2022 Volleyball

[NotBryceDrew]

Volleyball schedule is out would like to hear what people think about the non conference

[valpospartan]

I'm just happy that there are some non conf. home games

[vu84v2]

Interesting that the conference schedule it is not a full double round robin.

[IndyValpo]

What a start for this team. I have no idea the competition level but they battle and they win. Add to that Coach Avery is playing a bunch of players so we prepare for conference.

[talksalot]

9-0 is like "WOW"... Next week's RoadRunner (beep-beep) tournament in San Antonio will be another winnable experience.

Friday - UIW (University of the Incarnate Word) is not having a good year... in the 10am match.   They have lost 6 matches in a row (Charleston (0-3), Coastal Carolina (1-3) and Wofford (0-3) this weekend) 

After dinner, we play the UTSA host at 7pm, they are 3-6 having gone 2-1 hosting a different tournament this weekend with wins over McNeese State and South Florida, and losing a 5-setter to Texas-Arlington.  Last weekend, they went 0-3 against the likes of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (0-3) North Dakota State (0-3) and Louisiana-Lafayette (2-3).

... and  and then we play Houston Baptist at 11 am next Saturday who has a winning record against lower tier teams and played well in a 3-0 loss to a tough Southern Mississippi team.  (SoMiss clobbered UTSA a few weeks ago)


and THEN at Homecoming weekend ... hosting 5pm UNI on Friday and and 6pm Saturday vs Drake (for those of us pulling double-duty that Saturday, hoping for no weather-delays at the football game)

UNI - is 4-5... but they have played a helluva schedule.  Losses to Arizona State, #25 Southern Cal and #16 Kentucky and #17 Creighton in that mix...and they play at Iowa State and at Iowa before coming to the ARC.

DRAKE - is 7-2 with WIN over Iowa and a tournament win at IUPUI (Montana and St Francis).  They are playing in a rare 4-match tournament at Green Bay this coming weekend, SIUE, Green Bay, North Dakota and Western Illinois)

[justducky]

11-0 with Houston Baptist next at 11 AM. It doesn't look like the greatest schedule so just how good are these ladies? Is it too early to know?

[justducky]

I just love live stats. They keep you right there on the edge of your sleep. 

AND    A sweep.  12-0 going into Valley play

[valpotx]

It will be interesting to see how this translates to conference play.  I didn't think that we would finish as predicted at 5th, but also wasn't thinking top 2.  I think that we have a chance to do so.

[vu84v2]

While a 12-0 start is commendable, Valpo's non-conference schedule for women's volleyball was incredibly weak. The record is eyepopping, but the quality of opponents prevents any possibility of making the NCAA tournament as an at-large team (women's volleyball selection is very similar to basketball). Last year, Valpo's RPI for women's volleyball was 46, which means that scheduling should have considered the need for a decent strength of schedule. Right now, despite the 12-0 record, Valpo would probably need to only have one loss in conference and then a loss to a better opponent in the conference tournament to have any consideration for an at-large birth.

Compare the schedule with UNI, who has played three ranked opponents and several others who made the NCAA last season. Also, please note that my comments are only intended to suggest how coaching and athletic administration could have done better. All the players can do is go out, play hard and win.

[vusupporter]

While a 12-0 start is commendable, Valpo's non-conference schedule for women's volleyball was incredibly weak. The record is eyepopping, but the quality of opponents prevents any possibility of making the NCAA tournament as an at-large team (women's volleyball selection is very similar to basketball). Last year, Valpo's RPI for women's volleyball was 46, which means that scheduling should have considered the need for a decent strength of schedule. Right now, despite the 12-0 record, Valpo would probably need to only have one loss in conference and then a loss to a better opponent in the conference tournament to have any consideration for an at-large birth.

Compare the schedule with UNI, who has played three ranked opponents and several others who made the NCAA last season. Also, please note that my comments are only intended to suggest how coaching and athletic administration could have done better. All the players can do is go out, play hard and win.

Let's look at it this way - from last year's team, volleyball graduated:
- A libero who was a two-time MVC Libero of the Year and finished her career 2nd in NCAA history in digs.
- A setter who was a regular all four years she played, All-MVC and finished her career 3rd in program history in assists.
- A middle hitter who was twice All-MVC and finished her career 2nd in program history in blocks and 8th in kills.
- A middle hitter who was First Team All-MVC in her final season and finished her career 6th in program history in hitting percentage.

