Archive for November 2018
2018 AVCA final poll: Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Aurora move into top 6
National champion Emory was not the unanimous top-ranked team in the final AVCA poll of the 2018 season. The Eagles got 69 top votes while runner-up Calvin got one and finished second in the poll. I love it.
Rounding out the top five were No. 3 Juniata, No. 4 Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Wittenberg. Aurora, ranked for just the second time, was sixth in the final poll. Aurora’s only previous poll appearance was a No. 25 ranking in 2017.
Other Central and Midwest region teams in the final 2018 poll: No. 10 Illinois Wesleyan; No. 13 Chicago; No. 15 Washington-St. Louis; No. 18 Gustavus Adolphus; No. 19 Wisconsin-Whitewater; No. 23 Saint Benedict.
Illinois Wesleyan matched its highest ever ranking. Chicago achieved its highest ever poll position earlier this season when it reached No. 8 for two straight weeks.
Central and Midwest region teams receiving votes in the final poll: Minnesota Morris; St. Thomas.
My final top 10 of the 2018 season had Chicago instead of Colorado College.
-Ricky Nelson
Ricky Nelson’s 2018 final top 10
The AVCA poll comes out Tuesday.
My rank, (My Week 10 rank, AVCA Week 10 rank), record, finish
1 (7,9). Emory 30-6 National Champion.
2 (1,1). Calvin 33-2 National Runner-up.
3 (10,14). Wisconsin-Eau Claire 33-4 National Semifinalist.
4 (4,6). Juniata 28-4 National Semifinalist.
5 (3,3). Wittenberg 25-3 Regional Finalist.
6 (6,7). Thomas More 33-4 Regional Finalist.
7 (NR,NR). Aurora 26-9 National Quarterfinalist.
8 (9,11). Illinois Wesleyan 27-6 Regional Finalist.
9 (8,10). Chicago 29-5 Regional Semifinalist.
10 (5,5). Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 27-4 Regional Semifinalist.
Dropped Out: No. 2 Johnson & Wales (R.I.) (33-2).
-Ricky Nelson
11/17/18: #9 Emory trounces #1 Calvin, wins 2nd national title
NCAA Division III Championship Final
#9 Emory 3, #1 Calvin 0 EU outhit CC, .364 to .125.
All-Tournament
Mady Arles, Emory (MOP)
Leah Saunders, Emory
Elyse Thompson, Emory
Sarah DeVries, Calvin
Anna Kamp, Calvin
Krista Meyer, UW-Eau Claire
Dejia Danhi, Juniata
NCCAA Division II Championship Final
Bob Jones 3, Maranatha Baptist 0 BJU’s Beaver had 14 kills.
-Ricky Nelson
11/16/18: #1 Calvin, #9 Emory to play for title
NCAA Division III Championship Semifinals
#1 Calvin 3, #14 UW-Eau Claire 2 CC’s DeVries had 11 kills, 29 assists, 7 digs, 13 blocks.
#9 Emory 3, #6 Juniata 0 EU had 14 aces.
NCCAA Division II Championship Pool Play
Maranatha Baptist 3, Geneva 2 MBU’s Ka. & Ke. Johnson had triple-doubles.
NCCAA Division II Championship Semifinal
Maranatha Baptist 3, Emmaus Bible 1 MBU’s Ka. Johnson had 9 kills, 22 assists, 15 digs.
-Ricky Nelson
11/15/18: #1 Calvin, #6 Juniata, #9 Emory, #14 UW-Eau Claire advance to semis
NCAA Division III Championship Quarterfinals
#1 Calvin 3, Aurora 1 CC’s DeVries had 20 kills, 17 assists, 6 blocks.
#6 Juniata 3, Wesleyan 2 JC’s Edwards had 18 kills.
#9 Emory 3, #25 Ithaca 1 EU’s Saunders had 11 kills, 14 digs.
#14 UW-Eau Claire 3, Babson 0 UWEC’s Surprise had 43 assists.
NCCAA Division II Championship Pool Play
Maranatha Baptist 3, Arlington Baptist 0 MBU’s Ke. Johnson had 9 kills, 18 assists, 9 digs.
Maranatha Baptist 3, Toccoa Falls 2 MBU’s Hansel had 18 kills, 17 digs.
-Ricky Nelson
Calvin’s DeVries garners AVCA Player of the Year honor
Calvin junior middle/setter Sarah DeVries received the AVCA’s Division III Player of the Year award at tonight’s banquet.
DeVries has helped lead Calvin to a 31-1 record entering the national quarterfinals. She has produced seven triple-doubles this season while averaging 3.29 kills, 5.42 assists, 2.16 digs and 1.10 blocks per set on the year.
Thomas More outside Emily Mohs claimed AVCA’s Freshman of the Year honors on Tuesday.
-Ricky Nelson
Eau Claire’s Wudi named AVCA Coach of the Year
Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Kim Wudi was chosen as the NCAA Division III Coach of the Year by the AVCA.
Wudi, also the WIAC and Midwest Region Coach of the Year this season, has led the Blugolds (32-3) to the national quarterfinals for the first time. UW-Eau Claire’s 32 wins are its most since going 32-6 in 1997.
Juniata’s Casey Dale was tabbed the AVCA’s Assistant Coach of the Year.
-Ricky Nelson
AVCA announces 2018 All-America teams
The AVCA released its 2018 NCAA Division III All-America teams today.
Below are the Central and Midwest region players who were named to the top three teams.
First Team
Tyler Brown, Illinois Wesleyan senior outside
Nora Holtan, Gustavus Adolphus senior setter
Julianne Malek, Washington-St. Louis senior middle
Madelyn Pashibin, Wisconsin-Eau Claire senior outside
Hunter Weiss, Saint Benedict sophomore opposite
Second Team
Nicole Ciari, Cornell senior middle
April Gehl, Wisconsin-Stevens Point junior outside
Ifeoma Ufondu, Washington-St. Louis senior outside
Third Team
Brittany Robinson, Wisconsin-Whitewater senior libero
Madison Weiss, Saint Benedict sophomore middle
-Ricky Nelson
Championship week
To tide us over until Thursday, the initial draft of the 2018 Nationals Guide is posted. It will be updated with team statistical rankings and All-America selections over the next two days [Done]. The Nationals Guide can be found near the top of the right rail throughout the week.
A championship poll is also up for anyone interested in such things.
As for the rest of championship week, there will be a post about the AVCA All-America teams Tuesday, and I’ll have the normal daily posts starting Thursday.
-Ricky Nelson
DIII Women's Volleyball 