Volleyblog Seattle

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Washington volleyball match against Penn State cancelled

Pac-12 Network’s schedule affects travel options & RPI

Volleyblog Seattle has learned that the University of Washington’s much-anticipated nonconference match against national power Penn State has been cancelled.

The decision to back out of the September 14-15 tournament in State College, PA coincides with this morning’s release of the final 2012 Pac-12 Network schedule.

Kaleigh Nelson attacks during
Washington's 2012 Spring Training
-Volleyblog Seattle photo
by Leslie Hamann

The television schedule moves the Huskies’ conference opener against Washington State to Tuesday, September 18. Washington head coach Jim McLaughlin decided not to risk a weekend cross-country trip just days before the start of the conference season.

“It just didn’t make sense,” McLaughlin told Volleyblog Seattle. “We can’t lose all those training days right before league play.”

Washington added a road match against the University of Portland on September 11, and will try to find one more contest that week.

The loss of the Penn State match will clearly affect the Huskies’ RPI, the strength-of-schedule number used by the NCAA tournament selection committee at the end of the season. Last season, Pac-12 teams were heavily penalized by the committee: USC—top-ranked in the coaches’ poll—was seeded 7^th; eventual National Champion UCLA was seeded 9^th. Stanford (11^th) was the only other seeded Pac-12 team.

This season, the Pac-12 eliminated two conference matches (Washington will not play Arizona at home or Arizona State in Tempe) as part of an effort to add more high-profile nonconference contests. McLaughlin scheduled Purdue (#8 in last season’s final RPI), plus Long Beach State (#41), Rice (#63) and LSU (#66). But he must now substitute Penn State (#13) with Portland (#209).

“It’s hard,” McLaughlin says. “We’re trying to upgrade our schedule, just like the NCAA told us. But it takes a lot of time and money to travel back East, and the Pac-12 now schedules its matches on almost every day of the week.”

The bulk of the matches on the just-released conference television schedule will be played Fridays and Sundays. There are also a fair number of matches on weekdays.

Washington’s home schedule includes a Tuesday match (9/18 Washington State), and two Wednesdays (9/26 UCLA & 11/21 Arizona State.) Weekday road matches include a nationally-televised Wednesday match at California (11/7) and a Pac-12 Network match at Stanford the next night (11/8).

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON VOLLEYBALL

2012 SCHEDULE

as of June 20, 2012

DAY	DATE	LOCAL TIME	OPPONENT	LOCATION
NORTHWEST CHALLENGE
Friday	Aug 24	4:30PM	Gonzaga vs. Portland State	Seattle
		7:00PM	Boise State @ Washington
Saturday	Aug 25	10:00AM	Portland State vs. Boise State
		12:00PM	Gonzaga @ Washington
		4:30PM	Boise State vs. Gonzaga
		7:00PM	Portland State @ Washington
LSU TOURNAMENT
Friday	Aug 31	12:00PM	vs. Purdue	Baton Rouge, LA
		7:00PM	@ LSU
Saturday	Sep 1	11:00AM	vs. Rice
THE INVITATIONAL AT SEATTLE
Thursday	Sep 6	7:00PM	Seattle U @ Washington	Seattle (UW)
Friday	Sep 7	7:00PM	Long Beach State @ Washington
Saturday	Sep 8	7:00PM	Long Beach State @ Seattle U	Seattle (SU)

