March 9, 2024
This is our worst night of the year. We dread it. We lose an hour of analysis and blog time due to daylight savings Spring ahead. Ugh.
We completed an updated Ranking this evening based on all games played through Saturday night. Link on the homepage.
We completed an updated Standings tonight based on the IH ranking as well. Link on the homepage.
Just a few comments on tonight’s schedule:
In one of the top upsets of the year, Elmira downed NYU in a UVC conference game at Elmira tonight in straight sets. NYU has shown some big flashes of talent but now have been downed twice by teams that were considerably lower in the rankings in Baruch and Elmira. Let’s give it to the Soaring Eagles tonight with outstanding performances from Jordan Peiser who had 13 kills, 7 digs and hit .393, Edwin Sosa who slammed 15 kills and added 5 blocks, and Max Cohen who put up 30 assists, 5 digs, 2 blocks, and an ace. The Eagles have New Paltz and Nazareth for their next 2 matches and will need to be at the top of their game to qualify for the UVC tourney.
Rutgers surprised Messiah tonight with a dominant sweep of the visiting Falcons. Lucas Blanco and Martin Chromulak had 12 kills each for the Raiders. Juan Silva had 4 blocks and Derek Au posted 34 assists for Rutgers. 12 attack errors, 13 service errors, and 11 receive errors sealed Messiah’s fate.
Southern Virginia has run their set win streak to 60 by downing Lancaster Bible in short fashion today. No opponent has been close to the IH #1 team this season. The Sheaffer brothers continued their onslaught on the D3 landscape.
Marymount dropped a pair of matches today and have now lost 5 of 6 heading into a dense CVC schedule of games. They have played some very good competition during the losses. Marymount will face Randolph Macon on Wednesday, enjoy their spring break for 10 days and then jump into 6 games in 12 days finishing at SVU on 4/3.
The Fiorenza-Horn-Mayotte line continues to reap massive benefits for undefeated Loras. The DuHawks improved to 17-0 with a huge conference win over North Central in 4 sets. How good is the CCIW? Augustana is now 15-2 after taking down North Park today. The top 4 teams are now all in the top 20.
Stevens crushed Lasell today and is now 22-1. Koby Sherman was the big man for the Ducks tonight with 14 kills and a .684 hit percentage. Stevens also downed Stevenson in 4 sets despite a big game by Tim Flanagan for the Mustangs. Percy Bickford drove the Ducks attack in this one with 16 kills while Connor Feulner had 8 kills on 9 swings (.889).
5 games on the Sunday schedule tomorrow. NYU faces Hobart along with New Paltz vs Elmira are the premier games.