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Post by volleyfan24 on Nov 24, 2014 17:37:37 GMT -5
I am thankful for this last week of the regular season I have watched so much volleyball this year including every top ten squad, but we are at the nearing the end of the 2014 and we are in for on paper some of the best matches of the season.
#1 Stanford Cardinal vs. #5 Washington
These schools spent most of the season ranked 1 and 2 and still make an argument for being the two best schools in the nation. The reigning POY in Vansant in her last regular season match at home vs. the best middle Ajanaku and undefeated Cardinal. Although that Stanford has already clinched at least a share even if they lose this could be a bragging rights game as to who is really the best team in the conference and maybe the country. All on Wednesday night Thanksgiving Eve.
#10 Nebraska vs. #4 Penn State
Nebraska has had a season of inconsistency but they did manage to do something that only two other teams in the country have this far and that is beat Penn State. Last season Penn State went into Nebraska and beat them in 4 tightly contested sets. Can Nebraska play well enough to play spoiler to Penn State at home this season? If the Rolfzens show up and defense is there anything is possible. This is also a farewell match for the royal thorn in my side and POY candidate named Micha Hancock and her beautiful serve. This is her last B1G match. This is a big statement match for both teams headed into the tournament. Saturday while still eating your Thanksgiving left overs.
#6 Florida vs. #3 Texas
No respect to the teams outside of the PAC and B1G but the SEC Champ and Big 12 Champ decided to make things interesting challenging each other before they enter the NCAA tournament. Florida and Texas are the class of their conferences and both had little trouble clinching another conference title. Has Texas overcome their passing and inconsistent setting? Does Florida have enough on the pins and in the middle to challenge one off the nations best blocking teams? Last regular season home match for Texas starting elite pin hitter Eckerman and a big match for Florida NFOY candidate Alhassan this should be a great gauge of where both teams are and if they can make it to the Final Four or win a NC. Saturday while nursing your too much gravy and turkey hangover from the week.
All matches are important. I maybe more excited for these outcomes than actual Thanksgivng dinner. Safe travels volleytalkers and feast up.
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Post by mikegarrison on Nov 24, 2014 18:12:22 GMT -5
Vansant is not playing her last regular season match (I hope!). It's her last regular season home match, but they have a match against WSU on Friday.
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Post by Wolfgang on Nov 24, 2014 18:43:50 GMT -5
A few years ago, we started to celebrate holidays one week earlier than the rest of America. The affected holidays are: Thanksgiving, Christmas (even though I'm not a Christian or Catholic), and New Year's.
So, we've had our fill of turkeys this past weekend.
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Post by vbprisoner on Nov 24, 2014 18:47:45 GMT -5
A few years ago, we started to celebrate holidays one week earlier than the rest of America. The affected holidays are: Thanksgiving, Christmas (even though I'm not a Christian or Catholic), and New Year's. So, we've had our fill of turkeys this past weekend. What do you do on the regular Holiday? (and you celebrate New Years Eve on Christmas Eve?)
PS......Congrats on your 14,000th post; that is a lot of typing!!!!!
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Post by volleyfan24 on Nov 24, 2014 18:48:54 GMT -5
Vansant is not playing her last regular season match (I hope!). It's her last regular season home match, but they have a match against WSU on Friday. I am mistaken, which night is senior night? Last regular season match of importance if they lose to Washington State they have bigger problems but I will be willing to bet Thanksgiving dinner they walk away with that one. |
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Post by mikegarrison on Nov 24, 2014 18:51:06 GMT -5
Vansant is not playing her last regular season match (I hope!). It's her last regular season home match, but they have a match against WSU on Friday. I am mistaken, which night is senior night? Wed is senior night for the UW, because it is the last home match. But Fri is the last match of the season. |
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Post by Wolfgang on Nov 24, 2014 18:56:54 GMT -5
A few years ago, we started to celebrate holidays one week earlier than the rest of America. The affected holidays are: Thanksgiving, Christmas (even though I'm not a Christian or Catholic), and New Year's. So, we've had our fill of turkeys this past weekend. What do you do on the regular Holiday? (and you celebrate New Years Eve on Christmas Eve?)
PS......Congrats on your 14,000th post; that is a lot of typing!!!!!
Not to take away from this thread, I've had more than 14,000 posts but my periodic account purges in the past have reset the count. |
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Post by gnu2vball on Nov 24, 2014 19:20:51 GMT -5
I wish I could view all three.
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Post by volleyfan24 on Nov 24, 2014 21:07:26 GMT -5
I wish I could view all three. So do I but I don't know if anyone will be watching all 3. I have a personal gripe with Texas and LHN. Who even gets this channel besides die hard Longhorn fans and since I really only care for Texas volleyball I would never subscribe to this channel. It makes it extremely difficult to watch any of their matches. I think this Florida/Texas match is worth watching too bad there is almost no way to see it :/. |
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Post by VBCOACH on Nov 24, 2014 22:25:55 GMT -5
What do you do on the regular Holiday? (and you celebrate New Years Eve on Christmas Eve?)
