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2025 Ouimet Memorial Tournament

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2025 Ouimet Memorial Tournament

By Stephen Hanjack
shanjack@massgolf.org

MILTON, Massachusetts (July 23, 2025) – Sitting atop the clubhouse patio at Wollaston Golf Club on Wednesday, one might think that Mass Golf and Delta Air Lines were unveiling a new element to their longstanding partnership. Seemingly every 90 seconds, a new Delta aircraft appeared from the clouds, slowly descending toward Logan and giving travelers a brief look at the action from Round 1 of the 58th Ouimet Memorial Tournament.

Those taking in the action from a bit closer than 2,250 feet saw just a few players break par on Wollaston’s championship layout. Among them was Ben Spitz (George Wright GC) who set the pace with a 4-under-par 67 in the Championship Division.

In the Lowery Division, Brendan Hester (Pleasant Valley CC) was the only player to finish in red figures with a 71 (-1). And in the Women’s Division, defending Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Champion Morgan Smith (Mount Pleasant GC) holds a two-shot lead over the defending champion in this event, Isabel Brozena (Indian Ridge CC).

The Ouimet Memorial Tournament is a 54-hole, stroke-play tournament featuring an exempt-only field of top junior, amateur, mid-amateur and senior players who belong to Mass Golf Member Clubs. In its current form, the first two rounds of the event take place at an alternating venue, with the final round taking place at Woodland Golf Club.

Of note, the Championship Division is playing to a par of 71, while the Women’s and Lowery Divisions are playing to a par of 72.

Online: Leaderboard | Event Homepage | Photo Gallery

Championship Division

Ben Spitz has won a Massachusetts Amateur, a Massachusetts Junior Amateur, a Massachusetts Amateur Public Links, and a bevy of other events as well. But the Ouimet Memorial Tournament has been one that has escaped him to this point. Playing just minutes from home, Spitz made birdie on his first hole of the day, tacked four more (plus an eagle) in the middle of his round, and finished the day at -4, good for the solo lead in the Championship Division.

“This is a great course for this event,” said Spitz. “It can get it can get pretty crazy out there, but it was set up really fair. Great course, was in perfect shape.”

With two rounds still to go, Spitz knows there is still a lot to be sorted out. But the fact remains, he’s in position to add to his impressive resume.

“We got a ways to go. It’s just one round,” added Spitz. “Yeah, to win anything’s fun, my kids would love it. They just always ask me for a trophy when I get home (and) when I don’t have one, it’s like, a look of shame.”

Three players sit two shots back of Spitz after Wednesday’s opening round. Mike Calef (Pine Oaks GC), Shuvam Bhaumik (Thorny Lea GC), and Arthur Zelmati (Swansea CC), all of whom played in the morning, finished at 2-under-par. Calef and Bhaumik both carded six birdies while Zelmati’s day was highlighted by a long birdie putt on the 18th hole which triggered a putter-drop celebration, fueled by shock rather than showmanship.

The only past champion in the (Championship Division) field is Matt Parziale (Thorny Lea GC), who remains in contention after an opening round 72 (+1).

Arthur Zelmati drops his putter in disbelief after holing a long birdie putt on the 18th hole at Wollaston GC. (Mass Golf)

Women’s Division

Anyone that follows the women’s game knows there is no surprise to seeing the names Smith-Brozena-Smith stacked atop of the leaderboard.

Defending Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Champion, Morgan Smith holds the lead after one round of play thanks to a very tidy 72 (E) that saw two birdies cover two bogeys.

Two back of Morgan is the defending champion of this event, Isabel Brozena, who has spent much of the summer competing in events across the country in the Elite Amateur Series. (Brozena currently sits 14th in the Women’s Cup Standings)

Following a couple of late bogeys, a bad break on the 18th hole tested Brozena’s short game, and patience. Her approach shot appeared to hit a sprinkler head, then rock, coming to rest in a tricky spot above the hole.

Isabel Brozena hits her approach shot on the 18th hole during Round 1 of the Ouimet Memorial Tournament (Mass Golf)

“I had just gone bogey, bogey, so I was a little bit frustrated. And then with that unlucky bounce, I was seriously, like, ‘Are you kidding me!?’” recalled Brozena. “But yeah, I mean, I just played it off the hill, tried to get it as close as I could.”

The well-played pitch led to a nerve-settling par for Brozena, getting her into the clubhouse within striking distance of Smith.

