[paloalto]

Regarding the 3rd set, is the coach having their players work on something different in these situations where a win seems assured?  Note that the players then get to play from behind, which is likely to be a skill needed in the matches against the best teams.   Compare that to a ho-hum, stomped another team feeling.

Nope, same players and same strategy in set 3.

[paloalto]

Regarding the 3rd set, is the coach having their players work on something different in these situations where a win seems assured?  Note that the players then get to play from behind, which is likely to be a skill needed in the matches against the best teams.   Compare that to a ho-hum, stomped another team feeling.

Nope, same players and same strategy in set 3.

[BostonCard]

We did see Zaria Queen come in to serve on match point.

But no, the third set was just a regular disaster.  As Paloalto notes, it’s not uncommon for a team to blow out their opponent in the first two sets and then just lose focus.

BC

[BostonCard]

We did see Zaria Queen come in to serve on match point.

But no, the third set was just a regular disaster.  As Paloalto notes, it’s not uncommon for a team to blow out their opponent in the first two sets and then just lose focus.

BC

[CompSci87]

Bears taking the Hurricanes to a fifth set.

Wow, Cal wins it. Reverse sweep.

[CompSci87]

Bears taking the Hurricanes to a fifth set.

Wow, Cal wins it. Reverse sweep.

[paloalto]

Bears taking the Hurricanes to a fifth set.

Wow, Cal wins it. Reverse sweep.

Miami was tied with Stanford in the conference prior to tonight.

[paloalto]

Bears taking the Hurricanes to a fifth set.

Wow, Cal wins it. Reverse sweep.

Miami was tied with Stanford in the conference prior to tonight.

[mbdude]

smu beat Louisville tonight 3 to 2

[mbdude]

smu beat Louisville tonight 3 to 2

[BostonCard]

Stanford takes the first set 25-23.  Blyashov ended the set “with authority” (her fifth kill of the set).

BC

---

Pin hitters in that first set: 11 kills (5 Blyashov, 3 each for Harvey and Rubin) on 20 swings (.550).  Team hit .438 overall.

BC

[BostonCard]

Stanford takes the first set 25-23.  Blyashov ended the set “with authority” (her fifth kill of the set).

BC

---

Pin hitters in that first set: 11 kills (5 Blyashov, 3 each for Harvey and Rubin) on 20 swings (.550).  Team hit .438 overall.

BC

[BostonCard]

Miami takes the second set 27-25.  We had two set points (at 24-23 and 25-24) but couldn’t close it out.  Hope that doesn’t come back to bite us.

BC

[BostonCard]

Miami takes the second set 27-25.  We had two set points (at 24-23 and 25-24) but couldn’t close it out.  Hope that doesn’t come back to bite us.

BC

[CompSci87]

Miami #6's serve has been killing us.

[CompSci87]

Miami #6's serve has been killing us.

[CompSci87]

There's a kid in the row in front of me who gets super excited, especially when something goes against Stanford, like a big kill or block, or even a call being reversed to go against Stanford. 

I don't think his mom is a Miami fan.

[CompSci87]

There's a kid in the row in front of me who gets super excited, especially when something goes against Stanford, like a big kill or block, or even a call being reversed to go against Stanford. 

I don't think his mom is a Miami fan.

[BostonCard]

Supposedly Kürt has a pretty devastating topspin jump serve, but I haven’t seen her use it.  FWIW, both teams have 5 aces.

BC

[BostonCard]

Supposedly Kürt has a pretty devastating topspin jump serve, but I haven’t seen her use it.  FWIW, both teams have 5 aces.

BC

[mbdude]

parks hasn't been particularly sharp with her sets today

[mbdude]

parks hasn't been particularly sharp with her sets today

[BostonCard]

Another incredibly close set.  Hope we close it out this time.

BC

---

Blyashov!

BC

[BostonCard]

Another incredibly close set.  Hope we close it out this time.

BC

---

Blyashov!

BC

[Card10Fan]

We got lucky in set 3. It felt like we did not have the urgency or decisivness needed at the end to close it out against a good team but somehow prevailed. 

Blyshov has been really solid. Parks some costly missed sets at key times where timing wasn't there and it needed to be. sigh.. 

Feels like this one might go to 5.

[Card10Fan]

We got lucky in set 3. It felt like we did not have the urgency or decisivness needed at the end to close it out against a good team but somehow prevailed. 

Blyshov has been really solid. Parks some costly missed sets at key times where timing wasn't there and it needed to be. sigh.. 

Feels like this one might go to 5.

[CompSci87]

Set 4 going better so far, 15-10.

... 17-10.

