Volleyball Portal and Pitt - What's Next?

[vantheman1976]

Having followed Pitt volleyball for over 6 or 7 years now....I should remain completely and utterly astonished at our total collapse in the 5th set against Louisville. Upon reflection.....not so much. So how does a team with 4 All Americans....Buzzerio, Fairbanks, Gray, and Vazquez Gomez....in our starting lineup get completely annihilated in that 5th set? Well for one.....Louisville also starts 4 All Americans....Chaussee, Tillman, Scott, and Lazaro. The difference....All American Elena Scott at libero for Louisville. Pitt has never had more than slightly above average libero talent. I feel bad for Ashley Browske and Emmy Klika. For DeBeer....it was like shooting fish in a barrel. I think Fisher realizes our team's weakness is L/DS. He has been able to compensate by using Dalton in the back row to some extent. Her injury was too much to overcome in the playoffs. Hats off to Fisher and the team getting us as far as we did. I may be wrong but I doubt any school has ever won the national championship with just average libero talent.

So what about the future? If my math is correct we lose 6 players and gain 4 with the incoming class. That leaves 2 to transfer in. Some think replacing Buzzerio from the portal should be the number one priority. I don't agree. We've lost all our middle blockers. Next year Jepson is our only MB. I think she's going to be a heck of a talent....maybe an All American someday. Priority one....in my view.....a MB from the portal. It just so happens one has emerged. She is Kara McGhee from Baylor...an All American (Honorable Mention). I believe she will have one year remaining. She would be invaluable as a starter and helping to bring along Jepson in a backup role. The next priority....libero. Again, entering the portal is libero Kylie Murr from Ohio State. She is also an All American (Honorable Mention) and has had a stellar career. I believe she will have 1 year left. I know Fisher is high on Klika...and so am I. I believe she was a top ten libero coming out of high school. Murr as a starter with Klika as a backup and understudy would be similar to McGhee and Jepson. McGhee and Murr also bring big time tournament experience and maturity to a younger Pitt team in 2023.

Only if we have room for a 3rd transfer should we be looking for a replacement for Buzzerio. I'll remind you that Fisher is bringing in an outstanding freshman class loaded with talent. Three of the 4 are listed as OH. Could one of these athletes be the Buzzerio replacement?

 

[New York Panther]

Interesting analysis. Thank you.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Having followed Pitt volleyball for over 6 or 7 years now....I should remain completely and utterly astonished at our total collapse in the 5th set against Louisville. Upon reflection.....not so much. So how does a team with 4 All Americans....Buzzerio, Fairbanks, Gray, and Vazquez Gomez....in our starting lineup get completely annihilated in that 5th set? Well for one.....Louisville also starts 4 All Americans....Chaussee, Tillman, Scott, and Lazaro. The difference....All American Elena Scott at libero for Louisville. Pitt has never had more than slightly above average libero talent. I feel bad for Ashley Browske and Emmy Klika. For DeBeer....it was like shooting fish in a barrel. I think Fisher realizes our team's weakness is L/DS. He has been able to compensate by using Dalton in the back row to some extent. Her injury was too much to overcome in the playoffs. Hats off to Fisher and the team getting us as far as we did. I may be wrong but I doubt any school has ever won the national championship with just average libero talent.

So what about the future? If my math is correct we lose 6 players and gain 4 with the incoming class. That leaves 2 to transfer in. Some think replacing Buzzerio from the portal should be the number one priority. I don't agree. We've lost all our middle blockers. Next year Jepson is our only MB. I think she's going to be a heck of a talent....maybe an All American someday. Priority one....in my view.....a MB from the portal. It just so happens one has emerged. She is Kara McGhee from Baylor...an All American (Honorable Mention). I believe she will have one year remaining. She would be invaluable as a starter and helping to bring along Jepson in a backup role. The next priority....libero. Again, entering the portal is libero Kylie Murr from Ohio State. She is also an All American (Honorable Mention) and has had a stellar career. I believe she will have 1 year left. I know Fisher is high on Klika...and so am I. I believe she was a top ten libero coming out of high school. Murr as a starter with Klika as a backup and understudy would be similar to McGhee and Jepson. McGhee and Murr also bring big time tournament experience and maturity to a younger Pitt team in 2023.

Only if we have room for a 3rd transfer should we be looking for a replacement for Buzzerio. I'll remind you that Fisher is bringing in an outstanding freshman class loaded with talent. Three of the 4 are listed as OH. Could one of these athletes be the Buzzerio replacement?

