First off, I really didn't think I'd have a lot to write about after the season ended - and I didn't think that many folks would be stopping by to read my blog. Wow, was I wrong.
A few posts down, in the comments, I'd included a website where I had an email contact. You guys found it and sent in some email. I'm impressed!! So, let me answer them.
1. Are the volleyball fans at NMSU really that 'crazy'? Do you seriously tailgate?
Yes we are and yes we do. We always had a good showing at our tailgates and they grew steadily during the season. The game vs. UNM we had some other folks set up their own tailgate. This season was just the tip of the iceburg. Next year, I envision catered events with fine china and waiters in tuxedos.
2. What was Coach Jordan's opinion of the season?
I've not talked to Coach since the season ended so I can't answer that. From the articles in the LC Sun News, I would say, overall, he was happy. Improvements are always needed - no matter what program you're talking about.
3. When you look at other programs, like Hawaii for example, you always hear about injuries. Were we lucky or do we have a great conditioning program?
I'm going to say that we have a wonderful conditioning program. If you've never seen the facilities our athletes have at the Fulton Center, you're missing out. It's amazing what is available now and the perfect explaination as to why our athletes are in such top condition.
4. Why don't we jump serve more?
You are asking the wrong person. It's a question I'd love to ask Mike if I had a chance.
5. What's the line up going to be like next year?
Again, that's a Mike question. If you go to nmstatesports.com, click on volleyball and then click on the roster, you'll get an idea of who's doing what. I don't know who will be the Libero next year, nor do I know who'll take over as setter. I'm going to guess that Angelle will step into Jackie's shoes.
6. What's your thought on the depth of the team next year?
Again, another Mike question. Man, if I still had the radio show, these would be perfect questions. Maybe after the first of the year, I'll email him and see if he'd be willing to answer these. I'll take a look at things and see what I can come up with. (You're from Volleytalk, aren't you?)
7. I noticed that Coach's Mom reads your blog. Does Coach?
He told me on Senior Night that he doesn't. But that's ok - he's got more important things to think about, ya know?
If you have a question for me, feel free to email me - nmsuvb@yahoo.com .
posted by Melanie Brooks @ 7:23 PM
2 Comments:
Hope you don't mind but I will try to tackle the jump serve question. In a completely general sense, float serves can be just as dangerous as jump serves. Historically, the nations top servers are generally jump servers. There are probably 10-15 top servers in the nation (collegiately) at a time. More times than not, they are jump servers. The next set of top servers below these top 10-15 are a mix of both jump servers and float servers.
The jump serve requires a good combination of spin and pace. Without both, jump serves are fairly easy to pass. And not many college players have that combination or can create that combination consistently. The direction a jump serve travels is predictable and generally fairly stable. Pace and spin will cause the serve to "drop" sooner than expected and obviously causes the receiver to have less reaction time from the time the ball leaves the server. Hence the top servers in the country generate both and cause a lot of damage to the opposing team.
A good float serve can move with the wind current. 2 jump serves hit the exact same way with the same spin will land in the same place. 2 float serves can be hit the same way but if one is hit when a slight breeze is blowing, it will not land in the same place as the one without the breeze. Thus, even though the ball reaches the receiver slower than the jump serve, a receiver may have less time to react as the ball may change directions at the last minute.
Aside from that, serving tends to be philosophically driven. Teams that pride themselves on defense tend to have more float servers. The idea is that a float serve will have less aces, however the server also commits less errors. The float serve simply takes away hitting options from the opposing team. If a good float server can consistently put the opposing team in passing trouble and forces them to run only their left side hitter, the defense can stack up on that left side hitter and block the hitter or use their back row to dig the ball and transition.
So, how does this affect NMSU. Oguh and Simpson are great middles and while not top blockers, they can get a lot of touches on the ball. That allows Torres to pick up a lot of balls in the back court. Hence, if NMSU can cause enough trouble with float serves, they have the personnel to cause problems for the opposing team so they can't run their offense.
3. When you look at other programs, like Hawaii for example, you always hear about injuries. Were we lucky or do we have a great conditioning program?
Lucky
The Aggie conditioning program is no better nor any worse that any of their counterparts in NCAA sports.All athletes at NMSU use the same program and football , basketball and baseball have all had their share of injuries, some serious but consistent with the rate of injuries elsewhere. In the case of the volleyball team several times through out the year players said in the press that they played with injuries. Luck played a big part in the fact that none of them turned out to be serious.
In the case of Hawaii or other top programs it would be ludicrous to think that they would be any less conditioned.Teams may go for years without serious injuries then get hit hard and next year it may be the Aggies turn for problems,you just never know.There is a reason you hear Jordan and other coaches say "If we can stay healthy", they all fear that the injury bug will hit more than one player on the team.
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