|
Post by exit237a on May 20, 2023 15:09:16 GMT -5
Some extended radio silence for sure. I've been roaming and monitoring other threads to keep myself distracted while waiting with bated breath to see if Tamas lands the portal outside hitter we need. Now that the portal is closed, I'd think the top available ones will be going fast. Soon enough, the top 2025 class players will be getting offers (starts June 15) and we'll be keeping our eyes peeled on that action. Definitely think we'll need a setter in that class. We have a middle blocker, opposite, and DS/L coming in the class of 2024. And after the 2024 season we'll lose both Barnes and Burbage to graduation for sure and Vanessa Pan (if Vanessa has two years of eligibility left). I'd also think we need at least an outside hitter and a DS/L in the 2025 class. Do folks feel differently than me on what our 2025 recruit needs are? We need a boat load of OH. Who knows is Raina comes back. That leaves us with 2 and that’s it. We need at least 2. Folks who follow prep ball closely have highlighted several talented 2025 OH in the Top 2025 Talent and Recruiting Class of 2025 threads. However, 2024 is the first season that there might be a shortfall on outside hitter as you pointed out. I'd think Tamas needs to get one between now and the start of Fall 2023, and maybe get another one during the next portal window after 2023, depending on what Raina decides to do.
|
|
|
Post by PostPrime on May 20, 2023 15:09:56 GMT -5
Should I stop checking until august? Probably. Or June.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 20, 2023 17:50:32 GMT -5
Does anyone know if Gabby Dean is planning on redshirting this fall? A lot of our incoming freshmen have redshirted the past few seasons, but since it looks like Barry and de Boer will be contributing this fall, I've been wondering if Dean is in the running for a middle spot this season or if she'll be redshirting.
|
|
|
Post by exit237a on May 20, 2023 18:40:52 GMT -5
Do anyone know if Gabby Dean is planning on redshirting this fall? A lot of our incoming freshmen have redshirted the past few seasons, but since it looks like Barry and de Boer will be contributing this fall, I've been wondering if Dean is in the running for a middle spot this season or if she'll be redshirting. Good question, pita- maybe someone with inside knowledge can let us know. Going back to Maddie Whittington, each of the past three seasons we've had a middle blocker who redshirted their freshman year (Bingham and Bohm). With Maddie, she was injured in the lead-up to her freshman season, otherwise I think she would have been in competition with the sophomore trio of Collins, Hinton and Swanson. Each of the past two seasons, that trio has been intact at the top of the MB depth chart as upperclasswomen. Since only one MB position seems locked down by an upperclasswoman this season, I'd be surprised if Gabby wasn't in the running to play. That's not a knock against either Bingham and Bohm's abilities or potential, just an acknowledgement that they're inexperienced so far at the NCAA level.
|
|
|
Post by oldmanvb on May 20, 2023 22:50:52 GMT -5
Laynie Smith, currently playing opposite for her club team, and who we assume will be playing opposite, has said she has experience and is comfortable on the left side. 16 year olds are capable of learning other positions.
|
|
|
Post by ilalum92 on May 20, 2023 23:00:32 GMT -5
Laynie Smith, currently playing opposite for her club team, and who we assume will be playing opposite, has said she has experience and is comfortable on the left side. 16 year olds are capable of learning other positions. That may be true but I’d rather have a top OH who has played the position all thru HS & Club. Hambly tried it with Jess Jendrek & Liz McMahon - didn’t work. Cooney did it too but wasn’t nearly as successful on the left as she was at OPP.
|
|
|
Post by exit237a on May 23, 2023 16:41:08 GMT -5
I wish we knew if the coaching staff is actively seeking an outside hitter from the portal. It sure seems like a consensus need to Illini VolleyTalk nation but we don't even know if they're looking. I realize it's the offseason and there's probably not some huge demand for that kind of info coming from outside of us devotees but we're definitely just left twisting in the wind out here. Am I missing some strategic downside to them being transparent about their positional needs and intents? Wouldn't there even be some value to putting that info out there in some public channel?
Signed, bored and impatient offseason homer
|
|
|
Post by oldmanvb on May 24, 2023 16:20:15 GMT -5
I suppose it would be embarrassing to acknowledge the (desperate?) need for a pin hitter and then not find one. I also suppose some of the current players may become uncomfortable if Tamas is talking about how we need someone better. When the transfer portal was open talking about how badly we need someone could cause one of our current players to leave. We need someone to get inside the brain trust and share some inside information.
There have been posters who have talked about a couple of near misses after the miss occurred. If there is someone like that on this board we need to nurture and encourage them.
You could always go the Illinois Loyalty board and lurk in the basketball and football threads. They are a virtual Petrie dish of rumors and gossip.
|
|
|
Post by Pasquale on May 24, 2023 17:07:25 GMT -5
I don’t think Tamas would say we need somebody better, but that we need more depth on the outside. The players certainly understand this.
|
|
|
Post by pointillinois on May 25, 2023 7:51:01 GMT -5
Nothing related to the team, but here's an updated look at the former Huff Parking lot, soon to be new Business building.
|
|
|
Post by Pasquale on May 25, 2023 8:05:52 GMT -5
I remember playing tennis there. 🥲
|
|
|
Post by oldmanvb on May 25, 2023 10:28:31 GMT -5
One more reason to watch the matches on B1G+ rather than go to the game.
|
|
|
Post by pointillinois on May 25, 2023 10:51:42 GMT -5
One more reason to watch the matches on B1G+ rather than go to the game. they are building a parking deck just south of Huff.
|
|
|
Post by liberovb10 on May 25, 2023 11:20:06 GMT -5
a new business building?!? again!?!? i feel like Geiss (formally known as BIF) was just built
|
|
|
Post by pointillinois on May 25, 2023 11:36:31 GMT -5
|
|