??

http://www.texastech.com/allaccess/?media=254968

[This message has been edited by gamedrunk (edited 10/19/2011 7:36p).]

What’s the old saying, a win’s a win. Wow, but what an ugly win it was. A 5 set win against an unimpressive 0-7 Texas Tech is not a win you build upon. Thank goodness for our middle play. They carried us once again, without which an ugly win would have been an ugly loss. Our left sides hit for a collective -.032 on 63 attempts. As a team our offense was outhit .186 to .162, committing 34 errors, getting blocked a season record 19 times.

Although Black has been in somewhat of a hitting slump as of late, our OH2 is the position that gives me the most worry. Mellinger who is getting most of the playing time at the 2nd outside slot, has hit negative in 4 of the last 5 matches. Ringel who was seen very spotty action, has also struggled the last 2 matches, but to be fair really hasn’t played enough as of late to develop any kind of rythmn. I was excited to finally see Reynolds come in at OH2 during one set and make a couple of rotations through the front row. The problem is that she got 1 attempt, which must have been when my computer was buffering, because I never saw her swing. I was really hoping that she would get a few attempts to see if she could bring something to the position. I continue to scratch my head.

On the bright side we are 5-2 in conference with our final match of the first half this Saturday at home against Iowa State. A win here would go a long way towards helping A&M to see post season play. Go Ags!!

[This message has been edited by TAMU123 (edited 10/20/2011 12:19a).]

Anybody have a sense of what kind of record volleyball needs in conference to make the NCAA tournament?

The non-conference schedule seems pretty soft, so if it's like basketball I would guess somewhere in the 10-6 range?

I would say a 9-7 record should get us in with the conference RPI really helping. Our OOC schedule was not great at all but we did play some teams such as Michigan, Northern Illinois, Creigton (2), and actually Waskington State who has exceeded expectations in the powerful Pac 12 but the OOC schedule will lose some of its luster (not much to begin with) as Michigan coutinues to slide in the Big 10 or whatever its called. Creigton not as good as usual.

I think the fcat that we have won matches without major production from OH position when Black struggles is a testiment to being a team with experience. I said earlier I like the fact that we come out on top in fifth sets moreso but I dont like to see fifth sets against Tech and Kansas. Those are matches we should be 3 and out or maybe 4 on road but a win is a win. Last year we had an amazing match against Texas and won then proceded to go to Kansas and lose negating the big win.

This year we get a big win against Oklahoma and win (ugly) at the next match that former BIG 12 coach John Cook would say is a forgone conclusion before you step on the floor, for us it isnt and should be. But the difference is we are 2-0 instead of 1-1 and I will take that.
A very good Iowa State team comes in this saturday and a win could have us a legitimate shot at third in conference by season's end... well beyond my expectations. currently based upoin RPI we should get 7 of the nine conference teams in but I think realistically it will be 5...6 at most. An Iowa State win saturday gets us no lower than fourth barring major blowup/injury.

Tech looked like they were on fire...they really wanted it.

We should want it also...and come crunch time I guess we did however nobody on Tech beside Dowdy would play for us as a starter. Dowdy would solve our outside hitter position and coming out of high school was raw but good.

Here are the conference standings
Team Record Pct
Iowa State 6-1 .857 Play Sat (Ags show up)
Texas 6-1 .857 Lost in 3 on road
Texas A&M 5-2 .714
Oklahoma 5-2 .714 Won in 5 at home
Kansas State 4-3 .571 Won in 3 at home
Missouri 3-4 .429 Lost in 4 on road
Baylor 3-5 .375 Won in 5 at home
Texas Tech 0-7 .000 Won in 5 on road
Kansas 0-7 .000 Won in 5 on road


Playing the top teams, other than first two sets against t.u we have played well. Against the lower group in conference we have played below expectations but have won. That is where we have done better than last year as those were games we lost going 7-13 in conference. Missouri was a tight four sets whcih I think was two points in every set on road. They are about the same level but dont win the tight matches so more like us last year.

The key for this team is to play hard and win at K-St on road in second half K-St (which looked horrid against us and based upon that performance shouldnt have a conference win but they do) will be fighting with us for fourth in my opinion.

IMO key matches in order for second half:

K-St on road
Missouri at home
Baylor on road
Texas at home
Oklahoma on road
Kansas at home
Tech at home
Iowa State on road

The first three determine our fate....Iowa State is extremely hard to beat at their house thus in last on my list. Texas above Oklahoma because home game.

Good luck Aggies BTHO the Cyclones saturday

New recruit according to prepvolleyball

"Emily Hardesty, 6'3" all around player, commits to continue her volleyball career at Texas A&M. Emily plays club at Instinct VBC. A middle/pin attacker from Trinity Christian Academy, the Plano junior won the MVP award at Nationals in Atlanta while helping Instinct win the 17 American Championship."