BYU 2022

[bbg95]

Apr 21, 2021 1:57:53 GMT -5 pelagius said:

Little update of the incoming/outgoing table I made earlier in the year:


Returning from a Mission:
name               year position height
Heather Gneiting   Jr   MB       6-4      

Leaving on a Mission before Fall 2021:
name               year position height
Allie Hakes        Fr   MB       6-4      

Recruits:
name              year position height
Brianne Albright  2021 MB, RS   6-3  
Zayna Meyer       2021 S, RS    6-1  
Alyssa Montoya    2021 OH, RS   6-0
Elyse Stowell     2021 OH       6-1  
Hannah Billeter   2022 OH, DS   5-11
Eden Bower        2022 OH       6-3  
Nataly Moravec    2022 OH, RS   6-1
Kate Prior        2022 MB       6-5  
Claire Little     2023 OH       6-2    

Has Hakes announced this on social media? I couldn't find it on her Instagram, but I am not the most adept with that social media platform. I do agree that this is a good time for her to go. She would miss the fall 2021 and 2022 seasons, but she should be back with plenty of time to get back into shape for the fall 2023 season. I think that BYU players going on missions is something that will be not uncommon going forward. Certainly it won't be that many players, but whereas Gneiting's announcement was a bit of a shock, I think it was just the start of a trend that has already been happening outside of the volleyball team. My two older sisters didn't go on missions, but my youngest one did, and it's becoming very common for LDS girls these days.

[bbg95]

Apr 21, 2021 14:23:27 GMT -5 pelagius said:

Yeah, if BYU wants to make a jump into the top 10 (with a chance to make a run), passing needs to improve. I was a little surprised when BYU didn't sign a junior college lib/DS this year. But maybe the staff is bullish on the ball control abilities of some these incoming OHs.

Agree that the OH position is going to be interesting. Really hope Stowell comes in at a high enough level to challenge Livingston and Nixon for time. For sure, this is the most depth BYU's had at the pin in the H. Olmstead era. You've got Nixon, Livingston, and Stowell on the left side, and Grimmer and Tolman on the right (plus Livingston looks pretty comfortable when she swings on right).

Agreed, that Hakes is picking a good time to go on a Mission. With Gneiting coming back, it's pretty crowded in the middle.

I thought I heard end of July for the return of Gneiting, but that may be wrong. Pretty sure she left in Feb of 2020.

I agree that the coaches are likely optimistic about using one or more of the outside hitters who are coming in to help with the passing. This might be an area where BYU's recruiting limitations may come into play--there just might not be that many really good passers that they can get right now. The good news is that having Bower means that the passing does not need to be great. As long as it's not terrible, Bower can make up for it. She's kind of like a strong mobile quarterback that is operating behind a suspect offensive line (e.g. Ben Roethlisberger winning a Super Bowl with the 2008 Steelers behind a mediocre line that I didn't think could possibly win a title). Don't get me wrong. Everyone wants the passing to be better, but it's not the end of the world right now. BYU was significantly better than I expected this season and hit .302 (5th in the NCAA) as a team in spite of its passing. So I'm optimistic.

As for Gneiting's return, yes, she left in February 2020. Based on her Instagram, it looks like she entered the MTC on Feb 5. So 18 months would be around early August, though the way the transfers work out, they wouldn't be at exactly 18 months. As I recall, the 18-month mark was exactly three weeks into a six-week transfer, and missionaries can opt to return on either transfer day (i.e. the one prior or the one after). However, since English-speaking missionaries are only in the MTC for two weeks now instead of three, I would guess that she could return either two weeks before her 18-month mark (late July) or four weeks later (late August). Either one should be fine for school, which normally starts after Labor Day. As for volleyball, if she redshirts, then it won't matter which one she chooses. But if she wants to play this fall, then the late July option would be better. I'm guessing she redshirts, but we'll see.

[pelagius]

Yeah, I've got the Hakes news from a reliable source; she's headed to the Spain, Madrid mission. But I don't think there is any kind of official announcement running around. It's certainly not a secret though.

[pelagius]

Apr 21, 2021 16:41:04 GMT -5 pelagius said:

Yeah, I've got the Hakes news from a reliable source; she's headed to the Spain, Madrid mission. But I don't think there is any kind of official announcement running around. It's certainly not a secret though.

Also, no one should construe that I have some kind of good sources inside the volleyball program. This time of year at BYU, and Provo generally, lots of info about mission calls gets relayed pretty efficiently.

[bbg95]

Apr 21, 2021 19:31:07 GMT -5 pelagius said:

Apr 21, 2021 16:41:04 GMT -5 pelagius said:

Yeah, I've got the Hakes news from a reliable source; she's headed to the Spain, Madrid mission. But I don't think there is any kind of official announcement running around. It's certainly not a secret though.

Also, no one should construe that I have some kind of good sources inside the volleyball program. This time of year at BYU, and Provo generally, lots of info about mission calls gets relayed pretty efficiently.

For sure. All you would need is to know one person who knows the person who got a mission call. Or who knows someone who knows them.

[pelagius]

Darnell Dickson of the Daily Herald interviewed Heather Olmstead on espn960 today. Mostly the interview reflects on this season, but there was some talk about both Elyse Stowell and Zayna Mayer. Seems like Olmstead does indeed expect Stowell to be a six-rotation OH.

Link: www.spreaker.com/user/broadwaymedia/4-21-21-heather-olmstead

[beba]

Aretheougars a final four team now with Koerber?

[pelagius]

It certainly improves passing.

[volleyl0ver]

Wow... that’s 3 lefty opps now. Wonder if they go to a 6-2?

[beba]

And a libero from Santa Clara

[Deleted]

Apr 22, 2021 11:45:10 GMT -5 volleyl0ver said:

Wow... that’s 3 lefty opps now. Wonder if they go to a 6-2?

koerber needs to play 6 rotations.

[trojansc]

Apr 22, 2021 11:50:13 GMT -5 @madden54 said:

Apr 22, 2021 11:45:10 GMT -5 volleyl0ver said:

Wow... that’s 3 lefty opps now. Wonder if they go to a 6-2?

koerber needs to play 6 rotations.

Maybe the WCC no masks attracted her.

[pelagius]

Yeah, passing is where Koerber is a big upgrade. That's big upgrade on the passing end whether she stays on the right or moves to the left.

[bbg95]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CN-WXwbBp9O

[bbg95]