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Five things to watch in NCAA women's volleyball in 2025

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Five things to watch in NCAA women's volleyball in 2025

Pittsburgh and Nebraska looked to be on a collision course for the national championship when they headed into the NCAA women’s volleyball final four last December.

But by the time the weekend ended, Penn State had defeated Louisville for the program’s eighth NCAA title. Katie Schumacher-Cawley became the first woman head coach to win the championship since the tournament began in 1981 and a major coaching change was about to take place.

As we head into the 2025 season, those four schools are atop the AVCA Division I preseason poll: The Huskers lead the way with 40 first-place votes, followed by the Nittany Lions (21), the Panthers and the Cardinals. Past national champions Texas, Stanford, Kentucky and Wisconsin round out the top eight.

Those are the familiar names we expect to contend for the 2025 championship, which will be decided Dec. 18-21 in Kansas City. But now former Louisville coach Dani Busboom Kelly leads Nebraska, replacing retired program legend John Cook. Dan Meske, who had been associate head coach for the Cardinals, took over at Louisville.

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Busboom Kelly is a Nebraska native who previously won NCAA championships as a player and assistant coach with the Huskers, so it always seemed a matter of time before she went back. She built the Louisville program into a national powerhouse, and along with Pittsburgh coach Dan Fisher helped elevate the ACC to elite status.

But the Panthers and the Cardinals still seek their first NCAA title. Could this be the year for either? Will Nebraska win its sixth championship? Or might Penn State repeat and tie Stanford’s record of nine NCAA titles?

More than 2,600 matches will be shown on ESPN platforms this season, culminating with every NCAA tournament match. The national semifinals will be on ESPN and, for the third season in a row, the final will be on ABC. Here’s a primer to get ready for the 2025 season.

How soon do the powerhouses meet?

Immediately. One of the great things about college volleyball is the top programs almost always face off in nonconference play. The AVCA First Serve Showcase at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, runs Friday through Sunday. It starts with Pittsburgh vs. Nebraska at 7 p.m. ET Friday. Sunday’s matches — Florida vs. Pittsburgh (1 p.m. ET) and Nebraska vs. Stanford (3:30) — air on ESPN.

The inaugural Broadway Block Party will be Aug. 31 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. It features Nebraska vs. Kentucky (noon ET, ABC), Tennessee vs. Purdue (3 p.m. ET, ESPN2) and Vanderbilt vs. Illinois (6 p.m. ET, SEC Network). Vanderbilt has brought volleyball back as a varsity sport after briefly sponsoring it in 1979-80. The sister of WNBA star Kelsey Plum, Lauren Plum, is an assistant coach for the Commodores’ new program.


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1:45

Identifying transfers who will make an impact in the SEC

SEC Network’s Missy Whittemore and Leah Edmonds pinpoint the transfers who will likely make an impact in the SEC and describe the strengths that make them unstoppable on the court.

What stood out from the transfer portal for this season?

Like with every other sport, transfers are a major part of volleyball. Outside hitter Torrey Stafford going to Texas from Pitt was one of the biggest moves. The Panthers still have AVCA national player of the year Olivia Babcock (5.94 points per set) back from last season’s 33-2 team. But Stafford, who averaged 4.24 points per set in 2024, is big pick-up for the always stacked Longhorns.

Kentucky added firepower with outside hitter Eva Hudson, who led the Big Ten in kills per set last season at 4.81. Nebraska, which is also a magnet for transfers, added opposite hitter Allie Sczech from Baylor.


Outside hitter Harper Murray will try to lead No. 1 Nebraska to its sixth NCAA championship this season. Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty ImagesHow different will Nebraska be under new leadership?Realistically, not much. Busboom Kelly played for and coached with Cook for a long time before she took over the Louisville program, so this is as seamless a transition as Nebraska could have hoped for.Outside hitter Harper Murray is back for Nebraska; she led the Huskers in points per set (4.01 last season). Andi Jackson and Rebekah Allick make a formidable middle blocker tandem, and Bergen Reilly, the Big Ten setter of the year the last two seasons, returns to quarterback the Huskers.Admittedly, following someone as successful as Cook, head coach for four of the Huskers’ NCAA titles and architect of a perennial championship contender, is not easy.All of ESPN. All in one place.

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Busboom Kelly has her own personality and coaching style; she’s not a Cook clone. But in terms of the high quality of the product put on the floor for some of the nation’s most ardent volleyball fans, she knows the expectations better than anyone.

