In this issue
From
Coach Hebert:
After climbing all the way back to #12 in the national poll the Gophers finally hit the wall against Michigan. I’m sure that many of you want to know what happened!
Well … there were two forces at work. First, we were a step slow to the ball on defense. Our usual alertness as a serve-block-defend team was not there. But second, and more importantly, Michigan played flawlessly and with a lot of emotion. They were, as they say, en fuego. No one has hit for such a high percentage (.368) against us all season. Not Nebraska, not Penn State, not Wisconsin … MICHIGAN. They were impressive and I tip my hat to them.
On the other hand, we were methodical against MSU. We mowed them down. Based on their performance against us earlier this season at the Pavilion, I would have anticipated that MSU would have been the tougher of the two matches. But this was not the case. The level of play by the Wolverines was as good as anything we have seen this year.
One of the pleasant developments this season has been the evolution of a solid passing game. Our four primary passers, Peniata, Bowman, Cumpston and Tan have combined to accumulate a 2.4 average (3.0 being perfect, and anything above 2.25 being acceptable). Their numbers rival anything we ever did during the Paula Gentil years. We have also managed to piece together a consistently aggressive serving effort. Meredith Nelson, for example, was a serving liability last year (sorry Meredith). But this year her serve has become a weapon. Cumpston’s jump serve, also new this year, is very effective. Christine Tan has added stability with her consistently tough and accurate jump floater. Bowman, Peniata and Hartmann have also been very reliable.
The Gophers are hanging in there at 17-7 (11-3). It looks like a Big Ten title is out of our reach. But we have so much to play for. Second place in the Big Ten is there for the taking. So is a berth in the NCAA Tourney. We could even qualify to host a first round NCAA Tourney matchup. This is going to be FUN!
The Gophers have seen it all this year. We are confident in our resilient mentality. We may not win every remaining match, but we will be competing with everything we have. I hope you will get behind the Gophers as we settle in for the late season push.
See you at the Pavilion this weekend!
Head Coach
Minnesota Volleyball
From John Oravis:
Hello Golddiggers!
Well, the 2006 season ride got a bit bumpier than expected with a tough 5-game home loss to #2-ranked Penn State two weekends ago, and the 4-game loss at Michigan this past weekend. What a great crowd for the PSU match though! Thanks for attending the post-match reception after the loss and supporting our Gophers. My wife and I had the privilege of being Guest Associate Coaches for the PSU match and we thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience -- well, except for the loss, of course. We don’t know much about volleyball but we can tell you that -- win or lose -- you can be very proud of our Minnesota volleyball student-athletes!
Every remaining conference match is important at this point as the Gophers look to possible post-season NCAA tournament selection and play. We hope that you will continue your great support and enthusiasm. Consider making the road trip to Madison next Wednesday for the match vs. #10 Wisconsin. It’s a great experience if you’ve never made the trip.
Please remember the Locker Room Renovation/Ribbon-Cutting event in the Sports Pavilion on Friday, November 17th (6:00 - 8:00 pm, with a short program at 6:30 pm). You can call the Golden Gopher Fund office’s main number and RSVP to Becky for the event ((612) 626-4653). Please RSVP for the ribbon-cutting event by Monday, November 13th. A reminder that there is no match on Friday, November 17th.
Don’t forget about “Senior Night” on Saturday, November 18th (vs. Iowa). The program will formally recognize seniors Kelly Bowman, Meghan Cumpston, Meredith Nelson and Malama Peniata after the match. We also look forward to hearing from them at the Golddiggers post-match reception later that evening.
Did you ever wonder how someone gets to serve on the Golddiggers Board of Directors? No, it isn’t a community service “sentence”! Our booster club directors serve because we love the sport and we love our Golden Gophers. Several directors’ positions are opening up later this season. We invite you to check us out and to volunteer for the Board if you are interested. You can discuss the board and director responsibilities with any of our current members at any time:
President -- John Oravis
Vice President & Membership -- Jerry Byrnes
Treasurer -- John “'JT” Thompson
Secretary -- Wayne Miller
Public Relations/Marketing -- Larry Mickelson
Post-Match Receptions/Special Events Coordinator -- DuAnn Thompson
Booster Club Clothing -- Betty Cipperly
Ball Girl Program -- Jim and Bev Manship
Membership Cards -- Mark Eastom
Student Representative -- Anton Halvorson
Booster Club Liaison Coach -- Nao Ikeda
Friend of the Board/Newsletter Editor -- Matt Leach
Finally, this year’s schedule has our Gophers finishing their regular season on the road at Purdue and Indiana over Thanksgiving weekend (November 24-25th). I don’t know any details about the NCAA post-season selection announcement at this point. Perhaps sometime on Sunday, November 26th? I will find out and let you know, especially if it is open to the general public. More details on that later via e-mail, newsletter and/or a link to our website.
