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The Big West Women’s Volleyball Notebook: Cal Poly Canters into 18th NCAA Postseason on Thursday

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 What 2 Watch 4 

Big West Champion Cal Poly starts their line dance in the national postseason on Thursday at 5 p.m., taking on No. 5 seed BYU from the Galen Center, home of first round host and No. 4 seed Southern California.  

The Mustangs punched their tickets to an 18th appearance in the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship last night, downing regular-season champion and No. 1 seed UC Davis in four sets. Championship MVP Chloe Leluge, a sophomore middle blocker from Bend, Ore., paced the offense with 16 kills on .593 hitting (16-0-27) as Cal Poly earned their first Big West Championship title with the event just completing its third iteration.  

Cal Poly (25-7, 14-4 Big West) enjoyed Mott Magic in 2025, going 15-0 on their home floor, the longest home winning streak in the country. Recording an 11-3 mark in non-conference play in 2025, Cal Poly’s season included out-of-league victories against a trio of tournament teams in then-No. 20 Utah, St. Thomas and Northern Colorado. 

Along with second-team performer Leluge (.394 hit pct., 3.25 k/s, 1.05 b/s), the Mustangs have been paced by All-Big West first-team honorees in redshirt senior setter Emme Bullis (9.63 a/s) and sophomore outside hitter Kendall Beshear (3.06 k/s, 45 service aces) with honorable mention selections Emma Fredrick and Annabelle Thalken leading to a balanced attack for the Cal Poly offense. The Mustangs sport a team hitting percentage of .280, which has been consistently ranked in the top 20 in the nation all season long. 

BYU (22-8, 10-8 Big 12) enters the postseason with consecutive wins over four NCAA qualifying teams against Arizona, No. 4 seed Kansas and Utah at home and at No. 5 seed Colorado in the regular-season finale. The Cougars enter the field for the program’s 38th appearance as an at-large qualifier from the Big 12, one of 10 teams from the league to see their names called on Sunday. 

Sophomore setter Alex Bower directs the Cougars’ offense with a league-leading 10.68 assists per set (11th in NCAA Division I), setting up the arm of freshman Suli Davis who is pounding 4.59 kills per set. Junior middle blocker Brielle Kemavor is an anchor at the net with a team-high 1.18 blocks per set on a Big 12-leading .374 hitting, setting up a showdown in the middle. 

The last matchup between the Mustangs and Cougars came on Aug. 27, 2016, in Provo, Utah, a 3-0 decision in favor of the home team. BYU holds the 11-6 overall series record. 

The victor between Cal Poly and BYU advances to take on the winners between the host Trojans (24-6, 15-5 Big 10 at-large) and Ivy League automatic qualifier Princeton (18-6, 11-3 Ivy) on Friday at 7 p.m. The last meeting between Cal Poly and USC came back on Sept. 8, 2012, and a meeting with the Tigers would be a first for the two teams.  

Cal Poly is making their first return to the NCAA bracket since 2019, where they advanced into the second round. The Mustangs knocked off Georgia in five sets in their first-round matchup before advancing to face No. 3 seed and host Stanford. Cal Poly holds a 15-17 (.469) overall record in the national postseason.

All three weekend matches from Los Angeles are set to air on ESPN+. Check listings for specific match information.

 How We Got Here 

First Round     

The first round of The Hawaiian Islands presents the 2025 Outrigger Big West Women’s Volleyball Championship saw two three-setters with No. 3 Long Beach State and No. 4 UC Santa Barbara up to the challenge to keep the bracket chalk through the first day of play. 

Semifinals    

Following a Thanksgiving Day break, The Nos. 1 and 2 seeds took to the court on Friday, both downing their opponents in four. For The top-seeded Aggies, two of the sets went to extra points in the battle with the Gauchos. Despite a Big West Championship record 24 kills for UCSB’s Eva Travis, UC Davis overcame with Jade Light (15 kills) and Brooke Hibino (13 kills) providing firepower set up by Mia Starr (40 assists, 21 digs) to claim the win.

