Sports

Homecoming: Trip to Hawaii Marks Return Home for Portland Volleyball

Published

3 months ago

September 11, 2025

HONOLULU, Hawaii – It was Ice Cream Day for Portland Pilots Volleyball. A trip to Salt & Straw was in order, a chance for the Pilots to bond over Chocolate Gooey Brownie and Freckled Mint Chocolate Chip.

Post-delicious frozen treats, the team was called in by head coach Megan Burton and the rest of the staff to discuss the schedule. It was the standard fare as far as nonconference goes – trips to Idaho and Wyoming, a home tournament in Portland (that was a first since 2022), a matchup against Oregon, the usual suspects on the schedule.

And then, the big reveal; the Pilots were headed to Hawaii to play the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine for the first time in seven years.

“Everyone just started cheering and jumping around,” Portland middle blocker Taina Kaauwai said. “I thought it was a joke at first, but then she (Burton) was like, ‘No, we’re actually going to Hawaii.’ I was just surprised, shocked, happy.”

The Pilots take on the Rainbow Wahine in a pair of matches on Thursday and Friday, both at 10 p.m. Pacific time down in Manoa. The trek is different than just another set of road matches – it’s a homecoming for the wide variety of players and coaches from the Aloha State.

Portland’s Hawaiian contingent is strong. Four players on this year’s team hail from Hawaii, as well Burton, associate head coach Dylan Hamilton and assistant coach Kili Robins. Numerous players have come from the state to supplement Portland volleyball over the years.

The Hawaiian connection is in a lot of ways an intentional choice. Burton, coming from Honolulu herself, has numerous connections to volleyball throughout the state, giving her a pipeline to various players from Hawaii. The culture that creates is in many ways a reflection of the roster construction

“It’s ingrained in who I am, right? The culture of who I am as a person is because I was raised in Hawaii,” Burton said. “The values of family, community, respect, hard work and Aloha, all those things are represented in the culture that I have with my team here in Portland. And so, what better way to create the culture that I want than to get players that I know grew up in a similar culture?”

It creates a shared language that permeates throughout the team, helping build a culture that’s strong in the face of adversity. It makes The Bluff an appealing place to play, but also a comfortable place for student-athletes from Hawaii. For Kaauwai, who earned preseason All-WCC honors this season and hails from Hilo, that’s exactly what drew her to Portland in the first place.

“With a bunch of the Hawaii influence, I really felt like this is my home away from home,” Kaauwai said. “Having the mutual respect and understanding of the culture, and even for the girls who aren’t from Hawaii, they also have that respect… it made me feel like I belonged here.”

The scheduling of the matches themselves was borne out of a desire for Burton to always return home, and to give the players that same opportunity. With her strong relationship to the Wahine staff, the process to get Hawaii on the schedule began.

“I’ve always wanted to take my local players back home to Hawaii to play,” Burton said. “It is such a special experience for any individual to be able to go home and play in front of family and friends, and considering we have a lot of local players, and we’ve had a lot of local players in the past, it was just important to me to be able to do my best to try and get this match to happen.”

Burton and the staff got it done. The players were shocked by the news. Maui Robins, Portland’s other All-WCC Preseason team selection and a Kalihi native with her sister and assistant coach, Kili, was shocked when the news dropped, even though she had an inkling that it could happen.

“She (Burton) had told me ‘This one week we were either going to be in Hawaii or, if not, we’re probably just going to be home,'” Robins said. “I think it was maybe two or three weeks between the time she told the rest of the team and when she told me… so it was still a pretty big surprise to me.”

Once the news broke, Robins and the rest of the Hawaiian girls started prepping the team on what to expect. Volleyball at Stan Sheriff is unlike almost any other place in the NCAA. Hawaii Volleyball has ranked in the top five in attendance each of the last 12 years not including seasons affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. They ranked first in all NCAA Division I from 1996 all the way through 2012 in attendance. It’s a loud, raucous environment unlike what many athletes will see during their volleyball careers.

Robins is well-versed in the noise that envelops the Stan Sheriff Center – the home of Hawaii Volleyball – on any given game day. She went to plenty of matches as a kid with her family growing up, watching UH teams take the court while simultaneously trying her best to get on the Jumbotron whenever possible. In-between dance cam attempts, she witnessed plenty of high-level volleyball.

