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.
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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.
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Fwiw…Pitt is 4-0 and already has 3 wins vs top 20 teams in #3 UK, #6 Wisconsin, and #15 Kansas. Oh boy.
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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.
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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.
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Here you go, Lucky. Just look at Nebraska – wowser.
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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.
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Yep. Anytime Texas lose is a good day – can’t stand that head coach’s whiny behavior.
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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.
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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.
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Exactly. There is a “balance” between serving aggressively and giving away points.
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