NCAA Division I women’s volleyball is off to a flying start. As outlined in this article, there are a few interesting storylines to follow in the early part of the season. The University of Texas is off to a strong start, and are looking to make amends for a second place finish in last year’s tournament. Ohio State has also started strong, and could see a team like Texas down the line when it matters most.
The excitement should carry on throughout the course of the regular season for the teams at the top. Even though there’s no “I” in “team”, there is a “me”, and we’ll look at three sensational talents from the DI circuit to keep an eye on as the matches unfold.
Dana Rettke
The University of Wisconsin figures to be a difficult out in the volleyball postseason tournament, and Dana Rettke is a huge reason why. She’s about has decorated a player as there is in the sport, having been named an All-American in each of her four seasons in Madison*. Remarkably, Rettke has designs on continuing that amazing streak this season, since the NCAA granted an additional campaign of eligibility due to the pandemic.
“This was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss out on,” she said. “That’s just kind of where my heart fell, knowing that this is it for college. Pro volleyball can wait a little bit. Via Madison.com
Clocking in at a towering 6’8”, she’ll be difficult to contain as she brings her school record hitting percentage (.420) into another season.
This is our net! 😏 Kill by @dana_rettke pic.twitter.com/EqJI0iXASb
— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) September 4, 2021
Rachel Ahrens
Pepperdine senior Rachel Ahrens has had an excellent start to the season. She’s sixth in the nation in points, and top ten in points per set. She set a school record* last year with 49 aces, and brings a channeled power to her strikes. According to her teammates, you don’t even need to see her play to appreciate how special she is.
“Anyone who walks by the gym and who hears her hit, you don’t even have to see it, it just commands attention,” Pepperdine coach Scott Wong illustrated. Via Volleyballmag.com
Pepperdine is currently ranked outside of the top 20, but that could change if Ahrens continues to dominate at this clip.
Taylor Wolf
Fans of basketball will immediately understand the significance of a triple double. Volleyball also uses the term to highlight statistical brilliance across many areas. If a player notches ten or more aces, kills, blocks, digs and assists, and does so in three of those categories, that counts as a triple double.
So far in the early going, Marquette’s Taylor Wolf is playing like the Russell Westbrook of the DI volleyball. She’s pacing the nation in that category, and has showed no signs of slowing down. The graduate student recorded 11 kills, 23 assists and 12 digs in the Golden Eagles’ early season matchup with the University of Hawaii. Her versatility will allow Marquette to compete at a high level this season.
Taylor Wolf was named MVP of the 2021 Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic. Her averages in a 3-0 weekend:
— Marquette Volleyball (@MarquetteVB) August 30, 2021
3.09 k/s
.382 pct. (34-8-68)
5.82 a/s
2.55 d/s
1.27 b/s#WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/yK9TyRe5ud
