Texas A&M volleyball gets to play in the last game of the season.
After upsetting No. 2 seed Louisville and No. 1 overall seed Nebraska to reach their first Final Four in program history, the Aggies swept No. 1 seed Pittsburgh on Thursday night and will play for their first national championship on Sunday. Led by outside hitters Kyndal Stowers and Logan Lednicky, the Aggies were dominant at the net and the service line for the 29-27, 25-21, 25-20 win.
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Texas A&M Aggies players rush the court to celebrate winning a semifinal match between the Texas A&M Aggies and Pittsburgh Panthers in the NCAA Tournament on Dec. 18, 2025 at T-Mobile Arena in Kansas City, Mo.
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Ifenna Cos-Okpalla and Logan Lednicky combine for the block on Nebraska’s Harper Murray during the Elite Eight on Dec. 14, 2025 in Lincoln, Neb.
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Texas A&M volleyball players celebrate after beating No. 1 Nebraska in the 2025 NCAA Tournament to clinch a spot in the Final Four.
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Texas A&M opposite hitter Logan Lednicky (9) returns a serve during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Set one was contentious with 17 ties and seven set points. At one point, Pitt’s Olivia Babcock gave the Panthers set point on a shot that bounced into the stands. But Stowers’ two kills as part of a 3-0 run gave A&M the lead. The sophomore finished with a .433 hitting percentage on her way to 16-kill night for the Aggies (28-4).
The Panthers (30-5) came out strong in set two with powerful swings from Babcock. The reigning national player of the year had 22 kills and a .463 hitting percentage. It was hard for A&M to contain her power; sometimes either the Aggies would lose sight of her on the court or Babcock would find a seam. But A&M turned to its middles in one-on-one situations because very few can solo block Ifenna Cos-Okpalla or Morgan Perkins.
RELATED: How beating Nebraska helps Aggies volleyball in Final Four
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The two combined for 13 kills and six blocks for A&M and contributed to a 10-6 lead in the second set. But Pitt came out of a timeout and fired off an 8-0 run that plunged A&M in a 15-11 hole. A Cos-Okpalla kill gave the Aggies the ball back and Stowers served Pitt out of system to help the Aggies tie the match.
The dynamic A&M offense broke the tie, regaining momentum and the set win.
Like the previous two sets, A&M and Pitt traded points in the third frame. But a 4-0 run started with setter Maddie Waak’s service pressure gave A&M a lead that the Panthers couldn’t get back. The Aggies had six service aces compared to Pitt’s two. Yet Pitt challenged A&M with a reorganized offense and powerful swings from Babcock.
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The Aggies kept firing and finished with a .510 kill percentage as a team in handing Pitt its first sweep of the season. While Pitt outblocked them by one, the Aggies’ attack had multiple players to go to, while the Panthers relied on Babcock to take the big swings.
