The 10 Greatest Upsets in NCAA Volleyball Tournament History

The NCAA volleyball tournament rewards preparation, depth, and consistency, yet it still finds ways to surprise people every season. Upsets typically arise from matchup problems, timing, travel, pressure, and moments when favored teams lose control.

These games mattered because expectations leaned heavily in one direction before the opening serve. The results shifted conversations about conference strength and tournament balance.

2010 First Round

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Northern Iowa entered the tournament with a 30–2 record, a fifth seed, and the fourth-best RPI in the country. Missouri barely earned its spot in the field. Playing at home, Northern Iowa expected a clean opening match, but the opposing team commanded rallies early and did not allow the Panthers to settle.

2012 Regional Final

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This match happened in California against the team holding the top RPI in the nation. Michigan entered the tournament unseeded, having suffered 11 regular-season losses, and garnered little national attention. Stanford was dependent on efficiency and depth throughout the year, but Michigan disrupted its timing and won in four sets. Stanford struggled to settle in defensively once Michigan gained confidence.

2015 First Round

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One of the clearest examples of a ranking gap collapsing under tournament pressure came in the 2015 first round, when unseeded American swept heavily favored Kentucky. Kentucky entered the tournament with a far stronger national profile, but the match never tilted their way. American dictated play from the start, using clean passing and precise execution to remove any chance of a comeback.

2011 Second Round

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Nebraska nearly suffered an early tournament exit despite entering as the No. 2 seed after winning the Big Ten in its first season. Kansas State, ranked 26th in RPI, extended rallies and kept the match tight by staying composed in long stretches of play. Nebraska avoided the upset by adjusting its approach late

2014 National Semifinal

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This run remains historic because no unseeded team had ever reached the NCAA championship match before BYU's 2014 performance. After beating Arizona, Florida State, and Nebraska, BYU qualified for the semifinal against second-seeded Texas. Texas had only two losses and looked like a clear favorite, but was unable to adjust defensively.

2019 Third Round

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At the time, fans were thrilled because Texas dominated the regular season and never lost at home. However, Louisville arrived with confidence and won the first two sets at Gregory Gymnasium. Texas pushed the match to a fifth set, but the competition closed. Aiko Jones finished with 23 kills, and Texas struggled to contain Louisville's outside attack.

2013 Second Round

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Duke was unable to recover against an American team that dictated every phase of the match. They came in as a national seed with a higher RPI, but couldn't match Americans' pace or precision. The straight-set sweep sent American to the regional semifinals.

2002 Second Round

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Penn State rarely drops tournament matches on its home court, especially in the early rounds. That made Temple's 2002 second-round win at Rec Hall all the more significant. Inconsistent rotations hurt the Nittany Lions, who never regained momentum. Temple advanced to the regional semifinals and hasn't returned to the tournament since.

2000 First Round

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No RPI data exists to show just how wide the gap may have been between Southeast Missouri State and North Carolina. Still, expectations heavily favored North Carolina, the ACC's automatic qualifier. Southeast Missouri State, with a shaky nonconference record, entered as Ohio Valley champions, managed to close out rallies, and forced UNC into uncomfortable situations.

2007 First Round

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No Big Sky team has advanced past the first round of the NCAA tournament since Sacramento State pulled it off in 2007. They won in four sets by applying steady serve pressure and staying composed in long rallies. It remains one of the few high points for a conference that does not normally see postseason success.

byAlpha World

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January 02, 2026

The 10 Greatest Upsets in NCAA Volleyball Tournament History

The NCAA volleyball tournament rewards preparation, depth, and consistency, yet it still finds ways to surprise people ev...

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Venus Williams, 45, set to make Australian Open history after receiving wild-card entry

Seven-time grand slam singles championVenus Williamshas received a wild-card entry for the Australian Open beginning January 18 in Melbourne.

The tournament said Friday that the 45-year-old Williams would make a return to Melbourne Park 28 years after her first appearance. In 1998, she defeated her younger sister Serena in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals to fellow American Lindsay Davenport.

Venus hadannounced in Novemberthat she would play in Auckland, New Zealand, where she also received a wild card, two weeks before the Australian Open. The Australian Open said Williams was also entered to play a tournament in Hobart, Australia a week later and just before play begins at Melbourne Park.

