2022 Volleyball - Stacked as Hell

[SL Xpress 7518]

2 minutes ago, Js1 said:

Then maybe Minny will win a title in 2023 (12 seasons in)

Maybe. Or maybe 5 years from now. McCutcheon isn't going anywhere. He's a fantastic recruiter. He has a great recruiting base in Minnesota and surrounding states. He recruits nationally.

Minnesota puts a lot of resources in their volleyball program, and their attendance is tier 1 with Texas, Wisconsin, Hawaii, and Nebraska (Nebraska is really S tier). A lot of what the Minnesota program is has everything to do with McCutcheon. But I'm not actually trying to change your mind. I just have a different point of view. 

[Js1 85988]

That was a high level match won by OSU in 4. 

Bergmann only hit .141 (21-12-64)

Edited September 11, 2022 by Js1

[SL Xpress 7518]

4 hours ago, Js1 said:

That was a high level match won by OSU in 4. 

Bergmann only hit .141 (21-12-64)

 

She was extremely agitated all match long. 

Still averaged 5 kills/set with OSU focusing on her at the net and in the second level. The thing is she’s getting off a quality attack under scenarios someone else wouldn’t be able to. She doesn’t really have any help. Last year they had Brambilla and a MUCH better setter than D’Amico. 

Morrissette the middle blocker had a better match than I’ve seen from her before, but GT’s passing wouldn’t allow that many middle attacks. 

GT’s big differentiator outside of Bergmann is they have 3 backrow attackers with Otene and Bertolini, but the drop off from Bergmann to those two is subastantial.

Meanwhile OSU’s Gabby Gonzalez goes off as an OH for the first time all season, really. Londot, OSU’s do everything RS, hit around the same mark as Bergmann. It’s like they erased each other. 

OSU is just a better team. I still don’t believe in their outside hitting. Neither Gonzalez nor Moore wow me really  

With Penn State showing up in a big way this weekend the B1G has 5 teams in Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, OSU, Penn State with legitimate top 10 credentials. It’s an absurd conference.

UCLA and USC are historical powerhouses (that look like hammered shit this year). They’re going to be languishing at the bottom half of the conference without some kind of miracle between now and when they start play in the B1G. 

Oh, Rice beat Tech in 5 sets. Rice has a solid team. Texas destroyed them in the 5 set scrimmage. There’s such a huge gap between Texas and everyone else right now. Just don’t want to see them lose their mojo, whether through complacency or in an attempt to tinker with lineups. But there’s no magic formula on how to do that. First world problems for sure. 

[Js1 85988]

Texas picks up a first place vote from Nebraska - 59 for Texas, 5 for Corn

Ohio State is now #5
Minnesota is #6
Stanford is #9
Baylor 14
Kansas 23

UH is also now RV 

[Js1 85988]

Texas is projected RPI #1 in the RPI futures by season's end at 22-2.

Matches on tap this week to watch:

•  #1 Texas vs. (RV) Houston on Thursday
• #9 Stanford @ #2 Nebraska tonight (7pm, B1G)
• #2 Nebraska @ #13 Kentucky, Sunday (3pm, ESPNU)
• #3 Louisville @ #13 Kentucky, Wednesday (7pm, ESPN)
• #3 Louisville @ #9 Stanford, Saturday (5pm, Pac 12 Network)
• #4 Wisky vs #16 Florida, Friday (7:30pm, B1G)
• #5 Ohio State @ #12 Pitt, Sunday (1pm, ACCN+)
• #6 Minny vs #22 Pepperdine, Thursday (7pm, B1G+)
• #6 Minny vs (RV) Washington State, Saturday (7:30pm, B1G+)
• #23 Kansas vs (RV) UCF, Friday (6:30pm, ESPN+)

Stanford with a 2-0 week would be nice for us, and also fuck Corn.  Minny needs a 2-0 week, along with Kansas going 1-0 and Ohio State picking up a big road win at Pitt. 

[SL Xpress 7518]

1 hour ago, Js1 said:

Texas is projected RPI #1 in the RPI futures by season's end at 22-2.

