WVB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[WLCALUM83]

NACC Pre=Playoff Notes:

X-Factors-- Lakeland went 2-0 at a tournament in Indy last weekend, beating Augie-IL and once-ranked Earlham. CUW also competed in Indy at the same meet, going 1-3, beating ARV Webster, and losing to ARV IL Wes, Earlham and current #3 ranked Carthage. We will soon find out if playing that tougher competition puts a long term boost in the Muskie and Falcon play.

Hottest team (5 match winning-run):  Lakeland

NACC North:

Postponed match--CUW/Edgewood:  CUW-Himmelman 3rd in hitting pct. (.339), and avg. blocks/set (0.97). Edgewood's Uczen is 3rd in digs/set (4.80) and in overall number of digs (197)  CUW:  3rd in in-conference hitting pct., Edgewood 7th. CUW-2nd in in-conference service aces (89), while Edgewood was 5th, (80).

Postponed match--Lakeland/WLC:  Somethin's gotta give, WLC has won its' last 4 matches.  WLC:  Goba 4th in avg Aces/set (0.55) Weide 2nd in avg blocks/set (1.00). Raasch 6th in in-conference hitting pct. (.304) WLC had 70 in-conference service aces, compared to Lakeland's 43. Lakeland--Baumgartner 3rd in in conference spike points (101) Pingitore 3rd in in-conference digs (178). If the Warrior setters and hitters keep things even with the Muskie setters and hitters, the better WLC's chances.

NACC North favorite: CUW (on paper)

NACC South:

CUC/Benedictine: CUC:  Henline-2nd in spike points (151) and avg. spike pts./set (4.08). Benedictine--Primas 5th in digs (163), and avg digs/set (4.18). On paper this is the NACC South match up with the most evenly balanced squads. 

Dominican/Rockford: Dominican- Sinickate 4th in hitting pct. (.330); Sinickate and Jones 3rd and 4th in spike points (132 and 114, respectively) Labadessa 2nd in avg Aces/set (0.64). Dominican 2nd in in-conference hitting pct. (.224) Rockford--Crain appears to be one of the Regents' best players. I watched CUC knock the Regents off in regular season action earlier. Dominican should win this one. 

NACC South favorite:  Dominican (on paper) (with Aurora apparently having to back out)

[WLCALUM83]

Final:  Dominican over Rockford in 4 sets:
             (25-15, 25-14, 23-25, 25-15)

Dominican:  McCallum  .625 hitting pct.  Stars' entire squad hit .280 for the match.


Final:  CUC over Benedictine in 4 sets.
            (18-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-13).

CUC:  Henline  .308 hitting pct.  3 Cougars had 11 or more digs.
Benedictine:  Griffith .412 hitting pct.

It'll be Dominican vs. CUC for the NACC South title.
Stars went 3-0 against CUC during the regular season, with one match going 5 sets.

[WLCALUM83]

Update:  Edgewood @ WLC in the NACC North tomorrow. (Lakeland had to back out--COVID protocols.)

[WLCALUM83]

NACC North Championship Final:

WLC over Edgewood in 3 sets: 
   (26-24, 25-20, 25-12)

WLC:  M Pye  and A Charron .353 and .333 hitting pcts. respectively.  Warriors offense forced Edgewood to commit 23 attack errors, (WLC had 13) WLC got 20 points off of 9 service aces and 11 Edgewood service errors. (when almost 1/3 of the point output is accounted for on short serve plays alone it reduces the amount of strong at-net play needed.) WLC had enough net play when needed and the Warriors were able to find several gaps in the WI Eagle defense as well on longer rallies.

Edgewood:  Daniels and Carlson .429 and .400 hitting pcts. respectively. WI Eagles put up quite a battle, particularly in Sets 1 and 2..

[WLCALUM83]

NACC South Championship Final:

Dominican over Concordia-Chicago in 4 sets:
    (25-14, 25-16, 24-26, 25-16).

Dominican:  .280 team hitting pct. for match
                     4 Star players with .276 or higher hitting pcts.

CUC:  Stonich .242 hitting pct.

[WLCALUM83]

Aurora (ARV in the Top 25 pre-season poll) has an opportunity to make a statement--Spartans get #18 St. Benedict-MN right off the bat, several ARV squads right after that and then are scheduled to end their second weekend of the season against #13 UT-Dallas.

[WLCALUM83]

Fall 2021 NACC Pre-Season WVB Poll is here:

https://www.naccsports.org/sports/wvball/2021-22/releases/20210823ugsfm3

[WLCALUM83]

Joining ARV Aurora/#18 St. Benedict in progress:  Spartans up 2 sets to nil and 15-8 in Set 3 at the moment--

Developing. . . .

[WLCALUM83]

Final  ARV Aurora knocks off #18 St. Benedict 3 sets to nil:
           (25-22, 26-24, 25-18).

Aurora:  .336 team hitting pct. for match  (to St. Benedict's .159)
St. Benedict:  25 attack errors (to Spartans' 6)

[WLCALUM83]

Despite going 1-2 against ranked or ARV teams last weekend, Aurora is still receiving votes in the latest AVCA Top 25 Poll.

[WLCALUM83]

Joining St. Norbert vs. UW-Oshkosh in progress:  Green Knights up 2 sets to 1 at the moment (should they win, they get off the schneid).

[WLCALUM83]

St. Norbert/UW-Oshkosh going to a 5th set:

     Developing. . .

[WLCALUM83]

Final:  UW-Oshkosh uses a late come-from behind rally to shock St.Norbert on the road in 5 sets:
                    (25-18, 15-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-13)

Titans:  Outhit Green Knighs .214 to .115 in 5th set.

[WLCALUM83]

ARV Aurora vs. ARV Southwestern-TX just underway:

[WLCALUM83]

Final:  Southwestern-TX over Aurora in 3 sets:
             (25-21, 25-23, 25-12)

Pirates:  Outhit Aurora .202 to .109 for match Kuras and Crabtree .364 and .350 hitting pcts. respectively
Spartans:  Beebe 24 assists, Cozzoni .429 ind. hitting pct.