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Volleyball finalizes recruiting class for 2023 season
from The DePaulia 5.30.23
by The DePaulia
By Preston Zbroszczyk Asst. Sports Editor
DePaul volleyball head coach Marie Zidek and her staff have made significant moves during the offseason, actively recruiting versatile and talented players to the team’s roster for the highly anticipated 2023 season.
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With the majority of last year’s team set to return, the Blue Demons have focused on fortifying its squad, making only minor adjustments to the lineup. The result could be a formidable team boasting a wealth of experience.
The Blue Demons experienced some growing pains after finishing last season with a 10-20 record, but the outlook for the 2023 season can not be ignored with the nucleus of returning athletes.
“We are so proud of the group coming back and super excited to add these four incomers,” Zidek said. “Folding in these new additions should compound this program’s progress exponentially as we head into the fall, and we are eager to see what this group is capable of as one DePaul volleyball team.”
The Blue Demons added four players from the class of 2023: defensive specialist and libero Nora Mannion from San Francisco; Yagmur Yavuz, an outside hitter from Turkey; Meghan Scholz, a middle blocker from Wisconsin; and graduate transfer Audrey Kemp from Loyola Marymount.
These four add versatility for the team in 2023, with a chance to grow while watching and learning from the 13 on the team already.
“The 2023 incomers will add depth in playing pieces and competitive personalities that will help the returning group get back into the hunt for a postseason championship opportunity,” Zidek said.
Headlining the class is Scholz. After a stellar career at Tomahawk High School and being named a three time All-Conference First Team member, Scholz registered over 1,000 career kills with 455 of which came in her senior year. She took her team with a 30-8 record to the regional championships.
Yavuz, from Turkey, originally started her collegiate volleyball career at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after redshirting her freshman season, giving her the full years of eligibility.
Prior to her arrival in the U.S., Yavuz won three European Championships at the youth level and participated in the 2022 European Youth Olympic Festival in Slovakia.
“Yagmur brings seasoned volleyball experience from her development days in Turkey,” Zidek said. “She comes from a tremendous sporting family. What I am most excited about in Yami is her thirst to be great. She has all of the skills needed to be a high-level
Elijah Fisher should improve DePaul’s recruiting process moving forward
By Tom Gorski Sports Editor
Commentary
For the past two decades, DePaul basketball has been perceived by many as an afterthought in the realm of Chicago sports. With regular low attendance figures and limited local media coverage, the team has struggled to make a lasting impression in the college basketball landscape.
However, a new chapter is unfolding as the program seeks to break free from its underwhelming reputation, seeing a glimmer of hope with head coach Tony Stubblefield landing former Texas Tech five-star recruit Elijah Fisher from the transfer portal this offseason.
The last time DePaul was able to secure a five-star prospect was in 2017 with the commitment of point guard Tyger Campbell. Unfortunately, it did not last long as five months later, Campbell reopened his recruitment, eventually leaving DePaul for UCLA.
Stubblefield has not had much success on the court over his first two seasons at DePaul, owning a 25-39 record finishing in the bottom half of the Big East Con- ference. Nevertheless, prior to joining the Blue Demons, Stubblefield’s reputation as an assistant at Oregon was his ability to recruit at a high level, which was one of the main reasons he was hired at DePaul in the first place. point scorer, and her passion for her own development and willingness to help the team is what is going to propel her there. I am thrilled to have Yami here already working with the team and am excited to help her rise to expectations.”
Being able to recruit a player of Fisher’s caliber is rare for a school like DePaul, but doing so could be the new norm for the program moving. It is often said that a single player has the power to transform an entire program, and if Fisher lives up to expectations, it may pave the way for other high-profile recruits to consider committing to DePaul.
Fisher did not see much playing time this past season because of how deep Texas Tech roster has become over its recent NCAA Tournament success. The Red Raiders made it to the National Championship in 2019 but lost to Virginia. Since, the program has landed eight four-star recruits, which arguably played a factor in Fisher’s limited court action.
The 6-foot-6 standout guard reclassified and opted out his senior season to enroll at Texas Tech early. During his final season at Crestwood Prep as a junior, he averaged 28 points and 13 rebounds, while also coming away with three steals per game.
Returning 13 players from last season brings depth along with experience that will be key for the Blue Demons to compete in the Big East and potentially the NCAA Tournament.
Assistant head coach Maddie Beal said she’s excited for the direction the program is heading.
“You know, going into the fall, we’re feeling really good and we’re really excited to get our 2023 newcomer kids to join the team as well.
As the 2023 season slowly nears, DePaul volleyball will look to emerge as a resolute force, and prove its worth on the court. With Zidek’s leadership, a cohesive blend of returning athletes, and fresh talent, the Blue Demons are prepared in its pursuit to make noise in the Big East.
“It obviously wasn’t our best year going from fourth in the conference to not having your best season this past season in the fall,” junior libero Rachel Krasowski said. “But at the end of the day, I genuinely think it helped us just to be hungry for the spring season.”
Fisher also made his Canadian national team debut last summer, helping Canada win bronze at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup and winning MVP honors at the BioSteel All-Canadian game in Toronto with his 28-point performance.
Stubblefield has shown success in the transfer portal since his arrival, recruiting Umoja Gibson from Oklahoma and Javan Johnson from Iowa State, who were DePaul’s biggest offensive producers from this past season combining for 30 points per game.
Not only could Fisher’s recruitment help attract other top recruits, but his presence and production alone could bring success into the win column immediately. The program has not seen a player with the potential of Fisher in some time, and having him with three seasons of eligibility is pivotal for the program.
While it remains to be seen how Fisher will perform at DePaul, his recruitment alone has already generated excitement and optimism among the fan base and Chicago community. If Fisher lives up to expectations and delivers on his potential, he could become a catalyst for the program’s resurgence, attracting more high-profile recruits and ultimately leading DePaul back to prominence in Chicago sports.