Post by ScottsTots on Dec 20, 2023 9:14:04 GMT -5
Hope it's OK that I started this thread. Weird to say, but I think this actually doesn't get talked about enough: Pitt going Elite 8 - Final 4 - Final 4 - Final 4 is truly incredible. Prior to the 2018 AVCA pre-season poll, the Pitt volleyball program hadn't been ranked in the Top 25 since the 1992 pre-season poll. Since the start of 2018, they've finished 14-11-8-4-4-4. Dan Fisher is some kind of sick genius.
(*I'm guessing/assuming a medical redshirt, but if not, shift one column to the left)
It's crazy to come off three straight Final Fours and yet not have all that many questions going into the following year. I'll posit two:
Who is MB2? I don't think we've seen enough of Jepsen to know much, but I think she's had some good moments. Someone in another thread mentioned an international middle is also headed to Pitt, but I don't know anything about that (edited to add: as we've learned, this is Bianca Garibaldi). Pitt quickly went from a traffic jam at the position to Cat Flood as the backup in 2023, so depth is important.
What's the plan at OH2? I was a bit surprised when Vazquez Gomez announced she was coming back. Certainly a good problem to have if it can be managed (and I trust Fish as the one to manage it), but can Bayless win the spot? If not, can they find the appropriate balance for her development? Between the three of them (including Stafford), can their passing/defense make the necessary improvement at the position?
Already looking forward to August 2024!
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Edit (Sept. 4): Added Nisa Buzlutepe to the roster. Welcome Nisa!
Edit (June 15): Added Dalia Vîrlan to the roster. Welcome Dalia!
Edit (May 25): Removed Rachel Jepsen from the roster.
Edit (Feb. 17): Added Cat Flood to the roster. Welcome back Cat!
Edit (Jan. 18): Removed Julianna Dalton from the roster. Thanks for your time as a Pitt Panther Julianna!
Edit (Jan. 17): Added Bianca Garibaldi to the roster. Welcome Bianca!
| One Year Left | Two Years Left | Three Years Left | Four Years Left |
| OH Valeria Vazquez Gomez S/RS Rachel Fairbanks L/DS Emmy Klika SS/OH Cat Flood S Nisa Buzlutepe | MB Bre Kelley* DS/SS Dillyn Griffin | RS Olivia Babcock OH Torrey Stafford OH Blaire Bayless S Haiti Tautua'a | MB Ryla Jones MB Bianca Garibaldi MB Dalia Vîrlan S/RS Kiana Dinn DS/L Mallorie Meyer |
(*I'm guessing/assuming a medical redshirt, but if not, shift one column to the left)
It's crazy to come off three straight Final Fours and yet not have all that many questions going into the following year. I'll posit two:
Who is MB2? I don't think we've seen enough of Jepsen to know much, but I think she's had some good moments. Someone in another thread mentioned an international middle is also headed to Pitt, but I don't know anything about that (edited to add: as we've learned, this is Bianca Garibaldi). Pitt quickly went from a traffic jam at the position to Cat Flood as the backup in 2023, so depth is important.
What's the plan at OH2? I was a bit surprised when Vazquez Gomez announced she was coming back. Certainly a good problem to have if it can be managed (and I trust Fish as the one to manage it), but can Bayless win the spot? If not, can they find the appropriate balance for her development? Between the three of them (including Stafford), can their passing/defense make the necessary improvement at the position?
Already looking forward to August 2024!
----------
Edit (Sept. 4): Added Nisa Buzlutepe to the roster. Welcome Nisa!
Edit (June 15): Added Dalia Vîrlan to the roster. Welcome Dalia!
Edit (May 25): Removed Rachel Jepsen from the roster.
Edit (Feb. 17): Added Cat Flood to the roster. Welcome back Cat!
Edit (Jan. 18): Removed Julianna Dalton from the roster. Thanks for your time as a Pitt Panther Julianna!
Edit (Jan. 17): Added Bianca Garibaldi to the roster. Welcome Bianca!
