9/1/14: Let’s take a breath

Happy Labor Day, all. No matches today in the Central and Midwest regions or the top 25.

Scroll down to catch up on the matches from opening weekend. The 2014 MW/C Standout Stats page has also been updated as much as it can be.

I don’t have a Standout Stats category for it, but Nebraska Wesleyan setter/opposite Alexa Rosenau had two triple-doubles on Sunday and was in the neighborhood of two more on Saturday. I thought that merited a mention. Yes, I am championing more currently unranked teams this season. Thanks for asking. My preseason top 25 makes it clear which teams they are this year. Besides NWU that is.

-Ricky Nelson

Ricky Nelson’s 2014 Week 1 top 10

The AVCA Week 1 poll comes out on Tuesday.

My rank, (my preseason rank, AVCA preseason rank), record, key results last week
1 (3, 4). Hope 3-0 W: Wittenberg; St. Thomas; Johns Hopkins. 
2 (8, 3). Wisconsin-Stevens Point 4-0 W: Saint Benedict; Augsburg; Concordia-Moorhead.
3 (9, 1). Calvin 4-0 W: Clarkson; New Paltz St.; Roger Williams. 
4 (2, 7). Wittenberg 2-1 W: St. Thomas; Johns Hopkins. L: Hope. 
5 (5, 14). Juniata 4-0 W: Nazareth; Fredonia St.
6 (4, 5). St. Thomas 1-2 W: Johns Hopkins. L: Hope; Wittenberg. 
7 (1, 2). Emory 3-1 W: Berry; Randolph-Macon. L: DePauw.
8 (12, 21). Pacific Lutheran 4-0 W: Bethel; Puget Sound.
9 (14, 15). Eastern 4-0 W: Gallaudet; Salve Regina.
10 (16, 8). Colorado College 4-0 W: Minnesota Morris.
Dropped out: No. 6 UW-Whitewater (3-1); No. 7 Washington-St. Louis (3-1); No. 10 Trinity (Texas) (3-1).

My top five matches of the week (Sept. 1-7)
9/5 No. 16 Augsburg vs. Northwestern
9/6 Millikin vs. No. 14 Juniata
9/6 Millikin vs. Berry
9/6 Coe vs. No. 1 Calvin
9/6 No. 11 Washington-St. Louis vs. No. 7 Wittenberg

-Ricky Nelson

8/31/14: DePauw knocks off #2 Emory

Washington-St. Louis Classic
#11 Washington-St. Louis, Nebraska Wesleyan, Buena Vista, Fontbonne, Hanover
Buena Vista 3, Fontbonne 0; Nebraska Wesleyan 3, Hanover 2; #11 Washington-St. Louis 3, Hanover 0; Nebraska Wesleyan 3, Buena Vista 1; #11 Washington-St. Louis 3, Fontbonne 0.

Averett Classic
Central, Averett, Guilford, Roanoke, William Peace, Methodist, Greenboro, Hollins, Emory & Henry, Randolph, Virginia Intermont
Central 3, Emory & Henry 0; Central 3, William Peace 0.

Top 25 upset watch
• DePauw 3, #2 Emory 1
• #2 Emory 3, Berry 0
• #22 UMass Boston 3, Widener 0
• Stevenson 3, #22 UMass Boston 0

-Ricky Nelson

8/30/14: #5 Tommies, #9 Blazers both lose twice

Saint Benedict Tourney
#3 UW-Stevens Point, #9 Saint Benedict, #16 Augsburg, Concordia-Moorhead, UW-Eau Claire, Northwestern, UW-Platteville
#3 UW-Stevens Point 3, UW-Platteville 0; #16 Augsburg 3, Northwestern 0; UW-Platteville 3, Concordia-Moorhead 0; Concordia-Moorhead 3, UW-Eau Claire 1; #3 UW-Stevens Point 3, #9 Saint Benedict 2; UW-Eau Claire 3, #16 Augsburg 0; Northwestern 3, #9 Saint Benedict 2.

