2017 Week 11: AVCA Poll Notes and Preview
Nov 1, 2017 11:48:09 GMT -5
nyline, traveler, and 2 more like this
Post by lionsfan on Nov 1, 2017 11:48:09 GMT -5
Must...beat...Spartans!
SEC on the Line: Just a few weeks after making program history by beating a #1 team for the first time ever, #6 Kentucky gets a rematch at home against #4 Florida (catch it live on ESPNU) in a match that will have huge implications for the conference race and NCAA seedings. The Wildcats almost didn’t survive their match at LSU, but came out with a five-set win to set up this monster showdown. They stayed at #6, the highest ranking ever in Coach Skinner’s tenure. From the Wildcat SID: “UK's highest ranking ever is No. 5, and the Wildcats haven't been ranked No. 6 since 1993. The team has been ranked for 109 weeks, and currently has appeared in the poll for 19-consecutive weeks.”
San Diego Dreamin: For just the second time ever, San Diego notched a win in Provo, beating BYU 3-1. That extended the Toreros’ win streak to 7 (having won 13 of 14, it’s only loss in that stretch a 3-1 decision at home versus the Cougars). San Diego hadn’t won at BYU since 2011, the Cougars first year in the WCC. The two are now tied atop the conference at 10-1. San Diego moved up five spots in the poll to #13, while the Cougars dropped two to #10.
Cyclone Statement: After getting swept at home by Baylor and then at Texas, Iowa State fell off many radars. But with a 3-1 win over Kansas (followed by a win Monday night against North Dakota), the Cyclones have won five straight. They moved up three spots to #19 and five spots in the RPI to #14, now very much in the seeding conversation. But they have a big weekend ahead with trips to #24 Baylor and West Virginia. Kansas, meanwhile, just dropped one spot to #12.
In & Out: After dropping a five-set battle at Illinois State (a loss that, in reality, probably isn’t as bad as RPI would suggest), Northern Iowa fell to 21-6 after the weekend and dropped out of the poll. That left room in the poll for one team, and Western Kentucky—riding a 21-match win streak (a tie for the second longest in program history)—re-entered the poll at #25, its second appearance this season (the Lady Toppers were #24 in Week 2). That’s pretty shocking to Lionsfan, who still doesn’t understand why Colorado hasn’t been ranked—and the Buffaloes had a great week, winning at both of the Oregon schools to move into a tie for fifth place in the Pac. Colorado is first out in the receiving votes category.
Terps Make History: The scores tell how exciting the match was: 25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 25-27, 17-15. When it was all done, Maryland had notched it’s first-ever win against then-#17 Purdue, which dropped the Boilers five spots to #22. From the Maryland SID: “The Terps have reached 16 wins this season for the first time since 2010, which is also the most wins in a season for Steve Aird as a head coach.” Maryland is going to need all the wins it can muster in a fight to make the tournament: Over the next two weeks, they hit the road at #5 Minnesota, #9 Wisconsin, #7 Nebraska and #1 Penn State (ouch!).
RPI Watch
1. Penn State
2. Minnesota
3. Kentucky (+1)
4. Nebraska (+1)
5. Florida (-2)
6. Texas
7. Stanford
8. Wisconsin
9. Washington (+3)
10. Oregon
11. Utah (-2)
12. Kansas (-1)
13. Michigan State
14. Iowa State (+5)
15. Creighton
16. Southern Cal (-2)
17. Colorado (+4) BYU
18. Wichita State
19. San Diego (+3)
20. BYU (-3)
21. Cal Poly (+)
22. Louisville (+)
23. UCLA (-7)
24. Purdue (-4)
25. Illinois (-2)
29. Michigan
34. Ohio State (-3)
38. Maryland (+7)
46. Iowa (-4)
76. Northwestern (-10)
112. Indiana (-22)
226. Rutgers (+6)
Based on these numbers and my crystal ball, here’s my early predictions on seedings for the tournament:
Despite my instinct telling me otherwise, I don't have Nebraska as a Top 4 seed as the RPI Futures list by the great bluepenquin on Volleytalk says that even if the Huskers win out, there is a strong possibility they won't be in the Top 4...we'll see. I still think deep down they will end up with one...
1. Penn State
16. Creighton
8. Washington
9. Wisconsin
2. Stanford
15. Southern Cal
7. Texas
10. Oregon
3. Kentucky
14. Kansas
6. Nebraska
11. Utah
4. Minnesota
13. Iowa State
5. Florida
12. Michigan State
The Big Matches: Week 9
#1 Penn State @ #9 Michigan State
#16 Oregon @ #2 Stanford
#4 Florida @ #6 Kentucky
#22 Purdue @ #7 Nebraska
#11 Washington @ #15 Utah
#19 Iowa State @ #24 Baylor
Upset watch:
Lionsfan’s Top 25
1. Penn State
2. Stanford
3. Minnesota
4. Texas
5. Florida
6. Kentucky
7. Nebraska
8. Michigan State
9. Wisconsin
10. Washington (+5)
11. BYU (-1)
12. Kansas (-1)
13. Creighton (+1)
14. Colorado (+4)
15. Southern Cal (+4)
16. Oregon
17. Utah (-5)
18. UCLA (-5)
19. San Diego (+1)
20. Colorado State (+1)
21. Baylor (+1)
22. Iowa State (+1)
23. Wichita State (+1)
24. Purdue (-7)
25. Northern Iowa
Dropped out previously: Michigan (Week 7); 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)
SEC on the Line: Just a few weeks after making program history by beating a #1 team for the first time ever, #6 Kentucky gets a rematch at home against #4 Florida (catch it live on ESPNU) in a match that will have huge implications for the conference race and NCAA seedings. The Wildcats almost didn’t survive their match at LSU, but came out with a five-set win to set up this monster showdown. They stayed at #6, the highest ranking ever in Coach Skinner’s tenure. From the Wildcat SID: “UK's highest ranking ever is No. 5, and the Wildcats haven't been ranked No. 6 since 1993. The team has been ranked for 109 weeks, and currently has appeared in the poll for 19-consecutive weeks.”
