Seattle Storm Defeat Chicago Sky 97-88 to Snap 11-Game Losing Streak

No. 10 Purdue carried its dominant run into Big Ten play Thursday night, sweeping Maryland 3-0 at Holloway Gymnasium in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers won 25-16, 25-22, 25-9 , improving to 8-2 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten . Maryland fell to 10-2 and 0-1 in conference play as its nine-match winning streak came to an end. Freshman Addy Tindall led Purdue with 15 kills while hitting .353 , Grace Heaney added 10 kills and 11 digs, and setter Taylor Anderson finished with 33 assists as the Boilermakers extended their own winning streak to six matches. Purdue Takes Control in Opening Set Maryland entered the match with plenty of momentum after a strong nonconference start, and the Terrapins split the opening six points with Purdue. The Boilermakers quickly changed the direction of the set. Purdue used a 6-1 run to create separation, and Maryland was unable to completely recover. Ava Brown later cut the deficit to 15-11, but the Boilermakers maintained control before closing the frame with another 5-0 run. Purdue secured the opening set 25-16 , ending Maryland's program-record streak of 27 consecutive sets won. Heaney was particularly effective early, recording eight kills on 11 attacks while hitting .636 in the first set . Maryland Pushes Purdue in Second Set The Terrapins produced their strongest volleyball of the match in the second frame. Maryland opened with a kill from Duru Gökçen and remained within striking distance as Purdue tried to build another advantage. The Boilermakers led 15-11 at the media timeout, but the Terrapins refused to let the set get away. A four-point Maryland run cut the deficit to three, and another late 4-0 surge brought the Terrapins within 22-21 . Purdue responded when the pressure increased. Bianka Lulic entered late in the set and helped the Boilermakers win three of the final four points. Purdue escaped with a 25-22 victory , taking a 2-0 match lead. Maryland head coach Adam Hughes described the second set as some of his team's best volleyball of the season, but the Terrapins could not sustain that level in the third. Purdue Dominates Final Set 25-9 The third set belonged completely to Purdue. Brown provided Maryland's first kill, but the Boilermakers quickly pulled away with a 7-2 run. Purdue held a 15-7 advantage at the media timeout and continued widening the gap from there. The Boilermakers eventually finished the frame 25-9 , completing the straight-set victory. Purdue hit .462 in the third set while holding Maryland to just .038. Even more impressively, the Boilermakers posted a perfect 100 percent sideout rate in the final frame. The result gave Purdue its sixth consecutive sweep and 18th straight set victory . Addy Tindall Leads Purdue With 15 Kills Tindall continued an impressive freshman campaign by producing the highest kill total of the match. She finished with 15 kills while hitting .353 , giving Purdue another efficient performance from one of its leading attackers. Heaney provided a strong all-around performance with 10 kills and 11 digs , earning her second double-double of the season. Mimi Mambu contributed eight kills, while Anderson added six without committing an attacking error. Anderson was especially efficient, converting six of eight attacks for a .750 hitting percentage while distributing 33 assists. Her setting helped Purdue hit .320 for the match. The official Purdue recap also confirms Tindall's 15 kills and the Boilermakers' .320 team hitting percentage. Purdue Athletics Purdue Defense Shuts Down Maryland Purdue's defense was equally important. The Boilermakers limited Maryland to a .115 hitting percentage and only 27 kills. Purdue, meanwhile, finished with 47 kills while hitting .320. Kate Hansen led the blocking effort with six blocks , including three solo stops. Ryan McAleer anchored the back row with 17 digs , while freshman MaryKate Scheumann added 10. Heaney's 11 digs gave Purdue three players in double figures. Purdue's defensive pressure was most apparent in the final set, when Maryland managed only nine points. Ava Brown Leads Maryland Attack Brown was Maryland's leading attacker with eight kills and two blocks . Brooklynne Brass and Eva Rohrbach each contributed seven kills, while Sara Toth recorded 23 assists. Brown hit .240, while Rohrbach produced Maryland's most efficient attacking performance at .333. Freshman Raina Chwialkowski led the Terrapins defensively with 13 digs. Maryland was also playing without veteran leaders Sydney Bryant and Haley Melby because of injuries, leaving the Terrapins with several freshmen in prominent roles. The Terrapins finished with 27 kills and 15 attacking errors on 104 attempts , numbers that made it difficult to match Purdue's offensive efficiency. Purdue Extends Sweep Streak to Six Matches Purdue entered Big Ten play having swept five consecutive opponents. The Boilermakers immediately extended that run against Maryland. They have now won 18 consecutive sets , the longest active streak in the Big Ten and the program's second-longest such run this century. Purdue has reached 18 straight set wins five times since 1982, with the program record standing at 21. The Boilermakers have also won five of their past six Big Ten season openers. Their next challenge will be considerably tougher. Purdue will host No. 6 Wisconsin in another ranked Big Ten matchup, while Maryland remains on the road to face No. 18 Indiana .

