Holidays on the Road & Making Sense of Volleyball's Tournament Chances (Jason Plotkin, Nov. 27)
How about that volleyball run to the Sun Belt Conference championship?
We had 17 people join the blog that we did for the championship (including a Western Kentucky fan) and I thank all of you for participating. While our volleyball team finished the season with a school-record 13 conference wins and the fourth best winning percentage for a Privateer program in the 26 years UNO has competed as a Division I institution in the sport, we unfortunately have a long road to climb as it relates to making it into the NCAA tournament.
I have gotten a few e-mails about this subject, so let me explain. While you may be unfamiliar with the volleyball selection process, think NCAA basketball. Same thing. RPI and strength of schedules matter. There are automatic bids from conferences with not so strong RPIs that gain spots in the tournament. In the basketball tournament, typically it takes an RPI in the 1-40 range to make a strong case for an at-large.
Entering the final week of the regular season, our RPI was #60. The final three matches of the regular season consisted of a contest against #206 Louisiana-Lafayette and two against #306 Louisiana-Monroe. These matches did not help us at all in improving our RPI. In fact, this hurt our RPI. We opened the conference tournament with victories over #21 Florida International and #90 UALR. Western Kentucky, who we lost to in the final had an RPI of #37. With other conference tournaments featuring top 100 RPI teams facing one another going on as well, it is hard to believe that our RPI has moved up at least 20 spots.
The only sure way to make the NCAA tournament is winning your conference's automatic bid. WKU is in through that route while I expect FIU and Middle Tennessee to also make the tournament. Three teams from the Sun Belt, a banner year.
Coach Jozsef Forman's team loses two players - Jaci Bayley and Dobrilla Kovacevic - and as we have seen through his first recruiting class, has a knack for bringing in players who take our team to a whole new level. Maria Szivos was second in the SBC in kills per set amongst freshmen and led all players in the league in service aces per set, ranking her 17th in the nation at the conclusion of the regular season.
I am excited about our volleyball team's chances for an NCAA bid next year. Throw in Lindsey Loyd, an All-SBC first team selection and we should have a successful year. Our team has plenty to feel proud of and in a few weeks after all-Louisiana team selections are announced and the final RPIs are available, I'll recap all the accolades.
If the schedule pans out the way coach Forman hopes, we will not have to worry about RPI heading into the final weeks, if we take care of business. This conference continues to improve with a record amount of 20+ wins teams and more than likely, three teams in postseason play. 2008 showed us where our team is heading.
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The swimming and diving team has plenty to be proud of as well. This past week, the men were ranked 10th in the first CSCAA/CollegeSwimming.com Mid-Major Division I poll. As this poll was not around the last go around for the program, this represents the first time the team has been ranked. The women, who have been around a bit longer than the men, are ranked just outside the top 25 and in the also receiving consideration category. This is the first time they have been mentioned.
And this team is only going to get better! We've seen how we have a nice contingent of men and women ranked amongst the top eight in conference as far as times go. This is important because these are the finals of events and where the points come in bulk if we are interested in improving our placement in the Sun Belt. To continue this progress, coach Randy Horner signed eight student-athletes during the November early signing period. While I am not expert on the sport and I know many of you are not, a quick glance of the listing shows accolades such as Olympic Trials qualifiers, high school All-Americans, all-state selections and even national team participation. What is also nice is seeing the names of the schools are athletes picked UNO over. Amongst the group are conference rivals like Florida International, but also programs such as Rutgers, South Carolina, Fresno State, Nevada and Cal. We are going head to head against strong programs for student-athletes and getting great additions!
Back to our current team, Johnny DeMaine was named SBC Diver of the Week for the second time on the year this past week. Thus far, we have eight total conference honorees spread amongst five student-athletes. Cristina Lay (women's swimming) and Jonathan Field (men's diving) have joined DeMaine in doubling up. In the previous four years of the program, we had only received two such distinctions, both by Sarah Gros. That tells you our program is heading in the right direction. Looking forward to more results from Coach Horner and company.
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This Thanksgiving holiday, our women's basketball team is taking part of a two game trip through Big 12 country. The trips included a stop at Gallagher-Iba Arena (Oklahoma State) last night and this coming Sunday, a contest at Allen Fieldhouse at Kansas. These two facilities are very well known in the sport of basketball and in collegiate athletics. Both, very historic facilities with their share of moments and athletes who have defined not only basketball, but in the case of Gallagher-Iba, wrestling. Being the sports nut that I am, it has been a real treat to not only see, but work a game at Gallagher-Iba and I'm very much looking forward to Allen Fieldhouse, where we will begin practice on Friday in preparation for Sunday's game.
Tonight, we will have a special Thanksgiving team dinner. This is my second consecutive Thanksgiving away from my wife and family as last year, I joined the women at a tournament at UT-San Antonio. While being around family is customary for many come the holiday season, many in sports hit the road with their respective teams as I am sure you are aware by the amount of football and basketball on television during the holidays. The good thing for all those involved in the travel party, presently in Kansas, is this is a great group to be around and share holidays likes this. As was the case last year, everyone is all smiles when the mention of tonight's dinner comes up.
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While on the subject of women's basketball, we had 25 unique views for our first-ever live blog during the team's contest against Samford. While the women ended up losing, the feedback we had from this initial live blog was very positive. Fans took part in polls and were able to submit questions both prior and during the contest. With our volleyball team having success, as it was the same day we toppled FIU, I was able to answer questions on that front as well. I had a great time corresponding with those who took part in the blog and perhaps we'll do a few more blogs on the road when coverage is limited in the future. We may also do some blogs with head coaches and athletic administrators, giving fans a chance to ask the questions they would like to get answered. Stay tuned to UNOPrivateers.com for more on those developments. With the holidays near and vacations on tap for those who can squeeze them in around athletic events, we may wait til the calendar rolls into 2009 for some of those efforts.
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As we are in the holiday season, look for a release on Friday regarding several gameday drives to help people in need. Thanks to Kearney Gay who has been working with different organizations in the community, we'll have collections for coats, toys, food and shoes at upcoming UNO basketball contests. Again, look for the release on Friday and if anyone has questions regarding these efforts, make sure to contact Kearney at 504-280-3978 or e-mail him at wgay@uno.edu.
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Lastly, make sure to check out our Photo Store for action photos from our fall and winter sports. We have had photogs at recent basketball (men and women) games in addition to volleyball matches. We'll have several more photog appearances at basketball games head (including this Sunday here in Kansas). For those who are seeking swimming pictures, we have a parent provide those pictures and in turn, provides them to parents of other swimming and diving athletes as well, so we do not make those available through our store. Same goes for any other pictures that we are provided by parents. We'll have tennis and baseball days ahead in February and March for those interested in action shots from those sports.
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Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and we look forward to seeing you at Lakefront Arena soon!
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