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Post by bruinsgold on Dec 13, 2017 14:56:27 GMT -5
And the train keeps chugging... I've been hesitating about starting this thread, mainly because I still don't want to accept the 2017 season is over and we won't see the four dynamic seniors (Cuttino, Evans, Stahl, Damler) on the court anymore. Next year will be a growing year for Purdue volleyball as three of those four seniors were starters their entire career at Purdue. We lose close to 70% of the offense without Cuttino/Stahl on the pins and Evans setting/attacking but that doesn't mean the future isn't still bright for Purdue VB. It'll be a fun year to watch new faces take the court and earn their spots. Current 2018 RosterName | Year | Position | Sherridan Atkinson | RS-Senior | Opposite | Erin Williams | Senior | Middle Blocker | Brooke Peters | Senior | DS/Libero | Shavona Cuttino | RS-Junior | Middle Blocker | Blake Mohler | RS-Junior | Middle Blocker | Caitlyn Newton | Sophomore | Outside Hitter | Julianna Reisinger | Sophomore | Defensive Specialist | Olivia Van Zelst | RS-Sophomore | Defensive Specialist | Jena Otec | Sophomore | DS/Outside Hitter | Hayley Bush | RS-Freshman | Setter | Marissa Hornung | Freshman | DS/Libero | Grace Cleveland | Freshman | Middle Blocker | Jael Johnson | Freshman | Middle Blocker | Garrett Joiner | Freshman | Outside Hitter | Joy Chen | Freshman | Setter | Emma Terwilliger | Freshman | Defensive Specialist |
Some key movement will probably happen for the Boilermakers. Maybe not immediately; we'll have to see how the freshmen play when they hit the court in the fall. Here's a look at a possible line-up: Setter: Hayley Bush Libero: Brooke Peters Outside Hitters: Caitlyn Newton, Garrett Joiner, Jena Otec* Opposite: Sherridan Atkinson Middle Blockers: Blake Mohler^, Erin Williams, Grace Cleveland, Shavona Cuttino Defensive/Serve Specialists: Marissa Hornung**, Julianna Reisinger, Olivia Van Zelst * Otec might still be a back row player, but if Joiner hits a freshman slump, I full expect Otec to fill the role as OH2 as she did last year when Purdue needed to shore up serve receive when Newton struggled. ^ Mohler is going to be the key middle blocker for Purdue, however, if for any reason Atkinson is unavailable, Purdue could run a three middle system with Mohler hitting from the right when Bush is back row. ** If Peters struggles, expect Hornung to be the first to put on the libero jersey. The Boilermakers are deep in the middle blocker position heading into the 2018 season. It's the deepest I've seen. Barring injury, it's Mohler's spot to lose. Williams and Cuttino will have to put up a fight to beat out the freshmen (Williams on defense; Cuttino on offense). I could see one of the two freshmen middles red-shirting (maybe Johnson) this season. It's thin on the pins but it was in 2016 too. Then Shondell moved Cuttino to OH and, well... we all know how amazing that story ends Once again, plenty of defensive specialists to protect serve receive. I fully expect Reisinger and Otec to make huge leaps in their passing this year. As a senior, once again, the libero jersey is for Peters to earn and keep. There is a lot of competition for her this year. Looking forward to seeing Hornung play as I expect her to be a starter. Where Chen fits into the picture should be interesting. From the reports, Bush is an extremely good setter with fantastic location. Chen could red-shirt or be a serve specialist. Again, I am not against Purdue trying the 6-2 with Bush/Atkinson and Chen/Mohler but losing Atkinson's serve could hurt. Also, the way Mohler played during the NCAA tournament, it's hard not to imagine her dominating the middle this season. It's going to be a nice battle next year for the Boilermakers. Looking forward to a couple of upsets and new emerging stars. #BoilerUp
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Post by bruinsgold on Dec 14, 2017 15:53:33 GMT -5
For those who didn't know, future Boilermaker Marissa Hornung will be competing at the AVCA Under Armour All-America match, featuring the 24 best high school athletes as selected by Under Armour. All atheletes are First-Team All Americans. ROSTERHornung is listed as an OH, the position she plays in high school. Not sure if she'll be a hitter for Purdue, but it'd be great to see a 5'8" attacker on the outside.
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Post by bmg3 on Dec 30, 2017 19:33:54 GMT -5
I agree that this will be more of a rebuilding season, with the majority of the offense gone as well as a freshman setter expected to take over (though nothing against Dorn, I haven't really seen her except to serve).
Middle is loaded, and Purdue does have some versatile players I think could help fill the void of the OH position. I don't think that Atkinson moves from opposite - she is an All-American in that position and puts up a formidable block and honestly, I think it's her optimal spot; as she lacks the athleticism of D Cuttino to play multiple positions.
Newton has one OH position down - it would be interesting to see if a transfer can come in, or if Joiner will jump right in and contribute - she missed her senior year but I'm sure has went through a long and arduous rehab process to get her back to where she can be. She was ranking in the 90's on prepvolleyball, but from the sounds of it (and wishful thinking), she would have been ranked much higher if she hadn't had the injury and had to sit out her senior year in HS.
