The headline is big, but the backstory is bigger: Pacific is bringing back men’s volleyball, and we walk through how it actually happened—step by step, meeting by meeting, and milestone by milestone. From the first conversations with President Callahan to the detailed planning with Athletic Director Adam, we saw how patient leadership, alumni persistence, and the right partners turned a long shot into a green light. We dig into the mechanics behind the moment: why First Point Volleyball Foun...
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The headline is big, but the backstory is bigger: Pacific is bringing back men’s volleyball, and we walk through how it actually happened—step by step, meeting by meeting, and milestone by milestone. From the first conversations with President Callahan to the detailed planning with Athletic Director Adam, we saw how patient leadership, alumni persistence, and the right partners turned a long shot into a green light. We dig into the mechanics behind the moment: why First Point Volleyball Foun...
The headline is big, but the backstory is bigger: Pacific is bringing back men’s volleyball, and we walk through how it actually happened—step by step, meeting by meeting, and milestone by milestone. From the first conversations with President Callahan to the detailed planning with Athletic Director Adam, we saw how patient leadership, alumni persistence, and the right partners turned a long shot into a green light. We dig into the mechanics behind the moment: why First Point Volleyball Foun...
We recap a whirlwind women’s volleyball weekend, break down Stanford vs Louisville with real tactical detail, and lay out a case for mandatory mid-major conference tournaments. We also explain how Bay to Bay chartered flights to save families money and why “grow the game” needs to retire. • Stanford vs Louisville as a gritty benchmark for the 4–10 tier • Louisville setter as the match’s key differentiator • Stanford stronger in the middle, Louisville deeper at the pins • Santa Clara–Pepperdi...
We return with a pop-up episode to track the surge in women’s volleyball—national TV windows, marquee kickoff events, and a top tier led by Nebraska and Texas—while naming sleepers that no one wants in a Sweet 16 draw. We also break down Milan’s move to UCLA and grade USA men’s first season of a youth-forward reset. • AVCA First Serve impact, ESPN and Fox spotlight • Nebraska and Texas separating, context on early undefeateds • UCLA’s transfer haul and the Penn State win • Texas practice ins...
Long Beach State secures another national championship with a commanding sweep over UCLA, showcasing their unparalleled team culture and championship mentality. Their "blue collar" approach and ride-or-die brotherhood has created a volleyball program where bench energy is so intense it earned yellow cards during their championship celebration. • Long Beach's first set domination, hitting nearly .800 against UCLA • Moni Nikolov's clutch serving, delivering two consecutive aces when UCLA led 2...
Grand Canyon University has abruptly cut their men's volleyball program, effective immediately, with no advance warning to coaches or players, sending shockwaves through the volleyball community. We explore what this means for the future of men's volleyball and share insights from our personal experiences with program cuts at Stanford and University of Pacific. • Blueprint for fighting program cuts based on Stanford's successful campaign to save their program • Importance of building alumni ...
Arielle, Chad, and Matt dive into a lively discussion of recent collegiate men's volleyball action and debate the future of the game. • Hawaii splits with Long Beach State • USC battles significant injuries to key players, creating strategic challenges for upcoming matches • Conference tournament predictions across MIVA, EIVA, Big West, and MPSF • Data reveals NCAA men's volleyball is 16% international athletes • Discussion of whether international roster limits would benefit American player...
The NCAA's back-to-back scheduling format deflates the impact of big upsets by forcing immediate rematches, preventing storylines from developing and limiting media coverage opportunities. • The weekend featured multiple top-5 upsets including CSUN over Hawaii, UC San Diego over UC Irvine, and GCU over UCLA • Back-to-back scheduling forces teams to play the same opponent twice in consecutive days, eliminating the buildup between matchups • The upcoming 18-man roster cap will significantly im...
We dive into men's collegiate volleyball rankings and break down the implications of Long Beach State's split with UC Irvine in what was a high-level volleyball showcase with sold-out crowds. • Clear separation exists between the "top five" teams and everyone else in men's volleyball • Long Beach maintains #1 ranking despite their loss to UC Irvine in a sold-out match • Debate over Loyola Chicago's #6 ranking after being "called out of rotation" • Discussion of whether Long Beach's loss will...
We make our triumphant return for Season 3 (it's actually season 2 episode 9 but it's been forever since our last episode), putting to rest any rumors about internal fighting while offering sincere apologies for the technical difficulties that prevented the release of our previous recordings. • Debating the latest Traitor's Poll rankings with special focus on CSUN vs Loyola placement • Criticizing current replay systems in college volleyball and proposing either professional-grade systems or...
