Four members of the Arizona volleyball team entered the transfer portal before it closed last week.Starting middle blocker nicole briggsreserve outside hitter Tess Fuquadefensive specialist kenzie schoenhardt and Kylie Wong Everyone is looking for the next landing spot.
Briggs has started at middle blocker for most of the past two years. She and the team parted ways about a month ago, but she didn't officially join Portal until recently. She posted a farewell message on her Instagram on Monday afternoon.
Briggs led the Wildcats in blocks per set last year with 0.77. She finished her career at Arizona in 2023 with at least five blocks in 10 of 31 games and averaged 0.83 kills, 0.70 blocks and 1.19 points per set.
Briggs is the only one of the four transfers to have played much time at Arizona. But he said Fuqua had promise. The outside hitter was a two-time player of the year at Gatorade, New Mexico, but arrived in Arizona last fall while she was recovering from surgery on her knee. She did not see court in her first year.
Fuqua appeared to be recovering from the surgery. She participated in the spring tournament. Then she tore her ACL again. She plans to return to Las Cruces to recover and decide what to do next.
Schoenhardt received playing time last year as part of the serve rotation. She played in 53 sets as a freshman. She averaged 0.36 digs per set and had eight aces. Her 0.15 aces per set was fifth on the team.
Wong joined the Wildcats last season as a junior college transfer. She did not play in the game for Arizona.
Briggs and Fuqua's decision to look elsewhere has several positives for Arizona. The Wildcats were nearing the scholarship cap for next season, but there were still holes to fill. The biggest needs are a high-level libero, an experienced middle blocker, and an experienced setter. There was no way to add those pieces to the team when it was configured.
By transferring twice, two traditional scholarships will be waived. Arizona could also add a walk-on who receives NIL money in lieu of a scholarship. 5th year outside hitter Jaelyn Hodge I plan to use the NIL funds to pay for tuition next fall. The volleyball organization can then award his first semester's tuition to another player starting in January.
“It's better to do it that way, so [Hodge is] He’s an in-state kid,” the head coach said. Rita Stubbs Said. “It's cheaper for her.”
One of the traditional scholarships was already under discussion with the addition of the Dutch opposite Ann den Hammer To next year's freshman class. Ms. Stubbs still has one scholarship and her NIL fund, which is worth one semester's tuition, to meet her needs. She hopes to use the money to find a libero and an experienced middle blocker.
Arizona has five outside hitters and Hodge, a returner. jordan wilsonand sydney vanek With the new student Hammer Carly Cisneros.
Cisneros joined the team for spring training in January and has already made a positive impression on coaches.
“She's the glue,” Stubbs said. “They can't get her off her bed. We didn't even get a chance to get her a breather this spring. We all saw the benefit she brought.”
There are currently three middle blockers on the 2024 roster.Senior Alena Johnson and second year student journey tucker New students will also join Adriana Bridges in autumn. Stubbs is pleased with Johnson and Tucker's progress, but he still plans to bring in someone with experience to help.
“Journey has stepped up her game,” Stubbs said.
Two setters on the 2024 roster are juniors anna heath and a new student Avery Scoggins. Stubbs believes the addition of a capable second setter who will be running the team for a full year to back her up will help Heath.
The team has four players in the defensive specialist and libero positions.new student Brenna Ginder 2nd year students join us Giorgia Mandotti and seniors Heaven Ray and Eva Tortorello.
Arizona's biggest loss to the portal came earlier this year for the fifth-year opposite/outside hitter. Sofia Maldonado Diaz Transferred to Louisville in his final year of eligibility.The program also parted ways with the setter. Kasen RosenthalDS/L Ania SchwarzendruberDS/L Laura Detwiler.
The Wildcats finished 2023 with an 8-23 record in Stubbs' first year as head coach. They went 3-17 in their final season in the Pac-12. The program will join the Big 12 next season. Although this league has faster games than many of her Pac-12 programs, she believes the size disadvantage that Arizona often faces in her Pac-12 does not exist.