Tuesday	Sep 11	7:00PM	@ University of Portland	Portland

PAC-12
Tuesday	Sep 18	7:00PM	†Washington State	Seattle
Saturday	Sep 22	TBA	@ Arizona	Tucson
Wednesday	Sep 26	7:00PM	†UCLA	Seattle
Friday	Sep 28	6:00PM	†USC	Seattle
Friday	Oct 5	8:30PM	†@ Utah	Salt Lake City
Sunday	Oct 7	3:00PM	†@ Colorado	Boulder
Friday	Oct 12	TBA	@ Oregon State	Corvallis
Saturday	Oct 13	TBA	@ Oregon	Eugene
Friday	Oct 19	6:00PM	†Stanford	Seattle
Sunday	Oct 21	1:00PM	†California	Seattle
Friday	Oct 26	6:00PM	†@ USC	Los Angeles
Sunday	Oct 28	12:00PM	†@ UCLA	Los Angeles
Friday	Nov 2	6:00PM	†Colorado	Seattle
Sunday	Nov 4	11:00AM	†Utah	Seattle
Wednesday	Nov 7	TBA	‡@ California	Berkeley
Thursday	Nov 8	8:00PM	@ Stanford	Palo Alto
Friday	Nov 16	TBA	Oregon	Seattle
Saturday	Nov 17	TBA	Oregon State	Seattle
Wednesday	Nov 21	TBA	†Arizona State	Seattle
Friday	Nov 23	TBA	†@ Washington State	Pullman
			† Pac-12 Network ‡ ESPN
NCAA TOURNAMENT
Thu-Sat	Nov 29- Dec 2		NCAA 1^st/2^nd Rounds	TBA
Fri-Sat	Dec 7 & Dec 8		NCAA Regionals	Berkeley, CA Austin, TX Lincoln, NE W Lafayette, IN
Thu-Sat	Dec 13 & Dec 15		NCAA Championships	Louisville, KY

