11-08-2023, 07:59 PM
Is there anyone here who has enough knowledge to have an opinion and is willing to share their opinion about the incoming Stanford class?
MVB
(11-08-2023, 07:59 PM)Nan3cy Wrote: Is there anyone here who has enough knowledge to have an opinion and is willing to share their opinion about the incoming Stanford class?
Kosty had four recruits, no walk-ons of whom I am aware. They did not recruit any liberos. Justin Lui graduated, and Matt Martinez is a senior. No other liberos are listed. They already have three setters on the team including last year's starter Nathan Lietzke, who's a very strong setter, another senior and sophomore Nathan Brouillette, who was All-Tourney at the JO's...
The first three listed below are outside hitters, the last is a middle hitter:
Nathan Clinton Played for Bay to Bay, the Northern California feeder club to Stanford (4x All American Brian Cook was from Bay to Bay). Clinton attended Amador Valley HS (CA) OH. My take is he'll be a strong practice player, with development might see the floor. Good passer, good defender.
Ignacio Brito Miami United Columbus (FL) OH. Puerto Rican native, the star recruit of the class. Puerto Rican players develop really, really early and play a lot of beach VB. I expect Brito will see some court time this year. Might be the only player from this class who does. Maybe he plays libero, I don't know.
Carson Kneisl Front Range Arvada West (CO) OH. 6'6" pin hitter (the other two are 6'4"). I gather blocking is his strong point, so he might end up on the right side as an oppo. Will need a lot of work to see the floor, which is not uncommon for Colorado area players, they just don't have the opportunities that players from California and Hawaii do.
Gray Mandelbaum Rockstar Brentwood (CA) MH. 6'8" middle blocker. MBs are like quarterbacks in football, you want to take one in every class. They take a long time to develop. Great ones are difficult to come by. Too early to tell.
The 2022 class was typical, one really strong player who plays a lot. Theo Snoey started as a true frosh, Brito is probably that player this year. Stanford graduated only their libero, Justin Lui, among their top seven players from last year, also Aidan Peters who was the first sub.
Almost as big a story is that two longtime coaches, Ken Shibuya and Daniel Rasay are no longer affiliated with the program. Ken has been with the program since 2007. He did the scouting, game-planning and recruiting for the Cardinal. Rasay did the logistics, and had a background in sports psychology. I really liked Ken, he coached my son's 18 year old club team. I think they were doing a decent job...Stanford had back to back appearances in the MPSF in 2022 and 2023 for the first time in program history (although the MPSF is much smaller than it was prior to 2021).
They have been replaced by Taylor Hammond as recruiting coordinator. Hammond assisted at UC-SD last year, before that, he was at Orange Coast College, a JC volleyball power. He was an assistant for the U. S. U21 team that won a silver at the NORCECA Pan American Cup in Havana. He played against both my sons when he was at Penn State.
Spencer Wickens is the head assistant. He was graduate manager at the Nebraska women's volleyball team. He played at Pepperdine both as OH and Libero. He was AVCA Second Team All American and All-MPSF first team in 2021. He was a four time MPSF All-Academic selection, so he'll fit right in at Stanford. He's from New York, his dad coached men's and women's volleyball at Nazareth (D3).
Both are young, most likely energetic. Head Coach Kosty has a brobdingnagian job, hopefully they can support him very well, particularly in recruiting.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
(11-08-2023, 07:59 PM)Nan3cy Wrote: Is there anyone here who has enough knowledge to have an opinion and is willing to share their opinion about the incoming Stanford class?
Kosty had four recruits, no walk-ons of whom I am aware. They did not recruit any liberos. Justin Lui graduated, and Matt Martinez is a senior. No other liberos are listed. They already have three setters on the team including last year's starter Nathan Lietzke, who's a very strong setter, another senior and sophomore Nathan Brouillette, who was All-Tourney at the JO's...
The first three listed below are outside hitters, the last is a middle hitter:
Nathan Clinton Played for Bay to Bay, the Northern California feeder club to Stanford (4x All American Brian Cook was from Bay to Bay). Clinton attended Amador Valley HS (CA) OH. My take is he'll be a strong practice player, with development might see the floor. Good passer, good defender.
Ignacio Brito Miami United Columbus (FL) OH. Puerto Rican native, the star recruit of the class. Puerto Rican players develop really, really early and play a lot of beach VB. I expect Brito will see some court time this year. Might be the only player from this class who does. Maybe he plays libero, I don't know.
Carson Kneisl Front Range Arvada West (CO) OH. 6'6" pin hitter (the other two are 6'4"). I gather blocking is his strong point, so he might end up on the right side as an oppo. Will need a lot of work to see the floor, which is not uncommon for Colorado area players, they just don't have the opportunities that players from California and Hawaii do.
Gray Mandelbaum Rockstar Brentwood (CA) MH. 6'8" middle blocker. MBs are like quarterbacks in football, you want to take one in every class. They take a long time to develop. Great ones are difficult to come by. Too early to tell.
The 2022 class was typical, one really strong player who plays a lot. Theo Snoey started as a true frosh, Brito is probably that player this year. Stanford graduated only their libero, Justin Lui, among their top seven players from last year, also Aidan Peters who was the first sub.
Almost as big a story is that two longtime coaches, Ken Shibuya and Daniel Rasay are no longer affiliated with the program. Ken has been with the program since 2007. He did the scouting, game-planning and recruiting for the Cardinal. Rasay did the logistics, and had a background in sports psychology. I really liked Ken, he coached my son's 18 year old club team. I think they were doing a decent job...Stanford had back to back appearances in the MPSF in 2022 and 2023 for the first time in program history (although the MPSF is much smaller than it was prior to 2021).
They have been replaced by Taylor Hammond as recruiting coordinator. Hammond assisted at UC-SD last year, before that, he was at Orange Coast College, a JC volleyball power. He was an assistant for the U. S. U21 team that won a silver at the NORCECA Pan American Cup in Havana. He played against both my sons when he was at Penn State.
