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Post by skrapheap on Oct 31, 2014 10:15:55 GMT -6
Full slate of matches tonight in the Horizon League.
The Panthers travel to Green Bay to play the Phoenix. The Panthers beat the Phoenix in Milwaukee in the first half of the league season. The Phoenix usually play the Panthers tough at home, but this is a rebuilding year for the Phoenix, so i am confident the Panthers will leave Green Bay with another win.
Valparaiso travels to Cleveland to face the Vikings. That should be a competitive match. Both teams have played stretches of very good volleyball, and both have played poorly at times. As Valpo has been more consistent, i give the Crusaders the edge.
UIC travels to Youngstown to face the Penguins. Youngstown State won the earlier match in Chicago. UIC had won four straight matches before the Panthers visited Chicago last Saturday and won. The Penguins lost a heartbreaker against Oakland last Saturday. This could be an entertaining match.
Oakland travels to Dayton to face Wright State. A Raider victory would be a big upset.
i look for the Panthers and the Golden Grizzlies still to be tied for first at the end of the evening, but second through sixth place could get shaken up.
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Post by skrapheap on Oct 31, 2014 19:26:11 GMT -6
The Panthers got out to a two sets to none lead in tonights match with Green Bay.
Set one started close, with the teams trading points and the score alternating between a tie and a one point Phoenix lead to about 10 all. The Panthers then took the lead, and gradually built it to four to five points. The Panthers had five set points at 24-19, and gave up two points to Green Bay before taking the set 25-21.
The Panthers started set two on fire, stretching the lead to 17-7 on a long stint at the service line for Taylor Golabowski. The Panthers had 15 set points at 24-9, and won set two 25-10. Through two sets, Julie Kolinske had 13 kills. Maggie Dunbar had eight kills in the first two sets. The service game started slowly, but the Panthers had several aces in set two.
In set three, the Phoenix got out to an early lead. Once the Panthers got going, they tied the score at three all, and exchanged points with the Phoenix to eight all. The Panthers opened a lead, which alternated between one and two points until Green Bay pulled into a tie at eleven all. After a Panther hitting error gave the lead back to the Phoenix, Coach Johnson took the Panthers' first timeout. Three straight points out of the timeout, the last two kills by Kolinske, gave the lead back to the Panthers, forcing a Phoenix timeout. Out the timeout the Panthers pushed the lead to four points at 17-13, only to see the Phoenix score consecutive points to reduce the lead to two. The Panthers then pushed the lead back to four points at 19-15, and then 21-17. Kolinske's 18th kill gave the Panthers a 23-18 lead, and a Phoenix hitting error gave the Panthers six match points at 24-18. The Phoenix fought off three of those match points, prompting the second Panther timeout. A Kolinske block ended the match. The Panthers hit .351 for the match. Kayla Price had 41 assists. Maggie Dunbar joined Kolinske in double figures in kills with 11.
The higher ranked team won the other three matches on the night. Oakland improved to 8-2 to remain tied with the Panthers with a sweep of Wright State, although the set scores were fairly cloae. Valpo swept Cleveland State in Cleveland; the Crusaders are alone in third place at 6-4. Youngstown State dropped the first set to UIC in Youngstown, but then won the next three sets to win the match. The Penguins are in second place at 7-3. The Flames are 5-5 in league play, good for fourth place. Cleveland State is 4-6 and in sixth place. Green Bay and Wright State are 1-9 and tied for last.
There are two league matches on Saturday: UIC at Cleveland State and Valparaiso at Youngstown State.
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Post by skrapheap on Nov 3, 2014 8:53:12 GMT -6
Valpo and UIC won on Saturday, so the league standings are currently as follows:
1: Milwaukee and Oakland, 8-2 3: Valpo and Youngstown State, 7-4 5: UIC, 6-5 6: Cleveland State, 4-7 7: Green Bay and Wright State, 1-9
The Panthers next match is tomorrow night in the Klotsche Center arena, hosting Marquette, who was at 27 in last week's RPI. The Panthers have struggled to beat the Golden Eagles in recent years.
