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Post by jake on May 14, 2014 22:22:23 GMT -5
I think UCI and Cal Poly will surprise many. UCI returns virtually all their starters from 2013 and adds 3 red shirts that will immediately impact the depth of the program. I think a lot you forget that UCI freshman were nominated several times for Big West player of the week and arguably should have won on at least one occasion, 25 and 17 kills respectively, while hitting close to .500. Anderson, is a very good setter, will have anther year under her belt, and Bubica ,Lee, and Pickrell, had A very strong spring campaign beating UCLA at the UCI tourney. Cal Poly has a great freshman in Taylor Gruenwald and adds what appears to be A very strong incoming class for 2014. While I agree that LBSU , UCSB, AND Hawaii deserve the pre season predictions, I think the Big West will be more competitive 1-6 than last season. OH, and UCI has a put together a pretty good class for 2014 as well. Just my two cents. Really enjoy keeping up with all the conference Teams. I sure hope so. Would love for the conference to be strong from top to bottom. And I hope that teams like Northridge and UCSB will continue to challenge for the conference title. Long Beach State, I'm not sure about them especially just finding out about Haleigh Hampton transferring, changes the whole dynamic of things with the Beach. They lose Aigner-Swesey also, who was their big gun lastseason, they return Reid and Okpala, other than that, I'm not sure how they will do this season. Another poster mentioned foreign players coming in. They do have a very good incoming class coming in as well. CAL POLY will enter the 2014-2015 very young. With only 3 juniors no seniors and 10 freshmen and sophomores,…this will be a very young squad. But, that is not to say they won't be talented. If, this group of 6 freshmen recruits and one RS freshman can come together,…expect surprising things. GoPOLY!!!
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Post by network155 on May 15, 2014 12:24:20 GMT -5
Hampton is not a loss, unless one considers the loss of the Hampton that never materialized. The Hampton from 2013 was not a loss - the Hampton of 2011 maybe, but that is now 3 years ago. Okpala is the major returnee and best player. Wallace is just as capable as Hampton of 2013, so will interesting (if she starts) as a full time middle. LB has an experienced setter xfer from Iowa State - hence if LB has truly upgraded at setter, then LB can contend - setter stability has been LB's Achilles for 4 years. Aigner-Swesey was solid, and needs to be replaced, but she wasn't really a difference maker. The key is getting one of the new OH's (or Miley), the setter position seems to be a strength. - so can't really make LB the favorite, but hard to elevate any other team over them given LB does have an experienced setter with big-time experience. Gedryn was Northridge for the last 4 years, but who knows. Aside from that, LB returns a very solid experienced core. the loss of all the setters in the league and 3 key seniors from UCSB points to a league that will be hard pressed to get more than 2 teams in the NCAAs - hard to put Irvine as a threat when they return a lot of players from a sub-par team - gotta prove it - they had a RPI friendly schedule last year, and didn't take advantage of it. #1a & #1 b) Hawaii & LB North, UCSB, Poly, Irvine Full, can't think of a reason to elevate them or drop them from this spot then Davis, UCR Thanks for the analysis. I have to say last year was a great year for the league with 3-teams in the NCAA tournament. I do agree with the loss of so many key players from the league this year, we will see freshmen starting at key positions for so many teams, and that's the exciting part of it all, the anticipation and not knowing how things will turn out. I think it will be a very good year for Big West volleyball!!!
