Big 12 2024

[trojansc]

Jun 24, 2024 17:31:58 GMT -5 slxpress said:

Jun 24, 2024 17:15:40 GMT -5 trojansc said:

It is oddly impressive that we know . . . nothing about UCF's 2024 non-conference schedule so far.

They’ve never appeared on anyone’s schedule? I wouldn’t even know how to check that other than by going through a lot of teams’ schedules, and I’m not doing that.

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gmvHBzlZvSncikzwH10xHTUP9vQjpEqwuWvgH0snJ8I/

[redcard🏐]

Jun 24, 2024 15:04:07 GMT -5 slxpress said:

It’s going to feel weird to me giving the award to either a Texas or OU athlete. Just one of those timing things.

Agree but it is for the 23/24 season and I think the two leading candidates, currently, are from TX or OK. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[c4ndlelight]

Jun 24, 2024 17:15:40 GMT -5 trojansc said:

It is oddly impressive that we know . . . nothing about UCF's 2024 non-conference schedule so far.

Must be a cupcake feast like none they've ever feasted on before.

[bbg95]

Jun 24, 2024 18:51:28 GMT -5 redcard🏐 said:

Jun 24, 2024 15:04:07 GMT -5 slxpress said:

It’s going to feel weird to me giving the award to either a Texas or OU athlete. Just one of those timing things.

Agree but it is for the 23/24 season and I think the two leading candidates, currently, are from TX or OK. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Yeah, I mean, if they have the best players, then they have the best players. They were in the conference for this season.

[redcard🏐]

Congratulations!!

[bluepenquin]

My plan is to start my countdown rank of the 15 teams for this year on Monday.

It is pretty tough trying to figure out 1 to 15, I can see 12 or 13 of the teams with a chance of making the tournament if things went right (not all 13 teams making the tournament, but that 13 teams could be setting a goal of making the tournament).

[dodger]

Jun 24, 2024 18:51:28 GMT -5 redcard🏐 said:

Jun 24, 2024 15:04:07 GMT -5 slxpress said:

It’s going to feel weird to me giving the award to either a Texas or OU athlete. Just one of those timing things.

Agree but it is for the 23/24 season and I think the two leading candidates, currently, are from TX or OK. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Who do you see as leading candidates: a possibility depending on how she is used is at Georgia

[bluepenquin]

Last year - the B12 non-conference w/l% was .715. Pablo prior to the season projected .678.

The preseason projection for this season per Pablo is .711

Arizona State: 11-2 (.869)
BYU: 8-2 (.827)
Iowa State: 9-2 (.807)
UCF: 7-2 (.792)
Arizona: 9-3 (.791)
Kansas: 8-2 (.786)
Cincinnati: 9-2 (.775)
Houston: 8-2 (.754)
Baylor: 7-4 (.676)
Kansas State: 6-3 (.669)
Colorado: 8-4 (.662)
TCU: 6-4 (.634)
Utah: 6-5 (.556)
Texas Tech: 7-5 (.553)
West Virginia: 6-5 (.515)

[bluepenquin]

Projected Conference Standings:

1. Arizona State (15-3)
2. Kansas (13-5)
3. BYU (13-5)
4. Houston (13-5)
5. Baylor (11-7)
6. Kansas State (11-7)
7. TCU (10-8)
8. Iowa State (9-9)
9. UCF (8-10)
10. Colorado (8-10)
11. Cincinnati (6-12)
12. Utah (6-12)
13. Arizona (5-13)
14. Texas Tech (4-14)
15. West Virginia (3-15)

[bluepenquin]

#15 WEST VIRGINIA

2023 Record: 9-22 (2-16)
2023 Palbo Rank: 148
NCAA Tournament: No

Returning Starters: 3 of 7
2X Conference Schedule: Cincinnati, Kansas, Kansas State, UCF

Players Lost:
Bailey Miller - OH
Tierney Jackson - MB
Emma Beretich - MB
Camilla Covas - L

Players Returning:
Haley Green - OH
Lauren DeLo - S
Maddy McGath - MB
Quincey Coyle - OH/DS
Lauren Bodily - RS

Player Additions:
Cassidy Tanton - OH (transfer from Auburn)
Laila Ibrahim - MB (transfer from Coppin State)
Alexis Finnvold - S (transfer from Louisville)
Charlina Lederer - MB (transfer from a CC in Germany)
Nina Svetina - OH (FR from Slovenia)

Projected Starters:
S: Lauren DeLo: 6-2 GR
OH Haley Green: 6-2 SR
OH: Nina Svetina 6-0 FR
MB: Maddy McGath: 6-2 SO
MB: Laila Ibrahim: 6-1 JR
RS: Lauren Bodily: 6-4 JR
L: Sydney Reed: 5-6 SR
DS: Quincy Coyle: 6-0 JR

West Virginia was the worst team in conference last year. Their 2 conference wins came at home in 5 sets against TCU and Cincinnati. The team was pretty young rebuilding from their 2021 team that made the NCAA tournament.

