Sports
2025 NCAA volleyball tournament: Schedule, scores, news
Third-seeded Texas A&M rallied from two sets down against second-seeded Louisville on Friday night to advance to the regional finals of the NCAA volleyball tournament.
Texas A&M got 20 kills from Logan Lednicky and 17 from Kyndal Stowers. Ifenna Cos-Okpalla had 12 blocks in the reverse sweep.
The Aggies will play No. 1 overall seed and undefeated Nebraska, which swept Kansas and hasn’t dropped a set so far in the tournament. Nebraska got a combined 18 kills from middle blockers Andi Jackson and Rebekah Allick, who had nine kills on nine swings.
Earlier on Friday, top-seeded Texas got points from an expected source — Torrey Stafford with 19 kills on a .679 hitting percentage — and an unexpected source — Whitney Lauenstein with six kills and four blocks — in its sweep of No. 4 Indiana. Lauenstein, a redshirt senior, played a backup role this season and had just 17 kills and six blocks all season coming into the tournament.
Texas plays third-seeded Wisconsin in the regional final on Sunday. The Badgers eliminated second-seeded Stanford 3-1. Setter Charlie Fuerbringer guided the Badgers to a .420 hitting percentage behind Mimi Colyer, (27 kills), Carter Booth (14 kills) and Una Vajagic (13 kills).
Two tickets to the final four will be punched on Saturday when No. 1 Kentucky plays No. 3 Creighton and No. 1 Pittsburgh plays No. 3 Purdue.
The final four will be held at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Dec. 18. The championship game is scheduled for Dec. 21 and will air on ABC.
First round
Thursday
No. 5 Colorado 3, American 0
No. 6 Baylor 3, Arkansas State 2
No. 8 UCLA 3, Georgia Tech 2
No. 5 Miami 3, Tulsa 1
No. 4 Indiana 3, Toledo 0
North Carolina 3, No. 6 UTEP 1
No. 6 Northern Iowa 3, Utah 2
Utah State 3, No. 7 Tennessee 2
No. 1 Kentucky 3, Wofford 0
No. 3 Purdue 3, Wright State 0
No. 4 Kansas 3, High Point 0
No. 3 Wisconsin 3, Eastern Illinois 0
No. 3 Creighton 3, Northern Colorado 2
Cal Poly 3, No. 5 BYU 2
No. 2 Arizona State 3, Coppin State 0
No. 4 USC 3, Princeton 0
Friday
Marquette 3, No. 7 Western Kentucky 0
Michigan 3, No. 8 Xavier 0
No. 6 TCU 3, Stephen F. Austin 0
Florida 3, No. 7 Rice 0
No. 5 Iowa State 3, St. Thomas-Minnesota 2
Kansas State 3, No. 8 San Diego 2
No. 8 Penn State 3, vs. South Florida 1
No. 1 Pittsburgh 3, UMBC 0
No. 2 Louisville 3, Loyola Chicago 0
No. 2 SMU 3, Central Arkansas 0
No. 3 Texas A&M 3, Campbell 0
Arizona 3, No. 7 South Dakota State 1
No. 1 Nebraska 3, Long Island University 0
No. 1 Texas 3, Florida A&M 0
No. 4 Minnesota 3, Fairfield 0
No. 2 Stanford 3, Utah Valley 1
Second round
Friday
No. 3 Purdue 3, No. 6 Baylor 1
No. 4 Indiana 3, No. 5 Colorado 0
No. 1 Kentucky 3, No. 8 UCLA 1
No. 4 Kansas 3, No. 5 Miami 1
No. 3 Creighton 3, No. 6 UNI 1
No. 2 Arizona State 3, Utah State 1
No. 3 Wisconsin 3, North Carolina 0
Cal Poly 3, No. 4 USC 2
Saturday
No. 2 Louisville 3, Marquette 2
No. 1 Pittsburgh 3, Michigan 0
No. 1 Texas 3, No. 8 Penn State 0
No. 1 Nebraska 3, Kansas State 0
No. 2 SMU 3, Florida, 0
No. 3 Texas A&M 3, No. 6 TCU 1
No. 4 Minnesota 3, No. 5 Iowa State 0
No. 2 Stanford 3, Arizona 1
Regional semifinals
Dec. 11
No. 3 Creighton 3, No. 2 Arizona State 1
No. 1 Kentucky 3, Cal Poly 0
No. 1 Pittsburgh 3, No. 4 Minnesota 0
No. 3 Purdue 3, No. 2 SMU 1
Dec. 12
No. 1 Texas 3, No. 4 Indiana 0
No. 3 Wisconsin 3, No. 2 Stanford 1
No. 3 Texas A&M, 3, No. 2 Louisville 2
No. 1 Nebraska 3, No. 4 Kansas 0
Regional finals
Dec. 13
No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 3 Creighton, 5 ET, ESPN2
No. 1 Pittsburgh vs. No. 3 Purdue, 7:30 ET, ESPN2
Dec. 14
No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 3 Texas A&M, 3 ET, ABC
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 3 Wisconsin, 7:30 ET, ESPN
National semifinals
Dec. 18
Match 1, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Match 2, 8:30 p.m. ET (approx.), ESPN
National championship
Dec. 21, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Tournament storylines
7:51
Game On: Replacing a legend at Nebraska
Dani Busboom Kelly, a two-time Nebraska national champion, is now the Cornhuskers’ head coach, succeeding her mentor John Cook.
For Nebraska’s Dani Busboom Kelly, home is where you hang a banner
Replacing legendary coach and mentor John Cook was just a step on her path to building a legend of her own. Read more
Indiana freshman defies death, makes NCAA volleyball tournament
Toxic shock syndrome nearly killed Charlotte Vinson. Now she’s hoping to help Indiana advance at the NCAA tournament. Read more
Ten (maybe 11) players to watch at Sweet 16
The NCAA volleyball tournament is down to its final 16 teams, and Olivia Babcock, Rebekah Allick and Logan Lednicky are among the players who will help determine who makes the cut to the final four. Read more
Sleeper picks, must-watch players and more
Ahead of the tournament, our ESPN college volleyball experts give their take on five big questions. Read more
7:44
Jackie Taylor finding her own path while carrying out her dad’s legacy
“Game On” explores UNC sophomore Jackie Taylor’s challenges growing up in the shadow of her dad, former NFL player Sean Taylor, and the ways she honors him.
UNC’s Jackie Taylor honors her late father, NFL legend Sean Taylor
Jackie Taylor wears No. 21 for North Carolina. When she leaps for a ball and slams it to the ground, NFL fans remember a man she never met. Read more
3:01
How TIY Hair Ties have taken over college volleyball
Learn how an innovative accessory created by a national-championship-winning coach helps keep hair of all types in place during competition.
How a bald coach solved volleyball’s ponytail predicament
The NCAA volleyball tournament will feature dozens of stars wearing a hair-tie solution invented by none other than three-time champion Jerritt Elliott. Read more