Post by ay2013 on Oct 20, 2007 0:13:11 GMT -5
So here is a semi detailed analysis of the Pac-10 teams (emphasis on the upper half) and their performance so far
THE SOLID TOP 2
Stanford- the cardinal return 3 All Americans at all 3 key positions and essentially add a 4th with addition of Alix Klineman. They are the most talented team in the Pac-10 and has the best shot at winning the national championship. Stanfords only loss came at home against Washington, but they got a road win against Cal, and swept the LA schools at home. The Cardinals preseason schedule (which included a win over current #2 Penn State) is nothing to laugh at and they deserve the spot as the top of the Pac-10. They have been very steady and using all of the talent the team has to offer, but there is another team looking to knock the Cardinal off the top spot
Washington- the huskies silenced all the critics of their preseason schedule by going 3-1 against the other top 10 teams in the conference. The huskies got the biggest win of the Pac-10 season on the road against Stanford, and soundly beat the LA schools at home. Washington’s only loss came on the road at Cal, but if the huskies played liked they did against Stanford, USC, and UCLA, they would have came away from Hass with a win. The huskies, with a freshmen setter, also return 3 All Americans to key spots, and essentially have a fourth in Mussie and a fantastic libero in Miyashiro. The huskies haven’t had any surprise losses and are very good in system.
These two teams are a cut above everyone else in the Pac-10 right now, and deserve to be in the top 4, along with Nebraska and Penn state, nationally. Both of these teams are in the drivers seat for the Pac-10 crown and have identical conference records of 8-1
THE MUDDY MIDDLE
USC- the Trojans came into the regular season highly ranked and highly questioned about their close matches at home to “inferior teams”. They went 1-3 against the other top 10 teams and closed off matches they were supposed to win. They have had a couple injuries to key players that will most likely impact the rest of their season. They currently have a 5-3 record
Cal- the bears came into the season slightly overlooked, but they have the offensive power to make any match tough. All American Pressy started the season slow, but has since picked up her game. Add that to the cannon arm of Cutura, the impressive freshman setting of Carli Lloyd, and solid play of middle Orchard, and this Cal team is very dangerous. Their best win came at home over Washington, but that was after suffering home losses to Stanford, USC, and UCLA. Scheduling was Cal’s worse nightmare this season, but this team will be very dangerous come tournament time. They currently have a 5-3 record
UCLA- The bruins also came into the regular season highly ranked but not so highly questioned about their performance (except me). Coming into the season the only loss was to Nebraska, and it is to be noted that UCLA is the only team this season to take a game off of Nebraska. UCLA returns the best setter in the country in Nellie Spicer and arguably the best defenders in the country. They went 2-2 against the other top 10 teams in the conference, but had a ridiculous home loss to OSU. They currently have a 5-3 record
THE REALLY GOOD OUTSIDER
Oregon- the ducks are coming off an impressive season last year and continuing its emergence. Unfortunately the ducks just can’t seem to be able to get the good win against the teams previously mentioned. Thankfully for the ducks they’ve beaten all the teams below them and will make the tournament. Oregon will be a dangerous first round opponent for ANY team
THE MUDDY BOTTOM
Arizona- the cats have put up a fight against many of the top teams this year…including a 5 gamer tonight against Cal, and pushing USC and UCLA to 5 on the road…. Unfortunately, like Oregon, the cats just can’t seem to get what’s important…the win.
OSU- the beavers are a bit of a surprise. Sure they’ve lost a lot of games…but unlike Arizona and Oregon, they actually have wins against top teams, on the road no less. Hawaii and more importantly UCLA fell on their own court to the beavers. If it weren’t for a lack luster preseason, OSU would be a good candidate for the 7th Pac-10 team to the tournament
ASU- has a win over Arizona
WSU- has no wins….
Second Half Prediction
The top team who has the most to lose is Cal. Already sitting at 5-3, they have to play all of the other top teams on the road in the second half of pac-10 play. Cal would have to win out, and something happen to Stanford and Washington for Cal to take the Pac-10 crown. Needless to say that it seems highly unlikely. UCLA seems to have lost a lot of its composure after losing at home to OSU and getting handled easily by Washington. USC has suffered some critical injuries that are costing them matches. They too are very vulnerable. Next week will be really interesting because the bay area schools visit the LA schools. I think Stanford will hold its own but Cal is the one that needs to take advantage of a mentally fragile UCLA squad and depleted USC squad if they want to end up #3 in the conference. If Washington continues it’s impressive play they will win their next 3 games and then face the task of hosting the bay area schools, then traveling to the LA schools. There is still a lot of volleyball left to be played but if I’m judging by how the teams are playing right now, this is my prediction
Washington*- 16-2 will get the home win against Stanford and be Pac-10 champions
Stanford- 16-2- will still be ranked higher than Washington
USC- 13-5
Cal- 13-5
UCLA- 11-7
Oregon-…bad conference record, but will make the tournament
I also don’t think that there will be anymore upsets...lol but I'm probably wrong!
