Post by redcard on Jun 16, 2021 15:53:16 GMT -5
XII Fall 2021
I know there will be missed players with the crazy transfer thread but hoping I've caught most of them. Big12 certainly has the talent to do well in 2021 and get a few teams into the big dance.
Baylor
2020/21 Record: 20-7 (13-3)
Last Match: NCAA Tourney loss to Nebraska 0-3
Key Returners: Lauren Harrison, Yossiana Pressley, Hannah Sedwick, Kara McGhee and Shanel Bramschreiber
Key Newcomers: 1st Team AA Avery Skinner (Gr. from Kentucky)
Baylor is coming off another great season making it to the regional semifinals. They will be gaining a huge presence in Skinner and will look to battle Texas for the Big12 championship. Their roster will be about as big as the state of Texas once again so depth shouldn't be a problem for Ryan McGuyre
Iowa State
2020/21 Record: 8-12 (5-9)
Last Match: Won over Wayne State 3-0
Key Returners: Candelaria Herrera, Eleanor Holthaus and Brooke Andersen
Newcomers: Jaden Newsome (MO), Solei Thomas (Clemson) and Marija Popovic (Pitt)
Iowa State struggled last season finding itself in the bottom half of the Big12. This team returns some firepower with the return of Candelaria Herrera MB back from the Argentina national team and all conference Eleanor Holthaus RS. Anderson proved she can terminate on the pin and look for Solei Thomas to surprise and amaze with her jumping ablity. Setting looks to be solved with the addition of Newsome and back court saw a boost with the addition of Popovic after a big graduation loss of Izzy Enna. Christy Johnson-Lynch made good use of the transfer portal this season.
Kansas
2020/21 Record: 12-10 (7-9)
Last Match: Win over Arkansas State 3-0
Key Returners: Jenny Mosser OH, Caroline Crawford MB, Ayah Elnady OH and Elise McGhie S
Key Newcomers: Incoming Freshman Caroline Bien RS Kansas Gatorade POY and London Davis OH
Kansas finished 5th in the Big12 last year. They started the season with a 5 set win over Baylor but then underperformed, to expectations, beyond that. They did have a good Spring season going 7-1 with a surprising loss to Xavier from the Big East then went on to win 7 straight including one over Texas State. The offense will revolve around Mosser, who will be back, along with Crawford and Elnady. Coach Bechard has the talent and the depth to perform better this season.
Kansas State
2020/21 Record: 12-8 (9-6)
Last Match: Loss to Baylor 0-3
Key Returners: Aliyah Carter OH, Kadye Fernholz MB and Jayden Nembhard OH
Key Newcomers: Haley Warner (FL Transfer)
Kansas State was projected to finish 9th last season but well exceeded its expectations to place 3rd. Led by Carter and Brynn Carlson and Nembhard who surprised everyone. They gave a TX a scare in October losing 2-3. KState was within striking distance of making the field of 48 and in a 'normal' year would have seen the tournament While KState outperformed they took some big hits this season losing Carlson, setter Shelby Martin, Dru Kuck (DS) and Abigail Archibong (MB) to transfer. Coach Fritz will need to shore up the setter but does have experience with Teana Adams-Kaonohi. Fritz will need to get some help within the portal but here's hoping KState continues to build.
Oklahoma
2020/21 Record: 4-13 (3-10)
Last Match: Loss to TCU 1-3
Key Returners: Sarah Sanders....
Newcomers: New Mexico State transfer Savannah Davison
Oklahoma... well, completely fell apart. They certainly had the players to do much better than 8th in the conference even with the sudden departure of McLaughlin before the start of the season. This season isn't looking so hot as they've lost their top 3 kill leaders to transfer including their nucleus Guewe Diouf to Pitt, along with Sara Maras and Sanai Dotson. They also lose arguably the best libero in the conference -Keyton Kinley, to transfer as well. Oklahoma does return Paige Anderson MB who sat out last season due to injury but was an all Big12 selection in 2019. Stay tuned as this team develops and Coach Lindsey Gray-Walton tries to pick up the pieces and make the most of the transfer portal.
