One of the most successful coaches in the history of BYU athletics is leaving the school to “pursue new professional avenues.”

Women’s volleyball coach Heather Olmstead announced Thursday that she is moving on after 11 seasons at the helm. Associate head coach David Hyte will serve as interim head coach.

Olmstead took over in the 2015 season. She amassed a record of 279-55 and was the fastest coach to reach 200 Division I wins, doing so in just 225 matches. She was also the third-fastest coach all time to reach 100 Division I wins, doing so in just 111 matches.

“Coaching at BYU has been an incredible chapter — one filled with championships, NCAA tournament runs and record-setting seasons,” Olmstead said in a school news release. “But the true highlight has always been the people. I’m grateful for every athlete who let me be part of her journey and for the chance to help shape strong leaders, teammates and women who go on to make a difference long after their playing days.

“As I move into this next chapter, I do so with deep gratitude for the BYU community, for the players who trusted me with their development and for the staff who stood beside me through every challenge,” Olmstead continued. “I wish this program continued success, and I’m excited for what’s next.”

BYU director of athletics Brian Santiago said Olmstead will be remembered as one of the best coaches in program history. He said the school will begin a “national search” for a new coach immediately.

“I want to thank Heather for everything she has done to make BYU women’s volleyball great,” said Santiago. “She poured her heart and soul into this program and guided incredible teams that have had consistent national relevance and success and represented BYU well.

“Her student-athletes have gone on to do remarkable things. We wish Heather all the best as she pursues new opportunities, and we will open a national search for a new women’s volleyball head coach immediately.”

The 2018 AVCA National Coach of the Year, Olmstead and her staff’s development of players has led to 14 different All-Americans, 23 different All-Region honorees, nine different All-Big 12 honorees and 22 different All-WCC honorees in addition to a national player of the year candidate, the 2018 AVCA National Freshman of the Year and multiple West Coast Conference awardees.

Olmstead led the 2018 team to one of the greatest seasons in program history, ranking No. 1 for 11-consecutive weeks as they won their first 27 matches, including against then-No. 1 Stanford. BYU was awarded its highest-ever NCAA Tournament seed at No. 4, then reeled off wins against Stony Brook, Utah, Florida and Texas in front of standing-room-only crowds at the Smith Fieldhouse to advance to the Final Four before falling to eventual champion Stanford in the national semifinals.

Olmstead led BYU to Sweet 16 appearances six times as well as six WCC titles. The Cougars have won at least 19 matches each year (17 during COVID-19) during her time as head coach.

Olmstead has also contributed internationally, including serving as head coach of the U.S. Women’s U21 National Team that won gold at both the 2025 NORCECA Pan American Cup and the 2024 NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship, the U.S. Collegiate National Team in Japan in May 2019 and as the assistant coach on the U.S. team that won gold at the 2015 Pan American Games.

Even though the SMU volleyball team is in uncharted territory, the Mustangs are acting like they’ve been here before because it’s where they expect to be.

The past two seasons ended in the second round, but with victories against Central Arkansas and Florida, second-seeded SMU reached the third round of the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. The Mustangs celebrated the accomplishment when it was achieved, but it’s back to business as they will face third-seeded Purdue in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

“We are so excited to be here, just had a great practice, and are ready to compete,” SMU head coach Sam Erger said on Wednesday. “I think having that big hurdle of getting past the second round, we’re not going to be happy with just that. We honestly haven’t really talked about that much, just that it was the first for our program because the expectation is that we’re going to keep competing.”

Even though there is a lot of new when it comes to this round of the tournament, there is some familiarity. SMU and Purdue played back on September 14. The Mustangs also played in Pitt’s Petersen Events Center earlier this season, at the start of ACC play at the end of September.

While Purdue got the better of the Mustangs 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 27-25, 25-18) during the regular season, it was a long time ago. SMU has played 24 matches since then.

“That feels like a world ago,” Erger said. “We’ve gone through quite a bit of adversity. The silver lining to that is we’ve had players get to shine in a way that maybe they wouldn’t have been able to, and we’ve been able to test our depth, and we’ve been able to see some freshmen have breakout seasons, and we’ve addressed where we were lacking defensively. … We’ve grown a ton, and I’m just happy and hopeful that we’ll keep getting to grow.”

