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Post by chancelucky on Dec 21, 2014 20:43:33 GMT -5
I'd expect another exciting conference season.
Florida State should be strong again. UNC looks to be in very good shape, though they are losing a Second Team All American rightside, an excellent libero who was defensive player of the year, and a very solid left in Mcadoo who played especially well at the end of the season.
Duke loses Obeime and their setter, but I assume they'll be strong again.
I think it'll be very interesting to see which other schools make themselves felt. Louisivlle should be better. Notre Dame should definitely be better (they've actually recruited pretty well), though it's not clear how much better. I also thought Wake looked to be improving though they lose their lead hitter.
Miami has to replace Leaf and Pitt just missed a tournament bid in 2014.
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Post by setterdump on Dec 21, 2014 21:16:20 GMT -5
My guess is that this will be another FSU-UNC battle for #1. Those 2 teams are just on another level in terms of athleticism/height/physicality than the other teams in the conference and they seem to reload with good recruits or transfers every year.
Duke will get a boost as it appears that Maggie Deichmeister, the 2013 ACC Setter of the Year, will return for a 5th year after struggling with off-season injuries and losing her starting spot to Kelsey Williams. I would like to see a more aggressive Emily Sklar as a senior who will reclaim her ACC POY award- she will certainly have to carry a big load on the OH. Karelov is a stud and should be one of the top liberos nationally. Duke's right side attack was sub-par all season- I don't know how they plan to address that along with replacing Obeime's production on the OH. Duke has perennially been a weak blocking/serving team- they need to improve in those areas if they want to become a consistent top 20 team.
I think the most improved team in the conference will be Louisville. They had a lot of young talent last year and return everyone, plus they just added an impact transfer in Erin Fairs at OH from USF (former AAC POY). I expect they will finish top 5. Virginia should be better too. Pitt/Miami lose key pieces, not sure how they'll fare.
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Post by volleyvolleyfan on Dec 21, 2014 21:44:11 GMT -5
I'd expect another exciting conference season. Florida State should be strong again. UNC looks to be in very good shape, though they are losing a Second Team All American rightside, an excellent libero who was defensive player of the year, and a very solid left in Mcadoo who played especially well at the end of the season. Duke loses Obeime and their setter, but I assume they'll be strong again. I think it'll be very interesting to see which other schools make themselves felt. Louisivlle should be better. Notre Dame should definitely be better (they've actually recruited pretty well), though it's not clear how much better. I also thought Wake looked to be improving though they lose their lead hitter. Miami has to replace Leaf and Pitt just missed a tournament bid in 2014. I mentioned in the thread on FSU 2015 my thoughts on Florida State for 2015 season. IMO they will be strong across front with returning hitters, middles and setter Luke. They will have lost 3 year captain libero, Mosher (AAHM, East Region team and All ACC 1st team) and #1 setter, two year captain Wickstrom.. these two provided such strong leadership and play on the court. Replacing them IMO wil be the critical piece to the success of FSU in 2015. They do have a Purdue red shirt transfer coming in 6'3 OH Christine Ambrose who will start Jan '15 with team..where she fits into the line up will be determined by coaches during spring and early fall. will be interesting to see if they use her on the Right Side with Kubura.. vs. Vaughn or Hauer in the fall then move her to OH after Walch leaves in Dec '14 Freshman setter from Texas Advantage-- 6'1 left handed Brianna Burkert-- will replace Wickstrom. Her resume looks top notch and she did lead her team this past summer to a national championship at USA Nationals Replacing libero Mosher will be sophomore DS, Cecile Woie.. she did get good reps in back row playing for OHs' Walch and Horton at times in 2014 season. Walch and Horton are both 6 rotation players.
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bluepenquin
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Post by bluepenquin on Dec 21, 2014 22:05:41 GMT -5
1. Florida State
2. North Carolina 3. Duke
4. Louisville 5. Miami
Pittsburgh loses five starters - they really missed out on making the tournament this year due to such a terrible OOC schedule. The ACC loses a lot of key players and the conference may not be very deep. UNC and Duke will need to schedule well to get a seed.