Thanks again for all of your great support and enthusiasm.We appreciate it!
Go Gophers!
Point U!
John Oravis, President, Golddiggers
Reception
A Golddiggers
reception is scheduled for Saturday night, after the Northwestern match, in
the Pavilion Clubroom. Remember, while
the receptions are for Golddigger boosters, you can bring guests -- with a $2 (per guest) charge paid at the
reception.
Parents’ Night/Senior Night
The current schedule, as we understand it, has Parents’ Night this Saturday, November 11th, with parents being introduced prior to the match against Northwestern.
Senior Night will be Saturday, November 18th, with the senior recognition taking place after the match with Iowa. The seniors will also be honored at the post-match Golddiggers reception.
Hearing the Boos
The last Chalk Talk of the season, with Associate Head Coach Dave Boos, is scheduled for the Williams Arena Media Room. Be thar or be rectangu-lar:
- Saturday, November 11th Prior to the Northwestern match (8:00pm start), 6:30-7:15pm
Road Trip to Madison
The Golddiggers have organized a trip to Madison for the Wednesday 11/15 match against the Badgers. If you are interested in joining us on this bus trip, please let John Thompson know ASAP (jt@golddigger-boosters.org).
Locker
Room Ribbon-Cutting
The ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for the women’s volleyball locker room renovation is scheduled for Friday, November 17th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in the Sports Pavilion. Please RSVP to the Golden Gopher Fund office by Monday, November 13th (612.626.4653). All Golddigger members are invited and this is a free event. Please note that there is no match on November 17th.
Also, we would very much like to hear from YOU! Former Gophers, out-of-town members, Hollywood celebrities -- whomever -- please email us at the address below, let us know what you are up to, pass on suggestions or questions for the Point U!(betcha), or hammer the coaching staff for their time-out usage -- it’s up to you. The coaching staff has also generously offered to answer questions submitted to them through this newsletter.
We look forward to all your input.
The past two weeks have presented the Gopher fan with a veritable smorgasbord of results. There’s been the truly delicious -- such as 3-0 wins over Ohio State and Michigan State; there’s been a dish that didn’t sit so well at first, but could have been a heckuva lot worse -- the 2-3 loss to Penn State; and there was also, unfortunately, some three-day-old lutefisk available -- that 1-3 loss to Michigan.
However, without overlooking the Boilermakers (or this weekend’s matches, of course), it would appear that we’re about to be served a meal we have had many, many times before: The Gophers and Badgers are once again about to battle for second place in the conference. Seem familiar? That’s because it is. Take a look at the finishes for these two teams since 1999:
|
Big10
Records |
||||
|
|
Gophers |
Badgers |
||
|
Year |
W/L Record |
Place |
W/L Record |
Place |
|
2005 |
14-6 |
3rd |
15-5 |
2nd |
|
2004 |
17-3 |
2nd |
13-7 |
4th |
|
2003 |
15-5 |
2nd |
13-7 |
4th |
|
2002 |
17-3 |
1st |
14-6 |
2nd |
|
2001 |
10-10 |
6th |
19-1 |
1st |
|
2000 |
17-3 |
2nd |
18-2 |
1st |
|
1999 |
15-5 |
2nd |
14-6 |
3rd |
We can probably safely say that this Gopher-Badger deal qualifies as a bona fide rivalry. Too obvious?
How about this for further proof, even if more is not necessary: The all-time series record between the two teams stands at 29-30, in Wisconsin’s favor.
That’s why a busload of boosters will be heading to Madison -- on a Wednesday no less -- to sing the Rouser, spell M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A a few hundred times and cheer for the Maroon and Gold. It’s the least we can do to turn up the fire under this already overheated rivalry. It’s time to tie up the series! Time to belly on up to the buffet for some dessert!
Bon appétit and ...
Go Gophers!
Illinois FRIDAY
November 10th 7:00pm
The Illini broke a three match losing streak by defeating the Hawkeyes last Saturday night. They dropped the first game, but won the next three -- with each game closer than the previous, including 39-37 in the 4th. Illinois, at 5-9 in the conference and 14-10 overall, probably needs to finish strong to make the NCAAs and a win over the Gophers would certainly be a good start -- for them, of course.
It’s going to be an over-simplification for us to say that Illinois is mostly about offense, and not much for defense, but there is still some truth in that statement. The Illini are third in the conference in kills per game (16.53), but they are eighth in opponent hitting percentage (.245).
