Post by lipton on May 9, 2021 17:21:16 GMT -5
19 hours into the off-season and for many of us it's already been too long waiting for next college season to start. Here's hoping that Fall ball can return in some fashion and that the transfers and opt-ins get confirmed soon.
Based strictly on returning players, there are a few teams poised to take over the top rung on the ladder.
UCLA looks really strong and arguably the preseason favorite for the banner. They return (should have been first team All American) Cole K at one OH spot and super freshman Ethan Champlin at the other OH spot. With Kevin Kobrine exploding onto the scene late this season, UCLA will have the best pin-hitting in the nation. They have depth everywhere, but will need to spend some time getting their setter situation anchored. Losing (their other should have been an All American) Sam Kobrine will be tough to do, but Partain looks ready to assume the spot. McHenry could be the best MB in the nation if he stays healthy.
Pepperdine looks to be in a great spot assuming Jaspers is coming to town. They need to figure out their pins with Steele, Jaspers, and Wickens ready to lead the way. They have super setter Bryce Dvorak who as freshman lead an amazing turnaround season for the Waves. Look for him to put up AA numbers this upcoming season. It will be an interesting battle for top spot in the MPSF. They have multiple MBs with playing experience on the roster, so this team will hit the ground running.
Grand Canyon only loses one starter and returns two-time Freshman of the Year award winner (and should have been first team All American) Camden Gianni. They showed great promise going 8-1 against Concordia, Stanford, and USC, but going 1-10 against Pepperdine, UCLA, and BYU tells the tale that they are not quite ready to step into the upper echelon. Playing together for three years should help them hit the ground running in January.
UCSD could be in the running for the national championship. How weird is that to hear? This perennial doormat showed a lot of gumption being the only team to beat Hawaii, and they did it missing a star player while playing on the road at Hawaii. Returning all of their starters sans their opposite, but having Ka ready to step in as a third pin hitter means they should start the season in the top 5. They will climb from their status as eighth best team in the country this season.
Beach on paper could be the best team in the nation. For that to happen, Godbold needs to move back to OH and keep growing, Torwie has to live up to expectations, and they need to find a replacement for Andersen in the middle. Coach Knipe has a knack for picking up MB talent, so that should happen. Olivier was arguably the best OH in the nation the last three weeks of the season, and if he can keep that pace, then they will be tough to beat. (Should have been an All American) Mason Briggs is the leading candidate for the best libero in the nation, which will take pressure off Aiden Knipe and allow him to make crafty decisions as a playmaker.
Hawaii loses a lot with Gage, Gasman, and Cowell graduating and moving on. That's a lot of leadership, drive, will to win, and talent to replace. They also lose that opposite guy with the rocket arm who deserved PoY and actually got it. That is a ton to replace. With Humler returning to join Galloway and Chakas, they should be fine at the pins once they get acquainted on the court. The tough spot will be the passing, which will have an impact on Thelle's setting. Not sure what they'll be and if the depth can fill in the many holes.
Ohio State loses Llalemand at OH, but with Pasteur back and health and Siapanis with a year under his belt, they should battle Loyola for top in the MIVA. Coach Burch needs to settle on a setter and let them get their rhythm and get the libero spot locked down. But even with that he returns a great deal of talent and court experience. They might need one more season to get their teamwork mastered, but this should be a great season for them with a very good chance to be the MIVA rep in the NCAA tournament.
Loyola will depend completely on the return of (should have been an All American) Garrett Zolg for another season. If he returns, then they should come in as the favorite. They lose only one starter (at OH) and come back with all sorts of motivation to take over the vacancy atop the MIVA. Schlothauer had a breakout year that he should be able to repeat as the number one option. Luke Denton will put up great numbers, which should help them edge out OSU for the top of the MIVA.
Princeton returning to action should help the EIVA greatly. Their success will come down to how well they can get their setter position settled. Wedbush would appear poised to take the spot, but he's coming off a year of rusting, so this team will take a few matches to get their chemistry going. It will be hard to replace Kelley, but with depth and experience at the pins, it will make transitioning easier.
PSU returns all of their starters plus a surplus pin hitter. They should run the table in the EIVA and be the best team east of the Mississippi. How far they go in the post season will depend greatly on whether they can schedule some good competition in 2022. Keeping their series with OSU helps with that, and Princeton and Harvard should have good enough teams to make the Nittany Lions work for their wins. But like we saw with Lewis this season, making the NCAA tournament without having played any tough opponents means an unceremonious exit. Fisher should repeat as an AA and be complemented well by Widman, Kowal, and Valenzi. Look for Pav to move someone to the middle to keep his best talent on the floor.
