Volleyball Headlines for November 29, 2009

When they put her on the bench and a less skilled player is in her spot, the team wins. The coach thinks it is ridiculous not to play her best player and so do the player's parents. What's a coach to do?

This is an unusual situation to be sure. But I would have to say that you must go with the line up that wins games. Your best starting six on paper is not always the best starting six in reality. Don't underestimate chemistry and other 'x' factors that may make the difference between winning and losing.

As a coach, your job is to win games as much as you possibly can. If you don't, you could soon be relieved of your duties. You should do what it takes to get the W, even if that means benching your best player.

There's a lesson in this for the player as well. Volleyball is a team sport. If you're the team's best player, it is not enough for you to just concern yourself with your own stats. Your job is to bring your team up to your level and make everyone around you better. Until this player can do that, she should remain on the bench.

To Win or Not to Win originally appeared on About.com Volleyball on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 23:52:54.

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My concerns when I first heard the news were two-fold: that it could have a negative effect on indoor volleyball and whether it was really necessary considering that U.S. beach teams continue to win in its absence. Both those concerns were adequately put to the test in a recent analysis.

The article takes note of the differences between the games and the players that she based on statistics from top indoor players and top beach players. Turns out there are some major differences. According to the stats, successful beach players are shorter, have different skills and are less likely to have been indoor All-Americans.

The point being that the majority of players who will switch to sand will not take away from the elite indoor pool. The stats are compelling. On height - 58% of top FIVB and 40% of top AVP beach players are under 6 feet tall while only 25% of AVCA D-I All Americans were under 6 feet and 40% were over 6'2" tall.

Read more...

Analysis of an Athlete: Sand vs. Indoor originally appeared on About.com Volleyball on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 00:20:32.

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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.

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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.

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At this point there are favorites, challengers and long shots and everyone has their gaze locked upon the target on the #1 team's back. They all want to be the one to take down Goliath and none of them have anything to lose.

Life as the favorite can be very beneficial; you get the best seed, the easiest first round match-up, the most TV time and you carry with you the intimidation factor that can break an opponent before you even play the game.

But it can also be a team's undoing. That target on your back gets bigger and bigger as you rack up the wins. Read more...

Life as the Favorite originally appeared on About.com Volleyball on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 09:23:59.

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Of interest though - Penn State dropped game one to Purdue this week with a score of 31-29. The Nittany Lions ended up winning in four, but the loss breaks their nine-match streak of bagels. Purdue is not a team they want to be dropping games to this close to the playoffs.

UCLA's hot streak is officially over. They lost to #18 Oregon to fall two spots to #9. It has been a very topsy turvy season for the Bruins. We'll see if they can find some consistency once the playoffs begin.

Two more weeks until the first round of the NCAA tournament. Most of the top teams will not be challenged this weekend, but #6 Stanford will take on #11 Cal and that is always an unpredictable match-up.

NCAA Coaches Poll Week 13 originally appeared on About.com Volleyball on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 14:07:51.

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