[76lsjumb]

Like I said, very, very good at virtually every position:

http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2013/...l-american

Out of the seven "starters" [including libero], five All-Americans!  The only two who weren't named were Rachel Williams -- a very solid OH -- and Brittany Howard, whose nomination by VG as potential "terminator" I would heartily second.  We lose Wopat and Williams, but otherwise return this bunch.  Unlike PSU, whose big guns were mostly [all?] seniors, we won't have [too many] holes to fill next season.  Hopefully, getting this close [but not quite there] 2 years in a row will motivate, not discourage.  And, hopefully, we'll find that terminator...

[76lsjumb]

Like I said, very, very good at virtually every position:

http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2013/...l-american

Out of the seven "starters" [including libero], five All-Americans!  The only two who weren't named were Rachel Williams -- a very solid OH -- and Brittany Howard, whose nomination by VG as potential "terminator" I would heartily second.  We lose Wopat and Williams, but otherwise return this bunch.  Unlike PSU, whose big guns were mostly [all?] seniors, we won't have [too many] holes to fill next season.  Hopefully, getting this close [but not quite there] 2 years in a row will motivate, not discourage.  And, hopefully, we'll find that terminator...

[M T]

I don't feel as knowledgeable about WVB as WBB, but I've watched a lot of it over the past few years, and enjoyed it.  Somehow with WVB, you see a lot more of the personality of the players.  That's fun.

Rachel was Honorable Mention All-American her sophomore year.  I would have to guess that Brittany must have been very close to getting to that level this year.  The announcers (and I) have been very impressed with her play, esp. in the last part of the year.  We also lose Mary Ellen, who kept coming in to serve, and did a good job at it.

I really wanted to see the team win out this year.  When we were up 9-5 in the fifth against Penn State, I dared to think it might happen, which just made the next 6 points all the more unbearable.    I wish them all well, especially Carly & Rachel & Mary Ellen.  I think they played well enough to earn a NC, but it was not to be.

I felt there were a number of cases throughout the year where the team would have a let-down, or lose concentration, or whatever, and fail to play to their ability, whether for a game, or a few points.  There were times when they played wonderfully.  They played so many tough games, it is tough to keep at the same high level throughout.  The opponents are so good, that if you blink, they'll be on top of you.  Sometimes Stanford teams are accused of not having an aggressive enough attitude to just bury their opponent, and I wondered if that might be the case here.  I'd be interested in hearing what the coach might answer to such a question.

Congrats to UW.  I hope they walk away with the championship.

[M T]

I don't feel as knowledgeable about WVB as WBB, but I've watched a lot of it over the past few years, and enjoyed it.  Somehow with WVB, you see a lot more of the personality of the players.  That's fun.

Rachel was Honorable Mention All-American her sophomore year.  I would have to guess that Brittany must have been very close to getting to that level this year.  The announcers (and I) have been very impressed with her play, esp. in the last part of the year.  We also lose Mary Ellen, who kept coming in to serve, and did a good job at it.

I really wanted to see the team win out this year.  When we were up 9-5 in the fifth against Penn State, I dared to think it might happen, which just made the next 6 points all the more unbearable.    I wish them all well, especially Carly & Rachel & Mary Ellen.  I think they played well enough to earn a NC, but it was not to be.

I felt there were a number of cases throughout the year where the team would have a let-down, or lose concentration, or whatever, and fail to play to their ability, whether for a game, or a few points.  There were times when they played wonderfully.  They played so many tough games, it is tough to keep at the same high level throughout.  The opponents are so good, that if you blink, they'll be on top of you.  Sometimes Stanford teams are accused of not having an aggressive enough attitude to just bury their opponent, and I wondered if that might be the case here.  I'd be interested in hearing what the coach might answer to such a question.

Congrats to UW.  I hope they walk away with the championship.

[Canalejas]

12th seeded Wisconsin knocked out the defending champ and top-seeded Texas in the first semifinal tonight. 

Meanwhile, Penn State is absolutely destroying Washington in the second semifinal.

That 6-0 run in the 5th set against PSU might have been the difference between our 4th round exit and a spot in the finals against a 12-seed.

[Canalejas]

12th seeded Wisconsin knocked out the defending champ and top-seeded Texas in the first semifinal tonight. 

Meanwhile, Penn State is absolutely destroying Washington in the second semifinal.

That 6-0 run in the 5th set against PSU might have been the difference between our 4th round exit and a spot in the finals against a 12-seed.

[fullmetal]

...all for the want of a nail.

[fullmetal]

...all for the want of a nail.

[76lsjumb]

...all for the want of a nail.

Wait a minute... I thought "close" counted in horseshoes !?


I didn't see the Wisconsin/Texas match, then I started watching the UW/PSU match...and when I blinked I almost missed it, too.  It was slightly over one hour, INCLUDING the intermission.  After two games, PSU had fewer hitting errors than service errors, I think.  Not terribly surprised they beat UW [so did we, at Stanford], but, under the circumstances -- UW essentially playing @ home and for a chance at the title game, to absolutely demolish them was a little surprising. 

An all-B1G final...thrilling...  >:(

[76lsjumb]

...all for the want of a nail.

Wait a minute... I thought "close" counted in horseshoes !?


I didn't see the Wisconsin/Texas match, then I started watching the UW/PSU match...and when I blinked I almost missed it, too.  It was slightly over one hour, INCLUDING the intermission.  After two games, PSU had fewer hitting errors than service errors, I think.  Not terribly surprised they beat UW [so did we, at Stanford], but, under the circumstances -- UW essentially playing @ home and for a chance at the title game, to absolutely demolish them was a little surprising. 

An all-B1G final...thrilling...  >:(