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The 2021 NCAA volleyball tournament is here.
Undefeated Louisville is the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, winning all 28 matches it has played this season. Texas, at 24-1, is the No. 2 overall seed, while Pitt is seeded third. Defending national champion Kentucky is seeded seventh.
The tournament begins Dec. 2 with the final four beginning in Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 16. A champion will be crowned on Saturday, Dec. 18.
Our team of reporters and analysts break down the bracket and make predictions for how this year’s tourney will go.
Which of the top four seeds has the toughest path to the final four?
Mechelle Voepel: No. 3 Pittsburgh probably isn’t surprised, from a geographic standpoint, to possibly have to face seven-time NCAA champion Penn State in the second round. But that could be a scary match for the Panthers. Overall, though, I’d say the toughest region for a top seed is No. 4 Wisconsin’s. The Badgers might have to beat both No. 12 UCLA and No. 5 Baylor to make it to Columbus. No. 12 Minnesota and Stanford — still a threat even if the nine-time champion Cardinal are 18-10 — are also in this region.
Holly McPeak: Pitt has a rough bracket with Penn State, Oregon, Creighton, BYU, and Utah in its region.
Katie George: Texas has the toughest road to Columbus, with teams like Nebraska, Kentucky and Washington in its region.
Eric Frede: Pittsburgh. Potentially needing to get through Penn State in Round 2? Then potentially Oregon, BYU, Utah, Purdue? Ouch.
Jenny Hazelwood: Texas. I would be really surprised if the top seeds hold.
Karch Kiraly: Big 12 champion gets the Pac-12 champ (Washington), the SEC champ (Kentucky) and the Big Ten runner-up (Nebraska) in its region. That’s three of the four semifinalists from the spring. Texas must be wondering where the benefit is in earning the No. 2 overall seed.
Paul Sunderland: Texas. Three of the four semifinalists from last year are all in one region, with almost everyone back — not to mention a perennial…
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Source : espn
