[johnbar]

The USA is finally hosting an FIVB "Beach Futures" event, and USAV is promoting it with a picture of alumna Xolani Hodel:

https://usavolleyball.org/story/twenty-t...res-event/

Another recent graduate, Charlie Ekstrom, will also be representing the USA, while sophomore Ruby Sorra will be playing for Canada.

[johnbar]

The USA is finally hosting an FIVB "Beach Futures" event, and USAV is promoting it with a picture of alumna Xolani Hodel:

https://usavolleyball.org/story/twenty-t...res-event/

Another recent graduate, Charlie Ekstrom, will also be representing the USA, while sophomore Ruby Sorra will be playing for Canada.

[johnbar]

Two pairs representing Stanford at the AVCA Fall Tournament:

https://gostanford.com/news/2024/11/13/t...mpionships

[johnbar]

Two pairs representing Stanford at the AVCA Fall Tournament:

https://gostanford.com/news/2024/11/13/t...mpionships

[johnbar]

Stanford announced four commits for next year:
Elena Fisher, Taylor Ponchak, Ivanna Rivera Vargas, Claire Sun.

This year's roster has 23 players including four seniors. Next year the NCAA cap is 19 for BVB ... so I guess there will be a few cuts.
Maybe the redshirt juniors won't be back for their fourth year.

I mean, 23 is kind of crazy, since only 10 athletes can compete in any one dual.  
It's nice to have some depth, but some of these players will rarely even get into an exhibition match.

----
ETA:  Another commit: Mikki Carlin

[johnbar]

Stanford announced four commits for next year:
Elena Fisher, Taylor Ponchak, Ivanna Rivera Vargas, Claire Sun.

This year's roster has 23 players including four seniors. Next year the NCAA cap is 19 for BVB ... so I guess there will be a few cuts.
Maybe the redshirt juniors won't be back for their fourth year.

I mean, 23 is kind of crazy, since only 10 athletes can compete in any one dual.  
It's nice to have some depth, but some of these players will rarely even get into an exhibition match.

----
ETA:  Another commit: Mikki Carlin

[paloalto]

23 players for the beach team is too many.  Some of these players have no chance of getting into a match.  The math is just not there for them.

Although I have no direct knowledge, some players may have used the beach team as their entry way to a Stanford degree.  I wouldn't be surprised if some of them voluntarily give up their place on the team to focus on academics.

[paloalto]

23 players for the beach team is too many.  Some of these players have no chance of getting into a match.  The math is just not there for them.

Although I have no direct knowledge, some players may have used the beach team as their entry way to a Stanford degree.  I wouldn't be surprised if some of them voluntarily give up their place on the team to focus on academics.

[johnbar]

Sorra & Rockwell won pool 8 (2-0); Jackson & Wilson took second in pool 12 (1-1).  (I guess it's "modified" pool play; just two matches in a 4-team pool.)

Both move on the championship bracket, with Sorra/Rockwell getting a first round bye.

[johnbar]

Sorra & Rockwell won pool 8 (2-0); Jackson & Wilson took second in pool 12 (1-1).  (I guess it's "modified" pool play; just two matches in a 4-team pool.)

Both move on the championship bracket, with Sorra/Rockwell getting a first round bye.

[johnbar]

Jackson & Wilson won their first elimination match under the full moon, with the temperature 52F.
I missed the beginning of the first set, but they had a nice lead and won the set easily, 21-12.
Somehow the momentum switched, and the Arizona pair jumped out to 4-0 start, 6-1 at the first side switch.  But Jackson & Wilson worked their way back, and tied it at 14.  And won the set 21-19.
Competition resumes tomorrow at 9am CST.

[johnbar]

Jackson & Wilson won their first elimination match under the full moon, with the temperature 52F.
I missed the beginning of the first set, but they had a nice lead and won the set easily, 21-12.
Somehow the momentum switched, and the Arizona pair jumped out to 4-0 start, 6-1 at the first side switch.  But Jackson & Wilson worked their way back, and tied it at 14.  And won the set 21-19.
Competition resumes tomorrow at 9am CST.

[johnbar]

Caught the very last point of one match this morning (so far). Stanford's Jackson/Wilson knocked off UCLA's Fernandez/Hope in the round of 32 (21-14, 21-19).  A slight upset, 17-seed beating 16-seed.
They play next against the #1 seed, Alvarez/Moreno from TCU (and Spain; a grad student and a senior).

