The boys volleyball team lost to the Carlmont Scots in four sets: 23-25, 26-28, 25-22, and 20-25 in the first round of CCS to conclude their season on Tuesday night.
The Bears came out strong in the first set with powerful kills by junior outside hitter Ben Warner and senior setter Peter Chriss to put the Bears up 5-1. Utilizing their momentum, the Bears managed to maintain a lead for most of the set.
Despite this, the Scots were able to chip away from the Bears’ early lead by getting a couple of kills of their own. After facing offensive difficulty due to the Scots’ towering block, the Bears found themselves down 20-16 and in need of a timeout to slow the game down.
Unable to recuperate, M-A went on to lose the set with a tight score of 25-23.
Joe Pagee / M-A Chronicle Senior outside Dominic Auer and Warner get ready.
Heading into the second set, the Scots continued to control the game, building a sizable lead of 15-9, thanks to a handful of strong kills and blocks. The Bears kept getting called for sloppy errors, giving the Scots free points, and adding to M-A’s frustration.
“We started really bad. And it’s hard to come back from that,” Senior middle blocker Luis Licea said.
Desperate to find their way back into the game, senior opposite Jonny Kerr, Warner, and Chriss took matters into their own hands by hitting multiple kills, forcing the Scots to call their first timeout to regather.
The Bears were able to take the lead due to a diving save by freshman libero Nick Sandoval to Chriss, who then shot a set over to Kerr, and finished the play by smashing the ball past the Scots’ defense, with a 17-14 lead.
M-A continued to add more to their lead. Chriss’ soft touch over the leaping Scots defenders had the Bears up 26-25, needing only one more point to even the set score. But, Carlmont stayed resilient and tied the score with a lethal kill, followed by a block that gave them the lead. The Scots put an end to the set with a kill directly between the Bears’ defense, winning 28-26.
Joe Pagee / M-A Chronicle Bears lineup for pregame announcement.
Nevertheless, M-A refused to give up. Managing to build an early lead again, 12-8, they had all the momentum. Warner and Kerr continued to dominate, tipping the ball over the defenders, finding holes in the defense, and blocking.
The Bears were able to win the third set 25-22, after an attack error by Carlmont, boosting the Bears confidence heading into the next set.
Beginning the fourth set, the Scots had the early lead, 9-5, trying to bounce back from the last set. However, multiple Carlmont service and attack errors helped the Bears stay in the game.
After the Bears tied up the game, Carlmont made a circus-style play to quickly take back the lead. Because of this, the Bears momentum was killed, and the Scots were playing at their best and took off with the game.
M-A was forced to call a timeout when they were down 23-18. The Scots tried to end the game, but the Bears wouldn’t go down without a fight. Chriss and Warner both got a kill, but it was too late, falling 24-20. On the next play, the Scots cracked the ball toward the middle of the court, giving the Scots the win, 25-20.
“The worst part is realizing, tomorrow, I’m not going to be at practice,” Sandoval said.
“I’ve built a close connection with this team. It’s hard to go down like this,” Kerr said.
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.
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
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 |
LINCOLN, Neb. —
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 |
LINCOLN, Neb. (KMTV) — On Sunday in the Lincoln regional final of the NCAA volleyball tournament, Nebraska found itself in a position it hadn’t been in since August 31, 2025 against Kentucky: down two sets, needing a reverse sweep to win.
This time, a trip to the final four in Kansas City was on the line.
NU bettered Texas A&M in the third and fourth sets, with the latter ending in a 37-35 score, but could not overcome an early fifth-set deficit.
The Aggies avoid the reverse sweep, winning the fifth set 15-13, and will advance to face Pitt in Kansas City in the national semifinals.
Nebraska’s season ends with a 33-1 record.
Harper Murray had a career-high 25 kills for the Huskers and Rebekah Allick added 15, but it was not enough to hold off the Aggies.
In a crucial and extended fourth set, it took the Huskers 10 set points—while fighting off three Texas A&M match points—to win on a kill by Virginia Adriano.
Nebraska fought off two match points in the fifth set, but Logan Lednicky sealed the win for A&M.
She had 24 kills in the match, while teammate Kyndal Stowers had 25.
This marked Nebraska’s first loss since the 2024 national semifinals to Penn State, and it is the first time since 2022 the Big Red have lost at home and have not advanced to the final four.
AUSTIN, Texas – Wisconsin volleyball will be trying to do something that it has yet to do in the Kelly Sheffield era.
Win on the road in the NCAA regional finals.