“We told the team this is going to be a pretty intense environment,” Robins said. “It’s going to be unlike any other place we ever played… they won’t know until they know, until they get into the actual environment and see it for themselves.”

The connection to UH volleyball is close for Robins. She comes from a volleyball family, with numerous relatives having played at the collegiate level. Robins’s dad, Duke, played for Hawaii’s men’s team back in college as well. Only thing is, Robins didn’t know just how good her dad was.

Her dad, being a man with a very dry sense of humor, joked with the family that he played intramural ball at Hawaii. During an interview her senior year of high school, she was asked about her family history and said that she was pretty sure her dad just played at that level, not any higher. Since she said it, that’s what went in the paper.

Once the article came out, her family sent a picture of the article and quote, quickly correcting her. He was a proud alumnus of Hawaii men’s volleyball, and also a sarcastic one.

“I was like ‘Why joke about it so much then!'” Robins said, laughing now about it while also admiring her dad’s humility. “He doesn’t flash that stuff.”

Both Burton and Kaauwai have had the chance to play at Stan Sheriff. As a senior in high school, Burton played in the arena for Iolani School in the state championships. Kaauwai did the same with Kamehameha back in her senior year.

Burton notes that watching and playing with the Wahine at the club level was a formative experience for her, as it would be for any young player. Everyone growing up wants to play for Hawaii, watching the teams put together by the legendary Dave Shoji, who transformed Hawaii into a collegiate powerhouse. Shoji’s second in NCAA history in career wins at 1,202 with an .855 career winning percentage. He’s a three-time national champion and was national coach of the year twice, winning in 1982 and 2009.

Burton didn’t play for the Wahine. She went on to have a highly successful career with the Saint Mary’s Gaels, twice earning All-WCC First Team honors and winning a WCC championship in 2009. She’s still the all-time leader in blocks and hitting percentage for the Gaels as well. She credits a lot of that to what she learned watching and playing with at the club level the Wahine.

“I wanted to be a Wahine and be on the floor and play for Dave Shoji,” Burton said. “As I got older and realistically looked at what my future could be like as a college athlete, I decided to go a different path, but I always had a great relationship with the coaches at UH, and I had teammates that went there, and it’s fun to compete against them.”

Robins has never played at Stan Sheriff herself, with Thursday marking her first time. She’s prepared for the noise that a stadium of 10,300 fans can bring. Among the 5,000 fans that make up the average attendance of UH Volleyball this year will be her family, who’s coming in droves to support her and the Pilots.

“My uncle, from the minute we found out we were playing Hawaii, he was texting me that he wanted to make shirts,” Robins said, laughing at the concept of the shirt. “I was just like ‘You know what, Uncle? You make the shirt, let me know how I can help.'”

Kaauwai’s family will also be there for the weekend. Being from Hawaii, it’s harder for family to make the trips up to Portland or elsewhere for matches. These two matches represent an opportunity for family to watch that might not otherwise get the chance.

“My family doesn’t get to travel as much, so going home and being to have them there and watch a game is very exciting,” Kaauwai said. “I’m just very grateful for this opportunity.”

Hawaii is a volleyball haven, and its imprint is everywhere in the NCAA. Kaauwai notes that everywhere you look, college rosters across the board almost always have at least one Hawaiian connection on the team. Whether they’re staying home or playing in the states, Hawaii’s impact on the sport is easy to spot.

“I feel like every single team that we’ve played, even if they weren’t in our conference, I’ve seen someone from Hawaii on the team, or maybe their coach is from Hawaii,” Kaauwai said. “It’s the influence that Hawaii has in volleyball right now, or that it’s always had, but I feel like for some reason now, it just feels more prominent than ever.”

As great as the homecoming will feel, the Pilots are still there on business. The Pilots enter the matches on Thursday and Friday after a stellar showing as hosts of the Portland Invitational, sweeping the Eastern Washington Eagles before taking a thrilling five-set match against the CSUN Matadors.

Combined with a dominant showing at the Idaho Invitational, with the Pilots sweeping all three matches, and a valiant effort against the Oregon Ducks, Portland sits at 5-1 on the season. Only the Pilots and the Seattle U Redhawks have five wins through the first two weeks, a strong start the team wants to keep rolling.

