The Race of the Roses is still live. After a busy week of the battle of the Elite Eight, now it is time to embrace the war of the semifinal. Yes, now it is all about the top four volleyball teams that have earned their tickets to the second-to-last step of the NCAA Volleyball Championship 2024. Coincidentally, the four regional leaders have made it into the final four: the Pittsburgh Panthers, Penn State, Nebraska Huskers, and the Louisville Cardinals. Among those, the Panthers will face the Cardinals on December 19 at the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville. Any advantage for the home team Cardinals? 

Saturday night, December 14, saw the Pirates clinch their fourth consecutive regional final in the Petersen Events Center. On the way, they thwarted the Kentucky Wildcats’ challenge. On the other hand, the Cardinals overpowered the nine-time national champion, Stanford, to make a place in the final four. Now, is there any clear favorite among the two teams? Well, both teams have some names who can turn up the game on any given day. Here they are. 

The Pittsburgh Panthers have some volleyball players in the nation 

Talking about the Pittsburgh Panthers, with a 33-1, 19-1 ACC record in the book, the squad feels motivated. Last time, they defeated the Louisville Cardinals in the NCAA Regional final. That experience might work as a boost on Thursday. However, here are four players to take up the reins of the Panthers in the semifinal. 

Valeria Vazquez Gomez

The 6’1” outside hitter knows exactly what it takes to win a big volleyball game. This season, she has 40 service aces in 108 sets. That makes her average/set around 0.37. This number ultimately makes her eighth in the ACC list of best service ace players. Apart from that, Valeria Vazquez Gomez collected 211 digs with an average of 1.95 per set. Her stunning form has helped her in the offensive role as well. In the ACC games, the Puerto Rican has 222 kills this year with 2.06 kills/set. Another enviable stat! Such numbers have helped her to gain a few accomplishments.

This year, Valeria Vazquez Gomez’s name has appeared on the 2024 All-ACC Second Team list and the 2024 AVCA East Coast Region Team. Will this help her to set the tone in the semi-final? Apart from her, there are three more. 

Olivia Babcock

In the NCAA Regional final against Kentucky last week, Olivia Babcock scored 13 kills, 3 blocks, and one ace. She almost changed the color of the game riding on her own supremacy. In the end, the Panthers swept the battle in the 3-0 set point (25-22, 25-23, 25-17). But it is not an additional matter for her. Rather, in the ACC this season, she has 505 kills in just 110 sets with an average of 4.59 kills per set. On the ACC list, no one has a better number than hers. Similar magic has been present in her other capabilities, i.e., in inflicting blocks and generating service aces.

In the same ACC list, Olivia Babcock stands at the top in having significant service aces. She has 71 service aces gathered in 110 sets. On the list of blocks, the right-side hitter ranks at 10 with 117 attempts in 110 sets. Accomplishment? She has plenty in this season. Those are: 

• 2024 ACC Player of the Year
• 2024 AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year
• 2024 First Team All-ACC
• 2024 AVCA East Coast Region Team
• 2024 AVCA National Player of the Year Semifinalist
• 2024 Pittsburgh NCAA Regional Most Valuable Player 

Rachel Fairbanks

The senior class right-side hitter and setter is known for her assists in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ court. IN ACC this season, Rachel Fairbanks has 1014 assists in just 96 sets. On the list, she only trails behind Stanford’s Kami Miner. But Miner has more sets. So? There’s no room for an argument regarding the “what ifs” concerning Rachel Fairbanks and her potential set collection. However, this Thursday, eyes will be on her against the Louisville Cardinals. Any accomplishments? Many. 

Till now, Rachel Fairbanks has been honored with positions in three teams. Those are: 

• 2024 First Team All-ACC
• 2024 AVCA East Coast Region Team
• 2024 AVCA National Player of the Year Semifinalist
• 2024 Pittsburgh NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team

Now, it is time to check the prime names in the Louisville Cardinals’ squad, who might steal the limelight on Thursday in the NCAA Volleyball Championship semifinal. 

Louisville Cardinals have a score to settle in the NCAA volleyball contest

Neither Louisville nor Pitt has won a national championship in women’s volleyball, but both have been making inroads in recent years. They will meet in the NCAA tournament for the third straight season. In 2022, Louisville won its national semifinal match. But in 2023, their ACC rival knocked them out from the regional final round. So, this time, the Cardinals will have something to settle. However, they have the necessary firepower in their arsenal. Here are the top three. 

Anna DeBeer

The outside hitter has her highest kill against Florida State (23). Also against Wisconsin, Anna DeBeer scored 16 digs, her personal best this season. Apart from that, this season, she has completed 952 killing attempts. The average batting percentage touches 0.270. On the other hand, Anna’s total count of digs stands at 270. This mixture of abilities makes her a name to revere in the Cardinals’ lineup. 

Charitie Luper

Another outside hitter on the list! Charitie Luper has ‌346 kills this season, including her appearance in the NCAA contest. Against Stanford in the regional final this season, she claimed 13 kills and 13 digs, claiming the double-double. Apart from that, her best attempt in kills is 19 this season. So, she can take the game on the other side and remember, the senior has one or two games left in her collegiate career. This is her second season in Louisville, after joining the fold in 2023, leaving UCLA. A firework in the end? No one would argue about that. 

Elena Scott

The defense specialist and libero of the Cardinals holds a high regard. In the ACC list, Elena Scott has the highest average in the digs’ list. With 4.37/set, she has almost no one to counter her in the current Panthers’ lineup. Furthermore, her best attempt in digs this season stands at 26. That might become a concern for Pittsburgh in the semifinal.

Otherwise, this Thursday will mark Pitt’s fourth straight appearance in the Final Four, having been eliminated in the semifinals in each of the last three years. For Louisville, this is their third trip to the Final Four. They have had novel experiences so far. First, the eventual champion, Wisconsin Badgers, defeated the Cardinals in the 2021 semifinals. Second, they lost to Texas in the 2022 final. Louisville becomes the first team to compete in the volleyball Final Four within its own state since Nebraska did in 2015, when the Huskers captured their fourth national title in Omaha. So you can bet on the stakes being steadied for this coming Thursday. However, which team are you supporting? Let us know.