This may finally be the year where the MIVA has gained parity with-- or even surpassed-- the vaunted MPSF, the West Coast conference that has always dominated men's volleyball.

Besides having the #1 and #2 teams as of last week, Ohio State, IPFW, and Ball State are very solid, earning appearances in the rankings despite the traditional power (and ranking voting bloc) of the MPSF teams. On Friday, Ohio State beat Lewis, who had just beaten Loyola to end their 40-match win streak. Then Loyola beats Ohio State 3-0 in Columbus the next night. Yesterday, Lindenwood-- one of the lower MIVA teams-- went out west and beat the MPSF's Cal Baptist, one of that conference's lesser teams. Grand Canyon, picked for 6th in the MIVA preseason poll, nearly knocked off USC in five games at home earlier in the season.

Penn State, the top EIVA team, just went on a West Coast swing where they beat three MPSF teams without losing a set; they're now 3-2 against the MPSF, but 0-7 against the MIVA. Loyola and Lewis are a combined 4-1 against MPSF teams, all on road or neutral courts, including a sweep road win against UC Irvine.

The numbers don't lie-- the MIVA has a really good case for being the best overall conference in men's volleyball, even despite the gap in history and resources. The perception just hasn't caught up with the hard numbers yet.