Stanford's top team (Sorra/Rockwell) also advances to the round of 16.

[johnbar]

Caught the very last point of one match this morning (so far). Stanford's Jackson/Wilson knocked off UCLA's Fernandez/Hope in the round of 32 (21-14, 21-19).  A slight upset, 17-seed beating 16-seed.
They play next against the #1 seed, Alvarez/Moreno from TCU (and Spain; a grad student and a senior).

Stanford's top team (Sorra/Rockwell) also advances to the round of 16.

[johnbar]

Watched the live scores: Jackson/Wilson held their own for the first set; were up 18-17 at the last side switch. But the Spanish Horned Frogs went on a little run and took it 21-19. Second set, TCU reached matchpoint at 20-13; Stanford held them off for a few points, but fell 21-16.

Caught the last half of Stanford #1's quarterfinal match.  Stanford had won the first set, but fell behind CalPoly in the second and could never catch up.  The Cardinal led almost the entire 3rd and won (21-17, 14-21, 15-12).  They definitely looked sharp.  So they beat the #5 and #4 seeds. 
CalPoly's pair (Martinez/Walter) were coached by Angela Rock, who used to be an assistant at Stanford.

On to the semis vs. #1 Alvarez/Moreno at 8am CST/6am PST tomorrow.

[johnbar]

Watched the live scores: Jackson/Wilson held their own for the first set; were up 18-17 at the last side switch. But the Spanish Horned Frogs went on a little run and took it 21-19. Second set, TCU reached matchpoint at 20-13; Stanford held them off for a few points, but fell 21-16.

Caught the last half of Stanford #1's quarterfinal match.  Stanford had won the first set, but fell behind CalPoly in the second and could never catch up.  The Cardinal led almost the entire 3rd and won (21-17, 14-21, 15-12).  They definitely looked sharp.  So they beat the #5 and #4 seeds. 
CalPoly's pair (Martinez/Walter) were coached by Angela Rock, who used to be an assistant at Stanford.

On to the semis vs. #1 Alvarez/Moreno at 8am CST/6am PST tomorrow.

[johnbar]

Sorra/Rockwell lost to Alvarez/Moreno 21-15, 21-17, in the semifinal.
That match was on too early for me; but is available for replay (in principle):
https://tv.volleyballworld.com/upcoming/EPI6fxVM

Sorra/Rockwell dropped the first set of the bronze medal match, but came back to win the second and third: 18-21, 21-16, 15-11, beating the CalPoly pair of Ferch/Inskeep.  I saw some of that match, including the end.  Stanford had match point 14-7, but CalPoly hung on for a while.
https://tv.volleyballworld.com/upcoming/aeGGbrRl

Sorra/Rockwell (two sophomores) appear to be the third best pair in college beach volleyball.
Alvarez/Moreno fell to a UCLA pair, Boyd/Perez, in the gold medal match.

[johnbar]

Sorra/Rockwell lost to Alvarez/Moreno 21-15, 21-17, in the semifinal.
That match was on too early for me; but is available for replay (in principle):
https://tv.volleyballworld.com/upcoming/EPI6fxVM

Sorra/Rockwell dropped the first set of the bronze medal match, but came back to win the second and third: 18-21, 21-16, 15-11, beating the CalPoly pair of Ferch/Inskeep.  I saw some of that match, including the end.  Stanford had match point 14-7, but CalPoly hung on for a while.
https://tv.volleyballworld.com/upcoming/aeGGbrRl

Sorra/Rockwell (two sophomores) appear to be the third best pair in college beach volleyball.
Alvarez/Moreno fell to a UCLA pair, Boyd/Perez, in the gold medal match.

[paloalto]

I'm interested to see if Avery Jackson makes the top five teams for Stanford.  She was rated top ten in the country indoor as a six rotation OH by Prep Dig.  Some of those skills should transfer over to the beach.

Also Babi Gubbins is an interesting freshman. She was highly ranked indoors at Mater Dei High School until she decided to focus on beach. At 6'3" she should be able to put up a block.

[paloalto]

I'm interested to see if Avery Jackson makes the top five teams for Stanford.  She was rated top ten in the country indoor as a six rotation OH by Prep Dig.  Some of those skills should transfer over to the beach.