Vicki Brown is hitting .341 for the year and Kayani Turner is averaging 4.73 kills per game. In conference play, Lizzie Bazzetta leads all setters with 14.06 assists per game, and Ashley Edinger is third in digs per game, at 4.72. Edinger is also this week’s Big10 Defensive Player of the Week.
Northwestern SATURDAY
November 11th 8:00pm
The Wildcats are one of the hotter teams in the conference headed into this weekend. They have won three matches in a row to bring their Big10 record back to .500 at 7-7 and greatly enhance their chances for a bid to the NCAA tournament. Even so, their 13-10 overall record means they need to go at least 2-4 in the last six matches just to qualify -- and that schedule is Wisconsin, Minnesota, Purdue, Indiana, Ohio State and Penn State, with only the Boilermakers and Hoosiers headed to Evanston. In short, they will be the undercats in every match except against Indiana -- they need an upset. No doubt Northwestern also is out to avenge their 3-2 loss to the Gophers to kickoff the Big10 season.
They are ninth in conference hitting percentage (.184), but fifth in opponent hitting percentage (.199), so it’s a good bet we will see more than our fair share of long rallies Saturday night. They are also a surprisingly effective blocking team, third in the conference.
Chelsy Hyser is having an exceptional year for them, hitting .302 (.308 in the Big10) and averaging 1.20 blocks per game. Katie Nobilio is second in the Big10 in digs per game, at 4.91. (Malama Peniata is first, by the way, with 5.13.)
Wisconsin WEDNESDAY November 15th 7:00pm (@
Madison)
Assuming the Badgers and Gophers make it through the weekend with wins over the Illini and Wildcats, this match shapes up as the tussle for second place in the Big10 -- and, conceivably, could all but guarantee the winner a seed in the NCAAs. Worth a bus trip? You bet it is!
Wisconsin is second in conference hitting percentage (.284) and third in opponent hitting percentage (.180). The Gophers, by contrast, are fourth (.230) and second (.178), respectively. Wisconsin is first in three other categories: assists per game (16.04), kills per game (17.07) and blocks per game (3.47 -- tied with PSU).
Taylor Reineke has had some very good matches since the Badgers were in town, raising her Big10 hitting percentage to .354 (fifth in the conference) and her blocks per game to 1.87 (first in the conference). Setter Jackie Simpson was the AVCA/Division I National Player of the Week following the Badgers’ wins over PSU and OSU.
Iowa SATURDAY
November 18th 7:00pm
The Hawkeyes then come to town for the Gophers’ last Big10 home match of the season. They moved out of the Big10 cellar with their second sweep of Indiana 10/28. However, the Hoosiers remain the only Big10 opponent Iowa has defeated this year.
They are tenth in hitting percentage (.171) and ninth in opponent hitting percentage (.250), a formula which almosts guarantees a 2-12 record, or worse. The one bright spot appears to be their defense, which is second in the conference with 16.78 digs per game.
Emily Hiza is fifth in the Big10 in digs per game, at 4.69.
The Gophers head to Purdue and Indiana for matches November 24th and 25th, respectively. These matches will close out the regular season schedule for the team. After that? The NCAA selections.
The CSTV/AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll #10 was released 11/6/2006. The link to the complete rankings follows, but the top 10 were: 1--Nebraska, 2--Stanford, 3--Penn State, 4--Washington, 5--UCLA, 6--USC, 7--Florida, 8--Texas, 9--Utah and 10--Wisconsin. The Gophers are at #13 (down from #12 last week), Purdue is #16 and Ohio State is #23.
The Gophers are #11 in the RichKern.com Volleyball Poll, after two weeks at #9.
Finally, the Gophers, who had risen all the way to #6 in the Pablo rankings, are at #9 this week.