In the nightcap, second-seeded Cal Poly took care of Championship hosts LBSU with a balanced attack that saw four players reach double figure kills paced by 17 kills on .533 hitting for middle blocker Chloe Leluge and a Championship record 51-assist outing to go along with 14 digs for Emme Bullis.

Championship     

A new champion was crowned on Saturday night from LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid in Long Beach, Calif., as Cal Poly raced to the title after upending UC Davis, 3-1.  Championship MVP Chloe Leluge struck for a team-high 16 kills on .593 hitting as the Mustangs out-aced the Aggies 6-0 and finished with the 12-7 blocking advantage to earn the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Championship. Reigning victorious as the No. 2 seed, all three Big West champions have won from the second line of the bracket.

 Meet the Mustangs 

NCAA History    

Cal Poly is representing The Big West in the brackets of the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship, for the 18th time in program history, and a first appearance since 2019. The Mustangs hold a record of 15-17 (.469) in the national postseason. Their last win came in the 2019 season in a 3-2 win over Georgia before bowing out of the field after a loss to regional host and No. 3­­ seed Stanford. 

Historically, Cal Poly has been in the tournament nine straight seasons in the 80s (81-82-83-84-85-86-87-88-89), once n the 90 (99) four times in the aughts (00-02-06-07), and four times in the last decade, the  last two with the program under the direction of head coach Caroline Walters (17-18-19-25). 

Big West Championship History    

In their third Big West Championship field, Cal Poly reached consecutive championship finals, winning the title in 2025. The Mustangs sport a 4-2 overall record in Championship play.  

Chloe Leluge was named Championship MVP after averaging 4.13 kills per set (33 kills in eight sets) while hitting a combined .561 and committing just one error (33-1-57). Leluge also added 10 total blocks (1.25 per set) in two matches. 

Team Leaders/Award Winners    

Cal Poly duo Kendall Beshear (3.06 k/s, 0.41 sa/s) and Emme Bullis (9.63 a/s, 1,088 total assists) were named to the All-Big West First Team, with middle blocker Chloe Leluge (2.35 k/s, 0.394 hit pct., 1.05 b/s) taking home second team honors and Charlotte Kelly (1.44 k/s, 0.311 hit pct., 1.02 b/s) earning the nod on the All-Freshman Team. A pair of Mustangs were also named honorable mention performers in Emma Fredrick (3.35 k/s) and Annabelle Thalken (2.38 k/s, 0.299 hit pct.).

Career Connections    

Emme Bullis has assisted on 4,244 career scoring plays for the Mustangs, good for sixth among active NCAA Division I players.

Season Superlatives    

• Longest home winning streak in the country (15-0). The Big West enjoys two of the 11 teams to make it through the home slate unscathed with UC Davis standings at 9-0 at home. 

• Third-straight 20-win season.

Caroline Walters is the winningest coach in program history with a mark of 130-81 (0.616) in seven seasons at the helm.

 2025 All-Big West Awards 

The Big West unveiled its 2025 postseason honors on the eve of The Hawaiian Islands presents the 2025 Outrigger Big West Women’s Volleyball Championship, with first-time regular-season champion UC Davis featured prominently in the listings. 

Aggies senior outside hitter Jade Light collected Big West Player of the Year honors  as the Sloughhouse, Calif., native is the first UC Davis player to ever win Player of the Year honors, coming in the Aggies’ last campaign in the conference.  

Joining Light on the All-Big West first team were major award winners in Setter of the Year Mia Starr and Libero of the Year Ximena Cordero Barr. Both new awards since the 2022 season, Starr and Cordero Barr are the first UC Davis players to earn acclaim. 

At the helm of the Aggies, Big West Coach of the Year Dan Conners became UC Davis’ all-time winningest coach in the final weeks of the regular season, now sporting 172 wins in 11 seasons. This is a first career coaching nod for Conners, and just the second Aggie coach to earn conference honors (Jamie Holmes, 2009). Conners now reigns with the most career wins in The Big West among active coaches.  

