Breaking Records in Louisville: Semifinal Showdown
An electrifying crowd of 21,726 packed the KFC Yum! Center Thursday night - shattering the previous semifinal attendance record and setting the stage for two unforgettable matches.
Louisville's Home Court Magic Continues
The Cardinals (1-seed) kept their championship dreams alive, defeating Pitt 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 29-27, 25-17). Key highlights:
- Pivotal third set turnaround after DeBeer's momentum-shifting block
- Cardinals showed resilience after dropping opening set
- Contained Pitt's Olivia Babcock despite her impressive 33-kill performance
- Advanced to second title match in three years
Penn State's Epic Reverse Sweep
The Nittany Lions stunned Nebraska in a five-set thriller (15-13 final set):
- Stellar performances from Caroline Jurevicius (20 kills) and Jess Mruzik (26 kills)
- Nebraska's Harper Murray (20 kills) and Andi Jackson (19 kills) fought valiantly
- Historical milestone: Lexi Rodriguez set Nebraska's all-time digs record (1,891)
Path to the Finals: Complete Tournament Journey
Regional Results Breakdown
December 12
- Kentucky (3) def. Missouri (7): 3-1
- Pittsburgh (1) def. Oregon (4): 3-2
- Stanford (2) def. Florida (6): 3-1
- Louisville (1) def. Purdue (4): 3-0
December 13
- Creighton (2) def. Texas (3): 3-1
- Penn State (1) def. Marquette (5): 3-1
- Wisconsin (2) def. Texas A&M (6): 3-2
- Nebraska (1) def. Dayton (5): 3-1
December 14
- Pittsburgh (1) def. Kentucky (3): 3-0
- Louisville (1) def. Stanford (2): 3-1
December 15
- Nebraska (1) def. Wisconsin (2): 3-0
- Penn State (1) def. Creighton (2): 3-2
For more on the previous rounds, check out this recap - 2024 Women’s College Volleyball Championship: Rounds 1 & 2 Recap + Bracket Updates.
Historic Championship Match Preview
Making History: First Female Head Coach Champion
Sunday's championship guarantees a historic first - either Dani Busboom Kelly (Louisville) or Katie Schumacher-Cawley (Penn State) will become the first woman to coach a team to a championship title.
Championship Match Details
- Date: Sunday, December 22nd
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville
- Broadcast: ABC
December Dance Bracket Challenge Update
Bracket Statistics
- Only 2% of brackets predicted both Louisville and Penn State in finals
- 6% selected Penn State as champion
- 4% chose Louisville to win
- Initial favorites: Nebraska (41%) and Pittsburgh (31%)
Current Leaderboard
- michael4732 (79 points, 99.95%)
- jamie3685 (78 points, 99.85%)
- david6345 (76 points, 99.69%)
- mike2389 (76 points, 99.69%)
Final match worth 8 points - everything comes down to Sunday!
If you are participating in this year's December Dance Bracket Challenge - Powered by REN Athletics, check out your December Dance Dashboard Here.
Team Journeys
Louisville Cardinals
- Second championship match appearance in three years
- Seeking first program title
- Home court advantage with record crowds
- Overcoming adversity with DeBeer's injury
Penn State Nittany Lions
- Impressive tournament run
- Dramatic victories including semifinal reverse sweep
- Strong offensive performances from Jurevicius and Mruzik
- Looking to add to program's storied history
AVCA Convention Information
Visit REN Athletics at the AVCA Convention in Louisville (December 19-22):
- Booth locations: #15 & #128 (below Court #2)
- Exclusive deals on On-Point Volleyball Setting Target:
- AVCA2024BUY1: Free shipping on single unit
- AVCA2024BUY2: Buy 2 units + free shipping + 1 Free Touch Point Unit
*EXPIRES: 12/31/2024
FAQ Section
Q: When is the championship match? A: Sunday, December 22nd at 3:00 p.m. ET on ABC
Q: Which teams are in the final? A: Louisville will face Penn State
Q: Why is this championship historic? A: It guarantees the first female head coach to win a championship title
Q: What's at stake in the December Dance Bracket Challenge? A: A $20,000 grand prize, with the championship match worth 8 crucial points
Stay tuned for complete championship coverage and final bracket challenge results!
Related Content
- 2024 Women's College Volleyball Championship: Rounds 1 & 2 Recap + Bracket Updates
- Download Your Printable PDF Bracket For The 2024 Women's College Volleyball Championship
- National Women's College Volleyball Bracket Challenge With A $20K Grand Prize - December Dance
About REN Athletics:
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