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Post by kiyoat on Oct 14, 2019 13:22:21 GMT -6
So it is a home and a home-ish weekend for the Yotes to close out the first half of the conference double-round-robin season. The bottom and the top of the league.
Friday, Oct 18: 7:00 PM at the SCSC
vs. WIU 5-14 (2-4)
Western Illinois has never been a dominant volleyball team in the Summit League. In fact, they have finished last or second-to-last in each of the last ten years but one (2013). While admittedly, their season hasn't been stellar so far, they have been able to put it all together for a couple of impressive wins. They beat Evansville (12-5)RPI #171 early in the season, and they are just now coming off of a sweep of Oral Roberts in their home gym.
Statistically WIU is good-to-average in serving and blocking, but most other stats are in the conference basement. Coyotes will win in straight sets, but IMO this is an improved Leatherneck team from recent years.
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Post by kiyoat on Oct 14, 2019 14:17:41 GMT -6
Players to Watch:  #3 Jessie Connell 5' 9" Freshman Setter5.45 Assists/Set(#7 SL) 0.44 Service Aces/Set (#2 SL) #15 Mackenzie Steckler 6' 0" RS Junior MB/OH0.240 Hitting% (#14 SL) 1.36 Blocks/Set (#2 SL)2.7 Points/Set (#14 SL) |
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Post by announcerbob on Oct 16, 2019 14:48:01 GMT -6
USD (17-1 Summit 6-0) vs Ft Wayne (11-9 Summit 5-1)
The Mastodons were picked 4th in the pre-season poll and are playing much better then their ranking. They are in the midst of a brutal 5 match road trip with 4 of those matches in 8 days. The Yotes, although winning their matches, are not dominating their opponents. They are doing what is needed to get the matches won, which in my opinion is what matters.
Conference Play
Kills/Set FW - #2 USD - #5
Hitting % FW - #5 USD - #5
Assists/Set FW - #1 USD - #5
Digs/Set FW - #1 USD - #5
Blocks/Set FW - #5 USD - #1
As you can see by conference rankings I would expect this match to be a nail biter. I expect the players to be laser focused for this match. They are legitimately utilizing a one match at a time mentality. While this match is technically a home match for the Yotes, playing at this venue is relatively new to them. Let's fill up the seats and get really loud in support of the Yotes!!! We need this one!!! In my experience in close matches defense tends to show up and the Yotes Block will be vital if they want to come out on top. Go Yotes!!! Let's go 1-0 on Sunday!!!
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Post by kiyoat on Oct 16, 2019 15:52:54 GMT -6
Purdue Fort Wayne Players to watch:  #9 Katie Crowe - 5' 10" Junior OH 3.18 Kills/set (#6 SL) 3.6 Points/set (#6 SL) 0.28 Aces/set (#10 SL) 2.83 Digs/set (#12 SL) Crowe appears to be the top hitter on the team, as well as a good 6-rotation player. She is the best server, and 2nd best dig-getter on the team. Like Hennen from SDSU but better. Reigning Offensive POW.  #13 Sydney Boerst - 6' 0" Junior MB 0.95 Blocks/Set (#7 SL) 0.349 Hitting% (#2 SL) Think of Boerst as PFW's Maddie Wiedenfeld. Both have similar stats, being big blockers with high hitting percentages. They are both targeted a lot, as well. Another similarity is that they are both part of a MB unit that is tops in the league. USD and PFW combined represent 6 of the top 7 block-getters in the Summit League. Boerst is joined by #10 Sandra Hoevels, and Wiedenfeld is joined by Harms and Gerdes.  #1 Rachael Crucis - 5' 2" Freshman Libero 4.67 Digs/Set (#2 SL) As a freshman, Crucis looks poised to have a Rasmussen-like career at Fort Wayne. Her dig stats are right up there with Anne's right now, and she shared Defensive POW honors with her for last week's performance. So fans of defense will get to watch the league's two best Liberos and blocking units frustrate hitters on Sunday. |
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Post by kiyoat on Oct 18, 2019 11:43:55 GMT -6
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Post by kiyoat on Oct 19, 2019 4:07:20 GMT -6
Yotes sweep the Leathernecks:
25-17
25-17
25-18
Attendance: 988
So impressed with our offense! Slaughter was just making it look easy with both power and accuracy. Even in some chaotic out-of-system scenarios. Although Juhnke committed a lot of errors, when she got ahold of one it was indefensible. Harms and Wiedenfeld really dominated the net, too. You could really see the talent gap between the teams.
