Post by bayarea on Jul 24, 2018 22:17:32 GMT -5
2018 may come down to a season where the only real interest is in BYU and possibly San Diego, but it's a bit early to know what the other teams are going to look like. Hopefully some will be pleasant surprises!
I am pretty familiar with the teams in the Bay Area, and less so with the others. Please feel free to add info and comments on your favorite team.
BYU has 18 players on their roster with 4 freshmen. Lots of returning experience.
BYU was very solid on the OH last year with Roni Jones-Perry and McKenna Miller, though Miller was a bit inconsistent. Jones-Perry averaged 4.82 kills/set last season, hitting .281. Miller had 3.06 kpg, hitting .249. I expect those two will remain the bread and butter of the offense. If Miller can stay consistent, that will be a formidable 1-2 punch on the outside.
At Opposite, they have a presumably healthy 6'3" Ballard, who was the #21 Senior Ace of 2017, along with 6'7" Sara Hamson (who was streaky last year and used sparingly), 5'10 Lacy Haddock, and possibly, Stetler, Robinson, Stapleton? Lots of choices.
At setter, Lyndie Haddock-Eppich (got married in the off-season apparently) returns for her senior season, and has done a solid job in the past couple of seasons at setter. There are two inexperienced setters on the roster, but would assume Lyndie continues to run a 5-1, as she plays smart and blocks much taller than her 5'10 height.
At MB, 6'4" Kennedy Redding returns, and the Cougars add 6'4 frosh Heather Gneiting, the #6 Senior Ace.
Mary Lake, their outstanding libero is only a junior and already has 2 full years of experience.
It's hard to see any significant weaknesses in this lineup, barring injuries, and Heather Olmstead has shown herself to be an excellent coach. I don't see any way that BYU doesn't take home another WCC Championship.
San Diego - They have three significant losses from last year: their standout setter, WCC POY Kristen Gengenbacher, Opposite Jayden Kennedy, and their libero, Lizzy Tardieu. However, they get their two excellent MB's, Addie Picha and Kaity Edwards, back for one more year, and they add 6'2" freshman MB, Lauren Turner from Edina, MN. Edit: not in their press release, but 6'2" MB Elise Austin from Sunshine apparently also signed an NLI last fall.
Their weakness last season seemed to be the lack of terminating OH's...6'2 Wiblin and 6'3 Fuller struggled in some of their matches. 6'2" Fayad was, I believe, out all season with an injury. They add 6'2 T-Street OH recruit, Katie Lukes, who could challenge for playing time.
At setter, Jr Anna Newsome returns with some experience, after sharing setting duties with Gengenbacher as a freshman. They also have 6'1 RS Soph setter, Allyson Eylers, and add 5'11" Freshman setter recruit, Laura Madill, from Ontario, Canada, who has Canadian Junior National Team experience.
At Opp, they have 6'2" Sophomore Hannah Patrick and have picked up 6'2" Penn State transfer, Cami May. With the exception of 2017, when Gengenbacher ran a 5-1, San Diego has preferred to run a 6-2 offense, so I wouldn't be surprised to see that happen again, if both Opposites develop well.
I have no insight on the libero/DS position, though USD typically has several well-trained 'smalls' ready to play, and there are two incoming libero/DS's listed on Rich Kern.
Some of the 2018 recruits listed for San Diego on Rich Kern haven't been mentioned in any releases by San Diego, and the 2018 roster isn't up. Anyone who follows the Toreros, feel free to comment!
LMU - I'm thinking of this team as finishing third in the standings. Their only roster loss from last season was their excellent 4-year libero, Kristen Castellanos. They return both of their experienced junior setters, Reid and Prichard, who will presumably continue to run an effective 6-2 offense. Tess Reid was also one of the best servers in the conference last season. Junior OH Megan Rice had a breakout year, dominating some of their matches, and finishing with 3.06 kpg, hitting .213. OH Savannah Slattery returns, and they bring in 6'2" OH transfer from FSU, Bozena Culo as well as 6'2" freshman OH, Emilee Rohrer. 6'2" Sophomore OH Meredith Teague was used sparingly in the front row, but was lethal at the service line with 40 aces last season. Senior Opp Sara Kovac had almost 3 kpg hitting .265 last season, and 6'2" junior Opp Sierra Bartley also played significantly in the 6-2. LMU has had relatively short MB's for several years, and they return 5'10 Alexis Morrow and 6'0 Emma Johnson, who started last season, but add 6'3" freshman Ella Knowlton to challenge for the start and add height. Senior defender Kekai Whitford has a lot of DS/libero experience and will probably step into the libero role with freshman Ella Boehle as a DS. I imagine there will be a lot of competition for the 4 pin hitter spots this season. Coach Aaron Mansfield is in his second season and seems to have kept this team humming without a hiccup.
