Big match tonight as #5 Hope travels to Grand Rapids to face #1 Calvin. I attended this same match last year and it was an awesome thing to see - looking forward to an electric atmosphere and a Hope win.
Quote from: Flying Dutch Fan on September 17, 2013, 02:56:37 PM
Big match tonight as #5 Hope travels to Grand Rapids to face #1 Calvin. I attended this same match last year and it was an awesome thing to see - looking forward to an electric atmosphere and a Hope win.
Wish I could be there. Calvin had the edge last year but the matches with the Dutch were extremely competitive and well played and the atmosphere was fantastic. I would expect the same tonight.
Check out the latest post on the AVCA D3 Top 25 board (link will indicate there's a bit more on the line tonight.)
Just before the match, Hope went up to #2 in the rankings, so the Calvin-Hope match was #1 vs. #2.
The atmosphere was indeed electric with 2100 people. The student section was packed and very loud. It was hard-fought and well-played. It felt like a tournament game.
Calvin ended up on top with a three-set win, the last set 28-26.
According to Massey's computer rankings, Calvin's volleyball team would be #12 in D II. It would be #85 in D I, in the top quarter of D I teams.
Is there less of a difference between D I, D II, and D III in volleyball than in basketball or football? I can't imagine any D III basketball or football team better than three quarters of the D I teams.
Or maybe comparisons between divisions are inaccurate because there are so few inter-divisional games.
Quote from: Dark Knight on September 23, 2013, 03:19:29 PM
According to Massey's computer rankings, Calvin's volleyball team would be #12 in D II. It would be #85 in D I, in the top quarter of D I teams.
Is there less of a difference between D I, D II, and D III in volleyball than in basketball or football? I can't imagine any D III basketball or football team better than three quarters of the D I teams.
Or maybe comparisons between divisions are inaccurate because there are so few inter-divisional games.
With basketball there are at least a few games every year between the divisions (at least on the men's side). Last year there were 45 games between DI and DIII and 40 between DII and DIII. Football - zero, volleyball ????
And the Flying Dutch are the 2014 National Champions!!!!!!
Joining #14 Calvin at Alma in progress (Knights up 1 set to nil)
Final: #14 Calvin over Alma in 3 sets:
(25-22, 25-13, 25-18.)
Calvin: Ga. Kellogg .474 hitting pct.
Hall .429 hitting pct.
#17 Hope at Adrian on deck:
Final: Hope over Adrian in 3 sets:
(25-20, 25-11. 25-23)
Hope: .272 team hitting pct. for match.
Final: #11 Calvin over Trine in 3 sets:
(25-13, 25-15, 25-17)
Calvin: .311 Team hitting pct. for the match.
2 of the 3 higher seeds advanced in opening round action this evening:
Higher seeds Hope and Albion both moved on after winning in 3 sets each.
#5 Seed Alma pulled a mild upset, knocking off #4 Seed Trine in a 5-setter.
Semis:
Calvin vs. Alma
Hope vs. Albion
Semi-Final Results:
#16 Hope over Albion in 3 sets:
(25-23, 25-19, 25-15)
Hope; .283 hitting pct. for match. 44 spike points (to Albion's 30).
#6 Calvin over Alma in 3 sets:
(25-18 25-14, 30-28.)
Calvin: .319 team hitting pct. 49 spike points (to Alma's 32).
The perrennial powers meet in yet another final. Calvin knocked off Hope in 3 sets during the regular season.
Championship Final Result: #16 Hope over #6 Calvin in 4 sets
(16-25, 28-26, 25-17, 25-16.)
Hope: 14 total blocks (to Calvin's 3);
Ligon .421 hitting pct. 3 other Dutch .267 or higher hitting pcts.
Calvin: 3 players with individual hitting pcts. in .308 - .444 hitting range.
Dutch get even after being beaten earlier this season.
It'll be interesting to see how much this result shakes up next week's Top 25 Poll.
Fall 2021 MIAA Conference Pre-Season WVB Poll is now up:
https://www.miaa.org/sports/wvball/2021-22/releases/2021PreseasonPoll
#7 Hope/Alma and Olivet/#5 Calvin up shortly:
First final: Calvin over Olivet in 3 sets
The Knights wee so dominant in this match that they hat a .500 team hitting pct. and 12 service aces.
Second final: There will be no opening night in-MIAA major upsets tonight because Hope just finished knocking off Alma in 3 sets.
(25-14, 25-13, 25-13)
Hope: also a .500 team hitting pct. with 15 service aces.
2022 Pre-Season MIAA Poll is now up:
https://www.miaa.org/sports/wvball/2022-23/releases/PreSeasonPoll