Sunday Night Bics and Quicks 12/11/2016

It’s time for some “Bics & Quicks” or a way to deliver some important volleyball items rapidly, or as the names imply, “quickly.” A quick set, also known as a ”Quick” or a “51” or a “one”, is an extremely fast-paced set 1’ to 2 ‘ above and near the net, where the hitter is approaching the setter and is usually in the air before the setter delivers the ball. A “BIC” or back row quick, is a low set in the middle of the court near the ten foot line delivered to a back row player to execute as an offensive attack. The BIC is similar to a “pipe” but is set lower and faster than the pipe to add more surprise to the attack. A quick is usually executed by a middle hitter, but a BIC is often executed by the backrow opposite or a backrow outside hitter. The Bic and the Quick both require exact timing and coordination between setter and hitter and both are deadly offensive weapons.

First Quick. NCAA DII Women’s National Volleyball Championship.

The Golden Bears of Concordia University – St. Paul won their eighth DII Women’s volleyball title Saturday evening (12/10/16) with a convincing 3 – 0 sweep of the University of Alaska — Anchorage Seawolves in the Sanford Paragon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This amazing eighth title in their program history places the Concordia – St. Paul Golden Bears in second place in NCAA history behind the fabled DIII program of Washington University in St. Louis with ten titles.

First Bic. Men’s DI-DII AVCA Pre-season Poll.

The AVCA Men’s DI – DII Coaches Preseason Poll, 12/08/16 (https://www.avca.org/polls/dii-men/12-8-2016.html). AVCA, or the American Volleyball Coaches Association, publishes an outstanding weekly poll for each volleyball division from its member coaches in that division. Thus, DI – DII men’s coaches are the only pollsters voting on the teams in this poll. Here’s a synopsis.

Second Quick. Canadian men’s Volleyball goes on annual hiatus.

Canadian Men’s volleyball is played in a two-half season, the first half beginning in late October and ending in early December while the second half begins in early January and ends in mid-March. During this month long hiatus from early December to mid-January, the Canadian teams rest, recover, and often travel south to engage American college teams in exhibition matches. There is always some great volleyball at these matches as we see the two college systems compete in a more relaxed environment along with the friendly international competition.

Third Quick. NCAA DI Women’s National Volleyball Championship.

The DI Women’s tournament has reached the final four stage and now transitions to Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Nationwide Arena is a large multi-purpose arena with a capacity of 18,500 and serves as the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. And, knowing how “up-close and “personal” hockey arenas can be, I’m certain the nationwide Arena will be a fantastic venue for the volleyball championship. Four teams remain alive in the NCAA DI Women’s National Volleyball Championship: the top seeded Nebraska Huskers, the second seeded Minnesota Golden Gophers, the fourth seeded Texas Longhorns, and the sixth seeded Stanford Cardinal. For great programs, each with a proud volleyball tradition and a desire to add one more championship banner to the rafters. All three of these matches will be televised on ESPN2, beginning Thursday might, December 15.

Second Bic. NAIA Women’s Volleyball Final Poll.

Hastings College won the 2016 NAIA Women’s National Volleyball Championship with a 3-2 (23-25, 15-25, 25-16, 25-22 & 15-6) victory over the Dordt Defenders in the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. The Hastings Broncos came back from a 2-0 deficit to claim the title in their first ever trip to the championship match. And, here’s the NAIA 2016 Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball Coaches’ Postseason Poll from December 7, 2016.

(http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=211345793).

Since all three Quicks and both Bics hit the court for points, we are now leading 5 – 0. It’s time to quit while we’re ahead!  See you tomorrow!

LET’S GROW VOLLEYBALL!