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Post by vballfreak808 on Aug 14, 2019 12:50:26 GMT -5
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Post by vballfreak808 on Aug 14, 2019 12:53:06 GMT -5
Surprised to see Tom Hilbert vote Boise State to win. UNLV was one point off from being second which is good to see them back on the rise. But my biggest thing is I think coaches may underestimate Fresno State this season, a lot of good pick-ups in the offseason.
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trojansc
Legend
All-VolleyTalk 1st Team (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017), All-VolleyTalk 2nd Team (2016), 2021, 2019 Fantasy League Champion, 2020 Fantasy League Runner Up, 2022 2nd Runner Up
Posts: 28,104 
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Post by trojansc on Aug 14, 2019 12:59:29 GMT -5
Surprised to see Tom Hilbert vote Boise State to win. UNLV was one point off from being second which is good to see them back on the rise. But my biggest thing is I think coaches may underestimate Fresno State this season, a lot of good pick-ups in the offseason. I’m wondering about Wyoming. #2? I think UNLV will be good. Also, Fresno State lost a TON of production, right? Another year of “Colorado St and the others”? |
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Post by speegs13 on Aug 14, 2019 13:06:56 GMT -5
Thanks vballfreak808! I was meaning to make a MW 2019 thread, but work got the better of me with time. I'll go ahead and transfer and update some of the notes I was making as a preview on each team in the next week or so  |
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Post by vballfreak808 on Aug 14, 2019 13:28:46 GMT -5
Thanks vballfreak808 ! I was meaning to make a MW 2019 thread, but work got the better of me with time. I'll go ahead and transfer and update some of the notes I was making as a preview on each team in the next week or so Please do, didn't realize anyone was going to so once I saw the poll came out thought might as well. But looking forward to seeing your input! I’m wondering about Wyoming. #2? I think UNLV will be good. Also, Fresno State lost a TON of production, right? Another year of “Colorado St and the others”? Yes Fresno State lost nine players but added ten including six transfers. Sadly it might be Colorado State and others but some programs are going up and some are going down |
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Post by azvolleydad on Aug 14, 2019 17:25:57 GMT -5
Surprised to see Tom Hilbert vote Boise State to win. UNLV was one point off from being second which is good to see them back on the rise. But my biggest thing is I think coaches may underestimate Fresno State this season, a lot of good pick-ups in the offseason. I agree. Fresno State will finish no lower than 3rd |
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Post by azvb on Aug 14, 2019 18:47:46 GMT -5
Not sure if Utah State cares about volleyball, but they’ve been on the decline. Grayson is such a good guy, but he’s gotta feel a little heat in his seat.
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Post by speegs13 on Aug 14, 2019 19:38:23 GMT -5
I'll give a quick, surface level preview of the conference right now before I finish up my notes on each team individually. Overall, I think the conference should be better than last year, as there was a lot of youth in the conference (besides CSU and Fresno), but I'm not sure there will be any at-large bids to the NCAA this year.
Tier A - Colorado State
Colorado State is the team to beat, as they return everyone offensively. They do have some question marks in the back row and at the right side, but at this point, I see them head and shoulders above the rest of the conference. Could possibly snag a seed in the tournament if everything plays out right, but could drop a match or two in conference play on the road.
Tier B - Boise State, Fresno State, UNLV, Wyoming
A lot of these teams were young last year, with freshman and sophomores playing key roles, so they should be better this year. These are the teams I that will try and challenge CSU for the crown, but I would say these four will be NIVC bound come December.
UNLV is coming off of a good run in the NIVC, losing to eventual champion Iowa State in the semis. Boise State usually fields a pretty good team, they lack some size, but make up with some scrappy play. Fresno is my only question mark here, as they lose essentially all of their hitters, but return studs in their setter and libero, plus I like what Fresno's coach is doing. Wyoming I know had some shuffling with setters during the offseason, but Chad Callahan is doing a nice job up in Laramie.
Tier C - New Mexico, San Diego State, San Jose State
These are my unknown teams. I feel like Tiers B and C could end up in any order by the end of the season, as there are a lot of questions surrounding these three teams. New Mexico had a coaching change and is bringing in some nice international recruits. San Diego State I think has a nice collection of players, but I feel at times there is something missing from this team that keeps them from reaching their potential. San Jose State lost some key players to graduation, but their coach has done a good job with international recruits.
Tier D - Air Force, Nevada, Utah State
Air Force graduated a big senior class and hired a new coach, Utah State finished 10th, and Nevada finished 11th - nowhere to go but up!
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Post by VolleyballFella on Aug 14, 2019 19:46:17 GMT -5
Colorado State, the best team in the Mountain West? Groundbreaking...
Go Rams!
