Did anybody happen to watch this? I totally forgot it was going on tonight and missed the whole thing. I checked the Stats and it looked like Tori Mellinger played outside all night with Pendergast at Libero. Ringel only came in for 1 set and had only one swing. What's up with that? Something wrong with Ringel or the staff just thinks Mellinger is going to be a better option?

I saw a few highlights in sets one and two but they were the same things we have been doing well for the first few matches...served well, hit at various attack angles, solid defense. The defense for the Israel National Team looked average at best with the back row making no real movement to defend balls unless hit right at them.

I set three Corbelli started putting in some situational subs and we lost a few points in a row. I saw this as more of a see if they can dig out of a hole and if not we get another set to work on things and I actually agreed with that if that was in fact the case.

However after that Israel had made some very good adjustments (likely due to former USA Olympic coach) and we got tired, very tired it seemed. Black had a below average performance both passing and hitting and at times hit as hard as she could rather than place or shape her shot selection and we got blocked and still haven't covered well from the tourney. Mellanger looked very tired from going from a defending horizontally to have to defend and go vertically. Pendergrast looked OK at times but needs to be aware of court spacing as she watched some balls go by and hoped they would go out rather than make a play to get a better angle to the ball. Also a concern was her trying to take to many second balls when setter was attempting to run offense. Slide attacks from the middle was bad timing and off the net resulting in many behind the head or off speed shots. I would expect this to be because of passing issues. Mellanger and Black likely had worst passing of serve receive combination as a duo since Tori arrived on campus. Didnt see much of the other bench players. Vrana got a couple of minutes on right side opposite Friwald who set and Malone did some setting but that was the run of points we lost in set three.
#16 for the Israel National Team hit sometimes from an attack angle we will see from Texas and we couldnt defend. Khat Bell the freshman fro Texas hits higher so bit worried about the set of and closing of the block currently. Which was a non issue last year comparatively to this season so far.

My thought: We don't gain enough from Mellanger on outside compared to what we lose from her as a libero, meaning Ringel or maybe Hendrickson should be an outside and Minnerly take Hendrickson place at middle. And I stand by a statement I made last season, if Black were a #2 OH instead of #1 on this team we would be top 15 in the nation. We need a second OH to hit for a higher percentage but I dont see Mellanger's hitting percentage being that much higher than Ringel's in conference but I do see a drop defensively with Mellanger not as libero. And that drop is bigger than any offensive output difference at OH #2

Moving Hendrickson to the outside would be an interesting experiement. We could still use Ringel or even Pendergast in the back row for her, since Katsmo and Black can both play all the way around. It would definitely be nice to get some more offense in the lineup...

I think they played Hendrickson a few times on the outside last year early in some tournaments. I like her better in the middle than either the RS or OH.

Ringel has more power in her swing than Mellinger, but she doesn't see the splits as well. Mellinger rarely gets blocked and tools a lot of shots. I would like to have Mellinger at Libero, but we need someone to step up on the outside.

There was some talk of Katsmo on the outside early on by the Corbelli's. Not sure if that would make sense defensively.

[This message has been edited by TAMU123 (edited 8/31/2011 11:50p).]

They really dont effectively use their bench. no one seems to have defined roles; Any time the corbellis panic, the lock in on their starters who, accoring to last year games, don't know how to close in 5. just my thoughts as a relative newbie to Aggie vball.

It is all about production. The Outside #2 position hasn't given any major production last year offensively. If the hitting percentage for Person A is .127 on the outside and Person B is .141 then in a vacuum pick person B is who you want but if Person B is a better libero and left back defensive player then the production is not enough of change to make the move. What I would like to see is person C and even D take a shot at it also... (numbers completely made up but about level of difference)

As for the middle Hendrickson is if you include the Israel match which in the end wont count she has 27 kills in 15 sets for a 1.8 kill per match. Minnerly had a 1.58 last year including much tougher competition with conference play. I know it is early but Hendrickson is the quintessential utility player for a team and would now like to see her attempt some from outside for a couple of matches. The other outside hitter (transfer from Florida) may not be ready to play on front row at this time but later may be another option. I would like to see a few sets with Hendrickson on outside and Ringel back row for her with Pendergast coming in as a serving specialist for someone. Kastmo's serve is hit or miss right now and last two sets Kinley came in a served for her. Could be a spot for Pendergrast if she can play right side defense.

Will be curious to see box score after tonight or to watch match on internet if possible

From my experience playing w/ Hendrickson, she passes very well. I'd definitely be interested in seeing her play OH all the way around - I don't see any other changes completely revamping things, but that is something that is at least worth trying out. It moves Minnerly back to Middle, and I thought she was pretty successful there last year.

I like this lineup better than last years lineup. They seem to be spreading the sets around more, which I feel will make Black more effective if the blockers are not camping on her.