ILL St Match

[BeckysTXA]

They beat SLU last week, but only have 2 wins in 6 outings. SLU is winless this year so that might not be saying much. Time will tell. They also have a great Libero. She leads the NCAA in digs averaging 7.45 per set. There are only two Libero s averaging over 7. As a team they are digging 19.64 per set - 5th in the country. Comparing that to UD, Margo (who is great) is averaging 4.81 and the team is at 15.27. It's hard to beat a team when you get out-dug. This might be an exception, but they do have great backrow defense. It will be fun to watch their Libero's ability to cover the court and certainly a challenge for our setter and hitters - keeping the ball away from her.

[Figgie123]

The announcers are interesting to listen to. Since Bruns has the stats in her favor because Sloan has been out, they are putting all their effort in discussing Bruns. Paraphrashing a little here, "With Bruns in the back row they have to get someone to get a point in the front." Well, that would be Sloan, the person who led the team in kills last year.

[Figgie123]

Illinois St takes set 1 25-21. UD got a nice early lead, were up 11-7 at one point, and Ill St took 6 straight points.

[Avid Flyer]

Hitting % UD .073 ISU .393 says it all.

Once again let another team go on a 7 point run.

set 1 UD 21 ISU 25

[BeckysTXA]

Originally Posted by Figgie123 Illinois St takes set 1 25-21. UD got a nice early lead, were up 11-7 at one point, and Ill St took 6 straight points.

First comment is the players have to raise their focus and play to shutdown a 6 point run when it gets to Point 3. All that said,TH should have called timeout sooner because when he did we got the point coming out of the timeout. I know you want to give your players the support they can get a sideout, but it was 3-4 points too long. Their Libero is a great player and she served up that 6 point run.

[Avid Flyer]

Hitting % ISU .292 UD .095

Blocks IUS 7 UD 1

Set 2 ISU 25 UD 22

Oh and another 6 point run.

hitting % for match UD .084 ISU .328

[Avid Flyer]

From my novice perspective they are concentrating on blocking Bruns and our middles.....and its working.

Most other stats are pretty even

[Avid Flyer]

Hitting % UD .028 ISU .200

UD 22 ISU 25

Sorry but this years team doesn't even come close to resembling last years team. When is the last time UD has been swept 4 times out of 8 matches.

Either we played way over our head last year
Had a very easy schedule
Played under our ability this yearr
Have a much harder schedule.

One thing is we are being blocked far more this year than I can remember.

% for the match UD .067 ISU .280

Say all you want to about hitting percentages, they are what they are, but we are just not getting it done this year.

[Avid Flyer]

Hopefully this is just some rust coming off from our returning starters not playing together all that much this season. To me it seems our hitting is either wide or long or being blocked.

This is only our second match with all returning players minus Jamie so lets get the rust off and get back to UD vball.

We had 12 less kills and 12 more hitting errors than Illinois State.

Tomorrow is another day and a rival of sorts Cincinnati who lost 3 - 1 to Seton Hall..

Its not a 40 yard dash but a marathon, hopefully our passing and hitting improves as does our confidence. Gotta watch those runs (Good in music, but not for an opposing team in vball).

[ud69]

Did not see this stinker coming. Thought we should have been able to handle the Redbirds.

[BeckysTXA]

Originally Posted by ud69 Did not see this stinker coming. Thought we should have been able to handle the Redbirds.

Agree. To be honest, I thought our passing was fine. I thought we passed better than Ill St. I thought our serving was fine. Everything else was to be honest - bad. Starting with we had no Fire. No fight. No floor general. And when your team is playing flat, you need a floor general to lead the team out of it.

I wish there was video of the Cincy match because we are dominating. Cincy is not very good this year. It "looks" like TH woke the team up as only a coach can do. We are a much better team than we played against Ill St. it was a bad loss.