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Post by alwayslearning on Nov 9, 2014 13:13:07 GMT -5
At this rate, in 3 years, UW will, seemingly, be fighting with Utah and Cal and WSU for that last playoff berth from the Pac-12. You raise some good questions and I suppose one of the purposes of your post is to be provocative. But this last statement is really a Chicken Little statement. |
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Post by alwayslearning on Nov 9, 2014 13:20:21 GMT -5
UW will be fine with Scambray and Jones on the team. But losing Vansant and Nelson will hurt the team so much and I don't see anyone stepping up, Schwan (sp?) I've seen her play in the Junior squad before and both her and Scambray are pretty much the same - the typical OH2. I agree, both Stanford and UW need to reload for 2016, good thing though there are a lot of outstanding players in the SOCAL for 2016. You seem a little unsure in your post: UW "will be fine" but losing our seniors "will hurt so much" and who will step up? Personally, as good as Krista and Kaleigh are and have been, I think UW's future is very bright with Jones, Scambray, Tanner, Schwan, and Finau all in their first year with lots of room to improve. I would be surprised if UW was not contending for the top 3 spots in the Pac 12 through at least 2017. |
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Post by trund on Nov 9, 2014 16:20:52 GMT -5
I'm not worried about being provocative - not on this site, at least. I'm just trying to learn more about UW's immediate recruiting efforts, and I appreciate the input by the old hands around here. As has been mentioned, Stanford inevitably gets first crack at the players they want. Now that Tanner is gone from his club, our pipeline to that part of So. Cal. is probably closed. But, winning the NC should still keep plenty of options open for JM. I'm encouraged to learn about the 6-3 girl from small town WA, overlooked by the mainstream because of her location. That doesn't mean Jim can't turn her into an excellent player. I wonder if he sees Destiny as Strickland, part 2? At any rate, the poster who said you can't be at the top every year is right. Stanford's last NC was further in the past than ours. Only if your last name is Rose does it seem you'll be a strong possibility for the final four every year.
I'm actually thinking that UW has a better shot at that NC now than any time since 2005, meaning that the expectations will make all the tournament matches excruciating. Still, not a bad problem to have.
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Post by bobk3333 on Nov 12, 2014 16:46:22 GMT -5
After we got Vansant, recruiting has been the best it has ever been. We are seeing this year what McLaughlin can do when he has talent at least close to that of the other top programs. What people forget is how much players improve from year to year, especially under McLaughlin who, as much as any coach in any sport, places overarching importance on improvement.
Next year's senior class with Sybeldon, Wade, Strickland and Beals, as good as they are already, should improve dramatically by next season. All of those players have extraordinary attitudes and are very conscientious about working hard and getting better. They will be the best senior class ever at UW. Strickland, Sybeldon and Wade should be all-americans. Beals should be good enough, but is handicapped by limited playing time in the 6-2.
Three players from last year's freshman class redshirted (because they were injured) so between the true and redshirt freashmen we have an amazing seven first year players this year who are also the highest ranked group of players, by far, UW has ever had. This fabulous freshman class literally does not know what losing at the college level means. They, along with our best senior class ever, will probably challenge for a final four and championship again next year.
If we can find 3 recruits by 2016 who can reasonably replace our middles, Sybeldon and Wade, and our libero, Strickland, this team will be great -- final four, possibly championship, caliber -- through 2017. We don't necessarily need to recruit middle blockers to replace Sybeldon and Wade because if we continue to bring in great hitters, it might be possible to shift one or two of our current hitters to the middle; and having middles who can hit that well is not such a bad thing. Also, Meyer-Whalley is a complete unknown to me, and might turn out to be a good replacement for Strickland in 2016.
With all the fantastic freshmen we have this year and the way McLaughlin will coach them, the idea that we will be struggling to make the tournament in 2017, when they will all be experienced seniors, is ludicrous.