PS......Congrats on your 14,000th post; that is a lot of typing!!!!!
Not to take away from this thread, I've had more than 14,000 posts but my periodic account purges in the past have reset the count. Did you turn in this remarkable body of work toward your Master's thesis? |
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Post by vbprisoner on Nov 24, 2014 22:54:56 GMT -5
I wish I could view all three. So do I but I don't know if anyone will be watching all 3. I have a personal gripe with Texas and LHN. Who even gets this channel besides die hard Longhorn fans and since I really only care for Texas volleyball I would never subscribe to this channel. It makes it extremely difficult to watch any of their matches. I think this Florida/Texas match is worth watching too bad there is almost no way to see it :/. I will be watching all three. I guess I live in the part of country that I get B1G, LHN, SECN, BYU, all the ESPNs and FOXSports with the normal sports package and pay a little extra for 3 PAC channels.
I am most interested in seeing how Florida plays against Texas because Florida has improved a lot since the first meeting and Texas seems to finally have a set lineup.
Stanford vs. Washington will be a great match, and it will certainly cause a commotion on Volleytalk regardless who wins.
Although NE won in Lincoln, PSU is a different team with Washington in lineup so this will be a nice finale.
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Post by rogero1 on Nov 24, 2014 23:31:58 GMT -5
Aren't people overlooking Neb at Ill? That match will come down to deciding who finishes 3rd behind Wis & PSU. Is this the year where the B1G falls short of getting the most teams into the Sweet 16? I think the Pac-12 has very good shot at getting 8 teams into the Sweet 16. I am discounting 2 teams only because it is highly likely that those teams will meet in round 2.
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Post by volleyfan24 on Nov 24, 2014 23:44:24 GMT -5
Aren't people overlooking Neb at Ill? That match will come down to deciding who finishes 3rd behind Wis & PSU. Is this the year where the B1G falls short of getting the most teams into the Sweet 16? I think the Pac-12 has very good shot at getting 8 teams into the Sweet 16. I am discounting 2 teams only because it is highly likely that those teams will meet in round 2. That match isn't two top 10 teams, doesn't have as much intrigue it is important but is not as huge as the others listed above. If Nebraska loses at Illinois but beats Penn State it will be huge. Also depending on how PSU plays could be a good confidence booster should they win entering the tournament. |
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Post by SaltNPepper on Nov 25, 2014 6:21:02 GMT -5
Aren't people overlooking Neb at Ill? That match will come down to deciding who finishes 3rd behind Wis & PSU. Is this the year where the B1G falls short of getting the most teams into the Sweet 16? I think the Pac-12 has very good shot at getting 8 teams into the Sweet 16. I am discounting 2 teams only because it is highly likely that those teams will meet in round 2. That match isn't two top 10 teams, doesn't have as much intrigue it is important but is not as huge as the others listed above. If Nebraska loses at Illinois but beats Penn State it will be huge. Also depending on how PSU plays could be a good confidence booster should they win entering the tournament. I disagree. From Nebraska's standpoint, I think the Illinois match is much more important for them. They have already beat PSU once this year, but have lost to Illinois. The Illinois match results will be in front of the selection committee for the entire process of their deliberations/RPI calculations/etc and not some "last minute" correction for late Saturday night which may or may not make a difference in where the committee seeds them. The Illinois match is basically for a position change (4th to 3rd) in the B1G standings. A win for Nebraska would mean the Huskers are 9-0 with 1 game to go in their last 10 matches - something the selection committee may be looking at. And yes, Nebraska-Illinois isn't two Top 10 as far as the Coach's Poll is concerned - it's "only" #10 vs. #11! Oh, wait. Nebraska's RPI is #11, so neither match has two Top 10 teams. But the RPI for Illinois is #9 and PSU is #10, so even this points to a more important match versus Illinois. |
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Post by southie on Nov 25, 2014 8:22:36 GMT -5
I wish I could view all three. So do I but I don't know if anyone will be watching all 3. I have a personal gripe with Texas and LHN. Who even gets this channel besides die hard Longhorn fans and since I really only care for Texas volleyball I would never subscribe to this channel. It makes it extremely difficult to watch any of their matches. I think this Florida/Texas match is worth watching too bad there is almost no way to see it :/. You actually can't "subscribe" to the LHN. Either your cable carrier provides it, or they don't (as it's part of most standard cable packages, or premium sports package channels). I have ATT Uverse, and based on the cable package I have, I get PAC 12 network. My friend has a lower end package with Uverse, and they get LHN and just about every sports channel except PAC 12 network. |
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