Post by vbshrink on Apr 26, 2021 13:14:03 GMT -5
This feels weird. Normally this post would have gone up in January, and here it’s almost May. And I think things are even more unsettled now that they might be in a typical January. Not only do we have the transfer portal to contend with, but there is also in some cases a lack of clarity regarding which seniors/grad students are going to use their extra COVID year (or semester) in the Fall 2021 season.
So, though I always say that transfers and other changes might require team entries to be tweaked, I’m doubling down on that this year.
Another thing that’s different this year: the SEC has the reigning national champion! Congrats again to Coach Skinner and the Wildcats!
With all that said, let’s get to the team previews. Like last year’s post, each preview starts with a short review of the 2020/21 season, and then moves to a) lost players (whether by graduation, transfer, or not being currently listed on rosters); b) the returning players who in my view are most likely to have an impact; c) incoming recruits (as identified by RK, which I acknowledge is imperfect) and transfers, and d) my flawed attempt to predict what the Fall season might look like for each squad.
I will update the post as information about departures, transfers, retirements, etc., rolls in – feel free to post inside scoop or message me if you don’t want to post it, and I’ll modify this post. And of course, please let me know if I have missed something.
Criticism, sarcasm, insults, outrage, and name-calling are all expected and welcome parts of the territory. Just don’t call me late for dinner.
Alabama: The fall season started badly for the Tide as they tried to incorporate a lot of new pieces. Once Doris Carter decided to leave the Capstone, only one starter from the 2019 team was regularly on the court for Bama – Aliyah Wells. The high point of the season was probably the March win over a streaking Tennessee, which arguably played a role in keeping the Vols out of the NCAAT. But Muckelroy and Marjama both proved that they could compete effectively in the SEC, which bodes well for Bama moving forward.
Departures: Fr MB Allie Trame is evidently in the portal, and OH Doris Carter left mid-season. S Meghan Neelon and DS Kaylee Thomas were honored on Senior Day, and they have also been removed from the roster. Riley Fisbeck was recognized on Senior Day in the fall season, and has made social media posts suggesting her VB career is over, so I’m putting her in here, too, even though she’s on the roster still. L Madelyn St. Germain was also recognized on Senior Day, so I’m assuming she’s gone, too.
Returners: OHs Abby Marjama and Kendyl Reaugh; MBs Wells and Chaise Campbell; OPP Kennedy Muckelroy; S/OPP Emily Janek; L Taylor Drapp.
Newcomers: 6’1” OH Shaye Eggleston; 6’ RS/S Brooke Slusser; 5’7” S Malia Moore; 6’2” MB Laila Smith, L Sydney Gholson, and 6’ DS/OH Samantha Jacobs. Three newcomers are listed in the PV Top 150: Eggleston at #68, Jacobs at #95, and Slusser at #128. Update #1 Bama is also bringing in 6’2” MB (grad, I assume) transfer Sarah Swanson from TCU. Should be a nice, experienced addition to the Tide lineup.
Outlook: The Tide really struggled with ball control this season, which reduced the impact of Wells. That has to get fixed. Muckelroy was impressive in many matches and disappeared in others, so she’ll need to find some consistency. Marjama and Reaugh are capable pins with heavy arms. In order to move up in the league, the setting position and ball control really need to get sorted out. If not, could be a challenging year in Tuscaloosa.
Arkansas: I think it’s fair to say that the Hogs were the surprise of the SEC. That’s certainly what earned Coach Watson his co-COY with Skinner (so … does that mean he also shares Coach Skinner’s National COY honors? ). OH Jill Gillen did not have a sophomore slump, OH Taylor Head was a revelation on the way to SEC FoY accolades, and Gracie Ryan's improved setting kept everyone involved very effectively. A fourth place finish in the conference and a first-four-out NCAA fate was significantly better than anyone had predicted, including the original Hog homer of this board: me. Have the Hogs turned a corner under Watson?
Departures: MBs Liz Pamphile, Devyn Wheeler, and Maia Stripp all depart due to graduation, as do OH Aly Dernehl and DSs Savannah Downing and Klaire Trainor.
Returners: OHs Gillen and Head; S Ryan; OPPs Maggie Cartwright and Hailey Dirrigl; L Lauren Evans; MB Ellease Crumpton.
Newcomers: 6’4” MB Zoi Evans; 5’8” S Hannah Hogue (who trained with the team this spring); 5’9” L Courtney Jackson; 5'7" OH/DS Jada Lawson. None of the Hogs’ current newcomers are ranked in the PV 150, but they are pretty excited about both Hogue and Jackson. Evans projects as an athlete who needs time to develop. Update: Arkansas announces that 6'1" MB Abigail Archibong from Kansas State will be joining the Hogs. Nice athletic pick-up for the Hogs, and at a position of extreme need.
Outlook: The Hogs and their almost miniature pin players (Ryan, Gillen, and Head are all 5’10” or less) are really fun to watch and have a great energy on the court. They got improved ball control and defense last year with Head and an improved Evans, which was key in helping Ryan distribute the ball effectively. The Hogs are really going to need to get in a MB transfer in the off-season, though. If they get the right one, they could be in the mix for a top 4-6 finish in the conference and an NCAAT bid, barring injury. If not, they'll have some trouble.
Auburn: Not much to say about the Tigers, since they packed up shop early, winless and without much hope of getting off the schneid. What we saw of Brent Crouch’s first team wasn’t good, but they struggled with injuries and COVID issues, so the 2020/21 Tigers get an “incomplete.”
Departures: The Tigers are a bit of mystery on this front, but it looks as though DS Payton White, MB Chesney McClellan, S Marissa Hines, OPP Lauren Dorrell, and MB/OH Jaeden Brown are no longer with the team.
Returners: OHs Tatum Shipes, Val Green, and Lily Thomason; S Jackie Barrett; DS/L/S Bella Rosenthal; MB Lily Sumner; DS Molly Pember; and OPP Audrey Douglas are all back.
Newcomers: Auburn recently picked up a very nice transfer OH in 6’ Rebakah Rath from Maryland. Also just arrived via the transfer wire is 6’1” OH/MB? Liz Reich from Portland. Competition for time on the pins just got a lot tougher on the Plains. Incoming high school recruits include DSs Kate Curtis and Fallan Lanham; 5’9” S Jordan Sinness; and 6’ OH Cassidy Tanton.