Matches on tap this week to watch:

•  #1 Texas vs. (RV) Houston on Thursday
• #9 Stanford @ #2 Nebraska tonight (7pm, B1G)
• #2 Nebraska @ #13 Kentucky, Sunday (3pm, ESPNU)
• #3 Louisville @ #13 Kentucky, Wednesday (7pm, ESPN)
• #3 Louisville @ #9 Stanford, Saturday (5pm, Pac 12 Network)
• #4 Wisky vs #16 Florida, Friday (7:30pm, B1G)
• #5 Ohio State @ #12 Pitt, Sunday (1pm, ACCN+)
• #6 Minny vs #22 Pepperdine, Thursday (7pm, B1G+)
• #6 Minny vs (RV) Washington State, Saturday (7:30pm, B1G+)
• #23 Kansas vs (RV) UCF, Friday (6:30pm, ESPN+)

Stanford with a 2-0 week would be nice for us, and also fuck Corn.  Minny needs a 2-0 week, along with Kansas going 1-0 and Ohio State picking up a big road win at Pitt. 

 

For anyone who has no idea how RPI Futures work, it's important to note that every year it predicts more losses for Texas than UT actually experiences. It's a computer projection that assigns every team a value based on a formula called "Pablo" named after the person who came up with it. The Pablo formula then assigns a percentage chance for win/loss for every single match throughout the season. RPI Futures uses those percentages to statistically infer a final record. All of this is relevant, but not necessarily predictive. Texas is not assigned a 100% chance of winning the rest of its games no matter how dominant it is versus the opponent. String together enough <100% outcomes in a computer model, and it's going to predict somewhere along the way the other outcome. In UT's case, 2 of them. Nonetheless, Pablo favors Texas in every single matchup the rest of the year. It's simply projecting 2 losses based on the less than 100% aspect. 

As Texas goes through the season without losing, the projected number of losses goes down, too. If Texas doesn't lose through the midway point of the Big 12, for example, the projected losses will go down to 1, and then at some point if Texas continues to win, it will go down to 0.

RPI Futures is more handy for other teams' fans that want to know how they can reach the top 4, because Texas is practically a lock. They'd have to lose 2 games for it to even become a factor, and that's only if 4 other teams ranked extremely high in RPI Futures lost fewer games than projected, which is not likely. Personally, I think it's way more likely Texas goes undefeated from this point than it is that they lose 2 matches. 

If Texas goes undefeated RPI won't end up mattering that much, because there aren't 4 teams with a better strength of schedule without a loss, already. So RPI's most important utility is in case Texas drops a match somewhere along the way. Which is an important utility to be sure, but hopefully it's not needed this year. I still consistently root for teams for RPI purposes, because it makes it more fun to watch matches with an inherent rooting interest. 

That said, I'm rooting for Stanford to beat Nebraska tomorrow in Lincoln, but there's a part of me hoping for an undefeated Nebraska versus an undefeated Texas in the national championship, as unlikely as that may be. 

Oh, I also tend to follow Rice, because while it doesn't matter for RPI purposes, Rice is pretty good this year. I watched Texas completely destroy them in Houston in a 5 set scrimmage prior to the season starting, so them being good gives me a personal sense of satisfaction regarding that result, whether it should or shouldn't. Rice has an outside shot of being a top 16 seed. That's important because the top 16 seeds host the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. I don't think they'll actually get there. With the conference they're in they can't afford to lose very often at all. But I'm rooting for it. Rice beat UH, our Thursday opponent, although the match was close. 

BTW, Ohio State will play every team in the current top 12 by the end of the year, other than themselves. They also play Tennessee this weekend, who is a top 50 type team. Just an absurd schedule.

[Js1 85988]

Fleck is Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week again

Quote

Fleck earns her second Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week recognition this season after anchoring the Texas back line and leading the top-ranked Longhorns to a pair of sweeps. The senior had 35 total digs and averaged a league-leading 5.83 digs per set against Denver and UC Davis.

Has a Texas libero ever won the award twice in 3 weeks? Averaging 5.05 digs per set on the season so far. 

Iosia only averaged 3.19 in 2021, 3.11 for Morgan O'Brien in 2020, Petersen 3.49 in 2019 and 3.58 in 2018, McCoy 4.41 in 2017, 3.95 in 2016, 4.12 in 2015 and 3.75 in 2014. 

