03-03-2021, 11:43 AM
So, these first few matches are all about knocking off the rust before we get some bigger challenges (and also letting Lele see some different folks in different slots so as to assess who our top 6 really is going into the tougher parts of the conference schedule). And in that sense, mission accomplished so far.
* Michaela Gordon has lost all of one game in two matches. She should be dominating these players, of course, but it's still an encouraging sign that she is.
* Ana Geller is clearly above not just Houghton in the pecking order, but Choy, Shin, and Madurawe as well. And in two matches at the #3 line, she's been the first off court both times. I love that. Players coming in as freshman and forcing their way as high in the lineup as possible is always a good thing in my book. (If Blake is healthy, though, I assume Geller will be playing at 4. Interested to see if Blake comes back into the lineup this Friday at Utah, and if so, where she plays between the 2, 3, and 4 lines.)
* We saw two "three setters," one from Arbuthnott against Davis at 2 and one from Choy against Santa Clara at 4. Most importantly, we won both. And I liked seeing Choy bounce back from hers with a quick win against Davis. Arbuthnott struggling to put away her match is frustrating, but I am really trying very hard not to read too much into her first match in a long time.
* Choy seemingly being cemented ahead of Shin is a very positive development. It shows Lele recognizes that Shin's development has plateaued and that other players are passing her by. Shin could be a force at 5 in a way that she won't be at 4.
* We'll find out more in the next couple of matches, but Higuchi playing #2 against Santa Clara sure looks like a farewell appreciation match to get her a singles match in the stadium instead of at her usual court.
* If Blake is healthy, then the lineup is probably Gordon-Arbuthnott-Blake-Geller-Choy-Shin. But that last spot seems very competitive, with Houghton and Madurawe with arguments to play #6, and with Emma Higuchi sitting there as the reigning Queen of Court Six. Maybe we see a rotation of sorts at #6 throughout the year so we have a group of players with at least some match experience this year in case of injury.
* Mossmer certainly seems like an afterthought for now, doesn't she?
* Gordon/Madurawe and Choy/Shin have been doubles pairs in both matches, while we saw Geller/Houghton in one match and Arbuthnott/Geller in the other. Seems fair to think those first two pairings are locked in, with Arbuthnott/Blake again if Blake is healthy and Arbuthnott/Geller if she's not.
* Shin hasn't looked overly sharp, but what really encourages me is that she's responded really well to slow starts. She's never one of our quickest workers in terms of getting off court, but losing just three games in each match is an awesome result for her.
* We're often a much stronger singles team than a doubles team. Based on these two matches, no reason to think that is going to change this year.
I think we're better than last year (assuming Blake is healthy). Not sure yet how much better, but better.
* Michaela Gordon has lost all of one game in two matches. She should be dominating these players, of course, but it's still an encouraging sign that she is.
* Ana Geller is clearly above not just Houghton in the pecking order, but Choy, Shin, and Madurawe as well. And in two matches at the #3 line, she's been the first off court both times. I love that. Players coming in as freshman and forcing their way as high in the lineup as possible is always a good thing in my book. (If Blake is healthy, though, I assume Geller will be playing at 4. Interested to see if Blake comes back into the lineup this Friday at Utah, and if so, where she plays between the 2, 3, and 4 lines.)
* We saw two "three setters," one from Arbuthnott against Davis at 2 and one from Choy against Santa Clara at 4. Most importantly, we won both. And I liked seeing Choy bounce back from hers with a quick win against Davis. Arbuthnott struggling to put away her match is frustrating, but I am really trying very hard not to read too much into her first match in a long time.
* Choy seemingly being cemented ahead of Shin is a very positive development. It shows Lele recognizes that Shin's development has plateaued and that other players are passing her by. Shin could be a force at 5 in a way that she won't be at 4.
* We'll find out more in the next couple of matches, but Higuchi playing #2 against Santa Clara sure looks like a farewell appreciation match to get her a singles match in the stadium instead of at her usual court.
* If Blake is healthy, then the lineup is probably Gordon-Arbuthnott-Blake-Geller-Choy-Shin. But that last spot seems very competitive, with Houghton and Madurawe with arguments to play #6, and with Emma Higuchi sitting there as the reigning Queen of Court Six. Maybe we see a rotation of sorts at #6 throughout the year so we have a group of players with at least some match experience this year in case of injury.
* Mossmer certainly seems like an afterthought for now, doesn't she?
* Gordon/Madurawe and Choy/Shin have been doubles pairs in both matches, while we saw Geller/Houghton in one match and Arbuthnott/Geller in the other. Seems fair to think those first two pairings are locked in, with Arbuthnott/Blake again if Blake is healthy and Arbuthnott/Geller if she's not.
* Shin hasn't looked overly sharp, but what really encourages me is that she's responded really well to slow starts. She's never one of our quickest workers in terms of getting off court, but losing just three games in each match is an awesome result for her.
* We're often a much stronger singles team than a doubles team. Based on these two matches, no reason to think that is going to change this year.
I think we're better than last year (assuming Blake is healthy). Not sure yet how much better, but better.