Pepperdine - The waves graduated OH's Ashley Harris and Adria Johnson, and lost their standout MB, Jasmine Gross (with 1.52 blocks/game) to USC, but return everyone else, including OH Hannah Frohling (3.69 kpg, .203) and OH Nikki Lyons (2.75 kpg, .126). They add stud 6'4" freshman OH/Opp Rachel Ahrens (who had committed to LMU and then Cal before landing at Pepperdine), 6'1" freshman OH Savana Greene, from Hawaii, and 6'2" Sophomore OH/DS transfer Shannon Scully, from Utah. (I would think that Frohling and Ahrens would be the frontrunners for the starting OH positions, but what do I know?) Heidi Dyer set some of the matches last season, as well as hitting opposite, and Blossom Sato set some of their matches, and sometimes they used a 6-2. No idea what the plan is for 2018. RS Jr Setter/Opp Jenna Tunnell is back on the roster after an injury-plagued career, and could also be in the setting mix. At MB, 6'3" Sophomore Alli O'Harra (1.56 kills/set) returns, as well as 6'5" MB Tarah Wylie, who redshirted in 2017. (Wylie had 2.27 kpg, hitting .247 in her first two seasons, and .94 blocks/set as a sophomore). 6'4" MB Grace Nielsen also got a bit of playing time last season as a freshman, and they add 6'4" freshman MB Rosie Ballo, so there will be plenty of height in the middle for Pepperdine this season. Junior libero Hana Lishman returns, and Jaidan Farr, Julia DiBona and Madison Shields and Shannon Scully could all see time in the backrow. There is quite a bit of potential for this team, despite the loss of arguably their best player, Gross.
Saint Mary's - It's now or never... this team has struggled for the past 4-5 years. Their large crop of promising recruits are now seniors, and this is their chance to make a splash. So many matches last year, they were within a breath of taking the match from a great team....and then just couldn't quite pull it off. This is the year. Lindsey Knudsen, a stud senior OH and beach player. Payton Rund, a stud senior Opp and beach player. Emily Bible...a stud senior defender, OH when need-be, and beach player. Senior OH Sarah Chase, if she can just stay healthy for a season, has had valuable experience playing for Canada in the Pan-Am Cup this summer, and should have a fantastic season. Personally, I think setting has been the weakness for this team since the departure of Dalas Dodd. Senior MB Lindsey Calvin and Jr MB Aubrey Pitts return. They have an incoming 5'11" setter recruit, Alosina Thompson, to add to 5'8" Jr Alexsa (Crash) Parker at the setter position, after losing Mary Hernandez to graduation. Hopefully they can get the ball to a good hitting location. SMC also adds four freshman OH recruits: 6'2" Selbie Christensen (North Pacific Juniors), 5'11" Breyan Ashley (Hawaii), 5'10 Chandler Cowell (Hawaii), 5'9" Abigail Matoso. I see SMC finishing in the top half of the conference.