“I felt like I kind of left a little bit out there today, especially on the greens,” added Brozena. “But, yeah, it means so much just to be in contention. Like I said this last year, but this field is always so good.”

Speaking of competitive fields, Brozena is also set to compete in the Women’s Am at Concord CC in just a few weeks. Last year, Brozena had to miss the Women’s Am due to college commitments.

“I’m excited to back in Massachusetts!”

One back of Brozena, and three back of her older sister Morgan, is Maddie Smith (Mount Pleasant GC), who earlier this summer won the New England Women’s Amateur Championship and the Massachusetts Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship. Maddie held the lead for much of the morning before a tough closing stretch led to Morgan pulling ahead.

Lowrey Division (Senior)

A past winner of the Championship Division (1994), Brendan Hester teed it up in the Lowery Division for the first time on Wednesday. Now 55 years old, Hester’s is on the younger side of the Lowery Division, and appeared to have a considerable advantage with his length off the tee.

After making four birdies over a five hole stretch in the middle of his round, Hester was able to steer it home with a round of 71 (-1), with help from his son/caddie, Jack.

“Having opportunities with wedges and shorter clubs was probably the big thing,” said Hester. “I don’t know the last time I played here, but I don’t remember it very well, so we just kind of worked together to try to manage our way around here. There’s a lot of course knowledge you need at this place.”

The event, too, holds a special place in the mind of Hester.

“The Ouimet is such a special organization, and I was a Ouimet scholar,” added Hester. “I am (now) fortunate enough to give back to Ouimet Fund. It’s just something that they do for golf that’s, bigger than than you and me.”

As is the case in the Championship Division, a trio of players sit two back of Hester with Jim Patterson (Orchards GC), Doug Clapp (Old Sandwich GC), and Todd Ezold (Springfield CC) all shooting 73 (+1).

Brendan Hester hits a shot on the 14th hole at Wollaston Golf Club during Round 1 of the Ouimet Memorial Tournament (Mass Golf)

Round Two will take place at Wollaston GC on Thursday. A cut will then be made prior to Friday’s Final Round at Woodland GC. (Championship 30+ ties, Women 12+ ties, Lowery 12+ ties)

WATCH: Five Big Things from Round 1 of the Ouimet Memorial Tournament

What is the Ouimet Memorial Tournament?

The Ouimet Memorial Tournament is a 54-hole, stroke-play tournament featuring an exempt-only field of top junior, amateur, mid-amateur and senior players who belong to Mass Golf Member Clubs. In its current form, the first two rounds of the event take place at an alternating venue, with the final round taking place at Woodland Golf Club.

One year after his death, friends of Francis Ouimet founded the Ouimet Memorial Tournament to honor his legacy, and it has been played every year since 1968. The first seven Ouimet Tournaments took place at Woodland Golf Club before converting to a co-host model in 1975. Francis Ouimet is the Brookline native who became a U.S. golf legend following his historic victory in the 1913 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline.

Since its founding, the tournament has always concluded at Woodland. In 1975, the tournament expanded when it came under the operation of the Ouimet Scholarship Fund, which awards millions of dollars in need-based college scholarships each year to deserving young men and women who have worked at Massachusetts golf courses.

In 1999, the Ouimet Fund’s 50th anniversary year, the Ouimet Memorial Tournament introduced a senior division named the Lowery Division, which honors Eddie Lowery, Ouimet’s 1913 U.S. Open caddie who became a frequent Ouimet Memorial contestant. And in 2004, the Women’s Division was launched. Alison Walshe won that inaugural year as well as the ensuing two years to become the only contestant — in any of the tournament’s three divisions — to achieve a ‘three-peat.’

Mass Golf took over operations of the event in 2018, and the format of the tournament transformed from a traditional invitational and exemption format that had preceded in the previous decades of the tournament to one that was based on merit in Mass Golf competition and exemptions.

Beginning in 2018, the Ouimet Memorial Tournament featured three days of competition for all three divisions, with the first two rounds conducted at the same venue, and in remaining with the original format of the event, the third and final round for each of the three divisions has continued to be played at Woodland.

*Information from 2020 event release

Recent Champions

Championship Division
2024 – Jack O’Donnell
2023 – Ryan Downes
2022 – Ryan Downes
2021 – Chris Francoeur
2020 – Chris Francoeur

Women’s Division
2024 – Isabel Brozena
2023 – Shannon Johnson
2022 – Catie Schernecker
2021 – Molly Smith
2020 – Anne Walsh

Lowery Division
2024 – Frank Vana, Jr.
2023 – Scott Copeland
2022 – Keith Smith
2021 – Steven Tasho
2020 – Frank Vana, Jr.