Liberty erased a seven-point halftime deficit with a dominant second-half performance Thursday night, scoring 24 unanswered points to defeat Coastal Carolina 34-17 at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina. Kam Davis rushed for a career-high 166 yards , Deshawn Purdie threw for 216 yards and two touchdowns, and Makai Jackson finished with 149 receiving yards and two scores as the Flames improved to 3-1 with their third consecutive victory. Coastal Carolina fell to 1-3. Liberty trailed 17-10 at halftime before completely controlling the final 30 minutes. The Flames outgained Coastal Carolina 246-47 in the second half and did not allow the Chanticleers to score again. Liberty Strikes First Behind Makai Jackson Liberty opened the scoring after Jeremiah Vessel intercepted Coastal Carolina quarterback Deuce Bailey on the Chanticleers' opening possession. The Flames turned the takeaway into a 29-yard field goal by Chase Reeves, with Davis helping the drive through a season-long 56-yard run . Coastal Carolina answered with a 41-yard Nico Cavanillas field goal to tie the game at 3-3, but Liberty quickly produced the first explosive touchdown of the night. Purdie found Jackson over the middle, and the receiver broke free for a 58-yard touchdown , putting Liberty ahead 10-3 late in the first quarter.  Jackson's big-play ability would become even more important after halftime. Coastal Carolina Takes a 17-10 Halftime Lead The Chanticleers responded in the second quarter after a Liberty turnover. Purdie's fumble helped set up a Coastal Carolina possession that ended with Bailey finding Colton Hinton for a 24-yard touchdown , tying the game at 10-10. Coastal then produced its strongest moment just before halftime. With 24 seconds remaining, Bailey found Tristian Gardner for a 39-yard touchdown , giving the Chanticleers a 17-10 advantage entering the break. Coastal Carolina had scored touchdowns on its final two possessions of the half after managing only three points over its first three drives. That momentum disappeared almost immediately after halftime. Liberty Takes Over in the Third Quarter The Flames opened the second half with exactly the response they needed. Purdie connected with Jamari Person for a 34-yard gain and then found Jackson for a 33-yard touchdown , tying the game 17-17 with 13:10 remaining in the third quarter. Liberty's defense followed with a three-and-out, allowing the offense to return to the field quickly. The Flames then marched 65 yards on 10 plays before Reeves converted a 24-yard field goal , putting Liberty back in front 20-17. The combination of sustained offense and defensive stops completely changed the game. Coastal Carolina, which had entered halftime with the lead, managed only 47 total yards over the entire second half . Ethan Vasko Scores Against His Former Team Liberty extended the lead early in the fourth quarter with help from a quarterback familiar to Coastal Carolina. Backup Ethan Vasko , who played for the Chanticleers in 2023 and 2024, entered the game and scored on an 8-yard quarterback sneak on fourth-and-1 . The touchdown pushed Liberty's lead to 27-17. Vasko wasn't finished. With just over a minute remaining, he connected with Davis for a 6-yard touchdown pass , completing Liberty's 24-point second half and producing the final 34-17 margin. The Flames have yet to allow a fourth-quarter touchdown through four games this season. They have outscored opponents 42-0 in the fourth quarter . Kam Davis Delivers Career Night Davis produced the best rushing performance of his college career. The Florida State transfer carried 18 times for 166 yards , averaging 9.2 yards per attempt. It was his first career 100-yard rushing performance. His 56-yard first-quarter run immediately demonstrated the problems his speed could create for Coastal Carolina's defense. Davis also contributed as a receiver when Vasko found him for the final touchdown. His performance helped Liberty rush for a season-high 263 yards on 45 attempts , an average of 5.8 yards per carry. The Flames finished with 485 total yards on 63 plays , averaging 7.7 yards per play. Coastal Carolina totaled 292 yards on 66 plays. Purdie and Jackson Continue Strong Starts Purdie delivered another efficient performance at quarterback. He completed 11 of 16 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns . Through his first four starts of 2026, Purdie has thrown seven touchdown passes without an interception. Jackson was his most dangerous target. The receiver caught five passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns , scoring from 58 and 33 yards. He now has five touchdown receptions this season and became the first player in Liberty program history to catch a touchdown in each of his first four games with the Flames. Bailey finished with 213 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Coastal Carolina. His early interception was his first of the season. Jamey Chadwell Wins in Return to Conway The matchup carried additional significance because of Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell's return to Coastal Carolina . Chadwell previously led the Chanticleers for five seasons, compiling a 39-22 record and guiding the program through a successful stretch that included three consecutive Sun Belt East Division titles from 2020 through 2022. Thursday marked his first game against Coastal Carolina since leaving the program. The victory improved Chadwell's head coaching record against the Chanticleers to 4-1 and gave Liberty its first win in Conway since November 2014. Liberty also improved its all-time record against Coastal Carolina to 9-7 , winning for the fourth time in the past five meetings. Liberty Wins Third Straight After opening the season with a 20-13 loss to James Madison, Liberty has responded with three consecutive victories . The Flames will now turn their attention toward Conference USA play after finishing September at 3-1. Liberty's next game comes on the road at Delaware , where the Flames will make their first trip to Newark. Coastal Carolina remains at home to face Georgia Southern on Oct. 3 . For Liberty, the difference Thursday was decisive: after trailing by seven at halftime, the Flames dominated the second half on both sides of the ball. Davis powered the rushing attack, Purdie and Jackson continued their productive connection, and Liberty's defense made sure Coastal Carolina never had an opportunity to answer.

No. 18 Indiana opened Big Ten play with a statement at home, sweeping UCLA 3-0 on Thursday night at Wilkinson Hall in Bloomington. The Hoosiers captured the match 27-25, 25-19, 25-21 , improving to 8-2 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten while extending their winning streak to six matches. UCLA dropped to 9-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play. Jaidyn Jager led Indiana with 13 kills and 11 digs , recording her ninth career double-double. Ella Boersema contributed 10 kills, while setter Teodora Krickovic finished with 36 assists and five service aces. Indiana Steals Dramatic Opening Set The first set turned into the most competitive frame of the night. Indiana opened quickly, but UCLA settled down and gradually worked its way back. The Bruins eventually used a five-point run to move ahead 20-19 and later earned two set points with a 24-22 advantage. The Hoosiers responded under pressure. Kiki Granberry helped Indiana erase the deficit, and the Hoosiers moved ahead 25-24. UCLA's Brooke Harwood tied the score at 25-25, but Indiana captured the next two rallies to complete the comeback. Boersema delivered the finishing attack as the Hoosiers escaped with a 27-25 victory . That late turnaround prevented UCLA from converting its strongest opportunity to take control of the match. Krickovic Sparks Indiana From Service Line Indiana carried the momentum into the second set, and Krickovic immediately became a factor. The Hoosiers jumped ahead behind three consecutive aces from Krickovic . UCLA responded to close the deficit, but Indiana rebuilt its advantage and moved ahead 13-8. The Bruins later pulled within 16-14, but the Hoosiers answered with another run and pushed the margin back to five. Indiana maintained control from there and secured the second set 25-19 , moving within one frame of the sweep. Krickovic's serving remained a major weapon. Her five aces made her the fifth Indiana player since the start of 2022 to record at least five aces in a Big Ten match. Hoosiers Finish Sweep in Third UCLA again faced an early deficit in the third set. Despite two early service aces from Ava Utterback, Indiana established a 9-5 advantage . The Hoosiers then produced a five-point run to extend the lead to 15-8. UCLA