Deeper look at men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament selection criteria

USC is in third place in the MPSF, but a deeper look into the NCAA Tournament selection committee criteria shows the Trojans faring more favorably than other teams in contention for the at-large bid.

With less than one month until Selection Sunday, the race for the lone at-large bid and seeding for the NCAA Tournament remains tight among the nation’s top teams. In addition, the Trojans’ nation-best 13-match winning streak and several upsets last week has resulted in that gap continuing to narrow.

Below is the entry from the 2012 NCAA men’s volleyball championship handbook on how the three-person volleyball selection committee determines the at-large team and seeding for the NCAA Tournament.

Automatic qualifiers will be determined by a method selected by each conference office. The remaining at-large team will be selected using the following criteria (in no
priority order):
– Won-lost results;
– Head-to-head competition;
– Results versus non-conference opponents;
– Home and away results;
– Results against common opponents;
– Results against teams already qualified and other teams under consideration; and
– Eligibility and availability of student-athletes for NCAA championships.

The selection committee does not consider match results against NAIA teams, such as Cardinal Stritch and Hope International. Only matches against NCAA teams factors into the criteria.

Some selection committees in the past have placed a greater emphasis on a certain categories. For instance, the 2010 committee said they placed a greater emphasis on head-to-head results and a team’s record against other teams being considered. However, there is no requirement that categories be weighed differently.

No team is a lock at this point in the season and everyone from the lone at-large and to tournament seeding is still undecided.

Here is how UCLA, UC Irvine, BYU, Stanford and USC match up against each other using the selection committee criteria and giving equal weight to each category. Also included is how the two leading at-large front-runners, UC Irvine and UCLA, match up against Lewis and Penn State for NCAA Tournament seeding possibilities.

[Editor’s note: Teams projected to qualify or be under consideration are UCLA, UC Irvine, BYU, Stanford, USC, Penn State, Lewis and Ohio State. The amount of teams under consideration will continue to decrease as it gets closer to Selection Sunday on April 29.]

At-large bid (UCLA vs. UC Irvine)
Won-lost results: ULCA 20-5; UC Irvine 19-4. Edge: UC Irvine
Head-to-head competition: UC Irvine won season series 2-1. Edge: UC Irvine
Non-conference record: UCLA 6-1; UC Irvine 4-0. Edge: UC Irvine
Home record: UCLA 8-2; UC Irvine 8-4. Edge: UCLA
Road record: UCLA 8-2; UC Irvine 8-0. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 16-3; UC Irvine 17-3. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 5-3; UC Irvine 5-4. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UC Irvine

At-large bid (UCLA vs. BYU)
Won-lost results: UCLA 20-5; BYU 20-5. Edge: Push
Head-to-head competition: Have not played each other. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UCLA 6-1; BYU 4-1. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 8-2; BYU 11-3. Edge: UCLA
Road record: UCLA 8-2; BYU 8-1. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 17-5; BYU 20-5. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 5-3; BYU 4-3. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UCLA

At-large bid (UCLA vs. USC)
Won-lost results: UCLA 20-5; USC 17-4. Edge: USC
Head-to-head competition: Both teams split their two-match series Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UCLA 6-1; USC 3-0. Edge: USC
Home record: UCLA 8-2; USC 10-1. Edge: USC
Road record: UCLA 8-2; USC 7-3. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 16-5; USC 15-3. Edge: USC
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 5-3; USC 4-4. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: USC

At-large bid (UCLA vs. Stanford)
Won-lost results: UCLA 20-5; Stanford 15-6. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: UCLA defeated Stanford. Edge: UCLA
Non-conference record: UCLA 6-1; Stanford 3-1. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 8-2; Stanford 5-3. Edge: UCLA
Road record: UCLA 8-2; Stanford 10-2. Edge: Stanford
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 17-5; Stanford 13-4. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 5-3; Stanford 4-5. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UCLA

At-large bid (UC Irvine vs. BYU)
Won-lost results: UC Irvine 19-4; BYU 20-5. Edge: UC Irvine
Head-to-head competition: BYU won season series 2-1. Edge: BYU
Non-conference record: UC Irvine 4-0; BYU 4-1. Edge: UC Irvine
Home record: UC Irvine 8-4; BYU 11-3. Edge: BYU
Road record: UC Irvine 8-0; BYU 8-1. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: UC Irvine 18-2; BYU 17-4. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Irvine 5-4; BYU 4-3. Edge: BYU
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UC Irvine

At-large bid (UC Irvine vs. USC)
Won-lost results: UC Irvine 19-4; USC 17-4. Edge: UC Irvine
Head-to-head competition: UC Irvine defeated USC. Edge: UC Irvine
Non-conference record: UC Irvine 4-0; USC 3-0. Edge: UC Irvine
Home record: UC Irvine 7-3; USC 10-1. Edge: USC
Road record: UC Irvine 9-1; USC 7-3. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: UC Irvine 18-4; USC 15-3. Edge: USC
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Irvine 5-4; USC 4-4. Edge: UC Irvine
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UC Irvine

At-large bid (UC Irvine vs. Stanford)
Won-lost results: UC Irvine 19-4; Stanford 15-6. Edge: UC Irvine
Head-to-head competition: Stanford defeated UC Irvine. Edge: Stanford
Non-conference record: UC Irvine 4-0; Stanford 3-1. Edge: UC Irvine
Home record: UC Irvine 8-4; Stanford 5-3. Edge: Stanford
Road record: UC Irvine 8-0; Stanford 10-2. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: UC Irvine 18-3; Stanford 11-5. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Irvine 5-4; Stanford 4-5. Edge: UC Irvine
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UC Irvine

