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Post by bob2061 on Aug 7, 2015 17:28:56 GMT -5
I am not sure if we can tell if Jenna can be as good as Dom or lacey was for PSU at this point; but just for the fact that she is only a high school sophomore tells me that she can become the next great DS/L for PSU as she will improve her skills for couple of more years till she joins the team in 2018. From the video, it looks she already has a very good sense of the court and she anticipates and reacts very well, which is something you cannot teach. Of all the DS/L who are already on the team and who'll be joining next year, I think Jenna looks to be ahead of them all at her age. So, I do expect her to be the starting Libero when she joins the team in 2018. I have learned over the years to not hedge bets on recruits but rather discuss their potential. We HAD a great prospect as sophomore from one of the best junior programs. We HAD the Gatorade POY from California. We HAD one of the hardest hitting prospects for 2 yeara. None of them are on the team anymore. Jenna looks and sounds good, as does Kendall White, Taylor's sister etc. Positions are a long long way from being earned or set if you are a recruit. Welcome Jenna, be prepared to battle every day you are a Nittany Lion. Coaches are trained to always have a contingency plan for illness, injuries, academics, etc. They try to have a plan "B" to cover most situations but the truth is things often happen at the worst time and if you aren't prepared; it is curtains. That is why recruiting is so critical b/c you need good players and also good backup players. |
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Post by bob2061 on Aug 8, 2015 10:00:38 GMT -5
I have just been informed that PSU is still interested in a few 2017 recruits but do not have any names. Since practices start tomorrow we probably will not get any commitments until later on.
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Post by nyline on Aug 8, 2015 10:14:47 GMT -5
I have just been informed that PSU is still interested in a few 2017 recruits but do not have any names. Since practices start tomorrow we probably will not get any commitments until later on. That appears to be the word on VTalk. |
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Post by pete1919 on Aug 8, 2015 19:24:33 GMT -5
What about 2016 ?
Any chance the staff will land Audrianna Fitzmorris to replace Whitney ?
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Post by bob2061 on Aug 8, 2015 22:40:24 GMT -5
What about 2016 ? Any chance the staff will land Audrianna Fitzmorris to replace Whitney ? Fitzmorris is headed to Stanford to play sand &/or indoor vb. |
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Post by nyline on Aug 9, 2015 2:35:34 GMT -5
What about 2016 ? Any chance the staff will land Audrianna Fitzmorris to replace Whitney ? Fitzmorris is headed to Stanford to play sand &/or indoor vb. Sadly, I think that's correct. |
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Post by Onthebench on Aug 10, 2015 14:51:48 GMT -5
I think PSU should be fine for next couple of years with the all the hitting power they have. They also added Novakovic and Gorrell as well as Reed and Thelen from last year's freshman class.
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Post by bob2061 on Aug 11, 2015 11:10:30 GMT -5
I think PSU should be fine for next couple of years with the all the hitting power they have. They also added Novakovic and Gorrell as well as Reed and Thelen from last year's freshman class. Exactly, but recruiting is the lifeblood of all sports which makes 2018 so critical. Teams don't stay at the same level - they either get better or get worse. PSU needs to get left side pin hitters by 2018 to keep our success going. Some universities, like Nebraska, have spent large sums to renovate their facilities and enhance their VB programs and have attracted excellent recruits and transfers lately. |
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Post by psumaui on Aug 12, 2015 0:01:14 GMT -5
I think PSU should be fine for next couple of years with the all the hitting power they have. They also added Novakovic and Gorrell as well as Reed and Thelen from last year's freshman class. Exactly, but recruiting is the lifeblood of all sports which makes 2018 so critical. Teams don't stay at the same level - they either get better or get worse. PSU needs to get left side pin hitters by 2018 to keep our success going. Some universities, like Nebraska, have spent large sums to renovate their facilities and enhance their VB programs and have attracted excellent recruits and transfers lately. Penn State doesn't need to have a fancy facility like Nebraska to attract recruits. They just need to show them the 7 National Championship Trophy's  |
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Post by bob2061 on Aug 12, 2015 2:21:07 GMT -5
I know that is how the fans feel about it but not so sure the coaches using Rec Hall always feel the same way. In fact, James Franklin thought it was critical to get the Lash Bldg updated so the players knew how important football was to the university. You never get a second chance to change a recruit's first impression. But at least we have air conditioning now so we are making progress. Just saying that perhaps the question is not if PSU needs a fancy facility to attract recruits but do the wrestling and VB programs deserve a modern facility to showcase these fantastic sport teams.
