NCAA volleyball Sweet 16 bracket: Thursday’s scores, highlights

Two of the four top seeds in the tournaments — Kentucky and Pittsburgh — advanced to the Elite Eight. No. 3 seeds Purdue and Creighton also move on. Creighton will face Kentucky and Pitt plays Purdue Saturday for a Final Four bid.

But first, No. 1 seed Texas plays Indiana at 12 p.m. ET and Nebraska, the lone undefeated team in the tournament and No. 1 overall seed, will face Kansas at 9:30 p.m. ET Friday.

Here are the highlights from Thursday’s Round of 16 at the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament:

Final: Purdue 3, SMU 1

Set 4: Purdue 29, SMU 27

SMU fought off four match points from Purdue, but the Boilermakers were able to cash in on the fifth point to take the fourth set 29-27 and advance to the regional final for the first time since 2021.

It wasn’t a perfect match by any means. Purdue hit .282 in four sets, which was lower than SMU’s .295 hitting percentage. But Purdue’s Kenna Wollard said the team ‘didn’t want our season to end.’ Wollard finished with 23 kills, 10 digs and five blocks, which ties her career high. Akasha Anderson added 16 kills and three digs.

Set 3: Purdue 25, SMU 22

SMU’s hitting percentage has dwindled as the match has progressed, dropping from .414 in the first set to .171 in the third set. The Mustangs now find themselves with their backs against the wall, down 2-1.

Kenna Wollard has a team-high 14 kills and two errors for Purdue. Akasha Anderson has 11 kills and two errors. The Boilermakers are up to 19 total blocks, compared to 10 for SMU.

SMU’s Malaya Jones has 15 of her team’s 43 total kills.

Set 2: Purdue 25, SMU 19

Purdue led the entirety of the second set and took it 25-19 over SMU to tie the match 1-1.

The Boilermakers flushed the first set entirely. After hitting .067 in the frame, Purdue came out aggressive and hit .361 in the second set. Purdue head coach Dave Shondell said his team came out ‘tight’ in the first set.

Kenna Wollard has a team-high nine kills and one error for Purdue. Akasha Anderson had seven kills and two errors, while Grace Heaney had five kills and two errors.

SMU’s hitting percentage dipped to .281. Malaya Jones has eight kills and no errors.

Set 1: SMU 25, Purdue 16

SMU dominated Purdue in the first set, holding the Boilermakers to .067 hitting percentage with nine kills and seven attack errors. Meanwhile, the Mustangs hit .414 in the first set to take a 1-0 lead. Kennedi Rogers has a team-high five kills for the Mustangs, while Malaya Jones added four kills on five swings (.800).

Maggie Croft injury update

SMU freshman middle blocker Maggie Croft is playing with a cast on her left hand after dislocating her left pinky on Tuesday. The cast didn’t appear to affect Croft’s serve. She opened SMU’s Sweet 16 matchup on the service line and recorded an ace to put the Mustangs up 3-0 in the first set.

SMU vs. Purdue women’s volleyball underway

The Sweet 16 matchup between No. 2 SMU and No. 3 Purdue is underway in Petersen Center in Pittsburgh.

Purdue starting lineup

SMU volleyball’s starting lineup

Final: Pittsburgh 3, Minnesota 0

Set 3: Pitt 25, Minnesota 22

No. 1 Pitt is moving on to the Elite Eight after taking the third set 25-22 to complete the sweep, the Panthers’ 18th sweep of the year. Pittsburgh will face the winner of No. 2 SMU and No. 3 Purdue.

Pitt junior Olivia Babcock had eight kills and no errors in the third set, finishing the match with 18 total kills, eight digs and four errors. Bre Kelley finished with eight kills on 10 swings, hitting .800 with no errors.

Minnesota finished with three players with eight or more kills — Carly Gilk (9), Kelly Kinney (9) and Julia Hanson (8). The Gophers finished with a .178 team hitting percentage, compared to .271 for Pitt.

Set 2: Pitt 25, Minnesota 23

Pittsburgh ran away with the first set against Minnesota, but the second set included 13 ties and five different lead changes. Neither team led the set by three points.

The Panthers clinched the set on a block from Abbey Emch and Blaire Bayless. Panthers head coach Dan Fisher said his team was ‘lucky to get that one,’ pointing to the team’s eight attack errors in the second set. ‘We were going for a few too many highlight swings,’ Fisher added.

Pitt junior Olivia Babcock is up to 10 kills, seven digs, four errors and three blocks. Bre Kelley has six kills and the team is collectively hitting .243. Pittsburgh is 20-1 this season when winning the first two sets.

Can Minnesota respond? The Gophers cut down on their self-inflicted wounds with only three attack errors and two service errors in the set. Carly Gilk and Julia Hanson each have five kills for Minnesota.