The Mustangs also know Purdue will be a different team than the one they faced nearly four months ago. Even though the Boilermakers haven’t had some of the lineup changes SMU has, there has been time to develop and take the next steps as a team.

“I don’t think they’ve gotten any crazy new personnel in the way that we have,” Erger said. “Like Kennedi Rogers didn’t even play the first time, I believe. So that’s exciting on our end. I don’t think Maggie Croft played. That’s exciting on our end. For them, they’ve just gotten better, and they’re so good tactically. So I would assume that their game plan will, maybe, be a little different. I think that they have just been able to perform at a high level very consistently across their season. … The game probably should look different (Thursday). We’re both better.”

One area the Mustangs have improved is defensively. It was something Erger and her staff challenged the team with, and the team has responded. 

“We’ve addressed where we were lacking defensively,” Erger said. “It was an area we needed to really grow early on in the season. And both of these two (Averi Carlson and Malaya Jones) have grown a ton defensively.”

Libero Jordyn Schilling leads the team with 349 digs, with Carlson (249) and Jones (247) second and third, respectively. 

But the other key piece to SMU’s defense has been Favor Anyanwu at the net. She had six blocks in the second-round win against Florida and now has 175 for the season, 14 blocks shy of the SMU single-season record. Croft had a career-high nine blocks in the match, helping give the Mustangs double-digit blocks 17 times in 32 matches this season.

Jones (94) and Carlson (85) are also second and third on the team in blocks.

“Of course, we want to block every ball ever hit,” Jones said. “But a huge part of it is (assistant coach) Trent (Sorensen). He helps us so much with our eye work and getting low and over to the baseline. Sam says that every single day, trying to ingrain that into our brains. And then also, Favor is just one of the most insane blockers in the country. She sets a standard for how we need to be every single practice and how we need to be in games. She just keeps encouraging us to be the best blockers and have the best eye sequence. She has constant feedback for us all the time.”

When it comes to playing in their first Sweet 16 match, the players aren’t making the game any bigger than it is, either. Jones noted she goes into every match being her ‘biggest, baddest self,’ making this one no different.

And ultimately, it’s volleyball.

“Just treating it like a normal game, not really hyping it up too much because it’s still the same game that we’ve been playing for so long,” Carlson said. “At the same time, just really knowing the game plan and just doing our best to be the best players that we can be.”

PITTSBURGH. Pa. — The No. 4 seeded Minnesota Golden Gophers (24-9, 12-8 B1G) are getting set to play the No. 1 seeded Pittsburgh Panthers (28-4, 18-2 ACC) in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The match is set for 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on ESPN2. Anne Marie Anderson, Gophers alumnae Nicole Branagh and Shelby Coppedge will be on the call. Tanner Hoops will be on play-by-play for Gopher Sports Radio.

The two teams are meeting for the fourth time in the history of the two programs and for the first time since the spring 2021 season. In that season, unseeded Pitt took down the No. 1 seeded Golden Gophers in five sets in the NCAA Tournament in Omaha, Neb.

MATCH INFORMATION

No. 4 Minnesota at No. 1 Pittsburgh

Thursday, Dec. 11

7 p.m. CT/6 p.m. CT

Petersen Events Center

Pittsburgh, Pa.

TV: ESPN2 – Anne Marie Anderson (Play-By-Play), Nicole Branagh (Analyst) and Shelby Coppedge (Sideline Reporter)

Radio: GopherSports.com – Tanner Hoops (Play-By-Play)

Live Stats

HEADING INTO THE MATCH

Minnesota Trails Pittsburgh, 2-1

First Meeting: 1990

Last Meeting: 2021

NOTES TO KNOW

1,033 — Career kills for Julia Hanson.

260 — Keegan Cook won his 260th career match as a head coach on Dec. 6 vs. Iowa State.

59 — Minnesota is 59th nationally and sixth in the Big Ten with 1.69 aces per set.

44 — The Gophers are 44th nationally (4th B1G) with 196 aces.

30 — This year is Minnesota’s 30th ever NCAA Tournament appearance. That is the 11th most of any program in the country.

