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Post by fandad on Apr 26, 2021 17:31:07 GMT -5
If Menlo was playing this season, I think they would have made a deep run at the NC. Edin Ibrahimovic is a pretty special player, the best I’ve seen in person by a long shot. He could be a 4x AA by the time his career is over, maybe even POTY contender since Chapman is leaving now. Yeah its a shame their season got cancelled, I wonder if he's staying there or if he went back to the country he is originally from. After watching him and Menlo beat CSUN last year it was pretty obvious he was going to dominate in the NAIA Great call on Ibrahimovic. Last week somebody posted a message about seeing the two best NAIA players (Lam and Anema) not named Chapman, and I immediately thought of Ibrahimovic needing to be part of that discussion. And I completely agree about Menlo as a team, too. Remember they were right there at or near the top of the rankings last year when the season ended. They were undefeated against NAIA competition, including a 5-set win over Benedictine in Arizona. If they had played this season, I could have easily seen them facing off against Grand View in the final. And they are still a young team. I think they only have a small handful of seniors graduating. The core of the team should be back for 2022. |
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Post by midwestbeachbum on Apr 27, 2021 11:12:00 GMT -5
Ibrahimovic could very well be another player that enters the discussion. He is a monster and will hopefully get the chance to showcase that next season.
As for Cardoso I considered him when I threw out those four names before, and he was very good, but I don't think he was among the best. 4 time All American and a baller no doubt, but not in the same breath as the 4-5 mentioned above.
All time NAIA team though from recent memory
S: Foley (Mo Bap)
O1: Janicijevic (Mo Bap)
O2: Arteaga (Park)
M1: Chapman (GV
M2: Henigue (Ben U)
Opp: Johnson (GV)
L: Ding (Mo Val/Warner)
Logan Adcock, Jeff Lam, or Cardoso could easily be in on the outside. Other than that can't think of anybody else that would make this team. Maybe the little libero from Lourdes a couple years ago but that would be it.
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Post by beachbum86 on Apr 27, 2021 20:54:58 GMT -5
I think this year we saw a new top level west coast player emerge in Christopher Morikawa from UC Merced. I’ve been around NAIA volleyball on the west coast for many many years and he is one of the more dynamic athletes I have seen in a long time. From the games I’ve watched the last few years the kid bounces balls more than anyone I’ve seen. Not sure if that’s an effect of the sets, bad blockers or what, but even against two blocks he will crush balls. His only shortcoming is the fact that he’s 6’1, at least that’s his listed height. He will be a player to talk about for the next couple of years. Maybe he can carry UC Merced to the national tournament like they’ve barely come short of the last few years.
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NAIA 2021
Apr 28, 2021 1:21:34 GMT -5
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Post by dudemood22 on Apr 28, 2021 1:21:34 GMT -5
I think this year we saw a new top level west coast player emerge in Christopher Morikawa from UC Merced. I’ve been around NAIA volleyball on the west coast for many many years and he is one of the more dynamic athletes I have seen in a long time. From the games I’ve watched the last few years the kid bounces balls more than anyone I’ve seen. Not sure if that’s an effect of the sets, bad blockers or what, but even against two blocks he will crush balls. His only shortcoming is the fact that he’s 6’1, at least that’s his listed height. He will be a player to talk about for the next couple of years. Maybe he can carry UC Merced to the national tournament like they’ve barely come short of the last few years. Yeah the kids a stud. Really was the only weapon UC Merced had when they played Benedictine in the conference final. Ryan Steele (S) I believe is also utilizing his extra year to come back next year for UC Merced |
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NAIA 2021
Apr 28, 2021 2:18:02 GMT -5
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Post by beachbum86 on Apr 28, 2021 2:18:02 GMT -5
I think this year we saw a new top level west coast player emerge in Christopher Morikawa from UC Merced. I’ve been around NAIA volleyball on the west coast for many many years and he is one of the more dynamic athletes I have seen in a long time. From the games I’ve watched the last few years the kid bounces balls more than anyone I’ve seen. Not sure if that’s an effect of the sets, bad blockers or what, but even against two blocks he will crush balls. His only shortcoming is the fact that he’s 6’1, at least that’s his listed height. He will be a player to talk about for the next couple of years. Maybe he can carry UC Merced to the national tournament like they’ve barely come short of the last few years. Yeah the kids a stud. Really was the only weapon UC Merced had when they played Benedictine in the conference final. Ryan Steele (S) I believe is also utilizing his extra year to come back next year for UC Merced Haven’t heard anything about Steele returning or not but if you’re correct that will be great for them. I’ve always felt Steele doesn’t get the accolades he deserves because he runs a great tempo offense and does some athletic and creative things with the ball that I haven’t seen many setters do before. Never seen a setter dish out so many in tempo and accurate one handed sets |
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Post by lineshot2016 on Apr 28, 2021 7:57:37 GMT -5
