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Post by chancelucky on Jul 31, 2015 22:00:02 GMT -5
I get 8, 10, 21, 25 in Pablo for the top 4 ACC teams and 7, 10, 25, (no votes) in AVCA. That doesn't seem that far off to me.
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ACC 2015
Jul 31, 2015 22:23:40 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by trianglevolleyball on Jul 31, 2015 22:23:40 GMT -5
I get 8, 10, 21, 25 in Pablo for the top 4 ACC teams and 7, 10, 25, (no votes) in AVCA. That doesn't seem that far off to me. Ok, it doesn't have to seem far off to you. I personally think 37 to 25 is a sizable difference. People didn't even think Miami should be a tournament team. It's about perception. Like 75% of the people predicted Oregon to beat UNC despite lower rankings comparatively. There's little respect for teams that don't play in Big 10 and PAC and aren't Texas or Florida. It's a historical bias.
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Post by chancelucky on Aug 1, 2015 9:05:58 GMT -5
Probably worse, there were a lot of people on Volleytalk who seemed certain that USC would beat UNC at UNC. I actually agree that there is a bias on Volleytalk that's rooted in where things stood a few years ago. I just felt that the AVCA poll in 2014 wasn't an example of that.
There is, for example, a very long thread on Purdue, a strong program that missed the tournament last year, while it's hard to keep an ACC thread going. I think there are maybe 6 people who participate on this one. There are also fairly long threads about Cal Poly, Long Beach, Hawaii, etc. If Volleyvolleyfan started a Florida State thread, he/she might be the only regular participant, yet FSU has done far better recently than any of those other programs. Anyway, the apparent volleytalk bias isn't really people hating the ACC, it seems to be more a matter of other programs having really passionate fans. Because of that, you get a thread about who will start on top ten teams and you get people posting about Minnesota and Hawaii, but no one jumping on the thread to say talk about Louisville, a team that beat Minnesota last year.
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Post by skullars on Aug 1, 2015 9:30:55 GMT -5
Probably worse, there were a lot of people on Volleytalk who seemed certain that USC would beat UNC at UNC. I actually agree that there is a bias on Volleytalk that's rooted in where things stood a few years ago. I just felt that the AVCA poll in 2014 wasn't an example of that. There is, for example, a very long thread on Purdue, a strong program that missed the tournament last year, while it's hard to keep an ACC thread going. I think there are maybe 6 people who participate on this one. There are also fairly long threads about Cal Poly, Long Beach, Hawaii, etc. If Volleyvolleyfan started a Florida State thread, he/she might be the only regular participant, yet FSU has done far better recently than any of those other programs. Anyway, the apparent volleytalk bias isn't really people hating the ACC, it seems to be more a matter of other programs having really passionate fans. Because of that, you get a thread about who will start on top ten teams and you get people posting about Minnesota and Hawaii, but no one jumping on the thread to say talk about Louisville, a team that beat Minnesota last year. Nice points Chance. I believe west coast, and more recently the middle of the country, have far more fans who follow the game and attend matches. They also have a longer history of - I'll subjectively call it, "vball enthusiasm". However I think the balance of power over the past 5-10 years really has shifted to the heartland (Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, etc.) with the east coast jumping into the mix more recently (Florida, UNC, FSU, and some school in PA that's won 1/3 of the nat'l championships over the last 21 yrs). I think it can also be tricky judging "opinion" since the judgments are usually based on perception and not necessarily empirical evidence. Maybe more consistent participation & big runs by ACC teams in the tournament might turn the tide some day. Until then, I'll be one of the 6 people participating in the ACC thread & supporting the conference!
