Post by ballvolley on May 2, 2024 1:39:18 GMT -5
Roster
Graduate/5th year
Alexa Rousseau+ | 6'3 | S
Sophie Summers | 6'3 | MB ('24 transfer from Washington)^
Senior
Amaya Ariel | 5'11 | OH/MB
Juniors
Lauren Carter | 5'10 | S ('23 transfer from Denver)
Rachel Johnson | 6'0 | OH ('24 transfer from Holy Cross)
Buse Hazan | 6'0 | OH ('24 transfer from USF)
Kennedy Hill+ | 6'1 | MB
Kathryn Randorf | 6'1 | OH/Opp
Rylen Reid | 5'11 | OH
Sophomores
Gigi Navarette+ | 5'6 | Libero/DS
Sienna Noordermeer* | 5'11 | S
Lily Wagner | 5'11 | OH ('24 transfer from Liberty)
Drew Wright+ | 5'11 | Libero/DS
Freshmen
Ava Pratt | 6'2 | OH | Adversity VBC
Cleo Hardin | 6'3 | Opp/OH | Vision VBC
*redshirt
^tbd on total years remaining; at Washington: 2019: redshirt; 2020-21: R-Fr; 2021: R-Soph; 2022: R-Jr.; 2023: DNP college vball
2025 Commits
Bella Bullington | 6'2 | OH | Sports Performance VBC
2026 Commits
Hayley Schaff | 6'3 | MB | Athena VB Academy
Clara Schramm | 6'2 | OH/Opp | Arizona Sky Volleyball
Ellie Stiernagle | 6'1 | S | Sports Performance
Maya Stillwell | 6'4 | MB | SCVC
Who's Gone for 2024
Julia Sangiacomo+ | Gr | 6'5 | OH | '23 transfer from Santa Clara; 2023 All-B1G 1st Team & AVCA All-Region
Maddy Chin+ | Gr | 6'3 | Opp/OH | '23 transfer from Purdue
Ellie Husemann | Gr | 6'3 | MB | transfer from Minnesota
Leilani Dodson+ | Sr | 6'1 | MB | '21 transfer from BYU; transferred to UCLA for COVID bonus season
Natalie Chizzo | Sr | 6'3 | OH | transferred to UIC for COVID bonus season
Ellee Stinson+ | Jr | 5'2 | LIB | Starting libero | transferred to Texas A&M for senior season
Averie Hernandez+ | Soph | 6'2 | OH | transferred to Illinois for junior season
+2023 starter
Overview
After what looked to be a long-awaited turnaround '22 season in TTA's senior year, hopes were dashed when both setters were injured late in the season and the 'Cats missed out on what looked like their first NCAA postseason bid since 2010. After TTA and 2 other starters went elsewhere for their COVID bonus season, 2023 looked grim, but then showed glimmers of brilliance with grad transfer Julia Sangiocomo putting up crazy numbers that earned her All-B1G and All-Region first team honors. But injuries kept her on the sidelines too many times, yielding a mediocre 15-15 record and yet another postseason miss. That led to Shane Davis's anticipated ouster, and a longer-than-expected search that resulted in the hiring Tim Nollan, who took GCU to the NCAA tournament in '23 as head coach, and before that has successful run as associate head coach at USC.
As 2024 looms, things are a little shaky, namely because the Wildcats lost a LOT to graduation. the transfer portal, and one key '24 decommit. Thus, Nollan faces a tall rebuilding task in his first season. On the positive, Nollan has picked up 3 additions (so far) via the portal, but on the negative the surprisingly strong 2025 class has dwindled from 3 to 1, with star recruit Manaia Ogbechie reversing course and committing to Nebraska. Reese Dunkle recommitted to Stanford, but much of the chatter all along was that she wasn't B1G material. The big question: will any of his 2025 GCU commits switch course and join him in Evanston?
The cupboard is quite bare in terms of returning starters, but the Cats do return Kennedy Hill, a dynamic middle who is quick with big hops and led the team in blocks, and defensive specialists Gigi Navarette and Drew Wright. With Ellee Stinson's early departure, prep star Navarette should get the libero jersey after a solid rookie season, though Wright might be the better passer of the two and has plenty of court time under her belt.
At setter, Sienna Nordermeer, who redshirted last year after an impressive stand-in for Rousseau until her own injury in 2022, will likely have to wait around yet again since 4-year starter Alexa Rousseau announced she was staying in Evanston for her COVID bonus year (unless Nollan trains Rousseau at opposite – unlikely, but with a thin roster you never know). Lauren Carter is also capable and saw limited time as a serving sub last season. She will likely continue as a backup, unless Nollan decides to redshirt her.
On the pins 2022 All-B1G freshman pick Randorf is back after a rough sophomore season that saw her move to the left and struggle mightily, then see limited playing time behind Averie Hernandez and Maddy Chinn on either pin. Look for her to start at opposite in 2024, but an outside hitter spot isn't out of the question, and with only 2 middles on the roster she may have to cross-train in her old high school and club spot (she blocked middle but attacked mostly on the pins in SR and in transition). Hernandez, a 6-rotation player and the most consistent outside, jumped into the spring portal and is headed to in-state rival Illinois for her last 2 years of eligibility, creating an even bigger void on the outside. But the middle is where they are thinnest, especially since Leilani Dodson, who played the best of her career in 2023, transferred to UCLA for her COVID year.
The Cats bring in five new players, all of whom will likely be called on to contribute asap.
Ava Pratt, the highest profile (and for a while, only) 2024 recruit was impressive in high school with her ball control, jump, and heavy arm, will likely get the chance to start on the left. An ACL year a year ago has kept her on the recovery sidelines, but she led her Adversity team to a runner-up finish in the 18 National division earning All-Tournament honors. Lily Wagner, a 5'11 OH and daughter of Wisconsin All-American Amy Lee who saw limited playing time at Liberty, will join in the fall and will most likely be a back-row sub. True freshman Cleo Hardin flipped her commitment from Yale, giving a little more size at 6'3 and depth at either pin, but she didn't appear to be starting for her Vision 18-1 team in the late stretch of the club season. All-AAC First Team selection Buse Hazan, a 6'0 OH transfer from South Florida, committed in June, giving the 'Cats a proven terminator for the next 2 seasons after leading the Bulls with 467 kills (3.8 kps) and 46 aces (.37 aps) in 2023. Finally, the Cats added Rachel Johnson, who led Holy Cross with 3.63 kps a season ago and brings two years of starting experience – but the Crusaders won all of 4 matches in 2023, and the Patriot League isn't a volleyball hotbed.
