Archive for November 2016
2016 AVCA final poll: Champ Calvin nearly unanimous
National champion Calvin received all but one first-place vote to finish atop the 2016 AVCA final poll.
Rounding out the top five were second-ranked Emory, third-ranked Washington-St. Louis, fourth-ranked Southwestern and Cal Lutheran, which received the remaining top vote.
Other Central and Midwest teams in the final top 25: No. 6 Northwestern; No. 11 UW-Whitewater; No. 17 Millikin; No. 17 UW-La Crosse; No. 19 Elmhurst; No. 23 UW-Oshkosh; No. 25 UW-Stevens Point.
Central and Midwest teams receiving votes in the final poll: Gustavus Adolphus; Wartburg; UW-Eau Claire.
-Ricky Nelson
Ricky Nelson’s 2016 final top 10
The final AVCA poll comes out Tuesday.
My rank, (my Week 10 rank, AVCA Week 10 rank), record, key results last week
1 (1,2). Calvin 33-1 National champion.
2 (4,5). Emory 33-6 National quarterfinalist.
3 (NR,16). Washington-St. Louis 27-11 National runner-up.
4 (NR,18). Northwestern 34-5 National semifinalist.
5 (2,1). Cal Lutheran 27-5 Regional Finalist.
6 (NR,7). Southwestern 34-5 National quartersemifinalist. [If only I were there to see it, I could remember]
7 (NR,14). Mary Washington 31-4 National quarterfinalist.
8 (5,11). UW-Whitewater 29-7 Regional finalist.
9 (6,4). Texas Dallas 32-3 Regional finalist.
10 (NR,10). Juniata 26-7 Regional finalist.
Dropped out: No. 3 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (23-4); No. 7 Wittenberg (22-6); No. 8 Hope (25-6); No. 9 Trinity (Texas) (27-8); No. 10 UW-La Crosse (23-6).
-Ricky Nelson
Maranatha Baptist wins 2nd straight NCCAA D II title
Maranatha Baptist won each set on its way to securing the NCCAA D II national title for the second straight year on Saturday. The Sabercats swept Providence (Canada) in a rematch of last year’s championship match.
-Ricky Nelson
11/19/16: Calvin wins its 3rd national title
National Championship Match
#2 Calvin 3, #16 Washington-St. Louis 0 CC’s Kamp had 13 kills.
Congratulations to Calvin. What a great team and program.
Thank you again to all who stopped to say hello, and I hope you enjoyed your time in Oshkosh regardless of the results on the court.
That written, I am exhausted (probably just out of shape). This guy wrote a lot of words, talked a lot of words and walked a lot of miles this week. As a capital-F Former athlete turned writer, I’m no longer used to doing two of those things.
Thank you for also apparently spreading the word about this blog. It started as a class project years ago and grew into a place where nearly 3,000 people visited on the Sunday before this year’s selections? C’mon. That’s pretty cool. I’ve only met a few dozen of you in person or electronically, but it’s safe to say that the Division III women’s volleyball community is good people.
Yes, I did pick up on the clear fact that several people in Oshkosh this weekend knew who I was and were absolutely not on board with this blog. I like you though. It’s just that we disagree sometimes. And that’s OK.
I will get around to putting a bow on the season over the next week or so. For now, I have a few more stories to write before calling it a day. What a weekend.
-Ricky Nelson
11/18/16: #2 Calvin, #16 WUSTL advance to final
National Semis
#2 Calvin 3, #18 Northwestern 0 CC’s Danhoff hit 19-2-38.
#16 Washington-St. Louis 3, #7 Southwestern 0 WUSTL’s Malek hit 16-0-24.
Despite the convocation of Eagles in the field, we’re down to the Knights and the Bears.
Thank you to those who have stopped to say hello and offer kind words during the championship. I am glad the NCAA selected UW-Oshkosh to host.
-Ricky Nelson
11/17/16: #2 CC, #7 SU, #16 WUSTL, #18 UNW advance to semis
National Quarters
#2 Calvin 3, #5 Emory 2 CC’s Danhoff had 21 kills, 6 blocks.
#7 Southwestern 3, Tufts 2 SU’s Duck had 19 kills, 31 digs.
#18 Northwestern 3, #13 Eastern 2 UNW’s Peterson had 24 kills, 27 digs.
#16 Washington-St. Louis 3, #14 Mary Washington 2 WUSTL’s Dupont hit 21-2-37.
[First time in history that all four quarters went five. Lucky us! I became a fan of several teams and players after finally seeing some of them in person for the first time. Entertaining 20 sets of volleyball today.]
-Ricky Nelson
UNW sweeps top AVCA awards
Northwestern junior outside Lindsey Peterson was named AVCA Player of the Year while Northwestern’s Beth Wilmeth was tabbed AVCA Coach of the Year.
Tufts’ Kelly Bonja was named AVCA Assistant Coach of the Year, and Wittenberg middle Aubrey Cox was selected AVCA Freshman of the Year earlier this week.
-Ricky Nelson
2016 AVCA All-America Teams announced
The following are Central and Midwest region players named to the top three 2016 AVCA All-America Teams. The 2016 Nationals Guide has been updated.
First Team
Tyler Brown, Illinois Wesleyan sophomore outside
Nora Holtan, Gustavus Adolphus sophomore setter
Lindsey Peterson, Northwestern junior outside
Second Team
Brandi Blattner, Saint Mary’s (Minn.) sophomore outside
Diamond Boyd, Cornell junior outside
Caroline Dupont, Washington-St. Louis senior middle
Stephanie Henk, Wisconsin-La Crosse junior outside
Third Team
Sydney Racky, Wisconsin-Whitewater junior right-side
Rexi Sheredy, Washington-St. Louis senior outside
Courtney Wagner, Wisconsin-Whitewater junior middle
-Ricky Nelson, who was not even all-conference this year
2016 Nationals Guide now available
To span the time between now and Thursday, take a look at the 2016 Nationals Guide.
The Nationals Guide and the three Regional Guides will remain at the top of the right rail throughout the weekend.
-Ricky Nelson
DIII Women's Volleyball 