Deeper look at men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament selection criteria

One moth before the postseason starts and the race for the lone at-large bid continues to remain tight with multiple teams still in contention as the NCAA Tournament gets closer

Below is the entry from the 2013 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 nopriority 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 Concordia 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 BYU, Long Beach State, Pepperdine and UC Irvine 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 match up against Lewis and Penn State for NCAA Tournament seeding possibilities.

[Editor’s note: Teams projected to qualify or be under consideration are BYU, Long Beach State, Pepperdine, UC Irvine, Penn State, Lewis. The amount of teams under consideration will continue to decrease or change as it gets closer to Selection Sunday on April 28.]

At-large bid (BYU vs. UC Irvine)
Won-lost results: BYU 15-3; UC Irvine 16-5. Edge: BYU
Head-to-head competition: BYU defeated UC Irvine twice. Edge: BYU
Non-conference record: BYU 1-1; UC Irvine 3-0. Edge: UC Irvine
Home record: BYU 12-2; UC Irvine 5-2. Edge: BYU
Road record: BYU 3-1; UC Irvine 8-3. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 12-2; UC Irvine 16-3. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 3-3; UC Irvine 4-4. Edge: Push
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: BYU

At-large bid (BYU vs. Long Beach State)
Won-lost results: BYU 15-3; Long Beach State 16-6. Edge: BYU
Head-to-head competition: Long Beach State defeated BYU. Edge: Long Beach State
Non-conference record: BYU 1-1; Long Beach State 4-1. Edge: Long Beach State
Home record: BYU 12-2; Long Beach State 9-3. Edge: BYU
Road record: BYU 3-1; Long Beach State 5-2. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 14-1; Long Beach State 12-6. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 3-3; Long Beach State 1-4. Edge: BYU
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: BYU

At-large bid (BYU vs. Pepperdine)
Won-lost results: BYU 15-3; Pepperdine 11-6. Edge: BYU
Head-to-head competition: Pepperdine defeated BYU. Edge: Pepperdine
Non-conference record: BYU 1-1; Pepperdine 0-0. Edge: BYU
Home record: BYU 12-2; Pepperdine 8-1. Edge: Pepperdine
Road record: BYU 3-1; Pepperdine 3-5. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 14-1; Pepperdine 10-6. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 3-3; Pepperdine 3-1. Edge: Pepperdine
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: BYU

At-large bid (Long Beach State vs. UC Irvine)
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 16-6; UC Irvine 16-5. Edge: UC Irvine
Head-to-head competition: UC Irvine won season series 3-0. Edge: UC Irvine
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 4-1; UC Irvine 3-0. Edge: UC Irvine
Home record: Long Beach State 9-3; UC Irvine 5-2. Edge: Long Beach State
Road record: Long Beach State 5-2; UC Irvine 8-3. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 13-3; UC Irvine 13-5. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 1-4; UC Irvine 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. Pepperdine)
Won-lost results: UC Irvine 16-5 Pepperdine 11-6. Edge: UC Irvine
Head-to-head competition: Both teams split their two-match series. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UC Irvine 3-0; Pepperdine 0-0. Edge: UC Irvine
Home record: UC Irvine 5-2; Pepperdine 8-1. Edge: Pepperdine
Road record: UC Irvine 8-3; Pepperdine 3-5. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: UC Irvine 13-4; Pepperdine 10-5. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Irvine 4-4; Pepperdine 3-1. Edge: Pepperdine
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UC Irvine

At-large bid (Long Beach State vs. Pepperdine)
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 16-6; Pepperdine 11-6. Edge: Long Beach State
Head-to-head competition: Pepperdine defeated Long Beach State. Edge: Pepperdine
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 4-1; Pepperdine 0-0. Edge: Long Beach State
Home record: Long Beach State 9-3; Pepperdine 8-1. Edge: Pepperdine
Road record: Long Beach State 5-2; Pepperdine 3-5. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 13-5; Pepperdine 10-6. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 1-4; Pepperdine 3-1. Edge: Pepperdine
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Long Beach State

SEEDING MATCH-UPS FOR NCAA TOURNAMENT

Penn State vs. Lewis
Won-lost results: Penn State 14-6; Lewis 15-6. Edge: Lewis
Head-to-head competition: Penn State defeated Lewis. Edge: Penn State
Non-conference record: Penn State 6-5; Lewis 7-5. Edge: Lewis
Home record: Penn State 9-1; Lewis 7-1. Edge: Penn State
Road record: Penn State 4-4; Lewis 8-3. Edge: Lewis
Record vs. common opponents: Penn State 6-4; Lewis 10-1. Edge: Lewis
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Penn State 1-0; Lewis 1-2. Edge: Penn State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Lewis

