Arizona Wildcats return to NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship after last season’s snub

After getting snubbed last season, the Arizona Wildcats have secured a place in this year’s NCAA DI Women’s Volleyball Championship tournament.

This will be the Wildcat's first NCAA appearance with head coach Charita Stubbs and their first appearance since 2018. This is Arizona's 30th appearance in program history.

Arizona is set to take on No. 7 South Dakota State (23-4) at 5:30 p.m. on Friday in the first round of the tournament in Palo Alto, California.

The winner will face either No. 2 Stanford (27-4) or Utah Valley (16-10) in the second round starting on Dec. 6. The regionals begin on Dec. 11 and the semifinals start on Dec. 18.

The Wildcats have advanced from the first round of the tournament 17 times in program history, according to an Arizona Athletics press release.

The championship is set for 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 21, in Kansas City, Missouri. The game will air on ABC.

The Wildcats finished their regular season last Friday with a 3-1 win over Cincinnati, ending the 2025 season with an overall 16-12 record. Arizona went 10-8 in the Big 12.

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Last season, Arizona finished the season with a 24-9 record and an 11-match winning streak. 

Although the Wildcats weren’t selected for the NCAA tournament last year, they competed in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. Arizona ultimately won the championship title after defeating Bowling Green in five sets on Dec. 17, 2024.

The championship was the first in program history.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you. Tucson, you showed up,” UA coach Charita Stubbs told the crowd after winning the NIVC. “Thank you for your support. I’m telling you right now, we’re on to something big and strong. Thank you for sticking with us through that stretch when it wasn’t so good. Once again, as one, we Bear Down!”