Some say it’s harder to reach the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Final Four than to win it.

Just ask the University of Nebraska fans who counted on making the short trip down the road to Kansas City, Mo., with hopes of watching their top-ranked Huskers at T-Mobile Center in the heart of the city’s downtown.

But fans of the University of Pittsburgh’s women’s volleyball team have no empathy for the Huskers, who’ve won four NCAA women’s volleyball championships — including the last Final Four held in Kansas City eight years ago. Pitt has advanced to its fifth-straight Final Four since 2021, but it has yet to reach the championship match.

The fourth-ranked Panthers (30-4) hope to change that Thursday night in their semifinal match (ESPN, 6:30 p.m. ET) against ninth-ranked Texas A&M (27-4). The Aggies prevented the Huskers from singing, “Kansas City, here I come,” after a shocking upset in Lincoln, Nebraska, last Sunday.

That didn’t stop Panthers coach Dan Fisher from appealing on social media for Huskers fans in attendance to adopt Pitt as their favorite team.

“That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t take just the regular Kansas City volleyball fan,” said Fisher before Thursday’s semifinal. “Hopefully, we’ll turn a few and maybe have a little bit of a home-court advantage.”

Courtesy of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Athletics

Before last year’s national semifinal loss at what essentially was a road match at Louisville, Fisher was presented a Louisville Slugger bat as a gift from the city. Despite the painful season-ending outcome, Fisher still followed through with his plan of displaying the bat in his Pitt office.

“I can simultaneously be proud of making the Final Four and be disappointed we didn’t advance,” said Fisher.

The Pitt Panthers are the first team since the Texas Longhorns, from 2012 to ’16, to make it to the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Final Four in five straight years. The difference, though, is that the Longhorns captured two NCAA titles during their five-year run.

Pitt attacker Olivia Babcock, a 6-foot-4 junior from Los Angeles, California, was the Panthers’ ray of light after last year’s semifinal loss against Louisville — a game that Fisher called one of the toughest setbacks in his career.

On Nov. 2, in a volleyball road match at the University of North Carolina, Babcock had the most dominating performance of any individual Division I player this season. Babcock tallied 45 kills, the most for any D-I player since 2019.

Babcock, the American Volleyball Coaches Association national player of the year last year, is a finalist for the same award this year, but with a different surrounding cast.

“In ’23 and ’24, [there were] a lot of the same players, but this year we had to completely restart, and we were able to jell really well,” said Babcock. “I just love this team, and I think they’re really deserving.”

Most disappointing about last year’s semifinal loss was that it was the best Panthers performance to that point in their four-year Final Four run.

This year, the Panthers may have gotten a break. Before top-seeded Nebraska’s loss against Texas A&M, the Huskers had won 33 straight. Perhaps the curse of being a No. 1 seed? The Panthers were the No. 1 overall seed in last year’s NCAA tournament.

“I think a lot of it is mental,” said Andrew Diaz de Padilla, an assistant volleyball coach at Jacksonville University who attended the Panthers’ open practice session Wednesday as a Pitt fan after working at its summer volleyball camps.

“They got here to the Final Four [for the] fifth year in a row, and they finally don’t have to face a Nebraska or a Louisville,” he said.

Of the four teams in Kansas City, the highest-ranked team is No. 2 Kentucky. The total number of national titles among the four teams is two, one each by Kentucky and Wisconsin. Texas A&M is making its first trip to the Final Four.

To open the season in late August, the Panthers traveled to Nebraska for the AVCA First Serve Showcase in a star-studded four-team field. After a loss against Florida, the Panthers began the year 0-2.

But at that time, Babcock said there were some early lessons.

“There were just really high-pressure moments, and the pressure kind of got to us,” she said. “We made mistakes, and I feel like, moving forward, we want to capitalize on those moments. Apply pressure on them instead of letting the pressure get to us.”

Despite dropping those August matches, Fisher sees the same championship potential as he did at the season’s start.