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Post by chatchu-off moksri on Aug 1, 2015 12:47:38 GMT -5
Probably worse, there were a lot of people on Volleytalk who seemed certain that USC would beat UNC at UNC. I actually agree that there is a bias on Volleytalk that's rooted in where things stood a few years ago. I just felt that the AVCA poll in 2014 wasn't an example of that. There is, for example, a very long thread on Purdue, a strong program that missed the tournament last year, while it's hard to keep an ACC thread going. I think there are maybe 6 people who participate on this one. There are also fairly long threads about Cal Poly, Long Beach, Hawaii, etc. If Volleyvolleyfan started a Florida State thread, he/she might be the only regular participant, yet FSU has done far better recently than any of those other programs. Anyway, the apparent volleytalk bias isn't really people hating the ACC, it seems to be more a matter of other programs having really passionate fans. Because of that, you get a thread about who will start on top ten teams and you get people posting about Minnesota and Hawaii, but no one jumping on the thread to say talk about Louisville, a team that beat Minnesota last year. I agree. I think people automatically thought that since USC was in the Pac 12 that they would just dismantle an ACC team. If at least one ACC team would be able to consistently get into the elite eight, and then possibly crack into the final four that would really begin to solidify the ACC as a power conference. There are several teams that could do well nationally in the ACC so hopefully they do well come tournament time.
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Post by maaahty422 on Aug 2, 2015 1:48:02 GMT -5
I like the names mentioned. Also, believe that Meyers for Duke will be a standout. Also possible that Kelli Kalinoski will take the libero spot at Duke but not sure she will make the all freshman team. I think that Mhairi Agnew will be very strong for Miami even though she is a little undersized for a middle. Also excited to see what Jaila Tolbert does at Virginia Tech. VT seems good at developing players and they have some good raw athleticism to work with in Tolbert. Miami signed 2 in the fall, 3 in the spring, and one late in the early summer for the class of 2015. Prior to the last addition to the 2015 incoming class in Samantha Purnell, Miami had signed yet another international Anna Haak, a Middle Blocker and a Hitter who has played with the Swedish National team ON TOP of starring for the Swedish Junior National team, and HURRICANESPORTS.COM had announced that she was signing now (late April) but would either Join the team in the spring of 2016 or the fall of 2016, and Haak was referred to on multiple Occasions in that presser as the first member of Class of 2016. Although Miami has not come out and admitted to this yet (and even if it is the case as I strongly suspect and I think you will too after you hear the facts, The six newcomers - even though Miami has confused its fans as to whether Agnew is coming as announced, or as I suspect Agnew got too good during her Commonwealth Games experience having been named Essentially the MVP of her division in the Commonwealth games, and after much pressure everything you can find about Agnew lists University of Glasgow as the team she will be playing for this Fall -- I am almost positive she is already in Camp at U Glasgow). So despite Miami announcing that Mhairi Agnew, the Scottish National who was a star for Scotland in the Commonwealth Games, although she DID SIGN with Miami and Miami hyped her plenty in the presser announcing the three spring signings (transfer Greek National Olga Strantzali who was only UCLA freshman to receive any conference recognition last year IS indeed Joining Miami with immediate Eligibility at six foot one. and Strantzali was introduced in an April 23rd presser that also introduced Scot National the aforementioned Agnew (won the hardest kill award in the Commonwealth Games) and the third spring signee introduced at that time was Codi Lee, who played on Woodlands TX as the Libero, and Woodlands was the #1 rated team in TX for 2nd straight year - having not lost a match since 2012 - and ranked seventh nationally by Maxpreps. Much like when Ryan Shaffer came to Miami as a Libero from AB Mitty after winning that mythical HS national title, all six starters for Woodlands were seniors and all six starters signed D1 full grant in aid Scholarships. I would say that probably never happens, but as I just mentioned it happened with Archbishop Mitty when we signed Ryan Shaffer. The great thing about signing Lee (much like in 2010 when we signed Shaffer, Hollins, Sims, and Johnson) all were from programs that expected to win every match, and that attitude can be the difference between winning and losing a close Tournament or conference rivalry match. Without ever releasing a presser saying that Agnew had decided not to report to Miami. the presser that introduced Samantha Purnell ON jULY 10th reads: "...The addition of Purnell means the Hurricanes have six newcomers joining the team in 2015 with Purnell joining fall signees Lucia Pampana and Kolby Bird, as well as spring signees Olga Strantzali, Codi Lee and Anna Haak." So it appears that Agnew is indeed playing for Glasgow as everything except the April Presser for Miami indicates, and because Agnew decided not to come, Haak bumped up from 2016s first member to enrolling and playing in matches that start this month, as Miami essentially appears to be replacing one big international hitter with another without clarifying to the fans. ESSENTIALLY unless all the other reports regarding Agnew's decision to stay at least this season with Glasgow, Miami simply replaced Agnew's name with Haak's RATHER than actually explaining the change. In other words, it is revisionist history. Would Agnew have been an immense talent? YES. That said, Haak seems to have a huge upside as well, Olga has already proven herself in the best conference as a FR last season for UCLA, and Pampana is the third international and she too while not as experienced has a very high ceiling as well. So as I mentioned Miami had signed 2 players in the fall, Kolby Bird out of San Diego and Lucia Pampana from The Italian Junior National Team. Both are expected to play immediately. So the Canes between returning players and EXPERIENCED international newcomers have the horses again. Now it is Keno's club and time for him to prove he can win the big match, and assuming he has learned how to substitute and keep his players fresh (which was quite an adventure his first season). Assuming that he has figured that part out, there is no reason Miami should not compete with Duke, UNC, & FSU for conference supremacy.
