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Post by karellen on Nov 3, 2010 11:35:22 GMT -5
Possibly the biggest remaining matches are
1)SMU and Tulsa vs Houston and Rice. Those will be big for Houston and Rice if they want to get some momentum and make a run at #2. Those are two big matches for SMU to lock down 2nd and try for the at-large
2) Tulsa vs SMU. Last match of the season could have huge importance for SMU. Tulsa will probably have the AQ already locked up.
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Post by elevationvb on Nov 6, 2010 22:19:26 GMT -5
Possibly the biggest remaining matches are 1)SMU and Tulsa vs Houston and Rice. Those will be big for Houston and Rice if they want to get some momentum and make a run at #2. Those are two big matches for SMU to lock down 2nd and try for the at-large 2) Tulsa vs SMU. Last match of the season could have huge importance for SMU. Tulsa will probably have the AQ already locked up. Rice loses tonight to UAB in 5. 2nd straight loss this weekend & at home I believe. Their season is done. SMU wins match 20 last night against Marshall, They play ECU tomorrow. Houston continues to play very well sweeping UAB Friday night and Memphis and S. Miss also playing very well with wins over Rice and UTE Tulane picked up a needed win over UCF and as expected Tulsa sweeps ECU. I bet there are several teams wishing there was a conference tournament this year. Nevertheless, it looks like only SMU has a chance for an at large to the NCAA tourament if they continue to win. Looks like the most competitive match on Sunday is Memphis at Houston. Memphis playing well. Chance for Houston to build their record.
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Post by karellen on Nov 7, 2010 5:36:59 GMT -5
Rice loses to UAB and Memphis - two bad loses
Actually, I do not think a conference tournament helps the conference. Tulsa is in the NCAAs regardless. If someone other than SMU wins the league, SMU probably gets denied. If you believe that SMU is hte 2nd best team in the league, then best case senario is third best team gets AQ (in tournament scenario). Without a tournament, I think SMU will get in if they run the table other than Tulsa match. This way, the two most deserving teams go to the dance.
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Post by elevationvb on Nov 7, 2010 11:41:52 GMT -5
Rice loses to UAB and Memphis - two bad loses Actually, I do not think a conference tournament helps the conference. Tulsa is in the NCAAs regardless. If someone other than SMU wins the league, SMU probably gets denied. If you believe that SMU is hte 2nd best team in the league, then best case senario is third best team gets AQ (in tournament scenario). Without a tournament, I think SMU will get in if they run the table other than Tulsa match. This way, the two most deserving teams go to the dance. I was thinking more about teams like Houston, Memphis and S. Miss. who are playing very well right now and could use a conference tournament as a last chance to make the NCAA tournament. I suppose it is possible for Houston to get an at large if they run the table which would include wins against Tulsa & SMU.
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Post by endlesssummer on Nov 7, 2010 13:29:06 GMT -5
Tulsa continues its stranglehold on the conference and crack the Top 25 for first time. Most interesting part of this league is the race for positions 2 - 5. Tulsa's sophomore setter, Jordan Clampitt, has done an outstanding job leading her team this season. Another VT thread recently re-visited the subject of setter height. At 5' 5", Jordan is further proof that the "ideal height" for a setter is simply a coach's personal preference. Likewise, Cal State Fullerton's junior setter, Andrea Ragan, is the primary reason the Titans remain in 1st place in Big West. Andrea is 5' 6" tall. These two ladies are just further proof that, either you have game...or you don't.
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Post by smumustangs on Nov 7, 2010 15:24:42 GMT -5
SMU maintains 2nd place in C-USA (21-5 overall, 13-2 league) and keeps its hopes alive for the NCAA tournament by defeating Marshall in 4 and East Carolina in 3 this weekend.
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Post by austintatious on Nov 7, 2010 17:51:29 GMT -5
For the poster's dogging UCF, they are coming on. Lost a heart breaker in five to Tulane after being down 0-6 in 5th, took 13-11 lead before Tulane beat them. Today swept a very good USM team, handily. Putting it together.
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Post by yumyum on Nov 7, 2010 23:05:41 GMT -5
At last, two conference road wins for Tulane...Roll Green Wave Homegrown freshman, Cori Martone, has had a terrific November. Freshman setter Mel Mandelbaum and junior libero Nicky Osuna also had strong performances. Finish strong ladies! As for the Conference, Tulsa is the tournament lock, and I hope SMU gets an at large bid. I strongly believe that getting two teams into the post season is an important accomplishment, separating us from lower level D1 conferences who rely on their automatic qualifier for a spot.
