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UCLA Unlocked: Game-by-game picks for how Bruins football will fare in 2025

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An optimist can see and hear it, like a dramatic score accompanying the path to some inconceivable dreamland.

Late in the season, the wins piling up and the buzz building inside the Rose Bowl, UCLA finds itself in contention for the College Football Playoff.

New quarterback Nico Iamaleava elevates everyone around him. New offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri is the envy of every other college football staff. The defense finds more than enough playmakers. Athletic director Martin Jarmond must fight the urge to take a victory lap over his hiring of coach DeShaun Foster.

Of course, there are other views on how things might go for the Bruins in 2025.

A pessimist can envision a comedic unraveling. Iamaleava is erratic playing behind an offensive line that struggles to protect him. Sunseri’s offense can’t sustain momentum. The defense gets pushed around.

A realist can see a mix of the possibilities. Iamaleava has several savior moments in leading the Bruins to big wins, but the team’s shortcomings keep it from reaching a truly elite level.

What’s my take? Preferring to keep it real, there’s probably a sprinkling of each scenario in store for UCLA during what’s probably Iamaleava’s only season as a Bruin. Here’s my game-by-game prediction for how things will go this season:

Utah on Saturday at the Rose Bowl: This could come down to which team has the better transfer quarterback. Utah’s Devon Dampier, a dual-threat dynamo in his first season with the team after arriving from New Mexico alongside new Utes offensive coordinator Jason Beck, will challenge a UCLA defense effectively replacing every starter. Here’s saying that the Bruins’ “D” gets it done with a big assist from Iamaleava, whose sparkling debut as UCLA’s quarterback provides a little wiggle room. (Win, Record: 1-0)

Nevada Las Vegas on Sept. 6 at Allegiant Stadium: Four years after his Florida flameout, Dan Mullen is trying to revive his career at what’s traditionally been a coaches’ graveyard. Barry Odom bucked that trend when he won 20 games over the last two seasons, parlaying that success into the Purdue job. Mullen restocked a barren roster with a bevy of Power Four conference transfers, including quarterbacks Alex Orji (Michigan) and Anthony Colandrea (Virginia). But the bottom line is that the Bruins should still have more talent. (Win, Record: 2-0)

New Mexico on Sept. 12 at the Rose Bowl: This plucky Mountain West Conference outfit has a new coach in Jason Eck, who went an impressive 26-13 in three seasons at Idaho. Winning with the Lobos will be harder, particularly with an almost entirely new offense. New Mexico brought in Scottre Humphrey and Damon Bankston, running backs who each topped 1,000 yards at the Football Championship Subdivision level. Beating UCLA away from Albuquerque will take a freaky Friday for an undermanned roster seeking something close to a miracle. Better call Saul? (Win, Record: 3-0)

Northwestern on Sept. 27 at Martin Stadium: Weird things happen in a football season. UCLA will probably be riding high and favored in its Big Ten opener against a team that somehow assembled a worse offense than the Bruins’ under Eric Bieniemy in 2024. But odds and assumptions are far from foolproof. Northwestern has a prolific quarterback in Preston Stone, a transfer from Southern Methodist, and a sturdy running back in Cam Porter, who will be back for a sixth season, to go with a stellar defensive line. For UCLA, this could be the ache by the lake. (Loss, Record: 3-1)

Penn State on Oct. 4 at the Rose Bowl: James Franklin is known for stumbling in big games, and this could qualify if the Bruins start 4-0 and Iamaleava builds significant Heisman Trophy buzz. Chances are the Nittany Lions have enough talent in 2025 to overcome any shaky decisions from the sideline. Veteran quarterback Drew Allar, a backfield featuring a pair of 1,000-yard rushers and a defense with a slew of players bound for the NFL will probably make this a one-sided affair. (Loss, Record: 3-2)

Michigan State on Oct. 11 at Spartan Stadium: There are plenty of parallels between Foster and Jonathan Smith, coaches with plenty to prove in their second season with their respective teams. Smith’s prospects for a Year 2 breakthrough don’t seem as promising unless quarterback Aidan Chiles can become far more efficient than he was in 2024, when he completed just 59.4% of his passes and tallied 11 interceptions, tied for the most in the Big Ten. Here’s guessing the Spartans come away from this game with quarterback envy. (Win, Record: 4-2)

Maryland on Oct. 18 at the Rose Bowl: God bless Mike Locksley. At a time when it seems that no one wants to take accountability, Maryland’s coach admitted he had lost his locker room last season over animosity regarding who made what in name, image and likeness compensation. It turned out that no one was worth much considering the team finished 4-8. Among the newcomers this season is UCLA transfer Justyn Martin, who will be determined to beat his old team if he wins the starting quarterback job. (Win, Record: 5-2)

Indiana on Oct. 25 at Memorial Stadium: Rather than sneak up on anyone, the Hoosiers could just outright bludgeon them. That’s how much talent coach Curt Cignetti has amassed going into his second season after making Indiana the breakthrough story of 2024. Fernando Mendoza, the transfer quarterback from California, is poised to pick up where predecessor Kurtis Rourke left off, setting offensive records and making opposing defenses look overmatched. (Loss, Record: 5-3)

