2024 Volleyball

No way we can keep all of these players for next year. Many have set out a year or 2 already waiting to play.
Just not enough positions and balls to go around!
** players who I feel will definitely be in the starting rotation! I count 8.

Texas Women's Volleyball
2023-2024 Season
1 Sr-Madi Skinner OH **
2 Sr-Jenna Wenaas OH **
3 Sr-Keonilei Akana Libero **
4 Jr-Devin Kahanawai OH - Does she have a chance to break into the rotation?
5 Jr-Emma Halter Libero **
6 Jr-Xfer-Whitney Lauenstein OH **
7 So-Marina Crownover S - Swindle is our setter for the next 3 years. Does she stay?
8 So-Marianna Singletary MB **
9 So-Kenna Miller OH
10 So-Ella Swindle S **
11 R-Fr-Nya Bunton MB
12 R-Fr-Jordyn Byrd OH
13 R-Fr-Auburn Tomkinson OPP
14 R-Fr-Sydney Helmers OH - Came with a lot of fanfare but does she break into the rotation?
15 Fr-Ayden Ames MB/OH **
16 Fr-Rella Binny S
17 Fr-Reese Emerick Libero
18 Fr-Brennan Ramirez Libero

 

The four RF (Bunton, Byrd, Tomlinson, Helmers) ……and Devin H are the wildcards for me. The rest of the players I have some sort of feel for. Some have insinuated Devin might transfer based on being unseen on court lately. The four RFs are an unknown quality. Some on here have offered opinions based on high school, injuries, etc. For me….just cant foresee any of em being in rotation. Would be nice to be wrong. I’m guessing Singletary is in play for MB….with Ames…..not sure about Bunton. I’m guessing we’ll see several in the portal-out soon but can’t and won’t speculate on who or why. And there is always the possibility of an impact portal transfer-inchanging things significantly. It will be interesting.

 

The RSs will all be here. The incoming freshmen will all be here. The portal transfer will be here. Will be a very competitive gym.....again.

 

There are some real quality Libs in the portal that are covid year level experienced who may be willing to come as a DS like Barnes did to get a shot at a ring. Also a very experienced MB if one arises, though its impossible to get one the quality of Asjia. I hate to see great younger players get recruited over, but we need to consider the very unique position we are in next season. Madi is a generational talent and you have to make sure she has a fantastic supporting cast for her last season. 4 nattys would be iconic for her individually, and three straight would be program-defining for Texas. There is uncertainty ahead - I believe the SEC will be better than the Big12 for conference play, plus if we eventually face the corn-holes again in the final4, they are going to be mad as h#ll after we literally ripped their souls out on National TV in the most-watched women's VB game.

 

I think Barnes has been overlooked some. She came on like gangbusters late. Her serving was excellent as was her serve-receive and passing. Elliot has to decide if his incoming freshman can fill her role. A defensive specialist or libero with experience like Barnes would really help late in matches and playoff crises. We’ll see.

 

Born, I gotta respectfully disagree with you about a few things. First I think between Marianna, Ayden, Whitney, Nya and Jordyn we will figure out the middle. Auburn and Sydney could be pleasant suprises. I'm thinking our OPP could come from that group also. 3rd year Emma is gonna be amazing. If Reese is as good as advertised she could slide right into a solid back row.
Madison, Jenna, Emma and Keonilei will provide great leadership,
I like this team as is but I have no inside knowledge.
Meaning I could wrong about everything.

 

The reason I have “some” trepidation is that none of the mentioned ……..played any to speak of. Yes…..it was an experienced team mostly and Elliot was trying to get the chemistry right all year…so not a lot of room to experiment. However, I didn’t see a terrific, cant-miss freshman that was simply so good she forced Elliot to play her. I’m biased but am always looking for an Eggleston or a Skinner who both were starters and impact players as freshman. Their coaches simply HAD to play them. I’m definitely unreasonable as far as expectations. I think Vanderwall and Spears will be that level in 2025. Not sure any on team now approach those levels. Ames at MB could. Or Löwenstein (NE transfer) at OH or opposite might too. Singletary has been here 2 years and hasn’t forced into lineup. It’s fun to speculate.

 

It’s Ayden Ames. Not Amy.

 

Something I keep thinking about is that early last season we were 5-3 with a new setter, libero, and replacement for player of the year. Things didn't look so great. As the season progressed players settled in and the team jelled. Our brand new infrastructure (Ella and Emma) hit their stride and, what a season! Looking forward to next year.