San Diego Dreamin: For just the second time ever, San Diego notched a win in Provo, beating BYU 3-1. That extended the Toreros’ win streak to 7 (having won 13 of 14, it’s only loss in that stretch a 3-1 decision at home versus the Cougars). San Diego hadn’t won at BYU since 2011, the Cougars first year in the WCC. The two are now tied atop the conference at 10-1. San Diego moved up five spots in the poll to #13, while the Cougars dropped two to #10.
Cyclone Statement: After getting swept at home by Baylor and then at Texas, Iowa State fell off many radars. But with a 3-1 win over Kansas (followed by a win Monday night against North Dakota), the Cyclones have won five straight. They moved up three spots to #19 and five spots in the RPI to #14, now very much in the seeding conversation. But they have a big weekend ahead with trips to #24 Baylor and West Virginia. Kansas, meanwhile, just dropped one spot to #12.
In & Out: After dropping a five-set battle at Illinois State (a loss that, in reality, probably isn’t as bad as RPI would suggest), Northern Iowa fell to 21-6 after the weekend and dropped out of the poll. That left room in the poll for one team, and Western Kentucky—riding a 21-match win streak (a tie for the second longest in program history)—re-entered the poll at #25, its second appearance this season (the Lady Toppers were #24 in Week 2). That’s pretty shocking to Lionsfan, who still doesn’t understand why Colorado hasn’t been ranked—and the Buffaloes had a great week, winning at both of the Oregon schools to move into a tie for fifth place in the Pac. Colorado is first out in the receiving votes category.
Terps Make History: The scores tell how exciting the match was: 25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 25-27, 17-15. When it was all done, Maryland had notched it’s first-ever win against then-#17 Purdue, which dropped the Boilers five spots to #22. From the Maryland SID: “The Terps have reached 16 wins this season for the first time since 2010, which is also the most wins in a season for Steve Aird as a head coach.” Maryland is going to need all the wins it can muster in a fight to make the tournament: Over the next two weeks, they hit the road at #5 Minnesota, #9 Wisconsin, #7 Nebraska and #1 Penn State (ouch!).
RPI Watch
1. Penn State
2. Minnesota
3. Kentucky (+1)
4. Nebraska (+1)
5. Florida (-2)
6. Texas
7. Stanford
8. Wisconsin
9. Washington (+3)
10. Oregon
11. Utah (-2)
12. Kansas (-1)
13. Michigan State
14. Iowa State (+5)
15. Creighton
16. Southern Cal (-2)
17. Colorado (+4) BYU
18. Wichita State
19. San Diego (+3)
20. BYU (-3)
21. Cal Poly (+)
22. Louisville (+)
23. UCLA (-7)
24. Purdue (-4)
25. Illinois (-2)
29. Michigan
34. Ohio State (-3)
38. Maryland (+7)
46. Iowa (-4)
76. Northwestern (-10)
112. Indiana (-22)
226. Rutgers (+6)
Based on these numbers and my crystal ball, here’s my early predictions on seedings for the tournament:
Despite my instinct telling me otherwise, I don't have Nebraska as a Top 4 seed as the RPI Futures list by the great bluepenquin on Volleytalk says that even if the Huskers win out, there is a strong possibility they won't be in the Top 4...we'll see. I still think deep down they will end up with one...
1. Penn State
16. Creighton
8. Washington
9. Wisconsin
2. Stanford
15. Southern Cal
7. Texas
10. Oregon
3. Kentucky
14. Kansas
6. Nebraska
11. Utah
4. Minnesota
13. Iowa State
5. Florida
12. Michigan State
The Big Matches: Week 9
#1 Penn State @ #9 Michigan State
#16 Oregon @ #2 Stanford
#4 Florida @ #6 Kentucky
#22 Purdue @ #7 Nebraska
#11 Washington @ #15 Utah
#19 Iowa State @ #24 Baylor
Upset watch:
- Oregon State @ #2 Stanford
- Kansas State vs. #3 Texas
- Tennessee vs. #4 Florida
- Saint Mary’s @ #10 BYU
- Colorado vs. #11 Washington
- Kansas State vs. #12 Kansas
- Saint Mary’s vs. #13 San Diego
- Marquette @ #14 Creighton
- Washington State @ #15 Utah
- Arizona @ #17 Southern Cal
- Boise State @ #20 Colorado State
- Iowa vs. #22 Purdue
Lionsfan’s Top 25
1. Penn State
2. Stanford
3. Minnesota
4. Texas
5. Florida
6. Kentucky
7. Nebraska
8. Michigan State
9. Wisconsin
10. Washington (+5)
11. BYU (-1)
12. Kansas (-1)
13. Creighton (+1)
14. Colorado (+4)
15. Southern Cal (+4)
16. Oregon
17. Utah (-5)
18. UCLA (-5)
19. San Diego (+1)
20. Colorado State (+1)
21. Baylor (+1)
22. Iowa State (+1)
23. Wichita State (+1)
24. Purdue (-7)
25. Northern Iowa
Dropped out previously: Michigan (Week 7); 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)