THE SOLID TOP 2
Stanford- the cardinal return 3 All Americans at all 3 key positions and essentially add a 4th with addition of Alix Klineman. They are the most talented team in the Pac-10 and has the best shot at winning the national championship. Stanfords only loss came at home against Washington, but they got a road win against Cal, and swept the LA schools at home. The Cardinals preseason schedule (which included a win over current #2 Penn State) is nothing to laugh at and they deserve the spot as the top of the Pac-10. They have been very steady and using all of the talent the team has to offer, but there is another team looking to knock the Cardinal off the top spot
Washington- the huskies silenced all the critics of their preseason schedule by going 3-1 against the other top 10 teams in the conference. The huskies got the biggest win of the Pac-10 season on the road against Stanford, and soundly beat the LA schools at home. Washington’s only loss came on the road at Cal, but if the huskies played liked they did against Stanford, USC, and UCLA, they would have came away from Hass with a win. The huskies, with a freshmen setter, also return 3 All Americans to key spots, and essentially have a fourth in Mussie and a fantastic libero in Miyashiro. The huskies haven’t had any surprise losses and are very good in system.
These two teams are a cut above everyone else in the Pac-10 right now, and deserve to be in the top 4, along with Nebraska and Penn state, nationally. Both of these teams are in the drivers seat for the Pac-10 crown and have identical conference records of 8-1
THE MUDDY MIDDLE
USC- the Trojans came into the regular season highly ranked and highly questioned about their close matches at home to “inferior teams”. They went 1-3 against the other top 10 teams and closed off matches they were supposed to win. They have had a couple injuries to key players that will most likely impact the rest of their season. They currently have a 5-3 record
Cal- the bears came into the season slightly overlooked, but they have the offensive power to make any match tough. All American Pressy started the season slow, but has since picked up her game. Add that to the cannon arm of Cutura, the impressive freshman setting of Carli Lloyd, and solid play of middle Orchard, and this Cal team is very dangerous. Their best win came at home over Washington, but that was after suffering home losses to Stanford, USC, and UCLA. Scheduling was Cal’s worse nightmare this season, but this team will be very dangerous come tournament time. They currently have a 5-3 record
UCLA- The bruins also came into the regular season highly ranked but not so highly questioned about their performance (except me). Coming into the season the only loss was to Nebraska, and it is to be noted that UCLA is the only team this season to take a game off of Nebraska. UCLA returns the best setter in the country in Nellie Spicer and arguably the best defenders in the country. They went 2-2 against the other top 10 teams in the conference, but had a ridiculous home loss to OSU. They currently have a 5-3 record
THE REALLY GOOD OUTSIDER
Oregon- the ducks are coming off an impressive season last year and continuing its emergence. Unfortunately the ducks just can’t seem to be able to get the good win against the teams previously mentioned. Thankfully for the ducks they’ve beaten all the teams below them and will make the tournament. Oregon will be a dangerous first round opponent for ANY team
THE MUDDY BOTTOM
Arizona- the cats have put up a fight against many of the top teams this year…including a 5 gamer tonight against Cal, and pushing USC and UCLA to 5 on the road…. Unfortunately, like Oregon, the cats just can’t seem to get what’s important…the win.
OSU- the beavers are a bit of a surprise. Sure they’ve lost a lot of games…but unlike Arizona and Oregon, they actually have wins against top teams, on the road no less. Hawaii and more importantly UCLA fell on their own court to the beavers. If it weren’t for a lack luster preseason, OSU would be a good candidate for the 7th Pac-10 team to the tournament
ASU- has a win over Arizona
WSU- has no wins….
Second Half Prediction
The top team who has the most to lose is Cal. Already sitting at 5-3, they have to play all of the other top teams on the road in the second half of pac-10 play. Cal would have to win out, and something happen to Stanford and Washington for Cal to take the Pac-10 crown. Needless to say that it seems highly unlikely. UCLA seems to have lost a lot of its composure after losing at home to OSU and getting handled easily by Washington. USC has suffered some critical injuries that are costing them matches. They too are very vulnerable. Next week will be really interesting because the bay area schools visit the LA schools. I think Stanford will hold its own but Cal is the one that needs to take advantage of a mentally fragile UCLA squad and depleted USC squad if they want to end up #3 in the conference. If Washington continues it’s impressive play they will win their next 3 games and then face the task of hosting the bay area schools, then traveling to the LA schools. There is still a lot of volleyball left to be played but if I’m judging by how the teams are playing right now, this is my prediction
Washington*- 16-2 will get the home win against Stanford and be Pac-10 champions
Stanford- 16-2- will still be ranked higher than Washington
USC- 13-5
Cal- 13-5
UCLA- 11-7
Oregon-…bad conference record, but will make the tournament
I also don’t think that there will be anymore upsets...lol but I'm probably wrong!