SMU Survives a Close Call Against Nevada in ACC Debut

No. 1 Nebraska faced something it had not experienced all season Saturday afternoon: a set loss. Georgia Tech became the first team to take a set from the top-ranked Huskers in 2026, but Nebraska responded emphatically, rallying for a 3-1 victory (24-26, 25-17, 25-18, 25-12) at John Cook Arena in Lincoln. After Georgia Tech hit .370 in the opening frame, Nebraska transformed the match defensively and held the Yellow Jackets to just .027 hitting over the final three sets . The Huskers improved to 7-0 , while Georgia Tech fell to 8-2. Manaia Ogbechie led Nebraska with 12 kills on .526 hitting and five blocks , while Skyler Pierce delivered a career-high 10 kills. Georgia Tech freshman Alida Bennour led all players with 16 kills. Georgia Tech Stuns Nebraska in Opening Set The Yellow Jackets immediately showed they were prepared to challenge the nation's No. 1 team. A service ace from Heloise Soares helped Georgia Tech move ahead 9-7 . Nebraska responded, tying the frame at 11-11 on an Andi Jackson kill. Georgia Tech then made its first major push. The Yellow Jackets used a 7-2 run to establish an 18-13 advantage and force a Nebraska timeout. They eventually stretched the margin to 19-13 before the Huskers mounted their comeback. Nebraska responded with a 7-1 run to tie the score at 20-20. Georgia Tech did not fold. The Yellow Jackets reached set point at 24-21 , but Nebraska scored three consecutive points to force extra points. Georgia Tech then answered with a kill and a block to secure the 26-24 victory . It was a historic early-season achievement for the Yellow Jackets. Nebraska had already faced No. 2 Texas, No. 11 SMU, No. 17 Florida and No. 20 Baylor without losing a set. Georgia Tech became the first program to break through against the Huskers. Alida Bennour Leads Georgia Tech's Fast Start Bennour was outstanding in the opening frame. The freshman recorded seven kills while hitting .583 , leading both teams in kills during the set. Soares distributed all 12 of Georgia Tech's assists. Georgia Tech also made life difficult for Nebraska defensively, recording five blocks and holding the Huskers to .219 hitting. The photos included on pages 17 through 23 of the source show the Yellow Jackets aggressively attacking and serving against Nebraska while competing in front of the Huskers' large home crowd. Georgia Tech carried that confidence into the second set. Yellow Jackets Race to 5-0 Lead in Second The possibility of a major upset became even more realistic when Georgia Tech scored the first five points of the second set . Nebraska immediately called timeout. The Yellow Jackets continued applying pressure and eventually built a 10-4 advantage . Then the match changed. Nebraska responded with an 11-3 run , capped by a Virginia Adriano kill, to turn the six-point deficit into a 15-13 advantage at the media timeout. Pierce became increasingly important from there. Three kills from Pierce helped Nebraska stretch its advantage to 21-15 , and Georgia Tech managed only two additional points. The Huskers won the set 25-17 , tying the match 1-1. Nebraska's Defense Changes the Match The most dramatic difference between the opening set and the rest of the match came from Nebraska's defense. Georgia Tech had attacked at .370 in the first set . The Yellow Jackets hit only .027 over the final three frames . Nebraska also finished the match with eight blocks and eight service aces , creating consistent pressure on a Georgia Tech offense that had looked comfortable early. The Huskers hit .324 overall. Once Nebraska found its rhythm, the Yellow Jackets struggled to reproduce the offensive efficiency that had helped them win the opener. Huskers Take Early Control of Third Set Nebraska did not repeat its slow second-set start in the third. The Huskers quickly built a 7-2 advantage and extended it to 15-6. Georgia Tech showed another flash of resistance by scoring five consecutive points, reducing the deficit to 15-11 . Nebraska responded again. An ace from Bergen Reilly helped restore the Huskers' advantage to 18-12, and Georgia Tech could not produce another sustained comeback. Nebraska finished the set 25-18 , taking a 2-1 match lead. The Huskers hit .333 in the frame while holding Georgia Tech to .162. Manaia Ogbechie Powers Nebraska Ogbechie delivered one of the strongest performances of her career. She tied her career high with 12 kills , marking her second consecutive match with at least 10. She committed few errors on her way to a .526 hitting percentage and also contributed five blocks. Pierce provided another important offensive option. Her 10 kills were a career high , and she added three digs and two blocks. Those performances gave setter Reilly multiple options as Nebraska increasingly controlled the match. Bergen Reilly Records Double-Double Reilly finished with 41 assists and 13 digs , recording her second double-double of the season. Olivia Mauch also collected 13 digs, reaching that total for the second consecutive match. Nebraska's balance became increasingly apparent as the afternoon progressed. The Huskers did not need one player to overwhelm Georgia Tech. Instead, their improved defense, serving and balanced attack gradually took control after the Yellow Jackets' impressive start. Georgia Tech Leads Again Before Nebraska's 15-1 Run Georgia Tech made one final attempt to turn the match around in the fourth. The Yellow Jackets moved ahead 8-7 , creating an opportunity to push the nation's No. 1 team deeper into the match. Nebraska's response was devastating. The Huskers produced a 15-1 run , turning the one-point deficit into a commanding 22-9 advantage . Georgia Tech could not recover. Pierce eventually delivered the final kill as Nebraska won the set 25-12 and completed the 3-1 victory. The Huskers saved their most efficient volleyball for the finish, hitting .526 in the fourth set with 12 kills . Georgia Tech, meanwhile, was held to -.080 hitting . Bennour Finishes With Match-High 16 Kills Despite the loss, Bennour continued an impressive beginning to her freshman season. She finished with a match-high 16 kills , along with four digs and a block assist. It marked the seventh time in nine matches that she had led Georgia Tech's offense. Bennour now owns three of Georgia Tech's best kill performances of the season, including 17 against Loyola and 16 each against Oklahoma and Nebraska. Magda Kobaidze added six kills and produced a career-high four