A&M will play the winner of Kentucky and Wisconsin at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Texas A&M players celebrate winning the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M players celebrate a final point to win the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M libero Ava Underwood (12) misses a return during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M outside hitter Emily Hellmuth steps up to serve during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M outside hitter Kyndal Stowers (37) tips the ball during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Yell leader Kyler Fife hypes up fans during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game betweeen Texas A&M and TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M players line the cour ahead of the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (1) and setter Maddie Waak (16) miss a block during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M middle blocker Morgan Perkins (21) tips the ball during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M head coach Jamie Morrison talks to outside hitter Emily Hellmuth (4) during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M head football coach Mike Elko watches the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M libero Tatum Thomas (3) misses a serve return during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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TCU libero Jaylen Clark (16) misses a spike during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M outside hitter Emily Hellmuth (4) is blocked by TCU setter Ella Foti (20) during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M plays TCU in an NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M outside hitter Emily Hellmuth (4) misses a return from a block during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M middle blocker Morgan Perkins (21) watches the ball during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M setter Maddie Waak (16) dives for the ball during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M players celebrate a score during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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A Texas A&M fan watches the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M opposite hitter Logan Lednicky (9) and outside hitter Taylor Humphrey (11) celebrate a score during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M opposite hitter Logan Lednicky (9) yells as team mates dive for the ball during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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From left, Texas A&M fans Jack Scofield, Owen Smith and Kaden Schwertner cheer during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M opposite hitter Logan Lednicky (9) spikes the ball during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M players celebrate a score during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M outside hitter Kyndal Stowers (37) blocks a spike during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M fans hold up signs after a block during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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TCU middle blocker Alexis Roberson (1) and outside hitter Becca Kelley (11) miss a block during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M players celebrate a score during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (1) and outside hitter Emily Hellmuth (4) miss a block during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M libero Ava Underwood (12) dives for a serve return during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M setter Maddie Waak (16) and middle blocker Morgan Perkins (21) block a spike by TCU outside hitter Becca Kelley (11) during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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TCU libero Alice Volpe (0) yells as a team mate dives for the ball during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M middle blocker Morgan Perkins (21) celebrates a score during the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M players celebrate winning the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M players and fans celebrate winning the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (1) hugs libero Ava Underwood (12) after winning the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M head coach Jamie Morrison talks to his players after winning the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M middle blocker Morgan Perkins (21) places the Texas A&M logo on an NCAA bracket after winning the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M middle blocker Morgan Perkins (21) celebrates after winning the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Here are live updates of Texas A&M’s national semifinal against Pittsburgh:
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2025 NCAA Tournament, Final Four
Pitt serves an error that ends a 3-0 Panthers run. But Babcock gets Pitt within one. A&M was called in the net and the match is tied at 18. Perkins breaks the tie with a kill from Perkins. A&M gets into the redzone first after Pitt tries to swing high, but Mosher goes to the corner for the kill. Stowers tools the block for the Aggies to extend the lead. Babcock fires another shot for the cross court kill. Cos-Okpalla’s tap over the net couldn’t be dug up to extend the lead. Cos-Okpalla comes up with a huge block to get the Aggies within two. Lednicky goes high off hands for match point. A free ball from Pitt results in a Cos-Okpalla kill for a trip to the finals.
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Babcock’s kill bounces off Perkins’ head, but Hellmuth returns the favor with an open seam shot. Bayless attacks with a strong kill. Pitt goes back to Babcock to cut the deficit. Babcock blocks Hellmuth who tried to swing out of the back row. A&M calls for a timeout.
A 2-2 run continues doe A&M with kills from Perkins and Hellmuth. Pitt calls their final timeout of the set.
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Stowers stops a 6-0 Pitt run. The Aggies continue to go to the sophomore who cannot be stopped. Waak’s service pressure puts the Aggies ahead and forces Pitt to call a timeout.
Panthers start on a 2-0 run after Pittsburgh makes a few changes on offense. Stowers swings hard cross court to put the Aggies on the board. Waak serves an error. Cos-Okpalla slams down a ball in the middle of the court in a one-on-one. Pitt delivers two free balls to A&M and Lednicky ties the match at three. Stowers serves an error, but Lednicky gets it back by going line. Pitt’s passing improved on Cos-Okpalla’s serve to break the tie. Perkins ties the match with a swing.
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Pitt sends a kill from the middle to the back row. Hellmuth tools the block and splits two defenders to send A&M into the redzone with an offspeed shot. Fitch serves an error. Hellmuth’s shot goes wide. Waak sneaks a throwdown in the wide open court. Bayless’ kill sneaks into the back corner to put the Panthers in the redzone. Lednicky’s kill does wide and the error ties the set at 21. Stowers’ kill retakes the lead. A tight set from Pitt leads to an attack error. Babcock is blocked to give A&M set point. Babcock goes wide for a kill but misses high hands.