Also Babi Gubbins is an interesting freshman. She was highly ranked indoors at Mater Dei High School until she decided to focus on beach. At 6'3" she should be able to put up a block.

[johnbar]

Seems like Coach Fuller considers Jackson to be one of their top players, since he chose her to represent Stanford in Huntsville.

Stanford's release:
https://gostanford.com/news/2024/11/17/p...huntsville

"Play in Huntsville concluded Stanford Beach Volleyball's fall action. The Cardinal's 2025 schedule will be released in the coming weeks."
The 2024 schedule was released on February 5th.
Also, had to look up last Fall's results:  Hodel & Rockwell finished second at Huntsville.

[johnbar]

Seems like Coach Fuller considers Jackson to be one of their top players, since he chose her to represent Stanford in Huntsville.

Stanford's release:
https://gostanford.com/news/2024/11/17/p...huntsville

"Play in Huntsville concluded Stanford Beach Volleyball's fall action. The Cardinal's 2025 schedule will be released in the coming weeks."
The 2024 schedule was released on February 5th.
Also, had to look up last Fall's results:  Hodel & Rockwell finished second at Huntsville.

[johnbar]

Sophomore Ruby Sorra is one of the athletes representing Canada at the FIVB "Futures" event in Pompano Beach this week:
http://www.bvbinfo.com/Tournament.asp?ID=4468
https://en.volleyballworld.com/beachvoll...beach-usa/
The main draw starts tomorrow. Actually, pool-play doesn't start until Friday.
Recent grads Xolani Hodel and Charlie Ekstrom are also entered.

Meanwhile, senior Taylor Wilson is off to Costa Rica for a NORCECA event:
http://www.bvbinfo.com/Tournament.asp?ID=4445
That competition starts Friday.

[johnbar]

Sophomore Ruby Sorra is one of the athletes representing Canada at the FIVB "Futures" event in Pompano Beach this week:
http://www.bvbinfo.com/Tournament.asp?ID=4468
https://en.volleyballworld.com/beachvoll...beach-usa/
The main draw starts tomorrow. Actually, pool-play doesn't start until Friday.
Recent grads Xolani Hodel and Charlie Ekstrom are also entered.

Meanwhile, senior Taylor Wilson is off to Costa Rica for a NORCECA event:
http://www.bvbinfo.com/Tournament.asp?ID=4445
That competition starts Friday.

[johnbar]

In Florida:
Hodel/Hildreth went 2-0 in Pool A, so will get a first-round bye.
They beat Sorra/Law-Reese in their second match.  The Canadians went 1-1 and will advance to the elimination round.

Ekstrom/Lindstrom also went 1-1 and advance.

In Costa Rica:
Wilson/Myszkowski (11th seed) easily beat a team from El Salvador (6th) in their first match: 21-10, 21-7.

[johnbar]

In Florida:
Hodel/Hildreth went 2-0 in Pool A, so will get a first-round bye.
They beat Sorra/Law-Reese in their second match.  The Canadians went 1-1 and will advance to the elimination round.

Ekstrom/Lindstrom also went 1-1 and advance.

In Costa Rica:
Wilson/Myszkowski (11th seed) easily beat a team from El Salvador (6th) in their first match: 21-10, 21-7.

[johnbar]

Wilson/Myszkowski went 3-0 in pool play and won their QF to advance to the semis, where they play another American team.  So far, they haven't lost a set.

At Pompano Beach, Ekstrom/Lindstrom got knocked out in the first round.  Sorra/Law-Reese won their first in the elimination bracket, but lost in the quarterfinals.
Hodel/Hidreth got a bye, won the QF, and advance to the semis, where they will play a Belgian team tomorrow morning.

[johnbar]

Wilson/Myszkowski went 3-0 in pool play and won their QF to advance to the semis, where they play another American team.  So far, they haven't lost a set.

At Pompano Beach, Ekstrom/Lindstrom got knocked out in the first round.  Sorra/Law-Reese won their first in the elimination bracket, but lost in the quarterfinals.
Hodel/Hidreth got a bye, won the QF, and advance to the semis, where they will play a Belgian team tomorrow morning.

[johnbar]

Hodel & Hildreth took gold in Pompano Beach.

Wilson & Myszkowski lost their semifinal and will play for third place.
ETA:  Which they won.

[johnbar]

Hodel & Hildreth took gold in Pompano Beach.

Wilson & Myszkowski lost their semifinal and will play for third place.
ETA:  Which they won.

