OT: NCAA Womens Volleyball Regional Semifinals 12-6 ESPNU

[nwhoopfan]

A lot of people from the Big Ten and Pac-12 are dismissive of Florida and Kentucky (and SEC volleyball in general) much the same way that UConn, SEC, and ACC snobs in women's basketball have thumbed their nose at the Pac-12 for years (and still continue to do so, to a degree). That probably won't change until one or both of Florida or Kentucky reach the Final Four and/or start knocking off the likes of Nebraska and Penn State in the tournament.

There is definitely a superiority complex among Big 10 and Pac 12 fans (Big 10 are way worse I think). There are definitely some other top notch volleyball programs from other conferences, Texas in particular. But I think the quality depth in those top 2 conferences really sets them apart from others. Washington St. was only 6-14 in conference this year but was good enough to win a first round match.

 

[Plebe]

There is definitely a superiority complex among Big 10 and Pac 12 fans (Big 10 are way worse I think). There are definitely some other top notch volleyball programs from other conferences, Texas in particular. But I think the quality depth in those top 2 conferences really sets them apart from others. Washington St. was only 6-14 in conference this year but was good enough to win a first round match.

Yes indeed. Pac-12 fans are, perhaps stereotypically, more laid back about everything. The Big Ten fans are just so intensely rabid about not only their respective teams but about their conference superiority complex. It's truly obnoxious.

Washington State, due to the unbalanced schedule, had a brutally tough Pac-12 schedule. The played Arizona and Arizona State only once each, which meant that 16 of their 20 conference matches were against the top 30 of the RPI. No other team in the country had as rough a gauntlet.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I'm admittedly a Pac 12 homer. The conference used to be completely dominant in non revenue sports other than women's bball. They've sadly lost their stranglehold on Championships on a nearly yearly basis in volleyball, softball, baseball. At least they still have water polo. And Stanford might get a clean sweep in women's/men's soccer this year.

About Big 10 fans. My brother and his family are just outside Dayton, OH. Way too close to Columbus. He can't stand tOSU fans, he calls them Bucknuts.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Kentucky acquitted themselves well but not surprisingly lost to Nebraska 3-1.

USC pissing away a Final 4 berth. Up 2 sets to 1 blew a 21-18 lead in the 4th and 9-5 lead in the 5th. Match point Florida.

edited--USC just imploded in the 5th, got outscored 10-2 after having a comfortable lead. Gators finally got back to the Final 4.

 

[Plebe]

Kentucky acquitted themselves well but not surprisingly lost to Nebraska 3-1.

USC pissing away a Final 4 berth. Up 2 sets to 1 blew a 21-18 lead in the 4th and 9-5 lead in the 5th. Match point Florida.

edited--USC just imploded in the 5th, got outscored 10-2 after having a comfortable lead. Gators finally got back to the Final 4.

Yeah, I caught most of the Kentucky match and Nebraska was ultimately just too much. Kentucky did pretty well to make it a match, and had it tied late in the 4th with a chance to push it to 5. Just couldn't quite break through.

USC was playing unreal for most of the match but yeah imploded in sets 4 and 5. Lanier could only carry them so far, and both Botkin and Withers kind of wilted down the stretch. It was their season in a nutshell. They could beat anybody when they were on, or they could lose to teams like Maryland and Arizona.

Penn State just swept Michigan State although sets 1 and 3 were very tight. That sets up a rematch with Nebraska, the only team that's beaten PSU this year.

Stanford-Texas about to start shortly.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Stanford sweeps Texas.

I can already hear all the Big 10 fans claiming the Penn St.-Nebraska semi final is the "real championship match."

 

[Plebe]

Stanford sweeps Texas.

I can already hear all the Big 10 fans claiming the Penn St.-Nebraska semi final is the "real championship match."

I think most of them respect (fear) Stanford because of what happened last year. Stanford beat #3 Wisconsin and #2 Minnesota on the way to the title. And Stanford has almost the entire team back from last year.

