2006 Team Capsules Updated 12-22-05

[lilred]

I moved the team capsules to this thread in order to clean up the "clutter" around them. Thanks everyone. So far they are insightful and helpful.

Hawaii
Hawai'i loses Victoria Prince (two time 2nd team AA), Susie Boogard.. Opp/OH, and Ashley Watanabe.. Libero. These are big losses for the Wahine. They return starters, Kanoe Kamana'o, Sarah Mason, Tara Hittle, Jamie Houston, and Juliana Sanders. The Wahine will welcome freshmen Amber Kaufman and Dani Mafua next season.

Florida
Florida returns 10 of 12, losing Jane Collymore and Rachel Engel. Not easy to replace 2/3 of your passing, your leading attacker and your leading digger. But, they'll try.

Their freshmen include Janine Williams, 6'0" OH from Gainesville. She reminds me a lot of Aury Cruz in the way she plays, but with a little more power. She picked Florida over GaTech, Texas, UCLA and Georgia

Elyse Cusack, 5'9" libero, also from Gainesville. Played on the same high school(PK Yonge) and club team(Gainesville Jrs) as Janine, also played hs and club with Marcie Hampton and club with Kelsey Bowers. She's the first true libero Florida has recruited and I'd be surprised if she doesn't win the starting job. She's really good.

Allison Cecchini, 5'11" setter out of Brentwood, California. Plays club for Delta Valley, played S/RS in high school, helped lead her Liberty team to CIF North D1 title. Don't know much about her, really, other than she was highly rated and chose Florida over Texas, Cal and Arizona.

Florida still in the running for Hodge and Dosty, so they could still add to the class. Last I heard, they were out of it for Hodge, but still in it for Dosty. Who knows.

Here's a link to the 3 incoming freshmen.
gatorzone.com/story.php?id=9400&html=volleyball/news/20051109024100.html&sport=vollb

California
Cal returns starters

Morgan Beck "6'3" OH So. Pac ten all frosh team
Angie Pressey "5'8" OH Jr. Two time first team all pac
Sam Carter "6'0" S Sr. All time leader in assists at cal
Jillian Davis "5'9" L SR. Four year starter
Ellen Orchard "6'3" MB Jr. Led team in blocks

Lost:
5'11 OPP Jenna Brown, + 1,000 kills 1,000 digs
6'1 MB Alicia Powers, 4th on all tiem block list?

Recruits:

17th ranked Cat Dailey 6'1 OH Southern CIF div 4 player of the year, only been playing for four years but has a work ethic that is hard to find. Sweet shot placement


clips of her ^ every kill,dig,serve made is her.
# 2 in red


18th ranked Mindi Wiley 6'2 MB. Highest flying middle blocker in the class, California's top high jumper "5'11" and great blocker. Apparently touches higher then Foluke Akinradewo. AAU all american

6'3 Hana Cutura OH/OPP
Mia Jerkov? Hits harder and can put a big block up. Should start right away

5'6 DS Kristen Kathan

One of Northern California's top attacker, has a 33 inch vertical but her great defensive skills will serve her well as she will replace Jillian Davis.

Yes, I really do think this is final four material.

USC
USC returns...lets see:
OH: Diane Copenhagen, Kelli Tennant, Andrea McBride, Gordana Baranc
MB: Katelyn Bishop
S: Alli Dillon, Kimi Freeburg
L/DS: Deborah Seilhamer, Anne Montgomery

Back from the injury list:
Jessica Gysin, Kathleen Gilmour, Jessica Mihm (assuming she took redshirt this past season)

Newcomers:
Taylor Carico (and I hope she is able to step in and provide the setting the team desperately needs)
JoAnna Kaczor (hopefully she is able to be a much needed passer and terminator)
Alli Hillgren (listed as libero on richkern)
Someone said that the CSI's MB is coming over to join the party too.