The Pilots have taken down the Wahine before. In 2018, the Pilots beat Hawaii 3-2 at Stan Sheriff for their first and only win over Hawaii. Burton’s hoping for similar results with back-to-back games against the hosts.

“The last time University of Portland went, they won,” Burton said. “We want to live up to that legacy.”

Regardless of result, the trip will have an impact on all the players. Robins talked about how previously, she talked with her grandfather, called Papa, about convincing the staff to put Hawaii on the schedule. Papa passed away during her sophomore year.

“I remember he would always talk about ‘Oh, I really want to see you play UH,'” Robins said. “It’s super bittersweet, but I’m super happy to get to play in front of my family who don’t get to come up here to watch me play.”

“Wish my papa was here, but it’s okay,” Robins said. “I know he has the best seat.”

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Kentucky Volleyball Final Four Watch Party Set for Thursday at Drake’s Lansdowne – UK Athletics

Published

15 minutes ago

December 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Big Blue Nation is invited to cheer on Kentucky Volleyball in the NCAA Final Four at the official watch party hosted at Drake’s Lansdowne, on Thursday, Dec. 18.

The Wildcats face Wisconsin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Texas A&M vs. Pitt match, which begins at 6:30 p.m. ET. Kentucky’s match is expected to start around 9 p.m. ET.

Fans at the Lansdowne location can enjoy UK Volleyball promotional items and giveaways, with tables available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Landsdowne Drakes is located at 3347 Tates Creek Road in Lexington,

Can’t make it to Lansdowne? All Drake’s locations in Kentucky will show the match, so you can find a spot near you to support the Wildcats.

Drake’s Kentucky Locations:
Lexington

Lansdowne – 3347 Tates Creek Road
Brannon Crossing – 390 E. Brannon Road, Nicholasville
Hamburg – 1880 Pleasant Ridge Drive
Leestown – 1735 Sharkey Way

Louisville

Hurstbourne – 2651 S. Hurstbourne Parkway
Outer Loop – 3501 Outer Loop
Paddock Shops – 3921 Summit Plaza Drive
St. Matthews – 3939 Shelbyville Road

Other Locations

Elizabethtown – 151 The Loop
Bowling Green – 3267 Ken Bale Blvd
Owensboro – 3050 Highland Pointe Drive
Florence – 6805 Houston Road
Danville – 2596 South Danville Bypass
Pikeville – 175 Lee Ave.

Join us and be part of the excitement as Kentucky Volleyball competes for a spot in the national championship match!

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Florida Volleyball Adds Three Transfers to 2026 Roster

Published

48 minutes ago

December 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida volleyball announced Wednesday that outside hitter Kamryn (Kami) Chaney, middle blocker Brianna (Bri) Holladay and outside hitter Selena Leban will join the Gators for the upcoming 2026 season.

Arriving for the spring 2026 semester, Holladay and Leban each bring one year of collegiate experience, while Chaney arrives with three.

“Selena and Bri are talented freshmen who offer both production and upside,” Florida Head Coach Ryan Theis said. “Kami gives us a proven point scorer and while we’ll add a few more pieces between now and August, we’re thrilled with this start.”

The trio joins incoming freshman opposite/outside hitter Nadi’ya Shelby as newcomers on Florida’s 2026 roster.

Details on Chaney, Holladay and Leban are below.

Kamryn (Kami) Chaney

Position: Outside Hitter

Class: Senior

Height: 6-1

Hometown: Park Forest, Illinois

Previous Teams: Vanderbilt (2025), Princeton (2023-24)

High School: Marist

At Vanderbilt
Honors:

TSWA Volleyball Player of the Week – Sept. 23

Recorded a double-double vs. UC Irvine (19 kills/11 digs)

Black Student-Athlete Group Executive Board – Treasurer

2025 as a junior: Saw action in 17 matches and led the Commodores attack 12 times and behind the service line in eight matches… Finished with double-digit kills 12 times, including three with 20 or more… Season-best 22 kills against California (Sept. 10)… Matched career-best six aces against Western Kentucky (Sept. 16)… Led Vanderbilt in aces with 33 and totaled 218 kills, .182 hitting %, 94 digs,25 blocks and 264.5 points…Averaged 4.01 points per set, 3.30 kills per set, 0.50 aces per set, 1,42 digs per set and 0.38 blocks per set