Spencer Wickens is the head assistant. He was graduate manager at the Nebraska women's volleyball team. He played at Pepperdine both as OH and Libero. He was AVCA Second Team All American and All-MPSF first team in 2021. He was a four time MPSF All-Academic selection, so he'll fit right in at Stanford. He's from New York, his dad coached men's and women's volleyball at Nazareth (D3).
Both are young, most likely energetic. Head Coach Kosty has a brobdingnagian job, hopefully they can support him very well, particularly in recruiting.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
11-08-2023, 10:54 PM
Looks like Stanford signed 6 for 2024. Anyone has knowledge on these recruits?
11-09-2023, 09:25 AM
Stanford Signs Six - Stanford University Athletics
From the Stanford web site. My interpretation, based upon Kosty's comments and presences on national teams, is that Carreira (6'8"MB) and Wainwright (6'7" MB) are stud middles and Gant has the potential to develop into a solid setter, probably next tier down. They selected two liberos, which is unusual. Can't tell the difference between them. Wolff, a midwestern middle, looks to have plenty of potential. Wolff...tough to judge midwestern middles. They take a long time to develop.
Overall, my sense is a strong class, not elite.
Kaumana Carreira • 6-8 • MB • Tesoro High School • Mission Viejo, Calif.
Ryan Gant • 6-5 • S • Corona del Mar High School • Newport Beach, Calif.
Evan Porter • 6-0 • L • Punahou School • Honolulu, Hawai'i
Kai Schmitt • 6-1 • L • San Clemente High School • San Clemente, Calif.
Reed Wainwright • 6-7 • MB • St. Margaret's Episcopal School • Newport Beach, Calif.
David Wolff • 6-8 • O • New Trier High School • Hometown: Wilmette, Ill.
From the Stanford web site. My interpretation, based upon Kosty's comments and presences on national teams, is that Carreira (6'8"MB) and Wainwright (6'7" MB) are stud middles and Gant has the potential to develop into a solid setter, probably next tier down. They selected two liberos, which is unusual. Can't tell the difference between them. Wolff, a midwestern middle, looks to have plenty of potential. Wolff...tough to judge midwestern middles. They take a long time to develop.
Overall, my sense is a strong class, not elite.
Kaumana Carreira • 6-8 • MB • Tesoro High School • Mission Viejo, Calif.
- Plays club for Balboa Bay
- Also played five years for A4 Volley
- Also played five years for A4 Volley
- AAU Jr. Nationals 17 Gold Division Bronze (2022)
- SoCal Cup Showcase All-Tournament Team (2022)
- SoCal Cup Winter Formal 17 Open All-Tournament Team (2021)
- All CIF Player of the Year (2022-2023)
- First Team South Coast All-League (2022-2023)
- First Team All-Orange County (2022-2023)
- CIF Champions Division 2 (2022)
- South Coast League MVP (2023)
- South Coast League Champions (2023)
- USA Boys U-19 World Championships in Argentina 4th Place (2023)
- USA Boys U-19 National Team Pan-American Cup in Guatemala Gold (2022)
- USA Volleyball Jr. Nationals 16s Gold Division (2021)
Ryan Gant • 6-5 • S • Corona del Mar High School • Newport Beach, Calif.
- Has played for Rockstar Volleyball Club and 949 Volleyball Club
- USA Volleyball U19 World Championship Training Team (2023)
- USAV Nationals - Bronze (2018)
- USAV Nationals - Gold (2021)
- AAU Nationals - Bronze (2022)
- CIF Div 1 runner-up (2023)
Evan Porter • 6-0 • L • Punahou School • Honolulu, Hawai'i
- Punahou Boys Volleyball team captain
- Two-time HHSAA State champion (2022, 2023)
- All-Tournament Team Men's Division Aloha Summer Classic
- Honolulu Advertiser Fab 15 for boys volleyball (2023)
- USA NTDP Indoor (2022-23)
- USA NTDP Beach (2021-22)
- AAU Volleyball Academic All-American
Kai Schmitt • 6-1 • L • San Clemente High School • San Clemente, Calif.
- Plays for Balboa Bay Volleyball Club
- 2023 AAU National Champion
- 2022 AAU Third Place
- 2021-2023 USAV NTDP Athlete
- The Showcase (2023) - All-Tournament Team
- Two-time San Clemente Defensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023)
- Two-time First Team All-League (2022, 2023)
- High School Team MVP (2023)
Reed Wainwright • 6-7 • MB • St. Margaret's Episcopal School • Newport Beach, Calif.
- Plays for Balboa Bay Volleyball Club
- 2021 USAV national champion All-American
- 2022 AAU National Championship runner-up and All-American
- 2023 AAU national champion
- 2023 Orange Coast League champion and MVP
- 2022 CIF Division 4 champion and Player of the Year
- 2023 Division 3 CIF runner-up and All-CIF First Team
- Selected for the 2022 boys Junior National Team
- Pan American Cup gold medalist in 2022
David Wolff • 6-8 • O • New Trier High School • Hometown: Wilmette, Ill.
- Plays for MOD Volleyball Club
- 2023 JVA Boys All National Team: Class of 2024
- USA Boys NTDP Training Series: 2022 - present
- 2023 Great Lakes U19 All-Star Championship champions
- Two-time THE Point Series All-Tournament Team (2022, 2023)
- 2023 AAU Nationals ninth place
- 2023 All-Conference First Team
- 2023 All-State Academic Team
Audaces fortuna iuvat
Stanford Signs Six - Stanford University Athletics
From the Stanford web site. My interpretation, based upon Kosty's comments and presences on national teams, is that Carreira (6'8"MB) and Wainwright (6'7" MB) are stud middles and Gant has the potential to develop into a solid setter, probably next tier down. They selected two liberos, which is unusual. Can't tell the difference between them. Wolff, a midwestern middle, looks to have plenty of potential. Wolff...tough to judge midwestern middles. They take a long time to develop.
Overall, my sense is a strong class, not elite.
Kaumana Carreira • 6-8 • MB • Tesoro High School • Mission Viejo, Calif.
Ryan Gant • 6-5 • S • Corona del Mar High School • Newport Beach, Calif.
