Kansas 2023

[buttery]

Feb 10, 2023 7:45:54 GMT -5 bluepenquin said:

With the current roster - Myers will be one of the starting MB. I would describe her as durable, consistent, reliable. That would likely put Whetstone and Schneider battling for the other spot.

This team will be decidedly smaller than last year - particularly if Whetstone wins the job - in fact they would be a very short team with the entire front row being under 6-2. Maybe increased quickness will allow them to run a faster offense?

As much as I would like to see a faster offense (I miss the days of Havili running zero tempos to Hill/Payne), I worry about the serve receive being good enough to do that. I don’t think I saw enough of Kirsch to get a good read on her serve receive game - it might be really good, but I worry about the DS spots for the RS or Swanson/Elnady/another DS.

Watching a broadcast later in the year, Jill Dorsey-Hall was talking about assigning seams in serve receive and it would appear to me last year that Bien had license to serve receive everything near her. I think it was probably too much on her plate and especially as a live hitter, led to a decrease in her hitting %.

Also, I feel like KU has very little flexibility for a 6-2 this year? Don’t know anything about Humberd, but there is only one proven outside in Davis now that can terminate. At least when Schmidt was here she could play RS in a pinch. Does Dalton play all the way around like Simpson in 2018?

[bluepenquin]

Feb 10, 2023 11:14:21 GMT -5 buttery said:

Feb 10, 2023 7:45:54 GMT -5 bluepenquin said:

With the current roster - Myers will be one of the starting MB. I would describe her as durable, consistent, reliable. That would likely put Whetstone and Schneider battling for the other spot.

This team will be decidedly smaller than last year - particularly if Whetstone wins the job - in fact they would be a very short team with the entire front row being under 6-2. Maybe increased quickness will allow them to run a faster offense?

As much as I would like to see a faster offense (I miss the days of Havili running zero tempos to Hill/Payne), I worry about the serve receive being good enough to do that. I don’t think I saw enough of Kirsch to get a good read on her serve receive game - it might be really good, but I worry about the DS spots for the RS or Swanson/Elnady/another DS.

Watching a broadcast later in the year, Jill Dorsey-Hall was talking about assigning seams in serve receive and it would appear to me last year that Bien had license to serve receive everything near her. I think it was probably too much on her plate and especially as a live hitter, led to a decrease in her hitting %.

Also, I feel like KU has very little flexibility for a 6-2 this year? Don’t know anything about Humberd, but there is only one proven outside in Davis now that can terminate. At least when Schmidt was here she could play RS in a pinch. Does Dalton play all the way around like Simpson in 2018?

I agree about the 6-2 options being limited.  Even if Dalton was an option to hit - they couldn't make that change in the middle of a set as Davis would be opposite Turner.  I don't see Humberd being ready to play a lot (but I could be wrong).  I would guess the most likely scenario is Swanson - but then you lose any backups for OH.  This isn't going to be a deep team at the pins or middle.

I thought the serve receive was much better last year.  Farris and Bien returning should be fine.  Kirsch probably improves.  Add Burns.  Probably the one area where they are the deepest.

I don't know about a quick offense - but I sure would like to see more play sets and moving people across the net.  They used to do this a lot - even before Havili, but have rarely done this since.  

[Jayhawks18]

Amani McArthur in the portal. Looks like a good experienced middle on film. Could be a good pick up for KU.

[bluepenquin]

Feb 13, 2023 23:56:16 GMT -5 Jayhawks18 said:

Amani McArthur in the portal. Looks like a good experienced middle on film. Could be a good pick up for KU.

5th year (so that would be a plus) - not sure if KU has any open scholarships - if they do, she could help?  

[Deleted]

Feb 13, 2023 23:56:16 GMT -5 Jayhawks18 said:

Amani McArthur in the portal. Looks like a good experienced middle on film. Could be a good pick up for KU.

Paging Dan Fisher

[Jayhawks18]

Any word on spring schedule?

[bluepenquin]

Some quick comments on the Kansas commits playing at TC this weekend.

Grace Nelson was very good on Day 1. Nelson absolutely has a cannon for an arm - she is the star of a very good 1st Alliance team. She is hitting rockets from the backrow. Her hitting reminds me of London Davis back when she was playing for AVC. Very powerful swing and very effective from the backrow. Nelson is a better passer and makes 6 rotation potential higher than Davis, but she will need to improve on her passing for the next level.

1st Alliance played a very tough schedule in their pool play. Their only loss was to Houston Skyline - who can win the tournament. The last match of the night was against CoJrs who was 2-0 going into that match. Nelson had 8 kills in the 1st set as 1st Alliance won the match 2-0. That CoJrs team has Florida commit Ella Vogel (she is good) at libero - and it was fun watching her 'battle' the speed from Nelson.

Zoey Burgess and Reese Ptacek - I will put them together as I have no idea which player is better. Very similar players - Burgess is probably more physical and Ptacek is a bit quicker. Both will be able to hit a slide, both have size. It will be fascinating to see who emerges as the better player (maybe they both end up being 4 year starters)? Neither team they play for passed very well when I was watching - which greatly restricted their hitting opportunities.

Aisha Aiono - I just have no idea what to expect from her at the college level. I don't think she was highly recruited. But... she is playing on a MAVs team that finished 2nd in Power Pool A. And this team is not exactly loaded with D1 players. Reagan Fox looks good at OH and I think she will good at Rutgers. Logan Jones the setter is going to Arkansas. Goodenow is a force from the RS, but is too small for the upper levels of D1. Aino is a consistant valuable piece to the team.

[buttery]

Feb 19, 2023 13:43:10 GMT -5 bluepenquin said:

Some quick comments on the Kansas commits playing at TC this weekend.

Grace Nelson was very good on Day 1. Nelson absolutely has a cannon for an arm - she is the star of a very good 1st Alliance team. She is hitting rockets from the backrow. Her hitting reminds me of London Davis back when she was playing for AVC. Very powerful swing and very effective from the backrow. Nelson is a better passer and makes 6 rotation potential higher than Davis, but she will need to improve on her passing for the next level.

1st Alliance played a very tough schedule in their pool play. Their only loss was to Houston Skyline - who can win the tournament. The last match of the night was against CoJrs who was 2-0 going into that match. Nelson had 8 kills in the 1st set as 1st Alliance won the match 2-0. That CoJrs team has Florida commit Ella Vogel (she is good) at libero - and it was fun watching her 'battle' the speed from Nelson.

Zoey Burgess and Reese Ptacek - I will put them together as I have no idea which player is better. Very similar players - Burgess is probably more physical and Ptacek is a bit quicker. Both will be able to hit a slide, both have size. It will be fascinating to see who emerges as the better player (maybe they both end up being 4 year starters)? Neither team they play for passed very well when I was watching - which greatly restricted their hitting opportunities.

Aisha Aiono - I just have no idea what to expect from her at the college level. I don't think she was highly recruited. But... she is playing on a MAVs team that finished 2nd in Power Pool A. And this team is not exactly loaded with D1 players. Reagan Fox looks good at OH and I think she will good at Rutgers. Logan Jones the setter is going to Arkansas. Goodenow is a force from the RS, but is too small for the upper levels of D1. Aino is a consistant valuable piece to the team.

Awesome work bluepenguin. Excited for that 2024 class - seems like a good opportunity for KU with Bien, Turner, Davis being seniors by the time they come in.

I’m only able to see what I can dig up on YouTube in terms of club matches, but like that MAVs team a lot from what I’ve seen (they have quite a few games on YouTube). How about the setters from KC in the Class of 2023? You’ve got Swindle (Texas), Mullen (UCLA), Jones (Arkansas), Brynn McGhie (Pepperdine), and Draper (Princeton)? Seems every year KC continues to produce setters.

As an out-of-towner I also watch Spectrum Sports Slams on YouTube to see upcoming talent in the KC area. Feel like Kentucky got a gem in Deleye as it seems she’s a really good passer and has a very powerful arm swing. Too bad KU doesn’t land more of these recruits - the Crawford/Schmidt/McGhie/Whetstone class really didn’t work out and arguably the top 3 recruits transferred out. Ava Martin also seems like a gigantic miss.

[bluepenquin]

Feb 20, 2023 13:25:21 GMT -5 buttery said:

Feb 19, 2023 13:43:10 GMT -5 bluepenquin said:

I’m only able to see what I can dig up on YouTube in terms of club matches, but like that MAVs team a lot from what I’ve seen (they have quite a few games on YouTube). How about the setters from KC in the Class of 2023? You’ve got Swindle (Texas), Mullen (UCLA), Jones (Arkansas), Brynn McGhie (Pepperdine), and Draper (Princeton)? Seems every year KC continues to produce setters.

As an out-of-towner I also watch Spectrum Sports Slams on YouTube to see upcoming talent in the KC area. Feel like Kentucky got a gem in Deleye as it seems she’s a really good passer and has a very powerful arm swing. Too bad KU doesn’t land more of these recruits - the Crawford/Schmidt/McGhie/Whetstone class really didn’t work out and arguably the top 3 recruits transferred out. Ava Martin also seems like a gigantic miss.

I haven't seen Deleye play since she was 15U - I really wanted KU to get her - she is likely to be a good one.  Didn't get to watch her on Friday - her Topeka Impact team has become less relative good as she has gotten older and they weren't in a power pool or advancing.

As good as the 2023 class of KC setters were/are - 2025 is better at the top.  Reese Messer and Logan Parks are both top 5 setters in this class and St. Louis has a very good 2025 setter.  Lily Wedman isn't T5, but she is a D1 setter.  Kansas is absolutely looking for a setter out of this class.

[definitelymaybe]

[bluepenquin]

Any guesses here?

It could be depth at OH (they only have 3 OH's on the roster). It could be another MB - that is their biggest need in terms of starters and main rotation.

[alan85]

Mar 5, 2023 19:09:21 GMT -5 bluepenquin said:

Any guesses here?

It could be depth at OH (they only have 3 OH's on the roster). It could be another MB - that is their biggest need in terms of starters and main rotation.

The tea leaves tell me it’s Reagan Cooper 🤞🤞

[basil]

Mar 5, 2023 22:54:21 GMT -5 alan85 said:

Mar 5, 2023 19:09:21 GMT -5 bluepenquin said:

Any guesses here?

It could be depth at OH (they only have 3 OH's on the roster). It could be another MB - that is their biggest need in terms of starters and main rotation.

The tea leaves tell me it’s Reagan Cooper 🤞🤞

ooh that would be some much needed height and physicality for Kansas

[Deleted]

Coop

[bluepenquin]

It has been confirmed - Reagan Cooper to Kansas.

This gives Kansas 4 legit starting caliber OH to work with. This provides depth in case of injury and allows for in game adjustments. In addition - this now better allows them to play a 6-2 this season.

In terms of serve receive and back row - Bein is outstanding, Elnady is good enough. Not sure that either Swanson or Cooper are viable options? I expect one of them to battle London Davis on the RS and/or become a RS with a 6-2 offense. And the other will help provide offense when either Bein or Elandy is strugging to terminate.