2024 Season

[jdub27]

25 minutes ago, forksandspoons said:

Hardee has not been the coach since 2013. That is plenty of time to turn things around to at least be competitive in the league 

Agreed, but he was the one who built the program into what it was. The next coach carried that for a bit but always seemed to be on the way out and let it fall into the mess it was. Seems like he knew the cupboard was bare when he finally moved back to Texas to coach a DIII team. Previous coach got more time than he probably should have but Covid probably kept him here an extra year before he was let go.

[SIOUXFAN97]

1 hour ago, forksandspoons said:

UND volleyball in the five years prior to Chaves: 

125-51

UND volleyball since Chaves started:

57-138

 

What happened??

too lazy  to do it........but what are the records of all of chaves hires....probably goes from chilling to absolutely stone cold......

[loyalundfan]

On 11/21/2024 at 11:08 AM, jdub27 said:

Agreed, but he was the one who built the program into what it was. The next coach carried that for a bit but always seemed to be on the way out and let it fall into the mess it was. Seems like he knew the cupboard was bare when he finally moved back to Texas to coach a DIII team. Previous coach got more time than he probably should have but Covid probably kept him here an extra year before he was let go.

This is the way of mid major programs. Get a good hire, they recruit well, have success and usually move on (normally to bigger programs, but not in our case….). Then new coaches, program slumps for a while until either they build it back up or another good coach is hired. Move their way to the top then move on again, repeat. 
 

look at the Dakota schools over the last 15-20 years. SDSU top of the summit 2005-2007, then NDSU 2009-2011, while UND and USD were transitioning. Then UND and USD get good coaches and the other two coaches leave. Then UND USD good 2013-2017 while the other two slump. Now it’s reversed again with SDSU on top. 
 

Tupacs will figure it out or not but at some point the pendulum swings back our way (hopefully sooner rather than later)

[SiouxFan100]

For some reason I always thought that Tupac would turn the program around. The results don’t show it which surprises me. He glazes over the losses  at press conferences - doesn’t seem to acknowledge we just lost another game. Talks about individual accomplishments not team accomplishments. He sure know statistics.

He seems to know what he doing. Idk - something doesn’t work. Hopefully he is bringing in better players and the wins start happening. I enjoy UND volleyball and would enjoy more if we win more.

[loyalundfan]

Any transfer portal activity? It’d be nice to gobble up a middle or a setter.

[undVBfan]

I was about to write nothing yet - there wasn't as of a few days ago. Now we have another setter. Reagan McIntosh, from Verona Wisconsin via Middle Tennessee State. 3 years left. Looks like she was mostly used as a DS, so hopefully the defensive skills are good. 🙂 Given the number of signings this fall (now 7) and the number of players we know are leaving (4 at senior day) there is more roster activity to come. 

Our portal activity has been much less interesting than for some. Purdue is very surprising, San Jose State not so much. 🤪

 

[loyalundfan]

On 12/23/2024 at 2:42 PM, undVBfan said:

I was about to write nothing yet - there wasn't as of a few days ago. Now we have another setter. Reagan McIntosh, from Verona Wisconsin via Middle Tennessee State. 3 years left. Looks like she was mostly used as a DS, so hopefully the defensive skills are good. 🙂 Given the number of signings this fall (now 7) and the number of players we know are leaving (4 at senior day) there is more roster activity to come. 

Our portal activity has been much less interesting than for some. Purdue is very surprising, San Jose State not so much. 🤪

 

Well Norris is done, and rumors are Timperly was let go, so a setter or two we’ll need!

[SiouxFan100]

4 hours ago, loyalundfan said:

Well Norris is done, and rumors are Timperly was let go, so a setter or two we’ll need!

Is this a good thing?

[NewUndFan]

53 minutes ago, SiouxFan100 said:

Is this a good thing?

I personally think it is good.... probably need a few others to be let go as well.  There is a big incoming class and I think he got some good players coming.  

[SiouxFan100]

I sure hope the new players come in can elevate the program. Agree that in order for that to happen some other players need to be replaced - sorry to say. 
Volleyball is fun to watch and hopefully UND can make it again.

[loyalundfan]

21 hours ago, SiouxFan100 said:

Is this a good thing?

We’ll see I guess. She was the top setter recruit from mn in her class, but maybe she wasn’t progressing. Who knows unless you’re in the meetings…

[undVBfan]

Even more action in the portal. Looks like two more liberoes will be joining the Hawkes. You can NEVER pass to well (good, both? 🙂). We were out of system way too much (every team says that),  hopefully this is a step in the right direction. Up to 9 new faces in the fall. I'll have to keep looking for the spring 25 roster. 

Katie Paez, (maybe Las Vegas -> VCU)  looks to have two years left. Kenya Prescott, (somewhere in IA -> Des Moines CC -> Iowa) will likely have one year left - she shows in the stats as having played last year. 

[Dustin]

1 hour ago, undVBfan said:

Even more action in the portal. Looks like two more liberoes will be joining the Hawkes. You can NEVER pass to well (good, both? 🙂). We were out of system way too much (every team says that),  hopefully this is a step in the right direction. Up to 9 new faces in the fall. I'll have to keep looking for the spring 25 roster. 

Katie Paez, (maybe Las Vegas -> VCU)  looks to have two years left. Kenya Prescott, (somewhere in IA -> Des Moines CC -> Iowa) will likely have one year left - she shows in the stats as having played last year. 

Thanks for keeping tabs on the off-season.  Ready for VB to be a thing again.

