Posts by jist

  • Brazil's National Team

    Brazil is one of those teams which i consider as complete and a fully armed team. But im just kinda reluctant about Brazil since they usually crumbles when they are playing crucial games. And i think they are still haunted by what happened in Athens 4 years ago. I hope they will improve on that before the other team utilizes on it. Hope to see a podium finish in Beijing.

  • World Grand Prix 2008

    Watching Zhao Ruirui after 4 years of absence..here are my thoughts: She played okay for me. She is more of a thinking player than a powerful one. And she is still baby-faced. :lol:

  • World Grand Prix 2008

    Almost the same line up for the US in Poland except for Logan Tom playing while Jennifer Joines will be back in Colorado Springs to train. No Ahmow-Santos, Sykora, Nnamani or Busse.

  • Olympic Games 2008 - Qualification Phase

    Thank you for this. For sure Glinka, Liktoras, Podolec, Skowronska are sure for the official 12. USA's line up will be released on July 01. ill just post it as soon as i get it.

  • World Grand Prix 2008

    I soo agree with you Celso...


    Olympic games are very unpredictable, the strategy of the coach, the best combination of players, the "fatigue factor", the injuries, everything will be part to decide the winner.


    Its easy to predict the 8 teams that will make it to the quarterfinals, but whats difficult and unpredictable is from the quarterfinals on. It will not only be about how good a team is, but the mental toughness will play a big part.


    Thats why some teams opted their top players to rest (Brazil - Fofao, USA- Tom Nnamani, Poland- Glinka Skowronska, Japan - Araki, Italy - short playing time for Aguero, etc).


    So i expect that the next week's grand prix team line up will most likely be the same, or will change a bit.

  • World Grand Prix 2008

    Italy beat Cuba in 3 sets - 25-23, 27-25, 27-25.


    Italy and Cuba played their possible Olympic Line up with Italian's Guiggi, Aguero, Gioli, Piccinini, LoBianco,Del Core.


    Looks like Italy is the team to beat in the Olympics... :mad:

  • World Grand Prix 2008

    Quote from russia2008

    what has happened to sheila castro? seems to be not in her form.


    and zhao is back and i hate it .... china is again a top contender for the olympics .... my fave team russia has to do something great and spectacular to win in beijing ... so many teams are becoming more and more powerful ....


    Im also wondering about Sheilla. She only scored less than 10 when infact she is mostly the top scorer in every Brazil match. China's sending a message that they will be the team to beat this coming Olympics. Zhao is definitely back but we also have to remember that this is the Team that China will parade in Beijing whereas most teams lack a player or players.. I have atleast 6 teams vying for the Gold: China, Russia, USA, Brazil, Cuba, Italy. Serbia, Japan and Poland are the dark horses fot he competition.

  • World Grand Prix 2008

    Two 5-set matches for Beijing Teams:


    China won over Fofao-less Brazil 3-2. 22:25, 26:24, 22:25, 25:22, 15:13. Comebacking Zhao RuiRui led all scorers with 22 points. Walewska led Brazil with 18 points. So it was a battle of the Middles. China will be in Pool A in Beijing while Brazil will be in Pool B.


    Meanwhile, USA defeated Japan 3-2. 29-27, 18:25, 25:18, 16:25, 15:13. Haneef-Park led USA with 21 points. Takahashi led Japan with 21 points as well. Japan is missing the services of their Middle Blocker Araki while USA's missing main setter Ahmow-Santos, Tom, Nnamani, Busse and Sykora. USA and Japan will both be in Pool A.



    :white: :white:

  • World Grand Prix 2008

    Quote from Celso

    For all Brazilian fans who criticize Carol Albuquerque:


    Despite Brazil's lousy service reception, she's leading the best setter statistics. I hope she could keep on improving. I'm sick and tired of all the bla bla bla about Fernanda Venturini and Fofão!


    Go Carol!


    Right Celso. I agree with you. Why dont you let Carol set for Brazil. Because Fofao and Fernanda is aging (Fofao probably is the oldest on all of the national teams). Undeniably, Brazil has the most amazing attackers but whats lacking in the team is a young and upcoming setter. Once Fofao retires, who will then set for Brazil? Take for example the USA, Robyn Ahmow-Santos might retire after the Olympics, but we still have Lindsay Berg and 21-year old Anggie Mcginnis who played her first international competition but was awarded as the Best Setter in Pan American Cup a month ago.


    The coach of Brazil should allow Carol to play for the whole of grandprix and let Fofao take care of the Olympics..My opiniion.

  • 'Dream Team'

    My Dream Team:


    Setter: Fofao


    Open Hitters: Gamova, Tom, Sokolova, Piccinini


    Middle: Gioli, Carillo, Scott-Aruda


    Opposite: Haneef-Park, Sheila, Aguero, Skowronska


    Libero: Cardullo

  • World Grand Prix 2008

    From an opening match loss to Turkey, USA beat Kazakhstan in 3 straight sets - 25:16, 25:17, 25:18 in 1 hour and 8 minutes. US played without the services of Cynthia Barboza, Kristin Richards and Danielle Scott, who was replaced by Jennifer Joines in an explosive match with 11 points (10 attacks, 1 blocks). Tayyiba Haneef-Park led all scorers with 16 points (13 attacks, 3 blocks) but Kim Willoughby, just less than 6 months from her entrance in the national team, stood out and scored 14 big points (12 attacks, 12 blocks). She is seriously becoming a contender for a spot in Beijing. Starters Bown and Glass added 7 points each. Lindsay Berg, US' team captain, chipped in a point while Stanford University's incoming Senior and rising Volleyball star Foluke Akinradewo added 2 points.

  • World Grand Prix 2008

    Quote from sisam

    This is a good win for Turkey. Everyone talks about missing players for USA but Turkey is missing a lot as well. Neslihan Demir is not there and neither are Gulden Kayalar and the top three middles of the country, Aysun Ozbek, Eda Erdem and Gokcen Denkel.


    YUP. Turkey played better. And Congratulations for that. I just wanna recognize that Logan Tom isnt the only missing player but also Robyn Ahmow-Santos, Ogonna Nnamani, Cassie Busse, Nancy Metcalf, Stacy Sykora. I understand Lang Ping for not letting Tayyiba play much of the game as she is injured. So that leaves as only Glass, Bown and Scott left of the original line up. But great win Turkey.

  • World Grand Prix 2008

    ok congrats turkey. but congrats USA as well. its a good training for the college students who are part of the national team. and its a good thing that tayyiba, logan, robyn, heather didnt played (or with a significant playing time).

  • World Grand Prix 2008




    This roster is only for the first week. So expect the 4 who aren't in the list to be competing in the coming weeks. Logan Tom has little injuries so she might be well-rested to prepare for the OG. Good for Lang Ping to utilize Barboza, Richards, Akinradewo, Willoughby..young talents but promising.