“I think, when we’re playing at our best, we’re really good. We don’t know what the outcome will be, but we certainly know how good we can be, so [we’re] just trying to be ourselves,” he said.

The Panthers went on to win 30 of their next 32 matches this season after the 0-2 start. The only losses after the AVCA First Serve Showcase were against the University of Miami and Stanford University, both on the road.

Without the Huskers or the Longhorns, who have combined to win nine NCAA titles, the door appears to be open for Pitt.

But like the fans from another Rust Belt City who watched their Buffalo Bills reach the Super Bowl in four straight years without winning it, the Panthers don’t want to be just good enough to reach the title match.

They want to win it.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina beach volleyball first-year head coach Jose Loiola announced the program’s 2026 schedule Thursday. The spring slate features two home weekend tournaments, four road trips and a midseason Big 12 preview tournament.

Although official tournament schedules have yet to be finalized, the Gamecocks have identified potential opponents for each weekend. Among those teams, six are coming off appearances in the 2025 NCAA Championship 16-team field.

Dolphin Duals // Jacksonville, Fla. // Feb. 20–21

South Carolina will hit the sand for the first time Feb. 20 in Jacksonville, Fla., opening the season against North Florida. During the opening weekend, the Gamecocks will also face Florida Gulf Coast, Stetson and Jacksonville.

All-Time Series Histories: North Florida (4-6), Florida Gulf Coast (8-2), Stetson (5-10), Jacksonville (11-2)

Wheeler Beach Bash // Columbia, S.C. // Feb. 27–28

The home slate kicks off with the Wheeler Beach Bash. This year’s competition pool features Austin Peay, Coastal Carolina, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Chattanooga.

All-Time Series Histories: Austin Peay (1-0), Coastal Carolina (13-3), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1-1), Chattanooga (1-0)

Carolina Challenge // Columbia, S.C. // March 13–14

Following a bye weekend, the Gamecocks remain in Columbia to host the Carolina Challenge. The competition slate includes College of Charleston, Jacksonville, UNC Wilmington and fellow Big 12 opponent Boise State.

All-Time Series Histories: College of Charleston (18-2), Jacksonville (11-2), UNC Wilmington (14-0), Boise State (1-0)

TBD // Birmingham, Ala. // March 20–21

The Gamecocks begin a three-tournament road stretch in Birmingham, Ala. South Carolina will compete alongside UAB, Austin Peay, North Alabama and Oregon in the March to May tournament.

All-Time Series Histories: Austin Peay (1-0), North Alabama (1-0), Oregon (1-0), UAB (17-1)

Big 12 Preview // Fort Worth, Texas // March 27–28

As newly added members of the Big 12 Conference, South Carolina will compete in the Big 12 Preview, hosted by reigning national champion TCU. Arizona, Arizona State, Florida State and Boise State round out the field.

All-Time Series Histories: Arizona State (3-3), Arizona (0-0), Boise State (1-0), Florida State (0-27), TCU (3-6)

Wildcat Spring Challenge // Tucson, Ariz. // April 3–4

South Carolina remains out west, traveling to Tucson, Ariz., for the Wildcat Spring Challenge from April 3–4. The tournament field includes Florida Gulf Coast, Arizona, Hawai‘i and Colorado Mesa.

All-Time Series Histories: Florida Gulf Coast (8-2), Arizona (0-0), Hawai‘i (0-2), Colorado Mesa (1-0)

Senior Day // Columbia, S.C. // April 11

Competition at Wheeler Beach concludes April 11 as the program honors seven seniors in a matchup against Stetson.

All-Time Series History: Stetson (5-10)

Deland Cup // DeLand, Fla. // April 17–18

To close the regular season, South Carolina travels to Stetson for the DeLand Cup from April 17–18. UNC Wilmington and Georgia State will also compete.

