USC
The 10th seed USC Trojans (25-9, Pac-12 Conference) eliminated the 7th seed Minnesota Gophers (28-6, Big Ten Conference) by sweeping them with a 3-0 (25-23, 28-26, 25-16) victory in Gainsville Regional at Exactech Arena, Gainsville, Florida, and will face the hosts and also No.2 Florida (kicked No.15 UCLA off the regionals with a 3-1 win) in the Regional Finals. A sophomore outside hitter Khalia Lanier topped the Trojans with 23 points.
The defending champions, and also regional hosts, Stanford Cardinal (29-3, Pac-12 Conference) defeated Wisconsin Badgers (22-10, Big Ten Conference) tougher than expected, by a 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-19), to set up a rerun of the last season’s championship title match with the 6th seed Texas, who needed five sets to overcome the 11th seed Utah. A sophomore outside hitter Kathryn Plummer poured in 29 points (5 kill blocks) in the win of her team.
At their Rec Hall, the top seed Pennsylvania State Nittany Lions (32-1, Big Ten Conference) were ruthless against Missouri Tigers (22-12, Southeastern Conference) – 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-19). Senior middle blocker Simone Lee led the Nittany Lions to their 18th NCCA Regional Finals, in which they will go against Michigan State, who eliminated Illinois, with 16 points.
Two more sides that found the way to the Regional Finals are No.5 Nebraska and No.4 Kentucky, who will face each other in Lexington Regional Semifinals.
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Read more info and reports on 2017 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Division I Championship.
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