Nebraska on Nov. 8 at the Rose Bowl: UCLA’s defense made Dylan Raiola look like a Division III quarterback last season, constantly pressuring the freshman into shaky passes and bad decisions. Adding high-end transfers on the offensive line in guard Rocco Spindler (Notre Dame) and tackle Elijah Pritchett (Alabama) should help Raiola elevate his game. The big question surrounds the Cornhuskers defense following the departure of defensive coordinator Tony White to Florida State; can his replacement, John Butler, sustain the team’s success on that side of the ball? (Win, Record: 6-3)

Ohio State on Nov. 15 at Ohio Stadium: UCLA fans who were looking forward to heckling Chip Kelly from the stands lost the opportunity once the failed-Bruin-turned-successful-Buckeye headed to Las Vegas to join Pete Carroll’s staff with the Raiders. One thing that hasn’t changed is a stocked Ohio State roster led by star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith that features All-Big Ten candidates at every position. The Bruins would do well to keep this game close at halftime. (Loss, Record: 6-4)

Washington on Nov. 22 at the Rose Bowl: Former UCLA offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch has been a thorn in the Bruins’ side recently, guiding Arizona to wins over UCLA in 2022 and 2023 before beating the Bruins during his debut season at Washington in 2024. Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr., making just his second career start, looked like a future star after throwing for 374 yards and four touchdowns against Louisville in the Sun Bowl. Fisch also restocked the defense with playmakers from the transfer portal. Seeking an important late-season win to boost their bowl standing, the Bruins might have to “Go Fisch.” (Loss, Record: 6-5)

USC on Nov. 29 at the Coliseum: In a rivalry oddity, the home team has lost every game since the Trojans routed the Bruins at the Coliseum in 2019. Lincoln Riley seeks some stability going into his fourth season after a sparkling debut was followed by two years of maddening mediocrity, but he’ll need far more consistency out of quarterback Jayden Maiava to come anywhere close to the CFP. Here’s betting that Iamaleava is the best quarterback on the field and the Bruins revive calls for Riley’s dismissal with more rivalry road revelry. (Win, Record: 7-5)

Las Vegas Bowl vs. Washington State on Dec. 31 at Allegiant Stadium: The Bruins take on an old Pac-12 rival that bears no resemblance to recent predecessors. The Cougars are expected to unleash a relentless rushing attack after hiring coach Jimmy Rogers from South Dakota State and importing tailbacks Angel Johnson and Kirby Vorhees, who combined for more than 1,100 yards on the ground last season at the FCS level under Rogers. This could be UCLA backup quarterback Luke Duncan’s big moment with Iamaleava probably sitting out in preparation for the NFL draft. (Win, Record: 8-5)

It’s gotta be the shoes … and suits

You might see the football team walk into the Rose Bowl on Saturday in snazzy light blue suits and tan laser wingtip Oxfords, wondering how much all that haberdashery cost.

We have some answers.

Last year, when Foster outfitted players in suits with custom lining, a wrinkle-resistant shirt and tie — including the same jackets that marketing officials said players wore for the CFP national championship game — the tab was $65,625, according to documents provided from a public-records request. That accounted for 125 suits at $525 each, with defensive tackle Jay Toia’s custom suit in a different fabric going for an additional $400.

The 174 pairs of Cole Haan dress shoes the team ordered cost $72 each — a bargain, considering they were recently on sale for $139.95 online — for a total of $12,528.

Offensive tackle Garrett DiGiorgio said at Big Ten media day that returning players would re-wear their suits from last season, though with 55 newcomers on the roster, there will be plenty of new fabric unveiled Saturday.

Heard on campus

UCLA men's basketball coach Mick Cronin.

UCLA men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin.

(James Crisp / Associated Press)

UCLA basketball coach Mick Cronin has three more seasons left on the contract extension he signed on the eve of the 2022 NCAA tournament, but it appears that he’ll probably have the option to put pen to paper once more to secure an even longer future with the Bruins.

During a recent conversation with The Times, Jarmond indicated his satisfaction with Cronin and his hopes to hold onto the coach who has taken the school to one Final Four and two Sweet 16s.

“I want Mick to be here a long time — Mick knows that,” Jarmond said. “We talk about that, so you know, we’ll work on that when we need to work on it. But I want him to be here a long time. I love what Mick is doing in our program.”

Olympic sport spotlight: Men’s water polo

Ryder Dodd

Ryder Dodd

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Adam Wright deserves a statue on campus.

Not only has the UCLA men’s water polo coach won five national titles, he’s won all of them against rival USC, maximizing the glory.

The Bruins enter this season with designs on a repeat after winning their 13th NCAA championship behind the incredible play of freshman Ryder Dodd, who scored 102 goals on the way to becoming the first player to win both Mountain Pacific Sports Federation player and newcomer of the year in the same season.

Six of the top seven scorers return for a team that opens the season Friday against Navy at Coronado High.

Opinion time

Many college football pundits have fawned over Iamaleava before he’s thrown a single pass for the Bruins, signaling that he could lead his new team somewhere special. But there are certainly scenarios in which Iamaleava stars for a team that can’t match his prowess.