Ibrahimovic could very well be another player that enters the discussion. He is a monster and will hopefully get the chance to showcase that next season. As for Cardoso I considered him when I threw out those four names before, and he was very good, but I don't think he was among the best. 4 time All American and a baller no doubt, but not in the same breath as the 4-5 mentioned above. All time NAIA team though from recent memory S: Foley (Mo Bap) O1: Janicijevic (Mo Bap) O2: Arteaga (Park) M1: Chapman (GV M2: Henigue (Ben U) Opp: Johnson (GV) L: Ding (Mo Val/Warner) Logan Adcock, Jeff Lam, or Cardoso could easily be in on the outside. Other than that can't think of anybody else that would make this team. Maybe the little libero from Lourdes a couple years ago but that would be it. I'm going way back here but there's a few guys from the Concordia Irvine team in 2013 that could be added to this list. Naseri Tumanuvao was the most physical volleyball player I have seen outside of Felix Chapman. Dillon Auxier and Parker Del Re were studs on the outside, and then they had two extremely athletic middles. I think the 2013 Concordia team is the only team that would be able to compete with this years squad at Grandview. They ran the fastest offense I had ever seen. |
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Post by formeruscgoalie on Apr 28, 2021 10:40:00 GMT -5
The postseason poll is out: RANK LAST SCHOOL RECORD POINTS TIME 1 1 Grand View (Iowa) 27-0 2542 2 Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) 18-1 2423 5 Vanguard (Calif.) 12-5 2264 6 Park (Mo.) 18-6 2225 3 Jamestown (N.D.) 21-3 2046 7 Lourdes (Ohio) 15-3 1917 8 Missouri Valley 18-6 1818 11 Indiana Tech 17-6 1679 3 Campbellsville (Ky.) 26-5 15610 9 Saint Xavier (Ill.) 23-4 15111 10 Missouri Baptist 18-8 13312 11 Ottawa (Ariz.) 12-4 12213 NR Georgetown (Ky.) 15-8 10114 13 UC Merced 12-1 10015 14 Mount Mercy (Iowa) 16-10 82Here's the link: 2021 NAIA Men's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll - Postseason
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Post by fandad on Apr 28, 2021 15:07:38 GMT -5
Yeah the kids a stud. Really was the only weapon UC Merced had when they played Benedictine in the conference final. Ryan Steele (S) I believe is also utilizing his extra year to come back next year for UC Merced Haven’t heard anything about Steele returning or not but if you’re correct that will be great for them. I’ve always felt Steele doesn’t get the accolades he deserves because he runs a great tempo offense and does some athletic and creative things with the ball that I haven’t seen many setters do before. Never seen a setter dish out so many in tempo and accurate one handed sets I saw a post on Steele's instagram recently that hinted he will be back next year. I hope so. I've been singing his praises for years now. He does all the things you mention above and more. His volleyball IQ and court awareness are just off the charts. If he were playing for a team with with even just a little bit more offensive tools, we would probably be talking about him in the same breath with guys like Kyle Foley or Jaron Jones. Keep an eye out for a new name at Merced next year, as well. I read somewhere that a kid named Brennan Taylor from Sanger (CA) HS committed to them. He played the middle when I saw him about a year ago and I think he's going to be the real deal. He's about 6'5" and super athletic. |
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Post by beachbum86 on Apr 28, 2021 18:00:54 GMT -5
Haven’t heard anything about Steele returning or not but if you’re correct that will be great for them. I’ve always felt Steele doesn’t get the accolades he deserves because he runs a great tempo offense and does some athletic and creative things with the ball that I haven’t seen many setters do before. Never seen a setter dish out so many in tempo and accurate one handed sets I saw a post on Steele's instagram recently that hinted he will be back next year. I hope so. I've been singing his praises for years now. He does all the things you mention above and more. His volleyball IQ and court awareness are just off the charts. If he were playing for a team with with even just a little bit more offensive tools, we would probably be talking about him in the same breath with guys like Kyle Foley or Jaron Jones. Keep an eye out for a new name at Merced next year, as well. I read somewhere that a kid named Brennan Taylor from Sanger (CA) HS committed to them. He played the middle when I saw him about a year ago and I think he's going to be the real deal. He's about 6'5" and super athletic. Hopefully we can see UC Merced in the national tournament next year then. If they had stronger middles I feel they could be a perennial top 10-15 team. Maybe this Taylor kid can bring that spark they need. |
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NAIA 2021
Apr 28, 2021 21:22:22 GMT -5
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Post by dudemood22 on Apr 28, 2021 21:22:22 GMT -5
I saw a post on Steele's instagram recently that hinted he will be back next year. I hope so. I've been singing his praises for years now. He does all the things you mention above and more. His volleyball IQ and court awareness are just off the charts. If he were playing for a team with with even just a little bit more offensive tools, we would probably be talking about him in the same breath with guys like Kyle Foley or Jaron Jones. Keep an eye out for a new name at Merced next year, as well. I read somewhere that a kid named Brennan Taylor from Sanger (CA) HS committed to them. He played the middle when I saw him about a year ago and I think he's going to be the real deal. He's about 6'5" and super athletic. Hopefully we can see UC Merced in the national tournament next year then. If they had stronger middles I feel they could be a perennial top 10-15 team. Maybe this Taylor kid can bring that spark they need. Yeah Steele has really made the most of what has been around him and heightened the level of play of a lot of his hitters. He just needs one more go to hitter besides Morikawa so teams aren’t camping out on him. It’s a shame Steele only got one season with Cole Smith (OH/OPP) who was a senior when he was a freshman. |
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Post by WildwoodVB on May 1, 2021 10:16:06 GMT -5
Basketball and football have no trouble with these lists so here I go...
