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There are the conference standings, and than there are the conference power rankings to help show what teams are on the rise or fading.
Off the Block special contributor Jonathan Bates released his latest MPSF Power Rankings, a new weekly that will appear on Off the Block each week during the rest of the regular season.
Bates has covered the MPSF for Off the Block during the last two seasons.This power ranking is the solely the views of Bates. Follow Bates on Twitter at @mpsf_bias.
MPSF POWER RANKING – Week 12
1. Hawai’i
Change from last week: No change
I was tempted to move UC Irvine up here after Hawai’i needed five sets to beat UCLA on Monday, but I will keep the Rainbows Warriors here for now.
2. UC Irvine
Change from last week: No change
Beating BYU, even though the Cougars have leveled off, in Provo, Utah in back-to-back four-game matches is quite impressive.
3. Pepperdine
Change from last week: No change
Needed five games to beat a much improved CSUN squad. It will have a chance to exact revenge versus USC for one of their worst performances this year.
4. USC
Change from last week: +6
What’s with five games and USC this season? They are 7-2 in five-game matches this year. They also have the reigning MPSF Player of the Week – Andy Benesh. Not sold on USC and there is a clear difference between the top three teams in the conference and everyone else.
5. CSUN
Change from last week: +4
The Matadors are healthy and that is showing on the court. They have won four of their last five and their only loss was in five games to the Waves. Maybe they have been inspired by watching some video filmed at the Matadome?
6. BYU
Change from last week: -2
BYU lost to a team that is ranked ahead of them and has a better record than them, but its home mystique is no more. The loss versus UC Irvine on Friday snapped a 36-match winning streak at home.
7. UC Santa Barbara
Change from last week: -2
Dropping the Gauchos two spots for basically losing to the Trojans in five games is kind of harsh, but that is more of product how well CSUN and USC have been playing recently.
8. Long Beach State
Change from last week: -2
The 49ers are here by virtue of their sweep against Stanford.
9. Stanford
Change from last week: -1
I jumped Stanford over UCLA even though it lost both matches to CSUN and Long Beach State because of how poorly UCLA has been playing of late.
10. UCLA
Change from last week: -3
The Bruins have lost five of their last six match. I have to wonder how UCLA would have fared against USC and in its first match versus Hawai’i if Hagen Smith was healthy.
11. Cal Baptist
Change from last week: No change
They might end the season on a nine-match losing streak.
12. UC San Diego
Change from last week: No change
It did take a set from Hawai’i.