How do you see the season playing out for UCLA and its new quarterback?

Iamaleava leads UCLA to the CFP

Iamaleava leads a resurgence to a bowl game

Iamaleava plays well but his team struggles

Iamaleava struggles for a losing team

Click here to vote in our survey.

Poll results

We asked, “Which UCLA football game are you looking forward to most?”

After 563 votes, the results:

Utah on Aug. 30, 32.2%
USC on Nov. 29, 31.3%
Penn St. on Oct. 4, 22.6%
Ohio St. on Nov. 15, 13.9%

In case you missed it

Raised on football, Tino Sunseri intends to uphold heritage with UCLA’s offense

How UCLA’s new assistant football coaches ran an amazing race to hoard talent

Judge’s ruling effectively blocks two players from competing for USC and UCLA this season

Have something Bruin?

Do you have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future UCLA newsletter? Email me at ben.bolch@latimes.com, and follow me on X @latbbolch. To order an autographed copy of my book, “100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die,” send me an email. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.



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Texas A&M stuns Nebraska, advances to NCAA volleyball Final Four

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LINCOLN, Neb. — Texas A&M earned its first trip to the Final Four in women’s volleyball, upsetting previously unbeaten Nebraska in five sets on Sunday.

The top-ranked Huskers lost for the first time in 34 matches this season and saw streaks snapped of 29 consecutive postseason home wins and 63 consecutive home wins. Coach Dani Busboom Kelly’s team was denied a 19th trip to the Final Four.

A&M, seeded third in the Lincoln regional, won 15-13 in the decisive fifth set on Logan Lednicky’s 24th kill of the match. The Aggies (27-4) will make the trip to Kansas City to face Pitt on Thursday in a semifinal match. Kentucky will face Texas or Wisconsin in the other semifinal at the T-Mobile Center, with the winners to play for the national championship on Sunday, Dec. 21.

Coach Jamie Morrison’s team stunned the crowd at Devaney Center by winning the first two sets, both by scores of 25-22. The Huskers had won 54 of 55 sets at home this season before the regional final.

Nebraska rebounded with a 25-20 win in the third set and came back from 18-11 down in an epic fourth set that rated as one of the most dramatic in NCAA postseason history. Nebraska notched 10 set points, finally winning on a kill by Virginia Adriano. The Huskers fought off three match points.

“I think it might have been one of the most entertaining matches in the history of the sport,” Texas A&M coach Jamie Morrison said.

In the fifth set, the Aggies led 12-8 before Nebraska made a run. It staved off two more match points and came within one point of evening the score on a Harper Murray kill before Lednicky’s game-winner.

“We’re this good,” Morrison said. “(Nebraska) hadn’t been around a team that was going to stand up the way we did. We’re this tough. We’re this resilient. We’re this gritty.”

Kyndal Stowers led Texas A&M with 25 kills. Murray had 25 for Nebraska.

Pitt (30-4) beat third-seeded Purdue in four sets on Saturday. The Panthers advanced to a national semifinal for the fifth consecutive season — the first program to complete such a run since Texas from 2012 to 2016. Pitt is seeking its first appearance in a national championship match. It lost last year against Louisville in the semifinals.

Reigning national player of the year Olivia Babcock, among 14 semifinalists for the award this season, was named the most outstanding player of the Pitt regional.

Kentucky (29-2) swept third-seeded Creighton on Saturday to reach Kansas City. Outside hitters Brooklyn DeLeye and Eva Hudson combined for 32 kills. The Wildcats have won 26 consecutive matches and swept the SEC regular-season and tournament titles.



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Texas A&M upsets No. 1 Nebraska, advances to first-ever Final Four

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Updated Dec. 14, 2025, 5:11 p.m. CT

The Texas A&M volleyball program upset the No. 1 seed Nebraska Cornhuskers, 3-2, and is advancing to the Final Four for the first time in program history.

The Aggies’ miraculous reverse sweep of Louisville on Friday showed that this team has the determination and talent to beat any team in the country. That sentiment was proven again on Sunday afternoon, as the Aggies powered past the Cornhuskers for the program’s first win over a top-ranked opponent since 1985.

It all started with a dominant 2-0 lead through the first two sets. Texas A&M outscored Nebraska 50-44 and seemed in firm control of the match. The deficit was the first the Cornhuskers had faced since August 31 against the Kentucky Wildcats, in which the program reverse swept to take the match. Sunday was a different story, however. Texas A&M let the third and fourth set slip by, but the 15-13 win in the fifth set sealed the deal for the Aggies to send them to the school’s first Final Four.





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Texas A&M women’s volleyball upsets Nebraska to reach final 4

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The NCAA women’s volleyball tournament was rocked Sunday as Texas A&M upset previously undefeated No. 1 Nebraska 3-2, sending the Aggies to the program’s first final four.

The Huskers, who have won five national championships, had mostly cruised through this season but ran into an Aggies squad playing its best at the most important time.

“A lot of us are seniors, and we’ve been doing this for a really long time,” said Texas A&M’s Logan Lednicky, who had 24 kills and 6 block assists. “And I think all the newbies came in ready to work, ready to grind.”

