12-09-2012, 04:32 PM
Michigan must have figured out something in the intermission between the first and second game. In the first game, Stanford looked invincible. The blocking and spiking looked effortless. From the start of the second game, it was almost all soft touch. Michigan was too disciplined and quick for that to work.
Part of the problem was the serving. Michigan had some wicked serves. Stanford was mostly sorving lollipops. This enabled Michigan to put Stanford back on it's heals for many of the volleys.
Weak serving has been a characteristic of Stanford WVB as long as I have been following it. The last player I can remember with a wicked serve was Logan Tom. Unfortunately, she put it in the net about a third of the time. It's possible there have been some better servers that I just missed. There have been years when I didn't make it to Maples and TV didn't help. PAC-12 TV has made it possible to catch a lot more matches this year.
Although the ending was dissapointing, the team has been a real joy to watch this year. It's not just that they are great players. The team looks like they are having fun. VB should be fun.
Part of the problem was the serving. Michigan had some wicked serves. Stanford was mostly sorving lollipops. This enabled Michigan to put Stanford back on it's heals for many of the volleys.
Weak serving has been a characteristic of Stanford WVB as long as I have been following it. The last player I can remember with a wicked serve was Logan Tom. Unfortunately, she put it in the net about a third of the time. It's possible there have been some better servers that I just missed. There have been years when I didn't make it to Maples and TV didn't help. PAC-12 TV has made it possible to catch a lot more matches this year.
Although the ending was dissapointing, the team has been a real joy to watch this year. It's not just that they are great players. The team looks like they are having fun. VB should be fun.