Looking toward the future!

[the future]

Time to move forward folks.

We all have favorite teams out there and some of you have "insider knowledge" as to recruits coming in.

Please share your thoughts on players lost and new recruits.

Example : Tamas is gone from Pacific

They have two recruits listed on their website. Nice player from the Balboa program and a 6'5 setter from Indiana. Never heard of this kid....does he have the experience to step in and play?

[MIVA Watcher]

Men’s Volleyball Inks James Grunst for Next Year
4/28/2003
6-8 middle hitter from Wisconsin led high school to state title and was named first team all-state

Tim O'Brien signed James Grunst to a National Letter of Intent to play for Loyola next year
CHICAGO (April 28, 2003) – The Loyola men’s volleyball team has signed James Grunst to a National Letter of Intent head coach Tim O’Brien announced today. Grunst is the first player that O’Brien has signed for next year’s team.

A 6-8 middle blocker from Milwaukee, Wis., Grunst led Marquette University High School to its first boys volleyball state championship. He was also named to the first team all-state squad and was tabbed first team all-area by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

"We are really excited about signing a player like James," said O’Brien. "He has a winning attitude and tremendous talent that will really help our team.

In the championship match of the state tournament, Grunst ripped 17 kills on 22 swings with just three errors in the straight-set win. Grunst’s .636 hitting percentage set a tournament record for attacking percentage in a three-game match.

Grunst will compete to fill the void created by the graduation of 6-8 middle hitter Dan Haas. Haas is Loyola’s career leader in hitting percentage, block assists and total blocks.

The Ramblers return three starters from a team that finished with a 19-8 record and 13-3 mark in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association to finish second. Loyola was ranked 11th in the nation in the final USA Today/AVCA Coaches Poll and lost in the MIVA Championship match to Lewis which then received the MIVA’s automatic bid to the NCAA Final Four.
Men's Volleyball Adds Three Recruits





BSU head coach Joel Walton
Nick Meyer (Maineville, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller H.S.), Ian Peckler (Vernon Hills, Ill./Vernon Hills H.S.) and Doug Willmann (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell North H.S.) have each signed national letters of intent to attend Ball State University and compete for the men's volleyball program, according to BSU head coach Joel Walton.
"I think this is a great group to be adding to our team next year," Walton says. "We graduate five players who have all played major roles for our team the last few seasons. These three recruits will have significant opportunities to play next season. We get really good height with Meyer and Willman, while Meyer and Peckler both have extensive experience. All three will be playing for very good club programs this summer as well."
Meyer, a 6-foot-8 outside attacker, was named the Greater Catholic League Player of the Year after earning three letters in volleyball at Archbishop Moeller. A first-team all-state selection, Meyer was named the Southwest Ohio Player of the Year after leading the Crusaders to a No. 1 ranking in Southwest Ohio and a No. 2 state ranking his junior season. Meyer's high school squad, which competes in the spring, also won the district title twice. In addition, his club volleyball team, the Cincinnati Attack, placed ninth in the Under-17 national tournament. Meyer, who carried a 3.5 grade point average in high school, plans to major in computer science at BSU.
Peckler, a 6-3 outside attacker, will compete in his senior year this spring. As a junior, Peckler was an all-conference and all-area selection, plus was a Chicago Tribune Honorable Mention All-State recipient. With one season of high school volleyball remaining, his career kill and block totals already rank in the top 15 of Illinois state history. Peckler, who competed for the Adversity Volleyball Club, plans to study business at BSU.
Willmann, a 6-8 middle attacker, will also compete in his senior season this spring. As a junior, Willmann was a Gateway Athletic Conference second-team and an academic all-league selection. The Knights' Most Valuable Player in 2002, Willmann has competed for the Missouri Thunder Volleyball Club during high school. He also attended the High Performance USA Volleyball Development Camp. Willmann, who carried a 4.05 grade point average in high school, plans to major in finance at BSU after being an active member of Francis Howell North's national honor society.
Ball State ended its 2002 season with a 23-8 overall record. The Cardinals won a share of the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Regular Season Championship for the 21st time in school history and advanced to their 15th NCAA Tournament, falling to top-ranked Pepperdine in the national semifinals. Through eight matches this season, BSU is off to a 6-2 start, which includes a victory over fourth-ranked Penn State in Hawaii's Outrigger Tournament.

[WhoMe]

Willman is a MAJOR project, but is 6'8". Meyer has decent skills, but isn't much of an athlete. Again, 6'8" Peckler is a good passer, but is undersized...he isn't 6'3". Not a bad class for Coach Walton, but no impact players. None of these guys can replace Denmark.

As for Grunst, I think he has a tremendous upside. I see him moving to another position before his career is over. He is pretty athletic. He may not be done growing, either. He has an older brother who is 6'11", but wasn't as motivated to be a good player as James. I would like to see you takes over for Davis...wonder if it is Kozlarek?

OSU signed a kid from Ohio in the fall. He is raw, but pretty athletic. 6'6"...sort of looks like a young Olree physically.

Quincy signed some solid players, but no impact players, unless they have a foreigner coming in.

What about the other MIVA schools?

[WhoMe]

Hazelett has potential. Nice hands and has a high contact point. Lacks experience, though. He has grown up around the game...both parents played in college. He is a bit soft mentally, but has matured quite a bit in the last couple years. He will go through some growing pains, but Joe will be good for him. He is good friends with the Ianni, the 6'3" setter the women's team signed in November.