Round 1 (Dec. 5) - Omaha vs. Lindenwood

OMAHA 3, LINDENWOOD 2 (25-14, 19-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-13)

CHICAGO, Il - The Omaha Mavericks outlasted the Lindenwood Lions (25-14, 19-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-13) in a five-set thriller in the first round of the 2024 NIVC.

Omaha took the first set in convincing fashion, 25-14, but Lindenwood came storming back to take the next two sets and take a 2-1 lead over Omaha. But the Mavericks never waved and utilized a 7-0 run in the fourth set to take a 19-13 lead en route to forcing a decisive fifth set. 

Trailing 6-4 in the fifth set, Omaha went on a 5-0 run to take a 9-6 lead and never looked back. The Mavericks were led by junior outside hitter Kali Jurgensmeier who registered 19 kills on .357 hitting along with five blocks. Brynlee Arnold also was efficient for Omaha with 12 kills on .391 hitting, while McKenna Ruch rounded out the scoring for the Mavericks with nine kills and five blocks. 

Omaha will face the winner of DePaul and Toledo in the Super 16 tomorrow night at 8 p.m. ET.