Tourney Updates!

It’s tournament time for the 2016 edition of women’s college volleyball. Two of the championships have already concluded, one will end this weekend, and one will wrap up on December 17 in Columbus, Ohio. Let’s review how we arrived here and explore some of the possibilities for the two remaining tournaments.

NCAA DIII Women’s National Volleyball Championship.

Eight teams converged on the Kohl Sports Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on November 17, each one desperately wanting to win the DIII Women’s National Volleyball Championship.

• Calvin Knights
• Eastern Eagles
• Emory Eagles
• Northwestern – St. Paul Eagles
• Mary Washington Eagles
• Southwestern Pirates
• Tufts Jumbos
• Washington University – St. Louis Bears

And, when all the dust had settled, Calvin College won their third NCAA Women’s National Volleyball Championship with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-21) victory over the Bears of Washington University in St. Louis. Calvin College is a college of approximately 4,000 undergraduate students located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Knights were ranked number one in the final Net Set DIII rankings.

NAIA Women’s National Volleyball Championship.

The Tyson Events Center was the venue for the NAIA women’s championship, and 32 teams met in Sioux City, Iowa on November 29 to battle for the title. After pool play, 16 teams entered the single elimination bracket phase of this tournament.

• Columbia Cougars
• Doane Tigers
• Corban Warriors
• Dordt Defenders
• Midland Warriors
• Montana Tech
• Missouri Baptist Spartans
• Lindsey Wilson Blue raiders
• Viterbo V-Hawks
• Westmont Warriors
• Grand View Vikings
• Park Pirates
• Eastern Oregon Mountaineers
• Oklahoma City Stars
• Biola Eagles
• Hastings Broncos

And, when the last point was played, Hastings College won the 2016 NAIA Women’s National Volleyball Championship Saturday night, 12/3/2016, with a 3-2 (23-25, 15-25, 25-16, 25-22 & 15-6) victory over the Dordt Defenders in the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. The Hastings Broncos came back from a 2-0 deficit to claim the title in their first ever trip to the championship match. Hastings College is a liberal arts college of approximately 1,200 undergraduate students located in Hastings, Nebraska. The Broncos were tied for the number one rank in the final NAIA Net Set NAIA ranking.

NCAA DII Women’s National Volleyball Championship.

Eight teams are still alive in the NCAA DII Women’s National Volleyball Championship, which will transition to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, December 8 for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the finals. The eight remaining teams will be seeded by NCAA DII Women’s Volleyball Committee. And, here they are, by Region.

1. Atlantic Region Champion – Wheeling Jesuit University Cardinals

2. Central Region Champion – Concordia University – St. Paul Golden Bears

3. East Region Champion – American International College Yellow Jackets

4. Midwest Region Champion – Lewis Flyers

5. South Region Champion – Palm Beach Atlantic University Sailfish

6. Southeast Region Champion – University of South Carolina – Aiken Pacers

7. South Central Region Champion – Angelo State University Rams

8. West Region Champion – University of Alaska – Anchorage Seawolves

NCAA DI Women’s National Volleyball Championship.

The DI tournament has reached the quarterfinals and play now moves to the four regional sites of Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Texas, which corresponds to the top four seeds in the tournament. Here’s the 16 teams left, by regional.

1. Nebraska Regional – #1 Nebraska, #8 Washington, #16 Penn State, and unranked Arizona.

2. Minnesota Regional – #2 Minnesota, #7 North Carolina, #10 UCLA, and #15 Missouri.

3. Wisconsin Regional – #3 Wisconsin, #8 Stanford, unranked Florida State, and unranked Ohio State

4. Texas Regional – #4 Texas, #12 Michigan, #13 BYU, and unranked Creighton

There’s some great volleyball ahead. Let’s grow the game!