At Princeton
Honors:

Ivy League Player of the Year (2024)

First Team All-Region (2024)

First Team All-Ivy League (2024)

Ivy League All-Tournament Team (2024)

#9, Most Kills in A Season (421, 2024)

Second Team All-Ivy League (2023)

4x Ivy League Player of the Week (Nov. 18 2024, Nov. 4 2024, Oct. 21 2024, Sept. 16 2024)

Ivy League Rookie of the Week (Oct. 16, 2023)

2024 as a sophomore: Led the Ivy League and ranked 16th nationally in points-per-set (5.20) … led the Ivy league and ranked 24th nationally in kills-per-set (4.43) … led the Ivy League in points (494) and kills (421) … ranked second in the Ivy League in service aces (48) and service aces-per-set (0.42) … her season-high 34 kills that came on a .484 hitting percentage against High Point on Sept. 21 were the eighth-most kills recorded in a five set match by any player in the 2024 season … became the first Ivy League player Maddie Lord of Penn of Penn on Oct. 11, 2014, to have 34 kills in a match … recorded 12 double-doubles … exceeded 20 kills in eight matches … tallied 25 kills, a season-high 16 digs and a season-high seven blocks on Sept. 13 against St. John’s … recorded 25 kills on a .532 hitting percentage, 13 digs and two service aces against Yale on Nov. 1 … accumulated 24 kills on a .404 hitting percentage and four digs against Yale on Oct. 5 … had 24 kills, hit .358 and had four digs on Sept. 28 against Penn … contributed 23 kills on a .400 hitting percentage and 11 digs at Cornell on Oct. 19 … finished with 22 kills, 10 digs and three blocks at UMBC on Sept. 21 … compiled 20 kills on a .357 hitting percentage, 10 digs and four blocks on Nov. 16 at Harvard

2023 as a freshman: Led the Tigers and ranked second in the Ivy League in points per set (3.86) … led the Tigers and ranked fourth in the Ivy League kills per set (3.27) … led the Tigers and ranked 10th in the Ivy League in service aces per set (0.33) … tied the team-high and ranked 10th in the Ivy League in service aces (24) … appeared in 21 matches and 73 sets … recorded 42 digs and 32 blocks … had a season-high 25 kills on a .417 hitting percentage in the Tigers’ win over Dartmouth on Nov. 10 … recorded 17 kills, three digs and two service aces at Harvard on Oct. 6 … finished with 16 kills, five service aces and three digs in the Tigers’ win at Dartmouth on Oct. 7 … tallied 13 kills, a season-high six service aces, four digs and three blocks on Oct. 14 in Princeton’s win over Cornell … finished with 15 kills, four digs and three blocks at UMBC on Sept. 8 … had a season-high four blocks in the Tigers’ victory over Penn on Sept. 22 … had double digit kills in 13 matches

Why Chaney chose the University of Florida
“Florida checked all the boxes for me. They have the best combination of elite academics and high-level athletics which is super important for me. How could I say no to Gainesville and the opportunities Florida can bring? Go Gators!”

Career Stats
Year	S	MP	Kills	E	TA	Hit. Pct.	A	SA	SErr	D	BS	BA	TB	BErr	PTS
2023	73	21	239	126	650	0.174	2	24	34	47	6	26	32	2	282.0
2024	95	26	421	151	968	0.279	16	40	62	222	10	46	56	5	494.0
2025	66	17	218	113	578	0.182	6	33	67	94	2	23	25	3	264.5
Totals:	234	64	878	390	2,196	0.222	24	97	163	363	18	95	213	10	1,040.5

Brianna (Bri) Holladay

Position: Middle Blocker

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6-3

Hometown: Leesburg, Va.

Previous Teams: Virginia Tech

High School: Riverside

At Virginia Tech
Honors:

Earned All-Tournament Team honors at both the Blue Hen Invitational and the Seahawk Classic

Named MVP of the Hokie Invitational

2025 as a freshman: In her rookie campaign, the Leesburg, Va., native appeared in 30 of Virginia Tech’s 31 matches, recording 108 blocks. She led the Hokies in blocks in 12 matches and posted five or more blocks 11 times during the season. Holladay added three double-digit kill performances and recorded her first career double-double with a career-high 13 kills and 10 blocks in Virginia Tech’s season finale against Syracuse on Nov. 28.

