The 2022 SEC Thread, no longer too early
Dec 19, 2021 14:26:58 GMT -5
vballfreak808, agean09, and 24 more like this
Post by vbshrink on Dec 19, 2021 14:26:58 GMT -5
Welcome to the “No, Really, It’s Just Way Too Early” SEC Thread for 2022, in which I’m going to try to predict what each team in the conference is going to look like next year. It’s really going to be quite a challenge to get things going early this year because the portal season is just starting to ramp up, and I have it on pretty good authority that there are at least some players who are deferring their decisions about staying for COVID years versus transferring out depending on coaching moves and other transfers. I’ve had the bulk of this post written for a while, but the near daily updates from the transfer portal have me all:
Therefore, I expect this to be a pretty fluid, frequently updated (at least for the next few months) thread as news about coaches, player moves, and seniors staying put get announced.
Each team is going to get a quick 2021 summary, followed by a look at (presumed) returners, departures (both known and presumed), and newcomers, and then a brief editorial comment about what 2022 might look like.
As always, hostile commentary, corrections, and updates that I miss announcements for are all welcome.
Alabama
2021 Recap: Oof. A lot went wrong in Tuscaloosa this year, leading to the “resignation” of Coach Devine and her staff (which came on the heels of a mid-season, still unexplained “suspension” that was imposed on Devine). Aliyah Wells took off in the middle of the season, citing a need to maintain her mental health, and then she subsequently entered the portal. Wells’ move, plus the timing of the coaching change (after just 3 years at the helm) gave me “off-the-court issues” vibes. For most of the year, the Tide played with a very young squad on the floor, and they struggled, as might be expected with a youth movement. As of now (Final Four time), there has been no announcement about a new coach. Whoever they get will inherit a young roster with some good pieces, but a lot of questions.
Key Returners: Anytime there’s a new coach, it’s quite reasonable to expect some departures. So we’ll have to keep our eyes peeled for that possibility. But as it stands, the Tide bring back most of their roster. On the pins,6’1” Shaye Eggleston (Soph), 6’ Sami Jacobs (Soph), 6’3” Kendyl Reaugh, and 6’1 Kennedy Muckleroy (Sr) are eligible to be back, and 6’1” Emily Janek (OPP/S, Sr), might fit in this group, too. In the middle, 6’2” Laila Smith (Soph), and 6’3” Chaise Campbell return in what looks like a pretty thin position group. Setters include 5’11” Brooke Slusser (Soph) and 5’8” Malia Moore (Soph), and possibly Janek. Experienced defensive returners abound, including starting-when-healthy libero Dru Kuck (Sr), Katie Shook (Sr), Sydney Gholson (Soph), Victoria Schumer (Jr), and Taylor Drapp (Sr).
Departures: Grad transfer MB Sarah Swanson has run out of eligibility, I believe,and OH Abby Marjama has decided to enter the portal rather than return for a COVID year. And the coaching staff, of course. Update - have just been informed that Eggleston isn't waiting for the new coach, who will be announced VERY soon, and has entered the portal. One less good piece for the coach to work with.Update #2 The Alabama roster indicates that Marjama has changed her mind and rejoined the team, and Aliyah Wells is also listed, suggesting she, too, has rejoined the team under the new staff. Nice news for the Tide! Update #3 Muckleroy is no longer on the Bama roster.
Newcomers: The Tide signed two HS players for their 2022 class, 6’ OH Micah Gryniewiczand DS Morgan Rank. Gryniewicz is #140 in PrepVolleyball (PV)’s 2022 rankings. Update: We have a coach! Illinois assistant (and former UAB assistant, and former Northern Michigan HC, briefly) Rashinda Reed has been named the new Tide HC. Reed, apart from being a very well-respected person and coach, checks a lot of boxes: long-term power 5 assistant coach, previous coaching/recruiting experience within the state and region, playing experience in the SEC (UGA), and some (a couple months’ worth) of HC experience (at the DII level). Her staff hasn’t yet been announced but I’m hearing that there may soon be assistant coach openings in the Big East and SoCon. Wishing Coach Reed much success at Bama … except when they play everyone’s personal favorite team! 
Update: Have been informed that Fr DS Morgan Rank (who enrolled early) has opted to retire from volleyball. Update OH Maddie McCormick from Colorado St has announced her transfer to the Crimson Tide. More roster changes may be in the offing ... (this referred to the impending Muckleroy departure, which has now been announced).
2022 Outlook: I could see a new coach coming in and working some magic with the portal and the existing talent in Tuscaloosa and putting together a competitive squad. I could also see a rebuild that takes a few years and leaves the Tide buried near the bottom of the SEC table while it plays out. I thought both the young MB’s had some very strong moments this year, and the young pins and setter need some time to develop. Kuck helped a good bit on floor defense for the Tide, but overall, ball control remained an issue, especially in serve receive. With better passing and some more experience, the Tide may have the chance to inch up the table a bit.
Arkansas
2021 Recap: The Hogs didn’t play an especially tough preseason slate, and they had an embarrassing hiccup against UALR at home early that may have significantly hurt their post-season resume (in the “bad loss” category). The SEC season ended with a second consecutive winning record in conference play (10-8, good for 5th place), which hadn’t happened in Fayetteville for a while, but still left the Hogs on the outside looking in for the NCAAs. Winning just one of the close-but-no-cigar 5-set matches with Kentucky (x2) or UF was probably all it would have taken, but the Hogs just couldn’t do it when it counted. It was the second consecutive year that Arkansas was a “first 4 out” team. The team lost to eventual NIVC Champion UNLV in the 3rd round to end their season on a bit of a down note.
Key Returners: The Hogs will return their starting slate of pin hitters, including 5’7” Sr Jill Gillen (2x All SEC, and 2x SEC Scholar Athlete for volleyball), 5’10” Taylor Head (Jr), and 6’ Maggie Cartwright (Sr). It seems, as of now, that 6’2” Hailey Dirrigl might also be returning for a COVID year.6’ Nat Perdue (RS Jr) is also slated to return, along with 5’7” Jada Lawson (Soph). In the middle, 6’1” Abigail Archibong has another year of eligibility, and 6’4” Zoi Evans (R-Fr vs Soph?) also returns, leaving this section of the roster very thin for next year, as it stands. There is speculation that S Gracie Ryan (5’9”) may be returning for a COVID year. If not, only 5’8 Hannah Hogue (Soph) returns. Defensively, the Hogs will return All-Freshman team L Courtney Jackson.
Departures: As noted above, rumors about Ryan’s return for next year make this a bit tricky, but Ryan, MB Ellease Crumpton, and DSs Abbi McGee and Lauren Evans were all recognized on Senior Day for the Hogs. Apart from Jackson, Evans and McGee were the main defensive subs that saw action, and Crumpton was by far the most effective offensive MB for Arkansas. Reserve 5’10” S Jordyn Gates, who did not see any action in her two years on campus, has announced her transfer to Grand Valley State. Update: Nat Perdue has entered the portal. This was not a huge surprise. She’s had a tough go with injuries and then being frozen out of playing time by Gillen and Head.
Newcomers: Arkansas signed two prep players, 5’10” lefty OH Avery Calame and 5’7” L/DS Kylie Weeks. Update: Tatum Shipes, 6’4” MB from Auburn has announced her commitment to play her COVID year at Arkansas. Not bad for a weaker blocking team to pick up the conference’s leading blocker.
2022 Outlook: A lot of offense returns on the pins for the Hogs, and Gillen, Head, and sometimes Cartwright have been 6-rotation players. The Hogs were a pretty good ball control team in 2021, and that should continue as Jackson gains more experience. The MB position is (like last year) a big question mark, and I expect to see them active in the portal again this year at that position. It will also be interesting to see if there are any departures (besides the Gates transfer) that would free up other options in the portal. It seems clear that administration is impatient to see the Hogs finally get back in the tournament. Will 2022 be the year? With the right MB transfer and some mental toughness, the Hogs are again looking at the tournament bubble/at large battle, and a top 4-6 conference finish.
Auburn
2021 Recap: The blue-and-orange Tigers did a lot better than a lot of prognosticators (including yours truly) thought they would do in 2021. Transfers Rath and Reich paid big dividends, and moving Shipes to MB was an unquestioned success. There were still some embarrassing and hard-to-explain losses (FAMU? Alabama State!?), but sweeping the Tide and delivering wins over Mizzou, TAMU, and UGA were notable bright spots. The Tigers did end 2021 on a bit of a schneid, getting bageled in their last 5 matches, but after the debacle of 2020, I thought this was a step back toward respectability for the Auburn program. Kudos to Coach Crouch, his staff, and the team.
Key Returners: Rath is due back, filling one of the OH spots automatically. It seems, though, that she is the only experienced pin player returning.6’4” MB Audrey Douglas (Jr) comes back, as does 6’2” S Jackie Barrett (Jr) returns. Reserve setter Jordan Sinness (Soph) is back, as are a pair of sophomore DSs: Fallan Langham and Kate Curtis. OH Cassidy Tanton apparently red-shirted in 2021.
Departures: The Tigers look like they will be hit pretty hard by graduation, as MB Shipes, OH Val Green, L Bella Rosenthal, MB Elif Yavuz, and OPP Reich all were recognized on Senior Day on the Plains. All were starters at the end of the year.Shipes may be in the portal, per some VT speculators. Correction - Shipes is not in the portal, at least as of today. Update: A little bird tells me that Tatum Shipes is now in the portal after all. Update #2: Neither Alex Dunphy nor Rick Moller is listed on the coaching staff for 2022. Dunphy has taken an assistant position at Stanford; not sure what Moller's situation was. Crouch will be bringing in two new assistants for 2022 and beyond. Update #3 Audrey Douglas announced her transfer to Wake Forest.
Newcomers: To make up for the large senior class, Auburn has signed one of the larger recruiting classes in the conference this year. They will bring in three OH’s, 6’3” Akasha Anderson, 6’1 Madison Scheer (PV #94), and 6’1 Isabel Zimmerman; 1 MB, 6’6” Kendal Kemp (PV #63); and two DS/L players, Sarah Morton (PV #128) and Zoe Slaughter. The Tigers also recently announced the incoming transfer of Portland MB Chelsey Harmon (6’3”), adding a little depth to what looked to be a very thin position. They may be looking around the portal for even more. I think they have the roster space. Update Auburn announced the late signing of OH/L Sydney Handel from Lee's Summit, MO. Also, Crouch has replenished his Assistant Coach corps by hiring Rechel Corbelli (Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coord) from Austin Juniors, and Keith Smith from the Grand Canyon U men's program.
