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Scheduling big non-conference matches can play a big role when it comes to Selection Sunday.
Lewis coach Dan Friend said in an interview with Off the Block on Sunday that his team was able to receive the at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament because of its quality of non-conference victories.
Lewis has a history of scheduling non-conference matches against MPSF and a willingness to travel anywhere for the matches, including this season when it beat BYU at home and Pacific on the road.
Pepperdine narrowly lost to Lewis for the final at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. While the Waves play in historically a tougher conference, the team has been less prone to scheduling non-conference matches against the MIVA and EIVA and didn’t schedule a non-conference match this season.
Check out this historical comparison at how Lewis and Pepperdine have scheduled non-conference matches since the rally scoring era started in 2001.
Lewis vs. MPSF in non-conference matches during rally scoring era
Non-conference matches vs. MPSF teams: 67
Last home match vs. MPSF team: January 4, 2014
Last road match vs. MPSF team: January 11, 2014
Non-conference record vs. MPSF teams: 19-48
Home record vs. MPSF: 4-8
Road record vs. MPSF: 11-33
Matches vs. MPSF teams in last two seasons: Nine
Matches vs. MPSF teams this season: Five
Pepperdine vs. EIVA and MIVA in non-conference matches during rally scoring era
Non-conference matches vs. MIVA and EIVA teams: 17
Last home match vs. EIVA or MIVA team: March 24, 2012
Last road match vs. EIVA or MIVA team: January 16, 2004
Non-conference record vs. EIVA and MIVA teams: 16-1
Home record vs. EIVA and MIVA: 15-1
Road record vs. EIVA and MIVA: 1-0
Matches vs. EIVA or MIVA teams in last two seasons: Zero
Matches vs. EIVA or MIVA teams this season: Zero
Seriously, why would Pepperdine schedule out of conference matches. Historically the MPSF is the strongest conference period. And an overall 3 Seed in rankings given by college coaches. Lewis beat BYU in presaesaon. Completely different team at the end. And pacific. Really! Tell me that victory meant something.