AVCA Week 4: Midwest, Central teams gaining traction
I’m liking this week’s AVCA poll. Some of the chaff was removed and a some wheat got recognized. I’m still not on board with where many of the West Region teams are ranked, but I like it overall.
The top nine teams remained the same while Concordia-Moorhead dropped from 10th to No. 12 after its loss to Bethel. Juniata’s first foray into non-top-10-land was short-lived as the Eagles moved up a spot to No. 10. Fair enough. Here’s my Week 4 top 10 if you didn’t see it. Potato, potahto. But again, why are those West teams ahead of Chicago, which sits at No. 16?
My takeaway from the latest poll is that every team that received votes deserved those votes. That’s the first time that has been the case this season, in my opinion, although I have my doubts about McMurry. But if you’re undefeated like McMurry is, it’s hard to argue. Then again Clarkson was undefeated (but lost to fellow undefeated Cortland tonight) against what I consider a better schedule than McMurry and doesn’t make the poll.
I’m pleasantly surprised that Alma made the poll with two votes. But I only quibble with where some teams are slotted (for example, Coe should be higher, Cal Lutheran lower). It’s a good poll when that happens.
As far as missing teams, I think Nebraska Wesleyan has been forgotten since it went into the NAIA portion of the schedule. The P-Wolves (5-3 vs. D-III) have wins over Wartburg and St. Olaf when those teams were top-25. Their losses are to St. Thomas, Concordia-Moorhead and St. Scholastica (don’t forget the Saints, either). I also think Northwestern (14-2) should get a look. The Eagles have played a good schedule with losses to UW Oshkosh (five sets) in the season opener and a four-set loss to St. Thomas. They have a good win over Bethel and two over Saint Benedict. There are others around the country that are on the cusp, but those two and a few eastern teams (Clarkson, Trinity-CT, Amherst, etc.) stick out the most.
Central/Midwest region teams that received Week 4 votes:
2. Washington
7. Carthage
11. St. Thomas
12. Concordia-Moorhead
16. Chicago
22. UW-Whitewater
23. UW-Platteville
24. Elmhurst
Receiving votes: Bethel (No. 26), Wartburg (No. 28), UW Oshkosh (No. 29), Millikin (No. 34), Coe (No. 35).
-Ricky Nelson
DIII Women's Volleyball 
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University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
October 11, 2011 at 10:04 am