attempted one final comeback and produced a four-point run late in the frame, but Indiana had already created enough separation. Jager delivered a key kill during the Hoosiers' push, and Sara Snowbarger eventually finished the match as Indiana took the third set 25-21 . The victory completed Indiana's second sweep of UCLA in the past three seasons. Jaidyn Jager Extends Double-Digit Kill Streak Jager continued a productive stretch with another strong all-around performance. The sophomore outside hitter recorded 13 kills and 11 digs , giving her the ninth double-double of her career. She has now reached double-digit kills in nine consecutive matches . Jager has averaged 4.15 kills per set during September. Boersema gave Indiana another dependable offensive option with 10 kills, while Snowbarger finished with nine kills and a .400 hitting percentage. Snowbarger was perfect offensively in the third set, converting all four of her attacks into kills. Indiana Defense Disrupts UCLA The Hoosiers' defensive performance was just as important as their offense. Indiana limited UCLA to a season-low .150 hitting percentage and held the Bruins to 35 kills over three sets. The Hoosiers finished with nine blocks and seven service aces. Granberry played a major role at the net with six blocks , matching her six kills. Jager and Hannah Leftridge shared the Indiana lead with 11 digs as the Hoosiers consistently prevented UCLA from establishing a comfortable offensive rhythm. Indiana finished the match hitting .238 while outblocking UCLA 9.0 to 7.5 . Brooke Harwood Leads UCLA Harwood produced UCLA's best offensive performance with nine kills on .318 hitting . She also contributed three blocks and two digs. Eliana Urzua added seven kills, while Marianna Singletary and Maggie Li each finished with six. Li contributed seven digs and three blocks, and Utterback added four kills, four digs and two service aces. Setter Kate Duffey recorded 28 assists and nine digs . No UCLA player reached double figures in kills, reflecting Indiana's ability to limit the Bruins' attacking options throughout the night. Indiana Starts Big Ten Play at 1-0 The victory gave Indiana its sixth consecutive Big Ten home-opening win . The Hoosiers have also now won three straight meetings with UCLA and six consecutive Big Ten matches against West Coast programs. Indiana's ability to escape the opening set proved pivotal. UCLA had two opportunities to take the early advantage, but the Hoosiers responded and never allowed the Bruins to get that close again. Indiana will remain at Wilkinson Hall to face Maryland on Saturday, Sept. 26 , with an opportunity to open Big Ten play 2-0 in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1984-85. UCLA will travel to Northwestern on Saturday to continue its opening weekend of conference play.

No. 6 Wisconsin opened Big Ten volleyball play with a ranked victory Thursday night, overcoming an opening-set loss and a seven-point deficit in the third to defeat No. 20 Oregon 3-1 at the UW Field House in Madison. The Badgers won 24-26, 25-19, 26-24, 25-14 , improving to 7-4 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten . Oregon fell to 9-2 and 0-1 in conference play. Freshman Audrey Flanagan recorded a career-high 19 kills while hitting .425 , while fellow freshman Decelise Champion added 16 kills and 10 digs. Wisconsin finished with a season-best .382 hitting percentage and held a commanding 11-2 advantage in blocks. Oregon Takes a Tight Opening Set The first set provided an early indication that the Big Ten opener would be competitive. With the score tied at 10-10, Wisconsin won four of the next five points. Oregon responded with a 4-1 run of its own to pull even at 15-15. The Ducks eventually moved ahead 23-20 behind a kill from Sjakkie Donkers , but Wisconsin answered with three consecutive points. The teams were tied again at 24-24 before Iva Sucurovic gave Oregon another set point. Donkers then delivered an ace into the corner to secure a 26-24 victory and a 1-0 match lead. Flanagan and Champion combined for 10 of Wisconsin's 14 kills in the opening frame. Wisconsin Answers With Dominant Second Set The Badgers quickly changed the momentum. Wisconsin jumped ahead 7-2 in the second set behind a strong serving stretch from Kristen Simon. Flanagan continued producing at the net, adding seven kills during