This weekend is homecoming for Creighton alumni everywhere. The festivities on campus this weekend include matches involving all of Creighton’s major Fall sports. You may have noticed that Creighton’s men’s and women’s soccer teams are doing quite well. But the Bluejays volleyball team is also in the midst of a great stretch. After this weekend, they can separate themselves from the rest of the pack in the Valley standings and continue the push to have an opportunity for an NCAA Tournament berth.
The Bluejays volleyball team has won seven of its last eight matches and sits in sole possession of second place in the conference standings behind Northern Iowa (Creighton’s only Valley loss was to UNI). Right now, the Panthers have a #4 RPI ranking in the nation. Creighton is probably chomping at the bit to have another chance at them in Cedar Falls in a few weeks. However, the focus this weekend is against the third and fourth place teams in the standings, Missouri State and Wichita State.
The Bluejays are on a roll. Boasting a nation-best 6-0 record in true road games this season, Creighton ended last weekend throttling Indiana State in three sets in front of 75 — yes, I mean 75 — fans in Terre Haute. They finished the match hitting a season-best .402, with 39 kills and 4 errors in 87 swings. Creighton has not hit that high of a percentage in a match since 1995.
Allie Oelke, Laurel Sanford, Megan Bober and Julianne Mandolfo have all received MVC honors over the past few weeks and the Valley is starting to be recognized as a power conference. The MVC as a whole is rated sixth in conference RPI ratings and has never finished the season higher than ninth. Creighton owns an RKPI ranking of 49. This weekend’s opponents, Missouri State and Wichita State, rank 27th and 34th, respectively. So, a couple of big wins and the Bluejays will continue to build their profile.
First on Friday night, the Bluejays take on the Missouri State Bears, whose only conference loss is against Northern Iowa as well. The Bears are on the verge of entering the top 25 by receiving votes last week and are currently riding a four-match winning streak. The Bluejays have not had a lot of success historically against Missouri State, as CU is 6-27 against MSU and 3-13 in Omaha. But recently, the Bluejays are 3-2 in the past five matchups. If for some reason you cannot make it down to Sokol Arena, then you can listen to the match against the Bears on 1290 KKAR or listen to the live feed. Make sure you follow the stats as well.
On Saturday night, the Wichita State Shockers will be in town. Their two losses in conference play have come against Northern Iowa and Missouri State. The Bluejays have had some fits with Wichita State and preseason all-Valley pick Mary Elizabeth Hooper in the past, but CU defeated the Shockers while WSU was ranked last season. That match, played at Sokol Arena, gave Creighton volleyball its first ever win over a ranked team. The Jays lead the all-time series 19-15.
If you go to the women’s soccer game at 3:30 p.m. and the men’s soccer game at 6:00 p.m., then you can slip over at halftime of the men’s game to see the volleyball team take on the Shockers. You can redeem your soccer tickets to get into the volleyball game. But if you can’t make it, 1180 KOIL will have the broadcast (as will the online stream). BCSStats will provide great stats on your computer as well as your mobile device.
Also, if you see some average-looking guys handing out magazines at Morrison Stadium and Sokol Arena Saturday night, stop by and say hi. We’ll be giving away the inaugural edition of our White & Blue Review magazine. This issue features stories on Creighton volleyball libero Julianne Mandolfo, women’s basketball head coach Jim Flanery’s experience on a mock NCAA Selection committee exercise, and interviews with soccer coaches Bruce Erickson and Jamie Clark. Plus great photography!
Enjoy the Homecoming festivities and go Jays!