Santa Clara - SCU lost two very significant seniors: their outstanding 4-year setter, Kirsten Mead, and their 6'4" main offensive weapon, MB Jensen Cunningham (3.05 kpg, .338, .98 bpg). They have also recently lost senior MB/Opp Hailey Lindberg (2.19 kpg, .258) to medical retirement (concussions) and libero Taylor Laugero (transfer to Utah). (Laugero missed half of the 2017 season with an injury, so several other players have libero experience.) This 2018 team will look very different, and may have some growing pains. Significant returners include a stable of OH's who shared playing time last season: Michelle Gajdka, Allison Kantor, Chloe Loreen, Ngozi Nwabuzoh...and they may get back a healthy 6'3" OH Senior Ace Katherine Decker (the Oregon Gatorade POY), who was injured prior to her freshman year. They also return 6'2" MB Taylor Odom and 6'3" Opp Anna McCreadie as well as Jr Tessie Powers, an experienced setter/DS/libero. Sophomores Brittany Gillingham and Gretchen Reinert also return with a year of experience at DS, along with Senior Tatiana San Juan, who has played libero and DS for the Broncos. Freshman recruits - all Californians - include setter/hitter Michelle Shaffer from Sunshine, setter Liliana Light from NCVC, lefty Opp Kamrin Caoili from Vision, and MB Alex Anthony from Vision, as well as 6'4" MB Alexa Dreyer (Vision), who graduated from UCLA after 3 years and comes to Santa Clara for grad school. It will be interesting to see how all of the puzzle pieces for this team come together, and who starts at what position. I expect it may take some time for this team to gel, and wouldn't be surprised to see a 6-2 offense with any combination of the three setters.
Gonzaga - The Zags lost only MB Alyse Whittaker to graduation, and otherwise return a young roster. They were a very quirky team in 2017, pulling off a long string of 5-set upsets to start the season, and then struggling more down the stretch, to end up 14-16 on the season, and being outplayed in every statistical category...like I said...quirky, or fluky. But they were a very young team.
They return sophomore OH's Sarah Penner (2.61 kpg, .166) and Chapin Gray (2.15 kpg, .161), Junior Opp/Setter Jenna Kuehn (1.38 kpg, .193, 3.95 assists/set), 6'3" Sophomore Opp Abby Knapp (1.39 kpg, .159) return. Senior setter Faith Smith led the team in assists/game last season, splitting the setting duties with Kuehn. Their RS Soph Opp hitter Katelyn Oppio, returns after redshirting the 2017 season. 6'1" RS Sr MB Kaylie Loewen returns after being injured the latter part of 2017 (2.32 kps, .247). Their best blocking MB, junior Payton Mack (1.54 kpg, .224, .85 bpg) returns. They add RS Senior Transfer from Nevada, 6'0" MB/Opp Peighton De Von, and another RS Senior OH transfer from NC State, Perry Ramsey (career 2.02 kpg, .151). The Gonzaga website press release shows freshman recruit, OH Kennedy Croft, the Washington 2016 Gatorade POY, and OH Dani Batenhorst from Katy, TX, though they don't yet show up on the 2018 Gonzaga roster... Given their bizarre 2017 season, I wouldn't dare to make a prediction on this team, though all signs would suggest they will be better.
Portland - Well, they had a great coach, and I hope he has an awesome run at USC. So, it's a new era at Portland, after the magic that Brent Crouch brought to resurrect the perennial bottom-dweller program. But I don't think they will sink back down to the bottom. Still...they lost their biggest offensive weapon, OH Hannah Troutman, to graduation, along with DS/libero Morgan Robinson and Opp Sarah Savoca. Troutman (4.26 kps, .207 in 2017) carried this team to many victories and will be hard to replace. They gain 6'1" Freshman OH Kylie Ristvedt , and junior transfer from Nevada, 6'2" MB Shayla Hoeft. Senior OH Reghan Pukis returns as well as Soph MB Liz Reich and RS Jr MB Katie Barker...all key players last season. Jr Cali Thompson returns as the third year starting setter to stabilize the offense. I don't think they will be at the bottom of the conference, despite the new coach. Maybe in 6th - 8th position.
San Francisco - OK, the Dons lost their coach and went 3-28 in 2017. Yikes, that's bad. Let's look for them to pull themselves back into semi-respectability in 2018! Unfortunately there is no 2018 roster to go by. However, Rich Kern lists no fewer than NINE new indoor recruits for the 2018 season, which is reason for optimism!