2022 Outlook: How many swings can Rath take? Apart from Rath and Barrett, the Tigers look like they will be very young next year. They’ve already dipped into the portal for a middle; perhaps they can mine bring in 1-2 more to shore things up until the youngsters are SEC ready. If not, an awful lot is going to depend on how much the freshmen can contribute early. The ceiling for this team is, I think, the middle of the pack, and the floor is … well, the floor.
Florida
2021 Recap: Another year, another Sweet 16 for the Gators. This year felt a little bit different, though, as off-season transfers and end-of-year drama seemed to suggest some creaks in what is normally a well-oiled machine in Gainesville. Injuries and lack of depth on defense seemed to cramp the Gators style, especially early in the season when MB Lauren Forte was temporarily unavailable. But a combination of veteran leadership and youthful energy and skill (and, let’s face it, a very favorable regional!) propelled the Gators to another strong post-season showing, the only team in the conference to make it out of a regional. Bumps in the road notwithstanding, the Gators again proved they were worthy to be a standard-bearer for the conference.
Key Returners: The Gators seem to have a very healthy stable of big, athletic players in the middle, with 6’4” Nnedi Okammor (Jr), 6’4” Bre Kelley (Soph), and 6’3” Gabrielle Essix (Soph) all due back. Things are a little thinner on the pins, as only 6’1” Sofia Victoria (Jr) and 6’3” Merritt Beason (Soph) return (though both were starters for good chunks of this season). The Gators return two experienced defenders in starting L Elli McKissock (Jr) and often-used DS Trinity Adams (Soph). But at setter, it looks like 6’2” Birdie Hendrickson, who has had very limited setting time for the Gators, is the only returning assist maker.
Departures: The Gators lose a lot – both in terms of numbers and experience. OHs Thayer Hall and T’ara Ceasar are gone; MB Lauren Dooley is transferring for her COVID year; S Marlie Monserez’s graduation closes the Monserez chapter in Gainesville; and I believe Lauren Forte isout of eligibility transferring to UCLA. Thayer and Marlie have, over the past four years, really become synonymous with Gator volleyball, and it will be a bit of a shock to see a UF volleyball team without them on the court.
Newcomers: Unsurprisingly, the departure of so many blue-chip athletes is not about to catch the coaching staff by surprise, and the recruiting class is large (physically and numerically) and talented. New Gators will include 6’3” MB Amaya Thomas (PV #16), 6’2” S Alexis Stucky (PV #7), OH Carly Hendrickson (PV #19), and DSs Emily Canaan (PV #32) and Emerson Hoyle (PV #59). Update: OH Rhett Robinson from North Texas has announced her transfer to Florida. Speculation abounds that Fitzpatrick from PSU is also very interested in UF. Update #2 Speculation was correct, and AC Fitzpatrick has committed to the Gators. Update #3 Another incoming pin transfer, as Syracuse transfer OH Marina Markova (6'5", 1st team all ACC in 2021) trades one shade of orange for another, with some lighter blue thrown in. The Gators have gone from having a dearth of pins to having a potential logjam with Beason, Victoria, the freshman Hendrickson, and the transfers.
2022 Outlook: Will it be a rebuilding year or a reloading year? There will be talent at every position, but some of it is not particularly experienced. The setting situation is the biggest question mark in my mind – does Birdie get her shot, or does Stucky come right in and pass her by? Will Amaya Thomas jump past the 3 middles who are already on campus, all of whom got some playing time this season? Will Mary use the portal to recruit over any of her existing players (Update: YES!), as been her pattern the last few years? Florida has relied on the pins – and with Hall and Ceasar, could you blame them? – for so long, but it’s not clear that any of the OH/OPP players on the squad will be able to shoulder that burden next year. Will be an interesting coaching challenge for Coach Wise and her staff next year, though they clearly have good pieces to mold into shape.
Georgia
2021 Recap: UGA was a lot worse than what many observers were expecting out of this season. Some of it was injuries/illnesses, but some just seemed to be a lack of a consistent lineup. Coach Black seemed to be channeling Fran Flory at times, subbing players in and out so often that the team seemed to lack any rhythm. After starting out very strongly in her time in Athens, Stivrins has been unable to achieve a consistent level of high quality play. Evans has looked like a stud at times, but also looked fairly average at others (and she’s even been stuck in the funny colored jersey on occasion!). The revolving door at setter, with Brower and Hans taking turns in 5-1 and 6-2 line-ups, was also a factor. The team wasn’t bad; it just seemed that nobody lived up to their expected level of productivity, resulting in a disappointing 12-17 overall record (8-10 SEC, good for 8th place).
Key Returners: On the bright side, UGA was pretty young last year, and a lot of talented players return with experience. On the outside,5’11” Lyric Stewart (Soph), 5’11” Abby Maesch (Soph), 6’ Meghan Froemming (Sr), 6’2” Amber Stivrins (Sr), and 5’11” OH Kacie Evans (Sr) all are due back. In the middle, 6’2” Phoebe Awoleye (Jr), 6’2” Mackenzie Norris (RS Soph), and 6’2” Kaitlin Fournier are all due to return, and 6’2” Sage Naves didn’t participate in Senior Day, so I assume she plans to return as well. (That’s not a typo – all four of UGA’s MB’s are 6’2”, according to the roster.) At S, 5’9” Clara Brower (Soph) returns, as does little-used 5’11” Alexa Fortin (RS Jr). On defense, UGA brings back Bailey Cox (Soph) and Mallory Downing (Jr).
Departures: The Bulldogs will say goodbye to DS Claire Rothenberger, S Dalaney Hans, and two OPPs, Mallory Hernandez and Kayla Rivera, all of whom were significant contributors at various times this season. Update: Well, the arrival of Fischer and her identification as a MB makes more sense now, as Jr Phoebe Awoleye has entered her name in the portal! Update #2 Kayla Rivera has appeared in the portal and is apparently seeking a new destination to play her COVID year. Update OH and sometime MB Lyric Stewart announces her transfer to TCU.
Newcomers: Interestingly, when I was researching this, Rich Kern didn’t seem to know about UGA’s 2022 signing class, so this information comes only from the UGA press release. They are bringing in Estelle Haugen (OH), Ana Julia Bleeker (L/OH), and Tori Harper (OPP). The roster seems pretty full, so it might be more of a challenge to address lingering team needs in the portal, unless there are some transfers out. The Dawgs also add 6’5”OH MB transfer Sophie Fischer out of Kentuckycreating an even more interesting amount of depth at the pins.
2022 Outlook: If everyone is healthy all season, and the ball control and setting situations stabilize, I could see Smilin’ Tom Black’s squad pushing back up in the top 4-6 teams in the conference. But those are some big ifs. There are very talented players on this roster. And while I haven’t really admired many of his tactics this past year, Black is a good coach. I’d like to see him have the option of settling on a steady lineup and letting them gel into a unit. Injuries initially prevented that this year, and then it just kind of seemed to be too late. I think the floor for this team is about where they finished this year (8th), and if that happens, I will wonder about the temperature of Coach Black’s seat.
Kentucky
2021 Recap: A conference championship secured by a pair of convincing wins over UF to end the regular season was followed by a surprising and disappointing home loss to Illinois (and more specifically, Raina Terry’s 27 kills) in the NCAA 2nd round. The transition to a post-Madison Lilley and Gabby Curry UK era was eased by the emergence of Emma Grome and Eleanor Beavin, both of whom had terrific freshman seasons and earned SEC recognition for their efforts. UK’s other weapons were formidable, if a little inconsistent at times, and the emergence of Bella Bell opposite Azhani Tealer at the MB spot was certainly a welcome surprise for the Cats.
Key Returners: The Wildcats are still loaded. Returning on the outside are6’2” Madisen Skinner (Jr), 6’3” Erin Lamb (Soph), and 6’ Reagan Rutherford (Jr). In the middle, 6’4” Elise Goetzinger (Jr), 6’3” Bella Bell (RS Jr), and 5’10” Azhani Tealer (Sr) return with experience, and 6’2” Jordan Williams (RS Fr?) should also be available after sitting out 2021. Will Williams’s availability allow Tealer to move back to RS? At setter, it looks like Grome (Soph) is the only game in town as of now (except, I suppose, Rutherford), and on defense the Cats return Beavin (Soph), Maddie Berezowitz (Sr), and Riah Walker (Jr).
Departures: The big name here is 4-year starting OH, SEC POY Alli Stumler. Opposing SEC coaches won’t be sad to not to see her across the net. But not to be overlooked are graduating S Cameron Scheitzach and DS Lauren Tharp, both of whom have made important contributions during their time in blue. 6’5” Sophie Fischer has also entered the portal and emerged in Athens, and Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Carly Cramer has also resigned to pursue other opportunities. Update: Madisen Skinner has placed her name into the transfer portal. 👀
Newcomers: The only 2022 signee for the Cats is DS Audry Whitworth. It seems as though UK has the roster space to make some moves in the portal, though, should they choose. Certainly a back up setter and some depth at OH might be good investments. Update: 6' OH Haley Melby, previously committed to Iowa (but unsigned) has announced that she will be joining the UK volleyball program instead. Update #2 S Lane Jenkins transfers in from Loyola Chicago, providing an insurance policy should Grome not be able to go at some point. Update #3 Former Wildcat Meredith Jewell is announced as the new Assistant Coach. Update #4 OH Adana Rollins announces her grad transfer into the Wildcat program after starting out at Minnesota and then Penn State. Update #5 Xavier OH Kelly Franxman announces her transfer to UK.
2022 Outlook: Who’s going to beat out Kentucky at the top of the league? The other contenders all seem to have more significant losses or at least questions at key positions, but after seeing what Erin Lamb did against Tennessee when Skinner was out, it’s hard to see where UK has significant gaps to overcome, at least when it comes to the stating lineup. I look for UK to maintain its position at the top of the conference, and not to miss too many beats while doing it. Outlook update: Skinner's departure was certainly a jolt, but many UK observers are buoyed by the transfer in of Rollins.
