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Post by SportyBucky on Feb 6, 2019 17:05:42 GMT -5
Obviously very early, transfers are still in the works etc., but to start 2019, who do you have in your top 10? who are the teams to beat to start the year: 1- Stanford Only loses Alade’s blocking (which is a big loss), but they have options. Stanford a block less per set is still a crazy good team. 2- Minnesota SSS is a loss, nobody is doubting that BUT I don’t’ think its as much of a loss as people maker her out to be. They keep all their arms. 3- Kentucky Kentucky ran into a hot Nebraska team and have picked up, IMO, the best transfer so far to date in Meyer. Make no mistake, this is a good team 4- Wisconsin Doesn’t lose much, plenty of talent to shift around, but the question is ceiling. If the LS can’t score, they aren’t going to win the big matches, no matter how much production they get from Rettke in the middle. They need two viable scoring options on the pins to make a push for the NT, I dunno if the current crop gets them there, but time will tell. 5- Texas Texas loses YBG and Morgan Johnson. But per usual, just plug in the next top 5 recruit and keep humming along. Their ceiling comes down to the first two contacts, per usual, and I don’t see that getting distinctly better. However, it’s good enough with their stellar front line to still win most matches. 6- Illinois Like Minnesota, they lose a very good setter, but they have some options for replacement. I actually think that Bastianelli is the bigger loss for them. There is simply no one on that roster coming close to her blocking production. Quade could very well be the 2nd best OH next year, but are the Illinois arms good enough to best an opposing defense that won’t have to deal with the speed and accuracy of the Poulter sets? 7- Florida Probably the second biggest transfer of the off season in Caesar. Gives Mary yet ANOTHER quality pin player to mix into the fold. 8- Nebraska Foecke is gone, Maloney is gone. On paper Nebraska can replace them with very good talent and Cook has proven he can coach, but this is going to be a pretty young team, plenty of freshmen and sophomores on the floor. Time will tell. 9- Washington Returns the entire starting lineup. Like Wisconsin (without a player the caliber of Rettke), general ceiling is the issue here. Can the backcourt actually improve enough and establish at least two consistent offensive options to push teams ranked above them? Time will tell. 10- Pitt I liked Pitt generally last year. It’s a shame that Lund was out in that Michigan match as this was a sweet 16 team. They have a ceiling, for sure, but they have enough returning options to give most teams in the country a loss. Next 6 or so: Pac-12: Oregon; USC Big 10: Penn State SEC: Tennessee Big 12: Baylor WCC: BYU You are missing teams like Penn State, Tennessee (sleeper) and BYU in the top 10. Outside of Stanford, Washington (I am partial to their setter) and Oregon do not see PAC-12 doing too much. Wisconsin is one player (pin hitter) away from being in the top 10. BIG 12 both Baylor and Kansas will give a young Texas a run for their money. As for ACC I like Louisville and Florida State Wisconsin was in the top ten all season, including the end of it, with its existing team. I didn't read any further after that idiocy.
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Post by holidayhusker on Feb 6, 2019 17:20:36 GMT -5
Nebraska seems to always start out like a slug and then peak at tourney time.This season will be fun to watch.
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Post by oldmanred on Feb 6, 2019 17:34:24 GMT -5
I think the Huskers deserve to be higher than 8th; but I am prejudiced! There are so many talented teams that will be in the mix this coming season!
GO HUSKERS
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Post by NebraskaVBfan93 on Feb 6, 2019 17:39:19 GMT -5
Behind Stanford, it’s a crap shoot. Nebraska could end up a final four team (Not my guess) or outside the top ten. I think ay’s guess at eight is fair.
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Post by Disc808 on Feb 6, 2019 18:06:10 GMT -5
Kentucky is one middle and a consistent rightside away from being Top 5. Cooper hit .336 on the season
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Post by curiousvolleyballdad on Feb 6, 2019 18:11:08 GMT -5
You are missing teams like Penn State, Tennessee (sleeper) and BYU in the top 10. Outside of Stanford, Washington (I am partial to their setter) and Oregon do not see PAC-12 doing too much. Wisconsin is one player (pin hitter) away from being in the top 10. BIG 12 both Baylor and Kansas will give a young Texas a run for their money. As for ACC I like Louisville and Florida State Wisconsin was in the top ten all season, including the end of it, with its existing team. I didn't read any further after that idiocy. Hold on now! Just stating my opinion. Believe it or not I am a fan of the Badgers. Geez!
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Post by naujack85 on Feb 6, 2019 18:25:25 GMT -5
Behind Stanford, it’s a crap shoot. Nebraska could end up a final four team (Not my guess) or outside the top ten. I think ay’s guess at eight is fair. I tend to agree. Nebraskas ceiling is reaching the final four (and it's usually a toss up when you get there), but their floor is barely squeaking out a seed only to get crunched in the regional semis. I feel like PSU is in a very similar situation. The talent is there, but a lack of leadership and general inexperience may be a huge hurdle for them.
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Post by horns1 on Feb 6, 2019 18:41:39 GMT -5
Nebraska seems to always start out like a slug and then peak at tourney time.This season will be fun to watch. Always? In 2016 they were the defending national champions, and pre-season #1 team; they played like it early and just about all season until they were upset in the national semi-finals after almost being upset in the regional semi-finals.
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Post by ilalum92 on Feb 6, 2019 19:54:11 GMT -5
How did the preseason poll last year compare to end of season poll and tourney finish?
Agreed Stanford looks head and shoulders above the rest but added pressure as returning champs and seniors could maybe cause a hiccup. I think they cracked a little as sophomores.
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Post by ay2013 on Feb 6, 2019 21:07:08 GMT -5
Kentucky is one middle and a consistent rightside away from being Top 5. well, they are getting a transfer All American MB and their RS last year was over .300 for the season.
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Post by NebraskaVBfan93 on Feb 6, 2019 21:42:49 GMT -5
Behind Stanford, it’s a crap shoot. Nebraska could end up a final four team (Not my guess) or outside the top ten. I think ay’s guess at eight is fair. I tend to agree. Nebraskas ceiling is reaching the final four (and it's usually a toss up when you get there), but their floor is barely squeaking out a seed only to get crunched in the regional semis. I feel like PSU is in a very similar situation. The talent is there, but a lack of leadership and general inexperience may be a huge hurdle for them. Agree on most of what you said except for the "lack of leadership." While they won't two four year starting seniors like last year, I think the potential is there to have very strong leadership. IMO, Stivrins and Hames will fill that role nicely.
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Post by naujack85 on Feb 7, 2019 0:44:12 GMT -5
I tend to agree. Nebraskas ceiling is reaching the final four (and it's usually a toss up when you get there), but their floor is barely squeaking out a seed only to get crunched in the regional semis. I feel like PSU is in a very similar situation. The talent is there, but a lack of leadership and general inexperience may be a huge hurdle for them. Agree on most of what you said except for the "lack of leadership." While they won't two four year starting seniors like last year, I think the potential is there to have very strong leadership. IMO, Stivrins and Hames will fill that role nicely. There is plenty of potential for strong leadership for PSU and Nebraska, but they're not known quantities because they haven't had that responsibility yet.
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Post by Fight On! on Feb 7, 2019 7:09:34 GMT -5
If Lanier is healthy and finds a way to connect with Lazaro, USC could surprise folks. Then again, Crouch could run them into the ground again. Big questions are M2 and L.
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Post by SportyBucky on Feb 7, 2019 9:43:27 GMT -5
Wisconsin was in the top ten all season, including the end of it, with its existing team. I didn't read any further after that idiocy. Hold on now! Just stating my opinion. Believe it or not I am a fan of the Badgers. Geez! But your opinion is based on an incorrect fact. We were in the top ten all season WITH OUR EXISTING PIN HITTERS...ALL THREE OF THEM.
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Post by ay2013 on Feb 7, 2019 10:58:36 GMT -5
If Lanier is healthy and finds a way to connect with Lazaro, USC could surprise folks. Then again, Crouch could run them into the ground again. Big questions are M2 and L. USC is, on paper, for sure a top 10 team. It shouldn’t surprise anyone if they do well this year.
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