(Photo: Ryan Bafaloukos/WCSN)
Who will step in at libero?
The only position affected by graduation is libero. For the past three seasons, that player in the different-colored jersey has been Stephanie Preach, and she leaves to graduation at second on ASU’s all-time career digs list with 2010 total digs.
Now, head coach Jason Watson will be forced to fill that role, and his options are limited. Defensive specialists Jenny Teslevich and Caitlyn Francis will be graduating with Preach, so that leaves junior Shannan McCready as the lone returning defensive specialist on the roster.
However, Watson has been busy on the recruiting trail, already signing Halle Harker, a libero from Bakersfield, CA, and Madison McDaniel, a setter from Arlington, TX. If anything else, both players will add depth for the back row while Watson and his coaching staff find ways to replace Preach.
Who will play opposite/right side?
After freshman outside hitter BreElle Bailey was moved to the left side, the right-side attack was replaced by committee via freshman outside hitter McKenzie Willey and junior outside hitter Nora Tuioti-Mariner.
When the lineup change was made, there was a significant drop in production from the right pin. That is not to say Tuioti-Mariner or Willey aren’t capable of being effective; they were just at a disadvantage having to learn a different position in the middle of the season. Given the proper reps in the offseason, they should be able to be productive from that spot.
A wild card for the position will be freshman Kwyn Johnson. The 6’3” southpaw used her redshirt this season, but she showed during practice the ability to block very effectively because of her length and athleticism.
Johnson’s left-handedness gives her an edge, as it is a more natural swing on the right-side pin and opens up more options for an offense. Given that she continues to improve offensively, as she becomes more comfortable in Watson’s system Johnson could prove to be a vital asset to the Sun Devils on the right-side.
Can ASU crack the top half of the Pac-12 in 2014?
In the Pac-12 preseason coach’s poll, Arizona State was selected to finish sixth in the conference after finishing eighth in 2012. However, ASU actually had a worse finish this season, ending the season ninth in the Pac-12.
The difference between the end of last season and this season is that the Sun Devils have nearly their entire starting roster back for the 2014 season. Naturally, one would assume that would result in a more successful season in the Pac-12, appropriately deemed a “blood-bath” by Willey after a match against Oregon State.
That being said, many of the team’s in the Pac-12 are returning loaded rosters as well. The conference’s top three teams (USC, Stanford, Washington) all welcome back multiple All-American players including AVCA Freshman of the Year Ebony Nwanebu for the Trojans and AVCA Player of the Year Krista Vansant for the Huskies.
In turn, fighting their way into the top half of arguably the best conference in the country is a tall task, but ASU has shown time after time to have the talent and ability to achieve that goal. A lot of development needs to happen in the offseason, but once the first serve is made for the 2014 season, there is no telling where these Sun Devils will end up.
You can reach Zac Pacleb on Twitter @ZacPacleb or via email at zacpacleb@gmail.com
