Session 3 has come and gone, and the WGM seedings are now planted, watered, and growing roots down and the little leaves up, just like in our Dixie cup and wet paper towel projects from grade school!  Similarly, we shall see which little seedlings have a safe home environment to flourish in (like top seeds Quincy, Mendon, San Jose & Pekin) and which are about as safe as my last seedling project was in the face of a little sibling who thought love and hugging and lots of hand pressure would help the plant grow into a full tree overnight. Wishful thinking without proper home court protections installed ended the life of a pepper plant before it even thought about budding, and so will the WGM hopes of mid-table powers facing nasty openers be if they come with anything less than their top lines.  We're looking at the likes of #15 Antioch (v Columbia), #8 Alton (v Portland), #11 Cinci (v Starkville), and #9 Denali (v Dallas, who may or may not focus on the conference or T7 this one, because no one can predict what Craig will do in a given week).  Similarly, in conference play SEC #1 Baton Rouge travels to #2 (tied) Nashville in a major table shaker, while Spokane heads to Sheboygan with one guaranteed to fall off first-place pace by session's end. In the PAC 8, San Jose (tied #2) at San Diego (also tied #2) headlines upcoming table-turning match play.  Lots to play for, and no doubt lots of scream-at-the-screen upsets to come as the WGM Knockout Rounds commence and conference pecking order starts to round into full shape!

Quick league recap: There are now no undefeated conference records, and no winless records either!  The last of the unbeatens picked up a conference loss (Carlsbad, Baton Rouge, and Burlington, who dropped both matches).  The last of the totally-beaten picked up their first conference wins as well, with Santa Clara thrashing the Trash Pandas and St. Charles scaring the Artichokes into submission.  In reviewing our streakers, only one team made it through session 3 without a loss, and that's JT & Porkopolis, who now ride a 4-match win streak after starting the season 1-4.  Like most winged things, it's a little slow as the takeoff starts, yet once they're airborne they're hard to outpace or bring down!  That current surge has helped the Big East to be highly competitive along with the BIG 8, as now both conferences have a three-way tie for first (4-2 records) and three teams just behind (3-3)!  Six teams in each conference just one match away from a share of the lead makes for fun play for all involved as every match counts!  By comparison, 5-1 Carlsbad and 5-1 Baton Rouge appear selfish and as advocating for boring, meaningless matches by session 8 or so, hoping to run away with yet another conference trophy for their already-filled cabinets.  Boo to the Bananas!  Opposite-of-Cheers to the Chameleons!  Here at the BUM Report, we celebrate the not-top teams and chaos everywhere!

Noted successes aside as an abberation of our typical tasty tidbits for this titled content, we now turn to our regular dose of TMVL happenings, with the Blowouts of the Week!  This week saw a few high-achieving teams giving their all for the sake of BUM glory.  Making both the Upsets and Blowouts?  We see you, C-Ball!  Blowing out a team and getting blown out, in back-to-back matches?  Loving the effort (and lack thereof), Vick!  Blowouts in back-to-back bashes?  Hurray for Colin!  Three teams coordinating matching 32-pt 3-set sweeps for a three-way third-place tie for Blowouts of the Week!  Three-rah!  Match 8, SEC conference play, T-Town at Music City.  The Dust Devils twirled out a 53 lineup like a pre-K dance team in tutus as wide as the dancers were tall, tying the third-lowest away rating of the season, and lowest of the session by anyone.  The Firefoxes played an 87-rated lineup, and the resulting +34 ratings points power imbalance was our top of the session and #3 on the season-thus-far.  We love the smell of Blowouts before the opening whistle!  With Ride of the (red-furred) Valkyries playing in the background, the Red Pandas made short work of the Category -3 Twisters, keyed by a set 2 final of 11-25 for the home side.  Blowout #3 (tied) complete and well in time for afternoon bamboo biscuits for post-match snacks.