Awesome stuff. Weird having to have klika as an understudy when she’s the same class as Scott who was dominant. Not all top recruits become all Americans I guess and comparing Klika to Scott is a bit unfair I suppose. The libero from Ohio State sounds good to me though.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

What exactly is a libero and why does the position wear a different jersey color. If that’s the position that wears the different jersey

 

[vantheman1976]

Hope this helps......

LIBERO

This position focuses on defense. Liberos only play in the back row and often receive the attack or serve. Players with good passing and defensive skills have the most success at this position.

However, liberos do play a key role on offense. They need to be able to turn the first touch into a solid pass to the setter. They also may need to set the ball from the back row if the setter isn’t available.

Liberos can come in and out of the game as needed and do not count against a team’s substitutions. They also wear different colored jerseys to distinguish themselves from their teammates. But there are several things a libero cannot do. They cannot block, set an attack from the front court or attack the ball above the height of the net.

Responsibilities:

• Replace certain players in the back row.
• Be ready to dig an opponent’s attack.
• Receive the opponent’s serve.
• Set the ball if the setter isn’t available.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

What exactly is a libero and why does the position wear a different jersey color. If that’s the position that wears the different jersey

It’s complicated but essentially the jersey is for substitution purposes, as the player subs in and plays in the back for defensive purposes.a libero does not play in the front row. That player also is not allowed to hit if the balls above the net.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Hope this helps......

LIBERO

This position focuses on defense. Liberos only play in the back row and often receive the attack or serve. Players with good passing and defensive skills have the most success at this position.

However, liberos do play a key role on offense. They need to be able to turn the first touch into a solid pass to the setter. They also may need to set the ball from the back row if the setter isn’t available.

Liberos can come in and out of the game as needed and do not count against a team’s substitutions. They also wear different colored jerseys to distinguish themselves from their teammates. But there are several things a libero cannot do. They cannot block, set an attack from the front court or attack the ball above the height of the net.

Responsibilities:

• Replace certain players in the back row.
• Be ready to dig an opponent’s attack.
• Receive the opponent’s serve.
• Set the ball if the setter isn’t available.

Which is frustrating because our Libero had such a hard time receiving Louisville’s serve.

 

[Gregpitt]

Which is frustrating because our Libero had such a hard time receiving Louisville’s serve.

UL was serving right at her...they knew our weakness and exploited it perfectly.

 

[ben43]

I don’t understand much about volleyball. That said, Buzzario plays the right side (RS) position. Only one of the freshmen plays RS. There are two, not three outside hitters (OH) in this class. OH is not Buzzario’s position.

 

[pittizit]

Never ends

 

[pittdan77]

UL was serving right at her...they knew our weakness and exploited it perfectly.

I think they were locating their serves well. There is a hole in the defense that is short middle. When a team is hitting that, it gives the back middle all kinds of fits. Louisville was being really aggressive with their serve.

If it's any solace, Texas did the same thing to Louisville Saturday night.

 

[pittdan77]

I don’t understand much about volleyball. That said, Buzzario plays the right side (RS) position. Only one of the freshmen plays RS. There are two, not three opposite hitters (OH) in this class. OH is not Buzzario’s position.

The most obvious difference between left and right side is defense. RS is defending against the other teams best hitter. You prefer someone a little taller. Maybe a lefty so that the hitting is a bit more natural. For hitting, transition from one side to the other isn't a huge deal other than timing. Most of these women have played both at the club level.

 

[pittdan77]

Has anyone else noticed that Ohio State has had an exodus to the portal?

 

[vantheman1976]

Has anyone else noticed that Ohio State has had an exodus to the portal?

Yes....Gabby Gonzales, Mac Prodraza, Kylie Murr, and I think one or two more. I believe most are graduating with 1 year left to play. Prodraza and Murr are All Americans. Watch for Louisville to go after Prodraza to replace their own departing All American Raquel Lazaro at setter. I'd love to see us get Murr at libero.

 

[pittdan77]

Yes....Gabby Gonzales, Mac Prodraza, Kylie Murr, and I think one or two more. I believe most are graduating with 1 year left to play. Prodraza and Murr are All Americans. Watch for Louisville to go after Prodraza to replace their own departing All American Raquel Lazaro at setter. I'd love to see us get Murr at libero.

