Author: jktrpp

Something you definitely won’t find on the official Gopher Website, I intend to grade the team, the players, the coaches and anything else of note, on a 2-match basis. DISCLAIMER: At this point, I’m watching the games on TV. I apologize to the players for not noticing their off-camera contributions. If I was in my season-ticket seat, slightly farther from the court than Coach McCutcheon, but with the slight elevation perhaps just as good a view, I could grade more accurately – but this is a pandemic. I’ll do the best I can.

TEAM: A- The minus is for almost losing 3 of the sets; the A for winning all six!

VETERAN STARTERS:                                                            Samedy gets an A+ (see SAMEDY’S TEAM)                                 The rest, collectively, an A Pittman, Rollins and McGraw were all steady, even working with a significant number of newbies. Rollins in particular got the Gophers off to a strong start in the season’s first set; easy to overlook, but important. I can’t help but wonder if Rollins is hearing “footsteps.” And if she is, maybe that’s a good thing.

FRESHMAN AND TRANSFER STARTERS:           SHAFFMASTER gets a B Her timing on the quick sets to Pittman was off, but her setting overall was good enough (50 assists) to sweep six sets. And she played with confidence, earning 6 kills in 6 sets (Miller and McMenimen had 13 kills between them in 118 sets last year). Oddly enough, she didn’t record a single block (Samedy, blocking in the same position got 8). At least this first weekend, she needed a lot more help setting than Seliger-Swenson used to, but that’s a high bar. All in all, a good showing in her first Big Ten Weekend.                                                                      LANDFAIR gets a B- She started a little tentative the first set on Saturday, then came on strong, hitting and blocking impressively. Then she struggled again on Sunday and got benched. But what an athlete, unlimited potential, a chance to be the G.O.A.T. of Gopher volleyball.                                                                                       And MYERS gets a B+ A junior transfer from Maryland (the Gopher’s opponent this coming weekend) where she was known more for her blocking than her hitting, did not disappoint.

BENCH                                                                                                                                                   McMenimen and Miyabe both get an A+ The junior setter and the senior outside-hitter proved last year that they could keep the team winning when starters were hurt or struggling, and they demonstrated this weekend that it was no fluke. It appears unlikely that either will appear in the starting line-up this season, and last year, when they were forced to play extensively, weaknesses of each were exposed. But they proved that they can come in for a few rotations and change the momentum from negative to positive.              WENASS gets a B+ for the two sets she played. Merely the 3^rd-rated overall recruit in the country, Wenaas spent he first 4 sets on the bench (can you imagine the 3^rd-rated overall recruit in any other sport not starting?), getting her chance when Landfair struggled. She got 4 kills and zero errors, in 8 attempts, for a strong 500%, but didn’t really attract much attention.                                                                                                                    COACH MCCUTCHEON gets an A I thought the way he used McMenimen and Miyabe off the bench was brilliant!

Wife Maureen (who, oddly enough, is a reader) asks, “Why do they take Samedy out, when she’s their best player, even getting kills from the back row?”

John: It’s about “rotation position.” Samedy plays what we used to call “right-side hitter,” but now many people call this position “opposite,” because she rotates opposite the setter, i.e, she and the setter are never in the front row at the same time. When the Gophers were struggling and Coach McCutcheon wanted to shake things up, the most meaningful “shake-up” would be to sub the veteran back-up setter McMenimen in for the freshman Shaffmaster. But he can’t sub McMenimen into the front row because she is vertically impaired, so he subs McMenimen into the back row for Samedy. And simultaneously subs Miyabe into the front row for Shaffmaster – the “double sub.”

Reader W.P. asks, “Michigan State got called for ‘back-row attack’ at least 3 times on Sunday; how come Samedy is allowed to attack from the back row?”

John: A “10 ft line” (“3 meter line” in the Olympics) delineates the front row from the back row. A back-row player can not attack or block a ball while standing in, or jumping from, the front row. Samedy is allowed to hit, and is effective at hitting, from the back row by taking a running start and leaving the floor behind the 10 ft line. She is, in a sense, well in front of the 10 ft line when she strikes the ball – but she hasn’t touched the floor yet. Samedy’s skill at this allows the Gophers to have 3 hitters in every rotation; the front-row middle, the front-row left-side, and Samedy, regardless of where she might be in the rotation. I think that one of the calls against Michigan State involved a back-row player trying to do what Samedy does so effortlessly.

A back-row setter, on the other hand, is allowed to set from the front row (in fact, this is a standard feature of modern offenses) – but she is not allowed to block. I think the other two calls you refer to were against their setter trying to set balls that were passed so tight to the net that they actually broke the plane of the net – allowing Gophers to attack them; and the setter’s hand got in the Gopher’s way – constituting a block. You can’t do that.