Match 8, BIG 8 play, Arlington (62) @ Ames (84). The Vermilingua sought easier prey more in line with their dietary preferences elsewhere. They're not big on vegetative matter, preferring the things that eat said veggies.  Colin took full advantage, and capped the match with a 12-25 set 3 to hammer in the +32 #3 (tied) blowout.  But were they satisfied there?  No, they were not!  Match 9, and Ames (77) faced off against Carlsbad (53) in the WGM group round 3. Team Hypercolor has made maximum conference effort and minimal WGM effort thus far (one of five 0-3 teams for group play). In this one, Ames was not fooled by the shifting hues across the net, and spiked down the Chameleons to a cool green hue to match the Artichokes' mascot's highlights, topped by a 13-25 set 2 tongue-smashing that left both of the Chameleons' eyes spinning. Back-to-back +32 blowouts for Colin and the Artichokes, tying themselves (and Roy) for the #3 Blowout of the Week, our first "double" of the season!  Congrats, Colin.

Upping the score by one (literally), we also had a tie for #2 this week, a fitting two-way affair! Three third place, two second place, and one first place?  Such fitting symmatry, it must be pure coincidence and not some diabolical sub-program worked in by Max to liven the mood at BUM HQ! Match 7, PAC 8 conference play, Santa Clara (62) @ San Jose (87). It's really not much of a "road match" in this conference rivalry, as the cities adjoin each other and their city centers are about 5 miles apart (~8km).  So even the Diminuative Doggies could trot on over in a reasonable period of time.  Instead, the Pups were on display, sent to their anticipated demise at the claws of the Ten-Legger Terrors.  The Shrimp swam circles around Martyn's Not-Mutts (they are purebred, thank you), with a finishing set 3 at 12-25 to cap off the +33 Upset, tied for #2 on the week!  And then Vick did the BUM Report a solid favo(u)r in the next match!  Match 8, San Jose now headed to the northen (not yet frigid) climes of Denali.  Having feasted in Match 7, the starters were too stuffed to risk air travel, so the backups ventured forth into the northern wilderness.  To be clear, the Livid Lupines weren't playing their best either. The Back of the Pack made some appearances, though it was more than enough for this conference clash. San Jose (55) had no answer for Andy's Alpine Army (75), especially in set 2 which finished 10-25, our lowest-scoring regular set of the weekend.  +33 total, and Andy ties the #2 Blowout of the Week!  Congrats!  Vick then managed to be on both the winning and losing end of a +33 Blowout in his conference games over the weekend, a BUM-tastic achievement for sure!  This match also earns another award, our coveted TOoT award for The Opposite of Trying, as the combined 130 ratings points was the lowest Home/Away rating for the weekend.  Andy gets a blowout while barely trying, so what will happen to us when the Wolves are actually on the hunt?!?  It's a good time to be in a different conference.

And topping our weekend bash-fests, we roll into Columbia, match 7, conference play with the Sanity-Challenged Salad Toppers hosting the Quincy Rabbids.  Al has much respect for Steve (we have multiple posts stating thus).  Steve has much respect for Gentleman Al (see also: prior posts).  What that means for these managers appears to be quite different.  Al, respecting Steve's home garden, sent the Mini Mules to nip at the leaves and vines of their opponent, with a road 63.  Steve, respecting Al's team strength and managerical tenacity, played a home 92.  For inquiring minds, yes, that is a new season high for best home rating.  Such respect for the Rabbids!  Set 1, 15-25. Set 2 was even more lopsided, doubling up the visitors 12-25, before they closed out at 14-25 for a combined +34 points.  Columbia held Quincy to a negative hitting rate for the match (22 kills, 25 errors, on 72 attempts, -.042) and Quincy mustered not-quite-a-double-hooffull of defensive plays, with just 8 digs and 10 total blocks. Though far from the fierce competition Steve hoped for, his post-match comments note that it was "satisfying all the same," as the Round Red Regiment nets our #1 Blowout of the Week! Congrats, Steve!

