2013 Volleyball Season

[SiouxVolley]

I agree very much that you don't just replace a Munkeby or a Parlich but I don't think will be too bad next season. Our setter Husfeldt returns, along with our 2 defensive specialists in Clarke and Hart, add in outside hitters Robinson and Pioske. I think we have a good foundation. From what I saw of Moser early in the year...I was impressed...they tried her out wide but she's a middle, but who is she going to replace in the middle right now? Munkeby? Parlch? Of course not. Thompson is going to have to improve, but she has done so in recent games and hopefully will continue to do so. I'm excited about next year. I think we'll make the tournament.

When Trefz and Smed were seniors, Munkeby and Parlich were already apparent heir's to their thrones. Pioske is good and improving, and Robinson is very good at times (but up and down on shot accuracy), but two inches in height makes a difference in DI Volleyball. Thompson is the only one with height, and that seems why Ulrich has had limited playing time this year. Height can't be taught, and Munkeby and Parlich have that plus leadership qualities. This has to be the year to make some noise in the NCAA tournament, not with 5-10 outside hitters. Not taking anything away from defensive player or setters, but the name of the game is OH and MB with height and power. I honestly thought we would be 16-4 or 17-3 at this time, but I take 8-0 in BSC play.

BTW, Pioske and Robinson seem to have outstanding verticals, so they can be outstanding OHs. But over 6'0 (or preferably 6'2) is worth a great deal.

[FSSD]

Standings:

Top Tier

North Dakota 8-0 13-7

*Northern Arizona 6-2 12-5

*Idaho State 6-2 12-7

*Portland State 6-2 9-9

Sacramento State 4-4 9-10

Montana 4-4 7-10

Eastern Washington 3-5 6-13

Montana State 3-5 5-14

Northern Colorado 2-6 6-12

Weber State 1-7 5-17

Southern Utah 1-7 2-16

3 of the 4 remaining Top Tier games are on the road. The NAU game next week is big. It will be interesting to see how that team plays on the road.

Remaining schedule:

10/17/2013 at Southern Utah

*10/19/2013 at Northern Arizona

10/24/2013 Montana

10/26/2013 Montana State

*11/1/2013 at Idaho State

11/2/2013 at Weber State

11/8/2013 Northern Colorado

11/9/2013 Sacramento State

*11/14/2013 at Portland State

11/16/2013 at Eastern Washington

*11/21/2013 Northern Arizona

11/23/2013 Southern Utah

[gfhockey]

hows the schedule for next year looking I wonder?

would be cool to get the gophers to come up and play... bet that wuld draw well

[SiouxVolley]

hows the schedule for next year looking I wonder?

would be cool to get the gophers to come up and play... bet that wuld draw well

Do you know something? That would help get Minnesota bigs. Minnesota is a hot bed of D1, D2, D3 volleyball.

Right now, Middle Tennessee, Tulane, and S Dakota are tentative at the Betty. I think Minnesota has formerly played at NDSU, but I could be wrong. Could have been the NCAAs too.

[gfhockey]

no don't know anything just a thought.

don't have many sources connected with the v ball program.

[Oxbow6]

Had so much fun at Saturday's match we are going back to watch them play the Cats on 10/26.

[Dustin]

The new rankings are out, and accordingly, UND has two upset wins (Tulane and Idaho St.) and one bad loss (Austin Peay). Here is a rundown of how we and our opponents stack up in the new rankings and how we fared against them:

1. Texas (Did Not Play)

46. Virginia Tech (loss)

49. Texas A&M (loss)

57. Iowa State (loss)

67. Middle Tenn. (loss)

73. South Dakota (loss)

86. Tulane (win)

89. Portland St. (Did Not Play)

116. Northern Arizona (Did Not Play)

121. Idaho St. (win)

129. UAB (loss)

150. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA

170. Northern Colorado (win)

185. Austin Peay (loss)

198. Eastern Washington (Did Not Play)

201. NDSU (win)

219. Montana (win)

229. Florida A&M (win)

231. Sacramento St. (win)

277. Montana St. (win)

251. Texas Southern (win)

274. South Dakota St. (win)

299. Southern Utah (Did Not Play)

302. Weber St. (win)

LAST IN RANKINGS (332.) Alcorn St. (Did Not Play)

http://www.ncaa.com/...eyball-women/d1

Wins over E. Washington and Portland St. bumped our RPI to 109 this week. Highest in Big Sky is still Portland St. at 98.