UCLA
UCLA loses Nancy Barba

Returning starters - Kaitlin Sather, Rachell Johnson, Katie Carter, Nellie Spicer, Nana Meriwether, Jordon Smith

Other players - Colby Lyman, Meghan Schoen, Elise Carstensen, Kelsey Hall, Brenn Larson.

Add - Emily Clements

Not sure about Becky Green's status but even if she is available, can she win back her starting position.

Speculation - Lyman may be moved to libero spot as she is the best passer on the team and her offensive skills is not that impressive.


Texas
Texas returns everyone except Heather Schreiber and adds 2 outstanding recruits in Engle and Hooker.

Should be interesting.

Tennessee

Tennessee will have 7 new players. The 4 listed in that report, and 3 more:

Setter Jena Berg (5' 10") from Wisconsin
Middle Leah Hinkey (6'1") from Colorado
OH Kylie Marshall (6'0") from Washington
OH/M? Carol Cheade from Brazil
6'1" Middle Farren Powe from Alabama
5'7" DS/L Chloe Goldman from California
5'5" DS/L Jaye Loyd from California

UT has some major holes to fill, losing starting seniors Kristen Andre (MB), Julie Knytych (S) and Amy Morris (L) as well as Jasmine Fullove (DS) and Heather Harrington (MB).

I have no idea about starting rotations, but here is the early 2006 roster:

Setter(s)
Chelsea Noble & Jena Berg

OH
Yuliya Stoyanova, Kelsey Fautsch, Mindy Flynn, Milan Clark, Kylie Marshall

Middles
Sarah Blum, Leah Hinkey, Jackie Ramsdale, Farren Powe, Joselyn Johnson and Carol Cheade (MB/OH?).

D/S or Libero spots
Annie Sadowski, Lauren Laflamme, Chloe Goldman, Jaye Loyd.


GO LADY VOLS!

Wisconsin

Wisconsin returns 5 of 7 starters including (next yr eligibility):

Setter - Jackie Simpson (Jr.)/Katie Lorenzen (Sr.)
Libero - Jocelyn Wack (Jr.)
Middle - Taylor Reineke (Jr.)
Outside - Maria Carlini (Sr.)
Opposite - Audra Jeffers (So.)

Wisconsin loses Aubrey Meierotto and Sheila Shaw.

Amy Bladow (Sr.), who saw some playing time on the right this year also returns.

Katherine Dykstra, a redshirt freshman next year, is 6-3, touches 10-7 and will probably be the replacement for the departed Shaw. She'll add to the block, and she's pretty quick for her size. If her offense improves in the Spring, she should be pretty solid.

Incoming recruits include:
Britney Dolgner, 6-1 OH, will probably start from the beginning and replace Meierotto on the outside. #20 PrepVB recruit and National Junior of the year in 2004.

Caity DuPont, 6-0 OH, probably the depth on the outside with Salow.

Nicole Klingsporn, 5-11 Setter. I'd imagine she redshirts.

With what they have returning, along with the redshirts and freshman class, UW should be able to stay in the top 3 in the conference. I think in 2007 they will be a force when the Simpson/Wack/Reineke/Jeffers class are seniors.

BYU
Setter-lose Lauren Evans. Amy Schlauder will step right in-no problem.

OH-returns Erica Lott and Chelsea Goodman. Kim Wilson returns from red-shirt year because of shoulder surgery. One of them will play opposite and none of them want to. Could be an unhappy camper in the bunch.

MB-returns Rachel Dyer and Lyndsy Harsock. No problems here. Hope Amy gets them the ball more than Lauren did.

Libero-trouble in Provo. Jason didn't seem to have confidence in any of his back row/libero people.

Bench-very weak, again.

Recruits-have not heard of any coming in. Hope there is a new libero with an attitude coming in.

I thought 2006 would be the Cougars year, but Utah and Colorado State came on strong with young teams at the end of the season. I think Utah will win the MWC.

Stanford

Stanford loses Courtney Schultz and Katie Goldhahn.