Last year, Nebraska went into the national semifinals poised to win its sixth title, and the Huskers took a 2-0 lead on Penn State. But in a nightmarish last match for Cook, the Nittany Lions won on a reverse sweep, then beat a Louisville team that had lost star player Anna DeBeer to an ankle injury in its semifinal. Despite that disappointment, Cook praised Busboom Kelly and Schumacher-Cawley — whose teams met in the final — for their high-profile coaching roles in the sport.


Any chance for a first-time NCAA champion this season?

Four of the programs in the AVCA preseason top 10 — Pittsburgh, Louisville, No. 9 Texas A&M and No. 10 SMU — have never won the NCAA title. The Panthers have been to the national semifinals the last four years in a row but have not advanced to the final. Led by Babcock, they are still the best bet among teams looking for their first national championship.

But keep an eye on No. 16 Florida, too. Mary Wise, who had led the Gators since 1991 and made the NCAA tournament every year, retired from coaching and is now part of ESPN’s broadcasting crew. She guided Florida to the final four eight times. Ryan Theis has taken over the program and will pursue the goal of winning an NCAA title.


What’s the biggest news off the court?

The Pro Volleyball Federation has rebranded into Major League Volleyball, or MLV, which will provide a place to play for some of the top college players when they turn professional.

The PVF started in 2024 and has played two seasons. But the popular Omaha Supernovas franchise in Nebraska had conflicts with PVF management and intended to start its own league called MLV. Instead, there was a merger of sorts and PVF became MLV.

MLV is scheduled to begin its 2026 season in January with teams in Atlanta, Columbus, Ohio; Dallas, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Indianapolis, Omaha, Orlando and San Diego. Two more teams — in Washington D.C. and Sacramento, California — are slated to join in 2027.

While Cook retired as coach for the Huskers, he is still busy with volleyball: He recently was announced as a co-owner and the general manager of the Supernovas.

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Track and Field Restricts Meet to Rostered Collegiate Athletes, Shutting Out Club Athletes

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The Greg Page Relays, an annual indoor track and field competition hosted by the men’s and women’s track team that marks the beginning of the indoor track season on Friday and Saturday, December 5-6, will no longer be open to unattached or club athletes. 

Meet information previously stated that the event was “open to all athletes that are currently eligible.” It has since been updated to specify participants are limited to those who are “currently eligible and actively rostered student-athletes at NCAA and NJCAA institutions only,” according to previously posted information about the meet on the Cornell University Athletics website. 

The Greg Page Relays were historically an opportunity for club or unattached athletes to compete in officially timed meets. Unattached athletes were required to pay an entry fee of at least $40 per person. Results from these official meets are crucial to athletes hoping to gain the interest of varsity teams. 

“Greg Page Relays has often been a proving ground for underclassmen athletes looking to make it onto the varsity team,” said Lucas Corea ’26, a member of the Cornell Running Club. “It is an environment that provides a golden opportunity to perform against varsity collegiate athletes across all divisions and most importantly other varsity athletes on the Cornell team.”

Callum Coots ’27 is also a member of CRC and previously competed in the Greg Page Relays as well as the Marc Deneault Invitational, which also recently limited its entry to NCAA and NJAA rostered athletes, according to information about the meet from Cornell Athletics. He also participated in the Big Red Invitational, which has not posted information about eligibility for the meet. 

For Coots, the chance to compete is “incredibly valuable” for his development as a runner. 

“These meets have provided me opportunities to build my case as a hopeful walk-on and get noticed by coaches,” Coots said. “They have also allowed me to have a full track season with meets every few weeks.”

According to a Cornell spokesperson, the currently posted information is incorrect and will be updated to ensure that collegiate teams “understand the proper entry procedures.”

“To best meet our team’s competitive needs, the Greg Page Relays and Multi Meet are open to collegiate teams by invitation only,” a Cornell spokesperson wrote in an email statement to The Sun. “Our varsity rosters are set for the year. Other opportunities are available within the region for unattached athletes to compete.” 

When asked why the decision was made to change the eligibility of the meets, the University did not directly answer, but stated that the change is “not related” to the University’s settlement with the federal government. 

In the $60 million settlement with the Trump administration, Cornell agreed to the U.S. Department of Justice’s guidelines including Title IX guidelines pertaining to transgender athletes in sports and more as “unlawful.” 

USA Track and Field hosts one other official timed indoor meet, the Niagara Open and Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships on January 18. 

“Overall, I am losing the ability to compete at a high level at my own school,” Coots said. “The new eligibility rule makes it impossible for me to compete in Cornell-hosted meets like the Greg Page Relays.”


