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.
