BYU & San Diego Roll Into Conference Title Split; WCC Update (Nov. 22)

The 2017 West Coast Conference regular season is in the books after last night, and the conference title is split among San Diego and BYU, however, only one earned the automatic bid.

Both teams should be in great position to make the NCAA Tournament regardless, but the automatic bid was determined through tiebreaker rules. When conference records are tied, the first aspect used is head-to-head but the sides each beat each other once. From there, it goes to sets won in head-to-head; BYU and San Diego’s wins against each other each came in four sets. The third tiebreaker is total points scored in head-to-head competition. BYU outscored San Diego 98-86 in the first meeting, while the Toreros outscored the Cougars 98-84 in the second.

That means San Diego is technically the true conference champion and earns the automatic bid, although realistically things end in a split. For some conferences that would be a huge deal, but both of these teams are basically locks to make the tournament – and even have shots at hosting in the first two rounds.

More analysis after the WCC table:

WCC Volleyball Standings (As of November 22, 2017):

The split winner: San Diego (17-1 Conference Record)

The Toreros lost at home to BYU earlier on in the conference portion of the season, but have since rattled off 14 consecutive wins – including one in Provo, Utah. That enabled them to earn this conference split, and now the motto of ‘every point counts’ really comes in to play. Let’s say San Diego let off the gas pedal in their final set win over BYU (which was 25-16). Maybe they don’t win this tiebreaker and automatic bid.

Once again though, regardless they would have still been in the tournament without the automatic bid. They also came into the week with an RPI of 20, so it should be interesting to see if that’s good enough combined with their perception (commonly a top 16 team around the polls and #14 in the VolleyMob Top 25) is enough to host in the first two rounds.

Not the automatic bid, but still a WCC title: BYU (17-1 Conference Record)

The Cougars also take home a share of the West Coast Conference title as their lone loss came at home to San Diego. Besides that, they coasted through the conference portion of the year and are now 28-2 overall. Their win in San Diego early in the conference season seemed to be the advantage they’d need to winning the WCC outright, but now it’s what saved them in getting at least a share.

Unlike San Diego, they don’t get the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, but as previously mentioned they should be a lock to make the field as an at-large team. By only stumbling once in conference play too and being ranked in the VolleyMob top 10 and seventh in the AVCA poll, they should be in good positioning to host in the first two rounds despite an RPI of 18.

Maybe not in the NCAA Tournament, but postseason possibilities:

Pacific (11-7), Loyola Marymount (9-9), Gonzaga (9-9), Santa Clara (8-10), Pepperdine (8-10)

This group of teams doesn’t seem to have a chance toward making the NCAA Tournament, but they do have hope for a longer season. A new tournament comes to the volleyball landscape in the NIVC – essentially a secondary tournament for the best of the rest that mimics the NIT in college basketball. The NIVC existed from 1989 to 1995 with a 20-team field, but now it’s back with 64 teams in action.

Earlier in the year, the NIVC sent out feelers to Gonzaga, Pacific, Pepperdine, Portland and Santa Clara. Portland has fallen a bit since then and Loyola Marymount has picked it up a bit so they could be a candidate as well, but all of those schools could have an opportunity to land in this event, especially with so many open spots. It could be a great opportunity for seniors to go out with some postseason play, while young players get an opportunity for more playing time and growth.