Athenas – 2017 NCAA DIII Champions

I have absolutely no affiliation with CMS. In fact they were the only school I didn’t talk to at the Georgetown Regional. But, I’m so happy for the schools, players, staff, parents and friends. I can now honestly say that for as long as I’ve been doing this blog, we’ve always had a West Region champion!

Marguax Arnston was a beast! 18 kills on 27 swings for a .519 hitting percentage! When she went out late in the third set I thought she had played her last NCAA volleyball. How cool that she subs in at 24 and was there anyone in the gym who thought, “Yeah, I bet they go to the middle here.”?

Great job by Shelbi Stein as the opposites dominated Wittenberg all night and by Isabelle Taylor. Someone make sure Phoebe Madsen gets some Advil as she is going to have back and neck issues from all of the sets behind her tonight. How cool for Clara Madsen to win in her senior year and get to watch her younger sister on the floor.

This now marks the third straight year we’ve had a sweep in the finals (twice at the expense of Wittenberg). I thought the reseeding effort this year would help that but CMS just wasn’t going to be denied.

Now to comment on the West Region a bit. I haven’t taken the time to do some comparisons regarding NCAA selection so this is just some eyeballs talking (yeah, I’m a poet). CMS had to win 6 matches to win the championship and with maybe the exception of the Ithaca match, the three hardest had to be in the Georgetown Regional. I know the West Region is small but we truly had 4 of the top teams in the nation. Not, 4 of the top 25…but 4 of theeeeeeeee top teams in the NATION! So, when the NCAA decides NOT to select at least 8 West Region teams to their regional (for the second time in three years), it starts to get frustrating. You keep favoring the larger regions and then reward them by inserting them into weaker regionals. I understand the cost factor, BUT we are told that cost is not a factor in selection. So, maybe think about this next year (and I know you won’t) when you bypass UMHB or a La Verne or whomever steps up next season for a Babson or a Vassar or whomever plays well in their large region but doesn’t beat anyone of consequence.

*Mic Drop*

*Walks away, shakes his head, walks back, picks up mic…*

And stop messing over the Midwest, too!

*Mic Drop*