The NCAA Men’s Volleyball Committee discussed the long-standing issue of bracket expansion during its annual meeting July 5-7 in San Francisco.

The committee previously recommended increasing the men’s field from four teams to eight teams in September 2005 — and the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet signed off on the idea — but funding wasn’t available in the next budget cycle. Thus, the championship will remain a four-team event.

But the volleyball committee is broaching the concept again for the next budget cycle in September 2007. Under the proposed plan, the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation would retain automatic-qualifier status. One at-large berth would be granted to each of the three geographic regions, with the final two berths being selected at large.

Regional allocations are allowed under a new Championships/Competition Cabinet directive regarding sports sponsored by less than 30 percent of the membership.

"The road to this championship is a tough one," said committee member Ron Shayka, the assistant athletics director of sports administration at George Mason University. "A number of teams in each region have dominated. The opportunity for additional teams to make the tournament might prompt other schools to consider adding the sport."

The committee also noted the establishment of a coach’s advisory panel this fall. The panel would include two coaches from each of the three automatic-qualifying conferences who would serve a three-year term. Terms will be staggered initially to prevent all members from having to be replaced at the same time.

The NCAA Men’s Volleyball Committee consists entirely of athletics administrators. The new advisory panel will allow coaches to share their day-to-day perspective with the committee. Panelists would not inappropriately influence selection decisions but would act more as regional advisory committees do for other sport committees.

"We’re trying to get ahead of the curve," Shayka said. "We can hear about which teams are playing well throughout the season, and when it comes down to making at-large bids, we would have some feedback throughout the year."

The panel also would be expected to provide thoughts on playing-rules changes that the committee should consider.