Gopher Volleyball 2022 Season

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NextYear_76 said:
Two answers

1.) The Gophers should be in the mix for the Big Ten title. I have not looked at the schedules. Often comes down to who, when, and where you play each other and whether you miss a contender. Nebraska, Ohio State, and pardon the term Wisconsin should also be right there. Health and team chemistry could be key.

2.) Regarding the NCAA. Final eight should be a must and final four the hope or goal. No reason to think less
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The last weekend of the season: Gophers play OSU in Columbus on Friday, then play Nebraska in Lincoln on Saturday.

What a joke
 


NextYear_76 said:
Two answers

1.) The Gophers should be in the mix for the Big Ten title. I have not looked at the schedules. Often comes down to who, when, and where you play each other and whether you miss a contender. Nebraska, Ohio State, and pardon the term Wisconsin should also be right there. Health and team chemistry could be key.

2.) Regarding the NCAA. Final eight should be a must and final four the hope or goal. No reason to think less
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Wouldn't it be ironic and wonderful and sad all at the same time if the Gophers win it all the year after Stephanie Samedy completed her Gopher career?
 

No offense to Samedy, but I doubt anything will top having a senior SSS leading the team in 2018 and the Final Four being in Minneapolis …… only for the team to s___ the bed against Oregon. Was at that game and everyone was disgusted.

Sports gods rained down piss upon all our heads, roaring in laughter as they did. Of course, Oregon got b__chslapped by Nebraska in the next round. Of course they did, but of course not before playing the game of their lives and getting every lucky break.
 



Gophers_4life said:
No offense to Samedy, but I doubt anything will top having a senior SSS leading the team in 2018 and the Final Four being in Minneapolis …… only for the team to s___ the bed against Oregon. Was at that game and everyone was disgusted.

Sports gods rained down piss upon all our heads, roaring in laughter as they did. Of course, Oregon got b__chslapped by Nebraska in the next round. Of course they did, but of course not before playing the game of their lives and getting every lucky break.
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There is no doubt SSS has been the best setter this program has seen since Hugh has been the HC. The opportunities were all there to win a Natty, but for whatever reason the team could not pull it together, when it counted the most. I will never forget SSS being consoled by TayMo at the end of the match. Yes it was probably the largest disappointment as a Gopher fan that season, but more so for the players involved.

The pressure to win can become too great. I keep going back to the psychological aspect of a sport. I feel this was a perfect example of how huge it can be.

Does a team really need the #1 ranking to become a National Champion? In my mind it just adds more "pressure" to these players who are already under a lot of pressure to win. Especially when they are at home playing on a National Stage. Don't forget Nebraska "almost" upset Wisconsin for the Natty last season.
 

4EverAGopher said:
There is no doubt SSS has been the best setter this program has seen since Hugh has been the HC. The opportunities were all there to win a Natty, but for whatever reason the team could not pull it together, when it counted the most. I will never forget SSS being consoled by TayMo at the end of the match. Yes it was probably the largest disappointment as a Gopher fan that season, but more so for the players involved.

The pressure to win can become too great. I keep going back to the psychological aspect of a sport. I feel this was a perfect example of how huge it can be.

Does a team really need the #1 ranking to become a National Champion? In my mind it just adds more "pressure" to these players who are already under a lot of pressure to win. Especially when they are at home playing on a National Stage. Don't forget Nebraska "almost" upset Wisconsin for the Natty last season.
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And thanks for reminding us that Wisconsin got a national title before the Gophers did. :( Should have been us in 2018.

Wisco seniors third ride, that they shouldn't have gotten. They should've all graduated after the 2020 (spring 2021) season, with another L hanging around their necks. Rettke lying about there not being a touch at the end (of the fall 2021 natty game) just took the cake. Incredible defensive effort by Neb, playing with three Big Ten starting libero level defensive specialists.
 

Gophers_4life said:
…. :( Should have been us in 2018.
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This is crazy talk. There is zero way we were going to beat that 6’ 6”-tower-of-power Kathryn Plummer who was absolutely unstoppable when she needed to be. It wasn’t going to happen.

I am sorry but all this talk about the Gophers winning national volleyball titles only leads to one outcome: disappointment. They can win Big Tens though. Anything that happens after the Big Ten season is just gravy… it’s not the real meal.
 



NextYear_76 said:
Two answers

1.) The Gophers should be in the mix for the Big Ten title. I have not looked at the schedules. Often comes down to who, when, and where you play each other and whether you miss a contender. Nebraska, Ohio State, and pardon the term Wisconsin should also be right there. Health and team chemistry could be key.

2.) Regarding the NCAA. Final eight should be a must and final four the hope or goal. No reason to think less
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10 years ago you had maybe 2-3 really strong programs within the B1G. Now with UCLA and USC joining in a few years, more than half the conference will have a fighting chance.
 

ClassOf98Gopher said:
This is crazy talk. There is zero way we were going to beat that 6’ 6”-tower-of-power Kathryn Plummer who was absolutely unstoppable when she needed to be. It wasn’t going to happen.

I am sorry but all this talk about the Gophers winning national volleyball titles only leads to one outcome: disappointment. They can win Big Tens though. Anything that happens after the Big Ten season is just gravy… it’s not the real meal.
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2015 was our best shot. Veteran leadership with Santana, strong lineup (Wilhite, Tapp twins, Rosado) and B1G FOY SSS.
 

ClassOf98Gopher said:
all this talk about the Gophers winning national volleyball titles
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Is the only thing that matters. Have already won the Big Ten. Natty is all there is left to do.

If a genie tells me that Hugh over the next 10 seasons: wins the Big Ten 5 times and never finishes worse than 3rd, but never makes it past the semi-finals:

fire him. Start over. Give me someone who will win a natty.
 

Gophers_4life said:
Is the only thing that matters. Have already won the Big Ten. Natty is all there is left to do.

If a genie tells me that Hugh over the next 10 seasons: wins the Big Ten 5 times and never finishes worse than 3rd, but never makes it past the semi-finals:

fire him. Start over. Give me someone who will win a natty.
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Gopher fans have to be fans in the way that they want to be.

But as for me; I just can’t do fandom the way Gophers_4life chooses to. Too disappointing.

I guess the question coming from the quote that I have bolded above is, what if nobody can? Natties are… like… hard to come by.
 



ClassOf98Gopher said:
Gopher fans have to be fans in the way that they want to be.

But as for me; I just can’t do fandom the way Gophers_4life chooses to. Too disappointing.

I guess the question coming from the quote that I have bolded above is, what if nobody can? Natties are… like… hard to come by.
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But Wisconsin can do it? BS
 


The pre-season scrimmage will be coming up soon. That should be a great indicator on who will be the starters this fall. So my PRE SCRIMMAGE THOUGHTS.....

I cannot see Mc Wu not starting. As the majority of us have already stated, the three pins should be Landfair, Wenaas and Mc Wu (although we have a true opp in RS Crowl on the roster). I feel who the starting pins will be always comes down to this......Hugh's 6R system he likes to run. So far Wenaas is the only OH who has proven she fits that system the best.

Also, I keep going back and forth in my mind who the two MB starters will be. I have not seen Gros play as a Gopher, but with what I have been reading about her game, I am now leaning toward her and Husemann as the starters.

Davis had a very decent season at Ohio State. However, I felt she was struggling with both setters this past spring.

Although we could use a 6'7" MB like Booth, I am thinking she might be red shirted this season. Wisky graduated Rettke, but I feel Smrek is a much bigger threat for them. IMO Rettke had the slide, but Smrek's game offensively is much greater.

Our setters.....connecting with the middles isn't either McGhie's or Shaffmaster's strength of their games. So I am looking forward to seeing our other two setters in this scrimmage....Chloe Ng and Mir Wu. There is no doubt that Shaffmaster is the starting setter, but the #1 backup to her is still questionable.

Guaranteed after scrimmage thoughts to come soon.
 



4EverAGopher said:
The pre-season scrimmage will be coming up soon. That should be a great indicator on who will be the starters this fall. So my PRE SCRIMMAGE THOUGHTS.....

I cannot see Mc Wu not starting. As the majority of us have already stated, the three pins should be Landfair, Wenaas and Mc Wu (although we have a true opp in RS Crowl on the roster). I feel who the starting pins will be always comes down to this......Hugh's 6R system he likes to run. So far Wenaas is the only OH who has proven she fits that system the best.

Also, I keep going back and forth in my mind who the two MB starters will be. I have not seen Gros play as a Gopher, but with what I have been reading about her game, I am now leaning toward her and Husemann as the starters.

Davis had a very decent season at Ohio State. However, I felt she was struggling with both setters this past spring.

Although we could use a 6'7" MB like Booth, I am thinking she might be red shirted this season. Wisky graduated Rettke, but I feel Smrek is a much bigger threat for them. IMO Rettke had the slide, but Smrek's game offensively is much greater.

Our setters.....connecting with the middles isn't either McGhie's or Shaffmaster's strength of their games. So I am looking forward to seeing our other two setters in this scrimmage....Chloe Ng and Mir Wu. There is no doubt that Shaffmaster is the starting setter, but the #1 backup to her is still questionable.

Guaranteed after scrimmage thoughts to come soon.
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I saw that some people found a blurb in a preview that seems to indicate Wenaas will be the one moving to RS.

Thoughts on this, as opposed to Landfair or McWu?
 




Gophers_4life said:
I saw that some people found a blurb in a preview that seems to indicate Wenaas will be the one moving to RS.