the frame. Wisconsin never trailed after establishing the early advantage. The Badgers hit .417 with 16 kills and only one attacking error , while holding Oregon to a .139 hitting percentage. Wisconsin closed the set 25-19 , evening the match at 1-1. The third set would prove far more difficult. Badgers Erase 22-15 Deficit Oregon appeared to have complete control midway through the third. The Ducks established a 19-13 advantage behind consecutive Donkers kills and later stretched their lead to 22-15 . Oregon eventually reached set point at 24-22 with an opportunity to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Wisconsin refused to concede the set. Champion delivered consecutive kills to keep the Badgers alive, including one on Oregon's set point. The Ducks challenged the second play, but the original ruling of a block touch was upheld. Wisconsin completed an extraordinary turnaround by winning 11 of the final 13 rallies , turning the 22-15 deficit into a 26-24 victory . Champion contributed back-to-back kills during the comeback, while Lynney Tarnow added two kills of her own. Instead of trailing 2-1, Wisconsin entered the fourth set one frame away from victory. Wisconsin Overwhelms Oregon in Fourth The momentum from the comeback carried directly into the final set. Oregon remained within three points at 11-8, but Wisconsin then won 10 of the next 12 rallies to break the set open. The Badgers were nearly unstoppable offensively. Wisconsin recorded 16 kills with only one attacking error , hitting an exceptional .625 in the fourth set. The Badgers also sided out at a match-high 92 percent rate. Oregon saved two match points, but Champion delivered the final kill to complete Wisconsin's 25-14 fourth-set victory and the 3-1 match win. Audrey Flanagan Sets Career High Flanagan continued her impressive freshman season with the best attacking performance of her college career. She finished with 19 kills and only two errors on 40 attacks , producing a .425 hitting percentage. The 19 kills surpassed her previous career high of 18. Oregon also tested Flanagan extensively in serve receive, targeting her 40 times, more than the rest of Wisconsin's lineup combined. She responded with a 2.3 passing average. Champion was equally important. She finished with 16 kills while hitting .429 , adding 10 digs for her second career double-double. Tarnow contributed seven kills on a .462 hitting percentage. Together, Wisconsin's three freshmen accounted for 42 of the Badgers' 60 kills . Wisconsin Wins Blocking Battle 11-2 Wisconsin's performance at the net created another major advantage. The Badgers outblocked Oregon 11-2 , a significant improvement after being outblocked 86-67 across their 10 nonconference matches. Jaela Auguste led Wisconsin with seven blocks , more than doubling her previous season high and finishing one shy of her career best. Setter Charlie Fuerbringer recorded a match-high 50 assists and eight digs , while libero Anna Bardaro collected 16 digs. Wisconsin finished with a season-best .382 hitting percentage , recording 60 kills against only 10 attacking errors. Oregon was held to .207 with 54 kills and 25 errors. Sjakkie Donkers Leads Oregon With 20 Kills Donkers delivered the top individual offensive total of the match despite Oregon's loss. The junior recorded a season-high 20 kills while hitting .333 and added a season-high 11 digs for her first double-double of the year. It was also her first 20-kill performance as an Oregon player. Marina Crownover recorded 43 assists and 10 digs for her team-leading fourth double-double of the season, while Valentina Vaulet contributed nine kills and nine digs. Vaulet also reached a milestone, recording the 500th kill of her Oregon career during the match. Wisconsin Opens Big Ten Play With Ranked Win The victory gave Wisconsin its third ranked win of the season , following earlier victories over then-No. 7 Louisville, then-No. 17 Florida and then-No. 19 Texas A&M. The Badgers also remained unbeaten at the UW Field House and improved to 5-1 all-time against Oregon. For Wisconsin, the defining moment came in the third set. Oregon was just points away from taking a 2-1 advantage, but the Badgers turned a 22-15 deficit into a 26-24 win and carried that momentum into a dominant fourth. Oregon will continue its Big Ten road trip Saturday against No. 15 Minnesota .

