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bratman

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Everything posted by bratman

  1. Maryville will be strong in East Tennessee but I think it’s Brentwood’s to lose.
  2. I just texted my ref friend from Knoxville. Anderson County beat a strong Knoxville Catholic team 3-0 in a scrimmage this week and I think Catholic will be State Champion in private school this season, and he said he is refing a play day today in Knoxville and Anderson County beat Farragut, Hardin Valley and Grace pretty easily. I remember last year they were in the State Finals and took a game against Nolansville in the finals and had them on the ropes in the 4th set, so I would expect them to be the team to beat. They were in AAA for 8 years, if you subtract that they have been in 6 of the last 14 AA State finals and in 14 of the last 14 final fours so I would expect them to be the heavy favorites.
  3. Agreed! I looked online and Starke didn’t make an error in the match. She was everywhere. When AC got going with the long service run and then 15 took over momentum shifted big time. Starke dug, passed, serve received EVERYTHING in the 4th to slow AC down enough for us to get grounded again. One of the best performances I’ve watched! Well earned! AC could be back in the finals next year, several quality teams moved up. Finally, I am not a Wood fan but the HOME team got what they deserved with the talk. I was surprised Brentwood didn’t win bigger. It was a spanking!
  4. That’s not what I saw. I sat behind the benches and I never heard either coach saying anything directly at the other teams. I think Starck played lights out and deserved the MVP. I saw players from both teams calling out where they think the set or the serve will go which seems to be a club thing. I think the AC coaches were trying to get their team fired up, but I didn’t hear or see anything negative. Also, I did see the AC team stand and applaud when N received the trophy and I saw the AC coaches seek out our coach and MVP and hug and congratulate which I thought was nice. We played a great tournament and I got tight when AC took game three, but Starck was every where. I think the talking thru the net is 100% a club thing and I heard no profanity and saw a lot of the girls on both sides laughing. I suspect that several of them know each other thru club. I thought it was the most competitive match of the day. I stayed thru the Brentwood beat down which was rough.
  5. Starck was clearly the MVP. When AC took control of the match Starck’s defensive play saved the day. AC had the momentum and it seemed liked Starck was every where. I dont recall her making an error!
  6. Nope, just like this team and am stunned people try and diminish her. Accomplishments and say they could win without her which is a joke.
  7. Is there any clearer choice for Tournament MVP than Fulton from Nolansville? In the other classifications there could be arguments, but in Class AA Fulton has followed her dominant Region performance with an impressive start to the state. She is playing the best of any player I’ve seen, an no player is more Valuable to their team.
  8. Just from what I’ve watched this week Greenville should beat East Hamilton in 3. Greenville and CrockeTT should be a good match. Both teams play solid defense, serve well and don’t make a lot of errors. They aren’t as offensively strong as N, MC or AC but both are capable of making a move. I expect Fulton to have a monster day tomorrow and sweep AC in 3, and it would not surprise me to see the winner of G and C play AC to see who gets to get smacked down by Fulton and crew on Friday!
  9. I am a former ref who likes to middle Tennessee VB. I really started liking N after they beat Portland where I was in fact a crazy uncle of one of the girls! I like AA ball better than AAA because it is more competitive, watching Brentwood win gets old. I have nothing but respect for N, and my auto correct got me! There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a star player which Fulton is. Also, N is bigger than most AAA schools and double the size of some of the other teams and should win. Without Fulton, or if she has a bad game, I think MC, G and AC could upset them. They have had an easy go in that their bracket was WEAK! AC in particular looks pretty strong and I don’t think they are afraid of N. Watching them against MC today, they looked strong after game 1, and if Fulton doesn’t take over they could get beat, but I think if her teammates do their job and get her the ball they win in 3.
  10. The mom or dad who thinks that N would win a state Championship without Fulton is showing a little of the jealousy bug. She is a special player, and without her, or even if she has a bad game, they are not champions. Why can’t you simply admit she is great and makes everyone around her better. Her teammates get a ring too. But don’t disrespect her.
