Outrigger Invitational Preview
Let's get ready for an incredible 3 days of volleyball in Hawaii.
There Is More Out There
One reason I really enjoy doing the VBelo Report is because I get to highlight teams and players that may not get as much coverage as the top teams. Growing the game looks like focusing on more than just teams with a number before their names. That being said, today I am going to focus on something very mainstream: The Outrigger Invitational.
I want to be clear though, there is so much amazing volleyball happening this week that isn’t being played in Hawaii. I hope you get the chance to watch some of those matches.
Now that we are on the same page, let’s preview the last major tournament before conference tournaments.
By The Numbers
The above is a look at the national rankings of the four teams in the Outrigger Invitational this year. The tournament will be filled with great matches, but let’s look at some of these numbers.
I won’t be shocked when blocks get brought up every day at the Outrigger. All 4 teams are in the top 10 nationally for blocks per set. There is some serious attackers on these teams so it will be interesting how they navigate the big blocks.
Hawaii looks poised to make a big splash at this tournament, which isn’t that surprising. Home court advantage is a thing and Hawaii is looking to win their 12th Outrigger. They have a 53-29 record all time at this tournament and have an all-time winning record against all of the other participants.
USC may not be ranked in the top 50 for aces per set, but they are in the top 15 for everything else. This includes leading every team in the nation in three stats: kills per set, blocks per set, and assists per set. This will be the third time the Trojans have been in the Outrigger and it has been 15 years since their last appearance. They have only finished as the runner up for this tournament, so it will be interesting if they can change that luck.
Ball State will be looking to bolster their RPI this week against some really strong opponents. The Cardinals are 5-13 all-time at the Outrigger and are looking for their first championship on the island. If this team is completely healthy, they have what it takes to go all the way. They may not have the rankings of Hawaii and USC, but they will not go down without a fight.
Then there is Penn State, which had an incredibly rough start to the season. Looking at the stats, the Nittany Lions are the clear outlier. They are only in the top 10 for one stat (blocks per set) and didn’t make the top 50 in a few categories. They may be a underdogs for this tournament, but I’m not ready to totally count them out yet. Part of that is because the model doesn’t think they are as weak as their record might suggest.
Match Projections
I am excited for all of the matches, but day 3 is going to be incredible. These odds will change as matches are played, but having a 50-50 matchup in a tournament like this is amazing. This is volleyball!
What are you expecting to see at the Outrigger? How sad are you that only the Hawaii matches are televised? Who will win it all?
Rankings Update
VBelo Rankings
Here are my high level talking points.
Lincoln Memorial - Most underrated team in the country? Probably.
The top of the MIVA is grouped so close!
BYU is probably getting a boost in the coaches’ poll because they have the name “BYU”.
We need to be talking more about the Conference Carolinas.
Coaches’ Poll
Very small shuffles, but all the same teams. At this point, the only way teams move is if they lose. With the Outrigger this week, there will be movement in the top 5 because Hawaii and USC will play. That is interesting, but I’m not super convinced that we will learn as much as we think from that match. Don’t get me wrong, I am excited for it. I just think that we know a lot about these teams already.
Media Poll
Small shuffles, but all the same teams. CSUN is gaining more and more attention as is McKendree.
In’s & Out’s
A section for all of the random things that don’t fit anywhere but belong somewhere.
I’m not sure what to do with this. But here are some images of the Outrigger as generated by AI…
Google Gemini made some interesting choices. AVCA Player of the Week: Cooper Robinson (Outside, UCLA)
Triple-Double Watch 2025: Lonely