Cal Poly saw two first team All-Big West selections in redshirt senior setter Emme Bullis and sophomore outside hitter Kendall Beshear

UC Santa Barbara also enjoyed a pair on the eight-member first team, with redshirt senior Layanna Green joined by Big West Freshman of the Year Gabi Martinez on the listings. Rounding out the All-Big West first team was Long Beach State redshirt freshman Logan King, who hails from Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.  

Read more and see the complete list of award winners >>>

 The Big West in the Rankings 

• Finishing the regular season with a perfect 15-0 home record, Cal Poly leads the country in home streak length. The Big West enjoys two of the 11 teams to make it through the home slate unscathed with UC Davis standings at 9-0 at home. 

• The top four teams in the league are all in the Top 80 nationally in the final RPI and KPI listings. UC Davis topped the last RPI at 45, with Cal Poly in 51st in the KPI.

 POWERful 

The Big West notched Power-4 wins over multiple foes this non-conference, including two over California (ACC) with Cal Poly and UC Davis taking down the Bears. UC Santa Barbara downed Kansas State from the Big 12 as the Mustangs swept through No. 20 Utah Big West teams also took two from the SEC with Cal Poly defeating Arkansas on the road and UC Santa Barbara taking care of Vanderbilt.

 Non-Conference Kudos 

The Big West finished non-conference action with an overall mark of 58-64 (.475) with five teams at or above .500 heading into league action. Of the 23 conferences played, The Big West sports even or winning records against 10 conferences, including the SEC (2-2), WCC (13-10) and Big Sky (11-8). 

 Welcome to The Big West 

Four new head coaches to the league patrolled The Big West sidelines in 2025. Branden Higa came to UC Riverside from crosstown rival and future Big West opponent California Baptist. A rebuilding Cal State Bakersfield side featured co-interim head coaches in Felipe Nogueira and Cinthia Angus, both members of the Roadrunners’ 2024 staff. A new, but familiar, face was at the helm for Cal State Fullerton as program alumna and former assistant coach Nicky Cannon returned to the Titans.



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Tennessee volleyball vs Utah State, Lady Vols upset in first round

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Updated Dec. 4, 2025, 9:00 p.m. ET





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2025 DI women’s volleyball championship: Bracket, schedule, scores

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The DI women’s volleyball championship is here. The tournament continues Friday, Dec. 5 with both first and second round matches and lasts until the national championship on Sunday, Dec. 21 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

The full 64-team bracket was announced on Sunday, Nov. 30. Thirty-one conference champions earned automatic bids to the tournament, with the NCAA DI women’s volleyball committee selecting 33 other teams as at-large picks.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2025 women’s volleyball championship.

2025 DI women’s volleyball championship bracket

👉 Click or tap to see the interactive bracket

DI women's volleyball bracket

2025 DI women’s volleyball championship schedule

All times listed in ET

  • First round: Dec. 4-5  
  • Second round: Dec. 5-6
  • Regionals: Dec. 11 and 13 or Dec. 12 and 14
  • Semifinals: Thursday, Dec. 18
  • National championship: 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21 | ABC

  • Selection show: 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30
  • First round: 
    • ThursdayDec. 4 
      • No. 5 Colorado 3, American 0
      • No. 6 Baylor 3, Arkansas State 2
      • No. 8 UCLA 3, Georgia Tech 2
      • No. 5 Miami (Fla.) 3, Tulsa 1
      • No. 4 Indiana 3, Toledo 0
      • No. 6 UNI 3, Utah 2
      • North Carolina 3, No. 6 UTEP 1
      • Utah State 3, No. 7 Tennessee 2
      • No. 1 Kentucky 3, Wofford 0
      • No. 3 Purdue 3, Wright State 0
      • No. 4 Kansas 3, High Point 0
      • Cal Poly 3, No. 5 BYU 2
      • No. 3 Creighton 3, Northern Colorado 2
      • No. 3 Wisconsin 3, Eastern Illinois 0
      • No. 2 Arizona State 3, Coppin State 0
      • No. 4 USC 3, Princeton 0

DI women’s volleyball championship history

Here is the complete history of DI women’s volleyball champions:

2025 DIII women’s volleyball championship: Bracket, schedule, scores

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 NCAA DIII women’s volleyball tournament.

