2024 Volleyball: SEC, here comes Daddy

[TwiceHorn 31,351]

41 minutes ago, Pogo said:

Something or someone seems to have become a cancer in this locker room.  Don't know who or what it is, but this team is not getting better in the next few weeks.

Devin and Ella will put their names in the portal on day 1, and I can't blame them.

@Slick16 is right on about the setter position.  There's a reason JE stopped recruiting short setters.  Then he takes one out of the portal and benches Ella.  If Carlson were setting better, that's one thing, but she's not.  Then she just got abused blocking the pin yesterday.  I don't get it.

Why did we even need Carlson?  It almost seems like JE is distracted by shiny objects in the portal.  Taking Wenaas inhibited Devin's playing time and probably development, and sent Parra away, who lit it up at TCU.  

And, we have seen from time to time that players' psyches can be delicate (don't think this is a women's issue, they're just more likely to talk about it).  The "mercenary" nature of transfers is one thing, but some of them may be borderline burnouts hoping that a change of scenery may fix it.

[Js1 85,161]

19 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

Why did we even need Carlson?  It almost seems like JE is distracted by shiny objects in the portal.  Taking Wenaas inhibited Devin's playing time and probably development, and sent Parra away, who lit it up at TCU.  

And, we have seen from time to time that players' psyches can be delicate (don't think this is a women's issue, they're just more likely to talk about it).  The "mercenary" nature of transfers is one thing, but some of them may be borderline burnouts hoping that a change of scenery may fix it.

FIRST - Parra entered the portal before Wenaas did.  We may lured her in, but we did not do it in a way that made it seem like we valued her over Parra.  Parra decided to leave us first. 

SECONDLY - I also never understood why we went after Carlson either.  We had a tall setter (JE's favorite) who set us to a national title as a freshman and suddenly he just had to have Carlson and force us into a setter battle.  
Edit: And in hindsight, we should have just kept Crownover.  She already had 2 years in our system and if Ella needed to recover in the spring from her foot injury, Crownover could have just as easily stepped in to practice/spring matches. 

Wenaas also didn't really inhibit Devin's playing time - taking Rutherford did.  Devin is a much more natural RS hitter and we took a pure RS hitter in Rutherford.  

Both the Carlson and Rutherford spots should have been used for a DS and a middle blocker so Ames could redshirt.  

OH - Skinner
OH - Wenaas
MB - Singletary (RS FR)
MB - transfer
OPP - Devin
S - Swindle
L - Halter
DS - Akana
DS - transfer

And there were options!  Elise Goetzinger and Leyla Blackwell (who is just sitting on the bench at Nebraska behind Jackson and Allick) and MB and libero Mackenzie Morris from KSU, who ended up going to Oregon just to be a DS 

Edited November 4 by Js1

[Js1 85,161]

15th in AVCA

Bye bye hosting first 2 matches. First time in a really long time 

[TwiceHorn 31,351]

1 hour ago, Js1 said:

FIRST - Parra entered the portal before Wenaas did.  We may lured her in, but we did not do it in a way that made it seem like we valued her over Parra.  Parra decided to leave us first. 

SECONDLY - I also never understood why we went after Carlson either.  We had a tall setter (JE's favorite) who set us to a national title as a freshman and suddenly he just had to have Carlson and force us into a setter battle.  
Edit: And in hindsight, we should have just kept Crownover.  She already had 2 years in our system and if Ella needed to recover in the spring from her foot injury, Crownover could have just as easily stepped in to practice/spring matches. 

Wenaas also didn't really inhibit Devin's playing time - taking Rutherford did.  Devin is a much more natural RS hitter and we took a pure RS hitter in Rutherford.  

Both the Carlson and Rutherford spots should have been used for a DS and a middle blocker so Ames could redshirt.  

OH - Skinner
OH - Wenaas
MB - Singletary (RS FR)
MB - transfer
OPP - Devin
S - Swindle
L - Halter
DS - Akana
DS - transfer

And there were options!  Elise Goetzinger and Leyla Blackwell (who is just sitting on the bench at Nebraska behind Jackson and Allick) and MB and libero Mackenzie Morris from KSU, who ended up going to Oregon just to be a DS 

I couldn't remember all the moves.  Thanks for the corrections.

[perfectchaos007 6,603]

5 hours ago, Js1 said:

15th in AVCA

Bye bye hosting first 2 matches. First time in a really long time 

Guess WE'LL be the ones traveling to the SMU regional

[Pogo 284]

10 hours ago, perfectchaos007 said:

Guess WE'LL be the ones traveling to the SMU regional

Or worse, TCU wins a few more and we get sent to Ft. Worth so Parra can kick the crap out of us.

[Cairn Horn88 8,242]

Texas (12-6) at Miss St (10-8) 6:00p on SEC+

Hopefully, we can start a new chapter.

[Js1 85,161]

Well we won the first set 25-8 lol 

Are we back in a 5-1?

[Js1 85,161]

25-15

2-0

[Cairn Horn88 8,242]

Set 3 curse!

