Rockets lost their season finale to 1st place BSU in straight set last night, although the scores seem to indicate they were close sets. UT finishes 10-8 in the MAC and 19-11 overall, good for 3rd place in the West and 5th overall. (Why does Volleyball still have divisions?).

They will play WMU in the QF of the MAC tourney, in Muncie (tourney hosted by the #1 seed this year) on Sunday at 4:30 PM. Streaming on ESPN+

Izzy Granger has reportedly signed her NLI to attend UT. Was wondering why there were no VB commits reported at the start of the signing period.

Post season awards selections out:

Taylor Alt - 1st Team All-MAC
Sina Uluave - 2nd Team All-MAC
Elaine Redman - All-Freshman Team.

Congrats to all. (Aside, strange they name 14 players to 1st team, and 7 to 2nd team or freshman team. Kinda seams like 2nd team is really third team then, but whatever.

Volleyball signs 2:
https://utrockets.com/news/2021/11/18/wo...eason.aspx

The Rockets' season comes to an abrupt end, as they were thoroughly beaten by WMU in straight sets. Good season, but still a lot more growing needed.

WMU's defense is a thing of beauty, as the number of balls they retrieve and still get back in system is really impressive. But, I have to question the UT game plan, as for the 1st few sets, Alt got almost all the in-system sets. Uluave only got 7 attacks the whole match which just doesn't make sense for the 2nd team All-MAC player. Also their best middle Olivia Vance did not play the 1st 2 sets at all, but did play the third. Don't know if that was an injury situation or something else. This match illustrates just how far UT needs to progress to really challenge for the top. They need a more reliable right side to play opposite Alt, and a better hitter to rotate in when Alt moves to back row. And they really need to improve the defensive play.

They lose Neal to graduation, so unsure who is going to step up in that 2nd defensive role along side Jaqua. Their 2 top middles are fine in Vance and Filisi, but both missed time with injuries. Perhaps the redshirt 6'4 Alford will be a good addition next year, but we will have to see. I think she would have played this year if she was really going to be an impact player. Redmond will hopefully grow over the spring and summer and develop some more cohesion with her hitters which will help. Maybe coach will find another Hawaiian to transfer in next year to help.

Apparently the Rockets have been invited to play in the NIVC, the National Invitational Volleyball Championship - Volleyball's NIT equivalent. Rockets will play Indiana State, @ Valpo in the 1st round, on Thursday.

https://www.womensnivc.com/bracket.html

I confess I don't know how this thing works. Ball State went to the NCAAs and was the only MAC team to get a bid. Rockets get an at large bid to this tourney, and are the only other MAC team to get a bid, despite finishing 5th in the MAC. Maybe the other MAC teams all turned down bids? I don't know.

Rockets defeat Indiana State in 5 sets, 12-25, 26-24, 22-25, 25-18, 15-5

Sina Uluave had a monster match, with 20 kills, 13 digs, 3 assists and 2 blocks (20 kills a career high)
Taylor Alt had 16 kills, Olivia Vance 10 and little used Jada Boyer played a bunch and had 6 kills and 2 blocks.
Elaine Redman with 56 assists, 5 aces and 12 digs.

Rockets came out looking really awful in set 1, but turned it around enough in set 2 to eek out a win and stay alive. After a small setback in set 3, they dominated sets 4 and 5. They play again tomorrow against the winner of Valpo vs Butler. Not sure if ISU was much of a test or not, as the announcers said they finished 6th in the MVC this year. But, since this is the 1st post season action for a Rockets team ever, really good to get a win.

I noticed neither of the Beasley twins was present at the match. Liz should have 2 years of eligibility left, and Megan 1, with the extra covid year, but perhaps this is a sign neither plans to come back next year.

Rockets lose to Valpo in straight sets.
Didn't play too badly, but Valpo a much more polished team with better defense. Rockets did have a lot of missed connections on sets for the 1st time since the beginning of the season. Got out to a big lead in set 3 and looked like they might make a match out of it, but had a collapse at the end.
Alt and Uluave with 11 kills each.

Taylor Alt named to AVCA All-Region team. Only 2nd Rocket in history, behind All-American Lauren Rafdal
https://utrockets.com/news/2021/12/7/wom...onors.aspx

I will never understand these regional things in some sports. Alt was selected in the Midwest Region. Other MAC players from WMU and Ball State also recognized in the Midwest region. But the Midwest team also included players from Kansas, Iowa State and even Denver. Strangely though, MAC POY Petra Indrova from BG was named All-Region in the Northeast Region. The Northeast team includes players from Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin and Northern Kentucky. Huh?
https://www.avca.org/awards/all-regional...egion.html

Well, this hurts, freshman all-MAC setter Elaine Redman has announced she is transferring to Chattanooga, to be closer to home.
https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/1/10/4...-Play.aspx

Coach was complaining he had too many setters last season, and now, well...

(01-10-2022 04:46 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Well, this hurts, freshman all-MAC setter Elaine Redman has announced she is transferring to Chattanooga, to be closer to home.
https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/1/10/4...-Play.aspx

Coach was complaining he had too many setters last season, and now, well...