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5 dark horses in this year’s NCAA volleyball tournament bracket

Here are some teams that could pull off upsets in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament.

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Michella Chester’s 2025 NCAA volleyball bracket picks and predictions

The 2025 NCAA women’s volleyball bracket is here. Check out Michella Chester’s regional, semifinal and national champion picks before the tournament kicks off.

READ MORE





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Track & Field Opening Indoor Season with Split-Squad Weekend – Penn State

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State track & field is set to begin its indoor slate with a three-meet split-squad weekend. The Nittany Lions will start their week in Philadelphia on Friday, Dec. 5 at the Penn Opener, also competing on Saturday, Dec. 6. On Saturday, there will also be Nittany Lions competing at the Bucknell Opener in Lewisburg, and the Sharon-Colyear Danville Season Opener in Boston on Saturday. Dec. 6.

Penn State is set to begin the 2025-26 indoor season while continuing to build off its success from a season ago. The men’s squad finished 12th in the Big Ten last indoor season while the women finished seventh. The squad returns six All-Americans from last year’s indoor team including 2024 First Team All-Americans Handal Roban and Hayley Kitching.

Head Coach John Gondak enters his 12th season leading the Nittany Lion track & field program. His coaching resume includes 62 First Team All-Americans and 11 Big Ten team titles.

PENN OPENER – Friday-Saturday, December 5-6

Live Results | Watch on Saturday (ESPN+)

Penn State will send seven athletes to compete at the Penn Opener. Maddie Pitts will be the lone competitor on Friday in the pentathlon.

BUCKNELL OPENER – Saturday, December 6

Live Results

The largest group of Nittany Lions will be headed to Lewisburg to compete in the Bucknell Opener. 36 athletes in field events and sprints will be the main competition group for PSU this weekend at Bucknell.

SHARON COLYEAR-DANVILLE SEASON OPENER – Saturday, December 6

Live Results | Watch (FloTrack)

Penn State will be sending 10 athletes to Boston for season opening action. The middle distance/distance group will make up the group competing against some of the top talent in the nation.

FULL 2025-26 INDOOR TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE

Dec. 5-6 – Penn Opener | Philadelphia, Pa.  

Dec. 6 – Bucknell Opener | Lewisburg, Pa.  

Dec. 6  Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener | Boston, Mass.  

Jan. 17 – Nittany Lion Challenge | University Park, Pa.  

Jan. 24 – Penn 10 Team Elite | Philadelphia, Pa.  

Jan. 30-31 – Penn State National Open | University Park, Pa. 

Feb. 7 – Sykes & Sabock Challenge | University Park, Pa.  

Feb. 13-14 – Tyson Invitational | Fayetteville, Ark.

Feb. 13-14 – David Hemery Valentine Invitational | Boston, Mass.  

Feb. 20 – Penn State Tune-Up | University Park, Pa.

Feb. 27-28 – Big Ten Indoor Championships | Indianapolis, Ind.  

Mar. 13-14 – NCAA Indoor Championships | Fayetteville, Ark. 

FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS

Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateTFXC) and X/Instagram (@pennstatetfxc). Live updates on race day regarding start times and other important notes will be posted on X.



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Women’s Volleyball vs University of Alaska Anchorage on 12/4/2025 – Box Score

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UAA subs: Hansen, Elena; Trotter, Hannah; Byrne, Trinity.



UAA subs: Hansen, Elena; Trotter, Hannah; Byrne, Trinity.






