2024 NCAA Volleyball Tournament

[flyingMoose]

The Bracketology Geek on VT has his penultimate bracket out. (I think that word means "next-to-last." :) ) His final bracket is late Saturday after all matches have been played. Again, the Selection Show is on ESPN at 5 pm CT Sunday.

He has the Shockers going to Lawrence to play Kansas in the first match. We are the #4 seed in the pod - my bad. That location and seeding may not be surprising, given the 400-mile travel distance and our RPI. I want to look later. Kansas is a 10-11 National Seed.

Rice is one of the First Four Out. South Florida is one of the Next Four Out.

SMU (Frosty) is a 7-8 National Seed.

[flyingMoose]

We are the #4 seed in the pod - my bad. ... I want to look later.

Am I ever out of touch!

Using Figstats, the Shockers current RPI is 65. The highest "#3 in the pod" RPIs are 55, 56, and 57. The lowest "#4 in the pod" RPIs are 59, 60, and 65.

More than you want to know. :)

[WuDrWu]

KU, a mortal lock to host, lost earlier this week to BYU. Not a total surprise but BYU is certainly down a bit. Tonight they barely avoided a disaster at Iowa State. The Cyclones are 10-17. Teams traded the first 2 sets by identical 25-23 scores. KU won the 3rd 25-21, then in the 4th, down 24-20, Ku saved 4 set points, another at 24-25 and yet another at 25-26 before winning the last 3 points and the set 28-26 for the match win.

Still looks like Lawrence is likely, and if not Omaha or Lincoln.

[WuDrWu]

I just stumbled across a good feel moment. Looking at our schedule and how non con opponents faired. Northern Colorado finished 1st in the Big Sky but struggled in their tourney.

They won 3-2 against the 8 seed then had to come from behind again to win vs Weber State in the semis. In the finals vs Sacramento State, UNC won the first, dropped the 2nd, won the 3rd, then were shelled in the 4th 25-13 and in the last set, fell behind 5-0, managed to tie at 8 but lost 7 of the last 8 points, the set and the match 15-9.

Former Shocker Hailey Plugge had 20 assists for Sacramento State. That makes me happy.

[WuDrWu]

Barbara Koehler also will be in the tourney with FGCU. Not sure if she was hurt or just a little buried on the depth chart but she only played in 24 of the 31 matches. She was 5th on the team in scoring with 170 points.

And of course, Natalie Foster is a key player on an SMU team that will host a regional.

Despite being one of the best players on Miss State, if not the best, Kailin Newsome's career at Miss State comes to an end. The Aggies won't make the tourney.

Sophie Childs helped lead Texas State to the NCAAs last season, then transferred to The Citadel for her graduate season where they were picked to win the SoCon. However, they limped to a 15-14 season and lost in the semis. Sophie was 2nd in scoring for The Citadel.

After being named 2023 American East Conference Setter of the Year, Zofia (or Zosia?) Szczotkiewicz played sparingly this season for Albany. They lost in the finals of their tournament to New Hampshire who will represent the American East in the NCAAs.

Lara Uyar and ECU lost in the quarters here in Wichita to FAU. Addy Badley had a productive season at D2 St Edwards. Lauren Wheeler at North Texas, best as I can tell, did not play this season. UNT lost to Rice in the 1st round of the AAC here. They also fired their head coach this week.

My apologies if I missed a former active player.

[flyingMoose]

I'm glad someone is keeping track of transfers-out for Volleyball. Nice job.


A change at North Texas after only three years?

2022 - Lost second round of C-USA Tournament to #20 Western Kentucky
2023 - (AAC) List first round of NIVC to UTEP, the 2nd place team in the tournament
2024 - Lost first round of AAC Tournament to Rice who is in the at-large running for the NCAA

The coach came to NTU after two years leading McNeese State. Seems harsh, BWDIK.

[flyingMoose]

No surprise. The Bracketology Guy has the Shockers playing Kansas, the #3 seed in their Region. He has Kansas as the #13 National Seed.

In his bracket, Rice is one of the first five teams out, and South Florida is one of the next three teams out.

SMU is a National Seed in the #8-#11 range.

[WuDrWu]

Trying hard to convince myself that WSU is getting screwed as the #4 seed but it's not awful.

I think they deserve to be ahead of 3 seeds Texas State and Yale especially is a terrible 3 seed, but I get the regional bias.

Given that Texas State has already lost to Texas A&M this season (and those 2 are matched up in his bracket) I would sure like to see WSU sent to Waco to play the Aggies instead of Lawrence.


But yeah, I expect to be in Lawrence as the 4.

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks are a 4 seed at SMU. Texas State is the 3 seed facing Missouri. The Shocks did win a match at SMU last year.

KU says thank you as they draw Colgate.

At appears the AAC is a one-bid conference this year. I like the AAC's chances of repeating as NIVC Champions. Rice was in the First Four Out.

ACC, SEC and B1G all get 9 teams in. It's all about the Benjamins.

[Critter's Pa]

Match Day: Thursday,12/5 at 7PM

I was really hoping to see how far Frosty was going to go in the tourney.

SMU is a familiar foe. It will be a tough match, but I think that the Shockers can beat SMU. We have Swifty on our team, and that means I like our chances.

Saw video of the Shocker's watch party. Maddie is in a boot.

[1972Shocker]

SMU is a familiar foe. It will be a tough match, but I think that the Shockers can beat SMU. We have Swifty on our team, and that means I like our chances.

I think the Shockers can beat SMU as well, although the odds are not good. If Maddie can't go then Sarah needs to step up. Our back row will have to play their asses off. It will take a our very best effort across the board and probably a sub-par performance by SMU.

[Shock Top]

SMU is very good; with some marquee wins in the very tough ACC. Shox will have their work cut out for them and then some.

I expect them to come up short, but still a season to be proud of making it back to the tourney!

[flyingMoose]

Shox will have their work cut out for them and then some.

Per Pablo, SMU 98%

[WuDrWu]

Per Pablo, SMU 98%

Seems about right. I think, though, it is fair to say if there is to be a 4 over 1 (and I doubt there's been more than a very small handful in all the years of this seeding) it would likely be WSU or South Dakota who did beat Missouri and Iowa State in the regular season and took a set from Louisville.

South Dakota State also got an at large out of the Summit. Gotta be a first there.

Sarah had some success vs Kentucky last season when she played in the NCAAs, so maybe that's a tiny blessing? Maddie has seen more than her share of injuries so I hope she's ok.

[BAShocker]

Per Pablo, SMU 98%

So you’re telling me there is a chance.