2023 Texas Volleyball - Back to Back!

[Js1 85296]

Texas, no surprise, is the unanimous pick to win the conference. 13th consecutive season picked first.

1 Texas (12)
2 BYU (1)
3 Baylor
4 TCU
5 KU
6 UH
7 ISU
8 KSU
9 UCF
10 OU
11 Tech
12 Cincinnati
13 West Virginia

[perfectchaos007 6627]

UH must have lost a bunch of seniors if they’re projected to finish 6th coming off a sweet 16 season. I feel like TCU fails to live up to expectations every year they are projected to be good. I would be happy for them if Parra and Co. can help lead them to a tournament berth this season 

[Js1 85296]

3 minutes ago, perfectchaos007 said:

UH must have lost a bunch of seniors if they’re projected to finish 6th coming off a sweet 16 season. I feel like TCU fails to live up to expectations every year they are projected to be good. I would be happy for them if Parra and Co. can help lead them to a tournament berth this season 

2-6 are all pretty close to each other. Any of them could finish 2nd and/or take a match off Texas. Baylor is the biggest wildcard bc of how young they are. 

[Js1 85296]

Madi Skinner named preseason Big 12 POY. Ella Swindle is preseason co-Big 12 Freshman of the Year with Kyndal Stowers (Baylor)

O’Neal, Phillips, Skinner and Wenaas are the preseason all conference team reps for Texas. O’Neal and Skinner were unanimous selections 

[YGIFS 19449]

Anybody know what time the O&W scrimmage will be in a few weeks at Gregory?  Nothing on the official site yet.  It's usually 11 or 3, but want to make sure to block off time to take the oldest who's really digging volleyball lately.  We were visiting wife's folks on way back from vacation and she got to see mommy and her sister's pics from volleyball days from yore.  And she's even more into it than before.  I'm stoked.  

[YGIFS 19449]

Kinda vague still, but staff indicates O&W match will begin between 1:00-3:00p on 8/12.  So early afternoon.  Be there or be fair.

[SL Xpress 7513]

Nebraska volleyball just inks a $5 million NIL deal from a local shopping area. 

$500,000 per year for 10 years. 

https://omaha.com/sports/huskers/volleyball/nebraska-volleyballs-nil-coffers-grow-after-1890-initiative-inks-5-million-deal/article_e4b0106c-b14d-54db-b6a1-d95f32145ef7.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

I guess they’re trying to position themselves as the OU softball of the sport. I think it’s fair to say Texas is second in terms of an NIL warchest. The coming gala all proceeds are going to Texas One Fund’s volleyball NIL account. I also notice Texas One Fund is the sponsor for the home match against Stanford that same weekend. 

That will be the big recruiting weekend where we see who we’re seriously interested to finish out the 2025 class and who is still considering Texas. 

But I’m honestly a bit shocked Nebraska has that much cheddar pouring into their program from one source. And it’s not like they lack for funding mechanisms outside of that. They sold out their football stadium for a volleyball match this year in a few hours. 

I’m not saying this is going to make them unbeatable in the future. They’ve been winning practically every recruiting battle anyway and still can’t beat Wisconsin, can’t win the Big 10, and haven’t won a national championship since 2017. But talent acquisition matters, especially if you lap the field the way it seems like they’re going to do in terms of NIL money. I can’t say I’m scared, because Texas has immense resources, but we’re never going to be as single minded as they are, either. Volleyball is all they’ve got at this point. 

[Js1 85296]

Did Texas ever announce Carissa Barnes? All her social media has UT volleyball and Texas One Fund. Our fall roster still isn’t up. 

[SL Xpress 7513]

On 7/10/2023 at 2:32 PM, perfectchaos007 said:

UH must have lost a bunch of seniors if they’re projected to finish 6th coming off a sweet 16 season. I feel like TCU fails to live up to expectations every year they are projected to be good. I would be happy for them if Parra and Co. can help lead them to a tournament berth this season 

I think it’s more a matter of the Big 12 coaches ranking UH too low. 

But I’m with Js1. 2-6 are tough to discern in the preseason. I would have picked UH 3rd, personally. 

