8 SEC Teams Selected to NCAA Volleyball Tournament

The NCAA announced the 64 team field for the Division 1 Volleyball tournament this past weekend. The tournament features 64 teams split into four brackets of 16 teams each. 8 teams are seeded in each bracket 1-8.

The SEC led all conferences with eight selections. 32 of the selections into the tournament were at-large selections, while all 32 conference’s received automatic bids for their champion. That means 7 of the SEC’s selections were among the 32 at-large picks, along with conference champion Kentucky.

Speaking of that, Kentucky won the conference’s last volleyball national title, coming in 2020.

Here is a breakdown of each of the conference’s 8 NCAA tournament teams and what their opening matchups will look like:

8 SEC teams selected to NCAA Volleyball Tournament

2-seed Kentucky Wildcats

SEC champion Kentucky enters the NCAA tournament as the highest seeded SEC team. The Wildcats enter as the 2 seed in Nebraska’s bracket. Kentucky will take on SoCon champion Wofford in the first round at 7:30 pm Eastern on Thursday (Nov. 30). Kentucky enters the tournament 19-7 overall and went 17-1 in SEC play. The Wildcats are riding a 16 match winning streak.

The winner of the Kentucky/Wofford matchup is paired in the second round with the winner of 7-seed James Madison and Baylor. That second round contest will take place at 7:00 pm Eastern on Friday (Dec. 1st). Both the first and second rounds will be hosted by Kentucky in Lexington.

Kentucky is led by SEC Freshman of the Year Brooklyn DeLeye, plus four other All-SEC selections in Aleanor Beavin, Emma Grome, Reagan Rutherford, and Azhani Tealer (DeLeye is also an All-SEC selection).

3-seed Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas (who tied for 2nd in the SEC this year) is one of the conference’s two 3-seeds. Arkansas is the 3-seed in Nebraska’s bracket (the same bracket at Kentucky). Arkansas will take on WAC at-large selection Stephen F. Austin in the first round at 8:00 pm Eastern on Friday (Dec. 1st). Arkansas went 25-5 overall this season at 15-3 in SEC play. Arkansas had a 16 match winning streak earlier in the season and four of their losses are two each to 1-seed Wisconsin and Kentucky.

The winner of the Arkansas/SFA matchup is paired in the second round with the winner of 6-seed Florida State and TCU. That second round matchup will be at 8:00 pm Eastern on Saturday (Dec. 2nd). If they both win in the first two rounds, Kentucky and Arkansas would play in the Sweet 16. Both of Arkansas’ first two potential matchups will be hosted by the Razorbacks in Fayetteville.

Arkansas is led by a trio of All-SEC selections in Jill Gillen, Taylor Head, and Hannah Hogue.

3-seed Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee is the SEC’s other 3-seed and is the team that tied with Arkansas for 2nd in the SEC this season. Tennessee is the 3-seed in Stanford’s bracket. The Vols will take on Big South champion High Point in the first round at 6:30 pm Eastern on Friday (Dec. 1st). Tennessee enters the tourney at 24-4 overall this season and went 15-3 in SEC play. Tennessee opened up the season 16-1 before dropping two straight. They were also riding an 8 match win streak at the end of the year before dropping their regular season finale.

The winner of the Tennessee/High Point matchup is paired in the second round with the winner of 6-seed Western Kentucky and Coastal Carolina. That second round matchup will be at 6:00 pm Eastern on Saturday (Dec. 2nd). Tennessee will host both the first and second rounds in Knoxville.

Tennessee is led by a trio of All-SEC selections in Morgahn Fingall, Caroline Kerr, and Jenaisya Moore.

4-seed Florida Gators

Florida comes into the tournament as a 4-seed in Nebraska’s bracket (one of four SEC teams in that specific bracket). Florida will take on Atlantic Sun champion Florida Gulf Coast in the first round at 7:00 pm Eastern on Thursday (Nov. 30th). The Gators enter the tournament at 18-9 overall and were in a three-way tie for fourth in the SEC with a conference record of 10-8.

The winner of the Florida/FGCU matchup is paired in the second round with the winner of 5-seed Georgia Tech and South Alabama. That second round matchup will be at 7:00 pm Eastern on Friday (Dec. 1st). Those first and second round matchups will be hosted by Florida in Gainesville. Florida is led by All-SEC selection Kennedy Martin.

7-seed Auburn Tigers

Auburn is a 7-seed in Pittsburgh’s bracket. Auburn will take on MAC champion Western Michigan in the first round at 4:00 pm Eastern on Thursday (Nov. 30th). The Tigers enter the tournament at 20-9 overall and were also in the three-way tie for fourth in the SEC at 10-8.

The winner of the Auburn/Western Mich. matchup is paired in the second round with the winner of 2-seed Louisville and Wright State. That second round matchup will be at 7:00 pm Eastern on Friday (Dec. 1st). Auburn’s first and second round matchups pairings are hosted by Louisville. Auburn is led by All-SEC selection Madison Scheer.

8-seed Missouri Tigers

Missouri is the 8-seed in Nebraska’s bracket. The Tigers will take on Coastal Athletic champ Delaware in the first round at 5:30 pm Eastern on Friday (Dec. 1st). Mizzou enters the tournament with a 17-12 overall record and a 9-9 mark in SEC play.

The winner of the Missouri/Delaware matchup is paired in the second round with the winner of 1-seed Nebraska and LIU. That second round matchup will be at 8:00 pm Eastern on Saturday (Dec. 2nd). Both of Missouri’s first two potential matchups will be hosted by Nebraska in Lincoln.

Missouri features the SEC’s Libero of the Year, Maya Sands. Sands was also joined on the All-SEC team by Jordan Iliff.

Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia enters the NCAA tournament as an unseeded team in Stanford’s bracket. Georgia will take on 5-seed Arizona State in the first round at 6:30 pm Eastern on Friday (Dec. 1st). Georgia went 19-11 on the season and was in the three-way tie for fourth in the SEC at 10-8. Georgia ended the season on a four match winning streak.

The winner of the Georgia/ASU matchup is paired in the second round with the winner of 4-seed BYU and Weber State. That second round matchup will be at 9:00 pm Eastern on Saturday (Dec. 2nd). Both of Georgia’s potential first two round matchups are being hosted by BYU in Provo.

Georgia is led by SEC Player of the Year Sophie Fischer. Fischer was joined on the All-SEC team by Kacie Evans.

Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M enters the tournament as an unseeded team also in Stanford’s bracket. Texas will take on 2-seed (and future SEC foe) Texas in the first round at 7:00 pm Eastern on Thursday (Nov. 30th). A&M went 16-12 (8-10 SEC) on the year.

The winner of the Texas/Texas A&M matchup is paired in the second round with the winner of 7-seed SMU and Texas State. That second round matchup will be at 8:00 pm Eastern on Friday (Dec. 1st). Both those first and second round matchups will be hosted by Texas in Austin. Texas A&M is led by All-SEC selection Logan Lednicky.