KANSAS CITY, Mo. — We get it. You’re tired of hearing about SEC domination. The selection committee favors them, yada yada, because “it just means more.”

But wait. … We’re talking about volleyball here.

For the first time in the conference’s history, two SEC teams will be battling for the volleyball national championship Sunday afternoon when No. 2 Kentucky plays sixth-ranked Texas A&M at T-Mobile Center (3:30 ET, ABC). It took the league nearly four decades to celebrate its first national championship when Craig Skinner’s Kentucky Wildcats won in 2020 — actually spring 2021 because of COVID-19.

But this pairing is not a fluke. The Southeastern Conference had three teams (Kentucky, Texas and Texas A&M) ranked in the top 10 in the final regular-season poll, and a Wisconsin upset of Texas prevented the final four from being three-fourths SEC. Sunday’s outcome will ensure that four teams currently in the SEC have won the national championship in the past six years (Kentucky 2020, Texas 2022 and 2023), though Texas didn’t join the conference until 2024.

Skinner opened his news conference Friday by acknowledging the shift.

“Kudos to the SEC and the coaches in our league,” Skinner said, “for getting our conference in the position to be an elite league in the sport of volleyball in the NCAA.”

Skinner, an assistant when Nebraska won a national championship in 2000, knew the dearth of SEC dominance might hinder recruiting when he took the Kentucky job in 2005. So, he used the “Come join us and be the first SEC team to win a national championship” pitch.

“To be really good, you’ve got to invest a lot of time,” Skinner said. “I’d been a part of a national championship program. I just wanted people to feel what that was like. Not just winning it, but the work and the time and the competitive desire it takes to get to that point, because that’s the way life is.

“So, for us to do that, I think, broke down doors that either Kentucky could do it again or someone else in the league can. We’re very proud of doing that.”

Tiffany Daniels, the SEC’s associate commissioner and senior woman administrator, said nonconference scheduling, school investment and strong coaching hires have played a part in the ascent. A little bit of pride didn’t hurt, either.

Daniels said when Greg Sankey became commissioner in 2015, he noticed that volleyball was the only sport among the conference’s then-21 offerings that hadn’t produced a national title. He met with the coaches in the conference and asked what the SEC could do to help win a championship. She said the coaches “really leaned into that question and started to think strategically about how to move forward.

“I think that is what we’re seeing, the results of the fruits of that labor,” Daniels said.

Another thing that might have helped the league in the NCAA tournament was the return of the SEC tournament this fall. It was the first conference tournament for volleyball in two decades, and Texas A&M coach Jamie Morrison admits he was “a little bit iffy” on the prospect at first. None of the other major conferences — the Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 — hold conference tournaments.

“Commissioner Sankey begged and pleaded us,” Morrison said. “They wanted something to build — and this is a bad word, but — commercialization around, which is not a bad word anymore because it has to go that way in order for our sport to be viable and in order for a lot of things to happen.

“I think they did an amazing job with that. All of a sudden we got really good volleyball against really good teams in pressure situations.”

It was a primer for things to come.

Kentucky and Texas A&M were pressure-tested during their runs to the final. The Wildcats rallied from a set down against Wisconsin in the national semifinals and advanced in five sets. The Aggies escaped a two-set hole against Louisville in the regional semifinals and then upset Nebraska in a pressure-packed fifth in the regional final.

Both teams like to talk about how grit and mental toughness have pushed them to the championship match. Now, there’s one more win to be had in the 2025 NCAA volleyball season. The only certainty is that an SEC team will claim it.

Here are four other storylines to watch during the championship match.

Power of the pins

Traditionally, the best pin hitters in the title game claim the title for their team. Last year, it was Penn State’s Jess Mruzik. The year before that, it was Texas’ Madisen Skinner. And the year before that, it was Texas’ Logan Eggleston. Well, you get the idea.