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ACC 2015
Dec 21, 2014 22:18:17 GMT -5
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Post by alpacaone on Dec 21, 2014 22:18:17 GMT -5
No mention of Virginia or VT?
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ACC 2015
Dec 21, 2014 22:19:29 GMT -5
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Post by wishinwestcoastvb on Dec 21, 2014 22:19:29 GMT -5
Louisville will be way better this year. They have a great recruiting class with all of them being top 100 Senior Aces. Molly Sauer headlines this group as a top 25 Senior Ace and as the 2nd highest libero, behind her high school and club teammate Kenzie Maloney getting the 1 one libero ranking. Fairs was such a great get for the OH. I say Fairs and McClendon have the starting spots. I don't see Blab getting a lot of playing time. I can see recruit Aniah Philo-Hatfield (sp?) challenging the court for time. George will be a great leader for the team in her senior season. McVey and Sauer will have a huge fight for the libero job. I have no clue who will win that one. Hopefully they will have a strong OOC schedule and have a much better season this year.
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Post by chancelucky on Dec 22, 2014 9:21:28 GMT -5
I know UNC plays Michigan, Michigan State, USC and Stanford, though the trick to scheduling is that you have to beat some of the teams you schedule. I don't think it helps that much to schedule a bunch of tough schools and lose to all of them. One reason BYU didn't get ranked is that although they had Colorado State and Washington on their pre-season schedule, they lost both matches.
It still seems strange that Arizona and Kansas got seeds ahead of BYU.
This was the first season the ACC had two teams in the top 10 UNC 7 FSU 10 and Duke 25 (a little surprised they stayed in the top 25)
I am curious about schedules and recruits for a lot of the schools in the conference. There's a coaching change at Notre Dame. Is that the only one? There's been very little talk about Georgia Tech, Clemson, or North Carolina State for the last couple years.
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Post by sulo on Dec 22, 2014 18:54:08 GMT -5
UNC will repeat as champions. FSU, Duke and Louisville will battle for 2nd and 3rd.
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Post by chancelucky on Dec 23, 2014 10:40:11 GMT -5
I think most of the coaches in the conference would trade an ACC title for going deep into the tournament. I think three teams in the second weekend of the tournament and one or more in the final four would be a great year for the ACC. ACC volleyball is now at the point where that's a reasonable goal. ONce that happens, I think some top ten recruits will start to stay home instead of say going to Penn State or Stanford.
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Post by onfiya on Dec 23, 2014 12:48:12 GMT -5
Louisville will be way better this year. They have a great recruiting class with all of them being top 100 Senior Aces. Molly Sauer headlines this group as a top 25 Senior Ace and as the 2nd highest libero, behind her high school and club teammate Kenzie Maloney getting the 1 one libero ranking. Fairs was such a great get for the OH. I say Fairs and McClendon have the starting spots. I don't see Blab getting a lot of playing time. I can see recruit Aniah Philo-Hatfield (sp?) challenging the court for time. George will be a great leader for the team in her senior season. McVey and Sauer will have a huge fight for the libero job. I have no clue who will win that one. Hopefully they will have a strong OOC schedule and have a much better season this year. Philo-Hatfield is a heck of a player, but she is short. 5'8" probably. Not sure she will be able to hit effectively against big front lines, but she does an incredible job for TAV at the junior level. So maybe her game will transfer. She's as good of an athlete that you will find!
