We’re a month deep into the NCAA volleyball season, and it’s been nothing short of electric! With intense matches keeping everyone on edge, the action just won’t quit. Right now, the standings are heating up, with Pitts dominating at the top with a stellar 17-1 record, closely followed by the Huskers. Even unranked teams like North Carolina are putting up a fierce fight. But there’s one thing these 18 powerhouse teams have in common—they’re all laser-focused on snagging that coveted National Championship title as they push through the regional matches. But what’s the next step in this high-stakes journey?

As the regional matches come to a close, some top teams will battle it out in the regional semifinals and finals. The winners of these four intense finals will earn their spots in the NCAA Championship semifinals. From there, only two will stand tall, ready to duke it out in the NCAA Championship final. Just before the dust settles, though, a game-changing update has dropped, setting the stage for even more surprises!

Former Northwestern volleyball star and current Big Ten Network broadcaster, Emily Ehman, took to X on October 23 with an exciting update. Dropping some major news about the upcoming NCAA volleyball tournament, she revealed a new twist in the schedule for regional semifinals and finals. Emily enthusiastically shared, “New to the #NCAAWVB Tournament this season: Regional Semis & Finals will be spread out over 4 days instead of 3!”

With this change, teams will either face off on Thursday and Saturday or Friday and Sunday. That means double the action with four thrilling matches lined up on both Thursday and Friday, followed by two matches each on Saturday and Sunday. Emily couldn’t contain her excitement, calling it “HUGE,” and honestly, it’s a total game-changer for this season’s tournament!

One fan couldn’t hold back their excitement and eagerly chimed in under the post, sharing, “This is very good for the sport and much needed, but I will miss that ridiculous but awesome Thursday where you curled up at 10 am and just mainlined 13-14 hours of ridiculously good volleyball.”

Why the bittersweet feeling? Well, in the past, all those nail-biting matches happened in one intense day, stretching across hours of back-to-back action. Now, with four days of volleyball bliss, not only does it bring much-needed relief to the viewers, but also to the hardworking NCAA staff and players who no longer have to face marathon days of play. The excitement still stays but with a bit more breathing room for everyone! And hold up, this is just the tip of the iceberg, as many fans are relieved with this news!

Volleyball heads buzz with excitement over the latest news

With NCAA Volleyball’s regional finals and semifinals crammed into one marathon day, fans often missed out as matches overlapped. The packed schedule meant nonstop action but left some viewers feeling short-changed. Now, with the exciting new update, fans can finally relax and enjoy. The games are spread over four days, featuring just four semifinal matches and two finals per day, ensuring every serve and spike can be savored. One enthusiastic fan perfectly captured the mood, saying, “Glad to see the spacing is better. I want to watch them all!”

Another fan jumped in, tagging their friend with,

“@BlingSing, I know it’s a good thing for the sport but they’re taking away our megaday.” While the new schedule is a nice change for a lot of folks, it does come with a bit of a bittersweet feel for those who loved that one jam-packed day of matches. Now, the regional semifinals kick off at 1 PM and keep rolling until the last game at 9:30 PM, so there’s still plenty to watch, but fans will have to deal with some breaks in between. It’s not quite the same nonstop thrill, but it’s still going to be a blast!

In NCAA Basketball, the regionals are divided into four sections—East, West, South, and Midwest—allowing ample room for excitement as teams battle it out leading up to the finals. However, one volleyball fan seemed to hope for a similar setup in

NCAA Volleyball and voiced their disappointment with the new schedule. They couldn’t hold back their frustration, commenting, “About time the committee pulled their heads out of their –se …and matched how it’s done in Basketball.”

As the thrilling volleyball semifinals and finals gear up, fans are buzzing with excitement over the next four days. Many are even contemplating taking a day off from work to catch all the action. One fan chimed in with pure enthusiasm, saying, “This is great!! i have to request off work rn lol” The excitement is real!