There are several powerful pins in Sunday’s championship game — on both sides. The Wildcats feature Purdue transfer Eva Hudson (4.59 kills per set) and Brooklyn DeLeye (4.62 kills per set), and the Aggies showcase Logan Lednicky (4.11 kills per set) and Kyndal Stowers (3.50 kills per set). They’ve accounted for 351 kills in the tournament.

But it won’t be just a competition to see which team can outhit the other. Hudson said it might be as much about who can “outgrit” the other.

“Who lasts the longest, honestly,” she said. “And I think that’s what most of these games in the end, especially during the final four championship, comes down to, right? Players like Kyndal and Logan never stop fighting. They’re never going to stop swinging away. And we’re the same way.”

In Thursday’s semifinal against Wisconsin, Hudson dominated in the fourth and fifth sets. Her final kill of the game sealed the Wildcats’ fate and earned her 29 kills with a .455 hitting percentage. In the sweep against Pitt, Stowers and Lednicky led their program to its first title game with a combined 30 kills. When asked about her rise in kills in the past few games, Stowers said she’s at a loss for words.

“Pure gratitude. This is crazy,” Stowers said. “This is an absolute crazy experience. We have had faith in ourselves all year. From the first game of the season, we knew we were capable of this.”

Remember October?

Kentucky beat the Aggies 21-25, 25-22, 25-15, 27-25 in an Oct. 8 thriller in College Station. Texas A&M has clearly hit another gear in December, though, knocking off No. 20 TCU, No. 9 Louisville, No. 1 Nebraska and No. 4 Pitt in the postseason. “That feels like a really long time ago,” A&M outside hitter Emily Hellmuth said of the regular-season matchup. “It’s hard to honestly remember, so much has happened since then. I do remember after the fourth set everyone, including all the fans and us, feeling so — I don’t know — it was a confusing feeling of, we knew that we were about to go to the fifth. I think we left feeling like there was a lot of unfinished business there.”

Kentucky outside hitter Asia Thigpen took note of the Aggies’ big block presence in the regionals last week in Lincoln. “They’ve grown as a team since [October],” Thigpen said. “We have, too. I think just continuing to instill confidence in ourselves that we can do this.”

Hudson echoed Thigpen.

“Both of our teams have gotten so much better since then that it’s kind of like playing a whole new team,” Hudson said. “And I mean, kind of a similar game plan, but you’ve got to be ready for anything at this point in the tournament, too.”

Vibe check

A massive number of fans from Nebraska were supposed to travel down Interstate 29 to Kansas City this weekend, but Texas A&M squashed those plans last week with the upset over the No. 1 Cornhuskers. Still, the vibe has been festive in the City of Fountains.

Last year’s final drew an NCAA postseason record of 21,860 fans to the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky. It didn’t hurt that Louisville was playing Penn State. (The home team lost in four games.)

The sport’s popularity has grown each season, and this weekend’s interest in Kansas City is no exception. Downtown restaurants have had waiting lists, and the crowds were lively at T-Mobile Center on Thursday night for the semifinals.

“The vibe has been amazing,” Morrison said.

The NCAA said the attendance for Thursday night’s semifinal session was 18,322 — a sellout. Kristin Fasbender, the NCAA’s director of championships and alliances, said the empty seats in the lower bowl during the first match were mostly team-block allotments that were eventually occupied by fans who hadn’t shown up yet for the second match. “There’s lots of excitement,” Fasbender said.

Nebraska fans, still working through their stages of grief, have helped fill up the arena. On Thursday night, the crowd erupted when a fan in Husker gear appeared on the video board.

Morrison took notice of all the red.

“One of the things I really respect about Nebraska fans is a lot of them have showed up,” he said. “I know there was some stuff on social media, disappointment and that. I mean this: If we can do what I believe we can do at Texas A&M, I believe the 12th man can become that, too, where it’s passionate about volleyball, might show up to the final four, regardless of if we’re in it or not.

” … We need to grow volleyball fans, and take a card from Nebraska in that and go. I think the crowd has been amazing. I had a bunch of thumbs-up. I couldn’t tell if it was ‘good job’ or ‘gig ’em’ from Nebraska fans as I was walking out [Thursday] night.”

