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Post by donut on Dec 14, 2022 19:12:17 GMT -5
Kentucky needs two Outside Hitters in the worst way. I don't care if it is one of the freshmen or a transfer but this team did not have a "Go To" Outside Hitter this season. There is zero percent chance they are playing a 6-2. Grome is an absolute stud and unless she gets injured she is the only Setter getting playing time. Wonder if Goetzinger sticks around. Most of all Kentucky has to improve their Defense. Inconsistent serve receive haunted them the entire season especially in the non SEC matches. I disagree. You don't run a 6-2 because of how good a setter is. Look at Nebraska. They had a 5th year senior returning this year who had started the previous 4 and decided to go with the 6-2 because of the arms they had offensively. UK is going to have the arms to run a 6-2 next year with the freshmen class coming in and the possible portal additions. Lamb will be fine once she gets more training as an OH. She came in as a MB and was hurt all of last off season. Grome is great but she's undersized and a lot of opposing OHs took advantage of her smaller block this year. She also struggled A LOT in the non-conf. Sarafa is the top rated freshman setter in the country coming in and I can assure you she's not going to ride the bench as Grome's backup for 2 years. I completely disagree. If history has taught us anything, its you shouldn't run a 6-2 unless you have two good setters. Nebraska is a funny example here, because their setting was their biggest weakness all season.
If we run a 6-2 it should be because both Grome and Sarafa are good/consistent enough, not because of our hitters.
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Post by cbrown1709 on Dec 14, 2022 22:02:35 GMT -5
I disagree. You don't run a 6-2 because of how good a setter is. Look at Nebraska. They had a 5th year senior returning this year who had started the previous 4 and decided to go with the 6-2 because of the arms they had offensively. UK is going to have the arms to run a 6-2 next year with the freshmen class coming in and the possible portal additions. Lamb will be fine once she gets more training as an OH. She came in as a MB and was hurt all of last off season. Grome is great but she's undersized and a lot of opposing OHs took advantage of her smaller block this year. She also struggled A LOT in the non-conf. Sarafa is the top rated freshman setter in the country coming in and I can assure you she's not going to ride the bench as Grome's backup for 2 years. I completely disagree. If history has taught us anything, its you shouldn't run a 6-2 unless you have two good setters. Nebraska is a funny example here, because their setting was their biggest weakness all season. If we run a 6-2 it should be because both Grome and Sarafa are good/consistent enough, not because of our hitters.
And that we have leftsides that can pass. |
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Post by cbrown1709 on Dec 18, 2022 21:27:17 GMT -5
Does anyone think Skinner will go to the portal? And if so who it might be?
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Post by wildcat403 on Dec 18, 2022 22:23:24 GMT -5
I’m not sure if he will but he should. Look around a the top teams this year. Most had multiple high impact transfers playing big roles. The college athletic landscape has completely changed with NIL/transfer portal and those who adapt to it quickly will end up the most successful as seen with Texas this year.
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Post by basil on Dec 18, 2022 23:03:38 GMT -5
the tea says Wenaas already has a place to go? but imo she would’ve worked well at Kentucky
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Post by cbrown1709 on Dec 18, 2022 23:28:28 GMT -5
the tea says Wenaas already has a place to go? but imo she would’ve worked well at Kentucky I agree |
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Post by wildcat403 on Dec 22, 2022 14:53:35 GMT -5
Ava Sarafa named national player of the year by vballrecruiter. I honestly think she’s too good not to start as a freshman next year. Can’t waste a talent like that on the bench.
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Post by jwvolley on Dec 22, 2022 14:55:00 GMT -5
Ava Sarafa named national player of the year by vballrecruiter. I honestly think she’s too good not to start as a freshman next year. Can’t waist a talent like that on the bench. So you bench the 2x AA and SEC Player of the Year ? |
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Post by SayonaraTachikara on Dec 22, 2022 14:57:06 GMT -5
Ava Sarafa named national player of the year by vballrecruiter. I honestly think she’s too good not to start as a freshman next year. Can’t waist a talent like that on the bench. So you bench the 2x AA and SEC Player of the Year ? Yeah sorry, not happenin. Ava is good, but no way she starts over Grome. |
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Post by wildcat403 on Dec 22, 2022 15:11:04 GMT -5
My bad I meant run a 6-2 rotation with her! Grome will obviously not be benched lol.
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Post by donut on Dec 22, 2022 15:26:14 GMT -5
I would be shocked if Skinner ran a 6-2. It's not just having two good setters and lots of good pin hitters -- you need outsides who can pass because the 6-2 eats up your substitutions. That is like... the #1 thing UK doesn't have right now.
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Post by wildcat403 on Dec 22, 2022 15:56:47 GMT -5
I get what you’re saying, but at the same time a top recruit like Sarafa isn’t going to like sitting on the bench for two years while Grome runs the show.
That’s why I think it’s crucial Skinner hits the portal for someone that is proven at the college level as a passer and hitter. Our current roster isn’t strong enough to compete with the elite programs and while our freshmen class is loaded you can’t depend on them in their first season.
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Post by donut on Dec 22, 2022 16:04:56 GMT -5
I get what you’re saying, but at the same time a top recruit like Sarafa isn’t going to like sitting on the bench for two years while Grome runs the show. Then she'll either transfer, redshirt, or beat Grome out. In addition to our lack of passing outsides, I also just get the sense Skinner, like many coaches, disfavors the 6-2. Further, do we really think both Grome and Sarafa are going to be happy setting a 6-2...? I disagree with the bolded (but still agree a 6-rotation OH from the transfer portal would be great for UK). We have one of the best opposites, setters, and liberos in the country. Tealer can be one of the best middles in the country. And we're going to have three options at M2, all of whom have a ton of potential. DeLeye is an absolute stud, so in my book, we only have 1 potential weakness (and that's assuming Lamb or Melby don't improve in the offseason) which yeah, could be addressed in the transfer portal.
But I think our current line-up is very competitive.
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Post by stanfordvb on Dec 22, 2022 16:29:35 GMT -5
I get what you’re saying, but at the same time a top recruit like Sarafa isn’t going to like sitting on the bench for two years while Grome runs the show. That’s why I think it’s crucial Skinner hits the portal for someone that is proven at the college level as a passer and hitter. Our current roster isn’t strong enough to compete with the elite programs and while our freshmen class is loaded you can’t depend on them in their first season. well, we'll see. grome was named SEC freshman of the year and a 2nd team all American before sarafa officially signed her commitment to kentucky. she was more than aware of how not only good but also young their current starting setter is and she still chose to sign with Kentucky. its not like sarafa is gonna show up and be shocked that she's not the better setter in the gym |
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Post by wildcat403 on Dec 22, 2022 16:50:01 GMT -5
That’s fair, I guess the last two seasons have just been slightly disappointing coming off a championship but by no means bad. Next year’s team should be really solid. Hopefully Lamb, Melby, Williams, and Whitworth continue to develop this off-season and carve out roles. Still think it’d be nice if Skinner hits the portal for a proven outside but we shall see.
With all that said, I’m really excited about the five freshmen coming in next year. Think it’s Skinner’s best class at Kentucky and can see a number of them having roles next season. One not many talk about is Molly Tuozzo who has shot up the rankings. Could honestly see her slide into the DS role right away with how athletic she is compared to Whitworth and Walker.
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