A nationwide champion in school seashore volleyball might be topped this weekend on the white sand in Gulf Shores, Alabama. It’s the final installment of the NCAA’s Nationwide Collegiate Seashore Volleyball Championship on the Redneck Riviera earlier than the match strikes to “Surf Metropolis,” Huntington Seashore, California.
We take a deep-dive capsule look into all 17 groups within the NCAA bracket that can vie on Friday within the first spherical of the single-elimination competitors. The quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, with the championship twin set for Sunday at 11 a.m. Jap.
No. 1 USC vs. No. 16 North Florida or No. 17 Chattanooga
USC
File: 33-5 (No. 1 within the AVCA ballot).
Coach: Dain Blanton, fifth season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Megan Kraft and Delaynie Maple (33-4).
No. 2: Madison White (28-6 general) and Maddi Kriz (27-7 general).
No. 3: Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse (29-7).
No. 4: Ashley Pater (25-4 general) and Grace Seits (29-5 general).
No. 5: Mabyn Thomas (21-6 general) and Madison Goellner (12-4 general).
Synopsis: USC was the automated qualifier out of the Pac-12 as its match winner within the Convention of Champions’ remaining season, defeating archrival UCLA 3-0 within the title twin. The Girls of Troy will shoot to increase their streak of nationwide seashore titles to 4. They didn’t meet North Florida or UT-Chattanooga, who will sq. off within the play-in twin, in the course of the common season. USC’s pairs on the 1s, 3s and 4s are No. 1 nationally within the newest TruVolley statistical rankings, whereas its 2s are No. 3 and 5s No. 6. Cumulatively, USC pairs gained 81.5% of their matches (150-34). The battle-tested Girls of Troy are 3-3 towards UCLA, 2-1 towards Stanford and their different loss got here at LSU. They maintain victories over Florida State, Cal Poly, TCU (3 times), California (twice), Lengthy Seashore State (twice), Hawaii (twice), Loyola Marymount (3 times), Arizona State and Washington. One other participant who may see motion for USC is Ainsley Radell (17-7), whereas Maddi Kriz and Grace Seits had been 20-4 as a pair earlier than Coach Dain Blanton put the grad transfers with different companions. Regardless of their gaudy document, high pair Megan Kraft and Delaynie Maple have proven a little bit of vulnerability over the previous couple of weeks.
North Florida
File: 24-11 (No. 16 within the AVCA ballot).
Coach: Doug Wright, third season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Michaela Rezentes and Taylor Pierce (17-15).
No. 2: Presley Murray and Madison Espy (19-13).
No. 3: Iris Fletcher and Katie Camp (17-2).
No. 4: Cameron Humphries and Hayden Wooldridge (24-7).
No. 5: Mariana Fel. Sanchez and Mackenzie Murphy (24-4).
Synopsis: The Ospreys out of Jacksonville will debut within the NCAA match as the automated qualifier from the Atlantic Solar Convention. North Florida competed within the 2013 AVCA Sand Nationals (the precursor to the NCAAs), going 0-2. The Ospreys notched their fifth ASUN match title, sweeping their 4 duals, together with victories over host Stetson (ranked sixteenth nationally) within the semifinal and remaining, and can carry a seven-dual profitable streak into the NCAAs. North Florida’s greatest victories have come towards Stetson (3 times), Florida Atlantic, South Carolina, North Alabama (twice), Florida Gulf Coast and Alabama-Birmingham. The Ospreys’ decrease courts have been extremely productive: Their 3s pairs is ranked eighth nationally by TruVolley and their 5s ninth. North Florida and play-in opponent Chattanooga have by no means met.
Chattanooga
File: 19-9 (Unranked).
Coach: Darin Van Horn, fifth season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Neva Clark and Corina Vale (14-11).
No. 2: Gylian Finch and McKenna Faychak (13-6).
No. 3: Pleasure Courtright and Maddie Lecik (13-7).
No. 4: Kaye Gresham and Paige Gallentine (16-7).
No. 5: Morgan Romano and Julia Lawrence (14-1).
Synopsis: UT Chattanooga has made regular enchancment below Ohio Valley Convention coach of the 12 months Darin Van Horn – 0-3 within the COVID 202 season, to 8-11, 17-14 and 19-15 in 2023 – culminated by this primary journey to the NCAA match. The Mocs had been convention co-champions in the course of the 2024 common season with a 9-1 document and went 3-0 within the OVC tourney to snag the league’s automated bid. Neva Clark, a junior, is the OVC’s back-to-back participant of the 12 months, Clark and Corina Vale had been the league’s pair of the 12 months and Vale was named the highest freshman. Chattanooga’s most notable victory came visiting North Alabama by a 3-2 margin, and the Mocs (ranked thirty third by TruVolley and winners of eight in a row) misplaced to Florida Worldwide, South Carolina and Coastal Carolina (twice) whereas taking part in primarily towards OVC opposition. The winner of the play-in twin will meet top-seeded USC in a while Friday.
