Insights from the NCAA women’s volleyball bracket: Nebraska is ranked first.

Women’s College Volleyball Championship Update

The regular season has wrapped up, and the teams are set. Soon, Kansas City, Missouri, will host the crowning of the next national champion in women’s college volleyball.

This past Sunday night, ESPN revealed the bracket, confirming that the undefeated Nebraska Cornhuskers clinched the No. 1 overall seed. Under the guidance of first-year coach Dani Basboom Kelly, Nebraska finished the season with an impressive 30-0 record, thanks to back-to-back victories over Penn State and Ohio State. Remarkably, this marks the third time in the school’s history that the Huskers have gone through the regular season unbeaten, the last being in 2000.

Throughout the Big Ten play, Nebraska dropped only one set, managing to lose just seven sets all season long. The standout player for the Huskers is Harper Murray, who’s not just a candidate for national player of the year, but also a significant force on the court.

This season, only Kentucky and Creighton State have taken Nebraska to a fifth set. Both teams are in a strong position, with Kentucky sharing the No. 3 overall seed and Creighton on a 20-game winning streak, boasting a perfect 16-0 record in the Big East as the No. 4 seed. A potential matchup between Kentucky and Creighton in the Elite Eight could be particularly exciting.

Louisville has secured the No. 2 seed in a bracket portion alongside Nebraska, which may lead to a fascinating Elite Eight clash between Basboom Kelly’s former team and her current one.

Alongside Nebraska and Kentucky, Texas and Pitt also made their way into the top seeds.

Here are a few other key points from the bracket announcement…

ACC Challenge for Pitt

Pitt, led by reigning National Player of the Year Olivia Babcock, has now been a top-four seed in the college volleyball tournament for five consecutive years. With a current record of 26-4 and five straight wins, Pitt aims to reach the Final Four for the fifth year in a row.

However, the Panthers might face a formidable opponent in the No. 5 overall seed, SMU, a strong contender from the ACC. Pitt has bested the Mustangs in both their regular-season matchups, but SMU, riding a nine-game winning streak, has also had some significant wins against teams like Stanford and Louisville.

It’s often hard to defeat the same team three times in one season, which could add a layer of difficulty.

Potential Second-Round Matchup: Wisconsin vs. North Carolina

Wisconsin has earned the No. 3 seed in the Texas quadrant, currently riding a nine-game winning streak and ranking No. 7 nationally according to the Evollve Rating. They sit second in the nation for assists per set with an impressive average of 13.9.

For an exciting second-round face-off, Wisconsin needs to defeat Eastern Illinois, while North Carolina must overcome the No. 6 seed, UTEP.

The Tar Heels, one of the last four teams in the mix, have enjoyed notable victories this season against teams like Florida and SMU. Jackie Taylor is leading UNC in aces and blocks, ranking eighth nationally in block assists.