LSU opened Southeastern Conference volleyball play with a five-set victory Wednesday night, overpowering Alabama in the deciding frame to secure a 3-2 win at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge. The Tigers won 25-23, 20-25, 25-19, 24-26, 15-3 , improving to 6-4 overall and 1-0 in the SEC . Alabama fell to 8-2 and 0-1 in conference play as its six-match winning streak came to an end. Jurnee Robinson led LSU with 22 kills and 12 digs , recording her sixth double-double of the season and 35th of her career. The Tigers finished with 60 kills, 13 blocks and a season-high seven aces. LSU Wins Tight Opening Set The tone for the night was established immediately as LSU and Alabama traded momentum throughout the first set. Neither team was able to create comfortable separation, but LSU reached the finish line first. Robinson delivered at the end of the frame, helping the Tigers secure a 25-23 victory following a set-point challenge. Alabama responded with its strongest offensive set of the match. The Crimson Tide hit .312 in the second set and evened the match with a 25-20 victory. That created a pattern that continued through the first four sets: LSU would take the lead, and Alabama would find an answer. Tigers Regain Control in Third LSU recovered quickly after dropping the second. The Tigers took the third set 25-19 , moving ahead 2-1 and putting themselves one set away from beginning SEC play with a victory. Robinson remained LSU's primary offensive threat, but the Tigers received important production elsewhere. Middle blocker Jessica Jones finished with a season-high 12 kills while hitting .474 , and Camryn Jeffery added 10 kills. Jeffery also matched her season high with five blocks and recorded the first service ace of her career. That balance helped LSU finish with 10 more kills than Alabama despite both teams committing 28 attacking errors. Alabama Forces a Fifth Set The Crimson Tide refused to go away. The fourth set developed into another tight battle filled with extended rallies and late pressure. Alabama eventually prevailed 26-24 , tying the match at two sets apiece and forcing a winner-take-all fifth. Alabama received 13 kills from Mya Allen , the team's highest total. Laney Hennessee contributed a double-double with 12 kills and 13 digs , while Addison Engel produced 10 kills on a team-best .529 hitting percentage and led Alabama with six blocks. Kaleigh Palmer also reached a career milestone during the match, recording her 500th career kill . After four competitive sets, however, the fifth looked completely different. LSU Dominates Deciding Set 15-3 LSU wasted no time taking command of the tiebreaker. Emilee Prochaska opened with a serving run that included three consecutive aces , immediately putting Alabama under pressure. Robinson then took control offensively. By the time LSU had built a commanding 10-1 advantage , Robinson had accounted for every Tigers kill in the set. Alabama never recovered from the early surge, and LSU closed the fifth 15-3 to complete the victory. The dominant finish also continued LSU's success in extended matches. The Tigers improved to 3-1 in five-set contests this season . Jurnee Robinson Leads LSU Attack Robinson finished with 22 kills, 12 digs and two blocks , accounting for 23 total points. Her double-double was her sixth of 2026 and the 35th of her LSU career . Jones supplied one of her most efficient performances of the season with 12 kills at a .474 clip and four blocks. Jeffery's 10 kills marked her fourth double-digit kill performance over a five-match stretch. Setter Lauren Brooker recorded 40 assists, eight digs, three blocks and three kills , while libero Kiley Brooks led all players with 17 digs and added an ace. LSU Wins Battle at the Net LSU finished with a statistical advantage in several important areas. The Tigers recorded 60 kills to Alabama's 50 , hit .209 compared with Alabama's .148 and finished with 52 assists to the Crimson Tide's 45. LSU also held a 13-10 advantage in blocks and a 7-4 edge in service aces. Sanaa Donaie led the blocking effort with seven blocks , her third consecutive match with at least six. Prochaska and Donaie each finished with a career-high two aces. The defensive performance marked the sixth time this season LSU has held an opponent below a .200 hitting percentage while recording at least 10 blocks. LSU Opens SEC Play With a Statement Win The victory moved LSU to 46-31 all-time against Alabama , including a 25-6 record against the Crimson Tide in Baton Rouge. It also improved the Tigers to 27-17 in SEC home openers. More importantly, LSU begins conference play at 1-0 after finding a way through four tightly contested sets before dominating the fifth. Alabama will return home to face Ole Miss on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. CT . LSU heads on the road for its next SEC matchup, traveling to face Mississippi State on Sunday at 2 p.m.

