Best Freshman Season

[jgrout]

baywatcher said:

Regarding Nebraska with 4/6 Freshman and Sophomores in 2004; Stanford started 2 freshmen (Girard and Kehoe) and 2 sophomores (Richards and Suiter) that year and won;, along with 2 seniors. Can't remember who was libero, but if it was Schultz she would have been a junior.

In 2004, Schultz was the starting "passero" and shared back-row duties with Goldhahn in the M1 rotation (when in on Stanford's serve, Goldhahn was the primary setter, allowing Kehoe to focus on digging in two rotations and blocking and attacking as the right-side hitter in a third). In 2005, Schultz had more typical libero duties and Goldhahn played back-row in the OPP rotation, taking over for Jen Hucke (who had played all six rotations as a senior in 2004). In 2006, Stanford missed Schultz's solid passing, especially in the final against Nebraska.

[StanfordFan]

Do you remember Walsh in college? Even putting aside her accolades thereafter, she was just amazing as a freshman. In every regard--hitting, defense, serving, even setting. In fact, some of her skills became more limited after her freshman year because of injuries (no more jump serving).

Hodge certainly had a great freshman year, but I'm not sure how anyone who actually goes far enough back to have seen Walsh's freshman year could honestly say Hodge was better.

collegecoach8502 said:

My vote went to Megan Hodge. I am trying to put this terms of where they were at the end of their freshman year in college.

If I wasn't voting for Hodge, Walsh would certainly be the next easiest choice. There are a lot of things that make us jump to Walsh immediately. Can't say they are bad reasons, because Walsh may still prove to be one of, if not the best collegiate player of all time (not that Logan Tom and others wouldn't be a good arguement).

However, I think she does gain extra votes due to the time factor and what she has done internationally and obviously on the beach. We also can't discount the marketing push she has benefitted (and earned) from.

The real question will be in 6-7 years when Hodge is done and see what that means in the grand scheme of things. We can't discount Conference FOY, Conference POY, AA and National FOY. I believe this has never been done before, certainly not in the Big10. It sure would have helped Hodge's case if they made it to the Final 4 or better yet, won the national championship.

Nonetheless, it's nice that we can have this discussion about such great freshman - past and present!

[jgrout]

stanfordfan said:

Do you remember Walsh in college? Even putting aside her accolades thereafter, she was just amazing as a freshman. In every regard--hitting, defense, serving, even setting. In fact, some of her skills became more limited after her freshman year because of injuries (no more jump serving).

Though I moved out to CA the summer before Kerri's sophomore year, I was lucky enough to see her jump serve against UCSB in the 1999 regional finals. The only other consistent jump serve I remember seeing at that level of nastiness was Kim Willoughby's against Stanford in the 2002 national semis.

[Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU]

Kim did have a sick jump serve..........

[Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU]

But so did Logan Tom...

[StanfordFan]

Speaking of--what was Kim Willoughby like her freshman year? I have no idea. Should she be under consideration? Also missing--Stacey Gordon and Logan Tom as discussed. I think also Cary Wendell.

[Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU]

From what I know, Kim her Freshmen year wasn't as dominant as she was the next 3 years in her career but playing right side her frosh year did do Hawai'i good, and good enough to make it to the final four. Lily and Jessica I believe were playing the left side position. I thought Kim should have played leftside along with Lily. That would have been better for Hawai'i instead of throwing Jessica outside. I also hated Jessica's armswing and approach though she is an awesome person.

[jgrout]

fakabedit said:

But so did Logan Tom...

Tom's college jump serve was very hard but was passed pretty consistently. By the end of this season, I'd say Barboza's jump serve was almost as consistent, almost as hard and even nastier than Tom's best college jump serve. When Barboza is fully healthy again... she wore a knee sleeve except when playing... her jump serve might make it up into the Willoughby/Walsh category.

[blastingsand]

stanfordfan said:

Do you remember Walsh in college? Even putting aside her accolades thereafter, she was just amazing as a freshman. In every regard--hitting, defense, serving, even setting. In fact, some of her skills became more limited after her freshman year because of injuries (no more jump serving).

Hodge certainly had a great freshman year, but I'm not sure how anyone who actually goes far enough back to have seen Walsh's freshman year could honestly say Hodge was better.

collegecoach8502 said:

My vote went to Megan Hodge. I am trying to put this terms of where they were at the end of their freshman year in college.

