The 2025 college volleyball season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with four top-ranked teams – Penn State, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, and Louisville – vying for their respective championship titles.
Penn State’s Katie Schumacher-Cawley became the first woman head coach to win a national title since 1981, leading her team to victory over Louisville in last year’s NCAA final.
New head coach Dani Busboom Kelly is at the helm of Nebraska, replacing John Cook, who won four championships with the Huskers.
The preseason poll sees Nebraska as the top-ranked team, followed closely by Penn State and Pittsburgh. Kentucky, Texas, Stanford, and Wisconsin round out the top eight.
The Huskers will be looking to make a deep run in the tournament after adding several transfer players, including Allie Sczech from Baylor. However, it’s worth noting that Busboom Kelly is not a clone of Cook, but rather brings her own coaching style and personality to the team.
Other teams to watch include Pittsburgh and Louisville, both seeking their first NCAA title. Meanwhile, Florida, led by new coach Ryan Theis, will also be looking for its maiden championship win.
The AVCA Division I preseason poll is as follows:
1. Nebraska (40 1st place votes)
2. Penn State (21)
3. Pittsburgh (14)
4. Louisville (12)
Stay tuned to ESPN platforms for extensive coverage of the 2025 college volleyball season, including every NCAA tournament match.
Source: https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/46030873/women-college-volleyball-ncaa-2025-season-opener-nebraska-penn-state-texas-pittsburgh-louisville