1. 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:

2. Introduction SPLIT BALANCED Dedicated blocker, dedicated defender1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1
Dedicated blocker, dedicated defender
Both players block, defend

3. 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

4. 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

5. Photo:
McGowan, T. (2016, August 07). Summer Olympics: Sun, sea, sand -- and beach volleyball. Retrieved from