service aces . Her four aces were the second-most by a Georgia Tech player in a match this season, behind Bennour's six against Oklahoma. Georgia Tech Earns Respect Despite Loss The final three sets belonged decisively to Nebraska, but Georgia Tech still accomplished something no previous opponent had managed this season. The Yellow Jackets took a set from the nation's No. 1 team. They did so after Nebraska had already navigated a schedule featuring four ranked opponents without dropping a frame. Saturday was also Georgia Tech's second ranked matchup of the season, its first against a top-five opponent and its first meeting with the nation's No. 1 team since facing Pittsburgh in November 2024. The Yellow Jackets demonstrated early that they could challenge Nebraska. Sustaining that level became the problem. Nebraska Remains Perfect at 7-0 Nebraska's undefeated record survived its first lost set of the season. The Huskers improved to 7-0 , while Georgia Tech dropped to 8-2 . For Nebraska, the response may have been as significant as the final result. The Huskers trailed 1-0 in sets. They then fell behind 5-0 and later 10-4 in the second. From that point forward, Nebraska took over. The Huskers won the final three sets by eight, seven and 13 points. Nebraska Faces No. 13 Creighton Next Nebraska's next challenge comes against No. 13 Creighton on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m. inside a sold-out Pinnacle Bank Arena. The match is scheduled for Big Ten Network. Georgia Tech will continue its four-match road stretch against Georgia on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. in Athens , with the match scheduled for SEC Network+. Georgia Tech gave Nebraska its first real setback of the season by winning the opening set and then built a six-point lead in the second. But the top-ranked Huskers answered. Ogbechie delivered 12 kills on .526 hitting, Pierce set a career high with 10 kills, Reilly recorded a 41-assist double-double and Nebraska's defense transformed the match. After losing its first set of 2026, No. 1 Nebraska won three straight to defeat Georgia Tech 3-1 and remain undefeated .

No. 8 SMU added another major victory to its early-season résumé Saturday afternoon, defeating No. 3 Kentucky 3-1 (27-25, 21-25, 25-21, 27-25) in the Paradise Invitational at the BahaMar Convention Center and Resort in Nassau, Bahamas. Sophomore Suli Davis delivered season highs of 25 kills and 15 digs , recording her third consecutive double-double and helping the Mustangs improve to 6-1 . SMU also collected 13 team blocks and received 11 kills on .588 hitting from Natalia Newsome as the Mustangs earned their first victory over Kentucky in program history . Kentucky fell to 6-2 despite leading for extended stretches of the opening and third sets. SMU repeatedly produced its best volleyball late, including a decisive 12-3 finish in the third. Kentucky Gets Three Set Points, but SMU Steals the Opener Kentucky appeared positioned to strike first after controlling much of the opening set. SMU did not take its first lead until 16-15 , and the Wildcats responded out of a timeout to eventually move back ahead 23-22. Kentucky then reached set point three times, holding opportunities at 24-22, 24-23 and 25-24 . None produced the final point the Wildcats needed. Instead, SMU survived every opportunity and scored the final three points to take the set 27-25 . The Mustangs won despite hitting just .179 in the frame compared with Kentucky's .226. The Wildcats hurt themselves with five service errors and six attack errors. Morgan Gaerte, Brooklyn DeLeye, Kennedy Washington and Lizzie Carr each recorded three kills for Kentucky in the opener. Kentucky Answers in Second Set The Wildcats did not allow the frustrating finish to carry into the second. SMU opened with a 7-4 advantage , but DeLeye helped Kentucky recover with several important swings from the left side. The Wildcats eventually pulled even at 8-8. The decisive stretch came with Asia Thigpen at the service line . Kentucky produced a 5-0 run, with Gaerte contributing two blocks during the sequence, to establish a 19-15 advantage . The Wildcats eventually stretched the margin to five at 23-18. DeLeye supplied her seventh kill of the match to close the frame 25-21 , tying the match 1-1. Through two sets, DeLeye, Gaerte and Thigpen each had seven kills, while setter Kassie O'Brien had distributed 22 assists. Kentucky Builds Another Lead in Third The third set looked increasingly favorable for Kentucky. The Wildcats forced SMU into a timeout after moving ahead 8-5 and later created another three-point advantage at 17-14 , resulting in a second Mustangs timeout. At that point, Kentucky had an opportunity to turn the match in its favor. Instead, SMU completely changed the set. The Mustangs closed on a remarkable 12-3 run , transforming the 17-14 deficit into a 25-21 victory . SMU hit .429 in the third set , committing only two attack errors and going without a blocked attack. Kentucky, meanwhile, hit .162 and committed eight attack errors, its highest total in a set this season. The dramatic finish gave SMU a 2-1 match advantage. Suli Davis Delivers Season-High 25 Kills Davis remained the centerpiece of SMU's offense throughout the afternoon. The sophomore finished with a season-high 25 kills and season-high 15 digs , giving her a third consecutive double-double. It was already her third 20-kill performance of the season and the 13th of her career . Davis has now recorded at least 15 kills in each of SMU's first seven matches . She finished with a team-high 27 points, continuing an impressive start to her second collegiate season. But SMU's victory was not built around Davis alone. Natalia Newsome Gives SMU an Efficient Second Option Newsome supplied one of the Mustangs' most efficient offensive performances. The middle blocker finished with 11 kills while hitting .588 , reaching double-digit kills for the third time this season and the third time in her career. Christa Wilburn added a season-high nine kills and seven digs . Setter Hannah Beauford recorded 47 assists , along with five digs and three blocks, while directing an SMU attack that became increasingly difficult for Kentucky to slow as the match progressed. The Mustangs hit .429 in the third set and followed it by hitting .424 in the fourth . Kentucky Refuses to Go Away in Fourth SMU reached match point in the fourth with a 24-21 advantage , but Kentucky mounted one final comeback. Gaerte