All-Time Series Histories: UNC Wilmington (14-0), Georgia State (8-13)

Big 12 Conference Championship // Tucson, Ariz. // April 23–27

For the first time in program history, the Gamecocks will compete in the Big 12 Conference Championship, held April 23–27 in Tucson, Ariz.

All-Time Conference Tournament Record (CCSA): 14-18

South Carolina joined the Big 12 Conference in September alongside Boise State and Florida State, joining Arizona, Arizona State and TCU. The Gamecocks previously competed in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA).

Four Nebraska volleyball players were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Teams on Wednesday. 

Andi Jackson, Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly were selected to the AVCA All-America First Team. Rebekah Allick was chosen to the AVCA All-America Second Team. 

The Huskers’ four All-America selections bring their nation-leading total to 111 all-time.

Murray and Reilly are now three-time AVCA All-Americans, but both earned first-team honors for the first time in their careers.

Jackson earned a second straight nod on the first team, while Allick was named an All-American for the first time. 

AVCA All-America First Team
Andi Jackson, Jr., MB, Brighton, Colo.
• Jackson was chosen to the AVCA All-America First Team for the second straight year, as well as the All-Big Ten First Team. She was also an AVCA Player of the Year Semifinalist.
• Jackson averaged 2.74 kills per set on .467 hitting with 1.12 blocks per set, and she served 16 aces.
• Jackson’s .467 hitting percentage leads the nation and was the No. 3 hitting percentage in school history for a single season.
• In conference-only matches, Jackson hit .559 to break the Big Ten record for hitting percentage in conference-only matches in a season, which was .541 by Arielle Wilson from Penn State in 2008.
• Jackson has a career hitting percentage of .437, which is the No. 1 mark in school history and the No. 1 mark among active Division I players. 
• Jackson earned Big Ten Player of the Week, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and AVCA First Serve Match MVP honors this season.

Harper Murray, Jr., OH, Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Murray earned AVCA All-America and All-Big Ten First Team honors for the third straight year.
• Murray led the Huskers with a career-best 3.54 kills per set on a career-high .295 hitting percentage. 
• A standout six-rotation player, Murray also contributed 2.16 digs per set and 0.60 blocks per set along with a team-high 34 aces. She totaled a career-high 4.21 points per set for the season.
• One of the best passers in the nation at her position, Murray passed a 2.52 throughout the season.
• Murray finished the season at 1,181 career kills, which ranks 19th all-time in school history and 10th in the rally-scoring era. 
• Murray’s career kills per set average of 3.38 ranks third at NU in the rally-scoring era behind only Sarah Pavan and Jordan Larson.
• Murray’s 109 career aces are the sixth-most at NU in the rally-scoring era.  

Bergen Reilly, Jr., S, Sioux Falls, S.D.
• Reilly has been an AVCA All-American each year of her Husker career but earned a first-team accolade for the first time after a record-breaking season.  
• Reilly set the Huskers to a school-record .351 hitting percentage, shattering the previous record of .331 in 1986. NU’s .351 hitting percentage ranks first nationally and is the best hitting percentage by a Big Ten team since 2009 Penn State. 
• Reilly averaged 10.47 assists per set and 2.70 digs per set. She also totaled 73 kills, 67 blocks and 19 aces. 
• Reilly was named Big Ten Player of the Year and AVCA Region Player of the Year, as well as Big Ten Setter of the Year and All-Big Ten First Team for the third time. 
• Reilly set Nebraska to a .400 or better hitting percentage nine times on the season, a school record in the rally-scoring era. She had double-doubles in all six of the Husker matches that went longer than three sets, and she had four double-doubles in sweeps.
• Reilly ranks No. 3 in school history in career assists in the rally-scoring era with 3,723. Her career assists per set average of 10.70 ranks No. 4 among active Division I players and No. 2 in school history in the rally-scoring era.
• Reilly was named Big Ten Setter of the Week four times this season, giving her 13 for her career.    

