The Conference of Complete Change or the one that stays EXACTLY the Same...The ACC

Since the Final Four ended last season in Louisville, it seems like everyone around volleyball has been saying how the ACC will be hit by the loss of more overall stars and senior talent than the ACC.  Total roster turnover, famous coaches moving on, big transfers in and out, so much change is going to take place in the conference that had two teams in the Top 5 and 3 in the Top 6 most of last season that no one would be able to even recognize it.

But, now all reports come out from over the Summer and the release of the Preseason Conference and National Polls, and you have to wonder, "Has anything really changed at all because much of what college volleyball is talking about with ACC sounds the same as it did in December."

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Pitt is #1:

The Panthers, who were thought dead to the volleyball world after December.  Well, maybe that was wishful thinking, because the Panthers look anything but dead with a Preseason #3 in the country and #1 in the ACC polls

And where did all the tough guys go who were predicting the end to the Panthers' dominance back in December?  They weren't coaches, or they changed their minds in a hurry.  I suppose that is what happens when you have the National Player of the Year returning, a multi-year veteran in the middle, and a budding star at the pin.  Did they lose pieces, obviously, but who didn't now you get to truly see the "PROGRAM" part of Pitt come out and the development.  Stars weren't stars until they were given their first starts we forget that.  Are they the dominant squad of a year ago, of course not (No one in volleyball is that team), but plenty of people think they still have a leg up on the conference, and that seems like old times.

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Louisville is #2:

Ranked just behind Pitt in the National and ACC, does that sound familiar?  The pieces are different at the Ville in the lineup and the bench, but the talent level is high, and so are the expectations.  Dan Meske moving down a seat will spice things up, and the Cards lost some key pieces, but like Pitt, it's time to test "the program" depth now.  What happens when you lose All-Americans? Do you take another step and build on their legacy, or do you fall back for two years and rebuild?  I'll tell you that there is no thought in the Commonwealth about rebuilding; actually, there is no thought about finishing second in the conference. This is a confident program with talented players on the way in and waiting for their shot.

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Stanford is #3:

Now, this is the program where I have questions.  ACC #3 is OK (though the next squad has issues with that), but nationally, it's #6; that might have been due to its reputation.  This class is talented (it was the first one I truly covered when we went national), but Stanford lost a lot from last year, and the inability to NOT bring in transfers will hurt the Cardinal this season, I believe.  So I think #6 is too high, depending on how many of the Freshmen have to play early, simply because it is tough to play multiple Freshmen early vs. a top schedule and be successful (aka Kentucky every season) now I do recall hearing that Stanford's travel schedule is much, much less rediculous than last year and that did take toll on them so that should play a factor during conference play.  I just see the Cardinal being a bit lower nationally and in a dogfight with SMU for #3.

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SMU is #4:

This is where they ended up, and I think this season, they have fewer sneak attacks on anyone.  No more "Overlooking SMU" because the team is excited about the excellent BBQ dinner after.  Do the volleyball teams eat at Terry Black's when you are in Dallas? I digress. This is the program that is here to stay and is hungry for national respect.  They will win ugly, pretty, anyway they can They want to win right now, and that is led by a driven young coach.  I get these feelings when I'm around places, and I felt that this Summer that Coach Sam just isn't ok being talked about as the "neat little program that won a couple of upset matches."  There is talent on this roster, and yes, they have many new pieces, as everyone does, but they are talented new pieces with something to prove. I think SMU has a little something to prove after the way last season ended.  If I'm making a pick, this is my pick to be the riser in the conference.  Now, a #10 preseason national ranking is something I don't think they can complain about at all.  That is generous considering many times coaches vote off last season's finish and program history I believe that is very accurate.

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Now I'm going to stop with the Top 4 because one thing that I have said, and I hope to goodness I have to eat my words big-time, is that one of the downfalls with the ACC is simply the lack of depth in the conference, and again, that is something that appears to be the same.  I did like what a couple of schools like Clemson and Boston College did with their 2027 recruiting classes, and I know this is supposed to be The Class of Freshman for Duke so let's see if they translate to on-court success like they have social media success, but whether it is Administrations simply backing volleyball and supply funds there has to be a bump in the middle of the conference to match the other conferences.

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**Couple of other notes I can see with the changes to the ACC:

1. Anyone who follows my content knows that I'm a huge fan and proponent of intense rivalries, which increase the visibility and spotlight on the sport, thereby growing viewership and revenue.  I think intense rivalries are great for college sports, and I believe college volleyball has maybe three rivalries, with one occurring by chance.  That being said, I now feel that, due to a couple of changes, the ACC is on the verge of some potentially great rivalries.

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Pitt vs. Louisville: But more so Fisher vs. Meske, come on people.  First of all let's get the match off of ESPN8 or whatever channel it was on last year so 14 people watched it (Yeah because everytime NC v Duke mens hoops game when it's #1 v #2 is on they play it on the ACC Network don't they lol, programmers let's have one once of common sense that was dumb).  Start the press conferences about 5 days out and ask some fundamental questions of each HC, plant a couple of comments, those guys will take the bait, and it's on.  Those two teams will be jawing in the pregame (Bre Kelly and Nelly), friendly, but still.  Throw in a wisecrack between CC McGraw and Kellen Petrone, and that game is L+N; everyone is about 2 feet apart.  All those years of battles and last year come to the surface.  We're now selling T-shirts, people!

SMU vs Either Big Dog:  I don't know why, because I've only talked to her a couple of times, but Coach Sam strikes me as that firecracker who will go off at anytime to defend her program and help it grow (kind of like me with this silly little website) she believes they are the #1 program in America every single day and if you don't think so, get out of her way because you are wasting her time.  So, Pitt and Louisville are just roadblocks to SMU's spot at the top of the ACC, so I think it would be easy to get a spicy rivalry going quickly for SMU.

*I actually think Coach Sam could be a great catalyst to stir up a few great rivalries right now with the MO of her Mustangs.  As I mentioned, Pitt and Louisville would make for great little ACC battles.  Then she could stir something up in-state with A+M or dare we say the 'Horns?  Go after them why not, you are the little guy nothing to lose.

I know, I know, volleyball doesn't do that, but it might get the conference to put #1 v. #2 matches on a network that recruits in the middle of the country could watch, just a thought.  Regardless, here is to another year of ACC Volleyball and hopefully more upsets from more teams, to great athletes battling out on the court, and to fanbases growing larger and more passionate for your programs.  #MakeItHurtALittleBit (as a lifelong Minnesota fan, I was taught you are not a real fan if it doesn't hurt:) #HappyVolleyballACC