Taking a page from Steve's "But we scored more points!" department, the venerable James W and the Alton Screaming Eagles pulled off our top Reverse Blowout this week.  Match 7, Big East conference play, as Alton (86) traveled to then-undefeated Burlington (81).  The Bald Birdies dropped the opening set in extra points (24-26) as Burlington defended the home court well in the opener, 20 kills to Alton's 8. The Raging Raptors clawed back into contention with wins in sets 2 & 3, and then fell into some kind of downdraft that dropped them right into the waiting tongues and maws of the BullyFrogs.  Set 4 ended 11-25, just a point off our lowest score of the session, as James apparently went out to start the bus and get the A/C going, anticipating a quick exit. Returning to the gym, he was met with the reality of not just a horrid score, yet a near-perfect hitting set by Aires' Agile Anurans hit an amazing .929 for set 4, 14 attempts, 13 kills, no errors. They kept it close in set 5, yet finally fell to the top-rated Eagles, 15-12 in set 5 and James W takes the road win in 5 sets despite being outscored by 8 points total on the match, our top Reverse Blowout of the week and #2 on the season!

As a random-yet-related stat update, Match 9, Mat-Su (84) v St. Charles (82) in the WGM group match gave us a new #1 for highest-rated neutral match!  This one will stand for several sessions, as our next neutral matches will be the TMVL Cup openers in Match 22.  Bryce dropped the #1 rated neutral court line (tied with San Jose) while Max countered the Meese with an 82 (tied 3rd-best, with Cinci).  What did Bryce get for his efforts?  A 5-set -2 upset loss to the GourdHeads as Max rolled the group to a 3-0 record and the #6 WGM seed! We appreciate the top lines, if only because they give us Upsets of note, to savor the bouquet as a taste of the higher upsets to come next in our column of calculated chaos!

We'll start off with a pair of similar-yet-opposite matches, coming in at just -1 upsets, though notable for reasons you're already guessing!  Match 8, BIG 8 conference play, Columbia (90) at Pekin (89).  Look at those lineup ratings! 90 on the road is our current #1, and 89 at home sits at #3 (tied)!  The combined 179 is our highest-yet of the season!  So we would expect a back-and-forth clash, maybe 5 sets for the glory of it all, yes? And we'd be wrong, of course, as Olmec does what Olmec does best! The Tomatoes got squished by the Legume Legion in the opening two sets, at 18-25, 18-25, and it wasn't really that close for much of either set. A mere 5 blocks for the whole match for Columbia helps tell the tale, as does 5 receiving errors to Pekin's 0. Then, Columbia showed their potential and pushed set 3 out to extra points, finally succumming to the Pod People's inexorible creeping vine invasion at 27-29, and Roger gets the -1 Upset Sweep to tie the conference table toppers while keeping Steve a game back. Congrats, Roger!

And for the same-yet-opposite result, we go to Match 9, WGM play, with the Trash Pandas (62) playing the Pound Puppies (61), as neither Albuquerque or Dallas wanted to win this one.  The results showed, with set 1 going to 26-28, errors aplenty keeping rallies alive.  Set 2 went 24-26.  By the end of set 3, no one really cared about the score except to suffice that the match was done, Dallas had won, and the -1 Upset Sweep was in the books. Not sure the final group standings (1-2 for both teams) helped either, as Dallas goes to Denali and the 'Coons at least get a forest setting at 'SquatchLand. Both Craig and Mike will be underDogs (one literally and one sort-of-but-with-fingers-and-a-fluffy-tail) for their openers, and will need this kind of Olmec Upset Love to have a chance of victory!

On the bigger and badder upset front, we start with Match 8, Big East conference, Burlington (77) at Spokane (72).  After dropping a heartbreaking 5-set match to Alton despite outscoring them at home in match 7, the BullyFrogs now took their still-#1 conference place to Eastern Washington, where the forests are still wild and the Hairy Men still offer clothing-optional match play for those teams that want to enjoy nature more fully!  Jason's Camera Shy Crew were not very gracious hosts, taking the opening set and then making Aires' Anorans score 29 points to win set 2!  Spokane returned the favor in set 3, taking it 28-26, before flexing their home might with a 19-25 set 4 and claiming the 4-set -5 upset, good for #3 on the week! Congrats, Jason!

