For KU volleyball to advance in Sweet 16 of NCAAs, the Jayhawks must defy history
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- KU intensifies practices ahead of Sweet 16 clash with top-ranked Nebraska.
- Kansas seeks first win vs. Nebraska after 0-88-1 record in series.
- Three Jayhawks earn AVCA All-Region honors; Zelenovic named region freshman of year.
Kansas volleyball practices have been quite intense and productive since the Jayhawks’ NCAA Tournament Round of 32 victory over Miami on Friday night at sold-out Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.
“One of my favorite parts about this time of year is because I get their best attention,” first-year KU coach Matt Ulmer said Tuesday at a news conference held in advance of Friday’s Sweet 16 match against Nebraska, set for 8:30 p.m. at Devaney Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. It will be shown live on ESPN2.
KU’s coach, in what he called “two of our best practices (all season),” has had a lot to talk about to his players. On Friday, they’ll be trying to shock a Nebraska squad that has lost seven sets all season en route to a perfect 32-0 record and No. 1 national ranking.
The No. 16-ranked Jayhawks (24-10), who defeated High Point 3-0 and Miami 3-1 in first- and second-round tourney matches Thursday and Friday, are 0-88-1 all-time against NU. The tie came on Nov. 15, 1977, when because of time constraints or tourney format the match in Lincoln ended with each team taking a set.
“I don’t think there’s any question, right?” Ulmer said, asked by a reporter if Nebraska had the top team in the field of 64. “I don’t even know who the second would be.”
The Jayhawks know all about NU’s talented, undefeated squad.
KU traveled to Lincoln last April to play the Huskers in an exhibition. NU swept Kansas 25-20, 25-18, 25-21, 25-22 before a sellout crowd of 8,592 fans in Devaney Center. KU’s three international players, including kills leader Jovana Zelenovic, did not play in that match.
“I would say our spring match, we were absolutely intimidated, our group,” Ulmer said.
Yet the Jayhawks wound up playing well.
“We did compete with them in the four sets. We didn’t finish, but we were in the 20s I think in all four of the sets,” said Ulmer. The teams that day agreed to play four sets no matter the outcome.
“I think that’s why in the spring we wanted to go there. We literally have (now) been in that environment,” he added.
“I’m sure it’ll be louder and it’ll feel different because it’s the playoffs, but still, it was sold out. It was a hot ticket to get. It was all those things even for a spring game, because that’s what Nebraska does. But that’s why we did that. That’s why we went and played in those big tournaments in the nonconference, to go feel what that’s going to be like in a big gym that’s crowded — big TV game, more pressure situations and competing against top level talent.”
The current KU team may be able to draw inspiration from the fact former Oregon coach Ulmer has had some personal success versus Nebraska. His Ducks went 2-3 versus the Huskers from 2017-24.
Ulmer in his first match as Ducks head coach led Oregon to a four-set victory of No. 5-ranked and eventual national champion Nebraska at the 2017 VERT Challenge, securing the program’s first win over a top-5 team since 2012. The Ducks lost to NU in the 2018 Elite Eight as well as the regular season and fell to the Huskers in the 2024 regular season. Oregon defeated Nebraska in the 2022 Sweet 16.
Ulmer also spoke to his squad about his 2018 Oregon team, which as an underdog defeated Minnesota in the Sweet 16. Oregon won the second set of that match by a 41-39 score.
“There was so much drama. I wanted them to see how that Oregon team played point for point. It was the most points in a set in playoff history,” Ulmer said.
What he’s learned through the years is … “You can’t predict what’s going to happen, but you can control your effort. You can control your mindset. If you do those two things, you have a chance. If you don’t do those things, you have no chance,” Ulmer said.
“So much about this year has been getting them to believe in what they could be. And so it’s pretty cool to see the Miami match, to see that belief come out. We’re going to have to play at a really high level, but you’ve got to believe in that. And we’ve seen this group do it.”
KU last played Nebraska in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks fell 3-1 in Lincoln in the second round.
“I would love to see us apply pressure. I think if you apply pressure — which they (Huskers) haven’t had a ton of pressure put on them this year, because they’re that good — but if you can apply some pressure, I don’t know, it could be interesting. You can find yourself in one of those matches where that could happen,” Ulmer said.
If No. 4 seed KU can defeat No. 1 seed NU for the first time in school history, it would play either No. 3 seed Texas A&M or No. 2 seed Louisville on Sunday in Lincoln for a spot in the Final Four.
“Anytime you play any of those teams, and if I’m thinking some of the great teams lately ... you cannot back off. You have to go attack that block. You have to go attack the defense and then you have to execute at a higher level than what you’ve been doing,” Ulmer said. “That’s where the tricky part is. But from a mindset standpoint you have to go for it. You really just put your best foot forward and go for it. It’s going to be a great challenge.”
In some volleyball news Tuesday, three Jayhawks were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region Central Teams. Middle blocker Reese Ptacek and pin hitter Jovana Zelenovic were named to the AVCA All-Region first team, while pin hitter Rhian Swanson earned honorable mention honors. Zelenovic was selected as the region’s freshman of the year.
This story was originally published December 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM.
