Texas Upsets Stanford to Advance to NCAA Women’s Volleyball Final Four

Defending national champion Texas pulled off a stunning upset against Stanford to secure their spot in the final four of the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament. Joining them are three other No. 1 seeds: Pittsburgh, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, all of whom emerged victorious in the regional finals.

Semifinal Matchups

Nebraska, the No. 1 overall seed with a record of 32-1, will face off against Pitt in the first semifinal on Thursday at Amalie Arena. Texas and Wisconsin will compete in the other match on the same day. The winners of these matchups will meet in the championship game on Sunday.

Pittsburgh, with a season record of 27-5, has secured their third consecutive appearance in the final four. After losing to Louisville last year, they redeemed themselves by defeating the Cardinals in a thrilling five-set match in the regional final.

Nebraska triumphed over Arkansas in four sets, while Wisconsin (30-3) emerged victorious against Oregon in the same number of sets. Texas, seeded second in their regional, pulled off a remarkable win against top-seeded Stanford in four sets.

This will be Nebraska’s 17th appearance in the final four, having won five championships in the past. Texas, last year’s champion, is making their 16th trip to the final four in search of their fifth title. Wisconsin, with their sixth final four appearance, previously won the championship in 2021. Pitt has yet to win a championship in their three semifinal appearances.

Who’s the Favorite?

Wisconsin, the No. 3 overall seed, has been on a winning streak, triumphing in seven consecutive matches since their loss against Purdue and Penn State last month. The return of Anna Smrek, a dominant 6-foot-9 outside hitter, has bolstered the Badgers’ performance. Known for their physicality, Wisconsin is considered one of the strongest teams in the nation. Their only other loss came against Nebraska in October, but they avenged it with a sweep against the Huskers on November 24. Sarah Franklin, the Big Ten player of the year, provides firepower for Wisconsin.

Other Players to Watch

Nebraska boasts a young but talented roster, with four decorated freshmen starters. Libero Lexi Rodriguez and outside hitter Merritt Beason lead the team. Notably, there are no seniors on the Huskers’ roster. Pitt’s Rachel Fairbanks was named ACC setter of the year, while Olivia Babcock earned Freshman of the Year honors in the league as a right-side hitter.

Texas’ Madisen Skinner, the Big 12 player of the year, is a force to be reckoned with as an outside hitter. She has previously won national championships with Kentucky and Texas. Asjia O’Neal, a three-time All-Big 12 selection and middle blocker for Texas, led the Big 12 in blocks per set.

(Photo of Texas Longhorns players: David Buono / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)