26 — Julia Hanson has 26 matches with 10+ kills this year in 30 chances (missed Loyola Chicago match).

24 — Minnesota ranks 24th nationally (3rd B1G) with 2.63 blocks per set.

21 — Minnesota will be playing in its 21st regional semifinal on Thursday. The Gophers are 10-10 in regional semifinal matches.

16 — Sweeps in 33 matches for the Golden Gophers. They’ve won seven matches in four sets (1-2 in five).

15 — Minnesota ranks 15th nationally (4th B1G) in hitting % (.286).

14 — Times this season Minnesota posted 10+ blocks as a team. They’re 11-3 when going for 10-or-more blocks (losses at Oregon, Purdue, Wisconsin).

14 — Minnesota is 14-4 at home this season. Only losses were to UCLA, USC, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

11 — 2025 is Minnesota’s 11th straight NCAA Tournament. They’ve made 26 of the last 27 (missed 2014).

8 — Gophers head coach Keegan Cook is 8-26 against AVCA Top-25 ranked opponents in three seasons. (Wins vs. No. 15 Baylor, No. 5 Oregon, No. 1 Texas, No. 7 Wisconsin, No. 11 Purdue, No. 23 Iowa State, No. 23 Indiana and No. 24 Penn St.). They’ve made three Final Fours, four Sweet 16s and an Elite Eight since 2015.

6 — Jordan Taylor ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 1.24 blocks per set, a team-best. That mark leads all Big Ten freshmen.

6 — Minnesota ranked 6th in average attendance at 4,488 per match (avg.). They ranked fourth overall (80,779 total fans).

5 — Minnesota ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 183 service aces.

5 — During Big Ten play, Julia Hanson ranked fifth in the league in kills per set with 4.02.

5 — 20+ kill matches for Julia Hanson in 2025. She last had 20+ on Saturday vs. Iowa St. (23).

5 — Julia Hanson is fifth in the B1G with 4.69 points per set.

5 — Gophers were named to the AVCA All-Northwest Region Team (Hanson – Player of the Year, Gilk, Swenson, Myers and Taylor). Coach Cook was named Region Coach of the Year.

4 — Julia Hanson is fourth in the Big Ten with 4.13 kills per set.

4 — Minnesota is 4-6 against its 10 ranked opponents this season.

4 — Minnesota lost four starters to season-ending injuries in OH Alex Acevedo and Mckenna Wucherer, MB Calissa Minatee and L Zeynep Palabiyik.

4 — 4-2 NCAA Tournament record at Minnesota for head coach Keegan Cook, now in his third year.

3 — Gophers earned All-B1G honors in 2025. Julia Hanson (1st), Stella Swenson (2nd, Freshmen) and Carly Gilk (All-Freshmen). Swenson and Gilk are the first Gophers to make All-Freshmen since 2022.

3 — Straight 20+ kill matches for Julia Hanson in the Illinois, USC and Wisconsin matches. She’s the first Gopher to do so since Stephanie Samedy (’21). She’s hit 10+ in 11 of the last 13 matches.

2 — The Gophers rank second in the B1G in total blocks with 305.5. That figure is 20th nationally. 

2 — During B1G play, the Gophers ranked second with 1.77 aces per set. They had 129 aces (2nd in B1G).

LAST TIME OUT

• The then No. 17 Minnesota volleyball team went 2-0 at home against Fairfield (25-12, 25-7, 15-13) and No. 23 Iowa State (25-22, 25-21, 25-14) to advance to the Sweet 16. Julia Hanson had 13 kills vs. Fairfield as the team hit a school-record .582 for the match. Minnesota also posted 11.5 blocks as a team. On Saturday vs. ISU, Hanson took her game to a new level, going for 23 kills on .488 to lead the Gophers to a sweep. Stella Swenson had 35 assists and eight digs as Minnesota made its first Sweet 16 since 2022.

GOPHERS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT

• The 2025 season marked the 30th year the Gophers advanced to the NCAA tournament. With an at-large bid, the Gophers advanced to the tournament for the 11th straight season and 26th in the last 27 seasons.

• In the first round of NCAA Tournaments, Minnesota is 29-1 all-time. In round two, Minnesota is 22-7.