The Badgers have reached the regional finals in 10 of Sheffield’s previous 12 seasons and advanced to the Final Four five times. But all five of those wins in the regional finals either came at the UW Field House or, in the case of 2020, in a neutral environment with COVID-19 precautions.
Wisconsin will try to change that on Sunday, Dec. 14, as the third-seeded Badgers take on top-seeded Texas at Gregory Gymnasium. (The match will start at 6:30 p.m. CT and air on ESPN.)
“And this is one of the toughest places to do it and a team that is as talented as any team in the country,” Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield said of the first that his team is trying to accomplish against Texas.
The Journal Sentinel will have live coverage from Gregory Gym before, during and after the match. Follow below for all the updates:
Texas A&M opposite hitter Logan Lednicky (9) and outside hitter Taylor Humphrey (11) celebrate a score during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas A&M volleyball experienced it all Sunday: surprising top-ranked Nebraska with a first-set win, then shocking the Cornhuskers by going up 2-0 with a second set win, then dipped in the third and survived a marathon fourth set to prevail in five, knocking off Nebraska 25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 35-37, 15-13 in Lincoln, Neb.
The Aggies (27-4) will face Pittsburgh in the Final Four national semifinals Thursday.
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Kyndal Stowers’ 25 kills matched Nebraska’s Harper Murray’s 25, but the difference was the rest of the teams’ lineups. A&M got 24 kills from Logan Lednicky, including the winning kill on match point, but Nebraska’s next-highest scorer had 15.
The Aggies hit .275 and had a season-high nine service aces.
Nebraska (33-1) hoped to repeat its Elite Eight comebacks of 2006 and 2008, when the Huskers started 0-2 before rallying to beat Minnesota and Washington in five sets. But the Aggies brushed off what could have been a letdown after missing out on three match points in the emotional fourth set to control most of the final set.
RELATED: Recap, highlights as Aggies reverse sweep to upset Louisville
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These were our live updates throughout Sunday’s match:
Elite Eight live updates
Two points away from the match, A&M’s 13-11 lead became 13-12 on a Kyndal Stowers miss, but Logan Lednicky put the Aggies to match point (14-11) with a big kill.
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Nebraska’s Harper Murray saved one match point with a kill to make it 14-13 but then Lednicky put the match away with a kill.
Texas A&M has won 25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 35-37, 15-13.
The Aggies will play in the Final Four, opening against Pitt on Thursday.
Texas A&M is two points away from the Final Four.
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Nebraska won two quick points out of the Huskers timeout on a Rebekah Allick kill and a Kyndal Stowers attack error, but a Stowers kill gave A&M a 13-10 lead.
But Nebraska’s Laney Choboy served an ace to make it 13-11, and the Aggies have called a timeout.
Texas A&M leads 12-7 in this fifth set.
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The Aggies went up 11-7 on a Morgan Perkins kill and then went up 12-7 on a Taylor Landfair shot that went wide.
The Huskers have called their final timeout.
This fifth set is going Texas A&M’s way, but don’t forget that Nebraska has won the last two sets with its backs against the NCAA wall.
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The Aggies have taken 5-3, 7-5, 8-6 and 9-6 leads in this fifth set.
Texas A&M couldn’t convert on three match points and Nebraska, after eight foiled set points, finally broke through for a manic 37-35 fourth set win to force the deciding fifth set.
Nebraska had captured momentum heading into Texas A&M’s timeout, and kept it going when a Kyndal Stowers attack error tied the match 19-19.
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Stowers redeemed herself with a kill to put A&M up 20-19, but Nebraska challenged. The Huskers lost the challenge, but then tied it 20-20 on a Rebekah Allick kill. Harper Murray put Nebraska up 21-20 with a kill, but Stowers answered to make it 21-21. That became 22-21 A&M on a Murray miss wide, but it was tied again 22-22 on a Huskers point.
From there, it was a dizzying finish to the set:
• Mania Ogbechie’s kill made it 23-22 Nebraska, but the Aggies tied it 23-23 on an Ifenna Cos-Okpalla block off a Harper shot. Nebraska went up 24-23 on a Virginia Adriano kill, but Logan Lednicky made it 24-24 with her 19th kill.
• The Huskers went up 25-24 on a Teraya Sigler drop shot, giving them their second set point. A Lednicky kill tied it up 25-25, which Nebraska turned into a 26-25 advantage on a Bergen Reilly kill. Ogbechie, a freshman who hadn’t served all season, served wide to make it 26-26 (Nebraska was out of subs). The Huskers then went up 27-26 for their fourth set point, which again was denied on a Stowers kill for 27-27.
