Post by nyline on Aug 15, 2015 14:48:14 GMT -5
We've posted the DigNittany Penn State Women's Volleyball Season Preview. Here's the link: DigNittany’s Penn State Women’s Volleyball 2015 Season Preview. It has position-by-position overviews, plus profiles (with career stats and highlights) for each of the roster players. Here's an excerpt:
By the way, there certainly are multiple errors, big and small, in the Preview. Feel free to send me a message pointing out the ones you spot (or just post them in this thread).
You also can post your thoughts about the upcoming season
Thanks. Nyline.
To the surprise of almost no one, the AVCA 2015 preseason poll, out on August 12th, has Penn State ranked #1 (for our story and a link to the complete AVCA poll, Click Here). Preseason polls generally are more about the previous season (“What did you do for me last year?”) than they are about the upcoming one. Penn State won the NCAA Championship last season. Ergo, #1 preseason this year. (On that point, see Lionsfan’s article “Penn State’s No. 1 – But What Does the AVCA Preseason Poll Really Tell Us About Who Will Win the NCAA Title?”)
But, for those of you not paying particular attention (or those who are still in denial), please note the following: Micha Hancock has graduated. After leading the Nittany Lions to back-to-back NCAA Division I Championships (7th overall and 6th in eight years), she has moved on to a professional career, taking her booming serve, fierce competitiveness, and determined leadership with her. And Nia Grant also graduated. And also moved on to a professional career.
But wait. There’s more. Dom Gonzalez and Lacey Fuller have graduated too. The starting libero and the ace defensive specialist. Gone. So it will be understandable if (make that “when”) Head Coach Russ Rose dampens down the expectations a bit. Alot of talent and senior leadership has moved on. And they’ll be missed.
Still, quite a few very good players return. And some promising new players have joined the team. So even though we are pretty lousy at predictions (we had Megan Courtney moving to Opp/RS last season, and Aiyana Whitney at MH or OH, so what do we know?), we do know that It should be an exciting season for Penn State fans. For the coaches and players? It takes a lot of work (an unbelievable amount of work, actually) to be really good. So, if nothing else, the team will burn a lot of calories. To win the B1G or make it back to the Final Four? They have their work cut out for them.
For thoughts on how the season will end, we asked Talking Head and Club Coach, both of whom played volleyball at the collegiate level and have coached for many years with great success.
But, for those of you not paying particular attention (or those who are still in denial), please note the following: Micha Hancock has graduated. After leading the Nittany Lions to back-to-back NCAA Division I Championships (7th overall and 6th in eight years), she has moved on to a professional career, taking her booming serve, fierce competitiveness, and determined leadership with her. And Nia Grant also graduated. And also moved on to a professional career.
But wait. There’s more. Dom Gonzalez and Lacey Fuller have graduated too. The starting libero and the ace defensive specialist. Gone. So it will be understandable if (make that “when”) Head Coach Russ Rose dampens down the expectations a bit. Alot of talent and senior leadership has moved on. And they’ll be missed.
Still, quite a few very good players return. And some promising new players have joined the team. So even though we are pretty lousy at predictions (we had Megan Courtney moving to Opp/RS last season, and Aiyana Whitney at MH or OH, so what do we know?), we do know that It should be an exciting season for Penn State fans. For the coaches and players? It takes a lot of work (an unbelievable amount of work, actually) to be really good. So, if nothing else, the team will burn a lot of calories. To win the B1G or make it back to the Final Four? They have their work cut out for them.
For thoughts on how the season will end, we asked Talking Head and Club Coach, both of whom played volleyball at the collegiate level and have coached for many years with great success.
By the way, there certainly are multiple errors, big and small, in the Preview. Feel free to send me a message pointing out the ones you spot (or just post them in this thread).
You also can post your thoughts about the upcoming season
Thanks. Nyline.
