Post by bballnut90 on Jan 10, 2015 21:22:17 GMT -5
Way too early to predict anything concrete, but thought this could be something to keep the off season moving along...here are the players that I think will have a shot to be POY in 2015:
Lauren Carlini, JR-she'll be the preseason favorite to win this award. Best player returning to college volleyball next year. Really excited to see how she leads a young Wisconsin team that will feature at least three new hitters.
Inky Ajanaku, SR-Inky is an outstanding hitter and puts up a huge block. She is the standout on a Stanford team that returns 4 All-Americans and brings in the #1 recruit. Look for her to continue to get 3.5+ kills per set and look for Stanford to stay in the top 3 all season long.
Ali Frantti, SO-The returning NFOY was outstanding at the beginning and end of the year. Had a bit of a lull during the middle portion of the season, where she still was very good, but wasn't Penn State's standout hitter during stretches. Look for her to develop better backrow skills in the off season so she will be a 6 rotation hitter. She'll also be hitting off her club setter, Weiskircher, so there is already chemistry there.
Haleigh Washington, SO-The Big Ten FOY had moments where she appeared to be the top middle in the country, but she didn't finish the season on a high note in the Final Four. She'll need to develop attacking skills in front of the setter jumping off of 2 feet, as the vast majority of her kills came off the slide this past year.
Rhamat Alhassan, SO-Possibly the most physically imposing middle in the nation, Alhassan is outstanding attacking in front of the setter and her ability to penetrate the net blocking is unmatched when she can close. After watching several Florida matches this past year, I don't think Dagostino did a good job of setting Alhassan high enough. When Alhassan fully extends her arm, she is unblockable. Most of the sets were a tad low or off, but Alhassan was still able to hit over or around the block and score because she has such a huge window. She still can put more heat on the ball or hit it from a higher contact point if Dagostino set her better. The sky is the limit for her.
Brianna Holman, JR-If she gets clearance, I'd look for her to immediately be a POY candidate. At LSU, defenses were focused on stopping her, and she still hit .383 while getting nearly 4 kills per set. She might be the best hitting/blocking middle in the nation when you combine her ability to score jumping off of one or two feet, and she is one of the nation leaders in blocks per set. With improved setting and a stronger supporting cast (Rolfzen/Foecke on the pins), I'd look for her hitting percentage to sky rocket and for Nebraska to be a top 5 team.
Outside looking in candidates:
Jocelyn Birks, SR-great hitter who will benefit greatly from being set by Poulter, could see her developing into one of the best outsides in the country
Jordan Burgess, SR-Great backrow defender and passer, a strong hitter as well. I just think she'll be outshined by Inky to be considered a real candidate
Madi Bugg, SR-Same as Burgess, a very good setter who will get overshadowed by her hitters.
Megan Courtney, SR-Was unreal at the Final Four, talk about peaking at the right time. That said, she was incredibly inconsistent last year, she has potential to be a 1st Team All-American but needs to play consistently throughout the year to earn the accolades for it. Still, if I were building a team for 2015 and had my pick of any outsides in college volleyball, she'd be my first pick.
Aiyana Whitney, SR-Outstanding on the RS this year, she had moments of dominance where she looked like Ariel Scott 2.0. I think she's going to be overshadowed by Penn State's outsides and Washington next season, so that's why she isn't listed with the first group. She also had great chemistry with Hancock, that magic will need to be recreated with Weiskircher.
Alex Holston, JR-One of the best rightsides in the nation, I think she gets overshadowed by Alhassan next year. She also has room for improvement in the backrow
Chiaka Ogbogu, JR-After her performance against BYU, I am on the bandwagon that she is one of the premier middles in the nation. The problem is, she is rartely set. Just 4 swings per set isn't enough.
Nicole Walch, SR-Had a great junior season, I don't see FSU putting together another monster season so I think she gets lost in the shuffle
Alexa Gray, SR-She has one of the most devastating angle shots in volleyball. She was all-world against Texas, but I think without Hamson, BYU is no longer a title threat. That said, she is an outstanding hitter and athlete.
Mary Kate Marshall, SO-Great freshman campaign, look for her to build on this next year.
Macey Gardner, SR-A great 6 rotation outside who will be the center piece for an ASU team that returns it's entire starting lineup.
