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Post by hoyavbfan on Oct 12, 2018 22:58:03 GMT -5
Well, it all starts with the pass...and sadly too many Hoyas can’t dig-let alone pass in system. Felt like it was deja vu to be at the gym this evening. Sinette made her typical shanks and sloppy digs that kept the setter running to chase the balls. Vujosevic struggled, as well. She can’t pass in system and her serve receives are typically weak-and it didn’t take long for Creighton to start targeting her to the point that Rens finally pulled her in the second set. Kelly came in to replace her briefly and did a solid job shoring up the back row with Higareda. (Why he pulled Kelly for Wertzberger is a mystery. Wertzberger can’t pass-and proceeded to put the team further in the hole with two poor passes.) Rens quickly replaced Wertzberger with Vujosevic, who proceeded with the help of Sinette, to blow the second set. The third was a variation of the first two sets. I left before the last set was finished because the Hoyas were getting trounced. Until Rens realizes that Speech, who is the best hitter on this team, will not get set enough to make a difference unless the passes are in system, this team will struggle. Rens needs solid back row passers to help Higareda and Cusi and the only two hitters who are consistent at passing are Barbosa and Kelly. Might want to try Kelly as a 6-ro option (have no idea if she can play at net but can’t be any worse than Sinette’s and Vujosevic’s weak hitting percentages) and have Barbosa sub in for Vujosevic’s back row. Or vice versa. Sinette could then play RS because she typically blocks better than King (or alternate King and Sinette). Both King and Sinette struggle with passing but at least as RS hitters, they can be subbed out of back row for Cusi. Hamling has the height for RS but is too slow to be helpful-at least right now. Not sure if this is the solution, but just tired of watching sloppy play. Hopefully tomorrow’s game will be an easy win. Rens should use the opportunity to mix it up with his players. Here’s to a more exciting match and Go Hoyas!
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Post by hoyavbfan on Oct 13, 2018 18:39:26 GMT -5
A closer match than expected, but glad to see the win. No need to analyze play-same issues apply. Wishing the Hoyas good luck next weekend and keep going!
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Post by volleyballjack on Oct 20, 2018 8:11:12 GMT -5
Rough match against Seton Hall. Seemed like just about everything was out of sync. Service errors were agonizing. Passing was rough. Now's the time the team will need to push through the academic rigor of Georgetown and still maintain focus on the court. A special kid and athlete plays for Georgetown. Hoping they all keep rising.
Brennan Wilhite did not make the trip?
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Post by hoyavbfan on Oct 26, 2018 18:50:03 GMT -5
Felt like deja vu all over again. Another losing match with sloppy play. And poor coaching...again. Saw Rens pull an Arlisa move: every match team lost, he’d throw in the same losing lineup. Setter tried hard to feed balls to her hitters but hitters are pretty useless. Speech did nothing-no blocking and barely any big attacks. When she tipped the ball, Villanova said thank you and stuffed it right back at the team for a point. Sets were fine: Speech just can’t get her timing down to slam the ball straight DOWN. Is that too much to ask from a MB? Hamling is like a giant tree rooted to the floor-looks dull and slow- and Akenule is nonexistent at the net. No blocking or hitting. She looks like she doesn’t understand the game. Vujosevic looks worse and worse as season drags on-she isn’t a BE caliber player. (Hamling, Akenule and Vujosevic coincidentally are all Rens’ recruits. He blindly persists on playing his weak recruits-and big surprise. Team continues to lose.) Sinette has been best bet lately--and when she is best option out on floor, it’s cause for concern. Her stats are underwhelming. Check out the team’s hitting percentages, as well as unforced errors. Team often beats itself. Only decent players on court tonight were Plovonka, Higareda and Cusi, And without those two defensive players, it would have been a blood bath. Team has fallen apart. I blame poor coaching decisions and poor team attitude for the four losses in a row. Had big hopes for this season, but this group of seniors sadly has never been a winning combination. And Rens is proving himself to be a lackluster coach who is out of his league. Hope the team pulls out some more wins to wrap up the season- be nice to be proven wrong.
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Post by volleyballjack on Oct 27, 2018 7:03:25 GMT -5
They had a tough night, for sure. But you seem to be watching a different game than I watch. Cusi I agree is terrific. She should be libero. A lot less would hit the floor if she is. I do wonder why Speech isn't more dominant, but the sets do need to be on the mark, not behind, not too high and certainly not right in front of the block. The disappointing thing about this match was for the first time it appeared the players accepted the loss before it was over. We need to fight for every single point with attitude no matter the score. And that's why I like Vujosevic because she does. I also think Rens is doing more than just trying to win games this season. He's trying to change culture and expectations. I'm willing to give him some time on that and not criticize every move or recruit. (But what's a forum for if not for criticizing?) Here's hoping they turn it around next game. Go Hoyas!