No. 3 Kentucky recovered from an opening-set loss with a dominant offensive response Wednesday night, defeating previously unbeaten Vanderbilt 3-1 in the Wildcats’ SEC opener at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville. Kentucky won 21-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-21 , improving to 9-2 while handing Vanderbilt its first loss of the season. The Commodores fell to 9-1. Brooklyn DeLeye and Morgan Gaerte each delivered 21 kills , while setter Kassie O’Brien recorded 54 assists as Kentucky hit .444 for the match. The Wildcats also extended their SEC winning streak to 27 consecutive matches . Vanderbilt Takes the Opening Set Kentucky scored the first two points of the match, but Vanderbilt quickly changed the direction of the opening set. The Commodores moved ahead 15-12 and later stretched their advantage to 21-16, forcing Kentucky to use its final timeout. Vanderbilt reached set point at 24-19. Kentucky answered with two consecutive points, but a service error ended the comeback attempt and gave the Commodores a 25-21 victory . The Wildcats committed five attacking errors and five service errors in the first set while hitting .250. Gaerte still provided an early spark with five kills, but Kentucky needed a cleaner performance to turn the match around. Kentucky Responds With 9-0 Run The Wildcats found their rhythm in the second set. With Kentucky leading just 8-7, Trinity Ward took over from the service line and helped fuel a 9-0 scoring run . By the time the run ended, the Wildcats had transformed their one-point advantage into a commanding 17-8 lead. Kentucky never gave Vanderbilt an opportunity to fully recover. The Wildcats hit .500 in the second set while holding Vanderbilt to .226, eventually closing out a 25-17 victory to even the match. Gaerte had nine kills through the first two sets, while DeLeye had eight. Both were hitting .412 at that stage of the night. Wildcats Hit .680 in Dominant Third Set Kentucky’s offensive efficiency reached another level in the third. The Wildcats recorded 17 kills without a single attacking error , producing an extraordinary .680 hitting percentage in the set. Kentucky moved ahead 7-3 and extended its advantage to 12-6 when O’Brien turned an overpass into another opportunity for Gaerte, who finished the play with her 14th kill. Vanderbilt tried to answer, cutting the deficit to 15-12 with a three-point run, but Kentucky prevented the Commodores from completing the comeback. A solo block from DeLeye and Ward’s second ace helped push the Wildcats ahead 21-17. Lizzie Carr eventually finished the set with a kill, giving Kentucky a 25-19 victory and its first match lead at 2-1. DeLeye and Gaerte Power Kentucky Attack DeLeye and Gaerte provided Kentucky with two consistently productive options throughout the night. Both finished with 21 kills , combining for 42 of Kentucky’s attacks that resulted in points. Carr and Asia Thigpen added eight kills apiece. O’Brien was at the center of the offensive performance with 54 assists . After hitting .250 in the first set, Kentucky hit at least .400 in each of the final three frames , finishing the match at .444. Kentucky’s defense also created a significant advantage at the net. The Wildcats finished with 12 blocks compared with only two for Vanderbilt . Carr led all players with seven blocks, while Gaerte contributed five. Vanderbilt recorded both of its blocks in the opening set and did not register another over the final three frames. Vanderbilt Pushes Kentucky in Fourth Kentucky jumped ahead 4-0 in the fourth set, but Vanderbilt refused to allow the Wildcats to pull away. The Commodores remained close and eventually tied the score at 17-17 . That was when O’Brien again made an impact from the service line. Kentucky scored four consecutive points with O’Brien serving, moving ahead 21-17 and forcing Vanderbilt into back-to-back timeouts. The Commodores could not erase the deficit. Gaerte delivered the final kill of the night, her 21st , as Kentucky completed the fourth set 25-21 and secured the 3-1 victory. Samantha Wunsch Leads Vanderbilt Vanderbilt had several strong offensive performances despite suffering its first loss. Samantha Wunsch led the Commodores with 16 kills , while Reese Animashaun added 13. Rachel Ogunleye recorded seven kills while hitting .500. Maddy Bowser was nearly perfect off the bench, producing eight kills on nine attempts without an error for an .889 hitting percentage . Defensively, Hailee Mack led Vanderbilt with 13 digs. The Commodores finished with 54 kills while hitting .273 , but Kentucky’s efficiency and blocking advantage proved difficult to overcome after the first set. Kentucky Opens SEC Play With 27th Straight Conference Win Kentucky’s opening-set struggles did not carry into the rest of the match. After committing five attacking errors in the first frame, the Wildcats committed only two combined attacking errors across the next two sets , including none in their dominant third-set performance. The result pushed Kentucky’s winning streak in SEC matches to 27 straight and gave the Wildcats a successful start to conference play. Their next challenge will be considerably different. Kentucky returns home to Historic Memorial Coliseum to host No. 7 Texas on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m. ET in another Top 10 matchup. Vanderbilt will try to respond to its first loss when the Commodores begin their SEC road schedule at Missouri on Sunday.

