I can't agree with your main point enough, which is the digs in the backcourt have gone up considerably. The data proves it, but it passes the eye test for me, too. And I agree with your conclusion that it's Stafford's presence that is making the biggest impact.
To me it's important to note the evolutions those teams went through, too.
In the 2022 tournament the blocking numbers were:
Fairleigh Dickinson 2.5 bps
Georgia 2.7 bps
Marquette 3.75 bps
OSU 4 bps
San Diego 3 bps
Louisville 3 bps
I didn't go back and look it up, but I clearly remember being somewhat concerned early on, even while we were going undefeated. Especially since I didn't understand why the blocking numbers were so low. Then somewhere in the middle of conference season they started picking up significantly. I picked out the tournament numbers to limit my effort, but also because I remember the blocking numbers were really good.
We all know what that 2023 season was like. It was a different team at the end of the year. Skinner in particular started becoming unhittable out of the back row. She hit over .400 on the season on the BIC that year, which is absurd. I'll never forget her killing a ball over the triple block Nebraska put on her in the championship game. She was playing next level volleyball at the end of the year.
And then of course the serving. I remember in both postseasons for 2002 and 2023 feeling like the teams' overall serving was on a different level. Everyone who went up there was an extremely effective server both years. We all remember what happened to Nebraska in 2023, but in both years come tournament time Texas was dominating opponents in a way they hadn't been early in the season.
I will say I've liked our serves overall on this team so far. On a personal level, I don't really get Kujundzic out there as a serving sub. I'd rather see Kendra Miller or if Lauenstein is healthy, see what she can do. I know neither one are defensive specialists, but I'd really like to see a more effective serve out of that rotation. I've liked Kahahawai's serves better than Kujundzic's, as well. But Elliott sees more than I do. I'm just watching the matches. To me she stands out as a weak link so far in terms of our serves.
I'll also say Vander Wal doesn't frustrate me the way Wenaas always did. I feel like Vander Wal has so much upside. I'm excited to see where her career goes from here. Wenaas always felt like what you see is what you get. And what we got frustrated me to no end, from the time she announced her commitment to Texas out of the portal to the last match against Creighton, with a brief respite during the 2023 tournament.