Gopher Volleyball 2019

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Gopher volleyball and basketball recruit, Lauren Ware, leads Bismarck past Century in Summer Slam.
 

https://gophersports.com/news/2019/8/1/volleyball-gopher-spotlight-airi-miyabe.aspx

Spotlight on Airi Miyabe:
Junior Airi Miyabe joins the Gopher program after spending two seasons at the College of Southern Idaho. In her two years with the Eagles, Miyabe led the team to a 2018 NJCAA championship and a runner-up finish in 2017. In her sophomore season, she averaged 4.28 kills per set, hit .302 and averaged 2.86 digs per set. For her efforts, she was named the 2018 NJCAA Division I Player of the Year and the AVCA Two-Year College Player of the Year, the first ever in school history. Prior to her time at CSI, she was a part of the Japanese National Team from 2015-16, where she competed at the 2015 World Grand Prix. In 2014, she was a part of the Youth National Team, and was named the Asia MVP. She was also named to Team CORE, a group selected to play with Japan in preparation for the 2020 Olympic team. As she prepares for another new experience, take a look at Miyabe as we feature her in this recent Gopher Spotlight.
...

You played at Southern Idaho prior to Minnesota. Can you talk about your experience there?
AM: Last two years were tough seasons for me, but also an irreplaceable experience at Southern Idaho as it helped me mentally grow. I was leaving my country, going through a language barrier, new teammates and school, different volleyball style and a new culture. In practice and off of the court, every day was a learning experience for me. The most unforgettable experience in CSI was losing coach Heidi (CSI head coach Heidi Cartisser passed away in December 2017). It happened during winter break after we got second place at nationals in 2017. After the winter break, it was really hard to go to the gym where I used to practice with her. She was a strong woman, a great coach and mother. She showed me love and gave me a family. The team played together for the past two years and had people always around to support us. I am grateful to be a part of the CSI family and meet Heidi, who made a huge change in my whole life in Twin Falls, Idaho.

How has that transition been for you playing in Japan to then coming to the United States to play here?
AM: There are many differences between Japanese volleyball style and USA volleyball style. The libero doesn't serve in my country and we only can switch player six times per game. I really like how coaches and players communicate, build a team together and have a close connection here in the US. I have never had a conversation with coaches other than volleyball or school before. I like both volleyball styles, they are just different. Japanese players respect their coach. The US volleyball style integrates a lot of statistical strategies. I am enjoying both styles.
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YES!!!

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I'm relatively new to volleyball, but I noticed that Jordan Thompson of the national team competing in the Olympics qualifying tournament is listed as being from Edina. I'm sure it must have been discussed here long ago, but how did the Gophers let her get away?
 

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https://gophersports.com/news/2019/8/7/volleyball-pavilion-updates-ready-to-go-for-2019-season.aspx

Golden Gopher Athletics is proud to announce that the Maturi Pavilion facility upgrades will be completed by the start of the 2019 season. The Robert K. Eddy Athletic Performance Center is scheduled to be finished by Aug. 23, while new air conditioning is fully functional and ready to go for the season.

The renovated space on the lower level provides student-athletes direct access from the competition court to strength training, athletic medicine, a nutrition station and hydrotherapy pools. The strength area includes over 2,300 square feet, which also connects to the player lounge, team room, locker room, all adjacent to the court. The student-athlete area equals over 2,200 square feet.

With a lead commitment from Robert K. Eddy as well as contributions from dozens of other benefactors, the project went from dream to reality in just under a year. The Robert K. Eddy Athletic Performance Center was a privately funded $4 million project. The total Maturi Pavilion upgrades were $5.1 million.
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let'sbeclear said:
I'm relatively new to volleyball, but I noticed that Jordan Thompson of the national team competing in the Olympics qualifying tournament is listed as being from Edina. I'm sure it must have been discussed here long ago, but how did the Gophers let her get away?
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I don't know all the specifics in her case, but Minnesota is one of the best volleyball states in the country. Lots of top-flight players come out of Minnesota every year, so there's no lack of quality players for the U to choose from in-state.