Florida State opened ACC volleyball play with a dramatic comeback Wednesday night, fighting off match point before rallying past rival Miami 3-2 inside Tully Gymnasium in Tallahassee. The Seminoles won 25-14, 22-25, 22-25, 26-24, 15-11 , overcoming a 2-1 deficit to improve to 6-5 overall and 1-0 in the ACC . Miami fell to 2-8 overall and 0-1 in conference play. The victory was Florida State’s sixth consecutive win in an ACC opener . Senior outside hitter Kyleene Filimaua led Florida State with 18 kills and 15 digs , while freshman Sofia Moss added a career-high 16 kills and 11 digs. The Seminoles also delivered one of their strongest blocking performances of the season, recording a season-high 14 blocks. Florida State Opens With Dominant First Set Miami scored the opening point and briefly held the early advantage, but Florida State quickly took control. The Seminoles moved ahead 5-4 and continued building momentum from there. After taking an 11-8 advantage, Florida State closed the opening frame on a 14-6 run to secure a convincing 25-14 victory . That strong start appeared to put Florida State in control, but Miami responded immediately. The Hurricanes raced ahead 6-1 in the second set and later stretched the advantage to 11-4. Florida State worked its way back into contention, but Miami held off the rally and took the set 25-22 , tying the match at 1-1. Miami Takes a 2-1 Match Lead The third set developed into another competitive battle. The teams were tied at 3-3 before Miami moved ahead 8-5. Florida State answered with a 4-1 run to tie the score at 9-9, but the Hurricanes eventually created separation and established a 17-13 advantage. Florida State again tried to close the gap, but Miami finished the set 25-22 to take a 2-1 lead and move within one set of winning the ACC opener. That put the Seminoles in a must-win fourth set. Seminoles Fight Off Match Point Florida State opened the fourth with a 5-2 advantage, but Miami refused to allow the Seminoles to pull away. The Hurricanes tied the score at 10-10, and the set remained tight deep into the frame. With the teams even at 19-19, neither side had established control. Miami eventually moved ahead 24-23 , giving the Hurricanes match point and putting Florida State one point away from a four-set defeat. The Seminoles responded under pressure. Florida State erased match point and rallied to win the fourth 26-24 , forcing a deciding fifth set. The comeback was part of a tactical adjustment by Florida State. Head coach Lindsay Allman said the Seminoles shifted into a 5-1 offensive formation during the match to create different attacking opportunities and disrupt Miami’s blocking rhythm. Florida State also leaned on its bench for additional serving options. Florida State Completes Comeback in Fifth Miami once again put Florida State under pressure at the start of the deciding set. The Hurricanes jumped ahead 5-2 , putting the Seminoles in another early hole. Florida State answered with a 6-2 run and moved in front 8-7 . The Seminoles continued to create separation after the teams switched sides and eventually reached match point with a 14-11 advantage. Miami challenged the final play, but the original decision was upheld. Florida State had completed the comeback, taking the fifth set 15-11 and the match 3-2. Kyleene Filimaua Leads Seminoles Filimaua delivered Florida State’s most productive all-around performance. The senior finished with a match-high 18 kills, 15 digs and three service aces , giving the Seminoles production in multiple phases of the match. Moss also played a major role in the comeback. The freshman recorded a career-high 16 kills , added 11 digs and hit .323. Her performance gave Florida State another consistent attacking option as the match stretched to five sets. Setter Emma Lilo contributed 28 assists and 12 digs , giving Florida State three players with double-doubles. Callie Kieffer added another 21 assists. Nenu Kpea also provided an efficient performance with eight kills without committing an attacking error. Florida State Defense Produces Season-High 14 Blocks The Seminoles’ defense was another major factor in the comeback. Florida State held Miami to a .088 hitting percentage while finishing with a season-high 14 blocks . The Seminoles also held a commanding 7-1 advantage in service aces. Bailey Higgins and Delaney Ewing each recorded seven blocks , a career high for Higgins and a season high for Ewing. Florida State also held a 58-51 advantage in kills. Miami’s Denitsa Angelova led the Hurricanes with 11 kills and five blocks , while Gaby Arroyo collected 23 digs. Ariana Rodriguez contributed 33 assists and 10 digs while adding five kills on a .545 hitting percentage. Florida State Starts ACC Play at 1-0 The Seminoles could have seen their conference opener end in the fourth set when Miami reached match point. Instead, Florida State survived, won three straight points to extend the match and then recovered from another deficit in the fifth. The result gives Florida State its sixth consecutive ACC-opening victory and sends the Seminoles into the conference schedule at 1-0. The rivalry will resume almost immediately. Florida State travels to Coral Gables to face Miami again on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m. , giving the Hurricanes an opportunity to answer and the Seminoles a chance to build on their comeback victory.