NCAA - Volleyball RPI as of Nov 14th

I don't know much about RPI or how it is figured. If we win out and end up 10-10 in conference, does that get us to the tournament?

http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/weeklyrpi/2007WVBrpi1.html

i think with 20+ wins they'd have a shot. definitely wouldn't host, but they might get in. i'd like to see them get in.

We don't get in - the same fate as Fran? Or do you think the decision has already been made? Time to clean house.

There is no reason to think that Corbelli has the ability to elevate the VB program to tu or Nebraska levels. How long do we want to stay in the middle of the pack?

The Ags deserve to be in the NCAA based upon their Big 12 performance;for sure; however, their light pre-season schedule will do them in. If you look at the RPIs, it will show that even though we continued to win in the second half of the Big 12 season, our RPI didnot improve because our pre-confernce foes kept losing, thus softening our schedule even more.

The 2005-06 Ags finished below 500 but had a final RPI of 50; this years team wins 21 and has an RPI of 70+.

31 of the 64 slots go to conference winners; so that leaves 33 slots at-large.

It looks like 4 or 5 of the conference winners fall outside the RPI top 64, so that means, theroretically, a team needs an RPI of not more than 56 or 57 to get an at-large bid. We are 70+ RPI - slim chance - -

Kline,

I, for one, am sick of the mediocre performance and tired of the lack of effort taken to improve it.

As the Big 12 season awards are being announced, I find it very disconcerting that the Aggies are not quite keeping up with the other conference universities. The Academic first team consists of 44 Big 12 volleyball athletes, and we were able to place only one on the list. Kansas State and Nebraska placed 7 each on the first All Big 12 Academic team. This is not placing our university in very good standing on the academic side of recruiting either. In the same breath, we now have to congratulate tu and coach Elliot as Coach of the Year for the Big 12.

Who gives a crap about academics? I don't care if they shoot up nursing homes as long as they win.

Hats off to Pavan for being all-everything of the year...4.0 in BioChem. Just a few years ago we used to have more kids on the academic teams...now we have one (way to go Jen!)...and a couple do good to stay eligible

I know I'm way behind in reading and responding to this thread...
Sykora was a freak athlete...a kid who came in here with very little body fat and could leap 36 inches...and to be so talented at several sports. Yes, she did play club ball prior to A&M...she played for TNT and Rick Johansen near Ft. Worth. I don't think I would have called her a "project" when she came in. Bre Lewis is what I call a "project"...she is tall and has a long way to go in the volleyball world...we need tall AND can step in immediately. Someone had lumped Munsch (sp?) in with the "developed or freak athlete". She was neither - she was a good athlete who developed in to a great vball player.

I watch our games on CSTV.com too when I can't make the 3 hour (each way) trip during the week. The video coverage of the game is horrible - too much movement of the camera - that guy needs to watch his own broadcast - but at least its something.

I think our 2007 team got better by the end of the season, perhaps it was because they were playing against tough teams in the big12 and the preseason didn't do much except for build morale (which was needed too).

I think our 3 recruits/hitters are supposed to be showing up in January...so hopefully they get a jump on things. Although two of the girls are outside hitters (Ringel & Black)...seems like we are pretty full at that position particularly since Batis and Ammerman own those spots for the next two years. I hope our girls have a great spring season - and I hope their international travel pays off too.

I just hope Bryne does what is best for Aggie Volleyball.

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Sykora was a freak athlete...a kid who came in here with very little body fat and could leap 36 inches...and to be so talented at several sports. Yes, she did play club ball prior to A&M...she played for TNT and Rick Johansen near Ft. Worth. I don't think I would have called her a "project" when she came in. Bre Lewis is what I call a "project"...she is tall and has a long way to go in the volleyball world...we need tall AND can step in immediately. Someone had lumped Munsch (sp?) in with the "developed or freak athlete". She was neither - she was a good athlete who developed in to a great vball player.

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Excellent assessment.

I just don't see our current recruiting making us any better than we are right now. Can we not market the program or school any better? With 2 teams in our conference in the top 5 in the nation, the competition level is certain to attract the top athlete. Are we no longer looking in the right places?