(On the topic of the “10 ft line,” libero McGraw is allowed to make overhand sets from behind the line, but in front of it she is only allowed to “bump-set.” If you watch close, you’ll notice McGraw overhand setting from a couple feet in front of the line – but like Samedy, hanging in the air.)

M.S. asks, “What do you mean Sammedy telegraphs her dinks?”

John: A volleyball dink is, in a sense, analogous to a change-up in baseball. The most effective change-up I can remember was thrown, frequently, by former Twin Johan Santana. I remember a split-screen video of Santana throwing his 92 mph fastball and his 78 mph straight change. Santana’s grip, invisible to the batter, was different of course, but his stride, his arm angle and his release point were identical. Watching side-by-side, you couldn’t tell which was which. And Santana loved to throw it, especially when he was ahead in the count.

Sammedy has thrilled us, over the past 3 years, with an effective variety of power shots, especially her sharp-angle cuts and her surprisingly right-down-the-line shots. But Sammedy seems not a natural or instinctive dinker, mostly dinking out of frustration when her power is temporarily not working. Much harder to see on TV, but when I’m watching at the Pav, I can tell when she’s going up for a dink — and usually the defense can too. Maybe she’ll get better — if it’s important to her.

W.P. asks, “When we were training for the Geezer Nationals, you told me my sets would be called carries if there was any side-spin on the ball. But there was usually side-spin on Shaffmaster’s sets in this opening match, and she never got called?”

John: Referees vary. The last time we played in the Geezer Nationals, that one ref whistled us more times in one match than all the other refs in our other 9 matches put. together. MN high school refs are notoriously fanatic about side-spin sets. And I think Big Ten refs are much harder on non-setters than on setters. (Especially when Pittman was a freshman, I remember her drawing whistles more than once for sets that looked good to me; the refs didn’t believe that a gal that big could have such great hands.)

But as the level of play and the level of officiating goes up, there is more emphasis on letting great athletes play. (How many times did you ever see Michael Jordan get called for traveling?) Big Ten refs assume, correctly, that Big Ten setters have great hands, and therefore rarely call carries on them. And even though Shaffmaster is a freshman, her reputation proceeds her; and she gets away with a little side-spin.

Son Ethan (taller and stronger than even Landfair, who played men’s club-volleyball for the Badgers) asks, “Why don’t McCutcheon’s teams ever run ‘high-tempo’ attacks? (Meaning a quick, flat, set to a hitter already in the air.)

John: Never is a strong word. During the 2018 season, All-American Seliger-Swenson fed a steady diet of quicks to her under-sized and lightning quick Middle Taylor Morgan, occasionally even when setting from the 10-ft line (an amazingly-high-degree of difficulty). But generally, Ethan is correct, the Gophs don’t run a lot of high-tempo stuff. And when I was in London watching the 2012 Olympics, I didn’t see McCutcheon’s Silver Medal American gals running much high-tempo either.

Of course, McCutcheon’s Silver Medal squad had Destiny Hooker, at that time the dominant, most powerful Women’s Volleyball hitter in the world. And this year’s Gopher squad is absolutely loaded, with more power than his line-up can accommodate. I don’t have any secret link into McCutcheon’s mind, but if I had to guess, my guess would be that his thinking is, “Don’t beat yourself.” Run a high-tempo (and high-degree of difficulty) attack once in a while to keep the defense honest, but when you’ve got the bigger, stronger, front line, stick with the basics.

Not confident, I asked daughter Tessa and son Ethan for help. Tessa arrived first, got BTN+ on her phone, then used some app to transmit it to the TV just in time for the first serve. I pursued my own path, without a phone, and later, that worked too. Ethan showed up to watch.

Readers GH and MC also reported success; GH went through ROKU and MC got her cable guy to come out and do it for her.

The Gophs beat Michigan State in straight sets, rematch tomorrow. In some sense, the biggest surprise is that there were no surprises:

• In the first set, the Gophs traded side-outs with the Spartans until 13-13, and then pulled away. In the second set, the Spartans held a substantial lead for most of the set, but couldn’t finish, allowing the Gophers to pull out a dramatic come-from-behind win. And in the third set, the Spartans fell apart.
• Remember, Michigan State is a good volleyball team, easily one of the top 50 teams in the country.
• Be happy that the Gophs won the match, and hope that they can repeat the feat tomorrow, even if they should drop a set.
• The starting line-up was exactly the one I predicted, a 5-1 including newcomers Shaffmaster, Landfair and Myers complementing returners Samedy, Pittman, Rollins, McGraw and Kilkelly. Leaving the talented players like Wenaas, Miyabe and Rubright on the bench (to start the game).
• Shaffmaster is huge! She is listed at 6-3, but she looked (on TV) taller than Pittman who is listed at 6-5. And broader shoulders too. I think she’s bigger than I am (minus the belly, of course).
• Landfair didn’t disappoint either; she’s 6-5 with a major vertical and a powerful swing.
• And Samedy, Pittman, Rollins, McGraw and Kilkelly all played well, as they had all last season. (A Final Four Season.)

