Pitt Volleyball Lands Big Transfer
- Thread starter TheSpecialSauce
- Start date
I was skeptical about Pitt being an elite team last year, and they proved me wrong. This year, however, we have to be one of the title contenders.
I’m still anxious to see the solution at RS.
I’m still anxious to see the solution at RS.
Replacing Buzzario will be no easy solution. I think freshman Olivia Babcock is going to get the nod....or should I say....test to win it. One thing is certain.....Fisher will figure it out.
Kelley is a huge get.
You’re 100% correct —— Coach Fisher will figure the RS out. He’ll also continue to develop everyone on the team, both as individuals and as a team. This team could be his best ever. Of course, they’ll have to prove themselves on the court and I can hardly wait to see them do just that.
H2P VB
As long as we can keep Dan Fisher, Pitt can remain elite. Someday a traditional powerhouse will come calling with too much money.
We already fought off that threat last year.
This is what it feels like to be an elite program poaching the top talent from other schools…
I think both Tori Stafford and Babcock will get PT early and whoever shines the most will be in the rotation. If we are lucky, both will be. I am high on both but higher on Stafford. She is shorter but can jump out if the gym. I saw her play one match when she was in 10th grade, right after she committed, and I couldn’t believe it.
We didn’t really poach her from Florida. Three of their starters last year now have transferred. I wish we could have gotten all three. There is obviously an internal issue there.
The number of star players in the volleyball portal this year is astounding. Ohio State’s entire starting six; two or three starters from a number of NCAA tournament teams.
Last year, Texas started 3 transfers and won the title. All 9 of the San Diego rotation, who made it to the final 4, were transfers.
Buzzerio was opposite hitter( right side) as is Babcock while the others are outside hitters. I would suppose that Babcock gets first shot at starting on the right side. The left side is pretty congested with VVG, Stafford, Dalton and Bayless. Minutes there will be tight. And now there are 4 middle blockers. Along with Fairbanks, Akeo and Tautua'a at setter. Fairbanks can also play right side. You talk about a stacked roster!
Didn't Nwokolo play some right side earlier in her career as well? Any chance Fisher experiments with her playing some right again to have more experience and offense there with the more defensively-focused duo of Kelley and Monks in the middle?
I suppose that is possible. She was a very effective middle blocker though. Between Babcock, Fairbanks or moving someone else over, you have to create some kind of depth. I know we are not accustomed to thinking of the freshmen as contributors but between Stafford, Bayless and Babcock, you are going to see significant minutes going to them if Pitt is to have a chance for a national championship.
That's fair, Babcock may get the first shot at it and have Nwokolo able to switch over as a backup. Babcock definitely has the height and pedigree to start immediately, excited to see how she does. I'm definitely a bit surprised Pitt ended up with 2 MB transfers plus Nwokolo back and Jepsen as the 4th, I assume it would be Nwokolo/Kelley as the starters with Monks as a third and Jepsen redshirting this year but I can't imagine Monks is too happy coming in and seeing a likely starting spot vanish over the course of a week for her final year like that. Excited to see Stafford and maybe Bayless too push the upperclassmen OH, if Stafford lives up to her potential I bet she's starting along with VVG by the time ACC play begins
I am not sure if she played any RS last year, and played less and less there as the season went on in 2021. There were times when Jordan Lockwood or others were injured and Nwokolo never moved back.
I will guess she does not play at RS.
The funny part is one could argue replacing Buzzerio is our biggest challenge, but based on the transfers, it doesn't seem like Fisher agrees. He'd rather burn a scholarship on a 3rd MB or 2nd libero than a starting RS.
He is basically a volleyball genius, so that is why I am particularly excited to see what he knows that I don't.
Now that I see the official roster, Babcock is the only player listed at RS. I don't think it is much of a leap to assume she will be the opening day starter.
Agreed, but there has to be some contingency plan based on Babcock being the only RS on the roster (besides Fairbanks, whom we know how they plan to use). Based on the roster construction, I have to imagine Nwokolo is one of the people they could go to if not Babcock or if she gets hurt
This is true. And fish has plenty of history with making RS a strength even though he didn't have a conventional RS. Ndee was great but came here as a middle. Fairbanks hit last year even though she is a setter. Buzzerio became an all universe player even though she was just a part time hitter at Iowa.
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