"ESPN sets viewership records for women’s volleyball semifinals"

[HOF Coach]

2023 NCAA Volleyball National Semifinals Averaged 1.1 Million Viewers On ESPN, +52% Increase Over 2022"

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

2023 NCAA Volleyball National Semifinals Averaged 1.1 Million Viewers On ESPN, +52% Increase Over 2022"

Good to see. This sport has so much potential. 1 million Americans watching Pitt volleyball is insane.

 

[HOF Coach]

https://volleyballmag.com/ncaa-volleyball-semifinals-tv-121623/

 

[vantheman1976]

https://volleyballmag.com/ncaa-volleyball-semifinals-tv-121623/

The fallout from a season of highly encouraging TV ratings already has affected the 2024 schedule. Prestige programs Wisconsin, Minnesota, Stanford and Texas have been booked to play in a two-day, four-match showcase during the Labor Day Weekend in Milwaukee’s 17,000-seat Fiserv Forum (home of the NBA’s Bucks). Over-the-air Fox will telecast two of the matches and the other two will be shown on cable Fox Sports 1.

Would have loved to see Pitt as part of this.....apparently we're not a prestige program.....should have been Wisconsin, Pitt, Stanford, and Texas.

 

[HOF Coach]

The fallout from a season of highly encouraging TV ratings already has affected the 2024 schedule. Prestige programs Wisconsin, Minnesota, Stanford and Texas have been booked to play in a two-day, four-match showcase during the Labor Day Weekend in Milwaukee’s 17,000-seat Fiserv Forum (home of the NBA’s Bucks). Over-the-air Fox will telecast two of the matches and the other two will be shown on cable Fox Sports 1.

Would have loved to see Pitt as part of this.....apparently we're not a prestige program.....should have been Wisconsin, Pitt, Stanford, and Texas.

One of the sportswriters suggested Pitt vs Penn State at PPG Paints Arena on the Sunday before Labor Day and believes it would be a sellout.

 

[Ray-Ray]

One of the sportswriters suggested Pitt vs Penn State at PPG Paints Arena on the Sunday before Labor Day and believes it would be a sellout.

Wow. Texas just swept Nebraska and it wasn't close. They beat Nebraska worse than Nebraska beat us. I did not expect that.

 

[HOF Coach]

Wow. Texas just swept Nebraska and it wasn't close. They beat Nebraska worse than Nebraska beat us. I did not expect that.

George Armstrong Custer had a better chance against the Lakota and Cheyenne warriors than Nebraska had against the Texas Longhorns today.

 

[chrisran24]

Wow. Texas just swept Nebraska and it wasn't close. They beat Nebraska worse than Nebraska beat us. I did not expect that.

Texas did exactly what you need to do to beat Nebraska. Serve tough away from Rodriguez, force them out of system, and block the crap out of them. They executed it to a T and Nebraska had no answer. Absolute shellacking

 

[veryrustyred]

When Pitt is on it's A game, I think they can "play/hang with" Texas and the Nebraskas of the world. However, the one area where they are a level (perhaps what I'll call a level plus) below is their serve game. I couldn't believe how consistently good Texas' serving was. And it was across the board...all players, including a wicked serve specialist. As chrisran wrote, Texas "totally forced Nebraska out of system and blocked the crap out of them." As their momentum and confidence rose (and Nebraska's declined) even Rodriguez got burned on multiple receipt of serves.
Other than Babcock, whose serve has been characterized as high risk/reward, I don't believe any of Pitt's players' serve approaches the level I watched in the semis and final. Pitt certainly had memorable moments serving this season, but the ability to put consistent pressure on opponents' receipt of serve will be a critical need to improve on - if the team is to repeat as a Final Four participant or reach the ultimate goal of a National Championship.

 

[chrisran24]

When Pitt is on it's A game, I think they can "play/hang with" Texas and the Nebraskas of the world. However, the one area where they are a level (perhaps what I'll call a level plus) below is their serve game. I couldn't believe how consistently good Texas' serving was. And it was across the board...all players, including a wicked serve specialist. As chrisran wrote, Texas "totally forced Nebraska out of system and blocked the crap out of them." As their momentum and confidence rose (and Nebraska's declined) even Rodriguez got burned on multiple receipt of serves.
Other than Babcock, whose serve has been characterized as high risk/reward, I don't believe any of Pitt's players' serve approaches the level I watched in the semis and final. Pitt certainly had memorable moments serving this season, but the ability to put consistent pressure on opponents' receipt of serve will be a critical need to improve on - if the team is to repeat as a Final Four participant or reach the ultimate goal of a National Championship.

