And then there were four.
No. 1 seeds Pitt and Kentucky and No. 3 seeds Texas A&M and Wisconsin advanced to the NCAA women’s volleyball Final Four which will be held at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Pitt will play Texas A&M in the national semifinals after its five-set upset of Nebraska on Sunday afternoon. Kentucky will play Wisconsin, which shocked Texas on Sunday night.
Texas A&M (27-4) dominated at the net and outblocked the Nebraska 30-16. Kyndal Stowers has 25 kills and 16 digs, Logan Lednicky 24 kills and Emily Hellmuth 13 kills. Ifenna Cos-okpalla had three solo blocks and five block assists.
Nebraska was the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed and suffered its first defeat of the season.
The Badgers avenged an earlier loss to the Longhorns, who swept them on Aug. 31, to advance to the Final Four for the third time since 2020. Wisconsin (24-4) is a No. 3 seed and the lowest ranked team to make to the semifinals at No. 10 in the country.
The Final Four semifinal matches will take place on Thursday, Dec. 18 and will be broadcast on ESPN. The national championship game is Sunday, Dec. 21 on ABC.
SCORE: Wisconsin 3, Texas 1
Set 4 final: Wisconsin 25, Texas 19
The Badgers advance to the Final Four for the third time since 2020. Wisconsin (24-4) is a No. 3 seed and the lowest ranked team to make to the semifinals at No. 10 in the country.
Texas, a one seed, was ranked No. 3 in the nation and sees its season end.
Set 4: Wisconsin first to 15
Can the Badgers close this out and punch their ticket to the Final Four? They have been to Final Four six times and won their lone national title in 2021.
Wisconsin is hitting .318 in the fourth set.
Set 3 final: Texas 25, Wisconsin 19
Cari Spears now leads Texas with nine kills. The Longhorns are using a balanced attack and hit .400 in the third set to get back in the match.
Set 3: Texas first to 15
Torrey Stafford and Cari Spears have eight kills each as the Longhorns are fighting back. Texas is hitting .429 in the third set.
Set 2 final: Wisconsin 25, Texas 21
The Badgers hitting percentage is .315 compared to .246 by the Longhorns. Mimi Colyer got her 10th kill to seal the set. Charlie Fuerbringer has 32 assists in leading the Wisconsin offense.
Set 2: Wisconsin first 15
Wisconsin is enjoying a balanced offensive attack. Mimi Colyer has nine kills, Carter Booth seven and Grace Egan and Una Vajagic six apiece.
Torrey Stafford has six kills, three blocks and two digs to lead Texas.
Set 1 final: Wisconsin 25, Texas 22
The Badgers went on a 7-0 run before the Longhorns fought back with a 5-0 run on their own. It wasn’t enough as Wisconsin prevailed led by six kills from Mimi Colyer.
Matthew McConaughey cheering for the Longhorn women
We are underway in Austin
The Badgers and Longhorns are set to faceoff for a Final Four bid.
Wisconsin volleyball lineup
Texas volleyball lineup
SCORE: Texas A&M 3, Nebraska 2
Set 5 final: Texas A&M 15, Nebraska 13
The Aggies have pulled off the biggest upset of the season, knocking the No. 1 overall seeded Huskers out of the NCAA tournament. Kyndal Stowers had 24 kills for Texas A&M. The Aggies had 30 blocks to 16 by the Huskers.
Set 5: Texas A&M first to eight points
The teams are switching sides. The Aggies are up 8-6.
Set 4 final: Nebraska 37, Texas A&M 35
It took 10 set points but the Huskers have forced a fifth set. Harper Murray has career high in kills with 24 as the Huskers have forced a fifth set. There were 22 ties in the match.
Set 4: Texas A&M first to 15
The Aggies are 10 points from the biggest upset of the season. Texas A&M has 20 blocks compared to six from Nebraska.
Set 3: Nebraska 25, Texas A&M 20
The Huskers stayed alive and found some momentum by winning the third set. Harper Murray has 16 kills and Rebekah Allick seven kills. Nebraska hit .462 as a team in the set.
Set 3: Nebraska first to 15
The Huskers are being carried by Harper Murray, who has 14 kills.
Set 2 final: Texas A&M 25, Nebraska 22
Nebraska is struggling and could be eliminated after going 33-0 to start the season. The Huskers hit .211 in the second set.
The Aggies middle blockers are dominating. Kyndal Stowers has 10 kills and is hitting .474 and Emily Hellmuth eight kills for the Aggies.
Set 2: Texas A&M first to 15
The Aggies are smelling the biggest upset of the volleyball season. They have Nebraska back on their heels. Texas A&M is hitting .333 for the set and Nebraska .222.
Set 1 final: Texas A&M 25, Nebraska 22
Nebraska dropped its eighth set of the season and first since Nov. 14 against UCLA. Kyndal Stowers has six kills and Emily Hellmuth five kills for the Aggies.
Set 1: Nebraska first to 15
Nebraska was the first to 15 but the Aggies have fought back with a 10-0 run.
We are underway in Lincoln
Nebraska is looking for its 18th bid to the Final Four and first under head coach Dani Busboom Kelly. Texas A&M is looking for its first.
Nebraska starting lineup
Texas A&M arrivals
How to watch NCAA volleyball tournament
- Streaming: ESPN+ ∣ Fubo (free trial)
The 2025 NCAA women’s volleyball tournament will air across the ESPN and ABC family of networks. Games can be streamed on ESPN+, ESPN’s subscription streaming service, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
NCAA volleyball Final Four
All times eastern
- Semifinals: Thursday, Dec. 18
- No. 1 Pitt vs. No. 3 Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m.
