09-30-2015, 10:08 PM
In the most exciting VB match so far, Stanford beat 14th ranked Arizona at Arizona 17-15 in a see-saw fifth set.
It seems clear to me that Stanford is not the team it was last year. Not only is Inky out, but Jordan Burgess is not her old self, and the back row defense is not terrific either. At times we looked terrible. The first set was particularly bad, but we won the 2nd, 4th, and that decisive 5th set.
When Lutz was in the game our offense was strong. Whenever she rotated out we looked a little out of sorts. Ironically, though, we seemed to win our sets with Lutz rotated out.
Lutz hit .450 for us. Howard was at .250. Burgess was at .161. Frosh Hodson at .095 and several in negative territory. We also had 11 service errors and only 3 aces. Our blocking was good with 18, but Arizona had 13 blocks even though they are known as a poor blocking team.
We needed this win over a ranked opponent, after losing a heartbreaker at our place to U.SC last weekend. But while I am delighted, my confidence in this team's ability to go as far as it did last year remains shaken. Hopefully the team will improve and youngsters Hodson and Vanjak will become even more effective as the season wears on. Burgess had a few moments where she did look like the explosive outside hitter of last year--but not often and not consistently. Howard seemed strong, with authoritative hits. But 27 hitting errors seemed like a lot to me.
Arizona has not beaten us in 10 years, and nearly did so tonight. That says something about what is in store for us this season. Wins that came easily last year have to be scratched out this year.
It seems clear to me that Stanford is not the team it was last year. Not only is Inky out, but Jordan Burgess is not her old self, and the back row defense is not terrific either. At times we looked terrible. The first set was particularly bad, but we won the 2nd, 4th, and that decisive 5th set.
When Lutz was in the game our offense was strong. Whenever she rotated out we looked a little out of sorts. Ironically, though, we seemed to win our sets with Lutz rotated out.
Lutz hit .450 for us. Howard was at .250. Burgess was at .161. Frosh Hodson at .095 and several in negative territory. We also had 11 service errors and only 3 aces. Our blocking was good with 18, but Arizona had 13 blocks even though they are known as a poor blocking team.
We needed this win over a ranked opponent, after losing a heartbreaker at our place to U.SC last weekend. But while I am delighted, my confidence in this team's ability to go as far as it did last year remains shaken. Hopefully the team will improve and youngsters Hodson and Vanjak will become even more effective as the season wears on. Burgess had a few moments where she did look like the explosive outside hitter of last year--but not often and not consistently. Howard seemed strong, with authoritative hits. But 27 hitting errors seemed like a lot to me.
Arizona has not beaten us in 10 years, and nearly did so tonight. That says something about what is in store for us this season. Wins that came easily last year have to be scratched out this year.
