Texas A&M secures NCAA volleyball title with 3-0 win over Kentucky

By Chris Price
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI (December 21, 2025) The Texas A&M Aggies beat the top-seeded Kentucky Wildcats 3-0 to win their first-ever NCAA women's volleyball championship. The game, which was played at T-Mobile Center. It was an all-SEC final, with both teams from the same conference fighting for the big prize.

The match was exciting from the start. In the first set, Kentucky jumped ahead early, leading 10-4. The Aggies looked in trouble, but they fought back hard. Ifenna Cos-Okpalla made big kills and blocks to spark the comeback. Texas A&M won the close set 26-24.

After that, the Aggies took control. In the second set, their strong blocks stopped Kentucky's attacks. Players like Kyndal Stowers and Ifenna Cos-Okpalla kept scoring. Texas A&M won easily, 25-15. Kentucky made too many mistakes and could not catch up.

The third set was similar. Texas A&M built a big lead and never let go. Logan Lednicky and Stowers added key points. Cos-Okpalla ended the match with a final kill, winning the set 25-20.

Kyndal Stowers and Logan Lednicky also played well on defense; forcing Kentucky into errors throughout the game.

This win was sweet revenge for Aggies after dropping their match against Kentucky on October 8 by the score of 1-3 (25-21, 22-25, 15-25, 25-27) in conference play.

2011 Houston College Classic: Late Run Lifts Kentucky Over Utah 2-1

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2011 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 6, 2011) Scoring a single run in the top of the eighth inning, the Kentucky Wildcats (5-6, 0-0 SEC) broke the 1-1 tie and held on to down the Utah Utes (2-6, 0-0 MWC), 2-1 in the third game for both teams at the 2011 Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park.

Catcher Michael Williams singled to the left side on a 1-0 pitch to score Braden Kapteyn from third for the winning run.

Utah got on the board first in the bottom of the first when short stop James Brooks scored from third on a sacrifice line out to left field by first baseman C.J. Cron.

Kentucky evened it up in thee top of the fourth when Kaptlen scored his first run of the game on a Brian Adams single down the third base line.

Jordan Cooper got the win for the Wildcats, going seven complete innings giving up one earned run on three hits and striking out nine.

Trevor Gott, pitching two innings, was crediting with the save.

Josh Chapman, pitching 3.1 innings of relief got the loss.

Kentucky leaves the 2011 Houston College Classic with a 1-2 record and will face Eastern Kentucky at home on Tuesday evening.

Utah posted a 2-1 record in their first appearance at the Classic. They will now head to the west coast to play UC Davis on Thursday evening at the Jack Gifford Memorial Tournament in Santa Clara, Calif.

Houston Baseball Snaps Three-Game Losing Streak; Downs Kentucky 8-5

(Matt Creel went 2-for-4 at the plate as the DH and pitched two complete innings in the Cougars' win over Kentucky. Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved)

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2011 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 5, 2011) The Houston Cougars (6-4, 0-0 C-USA) snapped its three-game losing streak by downing the Kentucky Wildcats (4-6, 0-0 SEC) 8-5 in the second game for both teams at the 2011 Houston College Classic.

The Cougars came back from a 2-1 deficit in the top of the seventh inning, scoring six runs to take a 6-1 lead.

The Wildcats scored a single run in the bottom of the inning and pulled within two in the bottom of the eighth, scoring two more runs.

Houston scored another run in the top of the ninth to insure the three-run victory.

UH drew blood first in the top of the first inning on a single by Caleb Ramsey which scored London Appling from second.

Kentucky came back with a two-run inning in the bottom of the fourth, scoring Chad Wright on a Luke Maile home run.

Maile took a 1-0 pitch from Houston pitcher Jordan Lewis, knocking it into deep left field for the two RBI round trip.

Houston then uncorked the bats in the top of the seventh, scoring six runs on seven hits; leaving two men on base after the hitting exhibition was over.

Jake Runte led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice.

M. P. Cokinos was called in to pinch hit for Travis Trial. He quickly singled up the middle scoring Runte from second. Joel Ansley was then substituted as a pinch runner for Cokinos.

John Cannon then tripled to right field, scoring Ansley, followed by Landon Appling reaching first on a fielder’s choice.

After Cannon was thrown out at home by Wildcat shortstop Taylor Black, Appling stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch.

Ryan Still also advanced to second on the wild pitch, after being walked.

Ramsey then singled through the right side, scoring both Appling and Still.

Matt Creel got in on the assault with a single, advancing Ramsey to second. Chase Jensen also hit a single advancing Creel to second and scoring Ramsey.

Runte got his second hit of the inning, connecting for an RBI single to scoring Creel to compete the scoring explosion.

Kentucky scored one run in the seventh and two more in the eighth to cut the Cougars lead to two, followed by a Houston insurance run in the ninth.

Creel, who came into the game in relieve of starter Jordan Lewis got the win, throwing two complete innings giving up two runs on four hits while striking out one.

Lewis went five complete innings, giving up two earned runs and three hits.

Dakota Dill was credited with the save.

For the Wildcats, Alex Meyer got the loss, giving up four earned runs on five hits while striking out six.

The Cougars will next face Texas A&M in a 6:00pm start on Sunday evening to close out the Houston College Classic.

Kentucky is slated for a 11:00am start against Utah on Sunday morning.