About Wollaston Golf Club

Dana Quigley poses for a photo with his winner’s check from the 1984 Massachusetts Open Championship at Wollaston GC.

Even with a expansive resume that includes 15 Major Championships and 9 USGA titles, few courses can claim a key role in growing the legend of Tiger Woods. Thanks to Woods’ thrilling, come-from-behind victory at the 1992 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, Wollaston Golf Club is one of those courses.  Woods made history with his win at Wollaston, becoming the first player to ever win two U.S. Junior Amateur Championships. The next year, he would win his third consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur, and followed that up with three-consecutive U.S. Amateur titles from 1994-1996.

Wollaston Golf Club has called its current site ‘home’ since 1970. Sitting within the Blue Hills and playing to a maximum yardage of approximately 6,900, Wollaston remains one of the only Tom Fazio designed courses in Massachusetts. Before Fazio’s design, Wollaston Golf Club was located on the present site of Presidents Golf Course in Quincy. 

Wollaston has played host to nine of Mass Golf’s Signature Championships, with three of those Championships being contested on the present-day layout. In 1995, Geoffrey Sisk won his first of six Massachusetts Open Championships. Prior to that, Loren Milhench won her first of two-straight Massachusetts Women’s Amateurs (1985) and Dana Quigley won his third-straight Massachusetts Open Championship (1984).

Stay Informed

Visit MassGolf.org and follow @PlayMassGolf on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube for the latest information on Mass Golf & New England Golf Association championships and events. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #MassGolf.

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Women’s Volleyball Opens NCAA Tournament Against USF on Friday – Penn State

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December 5, 2025

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- No. 25 Penn State opens its 45th-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament with a first-round match against USF on Friday at Texas’s Gregory Gymnasium. The match is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET and will stream on ESPN+.

The winner of Friday’s match advances to play the winner between Texas and Florida A&M in the second round on Saturday.

HOW TO FOLLOW
Friday, Dec. 5 | 5:30 p.m. ET
No. 25 Penn State (18-12, 12-8 B1G) vs. USF (17-12, 12-4 AAC) | Live Stats | ESPN+

OPENING NOTES
• Penn State is set to open its 45th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. It is the only program in the country to play in all 45 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournaments since the inaugural event in 1981.
• The Nittany Lions received an eight seed in the Austin Region and will play the first and second rounds away from Rec Hall for just the first time since the tournament was expenaded to 64 teams in 1998.
• Friday marks Penn State’s fourth NCAA Tournament appearance and 13th postseason match under Katie Schumacher-Cawley, who is in her fourth season as Penn State head coach. They are 10-2 in the NCAA Tournament under Schumacher-Cawley after going 6-0 and winning the program’s eighth national title last season.
• The Nittany Lions made it to at least the NCAA Regional Semifinal in each of Schumacher-Cawley’s first three seasons as head coach.

NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
• Penn State, which has won eight national titles, including the most recent in 2024, is 116-35 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
• Penn State has made the National Semifinals 14 times and the National Championship match 11 times.
• USF and Penn State will meet for the first time in the NCAA Tournament, making the Bulls the 76th different postseason opponent for the Nittany Lions. Just eight of those teams have a winning record against Penn State in the NCAA Tournament.

PENN STATE IN ROUND OF 64
• Penn State is 26-0 in the NCAA Tournament round of 64 since the event expanded to 64 teams in 1998.
• The Lions are 78-3 in sets played during that stretch, dropping one set to Howard in 2017, one to Towson in 2021, and one to Yale last season.
• Rec Hall was the venue for 24 of the 26 matches.
• Penn State is 3-0 in the Round of 64 under Schumacher-Cawley, beating UMBC in 2022, Yale in 2023, and Delaware State in 2024.

HOW THEY GOT HERE – PENN STATE
• Penn State earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after going 18-12 overall and 12-8 in the Big Ten.
• The Nittany Lions are one of 14 teams in the nation with four wins over teams ranked in the top 25 of RPI, beating No. 6 Creighton, No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 13 USC, and No. 15 Kansas.
• The Nittany Lions helped secure their spot in the NCAA Tournament with four wins in their final five matches, beating Ohio State (3-2), Michigan State (3-0), Maryland (3-0), and Iowa (3-1).

