10-29-2018, 01:09 AM
Seems like wins are almost ho-hum for #2 WVB (esp. after watching #1 WSOC getting tied today). 3-0 over #20 UCLA. Stanford has a 4-match lead over second-place USC in the conference, with 8 matches to go. Stanford's hasn't lost more than 1 game in a match except the 2-3 loss to (now #1) BYU.
Like apparently many of us on the CARDboard, I worry about what might go wrong rather than be thrilled at yet another shutout over a ranked team. Without going to 5 sets, might Stanford be vulnerable if Stanford has to do that in the tourney? It's not just conditioning, but mental focus. I guess when I look at how often Stanford comes from behind to win games, I shouldn't be too worried about the ability to focus.
But then I worry about why Stanford has to come from behind so often (cue up Cheryl Wheeler's "Unworthy"). Is the team complacent and need to get shocked into playing to its potential? Playing from behind can backfire.
When the PAC-12 channel joined the WVB match after the overtime WSOC game, it was 17-17, but the announcers indicated it had been all UCLA early on but Stanford had come back to tie it. 21-20 was the first Stanford lead since 1-0, ending at 25-22. The second set was comfortable for Stanford (25-20). The third set started off tight, but then Stanford got up 21-16. However, after a series errors by Stanford, UCLA pulled even and the first set point chance was for UCLA. Stanford eventually won 26-24, even though Stanford out blocked UCLA by 5 in the set.
Set Stanford UCLA
Ace B K E TA % Ace B K E TA %
1 0 1 18 5 42 .310 0 1 13 5 38 .211
2 1 2 15 5 43 .233 1 1 10 6 41 .098
3 1 7 13 5 43 .186 2 2 15 10 50 .100
2 10 46 15 128 .242 3 4 38 21 129 .132
Like apparently many of us on the CARDboard, I worry about what might go wrong rather than be thrilled at yet another shutout over a ranked team. Without going to 5 sets, might Stanford be vulnerable if Stanford has to do that in the tourney? It's not just conditioning, but mental focus. I guess when I look at how often Stanford comes from behind to win games, I shouldn't be too worried about the ability to focus.
But then I worry about why Stanford has to come from behind so often (cue up Cheryl Wheeler's "Unworthy"). Is the team complacent and need to get shocked into playing to its potential? Playing from behind can backfire.
When the PAC-12 channel joined the WVB match after the overtime WSOC game, it was 17-17, but the announcers indicated it had been all UCLA early on but Stanford had come back to tie it. 21-20 was the first Stanford lead since 1-0, ending at 25-22. The second set was comfortable for Stanford (25-20). The third set started off tight, but then Stanford got up 21-16. However, after a series errors by Stanford, UCLA pulled even and the first set point chance was for UCLA. Stanford eventually won 26-24, even though Stanford out blocked UCLA by 5 in the set.
Set Stanford UCLA
Ace B K E TA % Ace B K E TA %
1 0 1 18 5 42 .310 0 1 13 5 38 .211
2 1 2 15 5 43 .233 1 1 10 6 41 .098
3 1 7 13 5 43 .186 2 2 15 10 50 .100
2 10 46 15 128 .242 3 4 38 21 129 .132