SCAC Predictions

The SCAC released their predictions on the upcoming volleyball season today. This is another conference poll that only includes the coaches and they have determined that Trinity will top the SCAC followed by Colorado College and Southwestern. Trinity received 7 of the possible 9 votes with Colorado College receiving the other two. I did a comparison between Trinity and Colorado College in my Musing article yesterday, if interested.

What’s interesting about the result of this poll is that it kind of shows you more about where the teams are in a normal season in the SCAC. Maybe that’s what all of these predictions show you? Trinity/Colorado College/Southwestern will finish in the top three and a TLU championship last year doesn’t, yet, change that perception. St Thomas is thought of slightly higher than Austin College and Schreiner is acknowledged to have broken out of their traditional last place finish. As for this year, who is to say, but voting for normal is probably the way to go for these coaches. As I’ve written, I think Trinity and Colorado College are really close. I could go either way here and have in different articles. I do think there is a gap to Southwestern and TLU but the coaches don’t see it that way with respect to Southwestern. Again, Southwestern being close to the other two happens in most “normal” seasons.

One thing worth reading from the SCAC article just because it’s so incredible is reprinted here:

The reigning AVCA Division III National Coach-of-the-Year, Julie Jenkins will embark on her 39th season as the head coach of the Trinity volleyball program. The active NCAA Division III leader in victories, Jenkins has amassed an overall record of 1,049-430 (.709), and since taking the reins of the Tigers in 1985, she has chalked up a Trinity record of 1,020-409 (.713). Jenkins, whose teams have won 30 or more matches in 20 different seasons, has amassed a career mark of 385-38 (.910) in SCAC competition (since 1991).

That’s just crazy amazing.

Here was the full poll: