2017 Week 8: AVCA Poll Notes and Preview

Big night and week ahead! Tune into the B1G Network and ESPNU tonight!

B1G Week: Michigan State rebounded from a 3-1 loss at Nebraska with a 3-1 home win over Wisconsin, its second win over the Badgers this season. The Spartans moved up to #10, its first time inside the Top 10 since Week 10 of 2013. They spent four consecutive weeks inside the Top 10 that year, when they opened the conference season with a surprising 5-set win at Rec Hall (Penn State would later sweep them in East Lansing, then beat them 3-1 in the regional semis in Lexington). This year, Michigan State already has three road wins against Top 10 conference foes…so expect a real battle when they visit State College on Friday. MSU is 7-42 all-time against Penn State.

Meanwhile, Nebraska is running out of teams to lose to…their road trip to Wisconsin (which dropped to #11) and #16 Purdue may be the best shot. The Boilers first host #6 Minnesota.

SEC and Big 12 Marquee Matches: Tonight, Texas visits Kansas. The winner will be the only undefeated conference team left in the Big 12. It is the fifth consecutive time the programs have met as Top 10 teams. From the Jayhawk SID: “Kansas won the last series meeting in five sets on Oct. 29, 2016. The win broke a 25-match UT series winning streak and marked the first victory for KU in the series since 2003. The Longhorns lead the all-time series, 40-5. Four of the last six KU-UT series matches in Lawrence have lasted five sets, including the last two meetings at Horejsi Family Athletics Center in 2015 and 2016.” Texas then hosts Iowa State on Saturday. [EDIT: Seriously? Wow...you all weren't kidding! S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y]

Then on Sunday, Kentucky travels to Gainesville to face the top-ranked Gators. They are the only two undefeated teams left in the SEC; Florida holds a 50-12 all-time advantage over the Wildcats, but Kentucky has won two of the last three matchups—including a sweep win in Gainesville last year.

About Time? Cal Poly has quietly been doing its job, its only two losses coming against Washington and Oregon. With a five-set win at Hawaii, the Mustangs finally cracked the poll at #24—the first time since 2008 that the program has been ranked (#22). Fun fact: Cal Poly is one of only 19 teams to ever be ranbked #1. They held the spot for one week in 1985. The Mustangs now have the edge over Hawaii for the Big West title, with a rematch in San Luis Obispo coming at the end of the month.

Da Bears! With a surprising sweep of Iowa State in Ames and a home sweep of West Virginia, Baylor makes its first appearance in the poll (#25) since 2009. From the BU SID: “The Bears (15-4, 5-1 Big 12) are ranked for the 21st time in program history and first since being ranked No. 24 on Nov. 21, 2009. During that season, BU was ranked for 10 straight weeks and peaked at No. 17, which still stands as the program high ranking in the 35-year history of the AVCA poll…This is the first time that the Bears are ranked under third-year head coach Ryan McGuyre. The Bears first cracked the top 25 in 1999, finishing 20th.” Congrats!

Ute Better Believe It! With wins at the Washingtons, Utah moved up four spots to No. 13—its highest ranking since being #11 on Nov. 27, 2006. The Utes highest ranking ever was #8, last done on Sept. 9, 2002. Can they continue to surprise and match (or top) that this season? Utah’s five-set win over the Huskies was their first ever win over Washington in Seattle. Up next: What should be an easier road trip at the Arizonas.

Other Notable Results

• Marquette extended its win streak to seven with a home sweep of then-No. 12 Creighton, its first win over the Bluejays since 2013. It is the first time in program history that it has defeated two ranked opponents in a season (the Golden Eagles opened year with a win over then-#20 Hawaii). Creighton dropped five spots to #17, while Marquette is fourth outside the poll in the “receiving votes” category.

RPI Watch
The Lions are still #1 in the second RPI rankings:

1. Penn State
2. Florida
3. Kentucky (+2)
4. Minnesota
5. Nebraska (+1)
6. Texas (-3)
7. Stanford (+3)
8. Oregon (+1)
9. Utah (+5)
10. Washington (+3)
11. Wisconsin (-4)
12. Kansas (-1)
13. Purdue (+4)
14. Creighton (-6)
15. Michigan State
16. UCLA
17. Southern Cal (-5)
18. Iowa State (+1)
19. BYU (-1)
20. Wichita State (+?)
21. Auburn
22. Illinois (+2)
29. Ohio State
36. Michigan (-9)
39. Maryland (-9)
47. Iowa (+17)
48. Northwestern (+6)
76. Indiana (-8)
231. Rutgers (+9)

Based on these numbers and my crystal ball, here’s my early predictions on seedings for the tournament:

1. Florida
16. BYU
8. Utah
9. Washington

2. Nebraska
15. Creighton
7. Texas
10. UCLA

3. Minnesota
14. Oregon
6. Stanford
11. Wisconsin

4. Penn State
13. Kansas
5. Kentucky
12. Michigan State

The Big Matches: Week 3

#8 Kentucky @ #1 Florida
#10 Michigan State @ #2 Penn State
#3 Stanford @ #12 UCLA
#3 Stanford @ #19 Southern Cal
#4 Nebraska @ #11 Wisconsin
#4 Nebraska @ #16 Purdue
#5 Texas @ #9 Kansas
#23 Iowa State @ #5 Texas
#16 Purdue @ #6 Minnesota
#15 Oregon @ #14 Washington

Upset watch:

• Michigan @ #2 Penn State
• Texas A&M @ #8 Kentucky
• Arizona vs. #13 Utah
• Oregon State @ #14 Washington
• Washington State vs. #15 Oregon
• Missouri State @ #20 Northern Iowa
• Kansas State vs. #23 Iowa State
• Kansas State vs. #25 Baylor
  

Lionsfan’s Top 25

1. Florida
2. Nebraska
3. Penn State
4. Stanford
5. Minnesota
6. Texas
7. Michigan State (+3)
8. Kansas (+2)
9. Kentucky (+2)
10. BYU (+4)
11. Utah (+7)
12. Wisconsin (-5)
13. UCLA (+2)
14. Washington (-1)
15. Creighton (-7)
16. Purdue (+4)
17. Oregon
18. Southern Cal (-6)
19. San Diego (+2)
20. Northern Iowa (+3)
21. Colorado (-5)
22. Colorado State
23. Baylor (NR)
24. Iowa State (-5)
25. Wichita State (-1)

Dropped Out: Michigan
Dropped out previously: Florida State (Week 6); Michigan (Week 5); Illinois, Baylor (Week 4); Wichita State, Northern Iowa (Week 3); North Carolina, Lipscomb, Baylor (Week 2); Michigan State, Hawaii, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Colorado State (Week 1)