VB: Pitt vs USC
- Thread starter HOF Coach
- Start date
USC was up 16-12 in the second set. Pitt went on a 8-1 run that featured 5 attack errors and one service error by usc. Anyone who has been around the game has seen a meltdown like that totally derail a team. They eventually lost 20-25.
That tracks with what your acquaintance said.
Interesting that you say that because that’s exactly what it seemed like to me. Some coaches seem to recruit and emphasize serving and others don’t. And it seemed like that’s what USC does and Pitt doesn’t.
Every time that one girl (Hispanic or Hawaiian) served, SC went on a run. That’s why Mosleys dig was so critical at the end because it was off her serve and it was her first serve in that rotation. They score there and the 22-18 lead or whatever it was would have dissipated. And instead we cruised to the finish.
At one time with aces alone, SC had a 6 point advantage. I’m no volleyball expert but that seems significant to me. Is there a stat that measures points off serves due to near aces or bad passes off serves?
If that's what he's doing he's placing girls at D2 schools, because at the D1 level volleyball is a head count sport. What that means is that you get 12 scholarships, and they are all full scholarships. It's not like softball or baseball or wrestling, in D1 volleyball there are no partial scholarships.
D2 is different. D2 does have partial scholarships for volleyball. In fact I'm pretty sure D2 has partial scholarships for all sports.
For the match, USC had 9 aces and 8 service errors. Pitt had 3 aces and 8 service errors.
Ok thanks. But what I was wondering if there was a stat that measured points scored as the result of a serve that wasn’t an ace. I realize that it could be a subjective stat, but the 6 ace advantage by USC doesn’t seem to tell the whole story of how effective USC serves were.
"Ace" doesn't just mean that like the serve hits the floor. For example, if the person who receives the serve mishits their pass that counts as an ace too.
From the volleyball stats manual:
A service ace (SA) is a serve that results directly in a point. A service ace is awarded to a player:
(1) If the serve strikes the opponent’s court untouched.
(2) If the serve is passed by the opponent but cannot be kept in play.
(3) If the referee calls a violation on the receiver (i.e., lift, double hit).
(4) If the receiving team is out of rotation (i.e., overlap).
No I get that too. Lol. I just mean when a team can’t get into their offense because the serve was effective. For example, when the one girl was serving in the 3rd set when we were up 23-10 and she got it back to 23-18 or whatever it was…that was some really effective serving even though she might have only had an ace or two during that rotation.
Same thing last year in the final four (I think it was last year) in the 5th set with the one player serving against us at the beginning of the set and we couldn’t get into our offense and make a play to get a side out. We were down 10 points or whatever it was. It wasn’t because were were stuck in a bad rotation because it was the beginning of set 5. It was because our opponent sent out their top server and we couldn’t win a point. They weren’t all aces. But most of the points were a result of the service.
That is what I meant by small schools. The year I saw her HS team play, the top kids were Stafford and a player who now starts for Stanford. He was there evaluating some of the lesser players.
Washington State leads Dayton 2 sets to 1, but if Dayton can come back and win the match then the Final 16 will be four ones, four twos, four threes, and four fives.
First VB post, but have been watching this team pretty regularly over the past 2 seasons. Watching this team has become a pretty cool "to do" thing with my wife if we end up staying in on a Friday night. Thought Chi had her best match of the season last night. I think Monks is the better player in the middle, but Chi was better last night. I completely agree with the poster who mentioned our designated servers (Cat & Dyllin). They are two extremely likeable players (my favorites are Rachel & Emmy), but their serves are average at best. Slightly worried about WSU as I watched their match against Dayton (yes, I guess I am becoming a VB geek). They have an elite Czech player and a very solid front court. Lots of foreign players with a ton of experience, as I "think" they made it to the round of 32 the past couple years. With that said, I think Pitt is deep enough to wear them down. This team is so much fun to watch and will probably be even better next year when Bre Kelly is back and Bayless gets more playing time. H2P!
Is Jepsen better than Monk? I had heard that she was looking pretty good prior to her injury. If not, we'll need to find one in the portal if we don't have a ready to start recruit coming in at middle blocker.
Yeah - I’ve read this a couple of times about our service specialists - Griffin and Flood.
We aren’t ACC champs / #1 seed if not for Griffin’s service heroics at Ga Tech and closing out Louisville.
Also- they are coming in for weaker servers - Monks, Chia, and Klika when they rotate to serve.
And never, ever forgot Cat Flood's assassin-like serving in the most difficult of college volleyball environments, the Wisconsin Field House, to upset the defending National Champions and send Pitt to the Final Four!
Just my perception, but Flood and Griffin are solid and have had moments of brilliance…but I never seem to think that the opponents are going to have a tough time like I feel when certain servers are serving against us.And never, ever forgot Cat Flood's assassin-like serving in the most difficult of college volleyball environments, the Wisconsin Field House, to upset the defending National Champions and send Pitt to the Final Four!
100% agree about Dyllin's serving against Ga Tech and Louisville. And, I completely understand they are coming in for weaker servers. I just don't think it is a position of strength for this team.
This is the last season for both current middle blockers, so Kelly will replace 1(oh I wish she had been able to play this season). I didn't see Jepsen play in the beginning of the season before her injury so was just wondering if she's expected to be a starter. I think Bayless has a higher ceiling than VVG. VVG is solid, but she is what she is.
Just my opinion, but Bre Kelly and hopefully a top transfer will be replacing Monks & Nwokolo (who I believe are both out of eligibility). Plus, our top recruit is a MB as well. As for Bayless, I am probably one of her biggest fans. Not sure how to compare her all around game to VVG (I will defer to others), but I think she is just as good of a hitter.
Bayless is raw but has a ton of potential. Not as refined as a passer as VVG for sure. Needs to work on her swing selection but the power and athleticism is there. She could play now if they needed her but very excited to see her with a full offseason under her belt. I expect the competition between her and VVG for the second OH spot to make both of them better next year
