|
|
Post by realm on Sept 16, 2024 2:25:37 GMT -5
Just putting pen on paper for fun. Will most likely be completely wrong but would be fun to look back come spring. 1) White/Henson 2) Coakley/Pater 3) Gessner/Truslow 4) Goellner/Thomas 5) Walker/Kok Plenty more could come off the bench. Also predicting Ally Batenhorst will join in the spring but unsure if she'll crack the lineup. With the conventional wisdom on this board I see a great opportunity for the 3rd best team to play 1st court and the best team to play 3rd court. Overrating grad transfers, I've been harping on that for years. Hyping resumes over actual performance. Check. I think we will all be obliviously happy when the line up comes out, only I"ll think he's sandbagging and most of the posters here will think he's not. I'm confused where you're getting the overrating grad transfers from. USC would not be where they are without winning the transfer portal every year, and their grad transfers always perform. I've mentioned previously that SC grad transfers are like 15-2 in NCAAs and now with Kriz and Seits who won everything, that number is probably up to 20-2. If anything, for two years now USC opened the season with twins at the 2s before they were rightfully beaten by transfers for the 2s slot. Not sure where you're getting the sandbagging allegations from either, but I've seen the program adjust lineups based on results unlike other programs that make completely random lineups. |
|
|
|
Post by burbank55 on Sept 17, 2024 19:02:27 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by burbank55 on Sept 30, 2024 2:10:39 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by houdini on Sept 30, 2024 6:09:12 GMT -5
All except one. The TCU girls took one, I think. |
|
|
|
Post by burbank55 on Oct 1, 2024 22:42:50 GMT -5
2024 AVCA West Coast Qualifier at Manhattan Beach for the AVCA Beach National Championship (Women’s Collegiate Pairs) at Huntsville, Alabama. Oct 18-20 Some teams showing in the Silver Division. Did UCLA not get its bids in on time last year and it filled up? Or did they just choose not to get the extra competition practice? This year they are allowing 160 pairs in Silver which should be plenty for every school to participate. Only 32 pairs in Gold, probably 2 pairs per school. Seems like ASU has 2 pairs in Gold as their Silver pairs are listed 3-9. But who knows until the tourney starts. SILVER: ASU - 7 pairs Cal - 8 pairs Cal Poly - 7 pairs GCU - 5 pairs LMU - 6 pairs Long Beach St - 5 pairs Pepperdine - 4 pairs Stanford - 4 pairs UCLA - 7 pairs USC - 7 pairs USF - 3 pairs Washington - 5 pairs avca.volleyballlife.com/tournament/23171/division/89624/teams |
|
|
|
Post by burbank55 on Oct 7, 2024 12:21:50 GMT -5
Good to see a couple recent USC grads doing well. Molly is definitely getting the look see by USAV.   |
|
|
|
Post by Fight On! on Oct 7, 2024 17:12:39 GMT -5
Does the Sarah Wood delay mean Stanford or am I a year early?
|
|
|
|
Post by burbank55 on Oct 7, 2024 22:49:26 GMT -5
Does the Sarah Wood delay mean Stanford or am I a year early? Sarah Wood is indeed the final elite 2026 Beach VB recruit who hasn’t publicly committed. Good thought process about Stanford admissions, though I think most/all Stanford Beach recruits already have the grades to pass the minimum requirements for recruited athletes. We aren’t talking about football numbskulls who have to take summer fluff courses to bump their GPAs. I can’t recall a Stanford Beach recruit who committed and couldn’t attend. The Nourse twins luckily changed their commitments from Stanford but I highly doubt it had anything to do with academics as they were excellent students (I think they graduated summa cum laude from USC). If I had to guess, Sarah is smartly waiting to ensure that something crazily unexpected does not happen in the next year. Coaching change, huge scandal, etc. I really really doubt anything like that would happen at USC (no matter how much blackmambabeto wishes it 😂), but I can see the reasoning for caution. Since she is a generational talent, she has all of the cards in her hand. Who knows, maybe she’ll decide to skip college and go pro, though that doesn’t make sense with the economics right now for Beach VB… |
|
|
|
Post by hbmb10k on Oct 9, 2024 1:51:16 GMT -5
Long list of transfers that were overrated, should have played lower court, or not at all. Villapando, Rasnick-Pope, Johnson, Raddell, Kriz. Gessner is slow. Probably 3rd best blocker, but coach could get away with putting her on the 1st courts since everybody would agree transfers "have a lot of experience" 2 of the players I list were known for breakdowns on the court where the younger players had to console them.
