VB Notes - 9.12.19
NEW YORK-- With non-conference action halfway over, all 10 BIG EAST volleyball teams look to strengthen their resumes in weekend three of play. A total of 29 matches can be seen across nine states with Villanova traveling as far as Los Angeles and three programs hosting home invitationals. Five top-25 matchups are on the slate as the conference looks to improve on its 4-5 record against teams ranked in the AVCA Poll.
No. 7 Marquette looks to build off of recent success when the Golden Eagles head to Normal, Ill., for the 2019 Redbird Invitational. Marquette will face RV UCF on Friday before looking to avenge last season’s Sweet 16 loss in a meeting with No. 14 Illinois on Saturday night. The Golden Eagles will close out competition on Sunday against 2018 NCAA Tournament participant Illinois State.
After knocking off No. 12 Kentucky and No. 15 USC last weekend, No. 17 Creighton returns home to open a five-match home stand with the Bluejay Invitational presented by Embassy Suites - Downtown/Old Market. The Bluejays will host Nebraska-Omaha on Friday before meeting Drake on Saturday morning. Creighton will play its fifth match against top-25 competition on Saturday evening when the Bluejays tangle with No. 12 Washington.
In the Polls:
In a 2-1 weekend for Marquette, including a win over then-No.4 Wisconsin, the Golden Eagles (5-1) rose to No. 7 in the AVCA Coaches Poll marking the highest ranking in program history for the second week in a row. No. 17 Creighton (3-2) took down two top-15 teams last weekend en route to the UNI Tournament crown to jump six spots in the AVCA poll.
This Weekend’s Top 25 Matches:
ST. JOHN’S at No. 25 Florida State (Sept. 14 at Noon)
XAVIER vs. No. 22 Louisville or No. 23 Purdue (Sept. 14 at 3:30 p.m.)
No. 12 Washington at No. 17 CREIGHTON (Sept. 14 at 8:30 p.m.)
No. 14 Illinois vs. No. 7 MARQUETTE (Sept. 14 at 8:30 p.m.)
VILLANOVA at No. 20 USC (Sept. 14 at 10 p.m.)
A Glance Around The League:
Three BIG EAST teams will host their own tournaments this weekend, including Creighton. DePaul (5-1) will host the annual DePaul Invitational as the Blue Demons welcome Central Michigan, Holy Cross and Valparaiso to McGrath-Phillips Arena. Providence (3-4) looks to bounce back from a midweek 3-1 loss to Bryant when the Friars welcome Fairleigh Dickinson, Coppin State and Brown to Alumni Hall for the 15
th Annual Friar Volleyball Classic.
Butler (1-5) travels to Milwaukee for the Panther Invitational where the Bulldogs will face, Western Michigan, hosts Milwaukee, and Southeast Missouri State. Georgetown (3-4) hits the road for the first time in 2019 as the Hoyas travel to Williamsburg, Va. for the 2019 William & Mary Tournament. Georgetown joins a field including Iona, UNC-Greensboro and hosts William & Mary. After a midweek 3-2 setback to Hofstra, St. John’s (4-4) will look to get back on track when the Red Storm head to the sunshine state for the Home2SuitesTallahassee Seminole Invitational. St. John’s faces Stony Brook, Florida A&M and No. 25 Florida State in weekend three of action.
After sweeping Iona in midweek action, Seton Hall (2-6) heads to Akron, Ohio for the Akron Invitational for a three-match slate. The Pirates meet Eastern Kentucky, Saint Francis and Akron. After three sweeps last weekend, Villanova (5-1) will look to continue the momentum at the Trojan Invitational in Los Angeles. The Wildcats will take on Yale and Howard on Friday before facing No. 20 USC on Saturday. Xavier (3-3) will encounter its first top-25 opponent of the season when the Musketeers travel to Nashville for the Lipscomb Tournament. Xavier will open the weekend with host Lipscomb on Friday before meeting either No. 22 Louisville or No. 23 Purdue on Saturday.
For live stats and any live video, visit the BIG EAST volleyball schedule page.
Friday, September 13
Western Michigan at BUTLER at 10 a.m. (Milwaukee, Wis.)
Stony Brook vs. ST. JOHN’S at Noon (Tallahasse, Fla.)
Yale vs. VILLANOVA at 1:30 p.m. (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Eastern Kentucky vs. SETON HALL at 4 p.m. (Akron, Ohio)
Iona vs. GEORGETOWN at 5 p.m. (Williamsburg, Va.)
Farleigh Dickinson at PROVIDENCE at 5 p.m.
RVUCF vs.
7MARQUETTE at 5:30 p.m. (Normal, Ill.)
Florida A&M vs. ST. JOHN’S at 6 p.m. (Tallahasse, Fla.)
Nebraska-Omaha at
17CREIGHTON at 7 p.m.
XAVIER at Lipscomb at 7:30 p.m.
BUTLER at Milwaukee at 7:30 p.m.
Central Michigan at DEPAUL at 8 p.m.
Howard vs. VILLANOVA at 8 p.m. (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Saturday, September 14
Saint Francis vs. SETON HALL at 10 a.m. (Akron, Ohio)
Southeast Missouri State at BUTLER at Noon (Milwauke, Wis.)
UNC-Greensboro vs. GEORGETOWN at Noon (Williamsburg, Va.)
ST. JOHN’S at
25Florida State at Noon
Drake at
17CREIGHTON at 1 p.m.
Holy Cross at DEPAUL at 1:30 p.m.
Coppin State at PROVIDENCE at 1:30 p.m.
XAVIER vs.
22Louisville/
23Purdue at 3:30 p.m. (Nashville, Tenn.)
GEORGETOWN at William & Mary at 5 p.m.
Brown at PROVIDENCE at 5:30 p.m.
SETON HALL at Akron at 7 p.m.
12Washington at
17CREIGHTON at 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 15
7MARQUETTE at Illinois State at 4 p.m.