Future National Teamers

[brybry]

So who do you guys think from the current crop of collegiate players will make it onto the National Team? Either by 2008 or after.
I'm really hoping that Merriweather will join the team. I know the US is already deep at MB, but they could always use another world class athlete. I don't see many other players out there (including at the international level) w/ the kind of springs that this lady has. She can block and hit really well and she has great footspeed. What I also really like is that she is great hitting in front of the setter. Most US Middle Blockers can't pound the 1, they tend to be effective slide hitters only. Does anyone know if she'll be pursuing vball or track after college? I would imagine anyone who can play that much sports and not burn out would have to be a diehard athlete for life.
From UCLA, I also really like Spicer. She has great hands. Makes great work of good passes and always sets up a hittable ball on off-plays. At the moment, she looks like the best setter in the Pac 10. I don't know how she would do as a blocker at the international level, but I don't think she'd be that much of a liability. She could be good for after 2008.
As far as outside hitters, I really hope Barboza and Morrison have interests in competing in the 2008 Olympics. I think that Barboza will be able to pass at the international level and she could be pretty effective at terminating. I'm not certain if Morrison has the velocity to be a go-to hitter, but she seems very mentally tough and is a smart hitter. We wouldn't see her making the same bonehead plays out of US rookies like Kristin Richards or Jane Collymore. I also think Fawcett could make a strong OPP if she can hit well from the backrow. I would kind of see her as a George Romain or a Clay Stanley for the women's side.

[Keystonekid]

Morrison is not an international OH. Barboza has the all around game similar to Logan, but would have a hard time killing the ball. Fawcett lit it up this summer in Colorado Springs, and I believe will be a very good international player, she is a point scorer. They really love Mcginnis, I think Harmotto has a great chance, Hodge certainly can physically play at that level, Engle has tremendous potential, and I guess the girl from S. Carolina has impressed as well.

[HOLIDAY]

brybry said:

So who do you guys think from the current crop of collegiate players will make it onto the National Team? Either by 2008 or after.
I'm really hoping that Merriweather will join the team. I know the US is already deep at MB, but they could always use another world class athlete. I don't see many other players out there (including at the international level) w/ the kind of springs that this lady has. She can block and hit really well and she has great footspeed. What I also really like is that she is great hitting in front of the setter. Most US Middle Blockers can't pound the 1, they tend to be effective slide hitters only. Does anyone know if she'll be pursuing vball or track after college? I would imagine anyone who can play that much sports and not burn out would have to be a diehard athlete for life.
From UCLA, I also really like Spicer. She has great hands. Makes great work of good passes and always sets up a hittable ball on off-plays. At the moment, she looks like the best setter in the Pac 10. I don't know how she would do as a blocker at the international level, but I don't think she'd be that much of a liability. She could be good for after 2008.
As far as outside hitters, I really hope Barboza and Morrison have interests in competing in the 2008 Olympics. I think that Barboza will be able to pass at the international level and she could be pretty effective at terminating. I'm not certain if Morrison has the velocity to be a go-to hitter, but she seems very mentally tough and is a smart hitter. We wouldn't see her making the same bonehead plays out of US rookies like Kristin Richards or Jane Collymore. I also think Fawcett could make a strong OPP if she can hit well from the backrow. I would kind of see her as a George Romain or a Clay Stanley for the women's side.

Here we go again... Another Pac-10 lovefest of butt-kissing and admiring their own talent only.

[Keystonekid]

I like Morrsion alot, she just isn't an international player. Anymore, you see alot less all around players (Barboza's) and more players who are exceptional in 1 or 2 areas (hit, block)

[brybry]

wrigley said:

brybry said:

So who do you guys think from the current crop of collegiate players will make it onto the National Team? Either by 2008 or after.
I'm really hoping that Merriweather will join the team. I know the US is already deep at MB, but they could always use another world class athlete. I don't see many other players out there (including at the international level) w/ the kind of springs that this lady has. She can block and hit really well and she has great footspeed. What I also really like is that she is great hitting in front of the setter. Most US Middle Blockers can't pound the 1, they tend to be effective slide hitters only. Does anyone know if she'll be pursuing vball or track after college? I would imagine anyone who can play that much sports and not burn out would have to be a diehard athlete for life.
From UCLA, I also really like Spicer. She has great hands. Makes great work of good passes and always sets up a hittable ball on off-plays. At the moment, she looks like the best setter in the Pac 10. I don't know how she would do as a blocker at the international level, but I don't think she'd be that much of a liability. She could be good for after 2008.
As far as outside hitters, I really hope Barboza and Morrison have interests in competing in the 2008 Olympics. I think that Barboza will be able to pass at the international level and she could be pretty effective at terminating. I'm not certain if Morrison has the velocity to be a go-to hitter, but she seems very mentally tough and is a smart hitter. We wouldn't see her making the same bonehead plays out of US rookies like Kristin Richards or Jane Collymore. I also think Fawcett could make a strong OPP if she can hit well from the backrow. I would kind of see her as a George Romain or a Clay Stanley for the women's side.

Here we go again... Another Pac-10 lovefest of butt-kissing and admiring their own talent only.

I did mention Fawcett. And actually now that Keystonekid mentioned her, I love Harmotto. She is super fast and hits and blocks well. Great slide hitter and pretty darn good in front of the setter.
Don't bash my thead, Wrigly. I so rarely start threads. Feel free to contribute. I'm a Pac 10 fan but I really like the international game and would love to see the US do well. I'm bi-partisan when it comes to our international success.

[gobears]

Walbridge?

[pedro el leon]

I'm pretty sure Morrison is going beach after college... She's hinted at it a lot.

[abcd098]

keystonekid said:

I like Morrsion alot, she just isn't an international player. Anymore, you see alot less all around players (Barboza's) and more players who are exceptional in 1 or 2 areas (hit, block)

We as Americans see players who are exceptional in one or two areas, and that might be why we are not on par with other countries. We need players who can also pass and play defense.

[Deleted]

I don't see how Fawcett can be considered international calibre and Morrison not. Maybe I'm stupid, but this makes no sense to me.

[Barefoot In Kailua]

ruffda said:

I don't see how Fawcett can be considered international calibre and Morrison not. Maybe I'm stupid, but this makes no sense to me.

Just consider the source of the quote, (R)uff.

[StanfordFan]

Akinradewo?

[Murina]

I'll add Crimes, Kamanao, Larson, Stalls, McGee (depending on her health), Killingsworth. Everyone mentioned above seem reasonable to me.

As yappachooka says, the USA desperately needs pin players who have well rounded games.

[StuffU]

Kamana'o!

Yes, there are other setters out there that may be the darlings of USA Volleyball (McGinnis), but Kamana'o has all of the attributes of a National Team setter.

For all the doubters, AhMow was in the same situation when she was coming out of college. Everyone agreed that she had the skills to be on the National Team, but everyone also thought that Sharpley and May would beat her out. Now there is a real possibility that AhMow may be going to her third Olympics!

If Kamana'o wants it, I wouldn't count her out.

[ACE]

I like Marcie Hampton of Florida and Christina Houghtelling of Nebraska

With great improvements, Hooker, Houston, has the potential...but GREAT improvements needed.

[Wolfgang]

I think it would be hilarious (in an odd deja vu sort of way) if Ashley Nu'u set the National team and Kamana'o was the libero. Just like in the JNT days.