Set 1: Pitt 25, Minnesota 16

No. 1 Pitt has yet to drop a set at the 2025 NCAA tournament. The Panthers took the first set over No. 4 Minnesota 25-16 behind five kills, four digs and two block assists from Pitt junior Olivia Babcock. Pitt led by as many as seven points in the set, but Minnesota went on a 7-3 run to come within two, 13-11. The Panthers responded and closed out the set on an 11-4 run. Pitt’s Bre Kelley added four kills in the first set.

Minnesota had five service errors and seven attack errors in the opening set. Carly Gilk had a team-high three kills.

Pitt volleyball starters

Minnesota starters

Final: Kentucky 3, Cal Poly 0

No. 1 Kentucky advances to the Elite Eight to face No. 3 Creighton.

Set 3: Kentucky 25, Cal Poly 7

Kentucky cruised in set three with a .609 team hitting percentage and very little resistance from Cal Poly. The Mustangs had seven errors in the period (15 total between sets two and three), and ran out of gas as the Wildcats stretched them out defensively. Kentucky’s Lizzie Carr finished with 11 kills on .667 hitting and six blocks, and Eva Hudson had nine kills, seven digs and three blocks. Kennedy Washington sealed the match point for the Wildcats.

Set 2: Kentucky 25, Cal Poly 19

Set two was powered by several Wildcats, but Lizzie Carr and Eva Hudson led the group with eight kills and seven kills, respectively. Hudson added five digs and three blocks. Molly Tuozzo sealed the set point to help Kentucky go up 2-0. Cal Poly’s Emma Frederick had eight kills.

Set 1: Kentucky 25, Cal Poly 17

The Wildcats owned set one behind a perfect start from Lizzie Carr, who was five-for-five on kills, and hitting .464 as a team. Trinity Ward landed an ace to capture the set for Kentucky.

Kentucky is the first to 15 in Set 1 vs. Cal Poly

Full credit to Cal Poly for hanging tough with Kentucky early in set 1. The Mustangs made the Wildcats earn every point thus far behind the power of Kendall Beshear and Emma Frederick. There’s no shortage of offense. Both teams are hitting around .500

Cal Poly vs. Kentucky is underway

The Mustangs and Wildcats are live in set one of the second match during the Sweet 16.

Creighton 3, Arizona State 1

Set 4: Creighton 25, Arizona State 18

Arizona State tried mightily to keep up with Creighton in set four, but they seemingly ran out of steam (a .152 hitting percentage in the final set with six errors). The Bluejays ultimately pulled away to move on to the Elite Eight. Creighton’s Ava Martin had a fantastic day, leading the team with 23 kills on .388 hitting, followed by Kiara Reinhardt with 15 kills on .737 hitting and three blocks. Reinhardt sank the final set point to advance the Bluejays.

Set 3: Creighton 25, Arizona State 13

It was all Creighton in the third set as they hit .600 in the frame. The Bluejays built a double-digit lead behind masterful work from Kiara Reinhardt (12 total kills and one block) and Jaya Johnson (eight total kills, two blocks). Creighton slammed the door with a service ace to end the set.

Set 2: Arizona State 25, Creighton 19

Arizona State fought back for a second set victory. Noemie Glover has 11 kills to lead the Sun Devils, who are looking to avoid an upset. Arizona State had 16 kills with 0.368 hitting percentage in the set.

Set 1: Creighton 26, Arizona State 24

Creighton stormed back, going up 20-18, but Arizona State was ready. Back and forth they went until Creighton team won the first set 26-24.

Arizona State is the first to 15 in Set 1 vs. Creighton

After some back and forth, the Sun Devils created some separation to be the first team to reach 15 during the first set. Arizona went on a 4-0 run, powered by two aces from Brynn Covell, her 27th and 28th aces of the season.

Creighton vs. Arizona State is underway

The Bluejays and Sun Devils are live in set one of the first match during the Sweet 16.

Where is NCAA women’s volleyball Sweet 16?

The 2025 NCAA women’s volleyball Final Four will be held at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. It’s the third time since 2010 that the venue has hosted the volleyball national championship.

When is NCAA women’s volleyball Sweet 16?

• Date: Dec. 11 and 13 or Dec. 12 and 14
• Time: Four matches each day, beginning at 1 p.m. ET Thursday and noon ET Friday. Match-by-match times below.

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 ESPN+, ESPN’s subscription streaming service, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

NCAA volleyball Sweet 16 schedule: Times, TV

All times Eastern

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 vs. No. 4 Indiana, 12 p.m. | ESPN
• No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Stanford, 2:30 p.m. | ESPN
• No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 2 Louisville, 7 p.m. | ESPN2
• No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 4 Kansas, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2

Saturday, Dec. 13

• No. 3 Creighton vs. No. 1 Kentucky, 5 p.m. | ESPN2
• No. 1 Pittsburgh vs. No. 3 Purdue, 7:30 p.m. | ESPN2

Sunday, Dec. 14

• Regional final, TBD
• Regional final, TBD

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)

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.

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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