• The Gophers all-time record in NCAA Tournaments is 64-29. Minnesota has made the Final Four six times (2003, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2019), and the national title game once (2004).

• The program has had 31 straight winning seasons, dating back to 1995. The ‘U’ has won 10-or-more Big Ten games in every season except for one dating back to 1999. The program has finished in the top six of the B1G standings every year since 2015.

GOPHERS IN THE RANKINGS

• The ‘U’ entered the 2025 season with a No. 11 ranking in the Preseason AVCA poll (finished 18th in 2024).

• At the end of regular season, the ‘U’ moved up to No. 17, going up one spot from the previous week.

COACH COOK IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT  

• Keegan Cook is 21-10 as a head coach in the NCAA Tournament. He led his Washington teams to one Final Four, three Elite Eights and two Sweet 16s. Both of his first two years at Minnesota, the ‘U’ went to the Round of 32. This is his first Sweet 16 appearance as a Gopher.

STRONG SCHEDULE PREPS ‘U’ FOR POSTSEASON

• The Gophers have gone 4-6 vs. ranked opponents in 2025. Minnesota was one of nine Big Ten teams to make the 2025 NCAA tournament. Of the Gophers 11 non-conference opponents, seven made the NCAA Tournament. Six of Minnesota’s opponents will play in the Sweet 16, including Cal Poly, Indiana, Nebraska, Purdue, Texas A&M and Wisconsin. Minnesota went 3-4 against those teams.

• The ‘U’ entered the postseason with a top-15 RPI and earned the No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

• In all, the Gophers faced 15 teams that make up the field of 64. Against teams that made the postseason, Minnesota posted a 9-8 record this season.

SCOUTING PITTSBURGH

• Pittsburgh (28-4, 18-2 ACC) is led by 13th-year head coach Dan Fisher. Under his guidance the Panthers have made four straight Final Fours since the 2021 season. Prior to that, Pitt made a regional final in 2020-21 and four straight second rounds of the NCAA Tournament before that.

• The Panthers lost their first two matches of the season vs. No. 1 Nebraska and then No. 16 Florida, but have won 28 of their last 30 since, only falling at No. 18 Miami and at No. 5 Stanford.

• Pitt is led by 2024 National Player of the Year Olivia Babcock, a three-time All-ACC First Team player and the ACC Player of the Year. She averages 5.06 kills per set on .329 hitting. Bre Kelly paces the defense with 1.49 blocks per set while setter Brooke Mosher leads the offense with 9.86 assists per set.

MINNESOTA’S HISTORY VS. PITTSBURGH

• Minnesota is 1-2 all-time vs. Pittsburgh, including 0-1 in the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers took down Minnesota in the Spring 2021 NCAA Tournament, also in the Sweet 16. It was a five-set thriller (25-21, 23-25, 25-20, 21-25, 11-15). Stephanie Samedy had 23 kills to lead the ‘U’ during the match.

• They also played in 1990 in Minneapolis, a 3-0 sweep for Pitt, and in 1999 in Hawai’i, a 3-0 win for Minnesota.

STREAKS TO WATCH

• Julia Hanson has tallied 10+ kills in 26 of her 32 matches this year, including 13 of 15 with 10+.

• McKenna Garr has totaled 10+ digs in 23 of her 32 matches, including 21 of 28 as starting libero.

• Lourdes Myers has multiple blocks in 29 of her 33 matches, including 17 matches with four-or-more.

• Stella Swenson has hit 30+ assists in 22 of 33 matches on the year. She also has eight double-doubles after tallying a career-best 58 assists and 10 digs at Iowa on Nov 16.

FIVE GOPHERS EARN AVCA ALL-REGION HONORS, COOK, HANSON WIN COACH AND PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• Senior outside Julia Hanson was named AVCA Northwest Region Player of the Year while head coach Keegan Cook was named region Coach of the Year. It was Hanson’s first region player of the year and Cook’s fourth region coach of the year (first at Minnesota).

• Joining Hanson on the AVCA All-Northwest Region First Team were freshman opposite Carly Gilk and redshirt freshman setter Stella Swenson. Redshirt senior middle blocker Lourdes Myers and freshman middle blocker Jordan Taylor both earned All-Region Honorable Mention. 

