|
Post by thebeach1 on Aug 4, 2014 13:40:36 GMT -5
I agree. The only opps for quality wins in Big West pay will be against a ranked Hawaii team or top 50 RPI CSUN or UCSB. Regardless, a couple of wins in the Illini Classic--over UNC and Southern Illiniois, and possibly host Illinois--would do a lot to bolster LBSU's RPI. I see a break out season for Miley and All American honors for Okpala this year.
|
|
|
Post by jake on Aug 4, 2014 22:26:10 GMT -5
CAL POLY Lady'Stangs will surprise all.
|
|
|
Post by jake on Aug 5, 2014 19:26:05 GMT -5
Here come "the Beach".
|
|
|
Post by vballfreak808 on Aug 5, 2014 19:41:25 GMT -5
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN 2014 (Long Beach State)Two-Way Power: Last season Long Beach State paced the Big West Conference with a 2.70 blocks per set average thanks in part to 6-foot-2 middle blocker Chisom Okpala, who registered a 1.15 mark to rank third in the league. Along with her defensive prowess, the senior from Yorba Linda, Calif., was a force to be reckoned with on offense, boasting the league’s second-best hitting percentage of .351. Her talent on the court helped her garner a second-consecutive American Volleyball Coaches Association’s All-Region accolade. LBSU Opens With A Bang: The 49ers are put to the test right out of the gate this year as they head to the midwest for the season-opening Illini Classic to face host Illinois and North Carolina, who both finished 2013 ranked in the Top 25, and Southern Illinois. The two-day event may be a litmus test on how Long Beach State may fare when it enters the always-competitive Big West Conference portion of its schedule. Long Beach State also hosts back-to-back tournaments that features west region teams Idaho, San Francisco, Loyola Marymount and Saint Mary’s. Familiar Faces: Long Beach State fans will see a multitude of familiar faces this year, including Okpala, a member of the 2013 All-Big West First Team. Joining Okpala in the 49ers’ lineup are outside hitter Alex Reid, who finished second on the team last season with a 2.90 kill average, and opposite Bre Mackie, who notched 2.19 kills per match. Mackie also ranked second on LBSU’s squad last year with a .273 hitting percentage. In With The New: The veterans will have some additional help by the 10th-ranked recruiting class, according to PrepVolleyball, and two international players - Sophie Bukovec and Anete Brinke - who were not included on PrepVolleyball’s ranking of the incoming recruiting classes but have the potential to make an immediate impact. Providing some assistance at the setter position is Iowa State transfer Jenelle Hudson, who ranked second in the Big 12 Conference last season with an 11.06 assist average. In all, eight newcomers will be donning black and gold this season. The Big 3-0: Long Beach State Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro enters his 30th season at the helm of the 49ers women’s volleyball program. The eight-time Big West Coach of the Year has guided the 49ers to three National Championships, eight Final Fours, 13 NCAA Regionals and 26 NCAA Tournament appearances. Gimmillaro, one of just 21 coaches all-time to eclipse the 700-win threshold, owns a 762-200 record (.792). QUOTABLES – BRIAN GIMMILLARO(On the recruiting class): “I think most of the players Prepvolleyball.com talked about are long term players. The ones that will come in immediately and help were actually two players not on the list. I also hope that Ashley Murray can come in and help right away and we are looking at a couple other players to provide some help.” (On the two international recruits): “The players on the list that will actually help us this year are Anete Brinke, a middle blocker from Lativa, and Sophie Bukovec, from Canada, is an outside hitter. I think we have a strong returning group and with the players I mentioned, I believe we will have a better team.” (On the postseason): “I think it is important for all of us to position ourselves to represent the conference in the NCAA Tournament. I think that is the key. Can we all get into the tournament? That is what may be more important to everyone. I think that is the focus.” (On the 2014 schedule): “It is not the way you want it to be scheduled but we are opening at an Illinois tournament and two of these teams should be ranked top 25 and all three should make the NCAA Tournament. It makes it hard to open the season away and against so many quality teams. If we could be successful there, it will be really good for us and for the conference.” INSIDE THE NUMBERS10 Ranking Long Beach State received in the PrepVolleyball.com Top 30 recruiting class for 2014 12 Big West championship titles, with the last coming in 2011 27 Number of consecutive winning seasons for the 49ers, all under head coach Brian Gimmillaro 78 The height (in inches) of incoming freshman Sherridan Atkinson, the highest rated recruit on PrepVolleyball’s Senior Aces list 132 Conference-leading blocks total in 2013 (tied) for returning senior Chisom Okpala See more at: www.bigwest.org//story.asp?story_id=17847#sthash.39TlgZ9Q.dpuf
|
|
|
Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Aug 5, 2014 21:21:25 GMT -5
CAL POLY Lady'Stangs will surprise all.
