Gopher Volleyball 2023 Season

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Ah, got it. The athletic trainer and the strength coach. Neither are volleyball staffers, but work with the team.

Who is the person standing to our right (p.o.v. of the picture) of Nao? (IE, on Nao's left)? Blonde, does not appear to be on the roster.
 

Gophers_4life said:
Ah, got it. The athletic trainer and the strength coach. Neither are volleyball staffers, but work with the team.

Who is the person standing to our right (p.o.v. of the picture) of Nao? (IE, on Nao's left)? Blonde, does not appear to be on the roster.
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That's probably Miranda Wucherer.
 



Gophers_4life said:
Ah, got it. The athletic trainer and the strength coach. Neither are volleyball staffers, but work with the team.

Who is the person standing to our right (p.o.v. of the picture) of Nao? (IE, on Nao's left)? Blonde, does not appear to be on the roster.
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My guess would be the academic advisor. But, I don't know who that is.
 

I assume Chole Ng is gone. Probably homesick (Vancouver) and unlikely to see the court for us, not sure if she was on scholarship? Best of luck to her
 






(R)uffda! said:
I sure hope Wucherer is playing 6 rotations this year. She's too good to be a 3 ro player, imo.
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Based on what?

In women's college volleyball, with how man substitutions you're allowed, it makes absolutely no sense for a front row player to not be subbed out for a defensive specialist unless your offensive gameplan utilizes backrow hits (which are much more rare in the women's college game, and aren't really necessary).

Specialization is what wins championships, with those rules.

If there were much fewer subs, then I agree that finding OH who are also very skilled at playing defense and serve receive would be important.
 




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Sydney Schnichels - 6' 4" Outside/Opposite

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Sydney Schnichels - Volleyball - University of Minnesota Athletics

Sydney Schnichels (2) Outside/Opposite - PRONUNCIATION Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. FEATURES Get to Know Sydney Schnichels 2024 • REDSHIRT FRES...
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A 6-foot-4 outside/opposite hitter from Willmar, Minn. (Willmar Senior H.S.), Sydney Schnichels is a two-time Minnesota All-State selection, a three-time all-conference selection and a three-time first team all-area selection • the 2022 Minnesota Ms. Baden Award winner is Willmar High School's all-time career kills record holder • she also set her schools single-game kills record and holds the freshman, junior and senior records at Willmar for most kills in a season • the two-time CLC Conference Player of the Week was the 2022 Max Preps Minnesota Player of the Week (Sept. 5-11) • she's a 2023 Under Armour Next All-America game invitee and in November 2022, Sydney was named a First Team All-American by the AVCA • Schnichels ranks as the No. 20 overall player in the 2023 class by PrepVolleyball.com • she comes in as the No. 1 overall recruit in Minnesota and the No. 22 player in the country on PrepDig for the senior class and VBallRecruiter lists her as a five-star recruit • for her career at Willmar, she's tallied 1,324 kills (.288 hitting) with 170 blocks, 697 digs, 106 aces and 38 assists • as a senior, Schnichels registered 490 kills (.318) with 28 blocks, 232 digs, 51 aces and 28 assists • on the club circuit, she played for the JVA All-National Team and made the USAV GJNC 17-Open All-Tournament Team • she led her USAV GJNC-Open team to a silver medal in 2022 after leading the 16-Open team to a fifth-place finish in 2021 • in 2019, she played for the 14-Open team, helping them accomplish a bronze medal • Schnichels was also a USA Volleyball National Team Development program participant last year.

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Calissa Manatee - 6' 1" Middle Blocker

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Calissa Minatee - Volleyball - University of Minnesota Athletics

Calissa Minatee (8) Middle Blocker - PRONUNCIATION Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. HONORS & AWARDS: Diet Coke Classic All-Tournament Team (2024) F...
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Minatee is a two-time all-conference and a two-time all-district selection who was also selected as an Under Armour All-American • the three-time North Kansas City H.S. Team MVP was a USA Indoor Volleyball National Training Development Team attendee and as a freshman in high school held the highest hitting percentage in the entire state of Missouri • in her senior year, Minatee tallied 208 kills (.422) hitting with 138 digs, 50 blocks and 35 aces • that followed up a junior year that saw her tally 248 kills (.347) with 184 digs, 66 blocks and 37 aces • Minatee registered more than 200 kills and 50 blocks in each of her first two high school seasons as well • she ranks as the No. 56 player in the 2023 class by PrepVolleyball.com • she was named an AVCA Second Team All-American in the fall of 2022 • in club volleyball, Minatee led her team to first place at the 2022 Sunshine 17U Open and second place at the NEQ 17U open.

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Gophers_4life said:
Based on what?

In women's college volleyball, with how man substitutions you're allowed, it makes absolutely no sense for a front row player to not be subbed out for a defensive specialist unless your offensive gameplan utilizes backrow hits (which are much more rare in the women's college game, and aren't really necessary).

Specialization is what wins championships, with those rules.

If there were much fewer subs, then I agree that finding OH who are also very skilled at playing defense and serve receive would be important.
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Totally disagree. If you have a DS who is BETTER than your front row player, sure. But using a DS who is less talented or evenly talented is absurd. Wucherer has the talent to be a great defensive player, similar to Wenaas. Not only that, she seems to have the competitive fire which needs to be on the court at all times.

This idea that front row players -- taller players -- can't play defense is just wrong.

I also think you are undervaluing the back row attack, but that back row attack needs to make up for defensive shortcomings, if that player has shortcomings. I'm not sure it did all season re Taylor. OTOH she is above average as a passer, another skill not to be overlooked.
 