delivered a kill, and Washington followed with two blocks as the Wildcats erased all three match points and tied the score 24-24 . The late push extended the set and put pressure back on SMU. The Mustangs stayed composed. SMU eventually reached another match point at 26-25 before finishing the set with a transition kill for a 27-25 victory . It was another example of the Mustangs executing in a pressure situation after Kentucky had seemingly gained the momentum. SMU’s Blocking Makes a Difference SMU's work at the net provided another major advantage. The Mustangs finished with 13 team blocks , with Favor Anyanwu leading the way with eight rejections . Anyanwu's performance continued her strong start with the Mustangs. The Kentucky match marked the 12th time she has recorded at least eight kills in a match during her SMU career. Libero Victoria Harris anchored the floor defense with a match-high 17 digs . Harris has now reached double-digit digs in all seven SMU matches this season. That combination of blocking and floor defense proved particularly important when Kentucky had opportunities to close sets. SMU Continues to Beat Elite Competition Saturday's victory was not an isolated upset for the Mustangs. It represented SMU's third ranked victory of the season , the program's 16th ranked win under head coach Sam Erger and its eighth victory over a top-10 opponent during his tenure. The list of highly ranked opponents SMU has defeated under Erger now includes teams ranked No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 8 and No. 9. The Mustangs also improved to 3-0 against the top three SEC programs based on the 2025 final regular-season standings . Perhaps most significantly, Saturday marked SMU's first victory over Kentucky. First-Set Streak Continues for Mustangs SMU has also developed a consistent formula for starting matches. The Mustangs have now won the opening set in all seven matches this season . Saturday required more resilience than most. Kentucky had three chances to take the opening frame, but SMU repeatedly denied the Wildcats before finishing its own opportunity. That sequence became a preview of the match. Kentucky created leads and applied pressure. SMU repeatedly found the decisive response. Kentucky Falls to 6-2 Kentucky's second loss of the season dropped the Wildcats to 6-2 . The Wildcats had several opportunities to take control, particularly in the first and third sets, but could not close either frame. The opening set featured three missed set-point opportunities. In the third, Kentucky led 17-14 before being outscored 12-3 to finish the frame. The Wildcats showed their resilience again by erasing three match points in the fourth, but SMU ultimately found the final two-point margin it needed. SMU Advances to Face No. 14 Purdue The Mustangs will now face No. 14 Purdue in their final match of the Paradise Invitational, with the matchup scheduled to air on ESPN. Kentucky moves into the consolation match against Houston. For SMU, another ranked opponent represents another opportunity to strengthen what is already becoming an impressive early-season résumé. The Mustangs have beaten three ranked teams, earned their first win over Kentucky and proven capable of closing tight sets against elite competition. Saturday provided perhaps the clearest example yet. Kentucky had three set points in the opener. SMU won. Kentucky led 17-14 in the third. SMU won. Kentucky erased three match points in the fourth. SMU still won. Behind Davis' 25 kills and 15 digs, Newsome's efficient attack and a 13-block defensive effort, No. 8 SMU defeated No. 3 Kentucky 3-1 for another top-10 statement victory .

No. 19 Texas A&M delivered one of its biggest victories of the young season Wednesday night, upsetting No. 4 Stanford 3-1 (25-23, 25-13, 21-25, 25-19) at the Shriners Children’s Showdown at the Net in Florida. The Aggies hit a season-best .344 , recorded a season-high seven service aces and put four players in double figures in kills. Kyndal Stowers led Texas A&M with 15 kills and 11 digs , while Eliza Sharp added 13 kills and four blocks as the Aggies handed Stanford its first loss of 2026. Texas A&M improved to 4-4 , while Stanford fell to 4-1. Texas A&M Wins Tight Opening Set The Aggies established their offensive rhythm early, but Stanford made sure the opening set remained competitive. The Cardinal tied the score at 15-15 with three consecutive points coming out of the media timeout. Texas A&M responded with a Sharp kill followed by a block from Sharp and Natalie Ring, moving ahead 18-16 and forcing Stanford to call timeout. Neither team created much separation from there. With the set hanging in the balance, Stowers delivered. A pair of late kills from the Texas A&M outside hitter helped the Aggies secure a 25-23 victory and establish an early 1-0 match advantage. Aggies Overwhelm Stanford in Second Set Texas A&M carried that momentum directly into the second. The Aggies raced ahead 6-1 , forcing Stanford to use an early timeout. The break did little to slow Texas A&M. By the media timeout, the Aggies had built a commanding 15-5 advantage . Stanford responded with four consecutive points, but Texas A&M never allowed the Cardinal to seriously threaten the lead. The Aggies answered with a 7-2 run and eventually finished the set 25-13 . Texas A&M’s serving played an important role in the dominant frame. Gabi Rodriguez helped fuel the early separation from the service line and finished the night with a career-high four aces . Suddenly, No. 4 Stanford was one set away from its first defeat. Stanford Responds in Third Set The Cardinal refused to go quietly. After Texas A&M controlled the first two frames, Stanford found its response following the third-set media timeout. The Cardinal scored seven consecutive points to take an 18-15 lead , forcing the Aggies to stop play with a timeout. Stanford maintained control from there and scored four of the final six points to take the set 25-21 . Junior middle blocker Lizzy Andrew played an important role in the comeback, producing a scoring run from the service line. The third-set victory reduced Texas A&M’s advantage to 2-1 and gave Stanford an opportunity to force a deciding fifth. Kyndal Stowers Leads Balanced Aggies Attack Stowers finished with a team-high 15 kills and 11 digs , recording her second consecutive double-double. But Texas A&M’s offensive success extended well beyond its leading attacker. Sharp recorded a season-high 13 kills and led the