2nd AVCA Poll-after week of upsets

[lilred]

Generally, this doesn't mean a lot right now, but since people will be speculating about it anyway, might as well throw it out there.

The first five should be clear cut.

1. Nebraska-schedule not as strong as UCLA's but didn't lose
2. Penn St.- might have won ugly but like NU didn't lose
3. Santa Clara- still undefeated
4. UCLA- makes the biggest jump, as well they should
5. Florida- Only loss is to the team above them

Now here's where it gets tricky

Still undefeated are #14 USC, #16 Purdue, #17 California and #20 Ohio St. None of these teams is gonna make an eight position jump. ( I don't think)

6. Texas- Can't hardly put them below a Washington team that they beat...and their loss was a five game loss, in which they were up 2-0
7. Washington
8. Stanford- have to drop them below Washington, which logically means they have to be below Texas also...who beat Washington
9. USC- I think a five point jump is doable
10. Wisconsin- one loss is to Texas
11. Purdue- Like USC a five point jump should be manageable...could possibly switch places with Wisconsin

I am not trying to say that I am right or this is the way it should be...I'm just trying to think like a pollster. Its always hard to move a certain team up a certain number of spot this early in the season even if they are undefeated and there a number of teams with a single loss ahead of them already. Its also VERY hard to discern which loss is worse, especially in the beginning of the season, since you don't know who is really that good. Probably should go the way of the BCS polling in that a poll shouldn't be taken until say the beginning of conference play.

[IdahoBoy]

I don't like seeing Santa Clara so high. I don't like the omission of hawaii and includion of Purdue (who has played noone of consequence) and Wisconsin (who has beaten noone of consequence) above Hawaii.

Washington is hard to judge. PSU sneaks it's way up the polls because they play noone. I hate that.

USC is right where I ranked them preseason in your vote. California should be in the mix.

[lilred]

idahoboy said:

I don't like seeing Santa Clara so high. I don't like the omission of hawaii and includion of Purdue (who has played noone of consequence) and Wisconsin (who has beaten noone of consequence) above Hawaii.

Washington is hard to judge. PSU sneaks it's way up the polls because they play noone. I hate that.

USC is right where I ranked them preseason in your vote. California should be in the mix.

I am not trying to say that I am right or this is the way it should be...I'm just trying to think like a pollster.

PSU isn't gonna drop from #2 without losing. Yes, Hawaii's losses are to two very quality teams and they could very well stay in the top 10. But there has to be some shifting around because of teams having a single loss (some very unexpected). Like I said, the better solution is not to even have a poll until conference play starts.

[IdahoBoy]

lilred said:

idahoboy said:

I don't like seeing Santa Clara so high. I don't like the omission of hawaii and includion of Purdue (who has played noone of consequence) and Wisconsin (who has beaten noone of consequence) above Hawaii.

Washington is hard to judge. PSU sneaks it's way up the polls because they play noone. I hate that.

USC is right where I ranked them preseason in your vote. California should be in the mix.

I am not trying to say that I am right or this is the way it should be...I'm just trying to think like a pollster.

PSU isn't gonna drop from #2 without losing. Yes, Hawaii's losses are to two very quality teams and they could very well stay in the top 10. But there has to be some shifting around because of teams having a single loss (some very unexpected). Like I said, the better solution is not to even have a poll until conference play starts.

I think a poll now is a good thing... it keeps buzz and excitement and gives some teams something to shoot for.

Didn't mean to upset you or attack you, sorry if it came off like that.

I've seen a lot of multiple loss teams stay high in the polls before, Hawaii being one of them, because of their reputation and their strength of schedule. I still don't see Hawaii dropping below 11th, even with the one-loss teams out there.

I'm pretty close to finishing up my poll now. Some minor tweaking between teams that are realy close and I'll have it. With as many upsets and surprises as their has been this season, I'm surprised that it wasn't as difficult to place teams as I had thought.

[aaronic]

lilred said:

Generally, this doesn't mean a lot right now, but since people will be speculating about it anyway, might as well throw it out there.