Sophomore Kyndal Stowers had 25 kills and 16 digs for Texas A&M (27-4), which finished second to Kentucky in the SEC regular-season standings. The Wildcats are also headed to the final four; they advanced Saturday with a 3-0 win against Creighton.

Kentucky will face the winner of Sunday’s last regional final, between No. 1 seed Texas and No. 3 Wisconsin, on Thursday in Kansas City. The Aggies will meet No. 1 seed Pitt in the semifinals after the Panthers advanced Saturday with a 3-1 win over Purdue.

Texas A&M, the No. 3 seed in the Lincoln regional, upset No. 2 seed Louisville in a reverse sweep Friday. The Aggies almost had the same thing done to them when they won the first two sets against the Huskers, but lost the next two and were forced to a first-to-15 fifth set (must win by 2).

Texas A&M won the deciding set 15-13 in front of stunned sold-out crowd at Nebraska’s Bob Devaney Center. It was the Huskers’ first loss at home since Nov. 26, 2022, against Minnesota.

It was just the second time in Texas A&M program history that the Aggies defeated a No. 1-ranked team. They previously did so in 1995 against Stanford.

For Nebraska, it was another heartbreaking end to the season. The Huskers last won the national championship in 2017, when it was also held in Kansas City, and were hopeful of repeating that this year in the city just 3.5-hours south of their campus.

Since 2017, Nebraska has lost three times in the national championship match — in 2018, 2021 and 2023 — and fell in the national semifinals last season to eventual champion Penn State.

Former Huskers player and assistant Dani Busboom Kelly took over the program this season when longtime coach John Cook retired. She led Louisville to the NCAA final last year and in 2022, and it seemed things were set up for a storybook finish to her first season guiding Nebraska.

But it wasn’t to be, as Texas A&M out-blocked Nebraska 30-16 in what was one of the biggest keys to the upset.

“A really awesome game by Texas A&M,” Busboom Kelly said. “They played like they had six seniors on the court. I’m proud of the way we fought back. We played our hearts out.”

After losing the first two sets, both 25-22, Nebraska won the third set 25-20. That set the stage for what turned into a match-within-the-match, a 37-35 fourth set won by the Huskers on their 10th set point. It seemed as if that turned the momentum toward Nebraska, but the Aggies still had the last word in the fifth set.

“You play sports to prove who’s better in that moment,” Texas A&M coach Jamie Morrison said. “We came out on top of that, and I’m fired up.”



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Live updates, how to watch

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Texas Longhorns libero Ramsey Gary (32) passes the ball as Texas volleyball plays Indiana in a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament match in Gregory Gymnasium in Austin, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. The Longhorns will advance to Elite Eight with a 3-0 win.

Texas Longhorns libero Ramsey Gary (32) passes the ball as Texas volleyball plays Indiana in a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament match in Gregory Gymnasium in Austin, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. The Longhorns will advance to Elite Eight with a 3-0 win.

Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

Two squads on a hot streak meet when Texas volleyball hosts Wisconsin in an Elite Eight match Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Gregory Gymnasium in Austin.

The  top-seeded Longhorns (26-3) had yet to drop a set in three NCAA Tournament contests entering Sunday’s contest, but Wisconsin (27-4) held on for a 25-22 win in the first set. The Badgers fended off another late Texas run in the second set to win 25-21, and suddenly the Longhorns are a set away from the end of the season.

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Follow along for live scores and updates from a NCAA Tournament first-round match between  the Texas Longhorns and the Wisconsin Badgers.

MORE: Jerritt Elliott excited about new Texas volleyball arena, says it may open for 2029 season

In almost a carbon copy of set one, Wisconsin holds off another Texas rally and closes things out with a kill by Mimi Colyer (10 kills). Nebraska lost earlier today and we have another 3 vs. 1 upset brewing in Austin. Wisconsin leads 2-0.

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In almost a carbon copy of set one, Wisconsin holds off another Texas rally and closes things out with a kill by Mimi Colyer (10 kills). Nebraska lost earlier today and we have another 3 vs. 1 upset brewing in Austin. Wisconsin leads 2-0.

The Badgers respond out of the timeout. So far, a tour de force for Wisconsin, which is the lone team left in the tournament carrying the Big Ten banner. Wisconsin leads 1-0.

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More late-set drama, and Wisconsin takes a timeout. Texas is on a 3-0 run after back-to-back kills from Whitney Lauenstein. Big Hit Whit has had quite the comeback this NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin leads 1-0.

Madi Colyer is doing yeoman’s work on the left side for Wisconsin, but Carter Booth is the secret weapon in the middle with seven kills on 10 swings. Texas needs it block to figure out the Badger attack.  Wisconsin leads 1-0.

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Texas coach Jerritt Elliott takes a timeout before things get too far south this set. Wisconsin setter Charlie Fuerbringer (22 assists already) has the Badger attack clicking, and Texas is looking from some of that Gregory mojo. Wisconsin leads 1-0.

Mimi Colyer closes out the first set with her sixth kill. Texas has been red hot throughout the NCAA Tournament but only hit .229 that set. They’ll need more from that fourth outside that rotates in.

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Another Wisconsin timeout after back-to-back kills from Torrey Stafford and Nya Bunton. Longhorns on a 5-0 run.

