This year's NCR women's D1 playoffs were a drastic departure from the previous years.
With the addition of a completely new program, the influx of a growing new program, and the appearance of previously-CRAA conferences, the landscape was always going to be different.
Add to that the fact that two-time NCR D1 Women's champions Michigan had graduated some high talent and the two-time runners-up Notre Dame College had moved most (but not all) of their team to Walsh, and you knew something was going to change.
What did, indeed, change?
First off, Michigan and Northern Iowa and Virginia were all club teams and remain club teams. That's not a criticism; its a fact. These teams don't get much in the way of college support and as a result are more at the mercy of what student-athletes show up on-campus. They can recruit, of course, but it's a bit tougher. What also is true is that with the arrival of other top CRAA clubs, the competition in the early rounds of the playoffs is tougher. Northeastern has been an outstanding program for some years, and their absence from NCR didn't change that fact.
It was not an upset for Northeastern to beat Michigan in the quarterfinals. It was a close game, to be sure, but led by an outstanding tight five and Ella Hughes at No. 8, the Huskies won 32-26. Virginia and Colorado, meanwhile, lost their quarterfinals but both in very close games. Virginia may argue that they are top-four standard after losing to Wheeling 31-27 and then beating Michigan in the consolation match.
