Aggies won in 4 over Portland last night. I watched some but had connections issues many times with the feed so gave up but can watch it at the following website

http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/up.portal#

This will be only game seen on video but looking at box scores lots of alterations to lineups. will give assessment after watch sets 2 3 and 4

Couldnt see the last of set three or set four at all but went with our original lineup for set 4 according to the box score.

Assessment: The Corbelli's made some changes each set but not en mass so the new player could play with first team.

Hendrickson and Miller looked better in the middle with connections with setter both hitting for a high percentage. Hendrickson still needs to close block better and we collectively got many touches on the Portland swings. However we got tooled a few more times than I would like to have seen. Vrana in set two and Kastmo in set three got tooled and couldnt tell if block fully closed or off outside hand based upon video.

Heather Reynolds played for Black as Outside hitter in set three. (Black did come in for Kastmo and play right side when we were losing). Reynolds had very few attempts for being in the entire set and no kills and error plus was hidden on serve receive. Don,t see significant time this season for her even if injuries/off game occur

Minnerly and Ringel didnt play at all which is a bit of a surprise since this was opportunity for them to get court time. It may be that the Corbelli's were looking to correct timing issues with middles.

None of the back up setters played at all either.

It seems that the lineup has been set barring injury that it will be:

S Sawatzky...big drop off after

OH 1 Black...Big 12 Conference first team

M1 Miller

RS Kastmo

OH2 Mellanger...see Ringel as backup

Lib Pendergrast see Mellanger if production at OH2 decreases

Kinley will serve for someone occasionally

We play Butler next who lost to Portland on Thursday afternoon so may see some more lineup tinkering this afternoon but game is not on video only stats.

Unless Washington State is a ton better than previous years we should win the tournament but I am more concerned about fixing little things like set lineup for conference play, better production from OH2 position, closing the block ,hitter coverage on the block and better serving focus (we missed too many in set one and two that were not missed based upon aggresivness but rather mental focus)

Good luck to the Aggies... BTHO Butler

I don't know anything about Portland's team but for Mellanger to hit .379 with 11 kills and 0 errors is pretty impressive. I'm sure Portland's volleyball program is a few levels below us but that's still very hopeful. However Kastmo having only 4 kills and 4 errors is pretty sad considering she probably had a 4" height advantage against everyone on Portland's team.

Not a judgment post, simply an informational one:

Last season, Portland was 12-18 overall. They played three matches against ranked opponents (#16 Oregon, #24 San Diego, #19 San Diego), were swept 0-3 all three times. Went 6-9 in the West Coast Conference, which is no slouch in volleyball for mid majors, but it's not the Big 12 either.

Looking at the box scores we look really good with our hitting percentage. It looks like that the Corbelli's have gotten the lineup they want.

S Sawasky
OH1 Black
OH2 Mellanger
M1 Miller
M2 Hendrickson
RS Kastmo
Lib Pendergrast

Either Kinley or Grace coming in for Kastmo occasionally to serve

The next two games at SFA and the first two at Michigan should allow them to gel as a lineup. Michigan will be a good test.

I had said earlier that the only matches prior to conference that will be a show of potential expectations was Creighton and Michigan. I want to see how we do against those level teams.

According to the latest PABLO rankings, a computer system of ranking, we are #58. We beat the #43 team twice in Creighton but no one else under top 90 since. Michigan is #15 so will be a test at end of Ann Arbor tourney.

Must improve in serving and blocking before we hit a group of teams from conference. We are listed behind the following teams in PABLO

#8 Texas
#19 Oklahoma
#21 Missouri
#27 Iowa State
#47 Baylor
#50 Kansas

and ahead of

#75 Kansas State
#125 Texas Tech

I would say we are better than Kansas and Iowa State is better than their ranking but other than that not sure of anything. Good luck to the Aggies this weekend

Ag and Drumbeat

Here are the Pablo for the teams we have played FYI

#43 Creighton
#106 UTSA
#120 Portland
#93 Butler
#142 Nevada
#100 Washington State

SFA is #214 and Northern Illinois is #89 for this weekend

Pablo is good but at this point in time it isn't really that solid. It will change quite a bit as the season goes on. But basically I agree we haven't played anyone of note besides creighton, and even they aren't as strong as they have been in years past. Michigan will be a good test, but I think we have a pretty good shot at beating them. They lost quite a bit the last few years.

Went to the Northern Illinois website...a bit worried about this game. They have beaten Creighton, Cinn, and Marquette and also played Northern Iowa and Iowa State and those teams are top 15 by season's end. I can see a battle in SFA. Hope to see this on video

Good Luck to the Aggies today as they face Northern Illinois in a battle of teams receiving votes for Top 25 recognition. NIU is #37 and we are #38 if you count the votes. A win last night over SFA improved them to 8-0. A win over NIU would be better than the previous 8 in terms of SOS.

Solid win over N. Illi, but Michigan this Saturday will be first real test. No video again.