STARKVILLE — Jenny Hazelwood has assembled a challenging 2012 schedule for one reason: RPI.
In college volleyball, the Ratings Percentage Index is a crucial element used to rank schools and to determine at-large selections for the NCAA tournament. Hazelwood, who was a setter at MSU, is determined to make sure the program continues to improve.
MSU, which is coming off an injury-riddled 12-17 season in 2011, will attempt to stay on course despite facing additional challenges. Not only will MSU have to face new Southeastern Conference members Texas A&M University and the University of Missouri, which both advanced to the NCAA tournament in 2011, it also will play in a tournament hosted by one of the nation’s top-ranked programs. MSU will be one of four teams to participate in a round-robin event at the University of Southern California. The Trojans have three national championships (the latest in 2003) and have made the NCAA tournament every year since 1995.
“We can now get the acceptable win total and the RPI ranking the committee is looking for when they’re filling out the final at-large candidates,” Hazelwood said.
Northern Iowa University, which also advanced to the NCAA tournament, will join MSU at the USC tournament. NIU went 33-2 last season and lost to the University of Florida in the second round of the NCAA tournament. MSU will play Northern Iowa and USC on Sept. 1 in Los Angeles in its second tournament of the season.
“The RPI can be manipulated, and everybody knows you can’t control what your league will improve,” Hazelwood said. “You really do the best you can to evaluate and guess at who is rebuilding but still has recognition.”
While having one player from the state of California and more coming in this season and in 2013, Hazelwood feels a trip out west will help sell the program and will give some of her players a chance to play in front of family and friends.
“In 2013, a quarter of our roster is going to be from California, so it’s always going to be good from a recruiting standpoint,” Hazelwood said. “One of our major goals is to build our recruiting reputation out there, and one of the ways to do that is proving there’s times mom and dad can get in the car and see their daughter play.”
MSU will return just one senior and three starters this season. Hazelwood said the Bulldogs will have to avoid injuries that have claimed a key member of the starting lineup in the opening tournament in each of the past two seasons.
“Are the freshmen and sophomores we have now much further along than I got here coming from Austin Peay? Absolutely,” Hazelwood said. “What everybody should realize is they’re going up against solid lineups filled with junior and senior players.”
MSU’s 13-player roster includes 10 student-athletes classified as freshmen or sophomores. The SEC’s new 13-team scheduling format has MSU playing two matches against the University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, Texas A&M, and the University of Kentucky.
MSU will open its 38th season Aug. 24-25 with the MSU Maroon Classic at the Newell-Grissom Building. Jackson State University, Kennesaw State University, and the University of Louisiana-Monroe will round out the field. JSU is among seven opponents that played in the 2011 NCAA tournament.
“We still feel like we can get confidence and success in the early part of our schedule,” Hazelwood said. “A lot of our girls don’t think we’re good because we have a SEC patch on our jersey, and that’s important. My team knows you have to earn it and go play well.”
MSU also will play in a tournament in the 11th annual Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Classic on Sept. 7-8 in New Orleans against the University of Pittsburgh, Sam Houston State, and host Tulane University. It will play host to Auburn University at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 in its SEC opener.
MSU will begin fall practice Aug. 8. Players will report Aug. 7.
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