Here's hoping the next six to eight months fly by.
Based strictly on returning players, there are a few teams poised to take over the top rung on the ladder.
UCLA looks really strong and arguably the preseason favorite for the banner. They return (should have been first team All American) Cole K at one OH spot and super freshman Ethan Champlin at the other OH spot. With Kevin Kobrine exploding onto the scene late this season, UCLA will have the best pin-hitting in the nation. They have depth everywhere, but will need to spend some time getting their setter situation anchored. Losing (their other should have been an All American) Sam Kobrine will be tough to do, but Partain looks ready to assume the spot. McHenry could be the best MB in the nation if he stays healthy.
Pepperdine looks to be in a great spot assuming Jaspers is coming to town. They need to figure out their pins with Steele, Jaspers, and Wickens ready to lead the way. They have super setter Bryce Dvorak who as freshman lead an amazing turnaround season for the Waves. Look for him to put up AA numbers this upcoming season. It will be an interesting battle for top spot in the MPSF. They have multiple MBs with playing experience on the roster, so this team will hit the ground running.
Grand Canyon only loses one starter and returns two-time Freshman of the Year award winner (and should have been first team All American) Camden Gianni. They showed great promise going 8-1 against Concordia, Stanford, and USC, but going 1-10 against Pepperdine, UCLA, and BYU tells the tale that they are not quite ready to step into the upper echelon. Playing together for three years should help them hit the ground running in January.
UCSD could be in the running for the national championship. How weird is that to hear? This perennial doormat showed a lot of gumption being the only team to beat Hawaii, and they did it missing a star player while playing on the road at Hawaii. Returning all of their starters sans their opposite, but having Ka ready to step in as a third pin hitter means they should start the season in the top 5. They will climb from their status as eighth best team in the country this season.
Beach on paper could be the best team in the nation. For that to happen, Godbold needs to move back to OH and keep growing, Torwie has to live up to expectations, and they need to find a replacement for Andersen in the middle. Coach Knipe has a knack for picking up MB talent, so that should happen. Olivier was arguably the best OH in the nation the last three weeks of the season, and if he can keep that pace, then they will be tough to beat. (Should have been an All American) Mason Briggs is the leading candidate for the best libero in the nation, which will take pressure off Aiden Knipe and allow him to make crafty decisions as a playmaker.
Hawaii loses a lot with Gage, Gasman, and Cowell graduating and moving on. That's a lot of leadership, drive, will to win, and talent to replace. They also lose that opposite guy with the rocket arm who deserved PoY and actually got it. That is a ton to replace. With Humler returning to join Galloway and Chakas, they should be fine at the pins once they get acquainted on the court. The tough spot will be the passing, which will have an impact on Thelle's setting. Not sure what they'll be and if the depth can fill in the many holes.
Ohio State loses Llalemand at OH, but with Pasteur back and health and Siapanis with a year under his belt, they should battle Loyola for top in the MIVA. Coach Burch needs to settle on a setter and let them get their rhythm and get the libero spot locked down. But even with that he returns a great deal of talent and court experience. They might need one more season to get their teamwork mastered, but this should be a great season for them with a very good chance to be the MIVA rep in the NCAA tournament.
Loyola will depend completely on the return of (should have been an All American) Garrett Zolg for another season. If he returns, then they should come in as the favorite. They lose only one starter (at OH) and come back with all sorts of motivation to take over the vacancy atop the MIVA. Schlothauer had a breakout year that he should be able to repeat as the number one option. Luke Denton will put up great numbers, which should help them edge out OSU for the top of the MIVA.
Princeton returning to action should help the EIVA greatly. Their success will come down to how well they can get their setter position settled. Wedbush would appear poised to take the spot, but he's coming off a year of rusting, so this team will take a few matches to get their chemistry going. It will be hard to replace Kelley, but with depth and experience at the pins, it will make transitioning easier.
PSU returns all of their starters plus a surplus pin hitter. They should run the table in the EIVA and be the best team east of the Mississippi. How far they go in the post season will depend greatly on whether they can schedule some good competition in 2022. Keeping their series with OSU helps with that, and Princeton and Harvard should have good enough teams to make the Nittany Lions work for their wins. But like we saw with Lewis this season, making the NCAA tournament without having played any tough opponents means an unceremonious exit. Fisher should repeat as an AA and be complemented well by Widman, Kowal, and Valenzi. Look for Pav to move someone to the middle to keep his best talent on the floor.
Here's hoping the next six to eight months fly by.
