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Post by Friday on Apr 26, 2022 17:29:43 GMT -5
[br Why haven’t We ( the Illini) been able to get any big name, top notch player transfers? Fleming was great but would anyone say she was “big” coming in? I know it’s been discussed that our facilities aren’t great. But final four, sweet 16, should be able to get players .?.?.?.? It seems to be a question of getting traction with the Chicago area clubs, which just hasn’t seemed to have happened. Those top players are ending up in Minneapolis and Madison for whatever reason. Tamas has done well with transfers early on, but just hasn’t gotten a local pipeline established. The Chicago clubs? What about the elite players in our backyard that have direct connection to the school and who are going to other BIG and top level programs. I think the coaches are going after big name recruits who have chosen to go elsewhere and it is what it is. We should have had a big advantage to the players that have a connection to the school and instead we are going to be facing on the other side of the net for the next 4-5 years. |
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Apr 27, 2022 11:23:24 GMT -5
Krista "knows wherefore she speaks!"
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Post by ted_heise on Apr 27, 2022 12:55:25 GMT -5
Krista "knows wherefore she speaks!" That was fun! |
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Post by oldmanvb on Apr 27, 2022 18:21:31 GMT -5
It seems to be a question of getting traction with the Chicago area clubs, which just hasn’t seemed to have happened. Those top players are ending up in Minneapolis and Madison for whatever reason. Tamas has done well with transfers early on, but just hasn’t gotten a local pipeline established. The Chicago clubs? What about the elite players in our backyard that have direct connection to the school and who are going to other BIG and top level programs. I think the coaches are going after big name recruits who have chosen to go elsewhere and it is what it is. We should have had a big advantage to the players that have a connection to the school and instead we are going to be facing on the other side of the net for the next 4-5 years. Who from Central Illinois wanted to attend UI, was not recruited, and would have helped? It’s the Chicago club teams whose players went to Wisconsin who have been beating us. We’ve been able to recruit Illinois area DSs but Birks and Viliunas may be the last front row players until Tamas recruited Collins and Hinton. I live in Central Illinois, and I’m not crazy about it, but it’s the Chicago area clubs where we need to make progress. Maybe now that Butler is retiring that area will open up. I really doubt Tamas ignores local players who could help. |
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Post by Friday on Apr 27, 2022 19:16:53 GMT -5
The Chicago clubs? What about the elite players in our backyard that have direct connection to the school and who are going to other BIG and top level programs. I think the coaches are going after big name recruits who have chosen to go elsewhere and it is what it is. We should have had a big advantage to the players that have a connection to the school and instead we are going to be facing on the other side of the net for the next 4-5 years. Who from Central Illinois wanted to attend UI, was not recruited, and would have helped? It’s the Chicago club teams whose players went to Wisconsin who have been beating us. We’ve been able to recruit Illinois area DSs but Birks and Viliunas may be the last front row players until Tamas recruited Collins and Hinton. I live in Central Illinois, and I’m not crazy about it, but it’s the Chicago area clubs where we need to make progress. Maybe now that Butler is retiring that area will open up. I really doubt Tamas ignores local players who could help. Kenna Wollard from Chillicothe - committed to Purdue Lily Barry from Normal - committed to Illinois Averie Hernandez from Normal - committed to Northwestern - volleyballmag.com 2022 Top 50 player Anna McClure from Champaign - committed to Ohio State Caroline Kerr from Champaign - committed to Tennessee - volleyballmag.com 2022 Top 50 player I'm guessing they were recruited but chose elsewhere. In class of 2022, volleyballmag.com has 4 Illinois players. Two from Chicago area and 2 from Central Illinois. Chicago is almost the exact same distance to Madison as it is to Champaign. Of course recruiting Chicago is a must, but we will always be battling the big dogs for the elite players from there especially in light of their recent success. I think improving our facilities would definitely help. Also I think Tamas is a fantastic coach and recruiter. I think he is swinging for the fences which is great. Just want to make sure we aren't missing great opportunities right in front of us. |
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Post by oldmanvb on Apr 27, 2022 20:18:49 GMT -5
Lily Barry will be coming to Illinois. Illinois was in McClure's final three. Pretty sure Hernandez was recruited hard by Tamas, she was apparently in love with Northwestern. Caroline Kerr as a setter would be a second setter with Mosher, and two scholarship setters would be tough. Sometimes local kids want to get away, personally I didn't want to be within 100 miles of home, and no matter how hard I tried I could not get my D3 daughter to attend the school I attended. I don't disagree with you, Hernandez and McClure would have met significant needs. I just don't think Tamas is ignoring central Illinois. I'm just glad my livelihood did not depend on persuading 16 year-olds.
