2017 Volleyball

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Hrothgar said:
If Rettke is so essential to Wisconsin's offense, which she clearly is, why don't they play her all six rotations? That would mean she'd be in for all the important moments when they desperately need kills, as late in set 4. Is Rettke totally lacking in defensive skills?
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When you're in the back row you can only attack from behind the ten foot line. I'm assuming Kelly Sheffield thinks Rettke is not yet Tori Dixon (former Gopher middle blocker) as a six rotation player. However, Rettke does (often) serve. She has a pretty wicked if inconsistent serve; but forcing her to dig while she's in the back row is a good strategy.

Rettke; 34 attempts, 22 kills, 0 errors and a .647 hitting percentage.
 

That was fun last night. The visiting teams seats are right in back of ours, so I took a picture of the depressed WI fans after the last set. Same look we have yearly after the football game.
Great plays by both teams.
 


Ignatius L Hoops said:
When you're in the back row you can only attack from behind the ten foot line. I'm assuming Kelly Sheffield thinks Rettke is not yet Tori Dixon (former Gopher middle blocker) as a six rotation player. However, Rettke does (often) serve. She has a pretty wicked if inconsistent serve; but forcing her to dig while she's in the back row is a good strategy.

Rettke; 34 attempts, 22 kills, 0 errors and a .647 hitting percentage.
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The Badgers seem to use Rettke in a pretty straightforward way for a middle, which makes total sense on a couple of fronts. First, she's 6-8, so short, quick sets through the middle are almost always going to work. Second, she has just enough lateral quickness to work really well on slides. Playing back-row is a bit more problematic for her due to her height I would think. One thing the Badgers do lack is a true, 6-rotation outside hitter. When their offense is clicking, it almost always seems like it's either Rettke or Williams getting kills, which is fine through the middle. But on the outsides, they're pretty inconsistent with their ability to terminate.

With that said, I love what Rettke brings to the table. The Gophers are a little more balanced in that they can use either Lohman or Pittman in the middle, but also have a true terminator on outside in Hart and a reliable presence on the the right side with Samedy. Factor all that in and it gives SSS plenty of options depending upon what rotation the Gophers are in.
 

mplarson7 said:
Not Gophers related, but Northern Illinois beat Kent State in a first set score of 43-41. Wow.

https://volleyballmag.com/ncaa-volleyball-102217/
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Reminds me of the 48-46 set against Georgia Tech in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 2004. That was the team that went to the Final Four and beat USC in the semifinals before losing to Stanford in the national championship match.
 


Hrothgar said:
I also noticed that MN kept serving to one WI player on the back row to the right side. Was that WI player an especially weak returner?
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That's a common strategy. If a team feels one particular player is weak in serve receive, they'll keep going to her and try to wear her out, especially if they can target the player in a specific service rotation. Wisconsin sometimes has problems with passing as a team, which was the case yesterday for portions of the final three sets. But to answer your question, yes, it's a strategy that is often used in volleyball.
 

Hrothgar said:
I also noticed that MN kept serving to one WI player on the back row to the right side. Was that WI player an especially weak returner?
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MRJ summed it up. The Gophers seemed to be picking on Dodge and Bates in particular.

I should have thought about this earlier. The simple answer about Rettke in the back row? Midway through the fourth set Rettke went back to the service line. The Badgers got a point off her first serve. On her second serve, the ball was set to Samedy on the right side who drove it right at Rettke's feet causing her to fall back on butt. Rettke still has a way to go as a backline player. However, I wouldn't bet against her.
 

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The perfect way to end the match.
 

Ignatius L Hoops said:
MRJ summed it up. The Gophers seemed to be picking on Dodge and Bates in particular.

I should have thought about this earlier. The simple answer about Rettke in the back row? Midway through the fourth set Rettke went back to the service line. The Badgers got a point off her first serve. On her second serve, the ball was set to Samedy on the right side who drove it right at Rettke's feet causing her to fall back on butt. Rettke still has a way to go as a backline player. However, I wouldn't bet against her.
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I noticed that too. I happened to watch the Badgers play Maryland and Sheffield had her in the service rotation at the start of that match before subbing for her after a couple of service errors.

Yesterday he kind of rolled the dice and let her have a go. I agree with you in regards to her backline play; right now, she's much better in a vertical position at the net. At 6-8, it'll take a little time for her to become a reliable back-row presence.