I'm not as familiar with B1G volleyball but Kylie Murr's stats speak for themselves.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

 

[vantheman1976]

View embedded media

Players are entering the portal now almost by the hour. I think there were 3 setters at Louisville....Morningstar was one....behind their All American Lazaro who just finished her career there. Hard to see Pitt as a destination. We'll see.

 

[pasttimer]

Any idea if Pitt is expected to lose anyone to the transfer portal?

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

Hope this helps......

LIBERO

This position focuses on defense. Liberos only play in the back row and often receive the attack or serve. Players with good passing and defensive skills have the most success at this position.

However, liberos do play a key role on offense. They need to be able to turn the first touch into a solid pass to the setter. They also may need to set the ball from the back row if the setter isn’t available.

Liberos can come in and out of the game as needed and do not count against a team’s substitutions. They also wear different colored jerseys to distinguish themselves from their teammates. But there are several things a libero cannot do. They cannot block, set an attack from the front court or attack the ball above the height of the net.

Responsibilities:

• Replace certain players in the back row.
• Be ready to dig an opponent’s attack.
• Receive the opponent’s serve.
• Set the ball if the setter isn’t available.

What do you mean not counting against teams substitutions? Are there subbing restrictions and if you don’t have a libero on court does that mean you don’t follow libero rules? Is there a strategy to not having one on the court at a certain time?

 

[pittdan77]

What do you mean not counting against teams substitutions? Are there subbing restrictions and if you don’t have a libero on court does that mean you don’t follow libero rules? Is there a strategy to not having one on the court at a certain time?

There is a limit to subs. I forget the number (15 sounds right) but San Diego hit the limit in one of their longer sets against Texas.

The libero will sub for a player and then play their rotation across the back row. They will come out when that player rotates to the front and then go back in for another player rotating to the back row. Who that player is will depend on how the team runs the offense. A team running a 6-2 with a back row setter might sub the right outside with a setter and the middle with a libero (not sure why middles are always so bad in the back row). But it keeps a really good defensive specialist on the court which does make the game more interesting.

The position is much more important in international play where substitutions are really limited.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

There is a limit to subs. I forget the number (15 sounds right) but San Diego hit the limit in one of their longer sets against Texas.

The libero will sub for a player and then play their rotation across the back row. They will come out when that player rotates to the front and then go back in for another player rotating to the back row. Who that player is will depend on how the team runs the offense. A team running a 6-2 with a back row setter might sub the right outside with a setter and the middle with a libero (not sure why middles are always so bad in the back row). But it keeps a really good defensive specialist on the court which does make the game more interesting.

The position is much more important in international play where substitutions are really limited.

Thanks. Learned a lot. Watching these top teams in the final 8 and final 4 was pretty entertaining. I am amazed at how athletic they are and ability to generate those kills, but also be able to block spikes.

 

[HOF Coach]

Thanks. Learned a lot. Watching these top teams in the final 8 and final 4 was pretty entertaining. I am amazed at how athletic they are and ability to generate those kills, but also be able to block spikes.

Fast paced action...no artificial breaks for media commercials.

And these women compete with all they have!

 

[vantheman1976]

Any idea if Pitt is expected to lose anyone to the transfer portal

Right now coach Fisher and staff will be replacing 40% of the team as it currently stands with 4 freshman and presumably 2 transfers. I suppose we could predict that either Posada....a redshirt freshman or Flood.....a junior might consider transferring but no evidence of that so far.

 

[pittdan77]

Thanks. Learned a lot. Watching these top teams in the final 8 and final 4 was pretty entertaining. I am amazed at how athletic they are and ability to generate those kills, but also be able to block spikes.

I got away from the sport a long time ago and just got interested in it again when my daughter started playing. Had to "re-learn" some of it because some things have changed.

Volleyball is actually a pretty fast growing sport in the US. Like basketball, the men and women play it a little differently but I actually enjoy the women's game a little more. Doesn't rely on power as much. Can do okay as a pro if they make it that far. Pitt is very fortunate to have such a good program and I expect Fisher will keep Pitt at the top.

 

[levance2]

The most obvious difference between left and right side is defense. RS is defending against the other teams best hitter. You prefer someone a little taller. Maybe a lefty so that the hitting is a bit more natural. For hitting, transition from one side to the other isn't a huge deal other than timing. Most of these women have played both at the club level.

To be fair, we could not come close to replacing Buzzerio's production by switching another player's position to RS. Our two starting OHs, VVG and Dalton, are both plus defenders, who wouldn't make any sense to move to RS.