Outlook: The pickups of Rath and Reich are a big plus, but unless they put Reich in the middle (where she has apparently played before), the Tigers look very, very thin at the MB position (which they might be able to address with another transfer?). This squad still looks like a work in progress and may struggle to move up the standings next season. Will be a good test of Coach Crouch's ability to teach 'em up.
Florida: The only team to take a match from your NCAA Champ Wildcats last year, the Gators put together a really solid late season run, especially once MB Lauren Forte arrived and moved straight into the starting lineup. That helped take some of the pressure off of the pins, and by the end of the season the Gators could hang with anyone. The heartbreaking loss to Wisconsin in the Elite Eight is nothing to hang your head about.
Departures: The long-predicted transfer out of talent that was buried on the roster is happening. OH Paige Hammons is heading west to USC, and OPP Haley Warner and DSs Paula Cerame and Riley Fischer are reportedly in the portal. Mia Sokolowski, Darielle King, and Holly Carlton finished their careers in Gainesville, as well.
Returners: Don’t feel too bad for the Gators. They return a very, very solid nucleus of OHs Thayer Hall and T’ara Ceasar; MB Lauren Dooley and (I think) Lauren Forte; S Marlie Monserez; and L Elli McKissock. Add to that MB Nnedi Okammor and OH Sophia Victoria, and you have some awfully nice pieces to arrange.
Newcomers: The Gators have a tall recruiting class coming in featuring 6’3” MB Merritt Beason; 6’4” MB Gabrielle Essix; and 6’3” MB/OH Breanna Kelly, accompanied by DS Trinity Adams. The tall girls are all ranked in the PV Top 100, with Essix at #65, Kelly at #76, and Beason at #90.
Outlook: With 5 out of 6 starters (plus the libero) from an Elite 8 team returning, things look pretty rosy for next year in Gainesville. Although some have criticized the Gators’ setting recently, Monserez seemed to get more confident as the season went on, and she had a terrific tournament. If she can consistently play at that level, Gator fans will be happy. The main question, I suppose, is who inherits Carlton’s starting OPP spot? The Gators are, as usual, one of the two favorites to take the top spot in the conference next fall, and they may come out with a chip on their shoulder for Hall's and Ceasar's final turns.
Georgia: If Arkansas was the SEC's pleasant surprise last year, Georgia was the head-scratching disappointment (or at least one of them). Coming off a strong 2019 season, the Dawgs returned the conference’s FoY OH, some emerging talent in the middle, and a blue chip OH transfer from Louisville in Amber Stivrins. But after taking the opening match against Florida in the fourth weekend of the season, the Dawgs got swept in succession by Arkansas, Kentucky, and Missouri, then lost the first match of the TAMU series. Later, they got swept by LSU in Baton Rouge. I think it’s fair to say that COVID definitely affected the Dawgs’ roster, but all things considered, this was an underwhelming season, ending up at 8-14. Not what Dawg fans were expecting in Tom Black's fourth year.
Departures: Four Bulldogs were honored on UGA’s fall Senior Day: S Brynn Chandler, OH Rachel Ritchie, MB Kianna Young, and OPP/MB Kaylah House. I assume that they are all gone. OH Regan Tinkle has transferred to Arizona State.
Returners: Pin hitters Stivrins, Evans, Mallory Hernandez, Meghan Froemming, and Kayla Rivera; MBs Sage Naves and Phoebe Owoleye; S Dalaney Hans; and L Claire Rothenberger.
Newcomers: UGA signed five high schoolers in the fall: 5’9” S Clara Brower (already on campus); DS Bailey Cox; 6’2” MB Kaitlin Fournier; 5’11 OH Abby Maesch; and 5’11” MB/OH Lyric Stewart. Brower is #81 in the PV Top 150, and Cox is #121.
Outlook: The Dawgs really struggled with ball control and frequently found themselves setting very predictable out of system balls to Stivrins and the other OHs (usually Evans once she got back). Both of those players are very talented, but like any team, UGA needs a more diverse attack if they are going to regain their upward momentum of 2019. The 6-2 they ran this year never seemed to click; it’ll be interesting to see what look Smilin’ Tom Black puts out there this year. Does he have a setter on the roster he trusts to play front row?
Kentucky: The Wildcats had a pretty good year, I guess. If you're into that.
Departures: NPoY S Madison Lilley; 3rd team All American L Gabby Curry, 1st team All American Avery Skinner, and MB Kendyl Paris were all recognized at UK’s Senior Day, so I assume that they are not returning. That’s an incredible amount of talent. MB Gabby Goddard left earlier in the year via transfer to San Diego.
Returners: Did someone say talent? The ‘Cats return MBs Azhani Tealer and Elise Goetzinger; pins Madison Skinner and Ali Stumler; and DSs Lauren Tharp and Riah Walker. Bella Bell, Sophie Fischer, Reagan Rutherford, and Cameron Scheitzach also all return, and all have some playing time under their belts.
Newcomers: DS Eleanor Beavin; 5’9” S Emma Grome; 6’2” MB Jordyn Williams; and 6’2” MB Erin Lamb. All of the incoming recruits are listed in the Top 150 by PV, with Williams at #8, Grome at #25, Lamb at #32, and Beavin at #52. Cats fans think Williams will challenge immediately for playing time, opening up some questions about alignments and positions.
Outlook: The champion Cats look to reload, and they have the arms and physicality to compete with anyone. The question is – how do you replace what is essentially irreplaceable talent at S and L? Scheitzach has done fine in the limited amount of time she has seen, but (in an unfair comparison), she is not Lilley. Can Grome step into those big shoes? And who picks up for Curry? There are good defenders on the roster, for sure. The Cats will be interesting to watch as they likely duke it out with the Gators for the top spot in the conference once again.
LSU: The enigma of the Bayou Bengals continues. The lineup carousel in Baton Rouge never seemed to stop, as Coach Flory kept experimenting with every position except OPP over the course of both the fall and spring. There were some highs (sweeping SC and UGA) and lows (providing Ole Miss with their only win of the season - sorry, Tiger fans. I had to mention it). This team’s inconsistency and inability to put it all together is really a mystery.
