NCAA Bracket | NIVC Bracket
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – No. 21 UCF and Cincinnati each earned bids to the 2018 NCAA Volleyball Tournament, while USF, Tulane, Tulsa and Wichita State were each selected to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship field on Sunday. The American received two bids to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016 when SMU and Cincinnati each earned trips to the national championship. It marks the second-straight year that three teams will represent the conference in the NIVC.
Of the 64 teams, 32 were automatic NCAA qualifiers after either winning their conference or conference tournament — if the conference has a postseason tournament. The remaining 32 teams were at-large bids. Thirty-two spots in the NIVC were offered to the best teams available in each of the nation’s 32 conferences after the NCAA Tournament committee made its picks. The First and Second rounds of each tournament will be played from Nov. 29-Dec. 1.
UCF (27-3, 18-0) becomes the second American Athletic Conference team to host a regional in as many years, earning the conference’s highest national seed at No. 13. The Knights will host the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. UCF will welcome Florida Gulf Coast to Orlando in the opening round on Thursday, Nov. 29, as its bracket also features Sunshine State foes Florida and Florida State. UCF went 2-0 against Florida Gulf Coast in 2018 with 3-1 and 3-0 wins over the Eagles in August and September. The Knights are riding a 24-match winning streak, averaging 11.3 blocks per match and a .163 opponent hitting percentage during its swing. Its last loss came on September 2 to then-No. 4 Florida in four sets.
UCF earned its second conference title in five years and will make its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2014. It marks back-to-back postseason appearances for the Knights after being selected to the NIVC in 2017. UCF has remained in the nation’s top 25 for five-straight weeks and holds the No. 10 spot in the NCAA’s latest RPI report. UCF became the third American team to go undefeated in league play and owns the seventh-best record in the NCAA. Freshman outside hitter McKenna Melville has had a stunning rookie year, leading the conference with 21 double-doubles, as she ranks No. 10 in the nation in kills (505) and No. 12 in points (561). The Knights lead The American and rank top 20 in the nation in kills (13.96), assists (13.28) and blocks (2.73) per set.
Cincinnati (25-7, 15-3) remains the only American Athletic Conference team to earn an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament, earning its second at-large selection since 2016. It marks the 11th NCAA Tournament appearance for the program, as Cincinnati has won four matches in tournament play. The Bearcats will head to Milwaukee, Wis., to face Illinois State in the opening round on Friday, Nov. 30, as No. 14 seed Marquette will be the host of the four-team field that will also include High Point.
Cincinnati sealed second place in American standings and ranks No. 3 in the nation in kills (1,770) and No. 4 in assists (1,665). The Bearcats also lead the conference and rank top 15 in the NCAA in service aces (184) and hitting percentage (.273). Outside and right side hitter Jordan Thompson has been one of the most electric hitters in the country this season, leading the nation in kills (791), points (872), kills per set (6.28) and points per set (6.92). A two-time AVCA National Player of the Week, Thompson has set seven conference records in 2018. Two other conference records fell at the hands of the Bearcats, as outside hitter Carly Nolan became the all-time service aces leader (114) and setter Jade Tingelhoff broke the league’s career assists record (4,106) this season.
Chosen as one of seven teams to earn an automatic bid to the NIVC, Tulane (25-8, 13-5) is slated to host the First and Second rounds. The Green Wave will make its first postseason appearance since 2009, and is set to take on Arkansas State in the opening round on Thursday. Its field also features Arkansas-Little Rock and Cal Baptist. Picked to finish 10th in The American’s preseason coaches’ poll, Tulane clinched third place in the conference’s standings this season. The Green Wave rode an 11-match winning streak from Oct. 5-Nov. 11 and ranks No. 6 in the nation with a .148 opponent hitting percentage.
Tulsa (19-11, 11-7) and Wichita State (13-17, 8-10) will each make trips to Denton, Texas, after earning at-large bids to the NIVC. Tulsa will take on host North Texas on Thursday, while Wichita State is set to face Central Arkansas in the first round. The Golden Hurricane and Shockers split head-to-head competition in the regular season with both matches going to five sets. Tulsa finished fourth in American standings, while Wichita State, the conference’s favorite in the preseason coaches’ poll, took seventh place. The Golden Hurricane will make its first postseason appearance since 2013 and first under head coach Ryan Wills. Tulsa defeated North Texas 3-2 on Sept. 26. Wichita State will make its fourth-straight postseason appearance after hosting the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA Tournament in 2017.
USF (20-11, 9-9) tied for fifth place in American standings and received an at-large bid to the NIVC, earning its first postseason appearance since 2002. The Bulls head to Atlanta, Ga., to take on host Georgia Tech on Thursday. The four-team field also includes Charleston and St. John’s. USF went 7-2 in three-set matches and earned seven five-set victories in 2018. The Bulls posted 20 wins this season for the first time in 16 years. Outside hitter Jac’cara Walker leads USF with 14 double-doubles.
Thursday, November 29
Central Arkansas vs. Wichita State – 5:30 p.m. ET | NIVC
Florida Gulf Coast at No. 13 seed UCF – 7 p.m. ET | NCAA Tournament
Tulsa at North Texas – 8 p.m. ET | NIVC
USF at Georgia Tech – 8 p.m. ET | NIVC
Arkansas State at Tulane – 8:30 p.m. ET | NIVC
Friday, November 29
Illinois State vs. Cincinnati – 5:30 p.m. ET | NCAA Tournament