VBelo Daily: February 16, 2025

Another weekend, another change for some solid wins (and an upset or two).

Home court defended and the MIVA continues the madness. (McKendree Athletics)

With McKendree’s upset over Loyola, we are down to our last two undefeated teams of the season: Long Beach (11-0) and UC Irvine (10-0). The Big West is putting on quite a show this season. If you are like me, you are wondering if both of these teams can stay undefeated until they face each other at the end of March. Sure it is possible. But how possible? Let me run the numbers are get back to you.

Yesterday's Scores

ConfCarolinas

Belmont Abbey (80%) def. Barton (20%)
3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 27-25)

Lees-McRae (29%) def. King (71%)
3-2 (25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 14-25, 15-9)

Mount Olive (63%) def. North Greenville (37%)
3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-22)

EIVA

#20 George Mason (91%) def. Sacred Heart (9%)
3-1 (25-18, 25-27, 25-23, 25-21)

IVA

Maryville (71%) def. Rockhurst (29%)
3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 28-26, 25-22)

MIVA

#15 Ohio State (74%) def. Lindenwood (26%)
3-1 (25-12, 26-24, 22-25, 25-19)

#17 McKendree (26%) def. #6 Loyola Chicago (74%)
3-2 (26-24, 23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13)

Another undefeated falls as McKendree defends home court. I had the privilege of seeing this Bearcat team in person, and let me tell you, they cannot be underestimated. Not to mention, they might have the best vibes in all of men’s volleyball.

Non-conference

St. Thomas Aquinas (17%) def. Daemen (83%)
3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-21)

Menlo (69%) def. Hope International (31%)
3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-19, 25-21)

Penn State (84%) def. Saint Francis (16%)
3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-18)

Fairleigh Dickinson (95%) def. American International (5%)
3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-16)

Tusculum (73%) def. Erskine (27%)
3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-23)

Master's (1%) def. #8 Stanford (99%)
3-2 (24-26, 25-21, 25-22, 26-28, 15-11)

The model only knows that Master’s is an NAIA team. It doesn’t know that they are the #1 team in the NAIA or that they are now 4-0 against MPSF teams this season. So yeah, top teams in other divisions can hang.

#10 Grand Canyon (83%) def. #12 UC San Diego (17%)
3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 15-25, 25-18, 19-17)

#11 Pepperdine (71%) def. #16 UC Santa Barbara (29%)
3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-23)

---

Today's Match Projections

Non-conference

Daemen (92%) vs Dominican (8%)