4 starters left via the transfer portal. Jen Greeny gets hired from Washington State to coach. Greeny with three consecutive seasons of 20+ wins at Washington State (and Washington State has been good since 2016), will be in charge what isn't an easy rebuild at West Virginia. Half the team left, and since this was such a young team, there wasn't anything in the 2024 pipeline. It will not be until 2026 that Greeny will be able to start fresh on a full recruiting class. So, for now - she had to go bargain basement hunting in the portal and potentially use her magic with international players.

This year's team may hinge on Freshman Sventina and transfers Lederer, Ibrahim, and Reed being good quickly. The team has lost most of their serve receive - only Coyle returns with more than 200 attempts last year. They will also have to replace the scoring from Miller and Jackson. Haley Green (who transferred last year from Denver) led the team in scoring and Maddy McGath was among the better Freshman in the conference. DeLo was the setter all season - and those are the 3 starters from last year that they will have to build around. I consider last year's #148 rank to be a realistic baseline for this season.

[JJVb]

Jul 29, 2024 9:57:42 GMT -5 bluepenquin said:

#15 WEST VIRGINIA

2023 Record: 9-22 (2-16)
2023 Palbo Rank: 148
NCAA Tournament: No

Returning Starters: 3 of 7
2X Conference Schedule: Cincinnati, Kansas, Kansas State, UCF

Players Lost:
Bailey Miller - OH
Tierney Jackson - MB
Emma Beretich - MB
Camilla Covas - L

Players Returning:
Haley Green - OH
Lauren DeLo - S
Maddy McGath - MB
Quincey Coyle - OH/DS
Lauren Bodily - RS

Player Additions:
Cassidy Tanton - OH (transfer from Auburn)
Laila Ibrahim - MB (transfer from Coppin State)
Alexis Finnvold - S (transfer from Louisville)
Charlina Lederer - MB (transfer from a CC in Germany)
Nina Svetina - OH (FR from Slovenia)

Projected Starters:
S: Lauren DeLo: 6-2 GR
OH Haley Green: 6-2 SR
OH: Nina Svetina 6-0 FR
MB: Maddy McGath: 6-2 SO
MB: Laila Ibrahim: 6-1 JR
RS: Lauren Bodily: 6-4 JR
L: Sydney Reed: 5-6 SR
DS: Quincy Coyle: 6-0 JR

West Virginia was the worst team in conference last year. Their 2 conference wins came at home in 5 sets against TCU and Cincinnati. The team was pretty young rebuilding from their 2021 team that made the NCAA tournament.

4 starters left via the transfer portal. Jen Greeny gets hired from Washington State to coach. Greeny with three consecutive seasons of 20+ wins at Washington State (and Washington State has been good since 2016), will be in charge what isn't an easy rebuild at West Virginia. Half the team left, and since this was such a young team, there wasn't anything in the 2024 pipeline. It will not be until 2026 that Greeny will be able to start fresh on a full recruiting class. So, for now - she had to go bargain basement hunting in the portal and potentially use her magic with international players.

This year's team may hinge on Freshman Sventina and transfers Lederer, Ibrahim, and Reed being good quickly. The team has lost most of their serve receive - only Coyle returns with more than 200 attempts last year. They will also have to replace the scoring from Miller and Jackson. Haley Green (who transferred last year from Denver) led the team in scoring and Maddy McGath was among the better Freshman in the conference. DeLo was the setter all season - and those are the 3 starters from last year that they will have to build around. I consider last year's #148 rank to be a realistic baseline for this season.

Makes sense. You think Coyle starts at DS over Kristen McBride? She did last year, as McBride did not play at all in 2023. Was that injury caused or Coyle was better in that spot?

[bluepenquin]

Jul 29, 2024 18:52:25 GMT -5 JJVb said:

Jul 29, 2024 9:57:42 GMT -5 bluepenquin said:

Makes sense. You think Coyle starts at DS over Kristen McBride? She did last year, as McBride did not play at all in 2023. Was that injury caused or Coyle was better in that spot?

