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Nebraska Volleyball: 2019 Post Mortem 2020 Predictions


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This post is written from a perspective of a fan who is over 500 miles away and has no contacts on the team or remotely related to the team (no insider info). Most (essentially all) of the content is observation and speculation, both from a distance. Hopefully some die hard volleyball fans will be willing to wade through the content and provide their own insights.


Congrats to Stanford and their gaggle of senior All-Americans for the Color Cardinal’s ninth title. An incredible four year run which even surpasses the Foecke / Maloney era at Nebraska. Four straight final fours and three titles in four years. Ultimately, last year’s championship was the difference between Plummer era at Stanford and the Foecke era in Huskerland.


3 points. 29 feet.


Congrats to Wiskey for winning the conference and making a run to the NCAA Championship, but not so much for their performance on the biggest stage. Stanford came out and punched them, then toothless Badger went into the corner, whimpered, and covered up. A complete dichotomy of how they were playing up to that point. Apparently there is no Foecke-like person in the Wiskey roster to gather the troops together, breathe deeply, and punch back with some heavy, heavy kills. The pressure of B1G play should have prepped them for the occasion, but apparently “wetting the bed” is not solely reserved for playing Ohio State in early November.
Believe it or not, the results of the Nebraska Volleyball 2019 season were average to maybe even slightly below average. Which is the ridiculousness the state of the program is in since Cook took over in 2000. 29½ victories 4 defeats, regional final. That is an average year for Nebraska Volleyball. Cook has 588 wins and 80 losses in now 20 seasons at the Husker helm. So 28 and 5 and making the regional final could be considered a slightly below average season. The caveat to that is the B1G is a much tougher conference than the Big 12 was back in the day, even though the Big 12 was a much better conference in the first decade of the century than it is now.
The fact the Huskers ended up 5th in the final AVCA poll is a minor irritant. Nebraska was unlucky enough to get paired with another B1G foe in the regional finals while Minnesota drew the Texas regional and the obviously overrated Shorthorn squad from the inept Big 12 conference which didn’t even make their own final. Nebraska beat Minnesota on the Golden Rodents home floor in November. The Big Red should have been rated above said Rodents at 4, but really, that IS the definition of “quibbling.”
I thought the big hole to fill this season would be the crater left by Foecke, and to be clear, it wasn’t completely filled, particularly Foecke’s physicality. However, I was pleased with the improvement Lexi Sun made from her sophomore to junior year. Some of that can placed on her health (the sophomore season was one coming back from injury), but much can be placed on her improvement in shot variety and selection. And I was more than pleased with the maturation process of one Madi Kubik. Probably a difference in 70 to 80 points in hitting average at the start of the year to the end of conference play. I don’t know how much she can improve physically, but she has all the other intangibles to becoming the next Nebraska outside with National team pedigree.
The hole that I thought would be easier to fill turned out to the biggest deficit between the 2019 version and 2018 team. I underestimated the impact that Kenzie Maloney had on the overall defense. I admit that Kenzie Knuckles is a talent and I don’t want to denigrate her play, but there is a significant disparity between a freshman and an All-American senior who toiled behind arguably the best libero in Nebraska history in HER freshman and sophomore years. For a refresher, go watch replays of the 2018 Kentucky regional semi-final match and the 2018 Oregon regional final match. Maloney’s play is stunning. Karch Kiraly was doing color for those matches, and quite frankly I’m surprised Maloney didn’t get an invite to the National team tryouts, given all the “issues” the US National team has with the libero position.
The middle’s probably took a minor step back in 2019, but that is for explainable reasons. With no Foecke, Stivrins became the object the opposition’s attention for a large chunk of the year, getting doubled much of the time and allowing the pins more one-on-one situations. Schwarzenbach was hobbled offensively by her broken thumb and the ungainly club on her hitting hand. That impeded any progress she could have made offensively, which still makes that portion of her game an unknown.
With Capri Davis departing for UT@AustinSucks, it appears that any serious competition at the opposite is gone. But with Jazz Sweet’s level of play in the latter half of the year, it becomes more of a non-issue. Jazz has always been an underrated blocker in my book, but her offensive output in the 2nd half of the season was encouraging. She probably benefits the most from the diversity in the offense resulting in single blocks as opposed to doubles. I do wish she would watch the absolute fearlessness (and viciousness) that Annie Drews (opposite on the National team) plays with and try to emulate it. That would take Jazz to the next level.
Nicklin Hames is a talent, but just how extraordinary a talent remains to be seen. My gut tells me she isn’t a Poulter or Carlini type talent (the top two setters on the National team which happen to come from B1G schools), but she may rival a Kelly Hunter (who “only” got POY recognition from both PrepVolleyball and VolleyMob her senior year). There was an improvement from freshman to sophomore season (even with the additional duties of being a captain), but there were also times that connections just weren’t there, particularly with the middles. She is clearly the best defender at the setter position in the NCAA, but she is also a liability as a blocker when she rotates to the front, even though she did make improvements in that area of her game.
The absence of Banwarth on the staff will have an impact on the team especially with the development of the libero (Knuckles) play. There is no doubt Knuckles, Miller, Hames, and Densberger (and even Kubik and Sun) could have used another year of tutelage from Kayla. However, the big shoes to fill in the future for the next assistant will be recruiting. The 2021 Class is shaping up to be one of the all-timers in Nebraska volleyball history and Kayla was largely responsible for those recruits. Schools being able to communicate to new recruits and make offers has been delayed by new NCAA rules, but the 2022 class official visits can start on September 1st of 2020. I’m not sure how the new rules apply to the volleyball camps the Huskers host during the summer. Nebraska already has one commit with Bekka Allick (apparently that commitment beat the new timeframe that the NCAA established), but the new assistant will need to be able to step in immediately and start establishing relationships with the high school juniors targeted by the Husker staff.
2020 is shaping up to be another Final Four year for the Huskers. As is often mentioned, the Big Red is returning everyone. No one graduates. With the continued improvement of the pins (Sun, Kubik, and Sweet), this should be a team that has a hitting percentage at or near .300 which should put it top 5 nationally. Last year Nebraska ranked 8th in the nation for opponents hitting percentage, so one would think another year of maturation should improve that standing. Top 5 in hitting percentage and in opposition hitting percentage (especially in a conference as competitive as the B1G) should spell an uber successful season with a deep run in the tourney. It will be interesting how Riley Zuhn on the pin and newcomer Kalynn Meyer in the middle fit into the rotation (if at all). I don’t know if there is someone else on the outside that would allow Riley Zuhn to redshirt, but in the long run that may be the better option than having her play a handful of sets as she did in 2019. There is some commentary on other websites that Meyer “isn’t ready” and “is a ways off.” I don’t know how accurate those assessments are, I just know she is an extraordinary athlete. All-American volleyball, All-State basketball, and her excellence at the throws in track and field is nothing short of astonishing. Her discus throw of 176’08” at state (as a junior in high school) would have placed her 2nd at the 2019 B1G outdoor track & field championships. And for those questioning the compatibility of those marks, the weight of the disc for women’s high school events is the SAME as the collegiate and international weights. Meyer is strong, but NOT built like a typical thrower you see in shot and discus (a heavier body type). She is built more like Stivrins and looks like she can put a hurt on a volleyball and anything that gets in it’s path on the way to denting the floor. If Meyer can develop a power offensive game early and if Schwarzenbach continues to struggle with that part of her  game, it would not surprise me to see Meyer substituted in spots where an offensive spark is needed, with Callie rotating in when the emphasis is on blocking and defense. Callie is too gifted defensively to completely shut out of the rotation.


