Nebraska hasn't won the NCAA volleyball championship in eight years, but the Huskers enter the 2025 tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and the unquestioned team to beat.
It's not just that the Huskers haven't lost a match this season; they went nearly two months without even dropping a set to the opposition.
The rest of the field won't just roll over for Nebraska, though. Fellow No. 1 seeds Kentucky, Texas and Pitt are among the challengers hoping to lift the trophy in the end.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament, including schedules, scores and where to watch all the action.
NCAA volleyball tournament bracket 2025
Top Left Quadrant (Nebraska)
- No. 1 Nebraska vs. Long Island U.
- No. 8 San Diego vs. Kansas State
- No. 5 Miami vs. Tulsa
- No. 4 Kansas vs. High Point
- No. 3 Texas A&M vs. Campbell
- No. 6 TCU vs. Stephen F. Austin
- No. 7 Western Kentucky vs. Marquette
- No. 2 Louisville vs. Loyola Chicago
Bottom Left Quadrant (Pitt)
- No. 1 Pitt vs. UMBC
- No. 8 Xavier vs. Michigan
- No. 5 Iowa State vs. St. Thomas (MN)
- No. 4 Minnesota vs. Fairfield
- No. 3 Purdue vs. Wright State
- No. 6 Baylor vs. Arkansas State
- No. 7 Rice vs. Florida
- No. 2 SMU vs. Central Arkansas
Top Right Quadrant (Texas)
- No. 1 Texas vs. Florida A&M
- No. 8 Penn State vs. South Florida
- No. 5 Colorado vs. American
- No. 4 Indiana vs. Toledo
- No. 3 Wisconsin vs. Eastern Illinois
- No. 6 UTEP vs. North Carolina
- No. 7 South Dakota State vs. Arizona
- No. 2 Stanford vs. Utah Valley
Bottom Right Quadrant (Kentucky)
- No. 1 Kentucky vs. Wofford
- No. 8 UCLA vs. Georgia Tech
- No. 5 BYU vs. Cal Poly
- No. 4 USC vs. Princeton
- No. 3 Creighton vs. Northern Colorado
- No. 6 Northern Iowa vs. Utah
- No. 7 Tennessee vs. Utah State
- No. 2 Arizona State vs. Coppin State
Where to watch NCAA volleyball tournament 2025
The 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament will air across a variety of ESPN platforms. Every match can be streamed live via the ESPN app.
Every match airing on an ESPN broadcast network can also be streamed via Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.
NCAA volleyball tournament schedule, scores 2025
Thursday, Dec. 4 - First round
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| No. 3 Colorado vs. American | 3 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 8 UCLA vs. Georgia Tech | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 6 Baylor vs. Arkansas State | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 5 Miami vs. Tulsa | 5 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 4 Indiana vs. Toledo | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 6 UTEP vs. North Carolina | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 7 Tennessee vs. Utah State | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 1 Kentucky vs. Wofford | 7 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 3 Purdue vs. Wright State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 4 Kansas vs. High Point | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 3 Creighton vs. Northern Colorado | 8 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 3 Wisconsin vs. Eastern Illinois | 8 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 5 BYU vs. Cal Poly | 8 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 2 Arizona State vs. Coppin State | 9 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 4 USC vs. Princeton | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
Friday, Dec. 5 - First round
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| No. 7 Western Kentucky vs. Marquette | 4 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 8 Xavier vs. Michigan | 4 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 6 TCU vs. Stephen F. Austin | 5 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 7 Rice vs. Florida | 5 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 8 Penn State vs. South Florida | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 8 San Diego vs. Kansas State | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 5 Iowa State vs. St. Thomas (MN) | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 1 Pitt vs. UMBC | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 2 Louisville vs. Loyola Chicago | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 2 SMU vs. Central Arkansas | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 3 Texas A&M vs. Campbell | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 7 South Dakota State vs. Arizona | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 1 Nebraska vs. Long Island U. | 8 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 1 Texas vs. Florida A&M | 8 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 4 Minnesota vs. Fairfield | 8 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 2 Stanford vs. Utah Valley | 10 p.m. | ESPN+ |
NCAA volleyball tournament 2025 schedule by round
| Round | Dates |
| Selection show | Sun., Dec. 1 |
| First and second rounds | Thu., Dec. 4 - Sat., Dec. 6 |
| Regionals | Thu., Dec. 11 - Sun., Dec. 14 |
| Semifinals | Thu., Dec. 18 |
| National championship | Sun., Dec. 21 |
NCAA volleyball tournament selection format
Of the 64 teams in the field, 31 will qualify automatically by winning their conference. The remaining 33 are granted at-large bids.
The top 16 teams will host the first and second rounds at their college campus. The winner of both single-elimination matches will move on to regionals.
Regional matches will be hosted at the campuses of the top four teams in the tournament. Matches will once again follow a single-elimination format, with the winner of the regional semifinals facing off in the regional finals for a spot in the national semifinals.
The national semifinals and championship match will be played at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
NCAA volleyball tournament automatic qualifiers 2025
| Conference | Team |
| America East | UMBC |
| American | Tulsa |
| ACC | Stanford |
| Atlantic Sun | Central Arkansas |
| Atlantic 10 | Loyola (Ill.) |
| Big East | Creighton |
| Big Sky | Northern Colorado |
| Big South | High Point |
| Big Ten | Nebraska |
| Big 12 | Arizona State |
| Big West | Cal Poly |
| CAA | Campbell |
| Conference USA | Western Kentucky |
| Horizon | Wright State |
| Ivy | Princeton |
| MAAC | Fairfield |
| MAC | Toledo |
| MEAC | Coppin State |
| Missouri Valley | Northern Iowa |
| Mountain West | Utah State |
| NEC | Long Island |
| Ohio Valley | Eastern Illinois |
| Patriot | American |
| SEC | Kentucky |
| SoCon | Wofford |
| Southland | Stephen F. Austin |
| SWAC | Florida A&M |
| Summit | St. Thomas |
| Sun Belt | Arkansas State |
| WAC | Utah Valley |
| WCC | San Diego |