Since all signs seem to point to Akeo returning, I can't see Fish running anything much different than his basic 6-2 next year. A blocking RS is a pretty big piece of his 6-2, and neither VVG nor Dalton are particularly great blockers either (and neither is Fairbanks).

My best guess is his first target is a big time 1-yr blocker at MB, something like Starks. This MB probably won't ever run a slide or serve, so focus on blocking.

At RS, given we have really nobody, it would be nice to see someone like Dalton who has several years to grow into the program.

Morningstar might actually make a lot of sense here, but there would probably need to be some scholarship magic performed first.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

I got away from the sport a long time ago and just got interested in it again when my daughter started playing. Had to "re-learn" some of it because some things have changed.

Volleyball is actually a pretty fast growing sport in the US. Like basketball, the men and women play it a little differently but I actually enjoy the women's game a little more. Doesn't rely on power as much. Can do okay as a pro if they make it that far. Pitt is very fortunate to have such a good program and I expect Fisher will keep Pitt at the top.

All three of my daughters play soccer. I’m thankful they didn’t get into dance, softball, or field hockey. But if they wanted to play volleyball I would have really been good with that.

 

[pittdan77]

To be fair, we could not come close to replacing Buzzerio's production by switching another player's position to RS. Our two starting OHs, VVG and Dalton, are both plus defenders, who wouldn't make any sense to move to RS.

At this point I wouldn't change them and some left sides don't transition as well.

 

[pittdan77]

All three of my daughters play soccer. I’m thankful they didn’t get into dance, softball, or field hockey. But if they wanted to play volleyball I would have really been good with that.

I don't know that I would have cared which sport. For a long time I thought she was just going to be a cheerleader but she took to volleyball quickly. She's 14 and has only been at it for about eighteen months and she walked right into a club and won a spot on her first try. Kind of blows my mind but I'm thrilled with her progress. I have a very brief club experience in college after my football days were done so I did learn a little about the game. Helps.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

no artificial breaks for media commercials.

Well, except for the commercial break at 15 in every set, unless someone calls a timeout that they use as a commercial break before that.

 

[vantheman1976]

At this point I wouldn't change them and some left sides don't transition as well.

Replacing Buzzerio is a bit of a quandary. Maybe Fisher feels the incoming freshman Olivia Babcock is the answer.....but a lot to expect from a freshman. Interestingly, Merritt Beason from Florida just hit the portal and she would be a big get. She was coached by Fisher along with Fairbanks as a member of the U21 national team....so Fairbanks and Beason were teammates. I believe she had something like 13 kills for Florida against us in the recent sweet 16.

There seems to be a consensus that middle blocker is also a need with Jepson moving way up the chart to number 1.....but who is the backup? There's an all star in the portal....Kara McGhee from Baylor....who has 1 year left.

That brings us to libero. I can't get it out of my head that it was average libero play that kept us out of the championship game in the final 4 the last 2 years. Is Klika as starter and Griffin as backup the answer? I'm worried. There's room for 2 transfers and a case for adding a MB, RS, and libero/DS.

It will be interesting to see what Fisher does.....but he's a great coach. I'm confident we will have another outstanding team next year. Oh....and one more thing....Dalton has to stay healthy. I recall she took a medical redshirt at Washington State before coming to Pitt....and recently missed the entire NCAA tournament for all intents and purposes.

 

[mike10003]

FWIW, Browske posted on her IG that she is finished with volleyball. She could have come back with her COVID year.

 

[pittdan77]

Replacing Buzzerio is a bit of a quandary. Maybe Fisher feels the incoming freshman Olivia Babcock is the answer.....but a lot to expect from a freshman. Interestingly, Merritt Beason from Florida just hit the portal and she would be a big get. She was coached by Fisher along with Fairbanks as a member of the U21 national team....so Fairbanks and Beason were teammates. I believe she had something like 13 kills for Florida against us in the recent sweet 16.

There seems to be a consensus that middle blocker is also a need with Jepson moving way up the chart to number 1.....but who is the backup? There's an all star in the portal....Kara McGhee from Baylor....who has 1 year left.

That brings us to libero. I can't get it out of my head that it was average libero play that kept us out of the championship game in the final 4 the last 2 years. Is Klika as starter and Griffin as backup the answer? I'm worried. There's room for 2 transfers and a case for adding a MB, RS, and libero/DS.