Cari Spears rips a kill off the fingertips of the Wisconsin block, and Badger coach Kelly Sheffield takes a timeout. Wisconsin can’t let this one get away if it hopes for an upset.

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Jerritt Elliott takes yet another timeout. Texas is off-balance right now; that Badger service game is doing a heckuva job in the first set. 

A block by Badger setter Charlie Fuerbringer and an attacking error from Whitney Lauenstein, and Texas HC Jerritt Elliott takes a timeout.

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The Badgers withstood a brief early flurry from Texas and are settling in. Mimi Colyer has four kills on eight swings but has been blocked twice. She doesn’t shy away from the heavy swing.

Heavy artillery on both sides of the net so far. Abby Vander Wal (3 kills) has been active for UT; Texas HC Jerritt Elliott must like the matchup on the left side.

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A hitting error by Wisconsin, and we’re off at Greg.

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The winner of the final Elite Eight match between Texas and Wisconsin will join Pittsburgh, Kentucky and Texas A&M in the Final Four in Kansas City, Mo. Texas A&M stunned No. 1 Nebraska in an epic 5-set match Sunday. Either Texas or Wisconsin will play SEC champion Kentucky Thursday evening.

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Where: Gregory Gymnasium in Austin

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Nebraska volleyball’s season ends with loss to Texas A&M in regional finals

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Untitled Design 43
Courtesy Nebraska Athletics

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska volleyball’s historic 2025 season ended in heartbreak on Sunday.

The Huskers lost 3-2 to Texas A&M in the regional finals of the NCAA Tournament in front of a sold-out crowd at John Cook Arena.

Nebraska got off to a rocky start against the Aggies, losing the first set, 25-22.  Texas A&M didn’t let its foot off the pedal in the second set, again winning 25-22.

The Huskers showed life in the third set, thanks to a strong showing from Harper Murray.  Nebraska stayed alive with a 25-20 set win.

Murray and the Huskers then willed their way in the fourth set, overcoming a six-point deficit and winning 37-35.

But in the fifth set, Texas A&M took the lead and didn’t let go.  The Aggies won the set 15-13, handing Nebraska its one and only loss of the season.

Nebraska hadn’t lost a home game since Nov. 26, 2022, when the Huskers fell to Minnesota.

Murray led the team with 25 kills and Rebekah Allick had the second most with 15.  Nebraska finished the match with a .270 hitting percentage.

Texas A&M’s offense was led by Kyndal Stowers, who had 25 kills, and Logan Lednicky, who had 24.

The Aggies now move on to Kansas City, where they’ll face off against Pitt on Thursday.





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Texas A&M defeats Nebraska volleyball in NCAA tournament

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Texas A&M ends Nebraska volleyball’s undefeated season with five-set victory in NCAA tournament