[johnbar]

Two Stanford freshmen on the USAV U21 BNTDP winter training roster.

Perhaps more importantly, Stanford's Andrew Fuller is head coach for the girl's U17 team.

https://usavolleyball.org/story/impressi...ng-series/

[johnbar]

Two Stanford freshmen on the USAV U21 BNTDP winter training roster.

Perhaps more importantly, Stanford's Andrew Fuller is head coach for the girl's U17 team.

https://usavolleyball.org/story/impressi...ng-series/

[johnbar]

I see that last year, the BVB schedule didn't come out until Feb. 5th.  
This is the first year of beach VB being in MPSF.

TCU's schedule shows they are hosting Stanford, USC, UCLA and Long Beach on March 28-29.

[johnbar]

I see that last year, the BVB schedule didn't come out until Feb. 5th.  
This is the first year of beach VB being in MPSF.

TCU's schedule shows they are hosting Stanford, USC, UCLA and Long Beach on March 28-29.

[johnbar]

Gleaned from posts on VT:
Stanford will start their season (as usual) in Hawaii, Feb 20-22.

Mar. 7-8 is the MPSF Mid-Season Rumble @ Stanford

March 28-29 - at LSU, not TCU?

Also, some Stanford pairs entered in USAV's Trials for U23 team to represent USA at Junior PanAm games:
https://usavolleyball.org/event/2025-jun...ll-trials/

https://volleyballlife.com/tournament/25...6375/teams
I see Charlotta Bell/Brooke Rockwell, Indigo Clarke/Avery Jackson, Kelly Belardi/Clara Stowell

[johnbar]

Gleaned from posts on VT:
Stanford will start their season (as usual) in Hawaii, Feb 20-22.

Mar. 7-8 is the MPSF Mid-Season Rumble @ Stanford

March 28-29 - at LSU, not TCU?

Also, some Stanford pairs entered in USAV's Trials for U23 team to represent USA at Junior PanAm games:
https://usavolleyball.org/event/2025-jun...ll-trials/

https://volleyballlife.com/tournament/25...6375/teams
I see Charlotta Bell/Brooke Rockwell, Indigo Clarke/Avery Jackson, Kelly Belardi/Clara Stowell

[johnbar]

Apparently recruit Elena Fisher (2025) graduated and enrolled early; she is already on the roster:

https://gostanford.com/sports/beach-voll...ena-fisher

(As pointed out by someone on VT.)

Funny how much of her family competed for Cal; including her sister Gia, currently on their beach team.

Now a total of 24 on the roster.

[johnbar]

Apparently recruit Elena Fisher (2025) graduated and enrolled early; she is already on the roster:

https://gostanford.com/sports/beach-voll...ena-fisher

(As pointed out by someone on VT.)

Funny how much of her family competed for Cal; including her sister Gia, currently on their beach team.

Now a total of 24 on the roster.

[JJJ]

Gleaned from posts on VT:
Stanford will start their season (as usual) in Hawaii, Feb 20-22.

Mar. 7-8 is the MPSF Mid-Season Rumble @ Stanford

March 28-29 - at LSU, not TCU?

Also, some Stanford pairs entered in USAV's Trials for U23 team to represent USA at Junior PanAm games:
https://usavolleyball.org/event/2025-jun...ll-trials/

https://volleyballlife.com/tournament/25...6375/teams
I see Charlotta Bell/Brooke Rockwell, Indigo Clarke/Avery Jackson, Kelly Belardi/Clara Stowell

JFYI the dates/times of the Duke Kahanamoku Classic are already up on the UH athletics website.

UH BVB schedule

[JJJ]

Gleaned from posts on VT:
Stanford will start their season (as usual) in Hawaii, Feb 20-22.

Mar. 7-8 is the MPSF Mid-Season Rumble @ Stanford

March 28-29 - at LSU, not TCU?

Also, some Stanford pairs entered in USAV's Trials for U23 team to represent USA at Junior PanAm games:
https://usavolleyball.org/event/2025-jun...ll-trials/

https://volleyballlife.com/tournament/25...6375/teams
I see Charlotta Bell/Brooke Rockwell, Indigo Clarke/Avery Jackson, Kelly Belardi/Clara Stowell

JFYI the dates/times of the Duke Kahanamoku Classic are already up on the UH athletics website.

UH BVB schedule