Shocker VB at UAB

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers continue their conference schedule with a match at 7 pm Friday in Birmingham. The Blazers are 0-3 in the AAC with losses to Tulsa and at Memphis and Tulane.

Pablo has the Shocks as 76% favorites to win. Massey has this as a 3-0 match, a "Massey" result the Shockers have yet to achieve.

[1972Shocker]

Pablo has the Shocks as 76% favorites to win. Massey has this as a 3-0 match, a "Massey" result the Shockers have yet to achieve.

Perhaps that says more about Massey then it does about the Shocks.

[flyingMoose]

Wednesday Match

UAB 0-3 Tulane

[flyingMoose]

Perhaps that says more about Massey then it does about the Shocks.

Yes. Massey has the Shocker overrated? The Shockers are not playing to their current rating and are declining?

[Critter's Pa]

UAB plays an odd 5-2. Their starting setter, #13 Kelsey Smith (jr), instead of being subbed out and going to the bench like a usual 5-2, she plays opposite. #18 Annastiina Tarkkanen (fr) subs in to be the setter when Smith is in the front row. #2 Jorda Crook plays opposite when Smith is in the back row.

With their loss to Tulane, UAB is riding a 7 game losing streak.

I wonder when the RPI is going to published. Still isn't up on the NCAA site.

[flyingMoose]

I wonder when the RPI is going to published. Still isn't up on the NCAA site.

From Figstats:

51 Rice
67 Tulsa
70 Shockers
75 East Carolina

The rest of the AAC has triple-digit RPIs. Only Rice appears to have a chance for an at-large bid. Everyone else has to be the AQ by winning the conference tournament.

[1972Shocker]

Volleyball Preview: UAB

WICHITA STATE (7-7, 2-0 American)

Friday, Oct. 4 (7:00 p.m. CT) at UAB (5-9, 0-3 American)
Birmingham, Ala. (Bartow Arena)
Live Stats // Watch


SCOUTING THE BLAZERS:

• After limping to a 5-26 (3-16) mark in 2023, UAB is off to a significantly better start in 2024. The Blazers enter Shockers match at 5-9 (0-3), having already matched their previous season's win total.
• UAB has wins over Alcorn State (3-0), Cincinnati (3-1), IU Indy (3-1), Jacksonville State (3-2), and North Alabama (3-0). The crown jewel of the UAB non-conference slate was the win over Cincinnati. In their 9 losses UAB has only won 5 sets.
• UAB's best showing in their 3 AAC matches was a 5 set loss to Tulsa at home 25-18, 16-25, 22-25, 25-11, and 10-15 before being swept on the road by Memphis and Tulane in which they averaged about 18 points per set with no sets over 20 points.
• 5-11 do-everything junior Kelsey Smith has already registered two triple-doubles on season, including 12 kills, 18 digs and 21 assists in the conference opener against Tulsa. As Critter's Pa has pointed out Smith is a 6 rotation player who splits her time between setting when on the back row and right-side hitter when on the front row.
• 6-0 senior middle Madison Page is 2nd the conference in blocks per set (1.12). Note that Shockers' Sarah Barham is 3rd at 1.09. But Sarah has been displaced by Maddie Wilson.
• UAB is hitting .195 on the season and holding opponents to a .214 hitting %.
• UAB averaged 1.65 services aces per set and 1.88 service errors per set.

---

Statistically the teams are pretty close overall but the Shocks played a tougher non-conference schedule. However, in the 3 conference games played to date the Shocks have a clear advantage statistically in the majority of categories.

I suppose that UAB has shown the ability to push good teams with their win over Cincy and their 5-set loss to Tulsa. And, of course, the Shocks have shown an ability to allow teams to hang around in matches.

Katie G, Reagan, Grace, Izzi and Morgan collectively have 47 service aces to 45 service errors. Reagan leads the the Shocks with 14 aces to 12 errors. Emerson and Annalie are 2nd and 3rd in service aces with 12 and 10 respectively but they also have 21 and 23 service errors respectively. So an ace to error ratio of 0.50 vs a ratio of 1.04 for the other 5 teammates mentioned. Would like to see Emerson and Annalie cut down on the service errors.