Elmhurst Invite
#12 Elmhurst, #17 Chicago, Coe, Carthage, Dominican, Luther, Spalding, Lake Forest, Westminster (Mo.)
Dominican 3, Westminster (Mo.) 1; #12 Elmhurst 3, Lake Forest 0; Carthage 3, #17 Chicago 1; Luther 3, Westminster (Mo.) 1; Coe 3, Lake Forest 0; Carthage 3, Dominican 0; Luther 3, Spalding 0; Coe 3, #12 Elmhurst 0; #17 Chicago 3, Spalding 1.

UW-Whitewater Invite
#18 UW-Whitewater, Millikin, Edgewood, St. Norbert, Carroll, Lakeland, Grinnell
#18 UW-Whitewater 3, Carroll 0; Millikin 3, Grinnell 0; Edgewood 3, Grinnell 1; Carroll 3, Lakeland 1; #18 UW-Whitewater 3, Edgewood 0; Millikin 3, St. Norbert 1; St. Norbert 3, Lakeland 1.

Washington-St. Louis Classic
#11 Washington-St. Louis, Nebraska Wesleyan, Greenville, Loras, Buena Vista, Fontbonne, Hanover
#11 Washington-St. Louis 3, Buena Vista 2; Loras 3, Fontbonne 0; Nebraska Wesleyan 3, Greenville 0; Buena Vista 3, Hanover 1; Hanover 3, Fontbonne 0; Nebraska Wesleyan 3, #11 Washington-St. Louis 0.

Wittenberg Invite
#5 St. Thomas, #4 Hope, #7 Wittenberg, Johns Hopkins
#7 Wittenberg 3, Johns Hopkins 0; #4 Hope 3, #5 St. Thomas 0; #4 Hope 3, Johns Hopkins 0; #7 Wittenberg 3, #5 St. Thomas 1.

Saint Mary’s (Minn.) Classic
Wartburg, Gustavus, Saint Mary’s (Minn.), UW-La Crosse, Illinois Wesleyan, North Park, Dubuque, St. Catherine
St. Catherine 3, Illinois Wesleyan 0; UW-La Crosse 3, North Park 0; Saint Mary’s (Minn.) 3, Illinois Wesleyan 0; Gustavus 3, Dubuque 1; Wartburg 3, St. Catherine 1; Gustavus 3, North Park 0; Wartburg 3, Saint Mary’s (Minn.) 0; UW-La Crosse 3, Dubuque 0.

Augustana Classic
#24 Cornell, Augustana, Benedictine, UW-River Falls, Hamline, Principia, Aurora, Knox
Hamline 3, Benedictine 0; Augustana 3, UW-River Falls 1; #24 Cornell 3, Principia 0; Hamline 3, Knox 0; UW-River Falls 3, Benedictine 1; Aurora 3, Principia 0; Augustana 3, #24 Cornell 0; Aurora 3, Knox 0.

St. Olaf/Carleton Tourney
St. Olaf, Carleton, Martin Luther, Macalester, Bethany Lutheran, Crown, Waldorf
St. Olaf 3, Martin Luther 1; Macalester 3, Crown 0; Macalester 3, Bethany Lutheran 0; Waldorf 3, St. Olaf 0; Carleton 3, Martin Luther 0; Waldorf 3, Bethany Lutheran 0; Carleton 3, Crown 0.

Beloit Blast
UW-Superior, Ripon, MSOE, Marian, Rockford, Beloit, Alverno
Marian 3, Beloit 0; UW-Superior 3, Alverno 0; MSOE 3, Beloit 1; Rockford 3, Alverno 2; UW-Superior 3, Marian 1; Ripon 3, Rockford 1; Ripon 3, MSOE 1.

Monmouth Invite
Monmouth, Iowa Wesleyan, MacMurray, Eureka, Lincoln Christian, Robert Morris-Peoria
Monmouth 3, Eureka 0; Lincoln Christian 3, Eureka 2; Monmouth 3, Iowa Wesleyan 1; Monmouth 3, MacMurray 1; MacMurray 3, Lincoln Christian 2; MacMurray 3, Iowa Wesleyan 2; Lincoln Christian 3, Iowa Wesleyan 1.

