Volleyball

[ToTheLeft]

I made no statement regarding how the teams would compare in other years.

Probably because there is no comparison. I follow women's volleyball pretty closely. While UNI has a nice team for a mid-major conference, I would be shocked if they managed to reach the sweet sixteen. Depending on the draw, they might make it to the round of 32.

Yeah, Liberty was the first Big South school to ever take a SET in the NCAA's, and they've done it twice against seeded teams. LU has one of the better low-major/mid-major volleyball programs, and we just can't get into the second round. The draw did have a lot to do with that, but the top echelon of volleyball is just THAT much better.

[JayJ79]

Yeah, Liberty was the first Big South school to ever take a SET in the NCAA's, and they've done it twice against seeded teams. LU has one of the better low-major/mid-major volleyball programs, and we just can't get into the second round. The draw did have a lot to do with that, but the top echelon of volleyball is just THAT much better.

UNI has made it to the "Sweet 16" 3 times, and frequently makes it to the second round.
Might not be enough to call themselves "top echelon", but they can certainly compete.

[CitadelGrad]

This year's Final Four will be Penn State, Texas, Washington and take your pick from about 6 or 7 teams that could get hot and make it. All of those teams come from the Big Ten, Pac-10 and Big 12. Aside from Hawaii, there isn't a mid-major conference team out there that has a prayer of making it to the Elite Eight. Not even St. Mary's can go that far and they are better than UNI.

[frinq]

You're probably right, Citadel. Pen State in volleyball is beginning to look like UConn in basketball; there's them, and then there's everyone else.

Picking up on the UNI posting above, it's interesting what stats tell. UNI's Blankenship is the only player to be nationally ranked there (in digs, as #3), whereas PSU (Portland State) has three: Fradella as #13 in assists, Jepson as #5 in blocks, and Phillips as #4 in kills (as well as #9 in point percentage). As a TEAM, however, UNI takes #14 in digs, #16 in hitting percentage, and #2 in kills, while PSU has #15 in assists, #22 in kills, and a ways down #50 in hitting percentage. As Citadel says, UNI's a very good well-rounded team, obviously very well coached. And if they've only got one senior, they're up there for another year. I'd like to see PSU go head to head with UNI, but it's not going to happen.

[CitadelGrad]

The digs stats show one of UNI's big weaknesses. What that stat really tells you is that UNI's front row blocking isn't very good. If they go up against tall and powerful front row hitters from teams in the top half of the power conferences, UNI will get abused. The elite teams in the country typically don't have a lot of digs because the balls don't get a chance to get to the back court.

[ToTheLeft]

Yeah, Liberty was the first Big South school to ever take a SET in the NCAA's, and they've done it twice against seeded teams. LU has one of the better low-major/mid-major volleyball programs, and we just can't get into the second round. The draw did have a lot to do with that, but the top echelon of volleyball is just THAT much better.

UNI has made it to the "Sweet 16" 3 times, and frequently makes it to the second round.
Might not be enough to call themselves "top echelon", but they can certainly compete.

Ahhh, I didn't know of UNI's successes. LU will be on that level... eventually.

[frinq]

Good point, Citadel. And to prove it, take a look at Penn State. They're ranked #2 in blocks - and around #270 in digs!

[JayJ79]

UNI sweeps Missouri State (in Springfield, MO) to extend their winning streak to 23 matches (which I know doesn't compare to PSU's. but I don't care, it's still an accomplishment).

They also clinch at least a share of the regular season MVC conference title, and a 1st round bye in the MVC tournament. (the only way that they could end up with the #2 seed is if they lost their three remaining matches, and I really don't see them dropping BOTH matches at home next weekend. They SHOULD win both of them, but tommorrow night's match at Wichita will be a tough match).

Anyhow, I happened across this shot on the MSU website. #9 definitely has some tight shorts on.
(pic isn't from the UNI match, it's from MSU/Drake)

[frinq]

Portland State's mirroring UNI in its conference - it swept Northern Colorado 3-0 tonight, taking the conference title. It'll have first seed in the tournament in two weeks.

[JayJ79]

Portland State's mirroring UNI in its conference - it swept Northern Colorado 3-0 tonight, taking the conference title. It'll have first seed in the tournament in two weeks.

cool.

UNI clinched the outright MVC regular season title Sat. night, winning at Wichita State (taking their winning streak to 24 matches). WSU was #20 in the RPI last week (with UNI #31), so the win should move UNI up in the RPI.

[FargoBison]

Two more wins for the Bison this weekend. NDSU is now 22-3 and 18-0 in the league play, the Bison have won 37 straight league matches.

Next up is the conference tournament, which will be held in Fargo this Friday and Saturday.

[frinq]

Winning at Wichita State did indeed help the rpi of UNI - they have jumped to, what, #21? Good luck to NDSU in the tournament.

[JayJ79]

Winning at Wichita State did indeed help the rpi of UNI - they have jumped to, what, #21?

21 in the coaches poll (AVCA), 19 in the RPI.

[CatMom]

TXST plays for the SLC championship tomorrow afternoon in San Antonio. They won the regular season last year but lost the tourny final. Won again this year so hope they pull it off this time.

[JayJ79]

TXST plays for the SLC championship tomorrow afternoon in San Antonio. They won the regular season last year but lost the tourny final. Won again this year so hope they pull it off this time.

I wish the Bobcats luck in that one.