Evan Porter • 6-0 • L • Punahou School • Honolulu, Hawai'i
Kai Schmitt • 6-1 • L • San Clemente High School • San Clemente, Calif.
Reed Wainwright • 6-7 • MB • St. Margaret's Episcopal School • Newport Beach, Calif.
David Wolff • 6-8 • O • New Trier High School • Hometown: Wilmette, Ill.
From the Stanford web site. My interpretation, based upon Kosty's comments and presences on national teams, is that Carreira (6'8"MB) and Wainwright (6'7" MB) are stud middles and Gant has the potential to develop into a solid setter, probably next tier down. They selected two liberos, which is unusual. Can't tell the difference between them. Wolff, a midwestern middle, looks to have plenty of potential. Wolff...tough to judge midwestern middles. They take a long time to develop.
Overall, my sense is a strong class, not elite.
Kaumana Carreira • 6-8 • MB • Tesoro High School • Mission Viejo, Calif.
- Plays club for Balboa Bay
- Also played five years for A4 Volley
- Also played five years for A4 Volley
- AAU Jr. Nationals 17 Gold Division Bronze (2022)
- SoCal Cup Showcase All-Tournament Team (2022)
- SoCal Cup Winter Formal 17 Open All-Tournament Team (2021)
- All CIF Player of the Year (2022-2023)
- First Team South Coast All-League (2022-2023)
- First Team All-Orange County (2022-2023)
- CIF Champions Division 2 (2022)
- South Coast League MVP (2023)
- South Coast League Champions (2023)
- USA Boys U-19 World Championships in Argentina 4th Place (2023)
- USA Boys U-19 National Team Pan-American Cup in Guatemala Gold (2022)
- USA Volleyball Jr. Nationals 16s Gold Division (2021)
Ryan Gant • 6-5 • S • Corona del Mar High School • Newport Beach, Calif.
- Has played for Rockstar Volleyball Club and 949 Volleyball Club
- USA Volleyball U19 World Championship Training Team (2023)
- USAV Nationals - Bronze (2018)
- USAV Nationals - Gold (2021)
- AAU Nationals - Bronze (2022)
- CIF Div 1 runner-up (2023)
Evan Porter • 6-0 • L • Punahou School • Honolulu, Hawai'i
- Punahou Boys Volleyball team captain
- Two-time HHSAA State champion (2022, 2023)
- All-Tournament Team Men's Division Aloha Summer Classic
- Honolulu Advertiser Fab 15 for boys volleyball (2023)
- USA NTDP Indoor (2022-23)
- USA NTDP Beach (2021-22)
- AAU Volleyball Academic All-American
Kai Schmitt • 6-1 • L • San Clemente High School • San Clemente, Calif.
- Plays for Balboa Bay Volleyball Club
- 2023 AAU National Champion
- 2022 AAU Third Place
- 2021-2023 USAV NTDP Athlete
- The Showcase (2023) - All-Tournament Team
- Two-time San Clemente Defensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023)
- Two-time First Team All-League (2022, 2023)
- High School Team MVP (2023)
Reed Wainwright • 6-7 • MB • St. Margaret's Episcopal School • Newport Beach, Calif.
- Plays for Balboa Bay Volleyball Club
- 2021 USAV national champion All-American
- 2022 AAU National Championship runner-up and All-American
- 2023 AAU national champion
- 2023 Orange Coast League champion and MVP
- 2022 CIF Division 4 champion and Player of the Year
- 2023 Division 3 CIF runner-up and All-CIF First Team
- Selected for the 2022 boys Junior National Team
- Pan American Cup gold medalist in 2022
David Wolff • 6-8 • O • New Trier High School • Hometown: Wilmette, Ill.
- Plays for MOD Volleyball Club
- 2023 JVA Boys All National Team: Class of 2024
- USA Boys NTDP Training Series: 2022 - present
- 2023 Great Lakes U19 All-Star Championship champions
- Two-time THE Point Series All-Tournament Team (2022, 2023)
- 2023 AAU Nationals ninth place
- 2023 All-Conference First Team
- 2023 All-State Academic Team
Audaces fortuna iuvat
11-09-2023, 05:30 PM
(11-09-2023, 11:26 AM)Nan3cy Wrote: Thanks again Mick.
Happy to post. I should mention that Stanford will have a very experienced team this year. The team was 15-13 last year, but improved enough during the season to make the finals of the MPSF, which they did for the second year in a row.
Here's the starters. This is one experienced team, let me tell you:
Nathaniel Gates, Middle Blocker, 5th year senior
Nathan Lietzke, Setter, 5th year senior
Will Rottman, Outside Hitter, 5th year senior
Kevin Lamp, Outside Hitter, 5th year senior
Ethan Hill, Middle Blocker, Redshirt Senior
Theo Snoey, Opposite/Right Side, Sophomore (elected to Frosh All America team by Off the Block and MPSF All Freshman team, and played on the American U21 team)
Alex Rottman, got a little playing time, is also on the American U21 team.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
(11-09-2023, 11:26 AM)Nan3cy Wrote: Thanks again Mick.
Happy to post. I should mention that Stanford will have a very experienced team this year. The team was 15-13 last year, but improved enough during the season to make the finals of the MPSF, which they did for the second year in a row.
Here's the starters. This is one experienced team, let me tell you:
Nathaniel Gates, Middle Blocker, 5th year senior
Nathan Lietzke, Setter, 5th year senior
Will Rottman, Outside Hitter, 5th year senior
Kevin Lamp, Outside Hitter, 5th year senior
Ethan Hill, Middle Blocker, Redshirt Senior
Theo Snoey, Opposite/Right Side, Sophomore (elected to Frosh All America team by Off the Block and MPSF All Freshman team, and played on the American U21 team)
Alex Rottman, got a little playing time, is also on the American U21 team.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
08-15-2024, 03:47 PM
(11-09-2023, 09:25 AM)Mick Wrote: Stanford Signs Six - Stanford University Athletics
From the Stanford web site. My interpretation, based upon Kosty's comments and presences on national teams, is that Carreira (6'8"MB) and Wainwright (6'7" MB) are stud middles and Gant has the potential to develop into a solid setter, probably next tier down. They selected two liberos, which is unusual. Can't tell the difference between them. Wolff, a midwestern middle, looks to have plenty of potential. Wolff...tough to judge midwestern middles. They take a long time to develop.