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Post by skrapheap on Nov 4, 2014 11:24:38 GMT -6
Horizon League RPI rankings as of 11/3/2014 (per NCAA.com) RPI Rank | School | Overall Record | League Record | RPI Last Wk | 98 | Milwaukee | 14-10 | 8-2 | 94 | 118 | Valparaiso | 21-6 | 7-4 | 137 | 135 | Youngstown St. | 16-10 | 7-4 | 141 | 144 | Oakland | 16-9 | 8-2 | 143 | 193 | Cleveland St. | 11-13 | 4-7 | 179 | 194 | UIC | 12-14 | 6-5 | 194 | 218 | Green Bay | 3-18 | 1-9 | 218 | 272 | Wright St. | 4-20 | 1-9 | 275 |
Same order as last week, slight variations in rankings. Marquette, who the Panthers will be hosting tonight, was ranked #27 in this week's RPI; on the Weekend, the Panthers will host Youngstown State (Friday night) and Cleveland State (Saturday afternoon).
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Post by skrapheap on Nov 4, 2014 20:23:48 GMT -6
Set one against Marquette was closely played, alternating between ties and a one point Marquette point lead, to a nine-all tie. A Julie Kolinske kill gave the Panthers their first lead at 10-9, but Marquette quickly tied the score and then retook the lead. Again the teams matched points, with the Panthers retaking a lead at 13-12, forcing a Golden Eagle timeout. Maggie Dunbar had four kills in four attempts, and a fifth kill immediately out of the time out to give the Panthers a two point lead. Consecutive Marquette kills tied the score, prompting the Panthers' first timeout. Consecutive Marquette blocks gave them a 16-14 lead, and then a kill off a middle attack increased the lead to 17-14, prompting the second Panther timeout. Four more Marquette points extended the lead to seven at 21-14. A Sammi Herron kill got the Panthers a side out, but a service error gave the serve right back to Marquette. The Panthers, trailing 23-16, scored two consecutive points, but the Golden Eagles had seven set points at 24-17. The Panthers fought off three set points, but the Golden Eagles got a kill to win the set 25-20.
The Golden Eagles got out to a 5-2 lead early in set two. Jessica Kalous saw some court time in the set. Service errors again hurt the Panthers' effort. The Panthers took their first timeout with Marquette in front, 9-6. Three consecutive Golden Eagle points forced the second Panther timeout. Marquette continued their run, opening a 17-7 lead. The lead reached 18-8, and the Panthers scored two points to reduce the lead to eight, but Marquette countered with two points of their own to take the lead back to 21-11. Marquette had 12 set points at 24-12, and won 25-12.
The Golden Eagles got out to a 3-1 lead in set three, and then 7-2, when the Panthers took their first timeout. Marquette's height advantage translated to a huge advantage in blocks, 14-1. Out of the timeout, the lead grew to 10-2, and the Panthers took their second timeout. Three consecutive Panther points narrowed the lead to 12-8, but the Golden Eagles got three consecutive points back, then extended the lead to 19-11. The Panthers got the lead back to 22-15, but Marquette got to match point at 24-16, and finished the sweep at 25-16.
Interesting tidbit from the broadcast: according to the gal doing the color commentary, Myanna Ruiz turned down a full-ride scholarship at the University of Nebraska (a national volleyball power) to come to Milwaukee. Apparently the Panthers promised she'd be able to play as a hitter as well as a back-row player; Nebraska wanted her to be a defensive specialist. That and being close to home decided her to be a Panther, and Panther volleyball fans are grateful.
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Post by skrapheap on Nov 6, 2014 14:17:19 GMT -6
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Post by skrapheap on Nov 7, 2014 21:23:07 GMT -6
Set one of the Panthers' Friday night match with Youngstown State started with the teams trading the first 13 points of the set, to a Panther lead at 7-6. From there, the Panthers opened a lead, which they maintained, and won going away 25-15. Julie Kolinske, Myanna Ruiz and Hannah Blanchard led the scoring in set one, with three kills apiece.
