Nebraska falls to Penn State in 5 set upset and Louisville continues storybook run against Pitt at NCAA Semifinal in Louisville
It was impossible to ignore the overwhelming sense of momentum that Nebraska had coming into the final four as you walked around downtown Louisville mid day the night of the NCAA National Championship semifinals. As co-Big Ten Champions with a 33-3 record coming into the weekend and confidence riding high for the potential to undo the heartbreak of last year’s loss to Texas, all eyes were on Nebraska as they looked to close out the fourth set leading 2-1. Penn State had different plans as they dug deep and rallied confidence from their 11 win streak this season and put together an incredible stand to force a fifth set. That grit has only been further elevated as coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley has had to battle cancer throughout the season testing every aspect of their resilience as a team. In a reverse sweep that will be remembered as one of the most memorable in NCAA tournament history Penn rallied to take the 5th set and make history in the tournament cementing an all women’s head coach final for the first time ever, facing favored Louisville in the final on Sunday.
For the hometown Louisville Cardinals the pressure to deliver and make it to the national championship has been looming over their entire season. But that pressure seemed to melt away as they overcame rival Pittsburgh in four sets (21-25, 25-23, 29-27, 25-17) in a match that delivered its own dramatic finish. Despite losing their leader, Anna DeBeer, to injury late in the fourth set, the Cardinals found an unlikely hero in freshman Payton Peterson, who delivered clutch plays to seal the match late. With the victory, Louisville advances to the national championship match for the second time in three years. They now have the chance to become the first team ever to win the title while playing every round at home. The Cardinals will face Penn State in the final, a matchup set to make history as it guarantees a woman head coach—either Katie Schumacher-Cawley or Dani Busboom Kelly—will win the championship.
Sunday’s final is about more than just a championship. It’s about celebrating women leading their teams to the pinnacle of college volleyball. Whether it’s Schumacher-Cawley chasing Penn State’s first title since 2014 or Busboom Kelly looking to secure Louisville’s first-ever NCAA crown, this matchup is a testament to the rising power of women in sports leadership.
For Penn State, the victory over Nebraska is a testament to their grit, resilience, and the never-quit spirit that defines champions. For Louisville it’s the opportunity to complete the fairy tale ending to this season’s incredible run in front of their home crowd. This is more than just a final — it will be a moment cemented in history, and it will remind us all why we bet on her.
