1. NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Selections, Seeding and Bracketing Sharon K. Cessna Director of Championships December 18, 2003

2. AGENDA  How the committee prepares  Steps in the process  Principles and procedure  The RPI & other evaluation tools  Bracketing process

3. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 3 How the Committee Prepares For Selections In-person games (as many as possible) Televised games (as many as possible) Regional rankings (RACs made up of coaches) Evaluation of RPI Institutional/conference information Other information shared by each committee member Nothing the committee does is more important than selecting, seeding and bracketing the teams. Preparation is the key.

4. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 4 AFFECTIVE FACTORS TO THE PROCESS The “nitty-gritty” report. Team-information sheet for each of the 311 Division I institutions. Coaches’ regional advisory committee rankings. Conference tournaments. Other information as shared by each committee member. Committee members are assigned specific conferences to monitor during the regular season. Also, all members attempt to watch games from all over the country.

5. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 5 NON AFFECTIVE FACTORS TO THE PROCESS Performance by a team or a conference in a previous NCAA tournament. A team’s previous regular-season performance (successful or not). Committee member’s affiliation (conference and/or institution) Placement in the AVCA, USA Today and the Volleyball Magazine polls. (These polls are not part of the NCAA volleyball selection criteria). Lobbying of committee members by coaches or administrators.

6. PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES

7. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 7 PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES  Emphasis on fairness and consistency by regional representation.  At no point may a member vote for a team that the individual represents as an institutional or conference administrator.  Member may not be present in the meeting room during the committee deliberations regarding a team that he/she represents.

8. EVALUATION TOOLS

9. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 9 EVALUATIVE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO THE COMMITTEE The RPI is one of many tools. Among the other tools the committee uses: Coaches regional advisory committee rankings Division I record Overall RPI Non-conference record Non-conference RPI Conference record Conference RPI Road record Record in last 10 games Record against teams ranked 1-25 by RPI Record against teams ranked 26-50 by RPI Record against teams ranked 51-100 by RPI Record against teams ranked below 100 by RPI Record against other teams under consideration Head-to-head Significant wins and losses Results against common opponents Results against teams already receiving at-large bids Late season performance Site of match Other circumstances that could affect results (e.g. injuries) ` COMPONENTS OF THE NITTY GRITTY REPORT

10. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 10 THE RPI One of many tools. Factor I:Division I winning percentage25% + Factor II:Opponents’ winning percentage50% + Factor III:Opponents’ Opponents’ winning percentage25% +/- Factor IV:Weightings: Positive: scheduling majority of non-conference matches against teams ranked 1-75 in the RPI and for wins against teams ranked 1-50 in RPI. Negative: scheduling majority of non-conference matches against teams 151 and above in the RPI and for losses against teams 151 and above and non Division I teams.

11. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 11

12. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 12 So, what should you do ?  Win.  Schedule and have success against the best possible non-conference competition.

13. HOW THE PROCESS WORKS

14. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 14 Selections, Seeding and Bracketing THE STEPS IN THE PROCESS: 1.Automatic bids determined (31). 2.Select the at-large teams (33). 3.Seed the teams (16). 4.Place teams in the championship bracket.

15. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 15 Selecting the At-Large Teams The committee selects the best available teams to fill the 33 at-large berths, regardless of conference affiliation, and There is no maximum or minimum number of at-large teams the committee must select from one conference.

16. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 16 Criteria For Selecting At-Large Teams The committee considers the following criteria: Win-loss record (must have overall W-L above.500). Strength of schedule. When considering won-loss records and strength of schedule: Primary: Head to Head Results against common opponents Evaluation of the RPI Significant wins and losses Secondary: Late season performance Site of match Results against teams already receiving at-large bids Eligibility and availability of student-athletes.

17. GUIDELINES

18. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 18  The committee can only seed the top 16 teams.  Balance the bracket in each region as much as possible remaining within the guidelines established by the Division I Championships/ Competition Cabinet.  Teams will remain in their areas of natural interest, if possible without compromising the principles of seeding.  Teams moved out of their natural area will be placed in the next closest region when possible. Significant Bracketing Guidelines

19. STEPS IN THE PROCESS Nominations Selections Seeding Bracketing

20. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 20 SELECTIONSSEEDINGBRACKETING Each committee member prepares a list of teams he/she believes should be considered for selection. The committee will evaluate the teams and review each teams full body of work. Teams may be added to a list of “under consideration” at any time. During the discussion a committee member may nominate one or more teams be placed on the at-large board. Nominations

21. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 21 SELECTIONSSEEDINGBRACKETING Unanimous voice vote place on the at-large board she Not unanimous Second voice vote Unanimous on the board Not unanimous Third voice vote Majority vote on the board  At any time during the process or whenever a consensus cannot be reached, there will be a call for a secret ballot vote. Voting

22. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 22 Placement on the Board SELECTIONSSEEDINGBRACKETING Note: Once a team is selected to the board its position is not secured; teams must survive continual comparisons throughout the process. Teams may be voted off the board and placed back on the “watch list” and then be nominated again to return to the board.

