An motion packed weekend of volleyball whittled down the 2024 NCAA match area from 64 groups to a candy group of 16 groups vying for spots within the semifinals.
The volleyball world will now shift its focus to Pittsburgh, State Faculty, Lincoln and Louisville the place the highest seeded groups all superior to host the subsequent two rounds. As Pitt, Penn State, Louisville and Nebraska hope to cap off their residence area benefit and earn two extra wins to achieve the Remaining 4, let’s reset their areas and assess the issue — on a 1-10 scale — for every of these high seeds to advance to the semifinals.
Pitt Regional
No. 1 Pitt vs. No. 4 Oregon
Pitt has familiarity with the Geese, who performed host to the Panthers approach again in August in a match Oregon misplaced 3-0. Regardless of the sweep, the Geese saved the second and third units shut, shedding these solely 27-25 and 25-23.
Within the match, Oregon swept Excessive Level earlier than dropping the opening set in opposition to TCU within the second spherical. However they got here again with some spectacular and dominant volleyball to win 3-1 (19-25, 25-21, 25-11, 25-15). Exterior hitter Mimi Colyer had 19 kills and two aces en path to the victory. The Geese had 12 aces as a staff to simply 10 service errors, with that service strain resulting in lengthy runs that helped attain the dominant scoreline.
Pitt dealt with each its contests, first in opposition to Morehead State and second in opposition to Oklahoma. The Sooners gave the Panthers all they may deal with within the first set, forcing further factors at 28-26, however ultimately Pitt swept 3-0 to advance to the Candy Sixteen.
No. 3 Kentucky vs. No.7 Missouri
An all-SEC battle, Missouri upset the No. 2 seeded SMU Mustangs within the second spherical to advance. The Tigers had been led by outdoors hitter Mychael Vernon’s 23 kills whereas Jordan Iliff scored a double double of 16 kills and 10 digs together with 4 aces. The Tigers’ serving was essential, racking up 11 aces within the upset victory.
Missouri has an opportunity to get revenge on Kentucky, who beat them twice within the 12 months throughout convention play. The SEC Champion Wildcats will depend on outdoors hitter Brooklyn DeLeye, UK’s chief in kills who had double digit kills in each wins in opposition to the Tigers within the common season.
Problem score for No. 1 seed Pitt: 4. The Panthers have been the primary ranked staff just about all 12 months, however the Sooners out-blocked them 17-8 of their second spherical match. That may very well be a key for Oregon to try to pressure an upset, who’s the seventh greatest staff within the nation in blocks per set. Center blockers Colby Neal and Onye Ofoegbu would want to come back up massive for the Geese to pressure an upset.
It may very well be a tough check, however it’s simpler mentioned than carried out to settle down the Panthers’ star attackers Olivia Babcock, Torrey Stafford and Valeria Vazquez Gomez. I’d say Pitt has a tricky Candy 16 match, however a better match-up in opposition to both Kentucky or Missouri afterwards. Get by way of Oregon and issues ought to be clean crusing.
Penn State Regional
No. 1 Penn State vs. No. 5 Marquette
After dispatching Delaware State within the opening spherical, Penn State dropped a set in opposition to No. 8 North Carolina within the second spherical, however superior with a 3-1 win. Exterior hitter Jess Mruzik had 21 kills whereas the Nittany Lions tallied 13 blocks over the Tar Heels.
Marquette superior to the Candy Sixteen with wins over FGCU and a five-set thriller in Utah in opposition to the Utes. The Golden Eagles had a 2-0 lead earlier than permitting Utah to comeback and pressure a fifth set. However Marquette held the Utes to .000 hitting share within the ultimate set to finish the upset.
No. 2 Creighton vs. No. 3 Texas
Each the Bluejays and Longhorns acquired to this Candy Sixteen match off with two sweeps of their opening rounds.
Creighton was capable of sweep Ole Miss, even with the primary two units going further factors (28-26, 27-25). However the Bluejays took over within the final set, dominating the Rebels 25-7, hitting .583 whereas holding Ole Miss within the negatives.
The Bluejays will hope that stage of play reveals up in opposition to the two-time defending champion Longhorns. Texas acquired right here by beating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi then No. 6 seed USC. Madi Skinner had 23 kills within the three set win in opposition to the Trojans because the staff hit .316 general.
Problem score for No. 1 seed Penn State: 5. Penn State’s matchup in opposition to Marquette seems to be favorable. Utah out-blocked the Golden Eagles 17-7 regardless of the loss, and PSU is a bodily staff who might look to dominate.
The trail ought to get more durable within the Elite Eight matchup. Creighton has numerous offensive firepower with Norah Sis and Ava Martin each averaging over 3 kills per set. The Bluejays are the fifteenth greatest serving staff within the nation, with 1.91 aces per set. And naturally, Texas has Madi Skinner and their title pedigree that gained’t shrink even with a raucous residence crowd for Penn State.
Louisville Regional
No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 6 Florida
Stanford aced their opening two rounds, with sweeps over Sacramento State and Loyola Marymount. Exterior hitter Ella Rubin had 15 kills in every match whereas the Cardinal’s serve was harmful in each matchups, tallying 16 aces over the 2 matches.
In the meantime Florida beat NC State and gained a five-set thriller in an upset over the Kansas Jayhawks. Instantly traditional match, Florida’s star Kennedy Martin had 33 kills for the Gators — the fifth time she’s reached that mark on the 12 months.
No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 4 Purdue
Louisville dispatched Chicago State in its opening spherical match earlier than getting pushed to the sting by Northern Iowa within the second spherical. The Cardinals managed to beat the Panthers after being down 2-1 within the match, successful the final two units 25-13 then 22-20 — one other prompt traditional. The Cardinals had 25 blocks in that match whereas Anna DeBeer and Charitie Luper every had 19 kills.
Purdue’s path featured two straight sweeps over Western Michigan and Loyola Chicago, who upset No. 5 seed BYU. Purdue’s star outdoors hitter Eva Hudson is peaking on the proper time, with 20 kills in that final win over Loyola whereas hitting .563.
Problem score for No. 1 seed Louisville: 9. Perhaps that is additionally due to the actual fact Louisville seemed shaky within the second spherical, however that is the probably area the place the No. 1 seed falls brief.
The Cardinal simply knocked off Louisville earlier than the beginning of the match — and is perhaps much more motivated that it didn’t get the No. 1 general seed. Stanford had 4 gamers in double digit kills in that victory and has momentum. Don’t depend out Florida and Kennedy Martin both, who’s a star within the making within the sport. Purdue and Hudson seemed so spectacular in its two video games. All three of those groups appear to be they may tackle the Cardinals toe-to-toe. This ought to be field workplace, however may very well be a horror film for Louisville followers.
Nebraska regional
No. 2 Wisconsin vs. No. 6 Texas A&M
Wisconsin beat Fairfield 3-0 then Georgia Tech 3-1 to arrange a rematch in opposition to the Texas A&M Aggies, who the Badgers beat 3-0 again in September. The second greatest blocking staff within the nation, Wisconsin had 14 blocks to assist rally in opposition to the Yellow Jackets to advance to the Candy Sixteen. Massive Ten Participant of the Yr Sarah Franklin had 20 kills in that outing and is having a greater season than final 12 months when she gained Nationwide Participant of the Yr.
In the meantime the Aggies gained each matches 3-1, first over Colorado State then an upset victory over Arizona State. In that second spherical match, Logan Lednicky had 27 kills, 11 digs and 6 blocks in a monumental effort. She’s had 20+ kills in each match matches this season.
No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 5 Dayton
Nebraska cruised in straight units in opposition to Florida A&M and Miami (FL) within the first two rounds. The Huskers held the Hurricanes to simply .058 hitting in that second spherical match and held the Rattlers to -.043 hitting within the opener. In actual fact, the primary set didn’t even get by way of a full rotation with the Huskers successful 25-3.
After a sweep of Wofford within the first spherical, the Dayton Flyers out-lasted the Baylor Bears in a five-set thriller to advance to Lincoln. Lexie Almodovar had 34 kills in opposition to the Bears in that win, whereas two different Flyers — Liana Sarkissian and Brooke Smith — additionally reached double figures.
Problem score for No. 1 seed Nebraska: 3. The Huskers bounced again after a barely disappointing finish to the season to not win the Massive Ten title outright due to a loss to Penn State. It should be laborious having these excessive requirements. Dayton is plucky and Almodovar is superior, however Nebraska has too many weapons for that opening match.
If this was about potential storyline score, I’d give it a ten for the potential of one other version of Wisconsin vs. Nebraska. Nevertheless, the Huskers beat the Badgers twice within the 12 months with out dropping a set. Though the second assembly in Lincoln was nearer and Wisconsin was lacking its two high defensive specialists because of accidents, I don’t essentially see any distinction. That’s to not low cost A&M both, whose outdoors hitters will give UW some bother as properly.