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Post by Volley1234 on Dec 22, 2013 0:53:11 GMT -5
With the return of everyone on that roster except their fantastic libero Hickey, this team with a brand new attitude is on the prowl in 2014.
8 seniors with Morales, Thompson, Thomas, and Chapman all huge weapons this year not to mention the addition of outside Graff, rightside Mikaelson, and the DS duo of Kvas, and Workman. The deepest senior class next year in my opinion!
Next year will be the year to do it! Penn State loses their 3 biggest hitters (slay, scott, mcclendon) and players like Maddie Martin who made that team that much deeper. Yes they do return their setter, middle2 , outside2 and libero they will be probably be relying on freshman for most of their offense as megan courtney is very off and on.
Nebraska lost their all american outside Robinson who clearly lead the team this year and will be looking for a leader.
I am hoping for them to run through pre season, Big ten play (2-3 loses at the most) and the tournament as that senior class will be wanting that championship more than anything in the world.
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Post by jagdpanther on Dec 22, 2013 1:31:46 GMT -5
Calling it now that Wisky will win the Big 10 in 2014. So impressed with them tonight.
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Post by Volley1234 on Dec 22, 2013 1:57:01 GMT -5
Here is a my lineup for 2014:
MH Thompson MH Nelson L Morey S Carlini RS Thomas (w/ Julie getting lots of reps in easier matches) OH Chapman w/ Caroline Workman as her DS OH Morales (w/ Graff & Fricano getting reps as well but Deme has sealed that spot. Graff should be redshirted as they loose 4 pin hitters in one class not including her)
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Post by volleyfan24 on Dec 22, 2013 2:08:19 GMT -5
Wisconsin proved they were the real deal tonight. I have them as second behind Nebraska. Kadie was an All American and I see her leading the team Amber will take on more of a role but Wisconsin will be well in contention for the B1G and national title.
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Post by direstraits on Dec 22, 2013 2:23:39 GMT -5
Out of the eight Badger seniors-to-be, which ones have scholarships? I'm thinking at least six in total. That needs to get balanced over the long-haul, but they were very, very competitive in the Championship game, so they can't just redshirt a healthy EC, CT, DM, etc. and does Graff basically sit for the second straight year? What do you do? The Badgers have one coming in 2014 and four commitments for 2015 (S, MB, OH, OH). Assuming the 2015 class stays at four, they've got some flexibility if injuries hit for redshirts. Thompson and Mikaelsen being in this senior class wasn't an expectation a couple of years ago and as nice as it will be to have both back, it complicates things.
I'm pretty sure the Wisconsin coaching staff is aware of this and has thought it through.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Dec 22, 2013 2:27:26 GMT -5
i didn't get to see wisconsin play until the regionals and final four. and well, i'm a convert. they are just a scrappy, fiery team, led by a dynamic setter in carlini. sheffield did a tremendous job with his team. while they got a favorable placement in the bracket, once they got to the final four, they immediately removed any doubt that they belonged, and then forced a loaded penn st team to sweat more than a little in the final.
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Post by bucky415 on Dec 22, 2013 2:54:09 GMT -5
I hope they can keep the hunger and the chemistry that this year's team had while having a lot more healthy options. That would make them really fun to watch. I think they will miss Hickey a lot, since she was a good passer and their best defender of really hard hit shots. I think Morey can and probably will be a good libero again for the Badgers, but it was a great luxury having basically two liberos in the rotation, as well as three other good defenders.
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Post by madhops on Dec 22, 2013 3:17:56 GMT -5
From the Left Coast. The Badgers were a joy to watch. So much grit and fight. You know the names, but if there's a knife fight, I want Thompson and Morales on my side. And to top it off Thomas was a nice looking gal, among others. UW was a reverse of Stanford. ie. Golden recruits ...with little staypower or grit.
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Post by vbnerd on Dec 22, 2013 3:21:39 GMT -5
The Big 10 loses a ton. Of the top 10 scorers in the conference, 8 are graduating, which doesn't even account for Slay, Matthews, Beltran, Cramer, Hickey, Palmer, Rebarchak, Cross, Irwin etc.
It's a very different conference next year. Also, Wisconsin isn't under the radar anymore. They are going to have a target on their back.
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Post by jsn112 on Dec 22, 2013 5:44:25 GMT -5
Calling it now that Wisky will win the Big 10 in 2014. So impressed with them tonight. Did you call that MIchigan would win the B10 this year as well... since they did so well in the tournament... beating stanford and all?
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Post by Volley1234 on Dec 22, 2013 10:51:37 GMT -5
I am not sure why everyone is so quick so say Morales will just be a DS next year. She had 15 kills vs. Penn State in the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. I think she has earned her spot for sure and so has Thomas even though Julie will be playing a lot of that rightside as well. But Graff needs a redshirt, They will need her in two years.
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Post by jagdpanther on Dec 22, 2013 11:00:11 GMT -5
Calling it now that Wisky will win the Big 10 in 2014. So impressed with them tonight. Did you call that MIchigan would win the B10 this year as well... since they did so well in the tournament... beating stanford and all? Pretty sure I did not. *shrug*
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bluepenquin
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Post by bluepenquin on Dec 22, 2013 11:06:33 GMT -5
Calling it now that Wisky will win the Big 10 in 2014. So impressed with them tonight. Did you call that MIchigan would win the B10 this year as well... since they did so well in the tournament... beating stanford and all? There are some similarities. Wisconsin 12-8 in Conference - Michigan 11-9. Wisconsin 28-10, Michigan 27-12. Both make it to the FF, Wisconsin beats Texas in the semi's, Michigan loses in 5 sets. Both teams return 6 of 7 starters and 4 senior starters. Count me as missing the boat on Michigan this year - but I still like Wisconsin a lot for 2014.
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Post by Volley1234 on Dec 22, 2013 11:08:30 GMT -5
I am far more impressed with Wisconsin than Michigan.
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Post by rainbowbadger on Dec 22, 2013 11:50:40 GMT -5
Out of the eight Badger seniors-to-be, which ones have scholarships? I'm thinking at least six in total. That needs to get balanced over the long-haul, but they were very, very competitive in the Championship game, so they can't just redshirt a healthy EC, CT, DM, etc. and does Graff basically sit for the second straight year? What do you do? The Badgers have one coming in 2014 and four commitments for 2015 (S, MB, OH, OH). Assuming the 2015 class stays at four, they've got some flexibility if injuries hit for redshirts. Thompson and Mikaelsen being in this senior class wasn't an expectation a couple of years ago and as nice as it will be to have both back, it complicates things. I'm pretty sure the Wisconsin coaching staff is aware of this and has thought it through. 2014 senior class schollies (to my knowledge): Chapman, Graff, Mikaelsen, Morales, Thomas, Thompson. Kvas & Workman are walk-ons, I believe. Graff is eligible for a medical redshirt but undecided on whether she wants to hang around that long. She enrolled early, so she's been there a while. Also, IIRC she is premed, so she would want to spend some time focusing on academics to make sure she can have a strong application. I hope she stays and plays because that will benefit the team greatly, but I understand if she decides that's not what's best for her. Sheff commented on the scholarship imbalance around NLI signing day and stated that it's a concern, and he will be keeping an eye out for a transfer or an opportunity to move some scholarships around. At that point in November he had much bigger things on his mind.
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