The SpikeNet & Friends Episode 10 PT 2
- May 8
- 3 min read
Episode 10 of SpikeNet & Friends brings back Princeton assistant coach Joe Norton for Bracketology Part 2, where the crew dives even deeper into the NCAA men’s volleyball championship bracket and the potential paths for the top seeds. This time, the focus shifts from Princeton’s journey to the national picture: UCLA, Ball State, Long Beach, Hawai‘i, and how the expanded 12‑team field might actually play out on the court.
UCLA at the top of the bracket
The conversation starts by revisiting the top section of the bracket, where UCLA waits for the winner of UC Irvine vs. Penn State. Even though earlier picks had some leaning toward UC Irvine and others toward Penn State, Joe and the crew agree on one thing: UCLA looks like the scariest team in the tournament right now. They highlight how complete the Bruins are elite setting from Rowan, pins with length, range, and power, and middles athletic enough to score even against two or three blockers.
Joe points out that Rowan isn’t just a good athlete under the new, looser double-contact rules; he’s a true pure setter who can put the ball exactly where it needs to be, which is a major separator at this level. With UCLA’s experience (back‑to‑back titles earlier in his career, a painful loss last season, and a senior setter who has “been there”) and a 29–1 type season behind them, the group sees UCLA as heavy favorites in that quarterfinal, regardless of whether they get UC Irvine or Penn State.
Shoutout to Florida region alum Cam Thorne
In talking about UCLA’s depth, the crew gives a special shoutout to middle blocker Cam Thorne, a Florida Region alum who brings both production and personality. They describe him as vocal, hardworking, and a guy teammates love to play with intense on the court, easygoing off it and note his time in the USA national team pipeline as another piece of his pedigree. For SpikeNet, his presence is another connection between the Florida volleyball community and the biggest stage in college men’s volleyball.
Ball State vs Pepperdine: the toughest pick
The episode then shifts to the bottom part of that side of the bracket, where Ball State awaits the winner of Pepperdine vs. Fort Valley State. The crew assumes Pepperdine advances and then spends time on what might be one of the hardest matchups to call: Ball State vs. Pepperdine.
On one side, you have Ball State with:
Home‑court advantage in Muncie.
A big‑ceiling gym and a fan base that can make the environment challenging for opponents.
A team with firepower and a strong season behind them.
On the other side, Pepperdine brings massive size and real mobility at nearly every position, making them a “tough out” for any team in the tournament. The discussion leans into how that mix of physicality and skill can wear on opponents over the course of a match, and how much the margins serving, ball control, and handling the moment will matter in a neutral statistical matchup like this.
Why this episode hits for volleyball nerds
More than anything, Episode 10 is for the volleyball junkies, the people who pause the broadcast to rewatch a rotation or argue seeding choices with friends. Joe brings a coach’s eye to the matchups, talking about:
Why experience in big moments (like UCLA’s) changes how you prep and how you respond when momentum swings.
How home court, travel, and gym environments can tilt close matches in subtle ways.
Why certain teams are “tough outs” regardless of seed, because of how their size, serving, and style translate across different opponents.
If you enjoyed Part 1 with the overview of the new format, Part 2 is where the bracket really comes to life with picks, scenarios, and a ton of insight into what to look for when the matches actually start.
Watch SpikeNet & Friends Episode 10 with Joe Norton (Bracketology Part 2) to get a smarter lens on how this year’s NCAA men’s volleyball tournament could unfold, and which matchups might quietly decide the whole thing.
Comments