Overall, my sense is a strong class, not elite an elite class.
Kaumana Carreira • 6-8 • MB • Tesoro High School • Mission Viejo, Calif.
- Plays club for Balboa Bay
- Also played five years for A4 Volley
- AAU Jr. Nationals 17 Gold Division Bronze (2022)
- SoCal Cup Showcase All-Tournament Team (2022)
- SoCal Cup Winter Formal 17 Open All-Tournament Team (2021)
- All CIF Player of the Year (2022-2023)
- First Team South Coast All-League (2022-2023)
- First Team All-Orange County (2022-2023)
- CIF Champions Division 2 (2022)
- South Coast League MVP (2023)
- South Coast League Champions (2023)
- USA Boys U-19 World Championships in Argentina 4th Place (2023)
- USA Boys U-19 National Team Pan-American Cup in Guatemala Gold (2022)
- USA Volleyball Jr. Nationals 16s Gold Division (2021)
- 2025 VolleyballMag Fab 50
Ryan Gant • 6-5 • S • Corona del Mar High School • Newport Beach, Calif.
- Has played for Rockstar Volleyball Club and 949 Volleyball Club
- USA Volleyball U19 World Championship Training Team (2023)
- USAV Nationals - Bronze (2018)
- USAV Nationals - Gold (2021)
- AAU Nationals - Bronze (2022)
- CIF Div 1 runner-up (2023)
- 2025 VolleyballMag Fab 50
Evan Porter • 6-0 • L • Punahou School • Honolulu, Hawai'i
- Punahou Boys Volleyball team captain
- Two-time HHSAA State champion (2022, 2023)
- All-Tournament Team Men's Division Aloha Summer Classic
- Honolulu Advertiser Fab 15 for boys volleyball (2023)
- USA NTDP Indoor (2022-23)
- USA NTDP Beach (2021-22)
- AAU Volleyball Academic All-American
- 2025 VolleyballMag Fab 50
Kai Schmitt • 6-1 • L • San Clemente High School • San Clemente, Calif.
- Plays for Balboa Bay Volleyball Club
- 2023 AAU National Champion
- 2022 AAU Third Place
- 2021-2023 USAV NTDP Athlete
- The Showcase (2023) - All-Tournament Team
- Two-time San Clemente Defensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023)
- Two-time First Team All-League (2022, 2023)
- High School Team MVP (2023)
- 2025 VolleyballMag Fab 50
Reed Wainwright • 6-7 • MB • St. Margaret's Episcopal School • Newport Beach, Calif.
- Plays for Balboa Bay Volleyball Club
- 2021 USAV national champion All-American
- 2022 AAU National Championship runner-up and All-American
- 2023 AAU national champion
- 2023 Orange Coast League champion and MVP
- 2022 CIF Division 4 champion and Player of the Year
- 2023 Division 3 CIF runner-up and All-CIF First Team
- Selected for the 2022 boys Junior National Team
- Pan American Cup gold medalist in 2022
- 2025 VolleyballMag Fab 50
David Wolff • 6-8 • O • New Trier High School • Hometown: Wilmette, Ill.
- Plays for MOD Volleyball Club
- 2023 JVA Boys All National Team: Class of 2024
- USA Boys NTDP Training Series: 2022 - present
- 2023 Great Lakes U19 All-Star Championship champions
- Two-time THE Point Series All-Tournament Team (2022, 2023)
- 2023 AAU Nationals ninth place
- 2023 All-Conference First Team
- 2023 All-State Academic Team
- 2025 VolleyballMag Fab 50
Apparently, I was dead wrong on my earlier assessment, and shall have to revise my estimate strongly upward.
All six of Stanford's recruits were listed on Volleyball Magazine's Fab 50 list, the list covering the best 50 senior volleyball players in the country.
Nineteen colleges have players on the list. USC has the most, with seven. Stanford is second most with six and Penn State has four. In other words, Stanford has, at worst, the second best recruiting class in the country.
Almost as cool, Volleyball Mag lists 25 juniors as "ones to watch." Only 15 of those 25 have committed to a university and Stanford has commitments from two of them, boding very well for the future:
Jacob Little-Phillips, 6-2, S, Jr., Winter Park (Florida), Winter Park; and Jack Loper, 6-5, OH, Jr., San Clemente (CA), Wave, Stanford
And last but not least, you might recognize the name of 6'4" setter/RS hitter Cameron Kosty, son of Stanford's coach. He plays for Bishop O'Dowd and is a Fab 50 player, who has committed to play for UC Irvine.
https://volleyballmag.com/2024-boys-voll...50-042324/
Audaces fortuna iuvat
(11-09-2023, 09:25 AM)Mick Wrote: Stanford Signs Six - Stanford University Athletics
From the Stanford web site. My interpretation, based upon Kosty's comments and presences on national teams, is that Carreira (6'8"MB) and Wainwright (6'7" MB) are stud middles and Gant has the potential to develop into a solid setter, probably next tier down. They selected two liberos, which is unusual. Can't tell the difference between them. Wolff, a midwestern middle, looks to have plenty of potential. Wolff...tough to judge midwestern middles. They take a long time to develop.
Overall, my sense is a strong class, not elite an elite class.
Kaumana Carreira • 6-8 • MB • Tesoro High School • Mission Viejo, Calif.
- Plays club for Balboa Bay
- Also played five years for A4 Volley
- AAU Jr. Nationals 17 Gold Division Bronze (2022)
- SoCal Cup Showcase All-Tournament Team (2022)
- SoCal Cup Winter Formal 17 Open All-Tournament Team (2021)
- All CIF Player of the Year (2022-2023)
- First Team South Coast All-League (2022-2023)
- First Team All-Orange County (2022-2023)
- CIF Champions Division 2 (2022)
- South Coast League MVP (2023)
- South Coast League Champions (2023)
- USA Boys U-19 World Championships in Argentina 4th Place (2023)
- USA Boys U-19 National Team Pan-American Cup in Guatemala Gold (2022)
- USA Volleyball Jr. Nationals 16s Gold Division (2021)
- 2025 VolleyballMag Fab 50
Ryan Gant • 6-5 • S • Corona del Mar High School • Newport Beach, Calif.