LSU
2021 Recap: Baton Rouge or Baton Rough? So, stop me if you’ve heard this one … Despite a veteran roster loaded with talent and an All-American 6’4” OH that dropped into their lap, and after having been picked 3rd behind perennial powers UK and UF in the preseason SEC poll, LSU fumbled their way to a sub-.500 record (13-14) overall, and a 9-9 record in conference to finish 7th. Coach Flory has retired, so I don’t want to be unkind or disrespectful (she had a wonderful career and is a very nice person), but the truth is that during the last several years of the Flory era, LSU had become synonymous with “under-achieving.” Very solid recruiting, very mediocre results. Some of it this year was injuries, for sure. But player development was much less than expected, and line-up shuffling was chronic. There was so much talent on this team that a below .500 record overall is just hard to grasp. We’ll have to wait to see who gets the reins next.
Key Returners: Even though the Tigers were (super) senior heavy this year, whoever gets the job will have some talent to work with. Returning outsides include 6’1” Samarrah Hill (RS Jr; get healthy!), 5’8” Paige Flickinger (Jr), 6’ Sanaa Dotson (Sr), and 6’1” Ellie Echter (Soph). Returning at S, the Tigers will have the option of 5’10” Ella Larkin (Soph) or 5’6” Karli Rose (Sr). The depth in the MB spot is also solid, with 6’3” Anita Anwusi, 6’1” Alia Williams, and 6’4” Allee Morris all due back. And on defense, Jill Bohnet (Sr) and Madison Martin (Soph) return.
Departures: In addition to the coaching staff, the Tigers will at last say goodbye to stud 5-year players Taylor Bannister and Raigen Cianciulli, Sr Whitney Foreman, DS Emmaline Walters, and transfer OH’s Kylie DeBerg and Hannah Brister. That’s a lot of talent.
Newcomers: The Bayou Bengals signed four prep players, including three top 150 kids: 5’11” S Maddie Waak (PV #46), 5’10” OH/L Brianna Anderson (PV #67), 6’4” MB Alexis Roberson (PV #109), and DS Briana Zamora. Update: LSU announces former Tiger and Texas Assistant Coach Tonya Johnson as the new Head Coach. Johnson has been a HC before for several years at GA Tech, and she has served as recruiting coordinator for Texas, bringing in almost too many outstanding recruiting classes to count. Update #2 LSU adds two grad transfers, 6'2" S Josie Vondran from Ohio St and 6'2" OPP/OH Hannah Jacobs from SMU. (Interestingly, Vondran was listed at 6' on OSU's roster last year, but maybe the cajun food has caused a big growth spurt?)
2022 Outlook: Well, so much depends on the hire that it’s tough to say. Add in the injury issues to Hill, and it is even more difficult to forecast what 2022 might look like on the Bayou. The new coach will inherit some good athletes, barring transfer, and an upper half of the conference finish is possible, especially when you consider what everyone else is losing. If Anwusi continues on the improvement trajectory she started to show in the latter half of this season, she could really be a force to reckon with.
Mississippi State
2021 Recap: The conference’s “feel-good” story of the year. No matter whom you cheer for (unless it’s Ole Miss, I guess?), you had to be happy and excited for the team from Starkville who came out of nowhere and used hi-tempo offense, very solid, scrappy defense, and a nearly unstoppable OPP to come this close to winning the conference title and make their first NCAA volleyball tournament in school history. With SEC COY recognition for Coach Darty-Dennis happening along the way. Bowing out in 5 to Hawaii (after being shipped all the way to Seattle) is nothing to hang your head over. Congrats to the Bulldogs on a 2021 campaign for the record books!!!
Key Returners: This gets a bit tricky. I have it on reasonably good authority that some of the senior Bulldogs are taking some time to make their decisions about whether to return, transfer, or possibly move on to whatever is next. The folks who have eligibility left and did not participate in senior day still form a pretty solid nucleus. At setter, 5’10” Gabby Coulter (R-Sr) appears to be coming back,as is 5’9” Laughlin Murray (Soph). On the outside, 6’ Lauren Myrick (Sr) and 5’9” Shania Cromartie (Jr) are the only experienced returners. 6’3” opposite Francesca McBride (Jr) is due back, and in the middle, 6’1” Sania Petties (Soph) and 6’2” Rebecca Walk (Jr) both return. Solid L Lilly Gunter (Jr) returns, as well. (OPP Gabby Waden and MB Deja Robinson are both eligible to return for a COVID year, but their intentions are not yet known.) Update Both Waden and Robinson are returning for their COVID years.
Departures: MB/OPP Jessica Kemp and S Margaret Dean are both out of eligibility. DS Alden Willis is moving on after graduating, as well. The big questions are Waden and Robinson, and you sort of get the feeling that the Bulldogs’ fortunes are closely tied to those decisions. OH Callie Minshew has also entered the transfer portal. Update: S Laughlin Murray has entered the portal. However, as noted above, BOTH Waden and Robinson have opted to stay and play their additional COVID year in Starkville.
Newcomers: The Bulldogs signed three prep players: 6’’3” OPP Caylee Sharkey, 6’2” MB Sanaa Williams, and L Georgia McCarter. They are also rumored to be sniffing around the portal for a setter and possibly an impact OH. Update DS/L Lacey Jeffcoat from Troy has announced her transfer to MSU on instagram. Update #2 I missed a member of the MSU signing class - 6'2" OH Sophie Agee is also headed to Starkville, bringing the total number of prep signees to 4. Update #3: 5’10” S Emily Oerther has announced her transfer from Penn State to MS State. Interesting move. Oerther didn’t get too much PT behind Blossom, but she was pretty effective when she did play.
2022 Outlook: Check back later in January when it’s clearer what the status of Waden and Robinson is. If they come back, and the question marks at setter caused by the under-rated Dean’s departure are resolved, there isn’t a reason that this team couldn’t repeat their 2021 success. That’s the best case scenario. The worst case scenario is that players leave and don’t get replaced with equivalent talent. Was this year a flash in the pan or a turning point for the program?
Mizzou
2021 Recap: Not so hot (okay, ice cold), but a lot of youth got good experience. The CoMo Tigers tied for the cellar with the Tide, and only won 5 matches all year (although one of them was a late season win over the Lady Vols!). But they did it with a big youth movement that they hope will pay dividends going forward. There still appears to be a bit of drama around this program after the transfer fireworks from last season, and it is not unnoticed that two former Mizzou players featured prominently on Final Four rosters this year. Speculation abounded about Coach Taylor’s job security, but he seems to have weathered any storm there might have been.
Key Returners: Almost the entire roster comes back. In the middle, sophomores6’4 Kayla Burbage, 6’ Morgan Isenberg, and 6’4” Trista Strasser are expected back. At setter, 5’9 Addison Lyon (Soph) returns. On the outside, 6’2” Kaylee Cox (Soph), 6’ Leandra Mangual-Duran (Sr), and 6’3” Anna Dixon (Sr) will vie for time. At the OPP, 6’2” Jordan Iliff (Soph) seemed to have a slow start to the season, but she finished quite strongly. At DS/L, Erin Williamson (R-Sr), Lauren Forbes (Soph), and Skylar Buckley (Soph) all return.
Departures: MB Anna D’Cruz, OH Brynn Carlson, and S Nicole Alford all appear to be moving on, and starting L Emily Brown has entered her name into the portal. Update: Reports have MB Kayla Burbage entering the transfer portal this spring.
Newcomers: The Tigers have signed a highly regarded recruiting class consisting of four high schoolers, all of whom feature in the PV top 100: 6’ S Riley Buckley (#55), 6’2” OH Janet Demarrais (#48), 6’2” MB Madilyn Sell (PV# 68), and DS Estella Zatechka (#84).
2022 Outlook: How long will it take the Tigers to rebuild? They have some talented arms on this team, with Dixon, Cox,and Burbage, good size, and a very solid recruiting class to build with. Ball control is perhaps a question mark, but one that might be addressable through the portal. Barring more program drama, it doesn’t seem that Mizzou will stay buried in the SEC basement for very long. Update: Losing Burbage will probably hurt.
Ole Miss
2021 Recap: Christmas came early for the Rebels this year when the NCAA Selection Committee lost its collective mind and invited the team from Oxford to the Dance. We’ll have to see if the Christmas season ends as joyfully, given the rumors that seem to be swirling in the coaching carousel. On the court, though, OM showed a ton of improvement, with excellent setting and a potent middle attack (when the ball control allowed), and enough offense from Anna Bair and rotating cast of L2s and OPPs to be a very solid, competitive squad. An early season road win over top 20 Western Kentucky proved to be a huge feather in the team’s cap.
Key Returners: Ole Miss’s roster this season was actually quite large. Among the marquee players coming back are OHs 6’1” OH Anna Bair (Sr)and 6’4” OH GG Carvacho (Jr) though she’ll be coming off an injury), and MBs 6’2” Sasha Ratliff (Jr) and 6’3” Payton Brgoch (Jr). Both 6’ Sam Schnitta (Jr) and 6’1” Katie Corelli (Soph) are due back on the right side, and the core of returning defenders are headlined by Riley Fischer (Sr) and Maggie Miller (Sr.). 6’2” OH Julia Dyess (Soph) saw time early for the Battling Banwarths, but she didn’t see any playing time after October.
Departures: The Rebels will lose S Kylee McLaughlin, OH Lauren Thompson, MB Audrey Sultemeier, and DS/L Sam Burgio. Update: reports are that GG Carvacho has entered her name in the portal. Update: One shoe in the coaching saga has dropped, as Ole Miss is advertising for a new Assistant/Associate HC. Unless Maggie is leaving, it would seem like Beau is no longer on staff following his suspension/disappearance in the middle of the season (though as not today, the website is unchanged). Update: It was Maggie, after all. Update #2 It was actually Maggie and Beau, as Beau is no longer listed on the Ole Miss VB staff. Bre Henry was hired earlier this winter, so one position remains open. Update #3 Brad Creamer is promoted to Assistant Coach/RC to round out the staff.
