Keep an eye on these surging 6 DII women’s volleyball teams

Last year, the unthinkable happened as Cal State LA went from unranked to national champion, a first in DII women’s volleyball. While the sport has a storied history of repeat champions, there is obviously room for the unknown.

Do any teams have a chance to break into the tournament and make some noise this year? As we head into the final month of the regular season, let’s take a look at some teams that are trying to find their way back to the DII women’s volleyball championship, where they could provide some surprises.

FAQ: The complete guide to the DII women’s volleyball championship tournament

6 red-hot teams in DII women’s volleyball right now

Barry. Speaking of unthinkable, the Barry Bucs are coming off a massive upset, taking down No. 1 Tampa and handing the Spartans their first loss of the season. It wasn’t simply a win; it was a sweep in straight sets on the road. Prior to that, the Bucs opened the season 8-0 without dropping a set, setting a new program record.

Barry was 11-18 last year, and with the big upset, are already 12-1 this year and up to No. 18 in the national poll. Diana Akopova is making her case for SSC Player of the Year, most recently taking home her third SSC offensive player of the week award. Fun fact: The last time Barry beat Tampa on the road was 2022… the same year the Bucs swept Tampa to advance to the national quarterfinals. 

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Grand Valley State. Obviously, one of the biggest storylines of the 2024 season, especially in the Midwest Region, is Ferris State’s 20-0 start. But, not to take anything away from the Bulldogs, they have made it to the Midwest Region final of the DII women’s volleyball championship in each of the past three seasons. The Lakers have not and are on fire right now.

Grand Valley State is 18-1, that one loss coming to those pesky Bulldogs, but have righted the ship and are on a 10-game winning streak. Last year, the Lakers returned to the DII tournament and picked up their first tourney win since 2014. Brianna Stawski has been a leader on this team, already honored with two GLIAC defensive player of the week awards and one offensive player of the week award. The Lakers as a team lead the GLIAC in points, opponents hitting percentage, opponent assists, opponent kills and blocks, with Paige Sanders leading the conference with 1.26 blocks per…