- No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 3 Wisconsin, 9 p.m.
- National championship: 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21 | ABC
NCAA volleyball regional final: Times, TV
All times Eastern
Saturday, Dec. 13
- No. 1 Kentucky 3, No. 3 Creighton 0
- No. 1 Pittsburgh 3, No. 3 Purdue 1
Sunday, Dec. 14
- No. 3 Texas A&M 3, No. 1 Nebraska 2
- No. 3 Wisconsin 3, No. 1 Texas 1
When is the NCAA volleyball Final Four in 2025?
- Dates: Thursday, Dec. 18 and Sunday, Dec. 21
- The two semifinal matches in the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament will take place on Thursday, Dec. 18 and will be broadcast on ESPN. The national championship game is Sunday, Dec. 21 on ABC.
Round of 16 volleyball results
Thursday, 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
Friday, 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
NCAA volleyball second-round results
Lexington bracket
- No. 1 Kentucky 3, No. 8 UCLA 1 (30-28, 25-16, 28-30, 25-17)
- No. 3 Creighton 3, No. 6 Northern Iowa 1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21)
- No. 2 Arizona State 3, Utah State 1 (25-15, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15)
- Cal Poly 3, No. 4 USC 2 (25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 15-7)
Austin bracket
- No. 4 Indiana 3, No. 5 Colorado 0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-23)
- No. 3 Wisconsin 3, North Carolina 0 (25-14, 25-21, 27-25)
- No. 1 Texas 1, No. 8 Penn State 0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-19)
- No. 2 Stanford 3, Arizona 1 (25-16, 25-27, 25-17, 25-20)
Pittsburgh bracket
- No. 3 Purdue 3, No. 6 Baylor 1 (25-16, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20)
- No. 1 Pittsburgh 3, Michigan 0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-18)
- No. 2 SMU 3, Florida 0 (25-11, 25-21, 26-24)
- No. 4 Minnesota 3, No. 5 Iowa State 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-14)
Lincoln bracket
- No. 4 Kansas 3, No. 5 Miami 1 (25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 27-25)
- No. 2 Louisville 3, Marquette 2 (21-25, 25-11, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12)
- No. 1 Nebraska 3, Kansas State 0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-16)
- No. 3 Texas A&M 3, No. 6 TCU 1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 29-27)
NCAA volleyball first-round results
Lexington bracket
- No. 1 Kentucky 3, Wofford 0 (25-11, 25-19, 25-12)
- No. 8 UCLA 3, Georgia Tech 2 (24-26, 25-19, 25-23, 25-18, 15-10)
- Cal Poly 3, No. 5 BYU 2 (25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-10)
- No. 4 USC 3, Princeton 0, (25-19, 25-12, 25-13)
- No. 3 Creighton 3, Northern Colorado 2 (12-25, 25-23,25-23,17-25, 8-15)
- No. 6 Northern Iowa 3, Utah 2 (15-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-10)
- Utah State 3, No. 7 Tennessee 2 (25-19, 25-15, 19-25, 25-18, 15-11)
- No. 2 Arizona State 3, Coppin State 0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-12)
Austin bracket
- No. 1 Texas 3, Florida A&M 0 (25-11, 25- 8, 25-14)
- No. 8 Penn State 3, South Florida 1 (25-23, 12-25, 25-21, 25-19)
- No. 5 Colorado 3, American 0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-16)
- No. 4 Indiana 3, Toledo 0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-17)
- No. 3 Wisconsin 3, Eastern Illinois 0 (25-11, 25-6, 25-19)
- North Carolina 3, No. 6 UTEP 1 (24-26, 25-11, 25-18, 25-21)
- Arizona 3, No. 7 South Dakota State 1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 25-15)
- No. 2 Stanford 3, Utah Valley 1 (21-25, 25-21, 25-13, 25-14)
Pittsburgh bracket
- No. 1 Pitt 3, UMBC 0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-13)
- Michigan 3, No. 8 Xavier 0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-23)
- No. 5 Iowa State 3, St. Thomas-Minnesota 2 (21-25, 25-13, 25-16, 21-25, 15-8)
- No. 4 Minnesota 3, Fairfield 0 (25-12, 25-7, 25-13)
- No. 3 Purdue 3, Wright State 0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-19)
- No. 6 Baylor 3, Arkansas State 2 (23-25, 25-20, 30-28, 23-25, 15-10)
- Florida 3, No. 7 Rice 0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-19)
- No. 2 SMU 3, Central Arkansas 0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-13)
Lincoln bracket
- No. 1 Nebraska 3, Long Island 0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-17)
- Kansas State 3, San Diego 2 (21-25, 25-17, 26-28, 25-22, 15-12)
- No. 5 Miami 3, Tulsa 1 (25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 25-20)
- No. 4 Kansas 3, High Point 0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-18)
- No. 3 Texas A&M 3, Campbell 0 (25-20, 25-10, 25-13)
- No. 6 TCU 3, Stephen F. Austin 0 (25-8, 26-24, 25-20)
- Marquette 3, Western Kentucky 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-16)
- No. 2 Louisville 3, Loyola (Illinois) 0 (25-17, 25-9, 25-12)
NCAA volleyball tournament champions
Penn State is the reigning NCAA volleyball champion, having defeated Louisville in four sets last year in the national title game. It was the Nittany Lions’ eighth volleyball championship since 1999.
Here’s a look at the past 10 NCAA volleyball champions:
- 2024: Penn State
- 2023: Texas
- 2022: Texas
- 2021: Wisconsin
- 2020: Kentucky
- 2019: Stanford
- 2018: Stanford
- 2017: Nebraska
- 2016: Stanford
- 2015: Nebraska
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