The NCAA's back-to-back scheduling format deflates the impact of big upsets by forcing immediate rematches, preventing storylines from developing and limiting media coverage opportunities.

• The weekend featured multiple top-5 upsets including CSUN over Hawaii, UC San Diego over UC Irvine, and GCU over UCLA
• Back-to-back scheduling forces teams to play the same opponent twice in consecutive days, eliminating the buildup between matchups
• The upcoming 18-man roster cap will significantly impact recruitment strategies and player movement between programs
• International players dominate many starting lineups in NCAA men's volleyball, raising questions about American player development
• American volleyball development lags behind European counterparts that use academy systems with more frequent, specialized training
• Hawaii vs. Long Beach State this weekend is the most anticipated matchup of the regular season with major NCAA tournament implications
• The coaches predict Long Beach will likely win at least one match, with Nikolov expected to excel in the high-pressure environment

Join us for a potential live stream "Manning Cast" style commentary during the Hawaii vs. Long Beach matches this weekend!