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About a month away from Selection Saturday and the race for a possible at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament has already narrowed down to a few teams.
Off the Block has crunched the numbers using the same criteria as the selection committee to show how the top teams in the nation fare against each other in the race for the two at-large bids and NCAA Tournament seeding.
Below is an excerpt from the NCAA handbook on the primary criteria the three-person volleyball selection committee will use determines the at-large team and seeding for the NCAA Tournament.
– RPI ranking
– 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
– Eligibility and availability of student-athletes for NCAA championships.
The selection committee does not consider match results against NAIA teams or NCAA Division III teams. Only matches against NCAA Division I-II teams factors into the criteria.
Some selection committees in previous seasons have placed a greater emphasis on a certain categories. However, there is no requirement that the committee gives additional weight to a certain category.
The six-team NCAA Tournament will comprised of conference automatic bids from the MIVA, MPSF, EIVA and Conference Carolinas along with two at-large bids.
Here’s how the at-large bids and tournament seeding races look right now using the selection committee criteria and giving equal weight to each criteria category.
[Editor’s note: Teams projected to qualify or be under consideration are BYU, Long Beach State, UCLA, Stanford, Ohio State, Loyola, Ball State, Penn State and Erskine. The amount of teams under consideration will continue to change as it gets closer to Selection Saturday on April 23]
POTENTIAL NCAA TOURNAMENT SEEDING AND AT-LARGE BID BATTLES
BYU vs. Long Beach State
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: BYU
Won-lost results: BYU 16-2; Long Beach State 18-3. Edge: BYU
Head-to-head competition: Season series tied at 1-1 Edge: Push
Non-conference record: BYU 4-0; Long Beach State 6-1. Edge: BYU
Home record: BYU 7-1; Long Beach State 8-2. Edge: BYU
Road record: BYU 9-1; Long Beach State 6-1. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 11-1; Long Beach State 11-1. Edge: Push
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 3-2; Long Beach State 3-3. Edge: BYU
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: BYU
BYU vs. UCLA
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: UCLA
Won-lost results: BYU 16-2; UCLA 19-3. Edge: BYU
Head-to-head competition: Have not played each other yet. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: BYU 4-0; UCLA 6-0. Edge: Push
Home record: BYU 7-1; UCLA 9-1. Edge: UCLA
Road record: BYU 9-1; UCLA 9-2. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 13-2; UCLA 14-3. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 3-2; UCLA 4-1. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Push
BYU vs. Stanford
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: BYU
Won-lost results: BYU 16-2; Stanford 15-3. Edge: Stanford
Head-to-head competition: Season series tied at 1-1. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: BYU 4-0; Stanford 2-0. Edge: Push
Home record: BYU 7-1; Stanford 6-1. Edge: BYU
Road record: BYU 9-1; Stanford 9-2. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 11-1; Stanford 12-2. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 3-2; Stanford 3-2. Edge: Push
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: BYU
BYU vs. Ohio State
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: BYU
Won-lost results: BYU 16-2; Ohio State 17-2. Edge: Ohio State
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: BYU 4-0; Ohio State 8-1. Edge: BYU
Home record: BYU 7-1; Ohio State 9-1. Edge: Ohio State
Road record: BYU 9-1; Ohio State 6-0. Edge: Ohio State
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 6-1; Ohio State 8-1. Edge: Ohio State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 3-2; Ohio State 4-2. Edge: Push
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Ohio State
Long Beach State vs. UCLA
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: UCLA
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 18-3; UCLA 19-3. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: UCLA leads season series 1-0 Edge: UCLA
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 6-1; UCLA 6-0. Edge: BYU
Home record: Long Beach State 8-2; UCLA 9-1. Edge: UCLA
Road record: Long Beach State 6-1; UCLA 9-2. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 13-2; UCLA 14-3. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 3-3; UCLA 4-1. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UCLA
Long Beach State vs. Stanford
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: Long Beach State
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 18-3; Stanford 15-3. Edge: Long Beach State
Head-to-head competition: Long Beach State leads season series 1-0 Edge: Long Beach State
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 6-1; Stanford 2-0. Edge: Stanford
Home record: Long Beach State 8-2; Stanford 6-1. Edge: Stanford
Road record: Long Beach State 6-1; Stanford 9-2. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 11-2; Stanford 13-2. Edge: Stanford
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 3-3; Stanford 3-2. Edge: Stanford
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Push
Long Beach State vs. Ohio State
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: Ohio State
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 18-3; Ohio State 17-2. Edge: Ohio State
Head-to-head competition: Ohio State won season series 1-0. Edge: Ohio State
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 6-1; Ohio State 8-1. Edge: Ohio State
Home record: Long Beach State 8-2; Ohio State 9-1. Edge: Ohio State
Road record: Long Beach State 6-1; Ohio State 6-0. Edge: Ohio State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 7-1; Ohio State 6-1. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 3-3; Ohio State 4-2. Edge: Ohio State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Ohio State
UCLA vs. Stanford
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: UCLA
Won-lost results: UCLA 19-3; Stanford 15-3. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: Stanford leads season series 1-0 Edge: Stanford
Non-conference record: UCLA 6-0; Stanford 2-0. Edge: Push
Home record: UCLA 9-1; Stanford 6-1. Edge: UCLA
Road record: UCLA 9-2; Stanford 9-2. Edge: Push
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 14-2; Stanford 13-3. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 4-1; Stanford 3-2. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UCLA
UCLA vs. Ohio State
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: UCLA
Won-lost results: UCLA 19-3; Ohio State 17-2. Edge: Ohio State
Head-to-head competition: UCLA leads season series 1-0 Edge: UCLA
Non-conference record: UCLA 6-0; Ohio State 8-1. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 9-1; Ohio State 9-1. Edge: Push
Road record: UCLA 9-2; Ohio State 6-0. Edge: Ohio State
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 7-1; Ohio State 4-1. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 4-1; Ohio State 4-2. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UCLA
Ohio State vs. Stanford
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: Ohio State
Won-lost results: Ohio State 17-2; Stanford 15-3. Edge: Ohio State
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this seasonEdge: Push
Non-conference record: Ohio State 8-1; Stanford 2-0. Edge: Stanford
Home record: Ohio State 9-1; Stanford 6-1. Edge: Ohio State
Road record: Ohio State 6-0; Stanford 9-2. Edge: Ohio State
Record vs. common opponents: Ohio State 4-2; Stanford 6-1. Edge: Stanford
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Ohio State 4-2; Stanford 3-2. Edge: Ohio State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Ohio State
POTENTIAL NCAA TOURNAMENT SEEDING BATTLES
Penn State vs. Erskine
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: Penn State
Won-lost results: Penn State 12-4; Erskine 10-4. Edge: Erskine
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this seasonEdge: Push
Non-conference record: Penn State 6-4; Erskine 2-3. Edge: Penn State
Home record: Penn State 8-3; Erskine 6-0. Edge: Erskine
Road record: Penn State 4-1; Erskine 5-0. Edge: Erskine
Record vs. common opponents: Penn State 2-1; Erskine 1-3. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Penn State 1-3; Erskine 0-2. Edge: Ohio State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Penn State