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• Nebraska made it 28-27 (Allick), but a net error tied it up 28-28. A sixth set point was again foiled by a Cos-Okpalla block, tying it 29-29. Nebraska then went up 30-29 off a Lednicky miss, and it soon became a 31-30 Huskers lead. Lednicky made it 31-31 with a kill and the Aggies earned a match point off a Murray miss, 32-31.
• But Lednicky served into the net for 32-32. That forced Ogbechie to serve again, which she missed, to tie it 33-33. An Aggies kill from Stowers made it 34-33, which Nebraska tied 34-34 on an Allick kill. Nebraska went up 35-34 on a Stowers miss, which then was tied again on a Stowers kill.
• Nebraska went up 36-35 on a Murray kill, and then won the set on a Laney Choboy kill.
A 5-3 Nebraska run has the fourth set up for grabs.
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Logan Lednicky’s 17th kill of the match put Texas A&M up 19-14, which Nebraska cut to 19-15 on a Rebeka Allick kill and then 19-16 on Bergen Reilly’s service ace. That then became 19-17 on a Kyndal Stowers attack error. And another Stowers attack error made it 19-18 and the Aggies have called their final timeout.
A third straight kill by Logan Lednicky made it a 16-10 lead for Texas A&M, which became a 17-11 lead on an Emily Hellmuth kill, which then led to an 18-12 advantage. A Morgan Perkins attack error made it 18-13, and a kill from Harper Murray made it 18-14.
Texas A&M has called a timeout.
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Texas A&M came out of the Nebraska timeout with a quick point off a Huskers attack error, leading 11-7, but a Taylor Landfair kill stopped a 4-0 Aggies run. But Kyndal Stowers put A&M up 12-8, which Nebraska’s Harper Murray turned into 12-9 on another kill from her.
But a Huskers service error put A&M up 13-9, which Nebraska then cut to 13-10 off an Andi Jackson kill. The Aggies then pushed that lead to 15-10 on a pair of Logan Lednicky kills, and the Huskers have called their final timeout, trailing 15-10 and down 2 sets to 1.
This fourth set was back-and-forth, but Texas A&M has gained momentum. The Huskers were up 5-2 early, but a 4-1-run for A&M has given the Aggies a 10-7 advantage.
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Nebraska, trailing 2-1 in sets, has called a timeout.
Texas A&M and Nebraska are headed to a fourth set.
The Aggies and Huskers traded points out of the A&M timeout to make it a 21-18 Nebraska lead, which became 22-18 after a Logan Lednicky shot that went wide. A&M made it 22-19, but Kyndal Stowers’ serve then went long, giving the ball back to Nebraska, which then went up 24-19 after a Lednicky error.
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On set point. Emily Hellmuth had a kill to make it a 24-20 score, but Harper Murray gave the Huskers the set with her 16th kill.
A&M’s timeout at 10-5 was a good move. A 4-0 run made it a 10-9 game, which the Huskers extended to 11-9 on a Harper Murray kill. Teraya Sigler’s service ace made it 12-9, but Ifenna Cos-Okpalla stopped the bleeding with a kill.
But a quick kill from Rebekah Allick and a Virginia Adriano kill made it 14-10. A&M, down to its final challenge, successfully challenged a net infraction that turned it into a 13-11 game which soon became 14-12 after Emily Hellmuth’s ninth kill of the match. The Huskers and Aggies went back and forth from there 16-15 Nebraska, 17-15 Nebraska and then 18-15 Nebraska after a Kyndal Stowers attack error.
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But Stowers made up for it with a kill for 18-16, then Tatum Thomas’s service ace made it 18-17.
An Allick kill made it 19-17 and Murray made it 20-17 on her 15th kill.
The Aggies, up 2-0 in sets, have called timeout at 20-17.
Nebraska, facing a do-or-die situation in the third set, doesn’t look like it will go down easy.
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The Huskers have jumped out to a 9-5 lead in the third set after a Harper Murray kill, a Bergen Reilly ace and a Virginia Adriano kill.
A&M has called a timeout, trailing 10-5.
The Aggies won the first two sets 25-22, 25-22.
Texas A&M is one set away from advancing to the Final Four after shocking No. 1 Nebraska by taking the first two sets in their NCAA regional final in Lincoln, Neb.
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After taking a timeout leading 24-22, Logan Lednicky’s kill down the line gave the Aggies the set.
Through two sets, Emily Hellmuth and Kyndal Stowers each have 10 kills to lead the Aggies. Lednicky has seven. A&M is hitting .292 to Nebraska’s .275 and has eight aces to Nebraska’s three.
Up 24-20, Nebraska won back-to-back points to cut A&M’s lead to 24-22.
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The Aggies have called a timeout.