X factors

Though Hudson and DeLeye make most Kentucky headlines, Hudson believes her team’s X factors are middle blocker Lizzie Carr and Thigpen.

“When Lizzie Carr gets going, we’re dang near unstoppable,” Hudson said. “She’s such a fire to the team. But then we also have Asia Thigpen, who is one of the most competitive people I’ve ever known, and she makes me better. Without them, we wouldn’t be here.”

Hudson added that Thigpen, who is 5-foot-11, oftentimes gets overlooked because of her height — emphasizing her ability to be their secret weapon on the court.

The Aggies’ X factor heading into this game might be their ability to play with what their team has described as “so much grit.” It also might be the nine seniors — let’s not forget about middle blocker extraordinaire Ifenna Cos-Okpalla — on their roster who are ready to make their last college game the most memorable yet.

“I want to end my collegiate career as a winner,” senior Ava Underwood said. “We go into the gym every single day with the mindset that we’re going to be the grittiest team out there. We all want to play for each other. We want to win for each other.”

In his third season with the Aggies, Morrison led his program to its first final four and first national championship game. After sweeping Pitt in the semifinals, he credited his seniors for changing the future.

“We built this. Not just a team that can go to the final four and play for a national championship this year, but I think something that is going to last,” Morrison said. “That’s what I came to Texas A&M to do — to build something that is going to last. This group has helped us do that.”

Volleyball benefit held in honor of Moeller student killed in hit-and-run

Updated: 10:18 AM EST Dec 21, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

A volleyball benefit was held Saturday to honor the life of a Moeller volleyball player gone too soon.Dozens of people from the community gathered at Grand Sands Volleyball, in Loveland, to honor the life of Dylan Straughn.In October, Straughn died after being hit by a car while riding his bike.Family members spoke with WLWT and said Straughn would have loved the event.”Realistic answer, I would say he would probably cry. He’d be really, really surprised,” his family said. “He didn’t think he fit in. And to see all of these kids that are here to support him, it’s really surprising. He would be like, ‘I’m not going in there, bro.’ But we would definitely be playing right now.”All of the proceeds from the event are going towards a scholarship in Straughn’s honor. If you’d like to donate, you can do so here.

Coaching Highlights at Saint Francis

• Six-time NEC Coach of the Year – 2017 (Women’s Cross Country), 2019 (Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field), 2021, 2022, 2023 (Women’s Track & Field)
• Coached two NCAA Participants – Deshaun Jackson (2019, 4th 110m hurdles), Sara Phelan (2019, 21st, javelin)
• Five-time NEC Champion – 2016 Women’s Cross Country; 2019, Men’s Track & Field; 2021, 2022, 2023 Women’s Outdoor Track & Field
• Coached 15 NCAA East Preliminary Participants
• Coached 39 All-NEC Cross Country Performers – 17 Men’s Cross Country; 21 Women’s Cross Country
• Coached 119 NEC Track and Field Champions – 25 Men’s Indoor Track & Field; 13 Women’s Indoor Track & Field; 32 Men’s Outdoor Track & Field; 39 Women’s Outdoor Track & Field
• 35 Times An Athlete Named NEC Outstanding Performer: Men’s Cross Country – Bryce England (Performer, 2017); Women’s Cross Country – Anna Quackenbush (Rookie, 2023) Rosie Gaydos (Rookie, 2024); Men’s Indoor Track & Field – Jesse Brown (Rookie, 2016), Bryce England (Performer, Distance, 2018); Nickolas Hyde (Throws, 2024); Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – Bryce England (2017, Distance; 2018, Distance), Chris Frederick (2018, Rookie); Deshaun Jackson (2019, Performer), Chris Frederick (2019, Sprints); Benjamin Ross (2019, Throws); Nickolas Hyde (Throws, 2021, 2022, ; Rookie, 2021); Julian Saunders (Sprints, 2023); Women’s Cross Country – Hannah Dorian (Rookie, 2014); Women’s Indoor Track & Field – Madeline Murphy (Jumps, 2023); Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – Brittany Jackson (Track, 2013), Paris Cotman (Rookie, 2013), Emma O’Hara (Rookie, 2013), Jennifer Hahne (2017, Track); Emily Lunger (2019, Rookie); Mylan Crews (Performer, Sprints, 2021); Madeline Murphy (Jumps, 2022; Performer, Jumps, 2023); Carly Sedun (Rookie, 2022; Thrower, 2024)

