2024 Creighton Volleyball

[TXJaysFan]

I've been texting about that very thing. It's a recurring theme today. Sunderland started with it pre-match, then their in-studio goon repeatedly hung that label on us between matches (he included Marquette and Dayton), and now Sunderland's back at it. I know ESPN loves its lazy Cinderella narratives, no matter what the sport, but this plucky underdog crap is really wearing thin.

Except...are we a mid-major in volleyball? I don't know enough about VB to know the answer. The BE def is in baseball, for example, and I guess it wouldn't be that much of a reach to say the league is in volleyball. But, if the conference is a mid in women's basketball, to give another example, does that mean that all its members are too? So, is UConn women's hoops a mid-major?

I thought Creighton shed that label for good more than a decade ago. But one thing's for sure. We're gonna hear a lot more of it Sunday night.

The best comp is Gonzaga men’s basketball. The league is mid-major, but the program isn’t.

[SeattleJay]

How beatable is Penn State?

[jaykorver]

How beatable is Penn State?

Jays will need to bring their A serve-pass game and side out better than they did yesterday. Penn State has been plagued by dropped sets and sloppy play against inferior teams but they've been excellent at home against ranked teams. I saw today that they are 72-3 all time at home during the NCAA tournament.

Other than occasional sloppy play, I don't think Penn State has much for weaknesses (unlike Texas, they pass well and they block well across the board). They serve very well (particularly #2 and #24 from what I've seen). The other thing with Penn State is that they are very good at rallying back if they get behind so no lead will be safe. Jays will need to finish sets quickly when they have opportunities.

PSU relies on their OHs quite a bit but everyone is capable and their setter attacks a lot too. Wisconsin and Pitt were able to take PSU's OHs out of the match and they weren't able to find enough offense elsewhere in those matches. Nebraska tried the same strategy later on and Penn State's OPP and MB had monster matches.

[SeattleJay]

So, you’re saying there’s a chance?

[jaykorver]

So, you’re saying there’s a chance?

The predictive models like Creighton's chances. I think Penn State will be very difficult to beat on the road but Jays can do it if they execute.
Pablo - Creighton 53.1%
Evollve - Creighton 63.5%
Massey - Penn State 62% (would be 51/49 PSU on a neutral court)

[Wingandprayer]

Can we keep Coach Booth here?
She will again be target #1 for large well funded schools who want to take their VB program to the next level. She will be offered LOTS more money to make the move. I know money is not her primary motivation, she is a culture person who is loyal to the Jays, but CU has to be at least somewhat competitive to keep her where she wants to be. How worried are we?

[TrueBlueJay]

Can we keep Coach Booth here?
She will again be target #1 for large well funded schools who want to take their VB program to the next level. She will be offered LOTS more money to make the move. I know money is not her primary motivation, she is a culture person who is loyal to the Jays, but CU has to be at least somewhat competitive to keep her where she wants to be. How worried are we?

Just enjoy the ride - let’s get a Natty!

[JacobPadilla]

Can we keep Coach Booth here?
She will again be target #1 for large well funded schools who want to take their VB program to the next level. She will be offered LOTS more money to make the move. I know money is not her primary motivation, she is a culture person who is loyal to the Jays, but CU has to be at least somewhat competitive to keep her where she wants to be. How worried are we?

[Here'sToMe]

Can we keep Coach Booth here?
She will again be target #1 for large well funded schools who want to take their VB program to the next level. She will be offered LOTS more money to make the move. I know money is not her primary motivation, she is a culture person who is loyal to the Jays, but CU has to be at least somewhat competitive to keep her where she wants to be. How worried are we?

Honestly the only thing that would concern me at this point is an opening at UNL, but Cook has such a large coaching tree at this point one would think they'd bring someone "home" instead of pulling the Connie Yori trick.

Booth has kids in school and signed an extension in the summer (right after Mac, if I remember correctly). She's built the "Gonzaga of women's volleyball" in a state that absolutely punches above its weight in attention to the sport. In all reality, she's done the majority of the "hard work" in making Creighton a national-level program. Why go try to build something at a school where she'd likely be the third or fourth-highest priority?

[jaysfan3]

Can we keep Coach Booth here?
She will again be target #1 for large well funded schools who want to take their VB program to the next level. She will be offered LOTS more money to make the move. I know money is not her primary motivation, she is a culture person who is loyal to the Jays, but CU has to be at least somewhat competitive to keep her where she wants to be. How worried are we?

Honestly the only thing that would concern me at this point is an opening at UNL, but Cook has such a large coaching tree at this point one would think they'd bring someone "home" instead of pulling the Connie Yori trick.

Booth has kids in school and signed an extension in the summer (right after Mac, if I remember correctly). She's built the "Gonzaga of women's volleyball" in a state that absolutely punches above its weight in attention to the sport. In all reality, she's done the majority of the "hard work" in making Creighton a national-level program. Why go try to build something at a school where she'd likely be the third or fourth-highest priority?

I bet Nebraska hires Dani Busboom at Louisville. Ex-husker.