|
|
|
Post by jake on Aug 6, 2014 12:30:05 GMT -5
CAL POLY's breakdown (by conference) of OOC matches (10),…
2-Pac12 2-WCC 2-MWC 2-Big Sky 1-MAC 1-WAC
|
|
|
Post by vballfreak808 on Aug 6, 2014 14:48:49 GMT -5
2014 Big West Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll1. Hawai’i (5) - 77 2. Long Beach State (1) - 68 3. UC Santa Barbara (2) - 63 4. CSUN (1) - 60 5. UC Irvine - 42 6. Cal Poly - 34 7. UC Davis - 25 8. Cal State Fullerton - 24 9. UC Riverside - 12 ( ) Denotes first place votes See more at: www.bigwest.org//story.asp?story_id=17849#sthash.125jsMxx.dpuf
|
|
|
Post by Garand on Aug 6, 2014 16:18:12 GMT -5
Maybe this has been discussed before, but how does the voting process work?
And while we're at it, what about POW, all-conference, freshman team, etc.?
|
|
|
Post by jake on Aug 6, 2014 19:22:28 GMT -5
Maybe this has been discussed before, but how does the voting process work? And while we're at it, what about POW, all-conference, freshman team, etc.? Ditto
|
|
|
Post by vballfreak808 on Aug 6, 2014 19:41:02 GMT -5
I am not fully sure of how it works but for the preseason poll, all nine coaches vote for how they feel the teams will place for the season. I'm assuming first place votes are worth 9 and last place are 1. Hawaii got five first place votes and four went to other teams and if those four other ballots voted Hawaii second place then it comes out to 77 points. I'm just assuming that this is how it is.
For the POW the school nominates one player and I guess coaches choose who they feel deserves it and the player with the most votes win it. I think the All-Conference and All-Freshmen Teams are just coaches voting a certain amount of players and the ones with the most votes get honored.
I can be completely wrong but who knows lol
|
|
|
Post by Cubicle No More ... on Aug 6, 2014 20:18:07 GMT -5
I am not fully sure of how it works but for the preseason poll, all nine coaches vote for how they feel the teams will place for the season. I'm assuming first place votes are worth 9 and last place are 1. Hawaii got five first place votes and four went to other teams and if those four other ballots voted Hawaii second place then it comes out to 77 points. I'm just assuming that this is how it is. For the POW the school nominates one player and I guess coaches choose who they feel deserves it and the player with the most votes win it. I think the All-Conference and All-Freshmen Teams are just coaches voting a certain amount of players and the ones with the most votes get honored. I can be completely wrong but who knows lol For POW ... do the coaches choose? or does the Big West office choose (however and whoever does that)? yeah, i dunno either ...
|
|
|
Post by OptimusPrime on Aug 6, 2014 21:29:35 GMT -5
I predict Beach will win it this year! The chemistry will finally be a positive one. Just wish JJ was still playing.
|
|
|
Post by Garand on Aug 6, 2014 21:37:17 GMT -5
I predict Beach will win it this year! The chemistry will finally be a positive one. Just wish JJ was still playing. I agree. I think Long Beach has the horses this year to win the conference. Their matches against Hawaii should be a lot of fun to watch.
|
|
|
Post by HawaiiVB on Aug 6, 2014 22:52:15 GMT -5
I'm not about to predict the future. However, Hawai'i will surprise. As before, spreading out the sets will only diversify the attack. No more Hartong to rely on. Shoji is going to have to draw up an offense to fit this team. My hope is that they team gel quickly. Hungry players make for epic battles for the starting positions.
|
|
|
Post by BeachbytheBay on Aug 6, 2014 23:11:46 GMT -5
I'm not about to predict the future. However, Hawai'i will surprise. As before, spreading out the sets will only diversify the attack. No more Hartong to rely on. Shoji is going to have to draw up an offense to fit this team. My hope is that they team gel quickly. Hungry players make for epic battles for the starting positions. can you elaborate on what you mean by 'Hawaii will surprise' they are picked to finish FIRST by the coaches, so am I to assume you think they will finish 3rd or 4th - which would be the surprise?
|
|