Yes I'm aware USC has won the the championship last four years.
|
|
|
|
Post by beachnut94 on Oct 9, 2024 21:06:45 GMT -5
Many of the grad transfers indeed struggle more than what people see/know. In watching you can see some of the underclass at SC with ice in their veins taking over matches. It’s 100% happened the last 2 championships for sure. Some of it is high expectations when you transfer in and have to play with a underclassman and some is just a talent thing and why they likely were not at SC in the first place.
As a fan I’m happy all of them were there but I often wonder if the underclass ladies got enough credit and probably $$$. I would assume the grads got money to fill spots each year. It will be an interesting year with no seniors and bigger egos on a few of them. I think we will all be surprised at the line ups and wonder if everyone will be happy with where they play. If marches go the way they might against top 5 ish programs I wouldn’t be surprised to see some starters depart.
|
|
|
|
Post by burbank55 on Oct 9, 2024 22:20:57 GMT -5
Long list of transfers that were overrated, should have played lower court, or not at all. Villapando, Rasnick-Pope, Johnson, Raddell, Kriz. Gessner is slow. Probably 3rd best blocker, but coach could get away with putting her on the 1st courts since everybody would agree transfers "have a lot of experience" 2 of the players I list were known for breakdowns on the court where the younger players had to console them. Yes I'm aware USC has won the the championship last four years. Haha, thanks for the entertaining contrarian take. Since I didn’t respond the first time you posted this, I’ll take the bait now. You give a list of transfers who you say were overrated and should have played lower courts or not at all. But this list of transfers all played lower courts or not at all… except for Maddi Kriz. Kriz won at 2s at the most recent Finals so can’t complain. Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope and Jenna Johnson had no business beating Jessie Smith and Marlie Monserez in the 2023 Finals, but they did, so my guess is that experience must have been the reason. Sunny Villapando only played at 5s with the Trojans despite having previously won at 1s at Gulf Shores with Stanford. Ainsley Radell didn’t play at this last Gulf Shores. Did you forget to include Hailey Harward and Julia Scoles on your list? Grace Seits and Madison Shields? How about the transfers during Dain’s tenure who never really started: Shannon Scully, Caroline Schafer, Paige Hammons, Emily Hansen, Paige Dreeuws, Josanah Vasquez, and Bo Chulo. Molly Phillips barely ever started and she just won a bronze medal at a NORCECA. Some UCLA fans feel that if CJJJ had played transfer Kelli Greene-Agnew at Gulf Shores in 2023, then the Bruins might have won. But JJJ did not play her despite successful subbing at 1s at the PAC-12 Championships. Regarding Maya Gessner, at the Hermosa Beach Open a month or so ago, Gessner/Ramirez beat Brooke Bauer and Mariah Whalen. That’s impressive enough for me. Too bad they lost to Newberry/Whitmarsh though. |
|
|
|
Post by hbmb10k on Oct 9, 2024 23:44:31 GMT -5
Long list of transfers that were overrated, should have played lower court, or not at all. Villapando, Rasnick-Pope, Johnson, Raddell, Kriz. Gessner is slow. Probably 3rd best blocker, but coach could get away with putting her on the 1st courts since everybody would agree transfers "have a lot of experience" 2 of the players I list were known for breakdowns on the court where the younger players had to console them. Yes I'm aware USC has won the the championship last four years. Haha, thanks for the entertaining contrarian take. Since I didn’t respond the first time you posted this, I’ll take the bait now. You give a list of transfers who you say were overrated and should have played lower courts or not at all. But this list of transfers all played lower courts or not at all… except for Maddi Kriz. Kriz won at 2s at the most recent Finals so can’t complain. Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope and Jenna Johnson had no business beating Jessie Smith and Marlie Monserez in the 2023 Finals, but they did, so my guess is that experience must have been the reason. Sunny Villapando only played at 5s with the Trojans despite having previously won at 1s at Gulf Shores with Stanford. Ainsley Radell didn’t play at this last Gulf Shores. Did you forget to include Hailey Harward and Julia Scoles on your list? Grace Seits and Madison Shields? How about the transfers during Dain’s tenure who never really started: Shannon Scully, Caroline Schafer, Paige Hammons, Emily Hansen, Paige Dreeuws, Josanah Vasquez, and Bo Chulo. Molly Phillips barely ever started and she just won a bronze medal at a NORCECA. Some UCLA fans feel that if CJJJ had played transfer Kelli Greene-Agnew at Gulf Shores in 2023, then the Bruins might have won. But JJJ did not play her despite successful subbing at 1s at the PAC-12 Championships. Regarding Maya Gessner, at the Hermosa Beach Open a month or so ago, Gessner/Ramirez beat Brooke Bauer and Mariah Whalen. That’s impressive enough for me. Too bad they lost to Newberry/Whitmarsh though. No I agree with you. There are good picks. Good transfer players. And while you mention some of them didn't wind up playing in the championship they took valuable playing time away from better players in the regular season. Kriz tanked at the finals. White the lowly, inexperienced sophomore, was a rock and saved the day. |