It will be interesting to see what Fisher does.....but he's a great coach. I'm confident we will have another outstanding team next year. Oh....and one more thing....Dalton has to stay healthy. I recall she took a medical redshirt at Washington State before coming to Pitt....and recently missed the entire NCAA tournament for all intents and purposes.

I thought that defensively, teams figured out Pitt was struggling to set blocks with the middles. That has to improve.

I don't know that the libero was as bad as you're saying. I give Louisville some credit for how they were serving and like I said, Pitt wasn't setting good blocks. Makes a libero's life a lot more difficult but I'm not saying she played exceptionally well, either. We saw what a hot libero can do in the final.

I don't know if Fisher can put together a team to make another final four run right away or not. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt at this point.

 

[mike412]

Louisville attacked our libero the entire match, and it worked. Based on what I saw against Florida, Wisconsin and Louisville, relying on Klika next year would be a mistake. The Liberos for Florida and Louisville were outstanding, and then in the finals, the libero for Texas was unworldly, especially in the first two sets. Her digs on service turned into perfect passes which gave their setter options on who to set. It was an astonishing display. And she did the same thing when Louisville returned the service.

I couldn’t help compare it to Klika against Louisville. Not only did she not dig most of DeBeers serves, but when she did her passes were feeble. And when we were serving, time and time again Louisville went to the same play for the kill: A hitter lining up on the far left, actually out of the court, and then coming in to smash the ball cross-court. I rewatched the tape and counted 10 points they got off of that one play just in the third set. We didn’t dig one of them. That’s the libero’s job. As soon as she sees that set going left, she has to get to that area on the court. The angle the hitter is taking is too severe for her to go down the line. She has to go cross-court.

Fisher is very high on Jepsen. I think he will give her every opportunity to start next season. But, we used two MBs this year. I think he will look for one in the portal. Babcock probably will be a MB. But, I don’t think he will rely solely on Jepsen and a freshman.

I think he will look for one RS too. I’m not high on Dalton as an offensive weapon. She was more effective blocking and digging when she was in the back row. We really lacked depth this year behind Buzzerio. Louisville, Florida and Wisconsin all had 4 players with more kills than our #2 behind Buzzerio, which was Vasquez Gomez.

Beeson was very good against us. Their #2 hitter behind Markova. But, if she enters the portal I would rather get their libero.

There will be a lot of options out there. None of us know what the scholarship situation is. For example, if Lexi returns I would expect it to be on her own dime with whatever financial aid she can procure without an athletic scholarship. She might have reduced tuition because her sister is on the staff.

Hopefully, Fisher can work some magic. San Diego started four first-year transfers and made it to the Final Four.

 

[vantheman1976]

Louisville attacked our libero the entire match, and it worked. Based on what I saw against Florida, Wisconsin and Louisville, relying on Klika next year would be a mistake. The Liberos for Florida and Louisville were outstanding, and then in the finals, the libero for Texas was unworldly, especially in the first two sets. Her digs on service turned into perfect passes which gave their setter options on who to set. It was an astonishing display. And she did the same thing when Louisville returned the service.

I couldn’t help compare it to Klika against Louisville. Not only did she not dig most of DeBeers serves, but when she did her passes were feeble. And when we were serving, time and time again Louisville went to the same play for the kill: A hitter lining up on the far left, actually out of the court, and then coming in to smash the ball cross-court. I rewatched the tape and counted 10 points they got off of that one play just in the third set. We didn’t dig one of them. That’s the libero’s job. As soon as she sees that set going left, she has to get to that area on the court. The angle the hitter is taking is too severe for her to go down the line. She has to go cross-court.

Fisher is very high on Jepsen. I think he will give her every opportunity to start next season. But, we used two MBs this year. I think he will look for one in the portal. Babcock probably will be a MB. But, I don’t think he will rely solely on Jepsen and a freshman.

I think he will look for one RS too. I’m not high on Dalton as an offensive weapon. She was more effective blocking and digging when she was in the back row. We really lacked depth this year behind Buzzerio. Louisville, Florida and Wisconsin all had 4 players with more kills than our #2 behind Buzzerio, which was Vasquez Gomez.

Beeson was very good against us. Their #2 hitter behind Markova. But, if she enters the portal I would rather get their libero.

There will be a lot of options out there. None of us know what the scholarship situation is. For example, if Lexi returns I would expect it to be on her own dime with whatever financial aid she can procure without an athletic scholarship. She might have reduced tuition because her sister is on the staff.

Hopefully, Fisher can work some magic. San Diego started four first-year transfers and made it to the Final Four.

Interesting.....I hadn't considered the scholarship question.....but your points on that made me look that up. From what I found....the NCAA permits 12 full scholarships for division 1 volleyball. These can't be be subdivided among the team. In other words...they must be given as full scholarships. Maybe the Covid mess has temporarily altered this.....I don't know. Fisher has typically carried a roster of around 15....sometimes higher. So....any roster number above 12 means some of these athletes are getting financial aid in some other way as you suggest. Makes me wonder how Fisher navigates that situation.

Also.....you know these California recruits better than anyone. Can you expand on your notion that Babcock will be a MB instead of an RS....which is what is indicated on her bio?

 

[gary2]

Will Posado be back? Was/is she any good?

Fisher Unveils Incoming Pitt Volleyball Class of 2021 - Pitt Panthers #H2P

PITTSBURGH – The three-time defending ACC champion University of Pittsburgh volleyball team will add four incoming student-athletes to is fall 2021 roster, head

pittsburghpanthers.com

 

[mike412]

It’s nothing more than my personal opinion, but I think Torrey Stafford will be better at RS. Babcock is taller, so for me it makes more sense to move her to MB. Of course, her HS
coach said her biggest defect is that she actually jumps too high on blocks, but Fisher and time can remedy that.

Both Babcock and the recruit from Texas are relative novices to volleyball, which means likely growing pains but potentially a higher upside. In the long run, that is a positive, but in the short run it means Fisher probably has to hit the portal.

Looking at the roster, I see 7 players returning who probably are on scholarship. And Posada has hardly been on the court in two years. So assuming Posada doesn’t return or isn’t on scholarship next year that means he can bring in two transfers.

 

[vantheman1976]

Will Posado be back? Was/is she any good?

Fisher Unveils Incoming Pitt Volleyball Class of 2021 - Pitt Panthers #H2P

PITTSBURGH – The three-time defending ACC champion University of Pittsburgh volleyball team will add four incoming student-athletes to is fall 2021 roster, head

pittsburghpanthers.com

I don't think I have ever seen her in a game.....seems to be a good teammate....always smiling and being active on the sideline with the team. So far....has not shown up in the transfer portal.

 

[levance2]

Interesting.....I hadn't considered the scholarship question.....but your points on that made me look that up. From what I found....the NCAA permits 12 full scholarships for division 1 volleyball. These can't be be subdivided among the team. In other words...they must be given as full scholarships. Maybe the Covid mess has temporarily altered this.....I don't know. Fisher has typically carried a roster of around 15....sometimes higher. So....any roster number above 12 means some of these athletes are getting financial aid in some other way as you suggest. Makes me wonder how Fisher navigates that situation.

Each VB scholarship is a full scholarship for that season. Fisher has explained in the past that they would sometimes offer a recruit a "partial" scholarship, in this case meaning maybe only 2 or 3 of the 4 seasons are paid by the school. Of course, this was the situation back around 2019, and our recruiting has taken off since then. I can only imagine the top recruits we are signing now are fully guaranteed for their careers.

It is pretty common for the top programs to have large teams with non-scholarship players. I think pre-COVID, you'd see teams with 18 players. Pitt and others seemed to reduce the roster size for practical (testing, isolation) purposes. Who knows if that will reverse.

 

[HOF Coach]

This article explains why 5 Seniors of Ohio State's Top 10 volleyball team entered the Portal after the season. One of the main reasons...lack of scholarship money.

 

[vantheman1976]

Each VB scholarship is a full scholarship for that season. Fisher has explained in the past that they would sometimes offer a recruit a "partial" scholarship, in this case meaning maybe only 2 or 3 of the 4 seasons are paid by the school. Of course, this was the situation back around 2019, and our recruiting has taken off since then. I can only imagine the top recruits we are signing now are fully guaranteed for their careers.

It is pretty common for the top programs to have large teams with non-scholarship players. I think pre-COVID, you'd see teams with 18 players. Pitt and others seemed to reduce the roster size for practical (testing, isolation) purposes. Who knows if that will reverse.

This article explains why 5 Seniors of Ohio State's Top 10 volleyball team entered the Portal after the season. One of the main reasons...lack of scholarship money.

View embedded media

Yes indeed.....I think I had read that Ohio State has 5 recruits coming in. Keeping all 5 seniors on the roster as graduate students with a scholarship and 1 year of eligibility left would mean no incoming class for 2023 unless scholarships were taken away from existing players.