|
Post by roy on Jun 17, 2015 2:58:33 GMT -5
A couple of points. I like Long Beach's schedule. I think it is definitely geared towards RPI, which is smart. That said, it's also half luck. Opponents may perform better or worse than you expect, so it is very difficult to decide how many losses a team can have prior to the start of the season.
Also, I think it could also be a down year for the Big West, so I really don't think the conference will be of much help. Looking at the non-conference schedules, Fullerton will have a tough time coming in with a .500 record, especially with the loss of Withers. Northridge has a tough challenge to get their players ready and face Washington, Arizona, St. Mary's, and LSU in the first 4 weeks. And Irvine lost 2 pin hitters and has a tough schedule.
Add to that there are so many overlapping teams the Big West scheduled. 10 Pac12 teams on the schedule and 7 of those matches are against UCLA (4) or Oregon State (3). 4 matches against Fresno State. 3 matches against Sacramento State, Alabama, San Diego State, Idaho, LMU, San Diego, St. Mary's, and Portland.
|
|
|
Post by chatchu-off moksri on Jun 17, 2015 15:14:26 GMT -5
I have confidence that the Beach has a good shot at getting into the NCAA tournament next year, but this team needs to work well from the very beginning for that to happen. There can't really be any adjustments throughout the preseason. Their schedule is a good one for RPI, but they can't afford any slip ups with any of the matches.
|
|
|
Post by Cubicle No More ... on Jun 19, 2015 1:42:07 GMT -5
lol - LB could lose 8 games, maybe 9, with that schedule (including conference) and get in. but it depends. Stony Brook will not hurt LB if they are similar to last year, they had a winning record, and that is what RPI likes. Even Rutgers who will have a losing record, because they play in the Big 10, LB will get credit for Rutgers opponents - so even they aren't all that bad for the RPI.LB doesn't 'have' to beat UCLA, OSU & Duke - lol. If they beat Denver, UOP, Alabama, San Diego they can absorb losses to those 3 - (assuming those teams are top 50 ish. teams are judged on the aggregate so if those 7 teams are top 50 RPI, and LB goes 4-3 in those, they will be in pretty good shape, again depending on the strength of the Big West. I guarantee LB will be in the NCAAs with 6 losses - a 25-6 record with a non-conference opponent winning % that will like be over 55%. in the end, it's a schedule geared towards a decent RPI - plus every game is winnable, depending of course on how well LB replaces their back-row passing. Hawaii, on the other hand has 5 matches IMO (UCLA, Ore State, Florida, SDSU, & WSU) that they need to win two or three to get in decent at-large range of course, hopefully LB & Hawaii are both undefeated when they first play, so it'll be a battle between two top 5 teams here's hoping both lbsu and hawaii are in position to get an at-large bid if neither can claim the conference title. as to the rutgers match -- the losing record from rutgers will do far more damage to lbsu's RPI, than any benefit that may be derived from rutgers being in the big 10. the range of variation for the "opponents' opponents' record" component of the RPI formula is actually pretty small. so even tho that component is worth 25% of the formula, it has little impact. it's the same issue that hawaii will have next year, having iowa on the schedule ... who altho they are in the big 10 too, will likely have a poor win/loss record. any team on your schedule with a poor win/loss record, regardless of the strength of their conference, will drag down your RPI more than boost it.
|
|
|
Post by thebeach1 on Jun 20, 2015 0:11:53 GMT -5
I believe the Big West will be strong in 2015. I can see as many as three teams--Hawaii, LBSU, and UCSB--representing the conference in the NCAA's this season.
|
|
|
Post by madonna on Jun 20, 2015 0:27:28 GMT -5
I want at least 2 of my favorite teams from the BW to make the NCAA tournament. I won't mention who they are. But I'll give you a hint.
|
|
|
Post by thebeach1 on Jun 20, 2015 0:32:14 GMT -5
I want at least 2 of my favorite teams from the BW to make the NCAA tournament. I won't mention who they are. But I'll give you a hint. That's funny!
|
|
|
Post by chatchu-off moksri on Jun 22, 2015 15:24:52 GMT -5
Who does LBSU have for 2016? I know libero Hailey Harward has committed to play for LBSU. Who else? That could potentially be a strong class.
|
|
|
Post by thebeach1 on Jun 23, 2015 2:17:36 GMT -5
2016 LBSU Verbal Commitments--per Richkern.com:
Ashley Anselmo 6'2 OH/RS Manhattan Beach, CA
Morgan Dewyer 5'9 S Palm Desert, CA
Hailey Harward 5'9 L Phoenix, AZ
Hannah Pauling 5'10 OH Murrietta, CA
|
|
|
Post by chatchu-off moksri on Jun 24, 2015 19:15:33 GMT -5
2016 LBSU Verbal Commitments--per Richkern.com: Ashley Anselmo 6'2 OH/RS Manhattan Beach, CA Morgan Dewyer 5'9 S Palm Desert, CA Hailey Harward 5'9 L Phoenix, AZ Hannah Pauling 5'10 OH Murrietta, CA Any idea of any other possible recruits?
