The NCAA volleyball semifinals have arrived, with four of the nation’s best teams set to face off to determine who will advance to the championship match.
Texas, San Diego, Pittsburgh and Louisville will compete Thursday night in Omaha for a spot in Saturday’s final.
In an action-packed regional finals, three of the four matches went to five sets, and Pitt knocked reigning champion Wisconsin from contention. The semifinals promise just as much drama.
No. 1 seed Texas will face No. 2 seed San Diego in the first semifinal at 7 p.m. ET, and then No. 1 seed Louisville will go up against No. 2 seed Pittsburgh at 9:30 p.m. ET. Both matches will air on ESPN and will stream on ESPN+.
Just Women’s Sports highlights one player to watch from each of the four teams.
The three-time Big 12 Player of the Year, Logan Eggleston has shown up big for Texas in this year’s tournament.
The senior outside hitter recorded 20 kills and nine digs in the regional final against Texas. She also had two aces, which made her the Big 12’s all-time service ace leader (207). She was named the most outstanding player of the Austin regional, with 35 kills, 18 digs, 7 blocks and 5 aces through two matches.
With Eggleston and teammates Madisen Skinner and Asjia O’Neal leading the way, the Longhorns have plenty of firepower. They were the only team in the Elite Eight to wrap up their Final Four berth in five sets, as they beat Ohio State in four.
.@loganeggleston_ sealed the deal 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/nosoTCOI21— Texas Volleyball (@TexasVolleyball) December 11, 2022
.@loganeggleston_ sealed the deal 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/nosoTCOI21
San Diego is competing in its first Final Four, and the Toreros can thank setter Gabby Blossom. The graduate transfer from Penn State recorded a game-high 68 assists, seven digs and two blocks in the team’s Sweet Sixteen win against Kentucky.
In the next round, the Toreros pushed No. 1 Stanford to five sets, eventually securing the victory and extending their winning streak to 28 matches. Blossom has made all the difference in that run, averaging 11.39 assists per set. Her success has enabled teammates such as Katie Lukes to lead the team in scoring with 4.12 points per set.
Needed the set win...did it in style 😎📺 ESPNU#NCAAWVB x @USDVolleyball pic.twitter.com/8Tn8WSZpQl— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) December 11, 2022
Needed the set win...did it in style 😎📺 ESPNU#NCAAWVB x @USDVolleyball pic.twitter.com/8Tn8WSZpQl
Another big-name graduate transfer, Buzzerio leads Pittsburgh in points after transferring from Iowa. With 4.33 points per set to go alongside a .329 hitting efficiency, the right-side hitter has helped the Panthers make it to their second straight Final Four.
In the regional final, Buzzerio showed up big. Against defending champion Wisconsin, she led the Panthers with 18 kills while hitting .213. Buzzerio and the Panthers went on a 3-0 run to take the fifth set and advance, and she was named MVP of the Madison regional.
PITT TAKES OUT THE DEFENDING CHAMPS!!📺 ESPNU#NCAAWVB x @Pitt_VB pic.twitter.com/Vh70rh0faS— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) December 11, 2022
PITT TAKES OUT THE DEFENDING CHAMPS!!📺 ESPNU#NCAAWVB x @Pitt_VB pic.twitter.com/Vh70rh0faS
After missing a large part of the season with a knee injury, DeBeer has returned with a vengeance. Louisville went down 2-1 to Oregon on Saturday, but then DeBeer took over. She led the team with 17 kills and added 10 digs to help the Cardinals secure their spot in the semifinals.
Six of those kills came in the fourth set, which tied the match. A scary moment came in the fifth set, as she landed on her previously injured knee. But while trainers assessed DeBeer, she refused to come out. Her efforts earned her MVP of the Louisville regional as the team advanced to its second straight Final Four.
“We wouldn’t be here hosting a regional if it weren’t for Anna, and we’re going to need her in the Final Four,” coach Dani Busboom Kelly said. “I always say that she’s like my safety blanket when she’s out there.”
The dig @clairechaussee9 🤝 The kill @anna_debeer📺 ESPNU#NCAAWVB x @LouisvilleVB pic.twitter.com/PGIzaWiQmH— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) December 10, 2022
The dig @clairechaussee9 🤝 The kill @anna_debeer📺 ESPNU#NCAAWVB x @LouisvilleVB pic.twitter.com/PGIzaWiQmH