[NewUndFan]

3 hours ago, undVBfan said:

Even more action in the portal. Looks like two more liberoes will be joining the Hawkes. You can NEVER pass to well (good, both? 🙂). We were out of system way too much (every team says that),  hopefully this is a step in the right direction. Up to 9 new faces in the fall. I'll have to keep looking for the spring 25 roster. 

Katie Paez, (maybe Las Vegas -> VCU)  looks to have two years left. Kenya Prescott, (somewhere in IA -> Des Moines CC -> Iowa) will likely have one year left - she shows in the stats as having played last year. 

I'm curious where you seen these new signings ? I like the change up of the team ! 

[loyalundfan]

On 1/8/2025 at 5:34 PM, NewUndFan said:

I'm curious where you seen these new signings ? I like the change up of the team ! 

Some are announced on instagram. College volleyball transfers or their personal page. 
 

can’t wait for some ball control in the gym! doesn’t matter how good of attackers you have if you can’t 3 pass!

 

 They’ve got to do something different going in to the final year of their contract….  making conference tournament is a MUST!

[Oxbow6]

Obviously this season is over but just read a Director of Operations was hired for the program. Had no idea that was even a thing.

[jdub27]

30 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

Obviously this season is over but just read a Director of Operations was hired for the program. Had no idea that was even a thing.

Most the teams have one. Volleyball has had one since Pryor was here.
Handles day to day stuff, travel plans, etc. Takes things off the coach's plate. Usually an entry level position for someone looking to get into coaching.

[loyalundfan]

On 1/28/2025 at 11:42 AM, jdub27 said:

Most the teams have one. Volleyball has had one since Pryor was here.
Handles day to day stuff, travel plans, etc. Takes things off the coach's plate. Usually an entry level position for someone looking to get into coaching.

New DOVO just quit after less than a month. 

[fightingsioux4life]

3 minutes ago, loyalundfan said:

New DOVO just quit after less than a month. 

Well that's encouraging (sarcasm).

[SiouxFan100]

What’s up with that?

[NewUndFan]

1 hour ago, loyalundfan said:

New DOVO just quit after less than a month. 

Probably the weather we had 😂

[undVBfan]

I wouldn't read too much into this, he likely got an assistant position elsewhere. Almost no one looks to be the DOVO as a end goal; it's just a way to get in the door and gain experience until a better opportunity comes up. And I suspect the pay is lacking, at best. 

I keep looking for the Spring 25 roster. It will be interesting so see who is still around, and more to the point, who is not.

 

[loyalundfan]

On 2/23/2025 at 9:06 AM, undVBfan said:

I wouldn't read too much into this, he likely got an assistant position elsewhere. Almost no one looks to be the DOVO as a end goal; it's just a way to get in the door and gain experience until a better opportunity comes up. And I suspect the pay is lacking, at best. 

I keep looking for the Spring 25 roster. It will be interesting so see who is still around, and more to the point, who is not.

 

Good point but if you do look into it the Tupacs haven’t retained a staff member year to year since they have been hired. (Last years DOVO was promoted to assistant coach, and he will be the first if he makes it to the fall). 
 

Sounds like there is a bunch of new faces which is great. A few freshmen that graduated early and a few transfers that are here already. Likely will have some more freshmen and transfers by fall season, but hopefully this is encouraging and raises level of play in the gym!

[undVBfan]

Matthea Dalton | 5-9 | OH | Fremont, Nebraska | Fremont HS
Sara Gray | 5-9 | OH | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Holy Cross HS

Ava Galvan | 6-3 | MB | Agoura Hills, California | Agoura Hills HS
Kimanni Rugley | 6-0 | MB | Pearland, Texas | Pearland HS

Sadie White | 5-8 | S | Herriman, Utah | Mountain Ridge HS
Reagan McIntosh | 6-0 | S | Middle Tennessee State

Kelly Kelsick | 5-8 | L | Pearland, Texas | Shadow Creek HS
Katie Paez | 5-5 | L | Virginia Commonwealth
Kenya Prescott | 5-5 | L/DS | University of Iowa/Des Moines Area Community College

4 players from last season are officially gone. I've heard rumors of cuts, but will refrain from speculating on specific personnel changes until the spring roster is posted. What we do know is that up to 5 more players from this season will not be on the roster next season. I'm not sure about limits on redshirts; I suspect at least 2 or 3 of the incoming freshman won't see the court more than the few allowed matches for a redshirt, so we're looking at likely 2-3 more players not returning in the fall.

Where are we likely to see changes:
3 DS/Liberos are coming in, with only one (Hornyak) gone. It's not too much of a stretch to say we'll see some movement here. I believe McCormick was the Libero, in my mind higher ranking than a DS, so I suspect she'll be around for her senior year. Beyond that, who knows.

2 returning middles, both were freshman last year. Two new middles, so a combined 2 years of college experience amongst all of them. I would think one of the new middles will be redshirt this fall. We need a physical presence at middle, so it will be interesting to see who steps up.

2 returning setters, and two new setters. That's a lot of setters. 🙂 Riviere also hit, which could help save subs in the 6-2. 

The pins coming back are Perugini (played every set - 102), Barber (101- all but 1), Riviere (94), Imoh (56), Cooper (43), and Edlund (26). The last three were freshman. Cooper looked like she would have seen a LOT of playing time had she not been injured. With a 5-1 you have 3 starters, 4 with a 6-2. So many people for not enough spots. It should make for some great competition in spring ball and in August.

 

[NewUndFan]

Wow that's a crazy overhaul ! I totally agree with the 5 staying from last years team. Only one I'm surprised isn't still here is Washington.  I thought she had a good freshman year for us.  Otherwise I agree that the team needed a total remake.  I really want these coaches to succeed so I hope they hit a homerun with this class.