Nov. 8, 2007

Did you know...

...that if Washington makes it to the Final Four again this season it will be one of four programs to go to the Final Four for four consecutive years?

Stanford has the record for most consecutive trips to the Final Four with six, from 1982-1987. The Cardinal also went to four in a row from 1994-1997. In UCLA's hey day the Bruins went to five in a row - and won back-to-back national championships - from 1988-1992. Only one team outside the Pac-10 has been able to achieve four in a row when the University of Pacific made it from 1983-1986. And did you know that the coach that took Pacific to their first two Final Fours was current Oregon State coach Terry Liskevych? When Liskevych left to take over the USA women's program for the 1984 Olympic games he was replaced by current Stanford coach John Dunning who not only took them to the next two Final Four's but won both times. The road for the Huskies to make it back could be much more difficult this time around. Two of the past three years they have hosted a regional final and in 2005 when they had to travel to College Station, Texas for the regional finals, Texas A&M was no longer playing so they did not have to deal with any home court advantage. That scenario is not likely to play out this year with the four regional championships being played at schools that are currently ranked No. 11 or higher. When Washington won at Stanford earlier this year it made a statement that it can win big matches on the road in front of large crowds - so don't bet against the Huskies getting back for a fourth time.

...that if Stanford's Foluke Akinradewo continues to hit at or above her current mark of .483 she will not only break the single-season hitting percentage record but destroy the old mark?

Last year UCLA senior Nana Meriwether hit .448 for the year which led the nation and beat the previous Pac-10 record by .011. That is a huge jump considering those ranked second through 10th are separated by no more than .004. Last year Akinradewo finished second in the Pac-10 to Meriwether, hitting .431, which is tied for the fourth best hitting percentage in a single season in the Pac-10. Wherever she ends up this season she will be one of only two players who are listed in the top 10 for highest hitting percentage in a season two times, joining former USC great Emily Adams. Don't forget that Akinradewo is only a junior and could add her name to the list a third time. And unless her numbers drop dramatically next year she will be toppling the career hitting percentage mark as well.

...that if Washington State cannot win a conference match they will become the fifth team in the Pac-10 to go winless during conference play?

Since Pac-10 play began in 1986 a team has gone 0-18 only six times - three of which happened in the first six years of the Conference. USC struggled with injury after injury on the way to the first non-win season in the Pac-10's inaugural year for volleyball. Oregon State just plain struggled the next year and could not manage a win in 1987 while Arizona hit rock bottom in 1991, the year before David Rubio took over and brought the Wildcats back to life. A nine-year span followed in which every team got at least one win before Oregon had the distinction of becoming the first team to go 0-18 two times - in 2001 and 2003. Last year Oregon State endured a winless conference season after netting seven wins in 2005. If the Cougars continue to struggle and lose their remaining matches it will be just the second time that the Pac-10 had a team go 0-18 in consecutive years. In case you are wondering, it is easier to win all your matches in conference play than to lose all your matches. Eight times a team has put up an 18-0 record in the Pac-10, the last in 2003 when USC went 35-0 for the year en route to the NCAA championship. In a five-year span, from 1988-1992, the Pac-10 champion was undefeated in conference play. UCLA had four of those titles while Stanford had one. Stanford put up two more perfect marks - in 1995 and 1997- and only USC has managed to do it since. As the teams in the conference get stronger and stronger the undefeated season will be much more of a rarity....but certainly possible. But not this year.

