Decoding the NCAA Volleyball Tournament Selection Process

The NCAA volleyball tournament selection show is a moment of great anticipation and anxiety for teams across the nation. Understanding the selection process can provide valuable insight into how teams are chosen and seeded. This article aims to demystify the selection process for the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Tournament, shedding light on the criteria, committees, and procedures involved.

NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship: An Overview

The NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship is a single-elimination tournament featuring 64 teams. A significant portion of the field, 23 teams, automatically qualify by winning their respective conferences. The remaining 41 teams are selected through an at-large bid process overseen by the selection committee.

Regional Rankings and the Selection Committee

Three weeks before the end of the regular season, the NCAA releases regional rankings. These polls divide conferences into eight regions, ranking the top 10 teams in each. While these rankings can fluctuate, they offer an initial glimpse into which teams are likely to be considered for at-large bids.

The 64-team bracket is structured in a single-elimination format. Regional tournaments are held within each of the eight regions, with the winner advancing to the final site. At the final site, the quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship match determine the ultimate champion. Since 2016, the final eight teams have been seeded No. 1 through 8, with the highest-seeded teams hosting the lowest-seeded teams.

The Quest for Transparency: Unveiling the Selection Process

Obtaining information about the selection process can be challenging. There appears to be resistance from the NCAA to fully disclose the inner workings of the selection process. Despite this, valuable insights can be gleaned from active and retired coaches who have served on the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) or the National Selection Committee.

It's important to note that each RAC may operate slightly differently, and the selection criteria and approach can evolve over time. This article aims to explain the selection criteria, the RAC process, and the National Selection Committee process.

Diving into the Selection Criteria

The selection criteria are detailed in the Pre-Championship Manual. Contests versus provisional and reclassifying members in their third and fourth years count in the primary criteria. The primary criteria include record, strength of schedule (SOS), head-to-head results, common opponent results, and ranked results. If the evaluation of the primary criteria does not result in a decision, the secondary criteria will be reviewed. All the criteria listed will be evaluated. Additionally, input is provided by regional advisory committees for consideration by the Division III Women’s Volleyball Committee.

The NCAA doesn't explicitly prioritize the criteria, but coaches suggest that SOS often carries significant weight. However, the selection of Ithaca in 2021, primarily based on SOS, demonstrates that the application of these criteria can be complex. Each RAC may prioritize criteria differently, applying their chosen emphasis consistently throughout their selections.

Record

Record reflects the team's overall win-loss percentage against DIII opponents. A tolerance is applied when comparing teams with similar records, meaning a team with a 20-3 record might be considered equivalent to a team with a 19-3 record. This criterion focuses solely on the numbers, without considering the quality of wins or losses and is one of the three main one’s used when it comes to national selection because common opponent and head-to-head don’t often occur with teams out of region.

Head-to-Head

When comparing two teams that have played each other, the winner gains an advantage. This criterion is more influential in regional rankings than in national selection. Multiple wins against the same opponent do not necessarily provide additional bonus points. In cases of split results, such as a 2-1 record, the team with more wins typically prevails, although discussions may occur if the teams are closely matched overall.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

Common Opponent

This criterion assesses how teams performed against common opponents. It emphasizes "results" rather than "percentage," although percentage is typically used in practice. This criterion is more relevant regionally, as national selection rarely involves numerous common opponents. A hypothetical situation arises when considering a team with a win over a top team but a loss to a good team versus a team with the opposite outcome. The RACs would consider this hypothetical? Some argue that the team with an outstanding win has demonstrated the ability to compete at the highest level.

Ranked Results

Ranked Results is considered a critical selection criterion, especially at the national level. Comparisons often boil down to record, SOS, and ranked results, with the latter frequently being the deciding factor. This criterion examines the "results" against regionally ranked opponents, taking into account match location, timing, opponent ranking, and the number of sets played. The granddaddy of the selection criteria and one of the main three when it comes to national selection.

The NCAA presents ranked results as a percentage. However, "results" are only considered when this criterion is close. A team that is 4-4 in Ranked Results will win a comparison against a 2-8 team regionally. It doesn't make sense, right?

Strength of Schedule (SOS)

SOS is calculated using a formula that considers opponents' records and their opponents' records. Tolerances are applied when comparing SOS numbers between teams. The exact tolerance values and their consistency across regions are debated among coaches. A better SOS can influence other criteria, potentially leading to a worse record but more head-to-head matches against ranked teams.

The Scorecard: A Controversial Tool

The scorecard is a method used to evaluate teams based on the selection criteria. Each criterion winner receives a checkmark, and the team with the most checkmarks is deemed the better choice. However, this approach can be controversial, as it may not capture the complete picture. Regions vary in competitiveness and scheduling opportunities, potentially skewing the results. A sanity check is necessary to ensure that the scorecard aligns with the overall assessment of a team's quality.

The NCAA Selection Committee reviews the regional rankings and can request revisions or make changes if they believe the process was not followed correctly.

Secondary Criteria: Breaking Ties

Secondary criteria are used to break ties when the primary criteria are inconclusive. The secondary criteria include: Won-lost percentage during the last 25% of the season and DIII non-conference SOS. The coaches I talked to said that it has been used. They said that “secondary criteria is used more than you would think”. They went on to say that really only Last 25% and DIII non-conference SOS are used. The non-DIII secondary criteria has been used in the past but more in the distant past. They indicated that it was used to split teams that were very close to each other.

The Regional Advisory Committee (RAC)

The RAC comprises a representative from each member conference in a region, serving a three-year term. The RAC Chair, also from a conference, leads the committee and participates in the National Selection Committee.

National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC)

For teams that do not make the NCAA Tournament, the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) offers another opportunity for postseason play.

The NIVC is an annual tournament involving 32 of the nation's top women's Division I Volleyball teams. The NIVC field and bracket is announced late on the evening of the NCAA Tournament selections. The tournament is a single-elimination event with all games played at sites of host schools. The NIVC offers teams an opportunity to get in more practices, to experience playoff-atmosphere games, to play in front of passionate fans and to use their NIVC success as a springboard to the next season. The event offers 32 automatic berths, one to each established conference, and 8 to 16 at-large berths. Not all conferences will have an AQ therefore; we will offer additional at-large berths to teams that meet the criteria to receive an invite to the tournament.

The NIVC committee uses three stages in this order to implement the final bracket: 1) Select teams; 2) Group teams according to team strength and geographic location; and 3) Bracket the selected teams.‍

The remaining team slots in the Postseason NIVC will be filled by the top teams available. Any team from a Division I conference, or a Division I independent team, will be considered. Any team considered for an at-large berth must either have an overall record of .500 or better, or must be top 120 NCAA RPI. Overall record includes conference tournament games.

Recruiting Rules and Calendar

The NCAA volleyball recruiting rules and calendar regulate how and when coaches can start proactively contacting prospective athletes. Division 1 coaches face the strictest rules, initiating the recruiting process earlier than other divisions. Division 2 coaches have more relaxed rules, while D3 colleges offer the most flexibility. The NAIA provides coaches with the most freedom in recruiting.

NCAA Division 1 coaches can contact athletes starting June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year of high school. The NCAA Division 1 volleyball recruiting rules restrict when and how D1 volleyball coaches can actively start communicating with prospects. The most important date for D1 volleyball players is June 15 after their sophomore year. The most important date in the NCAA Division 2 volleyball recruiting rules is June 15 after sophomore year of high school.

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