What: 2025 NCAA Tournament First & Second Rounds
Who: #3 Texas A&M, #6 TCU, Stephen F. Austin and Campbell
Where: Reed Arena – Bryan-College Station, Texas
When:
- Friday:
- Match 1: TCU vs. SFA - 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Match 2: A&M vs. Campbell - 30 minutes after Match 1 (ESPN+)
- Saturday: 7 p.m. CT (ESPN+)
#3 Texas A&M Aggies
- RPI: 10
- Record: 23-4 (14-1)
- Hitting Percentage: .289
- Kills Per Set: 14.44
- Blocks Per Set: 2.52
Top Players
- Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (27 MP, 3.89 PTS/S, 2.12 K/S, .438 HP, 1.67 B/S)
- Logan Lednicky (27 MP, 4.53 PTS/S, 3.95 K/S, .309 HP, 0.82 B/S)
- Kyndal Stowers (26 MP, 3.90 PTS/S, 3.37 K/S, .272 HP, .61 B/S)
Scouting Texas A&M
It's the final go-round for nine highly motivated A&M seniors. Coming off their best regular season in 41 years, the Aggies have put the nation on notice, and they aren't done yet. A&M can attack you in every way in the book.
Logan Lednicky paves the Maroon & White's attack as one of the best hitters to ever walk on campus, sitting in fifth on A&M's all-time kill list with 1,578. Third in the nation in blocks per set, Ifenna Cos-Okpalla holds down the defense. Newcomer Kyndal Stowers is a six-rotation player who can make an impact anywhere on the floor. Maddie Waak, the nation’s leader in assists per set, is an elite facilitator.
If A&M has a weakness, it's beyond the service line. Lately, A&M has been hampered by missed serves with 24 in their last two matches. The Aggies' relentless attack has allowed them to find their way out of holes, but in the postseason, the Aggies must keep the miscues to a minimum. If so, Jamie Morrison's third-year Aggies are scary and have real Final Four potential.
#6 Texas Christian Horned Frogs
- RPI: 20
- Record: 20-10 (10-8)
- Hitting Percentage: .236
- Kills Per Set: 13.37
- Blocks Per Set: 2.26
Top Players
- Evan Hendrix (30 MP, 4.78 PTS/S, 4.41 K/S, .236 HP, .40 B/S)
- Sarah Sylvester (30 MP, 2.04 PTS/S, 1.32 K/S, .349 HP, .1.28 B/S)
- Becca Kelley (30 MP, 3.30 PTS/S, 2.92 K/S, .207 HP, .55 B/S)
Scouting TCU
For the fourth straight season, TCU punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament, earning an at-large bid. Coming off a program-record six ranked victories, Jason Williams' squad has been a complete team all year long.
While leading the Big 12 in kills, Evan Hendrix also found her way into the school's record books, recording the fifth-most kills by a Horned Frog. Sarah Sylvester's 6-foot-3 frame makes her a force to be reckoned with along the net, with 145 stuffs this season. All-Big 12 selection Becca Kelley played in all 116 sets as a sophomore, recording double-digit kill outputs in 73 percent of their matches. In a two-setter system, Ella Foti and Rosemary Archer have six options to go to that own over 100 spikes this season.
TCU comes to Aggieland as a familiar foe, having beaten A&M in a five-set thriller early in the season. Four Horned Frogs finished with double-digit kills in that match, as narrow margins decided the marathon. TCU has proven it can outlast one of the nation's best teams and will need to do so to advance past the second round.
Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks
- RPI: 64
- Record: 23-7 (15-1)
- Hitting Percentage: .253
- Kills Per Set: 13.81
- Blocks Per Set: 2.42
Top Players
- Ilana de Assis (24 MP, 3.41 PTS/S, 2.97 K/S, .243 HP, .42 B/S)
- Katherine Holtman (30 MP, 3.45 PTS/S, 2.85 K/S, .295 HP, .49 B/S)
- Camryn Hill (33 MP, 2.85 PTS/S, 2.41 K/S, .221 HP, .42 B/S)
Scouting SFA
After claiming the Southland Conference regular-season and tournament crowns, SFA is riding an 11-game heater into NCAA Tournament play. In the Big Dance for the ninth time in program history, the Ladyjacks have not had the most success when the lights are the brightest. They are 1-8 in the tournament and are looking to advance past the first round for the first time since 2006.
In an attempt to erase that dubious streak, SFA must rely on all-conference selections Katherine Holtman and Camryn Hill. The duo has been outstanding working at the pins, and Ilana de Assis adds another wrinkle to SFA's game on the outside. Those three are responsible for 54 percent of the Ladyjacks' kills this season. On the defensive side, middles Kyanna Creecy and Jordan Henderson lead the block with over 100 each this season.
They reside in the upper half of most national offensive categories and rank top-20 in the country in opponents' hitting percentage at .170. Yet, SFA was 0-2 against Power Four foes, swept by Indiana and SMU. Facing a talented TCU squad in the opening round, the Ladyjacks must rise to the occasion if they don't want history to repeat itself.
Campbell Fighting Camels
- RPI: 107
- Record: 23-6 (13-3)
- Hitting Percentage: .253
- Kills Per Set: 13.23
- Blocks Per Set: 2.00
Top Players
- Gwen Wolkow (29 MP, 3.89 PTS/S, 3.35 K/S, .253 HP, .50 B/S)
- Maja Daca (27 MP, 3.69 PTS/S, 2.96 K/S, .256 HP, .33 B/S)
- Victoria Tupy (29 MP, 2.33 PTS/S, 2.05 K/S, .242 HP, .45 B/S)
Scouting Campbell
Winners of 23 games this season, Campbell volleyball has done a 180 in the last 24 months. After a 2024 season marred by injuries that led to a 6-22 finish, the Camels revived their program, capturing both the Coastal Athletic Association regular-season and tournament titles in 2025. Led by outsides Gwen Wolkow and stellar freshman Maja Daca, Campbell will make their second-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. In his 13th year at the helm, Greg Goral has his Camels riding high.
Sitting at 45th in the nation in kills per set, Campbell's numbers look great, but the level of competition should be taken into consideration. Facing CAA teams, Campbell hit at a .275 clip. Against Power Four competition, that percentage drops to .160. The Camels were swept in all three matches against Clemson, South Carolina and Northwestern in non-conference play. None of those teams made the NCAA Tournament.
First-team All-CAA hitter Wolkow leads the team's offensive attack with 365 kills this season. She has played in 109 of the 110 sets in her senior campaign, spearheading Campbell's complete turnaround. Daca earned first-team and all-freshman honors by lighting up the service line with .54 aces per set, second among freshmen around the country. On defense, Campbell's block has struggled a bit. Averaging two blocks a set, this can be an area A&M's fiery offense exploits in the first round.
