Gopher Volleyball 2022 Season

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I'll say what I've said: Schaff has for a long time had problems finding a good connection with our middles to do a quick set, for just a basic set out of the middle. Talking a quick 1 or 1.5 set.

Until very recently. I think she has started hitting it with Booth. And now with Davis, because she can jump so damn high. She (Davis) is getting the same set as Booth, and just leaps up and windmills the thing down.


As long as we can hit our middles out of the middle, that opens up things hugely for the pin hits. It has to be done. We will never win high level matches with just pin sets.


And that all requires good passing.
 

Gophers_4life said:
I'll say what I've said: Schaff has for a long time had problems finding a good connection with our middles to do a quick set, for just a basic set out of the middle. Talking a quick 1 or 1.5 set.

Until very recently. I think she has started hitting it with Booth. And now with Davis, because she can jump so damn high. She (Davis) is getting the same set as Booth, and just leaps up and windmills the thing down.


As long as we can hit our middles out of the middle, that opens up things hugely for the pin hits. It has to be done. We will never win high level matches with just pin sets.


And that all requires good passing.
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I was just rewatching our loss against OSU and yes, the match was tough, but it reminded me what Shaff-Booth has the potential to look like. Hopefully we see that Thursday, Saturday, and into next week!
 

I think it's 50/50 for Thurs.

I don't have any expectations if they make it to Sat, unless Marquette pulls off a miracle. Match is in Austin.

Probably would be quite similar to the regional results from last year. But we play the matches, so let's see!
 

IMGopher said:
Michella Chester's re-ranking has them dropped down to 6 (below #5 OSU and #4 us, ahead of Pitt and Nebraska)

Edit: I missed that they're still her pick to make it to Omaha from the bottom-left region
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And her re-ranking now has the Gophers 4th, right behind Texas, Lousville, and Wisconsin. And who do you think she now has at #5? None other than the Gophs opponent, Ohio State.
 

let'sbeclear said:
And her re-ranking now has the Gophers 4th, right behind Texas, Lousville, and Wisconsin. And who do you think she now has at #5? None other than the Gophs opponent, Ohio State.
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Is this person's rankings an important one for some reason worth singling out?
 



Like this post if (and only if, trying to get a head count) you'll be in Texas for the regionals and are free for a fan meet-up Friday evening / Saturday morning
 

I hope they get a rematch against Texas in that gym. Don't think I've ever seen a more electric atmosphere for a women's college volleyball game than that one was earlier this season.
 

That second set was crucial, they took an early lead and then faltered late. If they go down 2-1, this match is over.:(
 





Nothing is going well. Passing is poor, hitting is nearly non-existent, the blocking might as well not be present.
 

Lopsided service errors shows just how bad they're getting beat on rest of points
 






Disappointing. It is nice to make your seed but they fell short. They fought and played hard, which is very important. If is difficult to face a familiar foe in the NCAA. Ohio State did a better job of digging and passing. It was still a fun season watching the team develop and win some great matches. They should be good next year with a lot of key players returning and some good recruits coming in.
 

Hugh McCutcheon volleyball.

So sick of lack of passing/defense drowning out front court talent.

Good riddance!


Except that they’re just going to hire Hauk and call it a day. More of the same
 

In the last few matches the Middles were an important part of our success, this afternoon one was hitting at zero and the other was worse. Plenty of blame to go around, this was a case of when the lights got bright the Gophers melted under the pressure.
 

It seemed they played like winners for a set and a half, but then faded from the match. Their hitting was weak.
 

Such a disappointing match for the Gophers. OOS volleyball for the Gophers started in the second set and it just couldn't get turned around. Sure the players are just as disappointed as us fans.

This program needs to focus on KEEPING DS/L players here at MN......building up a strong back court. With a program unable to build that up for the last 4 years, it really caught up with them this season. CC and Kilkelly both are VERY INCONSISTENT.....WHY? You would never know they were a Grad Sr and Senior the way they played today or throughout the entire season.