Departures: Fr OH Dylan Maberry has entered the transfer portal, reportedly. Otherwise, the team made a big focus out of announcing that they would all be returning for next year (including 5th year seniors Taylor Bannister and Raigen Cianciulli). BUT ... neither S Darian Goins or RS Meredyth Howard is currently listed on the roster. So I guess it wasn’t everyone?
Returners: But it is a lot. OPP Bannister; L Cianciulli; S Karli Rose; OHs Paige Flickinger, Hannah Brister, and Samarrah Hill; and MBs Whitney Foreman, Anita Anwusi, Alia Williams, and Allee Morris all return, along with heavily used DS Jill Bohnet.
Newcomers: LSU signed two high school recruits, 6’1” OH Ellie Echter (PV #79) and 5’10” OH/S Ella Larkin. Update - LSU has signed 6’ OH Sanaa Dotson out of Oklahoma. Dotson was a sophomore at OU this year, so she’ll have 3 years of eligibility in Baton Rouge.
Outlook: I figure there’s two ways to go with this. Way 1: Everyone is back and the experience and chemistry will light the way to a big season behind the talented Bannister and improving Anwusi, and the Tigers are back in the NCAAT. Way 2: Everyone is back and the coaching staff still can’t put out a consistent line-up and the same problems keep happening, resulting in a .500-ish conference record. Which will it be? I give up. You choose.
Mississippi State: Another baby step in the right direction for MSU this year, moving up from two SEC wins to five, and that was without the benefit of having a woeful Auburn squad on their schedule. Sweeps over TAMU (!!) and Ole Miss, combined with a split at UGA, showed some positive movement for this program. They still struggled at times to win tight sets, perhaps revealing some lingering problems believing in themselves.
Departures: Best I can tell, only DS Kendall Muir is not returning for the Bulldogs from Starkvegas next year. She was the only person recognized in their Senior Day festivities. OH Akacia Brown left earlier in the season and transferred to Iowa.
Returners: MBs Deja Robinson and Jessica Kemp; OPP Gabby Waden; OH Logan Brown; Ss Gabby Coulter and Margaret Dean, and L Lily Gunter.
Newcomers: The Bulldogs are bringing in 6’1” OH Avery Fitzgerald; 5’9” S Laughlin Murray; 6’1” MB Sania Petties (PV #78) and transfer 6’2” MB Rebecca Walk from South Alabama.
Outlook: The MSU program continues to inch forward, but I still worry about whether they are bringing SEC-caliber talent into the squad. Petties looks very likely to be a solid get, for sure, but I am just not confident that the recruits and transfers coming in are enough to move the needle notably forward. That said, I do expect the Bulldogs to be a bit better next season. Waden and Robinson are very good and have to be schemed for.
Mizzou: CoMo appears to be soap opera city. There seems to be considerable behind the scenes drama going on in the volleyball program, as several players with remaining eligibility leave, making social media posts hinting at lack of respect for players and diversity from the staff. Rumors are spinning of even more transfers out in coming days. Despite the “As the Volleyball Spins” aspect of it, the Tigers had a good team and a decent season, losing in the 2nd round of the NCAAT. The coming off-season will be yet another test of how well the Tigers can take advantage of the transfer portal to rebuild a team.
Departures: Leketor Member-Meneh started the ball rolling by leaving in the middle of the season and committing to Pitt; since then, Kylie DeBerg, Andrea Fuentes, Dariana Hollingsworth-Santana, Claudia Dillon, Jaden Newsome, and Kenna Sauer have all announced their intention to play elsewhere. As noted above, the Transfer thread is abuzz regarding two returners listed below.
Returners: Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?
Ok, not really. MBs Anna D’Cruz and Tyanna Omazic, OH Anna Dixon, L Emily Brown, OH/DS Leandra Mangual-Duran, and DS Erin Williamson are the returners who have seen meaningful action.
Newcomers: The Tigers have signed a very nice recruiting class that includes 6’1” MB Kayla Burbage, 6’2” OH Kaylee Cox (already on campus), 6’1” RS Jordan Iliff, 5’10” S Addison Lyon, and 6’4” MB Trista Strasser. Iliff is PV Top 150 #37; Cox is #45, Lyon is #116, and Burbage is #145. Mizzou announced yesterday that 6’1” S Nicole Alford (from Maryland, and GA Tech before that) has committed as a grad transfer. Watch this space for more transfer action.
Outlook: Will the Tigers have any returners? How many new, quality transfers will they be able to bring in? Will this be the year that the rebuild-instantly-by-transfer plan stops working for Mizzou? Normally I would say 'no,' as this team has been very successful in recent years, but the vibe around the program right now doesn't seem good. Might that affect possible recruits? UPDATE #1 Dang, this post didn’t last a day without an update. As the rumor mill has speculated, Tyanna Omazic has announced her intention to transfer. Oof.
Ole Miss: Rough start for the Battling Banwarths, as they managed only one match win over their first season, defeating LSU (on the road, no less) in the finale of their spring series. The team seemed to be improving a bit as the spring went on, and the Fr pin hitters Schnitta and Carvacho had some good showings. But there was still a fair amount of experimenting with lineups in an effort to improve ball control and defense. There were some comings and goings, as well, with S Lauren Bars hanging up her sneaks partway through the season, and Sasha Ratliff showing up in the spring.
Departures: In addition to Bars, it appears that Sr MB Bayleigh Scott has concluded her career in Oxford, as well. She was the only senior on the roster this year (after Bars left). MB Ava Wampler also disappeared from the roster after the fall.
Returners: OHs Anna Bair, GG Carvacho, and Lauren Thompson (who had a brief run at L during the season); OPP Samantha Schnitta; S Gabby Easton; MBs Aubrey Sultemeier and Sasha Ratliff; and DS/Ls Maggie Miller and Avery Bugg are all expected back. MB Payton Brgoch saw some time, as well.
Newcomers: The Rebels signed three recruits out of the high school ranks in the fall, including 6’1” OH Julia Dyess, 5’10” OH/S Bailee Middleton, and DS Bria Samilton. Dyess was #140 on the PV Top 150 list. Banwarth also announced the incoming transfer of 5’11” S Kylee McGlaughlin from Oklahoma this spring.