23. SELECTIONS Evaluation of At-Large Pool

24. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 24 Evaluation of the At-Large Pool Discussion COMM MEMBER’S BALLOT (if more than one team nominated) 1 highest ranked 2 3 4 5 6 7 lowest ranked TEAMS RECEIVING FEWEST POINTS AT-LARGE BOARD IN ORDER REMAINING TEAMS HELD FOR NEXT BALLOT At any time a member can nominate one or more teams to be place in the bracket SELECTIONS SEEDING BRACKETING

25. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 25 Discussion Members nominate additional teams to be added to at-large field OF REMAINDER, TOP TEAMS HELD FOR NEXT BALLOT + COMM MEMBER’S BALLOT 1 highest ranked 2 3 4 5 6 7 lowest ranked TEAMS RECEIVING FEWEST POINTS AT- LARGE BOARD REMAINING TEAMS HELD FOR NEXT BALLOT SELECTIONS SEEDINGBRACKETING Evaluation of the At-Large Pool

26. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 26 Evaluation of the At-large Pool Discussion Members nominate additional teams to be added to at-large field OF REMAINDER, TEAMS HELD FOR NEXT BALLOT + COMM MEMBER’S BALLOT 1 highest ranked 2 3 4 5 6 7 lowest ranked TEAMS RECEIVING FEWEST POINTS AT- LARGE BOARD REMAINING TEAMS HELD FOR NEXT BALLOT REPEAT UNTIL THE 33 AT-LARGE TEAMS ARE SELECTED SELECTIONS SEEDINGBRACKETING

27. SEEDING Top 16 Teams

28. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 28 Seeding Teams Discussion BALLOT 1 highest seed 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 lowest seed TEAMS RECEIVING FEWEST POINTS on seeded list REMAINING TEAMS HELD FOR NEXT BALLOT Each member submits a list of top teams from AQ and/or At- Large Boards SELECTIONS SEEDINGBRACKETING

29. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 29 Discussion Each member submits a list of top teams from AQ and/or At-Large Boards REMAINING TEAMS HELD FOR NEXT BALLOT + BALLOT 1 highest seed 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 lowest seed TEAMS RECEIVING FEWEST POINTS on seeded list REMAINING TEAMS HELD FOR NEXT BALLOT REPEAT UNTIL 16 SEEDS ARE SELECTED Seeding Teams SELECTIONS SEEDINGBRACKETING

30. Safety Net Assignments Placing Teams in the Bracket

31. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 31 SELECTIONSSEEDING Safety Net Assignments Avoid pairing teams from the same conference against one another in the first- or second-round games. Review geographic location (within 300 miles) to create the least number of flights. Avoid pairing teams from the same conference against one another in the regionals (if possible). Evaluate balance among the four regions. BRACKETING

32. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 32 Safety Net Assignments (cont’d) Evaluate movement of same teams in previous tournaments. Avoid rematches of previous first- and second-round tournament games (if possible without creating flights ). SELECTIONSSEEDING BRACKETING

33. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 33 Placing Teams In the Bracket 1.Seed top 16 teams. 2.Place the top 16 seeds in the appropriate place in a traditional 64-team bracket. 3. Place remaining 48 teams in the bracket creating the least number of flights. 4. Avoid pairing teams from the same conference against one another in the first- or second-rounds. If so, teams may be moved. SELECTIONSSEEDINGBRACKETING

34. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 34 6. Evaluate movement of same teams in previous tournaments. 7. Avoid rematches of previous first- and second-round tournament matches (if possible without creating flights). 8. Finalize the bracket. SELECTIONSSEEDING BRACKETING Placing Teams in the Bracket (cont’d)

35. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 35

36. SITE SELECTION

37. NCAAVolleyball Selections, Seeding and BracketingDecember 18, 2003 page 37 Site Selection Criteria –Quality and availability of facility and other necessary accommodations Friday/Saturday preference for all rounds –Financial guarantee –Attendance history and potential –Geographic location. Once the 16 "clusters" of four teams each have been paired, the sites will be selected based on the sites that result in the least amount of air travel and meets the minimum criteria for site selection.

38. QUESTIONS