Thoughts From The Games

I just arrived back in the dorm from watching the Bronze medal game and the Gold medal game.  

Russia won bronze over Japan. Russia is a big physical team that controlled the net and swung hard.
 
Brazil beat China easily in the final. The crowd was loud and awesome trying to encourage their side but Brazil was too strong everywhere for them.  Brazil has speed and strength with great belief in defense.  Hard to ask for more than that.  The word in the gym is this team is expected to be the core of their 2016 Olympic team.  All of the top 6 teams used this FISU as a way to prepare for the Olympics.
 
Lessons I will take back from the games.

1. Very few people call serves.  It is all game planned.  Also with this most teams screen.  They move their blockers to a section of the net and switch to their positions from there.  It just happens to be where they are serving over every time.
2. Most free balls are extremely high, using the height of the gym to allow them to get in place and get ready to block.  Forcing the opposition to pass a ball coming straight down.  If they don't do this then they either free ball short to 2 to take out the rightside from their attack pattern or they freeball short to 4. 
3. Libs try to take as many freeballs as possible.
4. There is no such thing as a standing downball.  The teams either pass it high or set it short.  Most of the time they find a way to jump and get a swing on it.  Just to make the angle different.
5. All of the top 4 teams started their position 6 player just a little behind the middle middle of the court.  They would back up to 1 meter in front of the end line if the block was closed.
6. Quick dynamic player with a quick arm can be any size to score.  Brazil had a 5'10" leftside who dominated the game.
7. Midline passing is still the way to go, the top teams players are able to move their body to get behind the ball.  They don't rely on their arms, but do understand angles that are necessary when the ball is slightly outside their midline.
8. Most teams bunch block, but don't do this continually they will adjust  their block based on who the attackers are.
9. Teams have some servers jump float from deep in the court, keeping other teams off their passing rhythm. 
10. I want to do this again.