Newcomers: Six prep players have signed on to come to Oxford in 2022: 5’11” S Alyssa Borellis (PV #28), 6’1” MB Tessa Jones (PV #112), 6’1” OH Shayla Meyer, 6’2” OH Vivian Miller (PV# 134), 6’ RS Emma Schweiger, and DS/L Cammy Niesen. Update Ole Miss announces incoming transfers Meauna Booth, 6’3” MB from LBSU, and Sommer Daniel, 5’9” S/DS from Utah.
2022 Outlook: The Ole Miss turnaround in 2021 caught a lot of people by surprise. The improvement in setting introduced by McLaughlin’s arrival can’t be underestimated, and Burgio and Fischer also improved the ball control a good bit. Of those impact newcomers, only Fischer remains. Ratliff and Brgoch have proved themselves very effective attackers with good setting, and Bair had a bit of a turnaround year after a fairly indifferent sophomore campaign. Getting her some help on the outside will be important. Can Carvacho come back strong from injury? Will Dyess be able to have an impact? One of the newcomers? And who will emerge at the OPP – Schnitta gave way to Corelli as the year went on. Both had their moments. But a lot will simply boil down to the setting.
South Carolina
2021 Recap: The Gamecocks made their 3rd NCAA tournament in the past four years this year after some early season wins over Rice and Washington State and a stunning win over Kentucky vaulted them into the Dance, despite their 10th place conference finish and .500 overall record. The first-round exit seemed a little bit inevitable, but you really had to respect the journey to get there and the late season adversity the Fighting Mendozas had to deal with. It was very sad to see the phenomenal career of Mikayla Robinson end early via injury. If you didn’t enjoy watching her fly above the net, I don’t know what to tell you. It wasn’t the greatest season, but the Gamecocks found ways to win some matches they shouldn’t have, and they always seemed ready to compete.
Key Returners: It’s tempting to focus just on what SC is losing, but the cupboard is not empty in Columbia-East. On the outside, SEC All-Freshman 6’1” Lauren McCutcheon (Soph) and 5’11” Riley Whitesides (Jr) are both back, and they’ll be backed up by 6’1” McKenzie Moorman (Sr), who has seen a good bit of action over the past two seasons. On the other side of the court, SC returns 6’1” Kiune Fletcher (Jr), 6’3” Holly Eastridge (Sr), and 6’1” Gabby Brown (Sr). The middle will be anchored by 6’3” Ellie Ruprich (Jr) and 6’3” Oby Anadi (soph), who did a respectable job in place of Robinson after her injury. The 6’3” Claire Wilson (Soph) is the only returning setter, and the floor defense will be led by Morgan Carter (Soph) and Camilla Covas (Sr).
Departures: Robinson, S Mallory Dixon, and OH Kyla Manning all returned for their extra years in 2021, and they are all finished in Columbia. All starters, they were extremely important contributors and will be missed. In addition, reserve setter Courtney Weber and DS Lauren Bowers are also moving on.
Newcomers: Mendoza has inked 3 recruits for 2022: 6’4” Megan Holland, 6’1” OH Alayna Johnson (PV #121), and 5’11” S Kimmie Thompson. Update: Penn State transfer L Jenna Hampton has announced her commitment to play her COVID year at South Carolina. Nice get for the Gamecocks! Update #2 Rumor has UGA transfer S Dalaney Hans signing on with USC-E as a grad transfer to add some experience to the setting position.
2022 Outlook: First it was ‘the two Mikaylas,’ and then it was just one. Now, it’s none. (Seriously, Tom – it’s a common name. Couldn’t you have recruited just one?!?) I’ve learned over the past couple seasons not to underestimate Mendoza-coached teams, haven’t I? Well, no, but I probably should have. The losses at MB, OH, and S look very difficult to replace. There are some solid pieces on the roster, and between 2022 and 2023, the SC staff seems committed to increasing the amount of height on the roster (not that they were ever really short – plus, Arkansas has the market cornered on players who don’t have to bend over when walking under the net). It looks to me like there are some pretty significant gaps to fill on the roster (who steps in at LS? is Wilson a liability in back row defense?), but I think Mendoza has proved over his tenure that he can take what he has and turn it into something pretty darn good.
Tennessee
2021 Recap: The Lady Vols looked extremely strong in the middle of the season, got a little wobbly (losing to Mizzou?!?!?), but finished fairly strong to make it to the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament, bowing out to a homestanding Ohio State team that was pretty solid. Coach Rackham got a lot out of a very experienced, senior-laden squad that left a strong legacy in Knoxville. Natalie Heyward led the team very effectively, earning SEC recognition along the way, and do-everything Lily Felts seemed to be the perfect counterpoint to high-flying, hard-swinging Brianna Runnells. When they were clicking, the Vols were really fun to watch.
Key Returners: I said “senior-laden,” right? Because the main significant contributors who are coming back boil down to 6’1” OPP Morgan Finghall (Sr), reserve 5’9” S/DS Kya Moore (Jr) and liberos Madison Bryant (Sr) and Paola Laborda (R-Jr). OH Jasmine Brooks (6’2” Jr) was used some, but not as much as in previous seasons. Other than that, the remainder of the Lady Vol roster is fairly inexperienced, with no returning players having seen action in more that 10 sets all season.
Departures: I don’t think anyone loses more that the Lady Vols in terms of production and experience. Players that are for sure done are OH Briana Runnells and MB Nicole Shanahan. Although this could change, it looks like they will also be saying goodbye to OH Lily Felts, S Natalie Hayward, MB Danielle Mahaffey, and MB Ava Bell (that’s the starting line up, minus the L, folks), along with OH/MB Rocky Perinar and DS Gianna Pellizzon. Update Felts has put her name in the portal to use her COVID year. Update #2: Some chatter that some of the TN seniors may in fact be returning - Hawyard, possibly, and maybe Bell and/or Mahaffey. Watch this space. Update #3: Izzy Durnell (I’m assuming she’s a R-Fr) has placed her name in the transfer portal. Update#4: Bell, Mahaffey, and Hayward are all returning! Really good news for the Vols, though this does raise some questions about Kylie Robinson's role. Maybe the Vols are going to go 6=2?
Newcomers: The LV’s had a huge (HUGE) roster this past year (if folks remember, there were some off-season rumors of grumbling among last year’s freshman about how few opportunities for playing time there might be, exacerbated by the arrival via transfer of Runnells). But I digress. This year, the Rasslin’ (Rootin’ Tootin’?) Rackhams will add four high school recruits, 6’ OH Kadynce Boothe (PV #139), 6’3” MB Keondreya Granberry (PV #88), 5’11” S Caroline Kerr (PV #82), and L Kenady Roper, along with at least one transfer, OH 5’11” Erykah Lovett from LBSU. Update: Oregon transfer S Kylie Robinson has announced her transfer to Tennessee - which makes me wonder about the news that Hayward was allegedly returning. Update - my wonderment was wrong. Both Robinson and Hayward will be on the roster in Knoxville next year.
2022 Outlook: It certainly seems like 2022 will be a rebuild after the senior dominated squad that Tennessee put on the court this year. Finghall seemed dominant early in the season, then either she lost some mojo or teams figured out how to defend her better. LaBoarda and Bryant are both solid defensive pieces, but between the newcomers and folks who were buried on the bench this year (e.g., OH/RS Emily Merrick, OH Ashllyn King,OH/RS Izzy Durnell, MB Klaudia Pawlick), LV fans are going to hope there are some folks who are ready to make the jump to significant playing time. Update I think this outlook was overly negative, especially when you factor in the return of Hayward, Bell, and Mahaffey. The issue seems, once again, roster management. There are a lot of bodies (12 returners, 2 transfers, and 4 freshmen) on the roster to keep happy. Update Bell has posted that she is medically retiring due to a shoulder injury, so only Heyward and Mahaffey will return of the super-seniors. The other MB spot will be occupied by either a true Fr or a RS-Fr.
Texas A&M
2021 Recap: It really wasn’t very pretty this season in Aggie-land. Injuries and ball control woes made S Camille Conner – all SEC in 2019 – look extremely average this year. (In fact, it’s been two consecutive years that the Aggies have been shut out of All-SEC recognition entirely. That shouldn’t happen in that program.) Pin production was extraordinarily inconsistent as Christon struggled with nagging injuries, Cox went down early, and Davis, Rush, and Hecht couldn’t find any rhythm. Talbert and Austin-Roark did pretty well most of the time, but the passing kept them (and Conner) from being big enough offensive weapons. TAMU was still hanging on to bubble consideration midway through the season after splitting their series with Tennessee, but after that they went 2-12 in the next 14 matches, slinking their way to a .500 record overall and a 9th place finish in the conference. I’m sure that the Aggie program is eager to get 2021 in the rear view mirror.
Key Returners: The position with the most problematic performance last year is the one with the most returning experience – is that good? 6’1” Destiny Cox (Sr? R-Jr?),6’4” Lauren Davis (Sr), 5’10” Cece Hecht, 6’1” Treyauna Rush (Sr), and 6’1” Morgan Christon all return with considerable experience on the pins. (5’10” Soph Faye Wilbrich also returns, though she only saw action in 3 sets this season.) The only MB that is known to be returning at this point is 6’1” Madison Bower (Jr). At S, two little used (seven set appearances between them) sophomores will return, 6’ Lauren Tam and 6’2” Nisa Buzlutepe. Brooke Frazier appears to be the only returning DS/L on the Aggie roster.
Departures: As of now, it’s not clear that any of the Aggies who have one will be using their extra COVID year. The list of departures is long and significant: S Camille Conner, MBs London Austin-Roark and Mallory Talbert, S/OH Camryn Ennis, and a veritable parade of DS/Ls, Macy Carrabine,Allison Fields, Sabrina Sustala, and Taylor Voss. Connor and Talbert, in particular, had great careers in College Station, and they’ll be hard to replace. Update: Now being reported that Austin-Roark is in the portal, so it seems more certain that she is not returning. Update #2: DS Erica Lowery is transferring to Liberty, meaning that each member of TAMU’s 4-person 2020 recruiting class (Jeter, Larson, Lowery, and Walden) has now left the (College) Station. Sr Allison Fields is returning for her COVID super-senior season, however. Update OPP Treyauna Rush announces her transfer to North Texas. I guess Logan Lednicky gets handed the keys at OPP? Update Lauren Davis has announced her medical retirement due to chronic injuries.Update #next: nakedcrayon posts that Morgan Christon has also retired from volleyball, citing mental health reasons. There will be very few familiar faces on the TAMU roster from just a few years ago.