Zeinab Faraj

Zeinab Faraj is a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is the features editor on the 143rd Editorial Board and was the assistant sports editor of the 143rd Editorial Board. You can reach her at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.


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Wisconsin vs EIU in NCAA volleyball; recap as Badgers sweep Panthers

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8:05 am CT December 5, 2025

More to read from Wisconsin’s NCAA tournament match against Eastern Illinois

John Steppe

9:09 pm CT December 4, 2025

Wisconsin stats leaders vs Eastern Illinois

John Steppe

  • Kills: Mimi Colyer and Una Vajagic with 10
  • Hitting percentage: Trinity Shadd-Ceres with 1.000 hitting percentage on four total attacks
  • Service aces: Kristen Simon and Charlie Fuerbringer with two
  • Assists: Charlie Fuerbringer with 35
  • Digs: Kristen Simon with 15
  • Total blocks: Alicia Andrew and Charlie Fuerbringer with four each

8:31 pm CT December 4, 2025

Who does Wisconsin play next in NCAA tournament?

John Steppe

Wisconsin will face North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA tournament after the third-seeded Badgers swept Eastern Illinois. North Carolina upset sixth-seeded UTEP in the first round before Wisconsin’s match.

The match will be Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. and air on ESPN+.

8:29 pm CT December 4, 2025

Wisconsin completes sweep vs Eastern Illinois

John Steppe

For the 13th time in Kelly Sheffield’s 13 seasons as Wisconsin head coach, the Badgers are advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Wisconsin won the third set, 25-19, to complete the sweep over Eastern Illinois. The Panthers went on a 4-0 scoring run before UW finally put it away with a kill by Tosia Serafinowska.



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BC Opens Indoor Season at Sharon Colyear-Danville

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CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Boston College Women’s Track & Field team is set to kick off the 2025-26 indoor season at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener on Saturday, December 6.
 

Last year’s attempt at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener saw five top ten marks set at the BU Track & Tennis Center. Kyla Palmer ran the second fastest 600m in program history, while Kylee Bernard and Ava Carter recorded top five marks in the 300m.
 
Following this weekend, the team has a month long break before returning for the Suffolk Ice Breaker Challenge, held at the TRACK at New Balance on January 18.
 
Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener

Saturday, Dec. 6 | 9:30 a.m. | Boston, Mass. – BU Track & Tennis Center
Live Results | Watch | Meet Info
 
Eagles Competing: Elizabeth Barlow, Anna Becker, Kylee Bernard, Iris Bergman, Ellie Buckley, Ava Carter, Gina Certo, Claire Crowley, Ella Fadil, Erin Finley, Imogen Gardiner, Gabrielle Hamel, Kyra Holland, Hanna Hollins, Kyla Palmer, Sydney Segalla, Anna Sonsini, Yaroslava Yalysovetska, Ron-Niah Wright
 



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Mountaineers Open Indoor Season at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-Off

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BOONE, N.C. – The App State women’s track and field team launches the 2025-26 indoor season at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-Off at the JDL Fast Track on Saturday. Field events will start at 9:30 a.m., and track events are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
 
Twenty-five Mountaineers return to the High Country after guiding App State to a third-place finish at the 2025 Sun Belt Indoor Championships, the best team finish for the Black and Gold since winning the title in 2016. Lilly Nichols, who set the school, conference, and Polish U20 women’s indoor pole vault record with a clearance of 4.26m (13′ 11.75″) in her collegiate debut, returns for her sophomore season. The Broomfield, Colo., native secured silver and earned Second-Team All-SBC honors in the women’s pole vault with 4.18m (13′ 8.5″) at last year’s indoor championship. Joining Nichols in the pole vault and returning for her senior season is Ava Studney. Studney matched Suzanne Makinson’s 2004 clearance of 4.06m (13′ 3.75″) during the 2024 campaign and stands tied for second on the App State all-time list. She also finished sixth at the conference championship last year with a clearance of 3.73m (12′ 2.75″). 
 
Sprinters Kendall Johnson, Nicole Wells and Jayla Adams return for their junior seasons. Johnson set the school record with a time of 7.42 in the women’s 60-meter prelims at the SBC Championship and finished seventh overall in the final with a time of 7.51. The previous record was 7.44, set in 2005 by Jennifer Claud. Additionally, Johnson, alongside Addison Ollendick-Smith, Ja’Naya Linder and Adams, earned Second-Team All-SBC honors for their performance in the women’s 4×400-meter relay at the conference championship. The quartet stopped the clock at 3:45.19, coming within two seconds of the program record of 3:43.85, which was set at the 2023 Sun Belt Indoor Championships. 
 
