What about Tori Dixon? She is starter for Rabita instead of Jackson now and plays very well, not spectacular but very solid. I think she deserves a chance as well.
I would wait to see her a whole season abroad. She has got a huge potential. The same for Lauren Cook; I'd like to see her in a better league, because she very talented as well.
What about Tori Dixon? She is starter for Rabita instead of Jackson now and plays very well, not spectacular but very solid. I think she deserves a chance as well.
i do think she deserves a chance.. she has been performing good.. What i don't like is her being quite slow.. Maybe it's just my opinion but I have that impression.. she runs that slide much slower than Akinradewo or Fabiana for example.. She's young she can improve
i do think she deserves a chance.. she has been performing good.. What i don't like is her being quite slow.. Maybe it's just my opinion but I have that impression.. she runs that slide much slower than Akinradewo or Fabiana for example.. She's young she can improve
I think Dixon has very good blocking footwork though. Even when she doesn't swing she's still somehow very effective. My favorite thing about her is that she isn't extremely flashy or fancy with anything she does; it's very simple and effective.
I think Dixon has very good blocking footwork though. Even when she doesn't swing she's still somehow very effective. My favorite thing about her is that she isn't extremely flashy or fancy with anything she does; it's very simple and effective.
Dixon definitely deserves a chance to get in the gym. She does have good footwork and has good size. She's also equally good at attacking and blocking. Jackson, who is listed at 1.88cm but I don't think she's more than 1.83cm, is too short on block. While she is quick and good on attack, the USA NT relies heavily on its blocking game, and her size was exploited against bigger MB's, like Russia during WGC.
Display MoreIMO, the OH position is the most crucial spot for the USA. I have the feeling that Tom will not come back to the NT.
Hodge: I keep hoping that she'll be able to develop into at least a decent receiver but the reality may very well be that she never really progresses. Some players are just not great receivers. However, her offensive capability is probably second to only Hooker. Can the USA succeed with her reception weakness? If last season was any indication of the direction that the USA wants to run their offense, I am not sure Hodge fits into the equation if her passing continues to be an issue. However, she still remains my first choice.
Richards-Hildebrand: I have always been hard on Richards but that's because there was always big talk about her potential. At this point in her career I feel she still makes far too many unforced errors to be a full-time starter for the US. In Tom and Hodge's absence last season, she saw a lot of match play but at the same time was subbed out and replaced in many matches due to her performance. My biggest issue is that she is extremely erratic in both reception and offensive. One match she can be a star and the next match she makes amateur errors. If she could at least stabilize her reception, the USA has numerous other offensive options they can use but that's a big "if". After Hodge, she's my second choice.
Danielson: I am not sure whether she's ever been extended an invitation to train with the NT, but she was heavily involved as a youthplayer with the program and someone I think the USA could benefit from. While she is undersized for an American OH at just 1.78cm she is a fantastic athlete who has never had problems with offensive production. She is also among the best receiver and defensive young athletes in the USA. She's lead her team in Japan to the semifinals this year after the team has been among the bottom half for the past few years. After Hodge and Richards-Hildebrand she's my next choice.
Mancuso: I am very positive about Mancuso's game. She does everything well and I think with further exposure she could be a very good receiving attacker. I am not sure there is enough time for her potential to be developed into a full-time starter by 2016 but I think she is definitely a player to watch in the upcoming seasons.
Newcombe: Another good all-around player but hasn't been able to break into a lineup for the US. She has had some solid pro seasons (she has been okay this season in Russia) which have certainly proven she's capable, we just haven't seen if it translates to the NT.
Klineman/Fonoimoana: Great attackers, horrible receivers. While they can certainly be successful professional players on teams that are able to compensate for their weaknesses, I don't think they are the type of players that the USA would have as starters. The system want to run is not compatible with these two athletes styles.
Lichtman: While she is a good server and solid receiver, she is not world class attacker which has lead to lower level professional clubs signing her. Perhaps she makes rosters as a serving specialist and defensive sub when one of the outside hitters are having reception issues but honestly she will never be a full-time starter.
I agree. The outside position is the most crucial for USA, and every player after Larson has warts. I think that's why they are bringing in so many more NCAA players to train at this position than at other positions, they are looking for a solution.
I think the USA can win with Larson and Hodge; Hodge likes those fast sets. Your analysis of other players is spot on, except I think Falyn is not a terrible receiver. She can certainly come up to the level of Hodge. (Her defense is terrible though). Klineman should just switch to opposite and stop pretending. I think she would do very well there.
The other big question for Team USA in 2014 is setting. Glass does not have the accuracy to run this system, and Lloyd has not been playing exceptionally. My only wonder is whether Karch hands the keys over to 
Carlini
I agree about the issue of setter. Glass, Lloyd, Spicer and Thompson are all good players but none of them can be named as exceptional setters like Berg or Robyn Ah-Mow Santos. However, I don't agree with the idea to use Hodge as starter. A team who has plenty of monster MBs shouldn't compromise his reception line. USA has already a very good attackin Opp, scorer MBs and one offensive OH, Larson, Thus, it doesn't make sense to add Hodge-like player in order to gain more offensive power. To me, the best OH for Tom's slot is Kristin. I didn't watch the newbies that USAFAN mentioned above (except Newcombe), I believe back-up OHs must be Hodge and one defensive OH. Lichtman was doing a very good job as defensive OH since she also have good serves. 
