Any news on WVB?

[levance2]

They've posted to Twitter and Instagram about practices and everything. I think they've been on campus several weeks now. Under normal circumstances, they'd probably be ready for an exhibition match in a week or so, but they never even released a 2020 schedule.

I'm kind of torn on VB compared to FB or BB. Pitt has a talented team, but probably less elite than last year. Lund has already said that she'd come back if this season is dissolved, and I'd suspect Ndee would also because she is trying to go to med school eventually. Pitt has some weird holes (libero) and their setter situation with SO Akeo vs RS SR Levers seems complicated.

If Pitt can hang on to their core, get another year of practice and development in, and potentially recruit some other pieces, they could be a lot better off with this season not happening.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

The ACC's plan, as they announced when they announced the revised football schedule, is that Olympic sports can't start until the weekend after Labor Day (I think the 10th is the first date). They will play 10 conference games, which is the NCAA minimum. Schools are allowed to schedule non-conference games, but the opponents have to agree to meet the ACC's protocols. Which means that between that and how many schools are not playing this fall, there will be very few non-conference games. Assuming they play at all.

 

[levance2]

They will play 10 conference games, which is the NCAA minimum. Schools are allowed to schedule non-conference games

It's kind of a weird situation for Pitt that playing an ACC-only schedule is pretty weak, but if the P12 and B1G are both sitting out, you'd have to imagine Pitt is almost automatically a Final Four contender.

It just seems so unfair to me that most leagues are dragging their feet about all this while the athletes are practicing and training.

 

[pittchagg]

It's kind of a weird situation for Pitt that playing an ACC-only schedule is pretty weak, but if the P12 and B1G are both sitting out, you'd have to imagine Pitt is almost automatically a Final Four contender.

It just seems so unfair to me that most leagues are dragging their feet about all this while the athletes are practicing and training.

Didn’t the NCAA cancel fall championships? The Final Four this year seems like more of a theoretical exercise.

 

[ThePanthers]

Didn’t the NCAA cancel fall championships? The Final Four this year seems like more of a theoretical exercise.

This. Unless something changes there are no ncaa national championship this year. Pitt would 9nly be playing for the acc championship

 

[CrazyPaco]

This. Unless something changes there are no ncaa national championship this year. Pitt would 9nly be playing for the acc championship

If I were the conferences still playing, I'd put together my own national championships for these fall sports (volleyball, men's and women's soccer, XC, and field hockey) and shop it around to networks as a package. Host scaled down tourneys (say 8-16 teams), all on on-campus sites run by the host schools to cut expenses, cut frills. With the lack of new programing, you might get enough to cover the expenses of putting these on. Or maybe you wouldn't, but I'd guess some programs would want to compete even if, say, they are paying their own travel expenses or some entry fees. Point being, like FBS football, or the AIAW championships that preceded it, one doesn't need the NCAA to determine a "national champion."

Or like football for most of its history, the team ending the season at #1 in the polls is the de facto national champ.

 

[levance2]

Didn’t the NCAA cancel fall championships? The Final Four this year seems like more of a theoretical exercise.

Yes, apparently that is the case. They also had this, however:

"Emmert also said the NCAA is looking into holding fall sports championships in the winter or spring."

At this point, if there are no championships, I don't see why Pitt and the ACC would even bother trying to move forward with Olympic sports. Maybe they cite some moral obligation to let the kids play soccer, but it certainly is not worth wasting eligibility of our WVB team.

 

[CrazyPaco]

Yes, apparently that is the case. They also had this, however:

"Emmert also said the NCAA is looking into holding fall sports championships in the winter or spring."

At this point, if there are no championships, I don't see why Pitt and the ACC would even bother trying to move forward with Olympic sports. Maybe they cite some moral obligation to let the kids play soccer, but it certainly is not worth wasting eligibility of our WVB team.

The NCAA just passed an extra year of eligibility for all fall sports athletes. No reason not to play now, if it is safe to do so. Plus, they are still working on a championship for fall sports in the spring.