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Post by ducksbyamillion on Dec 10, 2023 0:31:36 GMT -5
I would say go for a transfer setter (Carlson 👀) and elite libero. Maybe another middle and an experience 6-ro OH can be a good pick up too! Definitely transfer setter and if there is an elite libero, we would not pass those up. Don't need more middles. Already will have 4. Don't see us needing another OH. Colyer and Acevedo will start, and Gregoire is a solid backup especially as a passer. Not really sold on Neal yet but she had some good moments this season. Tvrdy can definitely step up but if there is an elite middle on the portal, I don’t see why not.
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Post by blastingsand on Dec 10, 2023 0:38:26 GMT -5
We are losing A LOT. Mimi is basically the only person from both Elite 8 teams... But as they say experience doesn't matter if you're good, you're good
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Post by c4ndlelight on Dec 10, 2023 0:39:48 GMT -5
We are losing A LOT. Mimi is basically the only person from both Elite 8 teams... But as they say experience doesn't matter if you're good, you're good I mean, I doubt we'll be as consistent - just expect some ups and downs from youth. But I have faith in the talent we have and will have.
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Post by maroki13 on Dec 10, 2023 0:41:06 GMT -5
Definitely transfer setter and if there is an elite libero, we would not pass those up. Don't need more middles. Already will have 4. Don't see us needing another OH. Colyer and Acevedo will start, and Gregoire is a solid backup especially as a passer. If Averi Carlson is in the portal, we absolutely should go after her. I haven’t seen Cline, but you can’t pass up a setter like that. How does Carlson compare to Pukis? (No one compares to Pukis, obviously, and we are going to miss her like crazy.) But how fast is she to the ball, how’s her placement, how’s her defense?
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Post by blastingsand on Dec 10, 2023 2:23:40 GMT -5
Making Final Fours is incredibly difficult, because you never know who you pair up with in the elite 8. So sad this team has finished, they were so special!
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Post by c4ndlelight on Dec 10, 2023 12:05:30 GMT -5
Has anyone been able to find videos from the press conference? I swear it used to be really easy to find these things on the host site. Moseley republished some quotes in the GoDucks summary (not sure if from official presser or just team access): goducks.com/news/2023/12/9/womens-volleyball-run-ends-in-elite-eight.aspx "I thought we battled really, really hard, and we left everything we had out there," UO coach Matt Ulmer said. "You've got to win those close sets in the beginning. We didn't, and that's the difference. But I think we gave everything we had." "I've been dreading this day whether it was a win or loss — even if we won the championship," Ulmer said. "I'm dreading the day when I don't get to see these guys every day. They're amazing, the seven seniors that are leaving now and just who they are as humans. It's just the pleasure of my life to be able to be their coach. … "Definitely, we wish we could have taken that next step. But it doesn't diminish anything that they've done. They've been amazing. And they've elevated Oregon volleyball to new heights." "I wouldn't say it was our cleanest match; I don't think my sets were always in the best places for our hitters to put them in the best position," Pukis said. "But I think we really fought and that's kind of what made the difference, is we kept attacking and kept working together. And eventually it started clicking a little bit." "I'm excited for Oregon volleyball," Colyer said. "We have an amazing freshman class right now and I think it's awesome that — you know, last year, I got to look at Brooke (Nuneviller) and she took me under her wing and I got to just watch her and learn from her — and I think a lot of the freshmen got to do the same with some of the seniors this year. So I'm just really excited for them to see the court. They're all so excited to be here, they're such hard workers and they have been so key in pushing us in practice."
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Post by c4ndlelight on Dec 10, 2023 12:41:12 GMT -5
Definitely transfer setter and if there is an elite libero, we would not pass those up. Don't need more middles. Already will have 4. Don't see us needing another OH. Colyer and Acevedo will start, and Gregoire is a solid backup especially as a passer. Not really sold on Neal yet but she had some good moments this season. Tvrdy can definitely step up but if there is an elite middle on the portal, I don’t see why not. I like Tvrdy for that position, just to give us a good slide to spread the court - and I don't think there will be many great slide middles who can block int he portal anyways. Neal is IMO an M2 who has been forced to play M1 (It's funny - during the 6-2 years we had too many natural slide hitters - Stone, Gill, Nady - but since we switched to a 5-1 it's been all quick hitters). She is a solid blocker and crushes the ball on quicks, but Ofoegbu is that girl and will likely win the M2 slot outright. Neal, if she improves the slide, could beat out Tvrdy for M1, and I would be happy if she did and not need to look in the portal. I think that position group is set, even though we are losing two great players in McGhee and Bacon. If worst comes to worst and we have to play Thrower, IDK if she's offensively ready but she has a high ceiling and will be more than sufficient as a blocker, but that would only come into play if there are 2 injuries at the same position (which would torpedo almost any team). I just think those 3rd (+ maybe 4th) schollies should be used on some pin depth - we only have 4 right now for 3 rotation spots and with Oregon's injury history at that position I'm more worried about it. (I also wouldn't hate shipping Gregoire with Kelley's departure and think we should consider it depending on the math). But I do think the priority for the first two needs to be a 2nd setter and some back row depth. Daley was much improved in the tourney and back to her old self, but she does have injury history and the lack of stability at the DS spot this season (coupled with how we'll probably need to cover Mimi passing to some degree) means I would prioritize locking down a proven great passer. McClellan or Thibault may still beat them out, but I would love to have the as insurance. It's just really hard to replace Georgia Murphy - her stability over the past 5 years did not get enough recognition. I also think we need to get Thibault's serve back into the lineup somehow.
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Post by volleyball303 on Dec 10, 2023 13:46:42 GMT -5
Making Final Fours is incredibly difficult, because you never know who you pair up with in the elite 8. So sad this team has finished, they were so special! Imo the Oregon/Wisconsin elite 8 was the highest level of all 4 and a huge part of that was Oregons effort. Oregon had a very tough draw.
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Post by VT Karen on Dec 10, 2023 13:59:36 GMT -5
Has anyone been able to find videos from the press conference? I swear it used to be really easy to find these things on the host site. Moseley republished some quotes in the GoDucks summary (not sure if from official presser or just team access): goducks.com/news/2023/12/9/womens-volleyball-run-ends-in-elite-eight.aspx "I thought we battled really, really hard, and we left everything we had out there," UO coach Matt Ulmer said. "You've got to win those close sets in the beginning. We didn't, and that's the difference. But I think we gave everything we had." "I've been dreading this day whether it was a win or loss — even if we won the championship," Ulmer said. "I'm dreading the day when I don't get to see these guys every day. They're amazing, the seven seniors that are leaving now and just who they are as humans. It's just the pleasure of my life to be able to be their coach. … "Definitely, we wish we could have taken that next step. But it doesn't diminish anything that they've done. They've been amazing. And they've elevated Oregon volleyball to new heights." "I wouldn't say it was our cleanest match; I don't think my sets were always in the best places for our hitters to put them in the best position," Pukis said. "But I think we really fought and that's kind of what made the difference, is we kept attacking and kept working together. And eventually it started clicking a little bit." "I'm excited for Oregon volleyball," Colyer said. "We have an amazing freshman class right now and I think it's awesome that — you know, last year, I got to look at Brooke (Nuneviller) and she took me under her wing and I got to just watch her and learn from her — and I think a lot of the freshmen got to do the same with some of the seniors this year. So I'm just really excited for them to see the court. They're all so excited to be here, they're such hard workers and they have been so key in pushing us in practice." I've been looking but I can't find anything yet.
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Post by vbfamily on Dec 10, 2023 14:23:04 GMT -5
Making Final Fours is incredibly difficult, because you never know who you pair up with in the elite 8. So sad this team has finished, they were so special! Imo the Oregon/Wisconsin elite 8 was the highest level of all 4 and a huge part of that was Oregons effort. Oregon had a very tough draw. I was bummed when I first saw the draw as I think another route they could have found their way to the Final four. But so proud of their fight throughout, they wanted it and left it all out there. It has been a joy to watch this team compete. In regard to next year, the “B” side in practice often beat the “A” side. They are a talented bunch, I can’t wait to watch them compete. They have been working so hard and learning so much from this experienced group. Go Ducks!!
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Post by utes801 on Dec 10, 2023 14:46:01 GMT -5
Imo the Oregon/Wisconsin elite 8 was the highest level of all 4 and a huge part of that was Oregons effort. Oregon had a very tough draw. I was bummed when I first saw the draw as I think another route they could have found their way to the Final four. But so proud of their fight throughout, they wanted it and left it all out there. It has been a joy to watch this team compete. In regard to next year, the “B” side in practice often beat the “A” side. They are a talented bunch, I can’t wait to watch them compete. They have been working so hard and learning so much from this experienced group. Go Ducks!! Speaking of B side there is a cryptic post from Onye about "closed chapter" on Instagram. Such a good athlete hope she stays put.
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Post by vbfamily on Dec 10, 2023 14:50:45 GMT -5
I was bummed when I first saw the draw as I think another route they could have found their way to the Final four. But so proud of their fight throughout, they wanted it and left it all out there. It has been a joy to watch this team compete. In regard to next year, the “B” side in practice often beat the “A” side. They are a talented bunch, I can’t wait to watch them compete. They have been working so hard and learning so much from this experienced group. Go Ducks!! Speaking of B side there is a cryptic post from Onye about "closed chapter" on Instagram. Such a good athlete hope she stays put. Oh no, I hope nothing brewing there…
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Post by c4ndlelight on Dec 10, 2023 17:42:45 GMT -5
I was bummed when I first saw the draw as I think another route they could have found their way to the Final four. But so proud of their fight throughout, they wanted it and left it all out there. It has been a joy to watch this team compete. In regard to next year, the “B” side in practice often beat the “A” side. They are a talented bunch, I can’t wait to watch them compete. They have been working so hard and learning so much from this experienced group. Go Ducks!! Speaking of B side there is a cryptic post from Onye about "closed chapter" on Instagram. Such a good athlete hope she stays put. She edited it to no longer say chapter closed. It now just has a green heart. Hopefully that's a good sign. Most athletes probably don't think about the tea-thirsty message board people like us looking for subtext on every post.
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Post by timduckforlife on Dec 10, 2023 18:05:30 GMT -5
Let's face it, when we saw this draw when the bracket came out, we knew this was most likely where it would end. Wisconsin is probably the best team out there right now. I think a healthy Gabby could've pushed this to 5, but Wisconsin is that good.
If I have one complaint about this year is that we just had no one else. When Gabby got hurt, we had no back-up plan.
That said though, if the B team is that good, it bodes well for next season. I'm not bummed that Bree entered the portal. Seems to me as someone that didn't play this season probably saw the writing on the wall that Acevedo is gonna be OH2, and as thus, she's saying she's not as good as Acevedo. I just hope we can play with some back-up options at all positions.
I'm excited and a little scared going to the B1G. It's gonna make it extremely difficult to get that top 4 overall seed now though, but overall I think it also means that we'll get better as a program and be able to recruit better players, and esp if we show up well next season.
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Post by scoducks82 on Dec 11, 2023 16:50:27 GMT -5
Wow. SEVEN Ducks drafted in the Pro Volleyball Federation Draft (Including Alum Abby Hansen). Thrilled to see Georgia Murphy get drafted as the top Libero. San Diego is going to be like UO SoCal with Morgan Lewis and Karson Bacon joining August Raskie, Ronika Stone and Willow Johnson! So PROUD of these Ducks and the Oregon Volleyball program.
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