2018 AVCA Poll Notes: Sept. 17, 2018
Sept 19, 2018 12:48:57 GMT -5
bob2061, elliotberton, and 2 more like this
Post by lionsfan on Sept 19, 2018 12:48:57 GMT -5
Well folks, this was a dull week poll wise. No new entrants, no major leaps up or down. Let’s see what we can talk about…
B1G Bang: The conference season gets off to a marquee start as two of its top teams square off tonight in Minneapolis—the first of a very challenging four-game road stretch that our young Lions must face. From the Minnesota SID:
Big East Showdown: The two teams picked atop the Big East standings get their first crack at each other when #10 Creighton hosts #21 Marquette on Sunday. The Bluejays hold a 13-4 series lead (6-2 at home). Marquette has only won once in the last 10 tries, a home victory in their first of three meetings last year. Creighton won their last match, a 3-2 victory in Milwaukee last November in the Big East tournament.
Buccaneer Surprise: In her 16th season as head coach of East Tennessee State (in the Southern Conference), Lindsey Devine had never had a team beat a ranked opponent…until last weekend. The Bucs (11-3) stunned Washington State 3-2, although the Cougars didn’t move at all in the poll (huh?!), staying at #22. ETSU made it’s second-ever NCAA tournament appearance last year. Congrats to the Buccaneers!
Shocking Sets: Penn State fans got a little scare on Saturday when American took Set 3 by a very convincing 25-16 score (not even Stanford won a set against us by that much!), then came close to pushing the match to 5 after knotting up the fourth set at 23. If it’s any consolation, other Big Ten giants faced similar issues: New Mexico took a set off Nebraska (in Lincoln!), while Wisconsin dropped a set to Illinois State. Meanwhile, Florida dropped sets at home to Jacksonville (1-12) and Army (5-8), perhaps the most surprising of them all.
Top 4 Predictions: It's way too early, but based on the pre-conference results, Stanford and BYU are looking good to host regionals come tourney time. I predict Nebraska wins the B1G and gets to host, while Wisconsin edges out Texas for the 4th spot.
As conference chaos is about to erupt, here’s a look at the teams everyone only has to play once. Of the top contenders, Minnesota seems to have the toughest road. How do you see things shaking out?:
Wisconsin (7-1): @ Penn State, Nebraska, @ Michigan State, Indiana, Northwestern, @ Maryland
Nebraska (9-1): @ Wisconsin, @ Purdue, Michigan State, @ Northwestern, Maryland, Rutgers
Minnesota (6-2): Illinois, @ Michigan, Purdue, @ Ohio State, Iowa, @ Rutgers
Illinois (11-0): Penn State, @ Minnesota, Michigan, @ Ohio State, Iowa, @ Indiana
Michigan (11-0): Minnesota, @ Illinois, Purdue, @ Ohio State, @ Iowa, Rutgers
Purdue (11-0): Nebraska, @ Minnesota, @ Michigan, Ohio State, Northwestern, @ Rutgers
Michigan State (12-1): Penn State, Wisconsin, @ Nebraska, Indiana, @ Northwestern, @ Maryland
Ohio State (9-3): Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, @ Purdue, @ Iowa, @ Rutgers
Iowa (8-3): Penn State, @ Minnesota, @ Illinois, Michigan, Ohio State, @ Indiana
Indiana (9-2): @ Penn State, @ Wisconsin, Illinois, @ Michigan State, Iowa, Maryland
Northwestern (10-2): @ Wisconsin, Nebraska, @ Purdue, Michigan State, @ Maryland, Rutgers
Maryland (9-3): @ Penn State, @ Nebraska, Wisconsin, Michigan State, @ Indiana, Northwestern
Rutgers (6-7): @ Nebraska, Minnesota, Purdue, Ohio State, @ Northwestern, @ Maryland
Here’s a look at the Pac teams and who they only have to play once (Let’s go Oregon!):
Oregon (7-3): @ Washington, Washington State
Southern Cal (8-3): Utah, @ Colorado
Washington (8-2): Oregon, @ Oregon State
UCLA (5-2): @ Utah, Colorado
Utah (8-3): @ Southern Cal, UCLA
Washington State (9-1): @ Oregon, Oregon State
Colorado (8-3): Southern Cal, @ UCLA
Arizona (11-1): @ Stanford, Cal
Oregon State (10-2): Washington, @ Washington State
Cal (8-3): @ Arizona, Arizona State
Arizona State (9-3): Stanford, @ Cal
The Big Matches: Week 5
#4 Penn State @ #7 Minnesota
#8 Illinois @ #16 Purdue
#21 Marquette @ #10 Creighton
#22 Washington State @ #12 Oregon
#22 Washington State @ #13 Washington
#17 UCLA @ #14 Southern Cal
#17 UCLA @ #23 Utah
Upset watch:
- Michigan State @ #4 Nebraska
- Ohio State vs. #4 Penn State
- Kansas State vs. #5 Texas
- Ohio State vs. #6 Wisconsin
- Virginia Tech vs. #9 Pittsburgh
- Oregon State @ #12 Oregon
- Oregon State vs. #13 Washington
- Colorado vs. #14 Southern Cal
- Northwestern @ #16 Purdue
- Iowa vs. #18 Michigan
- Iowa State vs. #19 Baylor
- Tennessee vs. #20 Kentucky
- Colorado vs. #23 Utah
- Saint Mary’s vs. #23 San Diego
- Missouri vs. #25 Alabama
- Auburn @ #25 Alabama
Lionsfan’s Top 25
2. Stanford
3. Illinois (+1)
4. Nebraska (+1)
5. Wisconsin (+1)
6. Texas (-3)
7. Penn State
8. Oregon
9. Minnesota
10. Michigan
11. Pittsburgh
12. Southern Cal
13. Creighton
14. Florida
15. Marquette
16. Cal Poly
17. Purdue (+1)
18. Kentucky (+1)
19. UCLA (+1)
20. Washington (+1)
21. Washington State (-4)
22. Baylor (+1)
23. Loyola Marymount (NR)
24. Michigan State (NR)
25. Northern Iowa (-1)
Dropped out previous: Wichita State (22)
Dropped out previous previous week: Colorado State (20), Wyoming (22), Colorado (23)
