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Post by c4ndlelight on Sept 16, 2023 17:21:16 GMT -5
With preseason just about over, I added a new poll regarding how many teams do we think can make the tournament. Overall it was a strong preseason for the PAC. It is clear which 3 teams are in the top. After that it gets muddy. Will be really interesting to see how the undefeated ASU and CAL can do in conference play. There's still another day to play, with some big matches remaining - most notably, Stanford @ Louisville. Oregon also has to finish strong and take down Marquette. |
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Post by JJVb on Sept 16, 2023 17:56:54 GMT -5
With preseason just about over, I added a new poll regarding how many teams do we think can make the tournament. Overall it was a strong preseason for the PAC. It is clear which 3 teams are in the top. After that it gets muddy. Will be really interesting to see how the undefeated ASU and CAL can do in conference play. There's still another day to play, with some big matches remaining - most notably, Stanford @ Louisville. Oregon also has to finish strong and take down Marquette. True. Would love for us to finish with wins there. I don't think tournament eligibility impacts those two teams as much, but seeding placement will. |
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Post by JJVb on Sept 16, 2023 18:06:53 GMT -5
Also nice to see more freshmen contributing this weekend. Barton for WA had two really good matches including a career high kills vs. Cal Poly with 26 kills, and Wijay played in two matches for USC including in the win against Purdue getting 18 kills. Looks like USC will be in good hands with her after Fields finishes. I think Maggie Li finally has some competition for FOW.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Sept 16, 2023 21:37:53 GMT -5
Didn't Cal go undefeated in non-conference one of the years the went winless in the PAC (or close to it)? Only time will tell how good they once they start PAC play. It doesn't matter. Cal understood the assignment for lower-level teams. Bravo, Bears! Oregon St. did not understand the assignment. Just lot the first set to Portland St. after losing the first match to them earlier this week. Honestly don't think we can schedule them next year, despite the convenience. |
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Post by volleyl0ver on Sept 16, 2023 21:51:01 GMT -5
Just checked.. Stanford, Oregon & WSU all play each other twice this season! How exciting
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Post by JJVb on Sept 16, 2023 21:54:38 GMT -5
It doesn't matter. Cal understood the assignment for lower-level teams. Bravo, Bears! Oregon St. did not understand the assignment. Just lot the first set to Portland St. after losing the first match to them earlier this week. Honestly don't think we can schedule them next year, despite the convenience. That Portland State team is pretty good. I bet they finish at the top, or top 2 of the Big Sky this year. However, agreed that Oregon State didn't schedule the best non-conference. Maybe a little over confidence by the new coach, with a mostly new lineup due to transfers. People believe this coach can turnaround Oregon State, but I guess time will tell. But not likely the best preseason match for the Ducks RPI. |
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Post by c4ndlelight on Sept 16, 2023 21:59:28 GMT -5
Oregon St. did not understand the assignment. Just lot the first set to Portland St. after losing the first match to them earlier this week. Honestly don't think we can schedule them next year, despite the convenience. That Portland State team is pretty good. I bet they finish at the top, or top 2 of the Big Sky this year. However, agreed that Oregon State didn't schedule the best non-conference. Maybe a little over confidence by the new coach, with a mostly new lineup due to transfers. People believe this coach can turnaround Oregon State, but I guess time will tell. But not likely the best preseason match for the Ducks RPI. Then they shouldn't be playing Portland St..... schedule UP and don't come into conference with a .500 record. But long-term I don't see how scheduling them can be good when it's optional. The new coach brought in like 5 or 6 transfers, no big impact players and not a single one that can pass (when that HAD to be a clear priority given the roster inherited). A grad transfer OH who never played back row for a bad ACC team is now anchoring 6 rotations. Not a good portent for future recruiting, and it'll just get harder with a real track record - don't think the "story" to sell gets better after this year. Not sure the path for OSU to get talent to climb above midlevel in a very feisty MWC. |
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Post by JJVb on Sept 16, 2023 22:07:34 GMT -5
That Portland State team is pretty good. I bet they finish at the top, or top 2 of the Big Sky this year. However, agreed that Oregon State didn't schedule the best non-conference. Maybe a little over confidence by the new coach, with a mostly new lineup due to transfers. People believe this coach can turnaround Oregon State, but I guess time will tell. But not likely the best preseason match for the Ducks RPI. The coach brought in like 5 or 6 transfers, no big impact players and not a single one that can pass (when that HAD to be a clear priority given the roster inherited). A grad transfer OH who never played back row for a bad ACC team is now anchoring 6 rotations. Not a good portent for future recruiting, and it'll just get harder with a real track record - don't think the "story" to sell gets better after this year. Not sure the path for OSU to get talent to climb above midlevel in a very feisty MWC. Suess can pass, probably more consistently than Vernon. Not being able to dig or block are the weakest spots. Well they have 5 commits for 2024 and 4 for 2025-assuming they all still sign. The next year or two will be telling. |
