Volleyball tournament continues with sixteen teams
The Regional Semifinals are set, and great matchups are expected.
With the first weekend of play in the books, sixteen teams rev up for round three of the 2023 NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament, starting Thursday, December 7th. Take a look at the matchups below:
(2) Louisville vs. (3) Creighton
There's something in the water in Omaha. Creighton is on a 17-game winning streak, extending through the tournament's opening rounds, where they swept Colgate and the University of Minnesota on their home court. The Bluejays enter the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016, facing a supremely talented Louisville team that finished second in the ACC. The Cardinals are led by Elena Scott, Elle Glock, Cara Creese, and Phekrong Kong. The teams face off at 12:00 pm in Pittsburgh on ESPN2.
(1) Nebraska vs. (5) Georgia Tech
Nebraska is a juggernaut with only one loss to another one seed - Wisconsin. There's no getting around it. They cruised through the first two rounds of tournament play, not conceding a single set. The Huskers have already won 30 games this season; the last time that happened was in 2017, and they went on to win the national championship. Nebraska is also a host site for this round of play, making it a home game in front of a sold-out crowd of 8,00+ for the Huskers. That said, five-seed Georgia Tech is coming into this sweet 16 blazing hot. On Friday, they swept their first-round matchup and stunned four-seed Florida, 3-2, in round two. Will the Yellow Jackets be the team to take down this year's goliath? Tune in Thursday at 2:00 pm on ESPN2.
(1) Pittsburgh vs. (4) Washington State
Pitt, who finished the season an impressive 27-4, punches its ticket to the Sweet 16 for the 4th consecutive year, defeating USC in four sets on Saturday night, thanks in part to a stellar performance from Junior Setter Rachel Fairbanks, who has been a stalwart for the Panthers this season. Washington State beat Dayton handily on Saturday. The Cougars have talent, led by Senior Setter Argentina Ung, who is top 10 in the country in assists per set, and All-American Middle Blocker Magda Jehlárov. Catch this one at 2:30 pm on ESPNU.
(2) Kentucky vs. (3) Arkansas
2023 has been the year of the SEC in college volleyball. The veteran Wildcats, led by one of the more impressive senior groups in the country, won both matchups against the Razorbacks this season and again became outright SEC Champions. But Arkansas has momentum. They defeated a talented TCU team in round two on Saturday, with four players posting double-doubles. It's the school's first Sweet 16 appearance since 1998, and they do not look ready to go home yet. The two face off at 4:30 pm on ESPNU.
(1) Wisconsin vs. (5) Penn State
The Badgers look to avenge their four-set loss to Penn State from November 11th when first-team All-Big Ten Right Side Anna Smrek was injured. The Badgers rely on physicality, cracking the top ten nationally in hitting percentage and blocks-per-set. Penn State posted a 21-8 record and improved as the season went on. Even as a five-seed, counting out the Nittany Lions is impossible. Will Penn State pull off another upset, or will their season end in Madison? The two storied programs duke it out at primetime, 7 pm on Thursday on ESPN2.
(2) Texas vs. (3) Tennessee
The Horns swept their first two rounds at the dance, and the Vols nearly did the same, conceding only one set over two matches to Western Kentucky in round 2. Both want to make a deep run after inconsistency throughout the regular season. Senior Middle Blocker Asjia O'Nael and Junior Outside Hitter Madisen Skinner lead the Longhorns. Tennessee wins with redshirt freshman Setter Caroline Kerr, who ranks third in the country in assists per set, graduate students Right Side Morgahn Fingall, and Outside Hitter Jenaisya Moore—the two play on Thursday at 9:00 pm on ESPN2.
(2) Oregon vs. (3) Purdue
Oregon is a team heavy on seniors and grad students. They have yet to concede a set this tournament and rely on their fast-tempo offense and finesse to win. The two teams have played only three times in program history, and Purdue has won all three matches. Will Oregon's veteran savvy grant them a trip to the Elite 8? Or will the Boilermaker's underclassman Outside Hitters continue in the tradition of rolling the Ducks? Find out at 9:30 pm on ESPNU.
(1) Stanford vs. (5) Arizona State
Arizona State wiped the floor with Stanford, 3-0, the last time the two played. Stanford's out for blood but is likely a bit rattled as eight-seed Houston took them to five sets in the second round on Saturday. Arizona State, meanwhile, beat four-seed BYU 3-0 to reach the round of sixteen. Perhaps Stanford will get revenge, or will Arizona State continue its outstanding season? We'll find out Thursday, December 7th, at 11:30 pm on ESPNU.