Poll: Impact freshman in college

[Zippy]

I can't think of others. I wish I knew more about the men's game. All I know I read in Rollshot.

[VBDOG]

You should add Beau Peters to that poll. I would have voted for him. He played in the LBS alumni game yesterday and looked very good. As a freshman, and if he wins the starting setter job, he will have very high impact on that team this year. Budinger also played a lot yesterday and looked pretty good for a first time out.

I understand McKinny is going to play basketball at UCLA. I just don't see how you can play BB and VB at UCLA, the season conflict so much. By the time BB is over VB is 3/4 done. So I'm not predicting he plays VB. I may be wrong, just guessing.

[Spike]

I hear Pedro Azenha (6'5 FR OH) from Brazil? will be the next Costas for the UH ?!

[vballmom]

I voted for Other in the poll and it was for Beau Peters.

[me]

Pedro Azenha will be one of the best players in the country and will get a lot of attention because he is an OH, and I am not from Hawaii. Mark Greaves (OSU) will be very good. Nihipali could be the most dominant freshman, though. He certainly is the most physically dominanting(touches 11'8", at least). Even if McKinney did play, don't think he would have an impact this year. He has a lot of catching up to do. IF he switches to vb fulltime, look out though. O'Dell will struggle, and PSU will go down with him. LBSU freshmen, are a couple years away, but will be solid. If they don't win it when Touzinsky is a senior, they never will. Don't like Heim(Pepperdine)...is soft, but will be decent because of his size and Dunphy. The big kid at UCSB intrigues me. Could have an impact for them. They open at IPFW w/2 matches...should be some good ball with Ptak returning. Even though Otte is much improved, don't see him being a more than a solid role player...still don't understand how he could have been USC's only early signee last year. But... Hope this gets some discussion going.

[Perkins]

What's wrong with Otte? I thought he was a Fab 50 and USC's shining light?

[me]

Don't get me wrong, I think he will be a good player. Just not dominant. His size really hurts him. He has as good an arm as anyone. If his passing holds up, he will be pretty good. But, he isn't the kind of player who will carry a team.

[5poundcut]

I just have to say that when mentioning setters who are freshmen, Dane Jensen of UCSB will definitely make an impact, considering he is the only true freshman setter who will most likely start, just wait and watch- The Cut

[East coast insider]

yeah i would have to agree that PSU is in some serious trouble with Odell setting, you can bet their middles wont be hitting those rediculous numbers this year and their opposite had no heat but Quiniones just got him the ball so quick it was unstoppable.

[FDR]

Why is everyone saying Penn St is going to be bad this year? They return every starter but one. O'Dell might not even be the starting setter. And even if he does start they will be fine. He'll take his bumps and bruises but I doubt he is going to make the downfall of Penn St. I think O'Dell and Peters (assuming they both start) will make the biggest impact since they are both walking into teams with loads of talent. Nihipali is a non factor. He hits about as hard as my grandma.

[Symbol]

I say you should get grandma into the gym fast! Recruiters are out and about looking for fresh talent, or in grandma's case, a dried up fossil will do.

[me]

Quionnes made PSU go. He was a strong personality and a phenomenal talent. He was able to keep the other guys egos in check. Extremely doubtful that an inexperienced setter is going to step in and run that team in a similiar manner. Talent only goes so far, it has to be managed, too.

[vball710]

I agree with me, because Mark Greaves was one of the most dominating players at in club volleyball last year. I believe that he led a very talented St. Louis High Preformance team to second place, losing to LBC in the championshp match. If he gets a chance to play, he will show that he belongs at a top program and put up some big numbers. I also think Andy Hein has the height to be dominating, but he lacks physical strength and is injury prone, so i think pepperdine is stuck with one very tall bench warmer for the next four years.

[Bookumdanoaloha]

Every year nobody gives kudos to Hawaii's incoming freshman class, but, Wilton has done an outstanding job the past four years.

2000 - Costas Theoharidis, Freshman of the Year and 1st All American.

2001 - Kimo Tuyay, VB Magazine Freshman of the Year and MPFS Co-Freshman of the Year.

2002 - Delano Thomas and Jose Delgado, VB All Freshman Team.

In 2003 watch for Pedro Azenha. With so many outside hitters on Hawaii's team, he might see action at middle blocker. At 6'5" he will still be a force in the middle. He will be the next Costas, Hawaii wanted him badly and got hime. Matt Motter is another freshman who will make an impact at outside hitter, libero and as a serving specialist. At 6'5" he hits a heavy ball. Second best passer on the team.

NOTICE NO EUROS IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. WILTON HAS DONE A NICE JOB, GETTING THE CALIFORNIA BOYS TO COME TO THE ISLANDS: TUYAY, THOMAS AND MOTTER.

[me]

Hope they don't put Azenha in the middle...he is REALLY, REALLY GOOD! He can play OPP or OH, and dominate from either position. Has a great serve. Has alot of experience playing against/with the best players in Brazil. I thought I mentioned he could make the biggest impact in a previous post. Alone, he makes Hawaii's class a great one, with Motter being a nice role player who can develop over time. Maybe, play libero this year if he passes as well I've heard. Hawaii has to great back-to-back recruiting years. Last year I said Thomas would be the "sleeper" of that class. They will be strong for several years as a result.