Texas A&M feels like a team of destiny
Third-seeded Texas A&M has no business being in the national championship game. They were down two sets to Louisville in the third round and came back to do the reverse sweep. Then they had to take on the juggernaut that is Nebraska, and eliminated the No. 1 overall team in an instant one-game classic. And in Thursday night’s semifinals, they had to beat Pitt and 2024 Player of the Year Olivia Babcock. For the first time this season, the Panthers were swept and on Sunday the Aggies will play for the national title for the first time in program history.
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After every win, the Aggies ask themselves a simple question.
“I know it’s probably like beating a dead horse, but everyone keeps hearing why not us. Literally, why not us,” senior Logan Lednicky said. “I think a lot of these times we’re considered the underdogs simply because we haven’t been here before, but we know we have all the right pieces, so why not us?”
Kentucky’s experience showed in its semifinal victory.
Wisconsin played a near-perfect first set against Kentucky in the Final Four. The Wildcats seemed bewildered, while Wisconsin looked dominant. But as the game progressed, experience shined through as Kentucky stayed loose and figured out how to win. Kentucky had played more five-set matches than Wisconsin. They won the SEC championship this season and that mettle was shown when they topped Wisconsin in five sets.
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“I think the way they played, the heart they showed is immeasurable,” Kentucky coach Craig Skinner said after the game. “I keep telling them that they are transformational leaders in the way they do it, in what they have done for the sport, especially in Kentucky, but not just there, across the country. I’m proud of them. But the work is not done.”
The best hitters on the team will be the matchup to follow
Eva Hudson and Brooklyn Deleye scored 44 kills for Kentucky in its five-set victory, while Lednicky and Kyndal Stowers combined for 30 in their team’s three-set victory. These players have the ability to rise to change the course of the game. The Wildcats have the height advantage, but don’t overlook the Aggies’ athleticism.
The SEC is emerging as a volleyball power
Volleyball has traditionally been dominated by the Big Ten and Pac-12, and the ACC has made some noise in recent years. But Sunday’s final shows how seismic changes in college sports have impacted volleyball. The Pac-12 is no more, and the Big Ten has added long-standing powers like UCLA and USC to its already strong lineup that includes Wisconsin and Nebraska. But this Sunday a new power conference has appeared: the SEC. This is the first time the national championship will feature two SEC schools.
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The parity and growth of volleyball are evident in this final
Thursday night’s semifinals in Kansas City were sold out, even after Nebraska — and its fan base willing to travel — was eliminated in the Elite Eight. Even beyond the loud presence of the fans, the parity on the field showed how much the sport has grown. Texas A&M had never been to the Final Four. Only two number one seeds remained. Volleyball has been growing in attendance and television ratings for years, and this final shows that it is a sport that will not slow down anytime soon.