I was impressed with Mohler as the 2017 season progressed - she seemed to come into her own and her blocking game improved. She did train on the RS and I did see her hit a little bit on the left side - is she a viable option as an OH?
We have Cleveland and Johnson coming in as MBs - no doubt one of them redshirts - looks like Cleveland could be vying for a starting spot from the get-go.
Ball control will only improve in 2018 - which is definitely helpful for a new setter coming in. In my opinion, the libero jersey is up for grabs with Peters, Otec and Hornung competing, not to mention Reisinger and Van Zelst. I'm a huge fan of Otec - she was rock solid in serve receive, has an awesome serve and reminded me a little bit of Cramer. She was a hitter in club and HS, and like you said bruinsgold, would be awesome if we could see her take on a role of other players like Amy Neal or Cassie Strickland (undersized but utilized in front row).
If I had to take this team and assume no transfers, I'd go with: OH - Newton and Joiner - definitely a young pair of outsides MH - Mohler and Cuttino (Cleveland eventually takes over for Cuttino) OPP - Atkinson - leave the all american where she was successful S - Bush - I see Dorn coming in on a situational basis if they need a bigger block but I see Bush as the primary 5-1 L - Peters' to lose but this will be a tight battle DS - Otec/Hornung will be consistently in the line up - they might try to have Newton be a full 6-rotation but I can totally see both OHs being DSed this year - limits the offense but don't see any other way unless a stud 6-rotation transfer comes in and immediately contributes. *Note I've seen little of Hornung, but basing this on her ranking, All-America status and little video I saw of her play
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Post by bruinsgold on Dec 30, 2017 22:20:57 GMT -5
Completely agree with you bmg3 on most of these points. Unless Purdue gets a transfer, 6-rotation OH, there will probably be some shuffling and experimenting. I'd love to see what Mohler could do from the pins, but she's too solid as a middle blocker and I don't know how she would fair in serve receive. I'm guessing Atkinson will be the lone 6-rotation player, which could also hurt serve receive as Newton often got yanked from serve receive for her passing this year. I don't think Purdue has the experience to pass with two like Kramer/Fox did or Peters/Stahl had to do. Agreed, it'll be either Joiner or Otec joining Newton on the pins unless Otec snatches the libero jersey. But she was a lot of fun to watch this season. Her serve is just... wow. I see Newton playing more of a Sam Epenesa role in 2018. Solid OH who could be used in serve receive but will probably be DS'd out when she goes into the back row. Would love to see more of her serve since it looked pretty wicked in that match against Minnesota. Peters better play her heart out in the spring to hold onto that jersey. Whatever mojo she built up during the season completely disappeared in the NCAA tournament and I don't think that could go unnoticed. Hornung, IMO, is going to be an instant contributor. She's a lock for the starting line-up, whatever position she plays. Reisinger will probably be relegated back to serving sub or a possible DS for Atkinson. I don't know where Van Zelst fits into the equation. Serving sub for Mohler? And yes, Bush is most likely the starting setter. She was too highly touted to be the back-up setter. I could see them trying a 6-2 though: Bush setting with Atkinson at OPP, Dorn setting with Mohler at OPP (Cuttino and Johnson in the middle), but that doesn't seem the likeliest of line-ups. However it goes down, this will be the youngest Purdue team (experience-wise) I think I've seen in a long, long time. Should be fun.
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Post by hoosierdraft on Dec 31, 2017 18:38:12 GMT -5
Young is a huge understatement. I would look at the possibility of a OH transfer being brought in to the family. Gia Milana would be a great fit as a six rotation OH.
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Post by bruinsgold on Dec 31, 2017 22:11:57 GMT -5
Young is a huge understatement. I would look at the possibility of a OH transfer being brought in to the family. Gia Milana would be a great fit as a six rotation OH. But wouldn't Milana have to sit out a year? I don't think you can get an exception waiver for transferring schools because your former coach changed schools. She'd be a great fix for 2019, but that year on the bench doesn't help the 2018 line-up.
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Post by hoosierdraft on Dec 31, 2017 22:48:35 GMT -5
Exception waivers are going to come flooding out of the B1G office this year.
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Post by bmg3 on Jan 1, 2018 11:49:42 GMT -5
Yeah the transfers are gonna be interesting this year. I just keep thinking how this team would be doing if Alexa Smith hadn’t transferred out. We need a player like her to transfer in.
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Post by rainbowbadger on Jan 1, 2018 12:30:50 GMT -5
Exception waivers are going to come flooding out of the B1G office this year. It will be interesting to see what happens here. Are Clark and Suriano a sign of a new direction in league policy, or were their exception wavers die to exceptional circumstances? A kid who transfers within the Big Ten these days will still have to be willing to risk sitting a year.
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Post by bmg3 on Jan 5, 2018 9:11:39 GMT -5
Completely agree with you bmg3 on most of these points. Unless Purdue gets a transfer, 6-rotation OH, there will probably be some shuffling and experimenting. I'd love to see what Mohler could do from the pins, but she's too solid as a middle blocker and I don't know how she would fair in serve receive. I'm guessing Atkinson will be the lone 6-rotation player, which could also hurt serve receive as Newton often got yanked from serve receive for her passing this year. I don't think Purdue has the experience to pass with two like Kramer/Fox did or Peters/Stahl had to do. Agreed, it'll be either Joiner or Otec joining Newton on the pins unless Otec snatches the libero jersey. But she was a lot of fun to watch this season. Her serve is just... wow. I see Newton playing more of a Sam Epenesa role in 2018. Solid OH who could be used in serve receive but will probably be DS'd out when she goes into the back row. Would love to see more of her serve since it looked pretty wicked in that match against Minnesota. Peters better play her heart out in the spring to hold onto that jersey. Whatever mojo she built up during the season completely disappeared in the NCAA tournament and I don't think that could go unnoticed. Hornung, IMO, is going to be an instant contributor. She's a lock for the starting line-up, whatever position she plays. Reisinger will probably be relegated back to serving sub or a possible DS for Atkinson. I don't know where Van Zelst fits into the equation. Serving sub for Mohler? And yes, Bush is most likely the starting setter. She was too highly touted to be the back-up setter. I could see them trying a 6-2 though: Bush setting with Atkinson at OPP, Dorn setting with Mohler at OPP (Cuttino and Johnson in the middle), but that doesn't seem the likeliest of line-ups. However it goes down, this will be the youngest Purdue team (experience-wise) I think I've seen in a long, long time. Should be fun. Thinking about this - if they do a 6-2, they would really need their OHs to be 6 rotations to not run out of subs - I don’t think they have the manpower yet. Also - do you think Atkinson will be 6-rotations if a 5-1? That would be awesome if she could get her back court D up to snuff - she obviously prob won’t serve receive but would be a great outlet for OOS plays and will help spread the block for the OH
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Post by bruinsgold on Jan 5, 2018 12:18:35 GMT -5
Completely agree with you bmg3 on most of these points. Unless Purdue gets a transfer, 6-rotation OH, there will probably be some shuffling and experimenting. I'd love to see what Mohler could do from the pins, but she's too solid as a middle blocker and I don't know how she would fair in serve receive. I'm guessing Atkinson will be the lone 6-rotation player, which could also hurt serve receive as Newton often got yanked from serve receive for her passing this year. I don't think Purdue has the experience to pass with two like Kramer/Fox did or Peters/Stahl had to do. Agreed, it'll be either Joiner or Otec joining Newton on the pins unless Otec snatches the libero jersey. But she was a lot of fun to watch this season. Her serve is just... wow. I see Newton playing more of a Sam Epenesa role in 2018. Solid OH who could be used in serve receive but will probably be DS'd out when she goes into the back row. Would love to see more of her serve since it looked pretty wicked in that match against Minnesota. Peters better play her heart out in the spring to hold onto that jersey. Whatever mojo she built up during the season completely disappeared in the NCAA tournament and I don't think that could go unnoticed. Hornung, IMO, is going to be an instant contributor. She's a lock for the starting line-up, whatever position she plays. Reisinger will probably be relegated back to serving sub or a possible DS for Atkinson. I don't know where Van Zelst fits into the equation. Serving sub for Mohler? And yes, Bush is most likely the starting setter. She was too highly touted to be the back-up setter. I could see them trying a 6-2 though: Bush setting with Atkinson at OPP, Dorn setting with Mohler at OPP (Cuttino and Johnson in the middle), but that doesn't seem the likeliest of line-ups. However it goes down, this will be the youngest Purdue team (experience-wise) I think I've seen in a long, long time. Should be fun. Thinking about this - if they do a 6-2, they would really need their OHs to be 6 rotations to not run out of subs - I don’t think they have the manpower yet. Also - do you think Atkinson will be 6-rotations if a 5-1? That would be awesome if she could get her back court D up to snuff - she obviously prob won’t serve receive but would be a great outlet for OOS plays and will help spread the block for the OH My gut says this will be a lot like the 2015 season where Annie Drews was a 6-rotation attacker and the main offensive weapon for the team. While Stahl and Epenesa were good, they weren't suited to play all 6-rotations every game. Epenesa, like Newton, was a great bail-out hitter and even developed into a part-time 6-rotation player but it wasn't her time. I imagine they'll want to keep Atkinson on the court as much as possible. If they're running Newton and Joiner as OH1 and OH2, they'll probably both be subbed out for DS players. I do remember Newton playing back row for Stahl in one set during the first Minnesota match, so 🤔🤔🤔
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Post by bmg3 on Jan 5, 2018 19:50:40 GMT -5
I hope Newton becomes a 6-rotation player. I read that Joiner has the capability as well.
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Post by bmg3 on Jan 18, 2018 19:27:23 GMT -5
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Post by bruinsgold on Jan 18, 2018 20:08:09 GMT -5
I can't say it enough: I will miss this senior class. For their leadership, abilities, and fearlessness. They were simply fun to watch. Time for Atkinson, Peters, and Williams to go out with a bang 😁
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Post by rainbowbadger on Jan 18, 2018 21:55:53 GMT -5
Happy birthday to Dave Shondell!
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