2024 WAC VB Release - NCAA Tournament
UT ARLINGTON CAPTURES FIRST WAC VB TOURNAMENT TITLE
UT Arlington completed the undefeated conference season and won the 2024 WAC Volleyball Tournament championship over Grand Canyon in a dramatic fifth set comeback. For the second straight game, the Mavericks were down to their final match point and on the brink of elimination, as UT Arlington trailed GCU 14-11 in the final set and was behind 2-1 entering the fourth set. However, the Mavericks refused to give in and showed their resiliency to come back and win their first WAC Volleyball Tournament and first conference tournament championship since 2002. UTA swept Abilene Christian in the quarterfinals 3-0 and held off a California Baptist upset in the semifinals with a 3-2 victory.
BRIANNA FORD NAMED WAC TOURNAMENT MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
The 2024 WAC Player of the Year Brianna Ford piled on the career accolades by being named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament after recording 25 kills, 16 digs, five blocks, and two aces in the championship match. Ford accumulated a total of 66 kills, 36 digs, 12 blocks, eight aces, and four assists in the tournament while achieving a .305 hitting percentage and averaging 6.16 points per set.
MAVERICKS TO FACE NO. 6 USC IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
UT Arlington received the conference’s automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship after winning the WAC Tournament and will take on No. 6 USC on Thursday, December 5th at 4 p.m. CT. The first two rounds will take place in the Gregory Gymnasium in Austin. The winner will advance to play the winner of No. 3 Texas and Texas A&M – Corpus Christi. The Mavericks are entering their ninth NCAA Volleyball Tournament on a 20-game winning streak.
UTAH VALLEY HEADS TO THE POSTSEASON NIVC TOURNAMENT
Utah Valley received an at-large berth for the 2024 Postseason National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) Tournament and will be one of 29 teams that will fight for the NIVC title. The Wolverines will take on Washington State (16-11) in Round 1 on Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. MT. The winner of this match will face the winner of Wyoming and Idaho State. Wyoming will be the host site for the first two rounds. This will be Utah Valley’s second appearance in the NIVC (2018) and third appearance in a postseason tournament (NCAA, 2020-21) as a WAC member.