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Post by jma22 on Jul 6, 2014 2:50:13 GMT -5
Although I wouldn't call it a "big jump," I expect Purdue to really raise their level of play this season. Exactly what I'd say about Illinois. Both should be improved.
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Post by bighitter on Jul 6, 2014 17:14:13 GMT -5
I think the biggest jump in the WCC is going to be LMU. The loss of Luft on the OH will be more than adequately replaced by Keil moving there. Metter will be a tough loss but incoming freshman Castellanos will go a long way in making up for it. Big upgrade at setter and the OH2 spot should see more power and points this season. Two new big arms and a couple of returning players competing for the spot. Last year LMU was just a couple of close 5 set losses to BYU and San Diego from being at the top of the conference. Could be a fun season for the Lions.
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Post by jake on Jul 6, 2014 17:59:59 GMT -5
CAL POLY out of the Big West Conference,…coming into the season with the Top 23rd Recruiting Class in the nation.
Will they make the postseason? Give them…60-40 chance.
GoPOLY!!!
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jul 6, 2014 19:36:46 GMT -5
I am really anxious to see how the Illini fare this season IF Coach Hambly employs a 6-2 with Palmer and Kelsay setting. This scenario really makes me excited about the 2014-15 Illini.
I would really like to see seniors Liz McMahon, Anna Dorn, and Morganne Criswell go out with a bang.
To my mind this season is ALL ABOUT the seniors and the two new setters. I know I tend to be a Pollyana when it comes to Illinois volleyball, but I predict a HUGE year for Illinois!
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Post by dorothymantooth on Jul 6, 2014 19:40:50 GMT -5
I am really anxious to see how the Illini fare this season IF Coach Hambly employs a 6-2 with Palmer and Kelsay setting. This scenario really makes me excited about the 2014-15 Illini. I would really like to see seniors Liz McMahon, Anna Dorn, and Morganne Criswell go out with a bang. To my mind this season is ALL ABOUT the seniors and the two new setters. I know I tend to be a Pollyana when it comes to Illinois volleyball, but I predict a HUGE year for Illinois! It will seem like a big jump given their "whole" 2013 season. But if you look at the later part of 2013, they were awfully good. I expect them to be a sweet 16 team for sure, maybe better.
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Post by WahineFan44 on Jul 6, 2014 19:53:09 GMT -5
CAL POLY out of the Big West Conference,…coming into the season with the Top 23rd Recruiting Class in the nation. Will they make the postseason? Give them…60-40 chance. GoPOLY!!! I love your enthusiasm for poly, buy 60-40 is way to much imo. They have that much of a chance of finishing top four of the big west, but maybe a 30-7 chance of getting into the post season
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Post by MTC on Jul 6, 2014 23:04:42 GMT -5
I am really anxious to see how the Illini fare this season IF Coach Hambly employs a 6-2 with Palmer and Kelsay setting. This scenario really makes me excited about the 2014-15 Illini. I would really like to see seniors Liz McMahon, Anna Dorn, and Morganne Criswell go out with a bang. To my mind this season is ALL ABOUT the seniors and the two new setters. I know I tend to be a Pollyana when it comes to Illinois volleyball, but I predict a HUGE year for Illinois! It will seem like a big jump given their "whole" 2013 season. But if you look at the later part of 2013, they were awfully good. I expect them to be a sweet 16 team for sure, maybe better. Some teams in the Big Ten may have a big jump in wins but still not finish much higher in the standings simply because most of the strong teams seem to be getting stronger. Probably the team with the most question marks is Penn State who I have predicted will see a drop from last year.
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Post by blastingsand on Jul 7, 2014 0:15:58 GMT -5
Oregon Michigan State Rice Baylor Florida Ole Miss Oregon? They lose a great setter and a senior middle blocker for two frosh... Brenner might have maxed out her peak a couple of years ago, and Bettendorf is not P12 quality. You might be thinking of ASU making that big jump, with the experience and hunger they return this year.
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Post by mplssetter on Jul 7, 2014 0:53:38 GMT -5
Probably the team with the most question marks is Penn State who I have predicted will see a drop from last year. So are you predicting somebody else will win the B1G?
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jul 7, 2014 7:51:13 GMT -5
"It will seem like a big jump given their "whole" 2013 season. But if you look at the later part of 2013, they were awfully good. I expect them to be a sweet 16 team for sure, maybe better." (dorothymantooth)
There were a couple of exceptions to that end of season run. There was the 1-3 loss to Penn State at PSU around Thanksgiving, and much worse was the shellacking that Minnesota applied to the Illini at home (Huff Gym) 0-3 in the last regular season match. However, the most aggravating loss was the egg the Illini laid in the Sweet Sixteen match against Purdue. I sat through that match (the Illini were hosting the regional at the Assembly Hall), and could not believe how poorly Illinois was playing. Of course, a lot of that poor play had to do with the Boilers elevating their play from the match they had lost to Illinois about a month earlier (in the friendly Illini confines of Huff Gym) 0-3.
