Gopher volleyball 2024

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Lynx said:

Phoebe is back! 😍 Huge! 🥳
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Wow!!!!! That is shocking!!

Things must be going really well already and perhaps even getting a soft assurance from KCook that Stella will be the starting setter???

Or if they’re running a 6-2 then Awoleye will be paired with Stella.
 

A month or so back, I recall someone speculating that Phoebe could come back (or was that over on VT?). Did they have some knowledge? or did their wishful thinking speak it into existence? Either way, I love it. Welcome back, Phoebe!
 

sptimes said:
A month or so back, I recall someone speculating that Phoebe could come back (or was that over on VT?). Did they have some knowledge? or did their wishful thinking speak it into existence? Either way, I love it. Welcome back, Phoebe!
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No, that was just a wild guess and wishful thinking.

She announced she was done and walked at senior night. No reason she would change her mind.

Since she was still in school this semester and they didn’t find another middle, I guess she got talked into/they begged her to practice with the team.

Then things just have gone much better than they did during the season, when she very largely was nothing but a blocking specialist.

I wild guess she is connecting great with Stella, who can actually set middles.
 

MplsGopher said:
Then things just have gone much better than they did during the season, when she very largely was nothing but a blocking specialist.
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Mpls, is this ^ also speculation? or do you know something?

I also wondered about a connection with Stella.
 

sptimes said:
A month or so back, I recall someone speculating that Phoebe could come back (or was that over on VT?). Did they have some knowledge? or did their wishful thinking speak it into existence? Either way, I love it. Welcome back, Phoebe!
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More than a wild guess. Did not want to burn my sources.
 


sptimes said:
Mpls, is this ^ also speculation? or do you know something?

I also wondered about a connection with Stella.
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That was part of my “I guess” and “wild guess” statements.

I have no inside info
 


Gopher68 said:
More than a wild guess. Did not want to burn my sources.
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So this is a known fact she will be on the 2024 Fall roster for the Gophers? We are not just talking about her practicing with the team and availalbe to play for the upcoming Spring Schedule?

I guess I am impatiently waiting for the U of Minnesota to make an Official Announcement on this news.
 

4EverAGopher said:
So this is a known fact she will be on the 2024 Fall roster for the Gophers? We are not just talking about her practicing with the team and availalbe to play for the upcoming Spring Schedule?

I guess I am impatiently waiting for the U of Minnesota to make an Official Announcement on this news.
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They wouldn't do an Insta post saying she's coming back for her fifth year if that only meant this spring. No chance.

She's on the team for the fall, then again assuming she doesn't change her mind again.
 



4EverAGopher said:
So this is a known fact she will be on the 2024 Fall roster for the Gophers? We are not just talking about her practicing with the team and availalbe to play for the upcoming Spring Schedule?

I guess I am impatiently waiting for the U of Minnesota to make an Official Announcement on this news.
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She's on the 2024 roster
 

If the present Gopher Spring Roster is the final roster going into the upcoming 2024 Volleyball season, I personally don't see how KCook will Redshirt Stella her Freshman season and leave 4 year starting setter, Shaff, on the sidelines watching. There are just way too many unanswered questions, with this roster and the following are a few I have along with comments:

Z - First full season as a starting Libero and will she be able to step up and handle it?
Crowl - Will she be back in full swing after recovery from hip surgery?
Minatee - Another player who will see her first full season as a starting Middle.
Wucherer - How much growth will she have in developing as a 6R OH player?
Grote - Can she develop and become a better defensive 6R RS player?
Awoleye - How much improvement will she bring to her offensive game?
Hanson - She will also need to develop as a starter and possibly as a 6R OH.
McGhie and Gray - Without Murr can they efficiently cover that backcourt along with Z?
Shaff - Will she develop a much needed middle game her 5th and final season?
Schnichels - Does she start or see some playing time as a RS backup player?
Ng - Will we ever see her set?
O Swenson - Will she be red shirted?
S Swenson - Will she be red shirted or be our starting setter?
Entire Team - Who will step up their serving game and become more effective?

A lot of growth and development needs to happen between now and this fall....especially with our back court and middle game. The Spring season matches should be a great indicator where this team is at and what needs to be worked on to get us back to the NCAA. I for one am looking forward to these matches.
 