Thoughts on this, as opposed to Landfair or McWu?
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Why wouldn’t it be her? You put your best athlete in that RS position, don’t you? It seems obvious to me. What am I missing?
 

4EverAGopher said:
The pre-season scrimmage will be coming up soon. That should be a great indicator on who will be the starters this fall. So my PRE SCRIMMAGE THOUGHTS.....

I cannot see Mc Wu not starting. As the majority of us have already stated, the three pins should be Landfair, Wenaas and Mc Wu (although we have a true opp in RS Crowl on the roster). I feel who the starting pins will be always comes down to this......Hugh's 6R system he likes to run. So far Wenaas is the only OH who has proven she fits that system the best.

Also, I keep going back and forth in my mind who the two MB starters will be. I have not seen Gros play as a Gopher, but with what I have been reading about her game, I am now leaning toward her and Husemann as the starters.

Davis had a very decent season at Ohio State. However, I felt she was struggling with both setters this past spring.

Although we could use a 6'7" MB like Booth, I am thinking she might be red shirted this season. Wisky graduated Rettke, but I feel Smrek is a much bigger threat for them. IMO Rettke had the slide, but Smrek's game offensively is much greater.

Our setters.....connecting with the middles isn't either McGhie's or Shaffmaster's strength of their games. So I am looking forward to seeing our other two setters in this scrimmage....Chloe Ng and Mir Wu. There is no doubt that Shaffmaster is the starting setter, but the #1 backup to her is still questionable.

Guaranteed after scrimmage thoughts to come soon.
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Any thoughts on their defense? Next year after CC is gone, do they go with the incoming freshman Choboy or look towards the transfer portal?
 


ClassOf98Gopher said:
You put your best athlete in that RS position, don’t you?
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Do you? I'm not sure if that's true. I would also think Landfair a better raw athlete than Wenaas.

Just because Samedy was superwomen, I don't think necessarily should dictate a single thing moving forward.
 

www.startribune.com

What could the new Big Ten media rights package mean for the Gophers?

From doubling media revenue to increased national exposure, the Big Ten's historic media deal will have a major impact on the University of Minnesota.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

New media rights deal leaves volleyball coverage unchanged.

Olympic sports unchanged​

While the new media rights deal will alter the landscape for football and men's and women's basketball, the conference announced that Olympic sports coverage will not be part of the deal. Those rights will remain with the Big Ten Network — and its streaming service, B1G+ — with plans to currently "carry the same level of Olympic sport content as before."
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Once again we were back at the Pav for our annual Gopher sports year kickoff-the volleyball scrimmage.

A few notes from watching the first three sets:

The crowd: it was the largest I can recall. The north side seats were opened up.
The mystery: McKenna Wucherer was not there.
The second mystery: Naya Gros was wearing Mckenna's number
The back row attack: I remember one of note (that's life without Samedy.)
Serving: Shaffmaster had her late drop/dive serve working
Serving II: It's a scrimmage so we saw a few jump serves
Upside: Carter Booth is a work in progress with a terrific upside. Booth had some smashing kills and a couple of eat it blocks.
Fun front line (for a moment ): Landfair, Booth and Wenaas
New comers: McGhie brought some enthusiasm. Hanson and Crowl will make major contributions this season.
 

Ignatius L Hoops said:
Once again we were back at the Pav for our annual Gopher sports year kickoff-the volleyball scrimmage.

A few notes from watching the first three sets:

The crowd: it was the largest I can recall. The north side seats were opened up.
The mystery: McKenna Wucherer was not there.
The second mystery: Naya Gros was wearing Mckenna's number
The back row attack: I remember one of note (that's life without Samedy.)
Serving: Shaffmaster had her late drop/dive serve working
Serving II: It's a scrimmage so we saw a few jump serves
Upside: Carter Booth is a work in progress with a terrific upside. Booth had some smashing kills and a couple of eat it blocks.
Fun front line (for a moment ): Landfair, Booth and Wenaas
New comers: McGhie brought some enthusiasm. Hanson and Crowl will make major contributions this season.
Click to expand...
For newcomers to volleyball like me, in these intra-squad matches, it's hard to tell if it's great offense or not-so-great defense (or vice versa). I don't remember any eye-opening digs, and I think there were only two extended points, both in the third set.

As usual, team make-ups changed with each set, but the offenssive firepower seemed to be balanced for all three sets. And given that, the team with Shaffmaster as the setter won the first two sets but got trounced in the third. That can be both encouraging -- that is, the backup setter isn't that big of a dropoff -- or discouraging, depending on whether you're a glass half-full or a glass half-empty type of person.

Other thoughts, in addition to Ignatius's: Landfair is so effortless (in a positive sense), Hanson can jump out of the gym, we got a little more offense from our middles, and Wenaas's and McGraw's serves also seemed much improved.
 
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