The only surprise came during the second set when the Gophs were struggling. After a time-out, McCutcheon switched to a 6-2, bringing Miyabe in to play front-row for Shaffmaster, while McMenimen replaced Samedy in the back row and handled the setting. Super-sub Miyabe provided the “spark” we are accustomed to seeing from her, and McMenimen delivered her usual workmanlike performance. This “coaching move,” while surprising to me, turned around what appeared to be a lost set.

According to the schedule on the official Gopher website, some games may be broadcast on regular BTN, on ESPN, or even FOX9+, which turns out to be channel 29. But this weekend’s matches vs Michigan State (4:00 Saturday, 3:00 Sunday, NOTE THE TIME CHANGES) and likely many future matches, will apparently be broadcast on BTN+ (formerly BTN2GO).

BTN+ is available by subscription only! You can buy:

• A Conference Pass (presumably covering all Big 10 sports broadcast on BTN+), for $120/yr or $15/mth;
• A School Pass (presumably covering all Gopher sports), for $80/yr or $10/mth; OR
• A Sport Pass (presumably covering all Big 10 Volleyball), for $55/yr. Other sports have different prices. A monthly subscription to a particular sport does not seem to be available.

These subscriptions seem to include “on-demand” access to “archived” games/matches.

I see no reference to pay-for-view access to single-games.

After considerable deliberation, I chose to purchase the $80 annual pass to all Gopher Sports. Not sure if that’s a 2021 pass or a 1/21/21 to 1/21/21 pass, but either way, I’m getting two volleyball season for one year. (The same bargain would apply to the all Big 10 Volleyball option.) I won’t be getting the Wisconsin vs Nebraska etc volleyball matches, but I should be getting Gopher Women’s hoops and hockey, Gopher wrestling, baseball and softball.

I first tried to make this purchase through Comcast/Xfinity, which is my cable provider, but it turns out that you have to purchase “plus” channels directly through the channel, in this case BTN, which I eventually managed to do without too much trouble.

Then I had to figure out how to activate this on my TV, which required help from my kids. I think we got it, but there weren’t any Gopher Games on this afternoon, so I’m not certain. If any readers figures out how to do it, send it to me and I’ll post it.

Our choices of who to watch and what to watch are greatly reduced watching on TV, but as much as possible, my eyes will be on:

1. MELANI SHAFFMASTER Our freshman setter will presumably playing her first match, of presumably a 4 or even 5 -year career (since this pandemic-season doesn’t count) as the “quarterback” of our squad. Like most of us, I’ve never seen Shaffmaster play, but given that she was a top-10 nationally rated recruit. I’m assuming that she has “the hands” for the job, and at 6 – 3, Shaffmaster is far and away the tallest setter the Gophers have ever had, so she could be the best blocking setter we’ve ever had. And she has played in some pretty high-level age-group teams, so I would not expect her to be intimidated. But I do have questions: At 6 – 3, is she really quick enough to cover the entire court in the manner we were accustomed to seeing Seliger-Swenson cover? And does she have the natural “court-sense” and vision that a really star “quarterback” needs?

WHO’S ON THE FLOOR Coach HUGH MCCUTCHEON will almost certainly employ a 6-1 with a libero and defensive specialist system, meaning that he will use 8, and only 8, players per set. And once McCutcheon is satisfied, and barring injuries, these will be the same 8 players set after set, even though he has at least a dozen very talented athletes to choose from. It might take a few matches for McCutcheon to be satisfied, but who he starts the first match seems a clue to his thinking. Here’s what I’m thinking:

• Locks 4 Players seem like locks to me: #10, Senior All American right-side hitter (opposite) STEPHANIE SAMEDY, #21, Senior, All American middle REGAN PITTMAN,  #7, Junior libero CC MCGRAW, and #5, Freshman setter MELANI SHAFFMASTER.
• Likelies 4 players seem likely to me to fill out the lineup: #20, Junior left-side hitter ADANNA ROLLINS , #23, Junior (transfer) middle KATIE MYERS, #6, Sophomore defensive specialist RACHEL KILKELLY, and #12, Freshman left-side hitter TAYLOR LANDFAIR.
• Could-bes But this talented roster includes at least 3 more players who could be just too good not to be in the line-up: #2, Freshman left-side hitter, JENNA WENAAS,  #9, Freshman middle SHEA RUBRIGHT, and # 8, Senior and last year’s super-sub AIRI MIYABE. I’m excited to see who it will be.