Outlook: McGlaughlin is an impressive get at setter, but … is that what this team really needed? The Rebels were downright bad at serve receive and defense for much of the year. I wonder if the Rebs will be mining the portal for some folks who can help in those areas. You’d have to think that playing for Coach Banwarth would be an attractive prospect for a transfer libero type. I think this team still projects toward the bottom of the conference, though.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks were another pleasant surprise, at least for me, this season. They had some struggles, but I had predicted that they had too much rebuilding to do to remain an upper half team. But the Fighting Mendozas proved me wrong and ended up 12-10 (ok, ok, thanks to playing AU before they quit), sported a win over UF, and were a couple of wins short of being on the tournament bubble. Robinson played much of the year with her hip heavily taped up, and she didn’t always seem to connect well with S Mallory Dixon, but the ‘Cocks were buoyed by the excellent debuts of Fr Riley Whitesides and Ellie Ruprich, and also txfer Kyla Manning.
Departures: Information on Gamecock departures and returns seems to be pretty well-kept at this point. In the fall, they recognized Kaely Thompson as their lone senior, though she finished mid-year. Jess Vastine, also a senior, only played a few matches in the fall, but is playing beach this spring. Is she planning an indoor return in the fall? More importantly, are Robinson and Manning? I believe that Dixon has already said she is coming back. Soph MB Kylee Stokes has reportedly entered the portal.
Returners: Well, see the above paragraph. Not sure about Robinson, Manning, and Vastine, but OH Whitesides; MB Ruprich; L Camilla Covas; OH/OPPs McKenzie Moorman and Kiune Fletcher; OPP Holly Eastridge; and Ss Dixon and Courtney Weber are all expected back at this point. I think.
Update: SC announced today that in addition to Dixon, both MiKayla Robinson AND Kyla Manning will be back this fall. Good news for Gamecock fans!
Newcomers: SC announced five fall signees including 6’3” MB Oby Anandi, DS Morgan Carter, 6’1” OH Lauren McCutcheon, 6’1” OH Emily Rollins, and 6’3” S Clare Wilson, who is #132 in the PV Top 150.
Outlook: Well, this really depends on the returning personnel. If everyone comes back, the roster seems mighty crowded, unless almost all of these signees are walking on. Whitesides is a promising player, as is Ruprich (who probably should have been with Whitesides on the SEC All-Freshman team, tbh), and Covas is a pretty solid L. Dixon did a nice job with the offense last year, though she is a bit of a blocking liability. With a 6’3” Fr setter coming in, will the Gamecocks go with a 5-2 alignment? Mendoza does a really good job quilting together a squad, so I hesitate to predict against him; but if Manning and Robinson aren’t coming back, I think there are questions about where the productivity beyond Whitesides comes from. (I said similar things last year, though…)
Tennessee: At the end of the season, the Vols were playing some very good volleyball, and it’s fair to wonder whether their surprise match loss to Alabama moved them from “last four in” to “first four out” of the NCAAT. The spring move of Danielle Mahaffey to MB (replacing the serviceable Rocky Perinar) really seemed to perk up the Vols offense, and txfer S Natalie Hayward meshed with her hitters pretty quickly. Felts, Brooks, and Fingall were an impressive array of pins, and when they were passing well, the Vols were tough.
Departures: There were 16 people listed on the TN roster this spring (including a mid-year transfer from GA Tech and a 2021 Fr who graduated early). None of them was a senior. So …. no one?
Returners: I think that means that, at this point, the entire roster returns: S Hayward; MBs Mahaffey and Ava Bell; OPP Morgahn Fingall; OHs Jasmine Brooks and Lily Felts; L Madison Bryant.
Newcomers: In addition to their full slate of returners, the Vols signed a large (in both senses) recruiting class that includes 6’4” MB Emilia Bleeker, 6’2” OH/RS Izzy Durnell; 6’1” OH Ashllyn King, 6’3” OH Ava Moes, and 6’4” MB Klaudia Pawlik. L Julie Wittekind is already on campus. Moes is the #71 player in the PV Top 150. Coach Watt is also bringing in a txfer MB from Wisconsin, Nicole Shanahan, and GA Tech libero Paola LaBorda is already on campus, as well.
Outlook: I honestly don’t know how the numbers are going to work out for Tennessee. There are several DS types on the roster who are likely not on scholarship, but 6 newcomers added to a roster of 16 is an interesting math problem to solve. But as they say, the numbers always work out. The Fall 2021 season shapes up pretty nicely for the Vols; they were rounding into form as the spring progressed, and there’s no real obvious reason that they won’t continue. Not sure the ceiling on this personnel puts them in KY or UF territory, but the Vols seem likely to be in the next group of teams.
Texas A&M: A bit of a rebound in the last weekends of the spring season couldn’t make up for a hugely disappointing beginning of the season that saw the Ags get swept not only by Arkansas, but also Mississippi State. They ended the season losing 5 straight matches (1 to UGA and sweeps by Mizzou and UF) to end at 9-9, well below what had been predicted. The Aggies just couldn’t get enough consistent productivity out of the pins, although Kansas transfer Morgan Christon had some great performances when healthy. The OPP position was also a bit of a problem, as TAMU could not settle on a best option there, despite giving several players a shot.
Departures: Sr MB Morgan Davis has announced her commitment to play basketball elsewhere, and L Kennedy Basham, OPP Claire Jeter, and MB Hanna Larson have reportedly entered the portal. I could not find any indication about the other Aggie SR, S Camille Conner – a pretty important figure.
Returners: OHs Christon, Lauren Davis, Camryn Ennis, and CiCi Hecht; MBs Mallory Talbert and London Austin-Roark; OPPs Destiny Cox (mid-year transfer) and Treyaunna Rush; DS/Ls Taylor Voss and Sabrina Sustala. And maybe Conner?
Newcomers: In addition to Cox, who played in the spring, the Aggies signed three recruits: L Brooke Frazier (already on campus, #97 in PV); 6’1” S Lauren Tam; and 5’10” OH Faye Wilbricht (PV #82).
Outlook: An awful lot depends on what Conner does. Without her, I think there’s a pretty big lack of experience running the show. With her, or perhaps with an experienced transfer setter, their prospects rest on better ball control/first contact and improved efficiency on offense. The offensive pieces are there to compete to be in the second tier of confernce teams, but for whatever reason they did not gel quickly enough (which probably had a lot to do with the weirdness introduced by COVID).