Colorado College Invite
Simpson, Minnesota Morris, Blackburn, #8 Colorado College, Oswego St.
Simpson 3, Blackburn 0; #8 Colorado College 3, Simpson 0; Minnesota Morris 3, Oswego St. 1; Minnesota Morris 3, Blackburn 1; #8 Colorado College 3, Oswego St. 0.

Texas Lutheran Classic
UW Oshkosh, Texas Lutheran, Concordia (Texas), Lewis & Clark, LeTourneau, Willamette, Schreiner, FDU-Florham
UW Oshkosh 3, Texas Lutheran 2; UW Oshkosh 3, Concordia (Texas) 0.

Faith Bible Spikefest
Maranatha, North Central (Minn.), Ozark Christian, Faith Bible, Manhattan Christian, Providence (Canada), Hillsdale Baptist, AIB Business
Maranatha 3, Ozark Christian 0; AIB Business 3, North Central (Minn.) 0; Maranatha 3, Manhattan Christian 0; North Central (Minn.) 3, Hillsdale Baptist 2.

Concordia-Ann Arbor Invite
Concordia Wisconsin, Concordia Chicago, Concordia-Ann Arbor
Concordia Wisconsin 3, Concordia-Ann Arbor 0; Concordia-Ann Arbor 3, Concordia Chicago 0; Concordia Wisconsin 3, Concordia Chicago 0.

Mount Union Classic
Lawrence, #10 Mount Union, Bethany, John Carroll, St. Mary’s (Ind.)
#10 Mount Union 3, Lawrence 0; St. Mary’s (Ind.) 3, Lawrence 2; #10 Mount Union 3, Bethany 1.

Pomona-Pitzer/Claremont-Mudd-Scripps/La Verne Classic
Wheaton (Ill.), St. Scholastica, #6 Cal Lutheran, #19 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, UC Santa Cruz, Pomona-Pitzer, Chapman, La Verne, Occidental, Whitworth, Texas-Tyler, Kean
St. Scholastica 3, Occidental 0; La Verne 3, St. Scholastica 1; #6 Cal Lutheran 3, Texas-Tyler 1; Wheaton (Ill.) 3, Chapman 0; Pomona-Pitzer 3, Wheaton (Ill.) 0; #19 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 3, Kean 0; #19 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 3, Texas-Tyler 0; #6 Cal Lutheran 3, Kean 0.

Puget Sound Premier
Bethel, #21 Pacific Lutheran, Puget Sound, Corban, Oregon Tech
#21 Pacific Lutheran 3, Oregon Tech 0; Bethel 3, Corban 1; #21 Pacific Lutheran 3, Puget Sound 0; Bethel 3, Oregon Tech 0.

New York Univ. Invite
North Central (Ill.), NYU, Centre, Babson, Hunter, Rowan, Union, St. John Fisher
North Central (Ill.) 3, Rowan 0; North Central (Ill.) 3, NYU 2.

Averett Classic
Central, Averett, Guilford, Roanoke, William Peace, Methodist, Greenboro, Hollins, Emory & Henry, Randolph, Virginia Intermont
Roanoke 3, Central 1; Central 3, Averett 0.

Top 25 upset watch
• #1 Calvin 3, Simmons 0
• #1 Calvin 3, Roger Williams 0
• #2 Emory 3, Randolph-Macon 1
• #2 Emory 3, Lynchburg 0
• Mary Hardin-Baylor 3, #13 Trinity (Texas) 1
• #13 Trinity (Texas) 3, Hardin-Simmons 0
• #14 Juniata 3, Rochester 0
• #14 Juniata 3, Medaille 0
• #15 Eastern 3, Washington College 0
• #15 Eastern 3, Salve Regina 0
• #20 Clarkson 3, Roger Williams 1
• #20 Clarkson 3, New Paltz St. 0
• Susquehanna 3, #22 UMass Boston 1
• Haverford 3, #22 UMass Boston 0
• #23 Otterbein 3, Kenyon 0
• #23 Otterbein 3, Maryville (Tenn.) 1
• #25 Christopher Newport 3, Cabrini 0
• #25 Christopher Newport 3, Bridgewater (Va.) 0

-Ricky Nelson

8/29/14: Millikin upsets No. 18 UW-Whitewater

Happy opening day, all! 