I think the home crowd sat in disbelief that the Illini would come out so flat in such an important match? Particularly when this quarter-final would seem to be up for grabs between the 3 B1G teams (PU, Wisconsin, & UI). I know many Illini fans were thinking another Final Four appearance was definitely within reach. What a disappointing end to what I would label a disappointing year for the Illini.
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Post by Boof1224 on Jul 7, 2014 10:48:21 GMT -5
It will seem like a big jump given their "whole" 2013 season. But if you look at the later part of 2013, they were awfully good. I expect them to be a sweet 16 team for sure, maybe better. Some teams in the Big Ten may have a big jump in wins but still not finish much higher in the standings simply because most of the strong teams seem to be getting stronger. Probably the team with the most question marks is Penn State who I have predicted will see a drop from last year. A drop meaning what? Even with all the freshman they're still gonna be a favorite to win the BIG.
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Post by sulo on Jul 7, 2014 10:53:34 GMT -5
Don't sleep on North Carolina. They have the majority of their team back along with RS Chaniel Nelson who missed last year due to injury. Their top-ten recruting class fron a year ago is now a year older and ready to really make an impact.They are coming off of four straight NCAA appearances and a very good 27-5 season(Runner-up in the ACC) The ACC has definitely become stronger, but I look for the 'Heels to capture the ACC crown this year after a tough fight. I believe they could make some noise in the NCAA's this year.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Jul 7, 2014 11:12:25 GMT -5
I think the biggest jump in the WCC is going to be LMU. The loss of Luft on the OH will be more than adequately replaced by Keil moving there. Metter will be a tough loss but incoming freshman Castellanos will go a long way in making up for it. Big upgrade at setter and the OH2 spot should see more power and points this season. Two new big arms and a couple of returning players competing for the spot. Last year LMU was just a couple of close 5 set losses to BYU and San Diego from being at the top of the conference. Could be a fun season for the Lions. I actually like Pacific as the sleeper team to take advantage of the WCC. They don't lose nearly as much as LMU, and their new setter is awesome. Having an awesome new setter will help quite a few teams take a big jump, like LBSU and K-State(who really underachieved the last two years). Both of them will also take advantage of their conference opponents losing a ton. ASU is my pick in the PAC as stated here. Not sure about the B1G. As other posters mentioned, Purdue and Illinois will be very good -- but they already are. The season will be defined more by whether (and how far) Minnesota and the Michigans drop back from the lead pack.
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Post by volleyvolleyfan on Jul 7, 2014 12:29:02 GMT -5
Oregon Michigan State Rice Baylor Florida Ole Miss A big jump for Florida would be getting back to the final four or the championship, to do that it would be nice not to run into FSU in the second round and play maybe Stanford in a regional final instead of teams we generally don't match up very well against. Every year that we end up playing FSU in the second round its nerve racking cuz it can always go either way. But idk, i think the pieces are starting to come together nicely for that squad, Holston will be a 6 roation opp.. got good middles and outsides, strong defensive players. Just have to see once fall season gets going. I'm with you- I hope Florida and FSU don't match up in round 2-- it seems the only way that does not happen is if FSU wins the ACC.. then they host first 2 rounds (2011, 2012). They played at UF 2010 and 2013. Both went to 5 sets.. UF came out the winner in 2010 but in 2013 FSU took a decisive 5th set to move on to Sweet 16 only to face Wisconsin- and we all know how that ended.
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Post by volleyvolleyfan on Jul 7, 2014 12:34:01 GMT -5
Don't sleep on North Carolina. They have the majority of their team back along with RS Chaniel Nelson who missed last year due to injury. Their top-ten recruting class fron a year ago is now a year older and ready to really make an impact.They are coming off of four straight NCAA appearances and a very good 27-5 season(Runner-up in the ACC) The ACC has definitely become stronger, but I look for the 'Heels to capture the ACC crown this year after a tough fight. I believe they could make some noise in the NCAA's this year. UNC will be a strong team this season. What happened in that last match of ACC conference play in 2013 will keep heads scratching for some time. They had the win over Duke in their laps and let it slip away.. Had they beat Duke .. FSU would have won their 3rd ACC in a row... and the post season could have looked much different for all ACC teams making the tourney In 2014... with Nelson back on the right side.. they do have an extremely talented squad returning. My prediction is that it will be a fight again with top teams in the ACC.
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