The Panthers got out to a lead in set two, which they held for about half the set. YSU then pulled into a tie, and alternated between a tie and a one point lead until late in the set, when they opened a larger lead. They had four set points on the Panthers at 24-20, and the Panthers were able to get only three points before the Penquins finished the set 25-23 to head into the break tied. Through two sets, the Panthers outhit the Penguins .299 to .186, having cooled off considerably from their set one pace. Kolinske and Maggie Dunbar had seven kills through two sets; Blanchard had six.
The Penguins got out to a 5-2 lead in set three, prompting the first Panther timeout. After the Penguins took a 6-3 lead, the Panthers scored four consecutive points to take a 7-6 lead, only to see the Penguins score three consecutive points to retake the lead at 9-7. The Panthers pulled back in to a tie at nine all and then at ten all on a Ruiz kill. The Panthers took a 12-11 only to have the Penguins tie the score. The teams traded points, alternating between a tie and a one point Panther lead until the Panthers scored consecutive points to take a 17-14 lead and the first Penguin timeout. The teams traded points out of the timeout, with the Panther lead alternating between two and three points until consecutive Panther points extended the lead to four at 22-18. Two consecutive points by the Penguins prompted the second Panther timeout, leading 22-20. The Penguins scored two more points to tie the score, when a Blanchard kill gave the Panthers a 23-22 lead, prompting the second YSU timeout. The Penguins tied the score, and the Panthers countered with a kill to set up their first set point at 24-23. YSU tied the score again, and the Panthers responded with consecutive points to win set three 26-24, on a point by Kayla Price off a joust. Ruiz and Kolinske had 11 kills apiece through three sets, followed by Blanchard with nine and Nicole Latzig with seven.
Set four started with the teams trading points to a tie at eight all, with both teams taking short-lived leads. Consecutive points by YSU opened a 10-8 lead, then 12-9, prompting the Panthers first timeout. The Penquin lead continued to alternate between two and three to 15-12. Consecutive points by the Panthers, including two Kolinske kills and a Penguin error tied the score at 15 all. After a tie at 16, the Panthers retook an 18-16 lead, prompting the first Penguin timeout. Out of the timeout, the Panthers took a 19-17 lead, but the Penguins tied the score, and the Panthers took their second timeout. After a tie at 20, Youngstown took a 21-20 lead but Dunbar tied the score with a kill and then gave the Panthers a 22-21 lead with a service ace. Youngstown State then took their second timeout. Out of the timeout, YSU tied tied the score at 23, but a Latzing kill and block gave the Panthers match point at 24-22. A Penguin hitting error gave the Panthers the match at 25-22.
Kolinske finished with match-high 20 kills, followed by Ruiz with 15, Dunbar with 14 and Blanchard with 10 kills. Latzig added nine kills. Price had 59 assists and 11 digs, and two of the Panthers' six service aces. The Panthers outdug YSU 57-52, but were outblocked 10 to 4.5.
Elsewhere in the league, Cleveland State swept Green Bay in Green Bay, Valparaiso swept Wright State at Valpo, and Oakland bounced back from a set one loss to beat UIC in Chicago, 3-1.
At the end of the evening, the league standings look like this: Oakland and Milwaukee remain tied for first at 9-2, followed by Valparaiso at 8-4, Youngstown State at 7-5, UIC at 6-6, Cleveland State at 5-7, and Wright State and Green Bay are tied for last at 1-10. Tomorrow, the Panthers host Cleveland State, Oakland travels to Valpo, Youngstown State travels to Green Bay, and Wright State visits UIC.
Cleveland State has had a down year, but the Panthers won't take them lightly. Tomorrow is Senior Day, and the five person Senior class will be honored.
Valparaiso has bounced back from a mid-season lull and is right behind the league leaders. Oakland's next two matches are at Valpo tomorrow and hosting Milwaukee next Friday night; those two matches will go far to determine where Oakland finishes in the regular season.
A Valpo win tomorrow would give the Panthers some breathing room. A Panther win at Oakland, regardless of the Oakland-Valparaiso result, would probably wrap up the regular season title and allow the Panthers to host the semifinals and finals of the league tournament again.
