Display MoreImoudu - Spelman
Szakmary - Agost (or Alsmeier, depending on Agost's reception)
Schölzel - Barfield
Pogany
Schwerin is surely among the top 3 teams next season together with Stuttgart and Dresden and has a chance to win titles. They're qualified for CL group stage.
Szakmary - Agost as outside hitter duo doesn't seem strong in serve receive...
I would play with one of them and Alsmeier to stabilize the reception.
Mikaela Foecke doesn't want to come to Italy next season, despite having a valid contract with Il Bisonte Firenze of 1 more year.
She just communicated her decision to the club, which is now in troubles as there are not many good OHs available in the market.
Understandable, but she should have communicated much earlier
This isn't fair for Firenze!
Taylor Agost and Hayley Spelman to Schwerin.
So probably Lippmann isn't staying, but where is she going than?
My guess will be either Aydin or THY.
Aydin has a balanced team with decent players at every position. They have a talented setter and one of the best Turkish opposites with Boz. A great offensive outside hitter in Anthi and Balkestein-Grothues is one of the best defensive outside hitter who is able to cover Anthi in service reception. Compared to last season they have a way better libero with Pinar. The middle blocker position seems also strong with Janset and Adams.
THY did a really good job they've transfered Ebrar, Carlini and Asli. The rest of the team is a bit dissapointing in my eyes... So I think Aydin has the biggest chance to finish fourth, but last year I also had high hopes for them so we will see.
In Aachen she played a lot, there was no clear nr 1 among her and Divoux but I think Imoudu played more than Divoux back then. And concerning Potsdam, honestly I think the main reason why Nichol was first setter there was being Hernandez's girlfriend. Whenever Imoudu got to play I thought she did much better than Nichol...
Don't know if Nichol or Imoudu was better last season, I dind't watch Potsdam a lot. I only know Nichol was the main setter.
In Aachen Imoudu was the starting setter at the beginning of the competition, but Divoux eventually took over the starting spot. Divoux was the starting setter in all of the important play-off matches.
IMO Stuttgart and Dresden are stronger anyway. Only id Lippmann stays they are more equal...
Both Imoudu and Stoltenborg aren't stable setters. Imoudu has bigger potential, so she should be the starting setter. Last 2 seasons she wasn't a starter though, so for me it wouldn't be a surprise if Stoltenborg takes over the starting spot eventually.
Dutch volleyball federation wants to develop a team with toung talents from 17 - 21 years of age that the national A-team has to complete in the short future. The young team will train and travel in the winter of 2021-2022, with matches in Brazil, Japan and Italy. Variants are possible, with half training weeks at the National Sports Center Papendal.Eventually these players has to fill in the gaps at the WCH 2022 in home country the older generation will leave.
IMO it isn't a bad idea, because the level in the Dutch league isn't good, so they can learn much more from training against better teams and facing a lot of different styles of play. Don't know if they will be ready to play at the WCH 2022 though...
Kirsten Knip won't play for a club untill January. She could have stayed in Romania, but personally she had a rough time recently, so she wants to stay with her family.
Baijens officially in Chemik
Didn't expect this transfer at first, because I thought this step was to big for her. She has potential, so I really hope this transfer will work out well! Can she fight with the other middle blockers for a starting spot next to Kakolewska?
I heard a rumor awhile back that Melanie Parra (MEX) will be playing for Texas, is it true?
She was only 16 at the 2018 World Championship, but made a name for herself then. Definitely a rising talent to keep an eye on.
Looks like Melanie Parra will join Texas after all. Nice to see her in NCAA and really good replacement for White!
Good for her! In Dresden she probably wouldn't have had many playing time, so this is way better for her development.
After Sloëtjes and Plak, also Kirsten Knip considers to take a break from volleyball. There will be no players left for the Netherlands in this way
Also: I think, eventually, Kentucky will make it to a FF. Concurrent with that I feel that the SEC (most likely Florida and Mary Wise) will finally win a national title.
I mean...for nearly10years...experts" said Stanford couldn't win!
There is always a chance for "a first time". Let's go orange
Yes probably Florida would have the biggest chance from the teams in SEC. Last couple of years Florida had and have some talented players like Monzeres, Hall, Hammons, Kramer, Snyder, Alhassan and Knop.
Found a youtube channel with some full matches from Olympics 2016.
Now watching quarter final between the Netherlands and Korea. Damn, the Dutchies really served cannons over the net Also I wish Buijs always would play that good
Display MoreKENTUCKY WILDCATS
This is, and always has been, one of the most under-the-radar, near-elite teams in the NCAA: especially in recent seasons. They often seem to be on the very cusp of a breakthrough into a Final Four...and yet fall short of "the dance" every time. The current squad seems fairly formidable: BUT, they lost OH Leah Edmond...4x AVCA All-American: 2x First Team (2017, 2019); 2018 2nd-team; 3rd team 2016; + 2x SEC Player of the Year...so, how will they fare now?
PROJECTED STARTERS
Alli Stumler, Outside Hitter, Junior: 2019 Third-Team All American
Madisen Skinner, OH, Freshman
Reagan Rutherford, Right Side, Freshman - OR - Azhani Tealer, OPP, Sophomore
Kendyl Paris, Middle Blocker, Senior
Madison Lilley, Setter, Senior: three time AVCA Second Team AA; '17 SEC FOY
Gabby Goddard, MB, Junior
Gabby Curry, Libero, Senior: 2019 HM AA
KEY DEPARTURES
Caitlyn Cooper, OPP
Leah Edmond, OH
Leah Meyer, MB
KEY ADDITIONS
Madisen Skinner, OH, Fr.
Reagan Rutherford, RS, Fr.
