NCAA volleyball tournament: 16 players to watch in regionals - ESPN

The NCAA volleyball tournament enters its regional round on Thursday and Friday with a few unexpected teams sticking around for an extended stay.

The four No. 1 seeds all advanced — although Pitt got pushed to extra points in the first set by Oklahoma, Penn State had to play four sets against North Carolina and Louisville was down match points against Northern Iowa. Nebraska had an easier time, sweeping its six sets over the first two rounds.

The bracket lost a No. 2 seed (SMU) and two No. 3 seeds (Kansas and Arizona State). According to ESPN's Stats and Information, since seeding began in 2000, there have been 102 teams to earn a top three seed. Only four of those have failed to reach the regional semifinals — three of them were this year.

Amid the upsets and the upset bids, many of the sport's biggest stars delivered, and a few new ones emerged.

Elena Scott tied a season-high with 26 digs for Louisville, which advanced to the regional semifinals on a kill by star outside hitter Anna DeBeer. Oklahoma mounted its upset bid by holding Pitt star Olivia Babcock to 13 kills and eight errors on 36 attempts, but the loaded Panthers had enough of a supporting cast to sweep. Penn State, led by 21 kills from star outside hitter Jess Mruzik, put up a dominant fourth set against North Carolina after dropping the third. Nebraska libero Lexi Rodriguez powered the Huskers from the back row as she continued to inch toward the program's all-time digs record.

Two-time defending national champion Texas, which had a surprising stroll by USC in the second round, relied, as usual, on Madisen Skinner, who tipped and attacked from the front and back rows en route to a game-high 23 kills against the Trojans.

Likewise, Missouri's Mychael Vernon,