My Quick Take On The #D2VBShowcase

The inaugural D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase, now in our rearview mirror, can be classified a resounding success. By all appearances, the six CCAA host sites did a tremendous job staging this three-conference extravaganza -- a one-of-kind event that brought together all 38 Division II teams in the region for 76 non-conference matches in less than 72 hours.

When I write "one-of-a-kind" I'm going out on the skinny branch. While I could be mistaken, I find it hard to believe there could be another regular season event in DII that has featured every institution in a region AND equaled or exceeded the number of 38 participating teams. If wrong, I'm happy to be corrected -- because regional events on this type of scale epitomize the competitive philosophy of DII.

Student-athletes were the real winners here.

In volleyball, a compressed calendar allots just two weekend opportunities for in-region non-conference competition, at least out West. By joining forces and making the Showcase a reality, the GNAC, PacWest and CCAA served each of their members well by providing a structured format and an all-inclusive event. It ultimately will yield more meaningful data when the time comes to select the five at-large teams from our region to the NCAA tournament field.

But this was more than just a hearty setup for future regional ranking deliberations. The Showcase was also a lot of fun.