Newcomers: Fortunately, though, the Aggies have put together a very strong recruiting class out of the high school ranks, and they have not been shy to build through the portal in the past, either. Joining the TAMU roster for 2022 will be 6’2” MB Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (PV #83), 6’ OH Lexi Guinn (PV #57), 6’1” OPP Logan Lednicky (PV #74), 6’7” (!) MB/RS Ital Lopuyo, and DS/L Ava Underwood (PV #37). That’s clearly one of the top classes in the SEC this year. Update The Aggies announce the transfer in of 5'11" OH Caroline Meuth from Notre Dame. Update: The Aggies announce the transfer in of 6’2” MB Molly Brown from Purdue. The Boilermaker roster lists her as a Jr, but it doesn’t seem she played this past season (at least she’s not got any statistics), so she should have 2-3 years of eligibility for TAMU. A pick up at a position of extreme need. Update The Aggies announce the transfer in of OH Mia Johnson from Hawaii.
2022 Outlook: The Aggies need a replacement for Conner, some immediate help in the middle (so it would seem), reinforced floor defense, and some consistency on the pins. The recruiting class looks like it will have to be ready to help almost immediately in some of those areas, most notably with Underwood at L. I would expect the Aggies to be active in the portal to find some depth in the middle (unless either Talbert or Austin Roark comes back …). This does not have the look of a team that is poised to threaten the upper echelon of the conference, at least at this point. Update The TAMU outlook has surely shifted given the number of spring announcements. Rush, Davis, and Christon are all not returning. This season looks like a quintessential "rebuilding" year in College Station.
Conference outlook overall: I think we saw several teams in the conference reap the benefit of having some COVID experience on their teams (even though in some cases it didn’t work out very well – waves at Baton Rouge), and next year it seems as though we might see some of that coming home to roost, depending on whether people move on or stay. It seems to me that Kentucky is primed to stay atop the conference. They lose talent, but they seem to have plenty waiting in the wings. Will Miss State be able to maintain? How big a hit does UF take losing a huge chunk of their starting lineup (despite having very capable players on the bench and arguably the top recruiting class in the conference coming in)? Will the talent departures at LSU and Tennessee cause setbacks? How will coaching changes affect the conference? We know that we’ll have new leaders at LSU and Bama, and I wouldn’t rule out other changes at this point. Will Arkansas figure out how to win a big match (paging the sports psychology department in Fayetteville)? Will UGA find some consistency and ball control?
Normally at this point of the thread, I offer a predicted order of finish in tiers. But I think I’m going to save that for later in the winter/spring, after the portal shenanigans and returning player decisions are made. Instead, what I’m going to do here is list the teams by 2021 order of finish in the conference and ask what I think is the major issue (or in some cases, issues) confronting them for 2022.
1. Kentucky – Can they replace Stumler’s productivity and leadership without missing a beat? Edit: What happens on the pins with Skinner's transfer?
2. MSU – Will Waden and Robinson come back? Will they get a stud transfer setter? (The answers to these questions may not be unrelated.)
3. UF – How quickly can UF find an identity without Hall, Monserez, and Ceasar?
4. UT – They lose almost everyone; how ready are the bench and newcomers?
5. Arkansas – They’re still short, and they still choke in “must win” matches. One of those can be fixed. Who replaces Crumpton in the MB spot?
6. Ole Miss – How do you replace a setter like McLaughlin? Will the assistant coach suspension situation lead to significant changes on the staff?
7. LSU – who’s the new coach? Will Waak be the setter from day 1?
8. UGA – Getting Fischer is nice, but was that really what this team needed? Is Coach Black in a make or break year?
9. TAMU – Will any of the seniors who can stick around? Will Cox get healthy? Who replaces Conner (and Talbert, and Austin-Roark…)?
10. South Carolina – the No-Mikayla era begins. What magic can Mendoza pull out of his hat this season?
11. Auburn – When will Rebakah Rath’s arm fall off? How quickly can the youngsters be SEC ready?
12. Alabama – Who’s the coach? Will there be some roster turnover?
13. Mizzou – How quickly will the 2021 youth movement pay dividends? Will there be more drama?
I’ll update this post with news of transfers and coaching developments, but please feel free to drop any knowledge in the thread if you know anything about players using COVID years, transfers, etc. I’ve mostly relied on Rich Kern’s invaluable site for recruit information, but there are always a few things that end up changing that don’t get reflected there right away.
Therefore, I expect this to be a pretty fluid, frequently updated (at least for the next few months) thread as news about coaches, player moves, and seniors staying put get announced.
Each team is going to get a quick 2021 summary, followed by a look at (presumed) returners, departures (both known and presumed), and newcomers, and then a brief editorial comment about what 2022 might look like.
As always, hostile commentary, corrections, and updates that I miss announcements for are all welcome.
Alabama
2021 Recap: Oof. A lot went wrong in Tuscaloosa this year, leading to the “resignation” of Coach Devine and her staff (which came on the heels of a mid-season, still unexplained “suspension” that was imposed on Devine). Aliyah Wells took off in the middle of the season, citing a need to maintain her mental health, and then she subsequently entered the portal. Wells’ move, plus the timing of the coaching change (after just 3 years at the helm) gave me “off-the-court issues” vibes. For most of the year, the Tide played with a very young squad on the floor, and they struggled, as might be expected with a youth movement. As of now (Final Four time), there has been no announcement about a new coach. Whoever they get will inherit a young roster with some good pieces, but a lot of questions.
Key Returners: Anytime there’s a new coach, it’s quite reasonable to expect some departures. So we’ll have to keep our eyes peeled for that possibility. But as it stands, the Tide bring back most of their roster. On the pins,
Departures: Grad transfer MB Sarah Swanson has run out of eligibility, I believe,
Newcomers: The Tide signed two HS players for their 2022 class, 6’ OH Micah Gryniewicz
Update: Have been informed that Fr DS Morgan Rank (who enrolled early) has opted to retire from volleyball. Update OH Maddie McCormick from Colorado St has announced her transfer to the Crimson Tide. More roster changes may be in the offing ... (this referred to the impending Muckleroy departure, which has now been announced). 2022 Outlook: I could see a new coach coming in and working some magic with the portal and the existing talent in Tuscaloosa and putting together a competitive squad. I could also see a rebuild that takes a few years and leaves the Tide buried near the bottom of the SEC table while it plays out. I thought both the young MB’s had some very strong moments this year, and the young pins and setter need some time to develop. Kuck helped a good bit on floor defense for the Tide, but overall, ball control remained an issue, especially in serve receive. With better passing and some more experience, the Tide may have the chance to inch up the table a bit.
Arkansas
2021 Recap: The Hogs didn’t play an especially tough preseason slate, and they had an embarrassing hiccup against UALR at home early that may have significantly hurt their post-season resume (in the “bad loss” category). The SEC season ended with a second consecutive winning record in conference play (10-8, good for 5th place), which hadn’t happened in Fayetteville for a while, but still left the Hogs on the outside looking in for the NCAAs. Winning just one of the close-but-no-cigar 5-set matches with Kentucky (x2) or UF was probably all it would have taken, but the Hogs just couldn’t do it when it counted. It was the second consecutive year that Arkansas was a “first 4 out” team. The team lost to eventual NIVC Champion UNLV in the 3rd round to end their season on a bit of a down note.
Key Returners: The Hogs will return their starting slate of pin hitters, including 5’7” Sr Jill Gillen (2x All SEC, and 2x SEC Scholar Athlete for volleyball), 5’10” Taylor Head (Jr), and 6’ Maggie Cartwright (Sr). It seems, as of now, that 6’2” Hailey Dirrigl might also be returning for a COVID year.
Departures: As noted above, rumors about Ryan’s return for next year make this a bit tricky, but Ryan, MB Ellease Crumpton, and DSs Abbi McGee and Lauren Evans were all recognized on Senior Day for the Hogs. Apart from Jackson, Evans and McGee were the main defensive subs that saw action, and Crumpton was by far the most effective offensive MB for Arkansas. Reserve 5’10” S Jordyn Gates, who did not see any action in her two years on campus, has announced her transfer to Grand Valley State. Update: Nat Perdue has entered the portal. This was not a huge surprise. She’s had a tough go with injuries and then being frozen out of playing time by Gillen and Head.
Newcomers: Arkansas signed two prep players, 5’10” lefty OH Avery Calame and 5’7” L/DS Kylie Weeks. Update: Tatum Shipes, 6’4” MB from Auburn has announced her commitment to play her COVID year at Arkansas. Not bad for a weaker blocking team to pick up the conference’s leading blocker.
2022 Outlook: A lot of offense returns on the pins for the Hogs, and Gillen, Head, and sometimes Cartwright have been 6-rotation players. The Hogs were a pretty good ball control team in 2021, and that should continue as Jackson gains more experience. The MB position is (like last year) a big question mark, and I expect to see them active in the portal again this year at that position. It will also be interesting to see if there are any departures (besides the Gates transfer) that would free up other options in the portal. It seems clear that administration is impatient to see the Hogs finally get back in the tournament. Will 2022 be the year? With the right MB transfer and some mental toughness, the Hogs are again looking at the tournament bubble/at large battle, and a top 4-6 conference finish.
Auburn
2021 Recap: The blue-and-orange Tigers did a lot better than a lot of prognosticators (including yours truly) thought they would do in 2021. Transfers Rath and Reich paid big dividends, and moving Shipes to MB was an unquestioned success. There were still some embarrassing and hard-to-explain losses (FAMU? Alabama State!?), but sweeping the Tide and delivering wins over Mizzou, TAMU, and UGA were notable bright spots. The Tigers did end 2021 on a bit of a schneid, getting bageled in their last 5 matches, but after the debacle of 2020, I thought this was a step back toward respectability for the Auburn program. Kudos to Coach Crouch, his staff, and the team.