High School: Earned First Team All-State, All-Region and All-District selections in 2024… Named the 2024 State Player of the Year… Earned 2024 County Player of the Year honors and was named First Team All-Metropolitan… Earned Earned First Team All-State, All-Region and All-District selections in 2023… Named to the Second Team All-Metropolitan in 2023… Is an AP Scholar with Distinction… Earned the Academic Excellence Award four times.

Why Holladay chose the University of Florida
“I chose Florida Volleyball because the program represents a legacy of excellence that inspires every player to set a higher standard. I value the opportunity to represent Florida on the court and develop under the guidance of the new coaching staff. The passionate Gator fan base and strong support for student-athletes create an environment where I know I will be pushed to excel. Beyond athletics, the university’s strong academic reputation, particularly in engineering, will prepare me for a career after volleyball.”

Career Stats
Year	S	MP	Kills	E	TA	Hit. Pct.	A	SA	SErr	D	BS	BA	TB	BErr	PTS
2025	95	30	158	49	332	.328	5	7	12	20	10	98	108	12	224.0
Totals:	95	30	158	49	332	.328	5	7	12	20	10	98	108	12	224.0

Selena Leban

Position: Outside Hitter

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6-0

Hometown: Nova Gorica, Slovenia

Previous Teams: Kansas

High School: Gimnazija Šiška

At Kansas
2025 as a freshman: Appeared in 21 of the Jayhawks’ 35 matches, posting double-digit kills seven times and double-digit digs four times. Recorded back-to-back double-doubles, including a career-best 20 kills and 11 digs against then-No. 2 Penn State on Aug. 25, followed by 14 kills and 10 digs against then-No. 8 Wisconsin on Aug. 29.

High School: Competed for Slovenia on the national stage since 2019, beginning with the U16/U17 European Championship…. The European Golden League in 2024 was her 10th competition within the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV)… In 42 career CEV matches, Leban has recorded 289 kills, 52 service aces and 32 blocks…. Also competed in the 2020 and 2023 European Cups for her club.

Career Stats
Year	S	MP	Kills	E	TA	Hit. Pct.	A	SA	SErr	D	BS	BA	TB	BErr	PTS
2025	67	21	147	74	425	.172	11	15	32	126	1	28	29	5	177.0
Totals:	67	21	147	74	425	.172	11	15	32	126	1	28	29	5	177.0

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“I’m Lucky To Be At A Volleyball School”

Published

1 hour ago

December 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

KANSAS CITY – Dan Fisher sat at the podium Wednesday afternoon inside the T-Mobile Center, fielding questions about roster turnover, the transfer portal and about how his Pitt volleyball program keeps reloading year after year. As the Panthers prepare to make their fifth consecutive appearance in the national semifinal on Thursday night against Texas A&M, Fisher reflected on the program he’s built.

Then came his answer, simple and profound in its honesty.

“I’m lucky to be at a volleyball school.”

Eight words that capture everything about what Fisher has built. Not a school with a volleyball program. A volleyball school.

The distinction matters.

With all the roster turnover experienced from 2024 to 2025, Fisher and his staff didn’t panic.

They pivoted. They recruited. They rebuilt.

And here they are at the Final Four again, with a roster that looks completely different from the one that took the floor a season ago in Louisville.

“We had to pivot pretty quickly,” Fisher said. “I’m just really proud of the work my staff did to get a team in place to be back here.”

But the work goes deeper than Xs and Os, deeper than recruiting rankings or transfer portal additions. Fisher has built something sustainable at Pitt, something that transcends any single player or season. He’s built a culture, and more importantly, a family.

More Than Volleyball

For Fisher, the consistency hasn’t come from chasing perfection, but from setting standards and trusting people to grow into them.

Olivia Babcock and Bre Kelley, both All-Americans and leaders on this Final Four roster, describe a program that demands excellence without suffocating it.

“We have a standard we want to hold ourselves to,” Babcock said. “But it’s not the end of the world if we don’t hit it right away. That takes pressure off and it lets us get better every day.”

Kelley echoed that balance, pointing to Fisher’s ability to coach individuals as much as athletes.

“He builds real relationships with us off the court,” she said. “So when things get hard, when he’s pushing you, you know it’s coming from a place of care. He believes you can reach that level.”

