Stanford women fall in NCAA volleyball semifinals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Defending NCAA volleyball champion Stanford lost its bid for a stirring comeback victory Thursday as No. 2 Florida captured a five-set thriller in a semifinal match.

The No. 3 Cardinal fell 25-22, 25-21, 18-25, 18-25, 15-10.

Florida will play the fifth-seeded Nebraska, which beat Penn State in the other semifinal, for the title Saturday night.

Stanford (30-4) was seeking its first comeback win since rallying from a two-set deficit against Wisconsin in the NCAA regional final last December.

Tied 4-4 in the deciding set, Florida (30-1) ripped off five straight points to take command.