Momentum

[Chairman Moe]

Say what you want; momentum played a huge factor in tonight's match. We had a legitimate chance to sweep. We let the second set escape us and then blew 4 set points in the 3rd. After that it was katie bar the door. I think that Debeer's injury fired up Louisville even more. Instead of Pitt taking "advantage" of her absence, the Cards rallied even harder to prevent losing the momentum they built

As I said in an earlier post today, I was really hoping the ladies would win for themselves and for Fish. We fans are legitimately "hurt" by seeing them lose in the NC Semi-Finals again. I can only imagine what the girls on the team are feeling. It's insane that any team in any sport can get to the level that Pitt Women's Volleyball has risen over the past 4-5 years. And yet, regardless of how many individual awards the team will garner from this season (National Coach of the Year/Three First Team All-American's/and probably Player-of-the-Year [Babcock]), missing a chance to have the TEAM win the top prize stings

Hats off to Louisville for gutting it out. The momentum they built got their fans more engaged and ultimately helped them to the win. As the erstwhile manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Leo Durocher said, "there's always next year". Let's hope that the Pitt program won't suffer from this loss

 

[DayOnePittPanthers]

Say what you want; momentum played a huge factor in tonight's match. We had a legitimate chance to sweep. We let the second set escape us and then blew 4 set points in the 3rd. After that it was katie bar the door. I think that Debeer's injury fired up Louisville even more. Instead of Pitt taking "advantage" of her absence, the Cards rallied even harder to prevent losing the momentum they built

As I said in an earlier post today, I was really hoping the ladies would win for themselves and for Fish. We fans are legitimately "hurt" by seeing them lose in the NC Semi-Finals again. I can only imagine what the girls on the team are feeling. It's insane that any team in any sport can get to the level that Pitt Women's Volleyball has risen over the past 4-5 years. And yet, regardless of how many individual awards the team will garner from this season (National Coach of the Year/Three First Team All-American's/and probably Player-of-the-Year [Babcock]), missing a chance to have the TEAM win the top prize stings

Hats off to Louisville for gutting it out. The momentum they built got their fans more engaged and ultimately helped them to the win. As the erstwhile manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Leo Durocher said, "there's always next year". Let's hope that the Pitt program won't suffer from this loss

Spot on.

 

[Chairman Moe]

Momentum rode in PSU's favor in their game vs Nebraska. Nebraska had 4 "match" points and blew it in set 4

I'm still disappointed with Pitt's loss, but could you imagine how we'd all feel if we had been reverse swept?

 

[pittdan77]

I've seen some very good VB teams get run off the floor because they lost the momentum in a match. Not sure if any sport depends on momentum more.

 

[Chairman Moe]

after watching more volleyball games this year than perhaps in all year's past combined, I am convinced that momentum plays a HUGE role in the outcome of games. It certainly turned for us on numerous occasions during the year and specifically, during the tournament (see Oregon match and second set vs KY)

As I said in my original post, once Pitt lost last night's third set the girls were spent, emotionally. I think they had more back row errors in that 4th set than I've witnessed from them all year. Both Debeer AND Luper could've been absent from the Cards' lineup in set 4 and still won

@pittdan - did you watch the press conference after last night's loss? I know that Fish is rather terse with his comments at these post-game interviews, but he was quite sullen and silent last night. I can't imagine how this must now feel for him, especially when this year's team had so many weapons, so many talented players in multiple positions, et al

You almost wonder if there might be a curse on the Pitt sport's teams? It's been almost 50 years since any of Pitt's teams have won a National Championship. I'd love to see another one before I expire ... guess I better take good care of myself then, eh?

 

[pittdan77]

@pittdan - did you watch the press conference after last night's loss? I know that Fish is rather terse with his comments at these post-game interviews, but he was quite sullen and silent last night. I can't imagine how this must now feel for him, especially when this year's team had so many weapons, so many talented players in multiple positions, et al

I think that reaction came from the fact that he threw everything he had at Louisville and lost. I mean, he even went at them without a setter for a while and it was working. Sometimes teams beat themselves. I think that's easy to evaluate. Makes it really easy to answer the questions. When you throw it all out there and lose, it's much harder to explain. Even to yourself.

 

[vantheman1976]

I think that reaction came from the fact that he threw everything he had at Louisville and lost. I mean, he even went at them without a setter for a while and it was working. Sometimes teams beat themselves. I think that's easy to evaluate. Makes it really easy to answer the questions. When you throw it all out there and lose, it's much harder to explain. Even to yourself.

I was at the match. During the 4th set Fisher appeared almost helpless on the sideline as he watched things unravel....and this showed up in detail at the postgame. He was completely deflated. During a match when things are going sideways he's usually very animated.....gesturing with his hands....agitated and talking to Kellen Petrone. Not this time. He seemed motionless. I have never seen this before. I was stunned.

 

[plcp]

It was like louisville broke Pitt in the 3rd set. That 4th was painful to watch

 

[pittdan77]

I was at the match. During the 4th set Fisher appeared almost helpless on the sideline as he watched things unravel....and this showed up in detail at the postgame. He was completely deflated. During a match when things are going sideways he's usually very animated.....gesturing with his hands....agitated and talking to Kellen Petrone. Not this time. He seemed motionless. I have never seen this before. I was stunned.

Sometimes a team goes off like that. I’ve seen it at every level. Happens.