The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) volleyball tournament is divided into four divisions, namely men's, women's, boys' and girls'. Volleyball is a mandatory sport in the women's division. The UAAP volleyball tournament was held in the first semester of the school year until the UAAP Board decided to move it to the second semester in Season 69 (school year 2006–2007). This decision was made so that the games can be televised to improve its popularity. Tournament format The tournament begins with a double round robin group stage, where a team meets its opponent twice in a season. A semi-finals round composed of the top four teams follows, after which the top two teams meet in a best-of-three series Finals. In the semi-Finals, the top four teams based on team standings (and tie-breakers, if applicable) from the group stage battle for a Finals slot. The two top seeds have a twice-to-beat advantage, that is they must be beaten twice in order to be eliminated. The lower seeds, on the other hand, are eliminated when they are defeated once. The surviving teams face off in a best-of-three Finals, where the team which notches two wins wins the championship. If a team wins all of the games in the group stage, the step ladder format is used, where the unbeaten team has a bye to the Finals. The third and fourth seed will figure in a knockout game; the winner of that game will face the second seed which has a twice-to-beat advantage. The surviving team meets the first seed team in the Finals. From 2012 to 2015, the first seed team holds a thrice-to-beat advantage (or an automatic 1–0 lead in a best-of-five Finals) for sweeping the group stage. Starting 2016, all volleyball Finals series will be a best-of-three affair, but the rest of the regular and step ladder semi-Finals formats will remain in place. List of volleyball champions Early years The UAAP founded by FEU, NU, UP and UST in 1938. First expansion Adamson, MCU, UM and UE added; only Adamson and UE were retained. Second expansion Ateneo was accepted as a member in 1978. Third expansion La Salle was accepted as a member in 1986. Final Four era Current tournament format introduced. Tournament for juniors' division are added on the second year of implementation of Final Four. Number of championships by school Note Statistics (Final Four Era) Longest