Kansas 2024

[bluepenquin]

We now have 2 verbal commits for 2026.

Taylor Stanley, RS, Dynasty: Stanley is probably the #1 recruit out of Kansas City in this class - probably inside the T100 recruit nationally. Listed as the #6 RS nationally in the class by one source. I believe a RH opposite. Listed at 6-2.

Ryan Sadler, OH, A5: Sadler is listed at 6-1, but I am not sure she is that tall. She has great leaps, appears to be a front row OH. I have seen her listed as the #2 OH in this class from the state of Georgia. And A5 is consistently among the very best clubs in the country.

[JJVb]

I'm predicting 8-2 noncon. Purdue, Creighton, and Marquette are the toughest ones. How do we think they do vs them?

[buttery]

Jul 19, 2024 10:02:36 GMT -5 JJVb said:

I'm predicting 8-2 noncon. Purdue, Creighton, and Marquette are the toughest ones. How do we think they do vs them?

I’m gonna go a little bit more optimistic and say we’ll go 9-1. I think one of Creighton/Purdue will get us, and I’m betting on Creighton; but I do think we’ll split one and be able to beat Marquette on the road. I also think at Duke will probably somehow being more of a nail biter than I think too.

This is basically the same team as last years sans Cooper and a middle (and Myers was solid, but not known for her offensive productivity last year) and I think KU will be able to avoid common early season struggles that a lot of teams face (serve receive, setter-hitter connections, etc.) due to the fact that all of these are carry overs from last season. The Europe trip also helps as well.

Again, biggest concern is getting some more middle production and the other OH being terminal to pair with Elnady. I think between Bien/Nelson/Swanson, they’ll be able to make it work, and especially against Creighton-Purdue-Marquette, you’ll see Bechard make changes throughout the game to give the blockers a different look (all 3 are different types of hitters in their own right).

My expectations are admittedly high for this team - 10-0 is very very possible, and this schedule is by no means “weak” either. Good job by KU for putting a thoughtful schedule like this together.

[amamill]

Jul 19, 2024 10:02:36 GMT -5 JJVb said:

I'm predicting 8-2 noncon. Purdue, Creighton, and Marquette are the toughest ones. How do we think they do vs them?

I like this no con for Kansas. Hoping for another nail biter with Purdue.

[buttery]

Hawks got their 3rd commit for the 2026 class - Jaeli Rutledge, a 6’1” MB out of Webb City. Looks to play for an unknown club team, but looks very athletic from what I’ve been able to find online. She seems to be a lot taller than 6’1” but it might be that the other players in the clip are that much shorter. Looks to have great potential - reminds me some of Aiono (who I would have liked to have seen the court more last season…she stuffed blocked Texas hitters a handful of times in the second matchup in Austin last year).

I don’t know how recruited Rutledge was, but you’ve gotta love how KU’s going to continue to find under recruited players and turn them into great players. Obviously, Camryn Turner is prime example - crazy to think she might’ve been setting at Washburn had Kendra Wait chosen to go to KU instead of Creighton - at this point I’d pick Turner if I was building my own team.

[JJVb]

[friendlybanter]

Was anyone able to catch the KU team scrim? Any idea who has taken the OH role opposite of Elnady?

[buttery]

Aug 18, 2024 16:38:46 GMT -5 friendlybanter said:

Was anyone able to catch the KU team scrim? Any idea who has taken the OH role opposite of Elnady?

Was not there so not very helpful, but I get the sense they mix things up quite a bit for the scrimmage and the best indicator of what the starting line-up will be is against Drake. From some IG clips I saw, Bien was hitting at one point but wearing the libero jersey in the next clip - wouldn’t put too much stock into it.

In other news, I’m glad to see KU come in at preseason #13…those are high expectations and I hope this team is ready for them.

[JJVb]

[buttery]

Would love to know if anyone attended the Drake exhibition.

From social media and IG posts, which are my only sources of info and from last year, the 1st set probably is indicative of what the starting line-uo is. It seems Aiono could be the 2nd MB along with Onabanjo. She came in the 2nd game against Texas and had some good blocks, so would be interesting. I’m guessing Burgess is also getting up to speed and could be the starter by the end of the season. Also - Bien looked to be opposite Elnady at OH. Interestingly too, it seems McCarthy might be the DS for Davis.

This is all dangerous speculation from seeing highlights from the first set - at least I’m bumping the thread.

[bluepenquin]

Aug 24, 2024 20:54:47 GMT -5 buttery said:

Would love to know if anyone attended the Drake exhibition.