UAF subs: Flynn, Kellan; Smith, Ainsley.



UAF subs: Flynn, Kellan; Smith, Ainsley.




UAF


0-1


[Henderson, Cynphany] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (block by Beck, Emma; Riba, Martina).



0


Alas. Fairbanks

1

[Henderson, Cynphany] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (block by Beck, Emma; Riba, Martina).






UAA subs: Hansen, Elena.



UAA subs: Hansen, Elena.




UAA


1-1


[Hansen, Elena] Kill by Henderson, Mikala (from Henderson, Cynphany).



[Hansen, Elena] Kill by Henderson, Mikala (from Henderson, Cynphany).

1


Alas. Anchorage

1






UAF subs: Flynn, Kellan.



UAF subs: Flynn, Kellan.




UAF


2-1


[Flynn, Kellan] Kill by Guc, Elena (from Henderson, Cynphany).



[Flynn, Kellan] Kill by Guc, Elena (from Henderson, Cynphany).

2


Alas. Anchorage

1




UAF


3-1


[Flynn, Kellan] Attack error by Ivakina, Lee (block by Engelauf, Presley; Guc, Elena).



[Flynn, Kellan] Attack error by Ivakina, Lee (block by Engelauf, Presley; Guc, Elena).

3


Alas. Anchorage

1




UAF


3-2


[Flynn, Kellan] Kill by Burney, Bella (from Malikova, Johana).



3


Alas. Fairbanks

2

[Flynn, Kellan] Kill by Burney, Bella (from Malikova, Johana).






UAA subs: Trotter, Hannah; Byrne, Trinity.



UAA subs: Trotter, Hannah; Byrne, Trinity.




UAA


4-2


[Trotter, Hannah] Kill by Lyons, Haylee (from Henderson, Cynphany).



[Trotter, Hannah] Kill by Lyons, Haylee (from Henderson, Cynphany).

4


Alas. Anchorage

2




UAF


5-2


[Onaga, Tessa] Kill by Lyons, Haylee (from Byrne, Trinity).



[Onaga, Tessa] Kill by Lyons, Haylee (from Byrne, Trinity).

5


Alas. Anchorage

2




UAF


6-2


[Onaga, Tessa] Attack error by Byrne, Trinity (from Galloway, Madison).



[Onaga, Tessa] Attack error by Byrne, Trinity (from Galloway, Madison).

6


Alas. Anchorage

2




UAF


6-3


[Onaga, Tessa] Kill by Byrne, Trinity (from Trotter, Hannah).



6


Alas. Fairbanks

3

[Onaga, Tessa] Kill by Byrne, Trinity (from Trotter, Hannah).




UAA


6-4


[Ivakina, Lee] Attack error by Guc, Elena (from Henderson, Cynphany).



6


Alas. Fairbanks

4

[Ivakina, Lee] Attack error by Guc, Elena (from Henderson, Cynphany).




UAA


7-4


[Ivakina, Lee] Kill by Guc, Elena (from Henderson, Cynphany), block error by Burney, Bella.



[Ivakina, Lee] Kill by Guc, Elena (from Henderson, Cynphany), block error by Burney, Bella.

7


Alas. Anchorage

4






UAF subs: Smith, Ainsley.



UAF subs: Smith, Ainsley.




UAF


8-4


[Smith, Ainsley] Kill by Henderson, Cynphany (from Onaga, Tessa).



[Smith, Ainsley] Kill by Henderson, Cynphany (from Onaga, Tessa).

8


Alas. Anchorage

4




UAF


8-5


[Smith, Ainsley] Kill by Byrne, Trinity (from Trotter, Hannah).



8


Alas. Fairbanks

5

[Smith, Ainsley] Kill by Byrne, Trinity (from Trotter, Hannah).




UAA


9-5


[Galloway, Madison] Service error.



[Galloway, Madison] Service error.

