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Post by 5280volleyball on Mar 6, 2013 9:32:55 GMT -5
That's a huge get for the Buffs. That puts Austin at RS, with Lattin and Lindow in the middle. I definitely don't see the Bears above 8th now (Stanford, USC, Washington, Oregon, UCLA, Arizona St, Colorado are my top 7) and I could see Arizona and maybe someone else ahead of them. Lattin couldn't get off the bench on a mediocre San Diego State team in 2011, and her JC numbers weren't anything that jumped out at you. She might help the Buffs some, but a "huge get?" Colorado's 2nd middle last year was a converted opposite (Kelsey English). They needed to land someone to play that spot in a major way. |
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Post by 5280volleyball on Mar 6, 2013 9:40:48 GMT -5
If everyone stays healthy, I could see Cal nab 4th place. Gehan is a stud and Higgins is only going to get better. In addition, Rostratter is back and she is one helluva defender. Lillian Schoenwise should also be on the court and she was great as a freshman, imho. Alyssa Jensen is supposed to be uber talented so the setter position should be an upgrade from Caloiaro. There are still some missing pieces, like the second outside spot and both middles (assuming Higgins takes over for Johnson on the right), but the potential is there. I certainly like them better than UCLA, who lost both outside studs. At least Cal has Gehan and Higgins. No offense, but Gehan is not a stud. She's an average OH2 at best. The girls on UCLA's bench would easily beat her out. Higgins has been playing out of position for the past couple years, so she is poised to make a big step now that she's back in her natural position. Rostratter is awesome, but even if Jensen is as good as everyone thinks she is, you need hitters to win. Just ask Micah Christensen. |
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Post by geddyleeridesagain on Mar 6, 2013 11:58:53 GMT -5
Lattin couldn't get off the bench on a mediocre San Diego State team in 2011, and her JC numbers weren't anything that jumped out at you. She might help the Buffs some, but a "huge get?" Colorado's 2nd middle last year was a converted opposite (Kelsey English). They needed to land someone to play that spot in a major way. That's fine, but to me a "big get" means more than just getting a warm body to fill a spot. Now, Lattin is probably more than just a warm body, but she's not a game-changer. Colorado still has holes everywhere, and will do well to finish 8th next season. Gehan is absolutely a stud - depending on her conditioning. Fitness has been an issue with her, we'll see how it is next Fall. Although, given the lack of experience and numbers he has at OH right now, I doubt very much Mike Sealy would agree with you. |
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Post by gocalbears on Mar 6, 2013 12:40:29 GMT -5
Cal will be thin but they will have hitters. Gehan has sustained long injuries the last two years. If she stays healthy and gets in better shape she will be a top OH. She has already recognized a need to be in better shape and will be much improved.
Biggest questions for cal will be M2 and O2. Higgins needs to be back on the RS. I like Neumayr if she's healthy ( big if) or Vukasovic if she fixes that damn arm swing. She's so tall, she needs to contact at a higher point. I'm a pessimist by nature but even I see the potential in the upcoming season. If all the pieces come together, Cal will finish very high in the PAC
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Post by c4ndlelight on Mar 6, 2013 13:05:46 GMT -5
Lattin couldn't get off the bench on a mediocre San Diego State team in 2011, and her JC numbers weren't anything that jumped out at you. She might help the Buffs some, but a "huge get?" Colorado's 2nd middle last year was a converted opposite (Kelsey English). They needed to land someone to play that spot in a major way. English may be a converted oppo, but I thought she played pretty well in the middle last year. Also, CU was already deep (and HUGE) on the pins with Schroeder returning and Simpson transferring in, I'm pretty sure English would be well-served to stay in the middle. If Lattin wasn't starting at SDSU, I doubt she'll beat out English. IMO, studly back row play is what is needed to take the next step (to mid-level PAC). As for Cal, they also need the same thing. Rostratter is a great defender, but she will need to be more consistent in serve receive to cure what's been ailing the team. People seem to be underestimating the fact that a .500 team lost its THREE best players. That's a lot to overcome. |
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Post by SakiBomb25 on Mar 6, 2013 15:02:26 GMT -5
If everyone stays healthy, I could see Cal nab 4th place. Gehan is a stud and Higgins is only going to get better. In addition, Rostratter is back and she is one helluva defender. Lillian Schoenwise should also be on the court and she was great as a freshman, imho. Alyssa Jensen is supposed to be uber talented so the setter position should be an upgrade from Caloiaro. There are still some missing pieces, like the second outside spot and both middles (assuming Higgins takes over for Johnson on the right), but the potential is there. I certainly like them better than UCLA, who lost both outside studs. At least Cal has Gehan and Higgins. No offense, but Gehan is not a stud. She's an average OH2 at best. The girls on UCLA's bench would easily beat her out. Who on UCLA's bench would beat Gehan out? The only person I can think of is Lawless, but other than that, I would take Gehan over UCLA's crop of outside hitters sitting on the bench. Gehan struggled last year because of injuries. If she's healthy, she'll be one of the top outside hitters in the conference. |
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Post by brunie on Mar 6, 2013 17:03:27 GMT -5