Crystal Ball time:
Since the portal is still churning madly, these are offered very tentatively:
Pfizer: Kentucky, Florida
Moderna: Tennessee, LSU, Arkansas (if they get a good MB)
Johnson & Johnson: UGA, SC, TAMU
Astra Zeneca: Bama, Mississippi State
SinoVac: Auburn, Ole Miss
"Waiting for more data"/Anti-Vax: Mizzou
So, though I always say that transfers and other changes might require team entries to be tweaked, I’m doubling down on that this year.
Another thing that’s different this year: the SEC has the reigning national champion! Congrats again to Coach Skinner and the Wildcats!
With all that said, let’s get to the team previews. Like last year’s post, each preview starts with a short review of the 2020/21 season, and then moves to a) lost players (whether by graduation, transfer, or not being currently listed on rosters); b) the returning players who in my view are most likely to have an impact; c) incoming recruits (as identified by RK, which I acknowledge is imperfect) and transfers, and d) my flawed attempt to predict what the Fall season might look like for each squad.
I will update the post as information about departures, transfers, retirements, etc., rolls in – feel free to post inside scoop or message me if you don’t want to post it, and I’ll modify this post. And of course, please let me know if I have missed something.
Criticism, sarcasm, insults, outrage, and name-calling are all expected and welcome parts of the territory. Just don’t call me late for dinner.
Alabama: The fall season started badly for the Tide as they tried to incorporate a lot of new pieces. Once Doris Carter decided to leave the Capstone, only one starter from the 2019 team was regularly on the court for Bama – Aliyah Wells. The high point of the season was probably the March win over a streaking Tennessee, which arguably played a role in keeping the Vols out of the NCAAT. But Muckelroy and Marjama both proved that they could compete effectively in the SEC, which bodes well for Bama moving forward.
Departures: Fr MB Allie Trame is evidently in the portal, and OH Doris Carter left mid-season. S Meghan Neelon and DS Kaylee Thomas were honored on Senior Day, and they have also been removed from the roster. Riley Fisbeck was recognized on Senior Day in the fall season, and has made social media posts suggesting her VB career is over, so I’m putting her in here, too, even though she’s on the roster still. L Madelyn St. Germain was also recognized on Senior Day, so I’m assuming she’s gone, too.
Returners: OHs Abby Marjama and Kendyl Reaugh; MBs Wells and Chaise Campbell; OPP Kennedy Muckelroy; S/OPP Emily Janek; L Taylor Drapp.
Newcomers: 6’1” OH Shaye Eggleston; 6’ RS/S Brooke Slusser; 5’7” S Malia Moore; 6’2” MB Laila Smith, L Sydney Gholson, and 6’ DS/OH Samantha Jacobs. Three newcomers are listed in the PV Top 150: Eggleston at #68, Jacobs at #95, and Slusser at #128. Update #1 Bama is also bringing in 6’2” MB (grad, I assume) transfer Sarah Swanson from TCU. Should be a nice, experienced addition to the Tide lineup.
Outlook: The Tide really struggled with ball control this season, which reduced the impact of Wells. That has to get fixed. Muckelroy was impressive in many matches and disappeared in others, so she’ll need to find some consistency. Marjama and Reaugh are capable pins with heavy arms. In order to move up in the league, the setting position and ball control really need to get sorted out. If not, could be a challenging year in Tuscaloosa.
Arkansas: I think it’s fair to say that the Hogs were the surprise of the SEC. That’s certainly what earned Coach Watson his co-COY with Skinner (so … does that mean he also shares Coach Skinner’s National COY honors? ). OH Jill Gillen did not have a sophomore slump, OH Taylor Head was a revelation on the way to SEC FoY accolades, and Gracie Ryan's improved setting kept everyone involved very effectively. A fourth place finish in the conference and a first-four-out NCAA fate was significantly better than anyone had predicted, including the original Hog homer of this board: me. Have the Hogs turned a corner under Watson?
Departures: MBs Liz Pamphile, Devyn Wheeler, and Maia Stripp all depart due to graduation, as do OH Aly Dernehl and DSs Savannah Downing and Klaire Trainor.
Returners: OHs Gillen and Head; S Ryan; OPPs Maggie Cartwright and Hailey Dirrigl; L Lauren Evans; MB Ellease Crumpton.
Newcomers: 6’4” MB Zoi Evans; 5’8” S Hannah Hogue (who trained with the team this spring); 5’9” L Courtney Jackson; 5'7" OH/DS Jada Lawson. None of the Hogs’ current newcomers are ranked in the PV 150, but they are pretty excited about both Hogue and Jackson. Evans projects as an athlete who needs time to develop. Update: Arkansas announces that 6'1" MB Abigail Archibong from Kansas State will be joining the Hogs. Nice athletic pick-up for the Hogs, and at a position of extreme need.
Outlook: The Hogs and their almost miniature pin players (Ryan, Gillen, and Head are all 5’10” or less) are really fun to watch and have a great energy on the court. They got improved ball control and defense last year with Head and an improved Evans, which was key in helping Ryan distribute the ball effectively. The Hogs are really going to need to get in a MB transfer in the off-season, though. If they get the right one, they could be in the mix for a top 4-6 finish in the conference and an NCAAT bid, barring injury. If not, they'll have some trouble.
Auburn: Not much to say about the Tigers, since they packed up shop early, winless and without much hope of getting off the schneid. What we saw of Brent Crouch’s first team wasn’t good, but they struggled with injuries and COVID issues, so the 2020/21 Tigers get an “incomplete.”
Departures: The Tigers are a bit of mystery on this front, but it looks as though DS Payton White, MB Chesney McClellan, S Marissa Hines, OPP Lauren Dorrell, and MB/OH Jaeden Brown are no longer with the team.
Returners: OHs Tatum Shipes, Val Green, and Lily Thomason; S Jackie Barrett; DS/L/S Bella Rosenthal; MB Lily Sumner; DS Molly Pember; and OPP Audrey Douglas are all back.
Newcomers: Auburn recently picked up a very nice transfer OH in 6’ Rebakah Rath from Maryland. Also just arrived via the transfer wire is 6’1” OH/MB? Liz Reich from Portland. Competition for time on the pins just got a lot tougher on the Plains. Incoming high school recruits include DSs Kate Curtis and Fallan Lanham; 5’9” S Jordan Sinness; and 6’ OH Cassidy Tanton.