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Rosado gets Defensive Player of the Week honors

Defensive Player of the Week
Dalianliz Rosado, Minnesota
L – Sr. – Morovis, Puerto Rico – Carmen Sol
• Registered 36 digs, six assists and was error-free on 32 reception attempts last weekend to help the Golden Gophers to wins over Ohio State and Wisconsin
• Posted 18 digs, two assists and a block in Minnesota’s straight-set victory at Ohio State
• Added 18 digs, four assists and was flawless in 27 reception attempts in the four-set win over Wisconsin
• The Academic All-Big Ten honoree collects her second career Defensive Player of the Week accolade
• Last Minnesota Defensive Player of the Week: Molly Lohman (Sept. 25, 2017)

Dana Rettke from Wisconsin got both Player and Freshman of the Week. While I agree with the FOTW, Alexis Hart averaged just .2 KPS less than Rettke, and her team went 2-0.

Sparty's Rachel Minarick was the setter of the week. She averaged 13.9 aps
 

Ski U Mah Gopher said:
Rosado gets Defensive Player of the Week honors

• Registered 36 digs, six assists and was error-free on 32 reception attempts last weekend to help the Golden Gophers to wins over Ohio State and Wisconsin
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What a wonderful week for Rosado. You can't get better than flawless.
 




Ignatius L Hoops said:
What a wonderful week for Rosado. You can't get better than flawless.
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Really happy for her. Can't imagine how difficult the past few weeks have been.

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Volleyball newbie questions:

- What does "six rotation player" mean, as in 'When you're in the back row you can only attack from behind the ten foot line. I'm assuming Kelly Sheffield thinks Rettke is not yet Tori Dixon (former Gopher middle blocker) as a six rotation player'.

- Can you sub players in and out as often as you like?
 

Livingat45north said:
Volleyball newbie questions:

- What does "six rotation player" mean, as in 'When you're in the back row you can only attack from behind the ten foot line. I'm assuming Kelly Sheffield thinks Rettke is not yet Tori Dixon (former Gopher middle blocker) as a six rotation player'.

- Can you sub players in and out as often as you like?
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A six rotation player never leaves the court (not subbed by the libero or a defensive specialist). It is usually a player that has a good back row attack and who can play a little defense. The defense part is where Rettke probably falls a little short (haha).The last 3 years the six rotation players have been Daly Santana (B1G POY), Wilhite (B1G & National POY)and Samedy.

You are allowed 15 subs per set in NCAA volleyball.
 


Ski U Mah Gopher said:
A six rotation player never leaves the court (not subbed by the libero or a defensive specialist). It is usually a player that has a good back row attack and who can play a little defense. The defense part is where Rettke probably falls a little short (haha).The last 3 years the six rotation players have been Daly Santana (B1G POY), Wilhite (B1G & National POY)and Samedy.

You are allowed 15 subs per set in NCAA volleyball.
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Thanks :)
 

The ladies pulled a rabbit out of their hat tonight against a very solid and focused Illinois team.

Honestly, they weren't very good. Passing was poor, attacks were tenative and they were missing in action at the net all night long.

Kudos to Illinois; they were better prepared from the start. The Gophers were especially sloppy in the first set and weren't much better in the fourth. Looked a lot like the Boise State match honestly.

With that said, the Gophers still found a way to win in five. But the way they played tonight was uninspiring to say the least.

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Whew. Yes a bad first set (during the first Gopher time out, you could hear an Hugh's voice over the music and the noise). Eventually Klienman and Morgan subbed in and the Gophers made a late run to make the score look respectable. But the Illini serve caused as much trouble as Michigan State's serve did earlier in the season. Illinois' passing was outstanding for much of the match and very effective at getting the ball to the outside hitter in or out of system.

The Gophers controlled the second and third sets by toughening up their serving with a flurry of aces (I think they had nine for the night with maybe seven of them in the second and third sets).

It was Minnesota's pin hitters versus the Illini block and the Illini were blocking demons (last I remember Illinois was outblocking the Gophers 16-4). But Hart along with Martin and Samedy kept pounding away. Hugh must be making a point because the middles rarely attacked. The Illini finally made enough errors in the fifth set for Minnesota to pry open a lead and finish out the match.
 

In the fifth set, when the score was about 13-10, Hugh protested strongly when a point was awarded Il. and the crowd booed. What was the controversy about? Was it too many touches? Can that be challenged?
 

Hrothgar said:
In the fifth set, when the score was about 13-10, Hugh protested strongly when a point was awarded Il. and the crowd booed. What was the controversy about? Was it too many touches? Can that be challenged?
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I think they called a double hit on Rosado.
 

