[joemontes]

Tomorrow (Sunday, Sept 19, 2021) @ 10AM PDT

Team Records:
************
#8 Kentucky (6-3) but 0-3 against Top 25 opponents (Losses to Creighton, Wisconsin, Louisville)
#16 Stanford (5-2) with respectable 3-2 against Top 25 opponents (Wins vs. Florida, Penn State, Nebraska ; Losses to Texas, Minnesota)


My (conservative) prediction:
*********************** 
Kentucky wins, 3-2 (primarily because of home court advantage and this being only the 2nd match (and 1st on the road) for FRANCIS) 


Player Comparisions:
*****************
Height advantage to Stanford

OH1: 6'3 BAIRD vs. 6'2 SKINNER
OH2: 6'6 FRANCIS vs. 6'1 STUMLER
OPP:  6'5 KIPP vs. 6'0 RUTHERFORD
MB1: 6'2 VICINI vs. 5'10 TEALER
MB2: 6'3 CAMPBELL vs. 6'4 GOETZINGER

Average Height of OHs/OPP:  Stanford 6'5 vs. Kentucky 6'1
Average Height of MBs:  Stanford 6'2 1/2 vs. Kentucky 6'1
Average Height of OHs/MBs/OPP:  Stanford 6'4 vs. Kentucky 6'1


Interesting Kentucky Team and Player Stats:
************************************
Kentucky:
-  All matches:  13.6 kps @ .273,  2.3 bps  vs.  11.7 kps @ .170,  1.7 bps  by all opponents
-  In 3 losses:  11.9 kps @ .174,  1.6 bps  vs.  14.5 kps @ .268,  2.6 bps  by Top 25 opponents

OH1:  SKINNER
-  All matches:  3.8 kps @ .323
-  In 3 losses:  3.8 kps @ .183

OH2:  STUMLER
-  All matches:  3.3 kps @ .203
-  In 3 losses:  2.8 kps @ .143

OPP:  RUTHERFORD
- All matches:  2.1 kps @ .230
-  In 3 losses:  1.8 kps @ .136

MB1:  TEALER
-  All matches:  2.1 kps @ .431
-  In 3 losses:  1.5 kps @ .279

MB2:  GOETZINGER
-  All matches:  1.86 kps @ .352
-  In 3 losses:  1.6 kps @ .173

[joemontes]

Tomorrow (Sunday, Sept 19, 2021) @ 10AM PDT

Team Records:
************
#8 Kentucky (6-3) but 0-3 against Top 25 opponents (Losses to Creighton, Wisconsin, Louisville)
#16 Stanford (5-2) with respectable 3-2 against Top 25 opponents (Wins vs. Florida, Penn State, Nebraska ; Losses to Texas, Minnesota)


My (conservative) prediction:
*********************** 
Kentucky wins, 3-2 (primarily because of home court advantage and this being only the 2nd match (and 1st on the road) for FRANCIS) 


Player Comparisions:
*****************
Height advantage to Stanford

OH1: 6'3 BAIRD vs. 6'2 SKINNER
OH2: 6'6 FRANCIS vs. 6'1 STUMLER
OPP:  6'5 KIPP vs. 6'0 RUTHERFORD
MB1: 6'2 VICINI vs. 5'10 TEALER
MB2: 6'3 CAMPBELL vs. 6'4 GOETZINGER

Average Height of OHs/OPP:  Stanford 6'5 vs. Kentucky 6'1
Average Height of MBs:  Stanford 6'2 1/2 vs. Kentucky 6'1
Average Height of OHs/MBs/OPP:  Stanford 6'4 vs. Kentucky 6'1


Interesting Kentucky Team and Player Stats:
************************************
Kentucky:
-  All matches:  13.6 kps @ .273,  2.3 bps  vs.  11.7 kps @ .170,  1.7 bps  by all opponents
-  In 3 losses:  11.9 kps @ .174,  1.6 bps  vs.  14.5 kps @ .268,  2.6 bps  by Top 25 opponents

OH1:  SKINNER
-  All matches:  3.8 kps @ .323
-  In 3 losses:  3.8 kps @ .183

OH2:  STUMLER
-  All matches:  3.3 kps @ .203
-  In 3 losses:  2.8 kps @ .143

OPP:  RUTHERFORD
- All matches:  2.1 kps @ .230
-  In 3 losses:  1.8 kps @ .136

MB1:  TEALER
-  All matches:  2.1 kps @ .431
-  In 3 losses:  1.5 kps @ .279

MB2:  GOETZINGER
-  All matches:  1.86 kps @ .352
-  In 3 losses:  1.6 kps @ .173

[Softball Fan]

Excellent match introduction.  Thanks.   I agree with your prediction.  Hopefully both of us our wrong.  Home court advantage often seems to be important in early season WVB.  If this match were at Maples I would predict a Stanford win.