HOW THEY GOT HERE – USF
• USF received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after going 17-12 overall and 12-4 in the American Conference on its way to a second-place finish in the conference standings. The Bulls lost to Tulsa in the semifinal round of the American Conference Tournament.
• The Bulls will play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002. They beat Florida State in the first round that year before falling to Florida in the second round.
• USF’s highest RPI win came in conference play with a sweep over No. 36 Tulsa. The highest non-conference RPI win came in five sets over No. 47 Dayton. They also pushed Purdue to five sets before losing in their season opener.
• Senior outside hitter Maria Clara Andrade was named the American Conference Player of the Year for the second-straight season. She was joined on the all-conference team by sophomore setter Raegan Richardson (first team) and junior outside hitter Laila Ivey (second team).

SERIES HISTORY – USF
• Penn State is 3-0 in the all-time series with USF. The teams first played in 1986.
• The Nittany Lions swept all three matches, winning 3-0 in 1986, 1988, and 2015. All three matches were played in Tampa.
• Penn State and USF have never met in the NCAA Tournament.
• Kennedy Martin is the only player on the Penn State roster that has played against USF. She hit .449 with 27 kills, six blocks, and two aces in Florida’s 3-2 win over the Bulls in 2023.

PENN STATE VS. AMERICAN CONFERENCE
• Penn State is 32-4 all-time against current members of American Conference.
• The Nittany Lions have played eight of the 13 teams in the conference and have a winning record against all eight. They are unbeaten against UAB (1-0), Charlotte (1-0), East Caroline (3-0), Memphis (2-0), Rice (3-0), South Florida (3-0), and Wichita State (1-0).

TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE
• Eight Penn State players have combined for 50 matches of NCAA Tournament experience.
• Penn State head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley (1999) and assistant coach Megan Hodge Easy (2007, 2008, 2009) combined for four national titles as players at Penn State.

Catherine Burke – 1 match
Ava Falduto – 6 matches
Gillian Grimes – 12 matches
Jordan Hopp – 6 matches (2 Iowa State, 4 Penn State)
Caroline Jurevicius – 6 matches
Kennedy Martin – 5 matches (5 Florida)
Maggie Mendelson – 8 matches (2 Nebraska, 6 Penn State)
Jocelyn Nathan – 6 matches

 

 The 2025 Penn State women’s volleyball season is presented by Musselman’s.



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Toledo Falls in First Round of NCAA Tournament to Indiana, 3-0

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December 5, 2025

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Toledo women’s volleyball team closed out its historic 2025 season by falling to No. 4 seed Indiana in the NCAA Tournament First Round, 3-0 (18-25, 15-25, 17-25) on Thursday evening in Bloomington, Ind.

The Rockets finish the season with a 23-11 record, posting the second-most wins in program history .(1983 – 27 matches)

Sophomore Olivia Heitkamp led the Toledo offense with 11 kills, including five in the first set, for her 19th match this season in double-figures. Redshirt junior Sophie Catalano poured in seven terminations while redshirt sophomore Sierra Pertzborn chipped in six kills of her own.

Senior setter Kelsey Smith tallied 26 assists and a team-high nine digs. Sophomore Grace Freiberger and senior Macy Medors each totaled six digs.

Quoting Head Coach Brian Wright

“We’ve had a pretty special season in the past 11-and-a-half months that I’ve been at Toledo. I am so proud of this team and how they played tonight’s match. This team accomplished many great things this season, from leading the MAC in attendance, to winning their first MAC Tournament championship and playing in their first NCAA Tournament match. I want the team to understand that they are enough and capable to compete with the best teams and programs in this country.”

Senior Anna Alford

(on the 2025 season)

“This group has made Toledo history and it’s been such a great season. We’ve been working so hard for the past 11-and-a-half months and we just wanted a chance to showcase our abilities on the court and the love that this team has for one another.”

Senior Macy Medors

(on the future of the Toledo volleyball program)

“Our program is built on being a family and there is a great atmosphere amongst everyone involved. The younger players will continue that tradition and help Toledo volleyball continue to grow to new heights.”

Key Moments

  • Olivia Heitkamp started the match with a kill as the Rockets and Hoosiers traded points early in the first set. Heitkamp’s fifth kill of the set kept it even, 11-11, before two quick points from Indiana gave the Hoosiers a 15-12 lead at the media timeout. A block from Anna Alford and Heitkamp kept UT within four, 22-18, but a quick 3-0 run for the Hoosiers gave them the set win.

  • Both sides went back-and-forth to begin the second set before Indiana jumped out to a 7-4 lead. A solo block from Jessica Costlow sent the Rockets on a 3-0 run to even the frame, 9-9. The Hoosiers responded with an 8-2 run of their own to take a seven-point advantage, 19-12. Kills from Heitkamp and Sophie Catalano put UT within five, 19-14, but Indiana took the set win with four-straight points.

  • Catalano fired off a kill to give Toledo a lead in the third set, 4-3. A quick 3-0 surge by the Rockets, highlighted by a kill from Sierra Pertzborn and Catalano, kept Toledo ahead, 7-5. Two service aces and two kills from the Hoosiers put IU in front, 12-9, before Heitkamp and Catalano each buried terminations to even the frame, 13-13. Indiana went on a 3-0 run to retake the lead, 17-14. Catalano and Pertzborn combined for a second block to stay within three, 19-16, but the Hoosiers ended the match on a 6-1 run to take the win.

Follow the Rockets
Instagram: Toledo_VB
Twitter/X: Toledo_VB
Facebook: Toledo Volleyball
 





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Volleyball sweeps Fairmont State in first round of Atlantic Regionals

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December 5, 2025

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ERIE, Pa. – Indiana (PA) swept Fairmont St. 25-22, 25-19, 25-20 on Thursday at Highmark Events Center in Erie, Pa., in a neutral non-conference matchup.

Indiana (PA) was led by Charlotte Potvin, who posted 13 kills on a team-high .455 hitting percentage, adding four aces and 17.5 points in the three-set win. Delaney Concannon contributed 16 kills with 22 digs, while setter Ellie Rauch dished 45 assists and recorded two service aces.

Jessica Neiman added 14 kills on .464 hitting, while libero Lexi McLanahan finished with 15 digs. Rylee Brown anchored the front row with one solo block and two block assists, totaling three blocks and 2.0 points.

Indiana (PA) hit .268 for the match with 49 kills and 59 digs.

Fairmont St. saw 33 kills from a balanced attack and 49 digs defensively. Outside hitter Joey Borelle recorded 13 kills and seven digs, while Josie Nobbe totaled 11 digs and four kills. Chloe McDaniel added eight kills and four block assists.

The match featured 14 ties and nine lead changes in the opening set before Indiana pulled away late, scoring two straight points from the service line to close it out.

Indiana (PA) improved to 21-8 on the season, while Fairmont St. fell to 23-11.



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Kentucky volleyball tops Wofford in Lexington NCAA tournament bracket

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December 5, 2025

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Updated Dec. 4, 2025, 11:27 p.m. ET

  • Top-seeded Kentucky volleyball defeated Wofford in three sets to advance in the NCAA Tournament.
  • Brooklyn DeLeye led Kentucky with 14 kills during the first-round victory.
  • Kentucky will now face No. 8 seed UCLA for a spot in the Sweet 16.

LEXINGTON — Top-seeded Kentucky volleyball defeated Wofford in three sets Thursday night at Historic Memorial Coliseum to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Brooklyn DeLeye led the Wildcats with 14 kills.

“This team especially, our depth, is so strong, and I think that just helps in practice,” DeLeye said after the match. “We’re pushing one another. No spot is guaranteed, and I think that’s truly helped us get to this No. 1 seed.”

UK will battle No. 8 seed UCLA Friday at 7 p.m. for a spot in the Sweet 16. UCLA defeated Georgia Tech in five sets Thursday night. A familiar face in former Louisville and current UCLA middle blocker Phekran Kong will sit across the net.



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UNI volleyball stuns Utah in NCAA Tournament reverse sweep

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December 5, 2025

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OMAHA, Neb. — Lily Dykstra, Cassidy Hartman and Reese Booth all posted double-double performances for the UNI volleyball team on Thursday as the Panthers rallied from down two sets to none to stun the Utah Utes in the opening round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at D.J. Sokol Arena.

Northern Iowa was unblocked by an 18-4 margin and struggled early out of system in the first two frames, but roared back with a gritty third set win, a fourth set victory thanks to a strong start and a wire-to-wire win in the winner-take-all fifth. The reverse sweep marks the first time UNI has rallied from down 2-0 in an NCAA Tournament match to advance since 2002 against Missouri.