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Post by skrapheap on Nov 8, 2014 18:10:15 GMT -6
Saturday was Senior Day, and prior to the match, the Panthers' five seniors were honored: Hannah Blanchard, Taylor Golabowski, Julie Kolinske, Amber Simonton and Arianna Wiersma were honored for their contributions to the program's success.
Cleveland State came out in set one, determined to ruin Senior Day. The Vikings seemed more ready to play, and showed it by leading most of the set. The Panthers had some early ties, and as the set progressed managed to narrow the Viking lead on a couple of occasions, but a late surge won set one for the Vikings, 25-20.
Set two looked like set one at the beginning, but the Panthers stepped up midway through the set to take a lead, which they gradually extended, winning the set 25-18. Blanchard and Nicole Latzig were leading the Panthers in kills, with Myanna Ruiz, Kolinske and Maggie Dunbar were having uncharacteristic days.
Set three saw Cleveland again playing better volleyball than the Panthers. The Vikings went on a run to an 8-5 lead prompting the first Panther timeout, and the Panthers took their second timeout trailing 12-8. At the time, the Panthers were hitting .000 for the set and .117 for the match. The lead grew to 14-8, and the Panthers scored three consecutive points to cut the lead in half, prompting the first Viking timeout. The Panthers continued to play better, but couldn't managed to get the lead below two. The Vikings pushed the lead to five at 20-15. After a sideout for the Panthers, consecutive aces by Golabowski got the lead back to two at 20-18, prompting the second Viking timeout. Out of the timeout, the Viking reopened a four point lead at 22-18 and 23-19. The Vikings had three set points at 24-21, and won 25-22.
Julie Kolinske started set four well, with three kills, but no one else was playing equally well, the the Vikings kept the score close, and took a 6-5 lead. Consecutive points by the Panthers put them in the lead at 8-6, and the Vikings took their first timeout. The Panthers took their first timeout after a three point Viking run retook the lead at 11-10, then a two point lead at 14-12 and 15-13. The Panthers pulled into a 16-all tie, but were not able to take the lead, until a block by Kaisa Matton and Kolinske gave the Panthers an 18-17 lead, prompting the second Viking timeout. Consecutive errors by the Panthers gave the lead back to Cleveland, and the Panthers took their second timeout. The Panthers pulled into a tie at 21, but the Vikings scored three points to get to match point at 24-21. A Panther service error gave the match to the Vikings.
Oakland beat Valparaiso in four sets, so the Panthers fell out of first place in the league; they are currently alone in second place. They can pull back into a tie by beating Oakland next Friday on the road, which appears to be a tall order. Valparaiso is alone in third place; Youngstown State had a chance to pull into a tie with the Crusaders, but Green Bay beat them in five sets, putting the Penguins into a tie with UIC, who swept Wright State. Cleveland improved to 6-7 in the league, good for sixth place, followed by the Phoenix, now 2-10, and Wright State, now 1-11.
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Post by ghostofdylan on Nov 8, 2014 19:52:00 GMT -6
What a lousy fall sports season!
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Post by skrapheap on Nov 9, 2014 22:57:15 GMT -6
What a lousy fall sports season! The Panthers could still win the regular season, but they will need help. They have a high probability of getting a bye in the league tournament. They have won tournaments on the road before, too. But it has been a tough fall for the Panthers.
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Post by ghostofdylan on Nov 10, 2014 0:25:51 GMT -6
What a lousy fall sports season! It has been a tough fall for the Panthers. That's all I'm saying.