TCU
2020/21 Record: 4-13 (3-18)
Last Match: Loss to Texas 0-3
Key Returners:,Julia Adams, Audrey Nalls, Afedo Manyang and Mykayla Myers
Key Newcomers: Incoming Freshman Cecily Bramschreiber
TCU finished the season a disappointing last place. They had a ton of firepower with Adams, Clark, Manyang and Nalls, all, except Clark who transferred to Penn State, are returning which bodes well for Coach Jill Kramer. Setter McKenzie Nichols looks to keep that role this season. TCU loses 4 or 5 to transfers including Sarah Swanson to Alabama. Maybe young Bramschreiber will inject some life into this team. The talent is definitely there for Kramer to do something with.
Texas
2020/21 Record: 27-2 (16-0) Big 12 Champions
Last Match: NCAA Finals loss to Kentucky 1-3
Key Returners: Nalani Iosia, Skylar Fields, Asjia O'Neal, Molly Phillips, Jhenna Gabriel, Brionne Butler, and Logan Eggleston
Key Newcomers: Saige Ks'Aha'Aina-Torres, transfer setter from Utah.
Do I really need to say anything here...? Texas came just up just short of a national championship but there is every indication they should make a return trip the final 4 again this season. They are once again loaded with talent, including returning 5 All Americans led by 2020/21 Big 12 POY Logan Eggleston and Brione Butler as first teamers. Gabriel finally got her due with 3rd Team and Fields and O'Neal landing as HM. Texas looks to stay on top of the Big 12 once again with it's only Big12 battle coming from Baylor, who added Averi Skinner who helped Kentucky take down TX in the finals. Morgan O'Brien appears to be done now but Texas shored up it's defense and will continue to improve with Iosia leading the way. Coach Elliots biggest issue will be how to utilize all his depth including Melanie Parra and Madison Williams and possible getting more reps in for setter Naomi Cabello. Nice problem to have.
Texas Tech
2020/21 Record: 9-13 (5-11)
Last Match: Win over SMU 3-2
Key Returners: Brooke Kanas, Caitlin Dugan and Alex Kirby
Key Newcomers:
Texas Tech finished 7th in the Big 12 last season and couldn't quite find a consistent stride. They look great at times and not so much at other. They return a strong core group and leading the way will be hitters Brooke Kanas and Caitlin Dugan, and a return of a health middle blockers Karrington Jones. Not sure if Samantha Sanders is returning for a 5th year or not but would be a huge help if she did as she led the team in points last season. Also returning is court leader Alex Kirby who led the team in assists. Not seen much in transfer activity for Texas Tech but coach Tony Graystone has a nice core to work with for the upcoming season.
West Virginia
2020/21 Record: 10-11 (8-8)
Last Match: Win over Old Dominion 3-1
Key Returners: Briana Lynch, Lacey Zerwas, Alexa Hasting, Natali Petrova, Kristin Lux
Key Newcomers: Adrian Ell (FSU transfer)
West Virginia surprised most by finishing 4th in the Big12 while projected to finish last. They had by all accounts a record season winning more Big12 matches since they joined the conference. They came up just short of a winning overall record and likely would have but they played without three starters in the Spring season Coach Sunahara returns 5th year seniors and All Big12 Briana Lynch in the middle and Libero Alexa Hasting will also return to lead the back court. Running the offense again this year is setter Lacey Zerwas who earned a spot on the Big 12 second team. Also returning are kill leaders Lux and Petrova who will anchor the left pins. WVU returns just about everyone. They do lose Audrey Adams (graduation) in the middle who was second in blocks and fourth in kills along with DS Lindsay Proctor (graduation). Spring FSU transfer Adrian Ell will be eligible to assist with setting or RS duties if needed. Sunahara also brings in five freshman so depth will be on his side. Would love to see West Viriginia in the top half of the conference again.