For only one reason: To 'Grow the Game' they played 5 creampuffs normally would schedule 2-3. I think it bit us a little in the a$$ not only our core guys missing out a few more heavy competition games but the RPI hit. Good news is we're looking about as primed as we can be health wise, Godbold and Siapanis 100% now and they were the main reasons we dominated sets 3 and 4 v UCI.
McRaven struggled badly with his float serve v UCI, his overall game is solid when he gets those float serves in every time, but he errored like 5x last night. Can't have that. Our frosh middle from Bulgaria Bouchkov was red hot early in the season then got too antsy in a game got pulled and then some kind of injury has kept him out, I think its more McRaven played great for a while. Now we have more depth. I'd like to see Bouchkov play late in some sets in the first round just to get his game timing down a bit. May need him in the semis and finals. His energy is palpable.
McRaven and Torwie bring it in the middle too. Torwie used to be an emotional leader now he's mostly all business, love it. Siapanis brings a big buzz, and Aidan like Torwie looks all business and I hear he's giving the guys grief when they play lax. Seems to all be comin together!
We got the best libero in college in Mason Briggs. He's dynamite. Saved some points each game lately with unbelievable digs. Varga at opposite is anywhere from solid to a momentum changer. Godbolds cannon arm is what we've missed from the left side and back row, Varga can bomb and Siapanis can whack with the best but also is an amazing cut shot and angle kill artist. Both he and Varga also do a good job with hand shoves and tools against a wall block. But Godbold is pure destruction sometimes. He blasts through the block like no one we've got. McRaven can do a bit of that too.
Best blocking team in the country but sometimes it takes a while to wake up. Harlan is a super sub and solid back row passer if that's a problem any match. Team is loaded. They say UCLA is more loaded, but I also hear a lot of grief about how their coach uses that depth. Coach Knipe does a great job. Probably the best strategist or at least in the top few.
We serve tough, but until last night we didn't pile up aces, maybe one per set before Godbold went nuts in the 3rd set. If we just put legit service pressure on every team, get them a bit out of system, our wall up front can time and position better then its lights out from the roof.
All we gotta do is play like we did for those last 2 sets vs top tier UCI and with the home court and crowd, will take a massive effort from the opponent to knock us out.
They had a higher RPI and MVB seeding is not straightforward, they definitely wanted to keep away from a UCLA/GCU semifinal or a LB/UCI semi.
Beach just has to win. They'll take out Belmont Abbey then it could be a really tough semi vs GCU or Ohio State. Beach just has to keep the same championship demeanor they had in sets 3 and 4 last night.
I am really puzzled how UCLA gets the #1 seed in the MVB Tourney at Long Beach. They lost their conference Championship last night and gets an at large bid with UCI. I guess $$$$$$ talks.
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