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Post by c4ndlelight on Sept 16, 2023 22:08:49 GMT -5
The coach brought in like 5 or 6 transfers, no big impact players and not a single one that can pass (when that HAD to be a clear priority given the roster inherited). A grad transfer OH who never played back row for a bad ACC team is now anchoring 6 rotations. Not a good portent for future recruiting, and it'll just get harder with a real track record - don't think the "story" to sell gets better after this year. Not sure the path for OSU to get talent to climb above midlevel in a very feisty MWC. Suess can pass, probably more consistently than Vernon. Not being able to dig or block are the weakest spots. Well they have 5 commits for 2024 and 4 for 2025-assuming they all still sign. The next year or two will be telling. Seuss is getting aced on like 10% of serves sent her way, against a pretty bad schedule. Even if Vernon is worse, that doesn't mean either of them should be passing (and Vernon scores much better - by a margin of more than 1 kps and 150 points in efficiency). |
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Post by JJVb on Sept 16, 2023 22:19:24 GMT -5
Suess can pass, probably more consistently than Vernon. Not being able to dig or block are the weakest spots. Well they have 5 commits for 2024 and 4 for 2025-assuming they all still sign. The next year or two will be telling. Seuss is getting aced on like 10% of serves sent her way, against a pretty bad schedule. Even if Vernon is worse, that doesn't mean either of them should be passing (and Vernon scores much better - by a margin of more than 1 kps and 150 points in efficiency). Agreed neither should pass, but Vernon is allowed because she is much more effective at scoring. Suess doesn't get a lot of kills each match. Ball control and defense have to be priorities for them next year. They will be losing over 1/2 of their roster to graduation, and maybe that will be a good thing. |
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Post by mikegarrison on Sept 17, 2023 13:43:00 GMT -5
They will be losing over 1/2 of their roster to graduation, and maybe that will be a good thing. Not specific to this team, but whenever I see people talking about how a 5-25 team is going to be good the next year because they are returning all their starters, I'm like: "What 'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" |
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Post by JJVb on Sept 18, 2023 3:24:32 GMT -5
With conference play starting PAC-12 Standings:
ASU 12-0
CAL 11-0
Oregon 10-1
WSU 10-1
Wash 9-2
UCLA 8-2
Col 8-3
Stan 7-2
USC 6-4
OR St 5-5
Utah 5-5
AZ 5-6
Looking forward to seeing these teams match up.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Sept 18, 2023 8:49:54 GMT -5
With conference play starting PAC-12 Standings: ASU 12-0 CAL 11-0 Oregon 10-1 WSU 10-1 Wash 9-2 UCLA 8-2 Col 8-3 Stan 7-2 USC 6-4 OR St 5-5 Utah 5-5 AZ 5-6 Looking forward to seeing these teams match up. The W/L percentage dropped a bit in the last week, but it was a big deal to pick up 3 Top 10 wins out-of-conference. That should do enough to preserve a very good chance for the Champion to host a regional. |
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trojansc
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Post by trojansc on Sept 18, 2023 8:56:31 GMT -5
With conference play starting PAC-12 Standings: ASU 12-0 CAL 11-0 Oregon 10-1 WSU 10-1 Wash 9-2 UCLA 8-2 Col 8-3 Stan 7-2 USC 6-4 OR St 5-5 Utah 5-5 AZ 5-6 Looking forward to seeing these teams match up. The W/L percentage dropped a bit in the last week, but it was a big deal to pick up 3 Top 10 wins out-of-conference. That should do enough to preserve a very good chance for the Champion to host a regional. The bubble teams are also at least content with their positions: USC's stock rose immensely as far as chances of making the NCAA Tournament. The way the Big Ten is looking, Purdue might be just good enough to separate from the mid-bottom teams and even possibly steal some from the top. It was very good for San Diego to beat Georgia. That's two possible T50 non-conf wins, and Skylar Fields should be able to pick up a couple significant conference wins and USC should hopefully be ok - but not a ton of breathing room either. UCLA scrambled for a tough split with Oklahoma, it easily could have been 0-2. Same with Colorado/Colorado State. Washington could have done worse, they'll have to take 2-1 at this point given they could have lost to Poly or Saint Mary's too. |
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Post by volleynerd on Sept 18, 2023 19:46:59 GMT -5
NO NIGHTS OFF THIS WEEK IN THE PAC: (EASTERN TIME) | TEAM (non-con W/L) | MATCH 1 | MATCH 2 | | Arizona State (12-0) | v. Arizona* | v. Washington* | | California (11-0) | v. Stanford* | @ Utah* | | Oregon (10-1) | v. Oregon State* | @ UCLA* | | Washington State (10-1) | v. Washington* | @ Arizona* | | Washington (9-2) | @ Washington State* | @ Arizona State* | | UCLA (8-2) | v. Southern California* | v. Oregon* | | Colorado (8-3) | v. Utah* | v. Stanford* | | Stanford (7-2) | @ California* | @ Colorado* | | Southern California (6-4) | @ UCLA* | v. Oregon State* | | Oregon State (5-5) | @ Oregon* | @ Southern California* | | Utah (5-5) | @ Colorado* | v. California* | | Arizona (5-6) | @ Arizona State* | v. Washington State* |
*PAC 12 Networks TUE SEPT 19 Stanford @ California 10PM PAC12N WED SEPT 20 Southern California @ UCLA 10PM PAC12N THU SEPT 21 Utah @ Colorado 9PM PAC12N Arizona @ Arizona State 10PM PAC12N Washington @ Washington State 10PM PAC12N
FRI SEPT 22 Oregon State @ Oregon 10PM PAC12N SUN SEPT 24 California @ Utah 2PM PAC12N Stanford @ Colorado 2PM PAC12N Oregon State @ Southern California 4PM PAC12N Washington State @ Arizona 4PM PAC12N Washington @ Arizona State 4PM PAC12N Oregon @ UCLA 5PM PAC12N |
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