No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 15 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
UCLA
File: 32-6 (No. 2 within the AVCA ballot).
Coach: Jenny Johnson Jordan, first season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Maggie Boyd and Lexy Denaburg (30-7).
No. 2: Peri Brennan and Devon Newberry (31-5).
No. 3: Kenzie Brower and Jessie Smith (21-11).
No. 4: Jaden Whitmarsh and Tessa Van Winkle (24-11).
No. 5: Ensley Alden and Natalie Myszkowski (27-4).
Synopsis: UCLA and USC had been on a seasonlong see-saw on the high of the weekly AVCA ballot, relying primarily on which workforce prevailed within the newest of their six conferences, of which every gained three. An at-large choice into the NCAA discipline, the Bruins took tournament-title duals over USC within the season-opening Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Traditional in Hawaii and on the high-profile Middle of Effort Problem at Cal Poly, however the Girls of Troy claimed high honors final weekend within the Pac-12 match, after UCLA despatched USC into the contenders bracket earlier on the ultimate day. In her first season on the helm, Coach Jenny Johnson Jordan has utilized a steady lineup with top-to-bottom expertise. TruVolley ranks the Bruins pairs thusly: 1s (2), 2s (1), 3s (3), 4s (3) 5s (1). UCLA’s different losses got here towards Stanford (twice) and Loyola Marymount, and the Bruins have taken down Stanford (twice), Florida State (twice), TCU, Cal Poly (twice), Cal (twice), Lengthy Seashore State (twice), Loyola Marymount (twice), Hawaii (twice), LSU (twice), Arizona State, Washington (twice) and Georgia State. That’s W’s over 13 of the opposite 16 groups within the NCAA draw, beating 10 greater than as soon as. UCLA is 2-0 all-time towards Texas A&M Corpus Christi, together with a 3-0 triumph within the first spherical of the 2023 NCAAs.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
File: 28-9 (No. 20 within the AVCA ballot).
Coach: Gayle Stammer, eighth season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Cassie Dodd and Chloe Tome (23-6).
No. 2: Kristin Bobay and Madison Morrow (22-15).
No. 3: Stephanie Younger and Hannah Doyle (19-8).
No. 4: Kela Moreno and Elizabeth Cortez (16-6).
No. 5: Jade Bennett (6-3 general) and Tori Johnson (23-9 general).
Synopsis: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will make its third consecutive journey to the NCAA match as Coach Gayle Stammer’s program has turn out to be a constant jewel among the many mid-majors. The Islanders are the automated qualifiers from the Southland Convention, getting a tricky 3-2 tussle within the match remaining from a strong Boise State bunch that went 32-11, bouncing again from a 3-2 loss to those self same Broncos that despatched them to the contenders bracket. TAMUCC, which is undefeated towards Southland competitors all-time in the course of the common season, ventured out of its consolation zone in scheduling, and was rewarded by breaking into the AVCA High 20. The Islanders break up towards Tulane and Alabama-Birmingham, topped NCAA qualifier North Florida and nationally ranked Florida Atlantic, and prevented sweeps in losses to Stanford, Cal Poly and LSU. However they misplaced 4 in a row heading into the Southland match, together with an eyebrow-raising 4-1 setback to impartial Texas (7-8). Raven Jordan (16-9) is one other serviceable lower-courts choice for Stammer.
No. 3 Stanford vs. No. 14 Georgia State
Stanford
File: 31-5 (No. 3 within the AVCA ballot).
Coach: Andrew Fuller, eighth season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Xolani Hodel and Brooke Rockwell (24-10).
No. 2: Rudy Sorra and Taylor Wilson (24-6).
No. 3: Kelly Belardi (27-8 general) and Chloe Hoffman (27-8 general).
No. 4: Kate Reilly (28-5 general) and Clara Stowell (26-4 general).
No. 5: Maya Harvey (20-8 general) and Ashley Vincent (25-9 general).
