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Post by beachgrad on Dec 29, 2019 22:33:05 GMT -5
The biggest RPI factor for Hawaii next year is not conference play but, as of now, having a freshman setter step in at a position that was very strong last year. The team will need a fast start to keep their RPI high and upper tier play might take a few weeks breaking in a freshman setter that Hawaii cannot afford. UCSB cannot replace L Ruddins but they do bring in some good hitters in the 2nd best freshman class in the Big West. Hopefully the overall team will improve and reduce the impact of losing Ruddins but when the set or match is on the line she cannot be replaced. The conference RPI may take a hit if Poly and UCSB takes a half step back but I believe the potential improvement of LBSU and hopefully Davis can offset some of this. The conference really needs Fullerton and Riverside to make another step up the food chain. Of the two newcomers I am not sure that UCSD will be an actual member for a few more years. Bakersfield has been stronger in the past so hopefully they improve quickly. I also would like to know where you get your volleyball stats bigwestfan2. I would like to dive into those as well. Per the Big West Conference web site, UC San Diego will not become a member of the conference until 2024. I'm guessing that the #1 rated incoming freshmen class for the conference, in 2020, would be Long Beach St? BTW, Mia Tuaniga--PrepVolleyball.com's #11 best recruit and 1st Team All America--will be setting in the 2019 Under Armour All America game on December 31st. Yes, LBSU has the best incoming freshman class but transfers can change things regarding the overall impact of an incoming class. Both of LBSU’s verbals for 2021 should easily be top 100 recruits. LBSU’s 2021 roster could have a total of 6 top 100 players (Hoff, Martinez, Bacon, Tuaniga, S. Williams, and Lovett) and that does not include Kash Williams that could become an elite player. Plus, the program has or will have some good talent that were not ranked in the top 100. Now, can the coaching staff mold these players into a team that can advance relatively deep in the NCAA tourney.
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Post by thebeach1 on Dec 29, 2019 22:50:11 GMT -5
Per the Big West Conference web site, UC San Diego will not become a member of the conference until 2024. I'm guessing that the #1 rated incoming freshmen class for the conference, in 2020, would be Long Beach St? BTW, Mia Tuaniga--PrepVolleyball.com's #11 best recruit and 1st Team All America--will be setting in the 2019 Under Armour All America game on December 31st. Yes, LBSU has the best incoming freshman class but transfers can change things regarding the overall impact of an incoming class. Both of LBSU’s verbals for 2021 should easily be top 100 recruits. LBSU’s 2021 roster could have a total of 6 top 100 players (Hoff, Martinez, Bacon, Tuaniga, S. Williams, and Lovett) and that does not include Kash Williams that could become an elite player. Plus, the program has or will have some good talent that were not ranked in the top 100. Now, can the coaching staff mold these players into a team that can advance relatively deep in the NCAA tourney. 6 to 7 top 100 players--on one team-- is what you often find in an elite, top 15, program. By 2021, McKienzie Fuerbringer, and her staff, may have the players to make a run in the NCAA tournament.
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Post by beachgrad on Dec 30, 2019 13:52:36 GMT -5
I agree that the 2021 team should be primed for a good post season run but I also believe that next year’s team will be vastly improved. Hawaii should be the conference front runner based on returning talent but I expect LBSU to be right there with them in the end.
Next year LBSU still has some real question marks but the biggest one from a lineup perspective has been filled with the addition of Tuaniga at setter. The last two years the team has had subpar setting and that has really impacted the hitters and overall offense.
The biggest question mark I have is whether this team can make the needed jump in passing/serve receive. The team needs to stay in system to help Tuaniga run a faster and more effective offense. Hoff and Hill did not start the season playing very well and only made marginal improvements throughout the year so I hope that another year of experience is all that maybe needed. The program has Giambi coming in to help but I would like to see a little more athleticism in the back. Tuaniga can play defense so hopefully a quality six rotation hitter will also emerge and solidify the back.
Starting middles will probably be two freshman unless a transfer comes in. Sure wish Xiu had one more year. Both freshman are good and hopefully one can catch fire right from the start like Hawaii’s freshman middle did this past season. Both are considered good blockers and effective hitters but expecting freshman to come in and play like upper classman is usually a little foolish.
Okay, some believe that the coaching staff is the biggest question mark and maybe they are right. However, this upcoming season is the first season that they have filled all of the positions with their recruits and were not just stop gaps. All the attackers, middles, setter and defenders are all quality recruits providing the needed depth. This season there are no excuses and the team’s play should be vastly improved.