If I wasn't voting for Hodge, Walsh would certainly be the next easiest choice. There are a lot of things that make us jump to Walsh immediately. Can't say they are bad reasons, because Walsh may still prove to be one of, if not the best collegiate player of all time (not that Logan Tom and others wouldn't be a good arguement).

However, I think she does gain extra votes due to the time factor and what she has done internationally and obviously on the beach. We also can't discount the marketing push she has benefitted (and earned) from.

The real question will be in 6-7 years when Hodge is done and see what that means in the grand scheme of things. We can't discount Conference FOY, Conference POY, AA and National FOY. I believe this has never been done before, certainly not in the Big10. It sure would have helped Hodge's case if they made it to the Final 4 or better yet, won the national championship.

Nonetheless, it's nice that we can have this discussion about such great freshman - past and present!

Let's see if Hodge can have all those awards in the Pac-10.

Kerri Walsh as a freshman:

As a Freshman in 1996 - National Freshman of the Year ... First Team All-American ... Final Four Most Valuable Player ... First Team All-Pac-10 ... Named to Pac-10 All-Freshman Team ... All-Tournament selection at the NCAA Pacific Regional ... All-Tournament pick at the Goff/Michigan State University Volleyball Classic ... Named AVCA National Player of the Week on Oct. 21 ... Named Pac-10 Player of the Week on Oct. 21 and Nov. 4 ... Led the team in kills (521), digs (309) and service aces (47) ... The 521 kills ranks third in Stanford single season history ... Ranked second in the Pac-10 in hitting percentage (.369), second in aces average (0.43 pg) and fourth in kills average (4.78 pg) ... Hit .494 with 86 kills, 41 digs, 23 assists, 21 blocks and seven aces in the NCAA Tournament ...

[HOLIDAY]

jgrout said:

fakabedit said:

But so did Logan Tom...

Tom's college jump serve was very hard but was passed pretty consistently. By the end of this season, I'd say Barboza's jump serve was almost as consistent, almost as hard and even nastier than Tom's best college jump serve. When Barboza is fully healthy again... she wore a knee sleeve except when playing... her jump serve might make it up into the Willoughby/Walsh category.

Jordan Larson's jump serve is far more lethal than Barboza's. She has the best jump serve in the NCAA.

[tsunami]

Since we're on this topic, I can't wait to see Alix Klineman as a freshman later on this year! I've heard so many great names mention on this thread. I agree with Walsh, she was amazing. I also liked Demetria Sance as a freshman in 1995.

[fritzer5849]

stanfordfan said:

Do you remember Walsh in college? Even putting aside her accolades thereafter, she was just amazing as a freshman. In every regard--hitting, defense, serving, even setting. In fact, some of her skills became more limited after her freshman year because of injuries (no more jump serving).

Hodge certainly had a great freshman year, but I'm not sure how anyone who actually goes far enough back to have seen Walsh's freshman year could honestly say Hodge was better.

collegecoach8502 said:

My vote went to Megan Hodge. I am trying to put this terms of where they were at the end of their freshman year in college.

If I wasn't voting for Hodge, Walsh would certainly be the next easiest choice. There are a lot of things that make us jump to Walsh immediately. Can't say they are bad reasons, because Walsh may still prove to be one of, if not the best collegiate player of all time (not that Logan Tom and others wouldn't be a good arguement).

However, I think she does gain extra votes due to the time factor and what she has done internationally and obviously on the beach. We also can't discount the marketing push she has benefitted (and earned) from.

The real question will be in 6-7 years when Hodge is done and see what that means in the grand scheme of things. We can't discount Conference FOY, Conference POY, AA and National FOY. I believe this has never been done before, certainly not in the Big10. It sure would have helped Hodge's case if they made it to the Final 4 or better yet, won the national championship.

Nonetheless, it's nice that we can have this discussion about such great freshman - past and present!

IMO Walsh should've been POY as a frosh and it should've gone to Cacciamani in 1999. Walsh broke out the jumpserve in the semis and finals in 1997 and 1999 but it wasn't nearly as good as it was in 1996. In 1996 Walsh was just incredible. She just did everything so well, I can't see how someone would put Hodge ahead of her. Hodge did win Big 10 POY, but if you watch Walsh and Hodge, Walsh was by far the better player. She was a perfect passer, incredible in the backrow, great blocker, great attacker and great server. She also had great setting hands that were never really utilized but could've been in 1998 and 1999.


