Looking at this list (of which my current team is a part) makes me think of a few things specifically: one, the ramifications of dropping a match you DON'T have to win to advance (basically because you played kids who otherwise would have little chance of playing late in an Open Qualifier). This happened to us twice, most pointedly in one Qualifier where we had only to win game one of our last match (which we did 25-19) to win the pool. CW says you let kids play after that. We ended up losing the match in a tight, three games, and I see that team listed ahead of us, as is another team we had beaten in two earlier in the year. Now, we did not apply for the At-Large bid anyway so it's all moot, but the situation does make me think. I mean, as a coach, I feel strongly that when an opportunity (other than the typical blow-out of an inferior team) arises, I have to give kids a chance on the court. We did it at the MEQ as well and were able to squeak out the win anyway (before a team-wide flu bug blasted us out of contention by the second day---THAT was a bummer.) Still, these decisions can come back to haunt one later when total records and wins/losses against the field of contenders are taken into account. As far as the list goes, based on year-long play, Synergy, Niagara, Team Atlantis, and Cincy Classics are interchangeable. I also don't see the first three losing to any 2's team on that list. Other notes: Big South was comparatively weaker than many other qualifiers (at least through the top 15)...and look arefully how TAV roared through the competition at Lone Star.

CDBVB wrote:

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Gopher:

You did a great job, but I have to agree with Volleyball's comments.
In my opinion, Mizuno L.B. 15-R should definitely be in your top 8.
Take out Cincy and switch that team with Mizuno.

Then, put all the names in a hat and pick them out one by one in no particular order.
It's anyone's guess!


TOP EIGHT
1. Vision (1 win, 7 losses)
2. Nebraska Elite (1 win, 5 losses)
3. FJVC (3 wins, 5 losses)
4. Team Atlantis (2 wins, 2 losses)
5. Cincy Classics (0 wins, 4 losses) Mizuno 15- R should go here.
6. AJV (1 win, 4 losses)
7. NORCO (1 win, 4 losses)
8. Synergy (3 wins, 3 losses)

TEAMS LIKELY TO NOT QUITE HAVE ENOUGH
9. Skyline Roshambo (1 win, 7 losses)
10. Delta Valley (0 wins, 5 losses)
11. Coast (0 wins, 5 losses)
12. NVVA (0 wins, 5 losses)
13. NKYVC (0 wins, 6 losses)
14. Niagara (2 wins, 4 losses)
15. Northern Lights (0 wins, 4 losses)

HONORABLE MENTION
Mizuno Long Beach 15R (1 win, 5 losses) Cincy should go here.
Champions (0 wins, 4 losses)
Braggin Rights (0 wins, 2 losses)

I do not profess to know the actual criteria here (although I thought I saw a post that listed it earlier). At any rate, for the seeding of Nationals and Qualifiers, I'm pretty sure actual finish is of no consequence. It's all about wins and losses, quality wins, etc. Finish, let's say between 4th and 9th, is often about which side of a bracket you were on, or which Gold pool of 4 you fell into. You could finish 5th at a qualifier and have only 1 maybe 2 wins of any consequence or finish 9th and had to battle through a handful of top-rated teams. OR...you can have a finish at a weaker qualifier of 8th, while a 7th place finish at another qualifier was way more difficult. However, I don't know if, in the case of At-Large Bids, actual finish matters at all. (Anybody?) If it doesn't, that unofficial ranking we have here becomes more questionable/difficult because no one can know who beat whom outside of the qualifiers, unless you have gobs of time on your hands to go digging. No thanks.