COL LEGIATE WOMEN A
Holly’s A-list TV analyst Holly McPeak, a volleyball Hall of Famer and a well-respected coach, highlights the hottest players in the collegiate women’s game
eye on during the current collegiate women’s season. As you probably know, McPeak is well qualifi ed. She sees a lot of great matches in her job as a TV analyst, and she played a lot of great matches in her career, both indoor and on the beach. As a senior setter at UCLA in 1990, she led the Bruins to the NCAA
O
championship. In a pro beach career that spanned more than two decades, she won 72 titles (third all-time on the women’s list) and a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics alongside Elaine Youngs. Along with identifying the top talent,
McPeak also comments on what you should watch in these players’ games that may help you with your own game.
Inky Ajanaku – Stanford Jr., MB, 6-3 • Hometown: Tulsa, Okla. What McPeak says: “Inky is one of the most
athletic middle blockers in the country. She’s very good at penetrating the net with her block. Her offensive contact point is very high, making her hard to stop.”
Khat Bell – Texas Sr., MB/OH, 6-2 • Hometown: Mesquite, Texas What McPeak says: “Khat is explosive and athletic and is capable of dominating a match.”
Samantha Bricio – Southern California Jr., OH, 6-2 • Hometown: Guadalajara, Mexico What McPeak says: “One of the best servers
in the country and also one of the most consis- tent passers. Technically sound in all phases of the game.”
Madi Bugg – Stanford Jr., S, 6-0 • Hometown: Apex, N.C. What McPeak says: “She’s matured into one of the best setters in the country. Great all-around player.”
nce again this year, we are turning to Holly McPeak to provide us with a primer on who we should keep an
Lauren Carlini – Wisconsin So., S, 6-2 • Hometown: Aurora, Ill. What McPeak says: “The best pure setter in the college game. Has a great volleyball IQ and consistently makes good choices. Teams playing Wisconsin have to deal with the fact that she’s often able to deliver a well-located set away from the biggest blocks.”
Ellen Chapman – Wisconsin Sr., OH, 6-4 • Hometown: Glenville, Ill.
What McPeak says: “She gives Wisconsin size and a lot of offense on the right side, which has become such an important scoring position in college volleyball.”
Megan Courtney – Penn State Jr., OH, 6-2 • Hometown: Dayton, Ohio What McPeak says: “One of the best all around players in the country. Plays six rotations for Penn State, hits out of both the front and back row. Does it all for one of the best teams in the country.”
Haley Eckerman – Texas Sr., OH, 6-3 • Hometown: Waterloo, Iowa What McPeak says: “Powerful player with a
great jump serve. Doesn’t need to be in system to put the ball away. Haley has good range and sees the block well.”
Jennifer Hamson – BYU Sr., Opp, 6-7 • Hometown: Lindon, Utah What McPeak says: “Took a year off from vol- leyball last year to play basketball, but this year she’s focused on volleyball. Her size can really affect the right side of the court for BYU.”
Micha Hancock – Penn State Sr., Setter, 5-11 • Hometown: Edmond, Okla. What McPeak says: “Her jump serve is a
huge weapon, and she’s so quick and strong and athletic that she puts up hittable balls even on broken plays. She’s often able to keep Penn State in system even when the pass isn’t there.”
Karsta Lowe – UCLA Sr., Opp, 6-4 • Hometown: Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. What McPeak says: “Karsta has always been
good, but this year she has taken it to the next level. She’s stronger, she can play six rotations,
38 | VOLLEYBALLUSA • Digital Issue at
usavolleyball.org/mag
and she’s a threat at any time during the match. She can dominate.”
Ebony Nwanebu – Southern California So., OH, 6-4 • Hometown: Lucas, Texas What McPeak says: “Ebony is physically strong and can do everything. She dominates her three rotations. USC Coach Mick Haley wants to use her for all six rotations and thinks the sky is the limit for her.”
Krista Vansant – Washington Sr., OH, 6-2) • Hometown: Redlands, Calif.
What McPeak says: “Carries a huge passing load for the Huskies, which allows them to run a balanced offense. Great hitter, but doesn’t need to take every swing because they spread the ball around. She does a fantastic job keeping her team in system, and that’s very important for Washington.”
Aiyana Whitney – Penn State Jr., OH, 6-4 • Hometown: Norwood, N.J. What McPeak says: “She can play any position in the front row. She hits a quick set, she can hit a high set. She offers a lot of versatility to the offense.
FRESHMEN TO WATCH Crissy Jones (OH/MB, 6-2,
Washington), Frankie Shebby (OH, 6-0, Oregon), Ali Frantti (OH, 6-1, Penn State), Rhamat Alhassan (MB, 6-4, Florida), Cat McCoy (L, 5-7, Texas)
H
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72