9


Alas. Anchorage

5




UAF


9-6


[Lyons, Haylee] Kill by Riba, Martina (from Trotter, Hannah), block error by Henderson, Cynphany.



9


Alas. Fairbanks

6

[Lyons, Haylee] Kill by Riba, Martina (from Trotter, Hannah), block error by Henderson, Cynphany.




UAA


10-6


[Malikova, Johana] Attack error by Riba, Martina (block by Hoshock, Peri).



[Malikova, Johana] Attack error by Riba, Martina (block by Hoshock, Peri).

10


Alas. Anchorage

6




UAF


11-6


[Hoshock, Peri] Kill by Engelauf, Presley (from Smith, Ainsley).



[Hoshock, Peri] Kill by Engelauf, Presley (from Smith, Ainsley).

11


Alas. Anchorage

6




UAF


12-6


[Hoshock, Peri] Kill by Henderson, Mikala (from Smith, Ainsley).



[Hoshock, Peri] Kill by Henderson, Mikala (from Smith, Ainsley).

12


Alas. Anchorage

6




UAF


12-7


[Hoshock, Peri] Kill by Allen, Tia (from Malikova, Johana).



12


Alas. Fairbanks

7

[Hoshock, Peri] Kill by Allen, Tia (from Malikova, Johana).




UAA


12-8


[Allen, Tia] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (from Smith, Ainsley).



12


Alas. Fairbanks

8

[Allen, Tia] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (from Smith, Ainsley).




UAA


13-8


[Allen, Tia] Attack error by Riba, Martina.



[Allen, Tia] Attack error by Riba, Martina.

13


Alas. Anchorage

8




UAF


14-8


[Henderson, Cynphany] Attack error by Beck, Emma (from Galloway, Madison).



[Henderson, Cynphany] Attack error by Beck, Emma (from Galloway, Madison).

14


Alas. Anchorage

8




UAF


15-8


[Henderson, Cynphany] Kill by Engelauf, Presley (from Henderson, Cynphany).



[Henderson, Cynphany] Kill by Engelauf, Presley (from Henderson, Cynphany).

15


Alas. Anchorage

8




UAF


15-9


[Henderson, Cynphany] Kill by Beck, Emma (from Malikova, Johana).



15


Alas. Fairbanks

9

[Henderson, Cynphany] Kill by Beck, Emma (from Malikova, Johana).




UAA


16-9


[Hansen, Elena] Kill by Henderson, Cynphany (from Onaga, Tessa).



[Hansen, Elena] Kill by Henderson, Cynphany (from Onaga, Tessa).

16


Alas. Anchorage

9




UAF


16-10


[Flynn, Kellan] Kill by Beck, Emma (from Engelauf, Presley).



16


Alas. Fairbanks

10

[Flynn, Kellan] Kill by Beck, Emma (from Engelauf, Presley).




UAA


17-10


[Trotter, Hannah] Kill by Guc, Elena (from Henderson, Cynphany).



[Trotter, Hannah] Kill by Guc, Elena (from Henderson, Cynphany).

17


Alas. Anchorage

10




UAF


17-11


[Onaga, Tessa] Kill by Byrne, Trinity (from Trotter, Hannah).



17


Alas. Fairbanks

11

[Onaga, Tessa] Kill by Byrne, Trinity (from Trotter, Hannah).




UAA


17-12


[Ivakina, Lee] Attack error by Hoshock, Peri (from Henderson, Cynphany).



17


Alas. Fairbanks

12

[Ivakina, Lee] Attack error by Hoshock, Peri (from Henderson, Cynphany).




UAA


18-12


[Ivakina, Lee] Service error.



[Ivakina, Lee] Service error.

18


Alas. Anchorage

12




UAF


18-13


[Smith, Ainsley] Attack error by Lyons, Haylee (from Smith, Ainsley).



18


Alas. Fairbanks

13

[Smith, Ainsley] Attack error by Lyons, Haylee (from Smith, Ainsley).




