Post by vbprisoner on Mar 1, 2018 15:03:32 GMT -5
[Original thread @ volleytalk.proboards.com/thread/71901/texas-2018 ]
Unfortunately the 2017 came to an end short of everyone's expectations going in to the season. However, I think most knew the task was going to be daunting when the bracket was released as Stanford is tough tree to chop in Maples Pavilion and was a tough match-up for the team regardless. However, it wasn't all bad as Texas swept the Big XII and made yet another Regional final. Will definitely miss the seniors. Thanks for the great memories (and there were a lot of good ones!).
Looking to 2018, Texas will be losing starters RS Ebony Nwanebu, MB Chiaka Ogbogu, L Cat McCoy. Also loses MB Mirta Baselovic.
However all is not lost, Texas still has a pretty strong arsenal of players. Texas will definitely be a younger team than this past year but younger teams from multiple universities have performed well over the past few years.
So by position Texas will have the following roster assuming no transfers.
OH: Micaya White (RS Jr.)
RS: Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani (Sr.)
S: Ashley Shook (Soph.)
Riley Fisbeck (Jr.)
Jhenna Gabriel (Fr.)
MB: Brionne Butler (RS Fr.)
Morgan Johnson (Sr.)
Blair Westerlund (RS So.)
Orie Ogbaji (Jr.)
Asjia O'Neal (Fr.)
DS/L: Autumn Rounsaville (Jr.)
Claire Hahn (Jr.)
Sydney Petersen (Fr.)
So major question marks going in to 2018:
Can anybody pass? On paper, the DS position is overall getting older and thus would likely improve. Who will win the Libero position is definitely a big question as Texas loses its all-time dig leader in Cat McCoy. Sydney Petersen coming in would seem to be the likely candidate but who knows. White made some progress in 2017, but needs to get better.
Depth on the pins? Texas appears to be very thin on the pins in regard to depth. Does a MB slide to OH. Is there a transfer in the works? While the projected starters are stars, there currently is no one backing them up.
Can anyone serve? Texas really struggled with serving in 2017. White was the worse contributor with her jump serve. Will it improve or will it get ditched? Everyone really needs to work in this area to cut out the atrocious number of service errors.
Other thoughts:
Setting surely improves. It has to, right?. Shook will have all Spring to really develop a connection with the hitters. If she doesn't, one would think Gabriel will push for playing time.
There is a log jam at MB. Something is bound to happen with the position. Either someone moves to OH or someone transfers out I would think. Also who grabs the open position. Would think it would Butler but O'Neal is also coming in. Maybe they both overtake Johnson.
What will Texas's schedule look like? Obviously Elliott will want to try to make sure they have a high RPI. However, there is a fine line between scheduling to achieve this. Rumors have that the schedule could have more games against the higher rated teams. However, early season loses to those team could end up hurting in the end like this past season.
***This is the first post courtesy of txnut from the previous thread that had good content and has been updated to reflect transfers. ***
Unfortunately the 2017 came to an end short of everyone's expectations going in to the season. However, I think most knew the task was going to be daunting when the bracket was released as Stanford is tough tree to chop in Maples Pavilion and was a tough match-up for the team regardless. However, it wasn't all bad as Texas swept the Big XII and made yet another Regional final. Will definitely miss the seniors. Thanks for the great memories (and there were a lot of good ones!).
Looking to 2018, Texas will be losing starters RS Ebony Nwanebu, MB Chiaka Ogbogu, L Cat McCoy. Also loses MB Mirta Baselovic.
However all is not lost, Texas still has a pretty strong arsenal of players. Texas will definitely be a younger team than this past year but younger teams from multiple universities have performed well over the past few years.
So by position Texas will have the following roster assuming no transfers.
OH: Micaya White (RS Jr.)
RS: Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani (Sr.)
S: Ashley Shook (Soph.)
Riley Fisbeck (Jr.)
Jhenna Gabriel (Fr.)
MB: Brionne Butler (RS Fr.)
Morgan Johnson (Sr.)
Blair Westerlund (RS So.)
Orie Ogbaji (Jr.)
Asjia O'Neal (Fr.)
DS/L: Autumn Rounsaville (Jr.)
Claire Hahn (Jr.)
Sydney Petersen (Fr.)
So major question marks going in to 2018:
Can anybody pass? On paper, the DS position is overall getting older and thus would likely improve. Who will win the Libero position is definitely a big question as Texas loses its all-time dig leader in Cat McCoy. Sydney Petersen coming in would seem to be the likely candidate but who knows. White made some progress in 2017, but needs to get better.
Depth on the pins? Texas appears to be very thin on the pins in regard to depth. Does a MB slide to OH. Is there a transfer in the works? While the projected starters are stars, there currently is no one backing them up.
Can anyone serve? Texas really struggled with serving in 2017. White was the worse contributor with her jump serve. Will it improve or will it get ditched? Everyone really needs to work in this area to cut out the atrocious number of service errors.
Other thoughts:
Setting surely improves. It has to, right?. Shook will have all Spring to really develop a connection with the hitters. If she doesn't, one would think Gabriel will push for playing time.
There is a log jam at MB. Something is bound to happen with the position. Either someone moves to OH or someone transfers out I would think. Also who grabs the open position. Would think it would Butler but O'Neal is also coming in. Maybe they both overtake Johnson.
What will Texas's schedule look like? Obviously Elliott will want to try to make sure they have a high RPI. However, there is a fine line between scheduling to achieve this. Rumors have that the schedule could have more games against the higher rated teams. However, early season loses to those team could end up hurting in the end like this past season.
***This is the first post courtesy of txnut from the previous thread that had good content and has been updated to reflect transfers. ***