2012 Pac-12 Networks Women’s Volleyball Televised Schedule

Date Time (PT) Matchup

Aug. 28 7:00 PM Jiangsu Chinese Team at USC

Aug. 29 7:00 PM Jiangsu Chinese Team at UCLA

Sept. 5 7:00 PM Jiangsu Chinese Team at Stanford

Sept. 6 7:00 PM Jiangsu Chinese Team at California

Sept. 12 7:00 PM Pepperdine at UCLA

Sept. 18 7:00 PM Arizona State at Arizona

Sept. 18 7:00 PM Washington State at Washington

Sept. 19 7:00 PM California at Stanford

Sept. 19 7:00 PM Oregon State at Oregon

Sept. 19 7:00 PM Utah at Colorado

Sept. 21 6:00 PM Washington State at Arizona State

Sept. 21 6:00 PM Oregon at USC

Sept. 21 6:00 PM Stanford at Utah

Sept. 21 8:00 PM Oregon State at UCLA

Sept. 26 7:00 PM UCLA at Washington

Sept. 28 6:00 PM California at Arizona State

Sept. 28 6:00 PM Colorado at Oregon State

Sept. 28 6:00 PM USC at Washington

Sept. 28 8:00 PM Utah at Oregon

Sept. 30 11:30 AM USC at Washington State

Sept. 30 11:30 AM Utah at Oregon State

Sept. 30 11:30 AM California at Arizona

Sept. 30 6:00 PM Stanford at Arizona State

Oct. 3 7:00 PM Oregon at California

Oct. 5 5:30 PM Oregon at Stanford

Oct. 5 5:30 PM Arizona State at UCLA

Oct. 5 5:30 PM Washington State at Colorado

Oct. 5 7:30 PM Washington at Utah

Oct. 7 2:00 PM Oregon State at Stanford

Oct. 7 2:00 PM Arizona at UCLA

Oct. 7 2:00 PM Washington at Colorado

Oct. 7 4:00 PM Arizona State at USC

Oct. 10 7:00 PM USC at Stanford

Oct. 12 6:00 PM Washington State at Oregon

Oct. 12 6:00 PM UCLA at Stanford

Oct. 12 6:00 PM Arizona at Utah

Oct. 12 8:00 PM USC at California

Oct. 14 2:00 PM Washington State at Oregon State

Oct. 14 2:00 PM UCLA at California

Oct. 14 2:00 PM Arizona State at Utah

Oct. 14 4:00 PM Arizona at Colorado

Oct. 17 7:00 PM Utah at UCLA

Oct. 19 6:00 PM Oregon at Arizona

Oct. 19 6:00 PM Stanford at Washington

Oct. 19 6:00 PM Utah at USC

Oct. 19 8:00 PM Oregon State at Arizona State

Oct. 21 11:00 AM Colorado at USC

Oct. 21 11:00 AM Oregon State at Arizona

Oct. 21 11:00 AM Stanford at Washington State

Oct. 21 1:00 PM California at Washington

Oct. 24 7:00 PM Arizona at Stanford

Oct. 26 6:00 PM Washington at USC

Oct. 26 6:00 PM Arizona at California

Oct. 26 6:00 PM Oregon at Colorado

Oct. 26 8:00 PM Washington State at UCLA

Oct. 28 10:00 AM Oregon at Utah

Oct. 28 12 Noon Washington at UCLA

Oct. 28 12 Noon Arizona State at California

Oct. 28 12 Noon Oregon State at Colorado

Oct. 31 7:00 PM Colorado at Washington State

Nov. 2 6:00 PM California at Oregon

Nov. 2 6:00 PM USC at Arizona State

Nov. 2 6:00 PM Colorado at Washington

Nov. 2 8:00 PM UCLA at Arizona

Nov. 4 11:00 AM Utah at Washington

Nov. 4 11:00 AM California at Oregon State

Nov. 4 11:00 AM USC at Arizona

Nov. 4 1:00 PM Stanford at Oregon

Nov. 8 6:00 PM Washington State at California

Nov. 8 6:00 PM Arizona State at Oregon State

Nov. 8 8:00 PM Washington at Stanford

Nov. 20 TBD UCLA at Oregon

Nov. 20 TBD USC at Oregon State

Nov. 21 TBD Arizona at Washington State

Nov. 21 TBD Arizona State at Washington

Nov. 21 TBD Colorado at Stanford

Nov. 23 TBD Oregon at Oregon State

Nov. 23 TBD USC at UCLA

Nov. 23 TBD Washington at Washington State

Nov. 23 TBD Stanford at California

Nov. 23 TBD Arizona at Arizona State

Nov. 23 TBD Colorado at Utah

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Courtney Thompson’s Olympic volleyball dream on the line

It all comes down to this weekend in Thailand; Tama Miyashiro also in the running

Courtney Thompson—the irrepressible former University of Washington setter from Kent, WA—will get the shot she’s wanted to compete for a USA volleyball roster spot at August’s London Olympics.

Courtney Thompson (15)

Volleyblog Seattle has learned that Thompson and Penn State’s Alisha Glass will be the two American setters on the 12-person roster at the 2012 World Grand Prix’s (WGP) third preliminary round in Bangkok this weekend.

The USA (6-0 in WGP play) faces Serbia (2-4) Friday, Argentina (0-6) Saturday and host Thailand (5-1) Sunday. [schedule below]

In the first two rounds, Minnesota’s Lindsey Berg was the setter for all but a handful of rotations, sharing the roster with Glass in Round One (Santo Domingo, D.R. June 8-10) and with Thompson in Round Two (Sao Paolo, June 15-17). Although undefeated USA dropped just two sets over six matches, Berg was often inconsistent. She is currently ranked 11^th among WGP setters.

The USA’s top two defenders are Nicole Davis (USC) and Washington’s Tama Miyashiro. Davis—wearing the libero jersey—had several dreadful runs during the WGP second round, while Miyashiro sparkled during limited action as designated server. Will USA head coach Hugh McCutcheon give Miyashiro a shot at libero in Bangkok?

With the Olympic Games just a few weeks away, McCutcheon has yet to announce which 12 athletes he will take to London. Based on his WGP lineups, the picture is getting a bit clearer:

SETTER (2 spots):

Lindsey Berg (Minnesota) has likely earned one of the two setter spots, despite her recent inconsistency.
Either Courtney Thompson (Washington) or Alisha Glass (Penn State) will likely grab the second setter spot after this weekend's competition in Bangkok.
Carli Lloyd (California) and Nellie Spicer (UCLA) are available, but were not included in the WGP competition.

LIBERO/DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST (2 spots):

Nicole Davis (USC) seems to have one defensive spot sewn up, although—like Berg—her WGP play has been erratic.
Tamari Miyashiro (Washington) has played well in her limited WGP opportunities; she seems likely to grab the second defensive slot.
Stacy Sykora (Texas A&M) has been a Team USA fixture, but is still recovering from injuries suffered last year in a Brazilian bus accident.

