UTVballfan
100+ Posts
So, here is my thinking.
Let me acknowledge at the outset that Stanford’s seniors are really good players. Alix Klineman, 6’4” OH, is a great player when not injured. Cassidy Lichtman hits and sets, and is a smart, smart player. This year those two have taken more than half of the total swings on offense, and last year was the same deal. Stat-wise, Alix and Cassidy hit .279 and .249 last year. (Their high-percentage big kahuna in the middle, Janet Okogbaa, is gone.) The 3rd senior, Gabi Ailes, is a great libero.
Looking past those three seniors, this team is pretty inexperienced. There are no juniors on this team at all!
The other two OH’s are Hayley Spelman (6’6” sophomore) and Rachel Williams (6’0” freshman). Last year Hayley played in only half the games and hit .185. She’s hitting higher this year, but so far against weak competition.
The MB’s are Jessica Walker (6’1” sophomore) and Carly Wopat (6’2” freshman). Last year Walker hit .167. Again, she’s hitting higher this year, but against weaker teams.
So far this year, Stanford has beaten Tulane, Pepperdine, New Mexico, UC-Irvine, and Marquette. Not super impressive! Some good teams in there, but none are ranked. I think only New Mexico got any votes for the top 25 poll. And both vote-less Pepperdine and Marquette got a game from Stanford.
Now UT has played some cupcakes too. But we’ve played Illinois, now ranked #3, and the Beach, ranked # 23.
Also, it isn’t clear that Stanford is a good serving team. They have 9 aces so far against 41 service errors! Check with our coaches to see if they would sign off on that ratio! (For comparison Illinois has 38 aces against 49 service errors, and the Horns are 42 aces, 43 service errors.) So I don’t see how the Stanford serving is gonna blow us off the court.
Stanford and Texas get about the same number of blocks per set, and Stanford has an edge in digs per set, serve reception errors per set and attack percentage. But again, no tough competition.
So here is the nitty gritty as I see it:
* I think we match up extremely well in height and athleticism.
* We’re deeper in experience.
* We’ve played tougher matches than they have.
* When we are in system, we have a very balanced, potent offense – everybody scores.
* Nobody, nobody, nobody beats the Horns in terms of heart and determination!
So I say, we can toast them. Hook ‘em horns!
Let me acknowledge at the outset that Stanford’s seniors are really good players. Alix Klineman, 6’4” OH, is a great player when not injured. Cassidy Lichtman hits and sets, and is a smart, smart player. This year those two have taken more than half of the total swings on offense, and last year was the same deal. Stat-wise, Alix and Cassidy hit .279 and .249 last year. (Their high-percentage big kahuna in the middle, Janet Okogbaa, is gone.) The 3rd senior, Gabi Ailes, is a great libero.
Looking past those three seniors, this team is pretty inexperienced. There are no juniors on this team at all!
The other two OH’s are Hayley Spelman (6’6” sophomore) and Rachel Williams (6’0” freshman). Last year Hayley played in only half the games and hit .185. She’s hitting higher this year, but so far against weak competition.
The MB’s are Jessica Walker (6’1” sophomore) and Carly Wopat (6’2” freshman). Last year Walker hit .167. Again, she’s hitting higher this year, but against weaker teams.
So far this year, Stanford has beaten Tulane, Pepperdine, New Mexico, UC-Irvine, and Marquette. Not super impressive! Some good teams in there, but none are ranked. I think only New Mexico got any votes for the top 25 poll. And both vote-less Pepperdine and Marquette got a game from Stanford.
Now UT has played some cupcakes too. But we’ve played Illinois, now ranked #3, and the Beach, ranked # 23.
Also, it isn’t clear that Stanford is a good serving team. They have 9 aces so far against 41 service errors! Check with our coaches to see if they would sign off on that ratio! (For comparison Illinois has 38 aces against 49 service errors, and the Horns are 42 aces, 43 service errors.) So I don’t see how the Stanford serving is gonna blow us off the court.
Stanford and Texas get about the same number of blocks per set, and Stanford has an edge in digs per set, serve reception errors per set and attack percentage. But again, no tough competition.
So here is the nitty gritty as I see it:
* I think we match up extremely well in height and athleticism.
* We’re deeper in experience.
* We’ve played tougher matches than they have.
* When we are in system, we have a very balanced, potent offense – everybody scores.
* Nobody, nobody, nobody beats the Horns in terms of heart and determination!
So I say, we can toast them. Hook ‘em horns!