|
|
|
Post by hbmb10k on Oct 10, 2024 0:08:39 GMT -5
Many of the grad transfers indeed struggle more than what people see/know. In watching you can see some of the underclass at SC with ice in their veins taking over matches. It’s 100% happened the last 2 championships for sure. Some of it is high expectations when you transfer in and have to play with a underclassman and some is just a talent thing and why they likely were not at SC in the first place. As a fan I’m happy all of them were there but I often wonder if the underclass ladies got enough credit and probably $$$. I would assume the grads got money to fill spots each year. It will be an interesting year with no seniors and bigger egos on a few of them. I think we will all be surprised at the line ups and wonder if everyone will be happy with where they play. If marches go the way they might against top 5 ish programs I wouldn’t be surprised to see some starters depart. I just see having a three of four years of playing experience as great, but let's not put too much emphasis on this. Juniors coming to play for USC have a grueling tournament and training schedule. They play more than college players do. They play semi pro adults. They aren't naturally intimidated by upperclassman. |
|
|
|
Post by burbank55 on Oct 10, 2024 11:46:22 GMT -5
Usctrojans.com has published the 2025 Beach VB roster. Link is always on the first post of this thread if you need it. Ally Batenhorst is not showing yet on the Beach roster. This could be expected and she could be added when Indoor finishes. Ally would bump the roster count to 19 which would make sense as that will be the NCAA roster limit with the new rules. Also, belated congrats to the amazing USC coaching staff for National Coaches Day yesterday. Here, it looks like they are giving the Fours Up Salute, but of course with the bling missing from most fours up. 😂 Photo taken from the uscbeach IG account.  |
|
|
|
Post by beachnut94 on Oct 10, 2024 11:47:55 GMT -5
Haha, thanks for the entertaining contrarian take. Since I didn’t respond the first time you posted this, I’ll take the bait now. You give a list of transfers who you say were overrated and should have played lower courts or not at all. But this list of transfers all played lower courts or not at all… except for Maddi Kriz. Kriz won at 2s at the most recent Finals so can’t complain. Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope and Jenna Johnson had no business beating Jessie Smith and Marlie Monserez in the 2023 Finals, but they did, so my guess is that experience must have been the reason. Sunny Villapando only played at 5s with the Trojans despite having previously won at 1s at Gulf Shores with Stanford. Ainsley Radell didn’t play at this last Gulf Shores. Did you forget to include Hailey Harward and Julia Scoles on your list? Grace Seits and Madison Shields? How about the transfers during Dain’s tenure who never really started: Shannon Scully, Caroline Schafer, Paige Hammons, Emily Hansen, Paige Dreeuws, Josanah Vasquez, and Bo Chulo. Molly Phillips barely ever started and she just won a bronze medal at a NORCECA. Some UCLA fans feel that if CJJJ had played transfer Kelli Greene-Agnew at Gulf Shores in 2023, then the Bruins might have won. But JJJ did not play her despite successful subbing at 1s at the PAC-12 Championships. Regarding Maya Gessner, at the Hermosa Beach Open a month or so ago, Gessner/Ramirez beat Brooke Bauer and Mariah Whalen. That’s impressive enough for me. Too bad they lost to Newberry/Whitmarsh though. No I agree with you. There are good picks. Good transfer players. And while you mention some of them didn't wind up playing in the championship they took valuable playing time away from better players in the regular season. Kriz tanked at the finals. White the lowly, inexperienced sophomore, was a rock and saved the day. 2 years in a row White crushed it. Now in 24 they were winning on every court but in ‘23 that trophy is 100% on White and she gets very little credit that I can see. She took over that match and optioned them to a W when the highly touted pairs either lost or were loosing. In 24 she got shafted having to play with so many different players and at the 2-4’s (Not sure if she ever played the 5’s). But she doesn’t qualify for most of the recognition that she deserved. I think it was the twins that said she is a stellar student and great to have on the team. I don’t know how much credit the coaches give her but she is a very special player that isn’t talked about much. Keep in mind she embarrassed AVW currently playing pro and the always talked about Newberry. It wasn’t the grad students that got those points it was White hands down. My favorite White image from ‘23 win was the finger wag on the ace in the corner of the court. She was walking off before the ball even touched the court basically telling UCLA you can’t touch me. She could easily play pro and if you got her a big dynamic blocker imagine her being your defender and her side out. That hammer is scary and easily one of the hardest hitters in the NCAA. I always thought her and Meg splitting would have been incredible and they wouldn’t have dropped a set. |
|