  11. I wouldn’t say Nolansville has a name. I doubt CrockeTT county had heard of Nolansville before today. They BARELY got to double digits. A couple of thoughts, the teams on the other side of the bracket were stronger. If we ranked then it would be Nolansville AC Murfreesboro Greenville as the top 4. watching AC Murfreesboro and Nolansville back to back Fulton is in a different league but AC is a tougher team than I thought. I really thought MC would sweep them after they took game 1 but AC was mentally tougher and made in game changes that took MC’s best player out of the game and they exploited MC at the net. N has weaker setting and if they can’t get the ball to Fulton they could be beat. I didn’t realize how well AC could play. If Fulton has an average game, or doesn’t get enough sets they could get beat. It will come down to Fulton, without her they don’t beat AC or MC
  12. Fulton looks focused in warmups. This kid is big time!
  13. Fulton will have more points and kills then the entire CrockeTT team put together!
  14. AC doesn’t match up well with MC. I think MC and N meet in the semis. Fulton owns MC. MC will then come out of the loser bracket and play N again in the finals. If Fulton gets the sets, MC can’t score 15. N wins and doesn’t lose a set and Fulton carries N to a title. Fulton is special, if her supporting class she gets another ring.
  15. Not trying to “divide” anything. I agree with all of you they won’t, and shouldn’t, drop a set. They are a huge school playing much smaller schools and Fulton is a big time player. Role players are just as important as stars. Fulton would not be the player she is without a setter to get her the ball or a defensive player to make a pass. No one who follows VB would say anything negative about her, she is the real deal. It is silly to say this team would be just as good without her? With Fulton they won’t have anyone score 20 against them, without her they are a good team but not a great team. Again, this has to be a mom or dad because coaches and players know their roles and the pecking order. Look at how many sets she gets and what she does with them. They could give her the State tournament MVP right now? LeBron had to have a solid supporting cast, and guess what she will get them another state championship ring. Without they should still win but it won’t be the cake walk that this going to be. Crocket is so small that they don’t even block. Fulton could beat them by herself? Crocket won’t score double digits tomorrow. Then Murfreesboro Central will get another spanking by Fulton on Thursday and probably again on Friday in that they are the second best team in the tourney and they have no one to stop Fulton.
  16. Obviously there are some mom and dads on here. Fulton is the key to Nolansville repeating. She is heads and shoulders their best player. If she doesn’t get the ball they are beatable. Jenkins is ok, but not in the same league as Fulton. The coach knows this and when they need a kill it goes to Fulton. If the serve receive is not on and it disappears at times or the setter doesn’t get Fulton the ball enough they become beatable. Their side of the bracket is weak even if they rest Fulton, they will Cruise to the semi finals. My worry is if Fulton is not on, and they get stuck in a couple of rotations where FULTON is not on the front row, they don’t have anyone who can put the ball down. Still, I think Fulton is strong enough to overcome weak games by her supporting cast and this is an easy repeat for Nolansville.
  17. Nolansville won’t drop a set unless their setter and defense let Fulton down. She is the best player in the state AA. It is her team and she knows how to win. East Hamilton and Anderson County have size and athleticism but if the setter will keep getting the ball to Fulton, Nolansville won’t drop a set. If the defense and other players don’t get her the ball it could be a different story. She carries the team, if she is off or if they don’t get her the ball Nolansville is beatable. Fulton is a GREAT player but she can’t set herself or do it all, her teammates are going to have to step up and contribute.
  18. I would watch out for Anderson County. They were in AAA for the last 8 years and Farragut got them in the Regionals. Last year they lost in the sub state to South, but this year they have a team of all freshman and Sophs. This group won back to back middle school sectionals, and have played together in a closed club for the last 4 years with high quality club coaches. They have gotten better every week as the young players learn. They are the biggest AA team in size I have seen, and they are athletic and well coached. They may be a year away but if they beat Catholic in the Regional on Tuesday they could be a tough out. Right now I think Portland is the best team, and the team to beat. They are solid and experienced. I think they will repeat. Catholic, South and Camden are my other top 4. Catholic has Cunningham who is their best player by far, if she gets enough sets they could beat Portland. They have a strong Libero and a good setter. The other hitters aren’t as strong, but Cunningham can carry the load. Hume Fogg is my unknown, sometimes I think they look great, other times so so. South is the same, they come out flat and look average, other times they look great. i pick Portland over Catholic in the finals, but...AC has a strong winning tradition, and are loaded with big strong skilled players. If they can get over their youth and get hot they would be my dark horse to make a push. Still they they are next years team to beat but they are dangerous.