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Post by hoyavbfan on Oct 27, 2018 8:43:53 GMT -5
Nice points, Volleyballjack. Team did roll over and give up-reminded me of prior seasons. Little grit. But I do feel like we must have been watching two different games. Sets at times were rough-but mainly when Sinette or Vujosevic were passing out of system and setter had limited options. Vujosevic might be “spunky” out there (I was in the stands) but she should never play in the back row (she can’t pass) and she has no approach to the ball-often just jumps up and tries to hit (which might have worked in a weaker conference) so it’s very easy for opposing team to block her. Can’t just have one trick up your sleeve. Watch her closely next match and you’ll see what I’m referring to. She is not a team player-lots of negative drama that interferes with team dynamic. Ive gone on about poor passing and why this team won’t win until they have 6-ro players who can hit AND pass. Blocking is nonexistent and that’s why Higareda is getting slammed. She has had a stellar season-she’s one of the few players that consistently brings it on-in spite of the poor blocking. As for Rens, I’m not so sure he is developing a different culture when he brings in a player who can’t get along with the team. I hope you’re right and that this is just a “development” year. Based on the talent of his three current recruits, I’m questioning his judgment. But hey, he came late to the table so maybe that was all he could dig up last minute? Just think he brought a very negative diva into the team so he’s limited now until he gets someone to replace her. One bad apple spoils the whole cart. Let’s hope for the best-but since he has not addressed the underlying negative team dynamic that has developed, I’m wondering if this team will pull together and start winning agajn. Let’s hope I’m wrong,Volleyballjack, about everything. Would enjoy seeing them get to go to Omaha this November. Don’t mean to be overly negative, but Rens needs to address some glaring issues and not sure he wants to or can. Here’s hoping the team will pull together to win. Hoya Saxa!
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Post by hoyavbfan on Oct 27, 2018 8:46:33 GMT -5
Nice points, Volleyballjack. Team did roll over and give up-reminded me of prior seasons. Little grit. But I do feel like we must have been watching two different games. Sets at times were rough-but mainly when Sinette or Vujosevic were passing out of system and setter had limited options. Vujosevic might be “spunky” out there (I was in the stands) but she should never play in the back row (she can’t pass) and she has no approach to the ball-often just jumps up and tries to hit (which might have worked in a weaker conference) so it’s very easy for opposing team to block her. Can’t just have one trick up your sleeve. Watch her closely next match and you’ll see what I’m referring to. She is not a team player-lots of negative drama that interferes with team dynamic. Ive gone on about poor passing and why this team won’t win until they have 6-ro players who can hit AND pass. Blocking is nonexistent and that’s why Higareda is getting slammed. She has had a stellar season-she’s one of the few players that consistently brings it on-in spite of the poor blocking. As for Rens, I’m not so sure he is developing a different culture when he brings in a player who can’t get along with the team. I hope you’re right and that this is just a “development” year. Based on the talent of his three current recruits, I’m questioning his judgment. But hey, he came late to the table so maybe that was all he could dig up last minute? Just think he brought a very negative diva into the team so he’s limited now until he gets someone to replace her. One bad apple spoils the whole cart. Let’s hope for the best-but since he has not addressed the underlying negative team dynamic that has developed, I’m wondering if this team will pull together and start winning agajn. Let’s hope I’m wrong,Volleyballjack, about everything. Would enjoy seeing them get to go to Omaha this November. Don’t mean to be overly negative, but Rens needs to address some glaring issues and not sure he wants to or can. Here’s hoping the team will pull together to win. Hoya Saxa!
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Post by hoyawatcher on Oct 27, 2018 14:12:23 GMT -5
I didn't see the game so can only go by the boxscore - but the passing must be really bad for an all BE middle to only get 12 swings. Or the setter should sit. I have to expect it is the passing. Even then find ways to get her the ball. As far as VUJ, I can't see her demeanor on the court but you can't take second highest number of swings (25) and hit negative numbers. No way in hadies to win with that. What happened to Willhite? The middle yesterday didn't even have a BA. Not that there was much blocking at all anyway.
Just disappointing watching the team fade as the season goes on. If you have bad passers or other deficiencies other teams know it by now. And they will exploit it so trying to hide a bad passer for whatever reason doesn't work - unless you really just don't have anyone that can pass on the bench.
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Post by hoyawatcher on Nov 4, 2018 16:02:00 GMT -5
Got the split this weekend which was all I was hoping for. Though I do wish we had put up a little more of a fight against Marquette.
Somehow still tied for 4th in the Big East and a trip to the tournament.
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Post by volleyballjack on Nov 5, 2018 13:26:45 GMT -5
Pumped for end of season. If the team wins the ones they should --- well, it's a phenomenal season for the Hoyas, who were picked to finish EIGHTH. Have seen the Rens criticism, but really, that's Big East coach of the year material there. Especially when he saw right away that team team chemistry needed a change and a boost and he did it. I give these players tons of credit, too. They've had their lapses in confidence, but they seem to have great resiliency. Let's finish strong, hoyas!
