All-time highs: More great TV, crowd numbers for NCAA volleyball semifinals
The NCAA semifinals drew a record crowd in Tampa and great TV ratings/@AndyWenstrand To say that the hits just keep on coming for women’s college volleyball in 2023 has gotten to be an understatement. The national semifinal matches of the NCAA tournament that aired Thursday night on...
Thriving Texas plays Nebraska for NCAA title in “an iconic matchup”
Jenna Wenaas of Texas hits against Wisconsin’s Anna Smrek and CC Crawford/@AndyWenstrand By Joey Johnston for VolleyballMag.com TAMPA — Normally, there’s tremendous pressure on a defending national champion. Nerves can be frayed. Expectations must be managed. But the Texas Longhorns are loose, smiling and eager. Who saw it coming? Following...
Skinner, O’Neal spark Texas past Wisconsin and into national title match
Madisen Skinner of Texas fires a shot down the line past Wisconsin’s Anna Smrek/@AndyWenstrand TAMPA — Madisen Skinner hit and served Wisconsin out of Amalie Arena and Texas into the national title match. The junior outside hitter was spectacular Thursday on the biggest stage, the NCAA Division...
Youth is served as freshmen continue to sparkle for top-ranked Nebraska
Nebraska’s Bergen Reilly, left, and Bekka Allick block Pitt’s Valeria Vazquez Gomez/@Andy Wenstrand By Joey Johnson for VolleyballMag.com TAMPA — When the season began, top-ranked Nebraska featured five freshmen, most of whom were expected to play key roles. “I feel like that (being doubted) is understandable with five...
33-1 Nebraska dismantles Pitt, awaits Wisconsin-Texas winner
Harper Murray, who led Nebraska with 13 kills, unloads against Pitt/@AndyWenstrand TAMPA — All that remained was the waiting, to see if we will have a rematch of the 2021 five-set epic NCAA championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska. Top-seeded Nebraska did its part, completely overpowering No....
NCAA volleyball: More TV news; AVCA honors Cook; big tourney set
Temi Thomas-Ailara attacks as Wisconsin teammates CC Crawford, left, and Devyn Robinson block during practice for the Wisconsin Badgers practice Wednesday/@AndyWenstrand As we wait for the start of the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship national semifinals, notes, notes, notes … We have a TV update from...
Showtime! Nebraska vs. Pittsburgh, Wisconsin vs. Texas
Asjia O’Neal leads Texas into its match with Wisconsin/Matt Smith photo TAMPA — Showtime! The NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship national semifinals are Thursday. Here’s what you need to know: The matchups, time and TV Pittsburgh vs. Nebraska, 7 p.m. Eastern, ESPN Texas vs. Wisconsin, 30 minutes after the first...
Mick Haley and USC announce “mutually agreeable” settlement
Mick Haley talks to USC setter Reni Meyer-Whalley during a 2017 time out/Ed Chan, VBshots.com TAMPA — Mick Haley, the 2000 USA Olympic coach who won 10 national titles as a college volleyball coach, has settled his lawsuit with USC, the school that fired him in...
Texas faces tall task when it battles the tallest in Wisconsin
Madisen Skinner beats the block during Texas practice/@AndyWenstrand By Joey Johnston for VolleyballMag.com TAMPA — The Texas Longhorns have battled expectations, a 5-3 start to the season and staring their demise squarely in the face while overcoming a match point in the region semifinals. For the defending national...
Compliments from Cook as Huskers prepare for semis battle with Pitt
Nebraska coach John Cook addresses his team during Wednesday’s practice/@AndyWenstrand By Joey Johnston for VolleyballMag.com TAMPA — Nebraska’s Big Red contingent has landed at the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship. Saying the Huskers travel well is like saying the Gulf of Mexico sunsets are sort of pretty. The...
NCAA volleyball: AVCA All-Americans; “heavyweight foursome;” Sioux Falls connection
Wisconsin’s Anna Smrek juggles tennis balls at Wednesday’s practice/@AndyWenstrand TAMPA, Florida — The Wednesday before the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship is always busy. Not only do all four teams — top-seeded Nebraska, No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 4 Pittsburgh and No. 7 Texas — practice and...
Nathan Michaels, the “knee whisperer” of the beach volleyball world
HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA — In the spring of 2021, Nathan Michaels was in need of an experiment. A physical trainer who had worked full-time for Equinox until gyms were shut down during the pandemic, Michaels was taking clients of all shapes and sizes, ages and abilities,...
International men’s report: Club Worlds; big weeks for Szerscen, Russell
His team lost, but Kyle Russell was strong for Gioiella Prisma Taranto/legavolley.it This is Blair Lambert’s VolleyballMag.com weekly men’s professional volleyball report, featuring Americans around the world. Got a note about a player or a comment for Blair? Email him at blairlambert2@gmail.com The FIVB Club World Championships...
Wichita State overpowers UTEP to win NIVC
Wichita State wins the 2023 NIVC Not only did Wichita State win, the Shockers swept at UTEP on Tuesday to win the NIVC and claim the first postseason championship in program history. The Shockers (26-8) of the American Athletic Conference won their sixth in a row as...
USA women’s pro volleyball report: Big week for Rettkie, Eggleston
This is our weekly update on USA women playing professional volleyball around the world. Most of the players are former NCAA standouts: Champions League Milano stayed unbeaten in Pool A with a four-set win over Mulhouse as Dana Rettke had eight kills (hitting .700), three blocks and...
O’Neal goes first in Pro Volleyball Federation draft; LOVB, USAV partner
Asjia O’Neal hits against Thailand during Volleyball Nations League last summer/Volleyball World photo The Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) and League One Volleyball (LOVB) enjoyed a newsworthy Monday, highlighted by a draft, the announcement of involvement by USA Volleyball in the domestic pro game and the disclosure...
The portal, Mr. Trooper, the four teams left and more in our NCAA Zoom
The Huskers celebrate clinching their spot in Tampa/Nebraska photo We both head to Tampa on Tuesday and made time to record this Zoom just as we learned that Kentucky’s Reagan Rutherford is in the transfer portal. Lee is dealing with the emotions of selling his 33-year-old...
Wichita State plays at UTEP on Tuesday for NIVC championship
Wichita State will play UTEP on Tuesday for the NIVC championship. Wichita State (25-8) advanced by sweeping Montana State the semifinals, while UTEP (25-9) hit .475 and did the same to South Florida. Wichita State, which finished 15-4 and second to SMU in the American Athletic Conference...
“Amazing night for the Texas Longhorns” puts defending champs back into NCAA semis
Texas celebrates beating Stanford If it’s possible for the defending national champions to fly under the radar and still be one of the best teams in women’s volleyball, the Texas Longhorns found a way to accomplish it. When the stakes ratcheted up, however, a proud program was...
Wisconsin overpowers Oregon in four to claim its spot in NCAA semifinals
Wisconsin became the third No. 1 seed in as many regional finals Saturday to win its way into next weeks NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship by beating Oregon 25-22, 25-22, 25-27, 25-18. Wisconsin (30-3), the No. 3 seed overall in the 64-team field, will play...