Spring 2025 Offseason Roster Changes and Spring Schedule

[jimshocker]

Not sure how much I like the new roster size rule. I'm not sure how long this rule has been considered, but I thought the rule change was brought on by a recent court ruling. Not sure how a school can turn away someone who made a commitment before the rule change. I'm sure that many incoming freshmen might have chosen another school where they were nearly guaranteed a roster spot verses risking not making the team. I wonder if exceptions will be given for a couple of years. It wouldn't surprise me if some of the incoming freshmen commit to another school.

How many players per position do you think we will have?
If we have:
4 DSs
2 setters
5 middles
6 pins
that leaves 1 spot open. 2 spots, if we go with 4 middles. Add Another DS? Pin hitter(s)? A third setter?

I would think the incoming transfers would make the roster. If there was a good chance they would get cut, they might have transferred somewhere else.

When was the last time the Shockers had 18 (or fewer) on the roster? Seems like there is usually more than 20 players.

Food for thought.

Heard some grumbling about the roster size and recruits being unaware of the roster situation until after signing.

New rules. New issues. Coaches have to handle things above board. I’m hearing some shady communication, and kids being asked to walk on.

It will all shake out. At the moment this is a bad look on the recruiting front for WSU.

I guess there will be 18 happy kids. And the others will spread the word of how Chris treated them, Oh well, probably their fault for not vetting their commitment more thoroughly.

[1972Shocker]

When was the last time the Shockers had 18 (or fewer) on the roster? Seems like there is usually more than 20 players.

Between 2006 and 2024, with a scholarship limit of 12 head count scholarships and apparently no roster size limits, Lambo had a roster or 18 of fewer three times: 18 in 2006, 16 in 2011 and 18 in 2022.

The average roster size over those 19 years was 20.8. So the average number of walk-ons was 8.8.

From 2006 through 2013 roster sizes averaged 19.5 (7.5 walk-ons) and ranged from 16 to 23.
From 2014 through 2018 roster sizes averaged 23.6 (11.6 walk-ons) and ranged from 22 to 25.
From 2019 through 2024 roster sizes averaged 20.3 (8.3 walk-ons) and ranged from 18-23.

So Lambo has always had large rosters and a large number of walk-ons (averaging 42% of his roster).

Personally, I always thought his rosters were bigger than necessary but he somehow attracted enough walk-ons to make that happen and for the most part seemed to make it work.

I'm sure that many incoming freshmen might have chosen another school where they were nearly guaranteed a roster spot verses risking not making the team. I wonder if exceptions will be given for a couple of years. It wouldn't surprise me if some of the incoming freshmen commit to another school.

I do not know how many additional, if any, Volleyball scholarships WSU will be offering and funding under the new rules. My guess it is a least 15 leaving room for 3 walk-ons. If it is the full limit of 18 then technically there will be no walk-ons. Nor do I know how many of the 16 players currently listed on the roster are locked in on a scholarship. As I said before what we do know is that we have 16 players currently on the roster and 10 incoming freshman reportedly signed. At a minimum, 8 of those players will not be on next season roster. I think there is little doubt this will include close to half of the incoming freshman class. Classes for the spring semester are in session and, at least at this point, none of the incoming freshman have been added to the roster although that is not definitive that one or more have not enrolled for the spring semester. Last year Lambo officially announced his 2024 recruiting class on January 5th. No such announcement yet this year. I'm guessing with the shakeup to come my guess is we won't get that until the dust settles.

I do not expect there will be any exceptions for a couple of years because my sense is that there are not very many D-1 programs that will have this issue to the degree Wichita State does. Most do not and have not generally fielded rosters of more than 18 players.

Whether or not there has been any shady communications that would have misled recruits I couldn't say. However, whether that was or wasn't the case, I think there is a good chance of disgruntlement among the 8 players who will not be on next year's roster. Especially, if there are scholarship offers that are withdrawn or not renewed.

If Lambo is asking some kids to walk-on that would indicate WSU is not fully funding the 18 scholarship limit which would certainly not be a surprise. As the stats above show Lambo has always had a lot of walk-ons. Even if the Shockers are not funding any additional scholarships for volleyball which I think is unlikely the number of walk-ons Lambo would be allowed is below what he has had in the past.

When Kevin Saal announced the need for an additional $7 million per year in revenue he stated that:

The settlement essentially eliminates historical scholarship limitations in favor of establishing new roster limits whereby each institution is permitted to scholarship as many student-athletes as these new roster limits allow. While this model could effectively double Shocker Athletics' scholarship expenditure, in recent months we've coordinated with our head coaches to determine a right-sized solution. Shocker Athletics' estimated additional roster expense is approximately $2.5 million annually.

The implication is that WSU will not be fully funding the new scholarship limits but there will be a significant increase for a right-sized solution. However, that can vary a lot from sport to sport with the equivalency sports perhaps getting the biggest bump in scholarship funding. What that right-sized solution for Volleyball is I do not know. I don't think this number has been publicly announced. Not sure why this has to be a big secret.