She last appeared in Melbourne in 2021 and has finished runner-up in the women's singles twice, losing to Serena in the finals in 2003 and 2017.

"I'm excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer," Williams said. "I've had so many incredible memories there, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career."

Williams' record at Melbourne Park is 54 wins and 21 losses. This year will be the 22nd time she has appeared in the main draw.

The tournament said Williams is set to become the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw, surpassing the record previously held byJapan's Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round at Melbourne Park in 2015.

In late December, WilliamsmarriedDanish-born model and actor Andrea Preti at Palm Beach, Florida.

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byAlpha World

in

January 02, 2026

Venus Williams, 45, set to make Australian Open history after receiving wild-card entry

Seven-time grand slam singles championVenus Williamshas received a wild-card entry for the Australian Open beginning January 18 in Melbourn...

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Hilary Knight set to make 5th Olympics appearance as US women's hockey unveils 23-player roster

Hilary Knight is set to makeher fifth Olympic appearance, and this time lead a younger, faster U.S. women's national team that's favored to win gold at the Milan Cortina Winter Games next month.

The 36-year-old Knight headlines the list as USA Hockey released its 23-player Olympic women's roster on Friday. It's a group that returns just 11 members from the team that won silver at the 2022 Beijing Games, and features several newcomers, highlighted by defenderLaila Edwards.

From Cleveland, the 21-year-old Wisconsin senior is set to become the first Black female hockey player to compete for the U.S. at the Olympics.

"It still hasn't really kicked in yet. Getting that call is like a dream come true," Edwards said. "Always had dreams of playing in the pros, but the biggest dream was to go the Olympics for sure."

As for Knight, she will set a U.S. women's hockey record for most Winter Games appearances after winning gold in 2018 and three silver medals. The Seattle Torrent captain previously announced these will be her final Winter Games, while planning to continue her PWHL career.

The U.S. roster features various familiar faces, including forward Kendall Coyne Schofield and defender Lee Stecklein, who will both be competing in a fourth Winter Games. Other returnees include forwards Alex Carpenter and Kelly Pannek, and defenders Megan Keller and Caroline Harvey, who at 23 is completing her senior season at Wisconsin.

The roster has otherwise been transformed under coach John Wroblewski, who placed an emphasis on a youth movement upon being hired in June 2022.

The Americans relied mostly on veterans and appeared a step behind in finishing 5-2 — with both losses to Canada — in Beijing under former coach Joel Johnson.

This year's team features seven players still competing at college, with 20-year-old Ohio State forward Joy Dunne being the youngest. The goalie trio is also new, with projected starter Aerin Frankel, projected backup Gwyneth Philips, and third-stringer Ava McNaughton set to make their Olympic debuts.

Wroblewski's imprint on the roster was evident particularly in the most recent Rivalry Series, in which theAmericans swept all four gamesby out-scoring the Canadians by a combined margin of 24-7. The U.S. is also the defending world champions after a 4-3 overtime win against Canada in April.

The Americans open the Olympics facing the Czech Republic on Feb. 5, with the gold-medal game set for Feb. 19.

The U.S. is favored to win its third Olympic gold medal, and first since defeating Canada at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games. The Americans also won the inaugural tournament at Nagano in 1998, with the Canadians winning gold at the other five Olympic competitions.

These are the first Olympics since the PWHL began play in 2024, with the now eight-team league expected to make an impact by raising the level of international competition and bridging the gap among nations trailing the two global powers U.S. and Canada.

The U.S. roster features 16 PWHL players.

AP Olympic coverage:https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

byAlpha World

in

January 02, 2026

Hilary Knight set to make 5th Olympics appearance as US women's hockey unveils 23-player roster

Hilary Knight is set to makeher fifth Olympic appearance, and this time lead a younger, faster U.S. women's national ...

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FBI says it foiled an ISIS-inspired New Year's Eve terror attack in North Carolina

The DOJ and FBI said they foiled an alleged plot to attack a grocery store and fast food restaurant on New Year's Eve in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, arresting 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant.

Sturdivant allegedly planned to use knives and hammers in a deadly, ISIS-inspired attack at a fast food restaurant and grocery store. Officials said Sturdivant is a resident of Mint Hill, North Carolina.