Aggies with four blocks. Taryn Morris tied her career high with 12 kills while producing an exceptional .550 hitting percentage , a new career best. Ring added 10 kills , giving Texas A&M four players in double figures. Kaia Castle was another highly efficient option, recording seven kills while hitting a season-best .700 . That balance helped Texas A&M finish with 60 kills on 131 attacks with only 15 errors . Stanford’s Lizzy Andrew and Julia Blyashov Answer Stanford had strong individual performances of its own. Andrew finished with 13 kills on a season-high .545 hitting percentage , along with four digs and four blocks. Outside hitter Julia Blyashov led Stanford with 14 kills while hitting .364. She added 10 digs for her third double-double of the season. Jordyn Harvey and Ipar Kurt each contributed nine kills. Setter Logan Parks finished with 41 assists, nine digs, two blocks and a team-high three service aces , while libero Spencer Etzler collected nine digs. Stanford hit a respectable .260 as a team, but Texas A&M’s .344 performance proved too much to overcome. Fourth Set Stays Tight Before Aggies Pull Away Stanford’s third-set victory carried the match into a competitive fourth. The teams played through six early ties , with neither side able to establish control. Then Texas A&M made its move. Around the middle of the set, the Aggies scored five consecutive points to create the separation they had been searching for. Stanford attempted to respond, but Texas A&M refused to allow another comeback. The Aggies eventually scored the final four points of the match , closing the fourth set 25-19 and completing the top-five upset. Kirra Musgrove Directs Season-Best Offense Setter Kirra Musgrove delivered a career performance while directing Texas A&M’s attack. Musgrove recorded a career-high 44 assists and added 11 digs, giving her the first double-double of her collegiate career. Her distribution helped the Aggies attack at .344, their best hitting percentage of the season. Texas A&M also produced its strongest serving performance of 2026. The Aggies recorded a season-high seven aces , with Rodriguez accounting for four. Rodriguez also finished with 10 digs, extending her double-digit dig streak to six matches, and tied her career high with five assists. Texas A&M Earns Another Top-Five Victory The victory marked Texas A&M’s second all-time win over Stanford and its first ranked victory of the season. It also continued the Aggies’ success against elite competition under head coach Jamie Morrison. Texas A&M has now earned three regular-season victories over top-five opponents during Morrison’s tenure . Wednesday’s result was particularly significant because of how the Aggies won. They did not rely on one attacker. Four players reached double-digit kills, the team hit .344, and Texas A&M consistently applied pressure from the service line. Even when Stanford responded by winning the third set, the Aggies remained composed enough to finish the match in four. Stanford Suffers First Loss of 2026 Stanford entered the matchup undefeated at 4-0 but left Florida with its first loss of the season. The Cardinal had opened the year with victories over Wichita State, No. 21 Kansas, South Florida and Marquette before running into an efficient Texas A&M attack. Stanford is now 5-2 all-time against Texas A&M . The Cardinal will have an immediate opportunity to respond against another nationally ranked opponent when it travels to Philadelphia to face No. 12 Penn State on Friday at The Palestra . First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m. PT on Big Ten Network. Aggies Return Home for No. 6 Wisconsin Texas A&M’s schedule does not become easier following the upset. The Aggies return to Reed Arena to face No. 6 Wisconsin on Friday at 7 p.m. They will enter that matchup with a major victory behind them and an offense that just delivered its best performance of the season. Stanford managed to extend Wednesday’s match by winning the third set, but Texas A&M never surrendered control for long. Stowers led the way with 15 kills and 11 digs. Sharp and Morris supplied efficient secondary offense. Musgrove directed the attack with 44 assists, and Rodriguez repeatedly pressured Stanford from the service line. The result was a statement victory as No. 19 Texas A&M defeated No. 4 Stanford 3-1 and handed the Cardinal their first loss of the season .

No. 3 Kentucky delivered a decisive performance against previously unbeaten No. 18 North Carolina on Wednesday night, sweeping the Tar Heels 3-0 (25-11, 25-19, 25-18) at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington. The Wildcats improved to 6-1 behind a match-high 17 kills from Morgan Gaerte , while Brooklyn DeLeye added 16. Kentucky totaled 49 kills compared with North Carolina’s 27 and handed the Tar Heels their first loss of the 2026 season in the SEC/ACC Showdown at the Net. North Carolina fell to 4-1 after entering Lexington undefeated. Bridget Malone and Safi Hampton led the Tar Heels with seven kills apiece. Kentucky Dominates Opening Set The Wildcats established control almost immediately. North Carolina stayed within striking distance early, trailing 13-9 , but Kentucky quickly turned a competitive opening stretch into a runaway set. The Wildcats won 12 of the final 14 points to finish the frame 25-11. Kentucky hit .412 , while its defense held North Carolina to just .040 hitting . Kentucky's offensive execution was particularly impressive. The Wildcats recorded 18 kills in the opening frame, with Gaerte accounting for eight kills on .636 hitting . DeLeye added five kills while hitting .571. Kentucky also produced a sideout percentage above 90 percent during the set, making it extremely difficult for North Carolina to generate sustained scoring runs. North Carolina Responds in Second The Tar Heels showed considerably more resistance after the difficult opening frame. Jackie Taylor opened the scoring for UNC, and the Tar Heels stayed close as Kentucky attempted to build another advantage. Taylor later delivered another kill to bring North Carolina within 9-7 . Setter Sienna Cozza then produced a service ace that tied the set at 12-12 . Malone followed with a kill to give North Carolina a 13-12 lead . For the first time in the match, Kentucky was playing from behind during a meaningful portion of a set. The Wildcats responded like a top-three team. Wildcats Pull Away Late in Set Two Kentucky and North Carolina continued exchanging points until the