NAIA 2024

[naiamvbfan]

Interested to here other opinions on this: Vanguard is only scheduled to play 15 games this regular season according to website. This seems low to me. Looking at some other west coast teams:

Benu: 25
OUAZ: 19
Masters: 23
Menlo: 18

NAIA says schools are allowed 26 dates for competition looking at teams maxing out around 26-28 total games.

I’d like to guess that the average team probably plays 20 or so games in regular season so just sort of bothers me to see only 15 for a team but maybe I’m just being difficult about something minor?

[gofaster88]

Jan 28, 2024 23:03:01 GMT -5 naiamvbfan said:

Interested to here other opinions on this: Vanguard is only scheduled to play 15 games this regular season according to website. This seems low to me. Looking at some other west coast teams:

Benu: 25
OUAZ: 19
Masters: 23
Menlo: 18

NAIA says schools are allowed 26 dates for competition looking at teams maxing out around 26-28 total games.

I’d like to guess that the average team probably plays 20 or so games in regular season so just sort of bothers me to see only 15 for a team but maybe I’m just being difficult about something minor?

Going back to last year they played 20 regular season matches.  Three against D1 schools (CSUN, Concordia, and UCSB) which no longer are on their schedule and 3 against Ben U (who they are only playing once).  So that's the 5 match difference from 2024 to 2023.

[photogirl]

Jan 29, 2024 9:03:16 GMT -5 gofaster88 said:

Jan 28, 2024 23:03:01 GMT -5 naiamvbfan said:

Interested to here other opinions on this: Vanguard is only scheduled to play 15 games this regular season according to website. This seems low to me. Looking at some other west coast teams:

Benu: 25
OUAZ: 19
Masters: 23
Menlo: 18

NAIA says schools are allowed 26 dates for competition looking at teams maxing out around 26-28 total games.

I’d like to guess that the average team probably plays 20 or so games in regular season so just sort of bothers me to see only 15 for a team but maybe I’m just being difficult about something minor?

Going back to last year they played 20 regular season matches.  Three against D1 schools (CSUN, Concordia, and UCSB) which no longer are on their schedule and 3 against Ben U (who they are only playing once).  So that's the 5 match difference from 2024 to 2023.

Disappointing how few matches Vanguard is playing and with no D1 matches on their schedule this year.  I wonder if it has anything to do with the move to NCAA next year.  Menlo also seems to have a light schedule.

I am more concerned with the number of games against the top ranked teams than I am about just the number of games.  I know some teams are playing the max allowed but a large majority of them are against some of the weakest teams.  The top teams probably get a lot more out of drills and scrimmages against their own bench players than they do against the lower tier of teams.

On that note, The Master's has 17 matches against either NCAA teams or currently ranked NAIA teams.  That is more than Vanguard is even playing.  William Penn has 14.  

At the other end of the spectrum, Jamestown only has one remaining against Saint Xavier.

[gofaster88]

Jan 29, 2024 13:59:42 GMT -5 photogirl said:

Jan 29, 2024 9:03:16 GMT -5 gofaster88 said:

Going back to last year they played 20 regular season matches.  Three against D1 schools (CSUN, Concordia, and UCSB) which no longer are on their schedule and 3 against Ben U (who they are only playing once).  So that's the 5 match difference from 2024 to 2023.

Disappointing how few matches Vanguard is playing and with no D1 matches on their schedule this year.  I wonder if it has anything to do with the move to NCAA next year.  Menlo also seems to have a light schedule.

I am more concerned with the number of games against the top ranked teams than I am about just the number of games.  I know some teams are playing the max allowed but a large majority of them are against some of the weakest teams.  The top teams probably get a lot more out of drills and scrimmages against their own bench players than they do against the lower tier of teams.

On that note, The Master's has 17 matches against either NCAA teams or currently ranked NAIA teams.  That is more than Vanguard is even playing.  William Penn has 14.  

At the other end of the spectrum, Jamestown only has one remaining against Saint Xavier.

Same thoughts I had, I wonder if they just said let's save the $ for next season when we have to travel and play more games once we are in the MPSF.  I don't think any NCAA D1/D2 team plays less than 20 matches in a season.

[Volleyfan024]

Does Vanguard's schedule have anything to do with not having a home gym?

[photogirl]

Jan 29, 2024 15:32:27 GMT -5 Volleyfan024 said:

Does Vanguard's schedule have anything to do with not having a home gym?

