[Softball Fan]

Big credit to Lougeay & Beaven for their outstanding defense this year. Besides the second set tonight they have been outstanding. Probably the best DS combo I can recall at Stanford.

Neither Lougeay or Beaven were highly recruited prep players.  They both have been amazing thus far.

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Wins over Florida, Penn St, and Nebraska.  Losses to Texas and Minnesota.  Hey, if Texas and Minnesota run their tables, Stanford could potentially be the #3 team in the nation ;)



I don't really want to put money on that, but I would put money on this less-experienced team getting better and better as the season goes on.  I'm cautiously optimistic for a deep postseason run.  In Hambly I trust.

It is interesting to note that the match hitting % of freshmen FRANCIS and Nebraska's BATENHORST and KRAUSE - all three were Top 5 nationally ranked recruits from the Class of 2021 - were very similar, with FRANCIS (13/9/46) at .087,  BATENHORST (10/6/41) at .098,  KRAUSE (10/7/34) at .088

Thanks for posting those stats.  Interesting Nebraska kept its two All-American OHs on the bench except as serving subs.  They decided to give the freshmen a chance to show what they can do without fear of being pulled out after a mistake.  It might have cost Nebraska the match.

I'm very optimistic about Francis for the long-term over a college career of four years.  Much more cautious for the short-term.  Here are my observations about Francis hitting in the Nebraska match:
1.) Slow hitting approach.
2.) Doesn't put nearly as much heat on the ball as Kipp and Baird.
3.) Had two short blockers against her during much of the match and wasn't able to go over top of them.
4.) Painfully unprepared at times for the speed of the college game.

When she gets to her senior year I expect Francis to be fantastic.  Right now I see an inexperienced freshman. 

During the middle of her freshman season Plummer tweaked her hitting technique and got much better at hitting sets outside her wheelhouse.   At a club tournament I asked Dunning if she figured it out herself or a coach worked with her.  Of course, he didn't give me a direct answer.  At 6'6" if Francis can optimize her hitting mechanics she will be trouble for opponents.

https://journalstar.com/sports/huskers/v...1211e.html

[Softball Fan]

Big credit to Lougeay & Beaven for their outstanding defense this year. Besides the second set tonight they have been outstanding. Probably the best DS combo I can recall at Stanford.

Neither Lougeay or Beaven were highly recruited prep players.  They both have been amazing thus far.

---

Wins over Florida, Penn St, and Nebraska.  Losses to Texas and Minnesota.  Hey, if Texas and Minnesota run their tables, Stanford could potentially be the #3 team in the nation ;)



I don't really want to put money on that, but I would put money on this less-experienced team getting better and better as the season goes on.  I'm cautiously optimistic for a deep postseason run.  In Hambly I trust.

It is interesting to note that the match hitting % of freshmen FRANCIS and Nebraska's BATENHORST and KRAUSE - all three were Top 5 nationally ranked recruits from the Class of 2021 - were very similar, with FRANCIS (13/9/46) at .087,  BATENHORST (10/6/41) at .098,  KRAUSE (10/7/34) at .088

Thanks for posting those stats.  Interesting Nebraska kept its two All-American OHs on the bench except as serving subs.  They decided to give the freshmen a chance to show what they can do without fear of being pulled out after a mistake.  It might have cost Nebraska the match.

I'm very optimistic about Francis for the long-term over a college career of four years.  Much more cautious for the short-term.  Here are my observations about Francis hitting in the Nebraska match:
1.) Slow hitting approach.
2.) Doesn't put nearly as much heat on the ball as Kipp and Baird.
3.) Had two short blockers against her during much of the match and wasn't able to go over top of them.
4.) Painfully unprepared at times for the speed of the college game.

When she gets to her senior year I expect Francis to be fantastic.  Right now I see an inexperienced freshman. 

During the middle of her freshman season Plummer tweaked her hitting technique and got much better at hitting sets outside her wheelhouse.   At a club tournament I asked Dunning if she figured it out herself or a coach worked with her.  Of course, he didn't give me a direct answer.  At 6'6" if Francis can optimize her hitting mechanics she will be trouble for opponents.

https://journalstar.com/sports/huskers/v...1211e.html