EFHS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL
GOING TO STATE PLAYOFFS
GOING TO STATE PLAYOFFS
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Well, it's official! EFHS Volleyball's Varsity team ranks in the Top 8 and will advance to state playoffs!
The screenshot to the left shows the Top 8 teams advancing to state playoffs. This is NOT the order of teams ranking in the top 8. It's only the Top 8 teams. Teams 9-24 have to "play-in" to make it to the next round. Since we're in the Top 8, we get a bye. Check out the brackets for play-ins here. Once November 10th's play-ins are completed, we'll find out who we'll play in the first round of state at quarterfinals. The top 16 teams play November 14th! 4A State Championship brackets will be posted here. GETTING INTO THE GAMES
We will be hosting the first round of state playoffs at Estrella Foothills High School.
Please visit our State Playoffs page to sign up for sanitizing crews to get a free ticket! |
STATE VOLLEYBALL RANKINGS
UNDERSTANDING AIA RANKINGS AND PLAYOFFS
Update October 22, 2020 - Time sensitive information
Wondering what will happen over the next couple of weeks? Play-ins. Playoffs. Championships. It can get pretty confusing. So let’s break it down.
WHICH RANKINGS TO FOLLOW
Two organizations offer rankings of Arizona high school volleyball. One of them is MaxPreps. MaxPreps ranks our Varsity team as #829 in the nation, 3rd in our 4A Conference and 11th in Arizona.
But…. Arizona high school teams follow the rankings provided by AIA.
What is AIA? The Arizona Interscholastic Association is a voluntary association of public and private high schools overseeing activities such as girls high school volleyball.
AIA provides a convenient app called AZPreps365. Arizona teams rely on this app's local rankings, tournament schedules, rules, etc.
According to AIA/AZPreps365, Estrella Foothills Varsity volleyball is ranked #3 in our conference. AIA has 6 conferences.
Estrella Foothills Volleyball participates in the 4A Conference of which there are 47 teams.
Conferences are divided into regions. The 4A Conference has 8 regions. EFHS Volleyball is in the Southwest Region. We are currently ranked #1.
The rankings are updated every Tuesday through Friday at Noon. Or, if you have the AZPreps365 mobile app, you can see early updates at 10am.
But…. Arizona high school teams follow the rankings provided by AIA.
What is AIA? The Arizona Interscholastic Association is a voluntary association of public and private high schools overseeing activities such as girls high school volleyball.
AIA provides a convenient app called AZPreps365. Arizona teams rely on this app's local rankings, tournament schedules, rules, etc.
According to AIA/AZPreps365, Estrella Foothills Varsity volleyball is ranked #3 in our conference. AIA has 6 conferences.
Estrella Foothills Volleyball participates in the 4A Conference of which there are 47 teams.
Conferences are divided into regions. The 4A Conference has 8 regions. EFHS Volleyball is in the Southwest Region. We are currently ranked #1.
The rankings are updated every Tuesday through Friday at Noon. Or, if you have the AZPreps365 mobile app, you can see early updates at 10am.
HOW RANKINGS WORK - "STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE"
Why is there a difference in rankings between AIA and MaxPreps? It’s based on an algorithm.
Instead of predicting the future, the AIA algorithm analyzes past games and performances. If we win one night, we'll get the updated ranking the next day.
Instead of predicting the future, the AIA algorithm analyzes past games and performances. If we win one night, we'll get the updated ranking the next day.
AIA FAQs state: "The AIA Rankings are based on the algorithm derived utilizing statistical mathematics presented in a research paper titled: “A Solution to the Unequal Strength of Schedule Problem” by Roy Bethel in 2005 and developed by MaxPreps for nationwide high school sports."
The rankings seen on MaxPreps are predictive in nature as opposed to the “retrodictive” formula powering the AIA Seedings which looks at games that occurred in the past. While both process results from thousands of games nationwide, the “retrodictive” formula was determined to be more appropriate for post-season seedings,” explains AIA.
