UL Next National Championship

[WahooCard]

There are three very real potential national championship teams here at Louisville. Volleyball, Field Hockey and Women’s BB. Two questions: Do you agree with me that we will win two NCs this year? and Which team is most likely to cut down/up the nets? I would rank them in the following order:

Volleyball
Field Hockey
Women’s BB (still may be a bit young).

 

[Bardman]

That would be amazing for sure…but highly unlikely. I definitely like the volleyball team’s chances. They are VERY good. WBB - I think we are in for a really great season. Can they get to the Final 4 and challenge for a title…maybe
Field Hockey - I feel least confident about this one. From what I have seen is they have been struggling a bit scoring - which is a problem. Flip side is - they have played so many top-teir teams have great results. FH is just a tough, tough road.

 

[KozmasAgain]

Maybe playing such a tough schedule will help FH in the playoffs. I really think VB has the best chance and you can’t count out the BB team. Coach Walz has a great team this year and they are going to be fun to watch.

 

[2330859]

The WBB team will have more experienced depth and physical size than team’s in the past. While missing a “go to player” like an Angel or Dana; this team will have far greater balance and I perceive that to translate into more of an advantage when it comes to tournament time. Dana Evans was great, but her late season struggles last year limited our ability to advance.

 

[armensmith]

I think Bardman has posted my view also. The volleyball team has played some of the best teams in the country and won the matches convincingly. I am very hopeful with this team. Basketball is still a puzzle yet. Field Hockey IMHO is probably the least likely to accomplish much nationally.

There are several unanswered questions in basketball as far as I am concerned. First and the biggest question involves the inside game. Thus, how improved are Liz Dixon and Olivia Cochran? Is Emily Engstler going to be a good as she was inside at Syracuse? Will Payton Verhulst be as good as advertised? We need a good inside game to compete with the other elites. South Carolina and Stanford are going to be monsters on the inside this year. Finally, are Hailey and perhaps Mykasa ready to run the team? I feel we will have the offense and defense to be a very good team this year, but we need positive answers to the questions in order to compete with the other elites.

 

[Bardman]

armen…the bb questions are valid. I do think Emily is going to make an immediate impact - she is just a solid, experienced player who, I also believe, will bring added toughness inside. Liz really improved last year and Olivia most certainly will take a step forward as well. Can Ramani and/or Sydni provide some added interior defensive help?

 

[Sonja]

Texas is loaded in VB and will be looking for payback after the Cards eliminated them last year. I'll hold off judgement on a NC until I see how they handle powerful Pitt coming up.

Field Hockey has to show me they can beat Big 10 powerhouses Iowa and Michigan. We're 0-2 against the top two this year.

WBB? It's way too early to make any grandiose statements about a NC for them. But, they should be fun to watch, for sure!

-sonja--

 

[armensmith]

Texas is loaded in VB and will be looking for payback after the Cards eliminated them last year. I'll hold off judgement on a NC until I see how they handle powerful Pitt coming up.

Field Hockey has to show me they can beat Big 10 powerhouses Iowa and Michigan. We're 0-2 against the top two this year.

WBB? It's way too early to make any grandiose statements about a NC for them. But, they should be fun to watch, for sure!

-sonja--

Here are some interesting stats. Texan has played 10 of 15 games at home compared to the Cards 8 of 18. Texas has played one team ranked in the top 25 (Minnesota) while the Cards have played four with three being in the top ten. Yet Texas has all 64 of the first-place votes in the rankings. Not trying to start an argument but this does show how much reputation is worth. Texas has had top teams for years while the Cards are newcomers.

 

[Sonja]

Here are some interesting stats. Texan has played 10 of 15 games at home compared to the Cards 8 of 18. Texas has played one team ranked in the top 25 (Minnesota) while the Cards have played four with three being in the top ten. Yet Texas has all 64 of the first-place votes in the rankings. Not trying to start an argument but his does show how much reputation is worth. Texas has had top teams for years while the Cards are newcomers.

Freshman libero Elena Scott did not play or dress out against Wake Forest yesterday. And, it showed in the Cards performance in the four set sweep. If she's out for any period of time, it'll defintely weaken the Cards.

Pittsburgh on Sunday will be litmus test. Will this Cards squad remain undefeated? It's a game a lot of Volleyball fans have had circled on the calendar for a long time.

--sonja--