AVCA All-America Second Team
Rebekah Allick, Sr., MB, Lincoln, Neb.
• Allick earned the first AVCA All-America honor of her career after being named All-Region three times. She also earned All-Big Ten First Team accolades for the first time.
• Allick had the best season of her standout career with 2.56 kills per set on .450 hitting with a team-high 1.27 blocks per set.
• Allick’s .450 hitting percentage ranks as the No. 4 single-season mark in school history, as well as the No. 4 mark in the country this season. 
• Allick finished her Husker career at No. 5 in career blocks in the rally-scoring era with 543. Her career blocks per set average of 1.31 ranks fourth.  
• Allick was named AVCA National Player of the Week, a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, and to the AVCA All-First Serve Team.
• Allick was on the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List at the midway point of the season. 

Hofstra’s Stedile Captures AVCA All-America Honorable Mention

12/17/2025 11:34:34 AM

Dylan Smith

RICHMOND, Va. – Add All-American to the long list of accolades for Hofstra outside hitter Izadora Stedile as the 2025 CAA Player of the Year garnered honorable mention recognition by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) on Wednesday.

Stedile became the third Hofstra player to earn All-America recognition, joining fellow honorable mentions Kelsie Wills in 2014 and Elizabeth Curley in 2006. Stedile is also the first CAA player since 2022 to be named an All-American.

The senior became the Pride’s fourth conference Player of the Year after stellar play throughout the 2025 campaign. Overall, the All-CAA First Team selection put forth career-best totals with 4.07 kills and 4.43 points per set on 29.1% hitting, guiding Hofstra to a share of the regular season title. Stedile notched double-digit kills in 23 of her 24 matches played, including five performances of 20-plus slams. She also recorded 17 double-doubles in 2025.

The Pride’s outside hitter dazzled in league action, unleashing 4.06 kills per set (2^nd in CAA) on a .294 hitting percentage (9^th) to go with 4.44 points per set (3^rd). Her offensive abilities also complemented her defensive prowess in CAA play, ranking seventh in the league with 3.62 digs per set.

Dear Husker Nation:

With the holidays upon us, the end of the calendar year is near, a time when we reflect back on another amazing year of Nebraska Athletics. I want to share with you some of our highlights and achievements from 2025 and provide you with information about what comes next.

In competition, our storied Volleyball team just completed a remarkable 33-1 season; Wrestling finished as the national runner-up as a team and two Husker wrestler won individual national championships; Softball made an NCAA Super Regional appearance; Football earned a second straight bowl berth; and both of our basketball teams are undefeated and ranked in the Top 25!

In the classroom, Husker student-athletes set a school record with a 3.464 GPA, led the Big Ten Conference with 117 Fall Academic All-Conference selections, and once again posted a Graduation Success Rate over 90 percent, among the best in the nation. Additionally, I continue to be impressed and grateful for the positive impact our student-athletes are making in and around Lincoln through their volunteer work. In the Fall of 2025, 30 team service projects were completed along with more than 700 individual engagements. Indoor Track and Field triple jump national runner-up Micaylon Moore was named the winner of the NCAA Impact Award (previously the NCAA Top Ten Award), given to the most outstanding Division I male senior student-athlete when considering academic achievement, athletic success, and community service. Micaylon is the epitome of everything we want our student-athletes to be.

The year 2025 also brought implementation of the House settlement, triggering a new world of revenue sharing with our student-athletes. As a result, the collective supporting Husker Athletics, 1890 Nebraska, began to wind down its operations. Hundreds of Husker fans donated millions of dollars over the past 24 months to support NIL for our student-athletes, as the rules at the time permitted. The House settlement now prohibits much of what 1890 Nebraska provided, but in turn allows the University to share $20.5 million directly with student-athletes as we pay to license their NIL rights.

