So we’ve got a definite peak in the ebb-and-flow of the volleyball year-to-year schedule coming up. The FIVB World Championships begin on the 30th, and while I’m not sure precisely when NCAA women’s season starts, it’s right around that same time.
It should be easy to tell which one will likely draw more of my attention — worlds. It comes but once every four years, while a spate of mostly-unimportant (there will be some that are) non-conference NCAA matches happens every season. In past seasons, I’ve never quite gotten into NCAA women’s coverage until conference season starts up. It just seems that other than the odd marquee match, it’s mostly pointed mismatches in the early early season. We’ll see how it goes this year, but if it’s a choice between Brazil vs Italy and Penn State vs New Hampshire ….well, it’s not really a choice at all.
That said, I will try to mash out some preview content for both, starting next week. It’s much too late to try the admittedly-ostentatious route I attempted last year of giving each conference their own preview piece. A less in-depth but broader survey is required. I will do a pool-by-pool preview for worlds. There’s four weeks in August and four pools at worlds, so that seems to mean I’ll do four NCAA preview pieces as well. Given that there are 32 conferences, it all adds up perfectly. I’ll shoot for Tuesdays worlds, Thursdays NCAA.
I don’t know how I will wedge in women’s worlds coverage, as it takes place the last two weeks of September and first two weeks of October — right when NCAA conference play will really be heating up. But we’ll worry about that when the time comes. For now, hopefully the upcoming preview pieces will be enjoyable and edifying. And a lovely excuse to write!
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