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Post by chancelucky on Aug 2, 2015 9:22:05 GMT -5
Thanks for the Miami update! I"m not surprised that he's bringing in international players. I am surprised that he hasn't brought more players from Puerto Rico.
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Post by volleyvolleyfan on Aug 7, 2015 12:14:26 GMT -5
ACC released their Preseason Predictions and Preseason All ACC Team today.
UNC (190 points, 8 1st place votes) FSU (189 points, 7 1st place votes) Duke (167) Miami (156) Louisville (135) Virginia (125) Pitt (124) Virginia Tech (108) Notre Dame (79) Ga Tech (74) Syracuse (68) NC State (48) Clemson (41) Boston College ( 38) Wake Forrest (33)
All ACC Preseason Team
Sklar OH, Duke Karelov Libero, Duke Tucker MB, Duke Burrington MB, FSU Walch OH, FSU Horton OH, FSU Fairs OH Louisville George Setter Louisville Strantzali, OH, Miami Templeton, Setter, Miami McPherson, MB, UNC Neunfeldt MB, UNC Tracey, OPP, UNC Fry, RS, Notre Dame Orchard, MH, Pitt Uattata, OH, Syracuse Fuller, Setter, Virginia Owens, OH, Va Tech
Comments: As predicted the top of ACC will be a battle once again between UNC, FSU and Duke.. only one vote was the difference between UNC and FSU being on top of ACC.. We all know it's where you finish.. UNC and FSU only play each other one time this season and its's @ UNC.. so it could come down to this match that determines all..
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Post by sulo on Aug 7, 2015 14:17:25 GMT -5
Go Heels!!!!!!
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Post by chancelucky on Aug 8, 2015 9:04:40 GMT -5
I take it that each head coach vote gets a vote in the preseason poll. How does the preseason all conference work? Do they each vote for six players who don't play for them?
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Post by skullars on Aug 8, 2015 10:54:46 GMT -5
Rosters posted. Pre-season picks made. Teams starting practice. Season's not far off! Could be a fun ACC season.
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Post by volleyvolleyfan on Aug 12, 2015 18:03:10 GMT -5
Overall, pretty happy with AVCA 2015 coaches preseason poll and the fact that 3 ACC teams made top 25 including 2 in the Top Ten.
UNC #7 Final rank in 2014 #7 FSU #9 Final rank in 2014 #10 Duke #25 Final rank in 2014 #25
Pre Conference matches will be interesting to see how tough each team scheduled and the results.
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Post by aardvark on Aug 22, 2015 19:04:08 GMT -5
I miss Bond Shymansky. It's been tough watching GT slide towards mediocrity after almost beating Hawaii to get into the final four years ago.
Firing Bond was the worst AD decision ever. I expect to take more lumps again this year.
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Post by volleytalker16 on Aug 22, 2015 19:14:25 GMT -5
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Post by dorothymantooth on Aug 22, 2015 19:24:54 GMT -5
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