Sunday Musings

Last weekend before games begin!

I’m a little surprised how late the NWC, SCAC and SCIAC preseason poll predictions are coming out. Either that or I’m a little surprised I haven’t noticed that they already came out!?!

It’s really alumni weekend with a number of schools getting this extra scrimmage in against past players. I’m quite confident I am the only person in collegiate volleyball that openly heckles loudly during the alumni match. My wife told me she was embarrassed at least three times during the match, but she also laughed a number of times and that’s all that matters to me.

I’ve talked in a number of posts about the issues facing Southwestern this year so I don’t want to rehash them (go to the SCAC Preview if you missed them). I really was looking forward to see their 9 freshmen and I came away quite impressed with a number of them. I can see a situation where there are 4 freshmen in the playing rotation. The Pirates have a tough opening week to be integrating all of these new faces, but, long term, Coach Flora has some real talent on his team for the next 4-years.

As I was doing my research for the Early Retirement post I noted the “transfers” that were new to each team. I put quotes around “transfers” because this category really includes not only the transfers from other schools but also players new to the program that just didn’t play previously while attending college (usually the college they are now playing for). I pay particularly close attention to transfers because they can really improve a DIII program immediately. Here are the schools with “transfers”:

• Concordia (2) – One looks to be able to help right away.

• UMHB (2) – Both look to be nice pickups. One is a setter, which UMHB needed.

• McMurry (1) – Didn’t play at previous school.

• George Fox (2) – One is a true transfer from another school.

• Chapman (2) – Very nice pickups.

• CMS (2) – I couldn’t really find information on these two. I assume they attended the school but just didn’t play.

• Whittier (1) – I couldn’t find any information.

• Centenary (1) – Didn’t play previously.

• Schreiner (2) – Nice pickups. The battle with JWU (Denver) in the SCAC may hinge on how much they can contribute.

If you remember from the post, I don’t have every team’s roster for this year. From what I do have, I think UMHB and Chapman helped themselves the most in the transfer market. (I’m not sure there really is a DIII volleyball transfer market but there is in soccer and I also love soccer. Go Queens Park Rangers!)

Also from my Early Retirement research:

• 17 teams increased their roster size from 2017.

• 4 teams stay at the same number.

• 9 teams decreased their roster size.

• 11 teams are unknown.

In some cases, I’m not sure I have a good lead on the new recruits so some of those decreasing schools may not end up in that category. Still, it’s quite clear that schools are adding to their team, which I’m sure is stretching some volleyball budgets. From my perspective, I love it. I want every school to be giving out more opportunities and doing everything they can to prove that 41 West Region teams need an NCAA Tournament Pool A/B/C bid!

Some notable increases in roster size belong to McMurry (13 to 18), Centenary (12 to 19), U of Dallas (14 to 21) and Austin College (19 to 26). Yes, Austin College has the largest roster in the West Region. UT-Tyler has 23 on the roster as they start their move from DIII to DII and a couple of schools have 22 on the roster.

My hope is that this week, we’ll see the conference predictions and I’ll be coming out with my first ever D3VBWest Preseason All-West Region Team! I will be making the trip out to Claremont with my wife this weekend and I’d love to meet any loyal readers. I’m very tall, goofy looking and usually wearing a yellow Southwestern cap. I will also be the loudest cheering for SU or for any West Region team playing an out-of-region opponent! Make sure you tell my wife that you read that we are both going to Colorado the second weekend for more volleyball. We aren’t but she’ll believe it…and won’t be happy.

Oh, and Ricky Nelson is going to be at the Oregon Trail Tournament so search him out and say hello for anyone up in that region.