PSU WVB news.

[NitneLiun]

Haleigh Washington and Megan Courtney were both honored as members of the all-tournament team at the recently completed Volleyball Nations League tournament. Haleigh was named best middle blocker and Megan was named best libero.

The VNL is the most significant international volleyball tournament after the Olympic and World Championship tournaments. The United States won the tournament by beating Brazil, 3-2 in the championship match.

http://www.volleyball.world/en/vnl/news/united-states-become-double-champions-at-volleyball?id=84765

http://www.volleyball.world/en/vnl/news/andrea-drews-leads-2019-vnl-dream-team?id=84764

 

[BVSt.Paul]

Hows it looking for this year’s WVB team? Title run?

 

[Achowalogan]

Hows it looking for this year’s WVB team? Title run?

WVB team is ALWAYS looking good.....

 

[Nit777]

Hows it looking for this year’s WVB team? Title run?

New setter
some good to very good returning big kids
great libero

Probably top 4 in conference, and probably a sweet 16 team, but doubtful for a final 4 berth.
Depends on regional. Last year was in same regional as Stanford and got knocked out in regional.

 

[flash86]

Nice feedback! I think it will depend on the outsides: didn’t close it enough points last year.

New setter
some good to very good returning big kids
great libero

Probably top 4 in conference, and probably a sweet 16 team, but doubtful for a final 4 berth.
Depends on regional. Last year was in same regional as Stanford and got knocked out in regional.

 

[NitneLiun]

Unfortunately, one of our OH commits de-committed and decided to go to UCLA. Apparently, she realized that PA winters are cold. Seriously, that's the reason she gave.

 

[NitneLiun]

This is our tentative roster for 2019.

DS/L
Kendall White Sr.
Kristin Krause Sr.
Emily Sciorra Sr.
Brooklyn Hill So.
Jenna Hampton So.
Macall Peed Fr.
Mae Rowley Fr.
Molly Russell Fr.

MB
Tori Gorrell Sr.
Serena Gray So.
Kaitlyn Hord So.
Amanda Phegly So.

OH
Allyson Cathey So.
Gabi Bailey Fr.
Lauren Clark Fr.
Sydney Ferguson Fr.

RS
Jonni Parker So.

S
Gabby Blossom So.
Sophie Walls So.
Emily Oerther Fr.

As you can see, we are extremely thin at RS. An OH will have to be converted to RS. With the exception of DS/L, we have an enormous number of Sophs and Frosh. Many of them will have to contribute immediately.

 

[PSUArnie]

Unfortunately, one of our OH commits de-committed and decided to go to UCLA. Apparently, she realized that PA winters are cold. Seriously, that's the reason she gave.

Well if you've ever been to UCLA you can certainly understand her decision I guess.

 

[flash86]

Phegley or Gorrell can play RS/OPP, and Gorrell can even play OH.

This is our tentative roster for 2019.

DS/L
Kendall White Sr.
Kristin Krause Sr.
Emily Sciorra Sr.
Brooklyn Hill So.
Jenna Hampton So.
Macall Peed Fr.
Mae Rowley Fr.
Molly Russell Fr.

MB
Tori Gorrell Sr.
Serena Gray So.
Kaitlyn Hord So.
Amanda Phegly So.

OH
Allyson Cathey So.
Gabi Bailey Fr.
Lauren Clark Fr.
Sydney Ferguson Fr.

RS
Jonni Parker So.

S
Gabby Blossom So.
Sophie Walls So.
Emily Oerther Fr.

As you can see, we are extremely thin at RS. An OH will have to be converted to RS. With the exception of DS/L, we have an enormous number of Sophs and Frosh. Many of them will have to contribute immediately.

 

[Cletus11]

Well if you've ever been to UCLA you can certainly understand her decision I guess.

Russ obviously didn't hard negative sell the whole earthquake situation.

 

[Roar More]

Unfortunately, one of our OH commits de-committed and decided to go to UCLA. Apparently, she realized that PA winters are cold. Seriously, that's the reason she gave.

Maybe she didn't know college volleyball is played indoors.

 

[TheGLOV]

Unfortunately, one of our OH commits de-committed and decided to go to UCLA. Apparently, she realized that PA winters are cold. Seriously, that's the reason she gave.

Quitter! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

 

[TheGLOV]

Unfortunately, one of our OH commits de-committed and decided to go to UCLA. Apparently, she realized that PA winters are cold. Seriously, that's the reason she gave.

What was her name Gen.?

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Maybe she didn't know college volleyball is played indoors.

Guessing she thinks she signed up for beach volleyball?

 

[tboyer]

It's a really interesting team. White is as good as any libero in the country; the middles with Hord, Gray and Gorrell is probably the best group in the country. Jonni Parker blossomed into AA-caliber player toward the end of her freshmen season. Setter is probably in good shape with Gabby Blossom. Outside is the question -- not a weak group but nothing like Penn State's recent standards. Rose's dynasty teams always had dominant size and dominant outsides, and this team has neither.

As others noted, if they draw a Stanford in a regional again they're probably not making the final four. The way to avoid that is to compete better in the B1G. Last year's team dropped 6 conference games, including (including very winnable 5 setters to Purdue and Wisconsin at Rec Hall). If they play a little better in close matches this year, they could get a friendlier path to the final four. Once in the final four, Rose is a magician and anything is possible.

 

[PSUSignore]

In related news, I just saw that Salima Rockwell has just accepted a role back in Austin as an Assistant Technical Director for the Austin Juniors club and assistant coach for one of the teams.

 

[NitneLiun]

What was her name Gen.?

Iman Ndiaye. Below is a write-up from DigNittanyVolleyall. I made an error when I identified her as an OH. She's a RS/MB who was slated to play RS. Her departure is one reason we will be very thin at that position.

https://www.dignittanyvolleyball.com/recruiting-update-iman-ndiaye-2020-mb-rs-verbals-to-penn-state/

 

[NitneLiun]

Well if you've ever been to UCLA you can certainly understand her decision I guess.

I'm pretty sure she knew Southern California is warmer than central PA in the winter when she was being recruited.

 

[Sproul]

Shoul

It's a really interesting team. White is as good as any libero in the country; the middles with Hord, Gray and Gorrell is probably the best group in the country. Jonni Parker blossomed into AA-caliber player toward the end of her freshmen season. Setter is probably in good shape with Gabby Blossom. Outside is the question -- not a weak group but nothing like Penn State's recent standards. Rose's dynasty teams always had dominant size and dominant outsides, and this team has neither.

As others noted, if they draw a Stanford in a regional again they're probably not making the final four. The way to avoid that is to compete better in the B1G. Last year's team dropped 6 conference games, including (including very winnable 5 setters to Purdue and Wisconsin at Rec Hall). If they play a little better in close matches this year, they could get a friendlier path to the final four. Once in the final four, Rose is a magician and anything is possible.

Should have won against Purdue due to the net violation on match point too!

 

[Tom McAndrew]