 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Utah set an early tone with a 6-0 scoring run in the opening frame with a service ace to open the match. The Panthers would struggle offensively with seven attack errors and seven kills on .000 hitting as the Utes tallied a .448 hitting clip with 14 terminations and four blocks en route to a 25-15 win over UNI. Hartman and Isabelle Elliott would record two kills each in the frame.

Northern Iowa would put up a strong fight in the second stanza with 12 kills on .122 hitting. The Panthers used a 4-0 run to tie the set up at 10-10 before the Utes took the lead back with a 3-0 run of its own. UNI would even the score at 18-18 with a 4-0 run on a kill by Molly Shafer, back-to-back aces and a rare termination from Jadyn Petersen, but the Utes, hitting .343 with 12 kills, pulled away for a 25-21 lead and a two-set lead in the match. Dykstra led the Panthers with five kills in the set, with Hartman tallying three terminations.

The Panthers battled the Utes in another tight set in the third frame featuring ten ties and four lead changes. Booth dished out a service ace with Maryn Bixby blocking to give UNI a 9-7 lead as Utah grabbed and held a narrow lead for much of the frame. Northern Iowa would fight back however, led by eight kills from Dykstra and four from Hartman to recapture the lead, survive bonus ball and win the third set, 26-24 on 19 team terminations and .286 hitting.

UNI carried its momentum into set four with a 6-0 scoring run and would lead from start to finish with Dykstra adding an ace for a 9-1 advantage. Utah would chip away at the Panthers’ lead, but a .317 hitting clip by UNI and 19 more team terminations would help push the Panthers across the line, led by eight additional kills from Dykstra and five for Hartman.

In set five, the Panthers continued their momentum with a 5-1 scoring run to begin the decisive frame before Utah closed the gap. Hitting .389 with nine terminations, UNI never relinquished the lead and closed on a 3-0 run, including an ace from Sydney Golden to set up match point with Hartman delivering the winning point for a 15-10 win and the come-from-behind match victory.

Dykstra led the Panthers with career-highs in kills (25) and digs (14), with Hartman notching 19 kills and 11 digs, as Shafer, Bixby and Elliott each tallied six terminations. Booth posted a 32 assist, 11 digs double-double, while Golden notched 18 assists. On defense, Petersen led UNI with 16 digs, as Bixby posted three of the Panthers’ four total blocks on the night.

“I am so proud of this crew,” said UNI head coach Bobbi Petersen. We were a little unsure with this match with so many who haven’t experienced an NCAA Tournament match before. It didn’t look pretty in those first two sets but I felt we never gave up, kept fighting and finding ways to score. They definitely put pressure on us and it was a battle and a fun NCAA Tournament match!”

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • UNI improves to 3-1 all-time against Utah in the first NCAA Tournament matchup between the Panthers and Utes.

  • Northern Iowa is now 18-26 all-time in NCAA Tournament matches. Thursday’s win marks the first time the Panthers have won matches in the tournament in consecutive seasons since 2002 and 2003. The win was also UNI’s first over a Big 12 Conference opponent since 2012 (Kansas State).

  • The Panthers extended their winning streak on the season to 22 matches, the eighth-longest streak in program history.

  • UNI is now 5-5 in five-set matches in the NCAA Tournament with victories in 1999 (Ball State), 2001 (Minnesota), 2002 (Missouri) and 2003 (UC Santa Barbara).

  • Lily Dykstra recorded her fourth 20+ kill match of the year on Thursday (Southern Illinois, Drake, UIC). She has also posted at least eight kills in 29 of 31 matches this season, as well as 18 matches with ten or more terminations and her second career double-double, both coming this year.

  • Cassidy Hartman notched her 26th match this year with ten-plus terminations with her 14th double-double of the season.

  • Reese Booth’s double-double was her ninth of the 2025 season.

 

UP NEXT

The Panthers will face off against the winner of No. 11 and third-seeded Creighton and Northern Colorado on Friday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT at D.J. Sokol Arena in Omaha, with live coverage available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network (106.5 Corn Country).

 

UNI volleyball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Volleyball), X (@UNIVolleyball) and on Instagram (@univolleyball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.





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No. 3 Badgers stifle Panthers to kick off postseason action

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December 5, 2025

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MADISON, Wis. – The No. 3 Wisconsin volleyball team dominated in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, sweeping Eastern Illinois (25-11, 25-6, 25-19) behind another strong performance on the offensive end. 