RUSTY? Given that it has been over 13 months since the Gophers last match, and given that the line-up will almost certainly include newcomers at key positions, you couldn’t blame the Gophers if it takes a couple sets to shake off the rust.

But I doubt it. I expect this talented squad to come out blasting, like the Final Four Team they are destined to be.

GopherVBallRocks reader FN had asked last week about the broadcast schedule — which was released yesterday — subject to change of course.

University of Minnesota regular season volleyball will be televised 12 times during the 2021 spring season with an additional five home matches on BTN +. I’m hoping that some reader of GopherVBallRocks can educate the rest of us about how BTN + works.

Is that available to anyone with cable or dish?

Is it pay-per-view?

Do you subscribe?

Somebody help me!

Minnesota’s opens the season this weekend against Michigan State. Saturday’s match will be on BTN +, while Sunday’s contest will be televised on Fox 9 + as well as streamed on BTN +. Match times for the home opener will be at 4 p.m., followed by a 3 p.m. start on Sunday.

Minnesota will then be televised the following dates:
Jan. 24 vs. Michigan State, 3 p.m., FOX 9+
Jan. 29 at Maryland, TBD, BTN
Feb. 5 at Purdue, 6 p.m. CT, BTN
Feb. 13 vs. Penn State, 7 p.m. CT, BTN
Feb. 14 vs. Penn State, 6:30 p.m. CT, BTN
Feb. 19 at Nebraska, 8 p.m., CT, BTN
Feb. 21 at Nebraska, 12 p.m. CT, BTN.
Feb. 26 vs. Michigan, 4 p.m. CT, ESPNU
March 17 at Wisconsin, 8 p.m. CT, BTN
March 21 vs. Wisconsin, TBD, BTN
March 27 at Northwestern, TBD, BTN
April 3 vs. Iowa, 3 p.m. CT, ESPNU

In addition to the home opener against Michigan State, Minnesota will be streamed on BTN + against Michigan (Feb. 27), Illinois (March 12 & 13), and Iowa (April 2). Remaining road matches will be determined at a later date.

The Gophers will also be on KFAN + for five matches, which will also be streamed on gophersports.com. Those dates include:
Jan. 23 vs. Michigan State
Feb. 13 vs. Penn State
Feb. 14 vs. Penn State
March 21 vs. Wisconsin
April 3 vs. Iowa

Schedule is subject to change. Please check back to gophersports.com for the most up-to-date information.   

1. WISCONSIN, last year’s (2019) national runner-up to Stanford, led by returning star setter Sidney Hilley (out of Champlain Park, MN) and returning star middle Dana Rettke, 6-8, deservedly opens their season ranked #1 in national polls.

2. NEBRASKA, perennial national power and 5-time national champion, opens their season ranked #5 in national polls.

3. MINNESOTA opens their season ranked #7 in national polls. I think they’re definitely top-four, but given that 2^nd ranked Texas and 4^th ranked Kentucky have already finished their seasons (as champions of major conferences) it may be tough to dislodge them in the polls.

4. PENN STATE, perennial national power and 7-time national champion (including 6 of the last 9), opens their season ranked #9 in national polls.

In recent years, Big Ten Volleyball has been a story of the BIG 4 (above), and teams striving to reach “BIG 5”  status, including PURDUE (who opens their season ranked #13 in national polls), MICHIGAN (who opens their season ranked #24 in national polls), ILLINOIS, OHIO STATE & MICHIGAN STATE (all unranked).

F.N. writes: John, thanks for starting this blog.  Do you know when  a TV schedule will be released, and do you think any will be on BTN, or will they put  these all on BTN+ and make us pay to watch like they are doing with the women BB?

John: The TV schedule has not been released, to my knowledge. Obviously a lot of the games will be televised, and mostly on BTN. Or on BTN+, which as you suggest, is not free. Obviously, revenue generation is a top priority of the Big 10 (& the NCAA) — e.g., the recent decision to change the rules after the fact re who got to play in the Big 10 Championship Football game.

I’ll post info re the TV schedule when I get any. Maybe other readers have ideas about how to get BTN+ cheap?

M.S. writes: “Very much enjoy your take on the upcoming season.”

E.T asks: “Why are all of your posts dated April 20, 2020?”

John: I started working on this about then, took a break when I could get outside and the Goph’s VB season got postponed. And I don’t know how to change that.

G.H. asks: “Who is the player shown on the opening page?”

Anyone?