They return : Kristin Richards (1st team AA), Foluke Akinradewo (2nd team AA), Bryn Kehoe (3rd team AA), Cynthia Barboza, Nji Nnamani, LIzzie Suiter, Franci Girard, Erin Waller.

Coming in: Janet Okogbaa (#2 recruit in the country) from Florida, Janet Evans (setter) from CA.

Louisville

Louisville loses Lena Ustymenko, Jennifer Hoffman and Jennifer Craven.

Returns:
Rui Liu OH/MB,
Kristie Wetterer Libero(Didn't play a ton this year),
Stephanie Marsh OH/RS,
Kara Hamilton MB(was injured earlier this season, I think she will be good to go next year),
Nicole Bateman OH,Libero(I look for Wetterer to be Libero more and Bateman to OH more),
Svetlana Dukule OH,
Jana Matiasovska OH/MB (Tall girl at 6-6 signed with the cards in 2005 but didn't play this year should have 4 years left),
Ana Yartseva OH/MB (Ana will be taking a lot more swings from OH next year with Lena gone),
Elena Pilnikova Setter.

The Cards add:

Samantha Dabbs a Setter ranked #22 by Prep VB. It will be great to have a good setter again.
uoflsports.collegesports.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/111505aaa.html

Lecia Brown: MB
uoflsports.collegesports.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/111405aab.html

Justine Landi RS ranked #71 by Prep VB
uoflsports.collegesports.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/111105aaa.html

My outlook for the season:
I think the team might struggle early with the loss of Lena and Hoffman. I think that the team will start to come together after about a month. I think Rui Liu will help fill the void left by Hoffman in the middle. Like I said above I believe Yartseva will be getting a lot of hits, early in the season especially.

Just my opinion, I really don't know the three new girls that well so they might be taking over some of the duties too.


Minnesota

Minnesota loses Gentil, Byrnes, Mallakis

Returning starters: Nelson, Jones, Cumpston, Florian, Roehrig, Bowman, Hartmann, Peniata
Returning also: Schmidt, Vatterrodt, Jackson, Fallon, Wilber

Coming: Hagerty, Tan, Chin, and ??

Purdue
Purdue University Volleyball 2006

Losses-
Lauren Berg (DS)
Renata Dargan (S) All-American
Marie Franke (LS)
Leah Wischmeier (LS)
Sarah Vitali (MH)

ADDS:
Katie Bremner (OH) 2 time all state from IL.
Sam Gray (S) ranked #57 on prepvolleyball.com 3 time all state from IN.
Carrie Gurnell (OH) ranked #11 on prepvolleyball.com
Lisa Pierce (OH) ranked #38 on prepvolleyball.com

Purdue Projected Line up (year as of 2006)
(Fr.)Sam Gray (S) 5-10
(So.)Stephanie Lynch (MH) 6-3
(Sr.) Melanie Ukovich (RS) 6-0
(So.) Kelli Miller (DS/OH) 5-7
(Jr.) Anne Mastandrea (Libero/DS) 5-5
(So.) Danita Marlau (OH) 6-4

My Outlook for 2006:
After a steller season for the boilermakers last year, reaching the sweet 16 in the NCAA tourney before being swept by NC Washington the boilers are looking to get even further. The boilers will have to fill the void of all american setter Renata Dargan, with the incoming freshman of Sam Gray. The boilers season revolves around the setting of her. If she can do well, look for the boilers to go far in the tourney. The defense will be strong again with Dildine coming off the bench to join Miller and Mastandrea. The boilers will have really good hitting up front with all big ten freshman Marlau and Lynch. To add to that, Ukovich is coming back after tearing her ACL halfway thru last season. The threat with 3 outstanding hitters will be tough to block, and the addition of Gurnell in the equation makes the boilers look dangerous. Again it revolves around the setting of Freshman Sam Gray

Look for the boilers to finish in the top 4 in the Big 10, and make a run in the NCAA tourney

Heres a link for the new recruits:
purduesports.collegesports.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/111405aab.html

« Last Edit: Today at 21:52 by easterfall21 »

[Barefoot In Kailua]

I think Minnesota losses (R)uffda! and Gorf too. I heard they decided to jump off the bandwagon before it crashed into reality.

