All articles tagged with #elite eight
Nebraska's top-seeded volleyball team defeated Dayton in four sets to advance to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight. Despite fewer attacks, Nebraska outperformed Dayton in kills, assists, service aces, digs, and blocks. Harper Murray led the Huskers with a record 22 kills, contributing significantly to the victory. Nebraska will face Wisconsin in the next round.
The Wisconsin Badgers volleyball team advanced to their seventh consecutive Elite Eight by defeating the Texas A&M Aggies in a five-set thriller (25-21, 18-25, 25-19, 23-25, 15-13) in the NCAA Tournament. Senior Sarah Franklin led Wisconsin with 21 kills, including the decisive point in the final set. Despite challenges, including a strong performance from A&M's Logan Lednicky, the Badgers' resilience and key plays from stars like Anna Smrek and Carter Booth secured their victory. Wisconsin will face the winner of Nebraska vs. Dayton for a spot in the Final Four.
Creighton University's volleyball team, ranked sixth nationally, defeated two-time defending champion Texas 3-1 in the NCAA Regional Semifinal, advancing to the Elite Eight for the second time in program history. Creighton, now 32-2, extended its winning streak to 25 matches, with standout performances from Norah Sis and Kendra Wait. The Bluejays will face the winner of the Marquette/Penn State match in the Regional Final.
The Louisville volleyball team advanced to the Elite Eight by defeating Purdue in straight sets, marking their fourth consecutive regional final appearance. Led by standout performances from Anna DeBeer and Charitie Luper, the Cardinals hit an impressive .467. They will face Stanford next, a team they split matches with during the regular season. Louisville's consistent success in recent years highlights the impact of coach Dani Busboom-Kelly.
Hailey Van Lith, a standout guard who transferred to LSU after a successful stint at Louisville, has entered the transfer portal after a challenging season with the Tigers, during which her scoring numbers dipped. Despite struggling in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, she has shown potential and may still have one year of eligibility remaining. LSU's head coach, Kim Mulkey, expressed hope that Van Lith and another star player would return for another season, but it remains uncertain whether Van Lith will continue her collegiate career at LSU or elsewhere.
LSU's All-American forward, Angel Reese, hinted at her future in an Instagram post following the team's loss in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women’s Tournament, contemplating whether to return for a fifth year at LSU or declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft. Reese, who has 48 hours to decide, became emotional as she reflected on the increased attention and scrutiny she's faced since last year's national championship game. If she stays at LSU, the team will retain much of its 2023 roster, but if she opts for the draft, she is projected to be a top pick.
The NCAA women's basketball Elite Eight games featured spectacular performances from players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and JuJu Watkins, with Iowa, UConn, NC State, and South Carolina advancing to the Final Four. The games garnered widespread attention and praise, with the internet buzzing about the thrilling matchups and standout players. UConn's victory marked their 23rd Final Four appearance, and the tournament continues with NC State vs. South Carolina and UConn vs. Iowa on April 5.
The LSU women's basketball team was absent during the National Anthem before their game against Iowa in the Elite Eight, with Head Coach Kim Mulkey explaining that it was unintentional and due to their pre-game routine of leaving the court 12 minutes before tip-off, not knowing when the anthem would be played.
Iowa guard Caitlin Clark's 41 points and nine 3-pointers led the Hawkeyes to a 94-87 victory over LSU in the Elite Eight, with Iowa's pace wearing down LSU early on. Despite a subdued matchup and a directive against trash talk, the game showcased the immense skills of Clark and LSU's Angel Reese, who recorded 20 rebounds. Iowa's efficient play and control of the game's tempo ultimately secured their redemption in this much-anticipated rematch.
The women's Elite Eight games lived up to the hype as Iowa and LSU, as well as USC and UConn, delivered thrilling matchups. Caitlin Clark's 41-point performance led Iowa to victory over LSU, while UConn's Paige Bueckers and USC's JuJu Watkins showcased their talent in a close game. Lisa Bluder's coaching and Iowa's offensive prowess were highlighted, while UConn's Nika Muhl and Iowa's Gabbie Marshall were praised for their contributions. However, those who missed the Iowa-LSU game and LSU's Hailey Van Lith had disappointing experiences, and LSU's Angel Reese played through an ankle injury.
LSU's bid for a repeat national championship ends with a 94-87 loss to Iowa in the Elite Eight, as star forward Angel Reese fouls out and the team struggles to contain Caitlin Clark's 41-point performance. The season was marked by adversity, controversy, and criticism, but the players remain resilient despite the challenges. Reese's future remains uncertain, and the team reflects on a tumultuous year as they exit the tournament.
LSU's Angel Reese played through injury in the Elite Eight game against Iowa, but fouled out with uncertainty about her future with the team. Despite her emotional post-game press conference, she remains undecided about her next steps, acknowledging the challenges she has faced since winning the national championship and expressing her resilience.
LSU basketball player Angel Reese opened up about facing hateful speech, death threats, and sexualization since winning the national championship in 2023, expressing her determination to stay strong and unapologetically herself despite the challenges. Teammates Flau’jae Johnson and Hailey Van Lith defended Reese, highlighting her strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
Trae Young jokingly referred to LSU players' reactions to Caitlin Clark's impressive performance as the "reverse MJ meme," alluding to Michael Jordan's iconic shrug. Clark's outstanding performance led No. 1 Iowa to a 94-87 victory over No. 3 LSU, with her averaging 32.3 points and 10 assists in the NCAA tournament. Iowa is now set to face the winner of No. 1 USC and No. 3 UConn in the Final Four, with Clark's exceptional play potentially leading the team to its first championship in program history.
Angel Reese, LSU's junior forward, suffered a right ankle injury in the Elite Eight matchup against Iowa, but returned to the game after receiving medical attention. She had previously dealt with a right ankle injury in the SEC tournament, but managed to contribute 13 points and eight rebounds in the first half before sitting out due to foul trouble.