LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 14 Kansas continues play at the AVCA First Serve Showcase on Monday, Aug. 25, taking on No. 2 Penn State at 5:30 p.m. CT from the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The match will be televised on Big Ten Network.
The Jayhawks opened the 2025 season with a five-set win over Vanderbilt on Saturday in head coach Matt Ulmer's debut. Reese Ptacek led the way with 15 kills, while Grace Nelson added 13 kills and three service aces. Transfer setter Cristin Cline finished with 39 assists and 11 digs.
Penn State, the defending national champion, began its season with a 3-0 sweep of No. 12 Creighton. Florida transfer Kennedy Martin posted 14 kills and nine digs in her Nittany Lion debut, while Jordan Hopp added 10 kills on .562 hitting in front of her home-state crowd. Setter Izzy Starck recorded 38 assists to pace a balanced PSU attack.
Kansas and Penn State will meet for the third time in series history, with the Nittany Lions holding a 2-0 advantage.
Fans can follow the action on X/Twitter @KUVolleyball, track live stats here, or watch live on Big Ten Network via ESPN platforms.