For those who like me are digging deeper into the game…

Seems interesting

If anyone can give a clear explanation on the difference between international and USA play styles, would much appreciate it. Several commentators have mentioned it now.

Our sets for the hitter were lower and quicker, not giving KY long periods to react. Their sets were higher or loopier for lack of better word - giving Ags more time to time their blocks. Feel free to correct if wrong.

I think it's largely referring to the facts that we ran Logan on a D ball with the middle in front (vs running a Bic with a slide) and our hitters were almost always aggressive and would attack the block frequently.
I also think it's a buzz word people use since Jamie's from an international background.

Really interesting. Thanks for sharing!

flintdragon said:

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If anyone can give a clear explanation on the difference between international and USA play styles, would much appreciate it. Several commentators have mentioned it now.

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Not sure what they were talking about specifically, but there are some differences between NCAA and international.

A couple years back Jamie mentioned that the labeling of rotations or zones was different at the international level and he stuck with international labeling to prep the girls for international play. I would guess club/HS level is pretty much in-line with what most NCAA programs are doing, so it is a matter of when the players have to go through the transition. Obviously, this has no real effect on play, and not something the announcers would be seeing.

NCAA allows a lot more substitutions per set than at the national team level. So international has more 6 rotation players and front row players need to be good at all phases of the game. Maybe the announcers are picking up on Logan and Kyndal playing most rotations and Ifenna serving and playing back row for a half rotation. There were a couple matches this season where the other team got into substitution trouble and were stuck with what they had on the court.

Jamie also said something at the beginning of the season of incorporating more technique for the men's game. He wasn't specific, but I wondered if it was something like Ifenna serve. Maybe some of the speed of Maddie's sets? Watching the playoffs, my wife commented a few times about the various teams and their arching servers and their high slow sets.

I don't remember seeing any slide sets for our middles in any of the matches I watched. Wonder if it's personnel or just Jamie's preference?

akm91 said:

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I don't remember seeing any slide sets for our middles in any of the matches I watched. Wonder if it's personnel or just Jamie's preference?

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No idea how hard it is but I don't think many middles have the proper footwork for some reason. Also probably a tough set at least what I've observed in club.

We did run a handful of slides but most I didn't think looked that good compared to what Nebraska loves to do.