On this first of two components previewing the NCAA seashore volleyball season, Coach Evan Silberstein tells us why his Hawaii staff of the Huge West could possibly be the shock of the season. We additionally extoll the virtues of USC because it ponders a four-peat, and take a look at chief rival UCLA and the remainder of the highly effective Pac-12. Lastly, we evaluate the compact-but-potent CCSA.
BeachBow’s energy in numbers
Evan Silberstein wore a broad smile and a understanding look throughout a Zoom name when the dialog turned to the topic of Hawaii’s deep roster.
“That is probably the most depth we’ve got had in a while,” Silberstein stated, his voice reflecting the joy of a program that seems poised for a giant season. “This will probably be my third yr as head coach and my tenth in this system. Now we have to beat an enormous loss at No. 1 with (All-American) Brooke Van Sickle gone, however we’ve got actually good depth, and never simply within the first 5 (courts).
“Now we have athletes on the exhibition (courts) at 6 and seven that will probably be pushing and prepared. If we’re not performing, we received’t have to only stick to the identical 10.”
Such wealth of expertise sometimes separates the elite groups able to successful within the final three rounds of the NCAA Seaside Championships throughout the first weekend of Might from these which are simply fairly good.
Followers extra conversant in conventional “bracket” tournaments are likely to concentrate on the celebrities – and the few uncommon abilities who would possibly undertaking to the proverbial subsequent degree — however collegiate seashore volleyball within the twin format is a pure staff sport. It ranks among the many most democratic of all staff sports activities in that the end result from every of the 5 courts counts equally. The match victory by the “prime pair” on court docket 1 is value the identical one level as that of the “fifth-best” on court docket 5.
The important thing to a program’s success doesn’t essentially hinge on one or two nice gamers. Having six or seven key contributors up and down the 5 courts who can get the staff to the essential third match victory could be extra essential.
Hawaii superior to the NCAA semifinals in 2016 and ‘17, however has been extra of a middle-of-the-top-20 squad during the last three seasons. Seeded thirteenth within the 2023 NCAAs after receiving an at-large bid to the 17-team area, the Rainbow Wahine had been bounced within the opening spherical by Loyola Marymount 3-1, with Cami Loker and Riley Wagoner (court docket 2) posting their lone match victory.
However with a stability of expertise, an abundance of top and an inflow of thrilling new expertise, Silberstein’s staff, ranked No. 9 within the AVCA preseason coaches ballot, doubtlessly has a lineup able to closing that hole.
Seven key veterans return from a 27-9 squad, a former BeachBows standout has stepped again by way of the switch portal, a pair of big-upside junior-college gamers have been added and an uber-talented Norwegian freshman from a confirmed household tree has come aboard.
The hanging Viking is Julia Thelle, whose final title must be immediately acquainted to volleyball followers on the islands and the mainland. Her older brother is Jakob Thelle, whose setting wizardry helped the Rainbow Warriors males’s staff seize NCAA indoor titles in 2021 and ‘22. Jakob was the AVCA participant of the yr in 2023, his closing season, when Hawaii was the nationwide runner-up, and a two-time first-team AVCA All-American.
“Two nationwide titles, nationwide participant of the yr, Jakob must be thought-about among the finest gamers within the historical past of males’s faculty volleyball,” Silberstein opined.
His 5-foot-11 sister involves Hawaii off a spot yr, so she is extra mature than the everyday freshman. She was coached by the daddy of Olympic gold medalist Christian Sorum and tasks as a must-play starter, seemingly excessive within the lineup, maybe even as Van Sickle’s alternative.
“Excellent character, similar to her brother. Excellent work ethic, similar to her brother. Extremely expert,” Silberstein stated, with palpable pleasure. “Julia’s received actually good contact on the ball. Her first contact is superb. Her setting is world class. She kind of performs within the (aggressive fashion) of the Swedish males. She’s pin to pin, no downside. You’re actually going to see her fly round on the market.”
Entrenched within the No. 1 pair is 6-foot-2 senior Kaylee Glagau, a two-time AVCA first-team All-American. Her coach spoke glowingly of Glagau’s all-around sport, calling her a “skillful large.”
The BeachBows’ measurement doesn’t finish there. “Now we have a number of athletes who’re pushing at and across the lineup. It’s a extremely aggressive scenario,” Silberstein stated, working down an inventory of the 6-foot Wagoner, 6-foot Jaime Santer, 6-foot Sydney Miller, 6-1 Julia Lawrenz, 6-1 Sarah Burton and 5-11 Anna Maidment.