PATIENT ON OUR ATTACK. AND THEN THAT STARTED TO WORK. LUCKILY, I THOUGHT OUR PASSING TOTALLY SNAPPED OUT OF IT, WHICH WAS GOOD. SO THAT DIDN’T REALLY AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE GAME. BUT THEY’RE A GREAT TEAM, GREAT SERVER. THEY GO ON A RUN THAT CAN BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER. BUT YOU KNOW, THOSE THOSE MIDDLES ARE THEIR PHYSICAL AND THEY READ REALLY WELL. AND I JUST THOUGHT THEY DID A GREAT JOB. I WASN’T. I KNOW WE ALL WERE WATCHING THE GAME. SO I THINK ANDY WAS HITTING LIKE 100 AND NOTHING WAS GOING RIGHT FOR HER. SO I THOUGHT, OKAY, LET’S GIVE IT A TRY. AND SHE MADE A FEW PLAYS. AND SO WE LEFT HER IN THERE. AFTER THAT HOT START AND THAT, HOW IT SEEMED LIKE THEY TOOK A PLUNGE AND RALLIED FROM THAT. HOW HELPFUL WAS THAT FOR THEM, DO YOU THINK? I MEAN, I THINK IT STARTED WITH OUR SERVING AND PASSING AND I DON’T I DON’T WANT TO MISPRONOUNCE HER NAME, BUT NUMBER ONE, THEIR MIDDLE. SHE’S A GREAT SERVE. AND SHE SHE CAUGHT US ON THAT FOR THAT RUN. SO I MEAN I THINK WE WORKED ALL SEASON ON BEING FIRST TO FIVE, FIRST TO TEN, FIRST TO 15 AND SO ON. AND WE WEREN’T ABLE TO DO THAT WITH HER SERVE. AND I MEAN, CREDIT TO HER. SHE’S A GREAT SERVE. SO. I MEAN, WE WE REALLY TAKE PRIDE IN SERVING PAST, SERVE. AND I THINK IT CAUGHT US UP A FEW TIME SO. WHAT DID A&M DO SO WELL IN THE FIRST TWO SETS TO KIND OF HAVE YOU ON YOUR HEELS AND HAVE THEM PLAY CATCH UP? I MEAN, HONESTLY, I JUST FEEL LIKE THEY MOVED THE BALL REALLY WELL. AGAIN. THEY HAVE A PRETTY WELL BALANCED OFFENSE. THEY CAN FIRE ON ALL CYLINDERS. AND THEY DID THAT. AND I THINK AS A MIDDLE LIKE IT MAKES IT HARDER TO CLOSE. BUT I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF WE WERE ONE STEP OFF, THEY THEY FOUND THAT SPACE AND THEY JUST CRUSHED IT. SO YEAH, THEY WERE RELENTLESS IN WHAT THEY SAW. WHAT WAS THE END OF THE FOURTH SET LIKE TEN SET POINTS? AHEAD, THREE MATCH POINTS. NOW YOU’RE TO PULL IT OUT. OH, GOD. I MEAN, IN MOMENTS LIKE THAT, I FEEL LIKE MOST OF US PROBABLY AREN’T EVEN THINKING, LIKE WE’RE JUST GOING BACK TO THE BASICS AND WE’RE ALL HYPER COMPETITIVE AND WE’VE ALL I’VE NEVER ACTUALLY BEEN IN A WITH GOING THAT FAR. SO I MEAN, IT’S HARD, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE WHOEVER WAS GOING TO WIN THAT HAD MORE WILL AND OBVIOUSLY THEY TOOK IT IN THE FIFTH. BUT I THINK THAT SET SHOWED THAT WE WEREN’T GOING TO JUST LET THEM TAKE IT FROM US AND ON OUR HOME COURT AND IN OUR GYM. AND IT DIDN’T TURN OUT THE WAY WE WANTED. BUT I THINK WE SHOWED A LOT OF FIGHT, AND THAT’S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF. WHAT HAPPENED TO ALI? SHE STEPPED ON A BALL AND THAT. YEAH, THAT HAS A HUGE TON ON OUR TEAM. YOU KNOW, THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WITH US THE WHOLE YEAR, WE’VE BEEN GREAT AT USING OUR DEPTH AND USE IT STRATEGICALLY. AND WE DID NOT HAVE THAT TODAY. AND SO AND TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN LITERALLY WITH THE LAST FIVE MINUTES OF WARM UPS, PRETTY TOUGH. WHAT EMOTIONALLY? WHAT ARE YOU GOING THROUGH NOW? IT’S OKAY. TO BE HONEST. I JUST WANT TO BE AT MY PARENTS. I JUST WANT TO SAY BECCA HAS PUT HER HEART AND SOUL INTO THIS PROGRAM, AND. YOU CAN TELL BY HER FACE HOW MUCH SHE CARES. AND I THINK, LIKE, I DON’T EVEN CARE IF WE WIN OR WE LOSE, BECAUSE WHAT I TRIED TO TELL BECCA IN THE LOCKER ROOM IS THAT SHE’S GOING TO TAKE AWAY THE MEMORIES AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE’VE MADE AND WINNING AND LOSING. YEAH, IT’S A PART OF VOLLEYBALL AND IT SUCKS. BUT SHE SHE PUT HER HEART AND SOUL INTO THIS PROGRAM FOR FOUR YEARS, AND SHE’S LEAVING BEHIND A GREAT LEGACY AND HAS SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF. WE ALL SEE HOW MUCH SHE CARES. AND I MEAN, IT’S UNBELIEVABLE. SO. OBVIOUSLY THE EMOTIONS ARE STILL FRESH AND YOU THINK YOU LOOK BACK OVER THE SEASON, WHAT IS GOING TO STAND OUT FOR YOU? I JUST THINK HOW THIS TEAM REALLY TRUSTED EACH OTHER AND TRUSTED THE STAFF. AND I KNOW IT WASN’T A COMPLETELY NEW TEAM, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WAS NEW AND I JUST FELT LIKE EVERYBODY JUST WAS SUPER OPEN MINDED. AND WE WENT THROUGH THIS YEAR AND WE PLAYED A TON OF JOY, HAD A LOT OF FUN. WE WENT SUPER HARD AND. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE MAXED OUT LIKE WHAT WE HAD TODAY. WE MAXED OUT, YOU KNOW, AND IT’S A GOAL AT THE END OF THE YEAR THAT YOU LOOK BACK AND YOU KNOW, THAT’S WHY AS A COACH I DON’T FEEL LIKE UPSET. I KNOW WE DIDN’T MAKE MAKE THE FINAL FOUR. WE’RE NOT WINNING A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. BUT WE MAXED OUT TODAY AND WE CAN WALK AWAY FROM THE LAST GAME OF THE SEASON AND FEEL LIKE. WE GAVE IT OUR ALL AND LOOK BACK AND HAVE NO REGRETS. THAT’S WHAT I’M REALLY PROUD OF AND I HOPE THESE PLAYERS DON’T HAVE ANY REGRETS EITHER. HAS A GOOD FEELING, OBVIOUSLY. HAVE YOU GUYS KIND OF RALLIED AROUND HER, ESPECIALLY IN THIS MATCH WHEN THINGS WEREN’T GOING WELL? YEAH. IT’S TOUGH. I MEAN, SHE’S NOT FEELING HER BEST SO EVER AND IT’S HARD TO GO INTO THE LOCKER ROOM AND SEE HER, SEE HER FEELING THAT WAY BECAUSE I MEAN, SHE’S A BIG PART OF THE TEAM AND I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DID IT, BUT SHE FOUND A WAY TO STILL MAKE GOOD DECISIONS AND GET BALLS UP ON DEFENSE AND SET US. AND THAT’S NOT EASY. IT’S REALLY NOT. AND SHE’S BEST SETTER I’VE EVER PLAYED WITH AND WILL PROBABLY EVER PLAY WITH. AND THE FACT THAT SHE COULD GO OUT THERE FEELING AS SICK AS SHE DOES AND STILL WORK HER — OFF AND PLAY LIKE THAT IS IT’S TRULY AMAZING. AND I MEAN, YEAH, I LOVE HER TO DEATH AND YEAH, GREAT. WHAT DID YOU WANT TO DO WITH. GOD? I SAID THIS IN THE LOCKER ROOM, BUT LIKE MY FRESHMAN YEAR, WE ALL SAW THAT. HOW THAT WENT AND WHAT HAPPENED A YEAR LATER AND WE HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE LOCKER ROOM JUST NOW SAYING LIKE, I’M SORRY, LIKE IT’S MY FAULT. AND NOT EVEN LIKE THE FANS AND THE COACHES AND US, LIKE IT’S ABOUT HOW HARD