Volleyball: SMU at USF/UCF

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

This weekend is another huge weekend for SMU volleyball as the Mustangs head to Florida for matches against USF Friday night and UCF Sunday afternoon.

The Mustangs (21-5, 10-4) have won five straight and can make The American very interesting down the stretch with a couple of road wins this week.

SMU preview:
http://www.smumustangs.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/111214aac.html

Go Mustangs!

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

In the Wednesday night conference match, Connecticut put up a good fight at Temple, but the Owls ultimately prevailed in five sets.

Updated American standings heading into Friday's action:

1. UCF (13-1)
2. Temple (12-3)
3. SMU (10-4)
4. Memphis (9-5)
4. Tulsa (9-5)
6. Cincinnati (5-9)
6. Houston (5-9)
6. USF (5-9)
9. ECU (4-10)
10. UConn (4-11)
11. Tulane (3-11)

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

SMU defeated USF 3-1 last night (26-24, 20-25, 25-21, 25-10).

Caroline Young led SMU with 14 kills. Avery Acker had 39 assists and 18 digs.

Abbey Bybel also had 10 kills and 13 digs.

The Mustangs face first-place Central Florida Sunday. UCF lost to Tulsa so SMU can move within one game with a win.

Go Mustangs!

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

American standings after Friday night's action:

1. UCF (13-2)
2. Temple (13-3)
3. SMU (11-4)
4. Memphis (10-5)
4. Tulsa (10-5)
6. Cincinnati (6-9)
7. Houston (5-10)
7. USF (5-10)
9. ECU (4-11)
9. UConn (4-11)
11. Tulane (3-12)

[fifty]

Do we have any ncaa chances without a conference title?


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[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Do we have any ncaa chances without a conference title?

I don't know much about the details of the volleyball selection process, but our RPI is currently 44 so we would probably be close. We have the second highest RPI in The American (UCF is 35) so a second bid for the conference would be an easier sell if we also finish second in the standings.

With UCF (35), Temple (59), and Tulsa (61) still on our schedule our RPI should be fine if we keep winning.

We had a similar RPI in 2010 (we ended the season at 45 - not sure what it was at selection time) when we were the consensus first team out (snubbed by the committee taking 19-10 Mississippi over 25-6 SMU even though they had a lower RPI).

[Terry Webster]

One thing that helps us this year is wins over Oklahoma, Georgia and Georgia Tech.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

UCF defeats SMU in five sets today (25-18, 16-25, 25-20, 25-27, 15-13).

Abbey Bybel and Caroline Young each had 17 kills. Abbey Bybel with 49 assists and 15 digs. Morgan Heise with 30 digs.

[fifty]

We could have used that one. Damn.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Updated standings:

1. UCF (14-2)
2. Temple (13-3)
3. SMU (11-5)
3. Memphis (11-5)
3. Tulsa (11-5)
6. Cincinnati (6-10)
6. Houston (6-10)
8. USF (5-11)
8. ECU (5-11)
10. UConn (4-12)
11. Tulane (3-13)

SMU hosts UConn and Temple next weekend.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Morgan Heise was named to the American weekly honor roll this week.

http://theamerican.org/news/2014/11/17/WVB_1117142106.aspx

Honor Roll
Morgan Heise, SMU: 5.78 digs/set; 30 digs at UCF; 22 digs in four sets at USF

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

RPI update. Not as bad as I feared. SMU only dropped to 46.

29 - UCF
46 - SMU
53 - Tulsa
60 - Temple
84 - Memphis