During the 2010 season, after Stanford put an end to “The Streak” by soundly beating Penn State in the inaugural Nike Big Four Volleyball Classic Gainseville, Florida, there was considerable discussion about whether there was greater “parity” in NCAA Division 1 volleyball this season. Although that discussion generated considerable heat in some venues (the answer depends, of course, on how one defines “parity,” and there were fiercely differing opinions on that particular question), no concensus emerged. We decided to take a look at how the Final Four teams stacked up in the 13-year period from 1998 to 2010 (an arbitrary choice that did, admittedly, permit us to include all of Penn State’s National Championship teams) in terms of wins and losses, both for matches and for sets.

The results suggest, at least to us, that this year’s Final Four field reflected a more competitive landscape (or, another way of saying it, the lack of one or two dominant teams) than in past years.

For example, looking at the W-L record of the Final Four teams during the 13 year sample period, five of the 13 Champions were undefeated, and four others lost only one match all season. Penn State’s 2010 Champions lost five matches, to rank 12th, edging out Stanford’s 2004 team, which went 30-6.

Looking at the 2nd Place teams, California’s 2010 runners-up are tied with Stanford’s 2006 team for 10th place, both with 30-4 records.

As for the Semi-Finalists, Texas (27-6) and USC (23-6) ranked 20th and 21st, respectively, among the 26 Semi-Finalist teams during the period. 

The picture is pretty much the same for the won-loss records for sets.  During the 13 year period, five champions lost 10 or fewer sets.  Penn State’s 2010 champions rank 11th in fewest sets lost (20), edging only 2001 Stanford (21 sets lost),  and 2004 Stanford (35 sets lost).  Looking at all 52 teams, 2010 Penn State ranks 27th, 2010 California ranks 32nd (23 sets lost), 2010 Texas ranks 45th (34 sets lost), and 2010 USC ranks 48th (36 sets lost). 

Some undoubtedly will argue that this proves it was a weak Final Four field for 2010.  We think it argues parity, but to each her or his own. 

Take a look.  The table is sortable, which means you can reorder the rows by clicking on the arrows at the top of each column.

Won Lost Records (Matches and Sets): Final Four Teams from 1998 to 2010

Year	Team	Conference	NCAA Finish	Wins (Matches)	Losses (Matches)	Wins (Sets)	Losses (Sets)
2008	Penn State	Big Ten	First	38	0	114	2
2009	Penn State	Big Ten	First	38	0	114	8
1998	Long Beach	Big West	First	36	0	108	8
2003	USC	Pac 10	First	35	0	105	8
2000	Nebraska	Big 12	First	34	0	102	13
1999	Penn State	Big Ten	First	36	1	110	15
2006	Nebraska	Big 12	First	33	1	101	14
2005	Washington	Pac 10	First	32	1	98	10
2002	USC	Pac 10	First	31	1	95	12
2007	Penn State	Big Ten	First	34	2	104	18
2001	Stanford	Pac 10	First	33	2	101	21
2010	Penn State	Big Ten	First	32	5	103	20
2004	Stanford	Pac 10	First	30	6	98	35
2001	Long Beach	Big West	Second	33	1	NA	NA
1998	Penn State	Big Ten	Second	34	1	104	6
2003	Florida	SEC	Second	36	2	109	8
2005	Nebraska	Big 12	Second	33	2	101	15
2009	Texas	Big 12	Second	29	2	91	13
2007	Stanford	Pac 10	Second	32	3	101	24
1999	Stanford	Pac 10	Second	31	3	95	18
2000	Wisconsin	Big Ten	Second	33	4	NA	NA
2008	Stanford	Pac 10	Second	31	4	95	23
2006	Stanford	Pac 10	Second	30	4	92	19
2010	California	Pac 10	Second	30	4	95	23
2004	Minnesota	Big Ten	Second	33	5	105	34
2002	Stanford	Pac 10	Second	32	5	102	27
2003	Hawaii	WAC	Semi-finals	36	2	109	16
2002	Hawaii	WAC	Semi-finals	34	2	102	12
1998	Nebraska	Big 12	Semi-finals	32	2	99	16
2000	Hawaii	WAC	Semi-finals	31	2	95	16
2001	Nebraska	Big 12	Semi-finals	31	2	94	14
1998	Florida	SEC	Semi-finals	35	3	107	24
2002	Florida	SEC	Semi-finals	34	3	105	17
2009	Hawaii	WAC	Semi-finals	32	3	100	17
1999	Pacific	Big West	Semi-finals	32	3	NA	NA
2008	Nebraska	Big 12	Semi-finals	31	3	97	21
2000	USC	Pac 10	Semi-finals	29	3	87	20
2004	Washington	Pac 10	Semi-finals	28	3	89	23
2006	UCLA	Pac 10	Semi-finals	33	4	104	24
1999	Long Beach	Big West	Semi-finals	31	4	95	23
2008	Texas	Big 12	Semi-finals	29	4	94	24
2006	Washington	Pac 10	Semi-finals	29	5	92	26
2007	USC	Pac 10	Semi-finals	29	5	91	35
2005	Santa Clara	WCC	Semi-finals	27	5	88	30
2001	Arizona	Pac 10	Semi-finals	25	5	79	25
2010	USC	Pac 10	Semi Finals	29	6	91	36
2010	Texas	Big 12	Semi Finals	27	6	84	34
2004	USC	Pac 10	Semi-finals	23	6	76	32
2007	California	Pac 10	Semi-finals	26	8	87	36
2009	Minnesota	Big Ten	Semi-finals	28	9	88	41
2003	Minnesota	Big Ten	Semi-finals	26	11	85	49
2005	Tennessee	SEC	Semi-finals	19	12	70	49