VBelo Scouting Report: January 13, 2023
VBelo Scouting Report: January 13, 2023
The champs are back
It finally happened and it did not disappoint. Hawai’i came out hot and was able to hold off a resilient Ball State in front of over 5,500 fans. In the three sets that they won, the Rainbow Warriors hit at least .440! The real difference in the match was serving. Both teams were aggressive and had a handful of service errors (UH-15 & BSU-17). But Hawai’i had 7 aces to Ball State’s 1. Unsurprisingly, the Cardinals looked to the veteran arm of Kaleb Jenness 39 times as he earned 18 kills and even added a team high 9 digs. The fact that we get to watch these teams go at it again today is amazing. I’m not sure if either team is that superstitious, but the last time Ball State beat Hawai’i on O’ahu was exactly 12 years ago today (1/13/2011).
Today is a jammed packed day with 19 matches all across the country. Teams from every conference will be playing today and all 6 teams in the Big West have non-conference matchups. To add to the excitement, the top 12 ranked teams in the country will all be playing today! In addition to Hawai’i/Ball State part two, we will get the first look at last season’s national runner-up, Long Beach.1
Interviews
Coach Anitra Brockman
I had the chance to talk with Head Coach Anitra Brockman from Central State about their exciting 5-set victory over Erskine on Wednesday. Some great things are happening over in Wilberforce, OH.
Kaleb Jenness & Coach Donan Cruz
After their match last night, I was able to chat with the 2022 MIVA Player of the Year, Kaleb Jenness, and the 2022 AVCA National Coach of the Year, Donan Cruz. Not only are they great at what they do in volleyball, they are just incredibly kind people off the court. Ball State is a class act and these two embody that so well.
Match Recaps
Non-conference
Hawai'i (75%) def. Ball State (25%)
3-1 (25-16, 25-23, 22-25, 25-17)
Guilherme Voss (UH) could not miss: 11 kills, 0 errors, and on only 14 attacks! That’s a .786 hitting pct against a great team. He also had 3 blocks and 1 dig.2
Limestone (56%) def. Long Island (44%)
3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 33-31, 25-21)
Polish powerhouse Albert Warzocha (Limestone) finished with a career high 23 kills (.415 hitting pct) in Limestone’s season opener.
Loyola Chicago (67%) def. King (33%)
3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-18)
Parker Van Buren (Loyola), 2022 MIVA Newcomer of the Year and All-American Honorable Mention, continued to shine with 9 kills, .400 hitting pct, and 5 aces.
Mount Olive (71%) def. Tusculum (29%)
3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-19, 25-16)
Freshman Jackson Lahey (UMO) made quite a statement in his first NCAA match with 49 assists, guiding his team to a .304 hitting percentage and the win.
Match Projections
So. Many. Matches.
Non-conference
Ball State (24%) vs Hawai'i (76%)
Emmanuel (43%) vs UC Irvine (57%)
Master's (12%) vs Pepperdine (88%)
UC Santa Barbara (55%) vs Stanford (45%)
Grand Canyon (50%) vs George Mason (50%)
GMU has the slightest edge at 50.3%
Mount Olive (38%) vs Lincoln Memorial (62%)
Harvard (62%) vs Sacred Heart (38%)
California Lutheran (42%) vs CSU Northridge (58%)
Lindenwood (33%) vs Southern California (67%)
King (24%) vs Long Beach (76%)
Fairleigh Dickinson (61%) vs American International (39%)
Carthage (20%) vs Purdue Fort Wayne (80%)
Daemen (24%) vs Penn State (76%)
UC San Diego (25%) vs Loyola Chicago (75%)
Kentucky State (16%) vs Maryville (84%)
Barton (33%) vs Tusculum (67%)
Princeton (23%) vs UCLA (77%)
Belmont Abbey (50%) vs Charleston (50%)
Charleston has the slightest edge at 50.3%
Merrimack (43%) vs Juniata (57%)
Tweet of the Day
This was true yesterday and it is true today.
LBSU had two great exhibition matches against McMaster (Ontario, Canada) last week. They won both in a dramatic 5-set fashion.
I have to show some love for a middle who gets a dig.