He famous that Santer “is extraordinarily athletic. In my opinion she is likely to be the most effective pulling blocker, peeling off the online within the nation.”
Silberstein predicted that Lawrenz, a Brazilian who was an indoor junior-college star in Florida, will probably be an instantaneous starter and will develop right into a difference-maker. She has educated in Brazil’s nationwide seashore program and possesses large hops, “safely touching over 10 ft out of the sand,” Silberstein stated.
“Individuals are actually going to be impressed and stunned by Lawrenz,” he gushed. “She’s one thing particular. She’s received that Brazilian aptitude. Nonetheless creating as a seashore participant, however Julia will probably be a premier athlete in our league, and doubtless will probably be one of many extra dominating blockers within the nation.”
Hawai’i dug up two gifted defenders as properly. Energetic seventh-year tremendous senior Pani Napoleon was welcomed again by Silberstein after transferring to UCLA, the place she performed in 2022 earlier than sitting out all the 2023 season with an damage. Napoleon was the Huge West freshman of the yr for Hawaii in 2019 and a first-team all-conference choice in 2021.
The junior-college ranks produced 5-foot-9 Alana Embry, who went 43-0 on the Southern California circuit and helped her staff win the state title. “Alana is speedy, sturdy and intensely aggressive, as proven by that 43-0 document,” Silberstein stated. “You possibly can search for Alana to make a significant impression in our lineup and (opponents) are going to need to take care of her.”
These deep BeachBows will discover out rapidly how they stack up in opposition to perennial powers ranked larger within the preseason ballot. Flying to Oahu for the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Seaside Basic to be performed Thursday, Friday and Saturday on Queen’s Seaside will probably be USC, UCLA, Loyola Marymount and Stanford.
The remainder of the Huge West
Becoming a member of Hawaii within the preseason ballot from the Huge West Convention had been Lengthy Seaside State within the tenth spot and Cal Poly at No. 20.
The Seaside (24-15 final season) are blessed with prime pair Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah, who completed their freshmen seasons on hearth. They went 34-5, beat Cal second-team AVCA All-Individuals Sierra Caffo and Liz Waters-Liega on court docket 1 of their NCAA event match and had been the Huge West’s pair of the yr. Lengthy Seaside State has 4 different returning starters, together with juniors Natalie Glenn (an indoor crossover) and Megan Widener, and picked up transfers Emily Sparks (Cal State Northridge) and Abby Karich (Utah), a productive starter for the varsity’s 21-10 indoor staff.
Cal Poly soldiered by way of an uncharacteristic 15-25 marketing campaign in 2023 however Coach Todd Rogers has retooled his roster with 14 newcomers, 10 of them freshman. Nevertheless, the Mustangs welcome again a key piece who missed all of final season in 6-foot-1 Ella Connor, a first-team AVCA All-American and the Huge West freshman of the yr in 2022. Completed holdovers embrace a pair of Pipers named first-team All-Huge West, Naess and Ferch, and fellow all-league honoree Izzy Martinez.
UC Davis has a brand new hand on the helm in Joe Wealthy, who had labored below Rogers at Cal Poly. The Aggies constructed stream with a program-best 20-12 document final season and return first-team All-Huge West gamers Colleen McGuire and Kylie Miller. Others within the Huge west are Cal State Bakersfield (16-10 in 2023), Cal State Northridge and Sacramento State.
Pac-12
The Pac-12 is loaded in its final hurrah. No manner round it. Hawaii coach Silbestein flat-out stated that, “USC is healthier than they had been final yr. They’re the clear No. 1.”
The surprise Ladies of Troy have received the final three NCAA titles.
UCLA, overwhelmed 3-2 by USC within the NCAA closing, is stacked with stars, too. No surprise that Coach Dain Blanton’s top-ranked Trojans acquired 21 out of a potential 22 first-place votes within the preseason ballot and the the No. 2 Bruins received the opposite one. It’s virtually as if no applications apart from USC and UCLA had captured nationwide titles since seashore volleyball grew to become an NCAA-sanctioned sport in 2016. Wait – maintain my beer – that truly is the Mount Everest each different college that performs seashore volleyball must scale.
