NCAA Volleyball Tournament: Wisconsin Regional Matchups Hot Read

2016 NCAA Volleyball Tournament

• Rounds 1 & 2: December 1-3
• Regional Rounds (3 & 4): December 9-10
• Semifinals & Final: December 15 and 17
• Full bracket

Earlier tonight, the NCAA announced the first-round matchups and host sites for its 2016 National Championship Tournament. Here’s a quick look at the matchups in the top right of the bracket:

Here is the top right quarter of the bracket! #NCAAVB pic.twitter.com/GzYMeS0sdD

— NCAA Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) November 28, 2016

#3 Wisconsin vs Howard

• Site host: Wisconsin
• 2016 Head-to-Head: N/A
• 2015 NCAA Tournament Results:
  • Wisconsin: lost 2-3 to Florida in 3rd round
  • Howard: lost 0-3 to Penn State in 1st round

Howard won its second-straight MEAC title with an undefeated conference record, but like last season, will run up against a tough Big Ten team in the opening round. Wisconsin spent some time ranked #1 nation-wide and is the third seed overall. Howard was swept by both of its Big Ten opponents (Penn State, Purdue) this year.

Marquette vs Washington State

• Site host: Wisconsin
• 2016 Head-to-Head: N/A
• 2015 NCAA Tournament Results:
  • Marquette: lost 0-3 to Minnesota in 2nd round
  • Washington State: N/A

Marquette heads to its 6th consecutive NCAA Tournament despite being one of our first 8 out in our projected bracket earlier today. Marquette lost in the first round of the Big East Tournament, but made the NCAA cut over Xavier despite losing to Xavier twice in the past 8 days. Washington State, meanwhile, makes its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 7 years after finishing with the program’s most wins since 2002.

#14 Kansas State vs Lipscomb

• Site host: Kansas State
• 2016 Head-to-Head: N/A
• 2015 NCAA Tournament Results:
  • Kansas State: lost 1-3 to Wichita State in 1st round
  • Lipscomb: lost 0-3 to UCLA in 1st round

A couple of first-round knockouts from last year meet up as Kansas State gets to host its first NCAA tournament match since 2007. Lipscomb won the Atlantic Sun Conference and has won 12 straight to end the season. Kansas State was just 9-7 in the Big 12, but lost just 2 matches outside the conference.

Ohio State vs Missouri State

• Site host: Kansas State
• 2016 Head-to-Head: Missouri State won 3-2
• 2015 NCAA Tournament Results:
  • Ohio State: lost 2-3 to Washington in 3rd round
  • Missouri State: lost 1-3 to Missouri in 1st round

Missouri State had to settle for an at-large bid after falling to Wichita State in the Missouri Valley Tournament and wind up across the bracket from their conference rivals. They’ll take on Ohio State, one of seven Big Ten teams in the tournament. Ohio State was just 10-10 within the conference, but is one of just two teams nation-wide to beat #1 Nebraska this year.

#6 Stanford vs Denver

• Site host: Stanford
• 2016 Head-to-Head: N/A
• 2015 NCAA Tournament Results:
  • Stanford: lost 0-3 to Loyola Marymount in 2nd round
  • Denver: lost 0-3 to Washington in 1st round

An 8-seed last year, Stanford was the victim of one of the tournament’s biggest upsets, getting swept by Loyola Marymount in the second round. This year, they’ll draw Summit League champs Denver, in search of the first NCAA Tournament win in program history. Stanford continues its NCAA-leading streak of 36 consecutive seasons with an NCAA tournament appearance. That ties them with Penn State.

Western Kentucky vs Boise State

• Site host: Stanford
• 2016 Head-to-Head:
• 2015 NCAA Tournament Results:
  • WKU: lost 0-3 to BYU in 2nd round
  • Boise State: N/A

Boise State makes its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after ending Colorado State’s 7-year run at the top of the Mountain West. Western Kentucky won Conference-USA and has just two losses on the season. that includes wins over tourney teams Cincinnati, Pitt and Lipscomb.

#11 Florida vs Alabama State

• Site host: Florida
• 2016 Head-to-Head: N/A
• 2015 NCAA Tournament Results:
  • Florida: lost 2-3 to Texas in 4th round
  • Alabama State: N/A

Florida lost the tiebreaker with Missouri for the SEC’s automatic conference bid, but ended up with a higher seed (15 to 11). They’ll take on SWAC champs Alabama State, who went a perfect 18-0 in the conference this year. Florida has been to 26 straight NCAA Tournaments, the fourth-longest streak in history, behind Penn State, Stanford and Nebraska. Florida faced Alabama State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament two years ago, winning 3-0.

Cincinnati vs Florida State

• Site host: Florida
• 2016 Head-to-Head:
• 2015 NCAA Tournament Results:
  • Cincinnati: N/A
  • Florida State: lost 1-3 to Florida in 2nd round

One of our bubble teams, Cincinnati snuck into the tournament for the first time since 2011. Cincinnati was second in the AAC and very nearly usurped SMU for the conference title. Florida State was also second in its conference, finishing two games back of UNC in the ACC. Both teams are on 6-match win streaks to end the regular season.

Other notes:

• Boise State is making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
• We could see a great 2nd round rivalry matchup between Florida and Florida State if both win their opening matches. Florida beat Florida State int he second round last season.
• Two of the four longest NCAA appearance streaks in the nation appear in this bracket: Stanford (36 straight) and Florida (26 straight).