An Emily Hellmuth kill (her eighth of the match) put Texas A&M up 20-16, which became 21-16 after a Nebraska attack error. The Huskers cut that to 21-17 off a Taylor Landfair kill. Kyndal Stowers’ eighth kill made it 22-17. Nebraska cut it to 22-18, but Stowers made it 23-18. Logan Lednicky made it 24-20.
Nebraska called a timeout trailing 14-11 in the second set, but the break didn’t do the trick. Texas A&M has battled for a 19-15 advantage off kills from Morgan Perkins and Emily Hellmuth, and the Huskers have called another timeout.
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The Aggies have eight aces so far. That’s a season high.
After dropping the first set 25-22, Nebraska opened the second set with an ace, but soon the set followed the first-set storyline: back and forth, with A&M getting the advantage on the longer points but the Huskers faring better up front at the net.
Taylor Landfair crosscourt shtot made it 11-10 Nebraska, but the Aggies ralled for a 14-11 lead.
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The Huskers have called a timeout.
Texas A&M has made a big statement in this match, shocking Nebraska by taking the first set 25-22.
The Aggies trailed 15-10, then went on a 10-0 scoring run to turn their deficit into a 20-15 lead.
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From there, it was back and forth. An Emily Hellmuth service error made it 22-21, and Morgan Perkins’ kill put A&M up 23-21. The Cornhuskers answered to make it 23-22, but Kyndal Stowers’ kill made it 24-22 and then the Aggies won the set on a service ace.
Hellmuth and Stowers are leading the way early; they both have five kills to lead the team.
It was only the third time Nebraska has dropped the opening set all season.
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Where: John Cook Arena at Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb.
In the 2025 NCAA Volleyball Tournament, the No. 1 seed Texas Longhorns (26-3) face the No. 3 seed Wisconsin Badgers (27-4) in an Elite Eight matchup at Gregory Gymnasium on Sunday, a rematch of the sweep by the Longhorns in the 2025 Opening Spike Classic This is the second time that the two top ten powerhouses have faced each other this season with the No. 1 seed Longhorns sweeping the No. 3 seed Badgers 2025 Opening Spike Classic in Madison.
The early-season win by Texas capped a successful weekend in Wisconsin following a sweep of then-No. 12 Creighton and marked the fourth straight win by the Horns over the Badgers, including a 3-1 victory in the 2023 Final Four that launched head coach Jerritt Elliott’s team into the title game where they won a second straight national championship.
That matchup features a balanced attack for Texas as freshman outside hitter Cari Spears notched a team-high 11 kills, fellow freshman outside hitter Abby Vander Wal added 10 kills, and junior outside hitter Torrey Stafford had nine.
Wisconsin enters Sunday’s match fresh off a victory over No. 2 seed Stanford in the Sweet Sixteen, swinging .420 against the Cardinal for their first top-10 win on the year. Wisconsin leads the nation in kills per set at 15.10, edging Texas at 14.85. Leading the Badgers is outside hitter Mimi Coyer, who enters the match with 543 kills on the year alongside setter Charlie Fuerbringer, who averaged 15.25 assists per set against Stanford. Outside hitter Una Vajagic collected her 10th double-double of the season with 13 kills, 11 digs, and a hitting percentage of .444, while middle blockers Carter Booth and Alicia Andrew also excelled. Booth racked up 14 kills while hitting .700. The Badgers are trying to punch their ticket to the Final Four for the sixth time in program history.
The No. 3 Longhorns hold the edge in their series against the Badgers, 8-4, with a 3-1 record in the postseason The two teams rank in the top-three in hitting percentage, with Wisconsin owning a slight advantage at .326 to Texas .317.
Leading the Longhorns is junior outside hitter Torrey Stafford who is ninth in the country with a 4.78 kills per set average and 10th in the NCAA with 5.35 points per set. Stafford has recorded 11 double-doubles on the season while middle blocker Ayden Ames is just four blocks shy of 200, one kill from 300, and sits fifth in the SEC with a .380 hitting percentage.
Setter Ella Swindle holds the ninth slot in assists per set at 9.01 surpassing 2200 career assists while libero Emma Halter holds the back line down ranking 10th in digs per set with 3.61 and No. 8 on the Texas all-time career digs list with 1,294.
True freshman Cari Spears has recorded 346 kills, averages 3.26 per set and is hitting .294 for the Longhorns with the help of middle blocker Nya Bunton who stands tall at the net with .339 hittiing percentage.
The deep bench for the Horns has been a force for Texas, led senior Whitney Lauenstein, who has stepped up the tournament by hitting .250 against Indiana and .571 against Florida A&M.