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Post by bigfan on Aug 14, 2019 19:49:15 GMT -5
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Post by speegs13 on Aug 29, 2019 20:22:40 GMT -5
Week 1 Composite Schedule (all times local)Air Force Falcons (0-0, 0-0 MW) Service Academy Challenge (Washington D.C.) - Hosted by Air Force- 8/30 - vs. Navy (10 AM)
- 8/30 - vs. Connecticut (4:30 PM)
- 8/31 - vs. Gonzaga (12:30 PM)
**Stats and stream will not be available for any matchesBoise State Broncos (0-0, 0-0 MW)BYU Nike Invitational (Provo, Utah) - Hosted by BYUColorado State Rams (0-0, 0-0 MW)Ram Volleyball Classic (Fort Collins, Colorado) - Hosted by Colorado State
Fresno State Bulldogs (0-0, 0-0 MW)
GBD Invite (Green Bay, Wisconsin) - Hosted by Wisconsin-Green Bay
- 8/30 - vs. Ohio (1PM) [Stats]
- 8/31 - vs. Indiana State (11 AM) [Stats]
- 8/31 - at Green Bay (6 PM) [Stats, Stream]
Nevada Wolfpack (0-0, 0-0 MW)Sacramento State Invitational (Sacramento, California) - Hosted by Sacramento State
New Mexico Lobos (0-0, 0-0 MW)Northern Colorado Classic (Greeley, Colorado) - Hosted by Northern Colorado- 8/30 - vs. Rutgers (10:30 AM) [Stats]
- 8/30 - vs. Grand Canyon (4:30 PM) [Stats]
- 8/31 - at Northern Colorado (12 PM) [Stats, Video]
San Diego State Aztecs (0-0, 0-0 MW)Florida Gulf Coast Classic (Fort Myers, Florida) - Hosted by Florida Gulf Coast
San Jose State Spartans (0-0, 0-0 MW)Aggie Invitational (Davis, California) - Hosted by UC Davis
UNLV Rebels (0-0, 0-0 MW)Wildcat Invitational (Ogden, Utah) - Hosted by Weber State- 8/30 - at Weber State (12 PM) [Stats, Stream]
- 8/30 - vs. CSUN (5:30 PM) [Stats]
- 8/31 - vs. Portland (11 AM) [Stats]
Utah State Aggies (0-0, 0-0 MW)Utah State Invitational (Logan, Utah) - Hosted by Utah State
Wyoming Cowgirls (0-0, 0-0 MW)Buffs Invitational (Boulder, Colorado) - Hosted by Colorado- 8/30 - at Colorado (6 PM) [Stats, Stream]
- 8/31 - vs. UCSB (12 PM) [Can't find any links...?]
- 9/2 - vs. LIU Brooklyn (6:30 PM, in Laramie) [Stats, Stream]
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Post by Carlito on Aug 29, 2019 20:36:28 GMT -5
Go Rams!
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Post by speegs13 on Aug 29, 2019 21:36:32 GMT -5
Whew! Now that that's all been written, some thoughts on the opening week:
Boise is gonna get tested early and fast - season opener AT BYU and immediately followed with Marquette a few hours later. I honestly think Boise will drop both, but I expect them to be fairly competitive. Plus the altitude should not affect Boise as much as other teams.
To me (and yes, a bit of a homer), I think the Colorado State tournament is one of the more competitive tournaments in the early season with both Cal and Oklahoma coming in. What's interesting is all three teams did not lose much from last season, so all three should be fairly good. If either Cal or Oklahoma can go 3-0, this would be huge for their at-large resumes come tournament time. If CSU can go 3-0, this could a ways in maybe helping them get a seed.
Wyoming at Colorado will also be interesting. Wyoming beat a banged-up CU 3-2 at the beginning of last year in Laramie, and the rematch will look a bit different with underclassman-dominated Buffs team.
New Mexico and Fresno are my teams to watch. New Mexico has a new coach and some decent recruits - interviews in articles are stating the Lobos are gonna run a "lightning fast" offense. Fresno lost every starting hitter from last year, but return their (really good) libero and setter - so I don't think ball control will be an issue for them!
UNLV-Portland match is rematch of the NIVC quarterfinals - fun to see these two teams match up again at the beginning of the season!
Other than that, the rest of the conference teams seem to be playing in tournaments with teams at a similar level or below - so the MW should pull out a few wins this week.
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trojansc
Legend
All-VolleyTalk 1st Team (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017), All-VolleyTalk 2nd Team (2016), 2021, 2019 Fantasy League Champion, 2020 Fantasy League Runner Up, 2022 2nd Runner Up
Posts: 28,104
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Post by trojansc on Aug 29, 2019 21:49:52 GMT -5
Colorado is going to destroy Wyoming this time around..... i Called it!
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Post by speegs13 on Aug 30, 2019 11:02:19 GMT -5
And San Diego State gets the first win for the MW! 3-0 over Akron (-20, -19, -18)
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