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Post by lipton on Dec 28, 2021 11:35:44 GMT -5
There are still many factors that will impact what freshmen step into starting roles and whether they do it from game 1 or midway through the season. But based on talent level and starting spots vacated from last year's team, here are the true freshmen I'm guessing have a big impact.
Impact Freshmen Outside Hitter: Hillir Hemo, UCI Setter: Josh Rosenblum, CSULB Outside Hitter: Lorenzo Bertozzi, CSUN Middle Blocker: Guy Genis, UCLA Opposite:: Ido David, UCLA Middle Blocker: Alessandro Gianotti, BYU Outside Hitter: Tim Eschenberg, Lewis Setter: Bryce Jones, Quincy Setter: Jame Bardin, Harvard Outside Hitter: Alessandro Negri, NJIT Outside Hitter: Gustavo Cavalcant, Emmanuel Middle Blocker: Nolan Schmidt, Belmont Abbey Setter: Nathaniel Brownlee, Alderson-Broaddus
Impact Transfers Setter: Christos Gkitersos, Concordia Setter: Sam Kobrine, USC Opposite: Uriel Batista, Concordia Opposite: Anggelos Mandilaris, Ball State (technically transferred a year ago, but playing at BSU for the first time) Libero: Michal Podgorzak, Quincy
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dude2112
Junior
2023 Men's Fantasy League Champion
Posts: 453
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Post by dude2112 on Dec 28, 2021 12:54:11 GMT -5
i feel like freshmen ben coordt and owen birg have a shot to make an impact on santa barbara. also that giant freshman middle on ohio state, cole young. dude is 6'10 and legit.
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Post by lipton on Dec 28, 2021 13:20:33 GMT -5
i feel like freshmen ben coordt and owen birg have a shot to make an impact on santa barbara. also that giant freshman middle on ohio state, cole young. dude is 6'10 and legit. I thought long and hard about Cole Young, but I don't seem him beating out Samuel Clark at any point this season and Justin Howard seems set in the MB2 spot until further notice. By midseason, though, I could be way off base. The second OH spot and opposite spot at Santa Barbara will be very interesting. I actually had Ben Coordt on my original list, but because McLaughlin has a tendency to have a revolving door at most positions, as well as a short fuse, I don't see any young pin hitter getting consistent playing time to develop. Last year was a complete anomaly for McLaughlin, sticking to a lineup for an entire season. I suspect you're right that Coordt and Birg will have some breakout games, but so will Xia, Barnett, Chalmers, and Cajuste (and probably more). McLaughlin will have at least 20 different starting lineups for their 26 matches. The list I put forth is not based solely on talent or potential, but also open spots in the starting lineup, need for a reliable go-to hitter, and behavior of coaches when it comes to developing young players. It's obviously not an exact science, but the players listed are in the best position to step into starting roles on opening night and to get plenty of touches.
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Post by soljah808 on Dec 28, 2021 18:44:58 GMT -5
Hawaii will be fine. I have them in the 4-5 range with the highest ceiling. Gage was practically a third coach out there. I'm sure Sharp or whoever takes over the L jersey learned ALOT from him. Also factor in Wade's praise of Todd who was arguably the "best player in the gym". And fianlly the player to watch! Dimi Mouchlias who is primed to take over the opposite spot. Although not 100% he still has the hops and physicality needed at that position. Go Bows! Agreed, I think Mouchlias is going to surprise a lot of people. He was already good to begin with but was in the shadows of Parapunov. The injury did hamper him last year, but he looked good in the off season. If Hawai'i passing and defense is there, they can take home the National Championship again. Go Bows! Hawaii has the firepower, chemistry and grit to stay as a top 5 contender and make it back to the championship. Passing needs work but they have all the pieces to win another title. I'm ok with people thinking this team can't do it because they don't have Rado and squad. I think this group outperforms many people's lower expectations of them.
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Post by Logan Tom Fan on Dec 28, 2021 18:59:30 GMT -5
Agreed, I think Mouchlias is going to surprise a lot of people. He was already good to begin with but was in the shadows of Parapunov. The injury did hamper him last year, but he looked good in the off season. If Hawai'i passing and defense is there, they can take home the National Championship again. Go Bows! Hawaii has the firepower, chemistry and grit to stay as a top 5 contender and make it back to the championship. Passing needs work but they have all the pieces to win another title. I'm ok with people thinking this team can't do it because they don't have Rado and squad. I think this group outperforms many people's lower expectations of them. Yup, and I am very comfortable with Charlie knowing how to develop his players into being top notch. Case in point, Colton Cowell. He believed in Cowell from Freshmen season and told him if he worked hard and put in the time and effort he would start and play. Not only did he start and play by his Junior year, he was an All-American by his Senior year, helping lead his team to the National Championship. And that's a trickling effect for the rest of the players on the team who are returning. Coming out of high school, Cowell wasn't even a top recruit to begin with. It's like the story with Annika Albrecht from Nebraska on the women's side. Charlie has a knack for knowing what he can do with his players capabilities, and then bringing out the best of each player for the betterment of the team.