Ollendick-Smith, who holds the program record in the women’s 600 meters (1:33.95) and stands second all-time in the women’s 800 meters (2:11.13), returns for her senior season, specializing in mid-distance events. In addition to helping the Mountaineers to a second-place finish in the women’s 4×400-meter relay, she was a part of the women’s distance medley relay team that also secured silver at the conference championship meet with a time of 11:35.52. 
 
Junior Rhys Ammon and sophomore Savannah Moore return to the track for the Mountaineers’ distance squad this year. The duo secured spots in both the women’s 600 meters and women’s 1,000 meters last winter, with Moore leading the way, ranking second all-time in the 600 meters (1:36.45) and third all-time in the 1,000 meters (2:57.90). Junior Dianna Boykin and sophomores Emily Edwards and Brittany Ellis make their returns for App State’s throws squad. Boykin and Ellis both recorded personal bests in the women’s weight throw with marks of 14.20m (46′ 7.25″) and 12.86m (42′ 2.25″), respectively at the SBC meet. Edwards led the team in the shot put last season with a personal best mark of 12.57m (41′ 3″), which she set at the 2025 Virginia Tech Invitational. 
 
For the 2025-26 campaign, thirteen newcomers will don the Black and Gold. Senior Damyja Alejandro-Ortiz, who spent three seasons at Lenoir-Rhyne, and sophomore Micayla Collins, who spent her freshman season at Virginia Tech, joins App State’s sprints squad alongside freshman Tatiana Blake. Freshmen Alana Braxton, Kelly MacBride, and Ashlynn Wimberly will specialize in the jumps events this season. Distance freshmen Josie Jackson, Allie Kinlaw, Tessa Massa, Julia Mayer, Elizabeth McCart, Lika Strydom, and Ashby Williams are set to step onto the track after making their collegiate debuts on the cross country course this fall. Massa, Jackson, and McCart earned All-SBC honors after helping the Mountaineer women to their second consecutive Sun Belt Cross Country team title. Additionally, Massa was tabbed as the Sun Belt Women’s Cross Country Freshman of the Year for her efforts.
 
On Deck 
App State’s indoor season will resume on Saturday, Jan. 10, with the UNC Asheville Collegiate Opener at Tryon International in Mill Spring, N.C.
 



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Track & Field Prepares for Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener

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BOSTON – The Boston University track & field program is set to kick off the indoor season with the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener at the Track & Tennis Center Saturday, beginning at 9:45 a.m. and being broadcast live on FloTrack.

The Track & Tennis Center will host some of the top athletes in the world over the course of the day, including a 90-minute “FloTrack Night in America” session featuring top heats in mid-distance and distance events beginning at 3 p.m.

During the meet, the Terriers will honor the late Sharon Colyear-Danville ’83, who passed away in 2024. The two-time Olympian and BU Hall of Famer’s legacy will be honored with a ceremony at approximately 9:40 a.m. with her husband of 43 years Bob Danville and their two sons, Reid and Neil Danville, in attendance.

How to Watch

FloTrack brings you live coverage of the track events from the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. Catch all of the action and start your subscription today! SIGN UP HERE: https://flosports.link/3HPCJzR. In addition to live race coverage you’ll gain access to track news, events, original content, and more.

How To Watch: Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener

When: Saturday, December 6

TV: Download the FloSports TV app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast

Mobile: Download the FloSports iOS and Android apps

Web: Bookmark FloTrack.org in your favorite browser

Parking Advisory

Indoor Track & Field – Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener (Track & Tennis Center) – 10 a.m.

Very limited parking is available at an event rate of $14 in the Langsam Garage (LOT B) located at 142 Gardner St., Boston, MA 02215. Those arriving after 8:30 a.m. should proceed directly to the Essex Street Garage & Lot (LOT F) located at 148 Essex Street, Brookline, MA 02446.