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Post by WahineFan44 on Dec 30, 2019 14:08:46 GMT -5
Yes, LBSU has the best incoming freshman class but transfers can change things regarding the overall impact of an incoming class. Both of LBSU’s verbals for 2021 should easily be top 100 recruits. LBSU’s 2021 roster could have a total of 6 top 100 players (Hoff, Martinez, Bacon, Tuaniga, S. Williams, and Lovett) and that does not include Kash Williams that could become an elite player. Plus, the program has or will have some good talent that were not ranked in the top 100. Now, can the coaching staff mold these players into a team that can advance relatively deep in the NCAA tourney. 6 to 7 top 100 players--on one team-- is what you often find in an elite, top 15, program. By 2021, McKienzie Fuerbringer, and her staff, may have the players to make a run in the NCAA tournament. Lol a top 15 team usually has 6 or 7 top 50 players, and some in the top 10 have 3-5 in the top 10. However, LBSU is pulling in some nice classes and should compete for the big west title and in the ncaa.
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Post by beachgrad on Dec 30, 2019 14:23:36 GMT -5
6 to 7 top 100 players--on one team-- is what you often find in an elite, top 15, program. By 2021, McKienzie Fuerbringer, and her staff, may have the players to make a run in the NCAA tournament. Lol a top 15 team usually has 6 or 7 top 50 players, and some in the top 10 have 3-5 in the top 10. However, LBSU is pulling in some nice classes and should compete for the big west title and in the ncaa. Not sure I believe you have to have that much top tier talent to contend because those programs usually have some of those players waiting their turn sitting on the pine. However, it does help and that Texas UCSB match shows that having talent coming off the bench can really change things when the original game plan is not working. I believe that if your team has upper tier players at the setter, LH1 and libero you can fill the rest of the team in with quality players and contend... at least through the round of 16. Once you hit the elite eight it is a completely different ball game. Of course without depth injuries can play havoc with this model but only about ten teams can really stack their rosters and keep all their players happy.
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Post by WahineFan44 on Dec 30, 2019 14:28:03 GMT -5
Lol a top 15 team usually has 6 or 7 top 50 players, and some in the top 10 have 3-5 in the top 10. However, LBSU is pulling in some nice classes and should compete for the big west title and in the ncaa. Not sure I believe you have to have that much top tier talent to contend because those programs usually have some of those players waiting their turn sitting on the pine. However, it does help and that Texas UCSB match shows that having talent coming off the bench can really change things when the original game plan is not working. I believe that if your team has upper tier players at the setter, LH1 and libero you can fill the rest of the team in with quality players and contend... at least through the round of 16. Once you hit the elite eight it is a completely different ball game. Im not questioning that. Im questining you thinking 6-7 players in the top 100 is a top 15 team. That is not the case. There are several teams who have that many top 50 players, and teams like Wisconsin, texas, Stanford can sometimes have that many top 10 players. Now if you have a few of those players who are IMPACT players, then the rest of the roster should not really matter for that year. Teams with less prep talent, Ala Hawaii, can compete because of coaching, LBSU has yet to show if they have that. In fact, IMO they have showed quite the opposite. I want nothing more than the big west to be good, so I hope LBSU can turn it around.
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Post by chatchu-off moksri on Dec 30, 2019 15:10:07 GMT -5
Does UCSB have any good incoming recruits? They'll have Fleck to help stabilize the passing and back row and they have Froley who could potentially be a 6 rotation opposite. Lovenberg looked like she should have been running the 5-1. I'm assuming Wilson and Ennis will be holding down the middle positions. I could see Tasia Farmer stepping up on the outside. I wouldn't be surprised if UCSB was looking for a 6 rotation transfer outside hitter.
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Post by vbfamily on Dec 30, 2019 15:16:02 GMT -5
Does UCSB have any good incoming recruits? They'll have Fleck to help stabilize the passing and back row and they have Froley who could potentially be a 6 rotation opposite. Lovenberg looked like she should have been running the 5-1. I'm assuming Wilson and Ennis will be holding down the middle positions. I could see Tasia Farmer stepping up on the outside. I wouldn't be surprised if UCSB was looking for a 6 rotation transfer outside hitter. UCSB has a very good 6-rotation OH coming in, Freshman Bri McKnight. Had a tougher HS season due to a new young setter, but she’s a baller. I’ve seen this kid take over matches in HS and club! Looking forward to seeing what she does at the collegiate level. She is undersized, but has a great jump, plays smart and can hit with power.
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Post by beachgrad on Dec 31, 2019 17:55:26 GMT -5
Today PrepVolleyball released their top 50 Juniors, 2021 class. The Big West only had one representative and that was LBSU recruit Starr WIlliams. For comparison, the WCC had three with 2 going to BYU and 1 to San Diego. The Big West had three in the top 65 that missed, 2 from Cal Poly and 1 from Hawaii. These three might make the final top 100 list that comes out in late 2020. The WCC had 2 and both were from USD.
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