Week Eight Selected Match Highlights:
The Big Ten had three epic matches last week, highlighted by Nebraska's colossal struggle with host Minnesota: 28-30, 19-25, 25-10, 25-12, and 15-11. Improving Michigan State fell to undefeated and national Number One host Illinois, 3-2, and Michigan beat host Northwestern, 3-2.
In the Big 12, host Texas A&M knocked off a suddenly struggling Oklahoma, 3-2, in an inspired come-from-behind fashion: 22-25, 19-25, 25-17, 29-27, and 15-11. The other great match saw Oklahoma get past Kansas, 3-2, back in Norman.
The SEC promoted its brand of volleyball very well on national stage ESPNU last week, as host Kentucky's exciting 3-2 victory over Tennessee was easily the match of the week. The Wildcats followed that big win with an inexplicable 0-3 loss on the road at Mississippi State, which was the national upset of the week. Was Kentucky in overlook or big win hangover mode, or was the team still gassed from the Tennessee match?
In the ACC and in the week's other big upset, Georgia Tech knocked off host Miami, 3-1. Florida State crushed that same Georgia Tech team and Clemson, solidifying its hold on the top of the conference.
Washington (aka Transfer Tech and self-proclaimed Business Model U. where volleyball is concerned) decided not to show up in the Bay Area, with disappointing losses to non-transfer powerhouses Stanford and Cal, so there were no classic matches in the Pac-12 last week.
In an exciting contest also shown on ESPNU, host New Mexico State stretched Hawaii to five sets before losing in a battle of WAC powers: 25-17, 21-25, 20-25, 27-25, 5-15.
In the Mountain West, Colorado State looked sharp in not losing a set against New Mexico and TCU. In the WCC, San Diego had an epic battle with host Saint Mary's, finally overcoming the Gaels 19-25, 24-26, 26-24, 25-11, and 15-11. It doesn't get much closer than that.
Week Eight Selected Individual Highlights:
Nebraska survived Minnesota and crushed Wisconsin on the road thanks to Hannah Werth (32 kills, 27 digs, and 6 blocks), Gina Mancuso (31 kills, 23 digs, and 8 blocks), Morgan Broekhuis (23 kills, 16 digs, 6 blocks, and 2 service aces), Lauren Cook (83 assists, 30 digs, 2 service aces, and 3 kills), and Brooke Delano's remarkable 14 blocks and 9 kills.
Texas A&M triumphed over Oklahoma due to the efforts of Lindsey Miller (23 kills and 7 blocks), Alisia Kastmo (18 kills and 1 service ace), Kelsey Black (10 kills, 12 digs, and 3 blocks), Elise Hendrickson (10 kills, 2 service aces, and 1 block), Allie Sawatzky (60 assists, 10 digs, 5 kills, and 1 block), and Tori Mellinger (15 digs, 4 kills, 4 service aces, and 1 block).
Stanford sailed by Washington and Washington State with the invaluable help of Rachel Williams (28 kills, 4 service aces, 3 blocks, and 14 digs), Carly Wopat (17 kills, 7 blocks, and 1 service ace), Karissa Cook (66 assists, 5 blocks, 19 digs, and 6 kills), Lydia Bai (20 kills and 7 digs), and Kyle Gilbert (21 digs).
Hawaii emerged victorious over New Mexico State and beat down Louisiana Tech without taking a deep breath thanks to Kanani Danielson (29 kills, 19 digs, 6 blocks, and 2 service aces), Jane Croson (28 kills and 19 digs), Brittany Hewitt (8 kills and 10 blocks), Mita Viato (77 assists, 3 service aces, and 6 blocks), and Elizabeth Blake (26 digs).
San Diego hammered Loyola Marymount and came from behind against Saint Mary's due to Amber Tatsch (28 kills, 5 service aces, 22 digs, and 3 blocks), Chloe Ferrari (27 kills, 10 blocks, and 1 service ace), Carrie Baird (22 kills, 18 digs, 3 blocks, and 1 service ace), Sandra Lozic (17 kills, 15 digs, 5 blocks, and 2 service aces), Jianna Bonomi (76 assists, 24 digs, 3 kills, and 2 blocks), and Kandiss Anderson (52 digs and 1 service ace).
Colorado State slaughtered TCU and New Mexico because Katelyn Steffan (25 kills, 5 service aces, and 2 blocks), Megan Plourde (14 kills and 9 blocks), Dana Cranston (17 kills, 24 digs, 3 blocks, and 2 service aces), Deedra Foss (69 assists, 4 kills, 6 blocks, and 1 service ace), and Izzy Gaulia (37 digs) decided to show up in top form for both matches.
An average Georgia Tech squad (10-8) beat an excellent Miami team (15-2) in four sets due to the performances of Monique Mead (19 kills and 4 blocks), Kaleigh Colson (12 kills, 34 assists, 4 service aces, 11 digs, and 1 block), Quinn Evans (9 kills and 4 blocks), and Ivona Kolak (8 kills and 9 digs).
A 9-8 Mississippi State team upset a 17-3 Kentucky team coming off a huge five-set win over Tennessee thanks to the work of Caitlin Rance (14 kills, 13 digs, and 2 blocks), Faith Steinwedell (11 kills, 9 digs, and 3 blocks), Hannah Wilkinson (7 kills and 5 blocks), Paris Perret (34 assists and 2 blocks), and Hillary Parker (17 digs).
Week Nine Selected Match Previews:
The Big Ten will have an interesting week, with Penn State's continued improvement tested once again in matches with Ohio State and Michigan at home. Michigan plays Michigan State in the other big conference contest.
In the Big 12, easily the third best volleyball conference, Texas travels to Baylor, Iowa State travels to Texas A&M, and Kansas State travels to Oklahoma.
In the Pac-12, Washington hosts Oregon (can you smell an upset brewing?) while Cal and Stanford try to avoid stumbles in the desert at ASU and Arizona.
The West Coast Conference has some big matches this week: powerhouses San Diego and Pepperdine visit Provo, Utah and a talented BYU team capable of beating anybody. San Diego also has a tough nonconference date with crosstown rival San Diego State.
Finally, watch for a rallying Duke team to give North Carolina a quality ACC battle at home in Durham.
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