A gritty point continues Pitt’s 6-0 run. The Panthers are serving out of system balls and the Aggies are having trouble adjusting. Cos-Okpalla stops the Panthers’ 8-0 run. Lednicky fins the back corner to close the gap. Lednicky’s kill is blocked but Pitt hit the antena and Stowers serves an ace to continue the Aggies’ scoring run. Pitt goes to Babcock to break the tie. Cos-Okpalla throws down to tie the set again. Lednicky powers it in front of the net for the Aggies to retake the lead. Perkins swings through the Panthers block, forcing Pitt to call a timeout.
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Kelley’s kill couldn’t be dug up and Pitt follows it up with a service error. A&M serves an error. A tight serve from Waak couldn’t connect with Cos-Okpalla’s arm and Waak is called for an error. Babcock goes cross court for the kill and tie. A&M is called for a net violation and the Aggies take the lead.
Lednicky serves a floater that drops over the night and Perkins roofs the Panthers. Hellmuth takes a corner kill. Pitt challenges a Panthers swing was touched but while there was no A&M touch, the call was ruled in. But Pitt serves an error making momentum short lived. Cos-Okpalla blocks gives A&M a four point lead. Pitt calls a timeout.
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Stowers is met with a Babcock block at the net. But the lead is short lived when it sails out of bounds. A dig from a Babcock kill sails out, but A&M challenges the ball was in because it tagged the line. The call will stand due to inconclusive video evidence and A&M loses the challenge. But Stowers gets the kill to tie the match. Babcock gives Pitt the lead but Lednicky ties it again. Babcock is leading the Panthers with 11 kills. Perkins hammers the ball into the middle to retake the lead.
Stowers ties the match for the 17th time. Thomas serves an ace for a fifth set point and Stowers hits high hands to take set one.
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Babcock adjusts and blocks Lednicky. But Waak sends the ball to Lednicky again who had a different blocker to get set point. Babcock forces a second set point. Lednicky’s shot takes a sharp angle to win the set but Pitt challenges if the ball was in and the call is reversed, forcing a 24-24 tie. Hellmuth tools the block for the third set point. Fitch’s serve forces Pitt out of system but Hellmuth’s power tip is blocked and ties the match at 25. Aggies go to Lednicky for the fourth set point but Hellmuth’s serve sails out. Babcock’s swing gives Pitt its first set point. A&M calls a timeout.
Stowers’ swing breaks the tie. Lednicky goes for the high hands on Babcock to catch the Pitt block off balance. Pitt calls another timeout and the Aggies are hitting .519 with Stowers leading the way with seven kills and zero errors.
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Stowers ties it at 18. Pitt takes the lead but A&M challenges that the Panthers were in the net and the call is reversed. Pitt ties it with a quick point. Cos-Okpalla swings to put A&M in the redzone and Stowers goes high for a kill that finds Panther hands. Waak serves an error to put Pitt in the redzone. A tight pass gives Kelley the kill and the tie for Pitt.
Pitt goes on a 3-0 to tie the match. Service from Mosher is coming in deep and hot, forcing the Aggies to play a little out of system. Bayless taps it over for the kill but A&M’s block is coming alive. Cos-Okpalla’s serve goes long to get Pitt within one. Babcock ties the match with a kill after a block touch is deflected. Hellmuth threads the needle of the Pitt block and Babcock goes line. Pitt takes the lead after getting a touch on a long kill. Hellmuth ties it at 17
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A&M wins a point after a rally full of Cos-Okpalla blocks. Pitt takes an early time out after A&M has its largest lead of the night. So far, three Aggies (Stowers, Cos-Okpalla and Lednicky) are hitting above .500.
A 2-0 Aggies run ends with two straight points from Bayless. A&M goes for tips early and Pitt uses them to set up easy kills. A swing from Stowers ties the match at three. Lednicky goes for the kill against Babcock and wins the one-on-one; Cos-Okpalla gets the point on a one-on-one in the middle. Lednicky is finding confidence going down the line early and a serve from the senior give the Aggies an ace. Pittsburgh delivers an early service error.
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Where:T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.