SOUTH FLORIDA 3, BUFFALO 0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-14)

QUEENS, NY — South Florida rolled to a sweep of Buffalo in Round 1 of the NIVC, with Niki Khoshatefeh notching 10 kills.

Caroline Dykes dished out 27 assists and added 11 digs for USF, now 20-11 on the year. Tizi Puljiz added nine kills.

Buffalo (23-9) got 11 kills from Katrin Trebichavska; Mandy Leigh added 29 assists and Julianna Lopez had seven digs.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN 3, WINTHROP 2 (20-25, 26-24, 26-24, 23-25, 15-10)

GREENVILLE, NC — In the first five-set match of the 2023 NIVC, Georgia Southern took the lead in the deciding set and made it hold up to slip past Winthrop in Round 1 of the event.

Georgia Southern (22-8) will play The Citadel or East Carolina in the Super 16; Winthrop closes the year at 14-14.

Winthrop trailed early in Set 1, 8-5, but an 8-1 run swung it back the other way, capped by an ace from Avery Jolley. Two GS errors got it to game point, and a kill from Brookelynn Thomas closed the deal. Set 2 was a true scuffle, as no team led by more than three points, with Georgia Southern getting the difference makers on two blocks from Megan Vickery and Jordan Christy.

Set 3 played out as another nail-biter, with Winthrop coming back from an 11-4 deficit to taking the lead, 21-20. GS sealed it with a kill from Chamblee Russell and a block from Ally Barnhart and Jillian Gray.

After Winthrop forced a deciding fifth set, Georgia Southern claimed a 7-5 lead on a kill from Gray. Kills from Christy (10-7) and Paige Powers (13-9) kept the lead intact, with the match ending on a Winthrop error and a kill from Gray.

Georgia Southern got 15 kills from Russell and 14 kills from Gray. Kirsten Barrett had 28 assists to go with 12 digs, and Ashlyn Lovett had a program all-time record of 45 digs. For Winthrop, Thomas had 16 kills and Karli Shepherd had 15 kills. Isabella Murray dished out 48 assists to go with 17 digs; Madison Gorniak had 27 digs, Jolley closed with 15 digs, Rylie McMahen added 13 digs and Alicia Davis finished with 11 digs.

WICHITA STATE 3, TULSA 1 (25-12, 15-25, 25-16, 25-21)

WICHITA, KS — Wichita State hit .295 and worked hard defensively with four players getting 10 or more digs, as the Shockers topped Tulsa to advance to the Great 8 of the 2023 NIVC on Friday.

The Shockers (23-8) will host Drake (24-10) in the next round; that match is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The Hurricane end the season at 18-15.

Tulsa had a quick 7-6 lead in Set 1 before Wichita State ran wild and allowed just five points the rest of the way. The Hurricane responded nicely in Set 2, turning a 6-3 lead to 11-4 and closing the frame with 12 kills, four aces and just two errors.

Set 3 saw the Shockers take a 12-7 lead, pushing it to 18-13 on two kills from Brylee Kelly and another from Izzi Strand. The concluding set saw Wichita State take a 14-10 lead on a kill from Kelly, prompting a Tulsa timeout, and two straight kills from Sophia Rohling made it 17-11, leading to another timeout. Arianna Mongare’s kill for Tulsa made it 18-16, and after a WSU timeout the Shockers got their footing, with kills from Emerson Wilford and Morgan Stout and an ace from Rohling enough to tidy up the win.

Rohling had 15 kills for the Shockers; Kelly had 11 kills and Strand closed with 40 assists and 17 digs. Katie Galligan had 20 digs, Gabe Maas came through with 17 digs and Morgan Weber had 10 digs.

For Tulsa, Kayley Cassaday had 17 kills and 10 digs. Avery Kalsu came through with 35 assists and 14 digs; Marta Pecalli had 21 digs and Brayden closed with 10 digs.

SACRAMENTO STATE 3, UNLV 0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-21)

SACRAMENTO, CA — An effective night offensively drove Sacramento State past UNLV in a Round 1 match Thursday at the 2023 NIVC.

The Hornets (22-11) will play Montana State on Friday in a Super 16 match — it’s the third meeting on the season for the Big Sky Conference foes. Sacramento State won 3-1 at home and fell 3-2 at Montana State. The Rebels end the season at 19-13.

Sacramento State had a 14-8 lead in Set 1, only to see UNLV storm back and close within 15-14 on an ace by Caleigh King. The Hornets were able to tread water a bit and take a 20-18 lead before polishing off five straight points capped by a kill from Ashlynn Archer, an ace from Bridgette Smith and an error by the Rebels.

The second set was a smoother ride for Sacramento State, which jumped ahead 19-10 and hit .515 in frame (19 kills and just two errors). Set 3 was a back-and-forth affair, with the Hornets up 22-18 before UNLV made it 23-21 — a kill from Ellie Tisko and an ace from Kate Doorn wrapped it up for the host Hornets.