4EverAGopher said:
I personally don't see how KCook will Redshirt Stella her Freshman season and leave 4 year starting setter, Shaff, on the sidelines watching.
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He sat her during the season and started McGhie. I can't remember if it was during or immediately after that abomination of an East Coast trip to Maryland and Rutgers, but it was around then. That Rutgers loss was rock bottom for the team.

For me personally, I don't see why a setter should get "credit" for four years of not being able to set a middle, and having highly inconsistent setting ability to the outside when running tempo (sometimes it's perfect, sometimes it's way off the net, sometimes it's to their armpits).

That doesn't earn you anything, in my book.
 
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MplsGopher said:
He sat her during the season and started McGhie. I can't remember if it was during or immediately after that abomination of an East Coast trip to Maryland and Rutgers, but it was around then. That Rutgers loss was rock bottom for the team.

For me personally, I don't see why a setter should get "credit" for four years of not being able to set a middle, and having highly inconsistent setting ability to the outside when running tempo (sometimes it's perfect, sometimes it's way off the net, sometimes it's to their armpits).

That doesn't earn you anything, in my book.
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I feel that everybody involved (fans, players, coaches, administration) wants us to succeed next season. CHANGE is what is needed and that just isn't something so easy for many people to accept or are able to handle.

Our back court needs a lot of work and Shaff needs a very functional BC for her to be as effective as she can with developling her middle game. I am not stating anything new here. There are so many unanswered questions that affect this team's setting. However, one thing for sure we all know...if it doesn't hugely improve Shaff will not be setting the middle. And on the flip side of that, can Stella as a Freshman handle the starting position and set us an effective middle game?

Bottom line..we need a middle game to survive our schedule in 2024.
 



Texas did quite well with a true freshman setter.

Stella may not be quite ready, but sometimes a baptism by fire is what's best for the long term.
 

MplsGopher said:
There is no more chance of her "coming back" to the team in fall 2024 than there is Landfair.
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Now that it turns out Awoleye is in fact coming back, does this mean you have some inside information that Landfair is coming back too? (Just kidding.)
 

let'sbeclear said:
Now that it turns out Awoleye is in fact coming back,
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How often does a vball player in a power league who has a year left walk at senior night, then choose to practice with the team the next spring because they happen to be roster deficient at that position, and then decide to change their mind?

Let us know. Let’s be clear
 

MplsGopher said:
How often does a vball player in a power league who has a year left walk at senior night, then choose to practice with the team the next spring because they happen to be roster deficient at that position, and then decide to change their mind?

Let us know. Let’s be clear
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I do so appreciate your humility in admitting you were in fact wrong. Not many people would do that. Plus your ability to see the humor in how wrong you were is absolutely remarkable.
 
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Shocking that you knew nothing and had nothing to add. Shocking!

Indeed, her switch may be unprecedented in DI power league volleyball. Thus it was not incorrect to state the obvious, that walking in senior night means you’re done.
 

17 Top College Volleyball Players were invited to the USA Training Camp March 10-16.

usavolleyball.org

Top Women's College Players Headed for 2024 Spring Training - USA Volleyball

A group of 17 top college volleyball players will join U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly and his staff along with two Olympic gold medalists at the USA Volleyball Spring Training Camp on March 10-16.
usavolleyball.org usavolleyball.org

Wisconsin is sending the following three, which two were transfer ins for them: Booth MB, Franklin OH and Robinson OPP.

Many invited are 5th year players. Gophers have nobody on this list. We use to and it would be nice to get this to start turning around again.
 
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MplsGopher said:
Shocking that you knew nothing and had nothing to add. Shocking!

Indeed, her switch may be unprecedented in DI power league volleyball. Thus it was not incorrect to state the obvious, that walking in senior night means you’re done.
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I hardly know how to respond. You write I "had nothing to add," and then defend your prediction as "not incorrect to state the obvious." If you believe you were stating the obvious, maybe that's not adding anything either?
 

let'sbeclear said:
then defend your prediction as "not incorrect to state the obvious."
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What prediction??

She walked at senior night. That’s her putting in her two week notice.

