Broken record time....how is it possible we are not able to successfully recruit some of the amazing HS talent that exists in Illinois?
Illini Volleyball 2023
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Even Hambly struggled with that.
aiwpfan
- Springfield, Il
Surprisingly, there is an AMAZING number of excellent VB players in Iowa, of all places.
Dan
Admin
Fighting Illini Sweep Iowa on the Road - University of Illinois Athletics
The Fighting Illini broke out the brooms at Iowa on Friday night.
fightingillini.com
The Midwest is a hotbed of vball.
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.
aiwpfan
- Springfield, Il
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.
danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
- Rochester, MN
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.
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.
I don’t follow the bracketology closely, but I think in most years a Big Ten team finishing 18-12 would be enough to get in. Looking at the remaining schedule, it’s very doable. Winning at Minnesota will be tough but they are having a bit of a down year.
danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
- Rochester, MN
Great 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
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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
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
Regardless of non-con results, it's hard to imagine a 12-8 Big 10 team not making the tourney
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
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..........
danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
- Rochester, MN
I would normally agree, but volleyball is still living in the RPI era, and it's just not friendly to us. That goes for:
- Our own RPI, which was 84th before yesterday's win (I think at-large bids even in the 50s are rare)
- Our record - we have one good win against Purdue (RPI #15) and then our next best win is Northwestern at home (RPI 74).
We could pick up a road win over #41 in Minnesota, and then maybe it's a debate. But otherwise, I just can't see a team with an RPI in the 60s or 70s and only one top-50 RPI win getting in.
Sounds pretty simple, only way in is to win out and pray that the committee looks at season trends. Wouldn’t be the craziest thing the committee has done if they put us in.
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!
danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
- Rochester, MN
I don't think the Big Ten divisions are a thing in volleyball.
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.
danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
- Rochester, MN
They missed their chance dropping a home game to Rutgers in 5 sets a while back. It's tough because in the grand scheme, they're still an above-average D-I team... but that doesn't cut it in the B1G.
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