Dalla Vecchia, Anna
DS/L 5-7 Xavier University Vicenza, Italy 2018
Madden, Saige
OH 6-0 Santa Catalina Seaside, CA Vision 2018
Marshall, McKenna
OH 6-2 Ramona San Diego, CA San Diego Volleyball Club 2018
Pemberton, Tanner
L 5-7 Calaveras Walnut Creek, CA Pacific Coast 2018
Rogers, Victoria
OH 5-11 McAllen McAllen, TX RGV Venom 2018
Sydenham, Sophie
OH/S 5-10 Notre Dame Preparatory Scottsdale, AZ Spiral Volleyball Academy 2018
To'oto'o, Moana
DS/L 5-9 Maryknoll Waimanalo, HI RVC(ROX Rainbows) 2018
Wada, Ally
S 5-8 Hawaii Baptist Academy Aiea, HI Kuikahi 2018
Wagstaff, Katie
MB 6-1 Grant Portland, OR Oregon Juniors 2018
USF returns an athletic setter, 5'9" sophomore Erin Anthony, though I believe they have graduated all of their TALL players... Oksam, Lavik, Leap (? not sure, maybe she has a 6th year). They should have their primary OH, the 5'11" Erica Ronda, back.
Pacific - I don't know what to say. The entire Junior class, including stud OH Emily Baptista (3.81 kpg, .241) and MB Ashlyn Fleming (2.44 kpg, .347, 1.07 bpg), transferred during the off-season, as well as their senior ace setter/Opp, Andie Shelton. Not much left but rebuilding. They graduated their excellent 4-year libero, Katrin Gotterba, as well as OH/DS Maycie LaBass and MB Janie Feldsher. There are 11 players currently listed on the 2018 roster - 6 of them freshmen. Doesn't bode well. I will research more and come back to edit.
At setter, they return 5'10 sophomore Belgian setter Hanne de Shrijver (7.14 apg) and add 5'5" freshman Gabby Leo, so pretty sure they will run a 6-2. At OH, they have 5'10 Jr beach transfer Roni Long, as well as 6'0 sophomore Kaitlyn Lines (1.94 kpg, .096), 5'10 Fr Allison Denneman, 6'2" Fr Riley Ramsey, and 5'8" Fr Riley Patterson. 6'2" Sophomore Lauren Cline is currently the only listed MB, so I expect they are currently looking for a one or more transfers. 6'0" R Jr Alex Holt (.58 kpg, .197) returns at Opp and is joined by 5'10 Fr Lucy Carpenter. Hard to see this season with many wins....
I am pretty familiar with the teams in the Bay Area, and less so with the others. Please feel free to add info and comments on your favorite team.
BYU has 18 players on their roster with 4 freshmen. Lots of returning experience.
BYU was very solid on the OH last year with Roni Jones-Perry and McKenna Miller, though Miller was a bit inconsistent. Jones-Perry averaged 4.82 kills/set last season, hitting .281. Miller had 3.06 kpg, hitting .249. I expect those two will remain the bread and butter of the offense. If Miller can stay consistent, that will be a formidable 1-2 punch on the outside.
At Opposite, they have a presumably healthy 6'3" Ballard, who was the #21 Senior Ace of 2017, along with 6'7" Sara Hamson (who was streaky last year and used sparingly), 5'10 Lacy Haddock, and possibly, Stetler, Robinson, Stapleton? Lots of choices.
At setter, Lyndie Haddock-Eppich (got married in the off-season apparently) returns for her senior season, and has done a solid job in the past couple of seasons at setter. There are two inexperienced setters on the roster, but would assume Lyndie continues to run a 5-1, as she plays smart and blocks much taller than her 5'10 height.
At MB, 6'4" Kennedy Redding returns, and the Cougars add 6'4 frosh Heather Gneiting, the #6 Senior Ace.
Mary Lake, their outstanding libero is only a junior and already has 2 full years of experience.
It's hard to see any significant weaknesses in this lineup, barring injuries, and Heather Olmstead has shown herself to be an excellent coach. I don't see any way that BYU doesn't take home another WCC Championship.
San Diego - They have three significant losses from last year: their standout setter, WCC POY Kristen Gengenbacher, Opposite Jayden Kennedy, and their libero, Lizzy Tardieu. However, they get their two excellent MB's, Addie Picha and Kaity Edwards, back for one more year, and they add 6'2" freshman MB, Lauren Turner from Edina, MN. Edit: not in their press release, but 6'2" MB Elise Austin from Sunshine apparently also signed an NLI last fall.
