NCAA Volleyball Week Nine Highlights (10/17-10/23/11)

Week Nine Selected Match Highlights:


  The national match of the week saw host Nebraska overpower previously undefeated Illinois, 3-1, and earn the number one position in this week's Sandflea ranking. Both teams might have a rematch in the NCAA title game in December, notwithstanding Penn State's rapid improvement and a few superpowers on the West Coast.
  More protracted Big Ten battles were found in Purdue's thrilling five-set win over Indiana (25-13, 30-32, 25-23, 23-25, 15-6) and Minnesota's classic five-set triumph over Wisconsin (22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 21-25, 15-10). 
  In the Pac-12, the best match of the week was host Oregon's come-from-behind five-set win over a gritty Washington State team (21-25, 17-25, 25-8, 25-13, 15-12). The Ducks' inspired performance after intermission did not remotely resemble the play of the first two sets. It did resemble their season-opening match, wherein they defeated defending four-time national champ Penn State on the Nittany Lions' court. So, who gave the locker room speech?
  In the Big 12, Texas A&M outlasted host Texas Tech in a five-set marathon (26-24, 21-25, 25-20, 17-25, 15-13). In the ACC, two solid teams went to five sets, with Virginia Tech obtaining the mild upset of visiting Clemson (25-22, 14-25, 15-25, 25-19, 15-11).
  In the SEC, Kentucky struggled to get by host Auburn   
(25-18, 21-25, 25-19, 21-25, 15-12). In the Big East, Pittsburgh upended host Louisville, 3-1, while Marquette knocked off Seton Hall in a five-set come-from-behind thriller (22-25, 14-25, 25-21, 25-19, 15-12).
  In the Big West, Long Beach State is starting to roll, illustrated by a five-set win over always-tough host Cal Poly SLO (25-22, 21-25, 18-25, 25-19, 20-18). With UC Davis in freefall, it's hard to pick against the 49ers.
  In a trio of interesting five-set nonconference games, host San Diego defeated San Diego State (25-13, 13-25, 20-25, 25-18, 15-4), host Northern Iowa tripped up North Dakota State (25-13, 19-25, 25-21, 23-25, 20-18), and host Cincinnati beat Western Kentucky (25-21, 22-25, 25-21, 13-25, 16-14).
  The biggest upset of the week had to be Lipscomb's surprising 3-1 victory over the visiting Cardinals of Louisville. True, Lipscomb is a quality team and Louisville has been more inconsistent than usual this year. However, when comparing budgets, facilities, fan bases, and recruiting, the result has to be considered a huge upset. Could it be the coaching?
     
Week Nine Selected Individual Highlights:


  In the Pac-12, Cal didn't lose a set to either Arizona State or Arizona thanks to Shannon Hawari (18 kills and 15 blocks), Tarah Murrey (18 kills, 19 digs, 4 blocks, and 2 service aces), Lillian Schonewise (17 kills and 7 blocks), and Elly Barrett (69 assists, 6 blocks, and 3 kills). Oregon appears to be peaking at the right time after enduring a slump, with victories against Washington and WSU due to the efforts of Alaina Bergsma (38 kills, 18 digs, 5 blocks, and 3 service aces), Liz Brenner (27 kills, 3 blocks, and 5 digs), Katherine Fischer (23 kills, 25 digs, and 1 service ace), Ariana Williams (19 kills and 3 blocks), and Lauren Plum (97 assists, 22 digs, 4 blocks, 4 kills, and 2 service aces). 
  In the Big Ten, Purdue beat both Indiana and Minnesota thanks to Ariel Turner (45 kills and 25 digs), Valerie Nichol (19 kills and 6 blocks), Catherine Rebarchak (10 kills12 blocks, and 2 service aces), Tiffany Fisher (16 kills, 10 blocks, and 2 service aces),  Rachel Davis (85 assists, 20 digs, and 7 kills), and Blair Bashen (38 digs and 2 service aces). In the same conference, Penn State shutout both Ohio State and Michigan due to Ariel Scott (19 kills and 7 blocks), Katie Slay (18 kills and 11 blocks), Nia Grant (17 kills and 4 blocks), Deja McClendon (17 kills, 8 digs, 2 blocks, and 2 service aces), and another freshman of the year candidate, Micha Hancock (7 kills, 65 assists, 5 service aces, 10 digs, and 3 blocks).
  In the Big 12, Texas cruised by Baylor and Mizzou on the skills of Bailey Webster (24 kills and 6 blocks), Haley Eckerman (22 kills and 2 service aces), Rachael Adams (17 kills and 4 blocks), Khat Bell (15 kills, 11 blocks, and 1 service ace), and Hannah Allison (73 assists, 12 digs, 7 blocks, and 3 kills).
  In the SEC, Florida shut out South Carolina and Mississippi State and stayed in the hunt for the conference championship thanks to the efforts of Kristy Jaeckel (19 kills, 8 service aces, 17 digs, and 5 blocks), Kelly Murphy (14 kills, 39 assists, 17 digs, and 2 service aces), Tangerine Wiggs (18 kills and 2 blocks), Betsy Smith (13 kills and 3 blocks), Stephanie Ferrell (13 kills and 3 blocks), and Chanel Brown (32 assists and 1 service ace). 
  In the possibly crumbling Big East, Cincinnati had three remarkable victories over Western Kentucky, Pittsburgh, and West Virginia thanks to Jordanne Scott (45 kills, 5 blocks, and 4 service aces), Missy Harpenau (30 kills, 34 digs, and 6 blocks), Caylin Mahoney (10 kills, 118 assists, 16 digs, and 3 service aces), Becca Refenes (21 kills, 10 blocks, and 3 service aces), Emily Hayden (20 kills and 9 blocks), and Emily MacIntyre (59 digs and 1 service ace).
  In the WAC, superpower Hawaii (properly ranked #2 nationally in this blog) lost only 1 set in 4 matches last week thanks to Kanani Danielson (40 kills, 36 digs, 8 blocks, and 3 service aces), Emily Hartong (43 kills, 24 digs, 8 blocks, and 2 service aces), Jane Croson (40 kills, 48 digs, and 5 service ace), Brittany Hewitt (22 kills, 19 blocks, and 3 service aces), and Mita Uiato (146 assists, 23 digs, 7 blocks, 7 kills, and 2 service aces).
  In the Missouri Valley, Northern Iowa notched three victories and remains a potential giant killer in the 2011 NCAA tournament courtesy of the achievements of Michelle Burow (42 kills, 5 blocks, and 2 service aces), Amy Braun (43 kills and 43 digs), Krista DeGeest (30 kills and 13 blocks), Shelby Kintzel (29 kills and 10 blocks), and Bre Payton (15 kills, 152 assists, 41 digs, 3 blocks, and 3 service aces).
  
Week Ten Selected Match Previews:


  For a change, the national focus will be on the Pac-12 and four contests in particular: UCLA-Cal, USC-Cal, USC-Stanford, and UCLA-Stanford. With Washington's surprising recent collapse, there are now only four Pac-12 powerhouses. They will be battling for NCAA tourney seeds.
  In the Big Ten, Purdue's trip to Michigan and Michigan State proves very interesting. In the Big 12, Iowa State visits Texas. In the SEC, Florida seeks revenge in a trip to Knoxville to face Tennessee.
  In the Mountain West, the Aztecs of San Diego State will pitch battle against the Rams of Colorado State to see who will win the conference. In the WCC, Pepperdine travels to San Diego in a contest of conference elites. 
  Finally, in the Missouri Valley Conference, Northern Iowa travels to Missouri State and Wichita State for tough tests and to see who will emerge in first place. Why is it important? Conferences like the MVC do not usually receive more than one or two spots in the NCAA Championship Tournament. After all, there has to be room for eight teams each from the Big Ten and Pac-12 (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz).