Pac-12 | Volleyball Power Ratings for Week Three

-photo by Shutter Geeks Photography

Conference is 62-10 so far in preseason play; a few more good matchups this weekend

Need further proof that Pac-12 schools have a tough time convincing nonconference opponents to fly west? All but one conference school—California is the lone exception—hit the road during week 3 of preseason.

Washington has a big match in Illinois, but keep an eye on Arizona State. The Sun Devils are also in Champaign-Urbana to meet #14 Illinois, but will face #2 Texas as well.

HOW WE RANK EM …

		CONF	ALL
1	USC	0-0	6-0	Trojans have climbed to national #1 ranking; big test this weekend at #9 San Diego, conquerors of 3 ranked teams so far.
2	Washington	0-0	4-0	Huskies earned respect with well-balanced wins against Canadian NT; now travel to Big Ten territory where #14 Illinois is an enigma.
3	Arizona St	0-0	7-0	Sun Devils hope to earn a couple of Friday the 13th shockers: face #14 Illinois in the morning, the #2 Texas that night.
4	Stanford	0-0	3-2	Cardinal super sophs were schooled by both Texas and Florida; Pac-12 opponents hope they don’t learn too much from those exams.
5	California	0-0	5-0	Bears re-enter the conversation with an impressive win at then-#19 Creighton; next test: Kansas State
6	UCLA	0-0	5-1	Bruins loss to Hawai’i reveals a few more flaws … could be tested by CS Northridge and Creighton
7	Arizona	0-0	5-1	‘Cats head for Hawai’i, but Rainbow Wahine transfer Jane Croson has to stay back in the desert thanks to Dave Shoji’s conditions for letting her play this season.
8	Oregon	0-0	4-3	Ducks (and Beavers) lose to Michigan & Michigan St. Three cupcakes remain on nonconference schedule.
9	Oregon St	0-0	4-2	Beavers (and Ducks) lose to Michigan & Michigan St. Four cupcakes plus Long Beach St remain on nonconference schedule.
10	Utah	0-0	7-0	Utes cruising through comfortable preseason against middling teams; 5-1 UC Irvine could be a test.
11	Colorado	0-0	5-1	Buffs have decent wins against St Mary’s, Rutgers and Syracuse, but toughest opponent this week is … Appalachian State (!)
12	Washington St	0-0	7-0	How crummy is Cougs’ schedule? This weekend’s opponents are a combined 4-20 (Jackson St, Lamar, Sam Houston St)

Here’s the third installment of our preseason feature, ranking the Pac-12 nonconference matchups from hottest to coldest:

(1) USC	(9) San Diego
ASU	(2) Texas
(5) UW	(14) Illinois
ARIZ	(10 Hawai’i
ASU	(14) Illinois
(11) UCLA	(24) Creighton
(23) CAL	Kansas St
(11) UCLA	Cal St Northridge
(23) CAL	Santa Clara
UTAH	UC Irvine
(1) USC	UC Santa Barbara
(6) UW	Loyola Chicago
ARIZ	Northwestern
(11) UCLA	Denver
ARIZ	Portland St
(1) USC	Eastern Washington
(23) CAL	Cal Poly
UTAH	Idaho St
COLO	Appalachian St
ASU	Youngstown St
(20) ORE	Cal St Bakersfield
(20) ORE	Fresno St
(20) ORE	Belmont
UTAH	Utah Valley
OSU	UC Davis
OSU	Toledo
(8) STAN	Air Force
(8) STAN	Army
(8) STAN	Yale
COLO	Baylor
WSU	Jackson St
WSU	Lamar
WSU	Sam Houston St
OSU	Portland

NOTES:

• Olympia High product Michaela Berendt continues to impress as a Villanova freshman. She’s played in all 24 of the ‘Cats sets so far, recording 59 kills and leading the team with 24 blocks. She led her team with 9 kills and 5 blocks in a 3-1 loss at Nebraska. Prior to that match, Nebraska dedicated the court in the remodeled Bob Devaney Center to former coach Terry Pettit. Pettit’s daughter, Emma, was in attendance … she just happens to be the Villanova setter.
• As mentioned above, Arizona hitter Jane Croson won’t travel with her team to Honolulu this weekend. Last season, Croson was suspended for a month by Hawai’i coach Dave Shoji for breaking team rules, what he termed “a serious offense.” When Croson transferred to Tucson, Shoji agreed to waive his option to make her sit for one season on one condition: that she not compete in this weekend’s tournament.
• Last Friday, Shoji became the winningest coach in D1 volleyball history when his team defeated Santa Clara. With his 1,107 victory, Shoji passed UCLA legend Andy Banachowski. The next night, the Wahine defeated UCLA, its first victory over the Bruins since 2009.

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Photos courtesy Shutter Geeks Photography