Recruit all the top Pin Hitters you can, but if you cannot improve your back court over several seasons it means nothing. The game starts with THE PASS.
 

Watching today's game and later the Penn State-wisconsin game I have a couple comments and questions.

1. Wisconsin plays as a team
2. Minnesota is a bunch of individuals. Probably better than Wisc. but do not play together

Questions
1. Who is the leader of the Gophers?
2. Who gets the Gophers inspired and going

Watching the Dachs (Badgers) it appear the Julia Orzol is the leader and they respond. Watching the Gophers McGraw and others are not leaders
 

NextYear_76 said:
Watching today's game and later the Penn State-wisconsin game I have a couple comments and questions.

1. Wisconsin plays as a team
2. Minnesota is a bunch of individuals. Probably better than Wisc. but do not play together

Questions
1. Who is the leader of the Gophers?
2. Who gets the Gophers inspired and going

Watching the Dachs (Badgers) it appear the Julia Orzol is the leader and they respond. Watching the Gophers McGraw and others are not leaders
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I think it's a matter of having immense focus and will to win in a powerful hitter whose teammates coalesce around her. I remember players like Santana, Wilhite, and Samedy, whose sense of purpose inspired the defense and offense alike. They seemed to inspire the fans, too.
 

NextYear_76 said:
Watching today's game and later the Penn State-wisconsin game I have a couple comments and questions.

1. Wisconsin plays as a team
2. Minnesota is a bunch of individuals. Probably better than Wisc. but do not play together

Questions
1. Who is the leader of the Gophers?
2. Who gets the Gophers inspired and going

Watching the Dachs (Badgers) it appear the Julia Orzol is the leader and they respond. Watching the Gophers McGraw and others are not leaders
Click to expand...
I don't have confirmed insight to this team, but you are correct in your assessment that they don't play as A UNIT. Talent across the court, but comes off at times like "what am I doing here" and then becomes a domino effect. I read a lot of frustration on players during these losses.

Who stays and who leaves is going to say a lot. But I want Wenaas to stay. I think hers is the biggest question mark of upper classmen returning or not.

I don't feel Houk is the answer. I really don't believe he can be an effective HC in the BIG. I feel you will get the same results with players that you see on the court now. Remember, he coaches the back court, serving and setting aspect of our game.

Again, just my opinion and a lot of people will disagree with that. Sure, a lot of players like him, but does he have the respect of the players as their COACH?
 

4EverAGopher said:
I don't feel Houk is the answer. I really don't believe he can be an effective HC in the BIG. I feel you will get the same results with players that you see on the court now. Remember, he coaches the back court, serving and setting aspect of our game.

Again, just my opinion and a lot of people will disagree with that. Sure, a lot of players like him, but does he have the respect of the players as their COACH?
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Important to remember that it isn’t the coach out there executing the plays. I don’t know the man, but being a head coach is about day-to-day administration of a program and inspiring a team. I don’t know if that is in his set of skills or not; but that is the job… and then the players have to play.
 

ClassOf98Gopher said:
Important to remember that it isn’t the coach out there executing the plays. I don’t know the man, but being a head coach is about day-to-day administration of a program and inspiring a team. I don’t know if that is in his set of skills or not; but that is the job… and then the players have to play.
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But when a player is not playing up to their ability, you would certainly want your Head Coach or any assistant to be able to bring their play up a notch or two during a match. You talked about inspiration. Or does that SOLELY become the job of a co-player or the player him/herself to change around in a match?
 

NextYear_76 said:
Watching today's game and later the Penn State-wisconsin game I have a couple comments and questions.

1. Wisconsin plays as a team
2. Minnesota is a bunch of individuals. Probably better than Wisc. but do not play together

Questions
1. Who is the leader of the Gophers?
2. Who gets the Gophers inspired and going

Watching the Dachs (Badgers) it appear the Julia Orzol is the leader and they respond. Watching the Gophers McGraw and others are not leaders
Click to expand...
I've felt the same way too. Who is our leader? It just seems like a bunch of players doing their thing, but they don't have an inspirational leader that get's them fired up or leads them.
 

