The Texas A&M volleyball team, seeded third, is set to compete against the top-seeded Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament National Championship this Sunday at the T-Mobile Center, with the match scheduled to commence at 2:30 p.m. The Aggies have made history in their volleyball program by reaching their first national final, overcoming two consecutive No. 1 seeds in the process, including a pivotal win over the Pitt Panthers in the semifinals.
In that semifinal match, Texas A&M showed their resilience, winning the first set in a tightly contested battle (29-27) before claiming the next two sets decisively, with scores of 25-21 and 25-20, leading to their 17th sweep of the season. The Aggies’ offense was particularly impressive, spearheaded by their setter who recorded a program postseason record of 48 assists in a three-set match. The offense was highlighted by standout performances from their hitters, who collectively amassed 30 kills.
Defensively, the Aggies were bolstered by the exceptional play of the nation’s top middle blocker, who contributed five blocks, marking her fifth consecutive match with that number and her 19th total for the season. Interestingly, the matchup against Kentucky marks the 28th encounter between the two teams, with Kentucky leading the all-time series 17-10. However, Texas A&M has proven successful on neutral courts, holding a 2-0 record in such settings against the Wildcats.
Despite having lost the last four encounters with Kentucky, including their only conference loss earlier this season, the Aggies lead in several statistical categories heading into the championship match. They outperform Kentucky in hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage, aces per set, and blocks per set. Meanwhile, the Wildcats enjoy advantages in kills per set, assists per set, and digs per set.
Texas A&M’s journey is historic, becoming just the third No. 3 seed to eliminate two No. 1 seeds in NCAA Tournament history, following in the footsteps of UCLA in 2011 and Nebraska in 2021. Fans can catch the championship match on ABC and track live stats on 12thman.com. For ongoing updates about the Texas A&M volleyball team, supporters can follow them on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by following @AggieVolleyball. The Aggies’ remarkable season has captured the hearts of many, and they look to cap it off with a national title.