TCU has their coach in his 2nd year. I was very impressed with how much TCU improved over the course of the year, and how well they overcame several big hits on the injury front. They have several good transfers coming in. They have the new faculty they opened up last year. I think Jason Williams might make some noise in year 2. 

I’m also interested to see how former staff members Tonya Johnson and Salima Rockwell do in year two. Eckerman is in her second season coaching Kent State. And then Jaimie Morrison, former volunteer assistant, helms A&M in his inaugural season. 

Lots of fun story lines for me to follow, starting with our Lady Longhorns. O’Neal had an impressive showing at the VNL summer series. I feel like she’s going to be the heart and soul of this team. I would have picked her for preseason conference player of the year, but I do understand it’s primarily a 6 rotation pin award. 

[Js1 85296]

5 minutes ago, SL Xpress said:

I would have picked her for preseason conference player of the year, but I do understand it’s primarily a 6 rotation pin award. 

Chiaka did win POY in 2017. So O’Neal has a legit shot at it 

[SL Xpress 7513]

3 minutes ago, Js1 said:

Did Texas ever announce Carissa Barnes? All her social media has UT volleyball and Texas One Fund. Our fall roster still isn’t up. 

I don’t think so. But she has been with the team in Austin according to Instagram. I think it’s more about being enrolled for fall semester and practices starting than anything else. But it is frustrating. 

I think she’s going to make that libero battle with Halter very interesting, and I love love love Halter. I just want the best player to win out whoever it is. It’s so nice to have so much confidence in our back row production.

I’m just curious how we manage Skinner and Wenaas (or Kahahawai if she somehow wins the role) for those 6 rotation slots. I honestly don’t have any idea. I assume Skinner will be in there 6 rotations the way Eggleston was and Mikayla White was before that. She’s the one who has the juice to hit all the approaches from the back row. But Wenaas was brought in primarily for her passing as an outside. Her termination percentage at Minnesota was woeful. I don’t see how anything remotely approaching that works at Texas, but I’m sure it will all work itself out.

I’m excited to see what all transpires!

[SL Xpress 7513]

2 minutes ago, Js1 said:

Chiaka did win POY in 2017. So O’Neal has a legit shot at it 

Absolutely. Like I said, she’s my favorite. If Texas makes the Final Four I feel like she’s going to be a leading national player of the year candidate. 

[Js1 85296]

57 minutes ago, SL Xpress said:

Her termination percentage at Minnesota was woeful

I recall their passing wasn’t great and they really missed SSS setting 

[SL Xpress 7513]

3 minutes ago, Js1 said:

I recall their passing wasn’t great and they really missed SSS setting 

Well, we’ll see. She doesn’t exactly have that wow factor as an OH either at Minnesota or in the spring, but we’ve been admittedly spoiled for many many years. I can’t remenber the last time we didn’t have two potentially dominant OHes starting.

I’m not making any predictions. Just expressing some concerns based on what I’ve seen from her. I have complete confidence Elliott has a plan and it’s all going to work out one way or another. I’m just curious how that ends up unfolding. I’m unconvinced it’s going to be Wenaas playing 6 rotations, which would lead me to wonder what else would it be? But maybe that’s exactly what it ends up being, and that ends up being best for the team. I confess no clairvoyance on the matter. 

[Eljefeweizen 34]

The Orange and White match is set for 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 12. See you there.

[YGIFS 19449]

I believe you, but you got a link?  Need to make some plans with the family and wife doesn't trust my "I heard it on Surlyhorns, where I get my sports info, soft porn, and political talking points."  

[Js1 85296]

4 minutes ago, YGIFS said:

I believe you, but you got a link?  Need to make some plans with the family and wife doesn't trust my "I heard it on Surlyhorns, where I get my sports info, soft porn, and political talking points."  

 

[perfectchaos007 6627]

Texas Sports is so slow. As of now they still show a time of TBA for the Orange and White game and they still haven't posted the 2023 fall roster yet.

[YGIFS 19449]

Yeah, considering the small, but highly overpaid, Army we have in our Athletics Dept. to stay on top of this shit---we are woefully late on so much news and data that our counterparts get out almost in real time.  Most Belmont donors are not of the age and mindset to be social media hounds.  They expect the main website and pushed emails to be accurate, up-to-date, and robust.  We fuck that up constantly across multiple sports.  