And Anne was Anne, getting some impossible digs. She will leave some big shoes to fill next year.
With that having been said, we got a slow start in each set. We seemed to finish each set strong. Service errors on our part, and good serving on their part seemed to be a factor at the start of each set. Connell has some doozies. The little things could bite us in a match like on Sunday, but I think they will be dialed in.
Nice turnout for a good cause in breast cancer awareness, too. Well-marketed, and the crazies showed up.
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Post by kiyoat on Oct 20, 2019 13:39:04 GMT -6
Wow! Coyotes win in straight sets! Now they start the second half of conference play two matches ahead of PFW and Denver.
The match lived up to the hype, IMO. Both teams played well, but the Yotes’ blocking really shined. Harms was outstanding, and our serving was on point.
Go Yotes!
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Post by gopheryote on Oct 20, 2019 17:37:20 GMT -6
Sounds like it was a great atmosphere and game - wish I could have been there.
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Post by announcerbob on Oct 20, 2019 19:58:26 GMT -6
Great Match Yotes!!! Coach Williamson had the team prepared and focused for the match!!! Never say die in the 3rd Set. All around match!! Serving, blocking and defense were outstanding. Now the Yotes are on the road for 3. Oral Roberts (2-6 in Summit), North Dakota (2-5 in Summit and Omaha (3-4 in Summit). After one pass through the conference the Yotes have a two game lead over Denver and Ft Wayne. Time to concentrate on being 1-0 vs Oral Roberts. Way to take care of Business today!!! Great atmosphere from the 1085 in attendance at the Pentagon!!!
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Post by usdtator on Oct 21, 2019 9:45:49 GMT -6
Great Match Yotes!!! Coach Williamson had the team prepared and focused for the match!!! Never say die in the 3rd Set. All around match!! Serving, blocking and defense were outstanding. Now the Yotes are on the road for 3. Oral Roberts (2-6 in Summit), North Dakota (2-5 in Summit and Omaha (3-4 in Summit). After one pass through the conference the Yotes have a two game lead over Denver and Ft Wayne. Time to concentrate on being 1-0 vs Oral Roberts. Way to take care of Business today!!! Great atmosphere from the 1085 in attendance at the Pentagon!!! What a great win! So much fun to watch in person as this team plays their butts off. Getting into the game was another story... what a fiasco. |
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Post by kiyoat on Oct 21, 2019 10:06:47 GMT -6
Great turnout! I hope they do more of these in the future. A thousand fans really create a good atmosphere in a 3,000 seat venue. Kinda disappointed the WBB team won't be playing there this season, but their home schedule in Vermillion has some high-level opponents that should draw very well, and make the University some money. The men's team will play at the Pentagon on Dec 20.
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Post by azsod73 on Oct 21, 2019 10:37:42 GMT -6
Great turnout! I hope they do more of these in the future. A thousand fans really create a good atmosphere in a 3,000 seat venue. Kinda disappointed the WBB team won't be playing there this season, but their home schedule in Vermillion has some high-level opponents that should draw very well, and make the University some money. The men's team will play at the Pentagon on Dec 20. The only negative of a great turnout (and a great win) was the apparent lack of preparedness on the part of staff at Pentagon. Not enough ticket windows led to long lines trying to get in at start time and concession stands not able to handle the traffic. Great venue and I hope we play there again. |
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