Their weakness last season seemed to be the lack of terminating OH's...6'2 Wiblin and 6'3 Fuller struggled in some of their matches. 6'2" Fayad was, I believe, out all season with an injury. They add 6'2 T-Street OH recruit, Katie Lukes, who could challenge for playing time.
At setter, Jr Anna Newsome returns with some experience, after sharing setting duties with Gengenbacher as a freshman. They also have 6'1 RS Soph setter, Allyson Eylers, and add 5'11" Freshman setter recruit, Laura Madill, from Ontario, Canada, who has Canadian Junior National Team experience.
At Opp, they have 6'2" Sophomore Hannah Patrick and have picked up 6'2" Penn State transfer, Cami May. With the exception of 2017, when Gengenbacher ran a 5-1, San Diego has preferred to run a 6-2 offense, so I wouldn't be surprised to see that happen again, if both Opposites develop well.
I have no insight on the libero/DS position, though USD typically has several well-trained 'smalls' ready to play, and there are two incoming libero/DS's listed on Rich Kern.
Some of the 2018 recruits listed for San Diego on Rich Kern haven't been mentioned in any releases by San Diego, and the 2018 roster isn't up. Anyone who follows the Toreros, feel free to comment!
LMU - I'm thinking of this team as finishing third in the standings. Their only roster loss from last season was their excellent 4-year libero, Kristen Castellanos. They return both of their experienced junior setters, Reid and Prichard, who will presumably continue to run an effective 6-2 offense. Tess Reid was also one of the best servers in the conference last season. Junior OH Megan Rice had a breakout year, dominating some of their matches, and finishing with 3.06 kpg, hitting .213. OH Savannah Slattery returns, and they bring in 6'2" OH transfer from FSU, Bozena Culo as well as 6'2" freshman OH, Emilee Rohrer. 6'2" Sophomore OH Meredith Teague was used sparingly in the front row, but was lethal at the service line with 40 aces last season. Senior Opp Sara Kovac had almost 3 kpg hitting .265 last season, and 6'2" junior Opp Sierra Bartley also played significantly in the 6-2. LMU has had relatively short MB's for several years, and they return 5'10 Alexis Morrow and 6'0 Emma Johnson, who started last season, but add 6'3" freshman Ella Knowlton to challenge for the start and add height. Senior defender Kekai Whitford has a lot of DS/libero experience and will probably step into the libero role with freshman Ella Boehle as a DS. I imagine there will be a lot of competition for the 4 pin hitter spots this season. Coach Aaron Mansfield is in his second season and seems to have kept this team humming without a hiccup.
Pepperdine - The waves graduated OH's Ashley Harris and Adria Johnson, and lost their standout MB, Jasmine Gross (with 1.52 blocks/game) to USC, but return everyone else, including OH Hannah Frohling (3.69 kpg, .203) and OH Nikki Lyons (2.75 kpg, .126). They add stud 6'4" freshman OH/Opp Rachel Ahrens (who had committed to LMU and then Cal before landing at Pepperdine), 6'1" freshman OH Savana Greene, from Hawaii, and 6'2" Sophomore OH/DS transfer Shannon Scully, from Utah. (I would think that Frohling and Ahrens would be the frontrunners for the starting OH positions, but what do I know?) Heidi Dyer set some of the matches last season, as well as hitting opposite, and Blossom Sato set some of their matches, and sometimes they used a 6-2. No idea what the plan is for 2018. RS Jr Setter/Opp Jenna Tunnell is back on the roster after an injury-plagued career, and could also be in the setting mix. At MB, 6'3" Sophomore Alli O'Harra (1.56 kills/set) returns, as well as 6'5" MB Tarah Wylie, who redshirted in 2017. (Wylie had 2.27 kpg, hitting .247 in her first two seasons, and .94 blocks/set as a sophomore). 6'4" MB Grace Nielsen also got a bit of playing time last season as a freshman, and they add 6'4" freshman MB Rosie Ballo, so there will be plenty of height in the middle for Pepperdine this season. Junior libero Hana Lishman returns, and Jaidan Farr, Julia DiBona and Madison Shields and Shannon Scully could all see time in the backrow. There is quite a bit of potential for this team, despite the loss of arguably their best player, Gross.
