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NCAA Volleyball Sweet 16 Predictions


NCAA Volleyball Tournament Predictions

#1 USC (32-2) v. #16 Creighton (27-8)

Dec 11, 11 PM on ESPNU

USC is the #1 team in the country and for good reason. The Trojans dominated the Pac 12 this year and only suffered defeats to #5 Washington and #14 UCLA. USC won’t have much trouble with Creighton in the Sweet 16 and I won’t be surprised if they sweep the Blue Jays like they did back in September.

#9 Kansas (28-2) v. Loyola Marymount (24-8)

Dec 11, 8:30 PM on ESPN3

Kansas has had a pretty easy tournament so far with 3-0 wins over two unranked teams in Furman and Missouri. Kansas was dominant in the Big 12 as well going 28-2 with only 2 losses to #3 Texas. However, Loyola Marymount is one of the 2 Cinderella stories of the tournament, winning their last 5, only losing 1 set in that time and knocking off Stanford 3-0. I am on the LMU band wagon. With convincing wins over UCLA and BYU, I believe the Cinderella run continues.

#5 Washington (30-2) v. #12 Ohio State (25-9)

Dec 11, 7:30 PM on ESPN3

The Big Ten has the most entries in the Sweet 16 with 6. For any of these teams, the strength of schedule then is important, they have been tested day in and day out in their conference games. Ohio State however was not overly impressive in those matchups and was only 4-5 against opponents still in the tournament. Washington on the other hand only had 2 losses all season against USC and Stanford. Washington only lost 11 sets all year, that is domination and that’s why Washington wins this matchup.

#13 BYU (28-3) v. #4 Nebraska (28-4)

Dec 11, 5 PM on ESPN3

BYU was a 28 win team this year, they split with Loyola-Marymount, but some of their wins are just too close for comfort and I don’t know that they can hang with Nebraska. Similar to Ohio State, Nebraska has been tested in the Big Ten, but a 5-3 record against opponents still in the tournament makes me believe that Nebraska could be ready for the Elite 8. Nebraska was the only team to beat the perennial powerhouse Penn State twice during the regular season. I think Nebraska is just too strong for BYU.

#3 Texas (27-2) v. #14 UCLA (25-7)

Dec 11, 8 PM on ESPN3

UCLA had a huge win over USC late in the season, but were beaten badly by Washington and Loyola Marymount. UCLA was 2-4 against opponents still in the tournament. Texas cruised through the Big 12 with only an early season loss to Florida and a mid-season snag to TCU. Texas beat #9 Kansas twice and #4 Nebraska in the regular season which is why I’m taking Texas in the Sweet 16.

#6 Wisconsin (26-6) v. #11 Florida (24-6)

Dec 11, 5:30 PM on ESPN3

Two 24-6 teams matching up should be another great game to watch. Florida is the only SEC team remaining and has only 2 games against opponents still in the tournament (1-1). Wisconsin on the other hand is 5-4 against teams who are still playing including wins in their last three over Nebraska, Illinois, and Ohio State. Wisconsin has just too much experience in big games this year to lose this one.

#7 Penn State (28-5) v. Hawaii (28-1)

Dec 11, 8:30 PM on ESPN3

Hawaii is 28-1 and has gone through TCU and #10 Texas A&M to get to this match up. Hawaii has beaten Florida, Iowa, and Oregon State out of conference as well. Their only loss is a 3-1 defeat to #14 UCLA. They have all the makings for the second Cinderella team in the tournament. Penn State, however, is always in the mix at the end of the season. The Nittany Lions were 5-3 against opponents still in the tournament and know how to win tough games. Penn State will end this Cinderella story before the clock strikes midnight.

#2 Minnesota (28-4) v. Illinois (21-12)

Dec 11, 6 PM on ESPN3

Illinois beat #15 Louisville to get to the Sweet 16, unfortunately they run into the #2 Minnesota Gophers. The Gophers had 4 losses this year, but only 2 after September 1st including a 7-1 record against the other Big Ten teams that are still playing. Minnesota is a powerhouse team that as long as they don’t beat themselves, could win it all. Sorry Illinois, but it’s Gophertime.

ELITE 8 Predictions

#1 USC v. Loyola Marymount

Dec 12, 11 PM on ESPNU

Well, every good party ends at some point. Unfortunately USC is the #1 team in the nation and their Pac 12 regular season schedule has them primed and ready for the Final Four. I think this will be a close match, with LMU winning at least one set, but USC will be moving on.

#5 Washington v. #4 Nebraska

Dec 12, 4 PM on ESPNU

This will definitely be a match to watch, the #4 and #5 in the nation going head to head in Lexington Kentucky. I think this is going to come down to whether Nebraska’s Mikaela Foecke can get on a roll. The Freshmen outside hitter can change the game if she is allowed to attack. I’m going with Washington however to make it a Pac 12 match up in the Final Four, as I think their defense can shut down the Cornhusker attack.

#3 Texas v. #6 Wisconsin

Dec 12, 9 PM on ESPNU

I think this is the toughest bracket for a team to advance to the Final Four, both teams who face off in this game will have already had an extremely tough match up less than 24 hours before. I believe that will come into play more in this game than any other. I think the UCLA matchup is going to tire out the Longhorns and that’s why I am going with Wisconsin as the third team in the Final Four.

#7 Penn State v. #2 Minnesota

Dec 12, 6:30 PM on ESPNU

If I’m right and this is the matchup, then this will be a game you will NOT want to miss! I’m going to make an early prediction that the winner of this game (if Penn St. vs Minn) will win the national title this year. The Big Ten top three teams are Minnesota, Nebraska and Penn State. Nebraska unfortunately has to battle through the Pac 12 teams on the other side of the bracket, but the Minnesota/Penn State matchup will have a championship feel to it. The game is being played in Des Moines Iowa in the heart of Big Ten country and the crowd should be ready to see two great teams battling to the last point. These teams split in the regular season, but I’m going to give the edge to Minnesota.

Follow Kyle Wescott on Twitter: @MHSWescott


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