As I recall, Thompson committed early to Cincinnati (maybe sophomore year?) and was never really in play as far as I know. She was also a year or two behind Wilhite (who was a top 15 national recruit), the Tapps (both of whom were top 25 recruits), Lohman (top-40), Seliger-Swenson (top-10) and Goehner (top-15), all of whom played their high school volleyball in Minnesota. On top of that, the Gophers had Daly Santana already on the roster and a couple of really good out-of-state players like Katie Schau, who was also a top-50 recruit coming out of high school from Michigan.

In other words, not a lot of room. Perhaps a case of you can't get 'em all.

This is all based on memory, so I could very well be mistaken as I don't have any inside information. But I will say it's almost impossible to get every quality player from Minnesota every year.
 

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sp...c-volleyball-headed-ncaa-tournament/94600546/

An article from Thompson's sophomore season with the Bearcats:

UC sophomore rightside hitter Jordan Thompson on Tuesday was named a unanimous choice as American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, and fellow sophomore Jade Tingelhoff was named AAC Setter of the Year. The two players will lead unranked UC (22-9) against No. 16-ranked Florida State (24-5) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in Gainesville, Florida.

The 6-foot-4 Thompson (Edina, Minn.) and the 6-foot Tingelhoff (Lakeview, Minn.) were club teammates in their native Minnesota. While Cincinnati is far from home, both players said they fell in love with the UC program and campus during recruiting visits.

"Jordan and I were (saying) that we loved playing club together, and wouldn't it be fun to go to college together?" Tingelhoff said Tuesday. "As a setter, you want hitters you can trust to put the ball away, and that’s what Jordan does."

Tingelhoff committed to UC first, followed by Thompson.

"I think having my best friend, my setter, just being able to play together was pretty cool," Thompson said. "Having that previous experience with each other, we know how to play with each other. It makes it a lot easier."
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Some Thompson timing: She committed to Syracuse in 2013 and then committed to Cincinnati in 2014. I have no idea how hard Minnesota recruited her. Hugh arrived post-Olympics in fall 2012. Thompson sat out the 2013 high school season because she transferred schools. There's a Star Tribune Q&A with this:

Q: What are you looking forward to the most?

A: The chance to play all-around. In club, they usually tell me I’m too tall to play in the back row. I’ve been working hard to earn a spot in the back row.
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http://www.startribune.com/q-a-with-edina-s-jordan-thompson/271923291/
 

MRJ said:
Fall 2019 roster is now up.

link: https://gophersports.com/roster.aspx?path=wvball
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Not really being very knowledgeable about VB, I wonder how this roster shapes up? Does it improve Gophers' chances on the national NCAA scene? Does it make them a possible favorite to go all the way? My novice impression is: it looks like a slimmer, sleeker roster, ready to strike and defend? Does that make sense?
 





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Hrothgar said:
Not really being very knowledgeable about VB, I wonder how this roster shapes up? Does it improve Gophers' chances on the national NCAA scene? Does it make them a possible favorite to go all the way? My novice impression is: it looks like a slimmer, sleeker roster, ready to strike and defend? Does that make sense?
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I'll take a stab at it, but I think that's a fair assessment.

As has been discussed previously, Gopher volleyball is at the stage where there is never a lack of talent. Hugh recruits at an elite level and has brought in another good class (I think it was ranked #16 by prep volleyball), which is actually a little bit down from recent classes. But the program is loading up for arguably the nation's top class in 2020.

With that said, there certainly isn't a lack of talent anywhere on this roster.

All the key outside hitters return as does arguably the nation's best right-side in Stephanie Samedy. In terms of newcomers, Shea Rubright is a top-15 national recruit and figures to back up Taylor Morgan and Regan Pittman in the middle. Ellie Huesmann (who is from Eagan) is a top 60-80 recruit (depending upon which rankings you prefer) and adds still more depth. Rachel Kilkenny is another local (Shakopee) who was in the running for Ms. Volleyball in 2018 and figures to be more of a backcourt player.

And of course, most eyes will be on Kylie Miller at setter, who replaces the best player at that position in school history in Samantha Seliger-Swenson. It might take a little time to build Miller's connection with Lexi Hart, Adanna Rollins, Morgan, Pittman and Samedy. In her high school days, Miller was a top-15 national recruit who transfers in from UCLA for her senior season. Once she settles in, the team is going to go from pretty good to very good imo. I don't know anything about the setter from Croatia.