UAA


19-13


[Galloway, Madison] Kill by Henderson, Cynphany (from Smith, Ainsley).



[Galloway, Madison] Kill by Henderson, Cynphany (from Smith, Ainsley).

19


Alas. Anchorage

13




UAF


20-13


[Lyons, Haylee] Attack error by Allen, Tia (from Trotter, Hannah).



[Lyons, Haylee] Attack error by Allen, Tia (from Trotter, Hannah).

20


Alas. Anchorage

13




UAF


21-13


[Lyons, Haylee] Attack error by Byrne, Trinity (from Trotter, Hannah).



[Lyons, Haylee] Attack error by Byrne, Trinity (from Trotter, Hannah).

21


Alas. Anchorage

13




UAF


21-14


[Lyons, Haylee] Kill by Allen, Tia (from Trotter, Hannah).



21


Alas. Fairbanks

14

[Lyons, Haylee] Kill by Allen, Tia (from Trotter, Hannah).






UAA subs: Sapon, Eleasha.



UAA subs: Sapon, Eleasha.




UAA


21-15


[Sapon, Eleasha] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (from Smith, Ainsley).



21


Alas. Fairbanks

15

[Sapon, Eleasha] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (from Smith, Ainsley).




UAA


21-16


[Sapon, Eleasha] Kill by Allen, Tia (from Trotter, Hannah).



21


Alas. Fairbanks

16

[Sapon, Eleasha] Kill by Allen, Tia (from Trotter, Hannah).




UAA


21-17


[Sapon, Eleasha] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (from Smith, Ainsley).



21


Alas. Fairbanks

17

[Sapon, Eleasha] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (from Smith, Ainsley).




UAA


22-17


[Sapon, Eleasha] Kill by Henderson, Mikala (from Onaga, Tessa).



[Sapon, Eleasha] Kill by Henderson, Mikala (from Onaga, Tessa).

22


Alas. Anchorage

17




UAF


23-17


[Hoshock, Peri] Kill by Henderson, Mikala (from Lyons, Haylee).



[Hoshock, Peri] Kill by Henderson, Mikala (from Lyons, Haylee).

23


Alas. Anchorage

17




UAF


24-17


[Hoshock, Peri] Kill by Henderson, Cynphany (from Smith, Ainsley).



[Hoshock, Peri] Kill by Henderson, Cynphany (from Smith, Ainsley).

24


Alas. Anchorage

17




UAF


24-18


[Hoshock, Peri] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (from Hoshock, Peri).



24


Alas. Fairbanks

18

[Hoshock, Peri] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (from Hoshock, Peri).




UAA


25-18


[Allen, Tia] Kill by Henderson, Cynphany (from Smith, Ainsley).



[Allen, Tia] Kill by Henderson, Cynphany (from Smith, Ainsley).

25


Alas. Anchorage

18






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#11 Creighton Volleyball Outlasts Northern Colorado to Advance to Second Round of NCAA Tournament

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Courtesy of Rob Anderson, Creighton Athletics

OMAHA, Neb. 
— No. 11 Creighton Volleyball was pushed to the brink but survived to win its 21st straight match on Thursday evening, opening up NCAA Tournament play with a 3-2 victory over Northern Colorado. Scores of the Bluejay triumph were 25-12, 23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-8.

Creighton earns itself a Second Round match-up against Northern Iowa (26-5) after the sixth-seeded Panthers finished off their first reverse sweep in the NCAA Tournament since 2022 with a 15-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-10 win over Utah. Creighton defeated the Panthers at D.J. Sokol Arena on Sept. 14 to close out play at the Bluejay Invitational.

Five women had multiple kills in the first set as Creighton powered past Northern Colorado, led by six kills from Ava Martin. Martin also had a pair of aces late in the set to solidify CU’s 25-12 victory. The Jays hit .438 and had 17 kills to UNC’s six kills on .000 hitting and never trailed in the frame.