What is likely to be tough to digest is that USC (32-5) flew comparatively below the radar for a very good portion of the 2023 season earlier than having simply sufficient to prime TCU 3-2 within the NCAA semis and UCLA 3-2 within the title match. The Trojans had misplaced to the Horned Frogs and the Bruins (twice, in reality, over a span of 5 days) throughout the common season, then had been tripped up by California within the double-elimination Pac-12 event earlier than being handed a 3-0 defeat by UCLA within the tourney closing.
So UCLA rightly earned the No. 1 seed within the NCAAs because the Pac-12 champion, solely to see its potential third nationwide crown slip away when the battled-tested Nourse twins, Audrey and Nicole, received in three units on court docket 3 (their 91st victory as a staff) and the Ladies of Troy loved one other celebratory dive into the Gulf of Mexico in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
The excellent news for Blanton (and the terrible actuality for everyone else) is that the 2000 Olympic gold medalist’s squad not solely returns the most effective participant in U.S. collegiate seashore volleyball, Megan Kraft, however six different starters from the title staff.
How good is Kraft? I received’t even trouble along with her collegiate accolades and get proper to the great things. Final summer time, Megan and associate Terese Cannon reached the spherical of 16 of the skilled FIVB World Seaside Volleyball Championships. Enjoying with Emily Stockman, Kraft superior to the semifinals of the AVP’s Manhattan Seaside Open, the Wimbleton of American pro-beach volleyball. In 2023, Megan missed a few of the Trojans’ duals to play in World Volleyball Tour occasions. This spring, her focus solely is on USC.
Kraft’s associate within the Ladies of Troy’s prime pair has been Delaynie Maple, a first-team AVCA All-American, and he or she returns, too. As do the Nourse twins, again for fifth seasons. As do Madison White, Olivia Bakos and Gabby Walker.
However wait, there’s extra. To the victor go the spoils and within the portal/COVID period, that meant Blanton may load up with tall grad transfers. From Pac-12 rival Stanford got here 6-foot Maddie Criz, a second-team AVCA All-American. From league rival Cal got here 6-foot-1 Ainsley Radell, second-team All-Pac-12. From perennial energy LSU got here 6-foot-2 Grace Seitz, who went 26-10 enjoying primarily on court docket 2. Then from Texas got here 6-foot-5 Molly Phillips, the starter at reverse for back-to-back NCAA indoor championship groups.
However to verify the pipeline remained fueled, Dain didn’t ignore the high-school ranks. He landed Floridian Ashley Pater, whose resume features a silver medal within the FIVB Underneath 19 World Championships. Pater made the primary attracts of 5 AVP tournaments in 2023, together with Professional Sequence occasions in Miami Seaside and Hermosa Seaside, and the Gold Sequence Manhattan Seaside Open. The burning query from twin to twin: Which 10 will play?
Hey, what about UCLA? Coach Stein Metzger received two NCAA titles in Westwood, however headed off to Texas when the brass in Austin determined the Longhorns could possibly be a giant deal on the seashore, too.
Into the teaching breach stepped seashore legend Jenny Johnson Jordan, Stein’s assistant for a decade. Metzger left his successor a full cabinet that features first-team AVCA All-Individuals Lexy Denaburg (named to the primary staff for 3 consecutive years) and Maggie Boyd, and second-team A-A Peri Brennan. Denaburg has carved her area of interest within the AVP ranks, too, with third-place finishes within the Professional Sequence cease at Hermosa Seaside and the Tour Sequence occasion at Virginia Seaside.
Others who’ve made contributions to extremely profitable Bruins squads embrace Jaden Whitmarsh, Rileigh Powers, Devon Newberry, Jessie Smith, Tessa Van Winkle, Sophie Moore and Natalie Myszkowski. “Stacked” is an apt description of the Bruins, who went 40-4 in 2023, dropping solely to USC (twice), Florida State and Stanford.
Followers will get an instantaneous 1-2 matchup when USC and UCLA battle on Thursday within the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Seaside Basic.
(For extra on USC and UCLA, take heed to the latest SANDCAST podcasts by VBM’s Travis Mewhirter.)
Stanford and Cal had been awarded at-large bids to the 17-team area within the NCAA event and each are amongst six Pac-12 groups ranked within the preseason High 20.
The No. 7 Cardinal (29-13 in 2023) have an anchor in 6-foot-1 senior Xolani Hodel, a second-team AVCA All-American final season who additionally has performed in the primary attracts of upper-level AVPs. Stanford enjoys strong depth with holdovers Maya Harvey, Kate Reilly, Emmy Sharp, Ashley Vincent and Kelly Belardi.
