VBALL - Spring Schedule
- Thread starter HOF Coach
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Correct....just exhibition matches. This will be interesting. I have no idea how this is going to work. I count a roster of 14 athletes. However, I believe neither of the 2 transfers nor the 4 freshmen are on campus yet plus Dalton was on crutches a little over a month ago. If I'm right that leaves 7 athletes to compete. How the hell Fisher is going to pull that off is beyond me. If someone knows otherwise please correct me.
Was about to post something similar - will be interesting to watch without 7 players expected to contribute in the fall. Unless some of the newcomers are on campus.
Here's the answer in the preview from Pitt's website lol
"For this scrimmage, the Panthers will also utilize the services of Serena Gray and Cam Ennis, both graduate students from the 2022 squad, to fill out the roster."
tOSU also has a very highly rated incoming class and had 5 players leave in the transfer portal. I wonder if any of their freshmen or outgoing portal players will play.
Their transfer portal story is interesting. The coach apparently promised their incoming players substantial playing time and the school also would have gone well over the maximum allowed scholarships if they didn’t get rid of existing players. So they basically forced out much of the roster that got them to the Elite Eight, including the first team AA libero, who transferred to PSU.
Their transfer portal story is interesting. The coach apparently promised their incoming players substantial playing time and the school also would have gone well over the maximum allowed scholarships if they didn’t get rid of existing players. So they basically forced out much of the roster that got them to the Elite Eight, including the first team AA libero, who transferred to PSU.
So - if you’re to believe PItt’s student finder - Bayless and Stafford are both enrolled. Wonder if they are practicing?
I know it's probably doubtful but will these be online anywhere? Wanted to take my daughter down for at least one of the games but she has practices tomorrow and a tournament next weekend.
Last year Ohio St actually live streamed the scrimmage with Pitt on TikTok. It was not a produced broadcast- no announcers and kind of hard to follow .
Maybe in theory, but we know that Fairbanks will be starting. Wish the OSU libero who went to the nitters had come to Pitt.
Quick correction....the OSU libero All American is Kylie Murr but she's going to Minnesota not Penn State. Absolutely agree she would have been a great asset to us. I was at the match Saturday. Klika looked good at times and I do think she's better than Browske who has graduated....but I still worry about the libero position. We'll see what Logan Mosley brings when she arrives.
I think there were a couple of players that went together to transfer to Minnesota. My understanding is that they all played club volleyball together and wanted to reunite.
Smiechowski's summary of the exhibition with Ohio State is well written. I attended the match and pretty much agree with his points. Fairbanks was in mid season form. She is ridiculously talented! The entire team looked rusty which is normal. Importantly, with each set there was improvement. By the 4th set, they were in the groove.
To be clear though, we don't win this match without Gray and Ennis who had to 'suit up' because we were so short handed. I saw the most improvement from Cat Flood....very impressive. I believe the libero position is our biggest question mark. Klika got off to a rough start but improved as the game wore on. I still have nightmares from the final 4 loss last year when Louisville was using Browske and Klika for target practice during serve receive. We should get better at libero once the transfer Logan Mosley arrives.
At middle blocker, transfer Emma Monks has some pretty nice stats from her time at MSU. She may not be an AA like Gray....but I really believe she and Jepson will be a fine duo at middle blocker.
I am really anxious for the 4 freshman to arrive. I truly believe at least one or two of these athletes are going to make their mark as freshmen seeing decent playing time. I think it may be hard to keep Babcock and Stafford on the bench as freshmen. We'll see.
Finally, it was sad to still see Dalton on crutches. I can't help but wonder how realistic it is that she'll be ready come September. We'll hope for the best for her. She was in good spirits....smiling and cheering her teammates on. The portal opens up again in May. Look for Fisher and company to collect one more athlete and it could be at any position except setter with 'superwoman' Fairbanks and Akeo taking care of business.
Just returned home from watching this....very enjoyable game. JMU is not a cupcake team....won the sunbelt conference last year....finished ranked 21st among D1 schools and made the NCAA tournament. I saw nice improvement from last week's game against Ohio State. Cat Flood continues to impress. If Dalton is sidelined because of injury....I would say Flood is looking like a worthy replacement. Gray and Ennis played again because we are shorthanded....and of course helped significantly. Libero play was better and Jepson showed improvement too. Fairbanks was as usual.....just Fairbanks! Let's just say this....when the 2 transfers arrive with the 4 freshmen....we can look forward to another exciting season.
Jepson's playing time increased this week and she was on the court more than Gray today compared to last week. There is one more exhibition next week against Kentucky but it's not here.