score reached 17-17. From there, the Wildcats took over. Kentucky closed the second set with an 8-2 run , turning a tie into a 25-19 victory . Gaerte remained the central figure in Kentucky’s attack. She had accumulated 14 kills while hitting .565 through two sets , continuing an extraordinarily efficient performance. The Wildcats cooled from their .412 opening-set percentage, hitting .250 in the second, but their late execution was enough to prevent UNC from turning its improved play into a set victory. Kentucky now held a 2-0 advantage. Morgan Gaerte Leads Kentucky Attack Gaerte finished the match with 17 kills , the highest total for either team. Her production was particularly damaging early, when she repeatedly found openings in North Carolina’s defense. DeLeye provided Kentucky with another high-level attacking option, finishing with 16 kills . Together, Gaerte and DeLeye accounted for 33 of Kentucky’s 49 kills . That combination proved difficult for North Carolina to contain throughout the night. Kentucky's ability to produce from multiple attacking positions also prevented the Tar Heels from settling into the defensive rhythm that had helped them begin the season undefeated. Tar Heels Take Another Lead in Third North Carolina refused to disappear despite trailing 2-0. The Tar Heels opened the third set with renewed energy and moved ahead 6-4 following a kill from graduate opposite Chelsea Thorpe. Kentucky responded with four straight points, but UNC remained within reach. The teams continued trading momentum through the middle portion of the set. A Malone kill followed by a block involving Malone and Lauren Schutter eventually moved North Carolina ahead 16-15 . Once again, the Tar Heels had created an opportunity to take a set from the third-ranked Wildcats. Once again, Kentucky produced the decisive late run. Kentucky Finishes Sweep With Another Late Surge Kentucky erased North Carolina's advantage and regained control. With the third set still close late, the Wildcats accelerated toward the finish. One source describes Kentucky turning a 16-15 deficit into a 10-3 closing stretch , while another reports that the Wildcats finished the match with a 7-1 scoring run after the score reached 18-17 . Both accounts support the same larger point: Kentucky dominated the closing portion of the frame. The Wildcats eventually secured the set 25-18 , completing the straight-set victory. North Carolina had made the second and third sets significantly more competitive than the opener, but Kentucky repeatedly found another level late. Bridget Malone and Safi Hampton Lead UNC Malone and Hampton finished with seven kills apiece , tying for North Carolina’s team lead. Malone was especially important during the Tar Heels’ attempts to challenge Kentucky in the final two frames. Her kill gave UNC the 13-12 advantage in the second, and she contributed again when North Carolina moved ahead during the third. At the net, Taylor and Schutter each recorded three blocks . Those contributions helped North Carolina create competitive stretches, but the Tar Heels could not match Kentucky's overall offensive production. The Wildcats finished with 49 kills. UNC had 27. Kentucky Hands UNC Its First Loss North Carolina arrived in Lexington at 4-0 and had not faced a ranked opponent this season. Kentucky represented a significant step up in competition, and the Wildcats immediately demonstrated why they entered the match ranked third nationally. UNC was held below 20 points in all three sets. The opening frame was especially decisive, but the final two showed Kentucky's ability to respond under greater pressure. North Carolina led 13-12 in the second. Kentucky won 25-19. UNC led 16-15 in the third. Kentucky won 25-18. Those late-set responses kept the Tar Heels from gaining enough momentum to seriously threaten the sweep. Kentucky Continues Strong Home Form The victory represented Kentucky's fourth sweep at home this season. The Wildcats now turn toward another major test. Kentucky travels to Nassau, Bahamas, where it will face No. 8 SMU on Saturday at the Paradise Invitational. SMU enters that matchup coming off a five-set victory over No. 9 Texas, setting up another significant early-season test for both nationally ranked programs. Kentucky will later face either Purdue or Houston before returning home for a highly anticipated matchup against No. 5 Louisville on Sept. 20. North Carolina Heads to New York The Tar Heels will try to respond quickly to their first defeat. North Carolina travels to New York City to face Vanderbilt on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The matchup is part of the Anchor Down in Midtown event connected to the opening of Vanderbilt University's New York campus. UNC leaves Lexington with its undefeated record gone, but with competitive stretches in the final two sets to build on. Kentucky, however, controlled the match when it mattered most. Gaerte led the way with 17 kills, DeLeye added 16, and the Wildcats consistently turned close stretches into decisive scoring runs. The result was another convincing victory for No. 3 Kentucky, which swept No. 18 North Carolina 25-11, 25-19, 25-18 and handed the Tar Heels their first loss of 2026 .

No. 2 Pitt added another ranked victory to its unbeaten start Wednesday night, sweeping No. 17 Tennessee 3-0 (25-17, 28-26, 25-20) in the Shriners Children’s Hospital Showdown at the Net at State Farm Field House in Orlando. The Panthers improved to 7-0 , with five of those victories coming against Top 25 opponents. Tennessee entered the match 5-0 without dropping a set but left with its first loss after Pitt hit .352 and held the Lady Vols to .248. Olivia Babcock led Pitt with 17 kills on .382 hitting , adding eight digs and two blocks.  