- Has played for Rockstar Volleyball Club and 949 Volleyball Club
- USA Volleyball U19 World Championship Training Team (2023)
- USAV Nationals - Bronze (2018)
- USAV Nationals - Gold (2021)
- AAU Nationals - Bronze (2022)
- CIF Div 1 runner-up (2023)
- 2025 VolleyballMag Fab 50
Evan Porter • 6-0 • L • Punahou School • Honolulu, Hawai'i
- Punahou Boys Volleyball team captain
- Two-time HHSAA State champion (2022, 2023)
- All-Tournament Team Men's Division Aloha Summer Classic
- Honolulu Advertiser Fab 15 for boys volleyball (2023)
- USA NTDP Indoor (2022-23)
- USA NTDP Beach (2021-22)
- AAU Volleyball Academic All-American
- 2025 VolleyballMag Fab 50
Kai Schmitt • 6-1 • L • San Clemente High School • San Clemente, Calif.
- Plays for Balboa Bay Volleyball Club
- 2023 AAU National Champion
- 2022 AAU Third Place
- 2021-2023 USAV NTDP Athlete
- The Showcase (2023) - All-Tournament Team
- Two-time San Clemente Defensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023)
- Two-time First Team All-League (2022, 2023)
- High School Team MVP (2023)
- 2025 VolleyballMag Fab 50
Reed Wainwright • 6-7 • MB • St. Margaret's Episcopal School • Newport Beach, Calif.
- Plays for Balboa Bay Volleyball Club
- 2021 USAV national champion All-American
- 2022 AAU National Championship runner-up and All-American
- 2023 AAU national champion
- 2023 Orange Coast League champion and MVP
- 2022 CIF Division 4 champion and Player of the Year
- 2023 Division 3 CIF runner-up and All-CIF First Team
- Selected for the 2022 boys Junior National Team
- Pan American Cup gold medalist in 2022
- 2025 VolleyballMag Fab 50
David Wolff • 6-8 • O • New Trier High School • Hometown: Wilmette, Ill.
- Plays for MOD Volleyball Club
- 2023 JVA Boys All National Team: Class of 2024
- USA Boys NTDP Training Series: 2022 - present
- 2023 Great Lakes U19 All-Star Championship champions
- Two-time THE Point Series All-Tournament Team (2022, 2023)
- 2023 AAU Nationals ninth place
- 2023 All-Conference First Team
- 2023 All-State Academic Team
- 2025 VolleyballMag Fab 50
Apparently, I was dead wrong on my earlier assessment, and shall have to revise my estimate strongly upward.
All six of Stanford's recruits were listed on Volleyball Magazine's Fab 50 list, the list covering the best 50 senior volleyball players in the country.
Nineteen colleges have players on the list. USC has the most, with seven. Stanford is second most with six and Penn State has four. In other words, Stanford has, at worst, the second best recruiting class in the country.
Almost as cool, Volleyball Mag lists 25 juniors as "ones to watch." Only 15 of those 25 have committed to a university and Stanford has commitments from two of them, boding very well for the future:
Jacob Little-Phillips, 6-2, S, Jr., Winter Park (Florida), Winter Park; and Jack Loper, 6-5, OH, Jr., San Clemente (CA), Wave, Stanford
And last but not least, you might recognize the name of 6'4" setter/RS hitter Cameron Kosty, son of Stanford's coach. He plays for Bishop O'Dowd and is a Fab 50 player, who has committed to play for UC Irvine.
https://volleyballmag.com/2024-boys-voll...50-042324/
Audaces fortuna iuvat
(08-15-2024, 04:41 PM)BobK Wrote: Thanks Mick. Great update
Apparently we're the Alabama of men's volleyball recruiting...this year, anyway. We had 7 Fab 50 recruits in 2010, the year Stanford won the championship, we had five in 2012 and 2008. We average 3.5 per year since 2001.
Here's the number of Fab 50 recruits over the years:
2001 1
2002 3
2003 2
2004 3
2005 5
2006 4
2007 4
2008 5
2009 3
2010 7
2011 3
2012 5
2013 4
2014 3
2015 3
2016 4
2017 4
2018 0
2019 4
2020 2
2021 0
2022 4
2023 4
2024 6
It bodes well that we've had 14 over the past three years. Because it means that not only do we have a strong set of first stringers, we have a strong set of backups...the practices will be at a very high level.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
(08-15-2024, 04:41 PM)BobK Wrote: Thanks Mick. Great update
Apparently we're the Alabama of men's volleyball recruiting...this year, anyway. We had 7 Fab 50 recruits in 2010, the year Stanford won the championship, we had five in 2012 and 2008. We average 3.5 per year since 2001.
Here's the number of Fab 50 recruits over the years:
2001 1
2002 3
2003 2
2004 3
2005 5
2006 4
2007 4
2008 5
2009 3
2010 7
2011 3
2012 5
2013 4
2014 3
2015 3
2016 4
2017 4
2018 0
2019 4
2020 2
2021 0
2022 4
2023 4
2024 6
It bodes well that we've had 14 over the past three years. Because it means that not only do we have a strong set of first stringers, we have a strong set of backups...the practices will be at a very high level.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
08-16-2024, 08:26 AM
(08-16-2024, 08:06 AM)Mick Wrote:(08-15-2024, 04:41 PM)BobK Wrote: Thanks Mick. Great update
Apparently we're the Alabama of men's volleyball recruiting...this year, anyway. We had 7 Fab 50 recruits in 2010, the year Stanford won the championship, we had five in 2012 and 2008. We average 3.5 per year since 2001.