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Post by elevationvb on Nov 20, 2010 1:13:45 GMT -5
At last, two conference road wins for Tulane...Roll Green Wave Homegrown freshman, Cori Martone, has had a terrific November. Freshman setter Mel Mandelbaum and junior libero Nicky Osuna also had strong performances. Finish strong ladies! As for the Conference, Tulsa is the tournament lock, and I hope SMU gets an at large bid. I strongly believe that getting two teams into the post season is an important accomplishment, separating us from lower level D1 conferences who rely on their automatic qualifier for a spot. Friday, November 19 Results Tulsa sweeps Rice SMU over Houston in 5 UCF over Memphis 3 - 1 S. Miss sweeps E. Carolina Tulane sweeps Marshall UAB over UTEP 3 - 1 Impressions: 1) Tulsa continues to roll. Only tough match was the 5 set win over SMU in Dallas. Final match in Tulsa between the two teams should be of interest. Is SMU strong enough to take it to Tulsa on the road? Looking ahead, I would love for Tulsa to do some damage in the NCAA tournament. It can happen, especially if Tyler Henderson is on. 2) SMU is a good team that merits selection to the NCAA tournament. 24 - 5 record with a good non conference schedule. I looked at their overall record and was surprised how many 5 set matches they have won this season like tonights win over Houston. Often this is a sign of weakness, but it can also be an indicator of mental toughness. Don't recall this kind of team at SMU in the past. Will be intersted to see if this season is a sign of things to come for the program or a magical season. 3) UCF has the potential to improve quickly in the league. Good coach. 4) Houston has turned around their program in 1 year. Another team with a good / new coach. Looking at Gametracker, they had SMU on the ropes 2 -1, but couldn't finish. They played a tough non conference schedule. Good things to come from this team next year. 5) Marshall has been a disappointment. But they are young. 6)S. Miss and UAB have played better as the conference play progressed. 7)Memphis - Started off poorly in conference play - got better - not so good at the end. 8)UTEP - not very good. Looking at Gametracker - what happened to their senior setter? Have noticed their freshman setter from Hawaii has played full time the past 5 or 6 matches? 9)Rice - a season to forget after making the tournament last season. Loss of a key hitter to graduation and McCord being hurt has hurt the team. They lose their very good senior setter and libero this season, so struggles may be ahead. 10) East Carolina - - UGGH.
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Post by karellen on Nov 20, 2010 21:17:14 GMT -5
Misses evaluation of Tulane.
Good synopsis of teams in the league. I agree with what you have here.
I thought Marshall might be a surprise team in the league. I guess I was right, but for the wrong reason.
Good to see SMU finally living up to potential
I agree that UCF is heading in the right direction. Todd was taking some heat earlier, but this marks the highest number of wins in confernece since joining the league.
I am surprised East Carolina is not doing better. I really thought Patti would show some signs of life in her second year
Rice - wow. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
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Post by tallgirl14 on Nov 21, 2010 10:06:15 GMT -5
Rice- Will struggle next year without Lam and senior setter from this year, someone will have to make up for the double digit digs lam produces every match and serve receive passes half of the court.
UAB- Coming on very strong at the end of the year, might be tough next year, they do not graduate very many- maybe 1?
Tulsa- TOUGH until they graduate off henderson- or someone figures out how to slow her down
SMU- will graduate ball control outside (whose has put up some BIG hitting numbers as well down the stretch) and I believe graduate there libero and 6'4 middle. They may struggle next year as almost every team in the league has taken them to 5 this year.
Tulane- Elevationvb how could you forget them! They have came on very strong here in the end, graduate pretty much no one this year, and will only have one senior the year after- I think between this team and UCF for next year watch out. They return all offense, defense and setting.
UCF- Again with Tulane another team to watch for next year coming on strong- HUGE sweep of Southern Miss! also another young team who doesnt have any seniors (I think) watch for them to be top conference next year.
Marshall- should be better, young but then again will graduate 4 year starting senior setter and 4 kills a game from Herman- I think will still struggle next year probably have it together by 2012
ECU- nope
UTEP- thought they would be better has they had the big freshman class last year- no clue where there senior setter went.
HOU- BIG surprise this year- definitely will rock out with the middles they return next year, middles can dominate in this conference
Southern miss- I expect big things from them next season as they have 7 (?) juniors this year, next year a big senior class will be tough, I think there setter is the best in the league right now- very smart
Memphis- thought they would be better falling apart at the seams- hard to say what the future holds here.
Next year could very well be a dog fight in the CUSA- this league returns to full strength.
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Post by tallgirl14 on Nov 21, 2010 10:40:34 GMT -5
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Post by spike1234 on Nov 21, 2010 12:44:31 GMT -5
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Post by karellen on Nov 22, 2010 11:32:13 GMT -5
Tulsa clinches conference championship and AQ with win over Houston yesterday.
Very surprising year in the league. Teams expected to compete went no where, while others did better than expected. The only predictable part of teh season was Tulsa's roll.
Are there coaches that will pay the ultimate price for the season? Todd has been discussed and he is safe. Team has set records for wins in conference and is showing improvement.
But what about others?
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Post by karellen on Nov 25, 2010 9:47:36 GMT -5
Granted UTEP is not a world-beater, but UCF gets another win on the road. Marshall loses to ECU?? wow - thought they might be a contender/darkn horse.
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