I suspect they will use 2 DS's - at least they did last year.  I didn't know enough to know about McBride.  She barely played in 2022 and had no stats in 2023.  I see that Coyle started at OH in 2022 and was 3rd on the team in scoring.  So really no clue how they will handle the 2nd OH and L/DS's.  I think best case scenario is Svetina is good and plays 6 rotations.  That would put Coyle as a DS like last year.  Bodily would need a DS and probably Green also.  

[bluepenquin]

#14 TEXAS TECH

2023 Record: 11-19 (4-14)
2023 Pablo: #119 (14th in Conference)
NCAA Tournament: No

Returning Starters: 4 of 7 (although they did play some 6-2 last year)
2X Conference Schedule: Baylor, Houston, Iowa State, TCU

Players Lost:
Caitlin Dugan - OH
Kate Hansen - MB
Reese Rhodes - S

Players Returning:
Brynn Williams - OH
Emily Merrick - RS
Reagan Engler - MB
Katelyn Cochran - S
Maddie Correa - L
Addie Dickinson - DS

Player Additions:
Aliyah McDonald - MB (transfer from Oregon State)
Jasmine Martin - MB (transfer from Washington State)
Hanna Borer - S (transfer from Virginia Tech)
Mia Wesley - OH (transfer from Southern Miss)
Reagan Leinen - OH (transfer from Southern Miss)
Lola Davila - L (Freshman)

Projected Starters:
S: Katelyn Cochran: 6-1 SO
S: Hanna Borer: 6-0 JR
OH: Brynn Williams: 5-10 JR
OH: Mia Wesley: 5-11 SR
MB: Reagan Engler: 6-1 SO
MB: Aliyah McDonald: 6-0 SR+
RS: Emily Merrick: 6-4 GR
RS: Reagan Leinen: 6-0 SR+
L: Maddie Correa: 5-6 SR

Like West Virginia, Texas Tech was a tournament team in 2021. They were setup for one more run in 2022, but had a disappointing season (#50 in Pablo). 2023 looked like it was going to be a struggle as they were losing their top 5 scorers in Kenna Sauer, Reagan Cooper, Brooke Kanas, Kerrington Jones, and Maddie O'Brien. The team dropped from #50 in Pablo down to #119 in what was the start of a near complete rebuild.

This year's team loses 2 starters to graduation from last year's team in their leading scorer in Caitlin Dugan and their primary setter in Rhodes. However - they seem to have been very successful in the transfer portal plus they had some nice returns from several Freshman and the development of Brynn Williams who now becomes the leader of the team. Hard to say what the lineup will end up being, but there is a lot of depth and options available.

Freshman Katelyn Cochran ended up getting a lot of time as a setter last year. Hanna Borer was the 5-1 setter for Virginia Tech. Either has the size to effectively play in a 5-1 with Texas Tech or allows them to use a 6-2 (not sure what they will do, but they have options). Brynn Williams broke out last year as a 6 rotation OH and they brought in Mia Wesley from Southern Miss who was a 6 rotation player. This also allows them to go forward with a 6-2 if they want. Emily Merrick started at RS and was 3rd on the team in scoring. If they go with a 6-2 - they have Southern Miss transfer Reagan Leinen who started at RS last year - or they move one of their middles to RS (Engler has played some RS). Reagan Engler debut as a freshman last year and started the entire season. Oregon State transfer Aliyah McDonald should step in to start the other MB position. Senior Maddie Correa has the inside track to being the libero again - but Abby Dickinson was solid as a freshman last year and this year's freshman Lola Davila could be in the mix.

I think this team will be better this year - but they are coming from a place much farther behind the rest of the conference (except West Virginia) - and I think most of those teams will also be better this year. The depth, starting experience, and better starting point make them ahead of West Virginia in my mind.  Of note - this is a tough conference schedule.

[bluepenquin]

#13 CINCINNATI

2023 Record: 12-16 (5-13)
2023 Pablo: #83 (12th in Conference)
NCAA Tournament: No

Returning Starters: (5 of 7)
2X Conference Schedule: Baylor, TCU, UCF, West Virginia

Players Lost:
Carly Skrabak - L
Elissa Alcantara - OH
Jadyn Bauss - OH
Shaye Eggleston - OH


Players Returning:
Katelyn Lefler - S
Abby Walker - OH
Zeta Washington - MB
Carly Glendinning - JR
Ligia Williams - MB
Kayla Hostetler - DS
Julie Wittekind - DS

Player Additions:
Sydney Nolan - OH (transfer from North Carolina)
Fallon Steward - OH (Freshman)
Janelle Green - S (Freshman)