Conference standings from around the country as of 11/5/06:
|
Big 12 |
W/L |
Overall |
|
Pac10 |
W/L |
Overall |
|
SEC |
W/L |
Overall |
|
|
Nebraska |
14-0 |
22-0 |
|
Stanford |
11-1 |
20-2 |
|
Florida |
15-1 |
22-2 |
|
|
Texas |
12-3 |
17-5 |
|
UCLA |
11-2 |
24-2 |
|
LSU |
13-3 |
21-4 |
|
|
Oklahoma |
11-3 |
20-5 |
|
Washington |
11-2 |
21-3 |
|
Alabama |
10-6 |
15-10 |
|
|
Iowa State |
9-5 |
17-7 |
|
USC |
10-3 |
21-3 |
|
Kentucky |
9-7 |
16-8 |
|
|
Colorado |
9-6 |
13-9 |
|
Oregon |
7-5 |
17-5 |
|
Arkansas |
8-8 |
15-9 |
|
|
Missouri |
9-6 |
15-9 |
|
California |
6-6 |
17-6 |
|
Tennessee |
8-8 |
17-9 |
|
|
Baylor |
4-10 |
15-11 |
|
Arizona State |
3-10 |
11-13 |
|
Mississippi |
7-9 |
16-11 |
|
|
Texas Tech |
4-10 |
11-12 |
|
WSU |
3-10 |
15-12 |
|
Mississippi St |
6-10 |
15-11 |
|
|
Texas A&M |
4-11 |
11-12 |
|
Arizona |
1-12 |
10-15 |
|
South Carolina |
6-10 |
13-14 |
|
|
Kansas |
3-12 |
10-14 |
|
Oregon State |
0-12 |
3-18 |
|
Auburn |
4-12 |
12-15 |
|
|
Kansas State |
1-14 |
9-16 |
|
|
|
|
|
Georgia |
2-14 |
6-20 |
|
|
Big West |
W/L |
Overall |
|
WCC |
W/L |
Overall |
|
MWC |
W/L |
Overall |
|
|
Cal Poly |
11-1 |
19-5 |
|
San Diego |
10-1 |
20-5 |
|
Utah |
13-0 |
12-2 |
|
|
LBSU |
8-2 |
18-5 |
|
Pepperdine |
8-3 |
12-10 |
|
Colorado State |
10-2 |
16-6 |
|
|
CS Northridge |
6-4 |
15-8 |
|
Santa Clara |
7-4 |
17-6 |
|
BYU |
10-3 |
20-4 |
|
|
UCSB |
6-6 |
14-11 |
|
Loyola Mary |
5-6 |
17-9 |
|
UNLV |
7-6 |
16-9 |
|
|
CS Fullerton |
5-6 |
16-9 |
|
Saint Marys |
4-6 |
9-12 |
|
Wyoming |
5-7 |
11-12 |
|
|
UC Irvine |
4-6 |
9-15 |
|
San Francisco |
4-6 |
20-7 |
|
TCU |
5-9 |
17-12 |
|
|
Pacific |
3-7 |
7-16 |
|
Gonzaga |
3-7 |
8-17 |
|
San Diego State |
4-9 |
10-15 |
|
|
UC Riverside |
0-11 |
2-22 |
|
Portland |
1-9 |
8-15 |
|
New Mexico |
4-10 |
8-18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Air Force |
0-10 |
3-20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other notables:
|
Team |
W/L |
Overall |
Conference |
Place |
|
Dayton |
10-1 |
20-7 |
Atlantic 10 |
1st |
|
Duke |
14-1 |
21-3 |
Atlantic Coast |
1st |
|
Hawaii |
11-1 |
19-5 |
Western Athletic |
1st (T) |
|
Louisville |
11-1 |
18-6 |
Big East |
2nd |
|
Marshall |
11-3 |
19-9 |
Conference USA |
1st (T) |
|
Missouri State |
11-3 |
21-6 |
Missouri Valley |
3rd |
|
New Mexico State |
11-1 |
28-1 |
Western Athletic |
1st (T) |
|
Northern Iowa |
13-2 |
21-7 |
Missouri Valley |
1st |
|
Ohio |
14-0 |
12-3 |
Mid-American |
1st |
|
Oral Roberts |
10-0 |
23-7 |
Mid-Continent |
1st |
|
Sacramento State |
13-1 |
26-5 |
Big Sky |
1st |
|
St. John’s |
12-0 |
27-1 |
Big East |
1st |
|
Tulsa |
11-3 |
24-6 |
Conference USA |
1st (T) |
|
Wichita State |
12-2 |
21-5 |
Missouri Valley |
2nd |
|
Wisconsin-Milwaukee |
11-1 |
19-5 |
Horizon League |
1st |
(T) = tied
Recent results of note (home team in bold):
10/31
Oral Roberts 3, Wichita State 1 (30-27, 24-30, 30-24, 30-23)
11/1
Baylor 3, Texas A&M 1 (30-24, 27-30, 34-32, 30-16)
Iowa State 3, Missouri 1 (30-27, 30-22, 24-30, 30-22)
Kentucky 3, Tennessee 1 (22-30, 30-27, 34-32, 30-25)
11/2
Pepperdine 3, Santa Clara 0 (30-25, 32-30, 30-28)
San Diego 3, Loyola Marymount 2 (28-30, 30-20, 29-31, 33-31, 15-10)
11/3
Alabama 3, Tennessee 2 (24-30, 20-30, 30-24, 30-28, 15-11)
Florida 3, LSU 1 (31-29, 30-24, 27-30, 30-24)
New Mexico 3, BYU 1 (31-29, 30-27, 21-30, 30-23)
Stanford 3, California 1 (30-26, 30-21, 28-30, 30-28)
UCLA 3, Arizona State 1 (27-30, 30-15, 30-23, 30-26)
Washington 3, Oregon 2 (30-15, 28-30, 30-26, 29-31, 16-14)
11/4
Cal State Fullerton
3, UCSB 2 (23-30, 30-25, 30-22, 19-30, 15-10)
Missouri 3,
Colorado 1 (30-23, 30-17, 28-30, 30-28)
Nebraska 3, Oklahoma 0 (30-19, 30-26, 30-27)
Northern Iowa 3,
Creighton 0 (30-23, 30-23, 30-27)
Pepperdine 3, San Diego 1 (30-22, 28-30, 30-19, 30-28)
Santa Clara 3, Loyola Marymount 2 (26-30, 30-32, 30-25, 30-23, 16-14)
Western Michigan 3, Bowling Green 1 (30-23, 28-30, 30-28, 30-23)
11/5
Florida 3, Arkansas 1
(30-24, 30-26, 28-30, 30-16)
Kentucky 3, Alabama 2 (30-21, 30-22, 22-30, 25-30, 15-12)
+ + +
Best links for results, websites, and rosters are:
The best site for statistics (national leaders) is at the NCAA website. Although this is not updated that quickly, eventually they do get around to it.