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Post by alt on Apr 28, 2022 8:09:28 GMT -5
Who from Central Illinois wanted to attend UI, was not recruited, and would have helped? It’s the Chicago club teams whose players went to Wisconsin who have been beating us. We’ve been able to recruit Illinois area DSs but Birks and Viliunas may be the last front row players until Tamas recruited Collins and Hinton. I live in Central Illinois, and I’m not crazy about it, but it’s the Chicago area clubs where we need to make progress. Maybe now that Butler is retiring that area will open up. I really doubt Tamas ignores local players who could help. Kenna Wollard from Chillicothe - committed to Purdue Lily Barry from Normal - committed to Illinois Averie Hernandez from Normal - committed to Northwestern - volleyballmag.com 2022 Top 50 player Anna McClure from Champaign - committed to Ohio State Caroline Kerr from Champaign - committed to Tennessee - volleyballmag.com 2022 Top 50 player I'm guessing they were recruited but chose elsewhere. In class of 2022, volleyballmag.com has 4 Illinois players. Two from Chicago area and 2 from Central Illinois. Chicago is almost the exact same distance to Madison as it is to Champaign. Of course recruiting Chicago is a must, but we will always be battling the big dogs for the elite players from there especially in light of their recent success. I think improving our facilities would definitely help. Also I think Tamas is a fantastic coach and recruiter. I think he is swinging for the fences which is great. Just want to make sure we aren't missing great opportunities right in front of us. I think Wollard was out biggest lose. She could have definetly changed this program around she is a true all around hitter and is explosive. Barry and McClure are similar IMO so we only needed one of them. I'm not gonna lie the current recruits coming in Sophie and Cari are players that I dont think will get much significant playing time at least in the next few years |
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Post by vb on Apr 28, 2022 10:45:29 GMT -5
Look at the coaches tree. Former Illini players who are now coaches are having their top-notch players going to what universities?
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Post by exit237a on Apr 28, 2022 12:38:36 GMT -5
I think Wollard was out biggest lose. She could have definetly changed this program around she is a true all around hitter and is explosive. Barry and McClure are similar IMO so we only needed one of them. I'm not gonna lie the current recruits coming in Sophie and Cari are players that I dont think will get much significant playing time at least in the next few years Ya know, more power to you to forecast a few years into the future about athletes who haven't even arrived on campus yet. But just looking at the Illini depth chart at the pins this year, I see ample space for both those frosh to compete for playing time this season. We've got Raina, Nunge, and Bruna returning on the left and Brooke at opposite (if she isn't setting). Bohm is cross-listed as an opposite so I have to imagine she'll be competing for that spot this fall. Kennedy and Kyla seem to have the middle spot locked down and there's a logjam there this year, but they'll graduate after this season along with Rylee, and Bohm will be one of four middles on the roster in 2023 with a year of college under her belt. The three upperclass(wo)men returning on the left side bring a lot of experience but I think only Raina's spot in the lineup is locked down. Stephenson will have the opportunity to compete with the two senior OH this fall and certainly will have the inside track on being one of our two starting OH in 2023 with Raina. |
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Post by oldmanvb on Apr 28, 2022 13:04:06 GMT -5
Don't Kennedy and Swanson have a covid year available? Terry? Nunge? Extra covid eligibility coupled with the portal puts Tamas in an almost impossible situation trying to predict the number of recruits he will need in two or three years. It is conceivable everyone on the 22 roster is eligible in 23, including Brown.
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Post by pointillinois on Apr 28, 2022 16:36:49 GMT -5
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Post by Pasquale on Apr 28, 2022 18:25:55 GMT -5
I think Wollard was out biggest lose. She could have definetly changed this program around she is a true all around hitter and is explosive. Barry and McClure are similar IMO so we only needed one of them. I'm not gonna lie the current recruits coming in Sophie and Cari are players that I dont think will get much significant playing time at least in the next few years Ya know, more power to you to forecast a few years into the future about athletes who haven't even arrived on campus yet. But just looking at the Illini depth chart at the pins this year, I see ample space for both those frosh to compete for playing time this season. We've got Raina, Nunge, and Bruna returning on the left and Brooke at opposite (if she isn't setting). Bohm is cross-listed as an opposite so I have to imagine she'll be competing for that spot this fall. Kennedy and Kyla seem to have the middle spot locked down and there's a logjam there this year, but they'll graduate after this season along with Rylee, and Bohm will be one of four middles on the roster in 2023 with a year of college under her belt. The three upperclass(wo)men returning on the left side bring a lot of experience but I think only Raina's spot in the lineup is locked down. Stephenson will have the opportunity to compete with the two senior OH this fall and certainly will have the inside track on being one of our two starting OH in 2023 with Raina. I completely agree. There are some Illini fans who always seem to see the glass half empty and their negativity doesn't help our recruiting. Seriously, why call out and judge players before they've even arrived on campus? There were several players who were not highly ranked who had very good careers at Illinois (VanMeter, Quade, etc.) and several current players who were not highly ranked who have exceeded expectations or shown great promise (Collins, Swanson, Bingham). Based on the videos I've seen, I think Stephenson will have a very good career at Illinois. She reminds me of a young Quade with a quick arm and nice range of shots (including a very good back row attack). I'm looking forward to seeing her in orange and blue. |
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Post by liberovb10 on Apr 28, 2022 23:03:10 GMT -5
i think the frustration is coming from lackluster recruiting classes, while our B1G counterparts who have had similar success have no issues. if it’s a facilities issues, let’s invest money there. we have the coaching experience and reputation to bring in big names/gritty players. we’ve just been missing that fighting spirit from before that i want to see in this team again.
I think back to the past two final four teams in recent memory who had endless fight/grit. we could be down 18-23 and we’d pull the set/match out, and i haven’t seen that in a while. we need good floor leadership, and heading into this season maybe Terry is the answer? but that’s it
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Post by oldmanvb on Apr 29, 2022 7:45:33 GMT -5
I agree. Looking at the photo above the article, a new volleyball/wrestling/gymnastics facility seating about 4000 to 5000 located next to the tennis venue would also help volleyball a bit. |
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Post by Kearney Kingston on Apr 29, 2022 9:13:35 GMT -5
That will be happening at every power 5 school. So it will help Illinois out-recruit Northern Illinois, but not necessarily Michigan. |
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