Saint Benedict Tourney
#3 UW-Stevens Point, #9 Saint Benedict, #16 Augsburg, Concordia-Moorhead, UW-Eau Claire, Northwestern, UW-Platteville
#16 Augburg 3, UW-Platteville 1; #3 UW-Stevens Point 3, Concordia-Moorhead 0; #9 Saint Benedict 3, UW-Platteville 0; #3 UW-Stevens Point 3, #16 Augsburg 1; #9 Saint Benedict 3, UW-Eau Claire 0; Northwestern 3, UW-Eau Claire 0; Northwestern 3, Concordia-Moorhead 2.

Elmhurst Invite
#12 Elmhurst, #17 Chicago, Coe, Carthage, Edgewood, Dominican, Luther, Spalding, Lake Forest, Westminster (Mo.)
Dominican 3, Spalding 0; #12 Elmhurst 3, Edgewood 0; Coe 3, Spalding 0; Carthage 3, Luther 2; Coe 3, Westminster (Mo.) 0; Carthage 3, Lake Forest 0; Dominican 3, #17 Chicago 1; Edgewood 3, Westminster (Mo.) 0; Luther 3, Lake Forest 0; #12 Elmhurst 3, #17 Chicago 2.

UW-Whitewater Invite
#18 UW-Whitewater, Millikin, St. Norbert, Carroll, Lakeland, Grinnell
#18 UW-Whitewater 3, Lakeland 0; Carroll 3, St. Norbert 2; Millikin 3, Carroll 0; St. Norbert 3, Grinnell 0; Millikin 3, #18 UW-Whitewater 1; Lakeland 3, Grinnell 0.

Washington-St. Louis Classic
#11 Washington-St. Louis, Greenville, Loras
#11 Washington-St. Louis 3, Greenville 0; #11 Washington-St. Louis 3, Loras 0; Greenville 3, Loras 2.

Wittenberg Invite
#5 St. Thomas, #4 Hope, #7 Wittenberg, Johns Hopkins
#5 St. Thomas 3, Johns Hopkins 0; #4 Hope 3, #7 Wittenberg 1.

Saint Mary’s (Minn.) Classic
Wartburg, Gustavus, Saint Mary’s (Minn.), UW-La Crosse, Illinois Wesleyan, North Park, Dubuque, St. Catherine
Saint Mary’s (Minn.) 3, Dubuque 0; Wartburg 3, UW-La Crosse 2; St. Catherine 3, North Park 0; Saint Mary’s (Minn.) 3, North Park 0; Illinois Wesleyan 3, Gustavus 2; St. Catherine 3, Dubuque 1; UW-La Crosse 3, Illinois Wesleyan 0; Wartburg 3, Gustavus 0.

Augustana Classic
#24 Cornell, Augustana, Benedictine, UW-River Falls, Hamline, Principia, Aurora, Knox
Augustana 3, Benedictine 0; Hamline 3, UW-River Falls 0; Benedictine 3, Knox 0; Hamline 3, Aurora 0; Augustana 3, Principia 0; #24 Cornell 3, UW-River Falls 1; Principia 3, Knox 1; #24 Cornell 3, Aurora 1.

St. Olaf/Carleton Tourney
St. Olaf, Carleton, UW-Stout, Martin Luther, Macalester, Bethany Lutheran, Crown, Waldorf
Bethany Lutheran 3, St. Olaf 2; UW-Stout 3, Carleton 1; UW-Stout 3, Macalester 0; St. Olaf 3, Crown 0; Martin Luther 3, Waldorf 1; Carleton 3, Bethany Lutheran 0; Waldorf 3, Crown 0; Martin Luther 3, Macalester 1.

