The bracket’s locked. The heat is rising.
And Columbus, Ohio just became the epicenter of college volleyball madness.
The 2025 NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship is in full throttle, and the field is STACKED — 9 teams, 5 days, one trophy. It’s win or go home. And if you’re not watching this unfold live?
You’re already out of the loop.
📍 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (AND WHERE TO STREAM IT ALL)
📍 Covelli Center | Columbus, OH
🗓️ May 8–12
🥨 Quarterfinals – May 8
- UCLA vs. Belmont Abbey – 11 AM ET
- Penn State vs. Hawai‘i – 1:30 PM ET
- Fort Valley State vs. Long Beach State – 5 PM ET
- Loyola Chicago vs. Pepperdine – 7:30 PM ET
🔥 Semifinals – May 10
⏰ 5 PM & 8 PM ET
🏆 Championship – May 12
⏰ 7 PM ET on ESPN2
📽️ All other matches live on ESPN+ and Disney+
👑 TOP TEAMS & SAVAGE STORYLINES
🏖️ LONG BEACH STATE (No. 1)
The Beach is absolutely cooking.
- 27-3 overall
- .396 team hitting % (nation’s best)
- Freshman phenom Moni Nikolov running the show like a seasoned vet
- Record-setting service line, ruthless defense, and full send offense
This is their year to lose — and everyone knows it.
🪳️ UCLA (No. 3)
They’ve won 21 national titles, including the last two.
They want a three-peat.
And they’ve got the artillery:
- Andrew Rowan – surgical setter (10.01 assists/set)
- Cooper Robinson – 335 kills and kills you softly with efficiency (.387)
Best storyline in sports: Defending champs vs everyone else.
🌈 HAWAI‘I (No. 2)
Always dangerous. Always in the mix.
The Rainbow Warriors own the moment — and they draw Penn State in the quarters.
If their balanced attack gets hot, this team can torch anyone.
⚔️ LOYOLA CHICAGO vs PEPPERDINE
Underrated? Maybe.
Deadly? Absolutely.
- Loyola: MIVA champs. Parker Van Buren is HIM — 3x All-American and wrecking ball on the outside.
- Pepperdine: Legacy program with a deep bench. And they’re hungry for another shot at glory.
💥 NEW BLOOD WATCH: FORT VALLEY STATE & BELMONT ABBEY
Welcome to the party.
Representing SIAC and Conference Carolinas, these underdogs are looking to mess with the script — and ruin someone’s postseason.
🔭 PLAYERS TO LOCK IN ON
- Moni Nikolov (LBSU) – 9.99 assists/set, 94 aces, record-breaking serve — and only a freshman 😫
- Andrew Rowan (UCLA) – Calm under fire, accurate like a sniper
- Cooper Robinson (UCLA) – Terminal hitter. You blink, it’s down.
- Parker Van Buren (Loyola) – Scoring machine with ice in his veins
- Hilir Henno (UC Irvine) – Season’s been 🔥 even if his team isn’t here
🤔 THE BIG QUESTIONS
- Will UCLA get the elusive three-peat?
- Can Long Beach finish what they’ve started?
- Is Hawai‘i due for another title run?
- Can Loyola, Pepperdine, or one of the underdogs crash the party?
🏁 FINAL SERVE
This year’s field is filthy with talent.
Every match feels like a title game.
Every team has something to prove.
So set your alarm.
Stream every set.
And don’t blink — this bracket is built for volleyball chaos.
📽️ Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+
📺 Championship: May 12 @ 7 PM ET on ESPN2
