Stanford in Firm Control of the Pac-12 Title Race (November 1)

Just eight matches remain for every team in the Pac-12 slate as we enter the final month of the regular season and one team – Stanford – has risen firmly above the rest. The Cardinal still have yet to lose in Pac-12 action while every other team in the conference has four losses as the other schools have feasted on each other and created carnage with so many ranked teams in the Pac-12.

Of course, while the weight of Stanford dominating one of the two best conferences gives them a great pitch at hosting through the Elite Eight, other schools littered throughout the conference table have plenty to play for as well. The battle for second in the conference is tight and even if they can’t reach up to Stanford’s mark, with the luster of the Pac-12 there should be plenty of west coast teams hosting in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

In total, eight teams should make the NCAA Tournament from the conference (all of which could get hot to finish the year and earn a top 16 seed, as likely four to six will do so). Beyond that, Washington State sits on the bubble and could make it nine.

More analysis after the Pac-12 table:

Pac-12 Volleyball Standings (As of November 1, 2017):

Conference Title or Bust: Stanford (12-0 Conference Record)

At this point with a four-match lead over three schools and more over others, it would be a bit of a disappointment if the defending National Champions didn’t win the conference. Obviously it wouldn’t be the end of the world, and the team’s goals of repeating as NCAA Tournament champions would still be there, but at this point the expectation should be a conference crown.

Beyond the celebration and fun of winning the conference as well as its importance toward hosting the first four rounds of the NCAA Tournament, winning the Pac-12 would end Washington’s reign as two-time conference champion (although in 2015 they were a co-champion).

Remaining schedule:

• vs. Oregon State (6-6)
• vs. Oregon (7-5)
• at Washington (8-4)
• at Washington State (3-9)
• vs. USC (8-4)
• vs. UCLA (6-6)
• vs. Utah (8-4)
• at California (4-8)

The Defending Champion: Washington (8-4 Conference Record)

Washington had some slip-ups in the midst of their conference season three of five matches recently. Part of that was due to an injury to setter Bailey Tanner, as with her back they heavily challenged Stanford but just fell in five sets. They get a chance for redemption next week though, as they would need to win out from here and hope for plenty of help at the top to have a chance at another conference crown. Beyond that, they still have the fight for second and if they won out (even if it didn’t net a Pac-12 title) would have an outside shot at hosting through the Elite Eight.

Remaining schedule:

• at Colorado (6-6)
• at Utah (8-4)
• vs. Stanford (12-0)
• vs. California (4-8)
• at Oregon State (6-6)
• at Oregon (7-5)
• vs. Arizona (3-9)
• vs. Arizona State (0-12)

Trying to Get Back on Track: Utah (8-4 Conference Record)

The Utes had an 8-1 start to conference play, but have since lost three straight matches. For a moment, it looked like they were seriously going to push Stanford at the top, but now they are looking to just turn things around and sprint toward the regular season finish line. They have schools in front of them like USC and Washington in the schedule to separate themselves above the 8-4 pack, but it will be a challenging schedule down the stretch. Most importantly, they will just look to get out of this rut and earn a hosting spot in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

Remaining schedule:

• vs. Washington State (3-9)
• vs. Washington (8-4)
• at USC (8-4)
• at UCLA (6-6)
• vs. Arizona State (0-12)
• vs. Arizona (2-10)
• at Stanford (12-0)
• at Colorado (6-6)

The Giant Killer With Some Regrettable Losses: USC (8-4 Conference Record)

USC has taken down some top teams so far with wins at Creighton, over Michigan, at UCLA, vs. Washington and at Utah. However, they also have fallen to some lesser teams where they just haven’t been as ready with defeats at the hands of Arizona and Maryland. Of course, only the Arizona match matters to the Pac-12 standings, but had they been able to defeat a current 2-10 Pac-12 team, they’d be sitting alone for second in the conference. They get a chance for revenge this week though as the remaining schedule isn’t too bad for USC, with the two Arizona schools and five home matches to three roadies with one of those being against a 4-8 California bunch.

Remaining schedule:

• vs. Arizona State (0-12)
• vs. Arizona (2-10)
• vs. Utah (8-4)
• vs. Colorado (6-6)
• at Stanford (12-0)
• at California (4-8)
• at Oregon (7-5)
• vs. UCLA (6-6)

Teams on the Heels of the Pac-12’s Top Four: Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA

These teams are all grouped together with conference marks of 6-6 or 7-5, as they are constantly shuffling around in the Pac-12 table. If any of them can hit a hot streak and find some footing – as Colorado and Oregon State have of late – they could work their way into the top four conversation and at the very least make the top five.

Of this group, all are either ranked or on the cusp in the latest VolleyMob Top 25 Power Rankings, so if they did go on a run it could result in hosting the first couple of NCAA Tournament rounds. With so many relatively even teams, it may be hard to pull away, but that’s exactly what these talented bunch of schools will be trying to do.

Bubbly: Washington State (3-9 Conference Record)

The Cougars are maybe the lone bubble team in the Pac-12 as the nine in front of them consists of eight likely tournament teams and Cal, a school ranked in the 80’s of the RPI. The Cougars slot in the 40’s of that RPI poll, so they are right there but they need to start garnering some victories. It won’t be easy either with five of eight matches on the road, but if they can down Cal and Arizona State and steal two or three other matches they should be golden as the Pac-12 looks for nine schools to make the NCAA Tournament.

Remaining schedule:

• at Colorado (6-6)
• at Utah (8-4)
• vs. California (4-8)
• vs. Stanford (12-0)
• at Oregon (7-5)
• at Oregon State (6-6)
• vs. Arizona State (0-12)
• at Washington (8-4)