I agree about the issue of setter. Glass, Lloyd, Spicer and Thompson are all good players but none of them can be named as exceptional setters like Berg or Robyn Ah-Mow Santos. However, I don't agree with the idea to use Hodge as starter. A team who has plenty of monster MBs shouldn't compromise his reception line. USA has already a very good attackin Opp, scorer MBs and one offensive OH, Larson, Thus, it doesn't make sense to add Hodge-like player in order to gain more offensive power. To me, the best OH for Tom's slot is Kristin. I didn't watch the newbies that USAFAN mentioned above (except Newcombe), I believe back-up OHs must be Hodge and one defensive OH. Lichtman was doing a very good job as defensive OH since she also have good serves.
I don't agree about the setters.. Of course they can;t be named as exceptional because they are young but I think Glass and especially Carly has what it takes to be great setters:
1. Glass has made some really club choices, she has been unlucky I should say with Volei Futuro, there she got injured, in Modena they were not paid she had to go play in PR, now in Fener she has been playing only CEV, very little TL games and when you are a setter you can not play only part time.. Also in NT since 2010 she lost her confidence a bit during WCH when Berg got 1st setter.. then she was always a sub. Then she got cut from the Olympic roster. This previous season Karch has been doing an experiment with their speed so it's really hard for her and of course everybody else to show what they can.. I expect much more from her.. and expect to see that in this next season.
2. Carly IMO is a great setter, with great imagination and creativity.. She was also unlucky with her injury and she is underperforming this season IMO.. but her potential is not what she shows right now so I expect much more from her also.. We've seen what she can do in Busto..
The other setters I won't comment they are all solid players..I agree with you on OH.. If Logan is not coming back then my first option is Kristin.. It's sad for Hodge because she is such a great attacker, but USA NT is just not based on attacking OH with lack of reception skills.. that's why I think in this USA NT she can only be a sub, like she did change the match with China.. she got a chance with Serbia and she couldn't pass.. I love her and I think many clubs would want her
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfLb5SOmq_8&feature=youtu.be
My newest video for Carli Lloyd 
I wonder if Michelle Bartsch will be given a chance as OH. She has played constantly well all throughout the season for her German club team. Even though she is a very unspectacular player, she was always a reliable attacker and also solid in reception. I think that she had a much better pro season than for example Kim Hill who is comparable in terms of height and playing style.
I wonder if Michelle Bartsch will be given a chance as OH. She has played constantly well all throughout the season for her German club team. Even though she is a very unspectacular player, she was always a reliable attacker and also solid in reception. I think that she had a much better pro season than for example Kim Hill who is comparable in terms of height and playing style.
I can agree that Hill had poor season, but there is another question how Bartsch would play on international level 
her performance in DVL is of course convincing, but it can look different in NT...
I can agree that Hill had poor season, but there is another question how Bartsch would play on international level
Sure, but we will never know how she performs on international level if she doesn't get a chance 
I don't think she has the potential to be a key player for the USA in the long run but she can be a good alternative. She's also still young and this was her first full pro season.
Sure, but we will never know how she performs on international level if she doesn't get a chance
Even here we have similar situation for both Hill and Bartsch, the only thing is that Hill was in NT and Bartsch wasn't...
Another thing they have in common: Bartsch played as MB in USA Junior NT, Hill also played MB in College 
I think Bartsch has had a very solid season in Vilsbiburg and deserves any positive recognition that she can get. However, I don't really think that she is at the level to play on the national team. I know Hill did not have a good first pro season, but I think that if she had played in Germany instead of Poland that she would have played at the same, if not better level than Bartsch. Having said that I am not sold on Hill either.
Also Ultimately I think that the USA is going to have to replace Tom. I dont really see Bartsch being an option for this. I actually like some of the OH's that are currently on the team. Jordan is a clear number one. Kristen, Regan Hood, Sonja Newcombe are all really solid all around players that can fit the style of the US and fill a role that was occupied by Tom. Not saying that any of them will be Tom, just that I think they fit a little better than Bartsch and even Hill for that matter. The US also has really good attackers like Hodge and Klineman.
I think what we see this summer could tell a lot because in my opinion it is the last summer to really try new things before really preparing ultimately for 2016.
Lloyd is a very overrated setter. She had a strong season in Busto Arsizio, nothing more from then...
I hope Berg would come back to NT. she is the best!
Maybe Aguero can get naturalized in US and be setter here...LOL 
On the topic of setters - Robyn Ah-Mow Santos will be an assistant coach in the USA Junior NT. She's been an assistant coach at the University of Hawaii for the last two years. Next step - senior NT? 
since i'm not too positive about hildebrand in the OH position, i wonder whether either murphy or fawcett can convert to OH, we really need good backups to hodge and larson, and i like both murphy and fawcett more than the other alternatives.
since i'm not too positive about hildebrand in the OH position, i wonder whether either murphy or fawcett can convert to OH, we really need good backups to hodge and larson, and i like both murphy and fawcett more than the other alternatives.
Fawcett played OH in college and was devastating, still not 100% sure why she decided to switch to OP position. I honestly think past Larson, Danielson is the next best "all-around" OH the US has right now. If only poor Cynthia... 