Key Returners: Rath is due back, filling one of the OH spots automatically. It seems, though, that she is the only experienced pin player returning.
Departures: The Tigers look like they will be hit pretty hard by graduation, as MB Shipes, OH Val Green, L Bella Rosenthal, MB Elif Yavuz, and OPP Reich all were recognized on Senior Day on the Plains. All were starters at the end of the year.
Newcomers: To make up for the large senior class, Auburn has signed one of the larger recruiting classes in the conference this year. They will bring in three OH’s, 6’3” Akasha Anderson, 6’1 Madison Scheer (PV #94), and 6’1 Isabel Zimmerman; 1 MB, 6’6” Kendal Kemp (PV #63); and two DS/L players, Sarah Morton (PV #128) and Zoe Slaughter. The Tigers also recently announced the incoming transfer of Portland MB Chelsey Harmon (6’3”), adding a little depth to what looked to be a very thin position. They may be looking around the portal for even more. I think they have the roster space. Update Auburn announced the late signing of OH/L Sydney Handel from Lee's Summit, MO. Also, Crouch has replenished his Assistant Coach corps by hiring Rechel Corbelli (Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coord) from Austin Juniors, and Keith Smith from the Grand Canyon U men's program.
2022 Outlook: How many swings can Rath take? Apart from Rath and Barrett, the Tigers look like they will be very young next year. They’ve already dipped into the portal for a middle; perhaps they can mine bring in 1-2 more to shore things up until the youngsters are SEC ready. If not, an awful lot is going to depend on how much the freshmen can contribute early. The ceiling for this team is, I think, the middle of the pack, and the floor is … well, the floor.
Florida
2021 Recap: Another year, another Sweet 16 for the Gators. This year felt a little bit different, though, as off-season transfers and end-of-year drama seemed to suggest some creaks in what is normally a well-oiled machine in Gainesville. Injuries and lack of depth on defense seemed to cramp the Gators style, especially early in the season when MB Lauren Forte was temporarily unavailable. But a combination of veteran leadership and youthful energy and skill (and, let’s face it, a very favorable regional!) propelled the Gators to another strong post-season showing, the only team in the conference to make it out of a regional. Bumps in the road notwithstanding, the Gators again proved they were worthy to be a standard-bearer for the conference.
Key Returners: The Gators seem to have a very healthy stable of big, athletic players in the middle, with 6’4” Nnedi Okammor (Jr), 6’4” Bre Kelley (Soph), and 6’3” Gabrielle Essix (Soph) all due back. Things are a little thinner on the pins, as only 6’1” Sofia Victoria (Jr) and 6’3” Merritt Beason (Soph) return (though both were starters for good chunks of this season). The Gators return two experienced defenders in starting L Elli McKissock (Jr) and often-used DS Trinity Adams (Soph). But at setter, it looks like 6’2” Birdie Hendrickson, who has had very limited setting time for the Gators, is the only returning assist maker.
Departures: The Gators lose a lot – both in terms of numbers and experience. OHs Thayer Hall and T’ara Ceasar are gone; MB Lauren Dooley is transferring for her COVID year; S Marlie Monserez’s graduation closes the Monserez chapter in Gainesville; and I believe Lauren Forte is
Newcomers: Unsurprisingly, the departure of so many blue-chip athletes is not about to catch the coaching staff by surprise, and the recruiting class is large (physically and numerically) and talented. New Gators will include 6’3” MB Amaya Thomas (PV #16), 6’2” S Alexis Stucky (PV #7), OH Carly Hendrickson (PV #19), and DSs Emily Canaan (PV #32) and Emerson Hoyle (PV #59). Update: OH Rhett Robinson from North Texas has announced her transfer to Florida. Speculation abounds that Fitzpatrick from PSU is also very interested in UF. Update #2 Speculation was correct, and AC Fitzpatrick has committed to the Gators. Update #3 Another incoming pin transfer, as Syracuse transfer OH Marina Markova (6'5", 1st team all ACC in 2021) trades one shade of orange for another, with some lighter blue thrown in. The Gators have gone from having a dearth of pins to having a potential logjam with Beason, Victoria, the freshman Hendrickson, and the transfers.
2022 Outlook: Will it be a rebuilding year or a reloading year? There will be talent at every position, but some of it is not particularly experienced. The setting situation is the biggest question mark in my mind – does Birdie get her shot, or does Stucky come right in and pass her by? Will Amaya Thomas jump past the 3 middles who are already on campus, all of whom got some playing time this season? Will Mary use the portal to recruit over any of her existing players (Update: YES!), as been her pattern the last few years? Florida has relied on the pins – and with Hall and Ceasar, could you blame them? – for so long, but it’s not clear that any of the OH/OPP players on the squad will be able to shoulder that burden next year. Will be an interesting coaching challenge for Coach Wise and her staff next year, though they clearly have good pieces to mold into shape.
Georgia
2021 Recap: UGA was a lot worse than what many observers were expecting out of this season. Some of it was injuries/illnesses, but some just seemed to be a lack of a consistent lineup. Coach Black seemed to be channeling Fran Flory at times, subbing players in and out so often that the team seemed to lack any rhythm. After starting out very strongly in her time in Athens, Stivrins has been unable to achieve a consistent level of high quality play. Evans has looked like a stud at times, but also looked fairly average at others (and she’s even been stuck in the funny colored jersey on occasion!). The revolving door at setter, with Brower and Hans taking turns in 5-1 and 6-2 line-ups, was also a factor. The team wasn’t bad; it just seemed that nobody lived up to their expected level of productivity, resulting in a disappointing 12-17 overall record (8-10 SEC, good for 8th place).
Key Returners: On the bright side, UGA was pretty young last year, and a lot of talented players return with experience. On the outside,
Departures: The Bulldogs will say goodbye to DS Claire Rothenberger, S Dalaney Hans, and two OPPs, Mallory Hernandez and Kayla Rivera, all of whom were significant contributors at various times this season. Update: Well, the arrival of Fischer and her identification as a MB makes more sense now, as Jr Phoebe Awoleye has entered her name in the portal! Update #2 Kayla Rivera has appeared in the portal and is apparently seeking a new destination to play her COVID year. Update OH and sometime MB Lyric Stewart announces her transfer to TCU.
Newcomers: Interestingly, when I was researching this, Rich Kern didn’t seem to know about UGA’s 2022 signing class, so this information comes only from the UGA press release. They are bringing in Estelle Haugen (OH), Ana Julia Bleeker (L/OH), and Tori Harper (OPP). The roster seems pretty full, so it might be more of a challenge to address lingering team needs in the portal, unless there are some transfers out. The Dawgs also add 6’5”
2022 Outlook: If everyone is healthy all season, and the ball control and setting situations stabilize, I could see Smilin’ Tom Black’s squad pushing back up in the top 4-6 teams in the conference. But those are some big ifs. There are very talented players on this roster. And while I haven’t really admired many of his tactics this past year, Black is a good coach. I’d like to see him have the option of settling on a steady lineup and letting them gel into a unit. Injuries initially prevented that this year, and then it just kind of seemed to be too late. I think the floor for this team is about where they finished this year (8th), and if that happens, I will wonder about the temperature of Coach Black’s seat.
Kentucky
2021 Recap: A conference championship secured by a pair of convincing wins over UF to end the regular season was followed by a surprising and disappointing home loss to Illinois (and more specifically, Raina Terry’s 27 kills) in the NCAA 2nd round. The transition to a post-Madison Lilley and Gabby Curry UK era was eased by the emergence of Emma Grome and Eleanor Beavin, both of whom had terrific freshman seasons and earned SEC recognition for their efforts. UK’s other weapons were formidable, if a little inconsistent at times, and the emergence of Bella Bell opposite Azhani Tealer at the MB spot was certainly a welcome surprise for the Cats.
Key Returners: The Wildcats are still loaded. Returning on the outside are
Departures: The big name here is 4-year starting OH, SEC POY Alli Stumler. Opposing SEC coaches won’t be sad to not to see her across the net. But not to be overlooked are graduating S Cameron Scheitzach and DS Lauren Tharp, both of whom have made important contributions during their time in blue. 6’5” Sophie Fischer has also entered the portal and emerged in Athens, and Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Carly Cramer has also resigned to pursue other opportunities. Update: Madisen Skinner has placed her name into the transfer portal. 👀
Newcomers: The only 2022 signee for the Cats is DS Audry Whitworth. It seems as though UK has the roster space to make some moves in the portal, though, should they choose. Certainly a back up setter and some depth at OH might be good investments. Update: 6' OH Haley Melby, previously committed to Iowa (but unsigned) has announced that she will be joining the UK volleyball program instead. Update #2 S Lane Jenkins transfers in from Loyola Chicago, providing an insurance policy should Grome not be able to go at some point. Update #3 Former Wildcat Meredith Jewell is announced as the new Assistant Coach. Update #4 OH Adana Rollins announces her grad transfer into the Wildcat program after starting out at Minnesota and then Penn State. Update #5 Xavier OH Kelly Franxman announces her transfer to UK.
2022 Outlook: Who’s going to beat out Kentucky at the top of the league? The other contenders all seem to have more significant losses or at least questions at key positions, but after seeing what Erin Lamb did against Tennessee when Skinner was out, it’s hard to see where UK has significant gaps to overcome, at least when it comes to the stating lineup. I look for UK to maintain its position at the top of the conference, and not to miss too many beats while doing it. Outlook update: Skinner's departure was certainly a jolt, but many UK observers are buoyed by the transfer in of Rollins.
LSU
2021 Recap: Baton Rouge or Baton Rough? So, stop me if you’ve heard this one … Despite a veteran roster loaded with talent and an All-American 6’4” OH that dropped into their lap, and after having been picked 3rd behind perennial powers UK and UF in the preseason SEC poll, LSU fumbled their way to a sub-.500 record (13-14) overall, and a 9-9 record in conference to finish 7th. Coach Flory has retired, so I don’t want to be unkind or disrespectful (she had a wonderful career and is a very nice person), but the truth is that during the last several years of the Flory era, LSU had become synonymous with “under-achieving.” Very solid recruiting, very mediocre results. Some of it this year was injuries, for sure. But player development was much less than expected, and line-up shuffling was chronic. There was so much talent on this team that a below .500 record overall is just hard to grasp. We’ll have to wait to see who gets the reins next.
