The archetypal play of the 2022 NCAA volleyball tourney brought mostly chalk. Of the apical 16 seeds successful the tournament, lone 1 did not beforehand to determination play.
The 4 No. 1 seeds -- Texas, Wisconsin, Louisville and Stanford -- combined to driblet conscionable 1 acceptable successful the archetypal 2 rounds of the tournament.
As a result, they volition big the regionals this weekend. Regional semifinals statesman Thursday morning, and the determination finals volition beryllium played connected Saturday.
With 4 spots for the nationalist semifinals successful Omaha, Nebraska, connected the line, we inquire our analysts to recap the archetypal 2 rounds and look up to this weekend, breaking down which teams request to beryllium connected upset alert and what imaginable Elite Eight matchup they would look guardant to the most.
Chalk mostly held during the archetypal weekend. Are you amazed astatine the deficiency of parity?
Sam Gore: I disagree there's a deficiency of parity, with the objection astatine the apical of the sport. The apical 4 teams are beatable but play astatine a consistently somewhat higher level than the remainder of the field. We had upsets produced by Georgia, Northern Iowa, Auburn, LSU and Kansas, on with 4 five-set matches successful the archetypal circular and 2 successful the 2nd round. The apical seeds whitethorn beryllium going strong, but the extent of the tourney is astatine an all-time high.
Shelby Coppedge: I personally deliberation determination is simply a bully magnitude of parity successful the tourney this year. Seeing a squad similar San Diego, a non-Power 5 team, ranked successful the apical 5 successful the federation consistently shows conscionable that. Houston has ever been large successful its league and had the tools to beryllium large connected a broader scale, but this twelvemonth is showing that to everyone. Marquette, Rice, James Madison, adjacent Towson shows however the "smaller" schools tin nutrient the endowment you're seeing astatine the powerhouses. A batch of that recognition is to the transportation portal. A batch of Power 5 athletes -- players who cognize what it's similar to play astatine the precocious level, particularly travel tourney clip -- person transferred to smaller Division I schools.
Paul Sunderland: I was not astatine each amazed that the tourney went according to effect for the astir part. I thought USC and BYU would beryllium overmuch much competitory successful their second-round matches -- I'm definite they're much disappointed than I am. Fourth-seeded Creighton is retired aft losing Kendall Wait to injury. Still, the Bluejays are a coagulated squad and program.
M.A. Voepel: Overall, the enactment committee did a bully occupation this year, which contributes to chalk holding. It's absorbing that successful past season's NCAA women's hoops tournament, Creighton was the biggest Cinderella, making it to the Elite Eight arsenic a No. 10 seed. But successful this volleyball tournament, the Bluejays were the biggest upset victims. Although, arsenic Paul said, wounded contributed to that.
Early circular upsets are amusive successful immoderate tournament, but they often travel astatine the outgo of the champion imaginable determination matchups. In this case, we're going to get immoderate blockbuster Sweet 16 matches that volition consciousness similar last 4 showdowns. There are 8 conferences represented successful the Sweet 16, with the Big Ten, arsenic expected, starring the mode with 5 teams. The main powerfulness brokers successful the athletics are, for the astir part, inactive successful place, but we've seen large improvements successful the past 10 years oregon truthful from the ACC and SEC, each of which has 2 teams successful the determination semifinals.
Which squad impressed you the astir successful the archetypal 2 rounds?
Gore: I'd person to spell with Texas. They deed .535 successful circular 1 and .366 against UGA but ne'er fto up. They look similar the fig 1 seed.
Coppedge: Auburn. Coach Brent Crouch said erstwhile making this year's schedule, helium didn't expect his squad to scope the tourney successful a gathering year. Not lone did Auburn, a squad with 5 starting freshmen, marque it to the tournament, but the Tigers upset fourth-seeded Creighton.
Sunderland: In nary peculiar order: Texas, Minnesota, Marquette, Wisconsin and Louisville, but 2 different teams stood out. Kentucky played truly smooth, and portion Ohio State limped into the tournament, the Buckeyes aren't limping anymore.
Voepel: Their tally is astir apt up, arsenic they look nine-time NCAA champion and No. 1 effect Stanford next. But outcry retired to the Houston Cougars, who won 2 five-set matches successful Omaha, Nebraska, to marque the Sweet 16, and besides got connected SportsCenter's Top 10. Kate Georgiades dove onto and implicit a array for a prevention successful Houston's first-round triumph implicit South Dakota. As awesome arsenic that was, she besides rapidly got up and had different deed connected the mode to the Cougars winning the point. It made for a large viral video showing however aggravated NCAA tourney play is and however fearless liberos are.
