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Post by austinace on Oct 21, 2023 16:34:40 GMT -6
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Post by austinace on Oct 21, 2023 19:07:50 GMT -6
UE loses to Bradley who is now just 2-9 in conference and in second to last place in the conference and just 9-15 overall. UE is in 10th place (3rd to last) and just 3-8 in conference and 8-14 overall. Not the season we were hoping for.
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Post by 65pointgame on Oct 24, 2023 11:05:43 GMT -6
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Post by 65pointgame on Oct 30, 2023 13:28:22 GMT -6
Just a frustrated UE volleyball fan here. There was so much potential for this team to finish at least 4th or 5th in the league, but here we are sitting in 10th place and would need a miracle to make the top 8 and go to the MVC tournament.
Some of the issues this year: -- inability to hold leads late in the match, resulting in close losses -- lack of depth in key positions and too much dependence on our best players -- early season scheduling resulted in being on the road for most of August and September; we were wore out from that heading into conference play.
2 home matches left this year -- not sure if any player is out of eligibility, but guessing Brooke Springer and Emilee Scheumann will not use their covid year option.
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Post by stennisrm72 on Oct 30, 2023 17:14:09 GMT -6
Melanie is a 5th year and not sure if she has a Covid year left to use. Everyone else, aside from the two you mention are underclassmen. They are really a young team. Replacing Melanie is a big task.
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Post by chitownace on Oct 30, 2023 18:42:44 GMT -6
Melanie is a 5th year and not sure if she has a Covid year left to use. Everyone else, aside from the two you mention are underclassmen. They are really a young team. Replacing Melanie is a big task. Yes, Melanie can come back next year. The season has been disappointing in terms of wins and losses and not being able to finish some winnable matches. But, we will have a core of returning players that should give us a solid foundation to build on. And, I am optimistic that this team will continue to improve and I think a couple of the freshman on the roster will step up to larger roles and have a bigger impact next season. At this point, all we can do is keep playing hard and try to finish the season on a positive note.
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Post by spiritofue on Oct 31, 2023 17:26:25 GMT -6
The season has certainly been disappointing as a whole while having some bright spots as well. Thought we would see more improvement from players year-over-year but tough to really find anyone on the team who is playing better this year than last. Most matches have exposed how much weaker we are at blocking and covering ground on defense than our opponents as well as the massive dropoff in talent when Melanie or Giulia goes to the sideline.
No lead has ever felt safe in the matches we have been ahead. Cardona is amazing but it feels like Melanie has quietly become our 'go to' when we need to close a point out with authority. Giulia's ball can get flat on kill attempts later in matches which has led to some teams shutting it down late.
Do have some serious concerns about who replaces Melanie next year (if she doesnt come back) on the left side as hitting percentages from the backups are really needing improvement. I know we have some talented players that will have time to improve before next season. Cruz has been great at libero and Ruff has been steady as usual. Maybe Cline is the answer up the middle with more experience and competition. Would love to find the answer there and see Melanie stick around for that Covid year. Using the middle on kill attempts the way UNI and Chicago State do so well would open up those hitting lanes for our outside hitters.
Feel like there has been less joy with the team this year and even watching all the coaches on the sidelines during matches. Maybe that is a direct correlation to winning but maybe not. Really think this program has a great opportunity to improve dramatically and build off last year moving forward.
Need the schedule makers to keep from taking the team on the road for the first 2 months again. Im not smart enough to understand the reasoning there but it really took away any opportunity to build a steady crowd/attendance rhythm and help the team as it was looking for its identity early in the season. We had such a great turnout and atmosphere for USI and then the team didnt play at home for a full month. People found other things to support and lost interest. Hope next year is more fluid in that respect. Games are pretty fun to watch. Wouldnt kill UE to have the band and some cheerleaders there for a couple games a year. Treat it like a real sport. Just some random thoughts.
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Post by 65pointgame on Oct 31, 2023 22:21:31 GMT -6
Most matches have exposed how much weaker we are at blocking and covering ground on defense than our opponents as well as the massive dropoff in talent when Melanie or Giulia goes to the sideline. Cardona is amazing but it feels like Melanie has quietly become our 'go to' when we need to close a point out with authority. Giulia's ball can get flat on kill attempts later in matches which has led to some teams shutting it down late. Do have some serious concerns about who replaces Melanie next year. Cruz has been great at libero and Ruff has been steady as usual. Maybe Cline is the answer up the middle with more experience and competition. Using the middle on kill attempts the way UNI and Chicago State do so well would open up those hitting lanes for our outside hitters. Feel like there has been less joy with the team this year and even watching all the coaches on the sidelines during matches. Need the schedule makers to keep from taking the team on the road for the first 2 months again.We had such a great turnout and atmosphere for USI and then the team didnt play at home for a full month.
Great first post. I broke it up a little to address some of your comments...which I agree on.
Definitely could use some better blocking, although Brooke Springer and Madisyn Steele were pretty consistent when on the court. But as you mentioned, we need to work on sets to the middle blockers for a quick kill at the net. Quite a few teams in the MVC have this capability.
Cardona is great, but it shows that she gets tired late in matches (she is on the court 95% of the time.) Having to attack half the time from behind the 10ft line is not an easy task. Also, most teams have figured out the exact placement of her serves and they cheat to that side of the court. If she could occasionally put a serve down the line that would help...but will take some practice to gain the confidence.
Melanie is definitely consistent. Her plan is to come back next year. I spoke to her dad and he confirmed it --- said UE has the program for her to continue graduate studies in Psychology.
I believe all the travel early in the season took a toll on the team. The MVC schedule did not favor us -- being on the road for the first 2 weekends (4 matches), then our first home stand was against the 2 best teams in the league, UNI & Drake. The combo of all this seemed to drain the energy from the team.
