We're in a nail biter at USM. USM won the first and fourth sets; we won the second and third. Our 3rd set win (25-17) was the only easy game; all the others were 25 - 22 to the winner. Heading into final, deciding set, kills are all even at 56. Can't get much closer than that.

Bring it home, ladies!

Final set: Rice up 6-3, then 8-4, then 11-8...USM not going away thanks to the cheering home crowd.

14-9 Rice....one more point to close this out!

Rice wins 15 - 12!

That's 8 consecutive wins, and now 14-4 overall, 5-0 in conference.

Nice to see one program on campus having a strong season. You'd have to think they'll be getting top-25 votes shortly if they keep winning.

Volleyball is having a good season, but not close to top 25.

(10-07-2018 03:48 PM)temchugh Wrote:  Volleyball is having a good season, but not close to top 25.

??? We're already Top 25 RPI, though that may slip as we move through conference play....and we beat Top 20 South Carolina.

South Carolina was receiving votes last week. They did finally lose another match this week (at Missouri) so Rice isn't the only team to have beaten them anymore, but they also did beat Texas A&M in College Station today. If USC can receive votes, Rice can receive votes. Our RPI is top 30, although that might drop in the next few weeks.

We have lost to three teams that are definitely not top 25 and we have beaten one team that is kinda sorta close to top 25. That is not a top 25 resume.

RPI is a terrible ranking system (as we are all quick to point out when it under ranks us). The only computer ranking system that I’m aware of (Hero sports) has us at 42.

We are having a good season. I’m excited. But we are not top 25 and we don’t deserve votes.

I wouldn't be surprised if we're already receiving votes (the most current top-25 ranking had 5 teams receiving votes not listed among the 34 teams they did list in the top-25 or receiving votes). Cincinnati received 3 votes last week at team #34 - they lost at Western Kentucky in 4 games and have an identical record as Rice at 14-4.

Rice's 4 losses are to top-25 Baylor on the road in 4, at Texas Tech (receiving votes) in 5 after having a 2-0 lead, at SFA in 4 (last two games were 30-28 and 26-24), and to Texas State at home in 5. None of those 4 losses are to teams with an RPI below 70. Our best win obviously is South Carolina, but we also have top-100 wins against Austin Peay (70) and Western Kentucky (also in the 70's).

I'm not saying we're a top-25 team but you're nuts if you don't think we deserve a vote or two. That's how it works in every top-25 poll in every collegiate sport.

https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/volleyball...ca-coaches

To be listed as “getting votes”, two different voters have to list us as being in the top 25. Two voting coaches have to believe that we are a top 25 team, not that we “deserve votes”.

Unlike computer rankings, human polls are both sticky and biased. My guess is that Rice would need to be an obviously Top 25 team before we start to get any votes. I seriously doubt that will happen this week or next week. Rice is not going to get the benefit of the doubt.

(10-07-2018 07:13 PM)temchugh Wrote:  Unlike computer rankings, human polls are both sticky and biased. My guess is that Rice would need to be an obviously Top 25 team before we start to get any votes. I seriously doubt that will happen this week or next week. Rice is not going to get the benefit of the doubt.

This. We would need to be playing at a 15-20 level before we get traction. Similarly (but opposite), Texas can suck at football and enter the season ranked #24. History matters and we aren't on the gracious side.

Regardless, good season so far and hopefully it keeps going and we definitively earn that top 25 rank soon.

(10-07-2018 07:13 PM)temchugh Wrote:  To be listed as “getting votes”, two different voters have to list us as being in the top 25. Two voting coaches have to believe that we are a top 25 team, not that we “deserve votes”.

Unlike computer rankings, human polls are both sticky and biased. My guess is that Rice would need to be an obviously Top 25 team before we start to get any votes. I seriously doubt that will happen this week or next week. Rice is not going to get the benefit of the doubt.

Computer polls are also sticky and biased. In *most* cases, less so than human polls.

I will also say that by getting votes (not yet) or cracking the top 25 in one widely used computer ranking, it can be said that we ARE a top 25 team.

And as with all teams on that cusp, or fringe, we are WITHIN REACH of becoming a CONSENSUS TOP 25 team.

Where we are... very nicely done!
Where we might be headed next... excited to see!

(10-07-2018 04:43 PM)temchugh Wrote:  We have lost to three teams that are definitely not top 25 and we have beaten one team that is kinda sorta close to top 25. That is not a top 25 resume.

RPI is a terrible ranking system (as we are all quick to point out when it under ranks us). The only computer ranking system that I’m aware of (Hero sports) has us at 42.

We are having a good season. I’m excited. But we are not top 25 and we don’t deserve votes.

I've noticed that Massey attempts to rate all sports for the AD Cup, including Women's Volleyball. While he doesn't have a separate page for it, you can sort the column (or just search) to see where each program falls.

https://www.masseyratings.com/adcup

Rice WVB falls at 52 currently.

(10-08-2018 09:33 AM)gsloth Wrote:  I've noticed that Massey attempts to rate all sports for the AD Cup, including Women's Volleyball. While he doesn't have a separate page for it, you can sort the column (or just search) to see where each program falls.

https://www.masseyratings.com/adcup

Rice WVB falls at 52 currently.

Thanks. I had not seen that before.

I say, keep winning and it'll all sort itself out.

Rankings and honors for this week (Week of Oct. 8):

Honors - Anota Adekunle is CUSA freshman of the week.

Rankings (Out of 334 D1 teams):
Coaches Poll Top 25 - no votes
Massey - 52
Hero Sports - 44
RPI - 27

Winning Streak: 8 matches
Overall record: 14 - 4

Which player or players have solidfied the team this year compared to results over the past few years or has there been a coaching change that has made a huge positive impact ? Any comments?

(10-09-2018 08:09 AM)OldOwl Wrote:  Which player or players have solidfied the team this year compared to results over the past few years or has there been a coaching change that has made a huge positive impact ? Any comments?

Shelby Livingston is a dynamic red shirt senior (good hitter and also good on defense) who was out all last year due to injury. Her return has made a big difference. Carly Graham (a surprisingly good setter) and Anota Adekunle (middle hitter) are starting as freshman and doing well. Several other player have made year-over-year improvements including Nicole Lennon (sophomore) who may be our best overall player. Overall, I think that the team is playing well as a team.

Rice enters the Volleyball Mag.com Mid Major Poll (excludes P5 teams) at 23.

Other schools in the poll:
WKU - 15 - lost to Rice
Stephen F. Austin - 18 - beat Rice
Austin Peay - 25 - lost to Rice
Texas State - also receiving votes - beat Rice

https://volleyballmag.com/mid-major-poll-100918/

Lost 1st set to Marshall, and down 18-17 in 2nd set. Team thought they could phone this one in.

Volpe is just not able to keep the team focused and intense from match to match.

Marshall wins the 2nd set.

Marshall came to play volleyball, Rice is here because the schedule said to be there.

Entirely on coaching. Team is unready and going through the motions.