|
Post by tuggboat on Apr 19, 2006 10:11:48 GMT -5
What teams will remain at the top of the ranks and what teams will fall after bad showings in Salt Lake?
|
|
|
Post by star035 on Apr 19, 2006 10:47:44 GMT -5
Some quick thoughts -
Teams remaining strong: Maryland (most of team is back ..including their big guns?) Illinois (just need to reload at outside) Arizona (losing players, but a strong B team) UCLA Lakeland Notre Dame (if talent returns) Colorado (if they can replace their setter) UW-Whitewater (made some noise this year, and most players return?) a couple of west coast teams that are young (Cal-Berkeley, Fresno State, Sac State, etc.)
Teams that might slip back from where they finished due to graduating players, per their rosters: Michigan State (slipping from where they could have been!) Oshkosh (losing a lot, but a strong B team) Marquette (unless they, too, can replace their hitters) Va Tech Utah (if their big middle graduates) Santa Clara Texas schools Ohio State
Quick thoughts! Just throwing 'em out for discussion.
|
|
|
Post by BearClause on Apr 19, 2006 12:07:37 GMT -5
I would say that Cal took a long time to gel with so many new players. They basically only had two returning starters from last season's team. If there were only a way to keep Albrecht Glitz from going back to England.......
Next season looks to be promising. The talent level of this season's team was very high. Peter Salatich (transfer from D-I UC Irvine) is probably as talented as any outside on a club team roster. Many of the freshmen should be really good next season as sophs.
|
|
|
Post by scmb19 on Apr 19, 2006 13:56:18 GMT -5
Santa Clara is only loosing two players this year, the big outside and opposite. However, due to some recruiting to their former coach (who was fired/walked off after the UCLA match 1st day of nationals) a big middle and new libero should improve the team. The loss of the outside is huge, but the back up outside and opposite are going to be working hard this summer playing a lot of beach to improve their games and verts. SCU should be fairly good next year. I think oshkosh may drop a few spots, but not below 5th. Arizona should keep its ranking as well as Illinois. MSU should drop down especially after they took 3rd in their day 1 pool at nationals. As the Cal guy said above. They also had an almost entirely new team this year and are definitely going to be a lot better next year. Look out for Cal and Santa Clara from the NCCVL.
|
|
|
Post by AAVolley on Apr 19, 2006 14:39:42 GMT -5
The coach was fired in the middle of a match/tournament? There has got to be a good story behind that...
|
|
|
Post by nellakwah21 on Apr 19, 2006 14:44:12 GMT -5
I agree. Thats pretty crazy, even for a club tournament.
|
|
|
Post by vbtrain on Apr 19, 2006 16:49:11 GMT -5
I don't see how UW-Whitewater made any noise this year other than Indiana back in Feb. They had a poor showing in Vegas and I think they lost in the first round of the Bronze bracket at nationals (not too impressive)... but other than that I think those other teams mentioned will be pretty strong.
I see Maryland, Illinois, Lakeland, and some teams out west (those filled with freshman) as the pre-season favorites.
If Maryland is returning Clint Davis and Jason Lee (the two-all American First Team selections), I could easily see them being #1 next year.
|
|
|
Post by scmb19 on Apr 19, 2006 17:00:56 GMT -5
There's been lots of drama and problems with our coach this year and it all came to a point when he refused to call a timeout against UCLA, even when they were closing the gap on a 5-0 run. Our older players just called time out. He was on a plane ride home the next day at 11.
|
|
|
Post by nellakwah21 on Apr 19, 2006 17:14:24 GMT -5
I'm suprised that:
a) you did that well at nationals with a coach that volatile.
b) that you guys put up with that if it went on for awhile.
Is it safe to assume he won't be back? Hopefully, you can find a coach to help take you to the next level for 2007.
|
|
|
Post by vball1412 on Apr 19, 2006 19:50:18 GMT -5
I agree with most of the teams up there-
Maryland will probably be up there again, Jason Lee returns, they will lose the other OH Clinton. If they find better MH's, they'd be pretty ridiculous.
Illinois will be up there too. The frosh lefty, Deeke, is ridiculous. And they always seem to reload on people every year. No one should be surprised that they'll be up there again next year.
Lakeland will be a top team next year, with virtually everyone returning. I think they just got into a rut last couple of weeks and didn't play well going into Nationals.
Alot of those west coast teams will up there. Arizona, Colorado, most of those Cal teams.
Teams that'll drop next year.
V-tech, will be in the lower group of top 25, if they make it. THere 6'10" Opp graduates and he carried them so many times at nationals. I'm not sure if anyone watched. Anytime the game was close they set him. Who'll they go to next year to get them out of jams.