[Js1 85296]

Not sure who our SID staff is but I always thought we have some that run multiple female sports simultaneously 

[YGIFS 19449]

That is the case.  and considering there's a whopping two fucking sports to deal with on the women's side this time of year, you'd think they could stay on top of shit.  Apparently they hurt themselves re-posting last year's cross country roster and one 2023 tennis match earlier today.  So give 'em some time.  In the end, it's on the field and in the classroom shit that counts, it's just annoying given our budget how we lag so many programs in the most basic of shit.  

[Js1 85296]

I agree

[Eljefeweizen 34]

The schedule is FINALLY up:

https://texassports.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule

[Js1 85296]

And roster. Carissa Barnes! 

[perfectchaos007 6627]

Carissa gets to play an exhibition against her former team in just 2 weeks!

Once again as a fan I’m disappointed that we’re only playing 8 games non-conference, but if a limited schedule is what JE believes helps lead to championships I’m certainly not going to complain. We just need to beat Ohio State, Minny, and Stanford 

[Js1 85296]

11 minutes ago, perfectchaos007 said:

Carissa gets to play an exhibition against her former team in just 2 weeks!

Once again as a fan I’m disappointed that we’re only playing 8 games non-conference, but if a limited schedule is what JE believes helps lead to championships I’m certainly not going to complain. We just need to beat Ohio State, Minny, and Stanford 

Well we do have 2 extra Big 12 matches and @ OU, BYU, KU, @ UH, Baylor, @ WV are all back to backs.  

We played 8 non-conf last year + 16 Big 12 games.  So we get 2 extra matches.  No pre-season poll yet, but Stanford, Minnesota, Ohio State, Baylor, UH, BYU, Rice, UCF and Washington State all finished ranked and ISU/KU received votes.

Based on how last season's AVCA poll ended, we have 15 matches against teams who finished the year ranked or receiving votes.  Last year, prior to the NCAA tourney, was 11. 

Edited August 3, 2023 by Js1

[YGIFS 19449]

CSB/ wife drags me to mall this morning because one of the stores is having a great sale on back to school shoes for kids for my two girls.  There’s a fashion show going on.  Some of our volleyball team is modeling lululemon.  In my peripheral vision is a guy snapping photos.  It’s our head VB coach.  And the emcee is Sark’s wife.  I walk in on some weird shit.  
 

can’t wait for next Saturday!

[Js1 85296]

Texas did their media day at COTA. Badass

 

[kingkoopa6 8347]

Boom

[Js1 85296]

Good luck getting Baby Spice to hand that black jersey to Barnes. She’s Baby Fleck out there 

[Js1 85296]

2-2 tie but unless I’m wrong because of all the shuffling, looks like whichever team had Emma Halter was 4-0 today. 

#thatsmylibero 

[SL Xpress 7513]

11 minutes ago, Js1 said:

2-2 tie but unless I’m wrong because of all the shuffling, looks like whichever team had Emma Halter was 4-0 today. 

#thatsmylibero 

No, they had Heinrich/Akana out there for a couple of sets, with Halter and Barnes as DSes.

But there's no question Halter looked the best, and her teammates seemed to respond to her the best, too. 

Which isn't completely surprising. Barnes played beach for Corpus Christi and finished up her degree in the spring. She didn't get to Austin until the summer. Still, I thought there would be more competition for the spot today than there was. Halter was simply overwhelmingly better.

I also though Singletary and Bergmark would be a closer competition than it was. Bergmark was clearly the better middle today. It hurt Singletary to be on the Orange team with Crownover for several sets. Swindle is just a next level setter compared to Crownover, especially setting the middle, whether on quicks or the slide. Nonetheless, Bergmark looked like the polished 5th year senior she is. 

Wenaas shocked me at how much better she looked compared to the spring (and frankly at Minnesota for most of her career, too). She had an array of shots in her arsenal, and showed one of the bigger Wow! moments attacking from the pipe on the Orange team, then following it up with a great tip shot to the sideline from the back row to end set 3. 

Kahahawai looks like she has a much heavier arm this year. 

But Byrd looked outstanding. I hope they find a way to get her on the floor regularly this year. She looks like a future monster at pin. 

