USA Women's NT 2025

    Quote from yudeko

    For a girl with high jumping ability, Madisen Skinner gets blocked quite a lot. I dont know if she just doesnt see the block or she just has poor hitting technique.

    Bad technique in hitting from the position 2. She played all her life as attacker from position 4 and therefore she needs time to get use to this different hitting style ( if she will make it eventually ).

    Quote from Steven12453

    Bad technique in hitting from the position 2. She played all her life as attacker from position 4 and therefore she needs time to get use to this different hitting style ( if she will make it eventually ).

    this isn’t true she played as an opposite in college her freshman year

    Quote from nightlight92

    Man I wasn't expecting them to win against Italy but I want a good showing at least.


    Also Madi Skinner getting outplayed by Samedy is quite....disappointing when you look at her potential.

    Madi is good but she really needs an experience overseas. She'll not improve or at least her improvement will be slow if she will just stay in US leagues. samedy like iam a fan of Japanese league, she was amazing this season, she should be the one playing as a starter tbh then mims. Madi is behind with these two players.

    Quote from Kostlich

    Madi is good but she really needs an experience overseas. She'll not improve or at least her improvement will be slow if she will just stay in US leagues. samedy like iam a fan of Japanese league, she was amazing this season, she should be the one playing as a starter tbh then mims. Madi is behind with these two players.

    I know!! Samedy's floor defense is really making her stay in games. Madi needs to develop that.

    Kipp is also there. I love that there is a better competition. Fans are hyping madi alot. But if you look at the skills she is like 4th or 5th spot in that position. No wonder erik wants her to try oh position but no she has no chance to that position as well.

    Quote from Kostlich

    Kipp is also there. I love that there is a better competition. Fans are hyping madi alot. But if you look at the skills she is like 4th or 5th spot in that position. No wonder erik wants her to try oh position but no she has no chance to that position as well.

    I understand the hype because of her potential but so far it's not panning out. She's more athletic than Kipp, Samedy, Mims but at least those three have played high level volleyball.

    Quote from serdar

    Most of the players are in a bad shape, it can't be only coaching

    Out of starting 7 who played yesterday 5 were from LOVB. Lexi/M.Skinner/Franklin just played their first pro-season. Lexi was decent and LOVB is a good thing for American liberos who otherwise could only play in Germany or France. Skinner/Franklin were bad yesterday but they were good in previous weeks, it happens lol. Igiede shouldn’t play yesterday it should be Tia who was better than her on VNL and LOVB - and that’s coaching. For sure if they want to reach the highest level it’ll be necessary for them to try to play abroad - I agree with that but IMO yesterday match doesn’t speak about the harm of US leagues (and let’s not talk) about previous VNL weeks where anyone who would watch at least idk 10 LOVB matches would’ve called a much better rooster than Sullivan :lol:)

    I think its two fold.


    I don't think LOVB is the reason they were "bad". I think there are a lot of coaching deficiencies, especially relating to block/defense as well as tactics. It doesn't help Poulter was flat out bad too and that was never switched.


    On the other hand, the younger players aren't going to get better (exponentially) by staying in LOVB. This is mostly aimed at Skinner. I think liberos and middles will be fine in LOVB... They're not going to get playing time in Italy or Turkey. The pins would though.



    I think its hard to call them weak when they're missing Thompson, Drews, Hancock, Ogbogu, JWO, Plummer, Kelsey who have all at least somewhat indicated they'd be back or at least not done.


    It's a transition phase, which if we're being honest, wasn't done well. There was no reason to bring NCAA opposites for the first two weeks of the VNL, fully knowing they're not going to be active for the rest of the summer. Those matches should've been given to Samedy and Mims.


    Roni just has no reason to be anywhere near senior rosters, nor does Cuttino. These (plus Adams) are taking roster spots from Simone Lee, Taylor Bannister, etc, who both had great seasons in Europe. Serena Gray and Anna Dodson started as many games as Tia Jimerson did. The best setter in LOVB (Fairbanks) played one game while Powell played 3? 4?. The whole VNL was a disaster in roster management if we're being honest.


    It doesn't help Jess Mruzik opted out of the NT this summer... and it seems Elena Scott wants nothing to do with it at all?


    The staff's mindset is that nothing before 2028 (or perhaps 2027) matters. They've been saying since January that they dont expect or care to win in this VNL and think it will be messy. I think this is/was an incredible mistake to make/bring this mindset into the USAV gym. They've dropped any sort of winning standard and it's really reflected on court.


    I think there should be pressure on Poulter. She was not good in the VNL. Neither SKT or Fairbanks got a fair shot playing with the best players. This doesn't even include Sullivan leaving out Miner from the World Champs wide roster in favor of Powell for who knows what reason.


    2025 is really going to end up being a waste, which is tragic because 2026 is even less serious given they wont compete at NORCECAs (or won't send their best roster most likely). On the other hand... 2026 is when we're going to get an explosion of talent coming out of the NCAA who are going to push for LA2028.... including Kennedy Martin, Harper Murray, Andi Jackson, Brooklyn DeLeye, etc. so maybe that will work out.


    I just know Sullivan is not the guy for the job to get anything done in LA.

    Reading this just makes me more depressed about the prospect of team USA for LA.

    I'm kind of zeroed in on Skinner because she's 24 now, then if she's gonna waste one more year being coached by Sullivan...she'd be a massive flop. I wonder if Avery has a say about this or even realizes this for her sister.


    Poulter's never been the same since her injury, but still quite good. But honestly I only see Miner & Fairbanks as worthy replacements until the Campbell Flynn graduates from college lol.


    Another gripe of mine is Rettke's blocking. Though in general the entire team's blocking is porous :sos: