10-05-2025, 07:18 PM
It seems coaches (not just Hambly) get criticized for making substitutions and for not making substitutions when the team is struggling.
I wasn't surprised by Blyashov replacing Kurt, since they have been trading off anyway. They have to know their playing time depends on their performance. And they're both in their third year at Stanford (each with a red-shirt year). Kurt doesn't seem as productive this year, and Blyashov seems to have advanced. That Kurt came back as a serving sub in the fourth was a nice twist.
I was surprised by Parks (not "Parker") being pulled for Yu. But Yu seemed to be a steadying force and was placing the sets better. So I think it gave Stanford a better chance to win. Parks may feel wounded by this, but hopefully she's mature enough to accept it.
I hope this is just a temporary set-back for her.
A win over Louisville could have cemented Stanford's place as a top-4 team (many pundits think their current ranking in the poll was too high, and I guess this proves them right). There's still a little over half the season to go (15 matches completed, 16 left). Stanford finishes the season at Louisville - so if the team continues to progress and find their groove, they have a chance for revenge.
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On another topic: anyone know who I should complain to about the Maples concessions? They seem understocked and understaffed. Long lines and sold out of multiple items. I thought the previous vendor was mediocre, but this one is worse.
I wasn't surprised by Blyashov replacing Kurt, since they have been trading off anyway. They have to know their playing time depends on their performance. And they're both in their third year at Stanford (each with a red-shirt year). Kurt doesn't seem as productive this year, and Blyashov seems to have advanced. That Kurt came back as a serving sub in the fourth was a nice twist.
I was surprised by Parks (not "Parker") being pulled for Yu. But Yu seemed to be a steadying force and was placing the sets better. So I think it gave Stanford a better chance to win. Parks may feel wounded by this, but hopefully she's mature enough to accept it.
I hope this is just a temporary set-back for her.
A win over Louisville could have cemented Stanford's place as a top-4 team (many pundits think their current ranking in the poll was too high, and I guess this proves them right). There's still a little over half the season to go (15 matches completed, 16 left). Stanford finishes the season at Louisville - so if the team continues to progress and find their groove, they have a chance for revenge.
===
On another topic: anyone know who I should complain to about the Maples concessions? They seem understocked and understaffed. Long lines and sold out of multiple items. I thought the previous vendor was mediocre, but this one is worse.