From social media and IG posts, which are my only sources of info and from last year, the 1st set probably is indicative of what the starting line-uo is. It seems Aiono could be the 2nd MB along with Onabanjo. She came in the 2nd game against Texas and had some good blocks, so would be interesting. I’m guessing Burgess is also getting up to speed and could be the starter by the end of the season. Also - Bien looked to be opposite Elnady at OH. Interestingly too, it seems McCarthy might be the DS for Davis.

This is all dangerous speculation from seeing highlights from the first set - at least I’m bumping the thread.

Interesting and surprising.

Aiono:  A weakness for this team is blocking, and I can see Aiono being force at blocking.  However, I do think her offense is limited and I believe it is important that this team gets more offense out of its middles.  This also could be just a 'freshman' thing.  Burgess (or Ptacek) has the size and athleticism to be excellent blockers while being able to provide something on the offensive end.  There is also something to be said for a player earning playing time instead of just given playing time.  Aiono kind of reminds my of Dooley's skillset (less a couple inches).

McCarthy: Dalton has been so valuable as a setter being good enough on defense (and serve receive) to be the DS for the RS.  One of the advantages is the potential saved substitutions when subbing out Turner for a blocker late in the set.  And this becomes much less important when you have Elnady and Bien playing 6 rotations (they can just take 2 subs and do a double sub with Dalton).  Then it becomes more of - is McCarthy (or someone else) better on defense/serving?  

[buttery]

Aug 25, 2024 11:58:43 GMT -5 bluepenquin said:

Aug 24, 2024 20:54:47 GMT -5 buttery said:

Would love to know if anyone attended the Drake exhibition.

From social media and IG posts, which are my only sources of info and from last year, the 1st set probably is indicative of what the starting line-uo is. It seems Aiono could be the 2nd MB along with Onabanjo. She came in the 2nd game against Texas and had some good blocks, so would be interesting. I’m guessing Burgess is also getting up to speed and could be the starter by the end of the season. Also - Bien looked to be opposite Elnady at OH. Interestingly too, it seems McCarthy might be the DS for Davis.

This is all dangerous speculation from seeing highlights from the first set - at least I’m bumping the thread.

Interesting and surprising.

Aiono:  A weakness for this team is blocking, and I can see Aiono being force at blocking.  However, I do think her offense is limited and I believe it is important that this team gets more offense out of its middles.  This also could be just a 'freshman' thing.  Burgess (or Ptacek) has the size and athleticism to be excellent blockers while being able to provide something on the offensive end.  There is also something to be said for a player earning playing time instead of just given playing time.  Aiono kind of reminds my of Dooley's skillset (less a couple inches).

McCarthy: Dalton has been so valuable as a setter being good enough on defense (and serve receive) to be the DS for the RS.  One of the advantages is the potential saved substitutions when subbing out Turner for a blocker late in the set.  And this becomes much less important when you have Elnady and Bien playing 6 rotations (they can just take 2 subs and do a double sub with Dalton).  Then it becomes more of - is McCarthy (or someone else) better on defense/serving?  

Re: Aiono - I do feel like Bechard has always heavily preferred disciplined and strong blocking in a middle compared to offense.

With Dalton, I also wondered how much less of an advantage it is to have a setter playing DS with the new double-contact rule. It should be theoretically much easier for all players to set the ball OOS to a pin. Now I will say, I really enjoyed the last 1/3 of the season last year when KU would surprise teams and have Dalton set in-system and turn Turner into a hitter - it caused confusion for teams and Dalton is also not shy about setting the middles in that situation to where there is almost zero chance you’ll have a non-setter make those sets. But to your point, if McCarthy is passing dimes on par with Bien/Burns; then that serve receive advantage might outweigh Dalton’s unique setter abilities at DS.

An alternative theory is that Dalton redshirts this year and then almost undoubtedly has 2 years to run a 5-1 in 2026 and 2027. McGehe have 2 more years of eligibility, McCarthy has 3; and that veteran presence will be needed next year when Bien/Turner/Davis/Onabanjo and likely Elnady depart. I also found the addition of Ellie Moore to the roster interesting - clearly Kansas was comfortable having only 2 setters on the roster last year and they seemingly aren’t this year.

If I’m Dalton though - no chance I miss out on what is probably the most viable opportunity since 2017 to play a meaningful role on a team that I very well believe has the potential to play in a regional final game.

[buttery]

Of course I have a flight during this match, but the starting line-up does indeed have Bien at OH and Aiono at MB vs. South Carolina.

[gatorjay]

Think we see Burgess at all today?

[buttery]

Aug 30, 2024 14:38:26 GMT -5 gatorjay said:

Think we see Burgess at all today?

Both middles are 3 of 3 in the first set, so I wouldn’t bet on it.

McGehe the DS for Davis and it appears freshman Heidi Devers has been the serving sub for Aiono.