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Post by hoyasaxafan on Nov 5, 2018 16:33:42 GMT -5
"Big East coach of the year material'? Hardly. Rens just fired a coach who disagreed with his weak coaching decisions (basically over his insistence on playing his own recruits, no matter how badly they played or no matter the losses.) It's called confirmation bias, volleyballjack. Lots of coaches have the same problem: Coach keeps playing his recruits to confirm his recruiting abilities and coaching decisions—in spite of string of losses and poor stats. His 'my way or the highway" coaching approach reflects his inability or unwillingness to listen to or work well with his assistant coaches. So, as a result, he blindly keeps throwing in the same losing lineup and mismanages the team talent. What team chemistry did he change for the good? A hitter who doesn't know how to be a team player—and has a coach who refuses to address her poor attitude and blames other teammates for her bad behavior? A coach who trashes a player behind her back to another player, who then rushes back to her teammates and reports what he told her to be divisive? An unwillingness to really address poor team morale if it means reprimanding one of his recruits? (By allowing a player to continue to badmouth the team—and then blame her teammates for their inability to get along with her or allowing that player to sit out in practice whenever she chooses or to come in late because she claims she "works harder than the rest" creates poor team morale issues—especially when the rest of the team has to abide by the rules. Hard to respect a coach who is inconsistent or play obvious favorites.) Need any more BE Coach of the Year examples? Be nice if he truly was coach of the year, volleyball jack. But sadly he's the norm, not the exception. Coaches don't often get trained to be great managers. Look for him to continue to ignore weak links in play because he is blind to his own coaching biases, and therefore, he won't be able to effectively manage the team's talents. Imagine we'll see lots more inconsistencies in play as a result of his coaching. On a positive note, good to see the team is resilient, volleyball jack. Let's see how this all plays out.
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Post by TrueHoyaBlue on Nov 5, 2018 17:00:24 GMT -5
Clearly, you're an unbiased observer, hoyasaxafan.
I have no insight into what's going on on the team in practice. (Or any axes to grind). But it's hard as someone who's been to a couple of games this year to not feel somewhat optimistic, when a team that hadn't won more than 4 Big East games in a season since 2011 is suddenly in BE Tourney contention.
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Post by hoyasaxafan on Nov 5, 2018 17:52:48 GMT -5
No axe to grind. Just calling it as it is. Let’s see if coach can inspire this team to pull out a few more wins. This would be the year to make it happen for the seniors. Team currently tied for fourth. And All the BE teams now have Rens’ number. 6-2 doesn’t work with weak RS players (no blocking) and OH have passing and hitting issues. Don’t think team can overcome weak coaching decisions, but let’s hope I’m wrong,
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Post by volleyballjack on Nov 6, 2018 7:07:18 GMT -5
Hey hoyasaxafan, a coach hired in january is supposed to recruit for his incoming year how exactly? i think you were expecting unrecruited 2018 Wonder Woman on the right side? New programs begin in the first year. they aren't completed established in the first year. honestly, you aren't calling it as it is. but to each his own opinion. Go Hoyas! let's make the tournament!! Anyone know if Wilhite will make it back before the end of the season? They miss her presence.
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Post by hoyavbfan on Nov 6, 2018 7:56:15 GMT -5
Rooting for the team to make it to Omaha! Hoya Saxa!
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Post by hazydavy on Nov 8, 2018 17:08:58 GMT -5
I'm also rooting for the team to make the tournament and I've enjoyed watching the games on TV. But is anybody else bothered that the main camera is on the wrong side of the court?
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Post by volleyballjack on Nov 8, 2018 21:32:33 GMT -5
The announcer is enthusiastic and knowledgable, and god knows it must be tough to do a game without a partner, but the number of "contests" she says during a match is astronomical. and distracting. consider this gentle feedback.
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Post by hoyavbfan on Nov 11, 2018 17:00:56 GMT -5
Good to see Hoyas pull out the win, but poor coaching decisions continue to plague team: when Sinnette or Vujosevic are imploding, pull them out. Lost what should have been two easy wins (DePaul and Seton Hall) mainly as a result of Rens persisting in playing Akenule and Hamling, who struggled game after game, as well as not pulling Sinnette or Vujosevic quickly when they were struggling. Have no idea why he rarely pulls Vujosevic as she often hurts more than helps efforts out on the floor. Now in fifth place and can only hope Villanova will lose next few matches. Let’s pray Rens has a new game plan for last two matches to secure the wins. Really would like to see this team in Omaha. Hoya Saxa!
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Post by hoyawatcher on Nov 11, 2018 19:34:33 GMT -5
Good to see the split. That was the best anyone could expect this weekend. The Big East site shows GU in a tie for 4th with Villanova and Xavier. I have no idea of the tie breakers but they do list Georgetown first HVBFan - do you know the tie breakers. Since we are Villanova's travel partner we both have the same schedule this weekend to end the season. Xavier and Butler. To use the line from Red October - This one's gonna be close
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Post by hoyavbfan on Nov 11, 2018 19:55:21 GMT -5
Just rechecked standings: www.bigeast.com/standings.aspx?path=wvball&standings=12Looks like you’re right, Hoyawatcher: now tied for fourth. Great news! Next weekend is key. Here’s hoping coaches and players rally! Be amazing to see them secure fourth and head to Omaha. Stand by earlier comments that coaching decisions next weekend will make the difference. Coach needs to be smart and not play his predictable game.
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