I was using her knowledge as my reasoning as to why I think it was more on Merritt than it was Bergen
I didn't mean it was more Bergen's fault, but that it played a part.
I was using her knowledge as my reasoning as to why I think it was more on Merritt than it was Bergen
I think bringing in Landfair and losing Jurevicious didn't work out real well!I remember a interview by coach Cook several years ago. He was asked about his most talented team. (dont remember the team) but what he said about that team was they could never get the "team chemistry" right, and lost early in the tournament. That is how i feel about this team, great talent, but something was a off.
I think Caroline left early more because Merritt had one more year, after a spectacular 2023. If Caroline would have stayed, I believe she would have played a lot more because Merritt didn't have as good of 2024 as she was in 2023.I think bringing in Landfair and losing Jurevicious didn't work out real well!
Too much was probably put on Merritts shoulder this year! She started poorly and ended poorly. Mid season she was starting to come out of it. I still wonder if Jurevicious left because she was disgruntled over not seeing action last year and redshirting not seeing the floor. She looks pretty goodI think Caroline left early more because Merritt had one more year, after a spectacular 2023. If Caroline would have stayed, I believe she would have played a lot more because Merritt didn't have as good of 2024 as she was in 2023.
Seems she had an off night the first time they played PSU, and now she has the yips in the big matches.Seemed like something happened with Merritt a month or so ago. There was talk after an off game that she had been sick, but things didn't seem to get better with her, so I wondered if she had been sick or that's just what they said at the time.
Yes it seemed like she had two good games all year, and both came against us. I noticed a couple times when they showed her after a good play the look on her face was more of a get even look instead of happy. It makes you wonder if her good play against us was more about something happened here and she wasn't happy about so she left. If that was the case, the players were probably aware of any discontent back then.Seems she had an off night the first time they played PSU, and now she has the yips in the big matches.
Also (IMHO), it seems like they let Caroline's "vicious" revenge attitude get to them. They couldn't get their act together either time they played PSU.
I agree with your sentiment, and indeed we should be proud of the team and everyone on it (and I think we are).I rarely come to the main forums. Even more rarely do I post. But some of the comments in this thread make me sick. Especially comments about blaming which player played badly, etc. We made it to the semi-finals! What a great accomplishment. You don't think we have great hitters? All year long and throughout the tournament, commentators talked about how our offense is a nightmare to defend--we have so many options to go to. The talent we have is truly astounding and you can't really appreciate it unless you see it on paper:
Our team has an embarrassment of riches.
Landfair: First team all-American. #1 overall recruit out of high school
Krause: #1 outside hitter and #1/#2 overall recruit out of high school.
Rodriguez: 4 time all-American. Maybe the best libero to every play in college. #1 libero out of high school.
Orr: #1 overall prospect and setter out of high school.
Beason: First team all-American.
Allick: second team all-big ten
Jackson: First team all-American. #1 middle blocker out of high school
Murray: second team all-American. #1 recruit out of high school.
Choboy: #1 libero out of high school.
Reilly: 2 time Second team all-American. #4 overall and #1 setter out of high school
Mauch: #2 libero out of high school.
Pierce: #4 overall and #1 outside hitter out of high school
That is 3 top overall recruits out of high school (think about how there are only 5 classes represented and we have 3 of the top overall recruits)
There are 9 players ranked #1 at their position out of high school.
Let me put this in perspective: Dylan Raiola was #2 at his position and #7 overall according to 247. So a vast majority of our volleyball team ranked higher than Dylan out of high school.
Don't know about your last sentence -- would be interesting to find out what the chemistry was last year.Yes it seemed like she had two good games all year, and both came against us. I noticed a couple times when they showed her after a good play the look on her face was more of a get even look instead of happy. It makes you wonder if her good play against us was more about something happened here and she wasn't happy about so she left. If that was the case, the players were probably aware of any discontent back then.
Actually your post points out why we were so successful this year, and for that matter years before.I rarely come to the main forums. Even more rarely do I post. But some of the comments in this thread make me sick. Especially comments about blaming which player played badly, etc. We made it to the semi-finals! What a great accomplishment. You don't think we have great hitters? All year long and throughout the tournament, commentators talked about how our offense is a nightmare to defend--we have so many options to go to. The talent we have is truly astounding and you can't really appreciate it unless you see it on paper:
Our team has an embarrassment of riches.
Landfair: First team all-American. #1 overall recruit out of high school
Krause: #1 outside hitter and #1/#2 overall recruit out of high school.
Rodriguez: 4 time all-American. Maybe the best libero to every play in college. #1 libero out of high school.
Orr: #1 overall prospect and setter out of high school.
Beason: First team all-American.
Allick: second team all-big ten
Jackson: First team all-American. #1 middle blocker out of high school
Murray: second team all-American. #1 recruit out of high school.
Choboy: #1 libero out of high school.
Reilly: 2 time Second team all-American. #4 overall and #1 setter out of high school
Mauch: #2 libero out of high school.
Pierce: #4 overall and #1 outside hitter out of high school
That is 3 top overall recruits out of high school (think about how there are only 5 classes represented and we have 3 of the top overall recruits)
There are 9 players ranked #1 at their position out of high school.
Let me put this in perspective: Dylan Raiola was #2 at his position and #7 overall according to 247. So a vast majority of our volleyball team ranked higher than Dylan out of high school.
Actually your post points out why we were so successful this year, and for that matter years before.
We do have an abundance of talent and a very diverse offense where we have so many weapons. And it's all those weapons that helped us through when a player was having a bad night, or maybe an extended tough time. To me pointing out a player is having a tough time is not criticizing, it's just pointing out she is having a tough time for some reason and others are stepping up and helping out.
Many teams have that one big hitter and when that hitter has an off night or is in a slump they lose. We didn't have that problem.
Yeah I watched the Cook presser where he talked about that, you could see his frustration. If you lose a player because they are behind someone and want to play, that may not be real frustrating. But I suppose there may be other reasons a players leaves that are frustrating for a coach.Don't know about your last sentence -- would be interesting to find out what the chemistry was last year.
In Cook's pregame presser, he expressed frustration with having put so much effort into training players, only to have them transfer to another team. MM and CJ were two prime examples. Maggie wasn't nearly as effective Thursday as she was in the first match, of course, but CJ was.
Such a dilemma to have!Highly highly doubtful. Cook isn’t benching the two time defending Big 10 setter of the year
22 16, but u lose. Love the team, but that was a choke and the gals know it. Hard to sugarcoat that. So close!!Volleyball is a game of momentum and Penn State and Louisville were both able to seize it at the critical time