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Post by c4ndlelight on Dec 23, 2014 12:55:10 GMT -5
Louisville will be way better this year. They have a great recruiting class with all of them being top 100 Senior Aces. Molly Sauer headlines this group as a top 25 Senior Ace and as the 2nd highest libero, behind her high school and club teammate Kenzie Maloney getting the 1 one libero ranking. Fairs was such a great get for the OH. I say Fairs and McClendon have the starting spots. I don't see Blab getting a lot of playing time. I can see recruit Aniah Philo-Hatfield (sp?) challenging the court for time. George will be a great leader for the team in her senior season. McVey and Sauer will have a huge fight for the libero job. I have no clue who will win that one. Hopefully they will have a strong OOC schedule and have a much better season this year. Philo-Hatfield is a heck of a player, but she is short. 5'8" probably. Not sure she will be able to hit effectively against big front lines, but she does an incredible job for TAV at the junior level. So maybe her game will transfer. She's as good of an athlete that you will find! Does Louisville really need another sub-6 foot hitter, much less 2? Putting Blab on the bench means everyone except the middles will be under 6', (with one middle listed just at it). That will cause a lot of problems both offensively and defensively against the Duke/FSU/UNC types.
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ACC 2015
Dec 23, 2014 13:01:23 GMT -5
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Post by wishinwestcoastvb on Dec 23, 2014 13:01:23 GMT -5
Philo-Hatfield is a heck of a player, but she is short. 5'8" probably. Not sure she will be able to hit effectively against big front lines, but she does an incredible job for TAV at the junior level. So maybe her game will transfer. She's as good of an athlete that you will find! Does Louisville really need another sub-6 foot hitter, much less 2? Putting Blab on the bench means everyone except the middles will be under 6', (with one middle listed just at it). That will cause a lot of problems both offensively and defensively against the Duke/FSU/UNC types. Blab averaged 1.99 kills per set and hit .140.. McClendon and Jenkings both brought in over 3 kills per set and hit .209 and .259. McClendon and Jenkins don't have high hitting percentages but they hit higher and bring in more kills than Blab.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Dec 23, 2014 13:08:33 GMT -5
Does Louisville really need another sub-6 foot hitter, much less 2? Putting Blab on the bench means everyone except the middles will be under 6', (with one middle listed just at it). That will cause a lot of problems both offensively and defensively against the Duke/FSU/UNC types. Blab averaged 1.99 kills per set and hit .140.. McClendon and Jenkings both brought in over 3 kills per set and hit .209 and .259. McClendon and Jenkins don't have high hitting percentages but they hit higher and bring in more kills than Blab. Well they both may be better, but size was still an issue and it looks like it will continue to be.
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ACC 2015
Dec 23, 2014 13:10:34 GMT -5
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Post by vbkid111 on Dec 23, 2014 13:10:34 GMT -5
My guess is that this will be another FSU-UNC battle for #1. Those 2 teams are just on another level in terms of athleticism/height/physicality than the other teams in the conference and they seem to reload with good recruits or transfers every year. Duke will get a boost as it appears that Maggie Deichmeister, the 2013 ACC Setter of the Year, will return for a 5th year after struggling with off-season injuries and losing her starting spot to Kelsey Williams. I would like to see a more aggressive Emily Sklar as a senior who will reclaim her ACC POY award- she will certainly have to carry a big load on the OH. Karelov is a stud and should be one of the top liberos nationally. Duke's right side attack was sub-par all season- I don't know how they plan to address that along with replacing Obeime's production on the OH. Duke has perennially been a weak blocking/serving team- they need to improve in those areas if they want to become a contender. Pitt/Miami lose key pieces, not sure how they'll fare. Duke recruit 6'3" MB/OH Leah Meyer will upgrade the Duke block ( and attack for that matter). She was heavily recruited by multiple B1G teams before committing to Duke.
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Post by onfiya on Dec 23, 2014 16:23:30 GMT -5
Does Louisville really need another sub-6 foot hitter, much less 2? Putting Blab on the bench means everyone except the middles will be under 6', (with one middle listed just at it). That will cause a lot of problems both offensively and defensively against the Duke/FSU/UNC types. Blab averaged 1.99 kills per set and hit .140.. McClendon and Jenkings both brought in over 3 kills per set and hit .209 and .259. McClendon and Jenkins don't have high hitting percentages but they hit higher and bring in more kills than Blab. Good news for Louisville in 2016. They have Melanie McHenry coming in. She is 6'2" and bombs!
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