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Post by JJVb on Jul 23, 2023 17:51:22 GMT -5
Colorado's passing will be a problem against tough serving teams. OSU added some quality transfers. They may surprise some teams. Utah and AZ have reverse problems. Utah has a strong libero though questionable pin strength, though strong enough to beat poor passing teams. AZ has strong pins but questionable passing. ASU is a mixed bag, but more similar to AZ's situation. I see teams in the 5-11 range just beating up on each other lol. 100%. There’s a clear divide between the top 3 and the rest of the conference. I’m interested to see what Oregon St. can do in year one. Agreed. To me USC is in that top 4. They have strengths at every position. Thats why I said teams 5-11. Oregon state is a big ? with so many unknowns. I think this year we will see improvement, but Im thinking next year even more so based on the recruits they have gotten. |
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Post by bigjohn043 on Jul 23, 2023 18:48:47 GMT -5
Colorado's passing will be a problem against tough serving teams. OSU added some quality transfers. They may surprise some teams. Utah and AZ have reverse problems. Utah has a strong libero though questionable pin strength, though strong enough to beat poor passing teams. AZ has strong pins but questionable passing. ASU is a mixed bag, but more similar to AZ's situation. I see teams in the 5-11 range just beating up on each other lol. 100%. There’s a clear divide between the top 3 and the rest of the conference. I’m interested to see what Oregon St. can do in year one. There is a clear divide between Stanford and the rest of the conference. I would take Stanford against the rest of the field to win the conference and feel pretty good about it. |
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Post by vbfamily on Jul 23, 2023 23:09:16 GMT -5
100%. There’s a clear divide between the top 3 and the rest of the conference. I’m interested to see what Oregon St. can do in year one. There is a clear divide between Stanford and the rest of the conference. I would take Stanford against the rest of the field to win the conference and feel pretty good about it. I'd love to be able to come back to this with an Oregon or WSU conference Champion (or someone else), but Stanford is VERY good, so very hard to take this bet against them winning, but I don't think they will go unscathed through conference play. |
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Post by mikegarrison on Jul 23, 2023 23:20:31 GMT -5
I think WSU might actually be the biggest threat to Stanford. We'll see. Obviously they would have to stay healthy -- they have almost no bench unless some of their freshmen are ready to play. But Isanovic, Timmer, and Ryan are very good hitters, and they still have Magda.
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Post by vbfamily on Jul 24, 2023 10:32:40 GMT -5
I think WSU might actually be the biggest threat to Stanford. We'll see. Obviously they would have to stay healthy -- they have almost no bench unless some of their freshmen are ready to play. But Isanovic, Timmer, and Ryan are very good hitters, and they still have Magda. Their starting lineup is so good and will challenge for sure. Oregon has a strong starting lineup + a strong young bench. Both full of experienced starters. |
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Post by oldnewbie on Jul 24, 2023 11:10:37 GMT -5
I think WSU might actually be the biggest threat to Stanford. We'll see. Obviously they would have to stay healthy -- they have almost no bench unless some of their freshmen are ready to play. But Isanovic, Timmer, and Ryan are very good hitters, and they still have Magda. Schedule-wise, Oregon has the advantage over USC and then WSU. WSU misses two (presumably wins) against UA and ASU. UO plays USC only once, at UO. UO lost last year at USC. |
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Post by volleyfanpac12 on Jul 25, 2023 17:11:35 GMT -5
I think we gotta give Cal a little love and hope, ya know, cheer for the underdog. They have talent (two rising sophomores Scott/Hayden, ranked 7th and 8th in PAC-12 for blocks and they have the highest hitting percentages on team, for what few sets they got and both very decent hitters!) Cal has some other good talent as well: setters, liberos and the incoming frosh pins are promising. Also lots of good recruits who never got a chance.
I can only imagine the Cal players are fired up based on what they have been through and maybe, just maybe, they will win a few for themselves and not "bad coaches." Most of them never got a chance: Crosson had poor Grote hit and hit and hit (listen to replay of any televised Pac-12 Cal game last year and you can hear the announcers stating "well the <insert opponent here> has 4 defenders parked in front of Grote because the nation knows Cal only sets to her."
Like I said: lots of talent that may just get a chance to shine and show us what they got.
