The downhill slide doesn't seem to be slowing...

You can bring in freshman and not drop to the bottom of your conference. I remember an Aggie team in 1998 that started a freshman setter and two freshman hitters and still was a top 20 program, I'm pretty sure that was the year we gave Nebraska their only conference loss and then went on to win every remaining conference game, and the next year we were undefeated in Rollie.

My secret worry is that it's not going to get any better. I know the Corbellis were active in USAV/USVBA national team committees and development throughout the 1990s, and I some times wonder if their strong recuiting at that time was due to being in better position to scout upcoming talent in JrNT, YNT, High Performance programs, etc., and if the recruiting bus has passed them by. Back then we got great talent from all over the nation, like Moscovic from legendary Mira Costa. We've certainly see a trend of USAV involvement leading to NCAA national titles with coaches like Haley and McLaughlin. What upcoming star wouldn't want to play for a coach who has recently been working at the international level?

Last year the passing wasn't there and even when it was, I felt we needed to bring in a top-notch setter. No knock on Kainz, who is fine compared to other Big12 setters - some are better and some are worse.

Then this year the passing isn't there and we don't even have our starting setter right now. Based on what I saw last night, Rhodes is nowhere near ready. Even in grainy web video it wasn't too hard to read her body language and predict where the set was going, and some times the ball location seemed iffy. No knock on her either, the defense gave her nothing to work with so there's no way to judge her potential this early.

But here we are with Kainz's final season looking incomplete and there's no depth to fill her spot while she's out, meaning next year is up in the air. Moscovic (the most valuable player to ever don an Aggie volleyball uniform) and Beers both came with impeccable pedigrees, and I'd like to see us get a playmaker like that again in the setter position.

Okay these ramblings are getting out of hand so I'll stop now.

No, you're definitely making good points there, and try as I might to disagree, I just can't. However, I think there is a large difference between having 3 freshmen and 8. And in all honesty, does anyone know who the leader is on the court? In the past, it was obvious, it was LJ. It's kinda creeping into my mind that maybe Christi Hahn is not a great leader, as it seems like there's a void there. That's not to say she isn't trying, I'm sure they all are. The question is who is going to take the torch if not her? Your options are pretty limited. I definitely think this is part of the problem.

Maybe I like Corbelli too much, I dunno. I just don't see getting rid of her as the solution at this point. I recall hearing that we landed a few top notch recruits, especially in Ammerman, who was dang near horrendous at the beginning of last night. And that's kinda why I don't buy into the lack of talent, it's there. Castillo ain't great right now, but the raw talent is there from a few of the digs she made last night. I realize the horse is long past dead, but maybe it really is just a lack of experience?

I dunno, but this year is pretty much in the toilet as best I can see. It is definitely salvageable, but I really can't see that happening at this point.