Beloit Blast
UW-Superior, Ripon, MSOE, Marian, Rockford, Beloit, Alverno
Alverno 3, Beloit 0; MSOE 3, UW-Superior 2; UW-Superior 3, Rockford 0; Ripon 3, Marian 1; MSOE 3, Marian 1; Ripon 3, Alverno 0; Rockford 3, Beloit 1.

Colorado College Invite
Simpson, Minnesota Morris, Blackburn, #8 Colorado College, Oswego St.
Oswego St. 3, Blackburn 0; Simpson 3, Oswego St. 1; #8 Colorado College 3, Blackburn 0; Minnesota Morris 3, Simpson 1; #8 Colorado College 3, Minnesota Morris 0.

Texas Lutheran Classic
UW Oshkosh, Texas Lutheran, Concordia (Texas), Lewis & Clark, LeTourneau, Willamette, Schreiner, FDU-Florham
UW Oshkosh 3, Willamette 1; UW Oshkosh 3, Lewis & Clark 1.

Faith Bible Spikefest
Maranatha, North Central (Minn.), Ozark Christian, Faith Bible, Manhattan Christian, Providence (Canada), Hillsdale Baptist, AIB Business
Maranatha 3, AIB Business 0; Maranatha 3, North Central (Minn.) 0; Ozark Christian 3, North Central (Minn.) 0.

Mount Union Classic
Lawrence, #10 Mount Union, Bethany, John Carroll, St. Mary’s (Ind.)
John Carroll 3, Lawrence 0; #10 Mount Union 3, St. Mary’s (Ind.) 0; Bethany 3, Lawrence 1.

Concordia-Ann Arbor Tri
Concordia Wisconsin, Finlandia, Concordia-Ann Arbor
Concordia Wisconsin 3, Finlandia 0; Concordia-Ann Arbor 3, Finlandia 0.

Pomona-Pitzer/Claremont-Mudd-Scripps/La Verne Classic
Wheaton (Ill.), St. Scholastica, #6 Cal Lutheran, #19 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, UC Santa Cruz, Pomona-Pitzer, Chapman, La Verne, Occidental, Whitworth, Texas-Tyler, Kean
St. Scholastica 3, Chapman 0; #6 Cal Lutheran 3, Wheaton (Ill.) 0; La Verne 3, Wheaton (Ill.) 0; #19 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 3, St. Scholastica 2; #6 Cal Lutheran 3, Whitworth 0; #19 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 3, UC Santa Cruz 0. 

Puget Sound Premier
Bethel, #21 Pacific Lutheran, Puget Sound, Corban, Oregon Tech
#21 Pacific Lutheran 3, Bethel 1; Bethel 3, Puget Sound 1; #21 Pacific Lutheran 3, Corban 0.

New York Univ. Invite
North Central (Ill.), NYU, Centre, Babson, Hunter, Rowan, Union, St. John Fisher
North Central (Ill.) 3, Centre 0; North Central (Ill.) 3, Hunter 0.

Nonconference
• Webster 3, Buena Vista 2
• Webster 3, Hanover 0
• Emmaus 3, Mount Mary 2

Top 25 upset watch
• #1 Calvin 3, New Paltz St. 1
• #1 Calvin 3, #20 Clarkson 2
• #13 Trinity (Texas) 3, East Texas Baptist 0
• #13 Trinity (Texas) 3, Texas-Dallas 0
• #14 Juniata 3, Nazareth 0
• #14 Juniata 3, Fredonia St. 0
• #15 Eastern 3, Marietta 0
• #15 Eastern 3, Gallaudet 0
• #20 Clarkson 3, Simmons 0
• Alma 3, #23 Otterbein 2
• #23 Otterbein 3, Buffalo St. 0
• #25 Christopher Newport 3, Keene St. 0
• #25 Christopher Newport 3, Washington and Lee 0

-Ricky Nelson

Ricky Nelson’s top 5 matches of 2014 opening weekend

I typically post my top five matches of the week along with my weekly top 10, but many schedules were not even online when I posted my preseason top 25 on July 7. So to whet your appetite, here are my top five matches during opening weekend.

