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Post by gobruins on Jan 3, 2018 15:18:16 GMT -5
With the departures of Dempi, Smith-Gooden, Alftin, Petiprin, Gaffney and DeGuzman, Cal's going to be a pretty young team next year in terms of experience. S: Albrecht - 6-1 Sr Potter - 5-9 Soph Schuette - Soph Was really bummed that Chang decommitted and signed with UCLA, hopefully someone steps up next year. Either Albrecht sets a 5-1 or she runs a 6-2 with Potter. Didn’t get a chance to see Schuette much this year. OH: Haynes - 6-4 Jr Mirkovic - 5-11 Soph Clark - 5-11 Fr Ahrens - 6-2 Fr Mirkovic probably retains her starting spot, with the others battling for the 2nd spot. It’d be interesting if Clark actually beats out Haynes/Ahrens with her all-around game. Opp: Annevelink - 6-2 Sr Huizenga - 6-1 Jr Not sure what happens, but I was surprised Annevelink beat out Huizenga this year. I really liked what I saw from Huizenga last year. MB: Rennie - 6-2 RJr Anderson - 6-2 Soph Forte - 6-3 RFr Hopefully Rennie gets healthy. Anderson was under-utilized this year despite starting every match. Curious to see what Forte can do. L/DS: Kirtley - 5-8 Sr Smith - 5-8 Jr Knop - 5-8 RSoph I liked what I saw from Smith this season. Haven't seen Knop and Kirtley seems like a better DS than L. is there any chance Rennie could get a sixth year with all she has dealt with? I think it is only fair to her and truly deserving if she wants it. I believe she missed the entire 2015 and 2017 seasons due to her illness. That would make her eligible for a 6th year. Of course, it depends on if she is healthy enough and if she wants it. |
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Post by oskibear on Jan 8, 2018 2:20:12 GMT -5
Forgot about Bergmark, but didn't see anything on her signing...maybe during the regular signing period in April?
Excited that Rennie is reportedly cancer free and healthy. She could be the spark this team needs.
Any word on the coaching situation and any potential recruits?
From the Washington thread, apparently Cal is going after Molly Wilson (2021 5'11" Setter).
What about 2019/2020? I thought I saw a 2019 DS commitment awhile ago.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Apr 30, 2018 16:42:08 GMT -5
At this point is Cal just going to play through 2018 with an interim?
Ahrens has decommitted and will play at Pepperdine instead.
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Post by vollypopaz on Apr 30, 2018 16:54:11 GMT -5
At this point is Cal just going to play through 2018 with an interim? Ahrens has decommitted and will play at Pepperdine instead. From what I understand, no new coach will be hired for 2018. Either McShane will come back or Jen Dorr will coach and they’ll hire another assistant. Ahrens decommit seems really weird to me. Maybe she just wants a smaller school. LMU to Cal then Pepperdine. I hope she gets the experience she’s looking for there. BIG difference from a Pac12 school. |
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Post by jcvball22 on Apr 30, 2018 16:55:15 GMT -5
At this point is Cal just going to play through 2018 with an interim? Ahrens has decommitted and will play at Pepperdine instead. From what I understand, no new coach will be hired for 2018. Either McShane will come back or Jen Dorr will coach and they’ll hire another assistant. Ahrens decommit seems really weird to me. Maybe she just wants a smaller school. LMU to Cal then Pepperdine. I hope she gets the experience she’s looking for there. BIG difference from a Pac12 school. It looks like the latter of those two options, as there is already a new assistant out recruiting for Cal in addition to Jen and Spencer. |
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Post by c4ndlelight on Apr 30, 2018 16:58:35 GMT -5
At this point is Cal just going to play through 2018 with an interim? Ahrens has decommitted and will play at Pepperdine instead. From what I understand, no new coach will be hired for 2018. Either McShane will come back or Jen Dorr will coach and they’ll hire another assistant. Ahrens decommit seems really weird to me. Maybe she just wants a smaller school. LMU to Cal then Pepperdine. I hope she gets the experience she’s looking for there. BIG difference from a Pac12 school. Not a great situation but a good opportunity for Jen! |
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Post by vollypopaz on Apr 30, 2018 17:21:56 GMT -5
From what I understand, no new coach will be hired for 2018. Either McShane will come back or Jen Dorr will coach and they’ll hire another assistant. Ahrens decommit seems really weird to me. Maybe she just wants a smaller school. LMU to Cal then Pepperdine. I hope she gets the experience she’s looking for there. BIG difference from a Pac12 school. It looks like the latter of those two options, as there is already a new assistant out recruiting for Cal in addition to Jen and Spencer. Interesting. Did you see this new assistant at a qualifier this weekend? I wonder who it is. |
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Post by vollypopaz on Apr 30, 2018 17:25:04 GMT -5
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Post by jcvball22 on Apr 30, 2018 17:31:55 GMT -5
It looks like the latter of those two options, as there is already a new assistant out recruiting for Cal in addition to Jen and Spencer. Interesting. Did you see this new assistant at a qualifier this weekend? I wonder who it is. Saw him last weekend at a Qualifier. |
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Post by bruinsgold on Apr 30, 2018 18:33:03 GMT -5
Good for him! He was definitely one of my favorite players at LBSU. Really talented. Hope he's able to bring something new to Cal's future. |
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Post by 900sqftdad on Apr 30, 2018 20:39:34 GMT -5
Such a shame, they went from a finals team to a program Disaster in a short time. Not the players/ or recruits fault, but recruiting has suffered tremendously.
