Top seeds Kentucky and Pittsburgh advanced to the regional finals of the NCAA volleyball tournament on Thursday, and No. 2 seeds Arizona State and SMU were eliminated.
Lizzie Carr led Kentucky with 11 kills, and Kassie O'Brien anchored the offense to a .419 hitting percentage in the Wildcats' sweep of Cal Poly. Kentucky plays Creighton on Saturday with a trip to the final four on the line. The third-seeded Bluejays defeated second-seeded Arizona State, 3-1, behind 23 kills from Ava Martin.
Pittsburgh edged fourth-seeded Minnesota in straight sets thanks to 19 kills from Olivia Babcock and eight kills with an .800 hit from Bre Kelley.
Pitt's next opponent is third-seeded Purdue, which rallied from a set down to defeat SMU. Kenna Wollard led the way for the Boilermakers with 23 kills.
Four more regional semifinals will be played on Friday. The final four will take place at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on December 18. The championship game is scheduled for Dec. 21 and will air on ABC.
First round
Thursday
No. 5 Colorado 3, American 0
No. 6 Baylor 3, Arkansas State 2
No. 8 UCLA 3, Georgia Tech 2
No. 5 Miami 3, Tulsa 1
No. 4 Indiana 3, Toledo 0
North Carolina 3, No. 6 UTEP 1
No. 6 Northern Iowa 3, Utah 2
Utah State 3, No. 7 Tennessee 2
No. 1 Kentucky 3, Wofford 0
No. 3 Purdue 3, Wright State 0
No. 4 Kansas 3, High Point 0
No. 3 Wisconsin 3, Eastern Illinois 0
No. 3 Creighton 3, Northern Colorado 2
Cal Poly 3, No. 5 BYU 2
No. 2 Arizona State 3, Coppin State 0
No. 4 USC 3, Princeton 0
Friday
Marquette 3, No. 7 Western Kentucky 0
Michigan 3, No. 8 Xavier 0
No. 6 TCU 3, Stephen F. Austin 0
Florida 3, No. 7 Rice 0
No. 5 Iowa State 3, St. Thomas-Minnesota 2
Kansas State 3, No. 8 San Diego 2
No. 8 Penn State 3, vs. South Florida 1
No. 1 Pittsburgh 3, UMBC 0
No. 2 Louisville 3, Loyola Chicago 0
No. 2 SMU 3, Central Arkansas 0
No. 3 Texas A&M 3, Campbell 0
Arizona 3, No. 7 South Dakota State 1
No. 1 Nebraska 3, Long Island University 0
No. 1 Texas 3, Florida A&M 0
No. 4 Minnesota 3, Fairfield 0
No. 2 Stanford 3, Utah Valley 1
Second round
Friday
No. 3 Purdue 3, No. 6 Baylor 1
No. 4 Indiana 3, No. 5 Colorado 0
No. 1 Kentucky 3, No. 8 UCLA 1
No. 4 Kansas 3, No. 5 Miami 1
No. 3 Creighton 3, No. 6 UNI 1
No. 2 Arizona State 3, Utah State 1
No. 3 Wisconsin 3, North Carolina 0
Cal Poly 3, No. 4 USC 2
Saturday
No. 2 Louisville 3, Marquette 2
No. 1 Pittsburgh 3, Michigan 0
No. 1 Texas 3, No. 8 Penn State 0
No. 1 Nebraska 3, Kansas State 0
No. 2 SMU 3, Florida, 0
No. 3 Texas A&M 3, No. 6 TCU 1
No. 4 Minnesota 3, No. 5 Iowa State 0
No. 2 Stanford 3, Arizona 1
Regional semi-finals
December 11
No. 3 Creighton 3, No. 2 Arizona State 1
No. 1 Kentucky 3, Cal Poly 0
No. 1 Pittsburgh 3, No. 4 Minnesota 0
No. 3 Purdue 3, No. 2 SMU 1
December 12
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 4 Indiana, noon ET, ESPN
No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 3 Wisconsin, 2:30 ET, ESPN
No. 2 Louisville at No. 3 Texas A&M, 7 ET, ESPN2
No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 4 Kansas, 9:30 ET, ESPN2
Regional finals
December 13
No. 1 Kentucky at No. 3 Creighton, 5 ET
No. 1 Pittsburgh vs. No. 3 Purdue, 7:30 ET
December 14
(Times to be determined)
No. 1 Nebraska/No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 2 Louisville/No. 3Texas A&M
No. 1 Texas/No. 4 Indiana vs. No. 2 Stanford/No. 3Wisconsin
national semi-finals
December 18
Game 1, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2, 8:30 p.m. ET (approx.), ESPN
national championship
December 21, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
Tournament stories
7:51
Game On: Replacing a legend in Nebraska
Dani Busboom Kelly, a two-time national champion from Nebraska, is now the Cornhuskers' head coach, succeeding her mentor John Cook.
For Dani Busboom Kelly of Nebraska, home is where you hang a banner
Replacing legendary coach and mentor John Cook was just one step on his path to building a legend of his own. Read more
Indiana freshman defies death, participates in NCAA volleyball tournament
Toxic shock syndrome almost killed Charlotte Vinson. Now he hopes to help Indiana advance in the NCAA tournament. Read more
Ten (maybe 11) players to watch in the Sweet 16
The NCAA volleyball tournament is down to its final 16 teams, and Olivia Babcock, Rebekah Allick and Logan Lednicky are among the players who will help determine who moves on to the final four. Read more
Sleeper picks, players to watch and more
Ahead of the tournament, our ESPN college volleyball experts weigh in on five big questions. Read more
7:44
Jackie Taylor finds her own path as she carries on her father's legacy
“Game On” explores UNC sophomore Jackie Taylor's challenges growing up in the shadow of her father, former NFL player Sean Taylor, and the ways she honors him.
UNC's Jackie Taylor honors her late father, NFL legend Sean Taylor
Jackie Taylor wears number 21 for North Carolina. When he jumps for a ball and throws it to the ground, NFL fans are reminded of a man they never met. Read more
3:01
How TIY Hair Ties Have Taken Over College Volleyball
Discover how an innovative accessory created by a national championship-winning coach helps keep hair of all types in place during competition.
How a Bald Coach Solved the Ponytail Problem in Volleyball
The NCAA volleyball tournament will feature dozens of stars using a hair solution invented by none other than three-time champion Jerritt Elliott. Read more