Here's the number of Fab 50 recruits over the years:
2001 1
2002 3
2003 2
2004 3
2005 5
2006 4
2007 4
2008 5
2009 3
2010 7
2011 3
2012 5
2013 4
2014 3
2015 3
2016 4
2017 4
2018 0
2019 4
2020 2
2021 0
2022 4
2023 4
2024 6
It bodes well that we've had 14 over the past three years. Because it means that not only do we have a strong set of first stringers, we have a strong set of backups...the practices will be at a very high level.
Very impressive, and was not MVB one of the sports that Muir wanted to eliminate due to $$$, if so all more impressive.
(08-16-2024, 08:06 AM)Mick Wrote:(08-15-2024, 04:41 PM)BobK Wrote: Thanks Mick. Great update
Apparently we're the Alabama of men's volleyball recruiting...this year, anyway. We had 7 Fab 50 recruits in 2010, the year Stanford won the championship, we had five in 2012 and 2008. We average 3.5 per year since 2001.
Here's the number of Fab 50 recruits over the years:
2001 1
2002 3
2003 2
2004 3
2005 5
2006 4
2007 4
2008 5
2009 3
2010 7
2011 3
2012 5
2013 4
2014 3
2015 3
2016 4
2017 4
2018 0
2019 4
2020 2
2021 0
2022 4
2023 4
2024 6
It bodes well that we've had 14 over the past three years. Because it means that not only do we have a strong set of first stringers, we have a strong set of backups...the practices will be at a very high level.
Very impressive, and was not MVB one of the sports that Muir wanted to eliminate due to $$$, if so all more impressive.
08-16-2024, 08:31 AM
I will never believe Muir was the driving force. Look at the two he reported to.
It was one of the sports they wanted to eliminate, yes.
Technically, the decision was by President Tessier-Levigne. It was made in conjunction with AD Bernard Muir and Provost Persis Drell. Decision was made based upon finances and athletics excellence. It was handed down in July, 2020. Note that the FAQ document claims that no amount of fundraising will save the sports, and that the decision was final. Because Stanford only had a $28.9 billion endowment, as of August 2020 and the 11 sport cumulative shortfall over years would be $70 mms, 0.242% of the endowment.
https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2020/07/athletics-faq
That represented 4,000 alumni athletes, 240 athletes (at the time), 22 dedicated coaches, 27 Olympic medals and 20 NCAA championships (3 for MVB).
Little more depth in this article. Provost Drell sounds like the villain:
https://www.si.com/college/2021/02/12/st...ement-ncaa
Decision was reversed 11 months later after heroic fundraising. The men's VB program alone garnered $7.7 million in funding (the shortfall was identified for all 11 sports at $8 million):
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/sport...tated.html
https://www.si.com/college/2021/05/18/st...ity-sports
Technically, the decision was by President Tessier-Levigne. It was made in conjunction with AD Bernard Muir and Provost Persis Drell. Decision was made based upon finances and athletics excellence. It was handed down in July, 2020. Note that the FAQ document claims that no amount of fundraising will save the sports, and that the decision was final. Because Stanford only had a $28.9 billion endowment, as of August 2020 and the 11 sport cumulative shortfall over years would be $70 mms, 0.242% of the endowment.
https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2020/07/athletics-faq
That represented 4,000 alumni athletes, 240 athletes (at the time), 22 dedicated coaches, 27 Olympic medals and 20 NCAA championships (3 for MVB).
Little more depth in this article. Provost Drell sounds like the villain:
https://www.si.com/college/2021/02/12/st...ement-ncaa
Decision was reversed 11 months later after heroic fundraising. The men's VB program alone garnered $7.7 million in funding (the shortfall was identified for all 11 sports at $8 million):
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/sport...tated.html
https://www.si.com/college/2021/05/18/st...ity-sports
Audaces fortuna iuvat
It was one of the sports they wanted to eliminate, yes.
Technically, the decision was by President Tessier-Levigne. It was made in conjunction with AD Bernard Muir and Provost Persis Drell. Decision was made based upon finances and athletics excellence. It was handed down in July, 2020. Note that the FAQ document claims that no amount of fundraising will save the sports, and that the decision was final. Because Stanford only had a $28.9 billion endowment, as of August 2020 and the 11 sport cumulative shortfall over years would be $70 mms, 0.242% of the endowment.
https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2020/07/athletics-faq
That represented 4,000 alumni athletes, 240 athletes (at the time), 22 dedicated coaches, 27 Olympic medals and 20 NCAA championships (3 for MVB).
Little more depth in this article. Provost Drell sounds like the villain:
https://www.si.com/college/2021/02/12/st...ement-ncaa
Decision was reversed 11 months later after heroic fundraising. The men's VB program alone garnered $7.7 million in funding (the shortfall was identified for all 11 sports at $8 million):
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/sport...tated.html
https://www.si.com/college/2021/05/18/st...ity-sports
Technically, the decision was by President Tessier-Levigne. It was made in conjunction with AD Bernard Muir and Provost Persis Drell. Decision was made based upon finances and athletics excellence. It was handed down in July, 2020. Note that the FAQ document claims that no amount of fundraising will save the sports, and that the decision was final. Because Stanford only had a $28.9 billion endowment, as of August 2020 and the 11 sport cumulative shortfall over years would be $70 mms, 0.242% of the endowment.
https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2020/07/athletics-faq
That represented 4,000 alumni athletes, 240 athletes (at the time), 22 dedicated coaches, 27 Olympic medals and 20 NCAA championships (3 for MVB).
Little more depth in this article. Provost Drell sounds like the villain:
https://www.si.com/college/2021/02/12/st...ement-ncaa
Decision was reversed 11 months later after heroic fundraising. The men's VB program alone garnered $7.7 million in funding (the shortfall was identified for all 11 sports at $8 million):
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/sport...tated.html
https://www.si.com/college/2021/05/18/st...ity-sports
Audaces fortuna iuvat
08-16-2024, 09:36 AM
(08-16-2024, 08:38 AM)Mick Wrote: It was one of the sports they wanted to eliminate, yes.
