Inside the Numbers: Projected winners for marquee matches this weekend

Photo courtesy of UC San Diego 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.]

UC Santa Barbara took the conference opener in four games back in February between these two schools, but UC San Diego is looking to even the season series on Saturday. The Tritons have defeated a pair of top five teams at home this year, but are only two matches above .500 at home this year.

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These two MPSF foes will face off twice this weekend with a No. 2 seed in the conference tournament on the line. The Lopes are 11-3 at home this year, and have won the last five matches in this series.

Lewis won both matches versus Ohio State during the regular season, one in Romeoville and one in Columbus. Ohio State looks to be hot coming into this match, having won their previous three matches, including a dominant performance at Loyola to end the regular season.

The No. 2 seed in the EIVA tournament is also in play in this regular season-ending match up. Harvard comes into the match having dropped their last three matches while George Mason comes in having won five of their previous six matches.

St. Francis Brooklyn has already been eliminated from EIVA tournament contention, but the Terriers look to end their only season in the conference on a high note. NJIT is 2-10 on the road this year (10-2 at home) so home court advantage may play a factor here.