The Badgers (25-4) advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament with the help of a .435 (47 – 10 – 85) hitting percentage—jumping out of the gates in set one. 

Outside hitter Mimi Colyer continued to lead the way for UW, tallying six kills on eight attempts in set one. The Badgers won 13-of-14 rallies early on to take a 17-3 lead, forcing a Panthers’ (24-8) timeout. 

From there, UW never looked back in the first frame, as right side Grace Egan racked up a kill to put away Eastern Illinois with a 25-11 final score. 

The Badgers put together their best showing of the season in the second set, winning 25-6. The six points allowed were the least by a Wisconsin unit in the rallying scoring era in the NCAA Tournament, dating back to 2007. UW earned four service aces in the set—including a pair from setter Charlie Fuerbringer. 

Wisconsin enjoyed another large run in the second frame, winning seven-straight rallies to go up 19-5. Outside hitter Trinity Shadd-Ceres provided a quality spark off of the bench in set two, recording back-to-back kills in the latter half of the frame. The sophomore earned four kills on four attempts, a season-best. 

Eastern Illinois provided a response in the third set, but the Badgers were able to answer quickly to earn the sweep. Middle blocker Tosia Serafinowska concluded the match with her first kill of her postseason career, punching the Badgers’ ticket to a battle with North Carolina tomorrow evening at the UW Field House. 

Colyer tallied double-digit kills for the 16th consecutive match, finishing with 10 on a .562 swinging percentage. Vajagic put together a solid showing in her postseason debut, also accumulating 10 kills to complement her five digs. 

Defensively, libero Kristen Simon was a staple in the back row, as the freshman notched 15 digs—tying her highest total since the Badgers’ match against Indiana on Nov. 9. 

The middle blockers for UW continued to be efficient, as seniors Carter Booth and Alicia Andrew combined for 12 kills and zero hitting errors. 

Fuerbringer did it all for the Badgers to round out the standouts, paced by 35 assists. The sophomore added eight digs, four blocks and a pair of service aces, too. 

Straight from the Court

Head Coach Kelly Sheffield (on tonight’s performance): “Really happy with the way we came out and played. We did a lot of good things. Kristen really set the tone behind the service line and was aggressive defensively, getting balls and just hunting, making strong moves.”

(On everyone gaining in-match experience): “You certainly don’t go into the match thinking you’ll empty the bench. We have a lot of people who work hard and when an opportunity presents itself in the NCAA Tournament where you can add year played to their experience, especially in the Field House, that is pretty special.”

Middle Blocker Alicia Andrew (on what went well tonight): “I was really impressed with both Mimi and Kristen. They were really going for it on their serves and it showed. They got the team out of the system a lot and that was so much fun to watch. I think our side out transition game, like Coach mentioned, we were able to be in the system a lot of the time courtesy to Kristen and that was really good.”

Libero Kristen Simon (on continuing to build confidence): “It’s been a process just building up my confidence and going for every ball. Obviously, you find more range and just find more confidence behind the defensive line and just reading your hitters.”

Notes: 

  • With the sweep over EIU, Wisconsin moves to 27-1 all-time in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, and 71-29 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

  • The match-up against EIU marked the first time the two teams met since 1995. Wisconsin improves 5-2 all-time against the Panthers.

  • For the seventh time this season, the Badgers hit .400 or better (47-10-95). The Badgers outhit EIU .435 to .022.

  • The Badgers surrendered just six points in the second set to EIU making it the lowest point total by an opponent in program history of the NCAA tournament.

  • For the 16th-consecutive match, outside hitter Mimi Colyer totaled double-figure kills. She led the team with 10 kills. The senior is now tied at third in program history with Arlisa Hagan (1991-92) for most consecutive matches with double-digit kill totals.

  • Sophomore Morgan Van Wie made an appearance in the third set as a serving substitute.

  • The 49 digs marks the fourth-highest dig total in a three set match this season for the Badgers.

  • Sophomore Maile Chan recorded her first service ace in the third set.

  • Senior Carter Booth recorded her seventh match without a hitting error. Both totaled seven kills on 11 swings.

  • Libero Kristen Simon led the team with 15 digs. This marks Simon’s 20th match with double-figure digs.

Up Next: The Badgers are back in action tomorrow evening in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament, as they will take on North Carolina at 7:00 p.m. CT at the UW Field House. Wisconsin holds an 8-2 record all-time against the Tar Heels, as the two teams last competed against each other back in 2019. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.



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