that complement each other for every scenario possible. Personally, I don't feel he has done that since he has arrived.

I hate to say it, but Mental Health issues are coming to life more and more in all sports. Right now our starting Freshman setter needs all the right support she can get both on and off the court.
 
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They HAD depth in all positions. You can't construct a viable roster with more depth than they already had. Too many unhappy players.

This is a freak season. You can't plan for that. What you can do is respond to it with more competence than they have. Or with a higher level of competition anyhow. It really seems like they are demoralized.

Or something. Damned if I know.
 

Two things that frustrate me the most:
1. Julia and her passing. How do you not get any better in four years? Also, her two handed tips are something I wish to never see again.
2. Stella and her setting the ball over on two in the worst times possible. I know she is probably frustrated, but it's not working.
Hopefully they can pick up wins over Ohio State, Iowa and Maryland. Beyond that I don't think we're going to beat anyone.
Here's to the December portal and next year!
 

Stella is in a funk right now. She looks like she's out of gas out on the court too. In her defense the hitters and middles are doing nothing to help. Julia is the only one who can put the ball on the floor so opponents are rotating their block to her side. We need Gilk and Kinney to find some way to terminate more consistently to keep the block honest.
 

My ONE volleyball insight over the course of 4 decades following the sport: passing is, by far, the most difficult skill. And it can only be taught to a certain level. You either got it, or you don't. It's a talent.
 

(R)uffda! said:
My ONE volleyball insight over the course of 4 decades following the sport: passing is, by far, the most difficult skill. And it can only be taught to a certain level. You either got it, or you don't. It's a talent.
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You are so right about passing.

If Cook has evaluated Kraft and decided she is our backup Libero next year and can pass, great. Right now Garr appears to have potential with that skill, which is also great.

We all know Z will be our starting Libero and I sure hope Cook has taken her recovery into consideration....with these type of injuries not everybody fully recovers. Otherwise, I hate to say it but we could possibly be looking at OOS Gopher volleyball next season too.

So, someone needs to have this talent, as you have indicated, other than Z. One would think our coaching staff is capable of evaluating this. Every match starts with the pass.
 

Hoolio said:
Stella is in a funk right now. She looks like she's out of gas out on the court too. In her defense the hitters and middles are doing nothing to help. Julia is the only one who can put the ball on the floor so opponents are rotating their block to her side. We need Gilk and Kinney to find some way to terminate more consistently to keep the block honest.
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All players have their own way of absorbing Pressure. But these coaches somehow need to help Stella in her positioning and decision making. Maybe some of these hitters need a different mindset, when the perfect set isn't there.
 

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