The 2020 volleyball scene looks bright for Nebraska, however, the top of the B1G is shaping up to be among the elites nationally (again…still). It may be more definitive than last year and closer to the dominance of 2018. It would not surprise me to see Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Penn State ranked in the top 5 in the pre-season AVCA poll. Stanford loses too much (their highly ranked freshman didn’t get much seasoning this year), Texas will be ranked behind the B1G teams mainly due to the disappointing end to the season and their inability to win late in the tournament the past few seasons. The only other team that may join the B1G teams in the top 5 is Baylor which has 2 first team All-Americans returning (Lockin at setter and the freak that is Yossiana Pressley, AVCA POY on the outside), but they lose Stafford, their 1st team All American middle.  
Wisconsin loses their opposite (Duello – All-Conference 2nd team) and libero (Clark All-American Honorable Mention in 2018), but returns setter (Hilley All-American 1st), outsides Loberg (AA -  HM) and Haggerty (AA – 2nd), middles Hart (AC – 2nd) and of course potential POY Raddke. They have three highly touted recruits coming in (Hammill at setter, Robinson in the middle, and Demps on the outside), but outside hitter Jade Demps is likely the only one to significant playing time in replacing Duello at opposite.
Minnesota loses one outside (Hart – AA 3rd), one middle (Morgan – AC 2nd), and sometime injured setter (Miller), but returns a setter that saw significant action (McMenimen), middle Pittman (AA – 1st), outside Rollins (3rd on the team in kills and kills/set), libero McGraw (AA – HM) and opposite Samedy (AA – 2nd) who is another POY candidate. The notable recruits incoming include outside Landfair (6’4” No. 1 overall recruit by PrepVolleyball), outside Weenas, and setter Shaffmaster. Landfair probably sees time right away. The Rodents will have a decision to either go with a setter with some experience in McMenimen or their highly recruited 6’3” freshman in Shaffmaster and take the lumps the B1G learning curve requires.
The Cult that IS Penn State loses White (AA – 2nd) at libero and their team leader for the past two years, and a gaggle of their defensive specialists, but return a ton of talent. This includes Parker at opposite (AA – HM), Hord in the middle (AA – 1st), Gray in the middle (AA – HM) and Gabby Blossom at setter (AC – 2nd). The outsides were 4th and 5th in team kills and only Cathey (5th in kills) returns. It will be interesting to see who steps up to the leadership role and to see how significant the loss of experience on the back row affects Penn State’s defensive play and stats. The Lions do have three recruits that might see significant playing time in defensive specialist Bilinovic (replacement for White?) and outsides Fitzpatrick (6’1”) and Van Den Elzen (6’4”). The Cultist are still pursuing 6’4” outside Sophie Fischer (South Carolina Gatorade POY) who recently decommitted from North Carolina. She has also visited Nebraska, Minnesota, and Maryland. It appears she didn’t commit on November 13th and has not signed.


