January 10, 2024
A very entertaining season kick-off tonight as the Steven’s Ducks launched their 2024 campaign against D1 Sacred Heart in Connecticut. Graduate student Nate Lancia played some of the best volleyball in his career as he led the Ducks to a 3-1 victory tallying 12 kills and 10 digs, top man for Stevens in both categories. Connor Feulner added 9 kills, 4 blocks, and an ace, and Louden Moran had 29 assists and 9 digs. Koby Sherman also had 10 digs and 2 aces for the winners. The Ducks have a repeat National Championship in mind as they return 5 key seniors from last year’s stellar team, Lancia, Moran, and Feulner all being a part of that group. SIT lists a massive roster of 25, but Head Coach Dan Buehring always finds ways to incorporate all players into the game plan. 10 players hit the floor tonight against Big Red including D1 transfer from St. Frances Brooklyn Jack Hershman.
SHU had a strong start to the match taking the first set 25-21. But Steven’s never looked back and breezed the next three sets by scores of 25-21, 25-17, and 25-19. Patrick Mucherino led all scorers with 13 kills and Mark Berry added 11 for Sacred Heart.
We are still 10 days away from the tri-match in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Saturday the 20th where the Ducks will take on Jacob Labouliere and the Wentworth Leopards and the much-improved Engineers from MIT. After visiting Baruch, they have two invitational tournaments where they will face top D3 competition including the Messiah Invitational with Juniata, Lancaster Bible, and Messiah, and the Frog Jump Invitational at Juniata with Carthage and Mount Union joining the fun.
The first AVCA coaches’ poll is out as they expand the number of teams included in the poll to 20 from 15. Here is a look at the details:
The first few weeks of the season carries the stories of many teams’ success and challenges. We will see how many of the 20 teams remain on February 1.
InsideHitter.com has updated single match and single season D3 individual volleyball all-time records in two new posts this week. Here are the links:
We will get our first glimpse at the new Hobart team tomorrow as they are planned to take on Nichols and SUNY Potsdam. Wells is also part of the quad over two days. Action starts at 3PM EST when Hobart faces the host Bears.
11 matches on the Friday night schedule as the schedule pace picks up. UC Santa Cruz visits Cal Lutheran on Friday night. 31 matches will be played Saturday, of course depending on weather and travel conditions this weekend. Vassar will play both Cal Lutheran and UCSC on Saturday. Springfield, Southern Virginia, St. John Fisher, and Nazareth all open on Saturday.
IH
Do you find it curious that the total points assigned in the AVCA poll is 6 more than the maximum it should be when 23 voters cast a ballot with 20 teams on it?
Hi Eric. The math does appear to be over by 6 as it doesn’t count the 6 points from the 3 teams on only one ballot. Probably a typo on one of the numbers. There are a few instances where 6 points could mean a one slot difference. The sum should total 4830 including the 6 extra points not shown. All the best.