Saint Mary's - It's now or never... this team has struggled for the past 4-5 years. Their large crop of promising recruits are now seniors, and this is their chance to make a splash. So many matches last year, they were within a breath of taking the match from a great team....and then just couldn't quite pull it off. This is the year. Lindsey Knudsen, a stud senior OH and beach player. Payton Rund, a stud senior Opp and beach player. Emily Bible...a stud senior defender, OH when need-be, and beach player. Senior OH Sarah Chase, if she can just stay healthy for a season, has had valuable experience playing for Canada in the Pan-Am Cup this summer, and should have a fantastic season. Personally, I think setting has been the weakness for this team since the departure of Dalas Dodd. Senior MB Lindsey Calvin and Jr MB Aubrey Pitts return. They have an incoming 5'11" setter recruit, Alosina Thompson, to add to 5'8" Jr Alexsa (Crash) Parker at the setter position, after losing Mary Hernandez to graduation. Hopefully they can get the ball to a good hitting location. SMC also adds four freshman OH recruits: 6'2" Selbie Christensen (North Pacific Juniors), 5'11" Breyan Ashley (Hawaii), 5'10 Chandler Cowell (Hawaii), 5'9" Abigail Matoso. I see SMC finishing in the top half of the conference.
Santa Clara - SCU lost two very significant seniors: their outstanding 4-year setter, Kirsten Mead, and their 6'4" main offensive weapon, MB Jensen Cunningham (3.05 kpg, .338, .98 bpg). They have also recently lost senior MB/Opp Hailey Lindberg (2.19 kpg, .258) to medical retirement (concussions) and libero Taylor Laugero (transfer to Utah). (Laugero missed half of the 2017 season with an injury, so several other players have libero experience.) This 2018 team will look very different, and may have some growing pains. Significant returners include a stable of OH's who shared playing time last season: Michelle Gajdka, Allison Kantor, Chloe Loreen, Ngozi Nwabuzoh...and they may get back a healthy 6'3" OH Senior Ace Katherine Decker (the Oregon Gatorade POY), who was injured prior to her freshman year. They also return 6'2" MB Taylor Odom and 6'3" Opp Anna McCreadie as well as Jr Tessie Powers, an experienced setter/DS/libero. Sophomores Brittany Gillingham and Gretchen Reinert also return with a year of experience at DS, along with Senior Tatiana San Juan, who has played libero and DS for the Broncos. Freshman recruits - all Californians - include setter/hitter Michelle Shaffer from Sunshine, setter Liliana Light from NCVC, lefty Opp Kamrin Caoili from Vision, and MB Alex Anthony from Vision, as well as 6'4" MB Alexa Dreyer (Vision), who graduated from UCLA after 3 years and comes to Santa Clara for grad school. It will be interesting to see how all of the puzzle pieces for this team come together, and who starts at what position. I expect it may take some time for this team to gel, and wouldn't be surprised to see a 6-2 offense with any combination of the three setters.
Gonzaga - The Zags lost only MB Alyse Whittaker to graduation, and otherwise return a young roster. They were a very quirky team in 2017, pulling off a long string of 5-set upsets to start the season, and then struggling more down the stretch, to end up 14-16 on the season, and being outplayed in every statistical category...like I said...quirky, or fluky. But they were a very young team.
They return sophomore OH's Sarah Penner (2.61 kpg, .166) and Chapin Gray (2.15 kpg, .161), Junior Opp/Setter Jenna Kuehn (1.38 kpg, .193, 3.95 assists/set), 6'3" Sophomore Opp Abby Knapp (1.39 kpg, .159) return. Senior setter Faith Smith led the team in assists/game last season, splitting the setting duties with Kuehn. Their RS Soph Opp hitter Katelyn Oppio, returns after redshirting the 2017 season. 6'1" RS Sr MB Kaylie Loewen returns after being injured the latter part of 2017 (2.32 kps, .247). Their best blocking MB, junior Payton Mack (1.54 kpg, .224, .85 bpg) returns. They add RS Senior Transfer from Nevada, 6'0" MB/Opp Peighton De Von, and another RS Senior OH transfer from NC State, Perry Ramsey (career 2.02 kpg, .151). The Gonzaga website press release shows freshman recruit, OH Kennedy Croft, the Washington 2016 Gatorade POY, and OH Dani Batenhorst from Katy, TX, though they don't yet show up on the 2018 Gonzaga roster... Given their bizarre 2017 season, I wouldn't dare to make a prediction on this team, though all signs would suggest they will be better.
