Volleyball Headlines for November 19, 2009

Washington beat Stanford in three to remain #1 in the Pac-10 while Stanford fell from #5 to #7.

Two top teams will be tested this week. #4 Washington takes on #6 UCLA, now in second place in the Pac-10 and only one game behind the Huskies. #1 Penn State will take on #5 Illinois.

NCAA Coaches Poll Week 11 originally appeared on About.com Volleyball on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 21:46:01.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

They had to work for it too. After losing to Akers and Turner, the Swiss pair worked their way back through the loser's bracket and faced Kessy and Ross in Zumekehr's first final four appearance ever and Kuhn's first since 2005.

Americans Angie Akers and Tyra Turner took third place in the event. There is only one more women's FIVB tour tournament left this season to be held in Thailand November 3-8.

On the men's side, Americans did not fare as well in the last men's tournament of the year. Rogers and Dalhausser did not compete in this event, Lucena/Keenean took the highest U.S. finish at 13th, and Matt Fuerbringer, playing with John Mayer for the first time, finished 17th. Nummerdor/Schuil of the Netherlands won the tournament, beating Wu/Xu of China. Herrera/Gavira of Spain took third.

Swiss Win First FIVB Tourney originally appeared on About.com Volleyball on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 01:00:01.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It looks like the resolution to honor UCI's championship was pulled from consideration by a California senator as payback in a Republican vs. Democrat/SoCal vs. NorCal water dispute.

The reporting on this story is questionable because it is based on hearsay and an uncorroborated conversation. But if this is true, this Democrat has really crossed the line and an innocent volleyball team is paying for something that has absolutely nothing to do with them.

If this is just an exaggeration or a half truth disguised as news that the Republican propaganda machine put forward to make Democrats look bad, then shame on them for that blatant misuse of power.

The disturbing part is that either way this story is totally believable. Has it really come to this? Have we devolved so far into partisan politics that our innocent collegiate sports teams need to pay the price?

This kind of ridiculousness is becoming much too commonplace on both sides. The idea that our politicians lack the maturity to make even the most benign of gestures due to spite is frightening. So too is the rhetoric that currently passes for "news." Frightening, yet all too credible.

UCI VB Snubbed originally appeared on About.com Volleyball on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 01:51:35.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Penn State and Hawaii are still sitting pretty. Penn State beat #5 Illinois in three sets this week to continue their steamroll tour through the Big Ten.

#4 Washington had a rollercoaster weekend down in LA. The Huskies lost to then #17 USC in five sets, but then beat #6 UCLA (formerly the hottest team in the Pac-10) in three sets to remain in the top spot in the conference, which they currently share with Stanford. No major tests scheduled for any of the top teams this coming weekend, so they should all sail smoothly to the same spots next week.

NCAA Coaches Poll Week 12 originally appeared on About.com Volleyball on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 02:32:30.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I've noticed that whenever I go to a volleyball game with other players and coaches, we always choose to sit on the end line. When I go with my friends who are new to the sport, they always want to sit along the sideline.

As Holly noted on the broadcast, the end line is the best seat in the house. There is a reason why all the scouting video cameras reside there. No one has a better view than the players themselves. From the end line, you can watch the game just as the players see it.

You can see how the play develops, watch where the hitters are going, see if there is a hole in the block and see how the defense is setting up. From the end line you can see why the players make the choices they make and what they are faced with.

So the next time you're at a game, watch it as a student of the game and not just a spectator. Sit at the end line and you will have a better view than the coaches, the announcers and even the television viewing audience.

Best Seat in the House originally appeared on About.com Volleyball on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 09:53:08.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

We make decisions using the best criteria we can come up with and take into account their current skill level, enthusiasm, attitude and potential for growth. Some cuts seem obvious - the player is just too short, too uncoordinated or too far behind the other players in skill level. But when you think about it, weren't we all once? Didn't we all start somewhere?

Is it fair to make decisions that could put an end to a child's interest in the sport at such a young age when we could begin to cultivate a lifetime of participation with just a little bit of encouragement?

John Kessel's recent blog says we should just let the young kids play, pointing out that it takes time for talent to develop.

He makes some great points about a junior high program in which 100 kids tried out. They ended up letting them all play on several teams with different skill levels. When they got to high school, half of the players that made the team were the very kids that would've been cut back in junior high if only the top players were allowed to compete. Tough to argue with that.

Of course, not all programs have the coaches or the wherewithal to do what that program did, but it is a story worth keeping in mind when the time comes for tough decisions.

If the growth of the sport is our objective, it makes sense to cast a wide net, especially in the formative years. When it comes down to it, no matter how good we think we are at pinpointing potential, we have to leave room for the late-blooming surprise.

Cuts and the Lifetime Sport originally appeared on About.com Volleyball on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 10:27:57.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There was however some movement among the nest three. Washington has returned to the #4 spot after losing it briefly to Stanford last week. The Huskies are now alone atop the Pac-10. Stanford is now tied for second in the Pac-10 with UCLA after losing to the Bruins in five sets in Palo Alto.

After a rough stretch at the end of September, UCLA is back. It was a big weekend for the Bruins who have not beaten the Cardinal since 2000. UCLA also took Cal down in four sets to rise four spots in the poll to #7. They've been all over the map this season, but it looks like they are past their rough patch and are enjoying a nice run. Winning seven of their last eight matches in October has got to feel pretty good about now.

Among the teams moving the wrong way down the poll are Minnesota, who lost to unranked Ohio State in three to drop five spots, and Washington State who lost to Arizona and Arizona State in four games each and fell three spots to #24.

UC Irvine is off the list this week after a rough weekend of losses to unranked Pacific and UC Davis. The Anteaters are replaced by Northern Iowa and St. Mary's who are tied for 25th.

Week 10 Coaches Poll originally appeared on About.com Volleyball on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 20:05:53.

Permalink | Comment | Email this