• So Tamari Miyashiro (L) and Rachael Adams (MB) are out. Instead of Regan Hood (OH/OPP) is Jordan Larson-Burbach (OH), rest is the same as in WGP.


    Starting line-up will be this:
    Glass-Murphy
    Hildebrand-Larson
    Harmotto-Gibbemeyer
    Banwarth

    Gold medal - World League 2013 Prediction Game
    Bronze medal - World League 2012 Prediction Game

  • So they will have Larson and Banwarth on the team and both played at UNL...and the championship will be in Omaha hahaha... :whistle:

  • But with Lindsey Berg supposedly returning again is there really a place for both Alisha and Carli?


    No one's starting position is secure, even for a returning veteran like Berg. And USA would be remiss to not give Glass and Lloyd a thorough look, given what they have to offer. :)

  • So they will have Larson and Banwarth on the team and both played at UNL...and the championship will be in Omaha hahaha... :whistle:


    I don't have any problem with that. There's a marketing angle but ultimately it'll be good volleyball -- I consider Larson and Banwarth upgrades at their position.

  • I don't have any problem with that. There's a marketing angle but ultimately it'll be good volleyball -- I consider Larson and Banwarth upgrades at their position.

    I am not criticizing...
    And Larson is the best OH in my opinion.

  • Folks, what do you think of Kristin Hildebrand?


    Last year was the first time I saw her play a lot in USA team and she looked promising. This year she is playing a lot again with mixed performance.


    Can she be starting OH when other players join the team?

  • Folks, what do you think of Kristin Hildebrand?


    Last year was the first time I saw her play a lot in USA team and she looked promising. This year she is playing a lot again with mixed performance.


    Can she be starting OH when other players join the team?

    If Hodge and Larson are both on the roster.. I don't know.. It depends on her reception. If she passes good enough so Alisha can run quick offense and also set the middles as much as she likes she will be as starter.. if she doesn't then Hodge will be in.. she passes very bad but can kill many balls..

  • Why do so many US players convert to Opposite? I look at USA's Opposite players and a lot of them played Outside Hitter in Collegiate level. Is it skill? Is it the coaches' decision or the players want the change?

  • Mainly due to 1) the nature of the position and 2) the circumstances of the player.



    1. The receiver/attacker role is the most difficult position on the court in terms of absolute skill and usually takes a long time to be great at. An Opposite's main job is easier to be decent at early, provided that player has above average physical gifts. If you need a player to contribute NOW instead of later, you can try them at Opposite and see what they can give.




    2.A lot depends on the player's ability, aptitude and motivation.


    Part of a coach's responsibility is to develop players in the position where they can be successful. If it's clear a player doesn't have the skill set or potential to be a quality outside hitter at the international level, coaches can move them to opposite, libero, etc. to put them in a position where they can be great.


    Some players have the motivation to improve (say, passing) but just don't have the natural talent and feel for it.


    Likewise there are players who, after playing opposite, did not want to go back to training as outside hitter.

  • I would say it has far more to do with the circumstances of the player. USA collegiate rules are substantially different than international play and allow for zone 4 players to be substituted out in the backrow and don't have to receive. Players Destinee Hooker and Nicole Fawcett were never counted on to be receivers at the lower levels of play and subsequently could not feasibly be expected to take on full-time serve receive roles at the highest levels. It's an unfortunate part of the circumstances at the youth and collegiate level in the USA.

  • I would say it has far more to do with the circumstances of the player. USA collegiate rules are substantially different than international play and allow for zone 4 players to be substituted out in the backrow and don't have to receive. Players Destinee Hooker and Nicole Fawcett were never counted on to be receivers at the lower levels of play and subsequently could not feasibly be expected to take on full-time serve receive roles at the highest levels. It's an unfortunate part of the circumstances at the youth and collegiate level in the USA.

    I didn't fully understand it...in US collegiate two players can be substituted for liberos on the back row (which would be zone 4 player and MB)? Is that what you said?

  • My US Team to 2014-2016.


    Glass - Berg
    Akinradewo - Harmotto - ?
    Larson - Hildebrand - Hodge - Tom
    Hooker - ?
    Líbero ?

  • Why do so many US players convert to Opposite? I look at USA's Opposite players and a lot of them played Outside Hitter in Collegiate level. Is it skill? Is it the coaches' decision or the players want the change?


    I think mainly reception/defense. For example Bailey Webster from Texas is really destructive offensively but never recieves; same with their other outside Haley Ecckerman. Or the oustide is usually substituted for a defensive specialist since there are way more substitutions allowed in collegiate level.

  • My US Team to 2014-2016.


    Glass - Berg
    Akinradewo - Harmotto - ?
    Larson - Hildebrand - Hodge - Tom
    Hooker - ?
    Líbero ?

    I would choose Gibbmeyer and Murphy!

  • I didn't fully understand it...in US collegiate two players can be substituted for liberos on the back row (which would be zone 4 player and MB)? Is that what you said?


    In collegiate volleyball, the MB is substituted for the L in the back row. In addition to that, each team is entitled to 15 substitutions per set. Each player is allowed unlimited entries within the team limit. So where as in international play a zone player 4 may be substituted for just once in the back row for a passing/defensive specialist, in NCAA play a zone 4 player can be substituted for a passing/defensive specialist virtually every time she rotates to the back row, which is very commonplace.

  • Also more college teams are taking advantage of these rules to run a substitution based 6-2, which could result in future US setters who don't know how to play in the front row. However, i believe one of the FIVB rule proposals to ruin... sorry "improve"... the sport would allow unlimited substitutions, making such specializations standard.

  • In collegiate volleyball, the MB is substituted for the L in the back row. In addition to that, each team is entitled to 15 substitutions per set. Each player is allowed unlimited entries within the team limit. So where as in international play a zone player 4 may be substituted for just once in the back row for a passing/defensive specialist, in NCAA play a zone 4 player can be substituted for a passing/defensive specialist virtually every time she rotates to the back row, which is very commonplace.

    THANKS A LOT! Now it's very clear to me :cheesy:

  • Also more college teams are taking advantage of these rules to run a substitution based 6-2, which could result in future US setters who don't know how to play in the front row. However, i believe one of the FIVB rule proposals to ruin... sorry "improve"... the sport would allow unlimited substitutions, making such specializations standard.


    This college rule ruins American volley a lot, I can't believe how Tom Logan turned into such a good passer despite of this rule :obey: This rule encourages Hodge-like players not all-around ones :aww: