2021 VNL USWNT Roster Predictions/Discussion

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Let's discuss the USAWNT's roster for the upcoming 2021 "Bubble Style" Volleyball Nations League!

How would you staff the team? Will the league still require a wide roster of 25 players or will the roster size be shrunken due to the format of the tournament possibly being condensed this year due to COVID? 

Let's get to predicting!

Cheers!

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Option 1 Thoughts:

This is my least favorite option. It gives no room for us, the fans, to see players on the cusp/new talent get any time on court. This is a very long tournament. I am not sure using the same roster the entire time is smart. 

However for the sake of this thread and this particular option.....I would bring this basically "Olympic" line-up for the entire tournament.

Starters:
S: Carlini
L1: MBH
M1: Ogbogu
O: Drews
L2: Larson
M2: Akinradewo
Lib: Robinson
 
Bench: (S) Hancock, (OH) Hill, (OH/OPP) Thompson, (MB) Washington, (MB) Dixon, (OH/OPP) Plummer, (L) Hentz.

I also realize that this option is very likely due to the fact that the team did not get to properly train in 2020. 

I still don't like this option.

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Option 2 Thoughts:

Travel this roster for the first 3 weeks:

S: Poulter, Gray
OH: Robinson, Thompson, Foecke, May
MB: Akinradewo, Butler, Rettke, Adams
OPP: Cuttino, Plummer
L: Wong-Orantes, Hentz

This roster will test the level of play from Akinradewo and Adams while also giving Butler and Rettke some really valuable court time. 

Cuttino should be the starter for 2/3 of the weeks matches. Give her a chance to shine and see what she can bring.

Robinson should start at Libero in at least 2/9 matches. Wong-Orantes and Hentz should be playing the most. 

Thompson should get as many passing reps in as possible. Both Foecke and May are better passers and can really all bring the heat offensively. 

If Gray struggles running the USA system, after week 1, Hancock could replace her before they head to Europe, but ideally Gray can hang and starts at least one match per week perhaps vs. Canada, Thailand and South Korea. 

For Weeks 4 and 5 use the following roster:

S: Carlini, Hancock
OH: Larson, MBH, Hill, (best OH from the previous roster)
MB: Ogbogu, Washington, Dixon, (best MB from the previous roster)
OPP: Drews, Lowe
L: Courtney, (Best Lib from previous roster)

For this example lets say we fill in those last three spots with (Thompson, Akinradewo and Hentz)

Then the Finals roster (should the team qualify) could look like this:

S: Carlini, Poulter
OH: Thompson, Larson, MBH, Hill
MB: Ogbogu, Akinradewo, Washington, Dixon
OPP: Drews, Plummer
L: Robinson, Hentz

Robinson doesn't necessarily have to wear the other libero jersey. Who ever the 4th middle is could wear it that way Robinson could sub in if needed as an OH. 

I think this is my favorite option. That way the teams are basically one team of 14 and one team of 11 (with the likes of Kingdon, Tapp and Benson back home training with the A-team but not quite making the VNL roster.....sorry ladies 🤷🏻‍♂️).

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Option 3 Thoughts:

This option is I think what we would have seen in 2020 had the VNL not been canceled but the Olympics was still postponed. 

This roster could have seen this team play the entire preliminary round:

S: Poulter, SSS/Gray/Hilley
OH: Courtney, Foecke, Thompson, Plummer
MB: Akinradewo, Adams, Rettke, Butler
OPP: Lowe, Cuttino
L: Wong-Orantes, Hentz

Then take the best players from this roster and infuse them with some, but not all of the olympic hopefuls. 

Finals roster, should the team qualify, could look like this:

S: Hancock, Poulter (assuming Carlini is not utilized)
OH: Hill, Foecke, Thompson, Plummer (assuming Robinson, Larson and MBH are rested)
MB: Dixon, Adams, Rettke, Butler (assuming Akinradewo, Ogbogu and Washington are rested)
OPP: Lowe, Cuttino (assuming Drews is rested)
L: Wong-Orantes, Hentz (assuming Courtney is cut and or rested pending her earlier performance)

This option isn't too likely. Not enough actual competition for the main squad leading up to the OG. We might not even get something like this in 2022 due to the World Championships being that same summer. 

I am worried new talent will struggle to break onto the team next quad due to the shorter run up to the Paris Games. 

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Setter Thoughts:

I would select Carlini, Poulter and Hancock without hesitation as I am sure most on here will do the same. 

I do think I would name a 4th option to the roster. After considering SSS and Hilley...I think I would invite Jenna Gray to train and see what she can do. I will be watching her in Germany very closely to see how she is doing.

I would leave Carlini and Hancock at home for the first three weeks with the rest of the A-team and run the first three weeks of the VNL with Poulter and Gray. There are plenty of decent teams in the first three weeks of the preliminaries to test their abilities at running the team.

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Outside Hitter Thoughts:

This group is directly impacted by the Libero issue. 

I would name Larson, Robinson, Hill, MBH, Foecke, Thompson, Plummer and 1 more though I haven't decided yet who it will be.

I would travel Robinson, Foecke, Thompson and Plummer for the 1st three weeks. Robinson will see some time at Libero for sure. 

Larson, Hill and MBH would remain at home training with the A-Team until the home leg in week 4. 

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Opposite Thoughts:

I would name Drews, Lowe and Cuttino to the roster. Thompson and Plummer would definitely see some playing time here as well. 

I would travel Cuttino during the first three weeks and alternate Thompson and Plummer there as well.

Drews and Lowe would stay home with the A-Team training. I would bring them into the league in the 4th week (home leg). It remains to be seen if they both make the finals roster. 

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Middle Blocker Thoughts:

I would name Ogbogu, Washington, Akinradewo-Gunderson, Dixon, Adams, Rettke and Butler to the roster. 

I would travel Akinradewo, Adams, Rettke and Butler in the first three weeks. What a sight that will be to watch this extremely physical quartet go to work!?

I would leave Ogbogu, Washington and Dixon home to train with the A-Team. I expect Ogbogu to drop in during the home leg in week 4. Washington and Dixon are a maybe pending Akinradewo and Adams' level of play. What's crazy is that both Rettke and Butler will likely be very much in the conversation too. This position is incredibly stacked IMO.

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Libero Thoughts:

I would name Courtney, JWO and Hentz to the roster and travel them all for the first 3 weeks. I would reassess before the home leg in week 4. From week 4 out I could see it coming down to Robinson and Hentz. 

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This one definitely does not feel like a developmental VNL. I think some of the approach could still be determined by the virus, and whether places with pro leagues get a 2nd wave. I would probably go with Option #2. Unless the projected Olympic squad just needs more time together.

S: Carlini, Hancock, Poulter. I also chose Other here. But, not sure if I want SSS, Hilley, Lilley, or Gray.
OH: Robinson, Larson, Hill, MBH, Kingdon-Rishel. Selected Other. Hope for Logan Eggleston to get a look.
Opp: Drews, Lowe
OH/Opp: Plummer, Thompson
MB: Ogbogu, Foluke, Dixon, Washington, Rettke, Butler, Adams
L: Courtney, JWO, Hentz, White.

Rationale for my choices: I loaded up on liberos, because I just want to see Hentz and White. And, hopefully if you bring 4 of them one of them will pop a little. Throw what you can at the position. Courtney I have there because it just seems like she will be, even though I want Robinson or a true libero.

Kingdon-Rishel feels like is a good one to keep around for leadership/stability if you are trying to experiment with youth such as Plummer and Thompson on the left in early rounds. Foecke would be an easy choice to include, if she is still playing. Eggleston seems as promising a collegian at the position as there is. Get her feet wet.

Middle (Like libero) seems like the position where competition could be fierce. I want to see where Foluke and Adams are, so work them back in in early weeks and then if they are 2 likely to be on the Olympic roster, then treat them as you do the rest of the A-Team.I am assuming that Rettke and Butler are longshots for an Olympics roster, but you could use them both heavily early on. If they work into the conversation for Tokyo, then make sure they are fresh and ready to go for it. Especially if the NCAA plays in spring and both participate in it.

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Jul 17, 2020 17:00:10 GMT -5 @firstjedi said:

This one definitely does not feel like a developmental VNL. I think some of the approach could still be determined by the virus, and whether places with pro leagues get a 2nd wave. I would probably go with Option #2. Unless the projected Olympic squad just needs more time together.

S: Carlini, Hancock, Poulter. I also chose Other here. But, not sure if I want SSS, Hilley, Lilley, or Gray.
OH: Robinson, Larson, Hill, MBH, Kingdon-Rishel. Selected Other. Hope for Logan Eggleston to get a look.
Opp: Drews, Lowe
OH/Opp: Plummer, Thompson
MB: Ogbogu, Foluke, Dixon, Washington, Rettke, Butler, Adams
L: Courtney, JWO, Hentz, White.

Rationale for my choices: I loaded up on liberos, because I just want to see Hentz and White. And, hopefully if you bring 4 of them one of them will pop a little. Throw what you can at the position. Courtney I have there because it just seems like she will be, even though I want Robinson or a true libero.

Kingdon-Rishel feels like is a good one to keep around for leadership/stability if you are trying to experiment with youth such as Plummer and Thompson on the left in early rounds. Foecke would be an easy choice to include, if she is still playing. Eggleston seems as promising a collegian at the position as there is. Get her feet wet.

Middle (Like libero) seems like the position where competition could be fierce. I want to see where Foluke and Adams are, so work them back in in early weeks and then if they are 2 likely to be on the Olympic roster, then treat them as you do the rest of the A-Team.I am assuming that Rettke and Butler are longshots for an Olympics roster, but you could use them both heavily early on. If they work into the conversation for Tokyo, then make sure they are fresh and ready to go for it. Especially if the NCAA plays in spring and both participate in it.

We are basically on the same page. I went with May instead of Kingdon but the latter has earned her chance to fight for a Tokyo spot though her chances aren't that great of making that a reality. I do see her sticking around next quad though.

[Disc808]

Looks like Hentz is training in Anaheim rn so it will be interesting to see in what capacity Karch will use her in the upcoming year or so

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Jul 17, 2020 18:18:35 GMT -5 Disc808 said:

Looks like Hentz is training in Anaheim rn so it will be interesting to see in what capacity Karch will use her in the upcoming year or so

We shall see if she can bring her magic to the USAWNT!

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JWO is in Anaheim practicing too.

[newbeach]

Jul 17, 2020 13:02:54 GMT -5 @toddyj said:

Outside Hitter Thoughts:

This group is directly impacted by the Libero issue. 

I would name Larson, Robinson, Hill, MBH, Foecke, Thompson, Plummer and 1 more though I haven't decided yet who it will be.

I would travel Robinson, Foecke, Thompson and Plummer for the 1st three weeks. Robinson will see some time at Libero for sure. 

Larson, Hill and MBH would remain at home training with the A-Team until the home leg in week 4. 

I think you may want to take Foecke off your list.