Pitt’s straight-set victory included an opening-frame surge, a dramatic comeback from set point in the second and another response after Tennessee erased a seven-point deficit in the third. Pitt Opens Match With Seven Straight Points Pitt immediately put Tennessee in an unfamiliar position. The Panthers scored the first seven points of the match , with setter Izzy Starck contributing three assists, two digs and an ace during the opening run. Tennessee responded and reduced the deficit to 10-7 , forcing Pitt to call timeout. The Panthers emerged from that break with an immediate answer. Babcock and Ayanna Watson each recorded two kills during a 4-0 Pitt run , restoring the Panthers’ advantage to 14-7. Tennessee never seriously threatened again in the frame, and Pitt secured a 25-17 opening-set victory . The Lady Vols, who had swept each of their first five opponents, had lost their first set of the season. Tennessee Pushes Pitt in Second Set The second set was completely different. Tennessee settled into its offense and turned the frame into a back-and-forth battle in which neither team led by more than two points. With the score tied 9-9, Abbey Emch delivered consecutive kills to move Pitt ahead 11-9. Tennessee responded with three straight points, and the teams continued exchanging the lead. The Lady Vols eventually created one of their best opportunities of the night. Tennessee moved ahead 23-21 , putting itself two points away from evening the match. Babcock answered with a kill, and a Tennessee attack error tied the score at 23-23. The drama was just beginning. Ayanna Watson Saves Pitt From Set Point Watson delivered one of the biggest sequences of the match. After the teams exchanged points several times, Tennessee reached set point at 26-25 . The Lady Vols needed one more point to make it a 1-1 match. Instead, Watson struck twice. She recorded back-to-back kills , turning Pitt’s 26-25 deficit into a 27-26 advantage. Babcock then finished the frame with another kill, completing a 28-26 Pitt victory . The Panthers had survived Tennessee’s strongest set of the match and now carried a 2-0 advantage. For Watson, the late kills were part of a career performance. Watson and Emch Set Career Highs Watson finished with a career-high 15 kills , hitting .344. Emch also established a career best with 10 kills , doing so on an exceptional .643 hitting percentage . Pitt’s middle attack was especially efficient. Emch and freshman Maaike Heilig combined for 14 kills on 20 attacks with only one error . Heilig contributed four kills, a team-high three blocks and a service ace. That balance prevented Tennessee from focusing solely on Babcock, who remained Pitt’s leading offensive threat. Tennessee Erases Seven-Point Deficit in Third Pitt appeared ready to run away with the third set. The Panthers scored five of the first six points, including Starck’s third service ace of the night. Watson later delivered a kill to extend Pitt’s advantage to 11-4 . Tennessee refused to allow the match to end quietly. The Lady Vols steadily reduced the deficit until they were within one at 13-12 . Emch responded with a block assist and a kill, pushing Pitt back ahead 15-12. Tennessee kept coming. The Lady Vols eventually erased the entire seven-point deficit and tied the set 18-18 . Once again, Pitt answered immediately. Pitt Closes Door on Tennessee Comeback Babcock and Watson delivered consecutive kills to restore a 20-18 Pitt advantage . Heilig followed with a service ace, and Emch added another kill to stretch the lead to 22-18. The sequence proved decisive. Pitt finished the third 25-20 , completing the sweep and handing Tennessee its first defeat of the season. The Lady Vols had produced 14 kills while hitting .303 in the third, but Pitt was even better, finishing the frame with 15 kills on .353 hitting. Olivia Babcock Continues Record-Setting Pace Babcock once again led Pitt’s offense. The junior finished with 17 kills, eight digs and two blocks , bringing her season total to 126 kills through seven matches . That pace is significant because Babcock is coming off a record-breaking 2025 season. She finished last year with 646 kills , breaking Pitt’s single-season record of 555 previously held by Wendy Hatlestad. Through seven matches last season, Babcock had 110 kills. This year, she already has 126. Her 17-kill performance against Tennessee continued an opening stretch that has placed the reigning record holder back on an early record watch. Izzy Starck Directs Efficient Pitt Offense Starck finished with 43 assists, three service aces, eight digs and two blocks . Her distribution helped Pitt record 51 kills on .352 hitting , the Panthers’ second-best attack percentage of the season. Pitt also continued its impressive defensive trend. The Panthers outdug Tennessee 43-35 , meaning Pitt has won the digging battle in all seven matches this season. That defensive work was especially notable considering Tennessee entered Wednesday as one of the country’s most efficient offensive teams. Pitt Slows One of Nation’s Best Attacks Tennessee entered the match ranked second nationally in hitting percentage at .353 and first in kills per set at 15.27. Pitt held the Lady Vols to .248 hitting and 38 kills . Kennedi Rogers and Jalyn Stout led Tennessee with 10 kills apiece . Rogers produced six kills in the highly competitive second set and surpassed 250 career kills during the match. Middle blocker Jolene Oddo added six kills and a team-high four blocks. Setter Carolina Kerr finished with 30 assists and seven digs , while Raegan Burns led Tennessee’s defense with 12 digs , her fourth double-digit dig performance of the season. The Lady Vols also finished with seven aces and seven blocks. Pitt Earns Fifth Top-25 Victory The strength of Pitt’s undefeated start is difficult to overlook. Five of the Panthers’ first seven victories have come against ranked opponents . Pitt also improved to 160-20 since the beginning of the 2021 season , which the program notes identify as the best record in NCAA Division I women’s volleyball over that span. The Panthers are 54-6 in non-conference matches during that period and 21-5 against ranked non-conference opponents during the regular season . Wednesday’s victory also improved Pitt to 11-9 all-time against Tennessee , with the Panthers winning the last three meetings. Pitt is now 15-2 all-time when ranked No. 2 nationally. Pitt Returns Home for Historic Victory Heights Opening Pitt now returns to Pittsburgh for a significant weekend. The Panthers will host the Panther Challenge, beginning against Jacksonville on Friday at 7 p.m. That match will officially open Victory Heights Arena , Pitt volleyball’s new home. Pitt then faces High Point on Saturday at 5 p.m. and Wright State on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Panthers will return home carrying one of the strongest early résumés in the country. Tennessee entered Wednesday unbeaten, nationally ranked and without losing a single set. Pitt changed all three of those things. Behind Babcock’s 17 kills, career performances from Watson and Emch, and another efficient night directed by Starck, No. 2 Pitt swept No. 17 Tennessee 25-17, 28-26, 25-20 to improve to 7-0 .