Feel free to add your own list of players or tear apart mine!
Lauren Carlini, JR-she'll be the preseason favorite to win this award. Best player returning to college volleyball next year. Really excited to see how she leads a young Wisconsin team that will feature at least three new hitters.
Inky Ajanaku, SR-Inky is an outstanding hitter and puts up a huge block. She is the standout on a Stanford team that returns 4 All-Americans and brings in the #1 recruit. Look for her to continue to get 3.5+ kills per set and look for Stanford to stay in the top 3 all season long.
Ali Frantti, SO-The returning NFOY was outstanding at the beginning and end of the year. Had a bit of a lull during the middle portion of the season, where she still was very good, but wasn't Penn State's standout hitter during stretches. Look for her to develop better backrow skills in the off season so she will be a 6 rotation hitter. She'll also be hitting off her club setter, Weiskircher, so there is already chemistry there.
Haleigh Washington, SO-The Big Ten FOY had moments where she appeared to be the top middle in the country, but she didn't finish the season on a high note in the Final Four. She'll need to develop attacking skills in front of the setter jumping off of 2 feet, as the vast majority of her kills came off the slide this past year.
Rhamat Alhassan, SO-Possibly the most physically imposing middle in the nation, Alhassan is outstanding attacking in front of the setter and her ability to penetrate the net blocking is unmatched when she can close. After watching several Florida matches this past year, I don't think Dagostino did a good job of setting Alhassan high enough. When Alhassan fully extends her arm, she is unblockable. Most of the sets were a tad low or off, but Alhassan was still able to hit over or around the block and score because she has such a huge window. She still can put more heat on the ball or hit it from a higher contact point if Dagostino set her better. The sky is the limit for her.
Brianna Holman, JR-If she gets clearance, I'd look for her to immediately be a POY candidate. At LSU, defenses were focused on stopping her, and she still hit .383 while getting nearly 4 kills per set. She might be the best hitting/blocking middle in the nation when you combine her ability to score jumping off of one or two feet, and she is one of the nation leaders in blocks per set. With improved setting and a stronger supporting cast (Rolfzen/Foecke on the pins), I'd look for her hitting percentage to sky rocket and for Nebraska to be a top 5 team.
Outside looking in candidates:
Jocelyn Birks, SR-great hitter who will benefit greatly from being set by Poulter, could see her developing into one of the best outsides in the country
Jordan Burgess, SR-Great backrow defender and passer, a strong hitter as well. I just think she'll be outshined by Inky to be considered a real candidate
Madi Bugg, SR-Same as Burgess, a very good setter who will get overshadowed by her hitters.
Megan Courtney, SR-Was unreal at the Final Four, talk about peaking at the right time. That said, she was incredibly inconsistent last year, she has potential to be a 1st Team All-American but needs to play consistently throughout the year to earn the accolades for it. Still, if I were building a team for 2015 and had my pick of any outsides in college volleyball, she'd be my first pick.
Aiyana Whitney, SR-Outstanding on the RS this year, she had moments of dominance where she looked like Ariel Scott 2.0. I think she's going to be overshadowed by Penn State's outsides and Washington next season, so that's why she isn't listed with the first group. She also had great chemistry with Hancock, that magic will need to be recreated with Weiskircher.
Alex Holston, JR-One of the best rightsides in the nation, I think she gets overshadowed by Alhassan next year. She also has room for improvement in the backrow
Chiaka Ogbogu, JR-After her performance against BYU, I am on the bandwagon that she is one of the premier middles in the nation. The problem is, she is rartely set. Just 4 swings per set isn't enough.
Nicole Walch, SR-Had a great junior season, I don't see FSU putting together another monster season so I think she gets lost in the shuffle
Alexa Gray, SR-She has one of the most devastating angle shots in volleyball. She was all-world against Texas, but I think without Hamson, BYU is no longer a title threat. That said, she is an outstanding hitter and athlete.
Mary Kate Marshall, SO-Great freshman campaign, look for her to build on this next year.
Macey Gardner, SR-A great 6 rotation outside who will be the center piece for an ASU team that returns it's entire starting lineup.
Feel free to add your own list of players or tear apart mine!