For those who are know a little more than me, I have several:
1. What is the timing? I know the portal is open, but traditionally what is the window for commitments?
2. Does NIL play any role in Volleyball transfers? Or is it just fit/opportunity?
3. Any players to keep an eye on? I know MB is the biggest need, but are there specific players we expect to be available and targeted by Fish and staff?
Transfer portal will close on Jan 1st. Not sure if there is a second window like in football
I think only the tiniest fraction of players would transfer for NIL. Not going to be seeing big bucks like in football, but maybe the big ones like Taylor Landfair or Reagan Rutherford would get some NIL deals in their transfer.
A couple of players in the portal to keep an eye on so far (this is just based on fit and not having any inside info):
Savannah Kjolhede - MB, Grad Transfer, Indiana
Natalie Foster - MB, Grad Transfer, Wichita State
Jordyn Williams - MB, Junior, Kentucky (committed to Kansas State)
Kristina Grkovic - MB, Grad Transfer, Rutgers
Jordan Hopp - MB, Grad Transfer, Iowa State (committed to Penn State)
Maggie Mendelson - MB, Junior, Nebraska (committed to Penn State)
Elise Goetzinger - MB, Grad Transfer, Kentucky (committed to Creighton)
Maddy Bilinovic - L/DS, Grad Transfer, Penn State (committed to Creighton)
Madyson Chitty - L/DS, Grad Transfer, Rutgers
Isabella Brady - L/DS, Grad Transfer, Davidson
Ellie Bolton - L/DS, Grad Transfer, Creighton (committed to SMU)
Pipe Dreams:
Ella Wrobel - OH, Junior, Wisconsin (committed to Ohio State)
Taylor Landfair - OH, Junior, Minnesota (committed to Nebraska)
Pipe Dreams Not in Portal:
Anastasia Russ - MB, Grad Transfer, Maryland - Russ is a Pitt local and former panther who couldn't get on the court a few years back as an underclassman and transferred to Maryland and has been really good there. She's 6'5. Would love for her to come back home for her last year.
Andelyn Simkins - L, Grad Transfer, Western Michigan - Simkins was the best libero not on a power team that I saw in the tournament. She could get NIL somewhere if she decides to transfer for her last year, and would probably win the starting libero job over Klika if she came to Pitt
Ally Batenhorst/Lindsay Krause - OH, Senior, Nebraska - One of these two is going to be spending their year on the bench in Lincoln next year if they don't transfer. But either one coming to Pitt would immediately raise both our hitting and blocking as the second OH and increase Pitt's national championship potential. This year Krause got hurt so when Harper Murray took the team by storm, Batenhorst was the second OH, but either one would be a big upgrade over VVG. Both are 6'4 with 1 year eligibility
Again, I have no inside info for any of these girls but these are names/roles that could be good fits. My guess is Fisher goes somewhere totally different but fun to have names to track