Inside the Numbers: Projected winners for marquee matches this weekend

Photo courtesy of Long Beach State athletics

Check out the winner projections for the marquee matches this weekend via the VBelo Rating Model.

[Editor’s note: The VBelo is the only elo model in college men’s volleyball and makes projections based on a variety of data. T.J. Breshears, a contributor to Off the Block, created the VBelo.]


The rematch. No.1/1 Long Beach and No. 2/3 UCLA will run it back after the Beach swept the Bruins last week. These two powerhouses are separated by 3 elo points.

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This MIVA matchup pits Loyola, which has already played a tough schedule, and Ohio State, which is looking to hold onto a spot in the top 15 of the national coaches poll.


After losing back-to-back matches against UC San Diego, BYU will attempt to bounce back as it visits UC Santa Barbara in a close matchup, according to VBelo.


The battle for Irvine has an undefeated Concordia-Irvine squaring up with UC Irvine that is trying to regain a spot in the national ranking. This could be a tight match.


This EIVA match is likely not on the radar of many, but Harvard and St. Francis Brooklyn looks to be one of the closest matchups of the weekend.