Completed Event: Women's Volleyball at West Virginia on November 1, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 0
Final
Women's Volleyball
3
at West Virginia
0
Thursday, December 4
Lawrence, Kan.
6:30 p.m. CT
University of Kansas
23-10,13-5Big 12
3
vs
0
High Point
18-10,12-2Big South
1
2
3
F
High Point
20
15
18
0
Kansas
25
25
25
3
No. 16 Kansas Cruises to 3-0 Win over High Point in NCAA Tournament First Round
12/4/2025 9:19:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
LAWRENCE, Kan. - The No. 16 Kansas Jayhawks swept the High Point Panthers, 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA Volleyball Arena at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena on Thursday.
Kansas will take on Miami in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at 6 p.m. CT inside Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena. The match will air on ESPN+.
"Anytime you win a postseason match, it's a big deal, and getting to do it at home makes it even sweeter," said head coach Matt Ulmer. "High Point brought great energy with their band, and that pushed us, but I'm really proud of how we responded. It gives us a chance to chase something that's really hard to do and go win the next one."
Kansas' balance showed throughout the sweep, led by Jovana Zelenovic's efficient 8 kills on .400 hitting and three aces. Reese Ptacek added 7 kills and a pair of blocks, while middle blocker Aisha Aiono turned in one of the night's strongest lines with 7 kills on .636 hitting and a team-high 6 blocks. Setter Katie Dalton guided the attack with 20 assists, 3 kills and an ace, and Selena Leban contributed 5 kills and solid back-row play. Libero Ryan White anchored the defense with 14 digs and added two service aces as Kansas finished with 36 kills, 9 blocks and 8 aces.
High Point jumped out to a quick 3–0 start, but Kansas settled in fast. A block from Aiono and Zelenovic put KU on the board, and the Jayhawks quickly found their rhythm from the service line as Zelenovic delivered back-to-back aces to tie it 4–4 and then give Kansas a 5-4 lead. KU continued to apply pressure with steady side-outs and clean execution. Reese Ptacek added multiple early kills, and another Kansas ace pushed the Jayhawks ahead 8–6.
High Point briefly tied the frame, but KU responded with kills from Ptacek, Swanson and Zelenovic to rebuild a multi-point cushion. Kansas controlled the pace through the midpoint of the set, forcing High Point into a timeout while holding a 12–9 advantage.
The teams continued to trade points late into the first set, until High Point drew within a point at 21-20. The Jayhawks rattled off two straight points following a pair of High Point attack errors to retake the advantage at 23-20 and force a Panther timeout. Kansas would close out the first set on a Zelenovic kill to take the opening set. By Kansas winning the first set, the Jayhawks handed High Point their first set loss since Oct. 31 vs. USC-Upstate.
In the second set, Kansas jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead. After High Point got on the board, Kansas rattled off five straight points to take an 8-1 lead into a High Point timeout. The Panthers were able to tie a few points together to cut their deficit in half at 12-6. Kansas continued to stay in control, getting kills from Zelenovic and Aiono to keep the margin comfortable at 15-8. The Jayhawks continued their success at the net with a pair of kills by Selena Leban and Addison Freeland to make the score 19-12. Kansas would later take the second set, 25-15 on a Katie Dalton service ace.
High Point jumped out to an early 7-3 advantage in the third set, until the Jayhawks cut into the deficit behind a block by Rhian Swanson and Aiono to make the score 8-6. Kansas would force High Point into a timeout with another block by Aiono and Zelenovic as Kansas trailed by 1, 10-9.
The Panthers would bounce back strong out of the timeout to extend their lead to 13-9. The Jayhawks would then rally for six-straight points to retake the lead at 15-13. After High Point evened the score at 17-17, Kansas scored three-straight points including back-to-back kills from Aiono to take a 20-17 lead and force a Panther timeout.
Kansas pushed its lead late in the third set to 23-18 on a Swanson kill on an assist from Dalton. The Jayhawks would take the third set on a kill by Aiono, securing the three set victory.
Up Next
Kansas will take on Miami at 6 p.m. CT on Friday at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena. Miami defeated Tulsa, 3-1, in Thursday's first round matchup.
Kansas will take on Miami in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at 6 p.m. CT inside Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena. The match will air on ESPN+.
"Anytime you win a postseason match, it's a big deal, and getting to do it at home makes it even sweeter," said head coach Matt Ulmer. "High Point brought great energy with their band, and that pushed us, but I'm really proud of how we responded. It gives us a chance to chase something that's really hard to do and go win the next one."
Kansas' balance showed throughout the sweep, led by Jovana Zelenovic's efficient 8 kills on .400 hitting and three aces. Reese Ptacek added 7 kills and a pair of blocks, while middle blocker Aisha Aiono turned in one of the night's strongest lines with 7 kills on .636 hitting and a team-high 6 blocks. Setter Katie Dalton guided the attack with 20 assists, 3 kills and an ace, and Selena Leban contributed 5 kills and solid back-row play. Libero Ryan White anchored the defense with 14 digs and added two service aces as Kansas finished with 36 kills, 9 blocks and 8 aces.
High Point jumped out to a quick 3–0 start, but Kansas settled in fast. A block from Aiono and Zelenovic put KU on the board, and the Jayhawks quickly found their rhythm from the service line as Zelenovic delivered back-to-back aces to tie it 4–4 and then give Kansas a 5-4 lead. KU continued to apply pressure with steady side-outs and clean execution. Reese Ptacek added multiple early kills, and another Kansas ace pushed the Jayhawks ahead 8–6.
High Point briefly tied the frame, but KU responded with kills from Ptacek, Swanson and Zelenovic to rebuild a multi-point cushion. Kansas controlled the pace through the midpoint of the set, forcing High Point into a timeout while holding a 12–9 advantage.
The teams continued to trade points late into the first set, until High Point drew within a point at 21-20. The Jayhawks rattled off two straight points following a pair of High Point attack errors to retake the advantage at 23-20 and force a Panther timeout. Kansas would close out the first set on a Zelenovic kill to take the opening set. By Kansas winning the first set, the Jayhawks handed High Point their first set loss since Oct. 31 vs. USC-Upstate.
In the second set, Kansas jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead. After High Point got on the board, Kansas rattled off five straight points to take an 8-1 lead into a High Point timeout. The Panthers were able to tie a few points together to cut their deficit in half at 12-6. Kansas continued to stay in control, getting kills from Zelenovic and Aiono to keep the margin comfortable at 15-8. The Jayhawks continued their success at the net with a pair of kills by Selena Leban and Addison Freeland to make the score 19-12. Kansas would later take the second set, 25-15 on a Katie Dalton service ace.
High Point jumped out to an early 7-3 advantage in the third set, until the Jayhawks cut into the deficit behind a block by Rhian Swanson and Aiono to make the score 8-6. Kansas would force High Point into a timeout with another block by Aiono and Zelenovic as Kansas trailed by 1, 10-9.
The Panthers would bounce back strong out of the timeout to extend their lead to 13-9. The Jayhawks would then rally for six-straight points to retake the lead at 15-13. After High Point evened the score at 17-17, Kansas scored three-straight points including back-to-back kills from Aiono to take a 20-17 lead and force a Panther timeout.
Kansas pushed its lead late in the third set to 23-18 on a Swanson kill on an assist from Dalton. The Jayhawks would take the third set on a kill by Aiono, securing the three set victory.
Up Next
Kansas will take on Miami at 6 p.m. CT on Friday at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena. Miami defeated Tulsa, 3-1, in Thursday's first round matchup.
Team Stats
HP
KU
Kills
26
36
Errors
22
15
Attempts
99
97
Hitting %
.040
.216
Points
34.0
53.0
Assists
26
32
Aces
4
8
Blocks
4
9
Game Leaders
Kills
8
Aces
3
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
5
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S/Pin
/ Women's VolleyballPin
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
Pin
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballPin
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