In summary………The top tier of B1G teams is stacked.


The next tier of B1G teams includes Michigan and Purdue. I expect that they will be in the top 16 and hosting on the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. THE Buckenidiots should be much improved and possibly a top 25 team, if the coach can get out of his own way (he has done it before). Michigan State and Northwestern should compete for tournament berths with Indiana being more of a longshot to make the field. I see Illinois dropping dramatically and being in the bottom third of the conference. And I’ll miss the robotic arm and general fearlessness of one Jacqueline Quade.
It will be more difficult to win the B1G than to make the Final Four. As has happened in 7 of the past 8 Final Fours, I expect multiple B1G teams to make it to Omaha. The only question is how the selection committee chooses to distribute the B1G teams in the bracket. In 2018 there were 5 B1G teams in the top 8, and 4 ended up on the same side of the bracket. The asininity of the selection committee never ceases to amaze. The top teams in the B1G for the 2020 season are good enough that if they start out in separate regions, it would not be surprising (albeit not likely) to see Omaha shaping up as a Final Four B1G tournament. But I’m sure if that possibility comes up, the selection committee will screw it up.
My predictions for the 2019 season weren’t particularly prescient. I had Stanford winning (who didn’t), with the Huskers 2nd in the tournament. I had Wisconsin and Nebraska a coin flip in the B1G, with Minnesota 3rd and Penn State 4th. The Rodents and The Cultist did better than I anticipated, especially with the loss of their setters from the previous year. I had the Illini 5th but still in the top 10. I knew the loss of Poulter would be big, but I didn’t see the loss to be canyon-like big. I nailed the Shorthorns, but missed on Baylor, which played solidly all year. Pitt was a much better team than last year, however playing in that crappy ACC conference hurt them in the tourney (that and an inexplicable seeding). I didn’t forecast Creighton to be in the top 10 discussion (or even top 25) much of the year after losing Kloth and Winters. Kudos to Coach Booth and her ability to sustain the program at such a high level. Of course, I really missed on Oregon. I thought they would separate themselves from the other PAC-12 teams and complete with the Color Cardinal. They ended tied for 2nd to last in the conference at 5 – 15 (9 – 20 overall). Very odd.

Congrats to the 2019 version of Husker Volleyball. It is a likeable team; the players are easy to root for and the consistent excellence the program exhibits is admirable. But with consistency produces expectations. Anything less than a Final Four in 2020 will be considered a disappointment (and I’m shaking my head as I type that sentence). Here’s to the Fightin’ Schwarzenbachs making it to a 9th straight regional final, and a 5th Final Four in 6 years.

#DestinationOmaha

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Meyer and Allick are both on the same club team this year and being coached by a member of the Husker staff (Jaylen).  That should help both of them get ready for the jump to Nebraska.  There are several other D1 players on their roster, so they should be a very good club team this year VCN 18 Elite Roster  I have heard that Meyer was late onto the club volleyball scene.  That has probably hurt her overall development.  

 

Edited to add:  The VCN 18 Elite Club V-ball team is ranked #25 in the country right now.  They will be fun to watch this year.

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