Projected Starters:
S: Katelyn Lefler: 6-0 SR
OH: Carly Glendinning: 6-2 JR
OH: Sydney Nolan: 6-4 SO
MB: Zeta Washington: 6-2 SO
MB: Ligia Williams: 5-11 JR
L: Kayla Hostetler: 5-6 SO
DS: Julie Wittekind: 5-8 SR

2023 could have turned out better. Jadyn Bauss transferred from SMU and was their best player, but only played in 11 matches. Shaye Eggleston only played in 5 matches. I assume both was due to injury, and that most certainly hurt the team. Freshman Zeta Washington solidified the MB position (2023 Fab 50 recruit). Abby Walker led the team in scoring from the RS. And Illinois State transfer Katelyn Lefler took over the setting for the entire season (Caroline Endres started in 2022, didn't play in 2023, and is still on the roster). Carly Glendinning remained as a 6 rotation OH but seemed to take a step back in 2023.

Walker, Washington, and Lefler provide a solid foundation heading into 2024. Hopefully Glendinning can get back to her freshman year performance (or improve on it). Fallon Stewart could very easily be the 2nd OH - probably between her and Sydney Nolan. Stewart played 6 rotations in club, but I think she probably needs more work there at the next level. I think she should be fine on the front row. Williams returns as the 2nd MB. The team loses their libero but bring back both of their DS's. Freshman Janelle Green (daughter of NFL QB Trent Green) is possibly the setter after this year and they still have 2022 starting setter Endres.

I went back and forth between Cincinnati and who ends up #12, but finally settled with Cincinnati here. I think they should be better than last year, and I do think they are recruiting pretty well these days.

[bluepenquin]

#12 UTAH

2023 Record: 11-19 (6-14)
2023 Pablo: #74 (11th in Conference)
2023 NCAA Tournament: No

6 of 7 starters return
2X conference schedule: Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Colorado

Players Lost:
Viktoria Wahlgren - S
KJ Burgess - MB (transfer to Oklahoma)
Emily Smith - DS/S

Players Returning:
Lauren Jardine - OH
Kamryn Gilbadlo - OH
Allie Olsen - MB
Emrie Satuala - MB
Kamry Bailey - OH
Vanessa Ramirez - L
Ameilia Van Der Werff - MB/RS
Ashley West - RS

Player Additions:
Claranne Fechter - L (transfer from Campbell)
Grace Moss - L (transfer from CSU Bakersfield)
Isabelle Marco - S (Freshmnan)
Levani Key-Powell - OH (Freshman)

Projected Lineup:
S: Grace Hammond: 6-2 SR
OH: Lauren Jardine: 6-2 SR
OH Kamryn Gibadlo: 6-1 SO
MB: Allie Olsen: 6-3 SR+
MB: Emrie Satuala: 6-0 JR
RS: Amelia Van Der Werff: 6-3 SR+
L: Vanessa Ramirez: 5-4 SR+
DS: Claranne Fechter: 5-9 GR
DS: Grace Moss: 5-5 SO

Utah came into 2023 without most of their passing, setting and their top scorer from 2022. KJ Burgess who had 1.2 b/s and hit .376 as a freshman in 2022 was hurt and only played 3 matches last year (and has now transferred to Oklahoma). Kamry Bailey took over for Robinson at OH as a 6 rotation player, but wasn't nearly as effective as a scorer. Wahlgren took over the setting and Emily Smith moved to DS. The season wasn't surprising as they have fallen since 2021.

The good news for this season - most of the team returns. The bad news - they weren't particularly good last year and they weren't particularly young. Losing Burgess doesn't help, but they didn't have her last year. Kamryn Gibadlo had a successful freshman season making the PAC Freshman team. Gibadlo and leading attacker Lauren Jardine should be starting on the outside. Olsen and Satuala return as starters at MB. Ramirez returns as the libero and both transfers were starting liberos for their team last year. The real question will be who is going to set and who will be on the RS? The setter position is between senior Grace Hammond and freshman Isabelle Marco, while the RS spot is between Van Der Werff and Ashley West (West started for Utah at RS in 2022 and didn't play last year). They also will have Kamry Bailey (who started all season last year - and had about double the number of serve receives as anyone else on the team) and 5-9 freshman OH Levani Key-Powell. The hope is that Gibadlo keeps getting better and they better solidify their passing with different players (plus figure out the setter position). I don't think the upside for Utah this year is super high, but given that most of their players are returning and they will have an experienced bench - they are likely to be better than last year.