Just some of the national leaders (as of 10/29/06) were:
|
Hitting
percentage |
Kills per
game |
Assists
per game |
|||
|
Nana Meriwether, UCLA |
.474 |
Kelly-Anne Billingy,
Marshall |
6.40 |
Courtney Thompson,
Washington |
14.96 |
|
Faye Barhorst, Dayton |
.459 |
Maria Andonova, Florida
A&M |
5.76 |
Lizzie Bazzetta, Illinois |
13.92 |
|
Lindsey Ensign, Princeton |
.454 |
Kate McCullagh, Northern
Illinois |
5.72 |
Kanoe Kamana’o, Hawai’i |
13.89 |
|
Foluke Akinradewo |
.450 |
Shonda Cole, South Carolina |
5.69 |
Emily Withers, Jacksonville
State |
13.76 |
|
Tracy Stalls, Nebraska |
.442 |
Jamie Houston, Hawai’i |
5.58 |
Nellie Spicer, UCLA |
13.75 |
|
Aces per
game |
Blocks per
game |
Digs per
game |
|||
|
Brooke Engel, North Texas |
0.96 |
Emillie Toone, Utah |
1.94 |
Amanda McCormick, Ball
State |
7.35 |
|
Martina Wagner, Long Island |
0.83 |
Michelle Franz, Sacramento
State |
1.85 |
Gina Guide, Northern
Illinois |
6.89 |
|
Marina Skander, LSU |
0.73 |
Nana Meriwether, UCLA |
1.84 |
Stephanie Figgers, SF
Austin |
6.86 |
|
3 tied: Lewis, London,
Zuzic |
0.72 |
Sarah Blum, Tennessee |
1.79 |
Sydney Donahue, Arizona
State |
6.70 |
|
|
|
Danielle Hepburn, Clemson |
1.74 |
Kristin Lutes, Sacramento
State |
6.47 |
The
standings:
|
Team |
Big10 record |
Overall record |
AVCA
ranking |
RichKern.com
Ranking |
Pablo rating* |
|
Penn State |
13-1 |
23-1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Minnesota |
11-3 |
17-7 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
|
Wisconsin |
11-3 |
19-5 |
10 |
9 |
5 |
|
Purdue |
9-5 |
19-6 |
16 |
14 |
24 |
|
Northwestern |
7-7 |
13-10 |
NA |
NA |
33 |
|
Ohio State |
7-7 |
17-7 |
23 |
23 |
22 |
|
Michigan State |
6-8 |
15-9 |
NA |
NA |
29 |
|
Illinois |
5-9 |
14-10 |
NA |
NA |
46 |
|
Michigan |
5-9 |
18-9 |
NA |
NA |
24 |
|
Iowa |
2-12 |
13-13 |
NA |
NA |
78 |
|
Indiana |
1-13 |
10-16 |
NA |
NA |
138 |
2006 conference statistics for individuals are at:
Last week’s matches (home team in bold):
11/1
Northwestern 3,
Illinois 1 (30-25, 25-30, 30-26, 30-27)
11/3
Illinois 3, Iowa 1 (19-30, 30-28, 31-29, 39-37)
Minnesota 3, Michigan State 0 (30-16, 30-25, 30-25)
Ohio State 3, Indiana
0 (30-20, 30-19, 30-20)
Penn State 3, Purdue 0 (30-13, 30-15, 30-22)
Wisconsin 3, Michigan 0 (30-26, 30-14, 30-25)
11/4
Michigan 3, Minnesota 1 (27-30, 30-23, 30-20, 30-26)
Northwestern 3, Iowa 1 (32-30, 30-26, 26-30, 30-25)
Ohio State 3,
Purdue 0 (30-18, 31-29, 31-29)
Penn State 3, Indiana 0 (30-18, 30-15, 30-17)
Wisconsin 3, Michigan State 1 (30-20, 23-30, 30-21, 30-22)
This week’s schedule:
11/8
Penn
State @ Ohio State
11/10
Illinois @ Minnesota
Iowa @ Ohio State
Michigan
@ Purdue
Michigan State @ Indiana
Northwestern @
Wisconsin
11/11
Illinois @ Wisconsin
Iowa @ Penn State
Michigan @ Indiana
Michigan
State @ Purdue
Northwestern @ Minnesota
|
Team |
Website link |
Roster link |
Stats link |
|
Illinois |
|||
|
Indiana |
|||
|
Iowa |
|||
|
Michigan |
|||
|
Michigan State |
|||
|
Northwestern |
|||
|
Ohio State |
|||
|
Penn State |
|||
|
Purdue |
|||
|
Wisconsin |
Fans are perhaps
wondering about -- or impressed by -- the yellow card Jessy Jones received in
the Penn State match. Some might even have such questions as: What is a
yellow card anyhow? Why does one receive one? Why is it yellow? Does one get to
keep it? Rather than just ignore these
people -- real or not -- and their hypothetical questions, we put our crack
Point U!(betcha) Research
Team on the job. The following is their report.
First of all, we prefer to call it an “investigation,” not research. Research can be done with a computer and a decent search engine. Investigations require some actual sleuthing. Feet on the pavement. Maybe a bus to Minneapolis. Plus, we get to wear the cool trenchcoats.