Thus far the main Achilles heel for this young Stanford team is blocking shots out of the middle.  Hopefully the Cardinal can do better in this match but realistically it may be the end of the season before seeing measurable strides forward.

[Softball Fan]

Excellent match introduction.  Thanks.   I agree with your prediction.  Hopefully both of us our wrong.  Home court advantage often seems to be important in early season WVB.  If this match were at Maples I would predict a Stanford win.

Thus far the main Achilles heel for this young Stanford team is blocking shots out of the middle.  Hopefully the Cardinal can do better in this match but realistically it may be the end of the season before seeing measurable strides forward.

[johnbar]

Thanks for the stats.

I'll say Stanford wins 3-1.

[johnbar]

Thanks for the stats.

I'll say Stanford wins 3-1.

[Jamesy]

Excellent match introduction.  Thanks.   I agree with your prediction.  Hopefully both of us our wrong.  Home court advantage often seems to be important in early season WVB.  If this match were at Maples I would predict a Stanford win.

Thus far the main Achilles heel for this young Stanford team is blocking shots out of the middle.  Hopefully the Cardinal can do better in this match but realistically it may be the end of the season before seeing measurable strides forward.

With Kentucky having a 5'10" MB, it may not be as big of an issue

[Jamesy]

Excellent match introduction.  Thanks.   I agree with your prediction.  Hopefully both of us our wrong.  Home court advantage often seems to be important in early season WVB.  If this match were at Maples I would predict a Stanford win.

Thus far the main Achilles heel for this young Stanford team is blocking shots out of the middle.  Hopefully the Cardinal can do better in this match but realistically it may be the end of the season before seeing measurable strides forward.

With Kentucky having a 5'10" MB, it may not be as big of an issue

[BACardinal]

You would think the other team having a shorter middle would be an advantage for the Cardinal but in the Nebraska match their 6'0 middle had her way because they went quick and our middles couldn't get out to block fast enough. 

Even Don Shaw mentioned it last match but Stanford runs a very slow middle attack so in practices Campbell and Vicini are going up against much slower tempo sets so when it comes to game action they are not fast enough to block the opposing middle, specifically on the slide.

[BACardinal]

You would think the other team having a shorter middle would be an advantage for the Cardinal but in the Nebraska match their 6'0 middle had her way because they went quick and our middles couldn't get out to block fast enough. 

Even Don Shaw mentioned it last match but Stanford runs a very slow middle attack so in practices Campbell and Vicini are going up against much slower tempo sets so when it comes to game action they are not fast enough to block the opposing middle, specifically on the slide.

[Griffins78]

Having a quick, athletic MB with hops is advantageous.

[Griffins78]

Having a quick, athletic MB with hops is advantageous.

[Spiny_Norman]

Having a quick, athletic MB with hops is advantageous.

Example - Tami Alade

[Spiny_Norman]

Having a quick, athletic MB with hops is advantageous.

Example - Tami Alade

[joemontes]

You would think the other team having a shorter middle would be an advantage for the Cardinal but in the Nebraska match their 6'0 middle had her way because they went quick and our middles couldn't get out to block fast enough. 

Even Don Shaw mentioned it last match but Stanford runs a very slow middle attack so in practices Campbell and Vicini are going up against much slower tempo sets so when it comes to game action they are not fast enough to block the opposing middle, specifically on the slide.

I just can't get enough of Don Shaw's volleyball wisdom as a TV commentator.  He has really taught me about the detailed nuances of the game over and beyond the basics.

[joemontes]

You would think the other team having a shorter middle would be an advantage for the Cardinal but in the Nebraska match their 6'0 middle had her way because they went quick and our middles couldn't get out to block fast enough. 

