Huskers, Cards, Ags and Jayhawks battle in Lincoln for a Final Four bid
What: 2025 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 & Elite Eight
Who: #1 Nebraska, #2 Louisville, #3 Texas A&M, #4 Kansas
Where: John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center – Lincoln, Nebraska
When:
- Friday:
- Match 1: #2 Louisville vs. #3 Texas A&M - 6 p.m. CT (ESPN2)
- Match 2: #1 Nebraska vs. #4 Kansas - 8:30 p.m. CT (ESPN2)
- Sunday: TBD (ESPN2)
#1 Nebraska
- RPI: 1
- Record: 32-0 (20-0)
- Hitting Percentage: .353
- Kills Per Set: 14.72
- Blocks Per Set: 2.72
Top Players
- Harper Murray (31 MP, 4.16 PTS/S, 3.50 K/S, .299 HP, 0.59 B/S)
- Andi Jackson (31 MP, 3.57 PTS/S, 2.79 K/S, .483 HP, 1.14 B/S)
- Bergen Reilly (32 MP, 1.20 PTS/S, .387 HP, 10.43 A/S)
Scouting Nebraska
When legendary head coach John Cook retired last January, some might have thought Nebraska's dominance would falter — Wrong. Former Husker national champion turned coach Dani Busboom Kelly has yet to lose a game in her first year.
When Kelly took over, not a single Cornhusker entered the transfer portal. Instead, they trusted in the one who once donned the same jersey. With 27 sweeps in 32 wins, everything about this Nebraska team is eye-catching.
Set by the Big Ten Player of the Year Bergen Reilly, the Huskers lead the nation in hitting percentage (.353) and opponents' hitting percentage (.124). After a slow start to the season, Andi Jackson owns the No. 1 hitting percentage in a single season at Nebraska (.483). As one of the faces of the program, Harper Murray is a two-time AVCA All-American and has lit up the stat sheet since she arrived in Lincoln three years ago. The libero position has swapped between Olivia Mauch and Laney Choboy, with both being wildly effective when in.
By the time Friday's Sweet 16 match rolls around, the Huskers haven’t dropped a home match in 1,107 days. This weekend, any team facing Nebraska in John Cook Arena faces a formidable challenge.
#2 Louisville
- RPI: 9
- Record: 26-6 (16-4)
- Hitting Percentage: .272
- Kills Per Set: 13.69
- Blocks Per Set: 3.10
Top Players
- Payton Peterson (32 MP, 3.60 PTS/S, 3.23 K/S, .230 HP, .42 B/S)
- Chloe Chicoine (32 MP, 3.52 PTS/S, 3.25 K/S, .277 HP, 0.28 B/S)
- Cara Cresse (32 MP, 3.40 PTS/S, 2.49 K/S, .350 HP, 1.45 B/S)
Scouting Louisville
The aforementioned Kelly led last year's Louisville squad to the national championship game, ultimately falling short in four sets to Penn State. With Dan Meske at the helm after years of being an assistant, he has Louisville right back in the Sweet 16 for the 11th time in program history.
The Cardinals returned 11 players from last year's squad, headlined by Cara Cresse and Chloe Chicoine. Creese leads the team in stuffs with 171, spearheading the No. 2 blocking team in the nation. Chicoine steers the Cardinals' attack, playing in all but one set this season and leading the team in kills. She recorded 28 in last weekend's match vs. Marquette. Kalyssa Blackshear has been a consistent contributor in her debut season, tabbed as the ACC’s Freshman of the Year.
The Golden Eagles pushed the Cards to five sets in the second round, but Meske's squad pulled through. They hit above .400 in both of their NCAA Tournament matches thus far. Firing at that clip, A&M will have its hands full and must slow down the Louisville offense to prevail.
#3 Texas A&M Aggies
- RPI: 10
- Record: 25-4 (14-1)
- Hitting Percentage: .297
- Kills Per Set: 14.52
- Blocks Per Set: 2.55
Top Players
- Logan Lednicky (29 MP, 4.64 PTS/S, 4.06 K/S, .319 HP, 0.85 B/S)
- Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (29 MP, 3.38 PTS/S, 2.09 K/S, .427 HP, 1.67 B/S)
- Kyndal Stowers (28 MP, 3.90 PTS/s, 3.37 K/S, .271 HP, .61 B/S)
Scouting Texas A&M
The Aggies are back in the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year. In Jamie Morrison's third season, his senior-heavy group has been trailblazers, completely changing the conversations around the program.
This would not have happened without fourth-generation Aggie Logan Lednicky, who resides fourth on A&M's all-time kill list (1,617). As the Maroon & White's leader in points and kills, the senior has been nothing short of spectacular, recording double-digit slams in her last 19 matches. Ifenna Cos-Okpalla is an anchor in the middle, chasing greatness in her own respects. She is 11 blocks away from a spot on the podium on the program's all-time block list. A&M's weapons don't stop at just Lednicky and Cos-Okpalla. Kyndal Stowers' impact is undeniable as a full-rotation player. Emily Hellmuth and Morgan Perkins add some more pop to a loaded lineup. The nation's leader in assists per set Maddie Waak orchestrates the entire symphony.
Falling in the Sweet 16 last season, the Aggies are highly motivated by their previous shortcomings. Facing the national runner-up in Louisville on Friday, there is no better stage for the Aggies to rewrite last year's ending.
#4 Kansas
- RPI: 15
- Record: 24-10 (13-5)
- Hitting Percentage: .240
- Kills Per Set: 13.35
- Blocks Per Set: 2.50
Top Players
- Reese Ptacek (34 MP, 3.33 PTS/S, 2.54 K/S, .317 HP, 1.06 B/S)
- Jovana Zelenovic (34 MP, 3.75 PTS/S, 2.88 K/S, .284 HP, .96 B/S)
- Rhian Swanson (32 MP, 3.32 PTS/S, 3.09 K/S, .257 HP, .45 B/S)
Scouting Kansas
The Jayhawks have consistently been in the field of 64 the last five years, but head coach Matt Ulmer has led his first-year team to the program's fourth-ever Sweet 16. Ulmer previously served as head coach at Oregon for eight seasons, compiling a 166-77 record.
Kansas' attack runs through 6-foot-7 freshman Serbian phenom Jovana Zelenovic, who is a weapon at the net and at the service line with 46 aces this season. Other All-Big 12 first team honoree Reese Ptacek consistently produces in the middle, whether it be in the blocking game or on offense. The Kansas native Rhian Swanson has found herself in an expanded role as a junior, as she is the most set Jayhawk on the team. Katie Dalton and Cristin Cline provide different looks while running a 6-2 offense.
Despite their Big 12 success, Kansas is the only team in the four-team field outside of the top-50 in hitting percentage, kills per set and blocks per set. Facing top-seeded Nebraska in the first round, their A-game will be required, or the Huskers can end their season in a hurry.