Elsewhere, I noticed that the NDSU had won something like 37 straight Summit League matches, but lost today in the conference tournament finals. Oooops. (not sure if they'll snag an at-large to the NCAA tourney or not).

UNI didn't play their best of matches tonight, but managed to pull it together and win in 5, completing their regular season 28-2 (with a perfect 18-0 conference record). the MVC conference tournament starts on Thursday.

[CatMom]

Thanks, JayJ79. They won it all today and now awit their seeding in the NCAA's.

Football team ranked with back to back winning seasons (this is a plus), Soccer won reg season title, volleyball going to the tourney. Good start to the 2009-10 sports year at TXST.

(last year we took soccer, volleyball, football, softball and baseball titles - with all but volleyball making NCAA's)

[Cap'n Cat]

http://www.unipanthers.com/sports/w-vol ... -body.html

UNI is #20 in the nation. Shannon Aschoff named MVC MVP for 2009. MVC tourney is at Creighton. UNI has first round bye.

1. Penn State (60) 30-0
2. Texas 22-1
3. Hawaii 26-2
4. Washington 22-4
5. Illinois 23-4
6. Stanford 20-7
7. Iowa State 24-4
8. Nebraska 21-6
9. UCLA 21-8
10. Kentucky 27-3
11. California 18-8
12. Michigan 24-7
13. Minnesota 22-8
14. Florida State 27-2
15. Florida 21-5
16. Southern California 19-9
17. LSU 23-5
18. Oregon 17-9
19. Arizona 18-8
20. UNI 28-2
21. St. Mary's 21-4
22. St. Louis 23-7
23. Colorado State 23-4
24. Dayton 28-3
25. Notre Dame 21-4

Others Receiving Votes and appearing on two or more ballots: Baylor 52; Tennessee 50; San Diego 34; Washington State 27; Duke 25; UC Irvine 19; Pepperdine 18; Long Beach State 14; Texas A&M 13; Florida International 12; Ohio State 11; Louisville 9; UC Santa Barbara 9; Ohio 7; Oklahoma 5.

[JayJ79]

That makes UNI the highest ranked volleyball team out of any of the "FCS schools" (and actually, all the schools ranked higher than UNI are members of the 6 "BCS conferences" as well). Not that there is any such subdivisions in any non-football sports. But anyway.

[CitadelGrad]

You guys are certainly enthusiastic about a team that will be eliminated in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

[CatMom]

Good company there Cap'n. I suspect our gals to go in the first round but at least they made it. I guess they are making up for last year as they were the ones that didn't go to their respective NCAA tourney while all our other conference champs did.

Their record was 22-12 (losses include Mississippi, Baylor, A&M, BYU, Marquette - all in tourneys)
SLC record was 18-4

[CatMom]

You guys are certainly enthusiastic about a team that will be eliminated in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Considering the number of teams that compete for a spot in this tournament I can empathize with the enthusiasm. It puts your program in the top 64 in the country for DI. Not too shabby.

BTW - TXST's win streak, though nothing compared to Penn State or UNI, stands at lucky 13

[clenz]

You guys are certainly enthusiastic about a team that will be eliminated in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

I hope to never see you excited for any Shitadel sports team ever if that is the qualification...


Hell, you never be happy about it, since they never come close to the post season

[CitadelGrad]

You guys are certainly enthusiastic about a team that will be eliminated in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

I hope to never see you excited for any Shitadel sports team ever if that is the qualification...


Hell, you never be happy about it, since they never come close to the post season

Not true. We have a pretty successful baseball program in a pretty tough and competitive conference.

Women's volleyball is a little different anyway. There is an enormous difference in quality between the top three or four teams in the country and teams in the 15-20 range. That isn't necessarily true of most other NCAA sports.

[frinq]

The difference comes with the money, along with the reputation needed to get the best recruits. Beyond that, well, we've got a player who ranks nationally at #4 and #7 in kills and points. We've got another who ranks in the top twenty in assists. Doesn't matter - they ALL have to be stars at what they do. The Pac-10 has the money and the rep to recruit all of them. Penn State certainly does. Portland State is 20-7 this year but has a lousy 80 something rpi, which means we'll be paired with Oregon or Stanford, bottom seed. Hardly a chance to go past the first round. We can hope for an upset. UNI's got a high enough rpi that they likely will make it to the second or third round.

[JayJ79]

The difference comes with the money, along with the reputation needed to get the best recruits. Beyond that, well, we've got a player who ranks nationally at #4 and #7 in kills and points. We've got another who ranks in the top twenty in assists. Doesn't matter - they ALL have to be stars at what they do. The Pac-10 has the money and the rep to recruit all of them. Penn State certainly does. Portland State is 20-7 this year but has a lousy 80 something rpi, which means we'll be paired with Oregon or Stanford, bottom seed. Hardly a chance to go past the first round. We can hope for an upset. UNI's got a high enough rpi that they likely will make it to the second or third round.

spot on analysis. (Penn State.... the Yankees of volleyball. haha).

My guess is that they will send UNI to one of the higher seeded Midwestern teams (Minnesota, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa State), where they will play a lower ranked team (not "ranked" as in the top 25, but you know what I mean) in the first round, and then if they win that won, they'd likely have to go on to play the seeded host team. But who knows what the committee will do.

I'm hoping for Minnesota. First off, I think UNI has a pretty good chance to beat them. Secondly, I have relatives up there where I can crash if I go to the matches.

But anyway, I wish all the "FCS schools" whose vb teams make the tournament the best of luck (unless they're playing UNI of course. hehe)