Outlook: The pickups of Rath and Reich are a big plus, but unless they put Reich in the middle (where she has apparently played before), the Tigers look very, very thin at the MB position (which they might be able to address with another transfer?). This squad still looks like a work in progress and may struggle to move up the standings next season. Will be a good test of Coach Crouch's ability to teach 'em up.
Florida: The only team to take a match from your NCAA Champ Wildcats last year, the Gators put together a really solid late season run, especially once MB Lauren Forte arrived and moved straight into the starting lineup. That helped take some of the pressure off of the pins, and by the end of the season the Gators could hang with anyone. The heartbreaking loss to Wisconsin in the Elite Eight is nothing to hang your head about.
Departures: The long-predicted transfer out of talent that was buried on the roster is happening. OH Paige Hammons is heading west to USC, and OPP Haley Warner and DSs Paula Cerame and Riley Fischer are reportedly in the portal. Mia Sokolowski, Darielle King, and Holly Carlton finished their careers in Gainesville, as well.
Returners: Don’t feel too bad for the Gators. They return a very, very solid nucleus of OHs Thayer Hall and T’ara Ceasar; MB Lauren Dooley and (I think) Lauren Forte; S Marlie Monserez; and L Elli McKissock. Add to that MB Nnedi Okammor and OH Sophia Victoria, and you have some awfully nice pieces to arrange.
Newcomers: The Gators have a tall recruiting class coming in featuring 6’3” MB Merritt Beason; 6’4” MB Gabrielle Essix; and 6’3” MB/OH Breanna Kelly, accompanied by DS Trinity Adams. The tall girls are all ranked in the PV Top 100, with Essix at #65, Kelly at #76, and Beason at #90.
Outlook: With 5 out of 6 starters (plus the libero) from an Elite 8 team returning, things look pretty rosy for next year in Gainesville. Although some have criticized the Gators’ setting recently, Monserez seemed to get more confident as the season went on, and she had a terrific tournament. If she can consistently play at that level, Gator fans will be happy. The main question, I suppose, is who inherits Carlton’s starting OPP spot? The Gators are, as usual, one of the two favorites to take the top spot in the conference next fall, and they may come out with a chip on their shoulder for Hall's and Ceasar's final turns.
Georgia: If Arkansas was the SEC's pleasant surprise last year, Georgia was the head-scratching disappointment (or at least one of them). Coming off a strong 2019 season, the Dawgs returned the conference’s FoY OH, some emerging talent in the middle, and a blue chip OH transfer from Louisville in Amber Stivrins. But after taking the opening match against Florida in the fourth weekend of the season, the Dawgs got swept in succession by Arkansas, Kentucky, and Missouri, then lost the first match of the TAMU series. Later, they got swept by LSU in Baton Rouge. I think it’s fair to say that COVID definitely affected the Dawgs’ roster, but all things considered, this was an underwhelming season, ending up at 8-14. Not what Dawg fans were expecting in Tom Black's fourth year.
Departures: Four Bulldogs were honored on UGA’s fall Senior Day: S Brynn Chandler, OH Rachel Ritchie, MB Kianna Young, and OPP/MB Kaylah House. I assume that they are all gone. OH Regan Tinkle has transferred to Arizona State.
Returners: Pin hitters Stivrins, Evans, Mallory Hernandez, Meghan Froemming, and Kayla Rivera; MBs Sage Naves and Phoebe Owoleye; S Dalaney Hans; and L Claire Rothenberger.
Newcomers: UGA signed five high schoolers in the fall: 5’9” S Clara Brower (already on campus); DS Bailey Cox; 6’2” MB Kaitlin Fournier; 5’11 OH Abby Maesch; and 5’11” MB/OH Lyric Stewart. Brower is #81 in the PV Top 150, and Cox is #121.
Outlook: The Dawgs really struggled with ball control and frequently found themselves setting very predictable out of system balls to Stivrins and the other OHs (usually Evans once she got back). Both of those players are very talented, but like any team, UGA needs a more diverse attack if they are going to regain their upward momentum of 2019. The 6-2 they ran this year never seemed to click; it’ll be interesting to see what look Smilin’ Tom Black puts out there this year. Does he have a setter on the roster he trusts to play front row?
Kentucky: The Wildcats had a pretty good year, I guess. If you're into that.
Departures: NPoY S Madison Lilley; 3rd team All American L Gabby Curry, 1st team All American Avery Skinner, and MB Kendyl Paris were all recognized at UK’s Senior Day, so I assume that they are not returning. That’s an incredible amount of talent. MB Gabby Goddard left earlier in the year via transfer to San Diego.
Returners: Did someone say talent? The ‘Cats return MBs Azhani Tealer and Elise Goetzinger; pins Madison Skinner and Ali Stumler; and DSs Lauren Tharp and Riah Walker. Bella Bell, Sophie Fischer, Reagan Rutherford, and Cameron Scheitzach also all return, and all have some playing time under their belts.
Newcomers: DS Eleanor Beavin; 5’9” S Emma Grome; 6’2” MB Jordyn Williams; and 6’2” MB Erin Lamb. All of the incoming recruits are listed in the Top 150 by PV, with Williams at #8, Grome at #25, Lamb at #32, and Beavin at #52. Cats fans think Williams will challenge immediately for playing time, opening up some questions about alignments and positions.
Outlook: The champion Cats look to reload, and they have the arms and physicality to compete with anyone. The question is – how do you replace what is essentially irreplaceable talent at S and L? Scheitzach has done fine in the limited amount of time she has seen, but (in an unfair comparison), she is not Lilley. Can Grome step into those big shoes? And who picks up for Curry? There are good defenders on the roster, for sure. The Cats will be interesting to watch as they likely duke it out with the Gators for the top spot in the conference once again.
LSU: The enigma of the Bayou Bengals continues. The lineup carousel in Baton Rouge never seemed to stop, as Coach Flory kept experimenting with every position except OPP over the course of both the fall and spring. There were some highs (sweeping SC and UGA) and lows (providing Ole Miss with their only win of the season - sorry, Tiger fans. I had to mention it). This team’s inconsistency and inability to put it all together is really a mystery.
Departures: Fr OH Dylan Maberry has entered the transfer portal, reportedly. Otherwise, the team made a big focus out of announcing that they would all be returning for next year (including 5th year seniors Taylor Bannister and Raigen Cianciulli). BUT ... neither S Darian Goins or RS Meredyth Howard is currently listed on the roster. So I guess it wasn’t everyone?