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Post by ay2013 on Nov 12, 2014 17:45:34 GMT -5
After we got Vansant, recruiting has been the best it has ever been. We are seeing this year what McLaughlin can do when he has talent at least close to that of the other top programs. What people forget is how much players improve from year to year, especially under McLaughlin who, as much as any coach in any sport, places overarching importance on improvement. Next year's senior class with Sybeldon, Wade, Strickland and Beals, as good as they are already, should improve dramatically by next season. All of those players have extraordinary attitudes and are very conscientious about working hard and getting better. They will be the best senior class ever at UW. Strickland, Sybeldon and Wade should be all-americans. Beals should be good enough, but is handicapped by limited playing time in the 6-2. Three players from last year's freshman class redshirted (because they were injured) so between the true and redshirt freashmen we have an amazing seven first year players this year who are also the highest ranked group of players, by far, UW has ever had. This fabulous freshman class literally does not know what losing at the college level means. They, along with our best senior class ever, will probably challenge for a final four and championship again next year. If we can find 3 recruits by 2016 who can reasonably replace our middles, Sybeldon and Wade, and our libero, Strickland, this team will be great -- final four, possibly championship, caliber -- through 2017. We don't necessarily need to recruit middle blockers to replace Sybeldon and Wade because if we continue to bring in great hitters, it might be possible to shift one or two of our current hitters to the middle; and having middles who can hit that well is not such a bad thing. Also, Meyer-Whalley is a complete unknown to me, and might turn out to be a good replacement for Strickland in 2016. With all the fantastic freshmen we have this year and the way McLaughlin will coach them, the idea that we will be struggling to make the tournament in 2017, when they will all be experienced seniors, is ludicrous. . The Libero pipeline is filled. We are bringing in Courtney Domme for next year, she is among the top libero prospects in the class, played along side elite prep players like Haleigh Washington and Alexa Smith, she'll be just fine. Also we are bringing in a local gal (I've never seen her play) in 2016. Anyway, I'm not concerned about the libero recruiting. Obviously we are bringing in an unheralded, local, 6'3 OH in 2016, she could be fine, she could be a dud, but Jim doesn't seem to find these local gals who don't have high prep rankings, and turn them into All Americans ....Juley is coming in next year, though undersized and IMO not as dynamic as say Wallace-Forde (who is also undersized) but we will see what Jim can do with her. so add that to the current mix of players like Scambray, Jones, Schwan, Dehoog, and I guess Tanner if she hits, and I think the OH's are pretty set through 2016. Frankly, I'd like to see a taller, skilled setter to come in for 2016 so we can transition back to a 5-1, or at least have that as a very viable option. And, obviously, the big elephant in the room is that we need middles after next year. Still could see a transfer next year, otherwise we will largely depend on freshmen in 2016 for that very critical position. I'm not concerned that we won't actually get solid options, though. Recruits committing for 2016 has barely started. |
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Post by redbeard2008 on Nov 12, 2014 18:08:14 GMT -5
I know Morrison was heralded, but Thompson was not. Barfield was heralded, but not sure how heralded Rowland was. The most unheralded local scholarship recruit on the current roster is Nelson (I count Oregon as "local") - following her freshman season, I doubt anyone would have predicted she'd be an All-American her junior season. Thompson and Nelson, along with Schwan, were multiple sport athletes in high school, as is the 2016 commit from Lynden-Christian (who is so unheralded the spelling of her last name is even in doubt, with some sources spelling it "Bajema" and others "Bejama").
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Post by mikegarrison on Nov 12, 2014 18:29:35 GMT -5
All that is great, and I expect to enjoy watching whatever happens, but IMO there is a high likelihood that Krista wins the NPOY again this year. Even getting close to replacing that kind of productivity is very, very difficult.
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Post by ay2013 on Nov 12, 2014 18:34:57 GMT -5
All that is great, and I expect to enjoy watching whatever happens, but IMO there is a high likelihood that Krista wins the NPOY again this year. Even getting close to replacing that kind of productivity is very, very difficult. 100% agree. This fact should not be lost in discussions like this. People can harp on the quality moving forward with the younger players all they want, blah blah blah, but Vansant is the beginning and end of all conversations regarding the future of Washington compared to what we have accomplished in the last couple years, period. And as much as some people would suggest otherwise, THERE IS NOBODY ON THE ROSTER OR CURRENTLY COMMITTED TO PLAY FOR WASHINGTON THAT IS ANYWHERE NEAR THE LEVEL OF VANSANT, potential be damned. Though I have never seen this local 6'3 OH recruit so I can't comment on her. |
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Post by redbeard2008 on Nov 12, 2014 18:56:35 GMT -5
All that is great, and I expect to enjoy watching whatever happens, but IMO there is a high likelihood that Krista wins the NPOY again this year. Even getting close to replacing that kind of productivity is very, very difficult. Some players can never be replaced, because they are one of a kind. Pointless to bemoan their graduating, however. However, Vansant having chosen UW will only continue to pay future recruiting dividends. Prior to Vansant, how many non-local UW recruits were top-tier national recruits? I'd say, none. Since: Tanner, Scambray, and Jones. Who'll fill out the 2016 class, who knows? |
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Post by Huskyfan on Nov 12, 2014 23:51:50 GMT -5
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Post by redbeard2008 on Nov 13, 2014 0:33:46 GMT -5
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Post by redbeard2008 on Nov 13, 2014 0:48:54 GMT -5
From the Courtney Domme article:
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Post by Sbilo on Nov 13, 2014 1:02:32 GMT -5
A 5'10 OH playing for Washington?
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Post by redbeard2008 on Nov 13, 2014 1:04:21 GMT -5
From the Volleyblog Seattle article:
For comparison, Crissy Jones, who can jump out of the gym, posted an approach jump of 10'1" at TStreet. Scambray did a 9'8".
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Post by Wolfgang on Nov 13, 2014 1:05:40 GMT -5
I get the feeling that McLaughlin knows how to tap into the max potential of a player.
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