Even Don Shaw mentioned it last match but Stanford runs a very slow middle attack so in practices Campbell and Vicini are going up against much slower tempo sets so when it comes to game action they are not fast enough to block the opposing middle, specifically on the slide.

I just can't get enough of Don Shaw's volleyball wisdom as a TV commentator.  He has really taught me about the detailed nuances of the game over and beyond the basics.

[UltimateCard]

You would think the other team having a shorter middle would be an advantage for the Cardinal but in the Nebraska match their 6'0 middle had her way because they went quick and our middles couldn't get out to block fast enough. 

Even Don Shaw mentioned it last match but Stanford runs a very slow middle attack so in practices Campbell and Vicini are going up against much slower tempo sets so when it comes to game action they are not fast enough to block the opposing middle, specifically on the slide.

I just can't get enough of Don Shaw's volleyball wisdom as a TV commentator.  He has really taught me about the detailed nuances of the game over and beyond the basics.

I took Beginning Volleyball from Don Shaw in 1981 or 1982. He taught us how to be fundamentally sound, which led to many years of fun intramural and rec league play (a couple of trophies along the way). I imagine there are tens of thousands who’ve learned to appreciate the sport from Don.

[UltimateCard]

You would think the other team having a shorter middle would be an advantage for the Cardinal but in the Nebraska match their 6'0 middle had her way because they went quick and our middles couldn't get out to block fast enough. 

Even Don Shaw mentioned it last match but Stanford runs a very slow middle attack so in practices Campbell and Vicini are going up against much slower tempo sets so when it comes to game action they are not fast enough to block the opposing middle, specifically on the slide.

I just can't get enough of Don Shaw's volleyball wisdom as a TV commentator.  He has really taught me about the detailed nuances of the game over and beyond the basics.

I took Beginning Volleyball from Don Shaw in 1981 or 1982. He taught us how to be fundamentally sound, which led to many years of fun intramural and rec league play (a couple of trophies along the way). I imagine there are tens of thousands who’ve learned to appreciate the sport from Don.

[BostonCard]

I took volleyball from Denise Corlett.

BC

[BostonCard]

I took volleyball from Denise Corlett.

BC

[joemontes]

Well, the quality of Stanford's 3 Top 25 wins to this point have been tremendously diminishing lately:

Florida: 
******
was #5 when Stanford beat them back in 8/31, then plunged to their current #14 ranking after a home win vs. current # 11 Minnesota (their only Top 25 win) followed by back-to-back lopsided 1-3 and 0-3 losses to current #12 Baylor last week, but will surely drop further after losing 1-3 on the road to unranked Florida State earlier this week

Penn State:
*********
was #18 when Stanford beat them last week; currently #20 but with no Top 25 win in their resume so far, will probably stay at #20 

Nebraska:
********
dropped from #3 to their current #6 ranking after a convincing win over current #17 Creighton (their only Top 25 win) followed by a close 5-setter home loss to current #10 Utah last week, but will surely drop even further after a 1-3 loss to #16 Stanford on the road last Tuesday and a shockingly lopsided 0-3 home loss to current #5 Louisville yesterday  


Given these late developments, it would be nice for Stanford to beat Kentucky today....

[joemontes]

Well, the quality of Stanford's 3 Top 25 wins to this point have been tremendously diminishing lately:

Florida: 
******
was #5 when Stanford beat them back in 8/31, then plunged to their current #14 ranking after a home win vs. current # 11 Minnesota (their only Top 25 win) followed by back-to-back lopsided 1-3 and 0-3 losses to current #12 Baylor last week, but will surely drop further after losing 1-3 on the road to unranked Florida State earlier this week

Penn State:
*********
was #18 when Stanford beat them last week; currently #20 but with no Top 25 win in their resume so far, will probably stay at #20 

Nebraska:
********
dropped from #3 to their current #6 ranking after a convincing win over current #17 Creighton (their only Top 25 win) followed by a close 5-setter home loss to current #10 Utah last week, but will surely drop even further after a 1-3 loss to #16 Stanford on the road last Tuesday and a shockingly lopsided 0-3 home loss to current #5 Louisville yesterday  


Given these late developments, it would be nice for Stanford to beat Kentucky today....