Synopsis: Stanford has overwhelmed USC and UCLA (twice), which ought to be sufficient to offer the Cardinal a authentic shot at an NCAA title in a single-elimination occasion. If current type supplies a harbinger, nonetheless, in the course of the Pac-12 match final weekend, Stanford misplaced 3-0 to UCLA and 3-1 to USC. An at-large alternative out of the highly effective Pac-12, the Cardinal will make their fourth consecutive journey to the NCAAs. In 2023, they had been bounced within the second spherical by TCU 3-0. Though standard knowledge may say youthful Stanford is a 12 months away, Coach Andrew Fuller seemingly has accelerated that schedule with a lineup that options 4 precocious freshmen. A fixture on the 1s, Brooke Rockwell is a first-rate candidate for nationwide freshman of the 12 months. The workforce’s TruVolley pairs breakdown: 1s (6), 2s (4), 3s (4), 4s (2), 5s (5). The Cardinal have misplaced solely to USC (twice), UCLA (twice) and Arizona State (in Tempe), and so they even have taken down Loyola Marymount, Hawaii, TCU (twice), California (twice), North Florida, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, LSU, Florida State, Arizona State and Washington (3 times). Their assembly within the NCAAs would be the first between Stanford and Georgia State.
Georgia State
File: 26-12 (No. 14 within the AVCA ballot).
Coach: Beth Van Fleet, twelfth season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Angel Ferary and Bella Ferary (25-13).
No. 2: Aree Keller and Lila Bordis (28-9).
No. 3: Future White and Savannah Ebarb (23-9).
No. 4: Elise Saga (20-16 general) and Aliisa Vuorinen (16-13 general).
No. 5: Courtney Smith (8-4 general) and Ayla Johnson (17-20 general).
Synopsis: Persistently glorious mid-major Georgia State will make its third consecutive look within the NCAA match, qualifying because the match champion out of the Solar Belt Convention. The Sandy Panthers had been ousted from the NCAAs final 12 months in the course of the opening spherical by eventual nationwide champion USC 3-0. Their spotlight moments this season got here after they knocked off Washington and topped Boise State twice throughout the identical weekend in Seattle, and after they upset LSU 3-2 on dwelling sand in Atlanta. The lowlight for Solar Belt coach of the 12 months Beth Van Fleet’s squad was an 0-for-4 effort towards UCLA, Cal, Loyola Marymount and Hawaii in the course of the East Meets West showcase. Its resume additionally contains victories over Stetson, South Carolina (twice), back-to-back Division-II nationwide champion Tampa (twice) and Florida Atlantic. Redshirt Junior Aree Keller, a switch from South Carolina, was the Solar Belt’s newcomer of the 12 months.
No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 13 Washington
Florida State
File: 30-7 (No. 4 in AVCA ballot).
Coach: Brooke Niles, ninth season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Maddie Anderson (21-8 general) and Alexis Durish (27-7 general).
No. 2: Alli Hansen (26-8 general) and Anna Lengthy (21-5 general).
No. 3: Skyler Germann (15-3 general) and Morgan Chacon (7-1 general).
No. 4: Audrey Koenig (29-7 general) and Raelyn White (30-6 general).
No. 5: Caitlin Moon (19-4 general) and Kaileigh Truslow (14-4 general).
Synopsis: Florida State owns a grand custom within the NCAA match, taking part in in it each season with three runners-up finishes (2016, ‘17 and ‘22). The Seminoles had been ousted within the semifinals final season by UCLA 3-0. A No. 4 seeding may counsel that Coach Brooke Niles’ program possesses championship potential, however FSU was unable to place up a “W” in 5 duals towards USC, UCLA and Stanford, and in addition misplaced to Cal and Loyola Marymount. The Seminoles had been the automated qualifier as match champion of the four-team CCSA (for the seventh time), and have overwhelmed Cal Poly, Loyola Marymount, Cal, LSU (twice) Georgia State, Hawaii, North Florida (twice) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Seminoles take pleasure in an abundance of expertise, however Niles has shuffled her lineup because the season has progressed in an effort to seek out the suitable combos. TruVolley charges their pairs as follows: 1s (5), 2s (5) 3s (2), 4s (7), 5s (4). FSU is 2-0 all-time towards Washington, each victories coming in the course of the 2023 common season.
Washington
File: 20-15 (No. 13 within the AVCA ballot).
Coach: Derek Olsen, third season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Piper Monk-Heidrich (17-17 general) and Maggy Rabitsch (20-14 general).
No. 2: Zoey Henson (25-9 general) and Lauren Wilcock (22-12 general).
No. 3: Kierstyn Barton (13-13 general) and Kendall Mather (19-15 general).