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Post by oskibear on May 20, 2018 2:22:36 GMT -5
Quite a few changes in the past few months. Dorr now the head coach, with new assistant coach Lugo-Rodriguez.
They lose OH Ahrens to Pepperdine, but get OH Meyers in return. Also signed MB Bergmark, S Belvins from Portland and a few DSes in Wright, Bellizzi, and Houghton. Roster getting a bit crowded again now with 20.
S:
Albrecht - 6-1 Sr
Potter - 5-9 Soph
Schuette – 6-0 Soph
Blevins – 5-10 Fr
Was really bummed that Chang decommitted and signed with UCLA, hopefully someone steps up next year. Either Albrecht sets a 5-1 or she runs a 6-2 with Potter. Didn’t get a chance to see Schuette much this year. Blevins seems pretty decorated coming in, maybe she’ll challenge for playing time. With so many relatively short setters, could see them going with a 6-2.
OH:
Haynes - 6-4 Jr
Mirkovic - 5-11 Soph
Clark - 5-11 Fr
Meyer – 6-1 Fr
Mirkovic probably retains her starting spot, with the others battling for the 2nd spot. It’d be interesting if Clark actually beats out Haynes/Ahrens with her all-around game. Too bad Ahrens decommitted. Not sure how good Meyer will be, but I’m thinking Mirkovic and Clark start for their all around game, and Haynes might move to Opp.
Opp:
Annevelink - 6-2 Sr
Huizenga - 6-1 Jr
Not sure what happens, but I was surprised Annevelink beat out Huizenga this year. I really liked what I saw from Huizenga last year.
MB:
Rennie - 6-2 RJr
Anderson - 6-2 Soph
Forte - 6-3 RFr
Bergmark – 6-2 Fr
Hopefully Rennie gets healthy. Anderson was under-utilized this year despite starting every match. Curious to see what Forte can do.
L/DS:
Kirtley - 5-8 Sr
Smith - 5-8 Jr
Knop - 5-8 RSoph
Bellizzi - 5-6 Fr
Wright – 5-6 Jr Tr
Houghton – 5-8 Fr
I liked what I saw from Smith this season. Haven't seen Knop and Kirtley seems like a better DS than L. 3 new DSes in the regular signing period.
My 6-2 starting lineup
OH: Mirkovic, Clark (both 6 rotations)
MB: Anderson, Rennie/Forte
Opp: Huizenga, Annevelink (Haynes for blocking)
S: Albrecht, Blevins
L: Smith
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Post by vollypopaz on May 20, 2018 15:14:13 GMT -5
I think Oskibear is pretty close. I guess we'll see.
I think Blevins will see the court for sure, not sure what system. She moves really well and has great hands. I had a chance to see her play a couple of times this season and think she is going to be a great addition.
At middle is the biggest question mark. If Rennie is healthy, she could be a game changer because of her skill and intensity. I hope she's ready to go. Forte seems to be perpetually injured (even in High School) so I don't know if she's going to be ready to contribute this season. If she's healthy she can be really good. Bergmark rounds out the group and she may be thrust into a starting role if others are not healthy. Having only two known healthy players at MB makes me nervous...
At OH they really have 5 options if you keep Annevelink in the mix. She was really good at Opp last year though so not sure what Jenn will do. I think Meyer will compete with her and Huizenga for time on the right.
