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while I don't think the Valley will get 4 teams in the NCAAs again this year,
I'd be shocked (and disappointed) if it became a 1-bid league.
Should get 2-3, depending on how conference play ends up

I'm not sure if this Panther team is the best ever. They are darn good and have done a fantastic job of over coming some adversity...but the best MVC team ever. Eh...that's saying quite a bit...and saying too much in my opinion. Hope they prove me wrong

panther-state wrote:I'm not sure if this Panther team is the best ever. They are darn good and have done a fantastic job of over coming some adversity...but the best MVC team ever. Eh...that's saying quite a bit...and saying too much in my opinion. Hope they prove me wrong

Well, the Panthers will need to get to the Sweet 16 to make my profane words true. So far,they've demonstrated the capacity to do that. What I am gauging UNI's team by is not just the sweep of nationally ranked Iowa St or the 5 set loss to top ranked Minnesota (both at home) but also the resiliency they have shown in winning 5 set matches on the road, early in non-conf play, to quality teams. Now, they will be severely tested when they hit the road for the MSU/WSU swing. Imo, Bears are close to becoming very, very good, as their middle attack improves. I also think that the Bears' sweep of the Shocks lit a fire under WSU, and that they will be carrying that torch the rest of the year. Watch out! So far, in the all important home/road win/loss category, the Bears are 1 up on Shocks, Panthers and Jays due to their road win at Wichita. The sleeper team that could knock off any of the Mighty Four is Illinois St, but UNI has already played them on the road.

Last year's UNI team was better than this year's team, IMO.

I may have to eat my words on this one. I've heard what you are saying from others whose opinion I respect, but.....you know a team may be better talent-wise and still not have the extra Zango that makes a lesser talented team just as good or superior.

after the first round of the double-roundrobin conference season, here's how we stand:

MVC VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS (through 10/15/11)
SCHOOL CONF OVERALL
UNI 9-0 19-1
MSU 8-1 15-5
WSU 6-3 12-7
CU 6-3 11-10
ILS 5-4 13-8
SIU 3-6 9-9
DU 3-6 7-15
INS 2-7 10-10
UE 2-7 12-12
BU 1-8 7-11

If the MVC tourney was held now (looking at it just for fun):
UNI would play the winner of (Creighton v Illinois State)
Missouri State would play the winner of (Wichita State v Southern Illinois)

Barring a whole bunch of upsets, I think UNI stands a good chance of an NCAA spot, even if they don't win the MVC tournament. And I think MSU stands a decent chance in the same regard. Not so sure about WSU or Creighton, though. Of course, there is still alot of volleyball left to be played, and lots could happen.

This UNI conference winning streak is really getting to a ridiculous level.

valleychamp wrote:This UNI conference winning streak is really getting to a ridiculous level.

yet it still pales in comparison to previous UNI conference winning streaks. (or at least one other one)

WSU had regular season conference win streaks of 29 and 34 within the last 5 years. Don't know where UNI is at now, but either way, it's impressive.

WSUbballer wrote:WSU had regular season conference win streaks of 29 and 34 within the last 5 years. Don't know where UNI is at now, but either way, it's impressive.

UNI has currently won 45 consecutive regular season MVC matches. And if you include the MVC tourney, that streak stretches to 49 matches.

Previously, UNI had a streak of 66 regular season MVC wins (Nov. 8, 1997-Oct. 13, 2001). Or if you want to include MVC tourney matches as well, they had a 69 match streak (Sept. 18, 1998-Oct. 13, 2001). They also had a 43 match streak (incl. MVC tourney matches) from Sept. 23, 1994-Sept. 27, 1996.