Shocker VB v Memphis

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers continue AAC play with two home matches this weekend.

Memphis comes to town with a match at 7 pm on Friday. The Tigers are 4-4 in conference play, including a 1-3 loss to the Shocks earlier in the season. Their best win is a surprising sweep of North Texas on the road this past weekend.

After this weekend, the following five conference matches for the Shockers are against teams currently .500 or better in the AAC. Four of those five matches are on the road. The Shocks are currently 5-3 in conference play.

Prognostications are 87% and 3-0.


EDIT: These numbers are based on the entire season. As 1972Shocker notes below, numbers based on a current "snapshot" might be much different.

[WuDrWu]

Unless we get a free pass for hosting (does anyone know this one way or the other?) there is no room for error to make the top 6.

[1972Shocker]

Lambo seems to have a very healthy respect for Memphis. On his weekly radio show he talked about the way Memphis plays with a balanced offense, busy middles, a very aggressive setter with those middle attackers. They play hard and are consistently putting up top third serving numbers and you need to play well to beat them. In looking back at the Shocks 4-set win over Memphis to open AAC play Lambo never though that match was in jeopardy. However, watching them this week he feels like they have hit a stride. The sweep they are coming off of on the road over North Texas was a good win and won of their best in a long time. Their balanced and they can cause lots of problems. Their offensive numbers are much better than they were coming into the previous match with the Shocks.

[flyingMoose]

Unless we get a free pass for hosting (does anyone know this one way or the other?) there is no room for error to make the top 6.

This release says the top eight teams qualify for the conference tournament. The Shockers host since they finished second in 2023 to since-departed SMU.

[1972Shocker]

This release says the top eight teams qualify for the conference tournament. The Shockers host since they finished second in 2023 to since-departed SMU.

I think @WuDrWu's question is do we have finish in the top 8 this year to participate in the tournament. Or do the Shocks get in by virtue of hosting even if they don't finish in the top 8 this year.
I am guessing they do not get a free pass if they finish 9th or worse.

[flyingMoose]

I think @WuDrWu's question is do we have finish in the top 8 this year to participate in the tournament. Or do the Shocks get in by virtue of hosting even if they don't finish in the top 8 this year.
I am guessing they do not get a free pass if they finish 9th or worse.

"The top eight teams ...". I understood the question, and I think that answered it. There is no Free Pass.

This is not a bidding process; it is assigned. If a school finishes first (or second) in the previous year, it is assumed they will finish in the top eight the following year and qualify for the tournament. (I think.)

[Critter's Pa]

... it is assumed they will finish in the top eight the following year and qualify for the tournament. (I think.)

Before the transfer portal, I would agree with that assumption. With the transfer portal, that assumption may not be as assured, with both players leaving a program and players coming to other teams in the conference.

Makes sense that the conference winner gets to host next year's conference tournament, since the conference winner is not the AQ for the NCAA tournament. The AQ goes to the winner of the conference tournament.

Looking at their remaining schedule, I figured that USF was going to run away with the conference crown. They probably will still win the conference, but there are still several teams that have a chance to win if USF (and Rice) lose some matches.

[flyingMoose]

Before the transfer portal, I would agree with that assumption. With the transfer portal, that assumption may not be as assured, with both players leaving a program and players coming to other teams in the conference.

I agree with the possible portal impact, but first to ninth is still a big drop.

[1972Shocker]

Volleyball Preview: Memphis

WICHITA STATE (10-10, 5-3 American)

Friday, Oct. 25 (7:00 p.m. CT) vs. Memphis (10-10, 4-4 American)
Wichita, Kan. (Charles Koch Arena)
Live Stats // Watch


SCOUTING THE TIGERS:

• Memphis arrives in Wichita with a 10-10 overall record including a 4-4 mark in AAC action.
• The Tigers are coming off an impressive road sweep at North Texas on Sunday, hitting .333 to topple the Mean Green in straight sets.
• In non-conference play, the Tigers went 2-1 at a pair of home tournaments at the Larry O. Finch Center and 1-2 in two tournaments away from Memphis.
• Memphis went 11-20 (7-12) last season but finished the year on a three-match winning streak, capped off by a road sweep against North Texas.
• The Tigers were picked ninth in the 2024 American Athletic Conference preseason poll.
• Memphis is one of the conference's most lethal squads from the service line, where the Tigers rank 23rd nationally with 1.90 aces per set. Setter Jordan Heatherly leads the conference with 32 aces.
• Heatherly orchestrates the Tigers 5-1 offense to the tune of 9.35 assists per set. Sophomore Hannah Jones is the top attacking option with 3.09 kills per set.

[MADSHOCKERFAN89]

Will we be disappointed tonight lambo?

[MADSHOCKERFAN89]

Why isn’t Leggett getting in she had 21 kills last week at ECU did I miss something?

[MADSHOCKERFAN89]

No Leggett set one???

[MADSHOCKERFAN89]

Should’ve been more dominant that set

[MADSHOCKERFAN89]

There’s the shockers we know the wheels are turning

[MADSHOCKERFAN89]

In this set because of errors