LAST TIME A NO. 4 SEED OR LOWER BEAT A NO. 1 SEED

• The spring 2021 NCAA Tournament, when unseeded Pittsburgh defeated No. 1 seed Minnesota (No. 3 seed overall) in the Sweet 16. The match was played in Omaha and went five sets.

• The 2019 NCAA Tournament, when unseeded Louisville defeated No. 1 seed (No. 2 overall seed) Texas in the Sweet 16 in Austin. Before that, it was when No. 4 seed Oregon (No. 15 overall) beat No. 1 seed Minnesota (No. 2 overall) in the 2018 Sweet 16 in Minneapolis.

YOUNGEST TEAM IN NCAA TOURNAMENT

• Of all 16 teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament, Minnesota is by far the youngest group. Of the seven starters, five are freshmen and two are seniors. Only Indiana (4) starts three-or-more freshman of the Sweet 16 teams. Pitt, SMU, Louisville, Stanford and Texas all start two freshmen.

UP NEXT

If they are victorious, Minnesota will take on the winner of No. 2 SMU and No. 3 Purdue on Saturday, Dec. 13. The match time and channel are TBD.  

It may have been a sloppy win for the No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team, but it doesn’t matter when you’re competing in the NCAA Tournament. As the term was coined back in NC State’s improbable run in 1983, it’s all about surviving and advancing.

Despite recording one of its worst hitting percentages of the season (.253), the Huskers came away with sweep No. 27 on the season and won its 28th consecutive home NCAA Tournament match, which is a school record. Likely first team All-Americans Andi Jackson and Harper Murray each posted a match-high 10 kills while Taylor Landfair (8 kills), Virginia Adriano (7), and Rebekah Allick (6) each tallied at least half a dozen kills.

Advancing to their 14th straight NCAA Regional, the Huskers return to John Cook Arena to face an old Big 12 foe, while an emotional reunion could be awaiting NU in the regional finals. Here’s all you need to know for this weekend’s NCAA Tournament action in Lincoln.

Sweet 16

How to Follow Along 

• Matchup: No. 1 Nebraska (32-0, 20-0 B1G) vs. No. 16 Kansas (24-10, 13-5 Big 12).
• When: Friday, Dec. 12.
• Where: John Cook Arena at Bob Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln, Neb.
• Time: 30 minutes after No. 9 Louisville vs. No. 6 Texas A&M, which begins at 6 p.m. CST. 
• Watch: ESPN2.
• Listen: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates.

No. 16 Kansas Scout

Head Coach

• Matt Ulmer | 1st season at Kansas; 10th as HC.
• 24-10 (.706) at KU; 190-87 (.686) Career Record.
• 8x NCAA Tournament Apps., 3x Elite Eights, 2x Sweet 16s, 2013 beach volleyball national championship.
• Previous head coach at Oregon.
• Previous assistant at Oregon, Long Beach State & Carthage College. 

2025 Record & Awards

• 24-10 (13-5 Big 12, 2nd)
• All-Big 12: 2x First Team, 4x Second Team, 2x All-Freshman.

All-Time Series

• Nebraska leads 88-0-1.
• Dec. 2, 2022, NCAA Second Round last matchup, 3-1 KU.

NCAA Tournament History

• Appearances: 14, fifth consecutive. 
• All-Time Tournament Record: 25-26. 
• Best Finish: NCAA National Semifinal in 2015.

Key Returners

• Reese Ptacek | MB | Soph. | Was the 2024 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and followed up with 426 points on a .317 hitting percentage while leading the team with 136 blocks; also named to the All-Big 12 First Team.
• Rhian Swanson | OH | Sr. | All-Big 12 Second Team pick after leading the Jayhawks with 3.09 kills per set and 346 kills total.
• Grace Nelson | OH | Soph. | Another All-Big 12 Second Team selection with 326.5 points made up of 284 kills, 36 blocks, and 23 aces.
• Katie Dalton | S/OH | Sr. | Did not see action last season, but beat out Oregon transfer Cristin Cline to the starting setter spot in the latter stages of the season and has averaged 8.84 assists per set.