Douglas Hoover enters his 14th season at the helm of the Saint Francis University men’s and women’s cross country and track & field program in 2025-26. A 20-year veteran of the collegiate coaching ranks, Hoover previously served two years as an assistant coach with the Red Flash from 2000-2002.

Saint Francis cross country and track and field has had a long tradition of success before Hoover took over in 2012 and he has continued to build on the legacy in his time in Loretto. Hoover has helped the Red Flash to four track and field championships between the men and the women and the women’s cross country team won the 2016 NEC title. In addition, two athletes have competed in the NCAA Championships with Deshaun Jackson finishing fourth in the 110m hurdles to earn All-American first-team status. Sara Phelan also competed at the national championships in 2019 and finished 19th in the javelin. 

Hoover was also instrumental in moving the home cross country course from Immergrun Golf Course to B & D Acres in Tyrone. The Red Flash has held home events at B & D for the last four years, including hosting the NEC Championships in 2022 and 2025. The 2017 women’s cross country team won the NEC Championships and the 2016 Red Flash men took home the NEC Men’s Track & Field Championships in 2019.

Saint Francis won the NEC Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2021, 2022 and 2023. It was the first time the Red Flash women’s track and field team won three titles in a row. The 2021 title was by one of the widest point margins in NEC history (82 points). 

During Hoover’s time at Saint Francis, the squads have become perennial contenders in the NEC, and have captured two conference team titles, breaking several school records and having several athletes compete on the national stage with 15 competing at the NCAA East Preliminary along with Jackson and Phelan on the national stage. In his first 13 years as head coach, 35 times an athlete was named an outstanding performer at the NEC Championships, an athlete has won an event at the NEC Championships 119 times and 39 times cross country had a All-NEC performer. 

Hoover’s teams have excelled in the classroom, as well as in competition. Four of his six teams have won the Northeast Conference Team GPA award, earning the highest GPA in their sport in the conference: men’s and women’s Cross Country, and women’s indoor and outdoor Track & Field.  

Hoover came to Loretto from Juniata College, where he served as an assistant coach with the men’s and women’s track & field and cross country teams from 2007 to 2012.  While there, he helped the women’s cross country team to a Landmark Conference Championship in 2007.  During his tenure Juniata produced three All-America selections, an NCAA Championship qualifier in cross country, and a NCAA provisional qualifier in track & field.  The men’s cross country squad landed 14 student-athletes on the Landmark Conference’s first or second teams, while the women’s cross country team had 12 who were honored.

Prior to Juniata, Hoover spent five years as the head coach for the men’s and women’s cross country teams at Penn State Altoona, where he was instrumental in the founding of the program in 2002.  In his first five years with the newly-minted program, Penn State Altoona teams placed among the top three in the conference championships eight times while earning one team championship and one individual championship.  He was named the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2005.

Prior to that, Hoover served as a graduate assistant coach with the Saint Francis men’s and women’s track & field and cross country teams from 2000 to 2002.  During that time, the men’s teams won every NEC Championship, and future Olympian Brian Sell qualified for the 2001 NCAA National Championship in the 10,000m run.  Kevin Doyle also captured the 2001 NEC individual cross country championship.  The women’s cross country team captured the 2001 NEC team title.  Five women and four men earned All-NEC cross country honors in 2001.

