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TexasDPT

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  1. Yeah, it'll be interesting to see how it all plays out in the fall. I just hope they don't run a true 6-2...maybe use it situationally though.
  2. Hot takes after watching all the spring matches: I can see Averi being the starting setter in the fall, which I didn't think initially. Her setting tempo and location just puts all the hitters in a better position to attack—that was clearly evident from the end-line view of the court in the IG feed against UTSA. Ella provides the better block and setter attack option, but her location was inconsistent...maybe because she's gone back to jump-setting? If so, she should set flat-footed b/c she locates the ball so much better. Madi and Jenna will start at OH. Madi needs to continue to work on her serve-receive and ball control (especially if she wants to succeed at the next level), but her attack window allows her to crush any ball. Jenna's offense was better with Averi's sets, and her all-around game looks good. She may be playing all 6 rotations unless one of the DS's (Reese or Brennan) learn to play middle-back effectively. OH Depth chart after Madi and Jenna is: Helmers > Miller >>> Byrd. It was nice to finally see Helmers on the court after not playing for 1.5 years (concussion, opted out of playing her Sr high school season, and then shoulder surgery). I know she has been injured for a while, but Byrd's offense is a fraction of what she showed last spring. It looks like she has focused so much on trying to develop her ball control that she has forgotten how to attack. IMO, she should be training at Opp, especially considering the OHs coming in for 2025. I was worried about the MB position, but Singletary and Ames played really well this spring. Both are offensive weapons...just need to continue to get better at reading the setter (especially Mari) which will come with time and playing experience. Nya's knee surgery was last summer - hopefully she's not having any serious lingering effects from it and its all precautionary. It may be imperative to cross-train Byrd at MB if so. For Opp, I think either Devin or Reagan could start. Just like Jenna, both looked so much better hitting off of Averi. Reagan is better offensively, but Devin brings in a solid blocking presence. I just don't see Tomkinson logging any meaningful minutes. She and Miller would probably start at a mid-level program. Lauenstein could be the dark horse for either pin position in the fall. We just don't know the extent of her injury. Halter and Akana have their positions locked up; just need Akana to get healthy. Next up, European trip. Hopefully we get some good videos posted from their matches. They use a different ball over there, so passing/ball control is going to be an adventure for them but will make them better.
  3. Blocking from the middle position is going to be a weakness when they start playing teams with better hitters/offense. There's a reason why they were consistently incorporating triple blocks during the match. Bad Jenna started off the match, but Good Jenna showed up pretty quickly once she settled down. I thought she looked all-worldly with Carlson's fast-tempo, well-located sets. Ella's going to be the starter regardless...her serving and blocking are going to keep her on the floor. Rutherford will be better offensively from the right pin, but she needs to improve her blocking. Hopefully, Lauenstein can challenge her b/c I didn't see much from Devin or Auburn. I'm interested to see where Byrd will fit in when she gets healthy. She, Bunton, and Lauenstein may not get playing reps this spring since all 4 matches are back-to-back....But hopefully they will get healthy enough to play during the Europe trip this summer. Akana needs to get healthy as well b/c I wasn't impressed with Emerick in the backrow. We've been spoiled for the past 2 years with having 3 elite littles.
  4. And they can't do anything to the locker rooms, which need to be updated and renovated.
  5. Same. She showed out this season. But if she is severely injured, we now have a very reliable replacement
  6. Someone on VT posted that Swindle posted on Tiktok that she has been in a boot for 3 months....so probably something more serious. Damn, just shows how much of a baller she really is then...
  7. https://www.instagram.com/p/C1VZBlXLGiP/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=30a75c79-0899-4eab-85cf-37be00f1e4ec&img_index=1 Averi Carlson to Texas! And maybe her sis Kalin too (she is a DS)....
  8. Byrd to MB seems more likely at this point. Devin will have to decide if she is willing to fight for a spot. Doubt it though when she can be an immediate starter somewhere else. Still think Wenaas' spot isn't secured. Skinner, Swindle, Halter, and Akana are the only for sure starters imo.
  9. Well, 1 of 2 just happened! Rutherford to Texas! https://www.instagram.com/p/C1VN_FyOYo5/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=bb746b2b-f010-4a0f-9d40-dcbdfa5860cd&img_index=3
  10. I’m thinking OH1: Madi - no competition OH2: Jenna, Whitney, Byrd, Helmers OPP - Whitney, Byrd, Devin, Tomkinson JE will want to keep 3 ‘Littles’ on the floor, so the OH2 will need to pass when in the front row. Wenaas may have the inside track bc we really don’t know how the others can pass…but it will also depend how terminal the other OHs can be. I was really impressed that Jenna upped her play in the last 3 matches, but I’d still like to see a more consistent and terminal hitter there to help take pressure off Madi. With Ella’s more consistent setting, the Opp who can kill the ball in/out of system and with better blocking skills will get the start. If everyone comes back healthy, we’ll definitely have more options on the pins. I think it will be important for the pins to be terminal since we’ll probably see a significant drop off in offense and defense production from our young middles. Will JE go for a grad transfer MB? Or will he move Byrd to MB to add depth? Same with DS…does he go for a transfer or does he rely on one of his 2 incoming freshmen DS’s? Hopefully one of them can replicate Halter’s freshman season…
  11. F'n refs trying to reign in Asjia's celebrations and stare-downs...
  12. Hell no! It is what it is at this point, but I don't want to Wenaas in the starting line-up next year. Jenna is who I thought she would be when she transferred in...she has skill but can never put it all together and play consistently at a high level. Next season, I hope Byrd displaces Jenna on the left pin. I'm in the camp that believes Devin is gone. She's going through the motions of being a good teammate on the sideline but she's completely checked out. If we're going to hit the portal, I'd honestly like to see Reagan Rutherford transfer in and start at Opposite. She may be on the shorter side at 6'0, but she has hops and is a terminal hitter on the right pin as a lefty. She was putting up 3.47 Kills/set and averaging 0.9 blocks/set (better than Molly's numbers) before getting injured this season. She can also potentially play 6-rotations since she was trained at Kentucky to play back-row defense, be in the passing lanes for a couple of rotations, and attack from the back-row. Plus, she can actually hit out-of-system high balls from the right pin which can help take some pressure off the left pins and make the offense less predictable. Averi Carlson would be nice to have as another quality scholarship setter on the squad and to give Ella some competition. But even without her, there will be 3 setters next year (Ella and walk-ons Marina Crownover and Rella Binney). But yeah, if Ella goes down for an extended period of time, we would be screwed. I think we are set at MB with Mari, Nya, and Ayden...it'll be a young group (unless we get an experienced grad transfer MB), so that's why we need terminal pin hitters next season so that the MBs can focus on blocking, since we'll probably see a significant drop-off in that part of our game. The team goes on their European summer trip next year after a semester of spring training. It'll be a good time for the team to get extra quality practice reps, and hopefully, we'll see an overall improvement in each player's skills.
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