No One Screaming #1 in VB

by **pawball** » September 12th, 2014, 10:01 pm

Looks like no one has close to a lock on winning the Valley this year, based on non-con results so far.
Shocks are down but rebuilding after losing so much from last year. UNI has played a very tough schedule and probably is the team to beat, if anyone is. Illinois St began the first weekend of play looking like they might be the strongest team, but lately they've sagged. MSU is young,started slowly, but has been picking up some steam. SIU played the hardest first three matches of the season of anyone in conference, yet seems a tad lukewarm in their overall play since. Loyola is a sleeper in the league. They took Cal-Northridge and Northwestern, Top 40 teams, 4 sets each and beat Virginia tonight.

Tomorrow and Sunday wrap up the non-con. Looks like the kind of year where we might get just one or two teams in the big dance, but may have 5 teams in the top 90 and not a soul in the Top 30.

**Sponsor**

by **JayJ79** » September 17th, 2014, 4:24 pm

I'd be quite surprised if the MVC got any at-large bid to the NCAA tournament this season.

sub-.500 non-conference record for the MVC overall (or perhaps right around .500) with most of those wins being over teams ranked in the 200 or even 300 range in the rankings, and no real marquee wins.

by **pawball** » September 20th, 2014, 12:20 pm

Could get an large bid if two teams really step up and away from the pack. Current RPI's for top 5 MVC teams are: 47,49, 73, 82, 83, whereas the Big East has just three teams in the RPI top 100, @ 31, 45, 68.