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Post by rainbowbadger on Dec 8, 2018 23:53:51 GMT -5
Hello, 2019! We graduate All-American middle blocker Tionna Williams, who finishes her collegiate career with her name all over the UW record book. We also bid farewell to captain-turned-manager, defensive specialist Amber MacDonald. Thank you for everything, ladies! We also bid farewell to outside hitter Mariah Whalen, who is leaving Wisconsin to pursue beach volleyball. We're sorry to see you go, and wish you all the best. Whichever school you choose will get a lot of new fans from Wisconsin. We welcome five freshmen to the Field House: setter Izzy Ashburn, middle blocker Courtney Gorum, outside hitter Liz Gregorski, and defensive specialists Anna MacDonald and Emma Whitehead. The freshmen are joined by transfer DS Lauren Barnes. 2019 rosterSettersSydney Hilley, 6-0 JR Mallory Dixon, 5-9 SR Izzy Ashburn, 5-11 FR TallsMadison Duello, 6-3 RS SR - OH/RS Molly Haggerty, 6-1 RS JR - OH Grace Loberg, 6-3 JR - OH Dana Rettke, 6-8 JR - MB Nicole Shanahan, 6-1 JR - MB Danielle Hart, 6-4 RS SO - MB/RS Julia Wohlert, 6-7 RS FR - MB/RS Courtney Gorum, 6-3 FR - MB/RS Liz Gregorski, 5-10 FR - OH/DS SmallsTiffany Clark, 5-11 SR Sarah Dodd, 5-4 SR ME Dodge, 5-10 SR Lauren Barnes, 5-6 JR Riley Bell, 5-7 JR Anna MacDonald, 5-8 FR Emma Whitehead, 5-3 FR Bingos (future recruits)2020Jade Demps, 6-2 OH - Raleigh, NC - Broughton HS / Triangle MJ Hammill, 6-1 S - Greenwood, IN - Center Grove HS / Munciana Devyn Robinson, 6-1 MB - Ankeny, IA - Ankeny Centennial HS / Iowa PowerPlex 2021Lauren Jardine, 6-2 OH/RS - Pleasant Grove, UT - Pleasant Grove HS / Club V Anna Smrek, 6-7 MB/OH - Welland, ON - Defensa Julia Orzoł, 6-1 OH - Olsztyn, POL - Stezyca 2023Saige Damrow, 5-8 DS - Howards Grove, WI - Howards Grove HS / FC Elite Spring ScheduleGreen Bay - Field House - Sat 3/30, 6 PM Marquette - Milwaukee Sting VB Center - Fri 4/12, 7:00 PM Purdue - Holloway Gymnasium, Sat 4/20 - 1 PM Summer European TourRecap |
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Post by BadgerAce42 on Dec 9, 2018 0:01:17 GMT -5
Hello, 2019! We bid farewell to All-American middle blocker Tionna Williams, who graduates with her name all over the UW record book. We also bid farewell to captain-turned-manager, defensive specialist Amber MacDonald. Thank you for everything, ladies! We welcome setter Izzy Ashburn, middle blocker Courtney Gorum, outside hitter Liz Gregorski, and defensive specialists Anna MacDonald and Emma Whitehead. 2019 rosterSettersSydney Hilley, 6-0 JR Mallory Dixon, 5-9 SR Izzy Ashburn, 5-11 FR TallsMadison Duello, 6-3 RS SR - OH/RS Molly Haggerty, 6-1 RS JR - OH Grace Loberg, 6-3 JR - OH Dana Rettke, 6-8 JR - MB Nicole Shanahan, 6-1 JR - MB Danielle Hart, 6-4 RS SO - MB/RS Mariah Whalen, 6-1 RS SO - OH Julia Wohlert, 6-7 RS FR - MB/RS Courtney Gorum, 6-3 FR - MB/RS Liz Gregorski, 5-10 FR - OH/DS SmallsTiffany Clark, 5-11 SR Sarah Dodd, 5-4 SR ME Dodge, 5-10 SR Riley Bell, 5-7 JR Anna MacDonald, 5-8 FR Emma Whitehead, 5-3 FR Bingos (future recruits)2020Devyn Robinson, 6-1 MB - Ankeny, IA - Ankeny Centennial HS / Iowa PowerPlex Jade Demps, 6-2 OH - Raleigh, NC - Broughton HS / Triangle MJ Hammill, 6-1 S - Greenwood, IN - Center Grove HS / Munciana Thank you, Tionna and Amber! Looking forward to seeing this group’s grit continue to grow, and was especially happy to see Haggerty’s oomph come back toward the end of the season. Also looking to see Hart and hopefully Wohlert play some prominent roles. |
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Post by huskervolleyball on Dec 9, 2018 0:24:09 GMT -5
Wisconsin should be really good next year. They only lost one senior in Williams. Maybe Rettke will be the Big 10 POY! Loved watching her.
