Beach Volleyball Team Optimization Joint Statistical Meetings 2019 Speed Session - Oral Presentation Jacob Eliason Mentor: Dr. Gilbert Fellingham Significant contributions by Matthew Oehler Image has free use license: https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-men-playing-volleyball-near-red-canopy-1263426/
Introduction SPLIT BALANCED Dedicated blocker, dedicated defender 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 Dedicated blocker, dedicated defender Both players block, defend
Probability (example) Data & probabilities Skill Serve Serve receive (pass) Set Hit Block Dig Freeball Grade (worst) 1 2 3 4 5 6 (best) Probability (example) Serve 1: 0.15 Serve 2: 0.20 Serve 3: 0.05 Serve 4: 0.10 Serve 5: 0.30 Serve 6: 0.10 ... Freeball 6: 0.20 Example: 7 discrete distributions; 42 individual probabilities
Simulate individual points, sets until match is complete Simulating matchups Simulate individual points, sets until match is complete Select two teams from: Actual teams Average teams Synthetic teams Compare: Winning % Sideout % Point differential Number of sets (2 or 3) Repeat 20,000 times
Photo: McGowan, T. (2016, August 07). Summer Olympics: Sun, sea, sand -- and beach volleyball. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/06/sport/rio-olympics-beach-vollyeball/index.html