Volleyball Tiebreaker Policy
MAAC Sports
Section 17.4 ? Volleyball Tie-Breaker
Two-Way Tie
A. If there is
a tie(s) for any place(s) in the standings, then the results of the in-season head-to-head
competition shall be used to break that tie.
If the tied teams split the in-season head-to-head competition, proceed
to B below.
B. The next
step is to compare the total number of games (within a match) won in the
head-to-head matches between the teams involved in the two-way tie. The
tied teams shall be seeded in order of games won. The team with the most
games won is seeded highest. If both teams in the two-way tie remain tied,
proceed to C.
C. The next
step is to compare the point differential in matches between the tied
teams. The tied teams shall be seeded in order of point
differential. The team with the best point differential is seeded
highest. If both teams in the two-way tie remain tied, proceed to D.
D. The next
step in breaking a two-way tie is each team’s record vs. the team occupying the
highest position in the league, continuing down through the division standings
until one team gains an advantage. For steps D-F, when arriving at a
group of tied teams while comparing records, use each team’s record against the
collective tied teams as a group (prior to their own tie-breaking procedure).
If the teams in the two-way tie remain tied, proceed to E.
E. The next
step is to compare the number of games (within a match) won against all
conference teams. The tied teams shall be seeded in order of games
won. The team with the most games won is seeded highest. If both teams in
the two-way tie remain tied, proceed to F.
F. The next
step is to compare the point differential in all conference matches. The
tied teams shall be seeded in order of point differential. The team with
the best point differential is seeded highest. If both teams in the two-way tie
remain tied, proceed to General Tie Breaking rules.
Multiple-Team Tie (3 or
more teams)
A. For either
single or multiple round-robin sports, three or more teams tied are viewed as a
“mini-conference” when comparing head-to-head results. The team with the best
record vs. the other teams in the mini-conference gains the advantage. If all
the teams in the mini-conference have the same mini-conference record, proceed
to B below. If two or more teams, but not all, have the same best record in the
mini-conference, only those specific teams advance to the next tiebreaker step.
After the top team(s) in a
mini-conference is determined, the next team is ranked by its record in the
original mini-conference. If there are two remaining teams tied by their record
in the mini-conference, then head-to-head results will determine the higher
seed. If the teams split their games then proceed to B below. If there are
three or more teams remaining tied by their record in the mini-conference, they
would then form a new mini-conference and follow the procedure again starting
at A.
B. The next
step is to compare the number of games (within a match) won against the tied
teams. The tied teams shall be seeded in order of games won. The team with the
most games won is seeded highest. If all teams in the mini-conference remain
tied, proceed to C. If some, but not all of the teams remain tied, then those
that are still tied teams start the tie-breaking process over to determine
their seed within the mini conference.
C. The next
step is to compare the point differential in matches against the tied teams.
The tied teams shall be seeded in order of point differential. The team with
the best point differential is seeded highest. If all teams in the
mini-conference remain tied, proceed to D. If some, but not all of the teams
remain tied, then those teams that are still tied start the tie-breaking
process over to determine their seed.
D. The next
step in breaking all or part of a mini-conference tie is each team’s record vs.
the team occupying the highest position in the league, continuing down through
the division standings until one team gains an advantage. For steps D-F, when
arriving at another group of tied teams while comparing records, use each
team’s record against the collective tied teams as a group (prior to their own
tie-breaking procedure). If all teams in the mini-conference remain tied,
proceed to E. If some, but not all of the teams remain tied, then those tied
teams start the tie-breaking process over to determine their seed within the
mini-conference.
E. The next
step is to compare the number of games (within a match) won against all
conference teams. The tied teams shall be seeded in order of game won. The team
with the most games won is seeded highest. If all teams in the mini-conference
remain tied, proceed to F. If some, but not all of the teams remain tied, then
those teams that are still tied start the tie-breaking process over to
determine their seed.
F. The next
step is to compare the point differential in all conference matches. The tied
teams shall be seeded in order of point differential. The team with the best
point differential is seeded highest. If all teams in the mini-conference
remain tied, proceed to General Tie Breaking Rules. If some, but not all of the
teams remain tied, then those teams that are still tied start the tie-breaking
process over to determine their seed.
General Tie Breaking rules
A. When
comparing scores for a tiebreaker, a win takes precedent over a tie, and a tie
takes precedent over a loss.
B. If ties
still exist after step F, then the Commissioner or his designee shall use a
coin toss to break the tie.