The Sett, NCAA Round 2: Weber State

“Last” Year In Wildcats Volleyball

Weber State, which is geographically located somewhere in the United States of America, was a medium-sized fish in a smaller pond. They only played two major schools, beating fellow purple Wildcats Kansas State after being swept by BYU. No help on their location there. They started 2-4 in Big Sky play before going on a 11-1 tear to finish in the upper half of their western coast conference. Ogden! Where is Ogden! They have home games in a city I’ve never heard of, but went on the road in the NIVC, beating Wyoming in Laramie before losing to host Tulsa in five sets to end their season.

2021 Wildcats Volleyball

UTAH! They’re in Utah and this Ogden, Utah-based volleyball squad tore up the Big Sky, going 15-1 in conference play and taking the Big Sky Volleyball tournament title from Greeley, Colo. back to Ogden, Utah, which is, again, where Weber State University is located.

Front Court

We absolutely are starting with Ogden’s own Sam Schiess. Middle blocker Schiess does exactly what you’re hoping out of the mid - great hitting percentage, low errors, gets at least a block a set. The problem that she and her fellow mids Emma Magnum and Caroline Broadhead have is that they are volleyball-short.

Listen, I’m 6-foot online and in real life, and I’m barely “tall.” But I write about 6-foot-8 Dana Rettke, 6-foot-4 Danielle Hart, 6-foot-3 Grace Loberg, and 6-foot Sydney Hilley. I’m not trying to hit over them. I’m not trying to block with the overhead arena lights blinding me. Weber State’s mids are the only players on the roster taller than me. That’s not an easy fix.

Kill leader is Big Sky MVP Rylin Adams, which is wild for reasons we’ll talk about in one sentence.

Back Court

The two players with the most digs for Weber State are outside hitters Makayla Sorensen and Dani Nay (18 kills, 14 digs in the first round win vs. Bowling Green State), and third is outside hitter/libero Rylin Adams. Big Sky volleyball is Calvinball.

The Wildcats do ace frequently, 1.85 times a set, a touch better than Wisconsin’s Big Ten-leading 1.75.

Game Info

Elsewhere Around the Conference (all times CT)

In the 11 a.m. shift, Ohio State plays Missouri. 2:30 p.m. sees Nebraska against Texas State (who just beat Baylor!) and Purdue plays High Point. Minnesota tips off at 6 p.m. against the Rambling Wreck of Georgia Tech. Finally, Penn State’s in the night slot against NC A&T, who advanced after unexpectedly sweeping BYE in the round of 48.

Congrats to all these teams for advancing!