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Post by skrapheap on Nov 10, 2014 16:26:18 GMT -6
Horizon League Volleyball RPI as of 11/10/2014 RPI Rank | School | Overall Record | League Record | RPI Last Wk | 100 | Milwaukee | 15-12 | 9-3 | 98 | 120 | Valparaiso | 22-7 | 8-5 | 118 | 136 | Oakland | 18-9 | 10-2 | 144 | 151 | Youngstown St. | 16-12 | 7-6 | 135 | 183 | Cleveland St. | 13-13 | 6-7 | 193 | 196 | UIC | 13-15 | 7-6 | 194 | 223 | Green Bay | 5-19 | 2-10 | 218 | 279 | Wright St. | 4-22 | 1-11 | 272 |
Oakland, with the best record in league play, has now moved past Youngstown State in RPI, into third place. Cleveland State jumps up 10 spots in RPI, but is in the same place among league teams as before. The other teams suffered modest losses in RPI ranking. There is more parity in the league this year, but the overall quality of the league is probably not strong enough, I am guessing, to merit a second NCAA tournament bid. The Panthers, and any other league team with any hopes of making the NCAA tournament, will need to win the league tournament to get there.
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Post by PantherU on Nov 11, 2014 0:06:27 GMT -6
The Horizon League is decidedly a low-major in volleyball. Two bids is out of the question.
Sent from my SCH-R970 using proboards
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Post by skrapheap on Nov 11, 2014 14:10:45 GMT -6
The final weekend of the regular season is ahead: mkepanthers.com/news/2014/11/11/WVB_1111145829.aspxThe top seed hosts the league tournament. The Panthers play Oakland on Friday night and Wright State on Saturday. After hosting Milwaukee, Oakland closes the regular season at home versus Green Bay. The Phoenix play Wright State on Friday. Wright State won the earlier match in Green Bay (the Raiders only conference win in 2014). Both Green Bay and Wright State are out of contention for the tournament, so their incentive would be to play the role of spoiler. Green Bay beat Youngstown State last Saturday. Youngstown State hosts Cleveland State on Friday night; UIC hosts Valparaiso on Saturday. The combination of a UIC win and a YSU loss moves the Flames into a tie with Valpo, ahead of Youngstown State, which would give Milwaukee the tie-breaker for the top seed in the tournament. Cleveland State has come on well, and is playing much better volleyball than they did earlier in the season. Going into their match, Cleveland State has won two straight matches and Youngstown State has lost two straight matches. UIC beat Valpo in Valpo earlier in the season. The Crusaders have been playing fairly well of late, so the match with the Flames should be competitive.
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Post by skrapheap on Nov 14, 2014 16:47:35 GMT -6
The early match on Friday was Green Bay at Wright Stete. The Raiders only league victory had been a five-set victory in Green Bay after the Phoenix had won the first two sets. Today, the Raiders managed to sweep the Phoenix, but it was very close. The Raiders won the first set fairly easily, 25-19. The Phoenix started faster in set two, but the Raiders gradually took control of the set, and created some separation to take set two, 25-20. Set three was back and forth. The Raiders got out to a five point lead early, only to see the Phoenix respond with scoring runs to take the lead. Both teams put together several runs of three or four points, so there were many lead changes. A late run gave the Phoenix their first set point at 24-22. The Raiders fought off both set points to tie the score. The teams then alternated points, giving the Phoenix two additional set points, each of which the Raiders countered to tie. With the serve at 26-all, the Raiders then got a kill to give them their first match point, and then a Phoenix hitting error wrapped up the sweep.
Set one of the Panthers' match with Oakland saw the Golden Grizzlies get the first three points of the set, but the Panthers immediately strung together six points to take a three point lead. The lead alternated between three and four points until a four point Panther run extended the lead to 13-7 and forced an Oakland timeout. Myanna Ruiz, Julie Kolinske and Maggie Dunbar had two kills apiece in the early going. Out of the timeout, Oakland got two consecutive points, but the Panthers scored three points of their own, to open a 17-10 lead and force the second Grizzly timeout. Back and forth play continued, to an eight point lead for the Panthers at 20-12, and then 21-13 on a kill by Kaisa Mattson. Two consecutive points by Oakland prompted the first Panthers timeout with a 21-15 lead. The Grizzlies started to rally, scores three consecutive points to prompt the Panthers' timeout. A Hannah Blanchard kill pushed the lead back to 23-19. Then one OU error gave the Panthers their first set point at 24-19, and another hitting error gave the Panthers set one, 25-19. Kaisa Mattson lead the Panthers with four kills in set one on no hitting errors. The Panthers outhit the Golden Grizzlies, .158 to .054.