Sophie Fischer, OH, Fr.
Bella Bell, MB, Redshirt Fr.
BRIEF SYNOPSIS
Well Let's go orange , here you go! I had to dig up around 5 different sources to be able to mix-and-match the preview together. Learned quite a lot about the program...which I enjoyed...so, happy to have done so! The biggest takeaway I got is that they'll have 3 new starters; perhaps 2 being Frosh. In losing a four-time AA....Edmond...both Stumler and (maybe) M. Skinner will have huge shoes to fill! Rutherford may end up being the RS; Fischer is a potential wildcard.
Thank you very much!
Yes it such a shame they always fail when it matters the most
I think a big reason for that is that SEC isn't the strongest Conference. The only real rival is Florida. In this way they play against teams in the NCAA tournament who faced better teams for a whole season, so they are better prepared than Kentucky...
Last year was their big shot to reach the final 4 IMO. Unfortunately Curry had one of her worst matches against Washington, so their serve reception wasn't good. In this way Lilley couldn't play her fast game and she became to predictable...
For next year I hope Skinner can do a good job. Most important is she has to receive on a decent level, so Lilley can play her fast game. The one playing on the right side has to take over Edmond role and scoring the most points for the team. They will for sure suffer from the loss of Edmond, but with one of the fastest system in the country they can upset some teams!
Display MoreTEXAS LONGHORNS
Ahh...the forever passing-poor 'horns. Probably the most enigmatic program in NCAAs...led by one of the most enigmatic coaches: Jerritt Elliott. So much so, that he is attempting to change the basic structure of the NCAA Tournament to favor his team (Again!). This is a program which, historically, has had some of the best talent in the USA, particularly at the pin positions. And Yet, they have won ONE title in 32 years (two total). Can they break this 'curse'?
One of the biggest questions surrounding the squad is the graduation...and need for replacement...of All-American Micaya White: and her topspin serve.
RETURNING STARTERS
Brionne Butler, Middle Blocker, Redshirt-Junior
**Asjia O'Neal**, MB, R-Soph: *Had open-heart surgery earlier this year; future status unknown
Logan Eggleston, OH, Junior; 2019 AVCA 2nd Team All-American
Skylar Fields, OPP, Soph.
Jhenna Gabriel, Setter, Jr.
Sydney Petersen, L, Jr.
Molly Phillips, MB, Soph (IF O'Neal cannot recover in time)
KEY DEPARTURES
Micaya White, Outside Hitter: 4x AVCA AA (1st-Team 2016, 2019; Second team 2018; 3rd-team 2017)
Claire Hahn, Libero
Autumn Rounsaville, L
Orie Agbaji, MB
KEY ADDITIONS
Capri Davis, RS/OH, Soph. (transfer from NE)
Nalani Iosia, DS, Freshman
Madison Williams, OH, Fr. (recovering from torn ACL)
*Melanie Parra, OH, current acceptance-enrollment unclear*
BRIEF SYNOPSIS
Wither Parra, wither O'Neal, wither any competition in the B-12 besides Baylor? As is usually/always the case, TX. has crazy talent....AND even crazier question marks about: eligibility; health; stabilized passing; plus, clear answers from practice gym-competition as to which combinations of personnel will optimize their chances to: 1) beat Baylor for the conference crown; 2) get back to resuming their string of Final Four appearances; and 3)...actually win the whole thing! Personally I'm not holding my breath. Why? Because: 1) Davis is a far-from-known quantity; 2) O'Neal is recovering from a major operation...one that usually requires a tremendous amount of rehabilitation and recovery; 3) Parra's situational status is murky, at best! We will see.
Davis for sure can't take over the spot white left. I mean they already had trouble receiving with Eggleston, White and Petersen. Davis isn't a good receiver, so I don't expect the reception to be good. That's so sad considering their talent at the middle blocker position! Butler is just a beast at the net when she gets a good set and O'Neal has a great slide attack! Sorry to hear she had such a major operation, wish her all the best. Luckely Phillips is more than capable to take over the starting spot.
Yep... They kept all their starters... They already were scary dangerous, now they will be probably unbeatable. And even losing Ogbogu, they signed with Fahr, so they are good in the MB department once again
If I'm honest, I'm not so sure Conegliano will be unbeatable next season...
Last year Vakifbank almost beat them in semi final of club world championship and Vakifbank didn't had Bartsch and Kübra (injured) back then. Next to that IMO they had a more sollid bench last season with Geerties, Ogbogu and Sorokaite. Especially on the outside hitter position I would have liked a better back-up. We all know how unstable Sylla is.
Cannot wait for the league to start. It will be an indicator of which players are going to Tokyo (if there will be a Tokyo 2021) other than Natalia, Gabi, and Thaisa.
Isn't Macris spot also locked for the Olympics? I mean she defenitly is by far the best setter in Brazil at the moment
Any news where Mayany will play next season? I think she could be a good fit with Osasco. Mayany - Bia as middle blocker duo looks pretty sollid.
To me Osasco looks better than last season, on the other hand Rio looks weaker...
Maybe SESI/ Volei Bauru could make some surprises next season
If Dani Lins can play like she did last season and they find an outside hitter who can cover Tifanny together with Castillo. Any news who could be this outside hitter?
Watching this match gives me mixed feelings
First of all it shows how sad it is Radenkovic couldn't keep the level of play she showed in Sopot. She made life easy for Balkestein - Grothues with her fast sets. Balkestein - Grothues many times was top scorer for the team, something usually doesn't happen...
Radenkovic could have been a perfect back-up for Ognjenovic and evantually take over her spot IMO.
Second, it makes me happy Polish league seems more competitive next season! So hopefully we can see the same level of play as it used to be some seasons ago!
