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All the postseason upsets has resulted in a dramatic shift in the college men’s volleyball bracketology and race for the at-large bids.
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, UC Santa Barbara, Penn State and Erskine. The amount of teams under consideration will continue to change as it gets closer to Selection Sunday on April 24]
POTENTIAL NCAA TOURNAMENT SEEDING AND AT-LARGE BID BATTLES
BYU vs. Long Beach State
RPI ranking: Edge: BYU
Won-lost results: BYU 24-3; Long Beach State 24-6. 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 11-2; Long Beach State 11-3. Edge: BYU
Road record: BYU 13-1; Long Beach State 9-3. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 19-2; Long Beach State 17-4. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 7-2; Long Beach State 5-5. Edge: BYU
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: BYU
BYU vs. UCLA
RPI ranking: Edge: BYU
Won-lost results: BYU 24-3; UCLA 24-5. Edge: BYU
Head-to-head competition: BYU leads season series 2-0. Edge: BYU
Non-conference record: BYU 4-0; UCLA 6-0. Edge: Push
Home record: BYU 11-2; UCLA 12-3. Edge: BYU
Road record: BYU 13-1; UCLA 11-2. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 19-3; UCLA 19-3. Edge: Push
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 7-2; UCLA 7-3. Edge: BYU
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: BYU
BYU vs. Stanford
RPI ranking: Edge: BYU
Won-lost results: BYU 24-3; Stanford 19-6. Edge: BYU
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 11-2; Stanford 10-2. Edge: BYU
Road record: BYU 13-1; Stanford 9-4. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 19-2; Stanford 16-5. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 7-2; Stanford 4-5. Edge: BYU
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: BYU
BYU vs. Ohio State
RPI ranking: Edge: BYU
Won-lost results: BYU 24-3; Ohio State 26-2. Edge: Ohio State
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: BYU 4-0; Ohio State 10-1. Edge: BYU
Home record: BYU 11-2; Ohio State 13-1. Edge: Ohio State
Road record: BYU 13-1; Ohio State 11-0. Edge: Ohio State
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 11-1; Ohio State 8-1. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 7-2; Ohio State 6-1. Edge: Ohio State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Ohio State
Long Beach State vs. UCLA
RPI ranking: Edge: Long Beach State
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 24-6; UCLA 24-5. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: UCLA leads season series 2-0 Edge: UCLA
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 6-1; UCLA 6-0. Edge: UCLA
Home record: Long Beach State 11-3; UCLA 12-3. Edge: UCLA
Road record: Long Beach State 9-3; UCLA 11-2. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 19-4; UCLA 18-5. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 5-5; UCLA 7-3. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UCLA
Long Beach State vs. Stanford
RPI ranking: Edge: Long Beach State
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 24-6; Stanford 19-6. Edge: Long Beach State
Head-to-head competition: Season series tied at 1-1. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 6-1; Stanford 2-0. Edge: Stanford
Home record: Long Beach State 11-3; Stanford 10-2. Edge: Stanford
Road record: Long Beach State 9-3; Stanford 9-4. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 16-5; Stanford 16-5. Edge: Push
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 5-5; Stanford 4-5. Edge: Long Beach State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Long Beach State
Long Beach State vs. Ohio State
RPI ranking: Edge: Ohio State
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 24-6; Ohio State 26-2. 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 10-1. Edge: Ohio State
Home record: Long Beach State 11-3; Ohio State 13-1. Edge: Ohio State
Road record: Long Beach State 9-3; Ohio State 11-0. Edge: Ohio State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 8-2; Ohio State 9-1. Edge: Ohio State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 5-5; Ohio State 6-1. Edge: Ohio State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Ohio State
UCLA vs. Stanford
RPI ranking: Edge: UCLA
Won-lost results: UCLA 24-5; Stanford 19-6. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: Season series tied at 1-1. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UCLA 6-0; Stanford 2-0. Edge: Push
Home record: UCLA 12-3; Stanford 10-2. Edge: UCLA
Road record: UCLA 11-2; Stanford 9-4. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 18-4; Stanford 17-5. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 7-3; Stanford 4-5. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UCLA
UCLA vs. Ohio State
RPI ranking: Edge: Ohio State
Won-lost results: UCLA 24-5; Ohio State 26-2. Edge: Ohio State
Head-to-head competition: UCLA leads season series 1-0 Edge: UCLA
Non-conference record: UCLA 6-0; Ohio State 10-1. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 12-3; Ohio State 13-1. Edge: Ohio State
Road record: UCLA 11-2; Ohio State 11-0. Edge: Ohio State
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 8-1; Ohio State 7-1. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 7-3; Ohio State 6-1. Edge: Ohio State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Ohio State
Ohio State vs. Stanford
RPI ranking: Edge: Ohio State
Won-lost results: Ohio State 26-2; Stanford 19-6. Edge: Ohio State
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season.Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Ohio State 10-1; Stanford 2-0. Edge: Stanford
Home record: Ohio State 13-1; Stanford 10-2. Edge: Ohio State
Road record: Ohio State 11-0; Stanford 9-4. Edge: Ohio State
Record vs. common opponents: Ohio State 7-2; Stanford 8-2. Edge: Stanford
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Ohio State 6-1; Stanford 4-5. 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
RPI ranking: Edge: Erskine
Won-lost results: Penn State 19-9; Erskine 18-6. Edge: Erskine
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Penn State 7-7; Erskine 2-3. Edge: Penn State
Home record: Penn State 12-6; Erskine 9-1. Edge: Erskine
Road record: Penn State 7-3; Erskine 8-5. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. common opponents: Penn State 3-4; Erskine 2-3. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Penn State 0-6; Erskine 0-2. Edge: Push
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Penn State