No. 4: Scarlett Dahl (16-17 general) and Josie Ulrich (10-11 general).
No. 5: Brooke Balue (17-17) and Sarah Wilcock (13-8).
Synopsis: Washington was one in all 5 groups from the Pac-12 tabbed by the choice committee for at-large bids and can make its NCAA match debut. Coach Derek Olson reaped the advantages of a stacked freshmen class, with 50% of his lineup consisting of first-year gamers: Maggy Ratitsch, Zoey Henson, Kierstyn Barton, Brooke Balue and Sarah Wilcock. Henson and junior Lauren Wilcock had been honored by the AVCA because the nationwide pair of the week on April 9. The Huskies went 3-15 towards groups that made the 2024 NCAA match discipline, with the victories coming towards Cal, Arizona State and Georgia State. A 4-1 head-to-head “W” over bubble-sitting Florida Worldwide may effectively have tipped the eighth and remaining at-large bid Washington’s method.
No. 5 Cal Poly vs. No. 12 Arizona State
Cal Poly
File: 29-6 (No. 6 within the AVCA ballot).
Coach: Todd Rogers, ninth season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Ella Connor and Izzy Martinez (25-8).
No. 2: Piper Ferch and Erin Inskeep (28-5).
No. 3: Quinn Perry (29-6 general) and Lindsey Sparks (16-4 general).
No. 4: Logan Walter and Piper Naess (24-3).
No. 5: Abbey Reinard and Madison Nichols (15-12).
Synopsis: Cal Poly is again within the NCAAs for the fourth time, having beforehand competed in 2019 (0-2), ‘21 (1-2, eradicated within the second spherical of the contenders bracket) and ‘22 (bounced within the first spherical by Florida State). The Mustangs flipped the script on a 15-25 season in 2023 to return to nationwide prominence, alongside the way in which beating TCU, Cal (twice), Lengthy Seashore State, Hawaii, Loyola Marymount, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and North Florida from the NCAA discipline, together with ranked foes Florida Worldwide and Stetson. An at-large entrant, Cal Poly had aggressive losses to USC (by a 3-2 rely with three matches going to the tiebreaker), UCLA (4-1 and 3-2) and Florida State (3-2 with a trio of three-setters). Lengthy Seashore State went 2-for-3 towards Cal Poly, together with a 3-2 victory that eradicated the Mustangs within the semifinals of the Massive West Convention match. Senior Piper Naess and freshman Logan Walter will carry a 21-match profitable streak into the NCAAs. Arizona State has not overwhelmed Cal Poly in 4 conferences all-time, the final coming in 2022.
Arizona State
File: 21-9 (No. 12 within the AVCA ballot).
Coach: Kristen Rohr, first season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Daniella Kensinger (19-11 general) and Ava Williamson (24-6 general).
No. 2: Anya Pemberton (17-11 general) and Arden Besecker (22-6 general).
No. 3: Taryn Ames and Lexi Sweeney (20-9).
No. 4: Kate Fitzgerald (2-2 general) and Ava Kirunchyk (10-14 general).
No. 5: Adriana Nieves Papaleo (15-5 general) and Ava Haughy (14-14).
Synopsis: Arizona State seemingly wanted a powerful exhibiting on dwelling sand within the stacked Pac-12 match final weekend to solidify an at-large bid, and the Solar Devils got here via with flying colours. Beating ranked rival Arizona 3-0 helped their trigger and the clincher got here in a 3-2 nail-biter over California, a twin wherein three matches had been determined in tiebreakers. The Solar Devils had been eradicated by Stanford within the subsequent spherical of contenders-bracket play, however the choice committee had seen sufficient to award Arizona State its first bid to the NCAAs. Coach Kristen Rohr’s first season with the Solar Devils represented a outstanding turnaround from their 11-13 document of 2023. The opposite bullet level for Arizona State: A victory over Stanford. The Solar Devils additionally defeated Georgia State, Washington, Florida Worldwide and Stetson, whereas taking 3-2 losses towards TCU and Lengthy Seashore State. Sophomore Daniella Kensinger and freshman Ava Williamsson are 9-3 on the highest courtroom after the latter was elevated from the 2s.
No. 6 TCU vs. No. 11 LSU
TCU
File: 29-7 (No. 5 in AVCA ballot).
Coach: Hector Gutierrez, eighth season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Hailey Hamlett (25-3 general) and Anhelina Khmil (23-5 general).
No. 2: Sutton MacTavish (19-5 general) and Ana Vergara (18-7 general).