Returners: But it is a lot. OPP Bannister; L Cianciulli; S Karli Rose; OHs Paige Flickinger, Hannah Brister, and Samarrah Hill; and MBs Whitney Foreman, Anita Anwusi, Alia Williams, and Allee Morris all return, along with heavily used DS Jill Bohnet.
Newcomers: LSU signed two high school recruits, 6’1” OH Ellie Echter (PV #79) and 5’10” OH/S Ella Larkin. Update - LSU has signed 6’ OH Sanaa Dotson out of Oklahoma. Dotson was a sophomore at OU this year, so she’ll have 3 years of eligibility in Baton Rouge.
Outlook: I figure there’s two ways to go with this. Way 1: Everyone is back and the experience and chemistry will light the way to a big season behind the talented Bannister and improving Anwusi, and the Tigers are back in the NCAAT. Way 2: Everyone is back and the coaching staff still can’t put out a consistent line-up and the same problems keep happening, resulting in a .500-ish conference record. Which will it be? I give up. You choose.
Mississippi State: Another baby step in the right direction for MSU this year, moving up from two SEC wins to five, and that was without the benefit of having a woeful Auburn squad on their schedule. Sweeps over TAMU (!!) and Ole Miss, combined with a split at UGA, showed some positive movement for this program. They still struggled at times to win tight sets, perhaps revealing some lingering problems believing in themselves.
Departures: Best I can tell, only DS Kendall Muir is not returning for the Bulldogs from Starkvegas next year. She was the only person recognized in their Senior Day festivities. OH Akacia Brown left earlier in the season and transferred to Iowa.
Returners: MBs Deja Robinson and Jessica Kemp; OPP Gabby Waden; OH Logan Brown; Ss Gabby Coulter and Margaret Dean, and L Lily Gunter.
Newcomers: The Bulldogs are bringing in 6’1” OH Avery Fitzgerald; 5’9” S Laughlin Murray; 6’1” MB Sania Petties (PV #78) and transfer 6’2” MB Rebecca Walk from South Alabama.
Outlook: The MSU program continues to inch forward, but I still worry about whether they are bringing SEC-caliber talent into the squad. Petties looks very likely to be a solid get, for sure, but I am just not confident that the recruits and transfers coming in are enough to move the needle notably forward. That said, I do expect the Bulldogs to be a bit better next season. Waden and Robinson are very good and have to be schemed for.
Mizzou: CoMo appears to be soap opera city. There seems to be considerable behind the scenes drama going on in the volleyball program, as several players with remaining eligibility leave, making social media posts hinting at lack of respect for players and diversity from the staff. Rumors are spinning of even more transfers out in coming days. Despite the “As the Volleyball Spins” aspect of it, the Tigers had a good team and a decent season, losing in the 2nd round of the NCAAT. The coming off-season will be yet another test of how well the Tigers can take advantage of the transfer portal to rebuild a team.
Departures: Leketor Member-Meneh started the ball rolling by leaving in the middle of the season and committing to Pitt; since then, Kylie DeBerg, Andrea Fuentes, Dariana Hollingsworth-Santana, Claudia Dillon, Jaden Newsome, and Kenna Sauer have all announced their intention to play elsewhere. As noted above, the Transfer thread is abuzz regarding two returners listed below.
Returners: Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?
Ok, not really. MB
Newcomers: The Tigers have signed a very nice recruiting class that includes 6’1” MB Kayla Burbage, 6’2” OH Kaylee Cox (already on campus), 6’1” RS Jordan Iliff, 5’10” S Addison Lyon, and 6’4” MB Trista Strasser. Iliff is PV Top 150 #37; Cox is #45, Lyon is #116, and Burbage is #145. Mizzou announced yesterday that 6’1” S Nicole Alford (from Maryland, and GA Tech before that) has committed as a grad transfer. Watch this space for more transfer action.
Outlook: Will the Tigers have any returners? How many new, quality transfers will they be able to bring in? Will this be the year that the rebuild-instantly-by-transfer plan stops working for Mizzou? Normally I would say 'no,' as this team has been very successful in recent years, but the vibe around the program right now doesn't seem good. Might that affect possible recruits? UPDATE #1 Dang, this post didn’t last a day without an update. As the rumor mill has speculated, Tyanna Omazic has announced her intention to transfer. Oof.
Ole Miss: Rough start for the Battling Banwarths, as they managed only one match win over their first season, defeating LSU (on the road, no less) in the finale of their spring series. The team seemed to be improving a bit as the spring went on, and the Fr pin hitters Schnitta and Carvacho had some good showings. But there was still a fair amount of experimenting with lineups in an effort to improve ball control and defense. There were some comings and goings, as well, with S Lauren Bars hanging up her sneaks partway through the season, and Sasha Ratliff showing up in the spring.
Departures: In addition to Bars, it appears that Sr MB Bayleigh Scott has concluded her career in Oxford, as well. She was the only senior on the roster this year (after Bars left). MB Ava Wampler also disappeared from the roster after the fall.
Returners: OHs Anna Bair, GG Carvacho, and Lauren Thompson (who had a brief run at L during the season); OPP Samantha Schnitta; S Gabby Easton; MBs Aubrey Sultemeier and Sasha Ratliff; and DS/Ls Maggie Miller and Avery Bugg are all expected back. MB Payton Brgoch saw some time, as well.
Newcomers: The Rebels signed three recruits out of the high school ranks in the fall, including 6’1” OH Julia Dyess, 5’10” OH/S Bailee Middleton, and DS Bria Samilton. Dyess was #140 on the PV Top 150 list. Banwarth also announced the incoming transfer of 5’11” S Kylee McGlaughlin from Oklahoma this spring.
Outlook: McGlaughlin is an impressive get at setter, but … is that what this team really needed? The Rebels were downright bad at serve receive and defense for much of the year. I wonder if the Rebs will be mining the portal for some folks who can help in those areas. You’d have to think that playing for Coach Banwarth would be an attractive prospect for a transfer libero type. I think this team still projects toward the bottom of the conference, though.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks were another pleasant surprise, at least for me, this season. They had some struggles, but I had predicted that they had too much rebuilding to do to remain an upper half team. But the Fighting Mendozas proved me wrong and ended up 12-10 (ok, ok, thanks to playing AU before they quit), sported a win over UF, and were a couple of wins short of being on the tournament bubble. Robinson played much of the year with her hip heavily taped up, and she didn’t always seem to connect well with S Mallory Dixon, but the ‘Cocks were buoyed by the excellent debuts of Fr Riley Whitesides and Ellie Ruprich, and also txfer Kyla Manning.