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Post by BeachbytheBay on May 15, 2014 13:04:30 GMT -5
Hampton is not a loss, unless one considers the loss of the Hampton that never materialized. The Hampton from 2013 was not a loss - the Hampton of 2011 maybe, but that is now 3 years ago. Okpala is the major returnee and best player. Wallace is just as capable as Hampton of 2013, so will interesting (if she starts) as a full time middle. LB has an experienced setter xfer from Iowa State - hence if LB has truly upgraded at setter, then LB can contend - setter stability has been LB's Achilles for 4 years. Aigner-Swesey was solid, and needs to be replaced, but she wasn't really a difference maker. The key is getting one of the new OH's (or Miley), the setter position seems to be a strength. - so can't really make LB the favorite, but hard to elevate any other team over them given LB does have an experienced setter with big-time experience. Gedryn was Northridge for the last 4 years, but who knows. Aside from that, LB returns a very solid experienced core. the loss of all the setters in the league and 3 key seniors from UCSB points to a league that will be hard pressed to get more than 2 teams in the NCAAs - hard to put Irvine as a threat when they return a lot of players from a sub-par team - gotta prove it - they had a RPI friendly schedule last year, and didn't take advantage of it. #1a & #1 b) Hawaii & LB North, UCSB, Poly, Irvine Full, can't think of a reason to elevate them or drop them from this spot then Davis, UCR Thanks for the analysis. I have to say last year was a great year for the league with 3-teams in the NCAA tournament. I do agree with the loss of so many key players from the league this year, we will see freshmen starting at key positions for so many teams, and that's the exciting part of it all, the anticipation and not knowing how things will turn out. I think it will be a very good year for Big West volleyball!!! also, I wasn't trying to be harsh on Hampton, she had so many physical issues in retrospect, Hampton and Keddy from Poly in 2011 made it seem like they would be dominating players and forces in 2012 - but that never happened and the way both of them finished their careers in the Big West illustrates how tough sports can be - hopefully Hampton overcomes her past issues and is successful at Clemson.
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Post by Garand on May 15, 2014 16:51:35 GMT -5
I think UCI and Cal Poly will surprise many. UCI returns virtually all their starters from 2013 and adds 3 red shirts that will immediately impact the depth of the program. I think a lot you forget that UCI freshman were nominated several times for Big West player of the week and arguably should have won on at least one occasion, 25 and 17 kills respectively, while hitting close to .500. Anderson, is a very good setter, will have anther year under her belt, and Bubica ,Lee, and Pickrell, had A very strong spring campaign beating UCLA at the UCI tourney. Cal Poly has a great freshman in Taylor Gruenwald and adds what appears to be A very strong incoming class for 2014. While I agree that LBSU , UCSB, AND Hawaii deserve the pre season predictions, I think the Big West will be more competitive 1-6 than last season. OH, and UCI has a put together a pretty good class for 2014 as well. Just my two cents. Really enjoy keeping up with all the conference Teams. There seems to be some missing text in the middle of your comments about the UCI freshmen. Which ones were nominated for POW? I thought they did pretty well for first year players. Volleyball is tough that way: there's so little time for new (fall enrolled) players to work with their new team before the season starts.
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Post by afdad on May 15, 2014 17:24:20 GMT -5
Cassidy Pickrell was nominated twice and believe Shelly Anderson once. Pickrell had 25 kills against CSUF hitting around 490 for Match. Anderson with several double doubles on year. Arden Davis had a strong Freshman year as well. Sydney wright will hopefully be ready for fall as well as red shirts Victoria Dennis and rs freshman Dani Geiger who brings great quickness and athleticism to the middle. Arial Manz decided to come back for her senior year which was also huge to the overall depth in the middle. That along w potentially 4 very talented freshman, uci will be much improved. The Chemistry of this group is drawing raves from the coaching staff and the work ethic is apparently a huge benefactor as the girls are excited to compete. All good news for a program trying to change its vector. Almost left out Lena Latour another freshman who has impressed her teammates and coaches during spring season. A steal for UCI as a walk on. GO EATERS and The Big West.
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Post by SmokeDogg on May 15, 2014 20:24:34 GMT -5
As Jake said, "CAL POLY will enter the 2014-2015 very young."
Well, so will Fullerton. CSUF brings in 5 Freshman: 2 middles, 2 outsides, and one setter.
So all together CSUF will have 5 freshman, 7 Sophomores, 3 juniors and one Senior.
