It was a crazy, unexpected year for Division 1 Women’s College Volleyball. Many teams went into the year, fighting for the title as NCAA Champions. Even the underdogs, rose to the occasion and shocked everyone.
When preseason began, everyone had a strong feeling that University of Texas, Stanford and Washington were going to do very well. After came, Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State, Wisconsin, Kansas, Creighton and BYU, ranked by AVCA coaches on August 9, 2017.
But when preseason actually started, many underdog teams came up out of no where, surprising many coaches and fans who watched the games. University of Florida, who was not even ranked in the top ten started their preseason off with an upset against No. 1, University of Texas. Kentucky also had a strong preseason starting off the year, 3-0 against Arkansas State, Utah, and Cincinnati. And there was Purdue University, who started off the year, 6-0.
Many teams, that were not even ranked in the top ten moved their way up, with positive records. November 6, 2017, Penn State ranked number one, pushing Texas (#1 during preseason) to the sixth spot. Minnesota was ranked second, and then Florida, who moved onto the board after not even being ranked in the top ten. Kentucky as well, with a winning streak of 10 straight games after only losing 3.
Once the much anticipated, NCAA tournament started, many of these teams were out for blood. “This group of teams contain so much talent, it is going to be a great tournament,” Karch Kiraly, the team USA head coach and three-time Olympic medalist stated, during one of the matches before the tournament started.
University of Florida, worked hard their whole season to receive the first seed for the tournament. They had a record of 25-1, only with one upset lost, from Kentucky in four long, and suspenseful sets. Mary Wise, the head coach of the Gators, gained over 900 career coaching wins this season, becoming the most all time division one women’s volleyball wins among female head coaches.
Florida then cruised their way through the NCAA tournament, beating Alabama State, Miami, UCLA and then beating USC with 3 sets to 2. On the other side of the bracket, Nebraska went on a 3-0 set winning streak, after winning four games to advance to the semi finals.
But, the most exciting part of the tournament would have to be the semi-finals. Penn State, Nebraska, University of Florida and Stanford battled their way to the top four to take the trophy. Three games, with thousands of people attending these huge games, held in Kansas City, Missouri.
First, huge upset, with Nebraska and Penn State. The game went to five sets, after it was back and forth throughout the four sets before. But Nebraska pulled through, in the fifth set with a final score of 15-11. The other semifinal game came right after that, with a similar result of 5 set. Florida ended up pulling through in the fifth, 15-10.
The final game, with over 18,000 in attendance and thousands watching on television was the best game of all. After Four sets, Nebraska took their 5th ever NCAA title.
Overall, it has been a great year for women’s volleyball. Many teams that ranked as underdogs showed out through many amazing, 5 set games. It will be nice to see the rankings next year, and what teams surprise everyone!