Anyhow, our investigation led us to the small, dingy office of one Shirley “Big Whistle” McGyver, former NCAA referee and an expert on all things rules-related. (It said so right there in the Yellow Pages.) After trying to give us the runaround -- she suggested we try the library! -- she confirmed what we had suspected: The cards displayed by these first referees are for bad behavior. She called them sanctions, for misconduct, improper requests, and team delays.
By the way, these cards, you might be interested to know, come in at least two colors: the aforementioned yellow, and a fire engine red. Shirley could not -- or would not -- shed any light on a tip we had received about a blue card that had once been handed out in an incident involving an elephant, a back hoe and a can of Reddi Wip. This investigation, however, is on-going.
Misconduct, Shirley explained, is defined as “any behavior, action or conduct by a team member toward officials, opponents, teammates or spectators that is deemed inappropriate by the referees.” We pointed out that this is a rather broad -- vague, if you will -- definition, and we wondered why she was using quotes. We were promptly given yellow cards for our “impertinence.” She scolded that such misconduct can result in one of four sanctions and that we were lucky to only receive the yellow cards.
Those sanctions are:
ü A Warning for “minor unsporting offenses,” with a yellow card displayed by the first referee. This is recorded on the scoresheet. The specific warning is that a second offense in the same game will result in a penalty.
ü A Penalty for “rude conduct” or a second yellow card in the same game. A red card is displayed by the first referee. The specific penalty is a loss of rally and a point to the opponent. A second penalty in the same game by the same player will result in an expulsion.
ü An Expulsion for “extremely offensive conduct” or a second penalty. This results in the player’s removal from that game. The first referee’s signal is simultaneous yellow and red cards, held together. This also is a loss of a rally and a point for the opponent. A second expulsion in the same match results in a disqualification.
ü A Disqualification for “any simulated, attempted or actual physical aggression” or for a second expulsion in the same match. The referee signals this with simultaneous yellow and red cards, held apart. The player is disqualified for the remainder of the match and for the team’s next match. This too results in a loss of a rally and a point for the opponent.
We were thinking: Nice list (we especially like the bullets), but that’s it? Shirley, there must be other ways to receive these colored cards? What about spitballs? Amazingly enough, she read our thoughts, asked us to stop calling her “Shirley” (even though this was her name!), and gave us another yellow card each. Turns out, she lectured us, there are other ways which involve:
ü Team discipline -- this is misconduct from the bench. If the offending party cannot be identified, the head coach is assessed the sanction. This, we assume, would include spitballs of unknown origin.
ü Disruptive coaching -- coaching outside of the designated area, loud or abusive language, inappropriate comments to officials, throwing objects, or displaying disgust in an overt manner. We believe that any coach who is able to do all these things at the same time should not only receive a yellow card but some sort of award.
ü Use of electronic aids -- “electronic audio or video devices that transmit information from any location in the facility to the bench or court are illegal.” We assume electronic spitball dispensers are also illegal.