No. 3: Tara Patton (14-13 general) and Morgan Williams (11-5 general).
No. 4: Keagan Polk (8-8 general) and Emma Glagau (9-2 general).
No. 5: Anete Namike (13-12 general) and Olivia Clines (8-7 general).
Synopsis: TCU gained the CCSA match to achieve an automated entry within the NCAAs, the Horned Frogs’ fourth consecutive 12 months within the huge seashore celebration. An NCAA semifinalist in 2023, Coach Hector Gutierrez did a juggling act to maintain his workforce extremely aggressive throughout a 2024 season marked by key absences – Spanish nationals Daniela Alvarez and Tania Morena hit the professional tour to pursue an Olympic berth – and accidents. TCU absorbed no red-flag defeats whereas taking part in a killer schedule that included the Loss of life Volley and Middle of Effort: Three losses to USC, two to Stanford (each by 3-2 scores), one to UCLA and one to Cal Poly. In the meantime, the Horned Frogs posted victories over Cal, Lengthy Seashore State, Hawaii (twice), Arizona State, Washington (twice), FIU, Florida Atlantic (twice) and Tulane (3 times). Most notably, TCU nipped NCAA first-round opponent LSU 3-2 on Feb. 24 in Houston, profitable on the 1s, 4s and 5s. The Bayou Bengals lead the all-time sequence 9-7, however have dropped the final 4.
LSU
File: 25-11 (No.11 in AVCA ballot).
Coach: Russell Brock, eighth season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Gabi Bailey (19-14 general) and Ellie Shank (25-6 general).
No. 2: Reilly Allred and Parker Bracken (22-9).
No. 3: Ella Larkin (27-6 general) and Aubrey O’Gorman (17-6 general).
No. 4: Amber Haynes (19-14 general) and Skylar Martin (22-11 general).
No. 5: Yali Ashush and Emily Meyer (18-8).
Synopsis: A fixture on the nationwide match since 2017, Louisiana State was the one at-large pick of the CCSA. Its greatest NCAA end was a 3rd in 2019 and final 12 months, the Tigers had been eradicated within the quarterfinals by Florida State after they defeated first-round foe Florida Atlantic. LSU’s signature second in 2024 got here on dwelling sand throughout its bold Loss of life Volley Invitational, when it surprised USC 3-2. Victories over Cal, Loyola Marymount, Washington, Georgia State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi strengthened its case with the choice committee, however 11 losses and a 1-2 document within the CCSA match put the Bayou Bengals within the decrease half of the bracket. The midseason insertion of 6-foot-3 junior Aubrey O’Gorman and senior Ellie Shank’s climb to the highest courtroom bolstered LSU’s lineup, which obtained strong contributions from freshmen Skylar Martin and Yali Ashush.
No. 7 Cal vs. No. 10 Lengthy Seashore State
Cal
File: 21-13 (No. 8 within the AVCA ballot).
Coach: Meagan Owusu, eighth season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Sierra Caffo (13-12 general) and Alexandria Younger-Gomez (19-7).
No. 2: Emma Donley (19-13 general) and Kendall Peters (15-12 general).
No. 3: Gia Fisher (17-12 general) and Marilu Pally (18-7 general).
No. 4: Ella Dreibholz (22-6 general) and Lara Boos (21-10 general).
No. 5: Portia Sherman (24-6 general) and Jenna Colligan (13-6 general).
Synopsis: At-large choice out of the Pac-12, California is within the NCAA discipline for the third consecutive season. The Golden Bears tripped Lengthy Seashore State 3-2 within the first spherical of the 2023 match earlier than being eradicated by UCLA. Cal has gained 5 of seven all-time towards the Seashore. Coach Meagan Owusu has taken a mix-and-match strategy to her lineup because the Bears negotiated a killer schedule whereas sustaining a nationwide rating between six and eight all season. Cal’s spotlight victories got here towards Florida State, Loyola Marymount, Arizona State, Hawaii, LSU, Washington (twice), Georgia State, however it went a mixed 0-6 towards USC, UCLA and Stanford.
Lengthy Seashore State
File: 28-9 (No. 7 in AVCA ballot).
Coach: Mike Campbell, tenth season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah (27-10).
No. 2: Savannah Standage (22-9 general) and Julia Westby (28-9 general).
No. 3: Mo Gibson (21-7 general) and Natalie Glenn (27-9 general).
No. 4: Haley Carrington (15-12 general) and Christine Deroos (26-11 general).