That is a ridiculous amount of talent and experience to lose from one team. Given Coach Avery's success, I think she deserves the benefit of the doubt in scheduling the nonconference in a way which prepares the team to perform in the MVC.

[vu84v2]

Last year RPIs of teams on this year's schedule
Delaware State 192
Idaho 308
Youngstown State 307
SIUE 290
Campbell 94
NIU 175
Morgan State 321
Akron 259
Cleveland State 249
UIW 273
UTSA 161
Houston Baptist 155

Other than one opponent, every opponent is worse than 150 and many are in the bottom 20% of D1. The coach deserves lots of credit for developing a strong program, but this is just poor scheduling when there are many strong midwestern volleyball programs and your program is trying to promote and advance itself.

[vu72]

Last year RPIs of teams on this year's schedule
Delaware State 192
Idaho 308
Youngstown State 307
SIUE 290
Campbell 94
NIU 175
Morgan State 321
Akron 259
Cleveland State 249
UIW 273
UTSA 161
Houston Baptist 155

Other than one opponent, every opponent is worse than 150 and many are in the bottom 20% of D1. The coach deserves lots of credit for developing a strong program, but this is just poor scheduling when there are many strong midwestern volleyball programs and your program is trying to promote and advance itself.

I understand your point but few fans would bother to check RPIs but rather would note that Valpo is only one of six teams in the country that are undefeated. Beyond that Coach knew she would have to find a way to integrate lots of new faces as well as relying on a freshman libero.  So far it has worked.  This weekend will tell us a lot more.

[DuneHwx]

Maybe coach felt like building confidence was the #1 goal of the non-conference schedule? This feels like somebody raining on a parade. Does anyone think they are going to the national championship? No. Let them enjoy it, this is unnecessary.

[vu84v2]

While I don't necessarily agree with your points regarding the non-conference schedule, I think that we can agree that we all want the team to win the MVC and go the the NCAA tournament. And I have no doubt that the team is doing everything it can to represent Valpo well.

[vu84v2]

Tough five set loss tonight to Northern Iowa, but this is obviously a good team.

As a side comment, that is definitely the first time that I have seen a Valpo team coached by someone wearing an AC/DC shirt.

[justducky]

Tough five set loss tonight to Northern Iowa, but this is obviously a good team.

Good competition, good contest, bad outcome! l will be watching a lot of volleyball this season and I still have only a general notion of just how good or bad we might finish in Valley play. A few more UNI level teams on the OOC schedule might have helped sort out my confusion a bit earlier.

[vu72]

Tough loss. Pretty good crowd. This UNI team is good.  They have a win over Iowa State this year.

[valpospartan]

Better outcome on Saturday, against Drake - VU wins 3-2.

[valpotx]

We should have swept against 2 very solid programs with marquee wins this season.  We blew that game 4 against UNI, when up 20-13.  We almost blew it against Drake, but recovered, just in time.  A learning weekend that will do us well for the rest of the year

[vu72]

The volleyball team just laid one of the biggest eggs in their history last night, getting absolutely drilled by UIC, 25-12, 25-16 and 25-14. Watching it one would think the team had been hit by some sort of illness, they looked that bad.  I suppose the youth and lack of returning stars might be starting to show, but I'm hoping it was just one of those very forgettable performances from which they quickly rebound.

[crusader05]

Avery mentioned in a prior interview that about half the team had the stomach bug prior to the UNI/Drake game.  Either the other half got it or they could have just been worn out and it caught up to them.

Sometimes though teams just go out flatfooted. It happens.

[valpotx]

Yes, I was extremely surprised at this result.  That is the quality of team that we would normally sweep 3-0, not the other way around

[vu84v2]

Great bounce back win...on the road against Illinois State. In front of over 3200 people.

[vu72]

Great bounce back win...on the road against Illinois State. In front of over 3200 people.

They looked very sharp! 

[talksalot]

BTW, illinois state offered free admission to that match... thus 3200 showed up.   

Anyway.. 3-2 win over Bradley tonight... 4 close sets.. and pulling away in the 5th.

Go Beacons