Post by vballfreak808 on Apr 11, 2023 0:59:30 GMT -5
SMU 2023
2022 Returning Accolades
Jamison Wheeler (OH) - First Team ALL-AAC
Celia Cullen (S) - Second Team ALL-AAC
Newcomers (8)
Emma Clothier (MB) - Transfer [3x ALL-ACC, 2x All-American HM]
Lauren Ohlinger (OH) - Transfer [3x ALL-MWC, 1x All-Region HM]
Sina Uluave (OH/L) - Transfer [1x ALL-MAC]
Naya Shime (OH) - Transfer
Anllelivis Fernandez (OPP) - Transfer
Brooke Frazier (DS/L) - Transfer
Evan Glade (OH) - Freshman
Hannah Whittingstall (MB) - Freshman
Players Lost (8)
*Marieke van der Mark (OPP) - Graduation [FIRST TEAM ALL-AAC]
*London Austin-Roark (MB) - Graduation
*Tatum Ticknor (DS/L) - Graduation
*Rachel Woulfe (OH) - Graduation
BreyAnn Sands (DS/L) - Graduation
*Jadyn Bauss (OH) - Grad Transfer
Kristen Leland (DS/L)
Kaitlyn Knobbe - Transfer (Rice)
Jamison Wheeler (OH) - First Team ALL-AAC
Celia Cullen (S) - Second Team ALL-AAC
Newcomers (8)
Emma Clothier (MB) - Transfer [3x ALL-ACC, 2x All-American HM]
Lauren Ohlinger (OH) - Transfer [3x ALL-MWC, 1x All-Region HM]
Sina Uluave (OH/L) - Transfer [1x ALL-MAC]
Naya Shime (OH) - Transfer
Anllelivis Fernandez (OPP) - Transfer
Brooke Frazier (DS/L) - Transfer
Evan Glade (OH) - Freshman
Hannah Whittingstall (MB) - Freshman
Players Lost (8)
*Marieke van der Mark (OPP) - Graduation [FIRST TEAM ALL-AAC]
*London Austin-Roark (MB) - Graduation
*Tatum Ticknor (DS/L) - Graduation
*Rachel Woulfe (OH) - Graduation
BreyAnn Sands (DS/L) - Graduation
*Jadyn Bauss (OH) - Grad Transfer
Kristen Leland (DS/L)
Kaitlyn Knobbe - Transfer (Rice)
The Year of the Mustang
This 2023 Mustang team has the potential to win the AAC for the first time since 2016 with the departures of Houston (1st), UCF (2nd), and Cincinnati (5th) to the Big 12. The AAC will add Rice, North Texas, UAB, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic to the conference this upcoming season, with Rice being another contender for the AAC title.
Top returnees include First Team All-AAC six rotation hitter Jamison Wheeler and Second Team All-AAC setter Celia Cullen. Wheeler, one of many pin hitters on the roster is the top player and has continued to make huge strides in her career, especially from her freshman to sophomore year. Despite the rotating of pins throughout last season, look for Wheeler to hold down one of left side roles for the whole season. Cullen returns as the best setter in the AAC. She has a handful of weapons to work with returning/incoming and will hold down the setter spot yet again.
Pin hitters is the position that holds the most depth for this Mustang roster, of course led by Wheeler, but Lauren Ohlinger is a huge addition to the team. She has the size at 6'3" and has the ability to take over a match. She's been one of the top players in the Mountain West her entire career, she will be a force not only in the front row but from the service line as well. Those two are the top contenders with Natalie Perdue also up in the charts
Emma Clothier will be a nice presence in the middle, great attacker, server, and defender. She is a nice replacement for London Austin-Roark, but not as strong blocking wise. Clothier is a strong, versatile attacker that can hit in front and behind the setter and moves quick and well laterally. She has a very tough serve as well. Fighting for the second spot is between fifth-year Alex Glover and early enrollee Hannah Whittingstall. Glover took less swings last season lowering her numbers a bit but she has had pockets of great moments. Whittingstall has received a lot of valuable reps and could be a contender for a starting spot right away.
Standing at 6'7", Anllevilis Fernandez is a lefty opposite who enters the roster after losing 6'6" lefty opposite Marieke van der Mark. Fernandez is not as polished VDM but has power and the height. Having her in the spring has been a big help growth wise for her. She has ways to go but she will make an impact when she comes off the bench for sure. Wyoming transfer Naya Shime is another nice addition, has a nice vertical and quick arm swing with power and has been taking reps on the right this spring along with Whittingstall.
Brooke Frazier is the only "listed" libero on the roster, coming off two seasons at Texas A&M. She had been the primary libero so far this spring but has switched out with returning pin Jentry Lamirand. Another candidate for libero is incoming grad transfer Sina Uluave. She is a strong passer who played libero in her sophomore season in 2020 at Wichita State.
If I were to predict a starting line-up now (as of April) it would be this:
OH: Wheeler, Ohlinger
OPP: Shime (DS: Frazier)
MB: Clothier, Whittingstall
S: Cullen
L: Uluave
As for how far this team can go, a lot of that depends on the upcoming schedule. With the revamped AAC teams, I predict a top two finish with Rice.
