If there’s one thing the Nebraska Huskers volleyball team boasts, along with a stacked trophy cabinet, it’s a large group of loyal fans. With John Cook’s team performing exceptionally throughout the season (29-2 regular season, 19-1 Big Ten), the fans haven’t been shy about showing their support. Now, as the 2024 NCAA Volleyball Championship approaches, it seems the 2024 Big Ten co-winners have garnered even more cheering voices rooting for them beyond their home state!

Several of Nebraska’s opponents this season have benefited from the Huskers’ incredible popularity. From Oregon to Maryland, many have leveraged John Cook and his squad’s platform to boost exposure for their own programs. Now, as ESPN raises the stakes for this year’s national volleyball tournament, it’s clear that some new fans will rally behind Lexi Rodriguez, hoping to make her final year at Nebraska truly memorable.

Nebraska Huskers have many believers in their abilities

Last month, ESPN revealed the Volleyball Championship Challenge: an opportunity to win a $10k prize money by predicting this year’s national champions correctly! Immediately, the votes started flooding in once the site to cast the same was shared. And now, in a post by NCAA reporter Michella Chester from December 4, the latest data from the votes have been shared. From the looks of things, the Nebraska Huskers top the chart with 42% votes as the Most Picked Champions. This undoubtedly, is another testament of how the Huskers have converted fans across the USA to cheer for the team.

ACC powerhouse Pittsburgh comes in second on the list, albeit a massive gap between them and the Huskers. The Panthers have racked up a 24.5% share of the votes so far, and are evidently one of the top choices the fans think they can bet on. Big Ten co-winning team Penn State is third (8.8% votes), while the 2024 NCAA Volleyball Championship final hosts Louisville took fourth place with 4.8% votes.

Surprisingly, the returning champs come in only after the top 4. The Texas Longhorns pulled off an emphatic victory over the Nebraska Huskers at last year’s finals to retain their title once again, but most fans believe they’re unlikely to repeat the feat a third time, should the two teams cross paths this time again. On the other hand, it looks like the Huskers fans’ confidence isn’t taking into account that their opponents aren’t exactly up for ceding ground either.

A beefy list of opponents flexing their muscles

With an overall record of 29-1 (19-1 in ACC), the Pittsburgh Panthers are hopeful of claiming their maiden NCAA volleyball trophy this season. A .967 winning percentage and a 14-match winning streak provide the Panthers with substantial confidence as they head into the first round of the tournament, where they will face Morehead State on December 6.

Meanwhile, Penn State will take on Delaware State on the same day in their opening match of the NCAA Championship. Riding a six-game winning streak, highlighted by a crucial victory over the Huskers in their final regular-season game, the Nittany Lions are on a high and are already staking their claim to the national title, aiming to end a 25-year championship drought.

Louisville finished its regular season with a 25-5 overall record, positioning the team as a potential underdog. However, consecutive losses to Pittsburgh and Stanford have left them looking shaky ahead of the big showdown. Still, it’s important to remember that the NCAA tournament is a stage where expecting the unexpected is always wise, as all 64 competing teams are at the top of their game right now.

Who do you think will make a jubilant start on day one of the NCAA tournament? And who might take a tumble on Friday? How do you see the Nebraska Huskers’ 2024 NCAA journey unfolding? Share your predictions below!