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Post by badgerbill on Dec 9, 2018 10:10:03 GMT -5
Would the Badger's be open to a transfer? Other than depth, i myself don't see the need...unless, it was a freshman or sophmore who might sit out a year and we could use in 2020, or 21.
I am waiting for the shoe to drop on some 2021 or 2022 recruits
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Post by rainbowbadger on Dec 9, 2018 10:44:18 GMT -5
Would the Badger's be open to a transfer? Other than depth, i myself don't see the need...unless, it was a freshman or sophmore who might sit out a year and we could use in 2020, or 21. I am waiting for the shoe to drop on some 2021 or 2022 recruits No clue about a transfer. With partials*, I have no clue what our scholarship math is. We need to get moving on 2021 and 2022. Most other top schools are already done for those classes. *By “partials” I mean players who are on scholarship for fewer than four years. I understand that D1 WVB is a head-count sport. |
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Post by bprtbone on Dec 9, 2018 10:51:54 GMT -5
I really like the Badgers chances in the B1G next season. So much experience returning.
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Post by wiscvball on Dec 9, 2018 11:39:37 GMT -5
Bummed to see the season end before the final four, but the Badgers played well and just ran into a hotter team in Illinois. Second year in a row they've bowed out after hitting >.300 in a match in the tournament. This one hurts a little more because they went as far as to hit 40 points higher than the opponent. They just ran out of points in set 4 and ended too many mini-runs in the set with service errors. We'll miss Williams, who didn't have her best season as a Badger this year, but her consistency and the way she elevated her game over the last couple of weeks was remarkable.
Badgers should be preseason #1 or #2 in the conference next year. Probably around #5 nationally and in the conversation for a seed/regional hosting once again. That's not a bad place to be.
2018 positives:
- Duello: huge improvement to last year. Her versatility hitting from the left, middle or right is really something special. Combine that with her great block, solid serving and decent defense and she's really matured into a great player for the Badgers. Can't wait to see if she can take another step forward next year.
- Hilley: How lucky have the Badgers been to have the consistency in the setting position they have had for the last 6 years. Her performance this season was really just rock solid. She flies under the radar to other, flashier setters, but she just puts her hitters in great chances to score.
- Rettke: what can you say. Best middle in the country and she still has 2 more years.
- Mental toughness: much improved to last year. They actually won 5 set matches and, for the most part, put teams away when they should have.
- Clark: really emerged as one of the top liberos in the conference. Should be (with K White) a front runner for DPOY next year.
2018 challenges:
- pin efficiency: Haggerty and Loberg were supposed to be a step up from Bates and Gillis. It just didn't materialize in a consistent manner across the year. It's great they were both able to contribute in other ways - serving was tough, both played 6 rotations and were primary passers, and for the most part did well. Haggerty started to look a little like old Haggerty the last couple of weeks. Hopefully she's back at a high level in 2019. Loberg is puzzling to me... the talent is there, but she has to see the block better. Will be interesting if Whalen pushes her for her spot in the offseason.
- finishing teams consistently: while they were much more mentally tough than a year ago, they did let some big opportunities slip away this year. They had big leads, late in sets against Baylor, Iowa, Michigan & the home match against Illinois. In all cases they blew the lead, lost the set and then went on to lose the match. Flip even 2 of those results and they would have been heavy in the conversation for a national top seed. The margin of error at the top and in such a competitive conference is so small.