Not my fault in the slightest that she then made a possibly unprecedented decision in power league volleyball.


Do you actually have something of value to add?? Nope. Don’t reply again. You wanted to dunk as a 5’7” person and you didn’t come within a foot of the rim. Take a seat
 


I've been reading that KE was in a brace so her playing time was extremely limited at Georgia Tech. As I stated earlier for this upcoming Fall season, this entire team will be in much needed development as individuals and also as a team. Unfortunately, the news of this transfer addition will be no different. How much of an impact she will have, if any, is yet to be determined.

With Pedro back as our middle assistant coach, we might see the MB position be another revolving position. One thing for sure, it would be nice to see a healthy team all around out there next season.
 
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4EverAGopher said:
I've been reading that KE was in a brace so her playing time was extremely limited at Georgia Tech. As I stated earlier for this upcoming Fall season, this entire team will be in much needed development as individuals and also as a team. Unfortunately, the news of this transfer addition will be no different. How much of an impact she will have, if any, is yet to be determined.

With Pedro back as our middle assistant coach, we might see the MB position be another revolving position. One thing for sure, it would be nice to see a healthy team all around out there next season.
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Still need another libero/DS.
 

I am not going to disagree that we really do need an exstablished Libero/DS for this Fall. However, I have a feeling that this coaching staff is focusing on the hopes that all our pins become better in the backcourt, as 6R Players for the 2024 season.

My assumption is based on the fact that we have not had much success in recruiting from the recent portal. IMO they have changed their focus for the "future of this program". I personally am fine with that. However, I really feel they need to land at least two top 25 recruits from the 2026 class. My guess is they have high hopes in these two classes, 2025 and 2026, getting us back in the top 10 rankings.

I have absolutely no proof this is the direction our coaching staff is going or not. It is pure speculation on my part.

We all need to remember what Hugh said, "not every ranked player plays up to their ranking".....Unfortunately, oh so true.
 
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Food for thought and hopefullly some very good discussion-

This is something most of us Gopher fans do not really want to think about. Which former Gopher player is going to have the best chance of a Natty for season 2024?

1 - Booth/Wisconsin
2 - Wenaas/Texas
3 - Landfair/Nebraska
4 - None of the above

I was just looking up the rosters for these programs. Texas has reloaded with three HUGE transfers...Whitney Lauenstein OH RS Jr Nebraska, Averi Carlson Jr Setter Baylor, and Kentucky's RS Senior Opp Reagan Rutherford. They graduated outstanding MB O'Neal and
RS Molly Phillips. Swindle their setter is back and Avery Skinner their outstanding MVP OH from the NCAA Final Four and Championship matches. This will be a very highly talented Texas team. It will be fun to see, if they can play as a team ane how much playing time Wenaas will see. Last season they really started out slow....however, we all know how it ended for their 2023 volleyball team.

Wisconsin only has 9 on their Spring roster. Six of those will be playing their last year in college this upcoming season. They return Smrek and Robinson at Opp, Crawford and Booth at MB, and Franklin and Orzol at OH. Damrow and GG are both back for their backcourt. However, Orzol might get the the nod again, if they need the passing. Then again she might not because they need to replace TTA at OH. They lost both of their setters from last season and have transferred in Carly Anderson Sr Setter to their roster. They have 6 recruits that are arriving for the 2024 season. One of them is the highly recruited setter Charlie Fuerbringer from California on the USA U19 team last year.

Besides Landfair, Nebraska is adding two Freshman in Olivia Mauch L and Skylar Pierce OH. Both of these players were also on the USA U19 Girl's successful team this past year. Otherwise, this extremely talented team returns all their starters from their 2023 NCAA Runnerup Team. Harper Murray will be their #1 OH and it is a toss up between Landfair and a very talented Fr in Pierce for their other starter at that position. Landfair being a 6R experienced OH should give her the nod. However, it will be interesting to see what happens. There is no doubt JCook will play the OH who will help them win.

To answer my original question and to choose among these three teams, it could come down to a Texas-Nebraska final again. I am leaning to Nebraska because they have the least amount of offense to adjust to next year. However, we all know all of these teams could be on the outside looking in.
 



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