VB spring Vs OSU observations

[PittMBA]

Some OSU spring match observations from the Fitz -

Ben’s daughter must love PItt volleyball. He and his wife with their daughter and a gaggle of young birthday revelers were there - and got a happy birthday chorus from the team after the match ( and looked like a signed team ball ) - maybe Ben can seed some PItt Vball NIL

To the match -
Bre Kelley dressed and warmed up - but did not play.

Stafford dressed- but did not warm up or play.

Obviously hope both are 100% in August .

PItt won all 4 sets with relative ease - I don’t think they trailed at any point in any of the sets.

VVG stood out - had several aces , kills , passes , played full rotation in all 4 sets. She’s a steady force .

Olivia was the best player on the court - didn’t play the 4th set .

the 2 new MBs - fr Ryla Jones and Bianca Garibladi seemed to belong — both are very good athletes - Jones had success on slide attacks.

It was nice to see Cat Flood - she actually dressed as a libero for two of the sets - you can see where she would be a starting OH on a lot of teams - she played the full 4th set and had a few kills including the set winner .

Fairbanks was Fairbanks . Thought Haiti was good - Jespen didn’t necessarily stand out or not stand out - probably a good thing .

Bayless is probably the most intriguing player this spring. She played all 4 sets- was involved in a lot of plays. At times her talent really shows out - but then also seems to lose confidence— be it service errors and hitting errors. I think she has a really bright future- but those thinking she should unseat VVG will have to wait -

Obviously just a spring match and I have no idea if OSU is any good - but PItt ( even without 2 presumptive starters and maybe their best player ) looked very much in rhythm .

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Some OSU spring match observations from the Fitz -

Ben’s daughter must love PItt volleyball. He and his wife with their daughter and a gaggle of young birthday revelers were there - and got a happy birthday chorus from the team after the match ( and looked like a signed team ball ) - maybe Ben can seed some PItt Vball NIL

To the match -
Bre Kelley dressed and warmed up - but did not play.

Stafford dressed- but did not warm up or play.

Obviously hope both are 100% in August .

PItt won all 4 sets with relative ease - I don’t think they trailed at any point in any of the sets.

VVG stood out - had several aces , kills , passes , played full rotation in all 4 sets. She’s a steady force .

Olivia was the best player on the court - didn’t play the 4th set .

the 2 new MBs - fr Ryla Jones and Bianca Garibladi seemed to belong — both are very good athletes - Jones had success on slide attacks.

It was nice to see Cat Flood - she actually dressed as a libero for two of the sets - you can see where she would be a starting OH on a lot of teams - she played the full 4th set and had a few kills including the set winner .

Fairbanks was Fairbanks . Thought Haiti was good - Jespen didn’t necessarily stand out or not stand out - probably a good thing .

Bayless is probably the most intriguing player this spring. She played all 4 sets- was involved in a lot of plays. At times her talent really shows out - but then also seems to lose confidence— be it service errors and hitting errors. I think she has a really bright future- but those thinking she should unseat VVG will have to wait -

Obviously just a spring match and I have no idea if OSU is any good - but PItt ( even without 2 presumptive starters and maybe their best player ) looked very much in rhythm .

Good stuff. Thanks. Not sure why I thought VVG was done. Was there ever any thought of her not coming back for a 6th year?

 

[vantheman1976]

Some OSU spring match observations from the Fitz -

Ben’s daughter must love PItt volleyball. He and his wife with their daughter and a gaggle of young birthday revelers were there - and got a happy birthday chorus from the team after the match ( and looked like a signed team ball ) - maybe Ben can seed some PItt Vball NIL

To the match -
Bre Kelley dressed and warmed up - but did not play.

Stafford dressed- but did not warm up or play.

Obviously hope both are 100% in August .

PItt won all 4 sets with relative ease - I don’t think they trailed at any point in any of the sets.

VVG stood out - had several aces , kills , passes , played full rotation in all 4 sets. She’s a steady force .

Olivia was the best player on the court - didn’t play the 4th set .

the 2 new MBs - fr Ryla Jones and Bianca Garibladi seemed to belong — both are very good athletes - Jones had success on slide attacks.

It was nice to see Cat Flood - she actually dressed as a libero for two of the sets - you can see where she would be a starting OH on a lot of teams - she played the full 4th set and had a few kills including the set winner .

Fairbanks was Fairbanks . Thought Haiti was good - Jespen didn’t necessarily stand out or not stand out - probably a good thing .

Bayless is probably the most intriguing player this spring. She played all 4 sets- was involved in a lot of plays. At times her talent really shows out - but then also seems to lose confidence— be it service errors and hitting errors. I think she has a really bright future- but those thinking she should unseat VVG will have to wait -

Obviously just a spring match and I have no idea if OSU is any good - but PItt ( even without 2 presumptive starters and maybe their best player ) looked very much in rhythm .