Departures: Information on Gamecock departures and returns seems to be pretty well-kept at this point. In the fall, they recognized Kaely Thompson as their lone senior, though she finished mid-year. Jess Vastine, also a senior, only played a few matches in the fall, but is playing beach this spring. Is she planning an indoor return in the fall? More importantly, are Robinson and Manning? I believe that Dixon has already said she is coming back. Soph MB Kylee Stokes has reportedly entered the portal.
Returners: Well, see the above paragraph. Not sure about Robinson, Manning, and Vastine, but OH Whitesides; MB Ruprich; L Camilla Covas; OH/OPPs McKenzie Moorman and Kiune Fletcher; OPP Holly Eastridge; and Ss Dixon and Courtney Weber are all expected back at this point. I think.
Update: SC announced today that in addition to Dixon, both MiKayla Robinson AND Kyla Manning will be back this fall. Good news for Gamecock fans!
Newcomers: SC announced five fall signees including 6’3” MB Oby Anandi, DS Morgan Carter, 6’1” OH Lauren McCutcheon, 6’1” OH Emily Rollins, and 6’3” S Clare Wilson, who is #132 in the PV Top 150.
Outlook: Well, this really depends on the returning personnel. If everyone comes back, the roster seems mighty crowded, unless almost all of these signees are walking on. Whitesides is a promising player, as is Ruprich (who probably should have been with Whitesides on the SEC All-Freshman team, tbh), and Covas is a pretty solid L. Dixon did a nice job with the offense last year, though she is a bit of a blocking liability. With a 6’3” Fr setter coming in, will the Gamecocks go with a 5-2 alignment? Mendoza does a really good job quilting together a squad, so I hesitate to predict against him; but if Manning and Robinson aren’t coming back, I think there are questions about where the productivity beyond Whitesides comes from. (I said similar things last year, though…)
Tennessee: At the end of the season, the Vols were playing some very good volleyball, and it’s fair to wonder whether their surprise match loss to Alabama moved them from “last four in” to “first four out” of the NCAAT. The spring move of Danielle Mahaffey to MB (replacing the serviceable Rocky Perinar) really seemed to perk up the Vols offense, and txfer S Natalie Hayward meshed with her hitters pretty quickly. Felts, Brooks, and Fingall were an impressive array of pins, and when they were passing well, the Vols were tough.
Departures: There were 16 people listed on the TN roster this spring (including a mid-year transfer from GA Tech and a 2021 Fr who graduated early). None of them was a senior. So …. no one?
Returners: I think that means that, at this point, the entire roster returns: S Hayward; MBs Mahaffey and Ava Bell; OPP Morgahn Fingall; OHs Jasmine Brooks and Lily Felts; L Madison Bryant.
Newcomers: In addition to their full slate of returners, the Vols signed a large (in both senses) recruiting class that includes 6’4” MB Emilia Bleeker, 6’2” OH/RS Izzy Durnell; 6’1” OH Ashllyn King, 6’3” OH Ava Moes, and 6’4” MB Klaudia Pawlik. L Julie Wittekind is already on campus. Moes is the #71 player in the PV Top 150. Coach Watt is also bringing in a txfer MB from Wisconsin, Nicole Shanahan, and GA Tech libero Paola LaBorda is already on campus, as well.
Outlook: I honestly don’t know how the numbers are going to work out for Tennessee. There are several DS types on the roster who are likely not on scholarship, but 6 newcomers added to a roster of 16 is an interesting math problem to solve. But as they say, the numbers always work out. The Fall 2021 season shapes up pretty nicely for the Vols; they were rounding into form as the spring progressed, and there’s no real obvious reason that they won’t continue. Not sure the ceiling on this personnel puts them in KY or UF territory, but the Vols seem likely to be in the next group of teams.
Texas A&M: A bit of a rebound in the last weekends of the spring season couldn’t make up for a hugely disappointing beginning of the season that saw the Ags get swept not only by Arkansas, but also Mississippi State. They ended the season losing 5 straight matches (1 to UGA and sweeps by Mizzou and UF) to end at 9-9, well below what had been predicted. The Aggies just couldn’t get enough consistent productivity out of the pins, although Kansas transfer Morgan Christon had some great performances when healthy. The OPP position was also a bit of a problem, as TAMU could not settle on a best option there, despite giving several players a shot.
Departures: Sr MB Morgan Davis has announced her commitment to play basketball elsewhere, and L Kennedy Basham, OPP Claire Jeter, and MB Hanna Larson have reportedly entered the portal. I could not find any indication about the other Aggie SR, S Camille Conner – a pretty important figure.
Returners: OHs Christon, Lauren Davis, Camryn Ennis, and CiCi Hecht; MBs Mallory Talbert and London Austin-Roark; OPPs Destiny Cox (mid-year transfer) and Treyaunna Rush; DS/Ls Taylor Voss and Sabrina Sustala. And maybe Conner?
Newcomers: In addition to Cox, who played in the spring, the Aggies signed three recruits: L Brooke Frazier (already on campus, #97 in PV); 6’1” S Lauren Tam; and 5’10” OH Faye Wilbricht (PV #82).
Outlook: An awful lot depends on what Conner does. Without her, I think there’s a pretty big lack of experience running the show. With her, or perhaps with an experienced transfer setter, their prospects rest on better ball control/first contact and improved efficiency on offense. The offensive pieces are there to compete to be in the second tier of confernce teams, but for whatever reason they did not gel quickly enough (which probably had a lot to do with the weirdness introduced by COVID).
Crystal Ball time:
Since the portal is still churning madly, these are offered very tentatively:
Pfizer: Kentucky, Florida
Moderna: Tennessee, LSU, Arkansas (if they get a good MB)
Johnson & Johnson: UGA, SC, TAMU
Astra Zeneca: Bama, Mississippi State
SinoVac: Auburn, Ole Miss
"Waiting for more data"/Anti-Vax: Mizzou