Bellizzi can also compete for starting time in the back row IMO. I got to see her play as well this season and she's quite good. I'm happy that there is a lot more competition at the L/DS spot because the back court has been a problem for the last couple of years.
I'm pretty optimistic about this season. I think they are going to surprise some schools.
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Post by oskibear on Aug 24, 2023 3:26:13 GMT -5
Really too bad that 2019 team (with Mirkovic, Huizenga, Forte, Rennie....) got cheated out of NCAA tourney
Maybe reviving this thread will revive the program (wishful?)...
Overall a very young team. Very young coaches too in Crissy Jones-Schoonderwoerd and Rennie with the last minute departure of Sam Crosson. No sign of assistant coach Billy Allen, weird that he’s not listed on their roster yet either.
S:
Kendall Jensen – 5-8 Senior
Annalea Maeder – 6-1 Junior
Natalie Lau – 6-0 Sophomore
Paige Morningstar – 6-0 R Soph
OH:
Sam Taumoepeau – 6-0 Senior
Peyton DeJardin – 6-1 Sophomore
Maggie Li – 6-3 Freshman
Ashley Li – 6-3 Freshman
OPP:
Ava Mehrten – 6-1 R Sophomore
MB:
Ellie Hamm – 6-4 Junior
Mikayla Hayden – 6-1 Sophomore
Sophie Scott – 6-3 Sophomore
Sawyer Thomsen - 6-3 Freshman
L
Tara DeSa – 5-5 Senior
Sarah Schrag – 5-9 Junior
Sophia Johnson – 5-9 Freshman
At setter, only Maeder has had significant playing time. Jensen has played sparingly when they run a 6-2. Lau was mostly a serving sub/DS last year. Morningstar sat behind Lazaro at Louisville last year.
Lost their 2 primary pin hitters from last year in Lydia Grote and Leah Schmidt. Taumoupeau was primarily a sub the past few years, and split time with DeJardin last year. Lost Sydney Lilomaiava, who had very limited playing time. Don’t think Mehrten’s ever seen the court.
Hayden and Scott were impressive and anchored the middle last year. Hamm has seen limited playing time, mostly during the pre-conference.
DeSa has been the libero during most if not all of her time at Cal, with Shrag primarily as DS.
Exhibition match vs USF
Scott and Shrag not dressed, hopefully they’re ok.
Set 1 – Cal 25-20
Morningstar running a 5-2 with Maeder setting front row. Taumoupeau at OH1, Hamm MB2, Ashley at Opp (Johnson DS), Maggie at OH2, Hayden at MB1, and DeSa at L.
Set 2 – Cal 25-23
Same lineup, with DeJardin replacing Ashley midway through
Set 3 – Cal 26-24
Maeder setting a 5-1, Taumoupeau at OH1, Hamm MB2, Maggie at Opp, DeJardin at OH2, Hayden at MB1, and DeSa at L. Jensen came in as a serving sub, and Thomsen replaced Hamm toward the end.
Looks like it’ll be Maeder and/or Morningstar at the reins, maybe slight advantage to Maeder due to her height and ability to swing on 2 since she’s a lefty. DeSa was great passing and digging. Johnson’s passing is questionable…hopefully just nerves in her first college match. Taumoupeau was somewhat inconsistent…had some great hits, but also a number of wild swings, dug very well but shanked a few passes. Maggie was the star of the show, generally good in all aspects offensively and defensively. Ashley had some nice hits but lacks overall speed. DeJardin in her limited time seemed ok. Hayden continued her impressive play from her freshman campaign, very quick offensively and defensively, and with a quick arm. Hamm blocked well when camping out on USF’s OHs, but was otherwise slow on offense and defense…she pretty much tipped everything she was set. Didn’t have much to judge Thomsen on, but she looks really thin.
My starting lineup
S: Morningstar, at least initially to give a diff look to Cal’s offense
OH: Maggie, DeJardin/Taumoupeau
MB: Hayden, Scott
Opp: Ashley for blocking height (DS with Taumoupeau/DeJardin for some backrow offense)
L: DeSa
Could easily switch to a 6-2 with Maeder
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Post by exit237a on Aug 26, 2023 14:44:47 GMT -5
Belated thanks for the Cal thread, oskibear! I've got it added to the pinned team thread links thread for easy access this season: Team Thread Links - Fall 2023 |
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