Early Season Favorites
Early Season Favorites
All of the VBelo favorites won yesterday, but there was still a dramatic finish for Hawaiʻi and Loyola. We also got the first AVCA Coaches Poll with favorite UCLA taking the #1 spot.
Today was our first taste of multiple matches on the same day, and it was fantastic. Ball State is off to a fast start as they are already 3-0. Meanwhile, 50 of the 58 teams have not played their first match yet. This was just day 2 of 13 straight days with a match to open the season. As a fan, it's hard to complain too much about that.
Even though all of the VBelo favorites won, that doesn't mean there wasn't excitement, particularly in the late match at Hawaiʻi. Down 8 points in the 3rd set (15-7), the #3 Rainbow Warriors defeated #10 Loyola-Chicago 3-0 to open their season dramatically. If this is a sign of things to come, we are in for a great season, beginning to end.
Today we get the beginning of two very interesting groups of matches. In Santa Barbara, the Asics Invitational has 5 ranked teams all competing in the first week of the season. These matchups could set the tone early on for these programs with their eyes on the postseason. Down the California coast, the MPSF will be hosting several SIAC teams in the SoCal x HBCU Challenge. While these games look one-sided according to VBelo, they are amazing for growing the game. I would love to see more matchups like this!
AVCA Coaches Poll
The big news in the NCAA Men's Volleyball world yesterday was the release of the first AVCA Coaches Poll of 2024. After returning the majority of their 2023 championship team, UCLA was the unanimous #1 in the first poll. The top 5 were rounded out with 3 teams from the Big West (Long Beach, Hawaiʻi, and UC Irvine) and MIVA powerhouse Ohio State.
The most exciting member of the top 20 though has to be Lincoln Memorial from the IVA. Independent programs don't get nearly enough love and Lincoln Memorial absolutely deserves to make the cut. This is the 3rd time in program history they have made the top 20 and the first time to open the season on the list. Their highest ranking was #15 last year (2/14/2023). Don't be shocked when that changes in 2024.
Match Recaps
Non-conference
Hawai'i (91%) def. Loyola Chicago (9%)
3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-20)
Ohio State (85%) def. North Greenville (15%)
3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-18)
Pepperdine (96%) def. Fort Valley State (4%)
3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-12)
Ball State (98%) def. Wabash (2%)
3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-15)
Ball State (97%) def. Thomas More (3%)
3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-14)
Thomas More (66%) def. Wabash (34%)
3-1 (25-20, 25-18, 26-28, 25-17)
Match Projections
Non-conference
Central State (3%) vs Penn State (97%)
Fort Valley State (0%) vs UCLA (100%)1
Morehouse (0%) vs UCLA (100%)2
Asics Invitational (at UCSB)
NJIT (26%) vs UC Santa Barbara (74%)
CSU Northridge (20%) vs Grand Canyon (80%)
George Mason (62%) vs UC San Diego (38%)
FVSU has a 0.3% chance according to VBelo.
Morehouse has a 0.05% chance according to VBelo.