Rockets lose two yesterday, to Southeast Missouri St. & Memphis, both in 4 sets.

This team is kinda infuriating to watch, as they are beating themselves way too often. Memphis is undefeated, UT was playing without Chloe Kleespies and yet the Rockets looked like the better team for much of the match ... but they kept beating themselves. UT had 18 service errors in 4 sets, for example. That's a ridiculously high number. Plus a lot of net violations, ball handling problems and the like. UT had more kills and hit a much higher percentage than the undefeated Tigers. Emma Swope had by far her best match as a Rocket with 21 kills, 3 blocks, an ace and even 10 digs.

If they can start putting their fundamentals together, they can be competitive in the MAC, but I'm not sure that's gonna happen this year.

Rockets finished their OOC season with a straight set victory over North Alabama.

Toledo got whacked 3-0 by Ball State.

(09-27-2019 09:01 AM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  Toledo got whacked 3-0 by Ball State.

Saw much of the match. This team is capable of playing good VB, but it appears that they can only do that in short stretches of 5-10 points right now. Consistency is a big problem. E.g. in set 1, BSU got quickly up to a 9-3 lead, but the Rockets started playing better, and actually tied the set at 15-15. But that appeared to be all they had in set 1, as BSU trounced them the rest of the way.

Serve reception was a huge problem. If they get in system, they can look good, but they have a hard time getting in system much of the time.

Well it is gonna be a really long VB season. Rocket lose in 5 sets to a not that good UB team.

Rockets played lights out in set 1 taking it easily. Their play regressed in the next 2 sets that went back and forth, and the Rockets found themselves up 2 sets to 1. They had the much better play most of the 4th and held a 23-20 lead, but gave up the last 5 points to UB to send it to a fifth. Rockets came out flat and UB sprinted to a lead. UT came back to tie it at 10, but couldn't hold the momentum and lost the 5th 15-12.

In the match, I am pretty sure that Buffalo set an NCAA record for most sweat mopped up in any sporting event. Seems like every 3-5 points two or even three UB players were on the floor toweling up sweat for long periods of time. I think the match took at least 10-15 minutes more than it would have without all the mopping.

For a little while, it looked like yesterday might really have been bizzaro Saturday, as win-less UT went into Mount Pleasant to take on 1st place and undefeated CMU. The Rockets, after getting blown out in set 1, came back to win sets 2 & 3, needing only 1 more to pull off a huge upset. CMU took the 4th, and ran out to a quick lead in the 5th. UT came back to tie it at 11, but just could not find a way to get over the finish line, losing the 5th 15-13.

Terribly frustrating team, as they have shown the ability to play good volleyball in stretches, but have not yet figured out how to win. I would say that in the vast majority of sets of MAC play, the Rockets have led late in the set - sometimes being up by 4 or 5, but don't show the ability to make the finishing plays under pressure. That's partially due to their youth for sure. When they won the 2 close sets against CMU there appeared to be promise they are getting past that, but alas, no. Not yet anyway.

The Rockets' perfect season continued this weekend, losing to KSU and Ohio. They were totally dominating KSU and up 2 sets to 1, when the collapse happened and they lost in 5. Then went into Athens and were totally dominated by OU. In the past that would have been expected, as OU used to have a ranked team, but of late they have not been as good and the Rockets had beat them 3 out of the last 4. Not this year.

Unsure whether to have any hope the new coach will turn this around in the next year or 2.

Volleyball continues their pursuit of a perfect season, losing in 5 sets at BSU. My goodness this team is exasperating to watch. They took set 1 easily, and lost set 2 just as easily. Came back to win a tight set 3, and there was a glimmer of hope, but UT has not won a single set 4 or 5 all MAC season. So, true to form, they lost a tight set 4, and started out badly going down quickly in set 5. But UT made a strong comeback and took the lead, getting to 14-12 and 2 match points ... but alas it wouldn't be as BSU came back to tie it and the set went to extra points. UT had another 4 or 5 match points, but couldn't put a single one away, finally losing 23-21.

The BSU commentators were commenting through the whole match that they have talked to the other MAC coaches and they all agree Toledo is not an 0-10 (well now 0-11) team. And how one coach said "they're gonna beat somebody". I don't know that's very much of a complement, to say that hey, they may win 1 match. The team is very young, but we are most of the way through the season now and they still haven't figured out how to win. They've led late in, I am guessing, at least half of the sets this year and lost most of those. They've led 2 sets to 1 in several matches, and couldn't win another one. Clearly they have talent to get leads like that, but the other teams always seem to be able to step up and make the plays in the end, and UT doesn't. The last couple matches, against BSU and BG they have played very close sets, but still just can't cross the finish line. Some of the other teams that they lose to are just as young, so it can't just be that. Don't know what it is. Very disappointing season to watch.

The Rockets' perfect season comes to an end, as UT beats NIU @ NIU in 4 sets. Rockets are now 1-12 in MAC play. Strangely, this is reportedly the Rockets first win in DeKalb in 14 years. That one's gotta hurt.

(11-08-2019 09:37 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  The Rockets' perfect season comes to an end, as UT beats NIU @ NIU in 4 sets. Rockets are now 1-12 in MAC play. Strangely, this is reportedly the Rockets first win in DeKalb in 14 years. That one's gotta hurt.

Way to kick off Non-Rivals Week!

Don't look now but the Rockets have won 2 in a row, beating WMU in 5. After going up 2 sets to 1, made an effort to give it away, getting destroyed in set 4 25-11. Then after going up 11 - 6 in set 5, made 4 straight errors but somehow righted the ship and pulled out set 5 15-12.