Key Departures

• Ayah Elnady | OH | Transfer | Egyptian who spent her first four seasons at KU before transferring to Northwestern; was an All-Big 12 First Team pick in 2024.
• Caroline Bien | OH/L | Graduated | Two-time All-Big 12 performer who starred for KU with 2.56 kills and 3.11 digs per set in her final collegiate season.
• Toyosi Onabanjo | MB | Graduated | First round pick of the Omaha Supernovas of MLV after an AVCA Honorable Mention campaign in 2024 by hitting .409 with 329 points.
• London Davis | OPP | Graduated | Back-to-back All-Big 12 Second Team selections to end her college career in 2023 and 2024.
• Camryn Turner | S | Graduated | AVCA Third Team All-American in 2024 after leading the Big 12 with 11.29 assists per set.

Impact Transfers/Newcomers

• Jovana Zelenovic | OPP | Fr. | 6-foot-7 Serbian freshman that was named to the All-Big 12 First Team after recording 479.5 points and 46 aces, which both led KU and posted 123 blocks (2nd).
• Selena Leban | OH | Fr. | Serbian native and reserve attacker that averaged 2.25 kills per set in 64 sets.
• Aurora Papc | MB | Fr. | Croatian national that struggles offensively, but is one of three KU players with triple-digit blocks with 107.0.
• Cristin Cline | S | Soph. | Heralded recruit that followed Ulmer from Oregon, and started for the first portion of 2025 before Dalton created separation as the season went on.
• Ryan White | L/DS | Sr. | Oregon State transfer who was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team after averaging 3.97 digs per set as the starting libero for KU.

Outlook

Kansas was at the center of one of the biggest coaching moves in the college volleyball offseason as legendary head coach Ray Bechard announced his retirement after 27 seasons in Lawrence. It led the way for KU to grab one of the sport’s rising stars in Matt Ulmer, who left Oregon after nine seasons.

Ulmer’s rebuild was extensive, but certainly not compared to what was left behind in Eugene. The Jayhawks were hit hard as AVCA All-American middle blocker Toyosi Onabanjo (Honorable Mention) and setter Camryn Turner (third team) each turned pro after the season. Plus, two-time All-Big 12 performers Carolien Bien (OH/L) and London Davis (OPP) each graduated. Ulmer was also unable to hold onto leading point scorer and outside hitter Ayah Elnady, who transferred to Northwestern after playing her previous four seasons under Bechard.

But just like he showed at Kansas, Ulmer showcased his skill at player development, turning returning outside hitters Rhian Swanson and Grace Nelson into All-Big 12 Second Team picks. Middle blocker Reese Ptacek was the biggest holdover from Bechard’s last team as the 2024 Big 12 Freshman of the Year improved into an All-Big 12 First Team pick after ranking second on the team in points with 426 while hitting .317 and collecting a team-high 136 blocks.

Serbian national team member and freshman Jovana Zelenovic has been the most impactful addition, totaling a team-leading 479.5 points and 46 aces. Ulmer grabbed former Oregon State libero Ryan White in the portal for her last college season, and she made the All-Big 12 Second Team after producing 3.97 digs per set. A heralded recruit, Ulmer brought to Oregon, setter Cristin Cline followed him to Lawrence, but returning senior Katie Dalton — who didn’t see action in 2024 — eventually surpassed Cline on the depth chart and has averaged 8.84 assists per set as the team’s starter in the back half of the season.

Aside from Dani Busboom Kelly’s move to Nebraska, there’s an argument to be made that Kansas made the best coaching hire over the offseason, and it has already paid dividends with the school’s fourth Sweet 16 appearance. The Jayhawks will want to follow the recipe shown by Kansas State against the Huskers, as KU will need to serve tough and make an impact at the net. Reese Ptacek will need to have a career night to push NU, but that might not even be enough. Give me Nebraska in this one, but Kansas will be a team to watch in future seasons as they were arguably the biggest beneficiary of Texas leaving for the SEC.

