Duquesne match

Chris R · #1 02-26-2021, 07:08 PM

In complete control so far up 2-0. Lexie leading in kills but JPete not far behind. Getting a lot of offense from a lot of different players. The diversity is helping our offense. I like Yates in the middle -- reminds me of Fletemier.

8-5 Flyers set 3.

Chris R · #2 02-26-2021, 07:36 PM

Dukes take set three 28-26. UD had three match points but DUQ got help on questionable pancake, then net-court ace, then two crazy digs from Dayton howitzers. Their D was much better than first 2 sets. UDs hitting not great in third frame.

Chris R · #3 02-26-2021, 08:07 PM

Flyers take set four 25-17 to win 3-1 over DUQ. Tied 15-15 but outscored them 10-2. Lexie w/28k on .548, JPete 16k. BD w/57asts. UD got a bit one-dimensional and DUQ honed in on our left side, but late tools got it done.

BeckysTXA · #4 02-27-2021, 02:58 PM

Sorry I wasn’t able to post. I did watch. We looked the best we’ve been all “year” in the first two sets. My guess is Swink may have been injured because TH went with the following...Yates and Molly Asmus started at MB. He moved A,Elia Moore to right outside. And JPete and Lexie at the left OHSlots. We also saw Freshman Anna Wuensch move into the rotation at the DS spot. She’s mostly been a serving specialist this year. I loved all these moves. But it was more than personnel changes. Here’s what else was new...

All 3 OHs took swings from both the left and right sides. JPete was not a surprise. She played right side as a freshman and moved to the left when she came back last year. Lexie mostly took swings from the left, but occasionally was on the right for a half rotation. Both those players go 6-rotations, and they set Lexie more back row swings in this match. JPete is in the front when Lexie is in the back, so when defenses cheat to stop JPete, we need Lexie to score from the back...and she did. All good to see.

The biggest surprise was Amelia playing OH, not just on the right but also on the left. It’s common for coaches to use a high school MB at the right OH when they get to college. The swing motion is similar. It’s a much bigger adjustment to move into the left OH spot. My best guess is Moore had at most two weeks to work on this and probably less, but she held her own at both outside spots and should only get better if TH continues with this offense. I also saw Laney Yates swing from the right OH spot. To the best of my recollection, Molly only took swings from the middle. But, TH also used freshman Lindsey Winner at MB for a set and she too looked good. She was suppose to red shirt this year, but with a free year (?) if she’s looked good in the gym, let her gets some experience. I think she too took swings from both the middle and the outsides.

How good is this freshman class? Yates opened the year as the leading candidate for ROY in the A10 and she is earning it. I think I read she was #5 in the NCAAs in blocks. But, it’s her classmate Lexie that’s leading the charge with her 6-rotation play and incredible fast arm swing. She crushes the ball. Add in Anna who I thought play great. Amazing control on her passes. And Winner who came in and showed some good stuff and you have to be excited because they are all so young.

We passed better. That’s big. I thought the timing and connections between the setter and all the hitters was improved and that is a lot considering there were hitters playing so many different front row spots. Our block wasn’t great for this match, but we are a good blocking team. I’m thinking it’s all the diversity on hitters moving to so many new spots. It takes some time to get the timing with the blocking pairs closing the gaps. I believe it will come if TH stays with this diverse offense.

This should have been a sweep, so consistency and focus is still a work in progress, but I thought we took some big steps forward in this match. We needed to with VCU coming to town.