8/29 #3 UW-Stevens Point vs. #16 Augsburg
8/29 #12 Elmhurst vs. #17 Chicago
8/30 #3 UW-Stevens Point vs. #9 Saint Benedict
8/30 #5 St. Thomas vs. #4 Hope
8/30 #5 St. Thomas vs. #7 Wittenberg

My work situation has changed. I mention it only because my time devoted to this blog will be curbed. I hope I can keep the updates timely this season.

-Ricky Nelson

Defending champs top 2014 AVCA preseason poll

Defending champion Calvin is the No. 1 team in the 2014 AVCA preseason poll released today. Calvin defeated Cal Lutheran 20-18 in the fifth set at the thrilling 2013 final. Cal Lutheran placed sixth in the preseason poll.

Calvin received 56 of 60 first-place votes. Emory, my preseason No. 1 team, garnered three top votes and placed second in the poll. No. 4 Hope snagged the last No. 1 vote.

UW-Stevens Point is No. 3, the Pointers’ highest showing in poll history. St. Thomas, the 2012 national champion, is No. 5.

Other Central and Midwest teams in the preseason top 25: No. 9 Saint Benedict; No. 11 Washington-St. Louis; No. 12 Elmhurst; No. 16 Augsburg; No. 17 Chicago; No. 18 UW-Whitewater; No. 24 Cornell.

Central and Midwest teams receiving votes: Coe; Millikin; Wartburg.

My preseason top 25 does not look like the AVCA’s, as expected. There are several ways to create a preseason ballot. The AVCA collective created theirs more traditionally than I. It’ll work itself out in the end. It usually does.

Most D-III teams convene on campuses this week, and the first matches are Aug. 29.

-Ricky Nelson

2014 preseason conference polls

It’s that time again for conference coaches and sports information directors from the Central and Midwest regions to publish preseason polls.

Links are to published preseason polls.

CCIW
Conference pick: Elmhurst
My pick: Millikin

IIAC
Conference pick: Wartburg
My pick: Coe

MIAC
Conference pick: St. Thomas
My pick: St. Thomas

MWC
Conference pick: Cornell
My pick: Cornell

NACC
Conference pick: Edgewood
My pick: Dominican

SLIAC
Conference pick: Greenville
My pick: Webster

UAA
Conference pick: [No poll]
My pick: Emory

UMAC
Conference pick: Northwestern
My pick: Northwestern

WIAC
Conference pick: Wisconsin-Stevens Point
My pick: Wisconsin-Whitewater

My predictions for all Pool A conferences

-Ricky Nelson

37 from Central, Midwest earn AVCA Team Academic awards

The AVCA awarded a record 676 teams with its Team Academic honor for the 2013-14 season. A total of 126 Division III teams (18.6 percent of all D-III teams) earned the award.

From the AVCA release: The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

The 37 D-III teams from the Central and Midwest regions that earned the award for 2013-14:

CCIW: Elmhurst; Wheaton.
IIAC: Central*; Coe*; Dubuque*; Luther; Simpson*; Wartburg*.
Independent: Maranatha; Nebraska Wesleyan*.
MIAC: Augsburg; Bethel*; Carleton*; Macalester*; Saint Benedict; St. Thomas.
MWC: Beloit*; Cornell; Grinnell; Monmouth*.
NACC: Aurora; Dominican*; Edgewood*; Lakeland.
SLIAC: Fontbonne; Greenville*; MacMurray; Principia; Webster*.
UAA: Washington-St. Louis*.
UMAC: Martin Luther*; Minnesota Morris; Northwestern*.
WIAC: Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Wisconsin-Platteville*; Wisconsin-Stevens Point; Wisconsin-Stout.

* won the award for at least the third consecutive season.

Prior Central and Midwest AVCA Team Academic posts:
28 teams in 2012-13
26 teams in 2011-12

-Ricky Nelson