I think the new coaches have a lot to offer: both all-stars in their own right and sometimes new/green isn't a bad thing. I'm cheering for them, just cuz they got nothin to lose.
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Post by JJVb on Jul 25, 2023 19:23:07 GMT -5
Arizona — Sofía Maldonado Diaz, OH
Maldonado Diaz heads into her senior year as a top attacker in the Pac-12. Last year, she posted her second straight season with 300-plus kills, leading the Wildcats with 372. Maldonado Diaz should break the 1,000-kill mark in her career this season and has a decent chance to make Arizona’s top 10 list all-time. She also had 46 service aces last season, the third-most in the Pac-12.
Arizona State — Mary Shroll, Libero
Shroll has a lot to offer this season for the Sun Devils. The graduate transfer and Tempe native brings a lot of experience to Arizona State’s defense. She comes from LMU where she logged 884 career digs and helped the Lions make the NCAA Tournament last year. With the graduation of longtime libero Annika Larson-Nummer, who led ASU with 273 digs, Shroll should be an integral part of the 2023 team.
California — Paige Morningstar, Setter
California appears to have landed a foundational piece through the transfer portal with Morningstar. The former Louisville setter comes to Berkeley after two seasons with the Cardinals, including their 2021 national championship team. Morningstar saw limited action last season but was part of Louisville’s run to the title game. She was a top-tier recruit, earning a ton of awards during her time at North Allegheny in Pittsburgh including Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.
Colorado — Maya Tabron, OH
Maya Tabron is back in Boulder for her senior season, and we know what to expect from her. She has led the Buffaloes back-to-back seasons with 350-plus kills. She also improved her hitting percentage to .213 despite having more total attacks. Tabron also enters the season with 752 career kills, likely entering the program’s all-time top 20 list in the category.
Oregon — Mimi Colyer, OH
The reigning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and AVCA National Freshman of the Year quickly made an impression in Eugene. She earned a record-breaking eight Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors. Colyer led the Ducks with 533 kills, the second-most in the conference. She also shined on the biggest stage. Her 26 kills against Nebraska pushed the Ducks into the Elite Eight. Colyer will need to continue a heavy load for Oregon after the graduation of All-Conference outside hitter Brooke Nuneviller, though she looks primed to be one of the brightest stars in the nation.
Oregon State — Mychael Vernon, OH
After playing less than 100 sets combined in her first two seasons in Corvallis, Mychael Vernon had a breakout season last year. The former New York Gatorade Player of the Year led the Beavers with 353 kills. She had a career-high 22 kills in a win over Colorado. Vernon should likely continue to develop as a main piece of the Beavers’ attack.
Stanford — Kendall Kipp, OH
The Pac-12 Player of the Year is back for her fifth and final season. The multi-time All-American finished in the top five of the conference in kills per set (4.51), aces (43) and points per set (5.4). Kipp had 20 or more kills in nine contests last season. She also had a career-high 113 blocks in 2022. Kipp has the chance to be the first back-to-back Player of the Year in the conference since fellow Cardinal Kathryn Plummer did it in 2017 and 2018.
UCLA — Desiree Becker, MB
New UCLA head coach Alfee Reft added Northwestern graduate transfer Desiree Becker to help solidify the Bruin defense. Becker led the Wildcats with 187 blocks last season and added 177 kills as well. Becker, Anna Dodson, Iman Ndiaye and Francesca Alupei should make for quite the front line. Becker was also coached by new assistant coach Amir Lugo-Rodriguez, who also comes to Westwood via Northwestern.
USC — Skylar Fields, OH
Fields had quite the debut season for the Women of Troy. The graduate student led USC and finished second in the entire nation with 598 kills. To open Pac-12 play, Fields had eight straight games of at least 22 kills. In total, she eclipsed the 20-kill mark 17 times.
Utah — Vanessa Ramirez, Libero
Ramirez was one of the best defensive specialists in 2022. The senior finished third in total digs and digs per set in the conference. Her 461 digs were the sixth-most in a single season in school history. Ramirez was the lone Ute to start every match last season, and has played all 293 sets in her career.