MRJ said:
The ladies pulled a rabbit out of their hat tonight against a very solid and focused Illinois team.

Honestly, they weren't very good. Passing was poor, attacks were tenative and they were missing in action at the net all night long.

Kudos to Illinois; they were better prepared from the start. The Gophers were especially sloppy in the first set and weren't much better in the fourth. Looked a lot like the Boise State match honestly.

With that said, the Gophers still found a way to win in five. But the way they played tonight was uninspiring to say the least.

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Guess we don't want to peak too soon.
 

10/27 Scores of note: #7 Nebraska (10-1 B1G) in East Lansing defeated #10 Michigan State (8-3 B1G) 4-1; -16, +19, -17, -14.

In Columbus, #17 Purdue (7-4 B1G) swept Ohio State (4-7 B1G) -16, -17, -22.
 

Predictable 3 game route of Rutgers. Rutgers is an embarrassment to the league. In 11 or so Big Ten matches they've won one game this year. Anyway, happy to get the easy win.
 

Sparlimb said:
Predictable 3 game route of Rutgers. Rutgers is an embarrassment to the league. In 11 or so Big Ten matches they've won one game this year. Anyway, happy to get the easy win.
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Looking at it long-term, it's actually even worse than that. They're something like 1-69 in league matches since joining the Big 10. It's a level of ineptitude that's bordering on the ridiculous.

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Sparlimb said:
Predictable 3 game route of Rutgers. Rutgers is an embarrassment to the league. In 11 or so Big Ten matches they've won one game this year. Anyway, happy to get the easy win.
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You sold Rutgers short. They've won 3 sets in B1G play (1 vs Michigan and 2 vs IU).


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I had a chance to zip through the replay. Even with the coaching challenges and the break, last nights match made the first Dodgers/Astros game look like a marathon. These are the type of matches that Hugh seems intent on getting the team back on the charter as soon as possible.

Obviously the big switch was getting Taylor Morgan some playing time in place of Pittman. Pittman was on the bench; but I wouldn't be surprised if she needed a night off following a couple of very physical outings. Before the match I thought we might see Pittman roll out her jump serve. If anything, Hart (3 aces and 0 errors) was the player working on her serve Anyway, Morgan became the center piece of the attack (followed by Martin).

Hugh used way more players than normal; but, still, I think he doled out playing time in his normal, judicious manner. I also think we saw how few players he trusts in the back row. Rosado led the team with 15 digs and Samedy, who had a very good night, was second with 13 digs.
 

http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/w-volley/recaps/102817aaa.html

League leader Penn State swept the Illini in Champaign; but the first set was a 30-28 battle with the Illini failing to convert 5 set points. The Nittany Lions visit East Lansing on Wednesday.


The opening set needed extra points to find a winner as the Nittany Lions trailed in almost the entirety. Penn State was able to escape five set-point situations and gained their first lead at 29-28 on a Thelen kill. Thelen put down the set-winning kill as well, giving the Penn State the 1-0 set lead.

In the second set, the Nittany Lions demonstrated their dominance, hitting .650 with 13 kills and no hitting errors. They also proved to be a defensive fortress, holding the Illini to a .000-hitting percentage, while tallying 6.0 blocks as a team. Penn State walked away with a 25-11 set two win heading into the intermission.

In the third and final set, Penn State started extremely hot, putting down 10 kills in their first 12 attempts, without committing a single error. The Nittany Lions finished the set hitting .607 with 19 kills to close out the match.
 

Ignatius L Hoops said:
I had a chance to zip through the replay. Even with the coaching challenges and the break, last nights match made the first Dodgers/Astros game look like a marathon. These are the type of matches that Hugh seems intent on getting the team back on the charter as soon as possible.

Obviously the big switch was getting Taylor Morgan some playing time in place of Pittman. Pittman was on the bench; but I wouldn't be surprised if she needed a night off following a couple of very physical outings. Before the match I thought we might see Pittman roll out her jump serve. If anything, Hart (3 aces and 0 errors) was the player working on her serve Anyway, Morgan became the center piece of the attack (followed by Martin).

Hugh used way more players than normal; but, still, I think he doled out playing time in his normal, judicious manner. I also think we saw how few players he trusts in the back row. Rosado led the team with 15 digs and Samedy, who had a very good night, was second with 13 digs.
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Did McClean play at all?
 

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