Recap of impact
One of the more exciting features for me at FrogJump is the Impact series. Most, if not all of these names, are brand new to me. I enjoy following their progress and seeing who can step in to elevate a program or replace an outgoing starter. Sometimes Ramius gets it exactly right and sometimes, well, college sports are unpredictable. The grade given is more so a sense of “did the production match the prediction.” I did the write-ups in reverse order they were released.
Let’s get started
Keaton Hendry: With the departure of Taylor Marks, Cal Lu had a big need at setter. Insert Hendry. The NorCal freshman won the preseason battle and was the full time starter through the end of February. He leads the team in assists but has fallen behind fellow freshman Gavin Galansk down the stretch. We’re still calling this a victory for Hendry as he’s helped win Cal Lu a lot of very important matches
Grade: B+
Reece Dodd: Big guy, small state. He had an inside track to make a large impact at Arcadia. He started in 23 matches and put up solid numbers out of the middle. Dodd led the team in blocks per set and hit .261 on the season. His usage will probably tick up over the years, but a solid campaign for a program in a bit of a transitory time.
Grade: B
Alek Solodky: The All-CVC 3rd team selection had a strong first year for Rutgers-Newark. He had to share the spotlight with another rookie on his team though, who we will get to soon. He finished 4th on the team in kills and had 7 double digit kills in a match (including 24 vs Kean). Another solid performance for a rookie.
Grade: B
Sean Murphy: Ramius described him as “deceptively electric” but also a bit undersized. Murphy played in all but two matches this season, so another respectable showing in terms of usage for a rookie. He finished 4th in Kills, but hit .099 this year which is a little below some guys on this list. He got and kept the starting job all season, which is certainly no easy feat.
Grade: B-
Massimo Roco: Both Roco and Solodky were highlighted in Impact Recruit-Part 4, but maybe Roco should have been #1. The Rutgers-Newark middle was named AVCA Region III Newcomer of the year. High praise and deservedly so for Roco as he hit .391 with just under 1 block per set. Rutgers-Newark has the chance to keep growing with its young core and Roco could be a future All-American
Grade: A+
Nate Diaz: Highlighted as an impact transfer, Diaz went from Orange Coast College to Cal Lutheran. Hendry was in the same article as Diaz and I’ve already mentioned Galanski, so it’s difficult to have three guys impact the same position in one year. Nate, enjoy the NCAA tournament. It’s a great time to be a member of Cal Lu volleyball.
Grade: Inc
Kyle Johnson: The 6’10 lefty from Bay to Bay brought his talents to Springfield and the Div III world collective hearts stopped. There were a number of impact pins for SC this season that we haven’t previously seen, but Johnson was left out of that mix in his first year. Ramius did say he was “raw as a prospect” so I don’t think anyone would be surprised to see Kyle break out in the future
Grade: Ask again later
Owen Geismann: He was picked as a replacement for Jack McClure, but in the era of COVID we never quite know when someone is done. McClure returned for another year and had a monster season. Geismann did start the year in the lineup and put up some solid early season results (10 kills, .368% vs Cal Lu ) but couldn’t keep hold of the OH2 spot. There’s a number of guys on the team who had more kills, but most of them say “senior” so Geismann has a chance to be an impact sophomore.
Grade: B
Brady Pichler: Winning NACC freshman of the Year is a good sign that you made an impact. A freshman that can get you over 4 pts/s and lead your team in kills is a great piece to build upon. Wisconsin Lutheran finished in the bottom third of the NACC but they’re not far off at all from being a playoff team. Another level for Pichler could help them get there.
Grade: A
Chris Mactal: The North Central middle was tabbed with replacing former stud Jeremy Cardenas in his write up. That seemed like a tall task for anyone. Chris didn’t produce eye popping stats, but that’s only because a detached retina cost him his season after 13 matches. Sorry for the terrible pun. He did have 2 k/s and hit over .300 which is more than holding your own as a rookie middle. He almost assuredly would have been on the FJ all-rookie team. Better health and increased usage are hopefully on the horizon for Mactal.
Grade: A when healthy
Justin Dickson: Mt Union had a strong season, winning a crowded MCVL and pushing Springfield to the brink. Justin was not a part of that mix this year, but he looks like he has a shot for M2 next season based on graduating seniors.
Grade: Inc
Andrew Ahn: The lone impact transfer of series 3, Ahn was tasked with taking the Laboo sized hole left at Wentworth. I’m not sure anyone could fill that void, but Ahn had a solid season, playing in 23 matches and producing consistent results. He didn’t garner the usage/efficiency as exactly predicted, but he helped Wentworth stay on top of the GNAC once again.
Grade: B+
Dante Palombo: Tabbed as the “heir apparent” for Luke Hoffman, nobody told Ramius that Hoffman had another year of dominance as an All-American and FJ middle of the year. Palombo was in the mix at middle, but yielded some important matches down the stretch to sophomore Chris Mellor. The first year middle did hit .444 in an overpowering offense and he should be right back in the mix next year with Hoffman exhausting his eligibility.
Grade: B+
Joey Preische: Another Springfield commit that generated very positive buzz according to the FJ leaders. When he played, he produced. Almost 2.5 kills a set at a .280 clip is better than plenty of starting OHs on nationally ranked teams. The impressive pin depth this year is probably more the culprit to Preische being in a part time role as opposed to anything wrong with his play. With no graduating starting pins being seniors, Preische looks to be in a position battle next year as well.
Grade: B
Coleton Welter: I’m not sure a team’s middles have grabbed more headlines than SJF over the last two seasons. Nothing changed this year as Rauh and Stella were yet again tremendous. Welter was in the mix at the pin this season,but didn’t outpace any of the returning guys. Freshman Evan Hernandez factored into the rotation as well with just about the same usage. With SJF graduating middles and setters, it’s anyone’s guess as to what they do next season, but Welter should have a chance for an expanded role.
Grade: B-
Xzavion Willet: The middle from Carthage didn’t play this season.
Grade: Shrug?
Shawn Zheng: The big pin from Colorado looked like a viable replacement on the RS for the production Vassar got out of the Kim/Ramsey era. Zheng was a lock for the FJ all-freshman team, in the mix for UVC freshman of the year and an All-Region selection. Instead an injury in early March ended his season. Assuming he comes back at full speed, he should be a centerpiece for years to come.
Grade: A+ when healthy
Austin Mallory: Finally we get to a libero! The Carthage lib out of Ohio was the sole inclusion at the position. Mallory was said to start “sooner rather than later” in his write up. It looks like it’s going to be later, as senior lib Zack Noland held down the starting spot all season. Mallory did get into 14 matches and it seems very possible he’s the guy next season.
Grade: B-
Solomon O’Reggio: “MSOE is slowly acquiring some pieces to contend in the NACC” was a statement in his write-up. I dont think FJ mentioned the school again until they made the finals vs Aurora, but Ramius had it early on. Unfortunately, O’Reggio wasn’t a contributor. He didn’t play this season and he must have missed picture day.
Grade: Inc
Hudson Sweitzer: The Carthage middle who was tabbed the least likely to make an immediate impact, made the biggest. Sweitzer was a full time starter and while he wasn’t asked to carry the load on offense, he certainly made an impact on a top 5 team. With Ryan Chloewinski graduating, Sweitzer could become the #1 guy in the middle next season
Grade: A
Nikko Tenedorio: Did he make an impact? Yes. Was he undersold? Absolutely yes. Tenedorio was the AVCA newcomer of the year and the #1 guy for New Paltz this season. The team was a little bit down from where they’ve historically been, but Tenedorio was a huge reason they had ranked wins over teams like: St John Fisher, Vassar, Hobart and Wentworth. He put up at least 14 kills in 11 matches. Tenedorio was an HM All-American this year, but if he at least repeats that production next year, he should at least be on the second team. A great start to the beginning of his career.
Grade: A++
Jason Wang: The transfer from VCU to SVU drew comparisons to a young David Markes. I’m not sure how anyone could break into the rotation at SVU, but being as this was very early on, it’s possible we didn’t quite know who would be back for Southern Virginia. Wang did find his way into 29 matches this year, but more on a part time basis as he only started 11. He did hit over .300 and he very well could start in the middle next season with Evans and Bianchin wrapping up their careers. SVU will look very different next season and Wang has a chance to keep them at the top of the CVC
Grade: B