 

Ok my opinion doesn’t matter but her it is and it’s not pretty. In the exit meetings I would def reevaluate myself and Texas VB. We’ve always been a team to bring in talent led players and we just not started getting transfers but before that we recruited now a lot of that recruiting came from 2 coaches who have since left and are HC at ND and LSU. I think Devin should be on the court and she earned it. I would hate (love)to see her go else where like parts and show out. Idk about the Nebraska transfer don’t think she should play over our young ones. Devin was always ready when put in. I believe we have a whole other ranked team on the bench like legit top 15 team just in bench players.

 

Our current coaching staff recruited the top player in Tx and top 10 nationally in Ames.
They already have a commitment next year from Spears who will be the top player in Tx and top 2 nationally depending on which service does the rankings.
Our recruiting will be just fine.

 

The hits keep rolling ....
https://www.instagram.com/reaganrut...d&ig_rid=e10ea02c-d504-475f-ae81-b37ecc1e3f47

 

Here we are talking about where some of our bench players will fit in next year and we add 6’0” OH AVCA All-American … All-SEC … AVCA All-Region Reagan Rutherford from U-Kentucky and a Missouri City gal! Wow! This has got to sting some of those players that have been waiting their turn.

 

Avery Carlson setter from Baylor to Texas.

 

Every action has a reaction and this is going to shake some stuff up frfr. I and I think a lot us expect mass exodus and rightfully so. Heck at this point how do the Nebraska transfer fit in . I don’t get paid to know either but I’m yea this is a lot of high ranking people that expect to play. Is Jenna Wienas done is Devin going to stay and if we getting all these pins what about MB. He must be high on Singletary cause he ain’t recruiting over her. Heck does Byrd leave or Tomlinson. They were big big time recruits.

 

Yep. I believe it’s Averi ? Where the heck does she fit in? She comes in as a Junior with 2 years of eligibility remaining!
• 2023 AVCA All-Southwest Region First Team
• 2023 All-Big 12 Second Team
• 2023 CSC Academic All-District
• 2022 Big 12 Freshman of the Year
• 2022 AVCA Southwest Region Freshman of the Year
• 2022 AVCA All-Southwest Region Honorable Mention
• 2022 All-Big 12 First Team
• 2022 All-Big 12 Freshman Team
Texas Gator-ade player of the year out of high school 21-22

 

She has played nothing but Setter in HS and at Baylor.
Was the #4 ranked player in the country coming out of high school.
Interesting. Position change coming up ?

 

Interesting article from Burnt Orange Nation! I wonder what Ella Swindle is thinking?
Eat it, John Cook: Texas volleyball adds three high-profile transfers, including one from Nebraska

 

Dunno Ellis but I hope she’s thinking “I got some back up”. Don’t want her to leave.

 

There's talk of Tx going to a 6-2 keeping both Swindle and Carlson on the floor together.
Seriously , ya'll need to pull back from the ledge. So Jerritt is thinking "I have one of the top setters on America so let me just replace her "... I think not.

He isn't doing his job if he doesn't take talant in when it becomes availabe. We'll lose a player or 2 but replaced with known entities

He's done a hell of a job with the portal.

 

Last year we reloaded and had a repeat.
Now we are reloading again................
3 big time players have been added along with a couple of freshman defensive player and don't forget---- The top middle blocker prospect who left the dark side (JC and Nebraska) for the Horns... We are stacked....

 

Exavtly. You load up with talent. The numbers will work themselves out.

 

Why would she leave? The article @Ellis21d linked talks about running a 6-2. @cnb also notes it. Ella could be front row setter, and when she rotates to the back you put in Averi. Or you keep both setters on the floor together, and Ella could be an occasional front row attacker.

Talent will get to the floor and will perform, like Ella did this season. I'm thrilled to have flexibility and multiple options out there.

 

In a 6-2 offense, both setters are backrow setters so Swindle can also be a backrow setter. This would allow for a true OPP in Rutherford, Auburn, Whitney, and/or Jenna to play that role. However, the maximum substitutions would have to be monitored.

 

If Ella is back row, it takes away her ability to dump on second contact, doesn't it?

 

Yes. But it means there are always three hitters in the front row.

 

She's terminal when in front row, yes, but is she as terminal as a true OPP? Maybe but I'm all for having 3 hitters at all times if a 6-2 is the choice.

 

Fair points, both of you.

 

Am I the only person here that can't count how many times I've watch the semifinal game with Wis. and the Championship game against Neb? Those scoring runs never get old.

 

look what we have to look forward to next season in the SEC! A newly designed floor at “the Greg!”
Already has the SEC logo. Got rid of the black borders.