[Critter's Pa]

As I said before what we do know is that we have 16 players currently on the roster and 10 incoming freshman reportedly signed. At a minimum, 8 of those players will not be on next season roster. I think there is little doubt this will include close to half of the incoming freshman class. Classes for the spring semester are in session and, at least at this point, none of the incoming freshman have been added to the roster although that is not definitive that one or more have not enrolled for the spring semester.

I do not expect there will be any exceptions for a couple of years because my sense is that there are not very many D-1 programs that will have this issue to the degree Wichita State does. Most do not and have not generally fielded rosters of more than 18 players.

As far as I know, this new rule was implemented after a court ruling this year. It wasn't a change that had been kicked around by rules committees for a couple of years, then given a time line to be implemented so colleges and coaches could adjust things like budgets and recruiting. I'm sure Coach Lamb would not have recruited so many had he known he was going to have roster limits. Same with the recruits, they might have chosen another school if there was a chance of them not making the team. Both parties made commitments before this new rule, before the court case.

Football is going to be hit hard. I think many DI schools have, or had, rosters larger than 105 players.

Last year Lambo officially announced his 2024 recruiting class on January 5th. No such announcement yet this year. I'm guessing with the shakeup to come my guess is we won't get that until the dust settles.

There are announcements on X for the transferring players. I wonder if the lack of an incoming class announcement is due to students deciding between looking for other schools or trying to make the team.

Whether or not there has been any shady communications that would have misled recruits I couldn't say. However, whether that was or wasn't the case, I think there is a good chance of disgruntlement among the 8 players who will not be on next year's roster. Especially, if there are scholarship offers that are withdrawn or not renewed.

From the way coach talks on the radio show, I'm sure he will shoot straight with the players.


I wonder if taking another setter means he is planning on running a 6-2 and wants a backup incase of injury or one of the other setters might be leaving. I wonder how many players hit the portal in the spring.

[jimshocker]

As far as I know, this new rule was implemented after a court ruling this year. It wasn't a change that had been kicked around by rules committees for a couple of years, then given a time line to be implemented so colleges and coaches could adjust things like budgets and recruiting. I'm sure Coach Lamb would not have recruited so many had he known he was going to have roster limits. Same with the recruits, they might have chosen another school if there was a chance of them not making the team. Both parties made commitments before this new rule, before the court case.



From the way coach talks on the radio show, I'm sure he will shoot straight with the players.

The announcement of the settlement, roster, and scholarship changes was made in July 2024, before signing day. It was not sprung on schools after signing day.

It was clear that 26 players were not going to be allowed before the WSU roster got to EIGHT over the limit.

[Critter's Pa]

The announcement of the settlement, roster, and scholarship changes was made in July 2024, before signing day. It was not sprung on schools after signing day.

It was clear that 26 players were not going to be allowed before the WSU roster got to EIGHT over the limit.

From what I can tell, the final hearing for the settlement is scheduled for April 7, 2025. If accepted, the new rules will go into effect next year.

The court case was not about roster sizes, they probably were never brought up during the hearings. The court case is a class action lawsuit about athletes missing out on money because NIL. While there might have been speculation about roster size changes back then, the judge's first ruling on the settlement was back in October 2024. That is when the possibility of roster limits looked like a reality. Because the settlement is likely to happen, conferences have started officially making changes to fit the likely new rules, and that happened in the last two months.

Although it's very, very unlikely it will happen, the roster limit restrictions might not take effect next year. The roster size rule may become another lawsuit, if it makes it into the final settlement for this case.

If we would have known about the roster size limits back in July 2024, don't you think we would have been taking about it back then? Especially before signing day? First I heard of it was a couple of months ago, but I don't keep up on everything.

[jimshocker]

Not trying to argue. Like I said, this will all shake out and stories will be told.

I simply passed along a first hand account directly from one of the players involved. That’s all. I have no info other than direct word of mouth.

As for official timelines.

Do some research.

See how 99% of the college volleyball world is proceeding. And then tell me how/why with WSU/Lambo there is still confusion or reason to NOT proceed as if the roster rule is going to happen.

[1972Shocker]

It would be interesting to know how we got to this point. Lambo has always carried a large number of walk-ons as the roster analysis I did previous indicates. An average of 8.8 per year over the last 19 years. Exactly how many scholarships Lambo is working with I do not know. I doubt it is 18.

The signing of the 3 players out of the transfer portal 10 days ago certainly came after the new rules are pretty well known and seemingly only exacerbated the situation.

Lambo certainly knows more about the plans of his current players this Spring and which ones are planning on entering the portal in May after completing this semester of schooling. Although I doubt there are as many as 8 currently listed on the roster that would apply to. Perhaps 3 to 5 will move on after completing this semester of schooling.

I also assume Lambo is in regular contact with his freshman recruits and perhaps has a feel for who who may end up decommitting and re-opening their recruitment. He and his assistant coaches might even be working with some of them to help find then a good landing spot.

At this point, due to a lack of transparency, it really is just a guessing game on how this will shake out, but it will shake out one way or the other.