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Check out everything you need to know about the college men’s volleyball bracketology so far this season and for the upcoming matches this weekend.
Conference RPI
Non-conference results are what ultimately determine a conference’s RPI ranking. The ranking is based on a conference’s combined winning percentage against NCAA opponents. Every conference match results in one winner and one loser, which in terms of conference winning percentage means it’s always guaranteed to be at .500. As a result, non-conference results are the greatest influence on a conference’s RPI rankings. Teams also benefit in their RPI ranking if they play in a league with a strong conference RPI because during the conference season they have an increased opportunity to play against teams with winning records and high RPI rankings. Below are the non-conference records for each NCAA Division I-II conference against other NCAA members this season.
| Conference | Record | Winning Pct. |
| 1. MPSF | 51-21 | .708 |
| 2. MIVA | 44-24 | .647 |
| 3. Big West | 41-27 | .603 |
| 4. EIVA | 31-25 | .554 |
| 5. NEC | 23-33 | .411 |
| 6. IVA | 33-54 | .379 |
| 7. ConfCarolinas | 23-41 | .359 |
| 8. SIAC | 6-27 | .182 |
Strength of schedule
Strength of schedule is one of the criteria categories the selection committee uses to determine the NCAA Tournament field. In addition, a team’s strength of schedule is part of the formula used to determine the RPI rankings. Below are the teams projected to have the best strength of schedule at the end of the season. The projections are based on match results so far this season.
Projected end of season strength of schedule (as of March 2)
1. Concordia
2. UC San Diego
3. UC Santa Barbara
4. UCLA
5. Stanford
6. UC Irvine
7. USC
8. CSUN
9. Princeton
10. Pepperdine
11. Ohio State
12. George Mason
13. Long Beach State
14. BYU
15. Penn State
16. Ball State
17. Grand Canyon
18. Lindenwood
19. NJIT
20. Hawai’i
Record against teams under consideration
The category of record against other teams under consideration for the NCAA Tournament is a piece of criteria that historically has helped shape the NCAA Tournament field. Below are the records for some notable teams against teams under consideration, according to Off the Block’s latest bracketology projections.
Record vs. under consideration teams
Grand Canyon (3-0)
UCLA (6-1)
Long Beach State (2-2)
Penn State (1-1)
BYU (1-3)
UC Irvine (1-5)
Hawai’i (0-0)
Loyola (0-1)
Erskine (0-1)
Big bracketology matches this weekend
Below are the matches to watch this weekend that could have big implications on the bracketology at the end of the season.
| Match | Start time | Bracketology significance |
| Ball State at Long Beach State | 7 p.m. Friday | Ball State has a chance to move back into the at-large bubble with a win, while Long Beach State can earn another quality home win. |
| BYU at Grand Canyon | 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday | Grand Canyon can assert itself as the clear favorite to be the second bid from the MPSF with two wins. |
| Pepperdine at Hawai’i | 7 p.m. Friday | If Pepperdine has any hope of an at-large bid, it starts with an upset win tonight. |
| Penn State vs. UC Irvine | 5 p.m. Sunday | Penn State has a chance for a big a road win and to knock UC Irvine out of at-large contention. |