This year’s team has needed that flexibility more than most. With so many new faces, the Panthers had to build chemistry on the fly while maintaining championship-level play. The result? A dominant season that has ended up back at the Final Four.

“This is a very new team, but so many people have been here before,” Babcock said. “We were able to prepare the newer players coming into this experience, what to expect.”

Playing for Something Bigger

Standing on the precipice of another Final Four, both Babcock and Kelley emphasized something that matters more than wins and losses: they’re playing for each other.

“Every time I step on the court, it’s just to have fun with my friends,” Kelley said. “Obviously, it’s hard to not give in to the pressure of these moments, but you just kind of look at your six-foot world, which is just the people on the court.”

That “six-foot world” philosophy – focusing on the teammates beside you rather than the noise around you – has become a mantra for this group. It’s how they’ve dominated elite competition. It’s how they’ve stayed locked in through adversity. And it’s how they plan to approach tomorrow’s national semifinal match against Texas A&M.

“We just want to play volleyball,” Babcock said. “This game is supposed to be fun. It’s not supposed to be severely taxing on your mind and body. I just want to play ball with this team and play to the best ability that we can and have a blast on this court.”

The Evolution of a Powerhouse

Fisher ponders a question about when he felt his program had arrived.

The foundation took years to build, player development that used to span five-year arcs rather than single seasons. But somewhere around last year, he admits, the perception shifted.

“Probably last year, with us being ranked number one a lot, it shifted from us being looked at as this new kid to, ‘Oh yeah, Pitt’s number one,'” Fisher said. “That was the new shift.”

Maintaining that standard through roster turnover and the chaotic modern college landscape? That’s the real challenge.

“The hardest part is how much the college landscape has changed,” Fisher acknowledged. “People are going to schools for different reasons, recruiting’s changed. As a collegiate coach, you need to evolve and adapt and embrace it.”

But even with all the changes, one thing remains constant: Fisher’s commitment to his players beyond volleyball.

“The most rewarding part is always the relationships,” he said. “The best thing as a coach is to see somebody maybe become better or to do something they didn’t think they could do. To be part of that journey is the best part.”

A Volleyball School

Back to those eight words: “I’m lucky to be at a volleyball school.”

Fisher wasn’t bragging. He was expressing genuine gratitude for an administration that supports the program, for fans who pack Fitzgerald Field House and for a city that has embraced this team as its own.

“We have a newer athletic director (Allen Greene) that’s been incredibly supportive of us,” Fisher said. “I’m lucky to be at the school I’m at.”

As the Panthers prepare for their fifth straight national semifinal appearance, they carry with them the weight of looking for their first appearance in the national championship match and the lightness of a team that genuinely loves playing together. They carry Fisher’s standards without his expectations. They carry the knowledge that they’re playing for something bigger than themselves.

Most of all, they carry the confidence that comes from knowing their coach sees them, truly, as more than just volleyball players.

That’s what it means to be at a volleyball school. That’s what Dan Fisher has built at Pitt.

Five straight Final Fours. A new roster. The same standard. The same coach who feels lucky to be at a volleyball school that just keeps winning.

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Louisell Named AVCA All-American – James Madison University Athletics

Published

1 hour ago

December 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LEXINGTON, Ky. – James Madison junior outside hitter Kennedy Louisell was named an Honorable Mention All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Louisell’s selection marks the fourth for a JMU player in program history and first since Sophie Davis was also named an honorable mention selection following the 2023 season.

The outside hitter and 2025 Sun Belt Player of the Year joins Davis (2023), M’Kaela White (2018), and Janey Goodman (2016) as players to be honored by the AVCA. Louisell was the only Sun Belt player to be named an All-American.

Louisell finished the 2025 season with 605 kills, the most for a JMU player in the Division I era (1986-present). The outside hitter also set a record with her average of 4.80 kills per set, with her kill and kills per set marks both ranking among the nation’s best.

The native of Grand Rapids, Mich., had double-digit kills in all 31 matches, including 12 with 20 or more kills and two with 30 or more.

Against Georgia State on Oct. 4, Louisell finished with 37 kills, breaking the program single-match record which had stood for over 40 years. Three weeks later against Georgia Southern, she broke her own record, finishing with 38 kills and 20 digs in a five-set win over the Eagles.

