D3 Regionals Day 1: Active team that seems to have had the most up-and-down season to this point IMHO is Transylvania. That squad played a very tough non-conference schedule, but got hot at the right time in the HCAC Conference Tournament. Got a tough opening round draw in Berry (Georgia), however.

Several years back, I was following a match on cable, and was informed that volleys can reach speeds up to 40 MPH. I took in action with liberos with 2 defensive styles. The one who finished in the Top 10 nationally in total digs was more of a “right-spot, right-time” great court-sense player who didn’t need to go sailing all over the volleyball court to make plays. Another type of libero is one who does do more sailing to make plays. I questioned my other Word Press connection, because I was wondering, in terms of high-speed volleys, how much time was spent on planning on defense. (Both squads the liberos are on, just missed the NCAA Tourney), Another time, I took in a match between 2 St. Louis area D3 squads, and believe me, there were a lot of high-speed volleys sailing out of bounds during that match! (Do coaches actually look for a lot of power hitters for their given squad, or do they “take what they’re given? In D3, I’m guessing it’s a combination of both, (My connection can correct me on that if they so choose.) I wouldn’t have known beans about volleyball strategy if I hadn’t been informed during a match last spring how a high number of service aces can affect a match, or occasional other bits and pieces my connection has helped me with.

Johns Hopkins (out east) and Wartburg (Waverly, IA) are undefeated going into this tournament. I’d like to see Wartburg run the table, but they’re in a tough regional. On paper, Johns Hopkins figures to make a deeper run.

I close with a “tongue-in-cheek” humor sequence. Things one will never see in a volleyball match. (A 3-setter with 75 service aces; a set in which the winning squad reaches 100 points; a match in which both teams have hitting pcts. of .000 or below; a 10-minute long rally point)