Kalani Hayes had 11 kills for Sacramento State; Tisko added 11 kills as well as Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin added 10 kills. Doorn delivered 18 assists. Caty Cordano had 14 digs.

For UNLV, Isabel Marin had 14 kills to go with 10 digs and Arien Fafard dished out 24 assists.

DRAKE 3, DEPAUL 0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-15)

DES MOINES, IA -- Drake, which was the runner-up in the 2022 NIVC, cruised past DePaul on Thursday to advance to the Great Eight of the 2023 NIVC.

The Bulldogs move to 24-10 on the year, and the Blue Demons end the year at 18-15.

DePaul had a 15-11 lead in Set 2, but the Bulldogs got it tied up again at 16-all on a kill from Kacie Rewerts. Late points from Haley Bush (on an ace) and kills by Rewerts and Taylor Oberpriller secured it for Drake.

In Set 3, Drake got loose after the score was tied at 6-all, moving ahead 14-7 on a pair of kills by Haley Bush. The match was closed with two kills by Madison Geise and a block by Geise and Ashlynn Kuhn. In the set, Drake had 17 kills and just two errors.

For Drake, Oberpriller rang up 15 kills, and Bush closed with 14 kills. Geise and Addison Beagle each had 19 assists; Jada Wills finished with 19 digs, while Beagle came through with 14 digs. 

For DePaul, Jill Pressly had 15 kills to go with 12 digs, and Audrey Klemp added 12 kills. Ashley Cudiamat had 22 assists, Rachel Krasowski closed with 16 digs and Julia Nagy had 10 digs.  

WICHITA STATE 3, ARKANSAS STATE 0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-19)

WICHITA, KS — Wichita State rumbled to a sweep of Arkansas State in a Round 1 match Thursday at the 2023 NIVC, wrapping up the night by notching 18 kills on just three errors in Set 3.

The Shockers (22-8) will face Tulsa in a Super 16 contest on Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET. The Red Wolves close the season at 16-15.

Three players had nine kills each for Wichita State — Barbara Koehler, Morgan Stout and Sophia Rohling. Izzi Strand had 33 assists and 11 digs; Katie Galligan also had 11 digs. The team hit .308 overall.

For the Red Wolves, Abby Harris and Tegan Seyring both had nine kills. Erin Madigan had 30 assists, and Kaitl;yn Whitlock closed with 17 digs. Mia Maloney added 13 digs.

MONTANA STATE 3, PACIFIC 1 (25-16, 19-25, 25-18, 25-23)

SACRAMENTO, CA — Montana State trailed 22-20 in the fourth set, but was able to respond and secure the match thanks to Avery Turnage and Kira Thomsen, with Turnage banging home the final shot to top Pacific.

The Bobcats (22-8) hit .303 overall; they will face Sacramento State or UNLV in the Super 16. The Tigers end the season at 18-11.

Thomsen and Madilyn Siebler each had 12 kills for Montana State as Nellie Stevenson had 35 assists. Jourdain Kamps came through with 10 kills and Lauren Lindseth added 10 digs.

For Pacific, Biamba Kabengele had 19 kills, with Alexa Edwards ringing up 16 kills and10 digs. Emily Van Groningen had 10 kills; Jenna Heller dished out 47 assists and Zoe Morales added 10 digs.

BALL STATE 3, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 1 (25-23, 25-17, 20-25, 30-28)

MURFREESBORO, TN — Ball State fought off two game points in a hotly contested fourth set, securing the victory with a kill from Marie Plitt and an ace by Kendall Barnes to fight past host Middle Tennessee in the opening round of the 2023 NIVC.

The Cardinals (17-14) will face Clemson in a Super 16 match on Friday. The Blue Raiders end the season at 20-10.

Barnes and Aniya Kennedy each had 17 kills for Ball State, which hit 421 overall and had only 10 errors. Megan Wielonski dished out 46 assists to go with 10 digs and four aces; Haven Gates added 12 digs.

Middle Tennessee got a career-high 26 kills from Adri Rhoda; Kayla Henley had 17 kills and Laure Jansen closed with 16 kills and nine digs. Taylor Eisert had a superior night with 55 assists and nine digs; Erin Eisenhart added 10 digs.

NORTHERN COLORADO 3, VALPARAISO 0 (26-24, 25-22, 25-14)

GREELEY, CO — Northern Colorado hit .409 overall and followed two close sets with an undeniable push Thursday to beat Valparaiso in Round 1 of the 2023 NIVC.

The Bears (18-11) will take on Wyoming on Friday in a Super 16 match. The Beacons wrap up the year at 18-15.

Northern Colorado trailed 23-19 in Set 1 but answered the bell late, capping the comeback with kills from Makenzie Harris and Brynn Reines. The Bears were paced by Reines with 12 kills, as Makenzie Harris had 11 kills and Gabe Placide added 10 kills. Syd Cole delivered 36 assists; Michaela Boon added 11 digs.

