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Post by acutrackfan on Jul 31, 2023 10:15:32 GMT -6
It is time to turn the page on VB as well to the new season. I had been really curious about who Coach Alstrup might have hired as assistant coaches -- it was pretty late in the process. I see on the roster that she has hit a home run as her head assistant -- Ainise Havili has been hired. Ainise is a FW native, played HS ball at Haltom and was an all-state setter, also playing for 2 of the national powerhouse club teams in the Metroplex - TIV and TAV. Went to Kansas and was a 3-time All-American and is the all-time leader for Kansas in career sets. Played for U.S. national teams. Played professionally in Germany and Turkey for several years before returning to the States to go into coaching. Spent last season as an assistant at U of Miami. I don't know if Coach Alstrup knew her while they both played professionally in Europe.
I also see that the other assistant is Amie Greene. This might be the Amie Greene that played for The Citadel, but I don't know for certain. It is significant that ACU now has a 2nd assistant listed, since we have not had 2 assistants in the past for VB. Last year, ACU had an assistant and a GA. The norm for mid-majors is 2 assistants and a GA. P5 level schools usually have 3 assistants and a GA or 2, and sometimes a "volunteer" coach. Speaking of an ACU assistant coach, I see that last year's assistant, Jeff Fiorenza, has been added on the TAMU site as their 3rd assistant. A way that the extra assistants, GA's and volunteer coaches are often paid for from summer camps. Unfortunately, Coach Alstrup got to ACU too late for the Wildcats to host a camp this past summer.
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Post by bogeyman on Aug 17, 2023 9:29:39 GMT -6
Really good, informative article on women's volleyball on ACUsports. Looking forward to seeing more success on the court with coach IJ Alstrup. Sounds like some of our returners are taking leadership and their own performance to the next level. Excited to see what the 2 Hannahs (Knier and Gonzalez) bring to the table. (I got to watch about an hour of player led practice back in July. I was impressed.)
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Post by acutrackfan on Aug 17, 2023 11:37:28 GMT -6
Excellent preview of the VB team -- very thorough and quite a bit of insight from Coach IJ. Only 2 newcomers mentioned -- one a grad transfer and the other a HS recruit. There is a lot of experience returning AND a lot of new players to bring something new to the game. I would say my only surprise is that no liberos were mentioned in the preview and libero is quite possibly the most important spot on the floor. ACU does have 2 returnees who played at libero last year - Andie Sheppard and Sara Carrizales, plus a couple of freshmen who played Libero in HS.
I know someone who attended the last scrimmage and will see if she has any insight.
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Post by Cap'n on Aug 19, 2023 21:33:48 GMT -6
I went to the VB scrimmage against Angelo this afternoon. No doubt at all that this team has improved. Thanks to coach Blair for recruiting a strong freshman class and a couple of good looking transfers. Thanks to Zach Lassiter for calling the recruits and returnees every week to keep them apprised of the coaching search so that we didn’t lose a single player or commit.
So how did they play? The first couple of rotations were dominating. We won the first 2 sets 25-17 and 25-15. The newer players played most of the last 2 sets and the Ram Belles won them. In a real match, we would have won in straight sets.
Hope you get out to see them, there are 7 players over 6’. 5 players 6’2 or taller. Defense and setting are much improved. It was a weakness last year.
Of course the WAC is a strong volleyball conference. I don’t have any insight into how the Wildcats might fare but they are improved.
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Post by acuprof on Aug 20, 2023 13:44:16 GMT -6
I went to the VB scrimmage against Angelo this afternoon. No doubt at all that this team has improved. Thanks to coach Blair for recruiting a strong freshman class and a couple of good looking transfers. Thanks to Zach Lassiter for calling the recruits and returnees every week to keep them apprised of the coaching search so that we didn’t lose a single player or commit. So how did they play? The first couple of rotations were dominating. We won the first 2 sets 25-17 and 25-15. The newer players played most of the last 2 sets and the Ram Belles won them. In a real match, we would have won in straight sets. Hope you get out to see them, there are 7 players over 6’. 5 players 6’2 or taller. Defense and setting are much improved. It was a weakness last year. Of course the WAC is a strong volleyball conference. I don’t have any insight into how the Wildcats might fare but they are improved. Thanks for the summary. Had a grandson's four-year-old birthday party yesterday from noon to 4:00, so couldn't make it. Glad to hear of the improvement.
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Post by bogeyman on Aug 26, 2023 14:59:53 GMT -6
ACU wins 1st set vs Houston Christian 25-21.
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Post by bogeyman on Aug 26, 2023 15:27:32 GMT -6
We win 2nd set 25-19. Lead match 2-0. Hannah Gonzalez saw her 1st college action in set 2.
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Post by bogeyman on Aug 26, 2023 16:05:12 GMT -6
Cats were behind in set 3 18-12 but have now tied it up 23-23. TO HC.
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Post by bogeyman on Aug 26, 2023 16:08:35 GMT -6
Cats lose set 3, 26-24 but great comeback. Hannah Knier saw her 1st action as a Cat and had an immediate impact with a block and a kill. Set 4 coming up.
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Post by Outsider on Aug 26, 2023 16:12:15 GMT -6
Set four will be tough, but this is where we need to step up and outlast our opponents. We are now up two sets to one.
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Post by bogeyman on Aug 26, 2023 16:34:24 GMT -6
Cats win set 4, 25-14 and match 3-1. Three players with double figure kills, Bossier 16, Stienhilber 15, Edmiston 13. Izzy Larson made her ACU debut in set 4. Good opening match for the Cats.
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Post by rc on Aug 26, 2023 16:39:54 GMT -6
The volleyball match was a good one for the ladies but I thought they should have won 3-0. Not sure I understand making service errors at match point. We need to work on serving.
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Post by bogeyman on Aug 26, 2023 16:40:04 GMT -6
Kinda p.s. Houston Christian Christian has dominated us in the past and is the preseason pick to win the Southland so this was a very good season opening season win for the Cats. Congrats coach IJ for your 1st college coaching win.
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Post by mavsman53 on Aug 26, 2023 19:03:58 GMT -6
I'm confident the team works on serving everyday.
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Post by rc on Aug 26, 2023 20:17:03 GMT -6
We seem definately better in all phases so it was a great win.
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