FBI and DOJ officials claim that Sturdivant began consuming ISIS propaganda videos on social media and pledged his allegiance to ISIS, detailing his plans to undercover officers.

Officials said that he planned the attack for about a year in support of ISIS. He has been charged with producing material support to a terrorist organization.

byAlpha World

in

January 02, 2026

FBI says it foiled an ISIS-inspired New Year's Eve terror attack in North Carolina

The DOJ and FBI said they foiled an alleged plot to attack a grocery store and fast food restaurant on New Year's ...

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Sick of winter? January thaw coming for eastern half of US

Folks sick ofwinter's coldshould see a reprieve from the icy weather the week of Jan. 5, forecasters said.

Temperatures are likely to be much warmer than average across a wide expanse of the country, the National Weather Service said in an online forecast posted Jan. 2.

"Milder air will surge east next week as winter takes a breather," said Washington Post meteorologist Ben Noll on X on Friday Jan. 2.

The warmth will be a welcome relief fromthe recent cold patternthat's overspread much of the nation.

People gather on Washington Street as snow falls during a winter storm in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City, December 26, 2025. New York City received around 4 inches of snow overnight. Airlines canceled 1,500 US flights during the peak holiday travel period Friday, with severe winter storm warnings and heavy snow forecast across parts of the Midwest and northeast.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> People walk with their dog in the snow in Central Park in New York City on December 27, 2025. New York City received around 4 inches of snow overnight. Airlines canceled 1,500 US flights during the peak holiday travel period Friday, with severe winter storm warnings and heavy snow forecast across parts of the Midwest and northeast.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See the magic and chaos of holiday snowfall in the Northeast

People gather on Washington Street as snow falls during a winter storm in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City, December 26, 2025.New York City received around 4 inches of snow overnight. Airlines canceled 1,500 US flights during the peak holiday travel period Friday, with severe winter storm warnings and heavy snow forecast across parts of the Midwest and northeast.

Pattern change

Large-scale climate patterns that guide our weather will be shifting next week, forecasters said. Senior MeteorologistNoah Bergrenfrom FOX35Orlando on an X post from Jan. 2 called for a "BIG pattern flip starting mid-next week, lasting through about January 11th."

Parts of the nation that have been seeing persistent cold for weeks will finally see milder temperatures later next week.

"Beyond early next week, the dip in the jet stream in the Northeast, which has been responsible for the waves of Arctic air, will retreat into Canada," according to an online forecast from Alex Sosnowski,AccuWeather senior meteorologist.

How warm will it get?

Notably warmer weather is likely in the east, particularly the Northeast "where it's been a popsicle of late," Bergren said. "In Florida, I could see a few days 80-85 degrees Jan. 9-11!"

Theweather servicesaid that temperatures will also be quite warm in the Plains, where temperatures of 15 to 30 degrees above average will be common. Daily records for warm lows and highs could be set across the Intermountain West and Plains.

Unseasonably warm weather will then gradually expand and spread eastward through the week, bringing temperatures that are some 15 to 25 degrees above average to the Mississippi Valley and eventually 10 degrees above average for the East Coast, after a colder than average start to the week across the Northeast, the weather service said.

By Wednesday Jan. 7, Atlanta will be in the 70s and 50-degree highs will push as far north as Philadelphia, according toWeather.com.

However, the West and Southwest should remain near or below normal temperature-wise much of the week.

What about snow?

A parade of clipper storms and frigid air from Canada will continue to cause wintry woes for travelers from the Great Lakes region to parts of the Northeast through this weekend and for the first day back to work and school for millions on Monday, Sosnowski said.

In spite of the warmer temperatures, areas with snow cover that become wet from melting during the day may freeze at night, posing hazards for pedestrians and motorists, AccuWeather meteorologist Alyssa Glenny said.

The trend toward milder temperatures is forecast to be associated with below-average snowfall for much of the United States into mid-January, Noll said on X.

Doyle Rice is a national correspondent for USA TODAY, focusing on weather and climate issues.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:January thaw coming for eastern half of US. See when.

byAlpha World

in

January 02, 2026

Sick of winter? January thaw coming for eastern half of US

Folks sick ofwinter's coldshould see a reprieve from the icy weather the week of Jan. 5, forecasters said. ...

Read More