By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
The bracket is set, the paths are brutal and December is about to deliver its annual dose of madness.
After breaking down matchups, seeds and regional alignments, here are my official picks for the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship.
As always, the beauty of this tournament is how fast things can flip on a momentum shift. But on paper – and in ink on my bracket – Nebraska dances in the confetti.
I’m riding with Nebraska to win the national championship, advancing through a loaded side of the bracket and ultimately defeating Kentucky in the title match in Kansas City. The Huskers have the balance, blocking presence and terminal attackers that historically win deep in December, and their regional draw sets up well for a long run.
My Final Four features Nebraska, Pitt, Stanford and Kentucky. Pitt’s run through the lower left of the bracket was one of the toughest calls, but the Panthers’ experience gives them the edge late. On the right side, Kentucky’s path is challenging, yet the Wildcats’ ball control and depth should carry them through.
Stanford remains the ultimate wild card. The Cardinal is a young team, but their ceiling is as high as anyone in the field. If they find rhythm early, they are capable of knocking off anyone they face.
Texas outlook
Texas enters the tournament as one of the most dangerous teams in the field, with a path that sets up several high-profile matchups. The Longhorns’ combination of physicality at the net and elite ball control makes them a legitimate Final Four threat every year, and this season is no different. If Texas can survive the early rounds, a potential collision with a physical Big Ten opponent looms in the later stages. The margin for error will be slim, but this group has the tournament experience to make another deep run.
Texas A&M is staring down one of the toughest stretches of any Texas team. Their half of the bracket is loaded with proven programs, which means A&M will have to be sharp immediately. The Aggies’ serve-and-block game gives them the tools to knock off higher seeds if they control first contact. If A&M gets hot from the service line, they are a legitimate spoiler in this region.
The Lone Star State is well-represented beyond the flagship programs. SMU, Baylor, TCU and Rice all bring contrasting styles that make them difficult early-round matchups. SMU’s tempo offense, Baylor’s physicality, TCU’s athletic pins and Rice’s disciplined defense all create unique problems for higher seeds. It would not be surprising to see at least one of these programs bust through the first weekend and shake up a regional bracket.
Texas once again sends a deep, talented group into December, and the state will be a major factor in how this tournament unfolds. Whether it’s a marquee run from Texas or Texas A&M, or a surprise surge from one of the others, don’t be shocked if a Texas program crashes the national semifinals.
Now let’s see how wrong I am.
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