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TexasDPT

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Everything posted by TexasDPT

  1. Molly was able to hit well the past years with strong left pin hitters. She doesnt have that this year. She’s never been able to consistently kill a ball when if she’s not hitting a perfect set or left one-on-one.
  2. for real… not sure why he’s not going to his underclassmen on the bench, Devin and Jordyn.
  3. Wenaas is not it. Granted Swindle's sets are not the most consistent or well-located, but even when she gets a decent ball, she ends up tipping or going off-speed. That's ok only after you've established that you can terminate the ball. Changes at OH and Opp need to be made if Wenaas and Phillips continue their abysmal hitting against the next 2 ranked opponents. I still think Byrd should be on the left pin instead of Wenaas. She jumps out of the gym and can at least hit the same type of sets as Skinner without Ella having to adjust the tempo of her setting like she has to with Jenna. Same with Devin who should be starting at Opp. She doesn't need a perfect, fast tempo set to terminate like Molly. Plus, Devin can be in serve-receive to cover for Byrd when she is in the front row.
  4. Last year was special... This upcoming season is going to be a huge work in progress. Ellas is going to be an inconsistent freshman, Wenaas is not a terminal OH, Molly still can't put down an out-of-system ball, and Bella is average at best. My expectations have been lowered.
  5. Wennas would be a good get from the portal. I just don't think we have a scholarship available for her...unless someone transfers out. I think if anyone on the current roster did, it would be Parra. Elliott just has a bevy of tall, physical pins I think he would rather play in the front row. 6'4 Byrd and 6'4 Helmers are coming in early this spring semester, 6'4 Kahahawai now has a season under her belt, Madi and Molly will be working to keep their spots on the court, and then 6'5 Tomkinson will be coming in the summer...and there's still 6' walk-on Miller who could probably get a scholarship somewhere else but wants to play at Texas. But even if a 'ship did open up, I still feel the priority should be getting an experienced setter. Right now, we have incoming freshman setter Swindle coming in the spring and a walk-on in Crownover. It'd be nice to get an experienced P5 setter from the transfer portal who can mentor Swindle.
  6. The 2023 Class https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNH9G-obYKE&t=56s
  7. The 2023 class is adding a lot of size in the front row: 6'3 Swindle & Bunton, 6'4 Byrd & Helmers, and 6'5 Tomkinson. Byrd has a fast arm-swing and hits well at both pins but has yet to play against high-level competition at the HS or club levels. Helmers can hit a variety of shots and Tomkinson is a lefty opposite who is already a decent blocker, but both will need to focus on strength & conditioning to add some power to their shots. None of the pin hitters are coming in with strong backcourt skills unfortunately. OH/Opp depth shouldn't be a problem next year with Skinner, Parra (if she doesn't transfer), Kahahawai, Byrd, Helmers, Tomkinson, and walk-on Miller. Someone from this group needs to step-up as a consistent, out-of-system hitter though. I think Phillips needs to be moved back to MB for depth, experience, and leadership on the court. I think she will start with either Bergmark or Singletary. Bunton will probably be redshirting like most true freshman MBs at Texas. I agree that we need a seasoned transfer setter in case Swindle pulls a Shook with her setting location and consistency...and we really don't know much about this year's walk-on setter Crownover. We will still have Halter and Akana in the backcourt, but Skinner, Parra, or Kahahawai need to step up as we won't have a strong 3rd Libero/DS on the roster next year. Swindle, Byrd, and Helmers are all arriving early in the spring.
  8. You wishcasting might be working as McCuthcheon is leaving Minnesota at the end of the season.
  9. Bergmark and Caffey are putting up similar blocks/set numbers (0.80 and 0.76, respectively). However, block touches (BT) are equally as important. According to Vollymetrics, Bergmark has an 8.4% BT and Caffey is at 5.1%, and Bergmark has a slightly better good touch percentage (45.6% compared to 45%). If they are using these metrics as well as attack % (0.384 for Bella; 0.378 for Caffey), Bella is statistically performing better. I'm sure they are also using practice statistics which we aren't privy to. But it does seem like Caffey is being inserted into the line-up when Bella struggles offensively, so I'm not sure how reliable those numbers are. Personally, I would like to see Caffey in the starting line-up because her offense will be reliable regardless of the opponent. She just needs more in-game reps IMO.