Our latest episode dives into the humorous and competitive world of Fantasy MVB Beer Olympics! We discuss team selection, strategies, and what it means to build a cohesive unit ready to take on the challenge. • Introduction of our Beer Olympics draft • Boycotting the AVCA rankings • Matt's NSFW social media • Capitol Hill Classic recap • Women's volleyball roundup
We are putting the AMERICA into our All-American team while discussing the scarcity of top-tier American rosters in college volleyball today. We highlighted key American players, examined high school volleyball rule changes, and ultimately celebrated the importance of recognizing homegrown talent in the sport. • Crafting an all-American team of volleyball players • The significance of celebrating American players in international-dominated NCAA • Recent high school volleyba...
Our latest episode dives into the fluctuating AVCA rankings, addressing issues surrounding team standings and the perceived favoritism affecting teams like Hawaii and UCLA. The discussion includes insights on weekend matches, reflections on coaching changes, and the evolving dynamics of college volleyball. • Critique of current AVCA rankings and their formulation • Arguments on Hawaii's ranking despite a recent loss • Recap of Long Beach vs. UCLA: a disappointing outcome&nb...
A transformative week in volleyball sees the introduction of the Baby on Benches Rule, allowing coaches to bring their babies onto benches during matches. We discuss the impact of this change, alongside John Cook's retirement, spring tryouts excitement, finishing with a discussion on volleyball superstars: Moni Nikolov vs. Harper Murray. • Discussion of the Baby Bench Rule and its implications • Insights on John Cook's retirement and coaching changes • Recap of the experiences fr...
This episode dives into the complexities of NCAA volleyball rankings, exploring their quirks, controversies, and significant impacts on team dynamics. We discuss player transfers, upcoming matches, and potential rule changes:• Insights on coaches' polling and its biases • Discussion on the world of NIL in college sports• Preview of key upcoming matches between top teams • Proposed rule changes (foreigner limit, remove open hand tips, service error foul out)• The future of NCAA volle...
In this episode, we explore:• SoCal Cup roundup• Game results and reflections on tournament performances • Insights into coaching strategies and player growth • Discussion on AVCA rankings and predictions for upcoming matches • Anecdotes from tournament chaos and life in volleyball • National Champion predictions
S2E2 provides an in-depth analysis of recent men’s volleyball matches, focusing on team dynamics and standout players. We then move into the emerging rivalry between the PVF and LOVB leagues. We then finish off with AVCA ranking evaluations, performance observations, and predictions for future matchups. • Analyzing the matchup between Ball State and Stanford• Evaluating team performances and player statistics• Highlighting significant league matchups, including Ohio State vs. BYU• Discus...
Our latest episode is packed with predictions about the upcoming college volleyball season, covering everything from champion favorites to potential up-and-coming teams. With discussions on coaching changes, player developments, and the overall shifting landscape of the sport, we eagerly lay out our thoughts and invite listeners to join in on the excitement.Discussion on Erik Sullivan's new role as head coach of the women's national teamPredictions for the MPSF Championship focusing on UCLAAn...
Did you ever wonder why some volleyball matches feel like electric rock concerts while others seem like a quiet library? Join us as we kick off this episode with a sweet anecdote about York Peppermint Patties and how they became an unlikely hero at tournament desks. Chad shares his firsthand experience from Arlington's Volleyball Nations League (VNL), where even top-tier matches like Serbia vs. Turkey struggled to draw crowds. We draw comparisons to the vibrant volleyball culture in Poland an...
Get ready to relive the rollercoaster emotions of the men's volleyball semifinals, where UCLA narrowly clinched victory from Irvine and Long Beach State mounted an incredible comeback against Grand Canyon. Feel the electric charge as we dissect Mason Briggs' game-changing performance that turned the tide for Long Beach, and join us in pondering the historic moment men's volleyball made its debut on ESPN's main network. We don't hold back on our critique of the semifinal's camera work, either ...
Here is what ChatGPT spit out when we asked it to summarize todays episode:Get ready to spike your knowledge of college volleyball as we serve up a hearty post-season analysis! Our special guest, Bobby, joins the crew to dissect our preseason forecasts, celebrating the aces and learning from the faults. We're not just talking about who soared and who stumbled in the Big West, MIVA, and EIVA—we're giving you an insider's play-by-play on how injuries and home crowds have turned the game upside ...
The headline is big, but the backstory is bigger: Pacific is bringing back men’s volleyball, and we walk through how it actually happened—step by step, meeting by meeting, and milestone by milestone. From the first conversations with President Callahan to the detailed planning with Athletic Director Adam, we saw how patient leadership, alumni persistence, and the right partners turned a long shot into a green light. We dig into the mechanics behind the moment: why First Point Volleyball Foun...