So. S .... Shannon Bell Jr. MB .... Holland Crenshaw So. DS .... Delaney Gurol Jr. S .... Mackenzie Olsen So. L .... McKenna Painton So. DS/L .... Paige Reed So. OH .... Faith Rockmore So. RS .... Ariana Salazar Jr. DS .... Skyler Thomas Sr. DS/L .... Devin Ulmer So. OH .... Mallory Waggoner
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Post by vballfreak808 on May 16, 2014 12:25:11 GMT -5
Fullerton announced their schedule ht.ly/2GNGPbGuess the Big West schedule is finalized
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Post by jake on May 17, 2014 16:32:03 GMT -5
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Post by network155 on May 19, 2014 2:20:46 GMT -5
Anyone know when some of the season schedules are coming out? Been so busy with kids and graduations.
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Post by VivaLaVolley on May 20, 2014 1:15:06 GMT -5
The Jobs thread says that Fullerton hired both assistants. Any word on who Carolyn hired?
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Post by vballfreak808 on May 25, 2014 16:59:22 GMT -5
Cal Poly:Aug 29-Aug 30: Wyoming, Montana, Washington State (Missoula, MT) Sept 12-Sept 13: Sacramento State, Cal State Bakersfield, San Jose State (San Luis Obispo, CA) Sept 19-Sept 20: Northern Illinois, Santa Clara (San Luis Obispo, CA) Cal State Fullerton:Aug 29-Aug 30: Bucknell, Sacred Heart, Texas Tech (Fullerton, CA) Sept 5-Sept 6: Northwestern, Villanova, Brown, San Diego State (San Diego, CA) Sept 12-Sept 13: Stetson, Wake Forest, College of Charleston (Charleston, SC) Sept 19-Sept 20: Yale, Georgetown, UCLA (Fullerton, CA) Cal State Northridge:Aug 29-Aug 30: UNLV (x2), Western Kentucky (Las Vegas, NV) Sept 5-Sept 6: Arizona, Albama State, Loyola-Chicago (Tucson, AZ) Sept 11-Sept 12: Portland State, Arkansas-Little Rock, Oklahoma (Norman, OK) Sept 19-Sept 20: Stanford, San Diego, Eastern Washington (x2) (San Diego, CA) Hawaii:Aug 29-Aug 31: Arizona State, Ohio, San Diego State (Honolulu, HI) Sept 4-Sept 6: Oregon, St. Johns, New Mexico (Honolulu, HI) Sept 11-Sept 14: UCLA, Utah State, San Francisco (Honolulu, HI) Sept 19-Sept 20: Northern Arizona (x2) (Honolulu, HI) Long Beach State:Aug 29-Aug 31: Southern Illinois, Illinois, North Carolina (Champaign, IL) Sept 11: Loyola Marymount Sept 19-Sept 20: Fresno State, Cal State Bakersfield, Liberty (Bakersfield, CA) UC Davis:Aug 29-Aug 30: Louisiana-Lafayette, Rice, Fresno State (Houston, TX) Sept 6-Sept 7: Portland, San Jose State (Davis, CA) Sept 11-Sept 12: Washington, UNLV, Seattle (Seattle, WA) Sept 16: Sacramento State (Sacramento, CA) Sept 19-Sept 20: Wyoming, Hampton, Northern Colorado (Greeley, CO) UC Irvine:Aug 29-Aug 30: Xavier, Cincinatti, Duquesne (Cincinatti, OH) Sept 5-Sept 6: Pepperdine, Idaho, Utah State (Irvine, CA) Sept 12-Sept 13: New Mexico, Bethune-Cookman, Montana State (Albuquerque, NM) UC Riverside:Sept 5-Sept 6: Savannah State, Southern Utah, UMES (Cedar City, UT) Sept 19-Sept 20: Portland, Idaho State, Utah Valley (Orem, UT) UC Santa Barbara:Aug 30-Aug 31: Marquette, VCU, Colorado State (Fort Collins, CO) Sept 5-Sept 6: Loyola Marymount, Fresno State, Sacramento State (Sacramento, CA) Sept 12-Sept 13: Pacific, Nevada, Cal (Berkeley, CA) Sept 19-Sept 20: Santa Clara, Northern Illinois (Santa Barbara, CA) All the tournaments I can find so far for the Big West teams.