ü Improper requests -- requests for timeouts, substitutions and lineup checks which do not follow the proper procedure. Asking the second referee out for dinner and a movie would also qualify.
ü Team delays -- any action by a team that delays the playing of the game. Spitballs? You bet!
Shirley was pointing at the door. Although we had obviously overstayed our welcome, she wrapped up our meeting by giving us each a whistle, a rulebook and a badly fitting white polo shirt. We thanked her and rushed back to the office to file this report. Hope it helps and stay tuned for news about that blue card.
[The actual source for the
information in this segment (and for the quotations) is the 2006 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Rules and
Interpretations, NCAA, 5/06. Remember, emails to newsletter@golddigger-boosters.org
or we’ll just keep picking the topic.]
Point U!(betcha)
presents another installment from our very own travelling booster, John
“JT” Thompson, as he follows the Gophers
around the country, this time to East Lansing and Ann Arbor (or the Parises of
the Midwest).
After five home matches, and a missed road trip to Iowa, it’s back on the road for the Gophers, and for me. It’s off to Michigan State and Michigan. For me, it’s another plane trip. I don’t know how they manage, but some of the other fans actually drive the whole trip. (That’s a ten hour trip one-way, and you need to coordinate travel to miss the 20 hours of traffic jam around Chicago. No thanks!)
Instead, I fly into Detroit, pick up a car, and check in to my hotel. The last few years, I’ve taken to getting a hotel near the airport, instead of getting one up in East Lansing (MSU) and another down in Ann Arbor (MI). It makes the Michigan State travel time a bit longer, because you have to drive there and back again in the same night, but having a single hotel for the whole weekend, and having a quick return trip to the airport make up for it, I think.
Regardless, just before 7PM, I find myself at Jennisen Fieldhouse on the Michigan State campus. It’s not a fantastic venue, but I like MSU’s arena, especially now that they’ve put down a wooden floor instead of a Sport Court, and rotated the court 90 degrees from the “normal” direction of the fieldhouse activities. It puts the fans closer to the action this way. I buy my raffle tickets (the MSU booster club raises funds by selling raffle tickets, where the prize is half the cash raised), and get a bratwurst and soda at the concession stand before joining the other Gopher fans in the stands. Michigan, it appears, isn’t “Midwest” enough to know what a brat is. What they sell me is a cheddar-cheese sausage, and not a bratwurst. Since they only have “hot dogs” and “brats”, it’s clearly a case of false advertising. It still tastes good, though.
We win the first game handily, and I risk fate and good karma by moving up into the upper deck at the end court, to get some photos from that vantage. Although it’s touch-and-go for a while, it appears that tonight my choice of seat location does not determine whether we win or lose (unlike the situation at Northwestern earlier in the season). During the intermission, I chat with some of the MSU booster members who are selling merchandise. Sparty (Michigan State’s foam-muscled mascot) grabs at my Gopher ears, but it’s all in good fun. His helmet is attached to his head, so I decide not to try and grab it off him. Instead, we shake hands and go back to the match as game three is about to start.
Game three also goes our way, which is the way we want it. Unfortunately, the raffle ticket number doesn’t go my way, and, just like in every previous year, I fail to make a profit on the night. After the match, I hang around to talk to players and fans for a bit, but the hotel’s more than an hour away ... I have to get back to it.
On Saturday, I do little but relax before heading to the match, and end up leaving later than I’d hoped. There’s a hockey game at Michigan (against MSU) so the traffic and parking are bad. I get into the arena about four points into the first game. Shame on me. It’s also the first time I’ve had to pay for parking at the University of Michigan. The Wolverines play really well, and the end result is not what I wanted to see. That’s enough said about that. I drive back to Detroit, only to find that the Subway closes at 10PM, and they really meant to have locked the doors before I came by. No oatmeal raisin cookies for me this trip. Bummer.
Sunday morning, I fly out, and I’m on the same plane as the team. While I’m getting breakfast, Nao Ikeda asks if I’ll hold on to her bottle of water, because she has to go back out through security to pick up a phone that was forgotten on the bus, and she can’t come back through with the water, due to heightened security. Normally, there’s a penalty for forgetting things on the bus, or in the hotel room. I wonder if this person will have to sing the Rouser at the next Golddigger reception. (Maybe we should ask ...)
The trip didn’t turn out as well as I’d hoped, but that’s the way things go in the Big Ten. Road victories are always hard to come by. But that’s part of what makes the trips worth taking. Next week is a quick day trip down to Wisconsin to take on the Badgers. It should be fun.
In honor of our seniors (with Dave Boos filling in for Meghan), a little nostalgia from 2002 (photos from gophersports.com). What a fabulous ride it has been!
