2022 NCAA Tourney- sub-regional @ Creighton

[kiyoat]

Here are some quick facts on Houston (from their most recent game notes)

Kate Georgiades set Houston's three-set digs record by posting 34 in the straight-set win against Tulsa.


Houston's nonconference strength of schedule ranks 15th nationally, and is the toughest schedule in The American.


The Cougars returned six of their seven 2021 starters in 2022 including all four The American All-Conference selections and All-American and 2021 AAC Libero of the Year, Kate Georgiades.



#17 Kate Georgiades 5-9 Jr Libero

[kiyoat]

As far as offense, here are their top players

#	player	ht	pos	class	Kills/set
24	Jackson, Abbie	6-0	OH	Sr	3.87
8	Theut, Isabel	6-1	MB	Grad	3.53
9	Henderson, Kortlyn	6-2	OH	Grad	2.04
4	Warren, Kennedy	6-1	OH	Grad	1.69
11	Tulios, Rachel	6-1	MB	Sr	1.39
25	Morrin, Kellen	6-4	MB	So	1.23

Well, it looks like they are scoring with a consistently tall front court, mix of middles and outsides, all 4th or 5th year players.... yikes.

Here's our top scorers for comparison:

#	player	ht	pos	class	Kills/set
6	Juhnke	6-0	OH	Jr	5.37
11	Sealock	6-0	OH	Soph	2.42
7	Harms	6-3	MB	Jr	2.41
4	Diederich	5-8	OH	Jr	2.04
1	Adams	6-1	OH	Sr	1.63
13	Pauman	6-3	MB	Jr	1.41

Our front court has three "fourth-year Juniors", so essentially Seniors.  Sealock has replaced Diederich in the lineup, and I think her offensive output will likely be more than this average shows (4.67 kills per set vs Omaha).  But still, Houston looks somewhat balanced offensively.  Both teams will have two Outsides and one middle providing the bulk of scoring.

[yoteforever]

We generate 1.5 more kills per set than Houston which means they rely heavier on the block and attack errors from opponents. This is kinda what I was referring to about unseeded vs seeded. If we don’t have a ton of service errors and don’t make alot of hitting errors I like our chances.

Our setter will have to bring her A game. And our middles will have to move laterally throughout this whole match. All in all, not a bad draw. Our girls plays better against better opponents. We’re just fine. The crowd will be 98%?Coyote because Creighton wants the unseeded team to prevail. I won’t be shocked if we win this in 4.

[yoteforever]

I just watched Houston’s match with UCF for the championship of the AAC. They are NOT middle dominated. They are outside heavy. Their best is not as good as Juhnke but they are both good. Their middles are good. Their libero is outstanding.

I see an opportunity for Adams to have a big match. UCF exposed them somewhat on the right side.

I see this being closer than what the volleyball Gods think. Again, wouldn’t be surprised if we won in 4.

[kiyoat]

Nov 28, 2022 15:37:57 GMT -6 yoteforever said:

I just watched Houston’s match with UCF for the championship of the AAC. They are NOT middle dominated. They are outside heavy. Their best is not as good as Juhnke but they are both good. Their middles are good. Their libero is outstanding.

I see an opportunity for Adams to have a big match. UCF exposed them somewhat on the right side.

I see this being closer than what the volleyball Gods think. Again, wouldn’t be surprised if we won in 4.

Here's the only

Guessing you watched on ESPN+.  The only match I found on YouTube was Houston vs. #1 Texas from a couple months ago:
final score:
17-25 Houston
25-16 Texas (Houston ended that set on a 7-2 run)
25-12 Texas
25-22 Texas

[yoteforever]

No. Watched it on YouTube. I don’t know how to lik stuff or I would. Techy wednie

[kiyoat]

Nov 28, 2022 16:09:18 GMT -6 yoteforever said:

No. Watched it on YouTube. I don’t know how to lik stuff or I would. Techy wednie

Found it: (UCF won 3-2)

[fanatic]

Too bad the Coyotes have to play in Creightons little gym. I'm sure there are quite a few fans didn't get tickets because it sold out fast. Whoever got tickets be loud be proud.

[kiyoat]

Nov 28, 2022 23:42:00 GMT -6 fanatic said:

Too bad the Coyotes have to play in Creightons little gym. I'm sure there are quite a few fans didn't get tickets because it sold out fast. Whoever got tickets be loud be proud.

Yeah, hopefully some local Coyote fans got in on that sale. I wouldn’t characterize Sokol arena as “little” though. For Volleyball 3k is a perfect size. The problem is that the Jays have a big following in that sport. And lately we do, too.

[ElsenMidco]

[kiyoat]

Here's a nice couple of paragraphs from a recent VolleyBallMag.com article:

volleyballmag.com/ncaa-volleyball-tournament-tidbits-112822/

REHR ROARS: Speaking of Volleyball Baton Rouge, back in the day at club tournaments, I became friends with the then-Arkansas State coach, Dave Rehr. We just used to hang around and visit and I always figured one day he would move to a bigger program. Indeed he did and what he’s done in just four seasons at Houston is incredible.



The Cougars play South Dakota at Creighton and that should truly be one of the best of the 32 first-round matches. Houston, which finished 25-7 last year but didn’t get a bid, is back in the NCAA for the first time since 2015. The Cougars are 28-3 and had won 20 in a row before their five-set loss at UCF on Friday. The Houston-UCF rivalry in the American Athletic Conference has been awesome for both programs and will continue when they move to the Big 12 next year. Houston will now have the distinction of playing against the top two attackers in the NCAA. UCF’s McKenna Melville leads at 5.56 kills/set, while South Dakota’s Elizabeth Juhnke is second at 5.37. And Juhnke leads by far in overall kills with 660.

[fanatic]

Nov 29, 2022 8:09:18 GMT -6 kiyoat said:

Nov 28, 2022 23:42:00 GMT -6 fanatic said:

Too bad the Coyotes have to play in Creightons little gym. I'm sure there are quite a few fans didn't get tickets because it sold out fast. Whoever got tickets be loud be proud.

Yeah, hopefully some local Coyote fans got in on that sale. I wouldn’t characterize Sokol arena as “little” though. For Volleyball 3k is a perfect size. The problem is that the Jays have a big following in that sport. And lately we do, too.

[fanatic]

Sokol arena might be fine for regular season but it's way too small for an ncaa tournament.

[yote18]

Dec 1, 2022 21:41:53 GMT -6 fanatic said:

Sokol arena might be fine for regular season but it's way too small for an ncaa tournament.

Idk I think that’s the perfect size for a tournament atmosphere(at least during the first two rounds). If I’m a host team I’d much rather play in front of a sold out 3-4K arena of fans than in a potentially half empty 10k seat arena.

Only a few schools are able to pull enough draw to sell out the large venues. I like Creightons thinking, with only so many tickets it draws up the desire to get one and attend.

[kiyoat]