2024 Season Playoff Overview
Boys Volleyball - 2024 Diocesan Championship Playoffs
The top eight (8) teams from each Section (JV & Varsity) will make the playoffs. If multiple teams are tied for 2nd - 7th place in a Section (same win/loss record), then individual head-to-head match results will be used to determine their respective rankings. If there is a three-way tie for 2nd - 7th place in a Section and those three (3) teams all went 1-1 when playing each other during the regular season (Team A defeated Team B, Team B defeated Team C, and Team C defeated Team A), then a coin toss conducted by the League Director (or other logic the League Director deems appropriate) will be used to determine the final ranking of each team. If there is a three-way tie based on win/loss record, but Team A and Team B both defeated Team C, then Team C is automatically the lowest ranked team of the three (3), and the regular season head-to-head match result for Team A vs. Team B will be used to determine their respective rankings.
Saturday, May 11, 2024 will be used to play "Tie-Breaker" matches. This will only be needed if there is a three-way tie for 1st place, or 8th place, in a Section and those three (3) teams all went 1-1 when playing each other during the regular season (Team A defeated Team B, Team B defeated Team C, and Team C defeated Team A). If there is a three-way tie based on win/loss record, but Team A and Team B both defeated Team C, then Team C is automatically the lowest ranked team of the three (3), and the regular season head-to-head match result for Team A vs. Team B will be used to determine their respective rankings.
Playoff Seeding (once the Playoff Brackets are established, there will not be any re-seeding of teams based on prior round results):
1 - 8: Based on Final Regular Season Records (ties broken using criteria outlined above).
Brackets & First Round Matches (Match Venue determined by League Director):
#1 vs. #8
#4 vs. #5
#3 vs. #6
#2 vs. #7
Please refer to the Brackets on the League Website for the Match Dates, Match Times, Venues, and Teams.
The Section Champion and 2nd Place Team are eligible to host the First Round of the playoffs provided their gym meets the following criteria:
- There is at least six (6) feet of open area beyond both end lines of the court for the server to stand in.
- There is at least four (4) feet of playable area beyond both sidelines of the court.
- The ceiling is of sufficient height to allow proper three-hit play (the League Director has sole discretion on this topic).
- Their gym is available at least one (1) day during playoff week.
For playoffs, the fee for the official(s) is $40 per match. The host school will pay 100% of the fees for all matches played at their school (regardless if they have a team playing in each match). The host school will keep all proceeds from admissions, 50/50 raffles, and concessions. If a Varsity match has two (2) officials, the League will cover the cost of the second official.
JV & Varsity Championships (Final Four)
Sunday, May 19, 2024
Msgr. Keane Activities Building Sacred Heart Parish, 6225 Alder Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Semi-Finals, Consolation, and Championship
Doors open: 12:00 PM
Play begins: 1:00 PM
- 12:30 PM - Coaches Meeting (all JV & Varsity Coaches must attend)
- 12:35 PM - Presentation of JV & Varsity Section Champion Plaques
- 12:40 PM - Diocesan Prayer (all JV & Varsity teams)
- 12:45 PM - Coin Toss / Warm-Ups (5-5-5) for Varsity Semi-Final Matches
- 1:00 PM - Varsity Semi-Final Matches: Winner of #1 & #8 vs. Winner of #4 & #5 and Winner of #2 & #7 vs. Winner of #3 & #6
- ASAP (be ready at 1:30 PM) - Coin Toss / Warm-Ups (5-5-5) for JV Semi-Final Matches
- ASAP - JV Semi-Final Matches: Winner of #1 & #8 vs. Winner of #4 & #5 and Winner of #2 & #7 vs. Winner of #3 & #6
- ASAP - Coin Toss / Warm-Ups (2-2-2) for JV & Varsity Consolation Matches
- ASAP - JV & Varsity Consolation Matches featuring Semi-Final Losers (one {1} set to 25, no cap). Note: If same coach involved in both JV & Varsity consolation matches, the matches will be played in succession instead of simultaneously with Varsity going first.
- ASAP - Presentation of 3rd Place Medals (while gym is converted to single court)
- ASAP - Coin Toss / Warm-Ups (2-2-2) for Varsity Diocesan Championship Match
- ASAP - Varsity Diocesan Championship Match featuring Semi-Final Winners
- ASAP - Presentation of Team Trophies & Medals
- ASAP - Coin Toss / Warm-Ups (2-2-2) for JV Diocesan Championship Match
- ASAP - JV Diocesan Championship Match featuring Semi-Final Winners
- ASAP - Presentation of Team Trophies & Medals
** Note: For the Varsity and JV Semi-Final Matches, the League Director reserves the right to swap teams if necessary to accomodate same coach of two (2) Varsity or JV teams.
All Matches are Best Of Three Sets except for the Consolation Match which will be one (1) set to 25 (no cap).
Workers: Coaches from teams that are not playing will be the line judges.
Thank you and good luck to all teams!! 
Answers to some playoff questions:
1. How many sets will the teams play?
All playoff matches will be the best of three, except the Consolation Match for 3rd place on Championship Sunday. The Consolation Match will be one set to 25 - win by 2 - no cap.
2. Will the 3rd set be played if one team wins in the first two sets?
No (including First Round Matches).
3. Who will pay the officials?
Host school pays the officials for Tie-Breaker Matches and First Round Matches. The League pays the officials for Sunday, May 19, 2024.
4. How are the section standings / playoff seedings determined?
1. Overall section record.
2. Head-to-head match wins only.
3. In the event of a bona fide three-way tie (as described above), tiebreaker matches will be played only if the tie is for the Section Championship or 8th Place. Otherwise, a coin flip (or other logic the League Director deems appropriate) will determine the seedings of the three teams that are tied.
Updated Wednesday, April 24, 2024