No. 8 SMU delivered another statement victory Wednesday night, taking down No. 9 Texas 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 25-22, 26-28, 15-10) before a packed crowd at Moody Coliseum in Dallas. The Mustangs survived Texas’ dramatic fourth-set response and took control of the deciding fifth behind career performances from Favor Anyanwu and Hannah Beauford , along with another huge night from Suli Davis. Anyanwu recorded a career-high 16 kills on .481 hitting with eight blocks , while Davis powered the offense with 22 kills and 13 digs . The victory was SMU’s first over Texas since 2000 and extended the Mustangs’ home winning streak to 12 matches. Texas fell to 3-4 after its second consecutive loss. SMU Strikes First Against Texas The Mustangs entered the matchup with an opportunity to add another marquee victory to their early-season résumé. They wasted little time taking advantage. SMU attacked Texas effectively down the line and secured the opening set 25-21 , continuing a remarkable early-season trend. The Mustangs improved to 6-0 in opening sets this season. Under head coach Sam Erger, SMU has been especially difficult to beat after taking the first frame, improving to 92-11 in those matches following Wednesday’s victory. Texas, however, had an immediate response. Nya Bunton Helps Texas Even the Match The Longhorns found better rhythm in the second set behind senior middle blocker Nya Bunton . Bunton became an important factor both offensively and defensively as Texas answered with its own 25-21 victory , evening the match at one set apiece. She finished the night with seven kills on .412 hitting and three blocks . After struggling to consistently control SMU’s attack in the opening frame, Texas made adjustments at the net and temporarily changed the direction of the match. The Mustangs answered in the third. Favor Anyanwu Powers Mustangs at the Net Anyanwu emerged as one of the defining players of the match. The SMU middle blocker produced a career-high 16 kills while hitting .481 and added a match-high eight blocks . Her performance was part of a dominant night for SMU’s middle blockers. The group combined for 31 kills while hitting .490 with only four attack errors . Freshman Elle Vandeweghe contributed seven kills in what SMU described as her best performance of the season. That efficiency helped the Mustangs regain control. SMU took the third set 25-22 , moving within one frame of the upset and forcing Texas to respond again. Texas Survives Dramatic Fourth Set The Longhorns did exactly that. Facing the possibility of losing in four, Texas pushed SMU through the most dramatic set of the match. Neither team could finish the other at the standard 25-point mark, and the fourth eventually moved into extra points. Texas finally prevailed 28-26 , tying the match 2-2 and forcing a deciding fifth set. The comeback gave the Longhorns a chance to escape Dallas with a road victory after twice trailing by a set. But the fifth belonged to SMU. Mustangs Take Control of Deciding Set With more than 6,000 fans inside Moody Coliseum, SMU regained its composure and prevented the deciding set from becoming another extended battle. Anyanwu remained a major factor, delivering an important kill as the Mustangs created the separation they needed. Texas could not reproduce its fourth-set finish. SMU closed the deciding frame 15-10 , completing the five-set victory and setting off a celebration in Dallas. The Mustangs improved to 15-8 in five-set matches under Erger . Suli Davis Delivers 22-Kill Double-Double Davis continued her outstanding start to the season with another major offensive performance. She recorded a match-high 22 kills on .281 hitting , along with 13 digs and four blocks . The 13 digs helped Davis secure her third double-double of the season. She finished with a match-high 24 points . Davis has now recorded at least 15 kills in every match this season and has surpassed 20 kills three times in 2026. Her ability to consistently produce from the outside complemented SMU’s exceptional efficiency through the middle. Hannah Beauford Records Career-High 53 Assists Setter Hannah Beauford directed one of SMU’s strongest offensive performances of the season. Beauford recorded a career-best 53 assists as the Mustangs hit .303 against the ninth-ranked Longhorns. She also collected 10 digs, giving her the first double-double of her career , and added two service aces. SMU’s offensive balance forced Texas to defend multiple threats throughout five sets. The Mustangs were especially effective through the middle, while Davis provided consistent production from the outside. SMU Wins Battle at the Net Blocking provided another significant advantage for the Mustangs. SMU out-blocked Texas 12-7 , with Anyanwu accounting for eight blocks herself. The Mustangs also held Texas to a .224 hitting percentage while producing a .303 mark of their own. Those numbers became particularly significant during a match in which both teams had opportunities to take control. Texas could extend rallies and push the match to five, but SMU’s combination of efficient attacking and blocking ultimately created the difference. Historic Crowd Watches SMU Beat Texas The atmosphere added another layer to the victory. Wednesday’s announced attendance of 6,207 was the second-largest home crowd in SMU volleyball history . A record 801 students attended the home opener, setting a program record for student attendance at a volleyball match and ranking as the second-highest student turnout for any sport at Moody Coliseum. The crowd witnessed a result SMU had waited more than two decades to celebrate. The Mustangs had not defeated Texas since a 3-0 victory in Dallas in 2000 . Wednesday was also the first meeting between the programs in Dallas since 2004. SMU Extends Home Winning Streak The victory extended SMU’s home winning streak to 12 consecutive matches , tying the longest streak in program history. It was also another significant ranked victory for a program that has increasingly proven capable of competing with the nation’s elite. SMU has now earned six top-10 victories since joining the ACC in 2024 . Wednesday’s result was its second top-10 victory of the current season. The Mustangs also improved to 2-0 against SEC opponents in 2026 after defeating Texas A&M in their season opener. Texas Falls to 3-4 After Difficult Opening Stretch For Texas, the defeat continued an unusually challenging start. The Longhorns dropped to 3-4 , following their straight-set loss to No. 6 Louisville with another defeat against a top-10 opponent. Texas has faced a demanding early schedule filled with nationally ranked teams, but Wednesday’s result leaves the Longhorns searching for greater consistency. The source also notes that senior setter Ella Swindle saw limited action but contributed when called upon, finishing with two kills, seven assists and one block . Texas now faces another major challenge when it hosts No. 6 Wisconsin on Sunday at the Moody Center in Austin . SMU Heads to Bahamas for No. 3 Kentucky SMU’s schedule offers no opportunity to relax after the historic victory. The Mustangs travel to Nassau, Bahamas, for the Paradise Invitational, where they will face No. 3 Kentucky on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 1 p.m. CT . They will arrive with momentum and another top-10 victory on their résumé. Texas forced Wednesday’s match into a fifth set with its 28-26 fourth-set win, but SMU responded exactly when it needed to. Davis supplied 22 kills. Anyanwu produced a career night with 16 kills and eight blocks. Beauford distributed 53 assists. And when the deciding set arrived, the Mustangs finished the job. After 26 years without a victory over Texas, No. 8 SMU defeated No. 9 Texas 3-2 in front of a historic crowd in Dallas .