[Js1 85,161]

2 minutes ago, Cairn Horn88 said:

Set 3 curse!

Absolutely dominated sets 1 and 2

Then no killer instinct, so we play 4

[Cairn Horn88 8,242]

21-25 MS set 3

 

[Js1 85,161]

Back in the win column 

[Cairn Horn88 8,242]

25-17 set 4

Ladies win match 3-1

Finally!

[Js1 85,161]

Looks like we’ve just given up on the 6-2 and will just deal with Averi’s height in the front row. Binney was back as a DS/serving sub

Jenna wasn’t great last night, but she had 17 digs, which was more than Halter 

Madi, Mari, Ayden and RR hit very efficiently in the 5-1. 

If we stick with the 5-1, I’m guessing Swindle is gone in December. Not sure if Devin sticks around again, but with RR graduating, she *should* be the primary OPP in a 5-1 next year unless Elliot slides Whitney over to open up those 2 OH spots for the top 2 OH recruits in the nation coming in 

[Cairn Horn88 8,242]

I think Madi had something like 28 kills!

[Js1 85,161]

4 minutes ago, Cairn Horn88 said:

I think Madi had something like 28 kills!

25-5-49 (.408)

Ames 8-0-17 (.471)

RR 9-2-19 (.368)

Mari 6-0-12 (.500)

Jenna 8-3-34 (.208) 

Devin 2-1-5 (.200)

[gsoda3 3,238]

I'm through the first set and a half.  Our rhythm and pace is so much better so far.  

[gsoda3 3,238]

Good seeing AA and Mari hitting more backside.  Or at all.

[Js1 85,161]

Yeah we can run the slide now when Averi is front row.

And we were setting Madi from all areas of the backrow

[Pogo 284]

7 hours ago, Js1 said:

If we stick with the 5-1, I’m guessing Swindle is gone in December. Not sure if Devin sticks around again, but with RR graduating, she *should* be the primary OPP in a 5-1 next year unless Elliot slides Whitney over to open up those 2 OH spots for the top 2 OH recruits in the nation coming in

Agree that Swindle is gone.  As someone up thread said, Devin *should* have been the primary OPP this year and we should have taken an experienced MB from the portal in order to redshirt Ames.  Wouldn't shock me if Devin leaves as well.  I thought she would leave after last season.

[Js1 85,161]

18 hours ago, Pogo said:

Agree that Swindle is gone.  As someone up thread said, Devin *should* have been the primary OPP this year and we should have taken an experienced MB from the portal in order to redshirt Ames.  Wouldn't shock me if Devin leaves as well.  I thought she would leave after last season.

If Devin leaves, I have no idea what we would be doing on the pins.  It would basically be Whitney, Byrd and 3 freshmen, unless we hit the portal.

But then you're asking one of Vander Wal or Spears to stand back for a year or two, depending on how many years a transfer OH has.  Whitney has 2 years to play (played 21/22 at Nebraska, pink shirt in 23, likely will be a redshirt in 24 since she has only played 2 matches) 

Elliot has to sell Devin on coming back as the primary OPP, Whitney is your OH1 and then one of Vander Wal or Spears is your OH2. 

I am guessing Harvey is going to redshirt - at least Mari will be a RS JR and Ames will be a SO next year.  More experienced than this year at that position. 

Harris doesn't come in until 2026, so if Swindle is gone, you have to go find a setter to backup Carlson, unless that's going to be Binney. 

[Gardner Barnes 1,562]

Last night I watched the end of the Drip/Harlan game. Henley Anderson is the real deal. I've seen her a few times this year but I have never seen her hit with the power she showed last night.

Holy shit that kid has an arm. UT got a good one.

[wood 11,198]

On 11/7/2024 at 8:48 AM, Js1 said:

Looks like we’ve just given up on the 6-2 and will just deal with Averi’s height in the front row. Binney was back as a DS/serving sub

Jenna wasn’t great last night, but she had 17 digs, which was more than Halter 

Madi, Mari, Ayden and RR hit very efficiently in the 5-1. 

If we stick with the 5-1, I’m guessing Swindle is gone in December. Not sure if Devin sticks around again, but with RR graduating, she *should* be the primary OPP in a 5-1 next year unless Elliot slides Whitney over to open up those 2 OH spots for the top 2 OH recruits in the nation coming in 

Yeah I just don't get it. Out of the 3 options (6-2 ... 5-1 w/Ella ... 5-1 w/Carlson) it seems like 5-1 with Carlson should be the least attractive option. Ella gives you a much better block in the 5-1. What am I missing here? Is Ella setting the ball that poorly compared to Avery? If not, I struggle to see why Ella would be relegated to the bench. Someone help me make sense of this, please!

[TexasDPT 297]

7 hours ago, wood said:

Yeah I just don't get it. Out of the 3 options (6-2 ... 5-1 w/Ella ... 5-1 w/Carlson) it seems like 5-1 with Carlson should be the least attractive option. Ella gives you a much better block in the 5-1. What am I missing here? Is Ella setting the ball that poorly compared to Avery? If not, I struggle to see why Ella would be relegated to the bench. Someone help me make sense of this, please!