[CompSci87]

Set 4 going better so far, 15-10.

... 17-10.

[BostonCard]

Call me a purist, but I think announcers use the term “tool the block” too liberally.  It really should only be used when the hitter deliberately hits the ball off the block (usually by hitting the outside of the line side hand; sometimes by hitting the tips of the fingers).  It does not mean getting the point off of a partial block.  To some extent, it is hard to tell because it’s not always obvious if getting the blocker’s hand was intentional or not.

BC

[BostonCard]

Call me a purist, but I think announcers use the term “tool the block” too liberally.  It really should only be used when the hitter deliberately hits the ball off the block (usually by hitting the outside of the line side hand; sometimes by hitting the tips of the fingers).  It does not mean getting the point off of a partial block.  To some extent, it is hard to tell because it’s not always obvious if getting the blocker’s hand was intentional or not.

BC

[TonyLima]

Miami #6's serve has been killing us.

What you said. I want her fingers tested for illegal substances.

[TonyLima]

Miami #6's serve has been killing us.

What you said. I want her fingers tested for illegal substances.

[martyup]

ALL RIGHT NOW!!!

[martyup]

ALL RIGHT NOW!!!

[BostonCard]

Stanford win the third set, much more comfortably (25-16).  Yeah, their serving was tough.  But the difference was our blocking.  14 total blocks.  Sayer had 10; Harvey had 8.2. That’s pretty unbelievable.

And, as I said, the announcers use the term “tool the block” way too liberally.  On Rubin’s match-clinching point, I doubt the intended to go right into the teeth of the block and wind up winning the point because it landed 6 inches outside on our side of the court.

BC

[BostonCard]

Stanford win the third set, much more comfortably (25-16).  Yeah, their serving was tough.  But the difference was our blocking.  14 total blocks.  Sayer had 10; Harvey had 8.2. That’s pretty unbelievable.

And, as I said, the announcers use the term “tool the block” way too liberally.  On Rubin’s match-clinching point, I doubt the intended to go right into the teeth of the block and wind up winning the point because it landed 6 inches outside on our side of the court.

BC

[cardfan77]

Wow, who was this Blyashov? She was impressive. She has to be the 2nd OH from now on. Only bring in Kurt if Blyashov struggles.

---

Stanford win the third set, much more comfortably (25-16).  Yeah, their serving was tough.  But the difference was our blocking.  14 total blocks.  Sayer had 10; Harvey had 8.2. That’s pretty unbelievable.

And, as I said, the announcers use the term “tool the block” way too liberally.  On Rubin’s match-clinching point, I doubt the intended to go right into the teeth of the block and wind up winning the point because it landed 6 inches outside on our side of the court.

BC

They don’t understand the difference between tooling the block and off the block. One is intentional.

[cardfan77]

Wow, who was this Blyashov? She was impressive. She has to be the 2nd OH from now on. Only bring in Kurt if Blyashov struggles.

---

Stanford win the third set, much more comfortably (25-16).  Yeah, their serving was tough.  But the difference was our blocking.  14 total blocks.  Sayer had 10; Harvey had 8.2. That’s pretty unbelievable.

And, as I said, the announcers use the term “tool the block” way too liberally.  On Rubin’s match-clinching point, I doubt the intended to go right into the teeth of the block and wind up winning the point because it landed 6 inches outside on our side of the court.

BC

They don’t understand the difference between tooling the block and off the block. One is intentional.

[BostonCard]

Wow, who was this Blyashov? She was impressive. She has to be the 2nd OH from now on. Only bring in Kurt if Blyashov struggles.

Just a reminder that Kurt had a monster game against Florida State (18 kills, 4 errors on 36 swings, .389, which is pretty close to what Blyashov did today: 15 kills, 2 errors on 38 swings, .342).  Maybe having the two players alternate games makes it easier to keep them fresh, and the competition spurs them both; maybe it’s a bit harder for the opponent to scout.

In any case, while the two, especially Kurt, had been struggling, they both had really solid games this week end, which is great to see.

BC

[BostonCard]

Wow, who was this Blyashov? She was impressive. She has to be the 2nd OH from now on. Only bring in Kurt if Blyashov struggles.

Just a reminder that Kurt had a monster game against Florida State (18 kills, 4 errors on 36 swings, .389, which is pretty close to what Blyashov did today: 15 kills, 2 errors on 38 swings, .342).  Maybe having the two players alternate games makes it easier to keep them fresh, and the competition spurs them both; maybe it’s a bit harder for the opponent to scout.

In any case, while the two, especially Kurt, had been struggling, they both had really solid games this week end, which is great to see.

BC