OUTSIDE HITTER/OPPOSITE (5-6 spots):

Logan Tom (Stanford) has looked determined during WGP play, although she and Berg have not really clicked. Her strong serve is a plus, especially because Hooker and Akinradewo are in the front row during her server rotation.
Jordan Larson (Nebraska) is getting tons of WGP playing time; she, too, has not connected well with Berg, but she's been passing better than Hodge.
Destinee Hooker (Texas) is unstoppable when she’s on her game, especially on the right side. Perhaps the most obvious lock for a spot in London.
Megan Hodge (Penn State) seemed to be a natural to pair with Hooker, but Larson and Tom have shown better overall skills. I’d still want her on my Olympic bench.
Tayyiba Haneef-Park (Long Beach State) has seen spot play during WGP; McCutcheon may want the two-time Olympian’s veteran leadership.
Several top hitters are on the 25-member preliminary roster, but have not yet been on the WGP teams, making them longshots. Cynthia Barboza (Stanford) is looking for her first-ever Olympic selection; others hoping for a minor miracle are Kim Glass (Arizona), Nancy Metcalf (Nebraska), Nicole Fawcett (Penn State), Alix Klineman (Stanford) and Kristin Richards (Stanford).

MIDDLE BLOCKER (2-3 spots):

Foluke Akinradewo (Stanford) is an amazing athlete. No way she’s not on the London roster.
Christa Harmotto (Penn State) has had a marvelous WGP. Of particular note, she’s used her big wing span to cover blocks when opponents try to hit line over Berg.
Olympic veterans Heather Bown (Hawai’i) and Danielle Scott-Arruda (Long Beach State) have split limited time as WGP backups to Akinradewo and Harmotto. One may make it to London.
Jennifer Tamas (Pacific) and Lauren Gibbemeyer (Minnesota) are also on the 25-member roster.

Team USA middle blocker Christa Haramoto covers block over setter Lindsey Berg (4) against Brazil

2012 World Grand Prix

Third Round

[see complete schedule]

Pool J – Bangkok, Thailand
June 22: USA vs. Serbia, 1:50 p.m. (11:50 p.m. PT on June 21)
June 22: Thailand vs. Argentina, 4:20 p.m.
June 23: USA vs. Argentina, 1:50 p.m. (11:50 p.m. PT on June 22)
June 23: Serbia vs. Thailand, 4:20 p.m.
June 24: Argentina vs. Serbia, 1:50 p.m.
June 25: USA vs. Thailand, 4:20 p.m. (2 a.m. PT)

2012 World Grand Prix

Standings after two rounds

(ties broken by sets and points won)


1	USA	6	0
2	China	6	0
3	Turkey	5	1
4	Thailand	5	1
5	Cuba	5	1
6	Brazil	5	1
7	Japan	3	3
8	Germany	3	3
9	Poland	3	3
10	Serbia	2	4
11	Puerto Rico	2	4
12	Italy	1	5
13	Korea	1	5
14	Dominican Republic	1	5
15	Argentina	0	6

Saturday, June 16, 2012

USA Volleyball remains undefeated; ex-Huskies contribute

UW Alums Tama Miyashiro and Courtney Thompson make most of limited World Grand Prix action in Sao Paolo

It was the second set of a second-round World Grand Prix match against Germany; the US National women’s team trailed 19-20. Top-ranked USA had barely won the sloppy first set, 25-23, and seemed unable to maintain a sustained advantage. The Brazilian crowd in Sao Paolo did most of its cheering for the underdog Europeans.

Courtney Thompson listens as Hugh McCutcheon talks to Lindsey Berg

Defensive specialist Tama Miyashiro stepped to the service line. The former University of Washington All-American’s wicked jump float kept the Germans out of system, allowing the US to tie the score. Five more quality Miyashiro serves yielded four more points, until Germany held off set point. Throughout her service run, Miyashiro swept up a number of stellar digs, keeping crucial rallies alive.

USA eventually prevailed 3 sets to 0, running its 2012 World Grand Prix record to 5-0. But it was the team’s second straight subpar performance, with a much-anticipated match against Brazil up next.

"It was the team's second straight subpar performance ..."

During both Friday’s victory against Italy and Saturday’s Germany win, American setter Lindsey Berg was rarely in sync with her hitters. Time and again, the timing was off, forcing the US to send across tips and off-speed shots, or to tie up in jousts from balls set too close to the net. In three sets against Germany, Berg dished just nine combined assists to her two outside hitters, Nebraska’s Jordan Larson (6 kills) and Stanford’s Logan Tom (3 kills). The offense ran almost exclusively through the right side, by setting opposite Destinee Hooker of Texas (10 kills), or slides to middle blockers Christa Harmotto of Penn State (10 kills) and Stanford’s Akinradewo Foluke (9).

Defensively, the Germans followed the lead of the Italians, trying to hit line over Berg when she was in the front row, tipping in front of Hooker whenever possible. Libero Nicole Davis (USC) was erratic, sending many serve receives to the net, and rarely showing the hustle displayed by Miyashiro on broken plays.

USA Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon never played former Washington setter Courtney Thompson against Italy, and only inserted her late in the final moments of the German match. But even that brief appearance showed Thompson’s considerable talent. Like Miyashiro, she delivered a difficult jump float serve. On offense, she sets up further from the net than Berg does, giving her more options and delivering precision sets to her middles and outsides. And on a broken play, Thompson sprinted for the ball ;it was hustle we didn’t see from Berg or from Davis the past two matches.

Germany's Heike Beier (12) sends a kill past Lindsey Berg (4) and Foluke Akinradewo (16)

The rap on Thompson is her height. But it was interesting to see her step aside with Berg during each timeout: both players are the same size. The world’s best coaches want their setters to set, play defense and serve—blocking is secondary. But Berg has no obvious physical advantage over Thompson, and after Berg’s two shaky performances, Thompson deserves a shot at running the team against Brazil.

The Brazil match begins Sunday, June 17, at 9:20am (Pacific). You can watch it online at http://www.sportlemon.tv. [Hint: you can ignore the “Load plugin” warning; you can get access without it.]

see also:
U.S. Women Dig Past Germany (USA Volleyball press release)

Two Washington Volleyball alums make Olympic push

NOTES:

In a rather poor marketing move, Sao Paolo fans were given shirts that exactly matched the seats: bright yellow shirts to those sitting in the yellow sections and bright blue in the blue. When the camera was wide, it had the disconcerting effect of making the arena look empty.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Two Washington Volleyball alums make Olympic push

Two former Washington Huskies--setter Courtney Thompson and libero Tama Miyashiro--will represent the USA in the second leg of the 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix Volleyball Tournament.

Courtney Thomspon

The Grand Prix is the final major event before the 2012 London Olympic Games. USA Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon will select the 12 players for the US Olympic roster at the conclusion of the Grand Prix.

The World Grand Prix features the world's top teams competing in three round-robin events. The USA played the first round in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and went undefeated, with victories against Germany, Chinese Taipei and Dominican Republic. Miyashiro saw limited time during the first round; Thompson was not on the roster.

Tama Miyashiro

Most observers believe Minnesota's Lindsey Berg has the inside track for one of the two Olympic setter positions. Thompson is likely competing with Penn State's Alisha Glass for the second setter spot. Berg and Glass set during the first round, with Berg getting most of the action. Thompson replaces Glass in the second round.

The second round, in Sao Paulo, features powerhouses Brazil, often-dangerous Italy and a repeat date with Germany. The third round is next week in Bangkok, where the US will face a strong Serbia team, plus Argentina and Thailand. If Thompson plays well in Sao Paolo, McCutcheon could pair her against Glass. He also has Nellie Spicer (UCLA) and Carli Lloyd (Cal) on the 25-athlete eligible roster.

The Grand Prix finals--featuring the top six teams from preliminary play--is June 27-July 1 in Ningbo, China.

LINKS:

Pool E – Sao Paulo, Brazil
June 15: USA vs. Italy, 6:20 p.m. (2:20 p.m. PT)
June 15: Brazil vs. Germany, 8:20 p.m.
June 16: USA vs. Germany, 6:20 p.m. (2:20 p.m. PT)
June 16: Brazil vs. Italy, 8:20 p.m.
June 17: USA vs. Brazil, 1:20 p.m.
June 17: Germany vs. Italy, 3:20 p.m. (9:20 a.m.)

FIVB World Grand Prix Final Round
Ningbo, China – June 27 to July 1
Top five teams from preliminary round plus China

thanks to Dave Weitl for the spelling edit ...

Pages