No. 5: Megan Widener (29-8 general) and Livi Narancich (14-8 general).
Synopsis: Lengthy Seashore State was one in all two at-large picks from the Massive West Convention after a season which noticed it solidly within the nationwide High 10. The Seashore return to the NCAAs with a first-round rematch towards Cal. Lengthy Seashore State suffered no evident defeats whereas going 2-0 towards Loyola Marymount, 2-1 towards Cal Poly and 1-2 towards Hawaii, together with 3-2 defeat within the remaining of the Massive West match that noticed the title determined by a 16-14 rating within the tiebreaker of the 4s match. The Seashore additionally beat Washington, Arizona State, Georgia State, Florida Worldwide and Stetson. Coach Mike Campbell’s lineup begins no seniors. Sophomores Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah rank among the many greatest top-court pairs within the nation. The wonderful 2s duo of Savannah Standage and Julia Wesby are also second-year gamers.
No. 8 Loyola Marymount vs. No. 9 Hawaii
Loyola Marymount
File: 27-13 (No. 9 in AVCA ballot).
Coach: John Mayer, ninth season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Vihelmiina Prihti (30-9 general) and Michelle Shaffer (30-9 general).
No. 2: Isabelle Reffel (19-20 general) and Alisha Stevens (10-9 general).
No. 3: Anna Pellioa (25-12 general) and Jacinda Ramirez (25-10 general).
No. 4: Cassie Chinn (29-11 general) and Chloe Hooker (27-12 general).
No. 5: Madi Firnett (24-11 general) and Abbey Thorup (27-12).
Synopsis: Loyola Marymount, the automated qualifier as match champion of the West Coast Convention, earned its fourth consecutive journey to the NCAAs. The Lions completed third in 2021. Within the 2023 nationals, LMU gained its first-round twin towards Hawaii earlier than dropping a 3-1 determination to eventual nationwide champion and SoCal rival USC. The seeding is about up for the same state of affairs to play out this 12 months, for the reason that winner of the 8-9 twin advances to what nearly definitely might be a date with the top-seeded Girls of Troy. The Lions will face Hawaii for a 3rd consecutive season within the first spherical, having additionally ousted the Rainbow Wahine within the 2022 nationals because the No. 4 seed. Hawaii leads the all-time sequence, which dates to 2012, 12-5, however has misplaced the final 4. Of their solely assembly this 12 months, LMU gained 4-1 within the season-opening Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Traditional in Honolulu. Coach John Mayer has used just about a set lineup via a 40-dual minefield of a schedule that noticed his Lions compete within the Kahanamoku, the Battle for L.A., the East Meets West, FSU’s Unconquered Invitational and the Middle of Effort, to not point out a one-day tri-dual towards USC and UCLA. So 27-13 is fairly darn good. The TruVolley statistical score places Mayer’s crew No. 5 nationally, with its pairs ranked this fashion: 1s (8), 2s (15), 3s (7), 4s (4), 5s (3).
Hawaii
File: 24-11 (No. 10 in AVCA ballot).
Coach: Evan Silberstein, second season.
Projected lineup (document for the pair on all courts):
No. 1: Jaime Santer and Alana Embry (24-11).
No. 2: Kaylee Glagau (21-14 general) and Pani Napoleon (18-17 general).
No. 3: Sydney Miller and Anna Maidment (22-7).
No. 4: Riley Wagoner and Sydney Amiatu (22-11).
No. 5: Sarah Burton (8-5 general) and Caprice Lorenzo (6-5).
Synopsis: Hawaii may need been on the bubble heading into the Massive West Convention match, however a first-place end made the Rainbow Wahine an automated qualifier, rubber-stamping their seventh journey to the NCAAs. The large takeaway from Hawaii’s season was that it appeared buried by 0-5 begin on dwelling sand of their Kahanamoku showcase (shedding to Loyola Marymount, UCLA twice, Stanford and USC), however will enter the nationals with an eight-dual profitable streak. In between, the Rainbow Wahine notched victories over LSU, Lengthy Seashore State and Georgia State. “Very happy with our group for his or her dedication, observe via and composure on profitable the Massive West,” Coach Evan Silberstein instructed VBM. “Looking forward to LMU is a full-circle second from our opening match again in Honolulu. It’s an awesome alternative for us to show our enhancements since that point.” The late-season pairing of senior Kaylee Glagau and grad switch Pani Napoleon has resulted in an 8-2 document. Touted freshman Julia Thelle (15-8) has handled damage points and is obtainable, Silberstein mentioned, however gained’t begin.