Isn't the previous setter still on the roster?

(01-10-2022 09:41 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(01-10-2022 04:46 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Well, this hurts, freshman all-MAC setter Elaine Redman has announced she is transferring to Chattanooga, to be closer to home.
https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/1/10/4...-Play.aspx

Coach was complaining he had too many setters last season, and now, well...

Isn't the previous setter still on the roster?

Yep...but she was virtually dumped on the bench by Redman, there was a clear talent difference between the two.

(01-10-2022 09:41 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(01-10-2022 04:46 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Well, this hurts, freshman all-MAC setter Elaine Redman has announced she is transferring to Chattanooga, to be closer to home.
https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/1/10/4...-Play.aspx

Coach was complaining he had too many setters last season, and now, well...

Isn't the previous setter still on the roster?

Yes, but you need more than 1 setter, and not just to protect from injury, but you can't really scrimmage in practice without at least 2. The other 2 they had on the roster I believe both graduated, although Beasley had another year of eligibility left. They did not sign a setter in the early signing period. So, he needs to either scrounge another recruit who hasn't committed yet, or find a transfer.

But, bigger than that, they clearly thought Redman was the player to take them to the top over the next 3 years, so losing her hurts the programs chances a lot.

This is not the 1st time UT has been hit like this. A few years back they signed a really good DS/libero (whose name I forget) who seemed to be the heir apparent to Marissa Leonard (best DS in UT history) and after a really good freshman year, she up and transferred to Marquette.

One other thought, maybe this could make the coach look to an international player to come in. UT has hardly ever had any international players in Volleyball - I only remember one from Brazil about 7-10 years back who never played. Yet, VB is such a huge international game there are tones of players who want to come to the US, and so a lot of teams have at least 1, if not more than 1, who are often big contributors - e.g. MAC POY Petra Indrova from the Czech Republic (One of 4 internationals on BG's team). I have never understood why UT has not taken advantage of that pipeline of players.

For some reason I had a feeling Redman wouldn't stick. There have to be a ton of players in the transfer portal.

(01-10-2022 10:11 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  

(01-10-2022 09:41 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(01-10-2022 04:46 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Well, this hurts, freshman all-MAC setter Elaine Redman has announced she is transferring to Chattanooga, to be closer to home.
https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/1/10/4...-Play.aspx

Coach was complaining he had too many setters last season, and now, well...

Isn't the previous setter still on the roster?

Yes, but you need more than 1 setter, and not just to protect from injury, but you can't really scrimmage in practice without at least 2. The other 2 they had on the roster I believe both graduated, although Beasley had another year of eligibility left. They did not sign a setter in the early signing period. So, he needs to either scrounge another recruit who hasn't committed yet, or find a transfer.

But, bigger than that, they clearly thought Redman was the player to take them to the top over the next 3 years, so losing her hurts the programs chances a lot.

This is not the 1st time UT has been hit like this. A few years back they signed a really good DS/libero (whose name I forget) who seemed to be the heir apparent to Marissa Leonard (best DS in UT history) and after a really good freshman year, she up and transferred to Marquette.

That at least makes some sense, going from the MAC to the Big East. I feel like Redman is taking a downgrade in talent, but hey, if she is homesick, there's nothing you can do.

Looks like the Rockets picked up a late commit in 5'8 S Anna Ramlow from Eastwood.

Recall that they desperately need a setter as they only have 1 on the roster after Fogg and M. Beasley graduated and Redman transferred. 5'8 is really short for a D1 setter, and since she was still available this late, not sure if she had any other offers or not. Hope for a pleasant surprise here.

Also, I saw that DS Elena Wagoner is also in the transfer portal.

(03-07-2022 09:55 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Looks like the Rockets picked up a late commit in 5'8 S Anna Ramlow from Eastwood.

Recall that they desperately need a setter as they only have 1 on the roster after Fogg and M. Beasley graduated and Redman transferred. 5'8 is really short for a D1 setter, and since she was still available this late, not sure if she had any other offers or not. Hope for a pleasant surprise here.

Also, I saw that DS Elena Wagoner is also in the transfer portal.

Listed as 5-7. Sister plays at Youngstown State. District POY as a junior. Would think there would be tons of players in the portal.

Looks like UT picked up a '23 verbal from 6'3 MB Emily Honzelka from Kettle Moraine HS in WI
https://sportsrecruits.com/athlete/emily_honzelka2

I also note that UT has added Maurissa Leonard as a full-time assistant coach. Probably the best defensive player to ever wear the Blue and Gold, but unknown yet how good she will be as a coach. I believe she has been a volunteer coach, at least part time recently. Wondered what had happened to previous assistant Evan Antal, and he appears to have taken a job at Texas A&M as their VB "Technical Coordinator", whatever that is. He was a UT grad, so the move to Texas is interesting.

Women's team going to be taller than the men's team,... under the correct height scenario.