I'll only add that Emmy Klika played well just as I expected. I wonder whether Fisher intends to find some help during the May portal to get some further libero help. I worry about that. Let's see what he decides.

Pitt will have one more home spring exhibition match on April 14th....Penn State comes to the Fitz. It should be a good one. Be there if you can.

 

[PittMBA]

I'll only add that Emmy Klika played well just as I expected. I wonder whether Fisher intends to find some help during the May portal to get some further libero help. I worry about that. Let's see what he decides.

Pitt will have one more home spring exhibition match on April 14th....Penn State comes to the Fitz. It should be a good one. Be there if you can.

My general thought during the match - and told my daughter after Klika had a great dig - is that Libero / DS is probably the biggest X factor to me.

They’ll be plenty good offensively, should have a strong block again, and be excellent as a team serving - libero play seems where they can be very good ; but can they be elite ?

also- trying not to take for granted how nice it is that they essentially kept the whole team together - not a given in this era of the portal and NIL .

 

[singregardless]

Good stuff. Thanks. Not sure why I thought VVG was done. Was there ever any thought of her not coming back for a 6th year?

I remember reading somewhere that she had interest from pro teams abroad, but she had the team announce her return midway through the season, so if the thought of not returning was there, it didn't last long. Typically, these announcements happen AFTER the season.

I was definitely caught off guard because it's easy to forget now, but to that point in the season she only had 2 double digit kill performances through the initial 20 games. She'd go on to add an additional 5 more the final 13 games of the season.

 

[latz66]

If the season would begin now, who is the backup libero?? Seems like we def need a seasoned player to backup Klika in case something would happen to her with injury .

 

[PittMBA]

If the season would begin now, who is the backup libero?? Seems like we def need a seasoned player to backup Klika in case something would happen to her with injury .

Assume Dylan Griffin. But it’s definitely a question mark

 

[RightSaidTed]

Thanks for the write up. Traveling this week but looking forward to attending the PSU game in a couple weeks. Should be a good test against a team that has added a lot and has big aspirations for 2024.

 

[RightSaidTed]

Assume Dylan Griffin. But it’s definitely a question mark

Did Griffin get any extended rotations? We know she can serve but I have never seen her get any significant PT as a defensive specialist. Even if Klika stays healthy and effective, there were times when Fisher would put her and Mosley on the court together. At a minimum someone is going to need to file that role.

 

[PittMBA]

Did Griffin get any extended rotations? We know she can serve but I have never seen her get any significant PT as a defensive specialist. Even if Klika stays healthy and effective, there were times when Fisher would put her and Mosley on the court together. At a minimum someone is going to need to file that role.

Honestly- I don’t see that player on the roster right now. one of the incoming frosh- Mallorie Meyer- not in school yet- is a DS / libero . I assume she’ll join the team this summer .

 

[vantheman1976]

Honestly- I don’t see that player on the roster right now. one of the incoming frosh- Mallorie Meyer- not in school yet- is a DS / libero . I assume she’ll join the team this summer .

I agree. Fisher has to figure this out and I think he will. I have not see Griffin cut out of the same mold as Mosely. I know very little about Malorie Meyer but if she can fill in adequately for Klika that would be great. The portal in May is the other remaining option.

 

[mike412]

My thought is that Klika is a good libero. But, she is not elite. When you get to the NCAA tourney, that makes a big difference. Rodriguez, the Nebraska liibero, is an elite player and that was a significant difference in our match with them.

 

[pittdan77]

My thought is that Klika is a good libero. But, she is not elite. When you get to the NCAA tourney, that makes a big difference. Rodriguez, the Nebraska liibero, is an elite player and that was a significant difference in our match with them.

It's probably not a hard and fast rule (Texas really had a lot of turnover at the position last year) but Zoe Fleck, Lexi Rodriguez, and Elena Scott have all played huge rolls in their team's success, deep in the tournament. Back row play is an underrated aspect of VB that a lot of people don't pay attention to. A team with solid serve receive and that can keep an average kill off the ground are so difficult to beat. Pitt tends to block well but there are times where that aspect of the game sputters. Fisher is trying to beat you down with a fast offense and keeping you out of system but an elite libero might put them over the top.

 

[vantheman1976]

My thought is that Klika is a good libero. But, she is not elite. When you get to the NCAA tourney, that makes a big difference. Rodriguez, the Nebraska liibero, is an elite player and that was a significant difference in our match with them.

Yes

 

[vantheman1976]

It's probably not a hard and fast rule (Texas really had a lot of turnover at the position last year) but Zoe Fleck, Lexi Rodriguez, and Elena Scott have all played huge rolls in their team's success, deep in the tournament. Back row play is an underrated aspect of VB that a lot of people don't pay attention to. A team with solid serve receive and that can keep an average kill off the ground are so difficult to beat. Pitt tends to block well but there are times where that aspect of the game sputters. Fisher is trying to beat you down with a fast offense and keeping you out of system but an elite libero might put them over the top.

.....and yes again....