The NCAA Volleyball frenzy is well on and fans are in for an electric final showdown that will burn the stage, so to speak! The final two teams, which are Louisville and Penn State, got their positions through dramatic victories. First up, Louisville locked its place in the big dance with a historic performance, defeating its ACC rival and the number one overall seed, Pittsburgh, in four thrilling sets at the KFC Yum! Center. The Cardinals triumphantly flew to victory, scoring 21-25, 25-23, 29-27 and 25-17 to achieve their 30th win this year. This accomplishment was not only a ticket to their second-ever NCAA National Championship appearance but also a hat trick of sorts, being their seventh season with 30-plus wins in school history.

But wait, the drama didn’t stop there. Nebraska had its hands full in the next game as Penn State delivered a stunning reverse sweep, which was a show-stopper. It was the kind of comeback that gives you chills; the Nittany Lions came back from two sets down to win 23-25, 18-25, 25-23, 28-26, and 15-13. This great achievement was the first reverse sweep in the tournament semifinals since 2018, which left fans speechless. Now that these two giants are set for the NCAA Volleyball finals, some incredible, record-breaking stats are taking center stage.

NCAA Volleyball and its historic drama!

𝓜𝓪𝓽𝓽 𝓓𝓮𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓲𝓼, a user on X, dropped an absolute gem of a stat that’s got everyone buzzing: “No matter who wins on Sunday, we’ll have the first national champion female head coach.” How legendary is that?! NCAA Volleyball history is being made right before our eyes. On one side, you’ve got Dani Busboom Kelly leading Louisville with fire and finesse, and on the other, Katie Schumacher-Cawley steering Penn State with unstoppable grit!

Every NCAA Volleyball game is a do-or-die showdown, and the teams—and their fearless coaches—are bringing that fiery energy! Penn State’s Katie Schumacher-Cawley isn’t just battling on the court; she’s fighting off it too. A few months ago, she bravely shared her breast cancer diagnosis on Instagram, saying, “Recently, I was diagnosed with breast cancer… I’m approaching this with strength, determination, and an unwavering sense of hope.”

Katie remains a fighter and has all the backing she needs as the Penn State Volleyball team advances to the NCAA Volleyball finals to duel with the Louisville Cardinals under the leadership of Dani Busboom Kelly. These incredible women have brought heart and determination into their programs and are now ready for a great finale. So, let’s see how their stories of strength unfold on and off the court!

Fearless coaches and their teams!

On one side of this epic NCAA Volleyball finale, we have Penn State under the guidance of the inspirational Katie Schumacher-Cawley. She knows what it means to win—appointed as the third head coach in the program’s history in January 2022, Katie is a volleyball warrior. A two-time All-American and a member of the 1999 National Championship team at Penn State, she joined the team after having spent four seasons as an assistant to Russ Rose. Katie has brought changes in just two seasons of her leadership; she took her Nittany Lions to successive NCAA Volleyball tournaments and continued the record of 43 years of the streak.

With such big wins as UCF and Kansas and players coming up with All-America and All-Big Ten recognitions, you can only imagine the sheen of Katie’s coaching portfolio. And, by the way, have you ever heard the growl of Rec Hall? Penn State is a near-impossible 28-5 at home under her watch, including the unforgettable win against No. 2 Wisconsin in 2023. Standing across from her is Louisville’s own volleyball magician, Dani Busboom Kelly. Since Dani got the leadership role in 2016, she has been amazing, navigating the Cardinals to the unknown realms. She is the mastermind behind Louisville volleyball rocketship and is the 2021 AVCA National Coach of the Year.

Having come off the previous year with a torrid 27-5 record in 2023, Kelly’s team soared to the number 2 ranking in the nation and continued their march to yet another Elite Eight. This was during Dani, and the awards followed in bulk, with players such as Anna DeBeer and Elena Scott receiving top honors in the ACC.

Oh yes, the postseason performance, which includes a sweep of Baylor in the Sweet 16, the extra point victory over Oregon, and a first-time appearance in the NCAA Championship in 2022. This program is hot and Dani is the one holding the torch. Now, as these powerhouse coaches bring their teams into the ultimate showdown of NCAA Volleyball, it’s impossible not to admire how they’ve transformed their programs.