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Post by nyline on Aug 12, 2015 4:58:23 GMT -5
I know that is how the fans feel about it but not so sure the coaches using Rec Hall always feel the same way. In fact, James Franklin thought it was critical to get the Lash Bldg updated so the players knew how important football was to the university. You never get a second chance to change a recruit's first impression. But at least we have air conditioning now so we are making progress. Just saying that perhaps the question is not if PSU needs a fancy facility to attract recruits but do the wrestling and VB programs deserve a modern facility to showcase these fantastic sport teams. The locker room was just renovated. Supposedly very nice. |
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Post by psumaui on Aug 12, 2015 8:43:16 GMT -5
I don't think PSU fans would fill a new larger modern facility anytime soon like say the Devaney Center in Nebraska. I honestly think Nebraska like Hawaii are in the same boat so to speak. It's all about location! Neither States have a pro team in any of the main sports so fans gravitate more towards college sports and support the successful college sports more. When Hawaii football was doing great they had great support and sold out Aloha Stadium games but when they started to slide, fans went away from Aloha Stadium in droves. Since their Women's VB program has been pretty consistent for the past 40+ years due a great coach in Dave Shoji and weak conference play year in and year out, fans gravitated to that sport. Also, for Hawaii it's not like sports fans can just get in a car and drive to another State. As for Nebraska, it's all about football and volleyball there. Nothing much else to do there as far as successful sports go. I think if Penn State were in same location as Hawaii and/or Nebraska, they would have the huge numbers those colleges currently have and a need for a bigger venue like the Stan Sheriff Center or the Devaney Center in Nebraska. Just to prove my point, even with the current facilities, Russ and company still recruited the possible top recruiting class(2014) of all time! I do think that in the future when Women's Volleyball gets more popular(still growing) then a new modern state of the art facility may be needed. I'm sure when that time comes we will have more than enough Alumni support/donated money to build one. Just need to tell the Alumni that we need a better facility because we have no more room for all the NC trophy's! On a side note, when we get back to the FF this year you will see that Omaha Convention Center is the best venue that I have seen so far that makes available pre and post match press conferences(online) for fans for both winners and losers! |
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Post by bob2061 on Aug 12, 2015 12:03:08 GMT -5
I think we have very few scholarships available for 2017 (possibly only 1 or 2 left) so the coaches will be very selective on who they pursue. Plummer would be at the top of that list though. In 2018 there might be between 4 - 6 scholarships available and recruits, who want to play as freshmen will have spots available. I did learn that Jena Hampton camped at PSU and played so well she was offered a 2018 scholarship. Since these players are so young it is extremely hard to predict their potential and waiting would be the wisest choice if the other universities weren't offering these ladies earlier and earlier. Since the ladies seldom change their verbals (compared to the guys in football) it forces coaches to pick players who are still growing and developing. We have the best coaching staff in the country when it comes to developing the players and have the banners to prove it. Now is the time to appreciate our players by packing the Rec Hall for match on August 28th.
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Post by phillytom on Aug 12, 2015 12:28:17 GMT -5
I know that is how the fans feel about it but not so sure the coaches using Rec Hall always feel the same way. In fact, James Franklin thought it was critical to get the Lash Bldg updated so the players knew how important football was to the university. You never get a second chance to change a recruit's first impression. But at least we have air conditioning now so we are making progress. Just saying that perhaps the question is not if PSU needs a fancy facility to attract recruits but do the wrestling and VB programs deserve a modern facility to showcase these fantastic sport teams. Face it, football facilities and equipment were outdated in Paterno's last years, not for lack of funds but just lack of impetus to change anything. When O'Brien took over, his strength and conditioning guy Fitzpatrick took a look at the weight room at Lasch and said most of the equipment belonged at a Curves spa. Franklin similarly saw the need for some updating. I don't know if VB needs facility updates. Obviously RR should get (and probably does get) whatever he thinks is necessary to keep them on the top. I think Rec Hall is a wonderful volleyball venue -- when it's full it is definitely one of the best venues in the U.S. I wouldn't assume that a new building is what VB and wrestling need. If anything playing at Jordan creates some challenges for the BB teams -- it's no fun when you're playing in a huge facility with 75% of the seats empty. |
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Post by phillytom on Aug 12, 2015 12:35:16 GMT -5
Now is the time to appreciate our players by packing the Rec Hall for match on August 28th. +1. This could be a really memorable year. The front row could be as good as PSU has ever had including the Fawcett/Harmotto years. They have overwhelming physical power but also such a great variety of attacks and styles, good experience, and very smart crafty hitters. If the setting is good, if they can get the block and the back row defense figured out, if they get good passing -- granted it's a lot of ifs -- this front row could take them as far as they want to go. I have to admit it is hard for me to work up a huge interest in VB recruiting because you end up talking about players who are high school freshmen in some cases -- and it feels almost creepy to be talking about high school freshmen. Have to hope and trust that RR will continue to get great players because players tend to come to Penn State and really blossom. |
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