Shockers v Loyola

[KraRam]

All, thanks for the formations explanation, it now makes some sense. Another question would be an explanation of the positions...I assumed that where you are on the court is your position and I knew the back line attack rule, but are setters, setters no matter their position and the same with hitters, etc?

This should probably be a thread of its own...maybe VB 101

[flyingMoose]

I believe that the attendance is somewhat understated. To what extent I do not know. We entered in the gate from the ticket office and the scanners could not read our season ticket pass cards. They tried both scanners and neither one could read it. The lady told me that they had not been able to scan the cards the entire evening. We arrived at approximately 6:58 PM. I do know if this was an issue at other gates.

Hmm, perhaps, but I would guess that all season ticket holders are counted in the attendance whether they show up or not. After all, their seat has been paid for. The pass card is scanned so it cannot be used again the same night. A WBB scan-person demonstrated to me last year that the system would not take two entries on the same card on the same night. Last night, we came through the west entrance with no problem.

[flyingMoose]

And then there is the 5-2 where one of the setters becomes a hitter (rather than subbing out) when she rotates to the front row. Penn State ran it a number of years ago. Just something else to complicate the discussion. :)

[Shocker-maniac]

Hmm, perhaps, but I would guess that all season ticket holders are counted in the attendance whether they show up or not. After all, their seat has been paid for. The pass card is scanned so it cannot be used again the same night. A WBB scan-person demonstrated to me last year that the system would not take two entries on the same card on the same night. Last night, we came through the west entrance with no problem.

True. If the attendance number is paid versus butts in the seats, it is a non-issue.

[WuDrWu]

All, thanks for the formations explanation, it now makes some sense. Another question would be an explanation of the positions...I assumed that where you are on the court is your position and I knew the back line attack rule, but are setters, setters no matter their position and the same with hitters, etc?

This should probably be a thread of its own...maybe VB 101

Not sure I completely understand your question but the answer is, outside of the libero, anything can change, but at this level they rarely do. There's nothing that keeps a setter from becoming an OH in the 5-2 as @flyingMoose: refers to earlier, but it's just mostly do what you do best at the D1 level.


Once designated a libero, you're a libero for the entire set. I suppose you could become a setter, but the rules so restrict your options that it would be silly (and I'm not positive you could even then).

[1972Shocker]

Once designated a libero, you're a libero for the entire set. I suppose you could become a setter, but the rules so restrict your options that it would be silly (and I'm not positive you could even then).

Doc, I agree that the restrictions on the Libero position make it unlikely that you would ever use your Libero as your primary setter. By definition the Libero rules pretty much make the Libero a back row position.

12.1.2 Playing Actions

12.1.2.1 The libero is restricted to perform as a back-row player and is not allowed to complete an attack-hit from anywhere (including the playing court and free zone) if, at the moment of contact, the ball is entirely above the top of the net. (See Rule 14.5.1 and Signal 24, Official’s Mechanics.)

12.1.2.2 The libero may not block or attempt to block. (See Rule 14.6.1.)

12 .1.2.3 In one rotation, the libero may replace the player in position No. 1 to serve. (See Rule 10.2.1.)

12.1.2.4 A teammate may not complete an attack-hit when, at the moment of the attack-hit, the ball is entirely above the top of the net and the ball is coming from an overhand finger pass by a libero in the front zone or the opponent’s free zone. (See Signal 24, Official’s Mechanics, then indicate the libero.) The ball may be freely attacked if the libero makes the same action from behind the front zone. If airborne, the libero’s position is judged according to the point of last contact with her team’s court.

[The Mad Hatter]

The starting point for thinking about positions in volleyball is thinking about positions in basketball. Certain players will be power forwards and will do different things than players who are point guards or shooting guards, but there really isn't anything in the rules of basketball that prohibit them from doing anything any other player can do. A power forward can drive and dish and a point guard can post up, if they happen to have the skills to do so. The reason they usually don't isn't because of any rule prohibiting it, but because offenses and defenses are designed to have specialists who fulfill certain roles. The same is true in volleyball, with two exceptions (as others have noted):

1. The rotation system of volleyball that there are restrictions based on whether you are in a rotation where you are on the front or back row (but again, these restrictions apply the same way to everyone).
2. The libero, as noted above, is the one position that is restricted to being an exclusively back row player.

Otherwise, positions are entirely flexible, and while it is generally rare to see someone go from being setter to being a middle blocker or outside hitter (just like it is rare to see someone go from playing point guard to playing center), players will switch between sides as outside hitter or middles or switch from the middle to the outside at times (more like switching from shooting guard to point guard).

[KraRam]

I am now enlightened and grateful. Will make the game even more fun to watch. Thanks for all of the insights!

[JayJ79]

sometimes a player will go from libero to outside hitter and then proceed to lead the team in kills, but that's pretty rare too. (and can only happen in between sets, and requires a jersey change)

[flyingMoose]

The current RPI rankings with last week's ranking in parentheses:

44 (39) - Missouri State
49 (55) - Shockers
58 (65) - Northern Iowa
61 (60) - Southern Illinois
71 (??) - Loyola
72 (??) - Illinois State

[WuDrWu]

49 starts to get into at large range. Thanks @flyingMoose:!

[flyingMoose]

I know it's early, but from the Bracketology Preview thread on Volley Talk.

MVC
----
2014 Champion: Illinois State (lost in 2nd round)

RPI
44 Missouri State
49 Wichita State
58 Northern Iowa
61 Southern illinois
71 Loyola Chicago
72 Illinois St

The MVC race is wide-open. The top six teams qualify for the tournament and those six look very evenly matched.
It looked like Missouri State was the favorite - but now with three conference losses it is the Shockers of Wichita State who are the new favorites at 7-1.
Loyola(IL) is 6-2 and looks to be a good team. Illinois St is 5-3, along with Northern Iowa. Those six teams look to make up the tournament, Drake is the only team who could maybe squeak in.

I think this is a one or two bid league. I only say two if Missouri St/Wichita State finish the regular season very solid, they could maybe lose in the MVC tournament but get one of the last at-large bids. These next few weeks will tell us more.

[1972Shocker]

The next two weeks will go a long, long way in determining the NCAA at-large fate of this Shocker team. 4 tough road matches face the Shocks @ Illinois State (10/23), @ Indiana State (10/24), @Missouri State (10/31) and @ Southern Illinois (11/2). It will be very, very difficult to navigate that stretch unscathed and I'm not sure if it is even reasonable to think they will. I would be very happy if they win 3 of those 4 matches.

[flyingMoose]

The same six likely-to-make-the-tournament teams from the RPI Futures thread based on their current Pablo rating: this week (last week) team conference-record

35 (38) Shockers 15-3
42 (37) Missouri State 12-6
60 (78) Loyola 13-5
61 (64) Northern Iowa 11-7
62 (58) Southern Illinois 11-7
67 (68) Illinois State 12-6

Even with one less Shocker win and one more Missouri State win, the RPIs are projected to be 40 and 41 respectively. Those would be the two highest RPIs of the Valley teams.

[boyshocker]

Would be very nice to win the tourney and keep a high RPI. This is probably not the best year to have to go to KU for a regional. Would guess they would be hosting if their season continues as it is. Would a 15-3 leagure record and tourney win get us a #2 seed?