On behalf of Nebraska Athletics and our student-athletes, I want to thank and highlight the contributions of Tom and Shawn Peed in creating and leading 1890 Nebraska. Their personal investment in the collective has been immense, but their vision and leadership gave us an opportunity to succeed in this new world. Without their work, our bright future would be considerably cloudy. As of today, the five sports primarily supported by the collective include a defending national runner-up wrestling team, a football team that is participating in back-to-back bowl games for the first time in over a decade, two unbeaten and ranked basketball teams and a regional runner-up volleyball team. The evidence of 1890 Nebraska’s work and success is clear.

The year also saw enhancements to some of our athletic facilities, including the completion of the track and field complex, along with new facilities for golf, rifle, swimming and diving and bowling. Next year promises to be even more active on the facility front with renovated clubhouses for both softball and baseball, the expansion of the Devaney Center, a complete renovation and expansion of volleyball’s team facilities and preliminary work at Memorial Stadium setting the stage for more comprehensive work beginning 12 months from now.

Other new initiatives in 2025 included the start of alcohol sales at all on-campus venues in addition to alcohol being previously available at Pinnacle Bank Arena and at Haymarket Park. This change, along with Aramark partnering with Husker Athletics for the first time, significantly enhanced the game day experience for our fans. More than 313,000 alcoholic beverages were served and new food options were added to the menu, resulting in an increase of 75 percent in total concession revenue compared to last year. The introduction of alcohol sales came with concerns about the impact on fan behavior, but it remained consistent with the previous five years.

Looking ahead to what will be a fantastic 2026, our team has sent out final materials that outline priority for the 2026 Volleyball seat selection and beyond. Reseating plans can cause angst and confusion among fans, and this one is no different. However, our athletics staff has developed a plan that ensures that season-ticket holders in 2025 will be guaranteed season-tickets in 2026. As previously communicated, the seat location will be determined by their standing on the priority list, that will take into account a combination of several factors.

Athletic departments generally reseat venues to open access to the next generation of supporters because the lifeblood to sustaining athletic department operations is philanthropy, and most philanthropy comes with access to tickets and seat locations. Unique to the strong volleyball interest at Nebraska, 10 percent of current season-ticket holders did not use their tickets this year but rather sold those tickets through secondary markets. Those tickets, originally purchased for a total of $600,000 by those ticket holders, were then resold for a total of $3.2M on the secondary market. As we indicated last year, ticket use for this purpose is strictly prohibited. The accounts that resold the entirety of their tickets will be excluded from the ability to purchase season-tickets in 2026.

On the entertainment front in 2026, we have already announced three shows in Memorial Stadium in 2026. Zach Bryan will perform on April 25, the Savannah Bananas on June 13 and The Boys from Oklahoma on August 22. Our plan is to continue to utilize our facilities for outside events to bring new events to our spaces and to help drive entertainment options in Lincoln. Due to anticipated construction, we are not attempting to book events for Memorial Stadium in 2027, but we will be back with incredible shows in 2028!

Finally, I want to leave you with a thought about women’s sports at the University of Nebraska. As you know, women’s sports are tremendously important to our university and to our culture. The commitment from our fans to sell out Volleyball since 2001 and nearly sell out Bowlin Stadium in December for a highly anticipated 2026 softball season are indicative of how much our fans care.

Some across the nation connect the evolution of college athletics in this revenue sharing era to a risk to women’s and Olympic sports. It has become commonplace for people seeking attention for their own provincial causes to cite threats to women’s and Olympic sport programs as if protecting those programs is their motivation.   

The choice to support women’s and Olympic sports is one every institution makes every day, and that choice will not be impacted at the University of Nebraska by the changing world of intercollegiate athletics. We made our choice many years ago, and we remain all “N”.

With that in mind, stay tuned for two big announcements on the Husker women’s sports front early in 2026 that will have a tremendous impact on our female student-athletes, both today and moving forward.

I continue to be so proud and honored to live in Nebraska and to serve as Athletic Director at the University of Nebraska. I hope to see many of you in Las Vegas to ring out 2025.

Happy Holidays to all and GO BIG RED!

Troy Dannen
Director of Athletics