Invitational tournaments are NOT included in the AIA rankings. For example, our overall record a year ago, October 22, 2019 - was 25-3. 10 of those games occurred during the Wolves Classic and the Coconino Classic in Flagstaff. Those games didn’t count toward our overall region or conference rankings. In the AIA, we were 15-0 in overall PowerPoints based on the schedule put in place by the AIA.
Why, then, were we ranked #2 in the 4A Conference if we had the most wins? Because the strength of schedule of the team ahead of us was just a bit stronger. We might find this situation this year, too.
Why, then, were we ranked #2 in the 4A Conference if we had the most wins? Because the strength of schedule of the team ahead of us was just a bit stronger. We might find this situation this year, too.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The top 8 teams in each conference get a bye as they automatically advance to the State Playoffs.
Teams ranked #9 through #24 will compete in a Conference Play-In Tournament. The tops teams in this bracket must "play in" to get to playoffs.
Teams ranked #9 through #24 will compete in a Conference Play-In Tournament. The tops teams in this bracket must "play in" to get to playoffs.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
State Championships for Arizona High School Girls Volleyball begin November 14th. See the brackets here.
Round 1: Teams #1-16 play each other November 14th. Games start at 6:30pm and will be held at the location of the “high seed” or the team with the higher ranking.
Quarterfinals: Teams #1-8 play November 17th at the “high seed” starting at 6:30pm.
Semifinals: Teams #1-4 play November 19th at the “high seed” starting at 6:30pm.
Finals: The top two remaining teams play November 21st. Time and location TBD.
To find Championship information regarding all conferences, please visit this link.
Quarterfinals: Teams #1-8 play November 17th at the “high seed” starting at 6:30pm.
Semifinals: Teams #1-4 play November 19th at the “high seed” starting at 6:30pm.
Finals: The top two remaining teams play November 21st. Time and location TBD.
To find Championship information regarding all conferences, please visit this link.
ONE GAME AT A TIME
For now, we continue to root on our Lady Wolves.
It's most important to stay healthy. We need 9 scheduled matches in order to qualify for state championships.
4A (16-team bracket): In order to qualify, a school must have scheduled a minimum of nine (9) matches. Based on region standings, the top team in each region will earn an automatic bid at minimum to the conference play-in tournament. The conference play-in tournament will match up teams ranked No. 9 through No. 24. In addition, any region champion in the play-in tournament will be reseeded to be at minimum a No. 16 seed and guaranteed a home match. Teams ranked No. 1 through No. 8, along with the eight winning teams from the conference play-in tournament, will make up the 16-team state tournament. The state tournament bracket will be seeded according to overall ranking of the 16 teams. The state tournament will consist of four rounds and be single elimination.
It’s one game at a time. The Booster Club supports all of our teams, athletes and coaches. No matter the outcome, our teams have built upon Estrella Foothills High School history and we’re so proud of all they have accomplished! Go Wolves!!
It's most important to stay healthy. We need 9 scheduled matches in order to qualify for state championships.
4A (16-team bracket): In order to qualify, a school must have scheduled a minimum of nine (9) matches. Based on region standings, the top team in each region will earn an automatic bid at minimum to the conference play-in tournament. The conference play-in tournament will match up teams ranked No. 9 through No. 24. In addition, any region champion in the play-in tournament will be reseeded to be at minimum a No. 16 seed and guaranteed a home match. Teams ranked No. 1 through No. 8, along with the eight winning teams from the conference play-in tournament, will make up the 16-team state tournament. The state tournament bracket will be seeded according to overall ranking of the 16 teams. The state tournament will consist of four rounds and be single elimination.
- 4A: Teams ranked Nos. 1-8, and eight (8) conference play-in winners
It’s one game at a time. The Booster Club supports all of our teams, athletes and coaches. No matter the outcome, our teams have built upon Estrella Foothills High School history and we’re so proud of all they have accomplished! Go Wolves!!