Key Returners: Even though the Tigers were (super) senior heavy this year, whoever gets the job will have some talent to work with. Returning outsides include 6’1” Samarrah Hill (RS Jr; get healthy!), 5’8” Paige Flickinger (Jr), 6’ Sanaa Dotson (Sr), and 6’1” Ellie Echter (Soph). Returning at S, the Tigers will have the option of 5’10” Ella Larkin (Soph) or 5’6” Karli Rose (Sr). The depth in the MB spot is also solid, with 6’3” Anita Anwusi, 6’1” Alia Williams, and 6’4” Allee Morris all due back. And on defense, Jill Bohnet (Sr) and Madison Martin (Soph) return.
Departures: In addition to the coaching staff, the Tigers will at last say goodbye to stud 5-year players Taylor Bannister and Raigen Cianciulli, Sr Whitney Foreman, DS Emmaline Walters, and transfer OH’s Kylie DeBerg and Hannah Brister. That’s a lot of talent.
Newcomers: The Bayou Bengals signed four prep players, including three top 150 kids: 5’11” S Maddie Waak (PV #46), 5’10” OH/L Brianna Anderson (PV #67), 6’4” MB Alexis Roberson (PV #109), and DS Briana Zamora. Update: LSU announces former Tiger and Texas Assistant Coach Tonya Johnson as the new Head Coach. Johnson has been a HC before for several years at GA Tech, and she has served as recruiting coordinator for Texas, bringing in almost too many outstanding recruiting classes to count. Update #2 LSU adds two grad transfers, 6'2" S Josie Vondran from Ohio St and 6'2" OPP/OH Hannah Jacobs from SMU. (Interestingly, Vondran was listed at 6' on OSU's roster last year, but maybe the cajun food has caused a big growth spurt?)
2022 Outlook: Well, so much depends on the hire that it’s tough to say. Add in the injury issues to Hill, and it is even more difficult to forecast what 2022 might look like on the Bayou. The new coach will inherit some good athletes, barring transfer, and an upper half of the conference finish is possible, especially when you consider what everyone else is losing. If Anwusi continues on the improvement trajectory she started to show in the latter half of this season, she could really be a force to reckon with.
Mississippi State
2021 Recap: The conference’s “feel-good” story of the year. No matter whom you cheer for (unless it’s Ole Miss, I guess?), you had to be happy and excited for the team from Starkville who came out of nowhere and used hi-tempo offense, very solid, scrappy defense, and a nearly unstoppable OPP to come this close to winning the conference title and make their first NCAA volleyball tournament in school history. With SEC COY recognition for Coach Darty-Dennis happening along the way. Bowing out in 5 to Hawaii (after being shipped all the way to Seattle) is nothing to hang your head over. Congrats to the Bulldogs on a 2021 campaign for the record books!!!
Key Returners: This gets a bit tricky. I have it on reasonably good authority that some of the senior Bulldogs are taking some time to make their decisions about whether to return, transfer, or possibly move on to whatever is next. The folks who have eligibility left and did not participate in senior day still form a pretty solid nucleus. At setter, 5’10” Gabby Coulter (R-Sr) appears to be coming back,
Departures: MB/OPP Jessica Kemp and S Margaret Dean are both out of eligibility. DS Alden Willis is moving on after graduating, as well. The big questions are Waden and Robinson, and you sort of get the feeling that the Bulldogs’ fortunes are closely tied to those decisions. OH Callie Minshew has also entered the transfer portal. Update: S Laughlin Murray has entered the portal. However, as noted above, BOTH Waden and Robinson have opted to stay and play their additional COVID year in Starkville.
Newcomers: The Bulldogs signed three prep players: 6’’3” OPP Caylee Sharkey, 6’2” MB Sanaa Williams, and L Georgia McCarter. They are also rumored to be sniffing around the portal for a setter and possibly an impact OH. Update DS/L Lacey Jeffcoat from Troy has announced her transfer to MSU on instagram. Update #2 I missed a member of the MSU signing class - 6'2" OH Sophie Agee is also headed to Starkville, bringing the total number of prep signees to 4. Update #3: 5’10” S Emily Oerther has announced her transfer from Penn State to MS State. Interesting move. Oerther didn’t get too much PT behind Blossom, but she was pretty effective when she did play.
2022 Outlook: Check back later in January when it’s clearer what the status of Waden and Robinson is. If they come back, and the question marks at setter caused by the under-rated Dean’s departure are resolved, there isn’t a reason that this team couldn’t repeat their 2021 success. That’s the best case scenario. The worst case scenario is that players leave and don’t get replaced with equivalent talent. Was this year a flash in the pan or a turning point for the program?
Mizzou
2021 Recap: Not so hot (okay, ice cold), but a lot of youth got good experience. The CoMo Tigers tied for the cellar with the Tide, and only won 5 matches all year (although one of them was a late season win over the Lady Vols!). But they did it with a big youth movement that they hope will pay dividends going forward. There still appears to be a bit of drama around this program after the transfer fireworks from last season, and it is not unnoticed that two former Mizzou players featured prominently on Final Four rosters this year. Speculation abounded about Coach Taylor’s job security, but he seems to have weathered any storm there might have been.
Key Returners: Almost the entire roster comes back. In the middle, sophomores
Departures: MB Anna D’Cruz, OH Brynn Carlson, and S Nicole Alford all appear to be moving on, and starting L Emily Brown has entered her name into the portal. Update: Reports have MB Kayla Burbage entering the transfer portal this spring.
Newcomers: The Tigers have signed a highly regarded recruiting class consisting of four high schoolers, all of whom feature in the PV top 100: 6’ S Riley Buckley (#55), 6’2” OH Janet Demarrais (#48), 6’2” MB Madilyn Sell (PV# 68), and DS Estella Zatechka (#84).
2022 Outlook: How long will it take the Tigers to rebuild? They have some talented arms on this team, with Dixon, Cox,
Ole Miss
2021 Recap: Christmas came early for the Rebels this year when the NCAA Selection Committee lost its collective mind and invited the team from Oxford to the Dance. We’ll have to see if the Christmas season ends as joyfully, given the rumors that seem to be swirling in the coaching carousel. On the court, though, OM showed a ton of improvement, with excellent setting and a potent middle attack (when the ball control allowed), and enough offense from Anna Bair and rotating cast of L2s and OPPs to be a very solid, competitive squad. An early season road win over top 20 Western Kentucky proved to be a huge feather in the team’s cap.
Key Returners: Ole Miss’s roster this season was actually quite large. Among the marquee players coming back are OHs 6’1” OH Anna Bair (Sr)
Departures: The Rebels will lose S Kylee McLaughlin, OH Lauren Thompson, MB Audrey Sultemeier, and DS/L Sam Burgio. Update: reports are that GG Carvacho has entered her name in the portal. Update: One shoe in the coaching saga has dropped, as Ole Miss is advertising for a new Assistant/Associate HC. Unless Maggie is leaving, it would seem like Beau is no longer on staff following his suspension/disappearance in the middle of the season (though as not today, the website is unchanged). Update: It was Maggie, after all. Update #2 It was actually Maggie and Beau, as Beau is no longer listed on the Ole Miss VB staff. Bre Henry was hired earlier this winter, so one position remains open. Update #3 Brad Creamer is promoted to Assistant Coach/RC to round out the staff.
Newcomers: Six prep players have signed on to come to Oxford in 2022: 5’11” S Alyssa Borellis (PV #28), 6’1” MB Tessa Jones (PV #112), 6’1” OH Shayla Meyer, 6’2” OH Vivian Miller (PV# 134), 6’ RS Emma Schweiger, and DS/L Cammy Niesen. Update Ole Miss announces incoming transfers Meauna Booth, 6’3” MB from LBSU, and Sommer Daniel, 5’9” S/DS from Utah.
2022 Outlook: The Ole Miss turnaround in 2021 caught a lot of people by surprise. The improvement in setting introduced by McLaughlin’s arrival can’t be underestimated, and Burgio and Fischer also improved the ball control a good bit. Of those impact newcomers, only Fischer remains. Ratliff and Brgoch have proved themselves very effective attackers with good setting, and Bair had a bit of a turnaround year after a fairly indifferent sophomore campaign. Getting her some help on the outside will be important. Can Carvacho come back strong from injury? Will Dyess be able to have an impact? One of the newcomers? And who will emerge at the OPP – Schnitta gave way to Corelli as the year went on. Both had their moments. But a lot will simply boil down to the setting.
South Carolina
2021 Recap: The Gamecocks made their 3rd NCAA tournament in the past four years this year after some early season wins over Rice and Washington State and a stunning win over Kentucky vaulted them into the Dance, despite their 10th place conference finish and .500 overall record. The first-round exit seemed a little bit inevitable, but you really had to respect the journey to get there and the late season adversity the Fighting Mendozas had to deal with. It was very sad to see the phenomenal career of Mikayla Robinson end early via injury. If you didn’t enjoy watching her fly above the net, I don’t know what to tell you. It wasn’t the greatest season, but the Gamecocks found ways to win some matches they shouldn’t have, and they always seemed ready to compete.
Key Returners: It’s tempting to focus just on what SC is losing, but the cupboard is not empty in Columbia-East. On the outside, SEC All-Freshman 6’1” Lauren McCutcheon (Soph) and 5’11” Riley Whitesides (Jr) are both back, and they’ll be backed up by 6’1” McKenzie Moorman (Sr), who has seen a good bit of action over the past two seasons. On the other side of the court, SC returns 6’1” Kiune Fletcher (Jr), 6’3” Holly Eastridge (Sr), and 6’1” Gabby Brown (Sr). The middle will be anchored by 6’3” Ellie Ruprich (Jr) and 6’3” Oby Anadi (soph), who did a respectable job in place of Robinson after her injury. The 6’3” Claire Wilson (Soph) is the only returning setter, and the floor defense will be led by Morgan Carter (Soph) and Camilla Covas (Sr).
