Pitt at GT.....Some Thoughts

[vantheman1976]

A few pre game thoughts....

• Expect GT to come with a lot of energy and intensity following Friday's sweep at the hands of SMU. Not finishing their week at 0 - 2 will be a big motivator.
• GT has played 36 sets.....losing 10 of them....resulting in a 8 -2 record
• In sets lost....GT is losing by 4.4 pts/set.
• Pitt on average outscores GT by about 2 pts/set and gives back approximately 2 pts/set less than GT......which matches almost exactly the GT 4.4 pts/set loss margin.
• Pitt's margin of victory in their 33 set winning streak is an astounding 9 pts/set....25 - 16. On the other hand....GT has never lost a set by more than 6 pts.
• Pitt has been running their opponents out of the gym. GT has never been boat raced in the sets they have lost. Something has to give!

A few keys to victory....

• Holding down GT's attack leaders....Bertolino, Otene, and Mendes. For example....SMU held Bertolino and Otene to 19 kills total and they had 11 attack errors. That's how to beat GT.
• Which VVG will show up? She's had a couple of underwhelming matches of late. If she plays to the potential we know she has then watch out.
• Will Klika and Fairbanks bring their usual outstanding performances? I think so.
• Would be great for our MB's to shine....and give us just a bit more than our average 2.6 blk/set.
• Pitt gives back a little more than 6 pts/set from errors (attack, serve, receive, and blocking). That's impressive. We must maintain that for this match.

This is going to be a tough match because it's on GT's home court.

 

[phijo]

I seem to remember Otene can be streaky. I think if you get into her head with good blocks and defense she can sometimes be rattled.
They are now forced to play a 5-1 due to injury to a setter. The setter they have is pretty good, but she is only 5-7. There should be room to hit over the block on some rotations.

 

[HOF Coach]

A few pre game thoughts....

• Expect GT to come with a lot of energy and intensity following Friday's sweep at the hands of SMU. Not finishing their week at 0 - 2 will be a big motivator.
• GT has played 36 sets.....losing 10 of them....resulting in a 8 -2 record
• In sets lost....GT is losing by 4.4 pts/set.
• Pitt on average outscores GT by about 2 pts/set and gives back approximately 2 pts/set less than GT......which matches almost exactly the GT 4.4 pts/set loss margin.
• Pitt's margin of victory in their 33 set winning streak is an astounding 9 pts/set....25 - 16. On the other hand....GT has never lost a set by more than 6 pts.
• Pitt has been running their opponents out of the gym. GT has never been boat raced in the sets they have lost. Something has to give!

A few keys to victory....

• Holding down GT's attack leaders....Bertolino, Otene, and Mendes. For example....SMU held Bertolino and Otene to 19 kills total and they had 11 attack errors. That's how to beat GT.
• Which VVG will show up? She's had a couple of underwhelming matches of late. If she plays to the potential we know she has then watch out.
• Will Klika and Fairbanks bring their usual outstanding performances? I think so.
• Would be great for our MB's to shine....and give us just a bit more than our average 2.6 blk/set.
• Pitt gives back a little more than 6 pts/set from errors (attack, serve, receive, and blocking). That's impressive. We must maintain that for this match.

This is going to be a tough match because it's on GT's home court.

Regarding Pitt's Middle Blockers, a reminder that Bre Kelley isn't 100% healthy yet. Perhaps that's why Rachel has been favoring setting to the pins?

 

[vantheman1976]

Regarding Pitt's Middle Blockers, a reminder that Bre Kelley isn't 100% healthy yet. Perhaps that's why Rachel has been favoring setting to the pins?

Agree....and how impressive has Dan Fisher been in bringing Bre along slowly. Each match she gets a little better.

 

[vantheman1976]

I seem to remember Otene can be streaky. I think if you get into her head with good blocks and defense she can sometimes be rattled.
They are now forced to play a 5-1 due to injury to a setter. The setter they have is pretty good, but she is only 5-7. There should be room to hit over the block on some rotations.

Spot on....Otene has 57 attack errors in 10 games.....almost 6/match.

 

[PittMBA]

A few pre game thoughts....

• Expect GT to come with a lot of energy and intensity following Friday's sweep at the hands of SMU. Not finishing their week at 0 - 2 will be a big motivator.
• GT has played 36 sets.....losing 10 of them....resulting in a 8 -2 record
• In sets lost....GT is losing by 4.4 pts/set.
• Pitt on average outscores GT by about 2 pts/set and gives back approximately 2 pts/set less than GT......which matches almost exactly the GT 4.4 pts/set loss margin.
• Pitt's margin of victory in their 33 set winning streak is an astounding 9 pts/set....25 - 16. On the other hand....GT has never lost a set by more than 6 pts.
• Pitt has been running their opponents out of the gym. GT has never been boat raced in the sets they have lost. Something has to give!

A few keys to victory....

• Holding down GT's attack leaders....Bertolino, Otene, and Mendes. For example....SMU held Bertolino and Otene to 19 kills total and they had 11 attack errors. That's how to beat GT.
• Which VVG will show up? She's had a couple of underwhelming matches of late. If she plays to the potential we know she has then watch out.
• Will Klika and Fairbanks bring their usual outstanding performances? I think so.
• Would be great for our MB's to shine....and give us just a bit more than our average 2.6 blk/set.
• Pitt gives back a little more than 6 pts/set from errors (attack, serve, receive, and blocking). That's impressive. We must maintain that for this match.

This is going to be a tough match because it's on GT's home court.

I’m generally not a believer that past games have any bearing on future games - but our success against Ga Tech - especially in Atlanta is incredible. Just 1 loss ( at Fitzgerald) vs Ga Tech since joining the ACC.

Needless to say , Ga Tech is desperate for a win at multiple levels.

But - tough to be desperate against arguably ( or simply objectively) the best team in the nation.

Better question might be do we lose a set?

I’m excited to watch !

 

[Austin26]

I get as nervous before a VB match as I do a football or basketball game. If you would have told me ten years ago that would be the case I’d have said you were crazy.

 

[chrisran24]

They are now forced to play a 5-1 due to injury to a setter. The setter they have is pretty good, but she is only 5-7. There should be room to hit over the block on some rotations.

This should be a huge advantage for Pitt. GT did try to go back to a 6-2 for a bit I believe in the SMU match but the other setter is a walk-on and it didn’t go well. Will be interesting to see how they handle it today

 

[Fk_Pitt]

I get as nervous before a VB match as I do a football or basketball game. If you would have told me ten years ago that would be the case I’d have said you were crazy.

The last two minutes of a hoops game, and womens Vball are the most nerve racking sports for me. This women’s team this year has taken nerves completely out of it though. Last time I was nervous was during the final four. My heart has enjoyed the respite.

That said, I felt the same type of nerves in the WVU and Cincy football games this month.

 

[bellvision1]

I was definitely nervous when Bre Kelley crawled off the court against Marquette!

 

[vantheman1976]

The last two minutes of a hoops game, and womens Vball are the most nerve racking sports for me. This women’s team this year has taken nerves completely out of it though. Last time I was nervous was during the final four. My heart has enjoyed the respite.

That said, I felt the same type of nerves in the WVU and Cincy football games this month.

I was definitely nervous when Bre Kelley crawled off the court against Marquette!

Yep....I missed that game at the Fitz.....had to watch it at home......yelled 8 straight WTFs when it happened and my wife yelled from the upstairs do I need to call 911....I still don't know if she was worried about me or Bre!