Way-Too-Early 2017 NCAA Men's Volleyball Predictions
Way-Too-Early 2017 NCAA Men's Volleyball Predictions
It’s probably way too early to make predictions about the 2017 NCAA men’s volleyball season, but we’re doing it anyways.
It’s probably way too early to make predictions about the 2017 NCAA men’s volleyball season, but we’re doing it anyways.
About a week ago, Ohio State took out Brigham Young in three sets to win the national championship. The next NCAA men’s match is more than seven months away, but admit it: We aren’t the only ones contemplating which teams will be good come January 2017. Here are the five teams we see taking control next fall.
The Buckeyes had an extraordinary season in 2016, and there’s really no reason to think their success will slow down any time soon. Outside hitter Christian Franceschi is the only impact player who graduated, and seven incoming freshmen will join the squad in the fall, including two of the top outside hitters in their class—Reese Devilbliss and Shawn Hughes. Reigning AVCA Player of the Year Nicolas Szerszen is a rising junior, and the Buckeyes’ second biggest offensive contributor Miles Johnson will be a senior during the 2017 season.
Led by freshman phenom Micah Ma’a, the Bruins looked really good in 2016. Their 25-7 season, which ended in the national semifinals, was impressive, especially considering their youth. Starters setter/opposite Ma’a and libero Davis Gillet were both only freshmen, while sophomores JT Hatch and Jake Arnitz dominated from the outside. Not a single impact player graduated after the 2016 season, and next year’s squad will be led by rising seniors Hagen Smith and Mitch Stahl. Head coach John Speraw is one of the most elite recruiters in the college game, so the incoming class—featuring Canadian Youth National Team middle Daenan Gyimah, and top U.S. recruits Sam Kobine, Sam Jones, and Ian Eschenberg—will once again be one of the best in the nation.
Second-team All-American middle blocker Taylor Gregory will be absent from the 2017 49ers squad, but all other starters from the team that advanced to the NCAA semifinals in 2016 will return. AVCA Newcomer of the Year T.J. DeFalco will likely get more dominant as he enters his second season of collegiate competition, especially with dynamo Josh Tuaniga supplying him with nectar sets. Libero Andrew Sato will be a senior next spring, and the Ensing brothers, Kyle and Eric, will both return to take their places on the pins.
Yet another team bursting with talented young players, national runner-up BYU will take the court in 2017 missing only middle Michael Hatch from its group of impact players. In Ben Patch’s first year back on the court after his mission, the sophomore ranked fifth in the nation in kills per set, and sophomores filled the starting setter and libero positions (Leo Durkin and Erik Sikes, respectively) as well. Only two freshmen will be added to the 2017 roster, but both Wil Stanley and Shane Holdaway could make an immediate impact. The 6-7 Holdaway will compete with Christian Rupert and Joseph Grosh to replace Hatch.
Although Hawaii will feel the loss of kills leader Sinisa Zarkovic and libero Kolby Kanetake, they should reload and be a force in the 2017. Incoming freshman Austin Matautia has hops and explosiveness reminiscent of former BYU outside hitter Taylor Sander, and he’s one of the top recruits in this year’s graduating high school class. Opposite Stijn van Tilburg ranked second behind Zarkovic in kills on the 2016 squad and will return to lead Hawaii’s offensive efforts. Middle Patrick Gasman redshirted 2016 due to injury, but will hopefully be healthy and ready to make an impact come spring.
About a week ago, Ohio State took out Brigham Young in three sets to win the national championship. The next NCAA men’s match is more than seven months away, but admit it: We aren’t the only ones contemplating which teams will be good come January 2017. Here are the five teams we see taking control next fall.
1. Ohio State
The Buckeyes had an extraordinary season in 2016, and there’s really no reason to think their success will slow down any time soon. Outside hitter Christian Franceschi is the only impact player who graduated, and seven incoming freshmen will join the squad in the fall, including two of the top outside hitters in their class—Reese Devilbliss and Shawn Hughes. Reigning AVCA Player of the Year Nicolas Szerszen is a rising junior, and the Buckeyes’ second biggest offensive contributor Miles Johnson will be a senior during the 2017 season.
2. UCLA
Led by freshman phenom Micah Ma’a, the Bruins looked really good in 2016. Their 25-7 season, which ended in the national semifinals, was impressive, especially considering their youth. Starters setter/opposite Ma’a and libero Davis Gillet were both only freshmen, while sophomores JT Hatch and Jake Arnitz dominated from the outside. Not a single impact player graduated after the 2016 season, and next year’s squad will be led by rising seniors Hagen Smith and Mitch Stahl. Head coach John Speraw is one of the most elite recruiters in the college game, so the incoming class—featuring Canadian Youth National Team middle Daenan Gyimah, and top U.S. recruits Sam Kobine, Sam Jones, and Ian Eschenberg—will once again be one of the best in the nation.
3. Long Beach State
Second-team All-American middle blocker Taylor Gregory will be absent from the 2017 49ers squad, but all other starters from the team that advanced to the NCAA semifinals in 2016 will return. AVCA Newcomer of the Year T.J. DeFalco will likely get more dominant as he enters his second season of collegiate competition, especially with dynamo Josh Tuaniga supplying him with nectar sets. Libero Andrew Sato will be a senior next spring, and the Ensing brothers, Kyle and Eric, will both return to take their places on the pins.
4. BYU
Yet another team bursting with talented young players, national runner-up BYU will take the court in 2017 missing only middle Michael Hatch from its group of impact players. In Ben Patch’s first year back on the court after his mission, the sophomore ranked fifth in the nation in kills per set, and sophomores filled the starting setter and libero positions (Leo Durkin and Erik Sikes, respectively) as well. Only two freshmen will be added to the 2017 roster, but both Wil Stanley and Shane Holdaway could make an immediate impact. The 6-7 Holdaway will compete with Christian Rupert and Joseph Grosh to replace Hatch.
5. Hawaii
Although Hawaii will feel the loss of kills leader Sinisa Zarkovic and libero Kolby Kanetake, they should reload and be a force in the 2017. Incoming freshman Austin Matautia has hops and explosiveness reminiscent of former BYU outside hitter Taylor Sander, and he’s one of the top recruits in this year’s graduating high school class. Opposite Stijn van Tilburg ranked second behind Zarkovic in kills on the 2016 squad and will return to lead Hawaii’s offensive efforts. Middle Patrick Gasman redshirted 2016 due to injury, but will hopefully be healthy and ready to make an impact come spring.
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