And, as always, it should go without saying that these are opinions. I do not pretend I am an expert. Volleyball history, terminology and rules maybe -- and only relatively speaking. But that's about it. I respectfully disagree in the post above.
 

So, the B1G is shaping up as a portal all star conference, particularly NE, PSU, and WI (TTA just committed today). Question - do teams like MN need to do the same to compete? Personally, I'd prefer to build the traditional way and supplement with an occasional transfer to fill a need (as opposed to bumping a starter or rising player to the bench). But now I'm wondering if you can compete that way?
 

sptimes said:
So, the B1G is shaping up as a portal all star conference, particularly NE, PSU, and WI (TTA just committed today). Question - do teams like MN need to do the same to compete? Personally, I'd prefer to build the traditional way and supplement with an occasional transfer to fill a need (as opposed to bumping a starter or rising player to the bench). But now I'm wondering if you can compete that way?
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I don't know, I've been wondering this too. I would hope the athletes would prefer the loyalty and commitment to development from coaches like Cook/McCutcheon, however it just seems like the top players in the portal are going to the top 2-3 schools so they can get their natty. So will it be the same teams developing the players and then them leaving after a few years to go get a championship?

I think MN can compete and be a top 10 team, but can we win it all this way? I hope so, but not so sure anymore.

Some say the top coaches are just playing the game, but I don't think they have to play the game this way. I don't think they're honoring their current athletes by continually recruiting over them.
 

GopherVB23 said:
I don't know, I've been wondering this too. I would hope the athletes would prefer the loyalty and commitment to development from coaches like Cook/McCutcheon, however it just seems like the top players in the portal are going to the top 2-3 schools so they can get their natty. So will it be the same teams developing the players and then them leaving after a few years to go get a championship?

I think MN can compete and be a top 10 team, but can we win it all this way? I hope so, but not so sure anymore.

Some say the top coaches are just playing the game, but I don't think they have to play the game this way. I don't think they're honoring their current athletes by continually recruiting over them.
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I agree with you that it’s becoming more difficult for teams like the gophers to compete for a national title when all the top players leave for Texas, Nebraska and Wisconsin. I think Nebraska is a perfect example of over loaded talent with top recruits year after year, then they add transfers. How long will those underclassmen ride the bench?
 


NateDawgUM said:
Why would any high school player commit to Wisconsin? They have one eye on you and one eye looking for your replacement.
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Yeah, I don't think I would if I was in those shoes.

There was a discussion about this on the Badger VT page. Supposedly Sheffield had told Lauren Carlini that he would continue to recruit competition for her spot, and her response was "good luck". While I love that swagger, I have to wonder how many HS recruits would be like that. Look at Ella Wrobel who was the #11 recruit nationally last year and barely played. Now, she is being pushed deeper on the depth chart. Also, I can't see it helping the team culture.

Personally, I hope this kind of cutthroat team construction fails, but after TX's success last year, who knows?
 

sptimes said:
Yeah, I don't think I would if I was in those shoes.

There was a discussion about this on the Badger VT page. Supposedly Sheffield had told Lauren Carlini that he would continue to recruit competition for her spot, and her response was "good luck". While I love that swagger, I have to wonder how many HS recruits would be like that. Look at Ella Wrobel who was the #11 recruit nationally last year and barely played. Now, she is being pushed deeper on the depth chart. Also, I can't see it helping the team culture.

Personally, I hope this kind of cutthroat team construction fails, but after TX's success last year, who knows?
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Agreed 100%.

Thing is: volleyball has always had a one-time free transfer rule. It was just sports like football and basketball that used to make you sit-out. "Lesser" sports, they didn't care.

So why weren't we seeing these all-star teams before?
 

Gophers_4life said:
Agreed 100%.

Thing is: volleyball has always had a one-time free transfer rule. It was just sports like football and basketball that used to make you sit-out. "Lesser" sports, they didn't care.

So why weren't we seeing these all-star teams before?
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I would say the extra covid year and scholarships running out (see OSU) is one factor. But that's a very good question.
 


sptimes said:
Look at Ella Wrobel who was the #11 recruit nationally last year and barely played. Now, she is being pushed deeper on the depth chart.
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To me it's not even clear that Carter Booth will see the court next year. But that's not my problem.
 

That seems to be the ONLY way Texas could win a title. They finally made the team Elliot-proof.

Count me in the group that hopes this sort of stuff causes programs to crash and burn. It's borderline unethical (and may not even be borderline).
 

(R)uffda! said:
That seems to be the ONLY way Texas could win a title. They finally made the team Elliot-proof.

Count me in the group that hopes this sort of stuff causes programs to crash and burn. It's borderline unethical (and may not even be borderline).
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I'm with you 100%, although I admit my dislike of WI/Sheffield is a factor. That said, if MN was scooping up all of the top portal transfers, I would still dislike the practice.
 

sptimes said:
I'm with you 100%, although I admit my dislike of WI/Sheffield is a factor. That said, if MN was scooping up all of the top portal transfers, I would still dislike the practice.
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Nil money might have some baring on it also. If you can find money to fund a player for a year you don’t need an open scholarship
 

dlw4gophers said:
Nil money might have some baring on it also. If you can find money to fund a player for a year you don’t need an open scholarship
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Would be interesting to know what NIL deals the starters have at Neb, Texas, and Wisc.

Those are probably the most lucrative in the country. But it would be to attract top talent and it would be a benefit on top of a scholarship.

All that said, it's still college women's vball. I just don't think there's a ton of money in it for these ladies. Maybe a low five-figures deal, at most. If proven wrong, great!
 

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