The 2024 NCAA volleyball tournament begins on Thursday, December 5, with sixty-four teams competing, bracket-style, for the coveted title of NCAA DI volleyball champion. Despite seeding teams one through eight in each quadrant, a team’s ranking heading into the tournament does not guarantee success; this is anyone’s contest.

Here are some matchups we are looking forward to in the first round of the tournament:

No 5. TCU vs. Hawaii

On Thursday, the TCU Horned Frogs will take on the Hawaii Rainbow Wāhine in Eugene, Oregon. TCU will enter the match with confidence, coming off of one of the best seasons in program history. The Horned Frogs went 21-7 overall in 2024, with their first 20-win season since 2011. Thursday will mark their sixth tournament appearance overall and third straight. One of the players most expected to contribute to TCU’s tournament run is outside hitter Melanie Parra, who recently became the first volleyball player in TCU history to have two 34-kill matches and is an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Player of the Year semifinalist.

Hawaii is also coming off of a strong season. The Rainbow Wāhine punched their ticket to the tournament by defeating Cal Poly in four sets to win the Big West Conference championship. This was Hawaii’s fifth straight conference title, and they are hoping to improve upon last year’s tournament performance when they advanced to the second round before losing to Oregon. Last year, the Horned Frogs beat Hawaii in four sets in a non-conference tournament. This year, Hawaii is hoping that outside hitter Caylen Alexander, who ranks third in the nation in kills per set (5.15), can help lift them over their opponent.

MATCH DETAILS: Thursday, 12/5, 4pm EST, ESPN+

No. 6 Minnesota vs. Western Kentucky

The Minnesota Golden Gophers can be a force to be reckoned with when they are clicking. The 2024 season is the 29th year that the Gophers have advanced to the NCAA tournament and the 10th year in a row. The Gophers finished 20-10 this season, with big wins over two-seed Wisconsin and three-seed Texas. Minnesota will rely on the skills of middle blocker Phoebe Awoleye, who just earned the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award, and outside hitter Julia Hanson, the reigning National Player of the Week.

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are also a team you don’t want to mess with. In their 17th tournament appearance, the Hilltoppers are hoping to improve on last year’s performance, where they fell to Tennessee in the second round after defeating Coastal Carolina in the first. The player who is most likely to make a difference for Western Kentucky on Thursday is senior outside hitter Kaylee Cox. Cox hopes to take her team as far as possible before joining the Professional Volleyball Federation’s Columbus Fury in 2025.

MATCH DETAILS: Thursday, 12/5, 3:30 p.m. EST, ESPN+

Florida volleyball celebrates during a home game.

No 6. Florida vs. NC State

The Florida Gators are heading to the NCAA tournament for the 34th time in program history. This is the third-longest active streak in the nation, behind Penn State with 44 and Nebrasksa with 43. Florida has been injury prone, with this year no different. At the end of the regular season, their All-American setter, Alexis Stuckey, had to play as an outside hitter. The Gators hope that middle blocker Jaela Auguste, who was recently named SEC Freshman of the Year, and Kennedy Martin, an AVCA National Player of the Year semifinalist, will pass them past first-round opponents NC State.

NC State, on the other hand, has far less experience in the NCAA tournament. The Wolf Pack holds a 1-3 record in its only four tournament appearances, and their upcoming match on Friday will mark their first appearance since 2017. A bubble team, NC State, took down No. 8 Southern Methodist University to secure their spot. The player likely to make a difference for the Pack is senior opposite hitter Amanda Rice, who added 23 kills and seven blocks in the win over SMU.

MATCH DETAILS: Friday, 12/6, 5:00 p.m. EST, ESPN+

No. 7 Georgia Tech vs. Tennessee

When Georgia Tech and Tennessee face off, it will be the fourth time the two teams have met. Georgia Tech, making its fifth consecutive tournament appearance, wants to go big this year. The Yellow Jackets have maintained a stay in the top 25 polls for 85 weeks in a row. Seniors Tamara Otene and Bianca Bertolino, who recently earned All-ACC honors, will be the difference-makers in Thursday’s match.

Tennessee’s run in the 2023 NCAA tournament was one for the history books. The Lady Vols advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005, beating the High Point Panthers and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers along the way. Tennessee only finished sixth in the SEC this season, tied with Oklahoma and posting an 8-8 run, but they’re hoping that their mid-table finish won’t hold them back. Keep an eye on senior outside hitter Nina Cajic, who was named an All-SEC first-team player, and redshirt sophomore setter Caroline Kerr, who made the All-SEC second team.

MATCH DETAILS: Thursday, 12/5, 5:30 p.m. EST, ESPN+