Connect with us
https://yoursportsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/call-to-1.png

Sports

Media Buying Briefing: Buyers to weigh the flexibility of digital with the Upfront’s legacy scale

Published

on


NewFronts week is done, and the video ad marketplace is about to hear from the veteran TV sellers of linear, cable and streaming — with YouTube pushing itself right into the middle of proceedings. 

Could 2025 be the year that ad dollars shift in greater volume from the linear broadcast and cable networks to the more investment-flexible, cost-efficient and consumer-friendly digital video environment showcased all last week? 

Several major publishers and the IAB last week presented their content wares and new ad units, while playing up brand safety as well. According to two of four media buyers Digiday spoke with, LinkedIn, of all Newfronts players, surprised the most with its presentation. 

First-time NewFronts presenter LinkedIn “went more tactile and opportunistic, and data- and AI-focused vs. ‘here’s our big, splashy new content program,’” said Angela Dahir, vp of strategy & media planning at Jellyfish. “It was more tactile functionality for us that we could then take to our clients who are in that B2B space, which we have a lot of … There’s a lot of unearthed opportunity in LinkedIn.”

Another media buyer who spoke on condition of anonymity agreed that LinkedIn stood out, but even for reasons beyond B2B opportunities. “What was impressive about what they shared was just the narrative on how video on their platform is something that really impacts business decision makers,” said the buyer, who was also impressed by LinkedIn’s ability to offer data both on- and off-platform. “Business influencers, are really aiding in that, now that brands can kind of get involved with those business creators in a new way.”

But it’s the more flexible investment opportunities that could sway some marketers and their media agencies to spend among NewFronts publishers rather than the classic TV providers — certainly at a time of great economic uncertainty (tariffs, interest rates, flagging consumer sentiment stats, unpredictable government policies, etc). 

“I think the benefits of cost efficiencies outweigh some of that upfront commitment and the pricing — the larger monetary commitment,” said Lindsey Freed, svp of media investment at Basis Technologies. “With more CTV streaming [and] programmatic buying, we’re seeing the rate efficiencies and the ability to target in very similar ways — it’s what the buzz is all about … The flexibility of being able to execute across that media, rather than committing a large dollar amount upfront is really where we’re going to see the shift.”

“There’s a lot of evaluation going on of media spend,” said Tucker Matheson, CEO of Markacy, who said none of his clients are actually cutting budgets — yet. “Brands in a budget pinch are … really just trying to figure out where’s my biggest bang for my buck.” To Matheson, the answer lies in applying incrementality testing to guide them to the right investment. 

But there are also a number of new ad-unit opportunities being rolled out by some of the NewFronts presenters, as a means of attracting more ad dollars from brands of all size — some of which caught the eye of buyers. Some of the OEM providers like LG and Vizio showed off units including: 

  • Home screen ads (available on smart TVs and streaming platforms);
  • Pause ads (which pops up when you pause content);
  • Screen saver ads (when the TV set or app goes idle); 
  • Contextual overlay on content (if you’re watching a cooking show on pizza and a Pizza Hut ad pops up);
  • Squeeze back ads (content is made smaller, allowing the ad to run next to it);
  • Shoppable ads with QR codes.

“As media buyers, we’re really going to have to think about these new [habits], thinking of the consumer, what they’re doing, and tying our buys together to allow for that ease of shopping on our phone or shopping while we’re watching TV,” Basis Technologies’ Freed said.

“CTV, for sure, offers a lot more of that potential to do more complex or interactive ad formats, whether it’s shoppable or just general formats than what you can do on linear,” said Chris Rigas, vp of media at Markacy. “There’s definitely an appeal to that. It’s obviously clear that CTV is going to continue gaining market share.”

Of course, the linear companies also offer some of these innovations too, which can’t be forgotten — just like they offer the lion’s share of sports content. But again, the buyers Digiday spoke with said sports is clearly no longer the exclusive territory of the linear giants like NBC U or Disney. With Amazon, Tubi, Hulu and others now offering professional league sports content, it’s a more even playing field than ever.

“This one has live sports and that one has live sports, and everyone’s getting connected through the pipeline,” said Jellyfish’s Dahir. “The digital marketplace is becoming now the crux of opportunity, because we have so much more access and more clients that are able to play in this video space that maybe we’re not able to in the past.”

For better or worse, that diaspora of sports content raises its own set of problems for media buyers and planners. “If I’m watching [sports] on Peacock, but through my Chromecast, I get a different ad,” noted Dahir. “This creates a very fragmented landscape for live sports … I’m curious to see if there will eventually be a step backward. Because, yes, it gives us more opportunity of getting more efficient and effective buys in live sports, especially for smaller clients and that need for efficiency. But from a rating standpoint, I wonder if there will eventually be a pushback … because there’s too many touch points that you can tag it.”

