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Post by LoveAndVolleyball on Jul 7, 2004 20:41:00 GMT -5
[shadow=red,left,300]WCC: 2004 Forecast[/shadow]
The West Coast Conference is emerging as a powerful force in women’s D. 1 volleyball. The strength of the conference was established this past season by several WCC teams that participating in the 2003 tournament. I’m wondering what you Volleytalk insiders have to say about the upcoming season, and if the WCC teams and players have the ability to give the other big conferences a run for their money.
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Post by IdahoBoy on Jul 7, 2004 20:48:36 GMT -5
WCC has always had a little bit of power in it. Pepperdine, Santa Clara, and LMU have long been perennial top 30ish teams.
The problem keeping the WCC away from the traditional definition of a power conference in volleyball is that they have too much parity. The good teams are quite decent, but the bad teams are horrible, if not worse.
I think that last year was a fluke. A mix of solid performances against usually solid teams (but not so great in 2003) and early win streaks against lesser opponents gave a lot of the teams in the WCC an early-season advantage, which by the end of the year disintegrated and the teams which were in the polls early dropped out when their true power was shown.
Maybe the WCC is getting better, but it will take more than one good early season to prove it to most of us. In the meantime, they'll keep getting thumped by the schools they are trying to replace.
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Post by LoveAndVolleyball on Jul 7, 2004 21:01:35 GMT -5
What will Pepperdine, Santa Clara, and LMU bring to the 2004 season? What will happen to Pepperdine without Katie Wilkens? Did LMU have any big loses?
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Post by TheSantaBarbarian on Jul 7, 2004 22:31:55 GMT -5
"The problem keeping the WCC away from the traditional definition of a power conference in volleyball is that they have too much parity. The good teams are quite decent, but the bad teams are horrible, if not worse."
Or maybe "lack of pairty"?
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Post by IdahoBoy on Jul 7, 2004 22:51:15 GMT -5
Or maybe "lack of parity"? Thank you. |
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Post by dreman16 on Jul 8, 2004 13:39:39 GMT -5
What is the projected finish for the WCC in 04? Pepperdine then who??
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Post by IdahoBoy on Jul 8, 2004 15:38:17 GMT -5
What is the projected finish for the WCC in 04? Pepperdine then who?? I don't believe they've released any preseason polls yet... However, I did a tiny bit of research on them this summer already and my thoughts are that these will be the finishes: 1. Pepperdine 2. San Diego 3. Santa Clara 4. Loyola Marymount 5. Portland 6. St. Mary's 7. San Francisco 8. Gonzaga |
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Post by BearClause on Jul 8, 2004 16:19:08 GMT -5
I don't believe they've released any preseason polls yet... However, I did a tiny bit of research on them this summer already and my thoughts are that these will be the finishes: 1. Pepperdine 2. San Diego 3. Santa Clara 4. Loyola Marymount 5. Portland 6. St. Mary's 7. San Francisco 8. Gonzaga I've been following Santa Clara volleyball fairly closely over the years. They are losing quite a lot. Their primary offensive weapon (Becky Potter) is gone, as is one of the most under-rated setters in the country (Kelli Sousa). I've heard good things about their incoming freshman setter Crystal Mattich. However - it remains to be seen if any "go to" offensive player will emerge. Cassie Perret was decent, but I'm curious as to how well she has recovered from her ACL tear. They might end up playing several freshmen a lot. |
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Post by IdahoBoy on Jul 8, 2004 16:33:26 GMT -5
I've been following Santa Clara volleyball fairly closely over the years. They are losing quite a lot. Their primary offensive weapon (Becky Potter) is gone, as is one of the most under-rated setters in the country (Kelli Sousa). I've heard good things about their incoming freshman setter Crystal Mattich. However - it remains to be seen if any "go to" offensive player will emerge. Cassie Perret was decent, but I'm curious as to how well she has recovered from her ACL tear. They might end up playing several freshmen a lot. Isn't Jac Heler back after her nasty leg injury last year? |
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Post by LoveAndVolleyball on Jul 8, 2004 16:52:36 GMT -5
It was Alyssa Lantz that had the ACL and LCL tear last season, not Cassie Perret. I've heard that Jac Heller is recovering from the broken leg she suffered. However in spring she was playing Libero. Even with the injuries, I still think that Santa Clara will outplay San Diego.  |
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Post by BearClause on Jul 8, 2004 17:23:40 GMT -5
It was Alyssa Lantz that had the ACL and LCL tear last season, not Cassie Perret. I've heard that Jac Heller is recovering from the broken leg she suffered. However in spring she was playing Libero. Even with the injuries, I still think that Santa Clara will outplay San Diego. Whoops - brain fart (ouch). It was Alyssa Lantz with the ACL tear. In fact, I was at that Santa Clara-USF match, and the first thing that came to mind was "that's gotta be an ACL injury". Still - I'd think that this Santa Clara team will be searching for an identity, and they might not find it until the middle of the season. |
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Post by H2O on Jul 9, 2004 12:52:10 GMT -5
1- USD, 2- LMU, 3- Pepp or SCU. My take.
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Post by LoveAndVolleyball on Jul 9, 2004 17:32:44 GMT -5
What's going on with USD?
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Post by IdahoBoy on Jul 9, 2004 17:34:04 GMT -5
What's going on with USD? What do you mean? |
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Post by imuabrah on Jul 9, 2004 17:52:54 GMT -5
USD will be pretty good this year, they beat LMU at their tourney in the spring. Pepp will always be a factor. LMU returns everyone from last year except for Kealani. With the additions of Heather Hughes and Keri Englen, LMU will definitely finish top three in conference. I don't see Santa Clara being as much of a factor as other people think.
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