NCAA women's volleyball tournament preview

On Sunday night, the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament bracket was announced on ESPN. Each region is headlined by one of the top four teams in the nation, which are also the top seeds respectively, followed by seven other seeded teams and eight at-large bids.

This year, the committee recognized Pitt, Nebraska, Penn State, and Louisville as the top four seeds, enabling them to host all matchups until the Final Four, which will take place at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville.

With the field narrowed to 64 teams, let’s preview each region and highlight the biggest matchups.

Pittsburgh Region

Riding a 14-game win streak, the top-seeded Pitt Panthers (29-1) are primed for a deep tournament run. ACC Player of the Year Olivia Babcock and fellow All-ACC First Team members Torrey Stafford, Bre Kelley, and Rachel Fairbanks aim to lead the program to its fourth straight Final Four appearance and first championship match. The region features standout players like sixth-seed Minnesota’s Julia Hanson and Caylen Alexander of Hawaii.

The second-seeded SMU Mustangs (24-7), who handed Pitt its only loss this season on Oct. 12 at Moody Coliseum, could meet Pitt for a potential third matchup in the regional final. Fourth-seed Oregon (22-7) and fifth-seed TCU (21-7) are likely to face off in the second round—barring any first-round upsets—in a clash between top outside hitters Mimi Colyer and Big 12 Player of the Year Melanie Parra. Tournament newcomer UTEP (27-5) rounds out the group.

Team to watch: Kentucky Wildcats (20-7)

Led by SEC Coach of the Year Craig Skinner, the Wildcats earned their eighth straight conference title last Wednesday against No. 24 Missouri and secured the No. 3 seed. Despite seven losses this season, Kentucky is on an 11-game win streak and led by senior setter Emma Grome, a three-time AVCA All-American, and SEC Player of the Year Brooklyn DeLeye. The Wildcats are poised for a deep run.

Nebraska Region

After clinching a share of their second straight Big Ten title with a win against Maryland on Saturday, the Cornhuskers (29-2) secured a top seed despite Friday’s loss to fellow one-seed Penn State at Rec Hall. Nebraska boasts a mix of experienced seniors and young talent, including sophomores Harper Murray, Bergen Reilly, Andi Jackson, and Laney Choboy. The team looks to avenge last year’s championship loss to Texas.

Second-seeded Wisconsin (23-6), a familiar rival, could be Nebraska’s biggest hurdle. The Badgers have a storied history with Nebraska, including last season’s “match of the century,” but they suffered two 3-0 losses to the Cornhuskers this year. Other notable teams in this region include No. 19 Georgia Tech (20-9), who nearly upset Pitt in its final regular-season game, and Big 12 champion No. 8 Arizona State (29-2).

Team to watch: Miami Hurricanes (21-10)

Eighth-seeded Miami might not stand out initially, but the Hurricanes have key wins over former No. 1 Texas, No. 5 Stanford, and regional foe Georgia Tech. Flormarie Heredia Colon and Grace Lopez lead the team in scoring and have the potential to disrupt this competitive region.

Penn State Region

Penn State (29-2) earned its biggest win of the season Friday night at Rec Hall against Nebraska, clinching a share of the Big Ten title for the first time since 2017. This victory boosted the Nittany Lions to No. 2 in the national rankings, their highest position all season. The performance gave freshman Izzy Starck her fifth Big Ten Setter of the Week award and redshirt freshman Caroline Jurevicius her first weekly award as Freshman of the Week.

Second-seeded Creighton (27-2), fresh off its 11th consecutive Big East title, looks to capitalize on its best season in program history. Head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth has built a powerhouse over 21 years and hopes to lead the Bluejays past the Sweet 16. Unseeded Ole Miss (17-11) is a potential dark horse, having pushed Texas to five sets last weekend. The Rebels face seventh-seed Florida State (21-9) in the first round.

Team to watch: Texas Longhorns (18-6)

The defending champions had a challenging season by their standards but remain dangerous. Three-seed Texas is led by Madisen Skinner, last year’s tournament Most Outstanding Player, and a core of 11 returning players. Texas aims to become only the fourth team in history to win three consecutive national championships.

Louisville Region

The selection committee’s decision to name Louisville (25-5) a top-four seed sparked controversy. The Cardinals lost their final two matches of the season to Pitt and No. 5 Stanford, the latter of which had a strong case for a top seed. As a result, Louisville benefits from potential home-court advantage through every round, including the Final Four right in its home arena, having already played seven matches there this year.

Fourth-seed Purdue (25-6), which went 16-4 in a competitive Big Ten Conference, could face fifth-seed BYU in the second round in what promises to be a thrilling matchup. This region also features one of the two tournament newcomers: Chicago State (19-9), along with at-large bids Illinois (18-12) and NC State (16-12), with the Wolfpack earning a spot after upsetting No. 10 SMU in a five-set thriller.

Team to watch: Florida Gators (21-7)

Kennedy Martin, the SEC’s leader in kills (492 in 113 sets), makes Florida a threat for an upset. With setter Alexis Stucky’s midseason return and standout performances from SEC Freshman of the Year Jaela Auguste, the Gators are capable of making a deep run under veteran head coach Mary Wise.

With the tournament set to begin Thursday, Dec. 5, this year’s bracket promises some of the most unpredictable and exciting volleyball yet. Catch all the action on ESPN networks!

Luke Armstrong is a first-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact him, email lea5382@psu.edu