WAY TOO EARLY NAIA TOP 10
1) Grand View - They lose the obvious (Chapman) but likely bring back a lot from a team full of talent this season
2) Vanguard - Lose nobody and get one more year of development for the NAIA’s best setter and one of the best pin combos (Anema and Roussin). Should be dangerous.
3) Menlo - This is more out of respect and uncertainty. If they kept last year’s contributors and brought in more - they likely come back with a vengeance.
4) Park - Shod bring back majority of core and have great youth on the pins.
5) Benedictine Mesa - Lose Henige but bring back Fuller and more.
6) Jamestown - I don’t know what they have coming in but they should return everyone from this season.
7) Indiana Tech - Essentially same story as Jamestown - no losses and MiddleHitter has several decent commits in ‘21
8) Saint Xavier - Ooms and Ooms and more return plus what MiddleHitter shows as a couple strong pieces. Should dominate the CCAC again.
9) Campbellsville - May lose Cruz but bring back everyone else of value including Leung and Montalvo.
10) Missouri Valley - The Heart will be really interesting next year as parody should be a real thing and if MoVal can contend with GV and Park, they easily climb higher than 10th.
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NAIA 2021
May 24, 2021 17:17:15 GMT -5
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Post by bangavb on May 24, 2021 17:17:15 GMT -5
Master's signed a big class. A couple of kids off the A courts in Anaheim (when they had A courts in Anaheim). 1st year with a coach on board at the beginning of recruiting season.
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Post by nslot on Jun 18, 2021 9:32:17 GMT -5
Basketball and football have no trouble with these lists so here I go... WAY TOO EARLY NAIA TOP 10 1) Grand View - They lose the obvious (Chapman) but likely bring back a lot from a team full of talent this season 2) Vanguard - Lose nobody and get one more year of development for the NAIA’s best setter and one of the best pin combos (Anema and Roussin). Should be dangerous. 3) Menlo - This is more out of respect and uncertainty. If they kept last year’s contributors and brought in more - they likely come back with a vengeance. 4) Park - Shod bring back majority of core and have great youth on the pins. 5) Benedictine Mesa - Lose Henige but bring back Fuller and more. 6) Jamestown - I don’t know what they have coming in but they should return everyone from this season. 7) Indiana Tech - Essentially same story as Jamestown - no losses and MiddleHitter has several decent commits in ‘21 8) Saint Xavier - Ooms and Ooms and more return plus what MiddleHitter shows as a couple strong pieces. Should dominate the CCAC again. 9) Campbellsville - May lose Cruz but bring back everyone else of value including Leung and Montalvo. 10) Missouri Valley - The Heart will be really interesting next year as parody should be a real thing and if MoVal can contend with GV and Park, they easily climb higher than 10th. This didn't age well, i can't see Grandview being rated 1 overall having lost both Felix and the Head Coach to Ball State congrats to Donan btw great to see him get a shot on the big stage. I also think you have BENU falling to far I think you will see something more like this 1) Park 2) BenU 3) Vanguard 4) Jamestown 5) Grandview 6) Lourdes 7) Indiana Tech 8) St. Xavier 9) Campbellsville 10) Missouri Valley I agree Menlo is probably a top 5 team but i think the pollsters make them prove it again by winning since they didn't play last year. |
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