Portland - Well, they had a great coach, and I hope he has an awesome run at USC. So, it's a new era at Portland, after the magic that Brent Crouch brought to resurrect the perennial bottom-dweller program. But I don't think they will sink back down to the bottom. Still...they lost their biggest offensive weapon, OH Hannah Troutman, to graduation, along with DS/libero Morgan Robinson and Opp Sarah Savoca. Troutman (4.26 kps, .207 in 2017) carried this team to many victories and will be hard to replace. They gain 6'1" Freshman OH Kylie Ristvedt , and junior transfer from Nevada, 6'2" MB Shayla Hoeft. Senior OH Reghan Pukis returns as well as Soph MB Liz Reich and RS Jr MB Katie Barker...all key players last season. Jr Cali Thompson returns as the third year starting setter to stabilize the offense. I don't think they will be at the bottom of the conference, despite the new coach. Maybe in 6th - 8th position.
San Francisco - OK, the Dons lost their coach and went 3-28 in 2017. Yikes, that's bad. Let's look for them to pull themselves back into semi-respectability in 2018! Unfortunately there is no 2018 roster to go by. However, Rich Kern lists no fewer than NINE new indoor recruits for the 2018 season, which is reason for optimism!
Dalla Vecchia, Anna
DS/L 5-7 Xavier University Vicenza, Italy 2018
Madden, Saige
OH 6-0 Santa Catalina Seaside, CA Vision 2018
Marshall, McKenna
OH 6-2 Ramona San Diego, CA San Diego Volleyball Club 2018
Pemberton, Tanner
L 5-7 Calaveras Walnut Creek, CA Pacific Coast 2018
Rogers, Victoria
OH 5-11 McAllen McAllen, TX RGV Venom 2018
Sydenham, Sophie
OH/S 5-10 Notre Dame Preparatory Scottsdale, AZ Spiral Volleyball Academy 2018
To'oto'o, Moana
DS/L 5-9 Maryknoll Waimanalo, HI RVC(ROX Rainbows) 2018
Wada, Ally
S 5-8 Hawaii Baptist Academy Aiea, HI Kuikahi 2018
Wagstaff, Katie
MB 6-1 Grant Portland, OR Oregon Juniors 2018
USF returns an athletic setter, 5'9" sophomore Erin Anthony, though I believe they have graduated all of their TALL players... Oksam, Lavik, Leap (? not sure, maybe she has a 6th year). They should have their primary OH, the 5'11" Erica Ronda, back.
Pacific - I don't know what to say. The entire Junior class, including stud OH Emily Baptista (3.81 kpg, .241) and MB Ashlyn Fleming (2.44 kpg, .347, 1.07 bpg), transferred during the off-season, as well as their senior ace setter/Opp, Andie Shelton. Not much left but rebuilding. They graduated their excellent 4-year libero, Katrin Gotterba, as well as OH/DS Maycie LaBass and MB Janie Feldsher. There are 11 players currently listed on the 2018 roster - 6 of them freshmen. Doesn't bode well. I will research more and come back to edit.
At setter, they return 5'10 sophomore Belgian setter Hanne de Shrijver (7.14 apg) and add 5'5" freshman Gabby Leo, so pretty sure they will run a 6-2. At OH, they have 5'10 Jr beach transfer Roni Long, as well as 6'0 sophomore Kaitlyn Lines (1.94 kpg, .096), 5'10 Fr Allison Denneman, 6'2" Fr Riley Ramsey, and 5'8" Fr Riley Patterson. 6'2" Sophomore Lauren Cline is currently the only listed MB, so I expect they are currently looking for a one or more transfers. 6'0" R Jr Alex Holt (.58 kpg, .197) returns at Opp and is joined by 5'10 Fr Lucy Carpenter. Hard to see this season with many wins....