BYU vs. Lewis
Won-lost results: BYU 15-3; Lewis 15-6. Edge: BYU
Head-to-head competition: Both teams split their two-match series. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: BYU 1-1; Lewis 7-5. Edge: Lewis
Home record: BYU 12-2; Lewis 7-1. Edge: Lewis
Road record: BYU 3-1; Lewis 8-3. Edge: Lewis
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 6-0; Lewis 0-3. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 3-3; Lewis 1-2. Edge: BYU
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Push

UC Irvine vs. Lewis
Won-lost results: UC Irvine 16-5; Lewis 15-6. Edge: UC Irvine
Head-to-head competition: Have not played each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UC Irvine 3-0; Lewis 7-5. Edge: UC Irvine
Home record: UC Irvine 5-2; Lewis 7-1. Edge: Lewis
Road record: UC Irvine 8-3; Lewis 8-3. Edge: Push
Record vs. common opponents: UC Irvine 5-3; Lewis 1-5. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Irvine 4-4; Lewis 1-2. Edge: UC Irvine
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UC Irvine

Long Beach State vs. Lewis
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 16-6; Lewis 15-6. Edge: Long Beach State
Head-to-head competition: Have not played each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 4-1; Lewis 7-5. Edge: Long Beach State
Home record: Long Beach State 9-3; Lewis 7-1. Edge: Lewis
Road record: Long Beach State 5-2; Lewis 8-3. Edge: Lewis
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 8-1; Lewis 5-5. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 1-4; Lewis 1-2. Edge: Lewis
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Push

Pepperdine vs. Lewis
Won-lost results: Pepperdine 11-6; Lewis 15-6. Edge: Lewis
Head-to-head competition: Have not played each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Pepperdine 0-0; Lewis 7-5. Edge: Lewis
Home record: Pepperdine 8-1; Lewis 7-1. Edge: Pepperdine
Road record: Pepperdine 3-5; Lewis 8-3. Edge: Lewis
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 5-0; Lewis 1-4. Edge: Pepperdine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Pepperdine 3-1; Lewis 1-2. Edge: Pepperdine
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Push

BYU vs. Penn State
Won-lost results: BYU 15-3; Penn State 14-6. Edge: BYU
Head-to-head competition: Have not played each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: BYU 1-1; Penn State 6-5. Edge: Penn State
Home record: BYU 12-2; Penn State 9-1. Edge: Penn State
Road record: BYU 3-1; Penn State 4-4 Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 6-1; Penn State 2-1. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 3-3; Penn State 1-0. Edge: Penn State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Push

UC Irvine vs. Penn State
Won-lost results: UC Irvine 16-5; Penn State 14-6. Edge: UC Irvine
Head-to-head competition: Have not played each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UC Irvine 3-0; Penn State 6-5. Edge: UC Irvine
Home record: UC Irvine 5-2; Penn State 9-1. Edge: Penn State
Road record: UC Irvine 8-3; Penn State 4-4 Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: UC Irvine 4-0; Penn State 1-1. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Irvine 4-4; Penn State 1-0. Edge: Penn State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UC Irvine

Long Beach State vs. Penn State
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 16-6; Penn State 14-6. Edge: Long Beach State
Head-to-head competition: Have not played each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 4-1; Penn State 6-5. Edge: Long Beach State
Home record: Long Beach State 9-3; Penn State 9-1. Edge: Penn State
Road record: Long Beach State 5-2; Penn State 4-4 Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 6-4; Penn State 3-2. Edge: Push
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 1-4; Penn State 1-0. Edge: Penn State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Long Beach State

Pepperdine vs. Penn State
Won-lost results: Pepperdine 11-6; Penn State 14-6. Edge: Penn State
Head-to-head competition: Have not played each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Pepperdine 0-0; Penn State 6-5. Edge: Penn State
Home record: Pepperdine 8-1; Penn State 9-1. Edge: Penn State
Road record: Pepperdine 3-5; Penn State 4-4 Edge: Penn State
Record vs. common opponents: Pepperdine 1-4; Penn State 1-1. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Pepperdine 3-1; Penn State 1-0. Edge: Pepperdine
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Penn State