I can hardly wait for the scrimmage on Friday!

[Js1 85296]

5 minutes ago, SL Xpress said:

No, they had Heinrich/Akana out there for a couple of sets, with Halter and Barnes as DSes.

 

I meant the team that had Halter on their side, period. I know she split sets between the black jersey and DS. Pretty sure she was on Team White for sets 1/2 and Team Orange for sets 3/4

Swindle looked great and very comfortable going over on 2. Agree that Wenaas looked much improved. 

Barnes definitely looked a little rusty - got aced a couple times. But the team did just get back to campus earlier this week, so not too surprising. 

Edited August 12, 2023 by Js1

[Js1 85296]

Preseason number 1

[perfectchaos007 6627]

So 5 of our 8 non-conference opponents are top 25. Compact but salty schedule 

[Js1 85296]

20 minutes ago, perfectchaos007 said:

So 5 of our 8 non-conference opponents are top 25. Compact but salty schedule 

And we have BYU, Baylor and UH all twice. 

[HenryJames 66038]

 

[Steven Avery 19]

Did anyone go to the game vs Tamucc?

[SL Xpress 7513]

On 8/21/2023 at 8:18 AM, Steven Avery said:

Did anyone go to the game vs Tamucc?

I didn't go, but I watched it on LHN.

First match tomorrow versus Long Beach at 8pm central on ESPN+. Long Beach went 2-3 versus Pepperdine. Pepperdine was a tournament team last year that lost in the first round. The thing is, Pepperdine won both of the first two sets when both teams had their starters in, then LBSU won the next two when the subs came in.

Long Beach has 10 returning players and 13! newcomers, for a total of 23 players on their roster! My guess is Texas is going to have a block fest against them in a sweep, but I guess we'll see. I'll be mildly surprised if Texas loses a set in these first two matches, in preparation for Minnesota later in the week. Both Long Beach and Loyola Marymount should be quality teams, but IMO they're going to have a problem matching up.

Minnesota plays TCU and Baylor this weekend, so we'll see how they fare against both of those Big 12 programs. 

[Js1 85296]

On 8/24/2023 at 3:50 AM, SL Xpress said:

I didn't go, but I watched it on LHN.

First match tomorrow versus Long Beach at 8pm central on ESPN+. Long Beach went 2-3 versus Pepperdine. Pepperdine was a tournament team last year that lost in the first round. The thing is, Pepperdine won both of the first two sets when both teams had their starters in, then LBSU won the next two when the subs came in.

Long Beach has 10 returning players and 13! newcomers, for a total of 23 players on their roster! My guess is Texas is going to have a block fest against them in a sweep, but I guess we'll see. I'll be mildly surprised if Texas loses a set in these first two matches, in preparation for Minnesota later in the week. Both Long Beach and Loyola Marymount should be quality teams, but IMO they're going to have a problem matching up.

Minnesota plays TCU and Baylor this weekend, so we'll see how they fare against both of those Big 12 programs. 

I can’t watch either match this weekend since I’m abroad so I expect a full write up. I’d give you a minimum word count but I’m sure you’ll blow past it regardless 

[kingkoopa6 8347]

I’m sad I’m not in Long Beach. Got a newborn in my lap 

Was hoping he could meet molly

[kingkoopa6 8347]

We make volleyball look easy

[kingkoopa6 8347]

Skinner is a monster 

[kingkoopa6 8347]

Halter is a beast 

[kingkoopa6 8347]

LB st coach looks like someones older brother 

[kingkoopa6 8347]

^ Nevermind it was the assistant 

4 hours ago, Js1 said:

I can’t watch either match this weekend since I’m abroad so I expect a full write up. I’d give you a minimum word count but I’m sure you’ll blow past it regardless 

Timeout them 

8-3 us. 
 

we coasting on the west coast 

[kingkoopa6 8347]

Stinky Lazy play after that TO 

 

down 12-14

[kingkoopa6 8347]

16-21. 
 

No O’Neal 

And it looks like coach just putting random rotations out there for the fuck of it 

[kingkoopa6 8347]

17-22

18-22

19-22

💪🏼

Timeout LBST

[kingkoopa6 8347]

Bruh. Serving error

 

19-23 

We sure rusty off timeouts 

19-24