For the Beacons, Miranda Strongman had 12 kills; Addy Kois and Victoria Bulmahn added 13 assists apiece.

NORTHERN COLORADO 3, VALPARAISO 0 (26-24, 25-22, 25-14)

GREELEY, CO — Northern Colorado hit .409 overall and followed two close sets with an undeniable push Thursday to beat Valparaiso in Round 1 of the 2023 NIVC.

The Bears (18-11) will take on Wyoming on Friday in a Super 16 match. The Beacons wrap up the year at 18-15.

Northern Colorado trailed 23-19 in Set 1 but answered the bell late, capping the comeback with kills from Makenzie Harris and Brynn Reines. The Bears were paced by Reines with 12 kills, as Makenzie Harris had 11 kills and Gabe Placide added 10 kills. Syd Cole delivered 36 assists; Michaela Boon added 11 digs.

For the Beacons, Miranda Strongman had 12 kills; Addy Kois and Victoria Bulmahn added 13 assists apiece.

BALL STATE 3, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 1 (25-23, 25-17, 20-25, 30-28)

MURFREESBORO, TN — Ball State fought off two game points in a hotly contested fourth set, securing the victory with a kill from Marie Plitt and an ace by Kendall Barnes to fight past host Middle Tennessee in the opening round of the 2023 NIVC.

The Cardinals (17-14) will face Clemson in a Super 16 match on Friday. The Blue Raiders end the season at 20-10.

Barnes and Aniya Kennedy each had 17 kills for Ball State, which hit 421 overall and had only 10 errors. Megan Wielonski dished out 46 assists to go with 10 digs and four aces; Haven Gates added 12 digs.

Middle Tennessee got a career-high 26 kills from Adri Rhoda; Kayla Henley had 17 kills and Laure Jansen closed with 16 kills and nine digs. Taylor Eisert had a superior night with 55 assists and nine digs; Erin Eisenhart added 10 digs.

MONTANA STATE 3, PACIFIC 1 (25-16, 19-25, 25-18, 25-23)

SACRAMENTO, CA — Montana State trailed 22-20 in the fourth set, but was able to respond and secure the match thanks to Avery Turnage and Kira Thomsen, with Turnage banging home the final shot to top Pacific.

The Bobcats (22-8) hit .303 overall; they will face Sacramento State or UNLV in the Super 16. The Tigers end the season at 18-11.

Thomsen and Madilyn Siebler each had 12 kills for Montana State as Nellie Stevenson had 35 assists. Jourdain Kamps came through with 10 kills and Lauren Lindseth added 10 digs.

For Pacific, Biamba Kabengele had 19 kills, with Alexa Edwards ringing up 16 kills and 10 digs. Emily Van Groningen had 10 kills; Jenna Heller dished out 47 assists and Zoe Morales added 10 digs.

WICHITA STATE 3, ARKANSAS STATE 0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-19)


WICHITA, KS — Wichita State rumbled to a sweep of Arkansas State in a Round 1 match Thursday at the 2023 NIVC, wrapping up the night by notching 18 kills on just three errors in Set 3.


The Shockers (22-8) will face Tulsa in a Super 16 contest on Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET. The Red Wolves close the season at 16-15.


Three players had nine kills each for Wichita State — Barbara Koehler, Morgan Stout and Sophia Rohling. Izzi Strand had 33 assists and 11 digs; Katie Galligan also had 11 digs. The team hit .308 overall.


For the Red Wolves, Abby Harris and Tegan Seyring both had nine kills. Erin Madigan had 30 assists, and Kaitl;yn Whitlock closed with 17 digs. Mia Maloney added 13 digs.
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DRAKE 3, DEPAUL 0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-15)

DES MOINES, IA -- Drake, which was the runner-up in the 2022 NIVC, cruised past DePaul on Thursday to advance to the Great Eight of the 2023 NIVC.

The Bulldogs move to 24-10 on the year, and the Blue Demons end the year at 18-15.

DePaul had a 15-11 lead in Set 2, but the Bulldogs got it tied up again at 16-all on a kill from Kacie Rewerts. Late points from Haley Bush (on an ace) and kills by Rewerts and Taylor Oberpriller secured it for Drake.

In Set 3, Drake got loose after the score was tied at 6-all, moving ahead 14-7 on a pair of kills by Haley Bush. The match was closed with two kills by Madison Geise and a block by Geise and Ashlynn Kuhn. In the set, Drake had 17 kills and just two errors.

For Drake, Oberpriller rang up 15 kills, and Bush closed with 14 kills. Geise and Addison Beagle each had 19 assists; Jada Wills finished with 19 digs, while Beagle came through with 14 digs. 

For DePaul, Jill Pressly had 15 kills to go with 12 digs, and Audrey Klemp added 12 kills. Ashley Cudiamat had 22 assists, Rachel Krasowski closed with 16 digs and Julia Nagy had 10 digs.