Interesting offers (volleyball and track) to Bayleigh Minor '25 from Fort Bend Christian Academy.

https://twitter.com/FBCAathletics/status...1898471551
https://twitter.com/BayleighMinor

(11-19-2023 11:30 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  Interesting offers (volleyball and track) to Bayleigh Minor '25 from Fort Bend Christian Academy.

https://twitter.com/FBCAathletics/status...1898471551
https://twitter.com/BayleighMinor

She had her campus visit this past weekend. She is one of the best high school sprinters in the nation. Her mom, Claudia Haywood, was an All-American triple jumper for Rice, while her dad, Deon Minor, was an All-American sprinter for Baylor.

I was talking to my neighbor about her last night (her daughter is a teammate of hers). 6-1 middle blocker (or perhaps even a bit taller) who can touch 10-7 (which is higher than anyone currently on the Rice team I believe). Might come down to Rice or Kentucky. Her dad is her high school track coach.

6'4" Outside hitter/Opposite, Ella Wrobel, with 3 years eligibility remaining, could be an excellent transfer portal prospect for Rice...

https://twitter.com/Lincoln_VB/status/17...7867801892

https://sports.yahoo.com/wisconsin-volle...18474.html

She was the #11 high school prospect in the country in the 2022 class. Saw limited action last year for Wisconsin as she was behind a couple elite upperclassment, and was redshirted this year with back problems. She's from Illinois.

(11-10-2023 03:31 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Skopal and Carter were announced as new signees this morning officially. Nothing on Patel yet.

Patel finally signed today.

Not sure if Genny just tweeted about Patel's official signing (who had previously committed) or the landing of a new recruit; hopefully a transfer...

https://twitter.com/gennyvolpe/status/17...8467771692

Or maybe her daughter being named Defensive Player of the Year in 6A.

(12-21-2023 03:45 PM)Houston Owl 2 Wrote:  Or maybe her daughter being named Defensive Player of the Year in 6A.

No, not with the Owl meme and "LFG!"

Skopal was the 5A MVP.

(12-21-2023 08:44 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  Skopal was the 5A MVP.

Wasn't Cindy T. the MVP last year?

Skopal is one of four finalist for Prep Volleyball’s Andi Collins Award, recognition of nation’s most outstanding senior setter. The other three finalists are going to Penn State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

(01-02-2024 07:54 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  Skopal is one of four finalist for Prep Volleyball’s Andi Collins Award, recognition of nation’s most outstanding senior setter. The other three finalists are going to Penn State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

As I said before, I be surprised if she isn't our starting setter in the Fall, with Darby returning to the backline and serving. It wasn't that Darby did a bad job, she just wasn't anything above average in the setter role. Her strength is her defense.

(01-02-2024 07:57 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-02-2024 07:54 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  Skopal is one of four finalist for Prep Volleyball’s Andi Collins Award, recognition of nation’s most outstanding senior setter. The other three finalists are going to Penn State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

As I said before, I be surprised if she isn't our starting setter in the Fall, with Darby returning to the backline and serving. It wasn't that Darby did a bad job, she just wasn't anything above average in the setter role. Her strength is her defense.

Skopal won the award. Unfortunately, I don't have premier access to PrepVolleyball to read the article.

(01-03-2024 01:24 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  

(01-02-2024 07:57 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-02-2024 07:54 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  Skopal is one of four finalist for Prep Volleyball’s Andi Collins Award, recognition of nation’s most outstanding senior setter. The other three finalists are going to Penn State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

As I said before, I be surprised if she isn't our starting setter in the Fall, with Darby returning to the backline and serving. It wasn't that Darby did a bad job, she just wasn't anything above average in the setter role. Her strength is her defense.

Skopal won the award. Unfortunately, I don't have premier access to PrepVolleyball to read the article.

Congratulations, Savannah! Look forward to seeing you play this fall!

(01-03-2024 01:24 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  

(01-02-2024 07:57 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-02-2024 07:54 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  Skopal is one of four finalist for Prep Volleyball’s Andi Collins Award, recognition of nation’s most outstanding senior setter. The other three finalists are going to Penn State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

As I said before, I be surprised if she isn't our starting setter in the Fall, with Darby returning to the backline and serving. It wasn't that Darby did a bad job, she just wasn't anything above average in the setter role. Her strength is her defense.

Skopal won the award. Unfortunately, I don't have premier access to PrepVolleyball to read the article.

Impressive. Can't wait to see her in action later this year. She might be the highest ranked prospect we've had in years.

I think Skopal sister played for North Texas in 2020 21?

(12-21-2023 01:29 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  

(11-10-2023 03:31 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Skopal and Carter were announced as new signees this morning officially. Nothing on Patel yet.

Patel finally signed today.

(01-03-2024 10:45 PM)Texasowl Wrote:  I think Skopal sister played for North Texas in 2020 21?

(12-21-2023 01:29 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  

(11-10-2023 03:31 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Skopal and Carter were announced as new signees this morning officially. Nothing on Patel yet.

Patel finally signed today.

Yes, her sister started her career at Illinois-Chicago (2017) before transferring to North Texas (2018-2022). Was the backup setter her first year before starting the next 3 years.

Transfer setter from Iowa. Will have 3 years eligibility.

https://hawkeyesports.com/roster/kaia-mateo-2/

(01-06-2024 02:35 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  Transfer setter from Iowa. Will have 3 years eligibility.

https://hawkeyesports.com/roster/kaia-mateo-2/

Headscratcher addition, unless Genny does in fact plan to move Darby permanently to the backline. That would mean Mateo is backup setter with Skopal coming in as the Freshman starter.

Clearly, we have other priority needs; namely, at least one impact OH (ala Weske), if not two. I think we're fine in the middle with Knobbe, Gutierrez, Ogunlana and the incoming first team AVCA recruit. Hopefully, Cindy T. matures/develops as offensive player her Sophomore year, and is far less raw and erratic. She certainly has the talent.

(01-06-2024 03:44 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-06-2024 02:35 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  Transfer setter from Iowa. Will have 3 years eligibility.

https://hawkeyesports.com/roster/kaia-mateo-2/

Headscratcher addition, unless Genny does in fact plan to move Darby permanently to the backline. That would mean Mateo is backup setter with Skopal coming in as the Freshman starter.

Clearly, we have other priority needs; namely, at least one impact OH (ala Weske), if not two. I think we're fine in the middle with Knobbe, Gutierrez, Ogunlana and the incoming first team AVCA recruit. Hopefully, Cindy T. matures/develops as offensive player her Sophomore year, and is far less raw and erratic. She certainly has the talent.

We also might try a 6-2 rotation.