Technically, the decision was by President Tessier-Levigne. It was made in conjunction with AD Bernard Muir and Provost Persis Drell. Decision was made based upon finances and athletics excellence. It was handed down in July, 2020. Note that the FAQ document claims that no amount of fundraising will save the sports, and that the decision was final. Because Stanford only had a $28.9 billion endowment, as of August 2020 and the 11 sport cumulative shortfall over years would be $70 mms, 0.242% of the endowment.
https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2020/07/athletics-faq
That represented 4,000 alumni athletes, 240 athletes (at the time), 22 dedicated coaches, 27 Olympic medals and 20 NCAA championships (3 for MVB).
Little more depth in this article. Provost Drell sounds like the villain:
https://www.si.com/college/2021/02/12/st...ement-ncaa
Decision was reversed 11 months later after heroic fundraising. The men's VB program alone garnered $7.7 million in funding (the shortfall was identified for all 11 sports at $8 million):
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/sport...tated.html
https://www.si.com/college/2021/05/18/st...ity-sports
Great & detailed info. Appreciated. The reversal and saving of these sports was momentous.
(08-16-2024, 08:38 AM)Mick Wrote: It was one of the sports they wanted to eliminate, yes.
Technically, the decision was by President Tessier-Levigne. It was made in conjunction with AD Bernard Muir and Provost Persis Drell. Decision was made based upon finances and athletics excellence. It was handed down in July, 2020. Note that the FAQ document claims that no amount of fundraising will save the sports, and that the decision was final. Because Stanford only had a $28.9 billion endowment, as of August 2020 and the 11 sport cumulative shortfall over years would be $70 mms, 0.242% of the endowment.
https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2020/07/athletics-faq
That represented 4,000 alumni athletes, 240 athletes (at the time), 22 dedicated coaches, 27 Olympic medals and 20 NCAA championships (3 for MVB).
Little more depth in this article. Provost Drell sounds like the villain:
https://www.si.com/college/2021/02/12/st...ement-ncaa
Decision was reversed 11 months later after heroic fundraising. The men's VB program alone garnered $7.7 million in funding (the shortfall was identified for all 11 sports at $8 million):
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/sport...tated.html
https://www.si.com/college/2021/05/18/st...ity-sports
Great & detailed info. Appreciated. The reversal and saving of these sports was momentous.
(11-09-2023, 05:30 PM)Mick Wrote:
(11-09-2023, 11:26 AM)Nan3cy Wrote:
Thanks again Mick.
Happy to post. I should mention that Stanford will have a very experienced team this year. The team was 15-13 last year, but improved enough during the season to make the finals of the MPSF, which they did for the second year in a row.
Here's the starters. This is one experienced team, let me tell you:
Nathaniel Gates, Middle Blocker, 5th year senior
Nathan Lietzke, Setter, 5th year senior
Will Rottman, Outside Hitter, 5th year senior
Kevin Lamp, Outside Hitter, 5th year senior
Ethan Hill, Middle Blocker, Redshirt Senior
Theo Snoey, Opposite/Right Side, Sophomore (elected to Frosh All America team by Off the Block and MPSF All Freshman team, and played on the American U21 team)
Alex Rottman, got a little playing time, is also on the American U21 team.
So...some post-season thoughts.
1) After making the MPSF finals two years in a row, Stanford started 7-0 for the first time since 1998. Their highly experienced team lost in the semis to Grand Canyon who beat UCLA 3-2 in the final. Still, the Cardinal finished the season ranked #6 in the AVCA, highest final ranking since 2016.
In the NCAA championships, all four first round games were by 3-0 set scores. UCLA beat UC-Irvine in one semi, Long Beach State beat Grand Canyon in the other semi. Both were 3-2 matches. UCLA won the NCAA championship.
Stanford finished 14-12, and 12 of the wins came against ranked opponents.
2) Stanford has four players on their roster listed as "5th year seniors" who started all or most of the year; including Kevin Lamp (OH), Will Rottman (OH), Nate Gates (MB), and Nathan Lietzke (S). MB Adam Chang was also listed as "Fifth Year". Ethan Hill was listed as a "Redshirt Senior", he also started. True senior Luke Turner started at libero. Not sure how COVID years factor into this, so I don't know how many of those seven players are returning -- if any. My suspicion is that none will return except maybe Turner.
Rottman was All-MPSF and second Team All American. Lietzke was HM All-MPSF.
The other starters were soph oppos Moses Wagner and Theo Snoey. Sophs Ryan DuRoss and Alex Rottman started a few games as well. My guess is those four will step into starting roles in 2025, and perhaps Theo Brouillette, who didn't start but played 58 sets.
3) Both of Kosty's new coaches, Taylor Hammond and Spencer Wickens, were selected as VolleyballMag.com Coaching Hotshots, which lists terrific new coaches under age 40.
Feeling good about the team over the next few years...
Audaces fortuna iuvat
(11-09-2023, 05:30 PM)Mick Wrote:
(11-09-2023, 11:26 AM)Nan3cy Wrote:
Thanks again Mick.
Happy to post. I should mention that Stanford will have a very experienced team this year. The team was 15-13 last year, but improved enough during the season to make the finals of the MPSF, which they did for the second year in a row.
Here's the starters. This is one experienced team, let me tell you:
Nathaniel Gates, Middle Blocker, 5th year senior
Nathan Lietzke, Setter, 5th year senior
Will Rottman, Outside Hitter, 5th year senior
Kevin Lamp, Outside Hitter, 5th year senior
Ethan Hill, Middle Blocker, Redshirt Senior
Theo Snoey, Opposite/Right Side, Sophomore (elected to Frosh All America team by Off the Block and MPSF All Freshman team, and played on the American U21 team)
Alex Rottman, got a little playing time, is also on the American U21 team.
So...some post-season thoughts.
1) After making the MPSF finals two years in a row, Stanford started 7-0 for the first time since 1998. Their highly experienced team lost in the semis to Grand Canyon who beat UCLA 3-2 in the final. Still, the Cardinal finished the season ranked #6 in the AVCA, highest final ranking since 2016.
In the NCAA championships, all four first round games were by 3-0 set scores. UCLA beat UC-Irvine in one semi, Long Beach State beat Grand Canyon in the other semi. Both were 3-2 matches. UCLA won the NCAA championship.