Cat McCoy's 4.41 digs per set is #1 in the Texas books for a single season.  Actually, Cat has #1, #5, #7 and #9 on the all-time single season list. 

[Js1 85988]

Stanford up 2-0 on Corn despite 12 SEs and both Kipp and Baird hitting below 0.100 lol

Corn hitting 0.098. Texas hit .365 against Tree. 

Edited September 14, 2022 by Js1

[Js1 85988]

Down goes Corn!

[TwiceHorn 31705]

10 hours ago, Js1 said:

Fleck is Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week again

Has a Texas libero ever won the award twice in 3 weeks? Averaging 5.05 digs per set on the season so far. 

Iosia only averaged 3.19 in 2021, 3.11 for Morgan O'Brien in 2020, Petersen 3.49 in 2019 and 3.58 in 2018, McCoy 4.41 in 2017, 3.95 in 2016, 4.12 in 2015 and 3.75 in 2014. 

Cat McCoy's 4.41 digs per set is #1 in the Texas books for a single season.  Actually, Cat has #1, #5, #7 and #9 on the all-time single season list. 

And the crazy thing is that Fleck's insane number of digs mostly go center court, between the net and the 10 foot line.

Cat was incredibly athletic at getting to balls and getting them back up in the air.  But God only knew where they were going.

[Goodman 3274]

Yeah, Cat was good but a few levels below Fleck. Fleck is also a great leader on this team.

I'm starting to believe that Parra should never come off the floor. 

[TwiceHorn 31705]

9 minutes ago, Goodman said:

I'm starting to believe that Parra should never come off the floor. 

Was she good in the Denver match?  Not sure why, exactly, but I am rooting for her.  Maybe because she's a bit of a mighty-mite (at what, 5-10?).

[Goodman 3274]

Just now, TwiceHorn said:

Was she good in the Denver match?  Not sure why, exactly, but I am rooting for her.  Maybe because she's a bit of a mighty-mite (at what, 5-10?).

Incredible arm talent as OH/back row hitter. Arguably best serve on team. Above average court IQ. Good to above average passer & blocker. Dunno but she looks taller than 5'10.

[perfectchaos007 6728]

Big road win for Louisville over UK tonight on ESPN. I imagine Louisville will be the new #2 ranked team next week.

[Js1 85988]

2 minutes ago, perfectchaos007 said:

Big road win for Louisville over UK tonight on ESPN. I imagine Louisville will be the new #2 ranked team next week.

Probably. Fun high level match but good god, net serves bother me. There’s zero chance of anything good happening. At least if you go long, maybe it gets touched or you sneak it in.  

[Pato del Muerto 52995]

3 hours ago, Goodman said:

Incredible arm talent as OH/back row hitter. Arguably best serve on team. Above average court IQ. Good to above average passer & blocker. Dunno but she looks taller than 5'10.

Wasn’t she having problems in the ncaa tourney with serve receive?

[LTtxfan 49470]

 

[Goodman 3274]

3 hours ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Wasn’t she having problems in the ncaa tourney with serve receive?

Dunno but my observations are for this season.

[Js1 85988]

Team is asleep

10-3 UH

Yeah. 9-1 run. Fucking hell

[Js1 85988]

This is a joke 

[Hermanator 7330]

So since the Cowboys already lit all their dumpsters on fire I'm looking for something else to watch and decided to check in on our juggernaut girls just in time for them to start getting their asses kicked. 

Oh well it'll be fun to see the comeback

[Js1 85988]

Overpass and we just watched it hit the floor. How embarrassing 

[Js1 85988]

That might be the worst we play all year 

17-25

1-0 UH

Everyone pretty much sucked 

[Js1 85988]

Better second set, 8-3 Texas

[Js1 85988]

10-1 run with 3 aces by O’Neal

14-4 Texas. TO UH. totally opposite of set 1

Edited September 16, 2022 by Js1

[crum 535]

Parra looks very solid hitting

[Js1 85988]

4 aces!

