Kansas Keeps Rolling in Vermillion, Sweeps Green Bay 3-0

Friday, September 12

Vermillion, S.D.

4 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

5-4,0-0Big 12

Green Bay

1-6,0-0Horizon

Kansas

Green Bay

Kansas Keeps Rolling in Vermillion, Sweeps Green Bay 3-0

9/12/2025 5:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats

VERMILLION, S.D. – Grace Nelson and Reese Ptacek powered No. 17 Kansas to its second straight sweep at the Coyote Invitational on Friday, combining for 31 kills as the Jayhawks rolled past Green Bay 25-21, 25-16, 25-14. Nelson led the way with 18 kills on a .593 hitting percentage, while Ptacek was nearly flawless with 13 kills on a .667 hitting percentage.

"I was really excited to see Reese (Ptacek) and Cris (Cline) connect on offense today," said head coach Matt Ulmer. "When we're able to get our middles going along with the back-row attack, our offense becomes very tough to defend."

Kansas started strong with a Nelson kill and a Jovana Zelenovic ace to take a 4-2 lead, though Green Bay hung close early. Midway through the set, the Jayhawks began to separate behind swings from Ptacek, Rhian Swanson and a Aurora Papac block for a 10-9 edge. Nelson and Ptacek followed with back-to-back kills to push the margin to 16-13, forcing a Phoenix timeout. Kansas kept control down the stretch, with Zelenovic and Ptacek teaming up on a block before Ptacek closed out the 25-21 win off a Cristin Cline assist.

The Jayhawks opened the second set with a 3-0 run before Green Bay answered with two points of its own. Kansas quickly responded with another 3-0 burst, capped by a Ptacek kill and block assist, to go up 6-2. A Nelson service ace extended the lead and forced a Green Bay timeout. The Phoenix came out of the break with a 3-0 run to close within 13-9, but Nelson halted the momentum with back-to-back kills for a 15-9 advantage. Kansas then capitalized on Green Bay's errors to push it to 17-11 and later 19-14 before finishing with a 5-2 run to secure the set, 25-16.

Logan Bell set the tone in the third set with a kill and an ace for a quick 2-0 lead. After Green Bay answered once, Kansas took control with a surge sparked by Ptacek and Zelenovic, who combined for three straight points capped by a Zelenovic ace. Ptacek followed with consecutive kills to make it 8-2, prompting an early Phoenix timeout.

The Jayhawks kept their rhythm out of the break as Nelson and Ptacek combined for three quick kills to extend the lead to 11-3. Kansas piled on from there, stretching the margin to 13-4 and forcing another Green Bay timeout. Cline added a kill and an ace, while Zelenovic scored on the outside to push it to 16-5, firmly putting Kansas in control.

Kansas never let Green Bay back in, trading sideouts before Nelson and Kenzie Dean delivered late kills to reach set point. Dean finished it off with a swing off a White assist, sealing the 25-14 win and the 3-0 sweep.

Up Next
Kansas will wrap up the Coyote Invitational against host South Dakota on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT, looking to complete a three-match sweep of the weekend.