And that’s where programmatic steps in with both the offer of promise and potential for confusion. Much like three years ago, when CTV content became more available through programmatic investment, it ushered in the chance for smaller advertisers to get into TV advertising. But it also made a mess of not knowing who repped what inventory. That could happen with sports content today. 

Because the fact is, there’s a bottom-line shift that is taking place across the entire video landscape: the continued increase of programmatic investment vs. direct buying. 

“One theme that hit for me at the NewFronts was that personalized is premium and it’s more about the curation of content and context,” said the buyer on background. “It’s making sure that your ads are appearing within the content you wanted to appear with the audience targeting that you need. Programmatic makes that more easily possible and the workflow is way easier — when done right.”

Added Basis Technologies’ Freed: “For buyers, it’s easier because we have more control — we are able to shift budgets between deal IDs easier than we can direct buys.”

Color by numbers

Amazon may be one the fastest growing powerhouses in major media, rivaling Google and Meta for supremacy — but it does have one problem. It seems more consumers are looking into how to cancel their Amazon Prime subscriptions than any other streamer, according to a study by Sparrow, which helps consumers get money from class-action suits. Here’s the data (although it must be noted, the below stats are of people searching for how to cancel, not actual cancellations):

  • Amazon Prime 587,000 searches
  • Disney Plus 397,700 searches
  • Hulu 143,600 searches
  • Paramount Plus 139,400 searches
  • Peacock 106,700 searches
  • Netflix 93,100 searches

Takeoff & landing

  • WPP last week renamed its media network WPP Media from GroupM, and implemented layoffs across the three media agency names that still exist really in name only: Mindshare, Wavemaker and EssenceMediacom. The agencies will operate under one P&L. 
  • Stagwell’s Q1 2025 results showed net revenue grew 6% over Q1 2024m while EBITDA dropped 11% on margins of 14%. But the challenger holdco also chalked up what it said is a record $130 million in new business in the quarter. 
  • System1, a creative effectiveness platform, has joined agency collective Dawn
  • Account moves: Dentsu U.K. won the NFL’s global social media business … Havas Media Network landed Olive Garden’s U.S. media business, taking over from Starcom. … Bayer reportedly put the media and creative accounts of its consumer health unit up for review. The media incumbent is EssenceMediacom, which won brewer Lion’s media business in Australia and New Zealand … MSQ and several of its agencies landed global media agency of record duties for Turtle Wax
  • Personnel moves: Justin Thomas-Copeland officially took over as the new CEO of industry association 4As, replacing Marla Kaplowitz … Stagwell’s Assembly tapped Jason Lim to be its chief media officer for North America, coming over from EssenceMediacom where he was chief planning officer … Horizon Media hired Crystal Park to be its new CMO, coming over from The Weather Co., where she was vp of advertising & enterprise data marketing … Dentsu Media Americas CEO Sean Reardon is out after less than 18 months, replaced by Will Swayne Goodway Group tapped Paul Frampton-Calero as its new CEO, moving him over from oversight of Goodway’s Overline consultancy, and replacing Jay Friedman who will stay on as an advisor … Barkley OKRP named chief creative officer Katy Hornaday to replace Jeff King as CEO, as King transitions into a founding partner role. 

Direct quote

“It’s just changing the logo on the slide and saying, ‘I’m going to aggregate, and centralize all my media spend.’ And they’re going to lean heavier into principal media buying, and this allows them to make it easier for them to do that.”

— An independent media agency CEO talking about WPP’s moves around reshaping GroupM into WPP Media. 

Speed reading



Link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

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

Published

on


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.



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

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

Published

on


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.





Link

Continue Reading

Sports

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

Published

on


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.”



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Live updates, how to watch

Published

on


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.

Article continues below this ad

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.

Article continues below this ad

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.

Article continues below this ad

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.

Article continues below this ad

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.

Article continues below this ad

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.

Article continues below this ad

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.

Article continues below this ad

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.

Article continues below this ad

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

Article continues below this ad

Article continues below this ad

Article continues below this ad

Article continues below this ad

Article continues below this ad

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.

Article continues below this ad

Where: Gregory Gymnasium in Austin

 Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Access all of our best content with this tremendous offer.

Article continues below this ad





Link

Continue Reading

Sports

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

Published

on


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.





Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Texas A&M defeats Nebraska volleyball in NCAA tournament

Published

on


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

KETV logo

Updated: 5:29 PM CST Dec 14, 2025

Editorial Standards

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 |



Link

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending