VBelo Scouting Report: February 04, 2023
So maybe the MPSF can be beaten
Even though most matches went to the VBelo favorite, it sure felt like there were a bunch of big upsets yesterday. It might get overlooked but George Mason sweeping Lewis is a very impressive win for the national championship host school. UCSB was also able to fend off Pepperdine in a 5-set tour de force. Jaylen Jasper had another 5+ kills per set match but that wasn’t enough as UCSB snaps a 7 match losing streak and gets just their 2nd win of the season. The biggest upset of the night goes to CSUN knocking off Stanford at the Matadome. The Cardinal were almost a 3-1 favorite but CSUN was able to get the home win against an MPSF team, no small task this season.
After all of the hullabaloo yesterday about the MPSF, they ended up 2-3 on the day. They still appear to the be the strongest overall in the nation right now, so I would be surprised if they had another losing day today. Their conference record currently stands at 47-11. The next closest in wins is the MIVA with 37 and the closest in losses is the Big West with 20. They are really playing some incredible volleyball right now.
Weekends are great because they are jammed packed with matches. Today is no different as we have 18 matches lined up throughout the day. After waiting a whole day, we will get the rematch between BYU and Ball State. The Big Ten/Pac 12 Challenge should continue to have tons of attention as these are huge non-conference matchups. Ohio State will take on USC and Penn State will face UCLA. If Penn State pulls off the win against the Bruins, that could lead to some interesting decisions for voters in the coaches’ and media polls.
Special shoutout to Quincy for scheduling a double header today. This team is looking to climb the MIVA rankings and a strong showing this weekend is exactly what they need, especially since they will be facing the #1 ranked NAIA team (Grand View).
Match Recaps
Non-conference
UCLA (74%) def. Ohio State (26%)
3-1 (25-22, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23)
As expected, UCLA led the way with 23 service errors (to their 11 aces). David Ido (UCLA) finished with 18 kills, .424%, and a team high 7 digs.
Erskine (65%) def. Alderson Broaddus (35%)
3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 27-25)
George Mason (34%) def. Lewis (66%)
3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-19)
Both teams had 12 service errors, but GMU had 8 aces to Lewis’s 0.
Long Island (52%) def. Lindenwood (48%)
3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-22)
McKendree (79%) def. Missouri S&T (21%)
3-1 (25-9, 25-20, 23-25, 25-9)
UC Santa Barbara (42%) def. Pepperdine (58%)
3-2 (21-25, 25-21, 16-25, 25-11, 15-12)
Dayne Chalmers (UCSB) had 17 kills on 25 errorless swings to hit .680 in the 5-set victory.
CSU Northridge (28%) def. Stanford (72%)
3-2 (21-25, 26-24, 22-25, 25-18, 15-13)
Taylan Cook (CSUN) set a new career high in digs with 20 (previous high was 9)! Kyle Hobus (CSUN) also added 21 kills in the victory.
King (44%) def. Queens (56%)
3-1 (25-20, 25-27, 25-21, 25-18)
Lincoln Memorial (76%) def. Central State (24%)
3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-21)
Princeton (80%) def. Sacred Heart (20%)
3-1 (25-16, 23-25, 25-14, 25-22)
Long Beach (69%) def. Loyola Chicago (31%)
3-2 (23-25, 25-21, 25-19, 23-25, 17-15)
Efficiency from the Sharks as they committed only 6 hitting errors in the entire match.
Grand Canyon (65%) def. UC Irvine (35%)
3-1 (25-19, 25-19, 12-25, 25-22)
GCU hit a blistering .415% against one of top teams in the nation to stay undefeated.
Penn State (80%) def. Southern California (20%)
3-1 (30-28, 25-20, 23-25, 25-18)
In his season debut, Cal Fisher (PSU) finished with 13 kills, .429%, 9 digs, 2 blocks, & 2 aces. Not too bad.
NJIT (70%) def. Saint Francis (30%)
3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-23)
Daemen (57%) def. Harvard (43%)
3-1 (25-15, 19-25, 25-17, 37-35)
Kade McGovern (Harvard) had 20 kills, a new career high, while hitting .455 on the match.
Thomas More (67%) def. Kentucky State (33%)
3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-20)
Maryville (74%) def. Culver-Stockton (26%)
3-0 (25-17, 25-10, 25-16)
Merrimack (62%) def. American International (38%)
3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-23)
UC San Diego (79%) def. Ottawa University-Arizona (21%)
3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-20)
North Greenville (89%) def. Campbellsville (11%)
3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-9)
Purdue Fort Wayne (50%) def. Mount Olive (50%)
3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 27-25)
Match Projections
Non-conference
BYU (31%) vs Ball State (69%)
Purdue Fort Wayne (65%) vs George Mason (35%)
Erskine (39%) vs Charleston (61%)
Ohio State (49%) vs Southern California (51%)
Lewis (50%) vs Mount Olive (50%)
Long Island (35%) vs McKendree (65%)
Missouri S&T (39%) vs Lindenwood (61%)
Stanford (76%) vs Master's (24%)
Queens (75%) vs Barton (25%)
UCLA (41%) vs Penn State (59%)
Central State (23%) vs Lincoln Memorial (77%)
UC Irvine (33%) vs Grand Canyon (67%)
Fort Valley State (20%) vs King (80%)
Alderson Broaddus (20%) vs Saint Francis (80%)
Daemen (86%) vs American International (14%)
Fisher (29%) vs Merrimack (71%)
Saint Ambrose-Iowa (43%) vs Quincy (57%)
Grand View (43%) vs Quincy (57%)