Washington — May Pertofsky, OH/MB
The Huskies graduated one of the most historic classes of all-time last season, as All-Americans Claire Hoffman, Marin Grote and Ella May Powell left their mark on the Washington program. First-year head coach Leslie Gabriel needed to find production to fill those voids. Insert May Pertofsky, who spent the last four years at Michigan. Pertosky can play inside and out, giving the Huskies much needed versatility. She had 798 kills and 273 blocks during her time in Ann Arbor.
Washington State — Magda Jehlarova, MB
There is not much Magda Jehlarova hasn’t accomplished in her career at Washington State. The former Pac-12 and AVCA Freshman of the Year will close out her career already having earned All-American honors three times and All-Conference every year. Last season, she finished second in blocks per set (1.48), while providing 290 kills. She only needs 16 blocks in her final go around in Pullman to become the program’s all-time leader.
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Post by Gladys Kravitz on Jul 25, 2023 19:59:05 GMT -5
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Post by JJVb on Jul 30, 2023 21:54:17 GMT -5
Okay, who voted CAL to win the conference lol.
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Post by hammer on Jul 30, 2023 23:14:33 GMT -5
Okay, who voted CAL to win the conference lol. Likely a joker looking for a reaction. |
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Post by mikegarrison on Jul 31, 2023 0:13:15 GMT -5
Okay, who voted CAL to win the conference lol. At least they have won it once (co-champs with Stanford). This could be Oregon's or WSU's last chance to win the conference. Schools that have won: Stanford (x20) Washington (x7) UCLA (x7) USC (x5) Cal (x1) Arizona (x1) Both Arizona and Cal were co-champs in the years they won (with USC and Stanford respectively). UCLA's last win was 1999 (co-champs with Stanford), and their last non-tied win was 30 years ago, in 1993. They have won the NCAA Championship more recently than they have won the PAC. Since 2012, Stanford or Washington has won every year. (USC was co-champs with Washington in 2015.) Oregon has come in second four times (including last year), WSU twice, and ASU once. Utah's and OSU's best finishes are third. Colorado's best is fourth. OSU is 0-71 against Stanford. That is the only matchup in the conference where one team has never beaten the other. |
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trojansc
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Post by trojansc on Jul 31, 2023 1:23:03 GMT -5
OSU is 0-71 against Stanford. That is the only matchup in the conference where one team has never beaten the other. From what I see, in those 71 matches, Oregon State only pushed Stanford to 5 sets three times: 1986: (no box score found) 2000: gostanford.com/news/2000/9/16/208078107.aspx2002: gostanford.com/news/2002/10/26/208162118.aspxOne of those should be a shocker. 2002 Stanford played for the National Championship that year and was the defending National Champion. Oregon State was 2-16 that year in the PAC. Stanford had Logan Tom and Nnamani on the pins. It's not like it was some match in Corvalis.. it was AT Stanford! Noteable stat from the bocscore is OSU's 38 hitting errors - Stanford out-blocked OSU 25-2 in the match. And it went 5. |
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Post by aardvark on Jul 31, 2023 8:24:37 GMT -5
Wait..... what? You saying the Louisville Cardinals won the national championship in 2021? Was this in an alternate universe?
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Post by oldnewbie on Jul 31, 2023 12:14:49 GMT -5
Okay, who voted CAL to win the conference lol. At least they have won it once (co-champs with Stanford). This could be Oregon's or WSU's last chance to win the conference. Schools that have won: Stanford (x20) Washington (x7) UCLA (x7) USC (x5) Cal (x1) Arizona (x1) Both Arizona and Cal were co-champs in the years they won (with USC and Stanford respectively). UCLA's last win was 1999 (co-champs with Stanford), and their last non-tied win was 30 years ago, in 1993. They have won the NCAA Championship more recently than they have won the PAC. Since 2012, Stanford or Washington has won every year. (USC was co-champs with Washington in 2015.) Oregon has come in second four times (including last year), WSU twice, and ASU once. Utah's and OSU's best finishes are third. Colorado's best is fourth. OSU is 0-71 against Stanford. That is the only matchup in the conference where one team has never beaten the other. If Stanford wins this year, they will own exactly one half of the Pac-12 championships, presumably forever. This may be the leagues last chance to keep that from happening! (That is based on your breakdown, and includes co-champs) |
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