[ca245]

Crazy year. Who would have predicted that, of our six big name OOC opponents, five of them would have 16 losses between them by now (Fla 4, Neb 3, PSU 3, Ken 3, Min 3)? Or that Louisville, who impressively swept Neb in Lincoln yesterday, would be 10-0?

[ca245]

Crazy year. Who would have predicted that, of our six big name OOC opponents, five of them would have 16 losses between them by now (Fla 4, Neb 3, PSU 3, Ken 3, Min 3)? Or that Louisville, who impressively swept Neb in Lincoln yesterday, would be 10-0?

[BostonCard]

Stanford takes the first set 25-2 with some unreal hitting: Francis .800, Kipp .667 and Baird .500

BC

[BostonCard]

Stanford takes the first set 25-2 with some unreal hitting: Francis .800, Kipp .667 and Baird .500

BC

[mbdude]

crazy - Kentucky hitting over .400 also

[mbdude]

crazy - Kentucky hitting over .400 also

[oldalum]

Stanford takes the first set 25-2 with some unreal hitting: Francis .800, Kipp .667 and Baird .500

"Unreal" is an apt adjective.    ;)

[oldalum]

Stanford takes the first set 25-2 with some unreal hitting: Francis .800, Kipp .667 and Baird .500

"Unreal" is an apt adjective.    ;)

[BostonCard]

Stanford takes the first set 25-2 with some unreal hitting: Francis .800, Kipp .667 and Baird .500

"Unreal" is an apt adjective.    ;)

LOL, that was supposed to have been 25-20.

Kentucky took the second and third sets 25-20, 25-19 so we are now down 2-1.  Hitting has cooled.

BC

[BostonCard]

Stanford takes the first set 25-2 with some unreal hitting: Francis .800, Kipp .667 and Baird .500

"Unreal" is an apt adjective.    ;)

LOL, that was supposed to have been 25-20.

Kentucky took the second and third sets 25-20, 25-19 so we are now down 2-1.  Hitting has cooled.

BC

[martyup]

We lose the 5th set 10-15.  Nice comeback in the 4th.  This team will get better.  I hate service errors.

[martyup]

We lose the 5th set 10-15.  Nice comeback in the 4th.  This team will get better.  I hate service errors.

[johnbar]

I was not able to watch, just followed the stats.

After Stanford fell behind 2-1, I was no longer optimistic about this one.  But Stanford prevailed in the 4th set.
Couldn't sustain it for a 5th though.

---

We lose the 5th set 10-15.  Nice comeback in the 4th.  This team will get better.  I hate service errors.

Yes, I expect this team will continue to improve and "gel". 

Looking forward to the conference season.
Washington and Oregon will be the biggest challenges, I think.  The Huskies played a pretty easy nonconference schedule, losing their only match to a top team (Ohio State). (Interesting, I just noticed they start their conference schedule with Utah before going to WSU.)

Oregon beat Penn State and lost to Minnesota (like Stanford), but otherwise had a pretty soft schedule.

Edit:  Forgot to mention Utah, who have been up and down, beating Nebraska but losing to Boise State.

[johnbar]

I was not able to watch, just followed the stats.

After Stanford fell behind 2-1, I was no longer optimistic about this one.  But Stanford prevailed in the 4th set.
Couldn't sustain it for a 5th though.

---

We lose the 5th set 10-15.  Nice comeback in the 4th.  This team will get better.  I hate service errors.

Yes, I expect this team will continue to improve and "gel". 

Looking forward to the conference season.
Washington and Oregon will be the biggest challenges, I think.  The Huskies played a pretty easy nonconference schedule, losing their only match to a top team (Ohio State). (Interesting, I just noticed they start their conference schedule with Utah before going to WSU.)

Oregon beat Penn State and lost to Minnesota (like Stanford), but otherwise had a pretty soft schedule.

Edit:  Forgot to mention Utah, who have been up and down, beating Nebraska but losing to Boise State.

[TheRicker]

Watched the match on SEC network.  Service errors - argh !

[TheRicker]

Watched the match on SEC network.  Service errors - argh !

[Softball Fan]

Next four matches are home matches, all very winnable.

I saw Morgan Hentz in the crowd on the TV broadcast.

[Softball Fan]

Next four matches are home matches, all very winnable.

I saw Morgan Hentz in the crowd on the TV broadcast.