Any insight?

[This message has been edited by whoop87 (edited 11/30/2007 2:43p).]

I hope we are looking everywhere, but I'm more confident that the really talented players are just not interested in our program right now.

Our program has been in decline for the past three years, to the point of landing in the B12 South basement last year and failing to end conference play this season with a winning percentage.

Top recruits and their parents want an opportunity to win championships. We have limited top-tier talent on board presently, coaching development of individual players is very questionable, and the new recruits don't play positions where the needs are great.

Through no fault of the current players, the program is going nowhere under the current leadership, and that is clearly evident to even a casual observer.

This situation is going to take time to improve, and the work needs to begin now. I believe a coaching change is imminent.

whoop: I'm not in the program, so I'm not totally sure where they are looking or focusing on. I know they are at the major tournaments. But, I also know that some coaches look at a kid for "style" (maybe not the right word)...I've had a very small DI school snub their nose at a kid who ended up on the SEC freshman squad...I knew he/coach was crazy and I hope he realizes it now. (not that she was going to go to his school...but still...dude, what are you looking at?) I don't know if we are looking at "athlete" or "vball player" or combo. Austin is looking at "tall athlete"...their defense has lacked, but is coming around. Plus, they have a great libero coming in (Yogi)...next year I think.

Obviously we have pulled from Colorado - they are good - I wouldn't call it a hot bed. I'm guessing Robyn has connections there based on her stint at USAV. The state of Ohio is on a hot streak right now...in fact I thought I just saw t.u. get a commit from Team Z...which is a very good club. There is nothing wrong with Texas kids - we have good talent - but we need to look everywhere.

Maybe they are trying to get those kids from all corners of the country - but maybe a coastal school or liberal/party school is more appealing. Remember these kids are footing their own bills for unofficial visits - what would attract them to come to Aggieland? (I wish NCAA would move officials up to their Junior year but still keep the number limited.) We've gotten Cali kids here before - I'm not sure what drove them here. Its going to be hard to get those Fab50s to come here (during the slump) unless they already thought about it. But, if you can develop what you have, get back in the polls, the recruiting should get a little easier...kids want to come to a winning program.

I'm sure I haven't answered any questions...but thought I would just ramble my thoughts.

AgVball,

I pretty much agree with you. There are cycles where the midwest puts out exceptional talent and then some times when the talent wanes. I think this is pretty much representative of all geographic regions for one reason or another.

One thing I think LC did was listen too much to the Maroon Club years ago. In the early years, LC had a pipeline from Cali that she had established when on the West Coast. That brought good talent in and we did OK. Then some old money Ags in the Maroon Club kept asking why we were not signing Texas girls and we started looking more in that direction. Consquently, the West Coast pipeline sort of collapsed and it has not been able to be revived.

Yeah, we are getting "good" Texas talent, but it is not competing with the top talent other programs are getting. It's time to bring in someone who can bring those in.

That's interesting about the Maroon Club. I am a member - but I am neither old nor big money I would be disappointed if any coach listened to what MC members said - I know from the comments I hear around me at the vball games that they don't even know the fundamentals of the game. The couple beside of me are really nice - and they always ask why something happened or what something means - and I enjoy educating them - at least they ask and want to learn. I know Byrne was on a roll at one point with "Texas Talent" for sports in general.

I have to vent - it irritates me when the students hiss at EVERY call. Do ya'll really think that's a bad call or are you taught that at Fish Camp? One good thing I noticed at the Nebraska game - there was a really long rally - we lost the rally - but everyone applauded to see a good rally. I was shocked that our fans showed their appreciation...they are learning!

Maroon Club has turned in to something only for those who can participate in Monday through Thursday events (which is not me). I wouldn't be surprised to see Byrne eventually suffocate the idea or somehow bring it under the 12th Man umbrella. Nicole Kummer did an excellent job with the program when she was still here...but I'm not a big fan of it now.

On a side note - we (on the board) already know we need to look for the best talent across the states. It is interesting when I talk to coaches at schools outside of Texas and how they "need to get some Texas girls on their roster". Its nice that we have a good talent pool here.