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Forum breadcrumbs - You are here:BNN Message BoardsBronco Nation News: Boise State Olympic Sports TalkBSU Weekend with ISU
BSU Weekend with ISU
BSUBass77@bsubass77
243 Posts
#1 · August 27, 2023, 7:02 pm
Quote from BSUBass77 on August 27, 2023, 7:02 pmJust a few thoughts about the two matches I saw with ISU this weekend.
ISU really gives BSU some good early season matches over the years and these two were more of the same. ISU has a new head coach. Sean Carter was the assoc. head coach at Wichita State for eight years. He brought over one of the players from Wichita and she proved to be a good defender for the Bengals.
Now get on with it.
BSU won in straight sets at home in a packed house. The game at Pocatello was more challenging, but still pulled out a straight set victory on the road. ISU did not give up and took BSU to close scores in two of the three sets.
If anything is clear from the first two games it is that this is Paige Bartsch's team. She was set 35 times in Friday's game and 48 times in Sunday's game. And for good reason, Paige hit 21 kills on Friday and with her blocks, she scored 25 points. On Sunday she hit 24 kills and scored 26 points.
When Bentley went down with what appeared to be an ankle injury early in Friday's match, freshman Bridey O'Connor came in and contributed to the game. However, she did not play in Sunday's game. I am thinking Shawn wanted to change things up a bit so he went with senior, Chey Day in Pocatello.
Notes: Noelani Helm started as setter and had 26 and 22 assists for the matches. But the quirk was that Elle Cotton came in to serve in several rotations and set with several really good kills. When I first saw this, I thought it was strange because you don't usually see a setter hitting kill shots. But it left Helm wide open a few times in both matches.
Helm had a few awkward sets that left the hitters with bad shots. Kaminski is one of the best players that can hit a slide shot and Helm wasn't able to give her good sets. Hopefully they can get that fixed.
On Sunday's game there were a few rotations that had Bartsch (6'3), Day (6'4) and sophomore Kersten Van Kirk (6'3) on the front row. The intimidation factor of that front wall against some smaller hitters had to change ISU's strategy a few times.
Mitchell had some good defensive plays and had 10 digs on Sunday. She did have some help from McGirr, Cotton and Helm all combining for 50 digs on Sunday and 45 on Friday.
The games were entertaining and the crowds at both matches were great (especially at BSU). I do think this team needs to find more offensive players. As good as Bartsch is, she doesn't play a tip shot (so far). I think several teams can watch enough tape to get her to make errors. So, hopefully we get Miller and Bentley back soon and we can mix it up a bit more.
Just a few thoughts about the two matches I saw with ISU this weekend.
ISU really gives BSU some good early season matches over the years and these two were more of the same. ISU has a new head coach. Sean Carter was the assoc. head coach at Wichita State for eight years. He brought over one of the players from Wichita and she proved to be a good defender for the Bengals.
Now get on with it.
BSU won in straight sets at home in a packed house. The game at Pocatello was more challenging, but still pulled out a straight set victory on the road. ISU did not give up and took BSU to close scores in two of the three sets.
If anything is clear from the first two games it is that this is Paige Bartsch's team. She was set 35 times in Friday's game and 48 times in Sunday's game. And for good reason, Paige hit 21 kills on Friday and with her blocks, she scored 25 points. On Sunday she hit 24 kills and scored 26 points.
When Bentley went down with what appeared to be an ankle injury early in Friday's match, freshman Bridey O'Connor came in and contributed to the game. However, she did not play in Sunday's game. I am thinking Shawn wanted to change things up a bit so he went with senior, Chey Day in Pocatello.
Notes: Noelani Helm started as setter and had 26 and 22 assists for the matches. But the quirk was that Elle Cotton came in to serve in several rotations and set with several really good kills. When I first saw this, I thought it was strange because you don't usually see a setter hitting kill shots. But it left Helm wide open a few times in both matches.
Helm had a few awkward sets that left the hitters with bad shots. Kaminski is one of the best players that can hit a slide shot and Helm wasn't able to give her good sets. Hopefully they can get that fixed.
On Sunday's game there were a few rotations that had Bartsch (6'3), Day (6'4) and sophomore Kersten Van Kirk (6'3) on the front row. The intimidation factor of that front wall against some smaller hitters had to change ISU's strategy a few times.
Mitchell had some good defensive plays and had 10 digs on Sunday. She did have some help from McGirr, Cotton and Helm all combining for 50 digs on Sunday and 45 on Friday.
The games were entertaining and the crowds at both matches were great (especially at BSU). I do think this team needs to find more offensive players. As good as Bartsch is, she doesn't play a tip shot (so far). I think several teams can watch enough tape to get her to make errors. So, hopefully we get Miller and Bentley back soon and we can mix it up a bit more.
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Last edited on August 28, 2023, 12:28 pm by BSUBass77
Bronco7454 and Larry Shaw have reacted to this post.
Bronco7454Larry Shaw
Bronco7454@bronco7454
1,876 Posts
#2 · August 29, 2023, 4:54 am
Quote from Bronco7454 on August 29, 2023, 4:54 amExcellent analysis 77 - as per usual. I don't know what you do for a living but you SHOULD be a volleyball coach if you aren't already.
I only watched the first game against Idaho State. Bartsch, Day & Kaminski were all impressive in that game and so were the three true freshmen who played. Particularly Bridey O' Connor who came into the game after Bentley was injured in the first set. So were the transfers Helm and Mitchell.
The most impressive stat of that first game IMO was Boise State recording 18 block assists to only 2 by Idaho State.
I was surprised that both Miller and Van Kirk did not play at all in that first game.
Excellent analysis 77 - as per usual. I don't know what you do for a living but you SHOULD be a volleyball coach if you aren't already.
I only watched the first game against Idaho State. Bartsch, Day & Kaminski were all impressive in that game and so were the three true freshmen who played. Particularly Bridey O' Connor who came into the game after Bentley was injured in the first set. So were the transfers Helm and Mitchell.
The most impressive stat of that first game IMO was Boise State recording 18 block assists to only 2 by Idaho State.
I was surprised that both Miller and Van Kirk did not play at all in that first game.
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Last edited on August 29, 2023, 5:04 am by Bronco7454
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