Just got back from the volleyball match vs FSU. Had at least 6 service errors in the first set and lost that and then blew an 8-3 lead in the 3rd set and lost that. Did not see Shelbi Vaughn there tonight.

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Did not see Shelbi Vaughn there tonight.

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I thought I saw like a week ago, somewhere, she was focusing solely on track now.

I saw somewhere about a week ago that she's redshirting volleyball this year to concentrate on track.

I was her out at the cross country meet this morning. Makes sense to focus on track and the World Championships next summer.

Didnt pass well today and attack percentage from outsides was negative for the match. Not going to win many matches that way. Shore up the passing and we will be fighting for a seed come ncaa time which keeps us from going to austin for first and second rounds.

As for Vaughn i am not sure exactly what is going on but i think that both Sierra Ptrick and Vaughn were on volleyball scholarships and doing track. If i were the volleyball coach i would want my players focusing on volleyball in the spring as well as the fall and looking at spring tourney info i am not sure that is what was happening. If this was the case a redshirt might be the way to go however i dont see her winning the middle spot away from Sullivan or Babers by sitting out a year

take care of business against TAMU-CC on monday and get the passing shored up when conference play starts next week

This team is young, young, young. It shows in some games. Struggling with passing, and our outsides aren't producing like they should. Seem to have good middles, and setting. Missing the hammer on the outside.

Should host a regional this year, so we may not have to play the sips right away. Long way off, we'll see.

Dropped a tough match at Kentucky... that began a 4 match swing that should define our season in conference play

3 things I love

1. Youth, the entire starting lineup we have currently in set to come back next year and the depth at a couple of spots plus a highly touted recruit will give us more depth next year. The two freshman that have started for the season have done a very good job, while at times making mistakes but progressing at a faster clip than I expected

2. Middle play... both Sullivan and Babers have had monster seasons so far. Babers attacking in front of the setter and Sullivan behind the setter has been a bright spot all season long. Hitting percentage wise one of the better duo in the country and along with Florida probably the two best in the SEC.

3. When in system we can attack various angles by all of our front row players, and have been doing a much better job distributing the ball and getting one on one matchups on the pins especially when the opponents block is committing on Sullivan on the slide attack

3 things to improve
1. In the 20s....we are having a bit of trouble closing out sets when score is close and in the 20s. For example, We were down 20-19 in the first set against Kentucky and lost 25-20 sets two and three we had set points a few times and lost close ones 26-28, and 28-30. Improve this stat and we should finish no lower than third in conference.

2. Freeball equals point. when we get a freeball especially when the other team scrambles to dig and sent over we have to terminate. we give up too many points (more often) or let a rally go way longer than it should when this occurs (less often). it can be a huge momentum swing when a defense digs an errant ball and saves it and then eventually gets the point

3. OH complete production....6 rotation hitter, defender and passer. Currently we have hitters that cant pass, defenders that cant terminate offensively, and the outside that was the pin hitter that was doing that is now the tallest libero in the country. This is the reason our #3 good thing I love says when in system. They all shows flashes of brilliance, and each can do all three things but the consistency is not fully there. Since they can do all of these things, if any one of them can put it together and we can move Hardesty back to OH with some help at libero then this could become a strength come second half of conference play. Combine that with our middle production and it takes the pressure off any one player.

I cant wait for the next three matches to come, this is an exciting team which has started off better than expected with a new freshman setter and right side, shore up the serve receive and I think we are one of the top 3 in the conference. Florida and Kentucky are on schedule to be seeded come NCAA tourney time. At #21 and good out of conference schedule with improvement could snag one of the last seeds in the tourney, but can only drop maybe one or two more matches and get a little help (or hope that the NCAA doesn't send us to Austin every time)

Edit: newest poll has us moved up from #21 to #19 with close loss to Kentucky and win against Tennessee.

We are #18 in the first RPI rankings of the season. Kentucky is #8 and Florida is #10.

Watching us play Arkansas and I can't believe that no one is asking why we don't go out and find a coach? Laurie just does not keep us competitive and there is no excuse for that! We should be doing much better in the SEC.

Yes Laurie needs to go. Just like several other mediocre coaches in this athletic program. Very frustrating with some of the best facilities in the country in every sport but can't manage to be anything but middle of the pack in almost everything we do.

We are a top 25 team currently. All losses to teams that were in the NCAA tourney the previous season. Starting at times 3 freshman out of 6 on the court at any one time and the lone senior who plays is a great kid who was playing on the club team the past couple of years.

I may not agree with everything that is done but to suggest a change in the sport of volleyball is delusional to say the least. Just look at the number of former players and coaches who have continued from the Corbelli tree into the coaching ranks. They run a solid program, well liked and don't have constant issue surrounding the program as a couple of other SEC schools recently have had.