Hoover’s competitive career was spent in the Summer Biathlon, which combines the disciplines of cross country running and rifle marksmanship.  He was a member of the United States Summer Biathlon National Team from 1997 to 2012.  Hoover was a five-time National Champion (2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012).  He had a total of 13 top-ten finishes in the National Championships during his competitive career.  He also represented the United States in five World Championships (2003, 2006, 2007. 2008, and 2009), earning two top-twenty finishes, while leading the United States team four times.  He was the USA Flag Bearer at the World Championships in 2007, and was the USA Team Captain in 2009.

In 2016, Hoover was inducted into the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame.

Hoover received his Bachelor’s degree in Finance with a minor in Economics from the Pennsylvania State University in 1994, and earned his Master’s in Business Administration from Saint Francis University in 2002.

A native of Tyrone, Pennsylvania, Hoover now resides in Loretto.

MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine women’s basketball (9-3) beat CSUN (5-6) 69-63 Saturday afternoon in Firestone Fieldhouse for the program’s best start in 45 years.
 
“We created a lot of great opportunities, and found a way when shots weren’t falling,” head coach Katie Faulkner said. “I think we know we want a better effort defensively in the second half but people stepped up in different ways throughout the game.”
 
Shooting just .382 on the afternoon, including .280 from distance, the Waves had to find a way to win with the offense being cold for the majority of the game.
 
The most from a single player in the first quarter on either side would be Shorna Preston with four points as neither squad found an offensive rhythm. With an average of .270 shooting from the field for both teams after the opening 10, Pepperdine led 12-11.
 
More than doubling the first quarter’s production, the Waves’ shots started to fall in the second. Lina Falk led the way with eight points as Shorna Preston hit her second from distance, nearly securing a double-double before the half with 11 rebounds and nine points. With the defense outrebounding CSUN 9-4, the Waves erased all second-chance opportunities for the Matadors, taking a 31-18 lead into the locker room at half.
 
Momentum swung in the visitor’s favor coming out of the break as the 13 point-lead was erased for Pepperdine throughout the third quarter. Two separate lead changes and three ties in the 10-minute stretch proved the game would come down to the wire. Being outshot .294 to .558, the Waves fought through the swing of favorability, taking a slim 44-43 lead into the final quarter.
 
After another cold 10-minute stretch, the offense found a groove for the final stretch. Shooting .500 from the field as well as from three, the Waves kept a hungry CSUN team at bay. Seleh Harmon hit one of her two from distance in the fourth, making it six straight games with a three from the freshman who has netted one in 11 of the 12 games played this season. Falk led Pepperdine to victory in the second half with 10 points as the Waves pulled off the 69-63 win.
 
Closing out the nonconference stretch of the season 9-3, it is Pepperdine’s best start in 45 years and the fourth best start in program history. After the Holidays, the Waves begin West Coast Conference play on the road, going to Pullman, Wash. to take on the Cougars of Washington State Dec. 28. The game will be available on ESPN+ (subscription required) with live stats available at pepperdinewaves.com.
 
GAME NOTES
 

• Lina Falk dropped a season-high 18 points, two shy of her career-high. 
• Falk’s season-high of 18 led the team this afternoon.
• Shorna Preston secured her fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and a season-high 16 rebounds.
• The third and final Wave in double digits was Seleh Harmon, dropping 10.
• Taija Sta. Maria, who leads the team in assists, was the leader once again tonight with four.
• The Waves and Matadors split 30 turnovers evenly with 15 apiece.
• Pepperdine scored 13 in transition compared to CSUN’s zero.
• The Waves outrebounded the Matadors 47-36, including 17-10 on the offensive side of the glass.

 
 
 
ABOUT PEPPERDINE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Pepperdine women’s basketball has made four NCAA postseason appearances in its history, having won the WCC regular-season four times and the WCC Tournament on three occasions. With six All-American selections in program history, the Waves have also seen success in the WNIT Tournament which included a run to the Sweet Sixteen in 2019.
 
TICKETS
For more information and to purchase tickets to upcoming home events, visit here.
 
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To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine women’s basketball news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineWBB