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Post by Mark Richards on Apr 18, 2023 19:10:27 GMT -5
In What year? Certainly not in 2023. In 2023 they are 5th. I’d pick them 2nd barring any injuries. Everything has lined up well for them and Greeney is one of the best in the country. WSU is loaded and has one of the best players in the country (Jehlarova)
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Post by Mark Richards on Apr 18, 2023 19:14:43 GMT -5
In What year? Certainly not in 2023. In 2023 they are 5th. WSU only gets 5th if they suffer injuries again or both LA schools finally figure out a way to not be mediocre and Washington doesn't have a drop-off from all the graduating seniors. I can't predict injuries, but the latter doesn't seem very likely. I'd give WSU a better chance of finishing 2nd or heck even 1st, than 5th. UCLA will be ok. USC seems to be in turmoil.
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Post by ay2013 on Apr 18, 2023 19:16:37 GMT -5
WSU only gets 5th if they suffer injuries again or both LA schools finally figure out a way to not be mediocre and Washington doesn't have a drop-off from all the graduating seniors. I can't predict injuries, but the latter doesn't seem very likely. I'd give WSU a better chance of finishing 2nd or heck even 1st, than 5th. If you think that little of UW next year, then I will agree with you that WSU is as close to second as they are to 5th. In that case slot them in at #4. I was trying to give you the benefit of the doubt, but I will take your word for it that UW will be fighting for 5th. well, that's not actually what I said. I didn't say UW will be fighting for 5th, what I said was that I don't see WSU finishing 5th, unless they struggle with injuries (like last year) or the LA schools finally do something with their talented rosters (something that you can't count on these days) and that Washington doesn't have a drop off from all of the seniors that graduated. From where I'm looking, WSU only has one glaring issue - its passing rotation. And while they didn't do anything to boost that in the off season, they did add Isanovic, who is an aggressive attacker that can score out of system. WSU enters next year with a lot of firepower. A front row of Timmer, Isanovic, Magda, and Ryan is formidable. The team has a disciplined block and they serve well. WSU is going to be in every match they play next year, including against Stanford. Re the competition: Stanford is obviously the favorite to win the conference - they are my preseason #1, nationally. Oregon will be good, though I don't see Gonzales or Acevedo bringing anywhere near the on-court impact of Nuneviller. The LA schools can't be trusted to cobble together consistently good seasons, and it has been that way for the better part of the last decade. Talent gets consistently wasted at UCLA and they lost their best attacker (Luper). Will a new coach turn things around? maybe, but I'm not holding my breath in year 1, but there is talent on the roster to work with. USC is in a better position than UCLA as they have the best scorer in the Pac-12, but Tuaninga is currently in a boot and if you ask me, USC has worse passing issues than WSU does, worse blocking than WSU does, and doesn't have as strong of a serving corps as WSU does. Re Washington, while I certainly don't put my program in the mediocrity-ridden years of the LA schools, I'm at least practical about our prospects next year. We lose a lot of offense, a lot of passing, and all of the setting. The last time we turned over this much starting production we went 10-10 in conference. It's a rebuild year for Washington. I don't think the team is incapable of beating most of the teams in conference next year - including WSU - but I think it should be expected that the team will also have a lot losses. I don't see any other team with enough production to challenge a healthy WSU night in and night out.
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Post by ay2013 on Apr 18, 2023 19:24:04 GMT -5
WSU only gets 5th if they suffer injuries again or both LA schools finally figure out a way to not be mediocre and Washington doesn't have a drop-off from all the graduating seniors. I can't predict injuries, but the latter doesn't seem very likely. I'd give WSU a better chance of finishing 2nd or heck even 1st, than 5th. UCLA will be ok. USC seems to be in turmoil. UCLA has to replace its top two pin scorers, setter, and libero on a team that was .500 in conference last year. I'd much rather be in USC's position. Why, exactly, do you see USC in turmoil?
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Post by volleyguy on Apr 18, 2023 19:52:04 GMT -5
UCLA will be ok. USC seems to be in turmoil. UCLA has to replace its top two pin scorers, setter, and libero on a team that was .500 in conference last year. I'd much rather be in USC's position. Why, exactly, do you see USC in turmoil? Agreed. Though I don't see indications that UCLA has that much talent on the roster, and they've got an unproven first time head coach. I think we've gotten an indication of Keller as a coach, and he's probably better at recruiting (and player relations) than coaching and training. I see USC as middle of the pack and UCLA fighting to stay out of the cellar.
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Post by JJVb on Apr 18, 2023 23:40:52 GMT -5
1) No upheaval, but my bold prediction, Stanford and Oregon in the final four! They were both a swing or two away this year. Stanford loses no one, so obviously they will be great. Oregon loses Brooke/Gloria/Kiari, but bring in two All-Region (One HM) 5th year starting seniors from Elite 8/16 + Morgan starting who played lights out in the tournament! In addition they have some crazy young depth if needed. I’m not giving the crown to Stanford just yet. WSU will be very good, top three there. Oregon Potential starting 7: TWO 6th year seniors, FOUR 5th year seniors and a returning NFOY. Now that’s crazy! Go Ducks!! Agreed. At this point I'm seeing Stanford, Oregon, WSU top 3. And then many others fighting for the middle. A lot of ?'s for teams replacing coaches, adding transfers.. will be interesting to see how those teams come together. Lots of change this season!
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Post by jwvolley on Apr 18, 2023 23:55:08 GMT -5
USC's defense was *so* bad
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Post by uofaGRAD on Apr 19, 2023 0:02:04 GMT -5
USC's defense was *so* bad I get nightmares of their tournament game still…
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Post by topspin on Apr 19, 2023 0:27:37 GMT -5
It will be interesting to see what the next transfer window brings. Will somebody make a big move? If Washington can get a top notch middle, they might be back in the top 3 conversation. Colorado could be dangerous with the right transfer.
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Post by oldnewbie on Apr 19, 2023 1:45:15 GMT -5
USC's defense was *so* bad I get nightmares of their tournament game still… They were first to 20 playing at #10, until tOSU figured out they didn't have a setter and adjusted. Stanford finished 21st in 2021 WITH a setter. They couldn't defend or pass a lick. Returning most of their team and with a full Spring of practice to work on it, they did a wee bit better in 2022. Losing only 1 starter while returning the top attacker in the country, adding depth at DS and setter and with a full Spring of practice to work on it, people are predicting that USC will be worse than last year. Seems like wishful thinking by those desperately hoping they will fail in their last year in the PAC12.
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Post by azcatsfan on Apr 19, 2023 2:47:19 GMT -5
Colorado is my sleeper next season. They bring back a good amount of talent and had a sneaky good recruiting class. If they can figure out the passing situation they could finish 3-5.
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Post by oldnewbie on Apr 19, 2023 8:16:14 GMT -5
Colorado is my sleeper next season. They bring back a good amount of talent and had a sneaky good recruiting class. If they can figure out the passing situation they could finish 3-5. Does Lexi have another year? I thought she was done, but she is on the Spring roster? 6th year for Hadrych and 5th year Howard to replace Hart will be interesting.
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Post by azcatsfan on Apr 19, 2023 13:23:20 GMT -5
Colorado is my sleeper next season. They bring back a good amount of talent and had a sneaky good recruiting class. If they can figure out the passing situation they could finish 3-5. Does Lexi have another year? I thought she was done, but she is on the Spring roster? 6th year for Hadrych and 5th year Howard to replace Hart will be interesting. I initially thought she was done this year too but apparently not lol. The left side is locked down and Colorado has legit, although young, pin talent.
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Post by staticb on Apr 19, 2023 13:43:31 GMT -5
Has 2023 PAC12 Volleyball set some kind of record for upheaval? Is there another sport in any conference that has gone through the churn that the PAC is going through? The WAC for like decades and tons of mid-major conferences go through this type of churn. It's rare for a P5 to lose that many coaches in a season in a non-revenue sport though.
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Post by tomclen on May 23, 2023 6:43:02 GMT -5
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