Florida? Not as much respect there.

 

[bballnut90]

Stanford sweeps Texas.

I can already hear all the Big 10 fans claiming the Penn St.-Nebraska semi final is the "real championship match."

I don't think anyone really thinks that. Stanford looks like the best team in the country at this point with Plummer killing everything and Hentz digging everything. I think they sweep Florida in the semis-- Stanford matches up better at most positions and is more consistent.

Penn State/Nebraska should be a heck of a match up though. Nebraska beat Penn State with ease in the first meeting and has had Penn State's number more than anyone else over the last several years. That said, Penn State on paper looks more formidable with Washington/Lee being so terminal and other strong contributors like Frantti, Detering and Thelen who can have big nights. I think Nebraska runs a cleaner system in a 5-1 with Hunter and 2 outsides that play all around. There are more inconsistencies in a 6-2 and I don't think either of Penn State's setters do as good of a job as Hunter. Penn State will be more prone to getting rattled and could self destruct. I don't see that happening with Nebraska. Could go either way, but I think

If it's Stanford/Penn State in the finals, I think Stanford wins. They aren't losing 3x in the same year to Penn State and I don't think Penn State can stop Plummer.

If it's Stanford/Nebraska, I think Nebraska takes it all.

If it's Florida in the finals, Big 10 gets another trophy.

 

[nwhoopfan]

And Stanford has almost the entire team back from last year.

Inky Ajanaku was pretty much irreplaceable, although Stanford obviously had a fine season without her. I always secretly suspected those smart kids at Stanford figured out a way to clone Foluke Akinradewo and brought her back as Inky.

 

[bballnut90]

Inky Ajanaku was pretty much irreplaceable, although Stanford obviously had a fine season without her. I always secretly suspected those smart kids at Stanford figured out a way to clone Foluke Akinradewo and brought her back as Inky.

Very similar players. Foluke was more dynamic as a hitter but Inky was the stronger blocker IMO. Her replacement, Alade, has been fantastic.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Yeah Stanford keeps finding those long, lanky MBs that can jump out of the gym.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Looking like Nebraska is going to cruise to a National Title, up 2-0 against Florida.

 

[Plebe]

Looking like Nebraska is going to cruise to a National Title, up 2-0 against Florida.

Nebraska will go down as the luckiest champion ever. Penn State had match point on them in set 4 of the semifinal, and had a transition opportunity on that match point, but the setter flukishly was tripped by her teammate on the way to set the ball.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Nebraska will go down as the luckiest champion ever. Penn State had match point on them in set 4 of the semifinal, and had a transition opportunity on that match point, but the setter flukishly was tripped by her teammate on the way to set the ball.

I wasn't planning on watching that match, but tuned in during the 3rd set. That was a really entertaining, back and forth match w/ some high level of play. Yeah, that one is gonna haunt PSU for a while. Hard to believe they've lost 7 straight matches to Nebraska.

Stanford was pretty disappointing in the second semifinal. Woke up after the 2nd set and forced it to 5, but they were just horrible in the 5th set.

 

[bballnut90]

Nebraska will go down as the luckiest champion ever. Penn State had match point on them in set 4 of the semifinal, and had a transition opportunity on that match point, but the setter flukishly was tripped by her teammate on the way to set the ball.

I thought they were clearly the better team against Penn State. I thought Penn State was very lucky to pull out sets 2 and 3.....that was a very lucky play though on match point. Nebraska might be the first champion to win it all after facing match point in the tournament. I normally don't love the Huskers, but it was hard not to root for them this tournament. They played by far the strongest volleyball of anyone in the tournament. Their passing, defense and setting were outstanding.

Tonight was kind of an underwhelming title game which didn't have any close sets (very unlike the epic semifinals), but happy for the Huskers. I loved Alhassan for Florida, but I wish it was Nebraska vs. Stanford....it would've been a better matchup IMO. Stanford played some pretty bad volleyball on Thursday and really struggled at the end. As always I'm sad to see volleyball end, long offseason ahead.

 

[Plebe]

I thought they were clearly the better team against Penn State. I thought Penn State was very lucky to pull out sets 2 and 3.....that was a very lucky play though on match point. Nebraska might be the first champion to win it all after facing match point in the tournament. I normally don't love the Huskers, but it was hard not to root for them this tournament. They played by far the strongest volleyball of anyone in the tournament. Their passing, defense and setting were outstanding.

Tonight was kind of an underwhelming title game which didn't have any close sets (very unlike the epic semifinals), but happy for the Huskers. I loved Alhassan for Florida, but I wish it was Nebraska vs. Stanford....it would've been a better matchup IMO. Stanford played some pretty bad volleyball on Thursday and really struggled at the end. As always I'm sad to see volleyball end, long offseason ahead.

With Nebraska, it seems like they never win it all in the years when they are heavily favored (such as last year), but they find a way to win when they're either the underdog or considered one among several equal contenders (such as this year).

In any event, they were the best team for the last two months of the season and the best team won. Congrats to Husker Nation.

Now I get to go back to making fun of their basketball team

 

[bballnut90]

With Nebraska, it seems like they never win it all in the years when they are heavily favored (such as last year), but they find a way to win when they're either the underdog or considered one among several equal contenders (such as this year).

In any event, they were the best team for the last two months of the season and the best team won. Congrats to Husker Nation.

Now I get to go back to making fun of their basketball team

It is strange how they almost always falter when they're the heavy favorite....most people thought they'd win it in 2001, 2005, 2007, and 2016. Each of those years they had full rosters coming back from a championship team or a #1 seeded team and each year there was lots of talk about them going undefeated. Every one of those years they ended the season short of expectations, and in each of those losses they were swept.

 

[nwhoopfan]

'05 was sweet! I don't think very many people understood how good UW was that year. They whooped Nebraska, and it wasn't a fluke. Might be the only Championship the Huskies ever win, but at least they have that. I joined probably a couple hundred people on campus that were waiting to welcome the team back, that was a pretty cool experience.

 

[nwhoopfan]

One more thing, I saw a report that Mick Haley won't be returning as USC's coach next season. W/ Dunning retiring last year and now Haley, the Pac 12 lost a couple coaching icons.


edited--perused volleytalk...sounds like it was not Haley's choice to leave. His contract was expiring and was not renewed. Also sounds like USC took the low road. Didn't let Haley announce he was leaving, and choosing to do it on the same day as the National Championship match, questionable.

 

[Plebe]

One more thing, I saw a report that Mick Haley won't be returning as USC's coach next season. W/ Dunning retiring last year and now Haley, the Pac 12 lost a couple coaching icons.

Haley was fired by AD Lynn Swann, and he says he's planning to pursue a claim of age discrimination:
USC fires Mick Haley, tells him his contract is not being renewed | Volleyballmag.com

 

[nwhoopfan]

Haley was fired by AD Lynn Swann, and he says he's planning to pursue a claim of age discrimination:
USC fires Mick Haley, tells him his contract is not being renewed | Volleyballmag.com

You were too quick, I was just editing my prior post.

 

[bballnut90]

You were too quick, I was just editing my prior post.

Sad way to see him go out. Mick wasn't my favorite coach but I give him huge props for consistently fielding Final Four contending teams and for adjusting his coaching tactics and style of play over the years. USC's dreadful moonball offense back in 2014 led them to a 16-16 record...the following year after having multiple top 10 recruits transfer out, he dumped the slow system and went with a faster system for the first time and it resulted in the #1 overall seed and a near Final Four berth. He also completely changed his demeanor on the sidelines and it paid dividends. Hope he finds an opportunity with another program if he's still wanting to coach. He deserved to go out on his terms, especially after the job he did this year at USC.