The only road matches they are playing this year are their 5 conference opponents, so they are not even scheduling road games.

My best guess has to do with multiple possible reasons.
1. Saving money on travel before NCAA move
2. Gym under construction and needing to play offsite might have been hard to schedule
3. NCAA teams might be shying away from playing them because it is a lose/lose for them.  Don't get credit for the win but penalized for a loss.  I know other NAIA teams are being scheduled by NCAA teams but Vanguard, as the defending champ is theoretically the strongest.
4. They don't need to schedule a bunch of matches, risking injury due to the strength of their conference and status as defending champion.  If they take care of business, they will get a bid to Nationals.

[naiamvbfan]

Jan 29, 2024 15:44:33 GMT -5 photogirl said:

Jan 29, 2024 15:32:27 GMT -5 Volleyfan024 said:

Does Vanguard's schedule have anything to do with not having a home gym?

The only road matches they are playing this year are their 5 conference opponents, so they are not even scheduling road games.

My best guess has to do with multiple possible reasons.
1. Saving money on travel before NCAA move
2. Gym under construction and needing to play offsite might have been hard to schedule
3. NCAA teams might be shying away from playing them because it is a lose/lose for them.  Don't get credit for the win but penalized for a loss.  I know other NAIA teams are being scheduled by NCAA teams but Vanguard, as the defending champ is theoretically the strongest.
4. They don't need to schedule a bunch of matches, risking injury due to the strength of their conference and status as defending champion.  If they take care of business, they will get a bid to Nationals.

My biggest issue coming back to your 4th point. GSAC is very good so if they don’t win conference for automatic bid how deserving will they be? I’d imagine this won’t be an issue if they stay top 6 or so but if they lose to Benu and beat Saint Xavier is that going to be better compared to at large HOA teams?

Masters has done a great job of playing teams from everywhere. They have won those matches building great case for at large bid and could build case for being #1 if go beat Benu and Park this week.

[gofaster88]

Jan 29, 2024 15:32:27 GMT -5 Volleyfan024 said:

Does Vanguard's schedule have anything to do with not having a home gym?

 Possibly, but they are technically playing 10 home games and 5 road games.  Wouldn't it be easier to find away games since host teams don't have travel costs?

[franknvb]

Jan 29, 2024 15:44:33 GMT -5 photogirl said:

Jan 29, 2024 15:32:27 GMT -5 Volleyfan024 said:

Does Vanguard's schedule have anything to do with not having a home gym?

The only road matches they are playing this year are their 5 conference opponents, so they are not even scheduling road games.

My best guess has to do with multiple possible reasons.
1. Saving money on travel before NCAA move
2. Gym under construction and needing to play offsite might have been hard to schedule
3. NCAA teams might be shying away from playing them because it is a lose/lose for them.  Don't get credit for the win but penalized for a loss.  I know other NAIA teams are being scheduled by NCAA teams but Vanguard, as the defending champ is theoretically the strongest.
4. They don't need to schedule a bunch of matches, risking injury due to the strength of their conference and status as defending champion.  If they take care of business, they will get a bid to Nationals.

The top so cal teams have no issue with scheduling NAIA teams unlike the Midwest teams. Vanguard us so tied in with the top D1 teams. Their coach is at ucsd and was with pepperdine andvtgey don't look like they are playing either one

[volleydude8]

Something I think very few people are talking about is the fact that park lost a good amount of guys to MoValley and that MoValley is kind of being slept on at the moment. Could be a possible dark horse out of the Heart and I’m curious to see what they can do this year.

[volleydude8]

Jan 28, 2024 23:03:01 GMT -5 naiamvbfan said:

Interested to here other opinions on this: Vanguard is only scheduled to play 15 games this regular season according to website. This seems low to me. Looking at some other west coast teams:

Benu: 25
OUAZ: 19
Masters: 23
Menlo: 18

NAIA says schools are allowed 26 dates for competition looking at teams maxing out around 26-28 total games.

I’d like to guess that the average team probably plays 20 or so games in regular season so just sort of bothers me to see only 15 for a team but maybe I’m just being difficult about something minor?

On the other end of the spectrum for mount mercy’s schedule it’s kind of crazy that they have 31 games scheduled to boost their record up to that needed .650 to qualify for nationals. They play that Baptist school 4 times this year and play them twice tonight. gotta be some rules against this in the future regarding amount of games and how many times you can play a school in one season.

