Something is OFF

I watched them play the Tommies last night and the team looked very out of synch. What is going on? Very little sign of being superior to a lower level team? Wow.

Sets 2-3 were probably a better indicator than the other two sets, but right now I'd say the middle connection was what was off -- and maybe that was just yesterday. UST DID dig a lot of well hit balls, touch a lot of attacks and keep a lot of rallies going. I'm not sure how "lower level" they are. But I still have to wonder what would have happened if the Tommies had served in more often. Heck, the Gophers might have played better had they done that. Too many easy sideouts. Definitely made the match less than aesthetically pleasing.

It was a spring match, but it was also the END of spring play. I've seen better volleyball. Let's put it that way.

Still missing three likely starters, btw. Certainly major contributors. Repeating myself, but the most encouraging thing for me was Wucherer's play. They look like a solid 4-8 team in the B1G. Not what we want, but it's more than most teams in the NCAA can say.

Expectations, unfortunately, need recalibrating.

To quote Mike Tice "calm down, calm down". The exact same thing happened a couple years ago when we visited their gym. The Gophers came out looking completely disinterested that night and lost the first set. Then a switch flipped and they dominated. Last night the second and third sets were a beat down. Final set Cook used a lot of different players and lineups so who cares.

This team has enough talent to be very good. Let's let them play some matches that matter before we panic.

Funny how a few days ago I was saying the U needs to do a better job of promoting the spring season and getting them on streaming.

Now I remember why that's a bad idea...the fans don't understand the purpose of the spring season.

NateDawgUM said:

Funny how a few days ago I was saying the U needs to do a better job of promoting the spring season and getting them on streaming.

Now I remember why that's a bad idea...the some fans don't understand the purpose of the spring season.

Click to expand...

FIFY

Not sure what "fans" you are referring to. Seems like everyone made a point of admitting it was just a spring match. I know I did.

I have no idea how things are looking in the gym. But I can comment on what I saw: the middle connection was not there. IN THIS SPECIFIC MATCH. I would assume that was not something they have been working on -- NOT connecting with the middles. But who knows?

1 - They have been practicing for a few weeks but minus two former assistants. IMO Pedro was able to help his middles through a match. You would see see him making adjustments. Unfortunately, HIS ABSENCE IS ALREADY NOTED by me, if nobody else. The new MB Assistant, Nassar, was not present. Taylor needs MORE DISCIPLINE. Has a problem from last fall that is continuing...being in the net way too often. Experience is needed in the middle. Hope Minatee is back this fall and can pickup where she left off before her injury.

2- Again IMO, the most important position on the floor is the setter. Sorry, but Stella has so much growth ahead of her. In or out of system she needs to connect with her players. We as fans said it of Mel for five years. and this fan continues that with Stella....she needs to learn to BETTER THE BALL.

3 - Another IMO is Thibault should NEVER WEAR THE L Jersey. Our backcourt was all out of sorts. With many 6R pins and the littles, it was a mess. Again, we see a new assistant in Wickens for our backcourt. Read the players are very fond of him. I hope to see Z back this fall...need her energy.

4- I also want to see Acevedo back on the court. However, I feel she might be looking from the sidelines again. IMO the best 6R pins from the fall are Acevedo and Gilk. Kinney has earned a definite starting role. I think if Ace and Wucherer are back, Crosson will be redshirted. I don't feel we necessarily have the strongest 6R pins, if Cook is choosing to play 2 or all 3 of them around. If yes, there would be a LOT OF WORK IN THAT BACKCOURT AHEAD.

I believe I noticed Olivia to be in better shape.....good for her and keep it up. She still has a very wicked serve.

Sure, this was only a Spring match but it was in no way a STRONG PERFORMANCE from this Gopher Volleyball team....something over MANY YEARS we fans have expected of this program. They are certainly capable of a better match.

Nice analysis 4EverAGopher. I hope we get Z and Acevedo back healthy. Both can have a big positive impact. I'm not as down on Taylor as you are. We know she can play. Hoecke looks like a player too. If Minatee comes back healthy our depth at Middle will be awesome. That type of competition for playing time will make them all better.

Thanks Hoolio.

The Spring portal is open and there is talk of us possibly looking at and bringing in an experienced MB. I for one would love that. However, I am wondering if that is an indication that Minatee might not be back at full capacity.

IMO if Stella is going to be a late bloomer at her position, I would love to see us also look at an experienced setter. The 6-2 is not for every coach, but maybe that might work out to our benefit, if we could recruit as such. Unfortunately, I think most of us can say Lee is not our answer.

What I would not like to see is us recruit these EXPERIENCED players and not have them flourish in our program. I just feel Stella's arsenal will still be a wee bit too limited in her upcoming Sophomore season. I'm hoping that I am not too crazy in my thought process.

I don't see a setter coming in for two reasons.

#1 I don't think Stella is a bad setter. A big part of a setters success depends on the passing. Watch Bergen Reilly at Nebraska. She never breaks a sweat because the ball is usually where it belongs. She then has all three options available to hher. Stella has to run around a lot. That limits her options and makes it much more difficult to place the ball correctly.

#2 Cook seems 100% committed to Stella. Keeps saying you can win a National Championship with her. What type of top flight setter is going to want any part of that.

Let's hope for a depth middle in case Minatee isn't recovered on time.

On the injury front ACL Injuries are between a 9 and 12 month recovery normally. At 9 months all three should be ready to start the season. 12 months puts us mid season. Keeps your fingers crossed for best case scenario.

Hebert brought Championship success to this program starting with the DS/L position....where the first contact of the ball begins. He focused on this with continuous recruiting/developing of his players in that backcourt and it paid off.

IMO McCutcheons greatest coaching success came with his focus and development of his 6R pins and middles. Two of his setters, SS and Palmer, could BETTER THE BALL because they didn't have the solid backcourt they hoped to have. IMO his backcourt was most successful with CC and Kilkenny recruited in helping Mel.

Again, IMO I have no clue what Cook's focus is on. Sorry, but I feel after three seasons our Head Coach is all over the place with both recruiting players and assistants. You have to admit there has been a lot of movement in the latter. Something else we didn't see happening in our two previous Head Coaches.

We all have opinions and are entitled to them....these are mine.