The excitement surrounding NCAA volleyball is building as key tournaments unfold and teams make their final pushes toward the NCAA Tournament. With numerous conference championships and automatic bids on the line, this is the time when every match matters. Today’s spotlight falls on the Big Sky Conference and the high-stakes battle between top-seeded Northern Colorado and Sacramento State, along with the eagerly anticipated Big Ten showdown between Nebraska and Penn State. From Big Sky surprises to Beach Pro Tour action in the Philippines, volleyball fans are in for a thrilling weekend.
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Big Sky Conference Drama: Northern Colorado vs. Sacramento State
Northern Colorado, which dominated the Big Sky regular season with a three-game lead, has had a roller-coaster ride through the conference tournament. After a dramatic reverse sweep over eighth-seeded Montana State, the Bears faced another challenge on Thanksgiving Day when they battled Weber State in a nail-biting five-set match. Northern Colorado, holding an RPI of 66, secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory, thanks in large part to the standout performances of sophomore outside hitter Gabi Placide. Placide, who had 21 kills in the reverse sweep of Montana State, outdid herself with 23 kills against Weber State, hitting a remarkable .362. She also contributed two assists, three blocks, and 11 digs. Her performance was critical in Northern Colorado’s 25-19, 25-17, 11-25, 20-25, 17-15 victory over the fourth-seeded Wildcats.
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The Bears’ opponent for the Big Sky Championship on Friday is third-seeded Sacramento State, who earned their spot by sweeping second-seeded Idaho State. The Hornets, despite losing to Idaho State twice during the regular season, managed to turn the tables in the tournament with a dominant 25-19, 25-15, 25-23 performance. Bridgette Smith, a 5-10 senior outside hitter, was the star of the match, tallying 17 kills and hitting an impressive .417. Smith also contributed two aces and 10 digs. Ashlynn Archer, another key player for the Hornets, added nine kills with one error in 18 attacks, hitting .444 and registering four blocks. Sacramento State, with an RPI of 112, will be looking to secure the Big Sky’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid and continue their impressive run.
In their regular-season matchups, Northern Colorado emerged victorious in a thrilling five-set encounter at Sacramento State on October 12, while the Hornets swept the Bears 3-0 at home on November 7. With the stakes higher than ever, this Big Sky final is set to be a high-intensity showdown that will determine which team gets to dance in the NCAA Tournament.
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Big Ten Showdown: Nebraska at Penn State
As if the drama in the Big Sky wasn’t enough, the Big Ten Conference also offers plenty of excitement this weekend. The marquee match of the day features No. 1 Nebraska (28-1, 18-0) visiting No. 4 Penn State (28-2, 18-1) at 5 p.m. Eastern on the Big Ten Network. This clash will decide the Big Ten title, as it’s the only time these two powerhouse teams will face each other this regular season. Even with a loss, Nebraska is almost certain to maintain its position as either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, but Penn State likely needs a victory to secure a top-four seed, ensuring they receive a favorable bracket placement.
The Big Ten is packed with action this weekend, with Purdue visiting Washington, Oregon at UCLA, Ohio State traveling to AVCA No. 15 Minnesota, and No. 20 USC hosting Iowa. Other notable matchups include Illinois at Indiana, Northwestern at Michigan, and Maryland at Rutgers. On Saturday, Nebraska heads to Maryland, while Michigan State faces off against Wisconsin.
The race for top seeds in the NCAA Tournament is heating up, and the Nebraska-Penn State showdown could be pivotal in determining which team secures the coveted top-four seed.
The Rest of the NCAA Landscape
Across the country, other conferences are also winding down their regular seasons and preparing for conference championships. The ACC sees some key matchups, including Florida State at Wake Forest, Syracuse at Virginia Tech, and Duke at Miami. The regular season in the ACC concludes with a bang on Saturday as Louisville looks to bounce back against Stanford, which is aiming for a top-four seed. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh, virtually assured of a top-four seed, hosts Georgia Tech, while No. 9 SMU welcomes NC State to town. Other notable ACC matchups include Boston College at Virginia and Notre Dame at Cal.
The Big 12 also features an exciting slate of matches, including No. 8 Arizona State hosting UCF, Kansas visiting Iowa State, and Baylor facing West Virginia. No. 22 TCU travels to Cincinnati, and BYU visits Kansas State. The Big 12 wraps up its regular season with Colorado facing Houston in a Saturday matchup.
In the SEC, the action is quieter, with only one match Friday between LSU and Alabama. However, there are four key SEC matchups on Saturday: No. 12 Texas hosts Ole Miss, No. 16 Florida travels to Georgia, No. 24 Missouri welcomes Auburn, and Texas A&M heads to South Carolina.
The Big East Championship continues with exciting matchups at Creighton, where the fifth-ranked Bluejays face fourth-seeded DePaul, and second-seeded Marquette takes on sixth-seeded Villanova. Creighton, currently ranked No. 5 in the RPI, will be hoping for Nebraska and Stanford victories to help them secure a top-four seed.
The Big West semifinals are equally thrilling, with No. 1 Cal Poly facing fourth-seeded Long Beach State and No. 2 Hawai’i meeting No. 3 UC Davis. Over in the Mountain West, top-seeded Colorado State takes on fifth-seeded San Diego State, with the winner set to face San Jose State in the finals after Boise State forfeited its spot.
Beach Pro Tour Nuvali Challenge
As the NCAA indoor tournaments heat up, the Beach Pro Tour Challenge in Nuvali, Philippines, offers an exciting international diversion. Four USA men’s pairs entered the qualifier, with Theo Brunner and Taylor Crabb emerging victorious, advancing to the main draw. Chaim Schalk and James Shaw also made it through to the main draw, while other American teams—Zephyr Drew and Charlie Siragusa, Wyatt Harrison and Jake Urritia, Mark Bucknam and Ryan Ierna—fell in the first round.
On the women’s side, the USA had several pairs competing in the winners’ bracket. Piper Ferch and Madison Shields, along with Madelyne Anderson and Brook Bauer, made it past the first round, while Molly Shaw and Toni Rodriguez, and Hailey Harward and Kylie Deberg were waiting for second-round opponents. Alaina Chacon and Molly Phillips, along with Carly Kan and Devanne Sours, made it through the qualifier but were eliminated after going 0-2 in pool play.
Looking Ahead: NCAA Selection Show
The excitement culminates on Sunday, when the NCAA Selection Show airs at 6 p.m. Eastern on ESPN, revealing the 64-team bracket for the NCAA Tournament. As conference tournaments continue to shape the field, fans can look forward to an intense selection process and a thrilling journey to determine the national champion. Stay tuned for more updates, and make sure to catch the live Zoom session with Big Ten Network and ESPN analyst Emily Ehman, along with NCAA Division I volleyball committee chair Danielle Josetti of Marquette, later this weekend.
With so much on the line, the next few days will be filled with high drama, unforgettable performances, and the thrilling conclusion to the regular season. Volleyball fans, it’s time to buckle up for an unforgettable ride!