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Post by SmokeDogg on May 26, 2014 23:57:47 GMT -5
The Top 30 Collegiate Recruiting Classes of 2014 From PrepVolleyball.com
10. LONG BEACH STATE: Sherridan Atkinson, 6-6 RS, Millikan (Long Beach, California); Hannah Henriksen, 6-4 OH, Frontier (Bakersfield, California); Ashley Murray, 6-2 MB, Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, California); Missy Owens, 6-2 S, Yorba Linda (California); Sara Watanabe, 5-9 Libero, Iolani (Honolulu, Hawaii)
12. HAWAII: Clare Anderson, 5-5 DS, Punahou (Honolulu, Hawaii); Kalei Greeley, 6-2 OH, King (Riverside, California); Megan Huff, 6-3 MB, Todd Beamer (Auburn, Washington); Savanah Kahakai, 5-8 L/OH, Farrington (Honolulu, Hawaii); Kendra Koelsch, 6-2 S, Huntington Beach (California)
23. CAL POLY SLO: Casey Carroll, 6-1 RS/OH, Homestead (Cupertino, California); Raeann Greisen, 6-1 OH, The Bishops (La Jolla California); Hannah Mathiesen, 6-2 OH, Santa Fe Christian (Solana Beach, California); Taylor Nelson, 6-0 S, Granite Bay (California); Savannah Niemen, 6-1 MB, Los Alamitos (California); Caihla Petiprin, 6-1 MB, Carlsbad (California); Bailey Roach, 5-6 Libero/DS, Santa Barbara (California)
HIGHEST HONORABLE MENTION
UC IRVINE: Emily Blair, 5-10 S, Orange Lutheran (Orange, California); Chloe Hakim, 5-6 Libero, St. Francis (Sacramento, California); Tawnee Luafalemana, 6-0 MB, Carson (California); Aspen Potter, 6-2 MB, Yorba Linda (California)
UCSB: Sydney Bast, 5-6 Libero, St. Lucy’s Priory (Glendora, California); Kelly Bielaski, 5-7 DS, Dougherty Valley (San Ramon, California); Chanel Hoffman, 6-0 OH, Santiago (Corona, California); Jane Lamp, 5-3 Libero, Thousand Oaks (California); Noa Nightingale, 6-0 S, St. Francis (Sacramento, California); Megan Sullivan, 6-3 MB, St. Francis (Sacramento, California)
HIGH HONORABLE MENTION
CAL STATE FULLERTON: Stephanie Buss, 6-1 MB, Lincoln (Sioux Falls, South Dakota); Allyson Forsberg, 6-3 MB, Huntington Beach (California); Katelyn Nielsen, 6-0 OH, Murrieta Valley (Murrieta, California); Niki Withers, 5-11 OH, Poly (Long Beach, California)
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Post by Garand on May 27, 2014 0:29:21 GMT -5
I thought Aspen Potter was committed to BYU. She's now going to UCI? If so, could be a big pickup for Irvine.
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Post by VivaLaVolley on May 27, 2014 1:00:16 GMT -5
Aspen Potter de-committed from BYU and will be at UCI in the fall. Great pick up for UCI losing MB Shannon Fleming to graduation. Also 6'4'' MB Arielle Manz is returning for her 5th season for UCI. After the fall it would look like UCI would have a big hole at MB but with Aspen Potter, Manz, and RS Freshman Dani Geiger it could possibly be a strength.
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Post by WahineFan44 on May 27, 2014 1:23:42 GMT -5
Too bad they didn't Include maglio
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