More Matches, More Better
Another jam-packed day in the volleyball world. These non-conference matches are providing some excellent January volleyball and I am here for it.
Yesterday, we had four matches go the distance on a thrilling and busy day. This is exactly what I want to see this early in the season. Since it is a long holiday weekend, I will stick to the same format as yesterday and pick three matches that intrigue me.1
Stanford at UCSB - The rematch. After an epic 5-set victory for the Cardinal yesterday, this one looks to be another great matchup.
Princeton at UC Irvine - This is the closest VBelo matchup of the day at 54/46. We get to watch the NCAA record holder for aces in a Match (Ben Harrington) go up against the Big West career leader in aces (Hilir Henno). Get ready for some heat!
JBJ Battle for the Boardwalk - Yes, again. Day 1 delivered, and I don't see why day 2 would be any different. I've said it before and I will say it again. These are the types of tournaments we need more of.
Match Recaps
Non-conference
Hawai'i (99%) def. Emmanuel (1%)
3-0 (25-7, 25-8, 25-18)
CSU Northridge (64%) def. Harvard (36%)
3-1 (25-20, 19-25, 25-14, 29-27)
Long Beach (90%) def. Long Island (10%)
3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-17)
Stanford (60%) def. UC Santa Barbara (40%)
3-2 (25-21, 25-22, 20-25, 22-25, 16-14)
Edward Waters (44%) def. Erskine (56%)
3-2 (21-25, 25-22, 17-25, 25-18, 15-13)
Ball State (97%) def. Tusculum (3%)
3-1 (25-16, 19-25, 25-22, 25-15)
NJIT (42%) def. King (58%)
3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-17)
Saint Vincent (27%) def. Lees-McRae (73%)
3-2 (17-25, 25-20, 25-21, 23-25, 15-13)
Charleston (63%) def. Queens (37%)
3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 27-25)
Grand Canyon (84%) def. Lindenwood (16%)
3-1 (23-25, 25-13, 25-18, 25-21)
Purdue Fort Wayne (71%) def. Sacred Heart (29%)
3-1 (25-15, 24-26, 25-23, 25-22)
Quincy (83%) def. Dominican University (IL) (17%)
3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-21)
Concordia (92%) def. Springfield (8%)
3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-20)
Belmont Abbey (69%) def. Fairleigh Dickinson (31%)
3-2 (25-13, 30-28, 23-25, 19-25, 15-12)
Belmont Abbey (87%) def. St. Thomas Aquinas (13%)
3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-12)
Fairleigh Dickinson (57%) def. Barton (43%)
3-1 (18-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-22)
Match Projections
JBJ Battle for the Boardwalk
Belmont Abbey (58%) vs Sacred Heart (42%)
Barton (65%) vs St. Thomas Aquinas (35%)
Fairleigh Dickinson (76%) vs St. Thomas Aquinas (24%)
Barton (24%) vs Sacred Heart (76%)
Macon Invitational
Mount Olive (83%) vs Randolph-Macon (17%)
Roanoke College (14%) vs Mount Olive (86%)
Non-conference
Saint Francis (11%) vs Long Beach (89%)
Princeton (46%) vs UC Irvine (54%)
Stanford (66%) vs UC Santa Barbara (34%)
UC San Diego (9%) vs Ohio State (91%)
King (5%) vs Penn State (95%)
Daemen (86%) vs Roberts Wesleyan (14%)
Purdue Fort Wayne (71%) vs NJIT (29%)
Lincoln Memorial (68%) vs Southern California (32%)
Kentucky State (11%) vs Maryville (89%)
Tusculum (3%) vs Ball State (97%)
BYU (63%) vs Lewis (37%)
UCLA (87%) vs Loyola Chicago (13%)
Long Island (38%) vs Pepperdine (62%)
Sadly, the Fort Valley State/Talladega match that I highlighted yesterday was postponed due to weather. We will have to wait a little longer to see Talladega in action. Patience is a virtue (or something like that).