SCAC Preview

Today it’s all about the SCAC as we look at my predicted order of finish for the fall volleyball season. For those a bit slow (and you know who you are), I’ve already released the previews for the ASC, C2C and the NWC. It’s imperative that these previews be read in order and that the quizzes attached to the end of them be completed with at least a 90% accuracy. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

The SCAC played in the spring and attempted a full schedule including their tournament so we have some recent results to go by. My beloved Southwestern had some Covid issues so some matchups didn’t occur, including not playing Trinity for the first time since 1990. As we hope those Covid issues don’t rise again this fall for any of the teams, here is my anticipated order of finish for the conference. (Records are from spring 2020.)

1. Trinity (13-3)

2. Colorado College (17-0)

3. Southwestern (9-4)

4. St. Thomas (7-8)

5. Austin College (9-7)

6. Texas Lutheran (5-12)

7. Schreiner (4-13)

8. Dallas (3-12)

9. Centenary (3-11)

I’m going with Trinity in the top spot and I really believe they will make it to the Elite 8 this year. The Tigers, back in the normal days, would be losing a number of really good players including their outsides but every senior seems to be coming back for one last run. Coming off a disappointing season where they lost to Colorado College three times, I just think they will be extra motivated and this group all reached the Final 4 just two years ago and has that experience to lean on. So, back to the SCAC, the Tigers should take top honors this season. It’s never easy just to dismiss Colorado College, as it appears I’ve done, but I do have them coming in second this fall. Their roster has been released and it appears they are losing five seniors including a really good hitter, their setter and their libero. They are also losing their coach, Rick Swan, who decided he wanted to try island life out at least for a little bit. Big shoes to fill as Coach Swan’s team always made the NCAA Tournament but the program did a great job convincing Sharon Dingman (formally from University of Chicago) to take the reins. It also appears CC is bringing in a large recruiting class so I really don’t see a huge drop-off. In the end, I just think Trinity will be more experienced and that will push them over the top, but we could be looking at two of the best teams in the nation this year from the same conference. (Did I mention CC is returning conference player of the year Georgia Mullins? Yeah, this is going to be an interesting race for the SCAC title.) I definitely have these two teams in a separate tier this fall. Dropping down a bit, but coming in third, is Southwestern. It should be pointed out that these three teams have finished in the regular season conference top 3, in some order, since 2016. Want more? That 2015 season was the only time their streak was broken since 2011. That’s what they call in the business a trend, and it’s hard to go against something like that. Southwestern, on their merits, actually didn’t have any seniors so they should be returning their full squad. In a normal year, I might have them in that top tier but I just think Trinity and CC are too stacked. For now, I have them in the second tier all by their lonesome. Things get a bit tougher as we look at the next 7 teams. Saint Thomas has released their roster and they are losing 4 players including three seniors. This includes their outstanding libero, Kaylyn Latin, and a quality hitter. On the flip side, it looks like the Celts’ setter, Kelsie Walker, will be returning for a 5^th year. What tips the scales for me with regards to Saint Thomas finishing 4^th is that they are bringing in a tall middle transfer with quality college experience.  No pressure, Paige Havel, but if I’m wrong, I will blame you. Austin College is always really consistent and can usually be counted on for a 20-win season when a full schedule can be constructed. Having them in the 5^th spot, therefore, is a bit of a risk. I don’t have their 2021 roster, yet, but it looks like they are losing 2 seniors, including their right side. I have TLU as the third member of this 3^rd tier. The Bulldogs look to be losing 3 players as their roster has been released but, for the most part, it appears that their core is returning. TLU really struggled to begin the spring season and it looked they were not going to make the conference tournament. The Bulldogs then won their last 4 matches to qualify before dropping a 5-set thriller in the conference tournament to Southwestern. I have them 6^th but I don’t see much difference between the teams finishing 4^th through 6^th and any movement here wouldn’t be surprising. All three will give Southwestern a tough time, as well. I’m realizing that most of the SCAC schools have their 2021-22 rosters published (looking at you Austin College) and Schreiner is no exception. It appears the Mountaineers are getting most of their team back although they are losing a really good hitter to graduation. Can I also ask why they are the Mountaineers when there are no mountains in Texas outside of the El Paso area? Schreiner exists in the Texas Hill Country. There are a bunch of hills around Schreiner. They should be the Hilleers. Just saying. (Don’t come back at me with the definition of a mountain, either. I can’t define a mountain but I know it when I see it and there are no mountains near Schreiner.) Schreiner does have a mountain of a player in Kayla Lofland (see what I did there?) and she will be returning so I expect the Hilleers to, at least, repeat their level of play from the spring. One area where the Hilleers were lacking was height (just like the “mountains” around their campus) but that was addressed with the incoming recruiting class. How much they can contribute quickly will determine where the Hilleers finish at the end of the season. This team is the most likely (to me) to challenge the 3^rd tier for admittance. Dallas underachieved, in my mind, during the spring but there really is no way to gauge how the Covid season impacted each program. I do know that they are losing 6 players including one senior. For the most part, this includes a hitter and their libero so most of the core is coming back despite the losses. The problem is that I think the teams above will be ready for them and are also in a good position going into the season. Centenary will also be bringing back most of their core although they seem to be losing 4 players including one senior. It really makes changing the ordering from the spring difficult if everyone is bringing back the same players. Bottom line, Centenary is a pretty good team that I have sitting in the bottom spot of my SCAC rankings. It doesn’t make me comfortable but I’m hard-pressed to see how I can change it before games begin.

Overall, the SCAC is typically top-heavy with three really good teams. This year I think they have two of the best teams in the nation. Southwestern is positioned to be nationally ranked if they can become more consistent in their play. I really the rest of the teams are better than most years and it should make for a deeper conference. Saint Thomas is going into their last year of reclassification (I think) so I believe they are eligible for the conference tournament but not the NCAA Tournament. Someone may need to check me on that. I could see Dallas bouncing back and moving up the standings. I can see Schreiner shocking more teams and finishing higher. Will TLU be the team that started the spring or finished the spring? They could finish anywhere from 3 to 9 depending on how they answer that question. In the end, I’ve made very few changes from the spring results. I have Trinity ahead of Colorado College and St. Thomas ahead of Austin College. The rest is how they finished in the spring. Maybe not the brave thing to do or even courageous and it’s certainly not a good look but it is kind of funny.

The SCIAC is the only conference left and I will have my Magic 8 Ball ready. I really have no clue where I’ll go with that ordering.