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West Region Tournaments – Week 2
This post deals with where the West Region teams will be playing week 2 and gives you a look at the out-of-region teams we’ll be up against. I’ll provide a link to the tournament if I can find one in the name of the tournament. I do have some linked already. I also provide some comments on the tournaments. (Rankings are from the AVCA Poll.)
George Fox will be taking on two highly ranked teams with an opportunity to elevate the West Region reputation in a very tough region. The Bruins probably don’t have the talent to pull this off but I love that they are going out to Augsburg and trying. The West Region is pulling for you!
Austin College Tournament
Austin College, Howard Payne, Paul Quinn and Sul Ross State
Austin College would typically be the class of this group but they struggled during the first weekend. Sul Ross State seems to be playing well early and we’ll see if they can continue here.
Belhaven/Millsaps Invitational
Belhaven, Birmingham-Southern, Central Baptist, Dallas, ETBU, Huntingdon, LaGrange, Millsaps, MUW and Philander Smith
ETBU will draw BSU during this tournament which is a great test for them. I didn’t put ETBU on my Watch List but a win here gets them on. I like BSU and they are on my Top 25 but not on the AVCA poll. With that said, they really haven’t played anyone, yet. Everyone else is pretty close in talent and these will be good tests for each school.
Having looked at the top teams and where they are playing this weekend, this is the best collection of talent in the nation week 2. Emory is your national champion and current #1 and host Berry is finally in the Top 10. UMHB should feel some pressure to improve on their start but it will be tough again for the Cru. UMHB draws Berry, Christopher Newport, Transylvania and Endicott. Transylvania upset Wittenberg last week and Endicott is a problem just waiting to happen. The reasoning is that Endicott is one of the few New England teams that are willing to travel and a lose to them opens up that region to have common opponent opportunities on you. Of course, beating them and if they can then beat some other teams in their region then the favor is returned.
Cal Lutheran, Centenary, Chapman, #5 CMS, Colby-Sawyer, Concordia, Linfield, Occidental, Puget Sound, TLU, UC Santa Cruz and Whittier
This is a minefield waiting to happen for a number of teams. Cal Lu, Chapman, and CMS really need to get through this without losing a match. Both Cal Lu and CMS, however, will face Puget Sound. The Cal Lutheran / Puget Sound match in particular could help shape the regional rankings in a month. This is also a huge chance for Santa Cruz to establish their Pool B (independent) resume. I know Centenary is really beat up going into this tournament. I would have liked to have seen them at full health for this one. Linfield will continue to see if they can improve with their young squad. Their head coach will get a chance to coach against CMS where he was an assistant before moving on to Santa Cruz and then Linfield. Occidental, Whittier and TLU will try to trip up their opponents as they prepare for conference play.
Hawaii Tournament
Pacific, Simpson and Wells
These three schools will be traveling to Hawaii for a small get-together. Quite fun and a great recruiting opportunity. Pacific needs to win these matches.
Saint Katherine Tournament
Caltech, Providence Christian and Saint Katherine
Another small get-together. Caltech continues to play non-DIII matches until they get to SCIAC play.
Spike It Up Classic
#10 Colorado College, La Verne, LeTourneau, MIT and Willamette
We should just rename this “Beat the New England School Tournament” because that’s what I want to see. Look to see if La Verne gets Haley Celaya back from injury as she didn’t play week one. Remember that Colorado College hasn’t lost at home since, well…last week. I don’t expect that to get repeated but they are also beat up. Both LeTourneau and Willamette could be overlooked here but I wouldn’t. Willamette took St. Thomas (MN) to 5-sets and LeTourneau is a young team on the rise.
UT-Dallas Tournament
Aurora, Hardin-Simmons, Pacific Lutheran, Pomona-Pitzer, Southwestern, #7 Trinity and UT-Dallas
Fun little tournament, which I will be attending. Trinity is the headline act as they try to continue their great start. Aurora was ranked #10 in the preseason poll but lost 3 matches week one and dropped out. It’s really a make or break weekend for them. All four West Region conferences will be represented in this one and those matches will be really important in the regional rankings.
Wildcat Invitational
Illinois Tech, JWU (Denver), Lewis & Clark, Marian, Mills College, Rockford and William Peace
JWU hosts as they try to find their first win. Pretty competitive group.
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