Michella Chester's 2025 NCAA volleyball bracket picks and predictions

The 2025 NCAA women's volleyball bracket is officially out.

CHECK OUT: The 2025 women's volleyball tournament bracket | Selection show

I filled out my bracket with picks before the tournament starts on Thursday, Dec. 4. 

The Bracket 🏐🏆

➡️
🎟️

— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball)

Top left quadrant

Let’s start with the top left quadrant, which is No. 1 seed Nebraska’s quadrant.

This is a sneaky tough quadrant for the top-seeded Huskers. I have a few notable upset picks here with Marquette over Western Kentucky. I also have Flormarie Heredia Colon and No. 5 Miami taking down No. 4 Kansas before falling to Nebraska. The biggest upset pick I have is No. 3 seed Texas A&M over No. 2 Louisville.

I think the Aggies are one of the most talented teams and could have been a 2-seed. Coming off a highly competitive SEC tournament, I am going with the Texas A&M team who has a very disciplined block that could be a tough battle for Louisville.

But, ultimately despite the tough quadrant, I think Nebraska makes it to the semifinals. 

THAT’LL DO IT! 🗣️

Huskers end B1G play with a PERFECT 20-0 record!

— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB)

Bottom left quadrant

I have Michigan over Xavier in the first round in the bottom left quadrant and almost went for a Florida upset pick, but ultimately picked No. 2 seed SMU to advance to the regional final to face No. 1 Pittsburgh.

This was a tough pick since it is hard to beat a good team three times, but I still went with Olivia Babcock and the Panthers making it to a fifth straight national semifinal after taking down the Mustangs. 

💪 WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE: The 2025 women's volleyball tournament

Top right quadrant

I have Arizona upsetting South Dakota State in the first round, and a big upset pick with No. 3 Wisconsin over No. 2 Stanford to advance to the regional final.

This quadrant is loaded. I think Wisconsin and Stanford are so good and each could be a tough battle for No. 1 seed Texas. So, a lot of these picks were a toss up.

This does not discount how good I think Stanford is, but with Mimi Colyer and Carter Booth in their final seasons, I went for an upset here.

Then I have Torrey Stafford and Longhorns prevailing over the Badgers to make it back to the national semifinals. 

TORREY🤯🤯

— Texas Volleyball (@TexasVolleyball)

Bottom right quadrant

I have Utah upsetting UNI in the first round and I almost picked Tennessee over No. 2 Arizona State in the second round, but I ended up going with the Sun Devils.

Then I went with Arizona State again over Creighton to advance to the regional finals.

But I have top seed Kentucky winning to advance to the national semifinals.  

National semifinals

So yes, it's a chalk national semifinal with the four No. 1 seeds — Nebraska, Pitt, Texas and Kentucky.

I think the Huskers take down Pitt, and then the third rematch between Kentucky and Texas was a really tough decision.

Kentucky has beaten Texas twice already this year and I do think the Wildcats are a team capable of winning it all. But it's hard to beat a good team three times and I think the Longhorns will be coming out on a mission to beat them.

I went Texas in the final vs. Nebraska. 

National champion

For my national champion, I think it is the Huskers' year. This team is just leaps and bounds above everyone this season, and I think the only way they don't win it is if they have an off game.

📜 WHO'S DONE IT BEFORE? Every undefeated national champion

There are no holes in this roster with some of the most talented players all the way around. The Nebraska team is one that plays and gels so well together.

I am going with the Nebraska Huskers to take it all this year.