Points/Set Standings (10/5/21)

Here is the weekly Points/Set article. I’m waiting on “Ned” to send me his SOS numbers so I can update the Watch List and do the Region X Top 8. If he sends me his QWI update then I’ll put out the National Review, too. (Yes, these were all passive-aggressive reminders to “Ned”.)

(This part will be repeated for each article.) Points/Set is a measure of the ability of teams to create their own scoring. This is done through kills, service aces and blocks (team blocks). This along with hitting percentage are two of the most important indicators of a successful team and a team that has a chance at the national championship, in my opinion. Please note that my number will differ slightly than each team’s statistical page because triple blocks, in my calculations, only count as a single team block or one point. They count 1.5 points elsewhere. My numbers are also collected manually so I admit I can mess up at times. I am also at the mercy of published box scores but will try to pull in late box scores whenever they appear. As a general rule of thumb, reaching a Points/Set number of 18+ means you are an elite team. Only a few programs each year do this for a season. 17+ means that you are an outstanding team and likely to make the NCAA Tournament unless you are MIT for some reason. If you want any chance at an NCAA Tournament at-large bid then you must be above 16 Points/Set. This is a mark of a good team. Points/Set is impacted by the level of your opponent. It’s harder to generate your own points against good teams. You would think playing really bad teams would also hamper a team’s number due to unforced errors but I really don’t see this in my research as service aces are the great equalizers in these contests. The other negative drag on this statistic is playing in 5-set matches as the fifth set only goes to 15.

Here is the Region X Points/Set Standings as of 10/4/21:

Top 5 is the same (again) with Trinity breaking their tie with UCSC and moving into second all alone. Top 10 saw Austin College fall out after playing tough opponents in Trinity and Southwestern this past weekend. Pomona-Pitzer not only jumped into the Top 10 put also improved their P/S number to above 16. HSU also went above the 16-point mark, which gives us 10 teams at that number or higher.

As I mentioned, we now have 10 teams sitting at 16 P/S or higher with (again) 5 sitting 17 P/S or higher. Joining CMS is Trinity at the “elite” mark of 18 P/S. The conference break down is ASC (3), C2C (1), NWC (1), SCAC (3) and SCIAC (2). Where the SCAC was dominating early, we now have a more even representation of all of the conferences.  

Some interesting items as we go down the standings:

• Mary Hardin-Baylor continues to climb and has now moved past UT-Dallas.

• Whitworth continues to climb. This isn’t unexpected as they were thought to be the class of the conference. Still, some tough road matches ahead for them.

• Pomona-Pitzer continues to climb and is playing some good volleyball right now.

• HSU continues to put up some nice numbers in their matches.

• McMurry had a big drop this week and you have to think it’s C-Word related. The team just can’t be in full swing after cancelling matches.

• ETBU Point/Set number seems a little low for how they are playing. I haven’t looked but one answer might be they are just really good defensively. Looking at their Tuesday matches, they pulled a 15.67 and a 17.3. They held their opponents to 11.3 and 5.33.

• If we want to figure out the top 4 seeds (their tournament only takes 4) for the SCIAC based on Points/Set its CMS, Pomona-Pitzer, Chapman and La Verne. Not a good sign for Cal Lu or Oxy.

• Huge jump for LeTourneau this week. Another team that battled the C-Word that might be doing better now.

• Good jump for Concordia.

This past week we saw the following teams hit the 20 Points/Set:

• CMS (20.67) against Caltech

• Trinity (20.67) against Austin College

• Pomona-Pitzer (20) against Cal Lutheran

• Cal Lutheran (22.67) against Whittier

We also saw the following matches have the “loser” in the Points/Set statistic win the match:

• Occidental (15) beat Redlands (16.5) in 4-sets

• George Fox (14.6) beat Pacific (15.2) in 5-sets

• LeTourneau (16) beat HSU (16.67) in 4-sets

Noticed Centenary pulled a 19.5 beating Schreiner in 4-sets. Schreiner had an 18 P/S number. Both teams had their offense going in this one.