LOSS of Alondra Vazquez! -- Year over year...we have replaced our setter and libero with good players, but the loss of Alondra Vazquez has been the biggest reason for the drop off this year. We simply have not replaced her production and leadership. Find her replacement and it will solve a lot of issues for next year.
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Post by 65pointgame on Nov 1, 2023 10:18:41 GMT -6
Melanie is a 5th year and not sure if she has a Covid year left to use. Everyone else, aside from the two you mention are underclassmen. They are really a young team. Replacing Melanie is a big task.
Melanie is coming back...although she did play a few matches last year, she was able to get a medical redshirt after her season ending injury, so next year will be her Covid year.
After analyzing this team from the previous 2 years, the major difference is the loss of Alondra Vazquez to graduation. Imagine the difference it would of made this year with her on the court and taking the pressure off of Cardona and Feliciano.
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Post by Atlanta Ace on Nov 1, 2023 10:48:50 GMT -6
The season has certainly been disappointing as a whole while having some bright spots as well. Thought we would see more improvement from players year-over-year but tough to really find anyone on the team who is playing better this year than last. Most matches have exposed how much weaker we are at blocking and covering ground on defense than our opponents as well as the massive dropoff in talent when Melanie or Giulia goes to the sideline. No lead has ever felt safe in the matches we have been ahead. Cardona is amazing but it feels like Melanie has quietly become our 'go to' when we need to close a point out with authority. Giulia's ball can get flat on kill attempts later in matches which has led to some teams shutting it down late. Do have some serious concerns about who replaces Melanie next year (if she doesnt come back) on the left side as hitting percentages from the backups are really needing improvement. I know we have some talented players that will have time to improve before next season. Cruz has been great at libero and Ruff has been steady as usual. Maybe Cline is the answer up the middle with more experience and competition. Would love to find the answer there and see Melanie stick around for that Covid year. Using the middle on kill attempts the way UNI and Chicago State do so well would open up those hitting lanes for our outside hitters. Feel like there has been less joy with the team this year and even watching all the coaches on the sidelines during matches. Maybe that is a direct correlation to winning but maybe not. Really think this program has a great opportunity to improve dramatically and build off last year moving forward. Need the schedule makers to keep from taking the team on the road for the first 2 months again. Im not smart enough to understand the reasoning there but it really took away any opportunity to build a steady crowd/attendance rhythm and help the team as it was looking for its identity early in the season. We had such a great turnout and atmosphere for USI and then the team didnt play at home for a full month. People found other things to support and lost interest. Hope next year is more fluid in that respect. Games are pretty fun to watch. Wouldnt kill UE to have the band and some cheerleaders there for a couple games a year. Treat it like a real sport. Just some random thoughts. Enjoyed reading your post spiritofue. Welcome to Purpleaceplace!
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Post by chitownace on Nov 11, 2023 10:36:09 GMT -6
Great win over Belmont last night! The last 2 sets might have been the best we have played all year. Cardona finished with 31 kills. She needs 32 to break her UE single season record. With Murray St and Indiana St left on the schedule, it would be great to see them finish the season on a 3 game win streak.
Again, the season has been disappointing in terms of wins, but the future is bright for this program. Fernando signed another hitter from Puerto Rico.
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Post by austinace on Nov 11, 2023 11:14:40 GMT -6
Thanks for the update ChiTownAce. I didn’t see the game but I do think it was a good win for us and hopefully can get us started on a three game winning streak headed into the MVC tournament. The remaining schedule gives us a fighting chance to do that. We are currently in 10th place in the MVC standings. Belmont is in ninth place (who we beat yesterday). Murray State, who we play today, is in eighth place. And we finish out the season at Indiana State on Wednesday; the Sycamores are in last place. MVC standings listed here: mvc-sports.com/Note: Early in the year we lost 3-1 at Missouri State and won 3-1 at home against ISU. So there are no givens here that we just walk on the court and win but we should have a good chance in both matches. Anymore information on the new recruit?
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Post by chitownace on Nov 11, 2023 11:25:10 GMT -6
Thanks for the update ChiTownAce. I didn’t see the game but I do think it was a good win for us and hopefully can get us started on a three game winning streak headed into the MVC tournament. The remaining schedule gives us a fighting chance to do that. We are currently in 10th place in the MVC standings. Belmont is in ninth place (who we beat yesterday). Murray State, who we play today, is in eighth place. And we finish out the season at Indiana State on Wednesday; the Sycamores are in last place. MVC standings listed here: mvc-sports.com/Note: Early in the year we lost 3-1 at Missouri State and won 3-1 at home against ISU. So there are no givens here that we just walk on the court and win but we should have a good chance in both matches. Anymore information on the new recruit? Definitely no givens - but if we play well, we certainly have a good shot to win each game. Josdarilee Caraballo Medina - she is a 6' outside hitter. She has played on the U19 PR National Team. Her HS team is ranked #4 in Puerto Rico and she is regarded as one of the top prospects in PR. I will also add, that she and her family seem really excited about her coming to UE. ** also note, there are only 8 teams in the MVC tournament so our season will end at ISU. While making the tournament should be an annual expectation, I do like the prospects of this group potentially finishing the season on a positive note.
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Post by 65pointgame on Nov 11, 2023 16:36:58 GMT -6
Senior Night tonight vs Murray. I believe Brooke and Emilee will be the only 2 honored tonight.
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Post by spiritofue on Nov 11, 2023 20:02:54 GMT -6
Played great volleyball the last 2 nights. Really a joy to watch! Melanie sacrificing her body and hustling all over the place. Heard she is def coming back for 1 more year so we will have most of the starting lineup back. If Cline can keep improving in the middle we can really inprove a lot next year. A little more depth on the outside hitting for the occasional breather for Giulia would be great.
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