The player I'm most intrigued by is Airi Miyabe from Japan. She was the national junior college player of the year last year and is considered an excellent all-around player. Whether she's in the backcourt or an outside hitter, most folks seem to believe she'll make an early impact.

Overall, this roster is taller and perhaps a bit more athletic than last year. In terms of pure talent, this roster ranks with the best in the country. The biggest question marks are how well Miller fits in, what kind of impact the newcomers will make and how long it takes for the team to jell. If things go smoothly, this is definitely a top-5 team nationally. If not, probably somewhere else in the top 10 to 15.

Hope this helps! :eek:
 




MRJ said:
I'll take a stab at it, but I think that's a fair assessment.

As has been discussed previously, Gopher volleyball is at the stage where there is never a lack of talent. Hugh recruits at an elite level and has brought in another good class (I think it was ranked #16 by prep volleyball), which is actually a little bit down from recent classes. But the program is loading up for arguably the nation's top class in 2020.

With that said, there certainly isn't a lack of talent anywhere on this roster.

All the key outside hitters return as does arguably the nation's best right-side in Stephanie Samedy. In terms of newcomers, Shea Rubright is a top-15 national recruit and figures to back up Taylor Morgan and Regan Pittman in the middle. Ellie Huesmann (who is from Eagan) is a top 60-80 recruit (depending upon which rankings you prefer) and adds still more depth. Rachel Kilkenny is another local (Shakopee) who was in the running for Ms. Volleyball in 2018 and figures to be more of a backcourt player.

And of course, most eyes will be on Kylie Miller at setter, who replaces the best player at that position in school history in Samantha Seliger-Swenson. It might take a little time to build Miller's connection with Lexi Hart, Adanna Rollins, Morgan, Pittman and Samedy. In her high school days, Miller was a top-15 national recruit who transfers in from UCLA for her senior season. Once she settles in, the team is going to go from pretty good to very good imo. I don't know anything about the setter from Croatia.

The player I'm most intrigued by is Airi Miyabe from Japan. She was the national junior college player of the year last year and is considered an excellent all-around player. Whether she's in the backcourt or an outside hitter, most folks seem to believe she'll make an early impact.

Overall, this roster is taller and perhaps a bit more athletic than last year. In terms of pure talent, this roster ranks with the best in the country. The biggest question marks are how well Miller fits in, what kind of impact the newcomers will make and how long it takes for the team to jell. If things go smoothly, this is definitely a top-5 team nationally. If not, probably somewhere else in the top 10 to 15.

Hope this helps! :eek:
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Thanks for this assessment.


Still tough to get over that choke job last season, which was a generational opportunity to play in the final four at home. I mean, I hope it won't be 30 years again before they return to Minny, but I guess we'll see.


That said, I think it will be a disappointment if they aren't back in the sweet sixteen. Not sure from there.
 

Gophers_4life said:
Thanks for this assessment.


Still tough to get over that choke job last season, which was a generational opportunity to play in the final four at home. I mean, I hope it won't be 30 years again before they return to Minny, but I guess we'll see.


That said, I think it will be a disappointment if they aren't back in the sweet sixteen. Not sure from there.
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Tend to agree. The last two postseasons have been disappointing, no doubt. Last year was particularly difficult because of how dominant they were in conference play. I think everybody (players included) expected more once the NCAAs came around.

But the fact that they are now a big-time player on the recruiting scene helps because there's always top talent on the roster. In other words, hope always springs eternal with Gopher volleyball. [emoji4]

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In retrospect, I don't think they choked per se in the NCAAs. Their 2018 NCAA performance was disappointing, but it fit a pattern that started after mid-season; their play slid downhill steadily in November, not by much but enough to make the NCAA tournament a chancy proposition. The steam they showed the first half of the season lessened gradually. My non-VB mind told me the Gophers couldn't beat Oregon or Stanford simply because they weren't tall enough; they had no effective block in the middle. Real VB people maybe have a more refined analysis?
 

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