2016 Pre-Championship Manual is online

Rejoice, fellow nerds, for the 2016 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Pre-Championship Manual has been published.

The pertinent information: • 43 Pool A, one Pool B, 20 Pool C bids • Regional rankings published on Oct. 19, Oct. 26, Nov. 2, Nov. 6 (Selection Day) • Online selection show on Nov. 7 at 11:30 a.m. central • Regionals Nov. 10-12 and Nov. 11-13 • Finals Nov. 17-19 in Oshkosh

The national committee is comprised of chair Ellen Dempsey (AD at Hiram) along with Beth Wilmeth (HC at Northwestern), Matt Schoultz (HC at Lawrence), Moira Long (HC at Springfield), Ed Garza (HC at Austin), Becky Hall (AD at Oglethorpe), Don Perkins (HC at Kean) and Marie Stroman (assoc. ED at Middle Atlantic Conference).

The Pool B bid will (perhaps) go to one of these teams: Trinity (D.C.); Valley Forge; Finlandia; Mount Mary; Maranatha Baptist; Pine Manor; New Rochelle; SUNY Canton; Rust; Mills; UC Santa Cruz.

Maranatha Baptist, SUNY Canton and Valley Forge have traditionally declared for the NCCAA Championship and list NCCAA regionals and finals on their sites again this season. If that’s the case, we’ll see whether UC Santa Cruz can finish above .500 this season.

However there is this caveat written in the Manual:

(Note: The number of berths for Pools B and C may be adjusted based on sponsorship numbers at the time of selections.)

Bear with me here … According to my math, the access ratio for this year’s season is 416 full-member teams in AQ leagues ÷ 43 AQ leagues = 9.674, which gets truncated to 9. With 11 Pool B teams listed in the Manual, there certainly appears to be enough teams for a Pool B bid. But if three declare NCCAA – and I’ve never understood why Rust is eligible for the D III postseason even if it gets a scheduling waiver – it could be a photo finish whether there will be a Pool B berth or 21 Pool C’s. If three declare NCCAA, my math says there should be 21 Pool C berths.

The FAQ page has been updated.

-Ricky Nelson