We will have a brand-new, first-time national champion in DII women's volleyball this season. The year of the upset across all DII fall sports is on full display in the 2024 DII women's volleyball championship match as No. 4 Lynn and No. 7 San Francisco State both advance to their first championship match in their respective program's histories.
It is the second year in a row that the final matchup of the season is between two "underdogs," as the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 seeds have all been eliminated. Here's what you need to know about the matchup.
🏐 Updates, scores and bracket from every round of the DII women's volleyball championship
The DII women's volleyball championship: How to watch
Lynn and San Francisco State are set to go head-to-head from the Stanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 14. You can .
Lynn vs. San Francisco State: By the numbers
| Team | Kills/set | Assists/set | digs/set | Blocks/set | Hitting percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn | 14.1 | 13.0 | 16.7 | 2.0 | 0.269 |
| SF State | 14.0 | 13.1 | 16.1 | 1.6 | 0.256 |
Lynn is on an absolute tear, adding to their already historic win total. The Fighting Knights have won 11 in a row heading into the championship match. That includes a pair of wins over Tampa — one of the winningest programs in the sport's history — and their first South Region title ever. They have been utterly dominant in the quarterfinals, having yet to lose a set in sweeping both Wingate and Bentley in their bid to keep the historic season alive.
As discussed in the semifinals preview, this team is loaded with accolades: Isabella Gentile (who posted a season-high 10 assists in the semifinals) and Hope Passerello took home SSC honors and Maria Cecilia Pinho and Samantha Wolf (who has at least 10 kills in 16 of her last 18 matches) joined them on the All-South Region First Team. In a field where the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 seeds are already out of contention, on paper, Lynn is arguably the best team standing.
The upset train just keeps rolling for the upstart Gators. They swept West No. 1 Cal Poly Pomona to reach the quarterfinals and once at the party, took down No. 2 Central Oklahoma 3-2 and No. 3 Angelo State 3-1.
Three-time CCAA setter of the year Kimberly DeBoer has stayed hot with 23 digs and 106 assists in the two victories. Anastacia Garza set a career-high in kills with 19 in the upset over Angelo State. In short, San Francisco is firing on all cylinders heading into the biggest match in program history.
DII women's volleyball championship prediction
There are enough stats to justify a pick, but this ultimately comes down to who wants it more. These are two programs in uncharted territory, and San Francisco State — win or lose — proved it belongs with win after win against higher-ranked teams. Last year we saw magic happen from the West when Cal State LA went from outside the top 25 to national champion. Is there more history abound from the West Region?
That said, one stat stands out just a bit. Lynn has the No. 6 hitting percentage in DII, but also has the 16th-best opponent hitting percentage. I think that combo puts the Fighting Knights over the edge in a close one.
Prediction: Lynn 3, San Francisco State 2
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.