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Post by skojin on Dec 28, 2021 20:19:22 GMT -5
Where is the Bulgarian A. Nikolov for Long Beach?
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Post by lipton on Dec 28, 2021 22:29:31 GMT -5
Where is the Bulgarian A. Nikolov for Long Beach? Who do you think he's beating out, Olivier who came into his own last season and is a likely AA or Godbold, the top recruit of last year's class who is poised to have a breakout season?
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Post by soljah808 on Dec 28, 2021 22:46:21 GMT -5
Hawaii has the firepower, chemistry and grit to stay as a top 5 contender and make it back to the championship. Passing needs work but they have all the pieces to win another title. I'm ok with people thinking this team can't do it because they don't have Rado and squad. I think this group outperforms many people's lower expectations of them. Yup, and I am very comfortable with Charlie knowing how to develop his players into being top notch. Case in point, Colton Cowell. He believed in Cowell from Freshmen season and told him if he worked hard and put in the time and effort he would start and play. Not only did he start and play by his Junior year, he was an All-American by his Senior year, helping lead his team to the National Championship. And that's a trickling effect for the rest of the players on the team who are returning. Coming out of high school, Cowell wasn't even a top recruit to begin with. It's like the story with Annika Albrecht from Nebraska on the women's side. Charlie has a knack for knowing what he can do with his players capabilities, and then bringing out the best of each player for the betterment of the team. Agreed and like Charlie reiterated in a recent online press conference....its not like the ones filling in the holes are newbies off the street. A bunch of these players have been in the program for years and understand the system, what the coaches expect of them, they understand their role on the team and they already have built in chemistry as a group. So yes, it's big holes to fill, but I believe it's next man up and these guys can do it. Go Bows!
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Post by skojin on Dec 28, 2021 22:52:52 GMT -5
Where is the Bulgarian A. Nikolov for Long Beach? Who do you think he's beating out, Olivier who came into his own last season and is a likely AA or Godbold, the top recruit of last year's class who is poised to have a breakout season? Maybe Godbold? Godbold by the end of the season became the OPP eventually displacing Torwie. Still I'm pretty sure Nikolov is better than both Godbold and Olivier at this point if we are to base it on his performace in the 2021 Boys' U19 championships.
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Post by wilbur on Dec 28, 2021 23:27:58 GMT -5
Who do you think he's beating out, Olivier who came into his own last season and is a likely AA or Godbold, the top recruit of last year's class who is poised to have a breakout season? Maybe Godbold? Godbold by the end of the season became the OPP eventually displacing Torwie. Still I'm pretty sure Nikolov is better than both Godbold and Olivier at this point if we are to base it on his performace in the 2021 Boys' U19 championships. My guess is the bulgarian and olivier are OH and Clarke is starting OPP that will step into serve recieve similar to anderson on MNT. Clarke has played a lot of OPP in his career. Based on watching film on the Bulgarian at the U19 world champs, kid is too good not to be on the floor. I am not saying he is better right now than Olivier and Godbold but those 3 need to all be on the floor. I haven't watched any of the preseason tourneys, anyone who has able to share?
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Post by lipton on Dec 28, 2021 23:33:42 GMT -5
You two are probably right, and the question will be when it happens (from the start or a few weeks in). Torwie came in with such high hopes, and somehow I haven't let go of that despite his disappointing freshman campaign.
When do you think Knipe sits Knipe? That is going to be something very interesting to watch.
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Post by wilbur on Dec 28, 2021 23:34:24 GMT -5
Who do you think he's beating out, Olivier who came into his own last season and is a likely AA or Godbold, the top recruit of last year's class who is poised to have a breakout season? Maybe Godbold? Godbold by the end of the season became the OPP eventually displacing Torwie. Still I'm pretty sure Nikolov is better than both Godbold and Olivier at this point if we are to base it on his performace in the 2021 Boys' U19 championships. Godbold took the OPP spot pretty quick, he was contributing at OH before that, Torwie never seemed to be able to put together a complete match. Godbold was solid last year, both him and Dvorak were very impressive last year playing like upperclassmen.
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Post by Logan Tom Fan on Dec 29, 2021 9:55:41 GMT -5
Yup, and I am very comfortable with Charlie knowing how to develop his players into being top notch. Case in point, Colton Cowell. He believed in Cowell from Freshmen season and told him if he worked hard and put in the time and effort he would start and play. Not only did he start and play by his Junior year, he was an All-American by his Senior year, helping lead his team to the National Championship. And that's a trickling effect for the rest of the players on the team who are returning. Coming out of high school, Cowell wasn't even a top recruit to begin with. It's like the story with Annika Albrecht from Nebraska on the women's side. Charlie has a knack for knowing what he can do with his players capabilities, and then bringing out the best of each player for the betterment of the team. Agreed and like Charlie reiterated in a recent online press conference....its not like the ones filling in the holes are newbies off the street. A bunch of these players have been in the program for years and understand the system, what the coaches expect of them, they understand their role on the team and they already have built in chemistry as a group. So yes, it's big holes to fill, but I believe it's next man up and these guys can do it. Go Bows! Took the words right out of my mouth! That's why I'm not worried with this Hawai'i team.
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