Gopher Chatter
The Minnesota State Girl’s (High School) Volleyball Tournament is this Thursday through Saturday (November 9-11) at the Xcel Energy Center. Although none of the 2007 Gopher recruits will be in the tournament this year, there are still plenty of reasons to attend, not the least of which being the high quality of volleyball on display.
The first match is at 9am on Thursday in Class AAA. The 2006 participants:
|
Class A |
Class AA |
Class AA |
|
Central Minnesota Christian |
St. Cloud Cathedral |
Wayzata |
|
Bertha-Hewitt |
Jordan |
Chaska |
|
Meadow Creek Christian |
Pipestone Area |
Moorhead |
|
Minneota |
Montevideo |
Eagan |
|
Wheaton |
Virginia |
Marshall |
|
Bethlehem Academy |
LeSueur-Henderson |
Lakeville North |
|
Climax/Fisher |
Stewartville |
Hibbing |
|
Littlefork-Big Falls |
Lake of the Woods |
Blaine |
The StarTribune’s All-Metro Team:
Brook Dieter, Bloomingington Kennedy, 6-2, SR, OH (Minnesota)
Lauren Gibbemeyer, Cretin-Derham Hall, 6-2, SR, MB (Minnesota)
Susan Halvorson, Apple Valley, 5-8, SR, L (Undecided)
Hailey Cowles, Eden Prairie, 5-9, SR, OH (Minnesota)
Megan Carlson, Andover, 5-10, JR, OH
Allie Oelke, Chaska, 6-1, SR, MB (Creighton)
In addition, Cowles is the Metro Player of the Year, matching her sister Courtney’s honor in 2004. They are the first sisters to have each won the award.
Second team members were Kelsey Brandl (Lakeville North), Brittany Chambers (Jordan), Ellie Duffy (Totino-Grace), Naomi Johnson (Kennedy), Jessica Menden (Shakopee), Brittany Wenzel (Chaska).
Third team members were Lauren Baufield (Wayzata), Kelsey Ellis (Anoka), Krista Erickson (Andover), Maggie Geske (Shakopee), Jessica Granquist (Blaine), Jackie Kelly (Blaine).
The current high school stats (as reported by participating schools):
+ + +
Alumna News
Here’s a quick quiz. Can you match the Gophers (present and former) below with the State Tournament participants above? Answers are below, in the Miscellaneous section.
Kate
Callahan
Maggie
Freiborg
Becky
Jakala
Erin
Lorenzen
Jamie
McKibbon
Carrie
Noble
Heidi
Ohlhausen
Lindsey
Taatjes
Michele
Wilber
Gopher Head Coach Mike Hebert will soon take his place in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony, scheduled for December 13th in Omaha, will include Coach Hebert, Deborah Chin, Carol Dewey, Mick Haley, Sue Gozansky, Sue Woodstra and John Zoltek. Again, our sincerest congratulations on this well-deserved honor!
http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=38659&SPID=3301&DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=621097
+ + +
The answers to the quiz in Gopher Chatter above:
Kate Callahan -- Lakeville North (Lakeville)
Maggie Freiborg -- Central Minnesota Christian
Becky Jakala -- Chaska
Erin Lorenzen -- Pipestone Area (Pipestone-Jasper)
Jamie McKibbon -- Hibbing
Carrie Noble -- Stewartville
Heidi
Ohlhausen -- Lakeville North (Lakeville)
Lindsey Taatjes -- Central Minnesota Christian
Michele Wilber -- Meadow Creek Christian
Gophers
site
http://www.gophersports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8400&SPID=3301&SPSID=38659
Big10 site
http://bigten.collegesports.com/sports/w-volley/big10-w-volley-body.html
Volleyball forums
http://volleytalk.proboards35.com/index.cgi?board=general
http://p094.ezboard.com/bprepvolleyball
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/bigtenvb/
RichKern.com (includes websites,
scores, recruits, etc.)
Some features at this site now require registration/subscription.
http://www.richkern.com/vb/index.asp
http://www.richkern.com/vb/websites/SchoolByConf.asp?Div=DI
(premium)
http://www.richkern.com/vb/GameScores/indexsub.asp?Div=DI
http://www.richkern.com/vb/recruits/index.asp
PrepVolleyball.com (subscription)
http://www.prepvolleyball.com/index.asp
CSTV site
http://www.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/index.html
NCAA statistics
http://www.ncaasports.com/volleyball/womens/stats/stats
Contact Us
Questions/comments/suggestions/pastries are welcome.
Please address them to newsletter@golddigger-boosters.org.
Our mission “statement”? To support Gopher
volleyball and have fun doing it.
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