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Post by Pasquale on Apr 11, 2021 23:52:04 GMT -5
I'm looking forward to the new season. There's lots to discuss and look forward to in the fall. It will be so great to have Cooney back for another season. She, Brown and Kuper will provide leadership for the team.
I'm looking forward to seeing Whittington and Gregus on the court. I'm also excited to see Mosher in orange and blue. Will Holzman recover and return or will she redshirt another season? Will Tamas bring in a transfer or two to add depth to the front row? Will the Barnes and Sakoda be ready to start and add depth to the back court? Will Rainey receive the conference recognition she deserves? I, too, think she was snubbed on the Big 10 All-Freshman team. Will we finally be able to run a slide effectively?
Go Illini!
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Post by ilalum92 on Apr 12, 2021 1:02:10 GMT -5
Lots of great players returning!
Questions: Ellie’s rehab - will she apply for a medical red shirt
Is Madison Chi coming back?
Will we get a transfer OH to help on the pins?
Mosher is stellar athlete - will she see playing time?
With 4-5 MB on the roster and more coming in does someone transfer out?
Does Raina have a breakout AA Sophomore season?
Bruna had a breakout last match. Does she do the same for all next season?
Let the speculation begin!
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Apr 12, 2021 7:55:04 GMT -5
I wonder if Covid will continue to affect volleyball next season. If so, in what ways?
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Post by volleyparent on Apr 12, 2021 15:13:24 GMT -5
I remember Reading that there was going to be a new gym for volleyball. Has anyone heard anymore about this?
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Post by exit237a on Apr 12, 2021 17:41:46 GMT -5
I remember Reading that there was going to be a new gym for volleyball. Has anyone heard anymore about this? Haven't heard anything about the new arena and the development plan associated with it since last March when covid hit. The university is looking into starting a D1 men's hockey program and building a new ice arena in downtown Champaign. No conclusive announcement has been made as to whether they're moving forward with those plans. I think the university has said a new hockey arena would also be the new home for the volleyball, wrestling, and men's and women's gymnastics teams. I will say that I don't have any inside knowledge or source, so my info may not be accurate. |
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Post by Pasquale on Apr 12, 2021 20:20:46 GMT -5
Here is our projected roster:
Megan Cooney, 6'4", OPP
Taylor Kuper, 5’9”, L/DS
Diana Brown, 6’1”, S
Kyla Swanson, 6’4”, MB
Rylee Hinton, 6’2” MB
Alyssa Eske, 5’3” L/DS
Kennedy Collins, 6’3” MH
Madison Chi, 5’8”, DS
Bruna Vrankovic, 6’2”, OH
Maddie Whittington, 6’4” OPP/MH
Ellie Holzman, 6’2” OH
Raina Terry, 6’2” OH
Sophie Gregus, 6’0” OH
Brooke Mosher, 6’0” S
Caroline Barnes, 5’8”, L/DS
Sarah Bingham, 6’3”, MH/OPP
Becca Sakoda, 5’8”, L/DS
With Holzman's status unclear for the fall, I expect we will pick up an OH from the transfer portal.
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Post by exit237a on Apr 12, 2021 21:11:51 GMT -5
With Holzman's status unclear for the fall, I expect we will pick up an OH from the transfer portal. A couple familiar OH names have entered the transfer portal (according to the D1 Transfers 2020 thread), if Tamas goes that route: Nia Robinson from Northwestern Erika Pritchard from Maryland Will be interested to see if Tamas pursues the transfer OH option. Both those pins listed above are grad transfers and might be a good fit in that they only have one season of eligibility left- that could provide depth if Ellie's unavailable. Between Gregus, Whittington, Bingham, and Mosher you've got four players with experience swinging from the left pin, too. In a September DI article it was written of Whittington that, "Despite her experience as middle blocker, head coach Chris Tamas plans to move her to either outside or opposite hitter." With Cooney coming back for one more season and being such an anchor on the right side, maybe Maddie would see time at OH? |
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Post by Friday on Apr 12, 2021 21:59:59 GMT -5
Given lineup posted above, it doesn’t look like there is much room to add from the transfer portal.
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Post by ilalum92 on Apr 13, 2021 0:42:10 GMT -5
Here is our projected roster: Megan Cooney, 6'4", OPP Taylor Kuper, 5’9”, L/DS Diana Brown, 6’1”, S Kyla Swanson, 6’4”, MB Rylee Hinton, 6’2” MB Alyssa Eske, 5’3” L/DS Kennedy Collins, 6’3” MH Madison Chi, 5’8”, DS Bruna Vrankovic, 6’2”, OH Maddie Whittington, 6’4” OPP/MH Ellie Holzman, 6’2” OH Raina Terry, 6’2” OH Sophie Gregus, 6’0” OH Brooke Mosher, 6’0” S Caroline Barnes, 5’8”, L/DS Sarah Bingham, 6’3”, MH/OPP Becca Sakoda, 5’8”, L/DS With Holzman's status unclear for the fall, I expect we will pick up an OH from the transfer portal. We’ve got a log jam and MB but we need someone who can run an effective slide. I would keep Cooney at Opp and if Whittington can run a slide she gets the spot. We could use a transfer pin - Pritchard would be great! Proven effective outside in the Big Ten plus some upperclassmen leadership. Not sure of the scholarships available. |
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Post by oldmanvb on Apr 13, 2021 6:43:11 GMT -5
Best guess for scholarshiiip players - Kuper, Brown, Swanson, Hinton, Collins, Vrankovic, Whittington, Holzman, Terry, Mosher, Barnes and Bingham. That is 12, with no room to add a scholarship outside hitter. I think there is some sort of medical redshirt that would cause Holzman’s scholarship to not count against the 12, but I am not certain. August is six months after her surgery, and most agree the earliest an athlete can return after ACL surgery is 8 or 9 months. Each person is different, but she is not likely going to be able to play next year. With Cooney using a scholarship, even if it does not count against the 12, there is the issue of paying for the 12th scholarship. I would be surprised if there is room for another scholarship player, but I suppose it is possible.
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Post by ilalum92 on Apr 13, 2021 17:19:04 GMT -5
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Post by illinifan818 on Apr 14, 2021 12:41:36 GMT -5
I'm starting to wonder if Kuper will keep the Libero jersey. I know she made strides this season, but I think there is a lot of hype around Barnes coming in...
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Post by exit237a on Apr 14, 2021 13:00:52 GMT -5
I'm starting to wonder if Kuper will keep the Libero jersey. I know she made strides this season, but I think there is a lot of hype around Barnes coming in... I haven't seen any prep footage of Barnes but she comes from good stock, having seen Lauren play! I'm just psyched that she and Sakoda are coming in and bringing some new competition for back row playing time. Maybe we'll get Madi Chi back, too? Having four/five vying for opportunities should elevate the level of play. The last match against Purdue, Tamas had all three pins playing six rotations but it would be rad if we could sub at least one of them for improved passing and defense back there. |
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Post by ilalum92 on Apr 14, 2021 18:22:24 GMT -5
I'm starting to wonder if Kuper will keep the Libero jersey. I know she made strides this season, but I think there is a lot of hype around Barnes coming in... TK was 1st team all Big Ten - its going to take a lot to get the Libero jersey from her. |
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Post by Rutgers fan on Apr 14, 2021 18:34:16 GMT -5
I'm starting to wonder if Kuper will keep the Libero jersey. I know she made strides this season, but I think there is a lot of hype around Barnes coming in... I find it funny how that Kuper just made 1st team in the toughest conference and some people think a freshman is going to come in and perform like her right off the bat. |
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