Tag: gvsu

Spartan Invite Preview

*This is the first of three previews for the Spartan Invite.  Previews from Colin O’Brien and Jacob Leski will be published in the near future.

The Michigan State Spartans are off to a great start this season. The Spartan Invite will be yet another opportunity to prove they are one of the best teams in the nation.
The Michigan State Spartans are off to a great start this season. The Spartan Invite will be yet another opportunity to prove they are one of the best teams in the nation.

This Sunday, Michigan State University is set to host the annual Spartan Invite at IM West.  Michigan State along with Grand Valley State, Central Michigan, DePaul, Bowling Green State, and Kent State will take part in a big-time tournament.

As we close in on the end of the fall semester, this tournament will likely determine who the top dog in the NCDA is at the halfway point in the season.  All eyes will be on the matches that take place between MSU, GVSU, and CMU.  Each of these teams has beaten the others at least once so far this fall.  The circle of parity at the top of the league is more severe than in years past, but there is still over half a season left.  If any of these schools has plans of distancing themselves to become the #1 team in the league, this tournament will certainly be a strong stepping stone in that effort.

Bragging rights will be on the line Sunday when MSU, GVSU, CMU, BGSU, DePaul, and Kent face off in the annual Spartan Invite.  Here are my predictions for this weekend’s matches:

Continue reading “Spartan Invite Preview”

Grand Valley Gauntlet Part 3

ALLENDALE – GVSU Fieldhouse, Grand Valley Gauntlet
UK def BGSU 2-1
GVSU def CMU 2-1 OT
CMU def SVSU 2-1
GVSU def MSU 1-0
UK def GV-JV 2-0
MSU def SVSU 2-1 OT
CMU def BGSU 4-1
MSU def BGSU 2-0
GVSU def UK 4-1
SVSU def UK 3-0
BGSU played GV-JV

Continue reading “Grand Valley Gauntlet Part 3”

Gonzalez Rating Exchanges

Since the Rugby World Cup is going on, i’d thought we’d highlight the Gonzalez exchanges for yesterday’s matches. The Gonzalez System uses the same rating exchange system that the International Rugby Board (IRB) uses to determine rankings for its teams. World Cup games are worth double just like our Nationals games are.

First, the initial ratings before the day’s first match:

  • GVSU = 59.202, a historically strong team and top rank at #1.
  • MSU = 51.009, still up there at #5 in Gonzalez Standings.

With home court advantage, GVSU gains 3 rating points to bring them to a hefty rating of 62.202 versus MSU’s initial rating of 51.009.  Continue reading “Gonzalez Rating Exchanges”

Impact at IM West Preview

Three of the premiere teams of the NCDA meet in East Lansing on Sunday for the Impact at IM West. The Spartans host the two schools that met in the championship game last season for what should be three very competitive games of dodgeball. All three teams open the season with championship aspirations, and probably expectations, with the tremendous amount of talent on their rosters.

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Season Preview: Grand Valley State University

Location: Allendale, Mich.

NCDA Region: Michigan

2014-15 Record: 37-1

National Tournament Finish: NCDA Champions

2015-16 Captains: Kevin Bailey-C, Aaron Terenzi-A and Austin Morley-A

Returning Varsity Players: 13-15

Players to Watch: Austin Morley, Kurtis DeYoung, Anthony Incrocci


Overview:  The Three-Time Defending Champs are looking for another title for a record-tying fourth straight championship, but without a couple of their better known players.  Continue reading “Season Preview: Grand Valley State University”

2015 Michigan Dodgeball Cup Recap

The temperature was in the negatives in East Lansing, Michigan on February 14th, but inside IM West, the competition was heated as four of the top teams in the nation squared off in the Michigan Dodgeball Cup.  The 2015 MDC was expect to be a classic, and while only one of the matches was decided by a one point margin, the MDC still was an entertaining tournament. Continue reading “2015 Michigan Dodgeball Cup Recap”

Jacob Leski’s MDC Preview with Predictions

MDC TrophyAt the beginning of each season, every Michigan team has two goals in mind, one is obviously to win Nationals, but the other is to win the Michigan Dodgeball Cup, considered by many to be the most competitive tournament all season long. If you are looking for heated competition all day long, then I highly recommend you attend this tournament on good ole Valentine’s Day.
Continue reading “Jacob Leski’s MDC Preview with Predictions”

Colin O’Brien’s MDC Preview with Prop Bets

MDC Trophy

The Michigan Dodgeball Cup is the premier annual tournament of the Michigan region. Hosted every February by Michigan State, these matches are often previews of the semi-finals and final matches of Nationals. MSU and SVSU have played great matches at each of the last two Nationals, with each winner going on to lose to GVSU in the championship. This year, the MDC is the most competitive and wide open that it has been in my three years in the league. Even with an undefeated Grand Valley State team, each team has the talent and potential to take home the cup.

Continue reading “Colin O’Brien’s MDC Preview with Prop Bets”

2015 Michigan Dodgeball Cup Preview

MDC TrophyOn Feb. 14th, Michigan State University will host the annual Michigan Dodgeball Cup (MDC).  This event has historically been the toughest regular season tournament of the year.  The 2015 version of the MDC has the makings of an absolute classic tournament with #1 Grand Valley State, #2 Central Michigan, #3 Michigan State, and #11 Saginaw Valley State all set to compete.  I don’t remember a year where the top four Michigan region schools were as close competitively as they are this year. Continue reading “2015 Michigan Dodgeball Cup Preview”

Chicago Dodgeball Open Recap

Over the weekend, DePaul University hosted their annual Chicago Dodgeball Open.  This year was a bit different than CDOs in the past thanks in large part to the terrible weather.  A tournament that usually involves five or six teams, only had three teams in attendance.  Central Michigan, Grand Valley State, and host school DePaul competed in a three team round robin.  Wisconsin Platteville could not make the trip due to the bad driving conditions on account of the Blizzard [-Ed., ZM]

The results from the tournament were as follows: GVSU went 2-0, CMU went 1-1, DePaul went 0-2.  Here is my brief recap from this year’s Chicago Dodgeball Open: Continue reading “Chicago Dodgeball Open Recap”