Future of MSU

[tigfan]

From what I know, MSU needs some help this offseason for '06 and '07... have they had anyone commit yet for these seasons? It would seem as if they need 1, if not 2 setters due to the fact that their ONLY setter is graduating... it would seem to me that they should look at transfers that might be able to come in Jan. to set for the spring season... The Spartans are also without ANY middles for the upcoming season as far as I know (wallin and langston will graduate.) Again, are they going to put their stock in freshmen, or are they going to look at transfers? I'm a long-time fan of the Spartans and I'm getting nervous that they have no commitments... any word?

[Deleted]

They have three 2006 commits according to Ron's site:

www.richkern.com/vb/recruits/schoolsub.asp?let=M-O&Div=DI&VBYear=2006

[abcd098]

tigfan said:

The Spartans are also without ANY middles for the upcoming season as far as I know (wallin and langston will graduate.)

The Spartans will still have a few middles after this season. Hohl has played middle for most of this season (I think she has moved to RS in the last few matches). Caroline Belich and Erin Rice also play middle. I've never seen any of them play so I don't know what that position will look like next season.

[wcoastvbfan]

MSU will struggle after this season. 3 senior starters are going to be hard to replace. From looking at their 06 class, they'll be seeing the court sooner than they thought!

[bucky415]

I think MSU fans are just happy that they aren't struggling mightily this season at this point. They will need to play newcomers next year, obviously, but starting out with Colaluca and Johnson is a good start for them. I have heard that the defense and passing are much improved this year, so at least they have improved in an area that has been their primary weakness for years.

[ESTRELLA]

bucky415 said:

I think MSU fans are just happy that they aren't struggling mightily this season at this point. They will need to play newcomers next year, obviously, but starting out with Colaluca and Johnson is a good start for them. I have heard that the defense and passing are much improved this year, so at least they have improved in an area that has been their primary weakness for years.

First they had no prayer to do well because they lost some players. Now they will have no prayer next year because they are loosing some key seniors. Doesn't every program graduate seniors??? Yes.

Coach is doing a good job with what she has and they will do well again next year. Volleyball is a team sport, made out of individuals working together for a common goal. You don't have TO HAVE individual stars to have a great team.

Wonder where are all those MSU bashers of spring.

ESTRELLA

[abcd098]

Does anyone know anything about the 06 recruits for MSU? They are Vanessa King (MB), Whitney Tremain (MB/RS) , and Katie Vander Meer (setter), all from Michigan.

[Spartacus]

estrella said:

First they had no prayer to do well because they lost some players. Now they will have no prayer next year because they are loosing some key seniors. Doesn't every program graduate seniors??? Yes.

Coach is doing a good job with what she has and they will do well again next year. Volleyball is a team sport, made out of individuals working together for a common goal. You don't have TO HAVE individual stars to have a great team.

Wonder where are all those MSU bashers of spring.

ESTRELLA

Looking at the MSU roster this spring I admit, I thought they would struggle more this season. The season is young and they still have some big tests ahead of them but they are being more competitive than I had imagined.

Davis has stepped up and is doing good, Johnson is the big offensive weapon who has shown some maturity, Wallin is ok not the Wallin before her injury, Langston is her old anemic inconsistent self, the real key this year is the improved defense and passing thanks to Colaluca.

True, every team loses seniors and key players. MSU at least right now does not have any solid replacement players for 2006 and 2007 and the setting will be the hardest position to fill. They will have a very young inexperienced team in 2006, Cathy George will have her hands full grooming and developing players. I might be wrong again but I think MSU will survive this season barring any injuries and really struggle next year.

The only hope for next year is If George scores some seasoned transfers or finds any unsigned talent. George needs to broaden her recruiting outside of Michigan, this is to easy and how much talent is in the state of Michigan? Michigan is not a hotbed of junior level volleyball! It is ok to recruit some raw projects but you also need some players that can step on the court and play.

[bucky415]

I was thinking that you don't see all that many players come out of Michigan, so you might need to look for talent elsewhere. Of course, it would have helped Michigan or MSU to get either Price or McGinnis, but it wasn't like the state schools got beat out by Northeastern Oklahoma State for those two. Why isn't volleyball all that strong in Michigan, even as compared to a state like Wisconsin? Is it the quirky high school schedule where they play at a different time from everywhere else in the country? That could easily screw up recruiting timetables and club competition.

[2c]

bucky415 said:

I was thinking that you don't see all that many players come out of Michigan, so you might need to look for talent elsewhere. Of course, it would have helped Michigan or MSU to get either Price or McGinnis, but it wasn't like the state schools got beat out by Northeastern Oklahoma State for those two. Why isn't volleyball all that strong in Michigan, even as compared to a state like Wisconsin? Is it the quirky high school schedule where they play at a different time from everywhere else in the country? That could easily screw up recruiting timetables and club competition.

Yeah, if a school gets beat out by OklaState for a VB recruit, I think serious consideration of that coaches contract is in order.