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Post by Pounce Needs Pals on May 16, 2013 12:42:04 GMT -6
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Post by skrapheap on May 30, 2013 4:39:02 GMT -6
Last season was a tough one. The team never seemed to find an identity. Injuries to key players, especially an all-league setter, no doubt were a part of that. The youth of the squad also played a part.
Even at their best, however, the team's defense did not play quite as well as in previous years. Over and over they were susceptible to giving up long runs of points, usually turning a close score into a defeat. The Panther teams that dominated the league in previous years managed to keep opponents' runs shorter and counter with long scoring runs of their own.
The 2013 squad will still be fairly young: there were only two seniors on the 2012 squad, but since the freshman class wound up playing extensively, there are a lot of experienced young players. Let's hope that last season was a blip, and that the experience will inspire the 2013 Panthers to regain their dominance.
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Post by skrapheap on Jul 22, 2013 16:22:51 GMT -6
Looked at the 2013 Roster for the first time.
Kayla Price is listed as a sophomore. I hope that means she got a medical redshirt for last season. She missed most of the season, but i don't know the ins and outs of qualifying for a full year. She showed tremendous promise during her freshman year. A lot of really good players graduated after the 2011 season, and the 2012 team did not seem to have really jelled when Price got hurt. i hope she is able to get back what she was in 2011.
i also hope to see some real improvement in the team's offense this season. Price is a good setter, and Hannah Blanchard did a pretty good job filling in for Price after the injury. One of the incoming freshman is a setter as well, so the team has good depth at that position. The important thing will be for some of the young hitters to make big steps forward. i have to keep reminding myself that this is still a very young squad. Rachel Neuberger is the only senior on the roster as currently listed. i had thought that Amber Simonton would be listed as a senior, but perhaps she also got a medical redshirt from the season she missed with injury.
The defense needs to get closer to the high levels they played at in previous years. They had moments of really good back row play last season, but the team was too susceptible to giving up long runs of points, which put them in holes too deep to dig out of.
There are about six weeks until the season begins.
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Post by skrapheap on Aug 13, 2013 13:46:15 GMT -6
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Post by skrapheap on Sept 5, 2013 7:45:42 GMT -6
First weekend was rough: three tough teams on the road, and three losses. The good news is that the Panthers forced two five-set matches. The bad news is that the Panthers still have trouble winning five-set matches. Kayla Price is over her injury, it seems: she made the all-tournament team. Up this weekend: a tournament in Akron: www.uwmpanthers.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/090413aaa.html
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Post by skrapheap on Sept 6, 2013 16:19:28 GMT -6
Day one of the tournament in Akron saw the Panthers get into the win column with a three-set sweep of winless Niagara.
According to the Panthers website, Kayla Price is suffering "concussion symptoms", so a walk-on, Taylor Gruber, stepped in as setter and ran the Panthers offense fairly well. i suppose one can get over a concussion sooner than a broken hand, but that's a fairly severe injury. i hope Kayla is not one of those great players whom injuries prevent from reaching her potential.
The second match of the day was a more difficult test, against Tennessee Tech (2-2 entering the match). The squads seemed to be evenly matched. Both teams managed to string points together effectively, and there were several long rallies in which both sides were very effective at getting to balls and continuing play. The Panthers were more effective in the blocking game.
The Panthers pulled away to win the first set. Tech then returned the favor. The Panthers regained their momentum in the third set, winning by a comfortable five points. The fourth set was a more tightly-played affair. The Panthers stretched the lead early, but Tech fought back and kept the margin within 3-4 points for the most part. Tech then fought off two match points before a Tech hitting error ended the match.
The toughest match of the tournament awaits the Panthers tomorrow, as they face the host Akron Zips. Akron swept Tennessee Tech. The Zips face Niagara tonight, and unless something very unusual happens, Akron will be 4-0 when the match with the Panthers starts at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
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Post by skrapheap on Sept 7, 2013 23:47:38 GMT -6
The Panthers beat an undefeated Akron squad in four sets to win a tournment for the first time in the last several seasons.
What is encouraging about the team's development six matches into the season is the balanced contributions so many players are making. Rachel Neuberger is playing at her usual high level, but the Panthers don't have to depend only on her. In each set, each match, various other front-row players are contributing kills or blocks to the effort.
And the Panthers are getting similar performances in the back row. Experienced players like Maisey Mulvey and Taylor Golabowski are leading by example, and their younger teammates are contributing as well.