UNC snapped Creighton’s 17-set win streak with a 25-23 victory in the second set, which featured nine ties and five lead changes. Isabel Bennett had go-ahead kills to make it 23-22 and 24-23 and Alayna Tessena put down the winner on set point. Northern Colorado had 15 kills and 18 digs in the second set and held the Bluejays to 11 kills and .200 hitting. Martin had seven kills for CU in the second set, while Sydney Breissinger added six digs.

The Bears won the first three points of the third set and moved in front 8-4 to force an early timeout from CU head coach Brian Rosen. The stoppage did little to improve the fortunes for the hosts, who called another timeout six points later after falling behind 12-6 to the Big Sky Tournament champions. The second timeout did the trick, as the Bluejays countered with an 8-2 burst to even the score at 14-all. Northern Colorado settled down, never surrendering the lead, and led 23-20 before one last push from the hosts. Martin pounded her 18th kill of the night, and Nora Wurtz followed with her 56th ace of the fall to cut CU’s deficit to 23-22 and lead UNC coach Lydnsey Oates to call timeout. Martin slammed a cross-court kill to tie the score at 23-all, but UNC answered with a Zoe Gibbs kill for a set point opportunity.  The Bears won the set on a Bluejay attack error, 25-23. 

The Bluejays got off to a 6-2 lead in the fourth set thanks in part to three early UNC hitting errors, then extended the advantage to 14-6. The Jays won the set 25-17, with freshman Abbey Hayes stepping up with a team-best four kills. CU had 4.5 blocks in the set, including one of set point from Reinhardt and Martin.

Creighton got off to a quick start in the fifth frame, scoring the first three points on two Martin kills and a UNC attack error. CU led 8-3 at the changeover

Martin was dominant with 30 kills on 65 swings, while Jaya Johnson finished with 12 kills. Reinhardt rounded out the Bluejays in double figure kills with 10. Annalea Maeder closed the match with a double-double, delivering 53 assists and 20 digs.

Tessena led Northern Colorado with 14 kills, while Brynn Reines finished with 11 kills

First serve of tomorrow’s Second Round match is at 6:30 p.m.

NOTES:  Creighton improved to 18-14 all-time in 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a 12-3 mark in the First Round … Creighton has won 21 straight matches, its third-longest streak in program history … Creighton is now 8-4 in home matches in the NCAA Tournament, including five straight victories … Creighton has won its last 11 home matches this fall … Creighton is now 4-1 all-time against Northern Colorado … Creighton has won 68 straight matches over unranked foes and 56 non-televised matches in a row … Ava Martinmoved into third place in CU history in career service aces with 126 … Ava Martinhad her 25th straight match with 10 or more kills and 108th in a row with five or more kills … Ava Martin had her 13th career match with 20+ kills, and seventh this season.





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Throwers Set Personal Bests At Liberty Kickoff

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LYNCHBURG – Propelled by a pair of personal-best performances in the weight throw, the Elon University women’s track and field team opened its indoor season Thursday at the Liberty Kickoff inside the Liberty Indoor Complex.
 
In the women’s weight throw, the Phoenix placed two athletes inside the top four. Adriana Clarke claimed runner-up honors with a personal-best toss of 18.14m, moving into third on Elon’s all-time performance list. Isabella Johnson finished third overall at 17.33m, also marking a new PR for the sophomore.
 
Elon also featured three competitors in the pentathlon. Senior Lizzie Lopez was the top Phoenix finisher, placing seventh with 3,510 points. She highlighted the event by tying for first in the high jump with a clearance of 1.65m. Freshman Greta Urbonaviciute debuted with a tenth-place finish and 3,309 points, landing inside the program’s top-10 performance list. Classmate Carolina Frada scored 2,832 points to place 11th in her first collegiate pentathlon.
 
ON DECK
Elon continues action at the Liberty Kickoff on Friday, beginning with the women’s 5,000-meter run at 10 a.m.
 

— ELON —



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