- Bench depth: didn't seem to have much of it this year... Whalen was injured, which when Haggerty and Loberg were not at 100% really became a problem. Hart also played sparingly, which was surprising for how much hype she drove up in the offseason. When she did have time on the court, it was just meh. I think getting a full offseason with the starting team will be massive for her.
Overall, a finish where you would have expected them to. I really hope they put it together for the next two years at the end. They are going to be one of the most talent laden teams in the country over that stretch (especially with the 2020 class providing depth). Back to back final fours should be the expectation.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2018 11:54:30 GMT -5
I really like the Badgers chances in the B1G next season. So much experience returning. Yeah, they should compete for the title you would think. Pending whatever new transfers Nebraska will add, of course. As is always the case in volleyball, the familiar names will be at the top. Minnesota, PSU, Nebraska and Wisconsin will all be really good. Nationally for 2019 it looks like it'll be Stanford and then everyone else to open the season. |
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Post by vbkahuna on Dec 9, 2018 12:07:15 GMT -5
In rating a team's chances for being among the very top teams I always start off by looking at their setter compared to those of the other teams. On that basis Wisconsin definitely should rate among the top 2 or 3 starting off 2019. Having special talents at the pins and middle won't get you all the way unless your setter can consistently get hittable balls to them both in and out of system. Wisconsin has one already and she'll be even better next year. The rest of the top B1G teams will be either reloading or still developing someone for that role.
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Post by BadgerAce42 on Dec 9, 2018 12:18:20 GMT -5
Is Kalen Owes (#11 SA) eventually signing with USC? We need some pin depth, haaaaa!
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Post by TuesdayGone on Dec 9, 2018 16:44:38 GMT -5
Wisconsin was only outscored by Minnesota this year in the BIG.
Wisconsin played 572 points vs Illinois and scored 2 more points than Illinois did
Beat Penn State
Beat Nebraska
Should be Wisconsin and Penn State fighting out for BIG next year.
Nebraska can't replace Foecke
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Post by BadgerAce42 on Dec 9, 2018 16:46:35 GMT -5
Wisconsin was only outscored by Minnesota this year in the BIG. Wisconsin played 572 points vs Illinois and scored 2 more points than Illinois did Beat Penn State Beat Nebraska Should be Wisconsin and Penn State fighting out for BIG next year. Nebraska can't replace Foecke We say that until Lanier transfers... just kidding? |
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Post by TuesdayGone on Dec 9, 2018 16:50:26 GMT -5
Wisconsin was only outscored by Minnesota this year in the BIG. Wisconsin played 572 points vs Illinois and scored 2 more points than Illinois did Beat Penn State Beat Nebraska Should be Wisconsin and Penn State fighting out for BIG next year. Nebraska can't replace Foecke We say that until Lanier transfers... just kidding? Maybe she transfers to Wisconsin....if she wants to win national championship Wisconsin would have better chance than Nebraska with her. |
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Post by huskerjen on Dec 9, 2018 16:53:31 GMT -5
Wisconsin was only outscored by Minnesota this year in the BIG. Wisconsin played 572 points vs Illinois and scored 2 more points than Illinois did Beat Penn State Beat Nebraska Should be Wisconsin and Penn State fighting out for BIG next year. Nebraska can't replace Foecke Add Foecke to the long list of Nebraska greats that "can't be replaced" as Nebraska keeps delivering great seasons... |
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Post by TuesdayGone on Dec 9, 2018 16:57:45 GMT -5
Wisconsin was only outscored by Minnesota this year in the BIG. Wisconsin played 572 points vs Illinois and scored 2 more points than Illinois did Beat Penn State Beat Nebraska Should be Wisconsin and Penn State fighting out for BIG next year. Nebraska can't replace Foecke Add Foecke to the long list of Nebraska greats that "can't be replaced" as Nebraska keeps delivering great seasons... I've seen the recruits you have coming in next year...none are Foecke I guess Cook could always have his "Missouri speech" with Sweet to free up for a transfer. |
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