All caught up after a busy first weekend

That first weekend always makes evident the reality of my time commitment to this blog. Nothing like cruising along and getting snapped back into action. But I like doing it, and I hope you enjoy following this small slice of the Internet.

This weekend one player had 12 blocks in three sets, one had 22 kills in three sets, one had 30 digs in four sets and another had two 50+ assist, four-set matches. Find those players (and links to the box scores) and several others who made their ways into the 2011 “10-20-30-50 Club” on the MW/C Standout Stats (2011) page. Once the usual tardy schools post box scores, perhaps more players from the weekend will get entries on the page.

Opening weekend saw its usual big winners and, unfortunately, some teams off to rough starts. My list of five big winners are Carthage (4-0 with wins in Eau Claire over ranked Concordia-Moorhead and UW-Eau Claire), St. Thomas (revamped roster went 4-0 at the Sugar Loaf with wins over St. Scholastica and Nebraska Wesleyan), Chicago (4-0 including a good win over Elmhurst), St. Scholastica (5-1 with wins over St. Olaf and Nebraska Wesleyan) and Wartburg (4-0 in California with a decent win over La Verne).

My teams off iffy starts include UW-Platteville (1-3 with three reasonable losses, but they have a hill to climb to get back into the national picture) and UW Oshkosh (1-3 including a loss to Wisconsin Lutheran).

This week’s schedule is packed with more great nonconference matchups. This week the IIAC will also get in a round of conference play. See which matches intrigue me on the MW/C Standings, Big Matchups (2011) page each week.

For a preview of that page, here are my top five matches for the coming week: 1. Washington vs. Christopher Newport (9/10) 2. Washington vs. Carthage (9/9) 3. Concordia-Moorhead vs. Wartburg (9/10) 4. Carthage vs. UW-Whitewater (9/10) 5. UW-Eau Claire vs. St. Scholastica (9/6 and 9/9)

And finally, I plan to be at Kolf Sports Center in Oshkosh this week for the triangular midweek and the tournament during the weekend. Please stop and say hello if you see me: the bald, chubby guy (what unfortunately happens to former athletes who decide to write for a living – at least that’s what I tell myself) sitting alone in comfy clothes atop the bleachers, usually away from everyone.

-Ricky Nelson