NCAA womens volleyball playoffs

[nwhoopfan]

Starting up today.

First match of the day and we already have an upset. Loyola of Chicago swept BYU.


What do we think? Can Pitt break thru and win a Championship? Is Nebraska primed for another title run? Someone else?

 

[nwhoopfan]

My brain is turning to mush. Looking at past champs, I didn't even realize Texas is current 2 time defending champs. Nebraska hasn't won a Title since 2017, Stanford in 2019. We've gone a few years of somebody other than Stanford, Penn St. or Nebraska winning it all.

 

[bballnut90]

Starting up today.

First match of the day and we already have an upset. Loyola of Chicago swept BYU.


What do we think? Can Pitt break thru and win a Championship? Is Nebraska primed for another title run? Someone else?

Many think it’s headed for a Pitt/Nebraska showdown. The matchup wouldn’t shock me, but I also think it’s far from a sure thing. Pitt has looked like the front runner this year with their trio of Babcock/Stafford/Fairbanks but they nearly lost to Georgia Tech finishing the season. Nebraska also lost to Penn State to finish the year but has been excellent throughout. Their solid at every position but lack elite play on the OH compared to Nebraska.

Wisconsin is one to keep an eye on. They’ve been shaky all year but Sarah Franklin is as good as anyone in the country and they’re taller than anyone else. Louisville has been solid this year but I think they’re ripe to get upset in the regionals. They have home court advantage the entirety of the tournament though and are typically one of the best coached teams in the country. Penn State is very good too, though I don’t expect them to win it all. I don’t think Stanford has it in them to win. Texas has seemed off all year but they have Skinner and won the last 2. I’d probably bet on Pitt right now but it feels like an open field.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I'm happy my Huskies are back in the field after missing out last year. Up and down year, didn't finish well. Probably won't last long. If they can manage to upset Loyola Marymount in the first round they'd have the tough task of facing long time foe Stanford in Maples.

 

[nwhoopfan]

ACC has been strong for a number of years w/ Pitt and Louisville obviously. Adding Stanford wasn't going to hurt of course. Did anyone expect SMU to get a #2 seed?

 

[nwhoopfan]

I didn't follow very closely this year. I did enjoy watching Arizona St. several matches. I think they are another surprise team that did better in their new home than was probably expected.

 

[Vowelguy]

9 teams from sec big acc
6 from b12

 

[nwhoopfan]

9 teams from sec big acc
6 from b12

If I counted right 6 of those are former Pac 12 FWIW.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Oof, Washington about to get swept in the first round. I remember when they were a really solid program. Wasn't very long ago. Not quite sure what happened.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Wait, what?! UW was down 20-15 in the 3rd set, that's lights out, right? While I wasn't paying attention, they came back to force a 5th set...only to ultimately still lose. Bummer.

edit--19-17 in the 5th set, that match must've been murder on the nerves for fans of both teams

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Of all things I didn't know, there is the equivalent of the WNIT for Volleyball as well, Arizona is playing in the 2nd round tomorrow, at home. They had a first round bye.

Largely, they beat a lot of so-so out of conference teams before struggling early in the Big 12. In the end, I think they finished with 7 straight, went 9-9 in the Big 12, and maybe 20-9 over all. Had some NCAA hopes but I was correctly doubtful.

 

[Plebe]

Of all things I didn't know, there is the equivalent of the WNIT for Volleyball as well, Arizona is playing in the 2nd round tomorrow, at home. They had a first round bye.

Largely, they beat a lot of so-so out of conference teams before struggling early in the Big 12. In the end, I think they finished with 7 straight, went 9-9 in the Big 12, and maybe 20-9 over all. Had some NCAA hopes but I was correctly doubtful.

Arizona was one of the "first four out" of an at-large bid, and FWIW the resident bracketologist on Volleytalk thought they should've been in.

The NIVC has been around for quite a few years. UConn made it in (remarkable considering they were an 8-win team a year ago) and just advanced from the "Super 16" to the "Great 8".

 

[Vowelguy]

9 teams from sec big acc
6 from b12

1st Rnd winners:
7 7 7
5 b12
2 bge
4 other

 

[nwhoopfan]

Oklahoma is giving Pitt all they can handle. Didn't expect that. Sooners are 15-10, but apparently they beat Texas on the road this season.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Northern Iowa has taken Louisville to a 5th set. #1 seeds having their hands full getting out of the 2nd Round feels like something new.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Louisville survived, but had to got to 22-20 in the 5th set.

Pitt is finally putting their foot down. Will probably get the sweep, but set 1 and 2 were extremely competitive. Panthers had to fend off several set points in the 1st.

 

[Plebe]

Oklahoma is giving Pitt all they can handle. Didn't expect that. Sooners are 15-10, but apparently they beat Texas on the road this season.

Wow, so your unique jinxing powers extend to all sports, not just women's basketball?

 

[Vowelguy]

1st Rnd winners:
7 7 7
5 b12
2 bge
4 other

5 big
2 acc
2 bge
3 sec
1 oth

Thru to QF

Last 3:
ACC/oth
Sec/b12
Sec/b12

 

[Plebe]

Florida wins at Kansas 15-13 in set 5, and TAMU got hot and stayed hot winning in 4 at ASU.

If my counting is right, that makes 4 Big 12 teams that lost on their home court to lower-seeded teams in the second round:
4 Baylor to 5 Dayton in 5
4 Utah to 5 Marquette in 5
3 ASU to 6 TAMU in 4
3 Kansas to 6 Florida in 5

 

[bballnut90]

Most compelling regional matchups to keep an eye on.

3. Texas vs. 2. Creighton. Creighton has been so good all year, Texas has not. But Texas is the 2x defending champions and have Madi Skinner who can be unstoppable when she's on.

2. Stanford vs. 6. Florida. Both teams have elite setters, Stanford looks like the stronger team, Kennedy Martin is one of the best hitters in the country though.

1. Louisville vs. 4. Purdue. Louisville nearly lost at home to Northern Iowa, Purdue is a solid team that has enough talent to pull off an upset.

 

[Vowelguy]

5 big
2 acc
2 bge
3 sec
1 oth

Thru to QF

Last 3:
ACC/oth
Sec/b12
Sec/b12

5/5
3 acc
0 b12
2 bge
1 a10

 

[nwhoopfan]

Wow, so your unique jinxing powers extend to all sports, not just women's basketball?

Probably. I wasn't predicting on OU win, just noted that they were playing very tough. That held up until most of the way thru the 3rd set.

 

[Plebe]

Most compelling regional matchups to keep an eye on.

3. Texas vs. 2. Creighton. Creighton has been so good all year, Texas has not. But Texas is the 2x defending champions and have Madi Skinner who can be unstoppable when she's on.

2. Stanford vs. 6. Florida. Both teams have elite setters, Stanford looks like the stronger team, Kennedy Martin is one of the best hitters in the country though.

1. Louisville vs. 4. Purdue. Louisville nearly lost at home to Northern Iowa, Purdue is a solid team that has enough talent to pull off an upset.

Jaela Auguste, the freshman middle for Florida, is a player I watched in high school and am very impressed by. I believe she won SEC FOY this year? Between her and Stuckey and Martin, I find Florida easy to root for.

 

[donalddoowop]

I am and have been for many years, a Penn State fan.