Oshkosh we'll have to see - Jeff Thomas is done he's already played 6 years, and there 6'9" MH is to graduate. Those two guys are/were a very large part of their offense. It'll be interesting who comes in to fill in. They do have a solid group, but losing two big guns hurts.
Marquette - they lose there 6'9" OH, who like V-tech's OPP carried a huge load of their offense. Depending on who comes in to fill.
Notre Dame - I don't know how they win, they are a mediocre team. They shouldn't be winning as many games as they do. I don't know how they win. There really not that talented, if anyone watched some of there games. I think teams just got too laxed and didn't play hard. They won't catch teams offguard next year.
Teams to watch for next year. I'm calling it right here. East Coast - Other than Maryland
Dayton will be good, they had a poor showing at Nationals, but were pretty good most of the year. There all frosh and soph.
PSU will be good. Even though Guillermo Fernandez was the varsity libero and is playing OH for the club. He is good, very smart hitter. Gut feeling says they'll get a varsity player or former varsity to play for them. A lot of there players this year will be returning (underclassman).
Univ. of Pittsburgh - will be up there. Solid group, MH can dominate, there setters are tall, have great hands, and athletic and are returning, OH are returning, and they have a 6'6" OH/OPP who didn't make it to nationals who is very good. There going to surpise teams!!!!
Midwest - I think will come down to Illinois or Lakeland. MSU will be pretty good, they were a bit overrated this year.
West Coast - Other than Arizona, Colorado, and most of those cal teams Cal Davis - Both there MH are much better than UTah's 6'7". THey have great size and are sophomores (6'9" and 6'7") and cut the ball very well and put up huge blocks. There gonna be pretty good next year.
|
|
|
Post by dubdub6 on Apr 19, 2006 20:44:38 GMT -5
Oshkosh will be getting a great right side next year from Whitewater. John Erickson is transferring to Oshkosh.
|
|
|
Post by wisky4 on Apr 19, 2006 20:51:29 GMT -5
^^Maryland is probably going to come out on top and and who knows about the rest just like this year it didnt really matter whow as on top at the begging seing that MU was on top because they won and then dropped to like 7 i think closer to the end of the year. UWO is losing more players than most people think and that whole starting line up were impact players they all made a difference in them winning this year but they also has a pretty strong B sqaud taking second in the DIII tourny. Lakeland im pretty sure has all but 1 returning the senior setter i think. That freshman setter they ahd this year was pretty good making all freshman team for WVC and has room to improve not to mention LC's B team was also pretty strong and i think they were all freshman wiht maybey a few soph's but no one older than that so they will have depth and may come out strong right away again they seemed like they broke down in the last three weeks. MU is losing a few key players also but just like UWO and LC they also had a strong B team and i think that all 3 of those B teams could be final 4 teams in the DIII tourny they played touch matches agasint each other all year. U of I is always good most of their players come out of Illinois obviously and personally it think that great lakes club region down there has some very impressive talent that comes out of it just take a look at rosters if they be D1 club or D1 NCAA in the past 10 years, U of I will def be back up there. As for Whitewater this was their first year in D1 club so well see wat happens next year that right side lefty is huge for them. MSU will most likely be back and probably improved at that number 1 is a stud but he should be after playin D1 NCAA for 4 years not to mention he also was from illinois and played wiht Rooney. Maryland will be back they have been strong the past 3 years and Arizona is always strong also. West coast didnt make much noise this year but they may be young and have room to grow. So what happens now is we all sit and wait while everyone takes it easy for a little bit then gets right back into it for another thrilling year.
|
|
|
Post by jdouglasst on Apr 19, 2006 21:39:50 GMT -5
Just a rumor but oshkosh my only lose their outsidesand their smaller middle....pick up the lefty opposite from whitewater....and there is a chance they might get a good freshman outside next year.....their opposite from this year would rather play outside next year also......they have a chance of being a strong team again if mike (6'9" middle) returns....
|
|
|
Post by wisky4 on Apr 19, 2006 22:21:07 GMT -5
not too sure bout the john rumor and the opp form UWO wanting to play outside, bradley is a pretty good opp. If i recall semrad is graduating he was done after this year and jt is gone for sure and the smaller middle is the lefty not sure wat his situation is. I guess the only people that know what is happening in oshkosh is the team itself. Remember they just won a national champ, if players have enough credits to graduate wats stopping them?
|
|
|
Post by jdouglasst on Apr 19, 2006 22:57:46 GMT -5
I think the love for the game makes them want to keep playing.....jt is the only one that has to leave.....sederberg(setter) said he wants to come back.....semrad has to get his shoulder checked out...if he doesnt have a problem he might come back.....and bradley is willing to play anywhere as long as it helps the team....it would be nice to see them come back and try to make a run at it again....but lakeland and illinois look to be really good next year.....
|
|