WE WORKED AND WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR AND MY FRESHMAN YEAR, I THINK WE ALL LOST SIGHT OF WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO. WE SET AN ATTENDANCE RECORD, WE WON THE BIG TEN, WE MADE IT TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WITH FOUR FRESHMEN ON THE COURT. AND THAT’S NOT EASY. AND I THINK MY BIGGEST MESSAGE FOR THIS TEAM IS JUST TO STICK TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE TRUST AND OUR SUPPORT SYSTEM, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF, AND IT’S SO EASY TO FORGET THAT IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS. AND I KNOW MY FRESHMAN YEAR I DEFINITELY DID. AND I TRIED TO BLAME MYSELF. SO IT’S JUST TO THE FANS, TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTS US. LIKE WE WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO WITHOUT THEM, AND IT SUCKS RIGHT NOW, BUT WE HAVE TO WALK AWAY WITH OUR HEADS HIGH BECAUSE WE DO SO MANY AMAZING THINGS EVERY YEAR, AND IT MIGHT NOT WORK OUT THE WAY YOU WANT TO, BUT THERE’S SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF. DOESN’T HAVE TO BE. WHAT WAS IT LIKE FINDING ATMOSPHERE TODAY? I DON’T KNOW IF I’VE EVER HEARD THAT LOUD. I KNOW ON CHEESE PLAY LAST WEEK I THINK IT WAS AGAINST K-STATE. IT WAS SUPER LOUD. BUT I MEAN, TODAY IT WAS SO, SO LOUD. AND I’VE ALWAYS SAID THIS LIKE, IT’S HARD TO BEAT US IN OUR OWN GYM. AND THEY FOUND A WAY TO DO THAT. BUT I JUST I DON’T THINK WE COULD GET A LOT OF MOMENTUM GOING. AND THAT REALLY HURT US IN THE END. BUT I MEAN, WE’RE ALWAYS GRATEFUL TO BE HERE. WE’RE ALWAYS GRATEFUL THAT WE GET TO HOST, THAT WE GET TO PLAY IN BOB THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, AND WE’RE EXCITED TO BE BACK NEXT YEAR. REBECCA, DO YOU HAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE RETURNING PLAYERS NEXT? MAN. I GUESS TO THE RETURNERS, LIKE MY BIGGEST THING IS LIKE LEAD BY EXAMPLE. I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS LIKE I’VE ALWAYS RESPECTED LIKE RODRIGUEZ TO ME WAS THAT PERSON. I JUST FELT LIKE SHE MAYBE DIDN’T ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, BUT SHE ALWAYS MADE THE PLAY OR MAYBE EVEN IT WAS LIKE THE RANDOM HANDHOLD OR THE HUG, AND THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE IT FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY INTENTIONAL. I THINK JUST A LOT OF THEM LIKE, NEVER FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO BEAR IT ALL. IT’S NOT ALL ON YOU. AND LIKE, JUST GO DO YOUR THING. YOU DON’T GOTTA MAKE IT A BIG SHOW OR JUST GO BE YOURSELF. COME OFF THE BENCH. AND I’M REALLY HIGH PRESSURE MOMENT. WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT HER IN THE WAY THAT SHE HANDLED THAT? SHE’S NOT SURE. I THINK SHE’S VERY MATURE FOR HER AGE AND AS A COMPETITOR AND SHE LISTENS WELL. WE TOLD HER JUST TO HIT EVERYTHING AND SHE DID THAT. AND SO YEAH, I THINK IT’S A TESTAMENT TO HER MATURITY. PHYSICALITY AND BLOCKING AND TACKLING WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN A LITTLE BETTER. SO IMPACT THE MAGIC LIKE IT DID WITH JUST ANDY PHYSICALITY. OH, WHAT HE DID TO DO A LITTLE BETTER TO SPECIFICALLY FOR ANDY OR A&M. OH A&M I YOU KNOW YOU CAN’T REALLY TRY TO BOUNCE ON THEM BECAUSE THEY CAN MAKE THEIR SO PHYSICAL. EVEN IF THEY MAKE A LATE MOVE THEY’LL THEY’LL GET US. AND I THOUGHT WE KIND OF STARTED OUT THE MATCH TRYING TO DO THAT. AND OUT VISIT THEM. AND AGAIN THAT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. SO I THOUGHT AS THE GAME WENT ON, WE ADJUSTED WELL AND STARTED SWINGING HIGH AND. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE GOT A LITTLE BIT ONE DIMENSIONAL, BUT I THINK THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT MAYBE PASSING. I THOUGHT OUR PASSING WAS OKAY, BUT A LOT OF BERGEN AND YOU KNOW, KIND OF THAT GOT US OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE. WAS THE END OF THE FOURTH SET. LIKE FOR YOU AS A COACH WHEN YOU’RE OUT OF TIMEOUTS, OUT OF SOB CHALLENGES? WELL, HONESTLY, I HAD A LOT OF CONFIDENCE. I MEAN, I DID HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE THAT WE WERE GOING TO WIN THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE TRAIN ALL THE TIME, EVERYBODY TO DO EVERYTHING. SO, YOU KNOW, I HAD A LOT OF TRUST VIRGINIA COULD GO BACK THERE AND HIT US AND IT’S IN THE FRONT ROW. AND YOU KNOW, IT WASN’T LIKE A PANIC MOMENT WHEN WE RAN OUT. I WAS LIKE, WELL, THIS CREW IS GOOD ENOUGH TO WIN THIS SET. AND I KEPT TELLING MYSELF THAT, AND IT WAS PRETTY GREAT TO SEE US, I DON’T KNOW, MAKE IT THROUGH TWO TIMES THROUGH WITH NO SUBS AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS THEY WERE JUST REALLY CONFIDENT, EVEN THOUGH THEY HADN’T DONE THAT ALL YEAR. A COUPLE MORE AND GOING INTO THE FIFTH AFTER AFTER THAT. 735 AND KNOWING THAT THAT WAS DO OR DIE FOR FOR YOU, BUT NOT FOR THEM, DID YOU GET YOU GET ENGAGED OR JUST LIKE WHERE YOUR TEAM WAS AT EMOTIONALLY TO START THE FIFTH? AND MAYBE HAVE DRAINS URINE FROM THAT? I MEAN, I FELT LIKE WE WERE PRETTY READY. IT’S TOUGH. YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT OUR SETTER AND IT’S LIKE, ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE IT? AND SHE’S LOOKING AT YOU LIKE, I DON’T KNOW. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I FELT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE WAS IN THERE, LIKE WILLING US TO WIN AND LIKE, OKAY, WE’RE GOING TO MAKE THIS AS EASY AS WE CAN FOR BERGEN. AND WE HAD NO, WE HAVE NO OTHER OPTION AT THAT POINT. SO I DON’T KNOW. I FELT PRETTY GOOD GOING INTO INTO THE FIFTH. AND WHEN YOU COME BACK LIKE THAT AND FIGHT THAT HARD TO WIN A FOURTH, YOU DO HAVE A LOT OF MOMENTUM AT A&M. THEY WEREN’T RATTLED BY THAT, OBVIOUSLY, AND THEY STARTED OUT STRONG IN THE FIFTH AND. YOU GIVE UP A COUPLE POINTS. THAT’S A GREAT TEAM. IT’S REALLY, REALLY HARD TO COME BACK. AND WE DID COME BACK FROM LIKE A FIVE POINT DEFICIT TO TO TIE IT. SO I FELT LIKE WE WERE WE WERE PRETTY R