[Hermanator 7330]

Looks like they just dropped the first set to give themselves a challenge

[Js1 85988]

Wow serve receive has broken down badly to try to end this set

[Js1 85988]

25-16 Texas

1-1

[TexasDPT 297]

6 minutes ago, Js1 said:

Wow serve receive has broken down badly to try to end this set

Texas...where players come to become bad at passing...j/k

[Js1 85988]

Match really turned when Texas dialed up the serve game. 

[TexasDPT 297]

Caffey looking good in the middle...blocking may not be as good as Bergmark's, but she adds an offensive attack that makes the team better

 

[Rickylovesweed 14861]

Parra isn't going to be on the bench anymore. 

 

[Js1 85988]

4 minutes ago, TexasDPT said:

Caffey looking good in the middle...blocking may not be as good as Bergmark's, but she adds an offensive attack that makes the team better

 

Agreed

[Js1 85988]

Block is feasting in this set 

[Js1 85988]

Interesting night. Pepperdine beats Minny 3-1 and Arky beats GT 3-1 too 

25-12 Texas

2-1 Texas

[TexasDPT 297]

Parra looks more comfortable in the starting line-up.

Skinner has all the physical tools to be a great player but she doesn't have it mentally yet. She just makes too many silly mistakes and looks like she's overthinking things. I know she wants to be a 6-rotation player (and that may have been a deal for her transferring here), but I think that responsibility is too much for her right now. If Elliott continues to start her in the line-up, he should let her be successful as a front-row player only and just build up her confidence and success in that role in Texas' system...and then slowly start giving her more responsibilities

[TexasDPT 297]

This is the most Parra's ever smiled in a match

[Rickylovesweed 14861]

Houston looks like a top 25 team. 

[Js1 85988]

3 minutes ago, Rickylovesweed said:

Houston looks like a top 25 team. 

They do

[Js1 85988]

Texas wins 3-1.

Looked bad, looked dominant, looked okay. UH a good 8-2 team. Texas really sleepwalked through that one 

[Rickylovesweed 14861]

Good effort by Houston. They won't lose many more matches if they play like that. 

 

 

[Js1 85988]

Smart sub by Elliot to put in Devin for the last point who ends it on an overpass kill 

[LTtxfan 49470]

 

[Goodman 3274]

2 hours ago, Rickylovesweed said:

Houston looks like a top 25 team. 

They look like a problem, hopefully someone else's in the tournament. 

Glad that what I saw with Parra seems somewhat accurate, can't wait to see how her season turns out.

[Longboard Horn 41087]

Houston gave them a good match last night. Surprised the cougars aren't ranked. They shocked the girls that first set, then our girls went off!

[Js1 85988]

9 hours ago, Goodman said:

They look like a problem, hopefully someone else's in the tournament. 

Glad that what I saw with Parra seems somewhat accurate, can't wait to see how her season turns out.

Parra playing 4 rotations last night (3 across the front row and serving) was great. She showed out. Took good angles, hit it hard, served tough. Halter replaced her for the final 2 backrow rotations. 

Skinner should get to start and play most of tonight’s match. Maybe it was an off night for her, idk. Even Fleck only had 10 digs in 4 sets. Pedestrian. Both our MB2 offensively were garbage but Parra, Logan, Molly and O’Neal made up for it, all hitting over 300. 10 aces and 9 blocks helped too. 

really looked like a match we were sleepwalking through. UH slapped us around in the first set and we woke up. We’ll do that often. Having the luxury of being able to insert Parra for Skinner, Devin for Molly and interchange Bergmark and Caffey shows how stupid deep we truly are. If you don’t perform early (Skinner) in a match, you’ll be replaced. 

[TwiceHorn 31705]

On 9/14/2022 at 9:10 PM, Pato del Muerto said:

Wasn’t she having problems in the ncaa tourney with serve receive?

That's usually true of all "6-rotation" bigs.  Parra is primarily a hitter, but she's good enough, mostly, to play all fix rotations like Logan and some others.

But even if they're "good enough," 6-rotation hitters tend not to be as good as dedicated DS.  They get picked on by the serve, sometimes pretty effectively, and that includes Logan.  Parra is probably not as good as Logan, or wasn't last year, anyway.

[Js1 85988]

25-16. 1-0 Texas