That is the inaugural VolleyballMag.com Tremendous 16 Media Ballot, the primary of its sort in protection of NCAA Division I girls’s volleyball. We’ve had requests through the years to do that, and the time is now as our sport and the thrill round it continues to develop on each stage.
We’ve compiled a unbelievable panel of media voters who cowl the game each regionally and nationally and, in fact, comply with NCAA volleyball on daily basis across the nation.
We selected to rank 16 groups as a result of that’s what number of groups get seeds within the NCAA Event. We additionally requested our voters to supply feedback, and a few of these seem after the record of pollsters.
Wisconsin is the highest crew and obtained eight of the 12 first-place votes and 185 factors. Nebraska obtained the opposite 4 first-place votes and obtained 184 factors, the slimmest of margins.
Right here is the primary VolleyballMag.com Tremendous 16 with data and ballot factors in parentheses:
1. Wisconsin (11-0, 8 first-place votes, 185 factors)
2. Nebraska (11-0, 4 first-place votes, 184)
3. Stanford (9-2, 163)
4. Florida (10-1, 148)
5. Louisville (11-1, 147)
6. Washington State (12-1, 134)
7. Oregon (12-1, 114)
8. BYU (13-1, 101)
9. Pittsburgh (11-2, 82)
10. Texas (7-3, 81)
11. Tennessee (11-1, 69)
12. Georgia Tech (52)
13. Minnesota (5-5, 43)
14. Arkansas (12-2, 42)
15. Penn State (8-3, 39)
16. Creighton (10-3, 29)
Additionally receiving votes: Arizona State, Baylor, Georgia, Purdue, Kansas.
The voters
Emily Ehman — Large Ten Community, ESPN analyst; former Northwestern DS
Ed Sturdy — VolleyballMag.com tremendous Tweeter @VBMagazine
Michella Chester — THE volleyball voice of NCAA.com
Daniel Gillman — host of Six Rotations for the AVCA, Cal Poly play-by-play
Lincoln Arneal — Nebraska beat author for Huskers Illustrated
Sam Gore — veteran broadcaster/studio host who does ESPN volleyball play-by-play, host of the Fifth Set throughout the NCAA Event
Mick Haley — ESPN analyst, former national-championship coach at Texas and USC and 2000 Olympic coach
Shelby Coppedge — ESPN analyst, former Texas A&M-Corpus Christi DS
Dennis Punzel — Wisconsin beat author for the Wisconsin State Journal, writer of Level! Wisconsin
Fran Flory — ESPN analyst, nationwide champion at Texas, winningest coach in LSU historical past, AVCA Corridor of Famer
Anne Marie Anderson — Emmy Award winner, volleyball play-by-play veteran who works NCAA matches for the Pac-12 Community, Large Ten Community and ESPN; performed at Hofstra, the place she nonetheless ranks within the prime 10 in blocks
Lee Feinswog — editor of VolleyballMag.com
Voter feedback
Lincoln Arneal: To me, there are three tiers of groups in these rankings. Wisconsin, Nebraska, Stanford and Louisville are enjoying a notch above everybody proper now. The subsequent group is the one-loss brigade. They every have a number of good wins and have the potential to make a number of noise in league play. Florida has probably the most spectacular resume of the group however is a unique crew with out Alexis Stucky.
Tennessee has seemed spectacular and pushed Wisconsin, similar for Arkansas. Minnesota has struggled a bit thus far, however has an excessive amount of expertise to not work out find out how to be aggressive within the Large Ten. For the final spot, I needed to throw some shine on Arizona State. The Solar Devils have performed a little bit of a smooth schedule, however have taken care of enterprise thus far. Relying on how their match goes in opposition to Stanford will decide if that is for actual or a brief keep.
Michella Chester: Hardest to order for me is Louisville, Florida, Stanford. All three really feel actually shut — Louisville beat Stanford in 5, however Florida swept Stanford. Should you go JUST by that, it will be UF, Stanford, then Louisville. BUT, with UF dropping Stucky and having to re-adjust to a brand new setter, plus a number of very shut 5-setters, I moved them down a bit. I want I may make Stanford Louisville and Florida tied for 3.
Nebraska takes over my 1-spot because the Badgers have been pushed to 5 much more this season too. Nebraska wanting like a well-oiled machine leaving NO doubts in opposition to ranked groups.
Sam Gore: The highest 5 have created a bit distance between themselves and the remaining 11, in my view. Most stunning is Florida, who continues to grind out wins, regardless of dropping Alexis Stucky for the season. Since her announcement of getting to overlook the remainder of the season, the Gators have discovered a strategy to proceed profitable, which speaks to the teaching of Mary Clever and the character of the gamers. While you mix their early season wins over Penn State, Stanford and Minnesota, they proceed to justify being within the prime 4.
Dennis Punzel: That is more durable than I imagined. Shut name on the highest two, however Wisconsin will get the sting with power of schedule. However Nebraska has seemed nice. The subsequent 5 or so may go in any order, however Florida has some large wins with solely the loss to Wisconsin. One other clump of groups for the final spot. It’s robust balancing groups with higher data vs. groups with harder schedules, however a number of losses to good groups.
Ed Sturdy: I used to be very tempted to place Nebraska at 1 however am simply in need of doing it for now. Extremely impressed by what I’ve seen from Oregon thus far this 12 months, which will get them to the highest of the one-loss groups. Florida has large wins however I’m simply apprehensive about what number of lesser opponents they’ve let hold round. Modified my thoughts a number of instances on the ultimate spot earlier than ultimately selecting Purdue, but additionally thought of (in alphabetical order) Arizona State, Dayton, Kansas and Minnesota.
Fran Flory: Wisconsin as been examined and confirmed they will win in hostile environments with their again in opposition to the wall. Nebraska is simply not examined to the identical stage by way of who they’ve performed. May undoubtedly make a case for them to be No. 1 on account of their protection.
Anne Marie Anderson: Oregon Geese aren’t displaying any flaws … Oregon appears to be like as balanced as I’ve ever seen them … This week the Geese host Washington State in what shall be a measuring stick for 2 top-10 groups.
Shelby Coppedge: Wisconsin has proved themselves to be the No. 1-ranked crew for a motive. Their dimension, athleticism, and chemistry make them unstoppable. They keep in system, make the most of again row attackers, and robust crew chemistry … Washington State has been one in every of my favourite groups to observe thus far this season. This group doesn’t get fazed or rattled irrespective of who they’re enjoying, and are extraordinarily onerous to get out of system. That is the 12 months for this crew to go far within the match, as their crew is usually seniors and shall be rebuilding after 12 months.
Mick Haley: The primary week of convention play introduced many thrilling matches. Staying wholesome shall be key for achievement, Florida and Creighton each handled key gamers being out. Whereas Florida survived, Creighton struggled. Florida’s two five-set matches in opposition to ranked Auburn and unranked Georgia, confirmed unbelievable combat, however confirmed sufficient vulnerability to drop them out of the highest 4. Creighton, enjoying with out harm inclined Norah Sis, misplaced to Xavier, which strikes them down. Consistency and physique of labor, strikes up Nebraska, Stanford, Louisville and Tennessee. Anybody within the prime 10 has the potential to be in Tampa come December.
Daniel Gillman: Nebraska has probably the most dominant wins this season, in order that they get the slight edge. I can’t wait to see how Washington State-Oregon and BYU-Texas (twice) goes this weekend. Minnesota (vs. Penn State Saturday) and Purdue (vs. Nebraska Friday) can have their probabilities to resolve in the event that they belong within the seeds.
