Canada, though? Not so much. 

 

Condolences to Mr. North. I hope this hasn't soured your relationship with Olympic Volleyball too severely. 

Edited August 17, 201610 yr by Pardon My Dinger

I'm out.....damn Ruskies.

 

I want to know why that one player on each team has to wear a different jersey

 

Yeah, as mentioned, it's the libero. There are restrictions depending on the level on how the position can be used. Some levels say that position can never serve nor play on the front line, others allow serving but not front line, others allow front line, but not attacking (which, WTF?). The change in the college game came while I was working with the U of M's volleyball team in the early 2000s. It wasn't received well there, though the first one at the U of M (whose name I'm forgetting at the moment) was the sweetest girl you could ever meet who never would have played at that level without that position being created, so it was hard to really be too upset that she got a chance to play college volleyball.

 

I am a huge fan of court volleyball. I was lucky to get to work with the Gophers when they went from a solid program to one of the elite programs in the nation and have remained one of the best in the nation for many years since. It was also the first sporting event at the U of M after 9/11. I was honored with being the person who sang the anthem that evening.

Yeah, as mentioned, it's the libero. There are restrictions depending on the level on how the position can be used. Some levels say that position can never serve nor play on the front line, others allow serving but not front line, others allow front line, but not attacking (which, WTF?). The change in the college game came while I was working with the U of M's volleyball team in the early 2000s. It wasn't received well there, though the first one at the U of M (whose name I'm forgetting at the moment) was the sweetest girl you could ever meet who never would have played at that level without that position being created, so it was hard to really be too upset that she got a chance to play college volleyball.

 

I am a huge fan of court volleyball. I was lucky to get to work with the Gophers when they went from a solid program to one of the elite programs in the nation and have remained one of the best in the nation for many years since. It was also the first sporting event at the U of M after 9/11. I was honored with being the person who sang the anthem that evening.

Any Olympians that you know of from those teams? Trying to keep the thread tight.

 

Any Olympians that you know of from those teams? Trying to keep the thread tight.

 

Yes, actually. Lindsey Berg went from Hawaii to Gopher to Olympian (2004, 2008, 2012). Nicole Branagh went to the beach side and made the 2008 games.

Yes, actually. Lindsey Berg went from Hawaii to Gopher to Olympian (2004, 2008, 2012). Nicole Branagh went to the beach side and made the 2008 games.

Way cool, man. That's awesome.

Italy-US right now.....somebody should be talking about this.....who isn't Canadian. 30-28 first set, Italy comes back from 22-18.

 

Yowsers!

My two countries. I couldn't even bear to watch it if I could.

2-2, 5th set....Barnburner!!

What a match, quite the comeback by the Italians after getting pummeled in the 3rd set.

Forza Azzurri! Forza volleyball!

Thought you would enjoy this, Pardon.

 

https://www.facebook.com/GopherVolleyball/videos/10154658258797943/

I missed part of this thread this summer but to go back to the volleyball rule changes a bit. Most of the changes were done to increase the pace of play. I was playing on a traveling club team in university when the rule changes went into effect and at first we were like wtf but the new rules work.

 

The new scoring where you don't need to serve to score a point. At high levels it is such a disadvantage to serve that there can be long stretches where nobody scores and teams are just trading sideouts. In the new scoring games are a more consistent length.

 

The libero (different colored jersey player) was just a modification of what teams were already doing. Most high level teams had 1 or 2 players (usually middle hitters) that were subbed out while in the back row for smaller, quicker players. Subbing players out requires a whistle and a stoppage in play. The libero subs in more like a hockey player (dead ball obviously) and just runs onto the court replacing the other player. they can only sub for one specific player during a game.

 

They took a chance making these changes but their progressive attitude benefited the game (aside from confusing casual fans).

I missed part of this thread this summer but to go back to the volleyball rule changes a bit. Most of the changes were done to increase the pace of play. I was playing on a traveling club team in university when the rule changes went into effect and at first we were like wtf but the new rules work.

 

The new scoring where you don't need to serve to score a point. At high levels it is such a disadvantage to serve that there can be long stretches where nobody scores and teams are just trading sideouts. In the new scoring games are a more consistent length.

 

The libero (different colored jersey player) was just a modification of what teams were already doing. Most high level teams had 1 or 2 players (usually middle hitters) that were subbed out while in the back row for smaller, quicker players. Subbing players out requires a whistle and a stoppage in play. The libero subs in more like a hockey player (dead ball obviously) and just runs onto the court replacing the other player. they can only sub for one specific player during a game.

 

They took a chance making these changes but their progressive attitude benefited the game (aside from confusing casual fans).

I remember the first couple of years I went to Gopher volleyball, they were still explaining the scoring changes to the crowd, and then the libero was added my junior or senior year. Made for an interesting piece in the announcer script each game to have rule explanation.

 

I do like the risk taking, and it was very measured and thought out, akin to the pitch clock in baseball, but unlike volleyball, it seems as if no one enforces the pitch clock.