[naiamvbfan]

Jan 30, 2024 8:40:46 GMT -5 volleydude8 said:

Jan 28, 2024 23:03:01 GMT -5 naiamvbfan said:

Interested to here other opinions on this: Vanguard is only scheduled to play 15 games this regular season according to website. This seems low to me. Looking at some other west coast teams:

Benu: 25
OUAZ: 19
Masters: 23
Menlo: 18

NAIA says schools are allowed 26 dates for competition looking at teams maxing out around 26-28 total games.

I’d like to guess that the average team probably plays 20 or so games in regular season so just sort of bothers me to see only 15 for a team but maybe I’m just being difficult about something minor?

On the other end of the spectrum for mount mercy’s schedule it’s kind of crazy that they have 31 games scheduled to boost their record up to that needed .650 to qualify for nationals. They play that Baptist school 4 times this year and play them twice tonight. gotta be some rules against this in the future regarding amount of games and how many times you can play a school in one season.

Interesting to note that because NAIA says max of 26 dates allowed for competition but I’m counting 27 for Mount Mercy

[photogirl]

Jan 30, 2024 10:33:52 GMT -5 naiamvbfan said:

Jan 30, 2024 8:40:46 GMT -5 volleydude8 said:

On the other end of the spectrum for mount mercy’s schedule it’s kind of crazy that they have 31 games scheduled to boost their record up to that needed .650 to qualify for nationals. They play that Baptist school 4 times this year and play them twice tonight. gotta be some rules against this in the future regarding amount of games and how many times you can play a school in one season.

Interesting to note that because NAIA says max of 26 dates allowed for competition but I’m counting 27 for Mount Mercy

I don't know about everybody else, but I am going to find myself rooting against Mount Mercy all year. If they are good and deserve to be in the tournament, that will be good because they have the chance to maybe bring out some fans. If they don't qualify as the host school, matches could be played in an empty arena, which is bad but almost what the NAIA deserves having it in Cedar Rapids I just don't want them getting a bid because they were barely able to squeak out enough wins by scheduling a bunch of bottom feeder teams.

[landog]

Jan 31, 2024 15:42:22 GMT -5 photogirl said:

Jan 30, 2024 10:33:52 GMT -5 naiamvbfan said:

Interesting to note that because NAIA says max of 26 dates allowed for competition but I’m counting 27 for Mount Mercy

I don't know about everybody else, but I am going to find myself rooting against Mount Mercy all year. If they are good and deserve to be in the tournament, that will be good because they have the chance to maybe bring out some fans. If they don't qualify as the host school, matches could be played in an empty arena, which is bad but almost what the NAIA deserves having it in Cedar Rapids I just don't want them getting a bid because they were barely able to squeak out enough wins by scheduling a bunch of bottom feeder teams.

I'm going to have to agree with you, no nock on Mercy but they are definitely going to have to prove themselves and I think they will. However playing Maranatha Baptist twice in one day might not be the best way to start. One of the matches Baptist had TWO kills in the entirety of the match in the other they had FIVE..........

[brokeclubdad]

Jan 29, 2024 18:02:10 GMT -5 franknvb said:

Jan 29, 2024 15:44:33 GMT -5 photogirl said:

The only road matches they are playing this year are their 5 conference opponents, so they are not even scheduling road games.

My best guess has to do with multiple possible reasons.
1. Saving money on travel before NCAA move
2. Gym under construction and needing to play offsite might have been hard to schedule
3. NCAA teams might be shying away from playing them because it is a lose/lose for them.  Don't get credit for the win but penalized for a loss.  I know other NAIA teams are being scheduled by NCAA teams but Vanguard, as the defending champ is theoretically the strongest.
4. They don't need to schedule a bunch of matches, risking injury due to the strength of their conference and status as defending champion.  If they take care of business, they will get a bid to Nationals.

The top so cal teams have no issue with scheduling NAIA teams unlike the Midwest teams. Vanguard us so tied in with the top D1 teams. Their coach is at ucsd and was with pepperdine andvtgey don't look like they are playing either one

So most schedules are filled during the summer and I know the coach had some health issues during that time. I am sure the was a major contributing factor. Still.... there should be more matches and some DI schools.