NextYear_76 said:
Watching today's game and later the Penn State-wisconsin game I have a couple comments and questions.

1. Wisconsin plays as a team
2. Minnesota is a bunch of individuals. Probably better than Wisc. but do not play together

Questions
1. Who is the leader of the Gophers?
2. Who gets the Gophers inspired and going

Watching the Dachs (Badgers) it appear the Julia Orzol is the leader and they respond. Watching the Gophers McGraw and others are not leaders
Click to expand...
I disagree that Minnesota does not play as a team and are a bunch of individuals. I think they know their roles and positions well. The problem is that they were weak on digging and passing the ball. If you are frequently getting bad passes, it is hard to set up and execute. Furthermore, this team was very enthusiastic, supportive of each other, and looked like they enjoyed volleyball.

I suspect that C.C. may be the leader and Schaff is the quarterback. Both are calm and strongly focused individuals. Volleyball is different than basketball and football where you have players raving and being lunatics on the field. In volleyball, you have to control your emotions and be ready for the next point. One of the biggest sins in volleyball is to be too impressed with your previous shot or too down on yourself that you are not 100% focused for the next point. Leaders do not have to be vocal and animated. Hugh is a fairly low-key person. Calm, low-key people can be good leaders--think Bud Grant. Fran Tarkenkington said that Bud Grant was the best manger of people he had every seen. So, we don't see the leadership because most of it is taking place during practice and off the court.

Most teams that reach the final four or win the national championship have a horse or two that the team can ride or can pull the team along. Minnesota has a lot of very good players but no horse. Landfair is an excellent player but she is still young and can't put the team on her back. Maybe, in a year she will be a horse. We have some freshmen that have great upside potential.

I think we need to pick up a couple of great defensive players in the portal. We have enough power hitters and blockers.
 

walleye said:
Furthermore, this team was very enthusiastic, supportive of each other, and looked like they enjoyed volleyball.

I suspect that C.C. may be the leader and Schaff is the quarterback.
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These two views appear to be accurate to what I saw as well.
 

walleye said:
I disagree that Minnesota does not play as a team and are a bunch of individuals. I think they know their roles and positions well. The problem is that they were weak on digging and passing the ball. If you are frequently getting bad passes, it is hard to set up and execute. Furthermore, this team was very enthusiastic, supportive of each other, and looked like they enjoyed volleyball.

I suspect that C.C. may be the leader and Schaff is the quarterback. Both are calm and strongly focused individuals. Volleyball is different than basketball and football where you have players raving and being lunatics on the field. In volleyball, you have to control your emotions and be ready for the next point. One of the biggest sins in volleyball is to be too impressed with your previous shot or too down on yourself that you are not 100% focused for the next point. Leaders do not have to be vocal and animated. Hugh is a fairly low-key person. Calm, low-key people can be good leaders--think Bud Grant. Fran Tarkenkington said that Bud Grant was the best manger of people he had every seen. So, we don't see the leadership because most of it is taking place during practice and off the court.

Most teams that reach the final four or win the national championship have a horse or two that the team can ride or can pull the team along. Minnesota has a lot of very good players but no horse. Landfair is an excellent player but she is still young and can't put the team on her back. Maybe, in a year she will be a horse. We have some freshmen that have great upside potential.

I think we need to pick up a couple of great defensive players in the portal. We have enough power hitters and blockers.
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Landfair and Wucherer were the #1 rated OH in their respective classes. Wenaas was #3. I think Schaff was top 10.

And none of these are "horses" that we can ride?? Something was/is broken with Hugh's program, then. If nothing else, evaluating, but obviously others agreed for them to get those rankings.


The problem with Hugh McCutcheon volleyball has always been the passing/defense. It failed us, once again.

Good riddance.
 

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