Track Schedule (Faster heats first):

9:45 a.m.     Women’s 60H FINAL

9:50 a.m.     Men’s 60H FINAL

9:55 a.m.     Men’s 60m Trials

10:00 a.m.   Women’s 400m

10:05 a.m.   Men’s 400m

10:15 a.m.   Women’s 600m

10:25 a.m.   Men’s 600m

10:35 a.m.   Women’s 300m

10:45 a.m.   Men’s 300m

10:57 a.m.   Women’s 60m Final

11:00 a.m.   Men’s 60m Final

11:05 a.m.   Women’s 800m

11:12 a.m.   Men’s 800m

11:18 a.m.   Women’s 200m

11:25 a.m.   Men’s 200m

11:35 a.m.   Women’s 4x400m

11:40 a.m.   Men’s 4x400m

12:00 p.m.   Women’s Mile

12:20 p.m.   Men’s Mile

12:55 p.m.   Women’s 3k

1:40 p.m.     Men’s 3k

2:55pm – Start of FloTrack Night in America (elite window)

3:00 p.m.     Women’s 800m Invite

3:05 p.m.     Men’s 800m Invite

3:11 p.m.     Women’s Mile Invite

3:19 p.m.     Men’s Mile Invite

3:27 p.m.     Women’s 3k Invite

3:39 p.m.     Men’s 3k Invite

3:52 p.m.     Women’s 5k Invite

4:13 p.m.     Men’s 5k Invite

4:29 p.m.     Men’s 600m Invite

4:30 p.m.     Women’s Open 5k (9 HEATS)

7:15 p.m.     Men’s Open 5k (9 HEATS)

Field Schedule (Best flights last):

Rolling start beginning at 11 a.m.

Women’s High Jump followed by Men’s High Jump

Women’s Shot Put followed by Men’s Shot Put

Women’s Pole Vault followed by Men’s Pole Vault

Women’s Long Jump followed by Men’s Long Jump

Women’s Weight Throw (Following men’s shot put) followed by Men’s WT

Women’s Triple Jump (Following men’s long jump)



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Women’s Track & Field Travels to Chicago State for Season Opener

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CHICAGO — The 2025-26 season begins for the University of Chicago women’s track and field season on Friday afternoon as the Maroons travel just South of campus to Chicago State for the Cougar Alumni Classic.

MEET DETAILS:







Friday, December 5 – 2 PM CT
Cougar Alumni Classic
Chicago, IL
Chicago State University

UCHICAGO WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD NOTES:

* The University of Chicago women’s track and field team returns to action on Friday after a successful 2025 season.
* The Maroons brought home a 6th-place finish in the National Championships and a 2nd-place finish in the UAA Championships last season.
* Marina Semple was ranked 16th in NCAA Division III, 5th in the Midwest Region, and 2nd in the UAA in the Long Jump with a mark of 5.70 meters.
* Nora Holmes was ranked 21st in NCAA Division III, 6th in the Midwest Region, and 3rd in the UAA in the 3000m Run with a time of 9:48.40.
* Estelle Snider was ranked 23rd in NCAA Division III, 7th in the Midwest Region, and 5th in the UAA in the 3000m Run with a time of 9:48.72.
* Snider was also ranked 30th in NCAA Division III, 3rd in the Midwest Region, and 6th in the UAA in the 5000m Run with a time of 17:15.83.
* Emma Kelly was ranked 30th in NCAA Division III, 8th in the Midwest Region, and 4th in the UAA in the 800m Run with a time of 2:14.16.
* Elizabeth Mulvaney was ranked 32nd in NCAA Division III, 9th in the Midwest Region, and 4th in the UAA in the High Jump with a mark of 1.65 meters.
* Celeste Taylor was ranked 39th in NCAA Division III, 4th in the Midwest Region, and 2nd in the UAA in the Pole Vault with a mark of 3.58 meters.
* Alexandra Watson was ranked 42nd in NCAA Division III, 11th in the Midwest Region, and 5th in the UAA in the Long Jump with a mark of 5.58 meters.
* After competing in the Cougar Alumni Classic this weekend, the Maroons will break for the holidays before hosting the Phoenix Invite at Henry Crown Fieldhouse on January 10.

ATHLETES COMPETING:

* Brooke Caldwell – Shot Put
* Selah Dungey – High Jump
* Camila Garanton – 200m Run / 400m Dash
* Chloe Hayden – 400m Dash
* Katherine Hunt – 60m Dash
* Maddie Lyons – 60m Dash / 200m Run
* Evelyn McCabe – 60m Dash / 200m Run
* Rielley McNeill – Shot Put
* Lindsay Recker – Pole Vault
* Nicole Roesler – 600m Run
* Ellocin Samborski – 60m Dash / 200m Run
* Lillian Seaver – Shot Put
* Alexa Shepherd – 600m Run
* Celeste Taylor – Pole Vault
* Juliet Winiecki – 60m Hurdles



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