Kansas Jayhawks volleyball advances to Sweet 16 by beating Miami in four sets
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- KU advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 after a 3-1 Round of 32 win over Miami.
- First-year coach Matt Ulmer led KU with energetic sideline coaching and praise.
- KU defended against 27-kill standout Flormarie Heredia Colon and held Miami.
First-year Kansas Jayhawks volleyball coach Matt Ulmer pumped his fist high over his head repeatedly in celebrating key points as KU blazed to a 3-1 victory over Miami in an NCAA Tournament round-of-32 match Friday night at sold-out Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.
“You were having a grand old time,” KU senior Ryan White said, speaking directly to former Oregon coach Ulmer in the interview room after KU improved to 24-10 and claimed a spot in the Sweet 16.
There are some unknowns around what comes next for the 24-10 Jayhawks. Kansas will play a yet-to-be-determined opponent on a yet-to-be-determined date at a yet-to-be-determined location.
What is known is this: If overall No. 1 seed Nebraska defeats Kansas State on Saturday night in Lincoln, the Sweet 16 would be contested either Thursday or Friday in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Ulmer, who likes to stand the entire match instead of sitting on the bench, seemed to have as much fun Friday as the 1,797 fans who were into the match from start to finish. The Jayhawks won the first two sets 25-17, 25-22, then — after losing the third set 25-22 — won the fourth, 27-25.
“Part of our process has been gaining confidence,” Ulmer said. “So anything that I can do, what the staff can do to help find the joy and find confidence in what they’re doing ... if that means we’re going to cheerlead them on and really appreciate when they do the things we’re asking, we’re going to do that.
“I can put my track shoes on, jump around a little bit.”
Actually, Ulmer was so impressed with his first Jayhawks team winning a second-round match for the first time in three seasons that he was overcome with emotion for a moment.
“I think I teared up a little bit out there, which I haven’t done before with any of the teams,” he said. At Oregon, his Ducks reached the NCAAs seven times in his eight seasons. The Ducks advanced to the Elite Eight three times and Sweet 16 five times.
“Again I just think the growth piece is when you take a new job, you don’t know how people are going to receive you. They could have all just said ‘whatever,’’’ Ulmer said.
“And you know, they’ve had such an amazing coach (in Ray Bechard, who retired at the conclusion of the 2024 season after 27 seasons as KU’s coach). You don’t know how they’re going to see you, but I just think they’ve given their best effort every day and they just kept grinding. They’ve never stopped believing in what we’re talking about.
“You want to be playing your best ball right now, and I think that was the best we played. It’s not going to be pretty against a great team. They’re going to force it on you, but I’m just really happy for them and just really appreciate everybody that was here and has been with us to get to this point.”
KU was able to withstand a 27-kill performance from Hurricanes senior hitter Flormarie Heredia Colon, one of the country’s top players. She has had as many as 43 kills in a single match.
“I think we did great. I felt like we were prepared,” said Kansas senior Rhian Swanson, who had 15 kills and two blocks.
Added White, who had 18 digs: “She’s a great player but to combo the block touches, the blocks, the digging, all aspects of it I think we handled it very well.”
Ulmer praised the performance of 6-foot Heredia Colon.
“Flormarie is one of the best players in the country. I thought we did everything we could do and she still had 27 kills. (That) just tells you how great she is,” Ulmer said,
Miami fell to 27-6.
“It was a great match,” Ulmer said, “two really good teams that I thought both showed up, played so well.”
For KU, Jovana Zelenovic had six kills and two blocks; Reese Ptacek 10 kills and five blocks; Selena Leban 10 kills and 11 digs; Katie Dalton two kills, eight digs and six blocks. Aisha Aiono had five kills and five blocks, Grace Nelson Nelson nine digs and Logan Bell eight digs.
“It was very intense, about as intense of a (round of 32) match as I’ve been a part of. I thought we were so tough and in big moments. It was great to see, and the crowd was fantastic. It was a great home court advantage. And I’m just really happy for all these Jayhawks,” Ulmer said.
Despite the homecourt advantage, KU fell to Florida and Penn State in the second round the past two postseasons.
“It’s just so great. I mean, I just am so excited. We’ve obviously never been this far, so being able to do it with the best group of girls is amazing,” said Swanson, a senior from McPherson.
This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 10:18 PM.