Location, location, location… for whatever reason, Ella doesn’t have it. When she set flat-footed during the tournament run last year, her location was the best it was all season. Since she’s returned to jump setting, her set location has been terrible. 
 

Besides Madi, Ella struggles to find consistent rhythm and location with any of the other hitters. And even Madi was having a hard time adjusting to her sets, let alone the new middles and opposite. If you watch closely, the hitters are unable to take full swings on their approaches because Ella’s sets have been so inconsistent. 
 

A lot of it also has to do with the passing and backrow ball control. We just don’t have it this year. We’ve had 3 elite back row defenders for the past 2 years and now we are having to rely on Wenaas this year, who just isn’t at the level of an elite DS. Blame JE for not prioritizing a ‘little’ in the transfer portal last year but instead loading up on hitters with no ball control. 
 

This just makes Ella more ineffective because she’s unable to set on the run and her secondary bump setting is a weak part of her game. 
 

But yes, we do miss her front row blocking and ability to attack in the front row.  But without good ball control, the latter can’t be utilized. 
 

So now, we’re having to give up blocking for 3 rotations in the front row with Carlson but who can set the ball more consistently to ALL the hitters.

[Js1 85,161]

Good summary. Whoever made the call for her to go back to jump setting should be in some hot water. Bc she was a phenomenal flat footed setter 

[wood 11,198]

4 hours ago, TexasDPT said:

Location, location, location… for whatever reason, Ella doesn’t have it. When she set flat-footed during the tournament run last year, her location was the best it was all season. Since she’s returned to jump setting, her set location has been terrible. 
 

Besides Madi, Ella struggles to find consistent rhythm and location with any of the other hitters. And even Madi was having a hard time adjusting to her sets, let alone the new middles and opposite. If you watch closely, the hitters are unable to take full swings on their approaches because Ella’s sets have been so inconsistent. 
 

A lot of it also has to do with the passing and backrow ball control. We just don’t have it this year. We’ve had 3 elite back row defenders for the past 2 years and now we are having to rely on Wenaas this year, who just isn’t at the level of an elite DS. Blame JE for not prioritizing a ‘little’ in the transfer portal last year but instead loading up on hitters with no ball control. 
 

This just makes Ella more ineffective because she’s unable to set on the run and her secondary bump setting is a weak part of her game. 
 

But yes, we do miss her front row blocking and ability to attack in the front row.  But without good ball control, the latter can’t be utilized. 
 

So now, we’re having to give up blocking for 3 rotations in the front row with Carlson but who can set the ball more consistently to ALL the hitters.

Yeah this makes sense with what I've been seeing with the poor passing. I just didn't know how much of the setting inaccuracy to attribute to the poor passes, and I haven't seen enough action and stats with each setter to know how much better or worse the offense was running with either of them. I do see Avery making her fair share of poorly located sets, often too tight with hitters really reaching or just having to tip, but that's been happening with both setters. She also seems to struggle with consistency setting the middle.

4 hours ago, Js1 said:

Good summary. Whoever made the call for her to go back to jump setting should be in some hot water. Bc she was a phenomenal flat footed setter 

Yeah it's hard for me to get my head around winning a NC with a freshman setter who's playing hurt, and then demoting her for a smaller setter who puts you in a bind on the block half the time. If the offense worked well enough to win it all with an injured Ella setting from the ground, then let her set from the ground all the time. Hell, Avery's jumpsets probably aren't coming from a much higher point than Ella's flatfooted sets anyway. If we lose Ella and Devin over this shit, that will not be cool.

Edited Monday at 06:38 PM by wood

[Js1 85,161]

25 minutes ago, wood said:

Yeah this makes sense with what I've been seeing with the poor passing. I just didn't know how much of the setting inaccuracy to attribute to the poor passes, and I haven't seen enough action and stats with each setter to know how much better or worse the offense was running with either of them. I do see Avery making her fair share of poorly located sets, often too tight with hitters really reaching or just having to tip, but that's been happening with both setters. She also seems to struggle with consistency setting the middle.

Yeah it's hard for me to get my head around winning a NC with a freshman setter who's playing hurt, and then demoting her for a smaller setter who puts you in a bind on the block half the time. If the offense worked well enough to win it all with an injured Ella setting from the ground, then let her set from the ground all the time. Hell, Avery's jumpsets probably aren't coming from a much higher point than Ella's flatfooted sets anyway. If we lose Ella and Devin over this shit, that will not be cool.

The big difference is the ball control from last year isn’t there this year. And again, that’s on JE for prioritizing a second OPP, another setter and an OH who isn’t playing instead of another little and a MB

[kingkoopa6 8,330]

Auburn got a lil bit of smoke or they team 

[gsoda3 3,238]

Madi and Emma have played great defense tonight 

[WBT 20,483]

We sweep, 11/21/25

[ATXbronco 4,062]

This is about over.

I wonder if Binney's nickname is Bunny

 

 

[Hornster 70]

Longhorn Volleyball sets another SEC team's record attendance, this time at Auburn.