I didn't get to see much of Folkl her freshman year, but from what I've heard she was incredibly good....I know she was a first team all american and was the kill leader on a team that featured 4 AA hitters. If Folkl wasn't so good as basketball, I bet she'd still be on the national team today, she had one of the hardest hits I can remember, when she would hit the ball there would be a different sound to it than when anybody else would.

[jgrout]

barryi said:

[Walsh] also had great setting hands that were never really utilized but could've been in 1998 and 1999.

Walsh's setting hands were definitely used in 1998 and 1999 and were sorely missed in 2000. Though Walsh was never the official setter, as an opposite hitter with great hands, she was a frequently used alternative, especially vis à vi Lindsay Kagawa in 1999. In 2000, after Walsh had graduated and Robyn Lewis was still a year away from her gutty, heroic fifth-year senior season on ragged knees, things fell to pieces.

[StanfordFan]

Kristin Folkl's sophomore year was the first truly elite level volleyball I watched. Amazing. Just amazing. I was really sad when she decided to go basketball.

Kristin wasn't a 4-time AA, if I recall. I don't know why she didn't get it the one missing year.

barryi said:

stanfordfan said:

Do you remember Walsh in college? Even putting aside her accolades thereafter, she was just amazing as a freshman. In every regard--hitting, defense, serving, even setting. In fact, some of her skills became more limited after her freshman year because of injuries (no more jump serving).

Hodge certainly had a great freshman year, but I'm not sure how anyone who actually goes far enough back to have seen Walsh's freshman year could honestly say Hodge was better.

IMO Walsh should've been POY as a frosh and it should've gone to Cacciamani in 1999. Walsh broke out the jumpserve in the semis and finals in 1997 and 1999 but it wasn't nearly as good as it was in 1996. In 1996 Walsh was just incredible. She just did everything so well, I can't see how someone would put Hodge ahead of her. Hodge did win Big 10 POY, but if you watch Walsh and Hodge, Walsh was by far the better player. She was a perfect passer, incredible in the backrow, great blocker, great attacker and great server. She also had great setting hands that were never really utilized but could've been in 1998 and 1999.


I didn't get to see much of Folkl her freshman year, but from what I've heard she was incredibly good....I know she was a first team all american and was the kill leader on a team that featured 4 AA hitters. If Folkl wasn't so good as basketball, I bet she'd still be on the national team today, she had one of the hardest hits I can remember, when she would hit the ball there would be a different sound to it than when anybody else would.

[brybry2]

barryi said:

stanfordfan said:

Do you remember Walsh in college? Even putting aside her accolades thereafter, she was just amazing as a freshman. In every regard--hitting, defense, serving, even setting. In fact, some of her skills became more limited after her freshman year because of injuries (no more jump serving).

Hodge certainly had a great freshman year, but I'm not sure how anyone who actually goes far enough back to have seen Walsh's freshman year could honestly say Hodge was better.

IMO Walsh should've been POY as a frosh and it should've gone to Cacciamani in 1999. Walsh broke out the jumpserve in the semis and finals in 1997 and 1999 but it wasn't nearly as good as it was in 1996. In 1996 Walsh was just incredible. She just did everything so well, I can't see how someone would put Hodge ahead of her. Hodge did win Big 10 POY, but if you watch Walsh and Hodge, Walsh was by far the better player. She was a perfect passer, incredible in the backrow, great blocker, great attacker and great server. She also had great setting hands that were never really utilized but could've been in 1998 and 1999.


I didn't get to see much of Folkl her freshman year, but from what I've heard she was incredibly good....I know she was a first team all american and was the kill leader on a team that featured 4 AA hitters. If Folkl wasn't so good as basketball, I bet she'd still be on the national team today, she had one of the hardest hits I can remember, when she would hit the ball there would be a different sound to it than when anybody else would.

Yeah, I totally agree with you. Walsh was so incredible her freshman year. She deserved POY over Angelica and Lisa Reitsma. Althought I thought Sarah Silvernail should have been considered for the honor also. I think Walsh's all-around game makes her stand out above all these other nominees.
It would have been interesting to see Folkl continue in volleyball. She was very powerful, but I really didn't like the mechanics of her arm swing. That might have held her back at the international level.