[ladyvolunatic4ever]

barefootinkailua said:

I think Minnesota losses (R)uffda! and Gorf too. I heard they decided to jump off the bandwagon before it crashed into reality.

Hehe. ;D

One of your few quality posts, BiK

[Deleted]

barefootinkailua said:

I think Minnesota losses (R)uffda! and Gorf too. I heard they decided to jump off the bandwagon before it crashed into reality.

Unlike certain posters who rode their team's bandwagon right into that oncoming freight train, eh BiK?

[OverAndUnder]

Allison Cecchini, 5'11" setter out of Brentwood, California. Plays club for Delta Valley, played S/RS in high school, helped lead her Liberty team to CIF North D1 title. Don't know much about her, really, other than she was highly rated and chose Florida over Texas, Cal and Arizona.

I'm surprised Texas would try to recruit a setter when Moriarty is doing a good job and the only thing they were missing this year was an OH to terminate on long rallies. It seems a waste to pick up a player to ride the bench when getting an impact hitter like Hodge would give them a good chance at the Final Four.

[BearClause]

overandunder said:

Allison Cecchini, 5'11" setter out of Brentwood, California. Plays club for Delta Valley, played S/RS in high school, helped lead her Liberty team to CIF North D1 title. Don't know much about her, really, other than she was highly rated and chose Florida over Texas, Cal and Arizona.

I'm surprised Texas would try to recruit a setter when Moriarty is doing a good job and the only thing they were missing this year was an OH to terminate on long rallies. It seems a waste to pick up a player to ride the bench when getting an impact hitter like Hodge would give them a good chance at the Final Four.

Any top team should be recruiting a top-tier setter at least every two years. Players get injured, and sometimes setters should learn the system before going full bore. Arizona had (junior) Stephanie Butkus, but Amy Dyk was very valuable after Butkus was injured.

BTW - Ashley Engle is listed as a RS/setter, so I guess she's the backup for Moriarty next season.

[UTFan]

I always wonder when players list the schools they have turned down. I am sure they have had contact and maybe even a serious discussion, but with Ashley Engel coming and Moriarty and Andrews returning, I doubt Texas was seriously looking at another setter for next year.

[roy]

utfan said:

I always wonder when players list the schools they have turned down. I am sure they have had contact and maybe even a serious discussion, but with Ashley Engel coming and Moriarty and Andrews returning, I doubt Texas was seriously looking at another setter for next year.

Very true. When a player comes to a school, they are usually asked to fill out a questionnaire for their bio. And some of them put schools that were interested in them. The extent of that interest is all up to the player. They may list schools that they were heavily recruiting them, or “name” schools to make their bio look good. Or they may just list the schools they remember at the time they are filling out the form. The information on that bio isn’t necessarily an accurate indication of how heavily a school wanted a certain player. Almost all top coaches will “recruit” the top players in the nation. However, they may not necessarily be after those top players. A team may already have 2 top setters on their roster, but will still make quick contacts with other top setters in the next recruiting class.

[lilred]

.

[Gorf]

barefootinkailua said:

I think Minnesota losses (R)uffda! and Gorf too. I heard they decided to jump off the bandwagon before it crashed into reality.

The Gophers may want us off their bandwagon, however, they've been unsuccessfully trying to lose us for over 20 years so I see no reason to believe they'll find a way to hide from us during the 2006 season.

It make's Mike-n-Dave's day when they see (R)uffda! appear out of nowhere to sit down next to them on the bech during matches in a Gopher uniform plus the Groucho Marx disguise screaming "put me in coach!".

Oh wait, nevermind. That was JT.