Houston went to volleyball's Elite Eight backmost successful 1994. But the programme had been connected a agelong adust spell anterior to this season, not making the NCAA tourney since 2000. The Cougars person made the astir of their accidental this season.
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Houston libero Kate Georgiades delivers 1 of the much unthinkable efforts you volition ever spot connected volleyball court.
Which No. 1 effect is the astir successful information of being upset?
Gore: I deliberation each of them are successful danger. That's due to the fact that the endowment level is truthful high, and determination are truthful galore elite coaches. Not 1 fig 1 effect tin instrumentality anyone for granted astatine this stage.
Coppedge: Louisville. Nebraska is coming for a vengeance aft losing to Wisconsin successful the 2021 championship. That has to beryllium the lone happening they the Cornhuskers thought astir this full year. If Louisville and Nebraska triumph their adjacent lucifer and past look each other, it's going to beryllium idiosyncratic from Nebraska.
Sunderland: If I truly person to prime one, I would accidental Texas. Marquette is precise good, and the victor of Ohio State-Minnesota indispensable beryllium playing astatine a precocious level arsenic well. Texas is connected a ngo for Logan Eggleston and Minny for Hugh McCutcheon.
Voepel: Probably Louisville, due to the fact that if the Cardinals look Nebraska successful the determination final, the Huskers volition beryllium each the much motivated to marque it to Omaha. This volition beryllium the 5th clip the women's volleyball last 4 is successful Omaha, and the Huskers person been astatine 3 of the erstwhile four. They missed the 2020 tournament, which was held successful outpouring 2021, owed to the pandemic. Two of their 5 NCAA titles person travel successful Omaha: successful 2006 and 2015.
As for Texas, arsenic Paul said, their determination roadworthy is tough. It's the 10th day of the Longhorns' past NCAA championship, and they person had plentifulness of chances to triumph different title, making 5 further last 4 appearances since winning it each successful 2012. Every 1 of those teams was bully capable to beryllium a champion, but it conscionable didn't happen. This year's squad wants to bring a 3rd NCAA trophy backmost to Austin (Texas archetypal won successful 1988).
What would beryllium the astir compelling determination final?
Gore: Texas vs. Minnesota. Two incredibly talented teams and 2 legendary coaches, 1 who has won the NCAA rubric and the different has coached a golden medal Olympic team. An affectional constituent exists for Minnesota arsenic well, arsenic fixed this is Hugh McCutcheon's last season, the Gophers whitethorn person adjacent much consciousness of intent and passion. The ambiance astatine Texas is incredible, and the matchup would beryllium must-see TV.
Coppedge: I hold with Sam. Texas didn't get past the apical 8 past play and this is its past twelvemonth with Logan Eggleston and different elder powerhouses. The Longhorns are different squad that's taking this highly personally, conscionable similar the Gophers. Minnesota wants to triumph much than thing for their manager successful his past play arsenic well.
Sunderland: I deliberation each of the 4 determination finals could beryllium outstanding, but don't place the Stanford Regional. The victor of Kentucky-San Diego volition apt get the Cardinal, and that volition beryllium a adjacent 1 either way.
Voepel: Texas vs. Minnesota would beryllium epic, but Louisville vs. Nebraska would person a batch of drama, too. Former Huskers subordinate and adjunct Dani Busboom Kelly is caput manager astatine Louisville and led the programme to its archetypal last 4 past season, wherever the Cardinals mislaid to eventual champion Wisconsin 3-2 successful the semifinals. Busboom Kelly was a starter for the 2006 Huskers squad that won the NCAA rubric the archetypal clip the last 4 was successful Omaha, successful 2006, and she's a Nebraska native. The NCAA tourney began successful 1981, and determination inactive hasn't been a pistillate caput manager of a title team. Busboom Kelly could go the first, but likelihood are she volition person to bushed her alma mater to person the accidental this year. That's if Nebraska gets past Oregon and Louisville beats Baylor successful the determination semifinals.
Which 4 teams marque it to the last four?
Gore: Your conjecture is arsenic bully arsenic mine. The level of the teams near marque that a precise iffy prediction. I conscionable can't hold to spot however it each develops.
Coppedge: I can't ideate Texas walking retired of Gregory Gym without a win. Beyond that, my educated guesses are Wisconsin, Stanford and Nebraska.
Sunderland: My caput has not changed arsenic the tourney has unfolded: Wisconsin, Louisville, Stanford and Minnesota.
Voepel: It sounds boring, but it's hard to prime against these No. 1 seeds with however good they played successful the aboriginal rounds: Texas, Stanford, Wisconsin and Louisville.
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