Looking back now to Match 7, SEC play, Merritt Island at T-Town. The Marauding Manatees were looking to sink some scurvy ships and keep their own less than three sheets to the wind, as both managers looked to improve their conference standings.  Mark's road 77 looked a tad short when compared with C-Ball's home 83, and the opening two sets played out that way, 23-25, 23-25.  And the winds shifted, of course. Set 3 and 4 to the visiting Do-Ragged Dugongs, and set 5 was upon us!  And that was close as well, going to extra points before a final 18th point for the conquering Pirate Party saw the 5-set, -6 Upset, good for #2 on the week, and sadly sealing C-Ball's fate for a second-straight winless session and a now 6-match losing streak.  No doubt, the pending road war against hated Antioch and the home clash against the Kittens will be marked for a quick end to the "L" fortune Olmec has slated for the Windiest of our SEC frenemies.  Congrats to Mark for the #2 Upset, which also totaled 224 total points, good for #2 on the season!

And topping the most upside-down of our tables, Match 8, Big East play, Porkopolis at The Aerie. Olmec's darling JT and the Hovering Ham brought a respectable 82 to Alton, and were met with a home 90 by Dr. White's Whiteheads (note: that's not a new TLC pimple-popping show). A home 90, good for #2 on the season-thus-far! Aaaannnnnd... we know where this is going. Someone plays a top home line against the Hogs? The BUM Report will be there, and this one met our sordid expectations! It was at least close, with Alton taking the opening set 23-25 before dropping sets 2 & 3 to the same tally. The Eagles out-soared Cinci in set 4 to win 20-25, and we have a 5th-set for the viewing pleasure! This one featured a point with 5 digs, and back-and-forth rallies with key points on service errors to kill momentum. Alton fell behind early, tied it back up at 12-12 only to serve it out, got it back on a service error at 13-13, dropped a point on a tool kill to face match point, and then could only watch as Cinci's S Demeritt served his third ace of the match to seal it at 15-13, and the -8 5-set Upset was complete, our Upset of the Week and #2 (tied) Upset of the Season-to-date! Congrats to James and commisserations to James as he has to wonder what else he can do to finally shake their Big East BoogeyPigs!

In the More department, a few matches of note, starting in Match 7, BIG 8 play with the Flanneled Fellsmen traveling to southern scrubland where the Anteaters roam. This match ended at 222 total points, our #3 mark for the season, headlined by a massive 32-30 set 4 won by Portland (tied, 2nd highest of season) that forced a set five that the Axemen won 15-12 to narrowly avoid a -9 upset! Congrats on this twice #2, gentlemen!  Match 9, WGM play, Red Stick v Manitowoc (a town nice enough to offer snowshoe rentals through their rec office, only $20 for 3 days!, per the official city website).  We will spare the early details, and highlight set 5, which was really more of a lowlight for the Igneous Walltoppers. The Bananaramamen held Derek's Decorative Demons to a rock-like 5 points in set 5, our lowest-scoring mark of the season thus far. No doubt Mike's team will need that kind of defense as they face down Starkville and Nashville in SEC play this coming session, before the nightcap in the WGM against Max "It's Tourney Time!" Sellers. Congrats on this set 5 at least, Senator Mike!

And wrapping up with some "whom shall I fear" notes for your match-planning pleasures! Top away lines so far: 90, Columbia. 89, Pekin & N'Orleans. Top home lines: 92, Columbia. 90, Alton & Portland. 89, Pekin, Starkville & Mat-Su. That's a lot of teams within striking distance of each other, and highlighting home court advantage for the upcoming WGM clashes!  Best of fortunes to all, and happy Olmec'ing!