Colorado's 2nd middle last year was a converted opposite (Kelsey English). They needed to land someone to play that spot in a major way. English may be a converted oppo, but I thought she played pretty well in the middle last year. Also, CU was already deep (and HUGE) on the pins with Schroeder returning and Simpson transferring in, I'm pretty sure English would be well-served to stay in the middle. If Lattin wasn't starting at SDSU, I doubt she'll beat out English. IMO, studly back row play is what is needed to take the next step (to mid-level PAC). As for Cal, they also need the same thing. Rostratter is a great defender, but she will need to be more consistent in serve receive to cure what's been ailing the team. People seem to be underestimating the fact that a .500 team lost its THREE best players. That's a lot to overcome. Colorado's Kelsey English is NOT a converted opposite. She was a MB in high school and has been MB in her 2 years at Colorado. She's listed on the roster now as RS for last season, which puzzles me, and this coming season so maybe they are planning to move her. She has been quite good on the slide and can out-jump the 6'5" hitters for blocks. (She's a high jumper in the spring) |
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Post by oskibear on May 23, 2013 1:46:28 GMT -5
www.calbears.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/050313aaa.html"Cal's volleyball team has bolstered its back row by adding three defensive specialists to its roster for 2013. Sarah Cole, a transfer from UC Davis, and incoming freshmen Katie Curci and Sabrina Blackwell will join the Bears in the fall." Going to be interesting to see who gets to play Rostratter McKennon Kerr Davis Cole Curci Blackwell I suppose Cole could be a backup outside hitter, similar to Gombar
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Post by iknownothing on May 25, 2013 10:12:49 GMT -5
English may be a converted oppo, but I thought she played pretty well in the middle last year. Also, CU was already deep (and HUGE) on the pins with Schroeder returning and Simpson transferring in, I'm pretty sure English would be well-served to stay in the middle. If Lattin wasn't starting at SDSU, I doubt she'll beat out English. IMO, studly back row play is what is needed to take the next step (to mid-level PAC). As for Cal, they also need the same thing. Rostratter is a great defender, but she will need to be more consistent in serve receive to cure what's been ailing the team. People seem to be underestimating the fact that a .500 team lost its THREE best players. That's a lot to overcome. Colorado's Kelsey English is NOT a converted opposite. She was a MB in high school and has been MB in her 2 years at Colorado. She's listed on the roster now as RS for last season, which puzzles me, and this coming season so maybe they are planning to move her. She has been quite good on the slide and can out-jump the 6'5" hitters for blocks. (She's a high jumper in the spring) I believe English played some RS when she was a Freshman when they had upperclassmen at MB. Buffs also have a good incoming Freshman in Cuff to compete at MB and she comes from good club and HS programs. She may compete ahead of the SDSU transfer. Is it likely they'll move Austin to RS so Simpson/Schroeder play OH? Austin could well play an important role if so because she could then help at all three front row spots. I had not heard Rostratter was coming back for a 5th year; is that confirmed? I love watching her compete. |
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Post by BearClause on May 25, 2013 14:48:49 GMT -5
I had not heard Rostratter was coming back for a 5th year; is that confirmed? I love watching her compete. My understanding is that she'll return if healthy enough to play. However, that's a big if. |
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Post by oskibear on Jul 12, 2013 1:30:39 GMT -5
Roster is up. www.calbears.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=30100&SPID=126524&SPSID=762720Lots of question marks for this year, but I'm going to try and stay optimistic. No Rostratter, but I don't think they'll miss her much with all the L/DS(s). Last year's issue was passing, I think the issue this year will be blocking and offense, with the departures or Hawari, Brown and Johnson. |
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Post by baywatcher on Jul 12, 2013 9:00:57 GMT -5
A roster was released recently without the Frosh DS, including Kerr. Nice to see Kerr on the roster, with the other new DS, and disappointing to see Rostrattor not on the revised version. Have to thank her for all the good work and hope things are working out for Rostrattor.
Cal has lots of options, including a senior and frosh setters, an OH (Higgins) who can play either pin, and the tall Vukasovic, who is an option at any front line position, in a Tawa type summary. The MB are young, but I think reasonably talented. We'll see.
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Post by memorybankrupt on Jul 12, 2013 16:06:15 GMT -5
I think between Kerr and McKennon, Cal should be at least decent w/ their libero and DS. I wasn't impressed by Davis last season, so I hope the incoming backrow players are an upgrade.
I really hope the OHs are healthy and fit. I think some of the players could take a page out of Tarah Murrey's book and get in super shape. Gehan, Higgins and Neumayr are all very talented.
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Post by OptimusPrime on Jul 12, 2013 16:12:34 GMT -5
Colorado's 2nd middle last year was a converted opposite (Kelsey English). They needed to land someone to play that spot in a major way. English may be a converted oppo, but I thought she played pretty well in the middle last year. Also, CU was already deep (and HUGE) on the pins with Schroeder returning and Simpson transferring in, I'm pretty sure English would be well-served to stay in the middle. If Lattin wasn't starting at SDSU, I doubt she'll beat out English. IMO, studly back row play is what is needed to take the next step (to mid-level PAC). As for Cal, they also need the same thing. Rostratter is a great defender, but she will need to be more consistent in serve receive to cure what's been ailing the team. People seem to be underestimating the fact that a .500 team lost its THREE best players. That's a lot to overcome. I thought English did a great job as well. No one incoming is replacing her... That I can guarantee! |
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Post by OptimusPrime on Jul 12, 2013 16:14:09 GMT -5
I think between Kerr and McKennon, Cal should be at least decent w/ their libero and DS. I wasn't impressed by Davis last season, so I hope the incoming backrow players are an upgrade. I really hope the OHs are healthy and fit. I think some of the players could take a page out of Tarah Murrey's book and get in super shape. Gehan, Higgins and Neumayr are all very talented. I expect Cal to finish in the bottom half of the PAC! |
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