She remains the only player in the sport with at least 35 kills and 20 digs in the same match this season.

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No. 3 Volleyball Faces No. 1 Pittsburgh in Final Four – Texas A&M Athletics

Published

2 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The No. 3 seed Texas A&M volleyball team faces No. 1 seed Pittsburgh in the NCAA Tournament Final Four Thursday evening at the T-Mobile Center with first serve set for 5:30 p.m.

The Aggies punched their first ticket to the national semifinals following a pair of five set victories at the Lincoln Regional. They faced No. 2 seed Louisville in the Sweet 16, reverse sweeping the Cardinals to secure the program’s third Elite Eight berth. They followed that up the next day handing the undefeated No. 1 overall seed Nebraska Cornhuskers their first loss of the season and first home loss since 2022 to go further than any team in Texas A&M history had gone.

In the opening contest of the regional the Aggies embodied their team saying, ‘grit’, as they came back from a two-set deficit to defeat Louisville. Ifenna Cos-Okpalla set the tone for the weekend, blocking a program postseason record 12 swings in the match. Offensively, three Aggies hit double-digit kills paced by Logan Lednicky’s 20 and followed by Kyndal Stowers and Emily Hellmuth who added 17 and 12, respectively.

Following that up two days later, the Maroon & White took down the top-ranked Cornhuskers marking the second time in program history they had defeated the nation’s best and first time in 30 years. In what was an instant classic, Texas A&M secured the victory thanks to a complete team performance which included team postseason records in kills (75), blocks (17) and aces (9).

The Matchup
Thursday’s matchup versus Pittsburgh will be the seventh all-time meeting between the programs. The Panthers hold an advantage in the series at 4-2, but that margin shrink by one when they face off on a neutral court to 3-2. Pittsburgh claimed the most recent matchup between the teams, winning in three sets in 2022.

Texas A&M holds the slight advantage in games played on a neutral court this year at 4-1 compared to the Panthers’ 3-1. When playing away from in totality the Aggies boast a 16-3 record, while Pittsburgh is 13-4.

Looking at the stat sheet, the Maroon & White lead Pittsburgh in three of the seven team statistical categories including kills per set, assists per set and digs per set, while the Panthers leads in hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage, aces per set and blocks per set.

Tracks and Trends
Logan Lednicky has recorded double-digit kills in her last 21 matches and passed Hollann Hans for the rally-scoring kills record and ranks third overall in career kills at Texas A&M.

Ifenna Cos-Okpalla has logged five or more blocks in her last five games and is six blocks away from tying the program record for career blocks of 562. She is also one block from the single season record.

The Aggies have recorded 10 or more blocks as a team in five-consecutive games.

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Sports

No. 3 Volleyball earns three AVCA All-America honors

Published

2 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

AUSTIN, Texas – No. 3 Texas Volleyball saw three athletes earn All-America honors on Wednesday, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced.

Junior outside hitter Torrey Stafford was named a First Team All-American for the second-straight season, first with Texas. Stafford led the Longhorns this season in kills (516), service aces (33) and points (580.5). After 30 matches, Stafford averaged 4.69 kills per set and hit for .360. On top of her offense, the AVCA National Player of the Year semifinalist added 52 blocks and a team-leading 11 solo blocks.

Her 516 kills in her first year as a Longhorn is the sixth-most in a single season in UT history, while her 4.69 kills per set ranks eighth. Stafford later climbed to No. 5 on the Individual Match Records list with 32 kills.

Freshman Cari Spears was named a Third Team All-American after starting all 30 matches as a rightside. The Frisco, Texas native was named the SEC Freshman of the Week five times, was a two-time SEC player of the Week and AVCA Player of the Week once. It was the first time in two years a freshman earned the weekly honor. Spears ended the year with the second-most kills on the team (358) and combined for 3.25 kills per set and hit .295.

Senior libero Emma Halter earned Honorable Mention in her final year as a Longhorn. Halter ended the season with 396 digs, 167 assists and 24 service aces. In four years, Halter totaled 1,307 digs – the eighth-most in Texas history for an individual’s career. She also broke the Texas record in digs in a three-set match against Florida A&M with 25.

Wednesday’s honors gave the Longhorns their 62^nd All-American and 115^th honor.

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