The first five should be clear cut.

1. Nebraska-schedule not as strong as UCLA's but didn't lose
2. Penn St.- might have won ugly but like NU didn't lose
3. Santa Clara- still undefeated
4. UCLA- makes the biggest jump, as well they should
5. Florida- Only loss is to the team above them

Now here's where it gets tricky

Still undefeated are #14 USC, #16 Purdue, #17 California and #20 Ohio St. None of these teams is gonna make an eight position jump. ( I don't think)

6. Texas- Can't hardly put them below a Washington team that they beat...and their loss was a five game loss, in which they were up 2-0

Texas did lose to Cal Poly....

[IdahoBoy]

aaronic said:

lilred said:

Generally, this doesn't mean a lot right now, but since people will be speculating about it anyway, might as well throw it out there.

The first five should be clear cut.

1. Nebraska-schedule not as strong as UCLA's but didn't lose
2. Penn St.- might have won ugly but like NU didn't lose
3. Santa Clara- still undefeated
4. UCLA- makes the biggest jump, as well they should
5. Florida- Only loss is to the team above them

Now here's where it gets tricky

Still undefeated are #14 USC, #16 Purdue, #17 California and #20 Ohio St. None of these teams is gonna make an eight position jump. ( I don't think)

6. Texas- Can't hardly put them below a Washington team that they beat...and their loss was a five game loss, in which they were up 2-0

Texas did lose to Cal Poly....

In 5, with a limited lineup, Pepperdine also beat Cal Poly in 5. It's not a SUPER significant loss, I think.

[aaronic]

idahoboy said:

lilred said:

I am not trying to say that I am right or this is the way it should be...I'm just trying to think like a pollster.

PSU isn't gonna drop from #2 without losing. Yes, Hawaii's losses are to two very quality teams and they could very well stay in the top 10. But there has to be some shifting around because of teams having a single loss (some very unexpected). Like I said, the better solution is not to even have a poll until conference play starts.

I think a poll now is a good thing... it keeps buzz and excitement and gives some teams something to shoot for.

Didn't mean to upset you or attack you, sorry if it came off like that.

I've seen a lot of multiple loss teams stay high in the polls before, Hawaii being one of them, because of their reputation and their strength of schedule. I still don't see Hawaii dropping below 11th, even with the one-loss teams out there.

I'm pretty close to finishing up my poll now. Some minor tweaking between teams that are realy close and I'll have it. With as many upsets and surprises as their has been this season, I'm surprised that it wasn't as difficult to place teams as I had thought.

I see Hawaii just outside the Top 10; though no lower than 11th.

But if it doesn't work out that who gives, it's not like it's going to matter in December...

[lilred]

idahoboy said:

lilred said:

I.

I think a poll now is a good thing... it keeps buzz and excitement and gives some teams something to shoot for.

I definately agree with this statement.

[Pirate VB Fan]

lilred said:

5. Florida- Only loss is to the team above them

Nice theory, even if totally devoid of facts. Florida did not lose to a team above them. They lost to a team that was five slots below them. And lost badly (I mean, really, 15-30 in the deciding game #3?). Washington lost to a team that was also five slots below them, but lost 13-15 in five.

In any rational world (which I do not claim AVCA volleyball to be, btw) Florida drops to, at best, six or seven, with both Texas and Washington above them. Stanford loss was to a worst team (but at least Stanford took a game), so Florida might stay above Stanford.

Of the multitude of Top Ten losses this last ten days, Florida and Stanford had the worst ones, although Wisconsin played liked Swiss Cheese against Texas, and Hawai'i lost twice, although both times to good teams [one above them, one below them].

[canyoudigit]

huskyvbfan said:

lilred said:

5. Florida- Only loss is to the team above them

Nice theory, even if totally devoid of facts. Florida did not lose to a team above them. They lost to a team that was five slots below them. And lost badly (I mean, really, 15-30 in the deciding game #3?). Washington lost to a team that was also five slots below them, but lost 13-15 in five.

In any rational world (which I do not claim AVCA volleyball to be, btw) Florida drops to, at best, six or seven, with both Texas and Washington above them. Stanford loss was to a worst team (but at least Stanford took a game), so Florida might stay above Stanford.

Of the multitude of Top Ten losses this last ten days, Florida and Stanford had the worst ones, although Wisconsin played liked Swiss Cheese against Texas, and Hawai'i lost twice, although both times to good teams [one above them, one below them].

Um, Texas lost to an unranked team. I'd say that's easily the worst loss of the week by a top 10 team. Your logic here is flawed. Stanford lost to a worse team than Florida did, but because they took a game, their loss isn't as bad? Huh? They lost to a worse team, of course they should take at least a game. And Hawaii has 2 losses, but they are both good losses? So, Florida's loss to UCLA is bad, but Hawaii's loss to UCLA is good? You make no sense at all. I understand you are a Washington fan, but your logic makes no sense. Washington lost to a Texas team, that lost to Cal Poly. Neither should be ahead of Florida. Florida has 2 wins over ranked teams, Washington has 1.

[JHAM]

Does the first poll come out later today or tomorrow due to the holiday?

[lilred]

huskyvbfan said:

lilred said:

5. Florida- Only loss is to the team above them

Nice theory, even if totally devoid of facts. Florida did not lose to a team above them. They lost to a team that was five slots below them. And lost badly (I mean, really, 15-30 in the deciding game #3?). Washington lost to a team that was also five slots below them, but lost 13-15 in five.

In any rational world (which I do not claim AVCA volleyball to be, btw) Florida drops to, at best, six or seven, with both Texas and Washington above them. Stanford loss was to a worst team (but at least Stanford took a game), so Florida might stay above Stanford.

Of the multitude of Top Ten losses this last ten days, Florida and Stanford had the worst ones, although Wisconsin played liked Swiss Cheese against Texas, and Hawai'i lost twice, although both times to good teams [one above them, one below them].

1. I at least put myself out there....knowing there would be criticism.

2. "your fact" that Florida lost to a team that was five spots below them, is very misleading. The reality is, UCLA was placed at #10 and Florida was placed at #5 solely based on expectations. NOT on actual results. There is a
BIG difference.

3. So you really believe Florida should drop below a Texas team that lost to a team that lost to another team? Even though Florida's loss was to a team that hasn't lost any other matches either. That would certainly qualify as:

Nice theory, even if totally devoid of facts.

Finally this was not intended to be the "right" poll. I just put out there what I thought would happen and tried to give a reason. Certainly it would have been easier to list 10-15 teams and leave it at that. I think Hawaii will probably fall at most to 11..if that.

[D. B. Cooper]

Talk, talk, talk. Blah, blah, blah.

And what exactly has Hawaii done? Really what? Pull out two 5 game victories over Pepperdine at home. Wow! Really, Wow! And get swept off their own floor. Twice. Can't even use the trusty "we have to travel so far" excuse.

They are not top 10. Not even top 15 but will probably be there this week. Enjoy it. Lose to Stanford next week. Bye bye top 15. Lose 1 or 2 to Cal Poly. Watchout below.

They're so lucky to be hosting a regional. But that may not even be enough.

[Gelatinous Mass]

I agree, the Texas loss should drop them farther than I would like since they lost to an unranked team, however, Texas also beat 3 ranked teams, #3, #9 and I think Pepperdine was #19 or #20 when they beat them...so somewhere in there it has to even out....I wouldn't be surprised if Texas hangs on in the top 10.

[StuffU]

wayfat said:

I agree, the Texas loss should drop them farther than I would like since they lost to an unranked team, however, Texas also beat 3 ranked teams, #3, #9 and I think Pepperdine was #19 or #20 when they beat them...so somewhere in there it has to even out....I wouldn't be surprised if Texas hangs on in the top 10.

They certainly have enough quality wins to stay in the Top 10. The TV match against Washington will stick in the mind of voters for awhile.