The Panthers started set two with consecutive points, and gave up a point on the service error. A Dunbar smash of an overpass gave the Panthers a 4-2 lead, but consecutive points tied the score at four all. The Panthers then reopened a 6-4 lead, but OU tied the score again, and then took a lead at 7-6 and 9-7. The Panthers took their first timeout when OU took an 11-8 lead. Out of the timeout, a four to one Panther run tied the score at 12, only to give up the lead on a service error. The teams traded points, until consecutive points gave OU a 16-13 lead and the Panthers took their seoond timeout. The Panthers came out of the timeout with three consecutive points to tie the score at 16, but OU scored two quick points to retake the lead. The Panthers pulled into a tie at 18, and then took a 19-18 lead, prompting the first Oakland timeout. Out of the timeout, OU acored three straight to take a 21-19 lead, and then 23-20. A tip kill got the lead back to two, but OU got to set point at 24-21. The Panthers got one point, then a service error gave the set to OU, to enter the break tied at one set each. Mattson and Kolinske led the Panthers with six kills, followed by Dunbar and Nicole Latzig with five kills. Mattson's .750 hitting percentage led the Panthers to a .264 to .203 advantage in team hitting percentage. The Panthers had a two to zero advantage in service aces against OU, who is leading the league in that category. Service errors were even at three for each team.
In Youngstown, the Penguins pulled away late to take set one from Cleveland State 25-21, but the Vikings evened the match at one set all by a 25-11 score, in a set which they lead from wire to wire.
Set three three began with a Panther block, but a hitting error immediately tied the score at one. The teams continued to trade points to a five-all tie. The Panthers took their first timeout after consecutive points opened a 7-5 OU lead. The lead reached four at 10-6, and the Panthers then reeled off three points to reduce the lead to one, and then gave up a point on a service error. Mattson's seventh kill tied the score at 11, and then took a 12-11 lead. Back and forth play again continued, with the teams exchanging one point leads. Consecutive OU points again opened a 19-17 lead, prompting the second Panther timeout. Oakland's second service ace and a hitting error pushed the lead to 21-17 lead. The lead was again five at 23-18. Oakland had four set points at 24-20 and took the set 25-21, to lead two sets to one. Kolinske and Mattson had 10 kills through three sets. OU lead in hitting, .234 to .232.
Cleveland State took set three against Youngstown, 26-24, to go up two sets to one.
Oakland took an early 5-1 lead in set four, prompting a Panther timeout. OU kept the pressure on, maintaining the lead to 8-4, and then 9-4 and the second Panther timeout. The Panthers scored four out of the timeout, and OU took their first timeout. The Panthers tied the score at nine, and then ten, but the Grizzlies reopened a two point lead. The Panthers then scored two points to tie, then gave up the lead with a service error, and then promptly tied the score at 13 and again at 14. An OU hitting error gave the Panthers a lead, and two more kills by Mattson gave the Panthers a three point lead at 17-14, and Oakland took a timeout. OU scored four straight points to retake the lead, but the Panthers answered with a run of their own to retake a 20-18 lead, only to give up two points on errors. The Panthers continued to battle, and took a 23-21 lead and OU tied the score at 23. The Panthers got to set point at 24-23 on a Kolinske kill, and won the set on Kayla Price's sixth kill, to take the match to five set.
Cleveland State took the fourth set from Youngstown State, 25-17, to win the match, to give the Panthers some help.
The Panthers got the first point of set on a tough rally, then gave up a point on an error. Again the teams traded points to ties at two and three, when OU scored two points to take a 5-3 and the Panthers took their first timeout. Out of the timeout, the Panthers narrowed the lead to 7-5. Oakland scored the next point and the teams switched with OU in front 8-5. The Panthers took their second timeout down 9-5. The lead grew to 10-5, and two straight points by the Panthers prompted OU to take their first timeout. The Grizzlies stretched the lead to 13-8, and reached match point at 14-9, and won the match and the championship 15-10.
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