Auburn spoiled Florida State’s 2026 home opener Tuesday night, defeating the Seminoles 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 16-25, 25-18) at Tully Gymnasium in Tallahassee. The Tigers controlled the first two sets, weathered a dominant response from Florida State in the third and then produced their most efficient offensive set of the match to close the victory. Belle Patrick led Auburn with 14 kills , while Grace Havlicek contributed seven blocks and two service aces. Florida State fell to 3-3 , while Auburn improved to 4-2 . Senior outside hitter Kyleene Filimaua led the Seminoles with 14 kills, nine digs, three aces and two blocks. Auburn Establishes Control Early Florida State entered the night playing its first home match of the season and the first home contest under new head coach Lindsay Allman. A crowd of 602 was on hand at Tully Gymnasium, but Auburn quickly took some of the energy out of the building. The Tigers established an early advantage and eventually moved ahead 10-4 . Florida State responded with a 4-1 run, cutting the deficit to 11-8 and creating an opportunity to work its way back into the frame. Auburn did not allow the comeback to develop. The Tigers pulled away again and secured the opening set 25-18 . Florida State struggled offensively during the frame, hitting -.048 , while Auburn’s defense kept the Seminoles from establishing a consistent attacking rhythm. Tigers Build Another Early Lead in Second The second set followed a similar pattern. Auburn again created early separation, moving ahead 10-5 before extending the advantage to 15-7 at the technical timeout. Florida State spent much of the set attempting to recover. The Seminoles eventually reduced Auburn’s advantage to five at 22-17 , but the Tigers remained composed and finished the frame with another 25-18 victory . After two sets, Auburn had a commanding 2-0 match advantage. For Florida State, the problem was clear. Early deficits had forced the Seminoles to chase Auburn throughout both frames. That changed dramatically in the third. Florida State Responds With Dominant Third Set Facing a possible sweep, the Seminoles produced their best volleyball of the night. Florida State opened the third set with a 6-3 run , forcing Auburn to call an early timeout. The Seminoles maintained the pressure and built a 10-6 advantage. FSU then used another 5-2 run to move ahead 15-8 . This time, Auburn was the team playing from behind. Florida State’s offensive improvement was substantial. After hitting -.048 in the opening set and .226 in the second, the Seminoles attacked at .385 in the third . Their defense was equally effective. Auburn was held to -.033 hitting , and Florida State cruised to a 25-16 victory to extend the match. Kyleene Filimaua Leads Seminoles Filimaua was Florida State’s most productive all-around player. The senior finished with 14 kills, three service aces, nine digs and two blocks , giving the Seminoles production in virtually every phase of the match. Freshman outside hitter Sofia Moss added seven kills and led FSU with 11 digs . Setters Emma Lilo and Callie Kieffer shared the distribution responsibilities. Lilo finished with 19 assists , while Kieffer recorded 18. Their work helped Florida State finish with 43 kills, but Auburn ultimately produced the more efficient offensive night. Auburn Responds After Third-Set Setback Florida State’s third-set performance created an opportunity to completely change the direction of the match. Auburn made sure it did not happen. The Tigers raced to a 10-4 advantage in the fourth set, once again forcing the Seminoles to recover from an early deficit. FSU responded impressively. The Seminoles cut Auburn’s advantage to 11-9 , bringing themselves within two points and creating another surge of momentum inside Tully Gymnasium. But Auburn responded before Florida State could complete the comeback. The Tigers moved ahead 15-10 at the technical timeout and regained control of the frame. Tigers Hit .458 to Finish the Match Auburn saved its most efficient attacking performance for the final set. The Tigers hit .458 in the fourth , their best percentage of the match. Florida State could not keep pace. Auburn continued creating separation after the Seminoles had closed within two and eventually finished the set 25-18 , securing the 3-1 road victory. The response was particularly significant after what happened in the third. Auburn went from hitting -.033 in a 25-16 loss to attacking at .458 in the very next frame. That turnaround prevented Florida State from forcing a fifth set. Belle Patrick Leads Auburn Attack Patrick finished with 14 kills , providing Auburn with a consistent offensive threat at the net throughout the match. The Tigers also received career-high kill performances from Anastasija Ivkovic, Shanelle Puetz and Havlicek , according to the Auburn report included in the source material. Havlicek made her biggest impact defensively, recording seven blocks along with two aces. That production helped Auburn win the blocking battle 11-7 . The Tigers also received an important all-around performance from sophomore setter Carson Eickenloff , who finished with 20 assists and 10 digs for a double-double. Auburn Wins Key Statistical Battles Auburn finished the match with 50 kills and a .289 hitting percentage , compared with Florida State’s 43 kills and .215 hitting percentage . The Tigers also held the 11-7 advantage in blocks. Serving was even, with both teams recording six aces . Those numbers reflected Auburn’s ability to combine offensive efficiency with net defense. Florida State showed what it could do during its dominant third set, but the Seminoles were unable to sustain that level over the entire match. The slow starts proved especially costly. FSU trailed 10-4 in the first set, 10-5 in the second and 10-4 again in the fourth. Auburn Spoils Florida State’s Home Opener The defeat came on a notable night for the Seminoles. Tuesday was Florida State’s first home match of the season and Allman’s first appearance at Tully Gymnasium as the program’s head coach. The source’s photos on pages 3 and 9 show the Seminoles gathering together on the court during the home opener. FSU provided its home crowd with a strong response in the third set, but Auburn’s fourth-set efficiency ended the comeback attempt. For the Tigers, the victory continued their success in a series that reached its 21st meeting Tuesday. Both Teams Face Quick Turnarounds Florida State does not have much time to dwell on the loss. The Seminoles continue their six-match homestand against Louisiana on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Tully Gymnasium. The match is scheduled for ACCNX. Auburn heads to Chicago for the three-day DePaul Invitational , beginning with a match against UIC on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. Tuesday’s result ultimately came down to Auburn’s ability to control the beginning and end of the match. Florida State showed its potential by dominating the third set 25-16, but Auburn answered immediately. The Tigers hit .458 in the fourth, controlled the blocking battle and prevented the Seminoles from turning their third-set surge into a full comeback. With Patrick leading the offense and Havlicek controlling the net, Auburn left Tallahassee with a 3-1 victory over Florida State .