|
|
|
Post by zenyada on Jun 24, 2015 19:23:11 GMT -5
2016 LBSU Verbal Commitments--per Richkern.com: Ashley Anselmo 6'2 OH/RS Manhattan Beach, CA Morgan Dewyer 5'9 S Palm Desert, CA Hailey Harward 5'9 L Phoenix, AZ Hannah Pauling 5'10 OH Murrietta, CA You've left off Megan Kruidoff 6'0" OH; Payton Grahovac 6'3" MB.
|
|
|
Post by thebeach1 on Jun 24, 2015 19:31:32 GMT -5
Kruidoff and Grahovac are 2015, freshmen recruits for The Beach.
|
|
|
Post by zenyada on Jun 25, 2015 2:27:29 GMT -5
Kruidoff and Grahovac are 2015, freshmen recruits for The Beach. mamumma.....ma...my bad.
|
|
|
Post by chatchu-off moksri on Jul 14, 2015 0:11:38 GMT -5
So I am guessing that this is the line up we should be expecting?
OH: Brinke and Barber/Kruidhoff OPP: Atkinson MB: Murray and Grahovac S: Hudson L/DS: Lawmaster, Watanabe
The more and more I think about this LBSU team, the less doubt I begin to have about how this team will do. I think LBSU could very well be a tournament team.
I feel like Atkinson will have a break out season and she will be able to do at least half of what Mackie did. She is a very aggressive attacker and is also imposing on the block. She could and should be one of the Beach's biggest weapons this upcoming season.
Do you guys think Grahovac is the best option at the other middle position? From what I have seen, she presses well on the block and closes well with those long arms of hers. If she can also work well offensively I think she could do well with Hudson as a setter.
For the libero position I still have no idea. I would like it to be Lawmaster just because she is a senior and has the most college experience, but who knows what will happen?
In regards to Hudson, I know many people have said that she isn't a good setter and that she lifts the ball a lot and that she didnt deserve to be Big West POY last year. Well she is a great setter IMO and bottom line is she got the job done. It doesn't matter if she was not the best player. She still contributed to the overall TEAM effort and they probably wouldn't have been able to go 16-0 in league without her. Will she be training with the national team soon? Probably not with the people like Bugg and Hancock, and a certain someone named Lauren Carlini. Anyways, I look forward to seeing her play this upcoming season. She will be a big part in how this team performs next season and I am sure she will do a great job.
|
|
|
Post by thebeach1 on Jul 14, 2015 1:54:51 GMT -5
So I am guessing that this is the line up we should be expecting? OH: Brinke and Barber/Kruidhoff OPP: Atkinson MB: Murray and Grahovac S: Hudson L/DS: Lawmaster, Watanabe The more and more I think about this LBSU team, the less doubt I begin to have about how this team will do. I think LBSU could very well be a tournament team. I feel like Atkinson will have a break out season and she will be able to do at least half of what Mackie did. She is a very aggressive attacker and is also imposing on the block. She could and should be one of the Beach's biggest weapons this upcoming season. Do you guys think Grahovac is the best option at the other middle position? From what I have seen, she presses well on the block and closes well with those long arms of hers. If she can also work well offensively I think she could do well with Hudson as a setter. For the libero position I still have no idea. I would like it to be Lawmaster just because she is a senior and has the most college experience, but who knows what will happen? In regards to Hudson, I know many people have said that she isn't a good setter and that she lifts the ball a lot and that she didnt deserve to be Big West POY last year. Well she is a great setter IMO and bottom line is she got the job done. It doesn't matter if she was not the best player. She still contributed to the overall TEAM effort and they probably wouldn't have been able to go 16-0 in league without her. Will she be training with the national team soon? Probably not with the people like Bugg and Hancock, and a certain someone named Lauren Carlini. Anyways, I look forward to seeing her play this upcoming season. She will be a big part in how this team performs next season and I am sure she will do a great job. I also believe that Long Beach will reload this season and will be in NCAA's this December. As for your projected starting lineup, I agree with most of your pics with the exception of MB 2 and the back row. I think BG will go with 6'4 Ball State transfer-- and All AVCA Midwest Region-- Hayley Benson in the middle. Grahovac is athletic, and promising; however, Benson has the experience to bolster the 49er block. As for the back row, I believe those positions are still in flux. Lawmaster and Watanabe appear to have the inside edge; however, highly regarded frosh recruits Sarah Miller and Mykah Wilson will contend for playing time in the back row.
|
|
|
Post by network155 on Jul 14, 2015 3:41:16 GMT -5
It will be Hawaii and UCSB in my opinion, making the tournament. I think the Beach has lost a lot to be considered a contender for the conference title.
|
|