CHICAGO – Huge Ten volleyball coaches and athletes voiced their opinions on transfers and the way athletes from the switch portal slot in with a longtime tradition on the convention’s second annual volleyball media days on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Huge Ten had 9 intraconference transfers this offseason throughout six totally different groups (Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Wisconsin), a 28% improve from the earlier season.
Head coach for the Wisconsin Badgers Kelly Sheffield stated probably the most necessary elements of being lively within the switch portal is ensuring recruits really feel welcome and slot in with the tradition of this system.
“While you’re going to absorb transfers, that’s extra necessary than simply chasing expertise,” Sheffield stated. “It’s any person that’s going to suit into the tradition that you simply’ve established and need to be part of that.”
The Badgers picked up former Gopher Carter Sales space and former Wildcat Temi Thomas-Ailara. Each have been named to the Preseason All-Huge Ten workforce.
Penn State picked up two intraconference transfers: 2022 Huge Ten Setter of the 12 months Mac Podraza from Ohio State and a switch from Michigan, exterior hitter Jess Mruzik. Head coach for the Nittany Lions, Katie Schumar-Cawley, stated this was as a result of that they had the scholarship cash.
“We need to be the most effective and waited to see who was out there and obtained some actually nice gamers,” Schumar-Cawley stated.
Nebraska head coach John Prepare dinner stated this development of transferring intraconference “bothers [him].”
“You make investments all that point and vitality after which they flip round and go to a different workforce and also you’re going to play in opposition to them,” Prepare dinner stated. “As an old-school coach, that half bothers me. I don’t prefer it.”
Athletes throughout the convention switch for numerous causes. One of many extra notable switch conditions was because of the COVID-19 pandemic main Ohio State head coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg to let go of 5 senior gamers, two of which stayed within the Huge Ten.
“The COVID factor actually modified the world and, within the scheme of athletics, it makes it slightly bit totally different and slightly bit bizarre.” Flynn Oldenburg stated. “On the finish of the day, you must exit and compete no matter who’s on the opposite facet of the web.”
Minnesota, then again, gained a brand new head coach and misplaced two of their gamers who transferred intraconference.
Fourth-year setter for the Gophers Melani Shaffmaster performed underneath former head coach Hugh McCutcheon the previous three years. When requested if transferring ever crossed her thoughts, she responded with a powerful “no.”
“I’ve been right here for 3 years and, [to] the folks I’ve grown near, there was by no means a thought in my thoughts of leaving Minnesota,” Shaffmaster stated.
Tradition is a facet many applications pleasure themselves on and one which veteran athletes should work to combine transfers into. Senior setter for the Badgers MJ Hammill stated the Wisconsin transfers slot in nicely because of the program’s capability to all the time be genuine.
“They knew coming in that is who we’re,” Hammill stated. “We’re who we’re and we’re happy with the tradition.”
Each representatives for the Badgers spoke extremely of the work they’ve seen from Northwestern switch Thomas-Ailara.
“She raises the extent of play of everyone round her,” Hammill stated. “The best way she goes about issues simply will increase the extent of play of everyone.”
Taylor Landfair, a redshirt junior for the Gophers, stated Ohio State switch Kylie Murr has had no drawback discovering her area of interest within the Gophers program.
“I feel she’s very fiery and offers plenty of vitality to us, which I actually respect as a result of I really feel like we actually want that on our workforce,” Landfair stated. “I feel she’s actually, actually good for our workforce, and I’m actually excited that she got here right here.”
Head coach for the Gophers Keegan Prepare dinner stated he feels a accountability to handle his athletes. Whereas a coach at Washington, he by no means had a participant enter the switch portal.
“It’s a privilege to teach them, and I don’t ever need to overlook that,” Prepare dinner stated. “The switch portal in all probability lets coaches not overlook that greater than ever.”