Stanford finished 14-12, and 12 of the wins came against ranked opponents.
2) Stanford has four players on their roster listed as "5th year seniors" who started all or most of the year; including Kevin Lamp (OH), Will Rottman (OH), Nate Gates (MB), and Nathan Lietzke (S). MB Adam Chang was also listed as "Fifth Year". Ethan Hill was listed as a "Redshirt Senior", he also started. True senior Luke Turner started at libero. Not sure how COVID years factor into this, so I don't know how many of those seven players are returning -- if any. My suspicion is that none will return except maybe Turner.
Rottman was All-MPSF and second Team All American. Lietzke was HM All-MPSF.
The other starters were soph oppos Moses Wagner and Theo Snoey. Sophs Ryan DuRoss and Alex Rottman started a few games as well. My guess is those four will step into starting roles in 2025, and perhaps Theo Brouillette, who didn't start but played 58 sets.
3) Both of Kosty's new coaches, Taylor Hammond and Spencer Wickens, were selected as VolleyballMag.com Coaching Hotshots, which lists terrific new coaches under age 40.
Feeling good about the team over the next few years...
Audaces fortuna iuvat
01-12-2025, 10:41 AM
(08-15-2024, 03:47 PM)Mick Wrote: Almost as cool, Volleyball Mag lists 25 juniors as "ones to watch." Only 15 of those 25 have committed to a university and Stanford has commitments from two of them, boding very well for the future:
Jacob Little-Phillips, 6-2, S, Jr., Winter Park (Florida), Winter Park; and Jack Loper, 6-5, OH, Jr., San Clemente (CA), Wave, Stanford
Update on recruiting: Stanford signed four volleyball recruits starting this fall, including:
1) Little-Phillips (Florida's Player of the Year and AVCA HS All-American). Stud setter, a little on the short side at 6'2".
2) Loper, a 6'6" outside hitter, two-time All-JVA national team, started at quarterback as a sophomore, must be a terrific athlete.
3) Luke Morrison, a 6'4" lefty oppo from Beckman HS in Irvine
4) Erik Ask, their first international recruit in a while, a 6'8" outside hitter from Sweden -- who was his high school's valedictorian. Plays on Sweden's U23 team.
Here's Stanford's press release on the four recruits: Card Inks Four - Stanford Cardinal - Official Athletics Website
Audaces fortuna iuvat
(08-15-2024, 03:47 PM)Mick Wrote: Almost as cool, Volleyball Mag lists 25 juniors as "ones to watch." Only 15 of those 25 have committed to a university and Stanford has commitments from two of them, boding very well for the future:
Jacob Little-Phillips, 6-2, S, Jr., Winter Park (Florida), Winter Park; and Jack Loper, 6-5, OH, Jr., San Clemente (CA), Wave, Stanford
Update on recruiting: Stanford signed four volleyball recruits starting this fall, including:
1) Little-Phillips (Florida's Player of the Year and AVCA HS All-American). Stud setter, a little on the short side at 6'2".
2) Loper, a 6'6" outside hitter, two-time All-JVA national team, started at quarterback as a sophomore, must be a terrific athlete.
3) Luke Morrison, a 6'4" lefty oppo from Beckman HS in Irvine
4) Erik Ask, their first international recruit in a while, a 6'8" outside hitter from Sweden -- who was his high school's valedictorian. Plays on Sweden's U23 team.
Here's Stanford's press release on the four recruits: Card Inks Four - Stanford Cardinal - Official Athletics Website
Audaces fortuna iuvat
01-12-2025, 12:44 PM
I see that Stanford lost to #5 Ball State yesterday (0-3) but won vs. Ball State today (3-0). Is this just a pre-season friendly? It's nice of a highly-ranked team to come all the way out here to let an opponent take two shots at them.
01-15-2025, 09:17 AM
The new AVCA rankings are out. Very strange outcome. #13 Stanford, which split with #5 Ball State and dominated Ball State in the second match only moved up two places to #11 and Ball State only dropped one place to #6.
AVCA volleyball rankings - Week One
Other MPSF rankings:
1. UCLA
5. BYU
7. USC
9. Grand Canyon
10. Pepperdine
11. Stanford
MPSF added two colleges, Menlo and Vanguard, neither are ranked. Concordia also is not ranked.
AVCA volleyball rankings - Week One
Other MPSF rankings:
1. UCLA
5. BYU
7. USC
9. Grand Canyon
10. Pepperdine
11. Stanford
MPSF added two colleges, Menlo and Vanguard, neither are ranked. Concordia also is not ranked.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
The new AVCA rankings are out. Very strange outcome. #13 Stanford, which split with #5 Ball State and dominated Ball State in the second match only moved up two places to #11 and Ball State only dropped one place to #6.
AVCA volleyball rankings - Week One
Other MPSF rankings:
1. UCLA
5. BYU
7. USC
9. Grand Canyon
10. Pepperdine
11. Stanford
MPSF added two colleges, Menlo and Vanguard, neither are ranked. Concordia also is not ranked.
AVCA volleyball rankings - Week One
Other MPSF rankings:
1. UCLA
5. BYU
7. USC
9. Grand Canyon
10. Pepperdine
11. Stanford
MPSF added two colleges, Menlo and Vanguard, neither are ranked. Concordia also is not ranked.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
02-01-2025, 11:59 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-01-2025, 12:00 PM by BACardinal.)
Friday's match against UCI. Second match is tonight in Maples at 6:00
https://youtu.be/fxvc3B1K_Hc?si=QhI5k0-SRgKTZfoa
https://youtu.be/fxvc3B1K_Hc?si=QhI5k0-SRgKTZfoa
(This post was last modified: 02-01-2025, 12:00 PM by BACardinal.)
Friday's match against UCI. Second match is tonight in Maples at 6:00
https://youtu.be/fxvc3B1K_Hc?si=QhI5k0-SRgKTZfoa
https://youtu.be/fxvc3B1K_Hc?si=QhI5k0-SRgKTZfoa
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