  19. I agree with you both, to a point. For clarification my youngest graduated more than 10 years ago and I am sure much has changed. I am looking at this from the perspective of a physician and retired pro athlete. I respectfully disagree with the stress on the body. The jumping, and the the lateral net movement puts more stress on the body than running. Don't equate contact injuries with long term stress injuries. Think Tiger Woods. It's great that your coaches don't allow weights! Those should be outlawed for high school athletes. In Louisville, our best club practiced in December, and when I observed their high schools the level of competition was way higher than what I saw in Tennessee. Also more intense. Good comments.
  20. Just watched an interview with the director of the concussion legacy foundation. He is a Harvard trained physician and former college football player. His foundation believes that CTE is not caused by five or six big hits, instead he believes that it is the hundreds/thousands of small hits that youth players receive by playing tackle football as children. This medical organization is proposing legislation to limit helmets and pads until players are 16. What was interesting is that they don't limit the negative effect to just football. They are documenting the negative effects of over training on children. The doctors believe that children shouldn't have intense physical training until their bodies completely developed. Usually between 15-20. The long term physical effects we won't see until this generation hits their 50's, and my fear is if those of us who love volleyball and love our daughters don't start speaking out it will be do late. i am interested in hearing from someone who supports year round play and intense physical training for 12-18 year old children, and why they think this is good for the children.
  21. TT, I think you hit the nail on the head, it is about MONEY. These are our children. It makes no sense why college and pro athletes are restricted from year round play but not the children. 10 years from now we are going to look back and wonder what we were thinking. The long term negative effects of the physical and mental strain we put on these children's body is wrong.
  22. I agree with the above, especially on the number of high school matches. When we were in middle school age, mid 90's the high schools played over 60 matches! There was no limit on tournaments. I strongly agree with limiting to two tournaments and 25 non tournament matches for high school. Don't let matches play until the end of August, that gives everyone a month to get back in shape before live play. If we moved the state tournament back to the end of October and I love the 2 tournament idea, that helps, but we still have to deal with club, and the off season training. I am way removed from this but how are parents and coaches justifying not giving these girls at least 4 months off? Are the clubs pushing it? I believe this is a serious issue that affects the health of children. What rationale is being given to push so much play. Great discussion btw.
  23. When my daughter went to college she was part of a study that talks about how much rest a college athlete needs. The results were eye opening. A Division 1 athlete needs a minimum of 4-5 months away from the sport and from anything close to serious training to stay healthy. When I played pro ball our contract gave us a MINIMUM of 4 months away from the club, and we were NOT allowed to do anything physical in able to let our body rest. A high school athlete should have the same time off as a college or pro athlete, even more. Parents have gone sports crazy, and clubs are so motivated by the dollar that they create a false idea that year round play makes you a better player. I would offer that it is the quality, not the quantity, of what you receive that makes you a better player. i stand with my last week of July Start for high school. Back the state tournament back up to the end of October. Start games the last week of August. No club play until February and end by first of June. How would this do anything but help the athlete?
  24. First, thank you for taking the time to call me about this instead of making a childish response. This is NOT an attack on club in anyway. My daughters played club, and I played ball professionally and know what it takes to compete at the highest level. Parents have lost perspective and clubs have become more focused on making money. No one, even professional athletes, should play competitive sports on a year round basis. It is not healthy. As many of you know me, I played professionally for 6 years and I am now a physician. Year round play is harming your daughters, and if the club and high school coaches tell you different then they are either uniformed or intentionally misleading you. My suggestion is this: High School season run from August until October, like it used to. Club tryouts occur immediately after high school is over, but NO practice until January. Have the nationals end by the first week of June. This gives the athlete two (2) month breaks. what do you think?
  25. That's rough. I am going to say something that I feel needs to be said. I think we may be pushing some of these young ladies too hard physically too early. Many, if not most, teams have year round players. That is too much for a 14-18 year old that is still growing and maturing. Also, a lot of club and high school coaches lack in athletic training experience. I was shocked to see a 15 year old doing squats, with weights, with poor form. Nothing but body weight should be used, and there needs to be an off season. Pro athletes rest. I think some parents need some perspective.
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