There is still a good deal of non-league volleyball to be played, and many lessons to be learned before the league season begins. Akron succesfully fought off four set points to win the second set in today's match. It will be important for the Panthers to develop the confidance to pull out wins in tight matches, especially in five-set matches. But it is good to see the team rise to the challenge this weekend and win three matches, to even their season record at 3-3.
I hope Kayla Price is able to return soon, and I hope that while she is out, Taylor Gruber continues to play well.
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Post by skrapheap on Sept 15, 2013 2:40:11 GMT -6
The Panthers went 1-2 in Madison, sweeping Bowling Green (a preseason pick to win their conference), being swept by Kansas, and most notably taking a set from the nationally-ranked Badgers.
Fans will finally get to see the squad on their home court Tuesday night, as they host Iowa to begin a busy week. The Panthers host Florida on Saturday and play at Marquette on Sunday. The competition continues to be challenging, but for the most part the strategy of loading up on quality opponents in non-league play has prepared the Panthers well for league play.
League play begins the following weekend at home, with Oakland and Wright State coming to the Klotsche Center.
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Post by skrapheap on Sept 17, 2013 10:12:44 GMT -6
Tonight's match begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Klotsche Center Arena. This is earlier than the normal start time.
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Post by skrapheap on Sept 25, 2013 13:14:32 GMT -6
The Panthers begin league play this week, hosting Oakland and Wright State. Per the Horizon League website, here's how the league stacks up at present: School | Non-League Record | Predicted League Finish | Valparaiso | 11-3 | 1st | Cleveland State | 10-3 | 2nd | Youngstown State | 6-7 | 7th | Oakland | 6-8 | 4th | Green Bay | 5-7 | 6th | UIC | 5-9 | 5th | Wright State | 6-11 | 8th | Milwaukee | 4-8 | 3rd |
Apparently the current rankings are by overall winning percentage. The Panthers have the lowest percentage, but they probably played the toughest non-league schedule of all the league teams. Given the Panthers' history of success in league play, the strategy of playing a tough non-league schedule has been useful. It does mean that the Panthers will not get votes in polls unless they come out of non-league play with a strong record. Valparaiso and Cleveland State top the league, which is not surprising given their predicted finish, and their history of finishing at or near the top of the league for the past several years. Youngstown State has been given some press for their attempts to improve their standing in the league in Volleyball, and has the third-best winning percentage so far, but was picked to finish 7th out of 8 teams. i have to wonder about Wright State: i find it hard to believe that they have played three more matches than the rest of the teams in the league have, but i suppose it's possible. They're still picked to finish last.
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Post by skrapheap on Sept 27, 2013 18:55:40 GMT -6
The Panthers welcomed Oakland to the Horizon League, playing Oakland for the first time ever.
In set one, after a fast start, the Panthers saw Oakland close to a tie at 4-4. After trading points with the Golden Grizzlies, the Panthers strung points together to stretch the lead to 16-10., forcing an Oakland timeout. The Panthers then pushed the lead to 19-12 and force a second timeout. Oakland rallied to 19-15, prompting Coach Johnson to call a timeout of her own. The Panthers then pushed the lead to 22-15. The Panthers were up 8 points at set point. Oakland fought off three set points to prompt the second timeout. Oakland fought off three more set points before Myanna Ruiz finished the scoring.
Oakland continued their momentum in the second set, taking a 7-5 lead early. The Panthers recovered to take an 11-7 lead, featuing two aces by Hannah Blanchard. The lead got pushed to 14-7 forcing a second Oakland timeout. By the time the run ended, the Panthers were up 19-8. The Panthers were up 24-12 at set point and finished the set on the next point.
Oakland regrouped during the break. taking a 5-2 lead into the Panther's first timeout. The Panthers took their second timeout with Oakland leading 11-7. The Panthers battled back to tie the set at 14, and then again at 21. The Panthers then fought off three set points to tie the match again at 24. Oakland fought off match point three times before getting another set point opportunity of their own and finishing the set at 29-27.
The Panthers regrouped in the fourth set to take a 6-3 lead early. Oakland reasserted themselves to take a 10-8 lead and prompt a timeout. The Panthers tied the match and then took a 16-13 lead to force an Oakland timeout. The Panthers pushed the lead to 18-13 to prompt another timeout by Oakland, powered by Taylor Golabowski's serving. The lead grew to 20-13 before Oakland broke the string. The Panthers got to match point at 24-15. Maynna Ruiz finished the set and the match with a kill, 25-17.
Elsewhere in the HL, Youngstown State took the first two sets from Cleveland State at home. The Vikings fought off several set points to tie the third set at 24-24, and the lead changed hands several times in extra points before YSU pulled out a 28-26 win to sweep the match. YSU may be living up to someo of their pre-season hype.