Texas A&M ends Nebraska volleyball’s undefeated season with five-set victory in NCAA tournament

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Updated: 5:29 PM CST Dec 14, 2025

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Texas A&M ended Nebraska volleyball’s pursuit of a national championship.The Huskers rallied to force a fifth set, but the Aggies won 25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 35-37, 15-13 on Sunday at the Devaney Center to advance to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.READ MORE: Nebraska shares first look at Devaney Center expansion Kyndal Stowers led Texas A&M with 24 kills and Logan Lednicky had 22 kills as the Aggies handed NU its first home loss since November 2022.Harper Murray had 24 kills Rebekah Allick added 15 kills for Nebraska. The Aggies will face Pittsburgh on Thursday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. Texas A&M will be playing in the NCAA volleyball semifinal for the first time in program history.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

Texas A&M ended Nebraska volleyball’s pursuit of a national championship.

The Huskers rallied to force a fifth set, but the Aggies won 25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 35-37, 15-13 on Sunday at the Devaney Center to advance to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.

READ MORE: Nebraska shares first look at Devaney Center expansion

Kyndal Stowers led Texas A&M with 24 kills and Logan Lednicky had 22 kills as the Aggies handed NU its first home loss since November 2022.

Harper Murray had 24 kills Rebekah Allick added 15 kills for Nebraska.

The Aggies will face Pittsburgh on Thursday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. Texas A&M will be playing in the NCAA volleyball semifinal for the first time in program history.

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.

NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |



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