Broken record time....how is it possible we are not able to successfully recruit some of the amazing HS talent that exists in Illinois?
Even Hambly struggled with that.Broken record time....how is it possible we are not able to successfully recruit some of the amazing HS talent that exists in Illinois?
Surprisingly, there is an AMAZING number of excellent VB players in Iowa, of all places.Even Hambly struggled with that.
The Midwest is a hotbed of vball.Surprisingly, there is an AMAZING number of excellent VB players in Iowa, of all places.
You mentioning this because we were visiting?Surprisingly, there is an AMAZING number of excellent VB players in Iowa, of all places.
That was kinda my point. For the talent that comes out of Iowa, the Iowa VB squad is pathetic. They do a really poor job of recruiting in state.You mentioning this because we were visiting?
Iowa about as competitive with us tonight as we were with Wisconsin. A full throttle Wisconsin effort vs Iowa would be too cruel to witness. We were able to play loose, like there was never a doubt. Insane ace:error ratio. I believe Kennedy had 3 aces in a row in the 3rd.
After a rough first 2 sets on Sunday, the team found their stride and ended up basically tying Nebraska for two more sets - they won the 3rd 26-24 before dropping the 4th (and the match) 25-22. Not a win, but good to see.
My sense is that they team is almost certainly out of the tourney, but if they manage to finish the season 4-0, maybe they have an outside chance of sneaking in. They'd be finishing the year hot, would end and no worse than outright 5th at 13-7 in an always-tough Big Ten (not sure if the VB selection committee looks at conference record?). On the downside, they are still fighting a low RPI and poor overall record due to the 5-5 non-con.
Regardless of non-con results, it's hard to imagine a 12-8 Big 10 team not making the tourneyGreat win last night! I didn't get to see the game but look forward to watching the replay today.
Here's the latest update to the NOVA rankings. We've moved up quite a bit as the season has gone along.
I was curious whether our B1G strength of schedule was particularly easy, or whether our poor RPI was just due to the bad non-con results. After a quick look, I would say we had a conference schedule just slightly on the easy side of average, but overall pretty balanced.
The conference actually breaks down nicely into three groups based on our results: teams we always lose to; teams we beat at home; and teams we beat anywhere.
0-4 versus "teams we always lose to" (Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State). Our only double-play was Wisconsin, so this is a little on the easy side.
3-3 versus "teams we beat at home" (Purdue through OSU). So far, we've lost all road games and won all home games. We still play MN on the road.
5-0 versus "teams we beat anywhere" (Maryland through Iowa). We haven't played Michigan yet, but we only have 2 double plays here, so that's a little on the hard side.
So what's left? Well, we host Michigan on Saturday and *should* beat them, since they're in the "beat anywhere" group. Then we go up to Minneapolis for a game that, so far this season, we'd probably lose - so that'd put us at 3-4 against "teams we beat at home". Certainly not saying Saturday is a guaranteed win or that we can't win at Minnesota, just that they seem like safer predictions.
Our last game, @NW, will be a decider for where MSU and NW fall. We are 2-0 against them, but both games were at home, so they could go into in either category depending on that result. Barring an upset, our season will either end at
12-8 overall
0-4 versus Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State
3-4 versus Purdue, IU, Minnesota, and Ohio State (with no road wins)
9-0 versus everyone else
-or-
11-9 overall
0-4 versus Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State
5-5 versus Purdue, IU, Minnesota, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Northwestern (with no road wins)
6-0 versus everyone else
Neither case looks like a tourney team when added to a 5-5 non-conference. If you toss in a road win at Minnesota, though, maybe there's a case?
13-7 overall (plus finishing the season on an 11-2 run)
0-4 versus Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State
4-3 versus Purdue, IU, Minnesota, and Ohio State (with a road win at Minnesota)
9-0 versus everyone else
View attachment 28974
I just watched the game last night earlier this afternoon and loved their rally after going down 2 sets to 1........Raina Terry is awesome and I heard somewhere that she is playing volleyball next year , but hasn't said where ......Anyone else heard that ??.....i think it was an announcer from a couple games ago..........Sure hope she remains an Illini........I really really do.......Barnes also had some serious digs last night.......In fact , all the Ladies played great , with Kennedy Collins shining in the 5th set........Go Illini..........Great comeback last night. Looked bad in the third set but really finished strong after that. Those ace serves in the fifth were a thing of beauty.
Regardless of non-con results, it's hard to imagine a 12-8 Big 10 team not making the tourney
And its even a Big Ten West team. The 0-3 vs Nebby & Wisky should just dropped from the equation. Maybe the committee will consider it as if 12-5 against the rest of the BigTen. Nebby, Wisky, & Purdue far tougher than PennSt, ?, & ?. I'd say Minnesota tougher than whoever may be 2nd best in the East.Regardless of non-con results, it's hard to imagine a 12-8 Big 10 team not making the tourney
And its even a Big Ten West team. The 0-3 vs Nebby & Wisky should just dropped from the equation. Maybe the committee will consider it as if 12-5 against the rest of the BigTen. Nebby, Wisky, & Purdue far tougher than PennSt, ?, & ?. I'd say Minnesota tougher than whoever may be 2nd best in the East.
Just wishful thinking!
Iowa is probably going to go 0-20 in the big ten conf they’re 0-17 and have Wisconsin, northwestern, and Nebraska left. They gotta win vs northwestern who's 7-10 in conf.
Will she stay at Illinois?Terry will return for her covid year.
yesWill she stay at Illinois?
Great match on now- Neb at Wisconsin - big 10 network.