...that if Washington's Christal Morrison wins Pac-10 Player of the year again this year it will be the fourth time a player has repeated to win the Player of the Year? It would put her in terrific company with the other repeat winners - Daiva Tomkus from UCLA and Stanford's Kerri Walsh and Logan Tom. It would also give the Huskies the award for the third year in a row as Sanja Tomasevic won in 2005. Only UCLA and Stanford have had a player win the award three consecutive years. In fact, it took 11 years for a player that did not play for Stanford or UCLA to win the prestigious award. Yes, the first ten Pac-10 Player of the Year awards went to players from Stanford or UCLA. Washington State's Sarah Silvernail broke through in 1986 but a Stanford player went on to win five of the next six. Twelve of the 21 Pac-10 Player of the Year award winners were also named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, including Morrison. That may bode well for Stanford's Akinradewo and USC's Taylor Carico, the past two Freshmen of the Year recipients. Akinradewo is probably the only person playing well enough to possibly beat out Morrison for the award. She is the only player in the Conference to be listed in the top 10 for both hitting percentage (first) and kills per game (ninth), and is also fifth in blocking. She also shows up biggest in the big matches. In Stanford's loss at USC she led the team with 20 kills, hit .485 and had five blocks. When it lost to Washington she had 18 kills on .417 hitting. When it comes to net play she is as good as it gets, but the Conference traditionally does not give the award to middle blockers. Kim Oden won back in 1990. Sarah Silvernail was Player of the year in 1996. But outside hitters have dominated the award with the occasional setter thrown in. And if Washington wins the Pac-10 it is hard to bypass the terrific all around play of Christal Morrison.

...that at 5'8" Angie Pressey of California is the shortest attacker in the conference?

She just edges out Washington's Stevie Mussie who is listed at 5'9". Pressey could be the smallest attacker in the nation, but certainly among teams ranked in the top 20. And she is not someone who is just holding down a spot - Pressey is a three time First Team All-Pac-10 performer who was named a Second Team All-American last year. And she is one of the main reasons California is having one of the best years in program history and sits at No. 7 nationally. Early in the year, I thought Pressey had been quiet and was going to need to be more of a factor if Cal was going to have a special year. Pressey picked the perfect moment to step up big - she came up with 25 kills and 14 digs in putting the only loss on the Washington Huskies this year. That match was on October 10, and since that time Pressey has been on a roll. She went for a career-high 26 kills in Cal's win at Arizona State and matched that total in the Bears upset of UCLA in Los Angeles, the first time California had defeated UCLA in Pauley Pavilion. And she always seems to play well against Oregon, knocking down 15 kills while hitting .500, going for 11 digs and five blocks in the sweep. She is doing exactly what you would hope your seniors would do for you and the Golden Bears could not be happier. They have already reached last year's Conference win total (9) with five matches to go, three of which are against teams in the bottom half of the conference. Look for Cal to end strong, and who knows how far they can go. Likely as far as Angie Pressey can take them.

...there are some major revenge matches this weekend?

Okay, you probably did know that one. I am just not sure who wants revenge more. Thursday night has the match that could decide the Pac-10 championship with Stanford at Washington. The Huskies surprised the Cardinal in Palo Alto the first time through, a match that sent some shock waves through college volleyball. Stanford was supposed to be nearly unbeatable, especially at home, and Washington had not been challenged all year. But that match changed everything - Stanford was beatable and Washington was for real. Now Stanford can turn the tables and beat Washington in Seattle......or can they? Stanford has not won in Seattle the past four seasons, meaning no one on the Stanford roster has had success in Seattle. And the Huskies have it going at home, winning their last 39 home matches. But UCLA probably wants to avenge their loss at the hands of Oregon State even more. Before that loss the Bruins were 15-2 with their losses coming to No. 1 Nebraska and No. 2 Stanford. They were considered by many, me included, as a national championship contender. But along came the Beavers and their single Pac-10 win and took down the Bruins in one of the biggest upsets of the year. It was just one match, but since that loss UCLA is just 1-4 and has dropped to fifth place in the Pac-10. What better way to right the ship then to take down the team that started the slide, and you can bet that UCLA will be ready to play this time around, in Corvallis. And finally, on Friday night, Washington gets a change to avenge their only loss on the year when California comes to Seattle. It still has to hurt a little to have been leading the match 2 games to 1 - winning game three by a score of 30-15 - only to eventually lose the match in Berkeley. They were so close to a undefeated record and, more importantly, a little breathing room at the top of the standings. But Washington knows, as does everyone else, that a loss this weekend at home opens the door for Stanford and USC to work their way back into contention. That is a door the Huskies want to keep shut.