Green Bay opened a siazable lead at home versus Wright State, before hanging on for a 25-22 win. The second set was more back and forth, but the Phoenix took the second set 25-20. The Phoenix ran out to a 22-9 lead in the third set to sweep the match easily.
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Post by skrapheap on Sept 28, 2013 17:48:55 GMT -6
The Panthers handled Wright State easily, sweeping the Raiders to get to 2-0 on the league season. The Panthers' defense really came to the fore in this match. MIlwaukee held Wright State to an .047 hitting percentage for the match, as they hit .386 (they themselves never hit less than .357 in a set). The Panthers held a 42-39 advantage in digs, but outblocked the Raiders 13.5-2. Rachel Neuberger and Julie Kolinske had 10 kills apiece, followed by Hannah Blanchard and Myanna Ruiz who both had 7 kills. Ruiz had 13 digs.
There were two other matches in the league today: Valparaiso went into Chicago and beat UIC 3-1. Oakland took the first two sets in Green Bay, but the Phoenix fought back to win three straight to take a five set match. The fifth set was not terribly close.
After the first weekend, Milwaukee and Green Bay lead the league at 2-0, followed by Valpo and Youngstouwn State at 1-0. Cleveland State and UIC are 0-1, and Oakland and Wright State are 0-2.
Next weekend, the Panthers have a tough road trip: UIC and Valparaiso. The Flames usually play the Panthers tough at home, and Valpo is picked to finish first in the league. The Saturday match at Valpo will be a real test of how good the Panthers are, early in the league season.
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Post by skrapheap on Sept 30, 2013 11:15:59 GMT -6
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Post by skrapheap on Oct 4, 2013 20:20:58 GMT -6
The Panthers had a fairly easy time with UIC tonight, sweeping the Flames in Chicago. The first set was fairly close, but the Panthers dominated in the second and third set to win going away.
The Green Bay-Valpo was a great match. Green Bay came out on fire to win the first set 25-9. Valpo rebounded to take the second set, 25-22. The third set went back and forth, but Green Bay took charge at the end and won 25-21. The fourth set also went back and forth. Valpo held a slender lead for most of the set, until the Phoenix pulled into a 21-21 tie and then pulled ahead 23-21. Valpo then scored four conssecutive points. to finish out the fourth set, 25-23, and force a fifth set.
Green Bay got the first two points of the fifh set. The Crusaders responded with three consecutive points, and Green Bay took a timeout. After the timeout, the Crusaders pushed th lead to 4-2 and then to 7-3 and 9-4. The Phoenix then narrowed the lead to two at 10-8, forcing a Crusader timeout. After a long rally, Valpo scored to break the string, but the Phoenix got the point back immediately and finished another long rally with a point to cut the lead to one. Two Valpo points were followed by three Green Bay points to tie the set at 13. The Phoenix fought off a match point to tie the match at 14, and again to tie the match at 15 and then set up their own match point. Valpo tied the set at 16 and set up their third match point, winning the set 18-16 at the end of a long rally to win the match.
Tomorrow's match between the Panthers and Valpo will feature the only remaining undefeated teams in the league. Oakland beat Youngstown State tonight to give them their first loss.
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Post by skrapheap on Oct 6, 2013 8:16:34 GMT -6
I wish I had been able to watch yesterday's sweep of Valpo on HLN, for several reasons.
First, the Panthers went into Valparaiso to face the top team in the league, in terms of overall record and the preseason poll. The ARC is a tough place to play.
Second, not only did the Panthers win, they swept the top team. Green Bay took Valpo to five sets the previous night, which may have helped the Panthers. But Milwaukee's history in the league is such that the Panthers get everyone's best shot. The Panthers history with Valpo is one of hard-fought matchs ever since Valpo joined the league.
Third, the Panthers continued to display the kind of balanced play, offensively and defensively, that they have displayed all season. HL foes have to know that stopping one player will not be enough to beat Milwaukee. Stop Neuberger and you still have to contend with Ruiz and Kolinske. Then there's the x-factor: Latzig and Blanchard are also capable of taking over a match. If the offense struggles, the defence is capable of scoring and of providing the offense with chances to shake off bad play.
Fouth, the Panthers are now the only undefeated HL team, and I get the sense that their best volleyball is still ahead. They'll need it; they have one more match (at least) with Valpo, and have yet to face Cleveland State, Green Bay and an improved Youngstown State squad. But the Panthers are back, and barring serious injuries will be a force in the HL.
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