Departures: Robinson, S Mallory Dixon, and OH Kyla Manning all returned for their extra years in 2021, and they are all finished in Columbia. All starters, they were extremely important contributors and will be missed. In addition, reserve setter Courtney Weber and DS Lauren Bowers are also moving on.
Newcomers: Mendoza has inked 3 recruits for 2022: 6’4” Megan Holland, 6’1” OH Alayna Johnson (PV #121), and 5’11” S Kimmie Thompson. Update: Penn State transfer L Jenna Hampton has announced her commitment to play her COVID year at South Carolina. Nice get for the Gamecocks! Update #2 Rumor has UGA transfer S Dalaney Hans signing on with USC-E as a grad transfer to add some experience to the setting position.
2022 Outlook: First it was ‘the two Mikaylas,’ and then it was just one. Now, it’s none. (Seriously, Tom – it’s a common name. Couldn’t you have recruited just one?!?) I’ve learned over the past couple seasons not to underestimate Mendoza-coached teams, haven’t I? Well, no, but I probably should have. The losses at MB, OH, and S look very difficult to replace. There are some solid pieces on the roster, and between 2022 and 2023, the SC staff seems committed to increasing the amount of height on the roster (not that they were ever really short – plus, Arkansas has the market cornered on players who don’t have to bend over when walking under the net). It looks to me like there are some pretty significant gaps to fill on the roster (who steps in at LS? is Wilson a liability in back row defense?), but I think Mendoza has proved over his tenure that he can take what he has and turn it into something pretty darn good.
Tennessee
2021 Recap: The Lady Vols looked extremely strong in the middle of the season, got a little wobbly (losing to Mizzou?!?!?), but finished fairly strong to make it to the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament, bowing out to a homestanding Ohio State team that was pretty solid. Coach Rackham got a lot out of a very experienced, senior-laden squad that left a strong legacy in Knoxville. Natalie Heyward led the team very effectively, earning SEC recognition along the way, and do-everything Lily Felts seemed to be the perfect counterpoint to high-flying, hard-swinging Brianna Runnells. When they were clicking, the Vols were really fun to watch.
Key Returners: I said “senior-laden,” right? Because the main significant contributors who are coming back boil down to 6’1” OPP Morgan Finghall (Sr), reserve 5’9” S/DS Kya Moore (Jr) and liberos Madison Bryant (Sr) and Paola Laborda (R-Jr). OH Jasmine Brooks (6’2” Jr) was used some, but not as much as in previous seasons. Other than that, the remainder of the Lady Vol roster is fairly inexperienced, with no returning players having seen action in more that 10 sets all season.
Departures: I don’t think anyone loses more that the Lady Vols in terms of production and experience. Players that are for sure done are OH Briana Runnells and MB Nicole Shanahan. Although this could change, it looks like they will also be saying goodbye to OH Lily Felts, S Natalie Hayward, MB Danielle Mahaffey, and MB Ava Bell (that’s the starting line up, minus the L, folks), along with OH/MB Rocky Perinar and DS Gianna Pellizzon. Update Felts has put her name in the portal to use her COVID year. Update #2: Some chatter that some of the TN seniors may in fact be returning - Hawyard, possibly, and maybe Bell and/or Mahaffey. Watch this space. Update #3: Izzy Durnell (I’m assuming she’s a R-Fr) has placed her name in the transfer portal. Update#4: Bell, Mahaffey, and Hayward are all returning! Really good news for the Vols, though this does raise some questions about Kylie Robinson's role. Maybe the Vols are going to go 6=2?
Newcomers: The LV’s had a huge (HUGE) roster this past year (if folks remember, there were some off-season rumors of grumbling among last year’s freshman about how few opportunities for playing time there might be, exacerbated by the arrival via transfer of Runnells). But I digress. This year, the Rasslin’ (Rootin’ Tootin’?) Rackhams will add four high school recruits, 6’ OH Kadynce Boothe (PV #139), 6’3” MB Keondreya Granberry (PV #88), 5’11” S Caroline Kerr (PV #82), and L Kenady Roper, along with at least one transfer, OH 5’11” Erykah Lovett from LBSU. Update: Oregon transfer S Kylie Robinson has announced her transfer to Tennessee - which makes me wonder about the news that Hayward was allegedly returning. Update - my wonderment was wrong. Both Robinson and Hayward will be on the roster in Knoxville next year.
2022 Outlook: It certainly seems like 2022 will be a rebuild after the senior dominated squad that Tennessee put on the court this year. Finghall seemed dominant early in the season, then either she lost some mojo or teams figured out how to defend her better. LaBoarda and Bryant are both solid defensive pieces, but between the newcomers and folks who were buried on the bench this year (e.g., OH/RS Emily Merrick, OH Ashllyn King,
Texas A&M
2021 Recap: It really wasn’t very pretty this season in Aggie-land. Injuries and ball control woes made S Camille Conner – all SEC in 2019 – look extremely average this year. (In fact, it’s been two consecutive years that the Aggies have been shut out of All-SEC recognition entirely. That shouldn’t happen in that program.) Pin production was extraordinarily inconsistent as Christon struggled with nagging injuries, Cox went down early, and Davis, Rush, and Hecht couldn’t find any rhythm. Talbert and Austin-Roark did pretty well most of the time, but the passing kept them (and Conner) from being big enough offensive weapons. TAMU was still hanging on to bubble consideration midway through the season after splitting their series with Tennessee, but after that they went 2-12 in the next 14 matches, slinking their way to a .500 record overall and a 9th place finish in the conference. I’m sure that the Aggie program is eager to get 2021 in the rear view mirror.
Key Returners: The position with the most problematic performance last year is the one with the most returning experience – is that good? 6’1” Destiny Cox (Sr? R-Jr?),
Departures: As of now, it’s not clear that any of the Aggies who have one will be using their extra COVID year. The list of departures is long and significant: S Camille Conner, MBs London Austin-Roark and Mallory Talbert, S/OH Camryn Ennis, and a veritable parade of DS/Ls, Macy Carrabine,
Newcomers: Fortunately, though, the Aggies have put together a very strong recruiting class out of the high school ranks, and they have not been shy to build through the portal in the past, either. Joining the TAMU roster for 2022 will be 6’2” MB Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (PV #83), 6’ OH Lexi Guinn (PV #57), 6’1” OPP Logan Lednicky (PV #74), 6’7” (!) MB/RS Ital Lopuyo, and DS/L Ava Underwood (PV #37). That’s clearly one of the top classes in the SEC this year. Update The Aggies announce the transfer in of 5'11" OH Caroline Meuth from Notre Dame. Update: The Aggies announce the transfer in of 6’2” MB Molly Brown from Purdue. The Boilermaker roster lists her as a Jr, but it doesn’t seem she played this past season (at least she’s not got any statistics), so she should have 2-3 years of eligibility for TAMU. A pick up at a position of extreme need. Update The Aggies announce the transfer in of OH Mia Johnson from Hawaii.
2022 Outlook: The Aggies need a replacement for Conner, some immediate help in the middle (so it would seem), reinforced floor defense, and some consistency on the pins. The recruiting class looks like it will have to be ready to help almost immediately in some of those areas, most notably with Underwood at L. I would expect the Aggies to be active in the portal to find some depth in the middle (unless either Talbert or Austin Roark comes back …). This does not have the look of a team that is poised to threaten the upper echelon of the conference, at least at this point. Update The TAMU outlook has surely shifted given the number of spring announcements. Rush, Davis, and Christon are all not returning. This season looks like a quintessential "rebuilding" year in College Station.
Conference outlook overall: I think we saw several teams in the conference reap the benefit of having some COVID experience on their teams (even though in some cases it didn’t work out very well – waves at Baton Rouge), and next year it seems as though we might see some of that coming home to roost, depending on whether people move on or stay. It seems to me that Kentucky is primed to stay atop the conference. They lose talent, but they seem to have plenty waiting in the wings. Will Miss State be able to maintain? How big a hit does UF take losing a huge chunk of their starting lineup (despite having very capable players on the bench and arguably the top recruiting class in the conference coming in)? Will the talent departures at LSU and Tennessee cause setbacks? How will coaching changes affect the conference? We know that we’ll have new leaders at LSU and Bama, and I wouldn’t rule out other changes at this point. Will Arkansas figure out how to win a big match (paging the sports psychology department in Fayetteville)? Will UGA find some consistency and ball control?
Normally at this point of the thread, I offer a predicted order of finish in tiers. But I think I’m going to save that for later in the winter/spring, after the portal shenanigans and returning player decisions are made. Instead, what I’m going to do here is list the teams by 2021 order of finish in the conference and ask what I think is the major issue (or in some cases, issues) confronting them for 2022.
1. Kentucky – Can they replace Stumler’s productivity and leadership without missing a beat? Edit: What happens on the pins with Skinner's transfer?
2. MSU – Will Waden and Robinson come back? Will they get a stud transfer setter? (The answers to these questions may not be unrelated.)
3. UF – How quickly can UF find an identity without Hall, Monserez, and Ceasar?
4. UT – They lose almost everyone; how ready are the bench and newcomers?
5. Arkansas – They’re still short, and they still choke in “must win” matches. One of those can be fixed. Who replaces Crumpton in the MB spot?
6. Ole Miss – How do you replace a setter like McLaughlin? Will the assistant coach suspension situation lead to significant changes on the staff?
7. LSU – who’s the new coach? Will Waak be the setter from day 1?
8. UGA – Getting Fischer is nice, but was that really what this team needed? Is Coach Black in a make or break year?
9. TAMU – Will any of the seniors who can stick around? Will Cox get healthy? Who replaces Conner (and Talbert, and Austin-Roark…)?
10. South Carolina – the No-Mikayla era begins. What magic can Mendoza pull out of his hat this season?
11. Auburn – When will Rebakah Rath’s arm fall off? How quickly can the youngsters be SEC ready?
12. Alabama – Who’s the coach? Will there be some roster turnover?
13. Mizzou – How quickly will the 2021 youth movement pay dividends? Will there be more drama?
I’ll update this post with news of transfers and coaching developments, but please feel free to drop any knowledge in the thread if you know anything about players using COVID years, transfers, etc. I’ve mostly relied on Rich Kern’s invaluable site for recruit information, but there are always a few things that end up changing that don’t get reflected there right away.
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