The good thing is, it’s a lot easier to teach serving than teach height or athleticism. I think VVG has that level of serve (serve specialist next year ideally) but agree that Fairbanks/Stafford/Griffin need to work on it big time this offseason. And Babcock needs to cut down on the errors

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

One of the sportswriters suggested Pitt vs Penn State at PPG Paints Arena on the Sunday before Labor Day and believes it would be a sellout.

Stolen my idea for a Pitt/PSU soccer doubleheader on the day before Labor Day at Acrisure. Would draw 20K at least.

 

[HOF Coach]

Stolen my idea for a Pitt/PSU soccer doubleheader on the day before Labor Day at Acrisure. Would draw 20K at least.

He didn't steal your idea because he doesn't even know that you exist.

 

[pittdan77]

When Pitt is on it's A game, I think they can "play/hang with" Texas and the Nebraskas of the world. However, the one area where they are a level (perhaps what I'll call a level plus) below is their serve game. I couldn't believe how consistently good Texas' serving was. And it was across the board...all players, including a wicked serve specialist. As chrisran wrote, Texas "totally forced Nebraska out of system and blocked the crap out of them." As their momentum and confidence rose (and Nebraska's declined) even Rodriguez got burned on multiple receipt of serves.
Other than Babcock, whose serve has been characterized as high risk/reward, I don't believe any of Pitt's players' serve approaches the level I watched in the semis and final. Pitt certainly had memorable moments serving this season, but the ability to put consistent pressure on opponents' receipt of serve will be a critical need to improve on - if the team is to repeat as a Final Four participant or reach the ultimate goal of a National Championship.

Texas didn't serve like this all season. They got hot at the right time. They also have (IMO) the best middle in the country and that really neutralized the middle play that Nebraska used against Pitt to swing the game. Something to be said for experience, too.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Texas did exactly what you need to do to beat Nebraska. Serve tough away from Rodriguez, force them out of system, and block the crap out of them. They executed it to a T and Nebraska had no answer. Absolute shellacking

Hope Dan was watching. !

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Stolen my idea for a Pitt/PSU soccer doubleheader on the day before Labor Day at Acrisure. Would draw 20K at least.

I saw this coming from you from a mile away.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

The good thing is, it’s a lot easier to teach serving than teach height or athleticism. I think VVG has that level of serve (serve specialist next year ideally) but agree that Fairbanks/Stafford/Griffin need to work on it big time this offseason. And Babcock needs to cut down on the errors

I have no way of knowing this but based on the Nebraska coaches interview, it appears to me that he practices serving and emphasizes it a lot more than Dan. Again, I’m not saying this is true…I’m just saying that’s how it appears.

And service errors are one thing. Aces are another. But we also serve to the wrong player way too often.

When Pitt is on it's A game, I think they can "play/hang with" Texas and the Nebraskas of the world. However, the one area where they are a level (perhaps what I'll call a level plus) below is their serve game. I couldn't believe how consistently good Texas' serving was. And it was across the board...all players, including a wicked serve specialist. As chrisran wrote, Texas "totally forced Nebraska out of system and blocked the crap out of them." As their momentum and confidence rose (and Nebraska's declined) even Rodriguez got burned on multiple receipt of serves.
Other than Babcock, whose serve has been characterized as high risk/reward, I don't believe any of Pitt's players' serve approaches the level I watched in the semis and final. Pitt certainly had memorable moments serving this season, but the ability to put consistent pressure on opponents' receipt of serve will be a critical need to improve on - if the team is to repeat as a Final Four participant or reach the ultimate goal of a National Championship.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I saw this coming from you from a mile away.

How much sense would it make though to have some type of Pitt/PSU or Pitt/WVU Olympic Sports "festival" Labor Day weekend with Ribfest going on? An absolute no-brainer. I shouldn't be the one always coming up with these ideas.

Saturday
Pitt football

Sunday at Acrisure
5:30 PM Pitt soccer women
8:00 PM Pitt soccer men

Monday at PPG
noon Duq vs RMU WVol
2PM Pitt vs PSU WVol

 

[vantheman1976]

Texas didn't serve like this all season. They got hot at the right time. They also have (IMO) the best middle in the country and that really neutralized the middle play that Nebraska used against Pitt to swing the game. Something to be said for experience, too.

Yes....Asjia O'Neal.....1st team AA the last 2 years.

 

[pittdan77]

Yes....Asjia O'Neal.....1st team AA the last 2 years.

I can never remember how to spell her first name, LOL.