Elite Eight

How to Follow Along 

• Matchup: No. 1 Nebraska/No. 16 Kansas winner vs. No. 6 Louisville/No. 9 Texas A&M winner.
• When: Sunday, Dec. 14
• Where: John Cook Arena at Bob Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln Neb.
• Time: TBA 
• Watch: TBA
• Listen: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates

No. 6 Louisville Scout

Head Coach

• Dan Meske | 1st season at Louisville & as Division I HC.
• 26-6 (.812) at Louisville & Division I Career Record.
• 1x NCAA Tournament Apps.
• AVCA National Assistant Coach OTY (2022).
• Previous head coach at Augustana (Division II).
• Previous assistant at Louisville and Nebraska.

2025 Record & Awards

• 26-6 (16-4 ACC, T-4th).
• ACC Freshman of the Year.
• All-ACC: 3x First Team, 2x Second Team, 1x All-Freshman.

All-Time Series

• Nebraska leads 6-1.
• Sept. 22, 2024, last matchup, 3-0 NU.

NCAA Tournament History

• Appearances: 34th, 9th consecutive.
• All-Time Tournament Record: 40-33. 
• Best Finish: NCAA National Runner-Up (2024, 2022).

Projected Lineup

• Chloe Chicoine | OH | Jr. | All-American transfer from Purdue who leads the Cardinals with 419 points and 3.25 kills per set.
• Payton Petersen | OH | Soph. | Part-time starter in 2024 that’s now turned into a 400-point attacker for Louisville as a sophomore.
• Kalyssa Blackshear | OPP | Fr. | 2025 ACC Freshman of the Year, who’s racked up 388 points and is one of three players with more than 100 blocks with 120 total.
• Cara Cresse | MB | R-Sr. | All-American who’s one of the premier blockers in the country with 171 total and 1.45 per set while adding nearly 300 kills for 401.5 points.
• Hannah Sherman | MB | R-Jr. | 6-foot-3 middle blocker that creates a fearsome duo with Cresse, and sits just three blocks behind her teammate with 168.
• Nayelis Cabello | S | Soph. | 2024 ACC Freshman of the Year that’s averaged 10.44 assists per set in her first college season running a 5-1 offense while adding 23 aces.
• Kamden Schrand | L | Jr. | The heir to program legend Elena Scott, who’s collected 3.98 digs per set (477 total) in her first season as the starting libero.

No. 9 Texas A&M Scout

Head Coach

• Jamie Morrison | 3rd season at Texas A&M & as Division I HC.
• 62-25 (.713) at Texas A&M & Division I Career Record.
• 3x Olympic medals with U.S. Men’s & Women’s national team.
• 3x NCAA Tournament Apps.
• Previous head coach at the Netherlands women’s national team & Austrian professional team SVS Post Schwechat.
• Previous assistant at Texas, UC Irvine, U.S. Women’s National Team, Concordia Irvine & U.S. Men’s National Team.

2025 Record & Awards

• 25-4 (14-1 SEC, 2nd).
• All-SEC: 4x First Team.

All-Time Series

• Nebraska leads 32-7.
• Nov. 27, 2010, last matchup, 3-0 NU.

NCAA Tournament History

• Appearances: 28th, third consecutive. 
• All-Time Tournament Record: 35-27. 
• Best Finish: NCAA Elite Eight (2001, 1999).

Projected Lineup

• Logan Lednicky | OPP | Sr. | Due to make her second-straight AVCA All-American team after leading A&M with 4.06 kills per set on a .319 hitting percentage.
• Kyndal Stowers | OH | Soph. | Former top-20 recruit that’s second on the team in points (366.5) and made the All-SEC First Team after transferring from Baylor.
• Emily Hellmuth | OH | Sr. | Former Pepperdine transfer who’s one of four players to surpass 300 points on the season.
• Ifenna Cos-Okpalla | MB | Sr. | One of college volleyball’s best middle blockers with 2.09 kills per set while leading the SEC with a .419 clip and 170 blocks.
• Morgan Perkins | MB | Sr. | Starter in the middle alongside Co-Okpalla, who’s added 1.91 points per set and 80 blocks in her senior season.
• Maddie Waak | S | Sr. | Two-year transfer from LSU that was one of four A&M All-SEC First Team picks after running the offense with 11.49 assists per set and 27 aces.
• Ava Underwood | L | Sr. | Second-year starter at libero, but has not produced at her 2024 level when she averaged 3.24 digs per set; 2.81 digs per set this season.

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