The MPSF, EIVA and MIVA Conference Tournaments should yield some great matches as teams fight it out for one of the coveted spots in the 2010 Final Four. The top-ranked teams in the Coaches Poll are all fighting it out in the MPSF so they are likely to get their usual two spots in the Final Four including the winner of the tournament and one team that will be chosen to take that fourth spot. Here are the match-ups:
MPSF Conference - Stanford Hosts
No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 4 Hawaii
With seven players on the Stanford roster that hail from Hawaii compared to Hawaii's four locals, it'll be a win-win for Hawaiian volleyball. Stanford has the advantage in this match-up. The Cardinal beat UH easily both times they played this season in just three sets. Both matches were at Stanford, as is this semi-final match-up. Those wins were way back in January and both teams have improved since then. But Stanford is playing well and will have that home court advantage, so they have the edge in this match.
No. 2 BYU vs. No. 3 CSUN
This is the fourth time these two teams will meet this season. CSUN has the advantage having beaten BYU in a pre-season match 3-1 and in the last match of the season 3-2 to finish off any chance BYU had to win the conference. The previous night (in the second-to-last macth of the season) BYU beat CSUN in three. BYU will come into this match the higher seed and wanting revenge. The Cougars are confident that they can win the title this year, so they should take this match and head to the finals against to face Stanford for the automatic bid.
EIVA Conference - Penn State Hosts
No. 1 Penn State vs. No. 4 Springfield
Penn State is head-and-shoulders above most of it's competition in the EIVA. They are a virtual lock to win the conference and head to the Final Four barring some sort of disaster. They beat Springfield twice this season, but Springfield almost took a set off the Nittany Lions the first time and actually did win a set the second time they met back in February. That said, they would need a miracle to win this match.
No. 2 Princeton vs. No. 3 George Mason
These two teams met twice in April, with Princeton coming out on top in both matches. They won in five sets in the first match-up and in three sets just two weeks ago. Of these two teams, George Mason is the only one to take a set off of Penn State this season, so they can put some plays together when it counts. I'm going out on a limb here to pick George Mason to win this one. Their quarterfinal win over Rutgers-Newark came after losing to them twice in the regular season. If their hitting stays hot they can do it again against Princeton.
MIVA Conference - Ohio State Hosts
No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Ball State
Ohio State is the favorite to win this conference. Though their advantage is not as pronounced as Penn State's, they shouldn't have too much trouble winning this conference and heading to the Final Four. They've beaten Ball State 3-0 twice this season and this semi-final match-up should follow suit.
No. 2 Loyola-Chicago vs. No. 3 Lewis
These two teams have the best shot at upsetting Ohio State. Loyola-Chicago actually beat Ohio State in five sets back in February the night after Lewis managed to take a set off of them. But Ohio State got revenge just this month, beating both teams in three sets. If either team can muster some playoff fire, they may be able to challenge, but they are not likely to win the battle. Against each other, Loyola-Chicago has the huge advantage of having beaten Lewis 3-0 both times they played this season. Expect them to prevail again.
