All…Utes volleyball is starting its season today. The first two matches are against UVU and Utah Tech down in Orem. The first home game is on Sunday vs Oregon State – I should be there.
Well, as expected, the utes vballers went 3-0 against UVU, Utah Tech, and Oregon State. Given I’m a glass-half (neither full nor empty) kind of a guy, I have some concern with our ball-control and O2 position. IMO, Levani, as athletic as she is, just isn’t terminal enough and is a blocking liability. The season is obviously young, we’ll see. btw…really like our transfers so far, particularly Helgesen on the right pin (via USU) and Grizzle as libero (via TTech). Atamah seems to have potential. Mogridge’s setting is still a bit shaky.
The real test starts this weekend with the Utah Classic. #4 Pitt, Long Beach State (22-9 in 2025), and Wyoming will be in town.
6 Likes
I didn’t have time this weekend enough to dedicate to watch the matches, but will do so. I like your optimism generally compared to your tone the last couple of years.
4 Likes
Fwiw…Pitt is 4-0 and already has 3 wins vs top 20 teams in #3 UK, #6 Wisconsin, and #15 Kansas. Oh boy.
4 Likes
I heard on the post game show after the OSU win that #4 (the transfer from USU, can’t remember name right now) said about the matchup that it is what they are playing for, to match-up with teams like this. Said the team was eager to play Pitt.
3 Likes
To me, a 1-3 or 2-3 loss vs Pitt would be a win. That aside, let’s first get past Wyoming and Long Beach State – the 49ers won’t be easy.
2 Likes
Here you go, Lucky. Just look at Nebraska – wowser.
1 Like
Dominating Texas like that is pretty hard. Texas is almost in the top 3 nationally, no? Those emphatic blocks where the ball just goes straight to an open spot rather then out of bounds.
1 Like
Yep. Anytime Texas lose is a good day – can’t stand that head coach’s whiny behavior.
2 Likes
Lost to Long Beach State in 5 sets. Watched both matches of the weekend so far (vs Wyoming and LBSU) – we did not look good. Ball-control is subpar. Setting is subpar. Offense – other than Kamryn and Helgesen, Atamah was the only other one who was somewhat effective.
Other pin-hitters, Weist and West, are not effective; Weist is a banger and has one weapon, hitting hard, which when it’s blocked, comes back faster – she just can’t read the blockers and has very limited hitting range (i.e., different angles and depths). West, well, having a 10-inch vertical doesn’t do her any good – she’s lucky in that she’s 6’4"; nonetheless, she’s also a “banger” with a low hitting contact-height, and can’t read the blocks.
Setting – neither setter sets consistent balls.
Tomorrow’s match vs Pitt will be scary. IMO, we have 0% of winning, which to me is not unexpected – just want the team to be competitive. I think it’s going to be ugly in that we might not score more than 15 in a 3-set loss. We’ll see.
3 Likes
Thanks for the rundown. I noticed that service errors were very high in relation to LBSU. That has got to be frustrating because that is an “own goal” where the other team has no control over that.
2 Likes
Exactly. There is a “balance” between serving aggressively and giving away points.
1 Like
Two straight top 25 wins and it’s crickets?
2 Likes
I watch most of both matches. I don’t know the other ins and outs of volleyball strategy, but the Utes have some good size and in both matches Gibby was excellent.
2 Likes
I’m back. Have been busy.
Went to the Baylor match – a great win. After the CU win, I was a bit concerned with a potential let-down because IMO CU is over-rated and Baylor is always tough. Well, the team really pulled out several key plays in sets 2 and 3. Also talked to my friend and fellow ex-coach Linda, who does the color commentary for the Utes vball games, and we both think Utah can keep climbing.
Key things to follow as the stiff competition will continue at KU next week.
- setting: both Marco and Mogridge have to become more consistent in ball locations (height and width). Often, the sets to the middle are still too low, which doesn’t give the middles much margins for error.
- passing: Gibby did better today. As she’s the only 6-rotation player, her passing is critical.
- blocking: the pin players have to set their blocks better on off-the-net sets for the other team; in other words, the pin player often sets the block too far out or too lose to the pin and that leaves too much space in the middle.
Agains teams like Baylor, KU, and TDS, Utah IMO has less size and less physical “talent” – it has to develop more consistency and play smarter. Oh…Helgesen is a terrific transfer pickup from USU. Without her, well, our right-pin would leave much to be desired.
2 Likes
I haven’t had much time to watch as I have been traveling a lot, but I did watch the match at CU, and that was a great win. I too wondered if the #21 ranking matched what CU actually is, probably a weak non-conference, while Utah played Pitt and UCLA. Those losses probably set a standard that the Utes knew they had to reach to compete for the conference. Hopefully, with the tough schedule to come, it will show itself in some wins.
Edited, meant to say that Grizzle (what a great name) is really working out it seems. Coach said in post game after CU win that after Utah played against her last year and she dug everything, she know she had to get her.
1 Like
Utes go to Kansas and go 1-1 losing 0-3 to #19 Kansas, and then blitzing Kansas St off their home court 3-0. I didn’t watch the match vs. Kansas, but against KSU Gibadlo was a star. Hit .375 and had 6 of the 8 team aces.
Good to see D’Errico play the Inman KS freshman in Set 2 and Set 3 with all her family at the match.
Also, good to see Mijacic move into the rotation at center. Fields did not really play, so not sure if injury or just that Mijacic has moved past her.
The announcer at KSU kept talking about being aggressive on service and it always seemed to be that Utah is too aggressive having always a few more errors than aces. I guess it is a balancing act of being aggressive but not too aggressive that you err all the time.
3 Likes