The Golden Bears raised their bar with a 29-10 document and had been slotted at No. 8 after advancing to the Pac-12 event closing and ousting Lengthy Seaside State 3-2 in its first-round NCAA twin. Cal absorbed some vital roster losses, however transferring in was 6-foot Lara Boos, a strong contributor on the decrease courts for Louisiana State. Brooke Buchner, Sierra Caffo and Ella Dreibholz are succesful returnees.
No. 15 Washington (21-15) had problem taking down the large canine on its schedule, going 0-11 in opposition to USC, FSU, Loyola Marymount, Cal, Stanford, LSU and Hawaii. The Huskies are banking on Piper Monk-Heidrich, the Wilcox sisters (junior Lauren and freshman Sarah) and freshman indoor crossover Kierstyn Barton.
Coach Kristen Rohr moved from Grand Canyon in Phoenix to Arizona State in Tempe, fueling such optimism that the Solar Devils are ranked No. 21 regardless of an 11-13 document final season. Rohr, who constructed the Lopes right into a nationwide energy, received a jump-start by bringing Grand Canyon mainstay Samaya Morin along with her. Extra portal gold was mined with Daniella Kensinger, second-team All-WCC as a freshman at Saint Mary’s whereas enjoying primarily on court docket 1.
Arizona (20-12) may vault into the highest 20 with some early victories if others falter. The Wildcats have strong returnees in Grace Cook dinner, Kylie Fitzsimmons and Hope Shannon. Behind the Pac are Utah (11-23) and Oregon (10-24). The Utes received two out of three in opposition to the Geese final season.
Coastal Collegiate Sports activities Affiliation
The CCSA is all the way down to 4 groups, however all are ranked among the many prime 17 within the AVCA ballot. Lurking ominously at No. 3 is Florida State (32-9 in 2023), keen to finish its pattern of close-but-no-ocean-dip finishes within the NCAA event. 3 times a runner-up since seashore volleyball gained NCAA sanction in 2016, the Seminoles had been eradicated within the semifinals 3-0 by UCLA.
Coach Brooke Niles has a star-studded roster that options first-team AVCA All-Individuals Madelyne Anderson and Paige Kalkhoff, in addition to seven different starters from the NCAA semi. These could be Anna Lengthy, Raelyn White, Morgan Chacon, Audrey Koenig, Caitlyn Moon, Makenna Wolfe and Alexis Duris. Right here’s the kicker: Niles landed a giant fish out of the switch portal in second-team AVCA All-American Alli Hansen, who helped Grand Canyon earn journeys to the NCAAs the final two seasons. One other intriguing portal catch was Taylor Head, a third-team AVCA indoor All-American pin hitter for Arkansas.
LSU, a 27-13 NCAA quarterfinalist final season, is ranked No. 6. The Tigers pack incumbent star energy and welcome a wave of newcomers. Returning starters embrace first-team AVCA All-American Ellie Shank, Parker Bracken, Reilly Allred, Ella Larkin and Amber Haynes. Portal additions Gabi Bailey (Faculty of Charleston) and New Orleans native Emily Meyer (Florida Worldwide) ought to bolster the lineup, and Baton Rouge followers are prone to fall exhausting for touted 5-foot-4 freshman Skylar Martin, described as “magnetic” by Coach Russell Brock. The following Kristen Nuss? We’ll see.
Rohr’s exit from No. 14 Grand Canyon (26-8 with an NCAA at-large bid in 2023) left Abra Rummel, her promoted-from-within alternative, with severe constructing to do. Two gamers are left from the ten who began the Lopes’ heartbreaking 3-2 first-round defeat to Stanford, 6-foot senior Krista Rowan and sophomore Jessica Drake. Sarah Dickson, a 5-foot-11 senior, may see extra court docket time. Madi Boggle, a 5-11 juco standout out of California, and Sophia Hladyniuk (Cal State Bakersfield switch) are noteworthy additions. South Carolina (19-12), ranked seventeenth, has a cornerstone in second-team AVCA All-American Skylar Adams, together with returning starters Hannah Mackenhausen, Allison Coens and Jolie Cranford.
Coming Wednesday: Convention-by-conference breakdowns of Convention USA, WCC, Solar Belt, ASUN, Southland and the Ohio Valley, plus independents Texas and Nebraska, and a deep dive into the opening-week schedule.