SEC Dominance in 2025 NCAA Volleyball Championship: Kentucky vs. Texas A&M
The 2025 NCAA Volleyball Tournament Championship game is shaping up to be a landmark event. Two SEC teams, the Kentucky Wildcats and Texas A&M Aggies, will battle for the title.
This is the first time in conference history that two SEC teams have reached the national championship in volleyball. It really says something about how far the SEC has come in this sport.
The match will take place at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. You can catch the action live on ABC.
Let’s dig into the storylines, the key players, and the wild journeys these teams took to get here.
The Rise of SEC Volleyball
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The Southeastern Conference (SEC) usually gets the spotlight for football and basketball. But lately, volleyball has started to steal some of that thunder.
Kentucky’s head coach, Craig Skinner, credits the rise to a mix of tougher nonconference schedules, more school investment, and some sharp coaching hires.
Strategic Investments and Coaching Excellence
Since Greg Sankey became SEC Commissioner in 2015, the conference has really pushed to boost its volleyball programs. Sankey noticed volleyball was the only conference sport without a national title, so he sat down with coaches to map out a plan.
That led to more funding and better recruiting. Kentucky’s national championship win in 2020 (played in spring 2021 because of COVID-19) proved the SEC could do it.
Texas A&M’s head coach, Jamie Morrison, points out that bringing back the SEC tournament after twenty years gave teams a real edge in preparing for high-pressure games.
Key Players to Watch
This championship is loaded with talent. For Kentucky, Purdue transfer Eva Hudson and Brooklyn DeLeye have been lighting it up, averaging 4.59 and 4.62 kills per set.
Texas A&M counters with Logan Lednicky and Kyndal Stowers, who have put up 4.11 and 3.50 kills per set. It’s a clash of heavy hitters on both sides.
The X-Factors
Hudson and DeLeye are usually in the spotlight for Kentucky. But don’t overlook middle blocker Lizzie Carr and outside hitter Asia Thigpen—they bring something extra.
Hudson swears that when Carr gets rolling, Kentucky is almost impossible to stop. Thigpen, though just 5-foot-11, is scrappy and often surprises opponents as the team’s not-so-secret weapon.
Texas A&M leans on the grit and experience of their nine seniors. Middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla stands out, but senior Ava Underwood says the whole group prides itself on being the grittiest team out there.
Path to the Championship
Neither team had an easy road to the final. Kentucky had to come from behind against Wisconsin in the semifinals, finally winning in five sets.
Texas A&M pulled off their own comeback, rallying from two sets down against Louisville in the regionals and then knocking out Nebraska in a tense fifth set.
Previous Encounters
These two met earlier this season, on October 8. Kentucky won that one in four sets, but both teams have changed a lot since then.
Texas A&M’s Emily Hellmuth and Kentucky’s Asia Thigpen both say their squads have evolved, so expect a totally different showdown this time.
The Fan Experience
College volleyball’s popularity keeps climbing, and this weekend in Kansas City is proof. Last year’s final drew a record 21,860 fans, and this year’s semifinals were packed with 18,322 people.
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The energy has been wild, with fans coming in from everywhere—especially Nebraska—making the whole scene even more intense.
Building a Lasting Legacy
These teams aren’t just after a championship—they’re trying to build something that lasts. Morrison, now in his third season at Texas A&M, hopes this trip to the championship is just the start.
He wants to create a program that stays in the hunt for years. Who knows? Maybe we’ll see these teams right back here next year.
Conclusion
The 2025 NCAA Volleyball Championship between Kentucky and Texas A&M is shaping up to be something special. It’s not just another match—it’s a real marker of how far SEC volleyball has come.
Both teams have serious talent. The schools keep investing in their programs, and the fans? They’re all in.
Honestly, it’s hard not to feel excited about where this conference is heading. No matter who wins, the trophy’s staying in the SEC, and that’s a big deal for college volleyball.
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