There is a temporary issue accessing live web data, so it is not possible to pull in the very latest detailed game results or breaking headlines from today’s NCAA volleyball coverage. However, it is still possible to outline what a current NCAA women’s volleyball news landscape looks like in early December, when the national tournament dominates the sport.
Championship tournament picture
Early December is the heart of the NCAA Division I women’s volleyball championship, with the 64‑team national tournament bracket underway across campus sites and neutral venues. Teams that spent the season near the top of the rankings, such as perennial powers from the Big Ten, Big 12, Pac‑12/ACC successors, and other major conferences, are typically hosting early‑round pods and facing lower‑seeded automatic qualifiers. Upsets are common at this stage, and five‑set thrillers often headline the first and second rounds as unseeded or lower‑seeded teams push national contenders to the brink.
As the field narrows to the regional semifinals and finals, storylines usually focus on whether top seeds can withstand pressure from surging “dark horse” programs that caught fire late in the regular season or conference tournaments. Coaching matchups, star outside hitters and liberos, and blocking battles at the net frequently shape the narrative, while television and streaming coverage expands as matches move to primetime national windows.
Notable dark horses and upsets
In most recent NCAA tournaments, analysts highlight a handful of dark horse teams—programs seeded outside the very top lines but considered dangerous because of strong defenses, elite setters, or high‑powered pins. These teams often come from major conferences yet may have been overshadowed by bluebloods, or from mid‑majors with long winning streaks against weaker schedules. Their goal is to turn regular‑season momentum into deep tournament runs by upsetting higher seeds in the second round and regionals.
Early‑round upsets tend to shape the bracket quickly: a favored host team might fall in a tense five‑set match, clearing a path for an unseeded squad to reach its first regional. Such results can redefine expectations for the rest of the tournament, with new “Cinderella” stories emerging and reshuffling projections for who might reach the national semifinals.
Division II and III championship races
Beyond Division I, NCAA Division II and III women’s volleyball also crown national champions in December, with their own brackets and neutral‑site championships. Division II typically stages an eight‑team final site after regional play, while Division III brings together its regional winners for a final championship weekend. These events highlight smaller programs and often showcase players who dominate at their level but receive less national media attention.
Conference champions and at‑large selections in Division II and III mirror the Division I process, and the December championships in those divisions contribute to a broader national volleyball calendar. Fans of these levels follow similar storylines: undefeated or near‑undefeated teams protecting perfect seasons, seniors chasing one last title run, and programs aiming for first‑ever national crowns.
Conference news and future events
Around the same time as the national tournaments, major conferences release postseason awards, including player of the year, freshman of the year, and coach of the year honors. These recognitions often go to standout hitters who lead in kills per set, setters who run top‑ranked offenses, and liberos who anchor elite defenses. Coaching changes can also begin to surface as seasons end, with athletic departments announcing resignations, extensions, or new hires that will shape future recruiting and competitive balance.
Looking forward, the NCAA calendar continues with winter and spring activities such as recruiting periods, transfer‑portal movement, and scheduling announcements for the following season. Off‑season developments—like realignment impacts on volleyball schedules and potential rule tweaks—ensure that NCAA volleyball remains newsworthy even after the last national champion is crowned.
Sources
1. 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament live updates: Bracket, schedule, score
2. 5 dark horses in this year's NCAA volleyball tournament bracket
3. 2025 DIII women's volleyball championship: Bracket, schedule, scores
4. Every five-set NCAA volleyball championship match finish — so far
5. Wisconsin vs. EIU: 2025 NCAA volleyball first round highlights
6. Women's Volleyball | News - Big Ten Conference
7. NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship - AVCA
8. Baylor vs Arkansas State: Full 5th set in NCAA volleyball first round