At-large bid (BYU vs. USC)
Won-lost results: BYU 20-5; USC 17-4. Edge: USC
Head-to-head competition: BYU defeated USC twice. Edge: BYU
Non-conference record: BYU 4-1; USC 3-0. Edge: USC
Home record: BYU 11-3; USC 9-1. Edge: USC
Road record: BYU 8-1; USC 7-3. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 17-5; USC 16-2. Edge: USC
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 4-3; USC 4-4. Edge: BYU
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: USC

At-large bid (BYU vs. Stanford)
Won-lost results: BYU 20-5; Stanford 15-6. Edge: Stanford
Head-to-head competition: Stanford defeated BYU twice. Edge: Stanford
Non-conference record: BYU 4-1; Stanford 3-1. Edge: BYU
Home record: BYU 11-3; Stanford 5-3. Edge: BYU
Road record: BYU 8-1; Stanford 10-2. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 18-3; Stanford 11-6. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 4-3; Stanford 4-5. Edge: BYU
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: BYU

At-large bid (USC vs. Stanford)
Won-lost results: USC 17-4; Stanford 15-6. Edge: USC
Head-to-head competition: USC defeated Stanford twice. Edge: USC
Non-conference record: USC 3-0; Stanford 3-1. Edge: USC
Home record: USC 10-1; Stanford 5-3. Edge: USC
Road record: USC 7-3; Stanford 10-2 Edge: Stanford
Record vs. common opponents: USC 14-4; Stanford 12-5. Edge: USC
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: USC 4-4. Stanford 4-5 Edge: Stanford
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: USC

POTENTIAL SEEDING MATCH-UPS FOR NCAA TOURNAMENT

Penn State vs. Lewis
Won-lost results: Penn State 18-3; Lewis 19-6. Edge: Penn State
Head-to-head competition: Lewis defeated Penn State. Edge: Lewis
Non-conference record: Penn State 7-3; Lewis 14-3. Edge: Lewis
Home record: Penn State 7-0; Lewis 11-0. Edge: Lewis
Road record: Penn State 9-3; Lewis 7-4. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. common opponents: Penn State 11-1; Lewis 9-4. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Penn State 3-2; Lewis 2-2. Edge: Penn State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Penn State

Penn State vs. Ohio State
Won-lost results: Penn State 18-3; Ohio State 16-8. Edge: Penn State
Head-to-head competition: Penn State defeated Ohio State twice. Edge: Penn State
Non-conference record: Penn State 7-3; Ohio State 10-5. Edge: Penn State
Home record: Penn State 7-0; Ohio State 10-3. Edge: Penn State
Road record: Penn State 9-3; Ohio State 4-3. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. common opponents: Penn State 9-1; Ohio State 10-2. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Penn State 3-2; Ohio State 1-4. Edge: Penn State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Penn State

UCLA vs. Lewis
Won-lost results: UCLA 20-5; Lewis 19-6. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: UCLA defeated Lewis. Edge: UCLA
Non-conference record: UCLA 6-1; Lewis 14-3. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 8-2; Lewis 11-0. Edge: Lewis
Road record: UCLA 8-2; Lewis 7-4. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 8-1; Lewis 5-2. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 4-4; Lewis 2-2. Edge: Push
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UCLA

UCLA vs. Penn State
Won-lost results: UCLA 20-5; Penn State 18-3. Edge: Penn State
Head-to-head competition: Have not played each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UCLA 6-1; Penn State 7-3. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 8-2; Penn State 7-0. Edge: Penn State
Road record: UCLA 8-2; Penn State 9-3. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 9-1; Penn State 4-3. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 4-4; Penn State 3-2. Edge: Penn State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UCLA

UC Irvine vs. Penn State
Won-lost results: UC Irvine 19-4; Penn State 18-3. Edge: Penn State
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UC Irvine 4-0; Penn State 7-3. Edge: UC Irvine
Home record: UC Irvine 8-4; Penn State 7-0. Edge: Penn State
Road record: UC Irvine 8-0; Penn State 9-3. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: UC Irvine 8-3; Penn State 3-2. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Irvine 5-4; Penn State 3-2. Edge: Penn State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Push

UC Irvine vs. Lewis
Won-lost results: UC Irvine 19-4; Lewis 19-6. Edge: UC Irvine
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UC Irvine 4-0; Lewis 14-3. Edge: UC Irvine
Home record: UC Irvine 8-4; Lewis 11-0. Edge: Lewis
Road record: UC Irvine 8-0; Lewis 7-4. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: UC Irvine 9-0; Lewis 3-3. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Irvine 5-4; Lewis 2-2. Edge: UC Irvine
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UC Irvine

USC vs. Lewis
Won-lost results: USC 17-4; Lewis 19-6. Edge: USC
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: USC 3-0; Lewis 14-3. Edge: USC
Home record: USC 10-1; Lewis 11-0. Edge: Lewis
Road record: USC 7-3; Lewis 7-4 Edge: USC
Record vs. common opponents: USC 9-1; Lewis 6-3. Edge: USC
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: USC 4-4; Lewis 2-2 Edge: Lewis
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: USC

USC vs. Penn State
Won-lost results: USC 17-4; Penn State 18-3. Edge: Penn State
Head-to-head competition: USC defeated Penn State Edge: USC
Non-conference record: USC 3-0; Penn State 7-3. Edge: USC
Home record: USC 10-1; Penn State 7-0. Edge: USC
Road record: USC 7-3; Penn State 9-3. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. common opponents: USC 8-0; Penn State 5-1. Edge: USC
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: USC 4-4; Penn State 3-2. Edge: Penn State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: USC