[shoxlax]

From Figstats:

51 Rice
67 Tulsa
70 Shockers
75 East Carolina

The rest of the AAC has triple-digit RPIs. Only Rice appears to have a chance for an at-large bid. Everyone else has to be the AQ by winning the conference tournament.

At least there is a conference tournament.

[SubGod22]

From Figstats:

51 Rice
67 Tulsa
70 Shockers
75 East Carolina

The rest of the AAC has triple-digit RPIs. Only Rice appears to have a chance for an at-large bid. Everyone else has to be the AQ by winning the conference tournament.

RPI is out for games thru 10.02.24

39 Rice
68 Tulsa
72 Wichita
98 USF
103 ECU
106 FAU
153 Tulane
162 Temple
216 UAB
232 North Texas
244 UTSA
266 Memphis
297 Charlotte

[Critter's Pa]

Gonzo hurt her ankle pre-game before the Temple match. I wonder if she will be available this weekend and if so, will she play against UAB or sit this one out and play against Rice? I kinda expect Gracie to play instead of her against UAB.

Gonzo did have 17 kills against Temple. Maybe she can tweak her ankle against Rice, we might need it.

[Critter's Pa]

RPI is out for games thru 10.02.24

39 Rice
68 Tulsa
72 Wichita
98 USF
103 ECU
106 FAU
153 Tulane
162 Temple
216 UAB
232 North Texas
244 UTSA
266 Memphis
297 Charlotte

The adjusted RPIs for the non-con: (I don't know what the difference between RPI and adjusted RPI is)
227 Kennesaw St
41 Indiana
8 Kansas
30 Arkansas
238 Little Rock
24 Arizona St
35 Long Beach St
1 Nebraska
40 Cal Poly
88 Northern Colorado
186 Omaha

Kinda glad that the K-State match was a exhibition. They are not having a good season. Their adjust PRI is 158.

[flyingMoose]

From Volleytalk, the projected end-of-season RPI using Pablo for a myriad of iterations:

43 Rice
61 Shockers
66 Tulsa


Normally, Figstats and the NCAA RPI are side-by-side. It may have to do with adjustments, etc. I need to explore a bit.

[flyingMoose]

Set One

Starters are Brooklyn, Emerson, Maddie, Morgan, Alyssa, Izzi, and Annalie.

Reagan is an early (unreported) sub who serves. This stat crew is not going to tell us about subs. Katie is another sub along the way.

Long delay at 3-4. There is probably a challenge, and Lambo gets a high percentage of these reversed.

4-3. Call is reversed.

Sideout City. 10-12 is the first two-point lead of the match. Both teams hitting over .500.

15-14 at the Media Timeout with the Shockers scoring four of the last five points.

Shocks continue their run to 18-14. TO Blazers.

21-14 and another TO by UAB. Alyssa has three kills since the Media TO, and Morgan has two service aces.

25-15 with two blocks towards the end of the set.

.520 v .176. Alyssa has four kills and Maddie has three.

[flyingMoose]

Set Two

Reagan rather than Alyssa is one of the starters. This is simply a different rotation, as Alyssa is soon in the match.

5-4 moves to 9-4 and UAB takes a TO.

The Blazers quickly close the gap to 9-7 and forge into the lead at 10-11.

Four in a row for the Shocks, and it is 16-14.

Three in a row and it is 16-17.

Another run of three and the Shocks lead 22-19.

Delay at 22-20. Hmm. The call is upheld if there was a delay.

24-21 and UAB takes their last TO.

25-22 on a kill by Izzi.


.356 v .127 for the match.

Alyssa is 9-0-15 for .600 and Brooklyn has five kills.

Grace but not Katie played in this set.

[flyingMoose]

Set Three

5-8 in the first multi-point lead.

The Shockers promptly tie the set at 8, but the lead is restored at 8-11. TO Shocks.

Another three-run for the Shockers. 15-14 and a UAB TO.

Four in a row gives the Shocks a 19-15 lead.

22-18 brings on the last Blazer TO.

Two service errors by UAB and the Shockers are at 24-20.

25-22 on a kill by Brooklyn.

3-0.


.333 v .185.

Nine blocks v three. Error/Ace is 5/5 v 12/5.

Alyssa is 10-0-21 for .476. Brooklyn and Maddie both had seven kills.