  10. Kaylei Akana Apparently Nike is backed up on making the jerseys for our new players
  11. Jenna has a great all-around game, but we're bringing in a lot of pin hitters with height next year, so it'll be interesting to see who will have the most impact with the other returning pin hitters. 6'2 OH/Opp - Skinner (Jr) 5'11 OH- Parra (Jr) 6'4 OH/Opp -Kahahawai (So) 6'0 OH - Miller (So) 6'4 OH/Opp - Byrd (Fr) 6'4 OH - Helmers (Fr) 6'5 Lefty Opp - Tomkinson (Fr) I'm hoping the sand Vball season in the spring and then summer training will develop some of them into complete 6-rotation players for next year. Most likely candidates in my mind are Skinner, Parra, and Kahahawai.
  12. 👋 Yep, I've been saying this for awhile. She's played the past 2 seasons on the right, but really hasn't done much. She puts up a big block but really only hits one shot...a sharp, cross-court shot that she hits really well in-system, but other than that doesn't have the range or power to be an effective pin hitter. I'm in favor of keeping Skinner on the right, Parra on the left, and Caffey in the middle over Bergmark. We need Caffey's offense in the middle to leave the pins 1-on-1. Blocking isn't going to be a strength of this team, but as long as they can put efficient blocks up against opponents, the back-row will just have to pick up the slack...which I think they are capable of this year! Molly should move back to the middle and start training for next year. It'll be her, Bergmark, Singletary (RS-freshman), and Bunton (true freshman)...unless someone with a scholarship transfers and he pulls someone in the portal. But right now, all 12 scholarships are accounted for already for next season.
  13. Definitely think Skinner is a better option at Opposite. Her arm swing is difficult to read hitting from the right pin and she can be terminal even with out-of-system swings, something that Molly can't do. If Parra can manage her game and take smart swings, she and Logan will make a good Left-side duo. Parra's block continues to need work, but she does get height with the swing-blocking technique Texas employs. I just wonder how she will handle going up against taller opposites that can hit over her. Devin can be the back-up for Parra or Skinner if either struggle. I think they should work Molly back in the middle and see how she does. That may take away reps from Bella and Kayla, but neither have yet to consistently produce.
  14. This is the most Parra's ever smiled in a match
  15. Parra looks more comfortable in the starting line-up. Skinner has all the physical tools to be a great player but she doesn't have it mentally yet. She just makes too many silly mistakes and looks like she's overthinking things. I know she wants to be a 6-rotation player (and that may have been a deal for her transferring here), but I think that responsibility is too much for her right now. If Elliott continues to start her in the line-up, he should let her be successful as a front-row player only and just build up her confidence and success in that role in Texas' system...and then slowly start giving her more responsibilities
  16. Caffey looking good in the middle...blocking may not be as good as Bergmark's, but she adds an offensive attack that makes the team better
  17. Texas...where players come to become bad at passing...j/k
  18. I feel like this is the reason why high-level Liberos/DS's did not want to commit Texas. The staff were just bad evaluators of talent or they had the reputation of being unable to develop talent. There's only a few Liberos that I think developed well during JE's tenure: Heather Kisner, Sarah Palmer... maybe Alyson Jennings, Nicole Dalton, and Cat McCoy. But the most impactful Liberos have been transfers: Morgan O'Brien and Zoe Fleck. Emma Halter seems like a promising Libero, but so did Nalani Iosia her freshman year. I will say Emma has better ball control and hustle at this point so I am hopeful. I hope JE continues to realize the importance of these players and if he can't develop them, then get them via the transfer portal!
  19. Gotta figure out that OH1 spot. And Opp too. Madi is so inconsistent with her hitting. She has a tough time adjusting to a "not-so perfect" set on the left pin. But she puts up a big block at the net. Parra only has one shot (sharp cross-court) and she tends to hit it out when she tries to go around the block. Her blocking is her weakest skill. Molly looked liked she turned the corner with her hitting against OSU in game 1. But the past two games have shown if she isn't getting a perfect in-system set, she doesn't have the power to put the ball down. Devin can hit from both pins and puts up a big block. She just needs more playing time IMO. I feel like the best line-up would be starting Devin at OH1 and Madi at Opp.
  20. If an athlete is on an indoor scholarship, she can play beach. If the athlete is on a beach scholarship, she cannot play indoor. This is to prevent schools from adding beach solely to gain more scholarship money in indoor.
  21. Yes! This is the type of backcourt Elliott should have built with all of the past teams...It would have lead to more Championships.
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