[Dustin]

I was hoping to hear UNC was hosting the tourney this year! I'm going to have to clear out my schedule and make sure I'm able to go up to the tourney. Should be some great volleyball!

Edit: Checking online, Portland State won the regular season last year so they will be hosting the postseason trouney. UNC won the postseason tournament last year.

Also of interest, the men's basketball team is playing at the University of Oregon tournament in Eugene the same weekend as the Big Sky volleyball championship in Portland.

[Teeder11]

Good stuff, Dustin!

[forksandspoons]

Jeez a two for one weekend might be worth a ticket to Oregon!

[SiouxVolley]

Wins over E. Washington and Portland St. bumped our RPI to 109 this week. Highest in Big Sky is still Portland St. at 98.

Just a few wins in the Middle Tenn tournament would have brought up to 70'ish. If we win out the B=Sky schedule (not likely) we may make 60ish.

NDSU is dropping like a rock. Should end up in the 300's. That program is terminal. It would take a good coach years to ever get back to what they once were.

[nodakvindy]

Just a few wins in the Middle Tenn tournament would have brought up to 70'ish. If we win out the B=Sky schedule (not likely) we may make 60ish.

Just goes to show how important non-conference wins are in all sports when you are looking for NCAA tourney bids.

[SWSiouxMN]

Going to be an interesting weekend for volleyball. We have 2 top 4 matchups (PSU/ISU, UND/NAU), an important swing of games between Sac State, Montana, and Montana State, who are fighting for the final 2 spots.

The NAU game on Saturday will be tough, provided we don't sleepwalk against SUU on Thursday and they do the same against UNC. NAU must be kicking themselves for losing against MSU because this game could have been for 1st place.

UNC is going to be a very dangerous spoiler in the 2nd half of the conference season, they might sink the conference hopes of a team or two before this is all said and done.

I also decided to check on future Big Sky member Idaho, and they are at 154, which would be 5th in the conference right now....

[Cratter]

Interesting watching an in-state ACC, Miami at Flordia State, rival on ESPN in the fact that the game at UND would have looked way better on tv as the Betty holds more for volleyball (and filled - for NDSU).

Not everyday a UND sports looks better on tv than an ACC team.

[Dustin]

ESPNU does college volleyball every Wednesday night. It would be cool to have them do game from the Betty.

[WeAreNorthDakota]

ESPNU does college volleyball every Wednesday night. It would be cool to have them do game from the Betty.

Can't imagine a scenario where that would happen unless both us and NDSU were on a streak of making multiple NCAA tourneys and they scheduled that game for a Wednesday night.

[Dustin]

Yeah I'm not saying it would happen, it would just be cool if it did. We already have 3 volleyball games on TV this year, which is 3 more than most volleyball programs can say.

[SWSiouxMN]

UND took set 1 against SUU and is now ROLLING in Set 2

[SWSiouxMN]

UND up 2-0 with a 25-14 win in Set 2

In other action, EWU about to go up 2-0 on Weber

[homer]

Take set #2 25-14.

[forksandspoons]

loving all of this winning thing...

[SWSiouxMN]

UND finishes sweep, moves to 9-0!!!

[southpaw]

I had the game running in the background of my computer but missed nearly all of it. I'm glad they dropped them handily in 3 games but sad I didn't get to really watch it. Let's make it 10-0!

[Dustin]

Wasn't expecting much of a challenge tonight, and I'm glad they proved me right. Now on to Northern Arizona!

[SWSiouxMN]

Wasn't expecting much of a challenge tonight, and I'm glad they proved me right. Now on to Northern Arizona!

Speaking of which, they are losing pretty good to UNC, about to go down 2 sets to 0.