Deeper look at men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament selection criteria

It’s the final week of the regular season and the race for the lone at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament along with seeding for the tournament remains as tight as ever.

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 UC Irvine and UCLA 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, UC Irvine, UCLA, 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.]

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At-large bid (BYU vs. UC Irvine)
Won-lost results:
BYU 20-4; UC Irvine 19-6. 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 14-2; UC Irvine 8-3. Edge: BYU
Road record: BYU 6-2; UC Irvine 8-3. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 17-3; UC Irvine 19-4. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 5-3; UC Irvine 5-3. 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 20-4; Long Beach State 21-7. Edge: BYU
Head-to-head competition: Split two matches against each other. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: BYU 1-1; Long Beach State 4-1. Edge: Long Beach State
Home record: BYU 14-2; Long Beach State 10-4. Edge: BYU
Road record: BYU 6-2; Long Beach State 9-2. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 18-2; Long Beach State 17-6. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 5-3; Long Beach State 2-5. Edge: BYU
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: BYU

At-large bid (BYU vs. UCLA)
Won-lost results:
BYU 20-4; UCLA 18-10. Edge: BYU
Head-to-head competition: Split two matches against each other. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: BYU 1-1; UCLA 4-2. Edge: UCLA
Home record: BYU 14-2; UCLA 6-5. Edge: BYU
Road record: BYU 6-2; UCLA 9-4. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 18-2; UCLA 15-9. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 5-3; UCLA 4-4. Edge: BYU
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 21-7; UC Irvine 19-6. 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 10-4; UC Irvine 8-3. Edge: UC Irvine
Road record: Long Beach State 9-2; UC Irvine 8-3. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 18-4; UC Irvine 16-6. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 2-5; UC Irvine 5-3. 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. UCLA)
Won-lost results:
UC Irvine 19-6; UCLA 18-10. Edge: UC Irvine
Head-to-head competition: UC Irvine leads season series 2-1. Edge: UC Irvine
Non-conference record: UC Irvine 3-0; UCLA 4-2. Edge: UC Irvine
Home record: UC Irvine 8-3; UCLA 6-5. Edge: UC Irvine
Road record: UC Irvine 8-3; UCLA 9-4. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: UC Irvine 17-5; UCLA 16-7. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Irvine 5-3; UCLA 4-4. Edge: UC Irvine
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UC Irvine

At-large bid (Long Beach State vs. UCLA)
Won-lost results:
Long Beach State 21-7; UCLA 18-10. Edge: Long Beach State
Head-to-head competition: Split two-match season series. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 4-1; UCLA 4-2. Edge: Long Beach State
Home record: Long Beach State 10-4; UCLA 6-5. Edge: Long Beach State
Road record: Long Beach State 9-2; UCLA 9-4. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 17-6; UCLA 15-9. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 2-5; UCLA 4-4. Edge: UCLA
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 18-6; Lewis 19-7. Edge: Penn State
Head-to-head competition: Penn State defeated Lewis. Edge: Penn State
Non-conference record: Penn State 7-5; Lewis 9-5. Edge: Lewis
Home record: Penn State 10-1; Lewis 10-1. Edge: Push
Road record: Penn State 7-4; Lewis 9-3. Edge: Lewis
Record vs. common opponents: Penn State 10-4; Lewis 12-1. Edge: Lewis
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Penn State 1-1; Lewis 1-2. Edge: Penn State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Push

BYU vs. Lewis
Won-lost results:
BYU 20-4; Lewis 19-7. Edge: BYU
Head-to-head competition: Both teams split their two-match series. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: BYU 1-1; Lewis 9-5. Edge: Lewis
Home record: BYU 14-2; Lewis 10-1. Edge: Lewis
Road record: BYU 6-2; Lewis 9-3. Edge: Push
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 7-0; Lewis 0-3. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 5-3; Lewis 1-2. Edge: BYU
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: BYU

UC Irvine vs. Lewis
Won-lost results:
UC Irvine 19-6; Lewis 19-7. Edge: UC Irvine
Head-to-head competition: Have not played each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UC Irvine 3-0; Lewis 9-5. Edge: UC Irvine
Home record: UC Irvine 8-3; Lewis 10-1. Edge: Lewis
Road record: UC Irvine 8-3; Lewis 9-3. Edge: Lewis
Record vs. common opponents: UC Irvine 6-3; Lewis 1-5. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Irvine 5-3; 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 21-7; Lewis 19-7. 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 9-5. Edge: Long Beach State
Home record: Long Beach State 10-4; Lewis 10-1. Edge: Lewis
Road record: Long Beach State 9-2; Lewis 9-3. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 9-2; Lewis 5-5. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 2-5; Lewis 1-2. Edge: Lewis
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Long Beach State

UCLA vs. Lewis
Won-lost results:
UCLA 18-10; Lewis 18-7. Edge: Lewis
Head-to-head competition: Have not played each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UCLA 4-2; Lewis 9-5. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 6-5; Lewis 10-1. Edge: Lewis
Road record: UCLA 9-4; Lewis 9-3. Edge: Lewis
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 8-4; Lewis 3-5. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 4-4; Lewis 1-2. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Push

BYU vs. Penn State
Won-lost results:
BYU 20-4; Penn State 18-6. Edge: BYU
Head-to-head competition: Have not played each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: BYU 1-1; Penn State 7-5. Edge: Penn State
Home record: BYU 14-2; Penn State 10-1. Edge: Penn State
Road record: BYU 6-2; Penn State 7-4 Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 6-2; Penn State 2-1. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 5-3; Penn State 1-1. Edge: BYU
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: BYU

UC Irvine vs. Penn State
Won-lost results:
UC Irvine 19-6; Penn State 18-6. Edge: UC Irvine
Head-to-head competition: Have not yet 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 8-3; Penn State 10-1. Edge: Penn State
Road record: UC Irvine 8-3; Penn State 7-4 Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: UC Irvine 4-1; Penn State 1-1. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Irvine 5-3; Penn State 1-1. Edge: UC Irvine
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 21-7; Penn State 18-6. Edge: Push
Head-to-head competition: Have not played each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 4-1; Penn State 7-5. Edge: Long Beach State
Home record: Long Beach State 10-4; Penn State 10-1. Edge: Penn State
Road record: Long Beach State 9-2; Penn State 7-4 Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 6-4; Penn State 4-2. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 2-5; Penn State 1-1. Edge: Penn State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Penn State

UCLA vs. Penn State
Won-lost results:
UCLA 18-10; Penn State 18-6. Edge: Penn State
Head-to-head competition: UCLA defeated Penn State. Edge: UCLA
Non-conference record: UCLA 4-2; Penn State 7-5. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 6-5; Penn State 10-1. Edge: Penn State
Road record: UCLA 9-4; Penn State 7-4 Edge: UCLA
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 3-4; Penn State 2-2. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 4-4; Penn State 1-1. Edge: Push
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Push