On Dec. 12, Texas A&M was two points away from elimination against Louisville in the regional semifinals of the NCAA volleyball tournament. With the score tied 23-23, Kyndal Stowers got two kills, and the Aggies rolled from there -- all the way to their first national championship.
Texas A&M swept No. 1 seed Kentucky on Sunday in the championship match in Kansas City. Before that, the Aggies swept Pitt, another No. 1 seed, in the semifinals. Those two wins came after a five-set win over No. 1 overall seed Nebraska in the regional finals.
On Sunday, Texas A&M was led by Logan Lednicky with 11 kills and Stowers with 10. The Aggies held the Wildcats to a .148 hitting percentage.
"I think we've sent a warning shot to the world of what it is we're about," coach Jamie Morrison said.
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 semifinals
Dec. 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
Dec. 12
No. 1 Texas 3, No. 4 Indiana 0
No. 3 Wisconsin 3, No. 2 Stanford 1
No. 3 Texas A&M, 3, No. 2 Louisville 2
No. 1 Nebraska 3, No. 4 Kansas 0
Regional finals
Dec. 13
No. 1 Kentucky 3, No. 3 Creighton 0
No. 1 Pittsburgh 3, No. 3 Purdue 1
Dec. 14
No. 3 Texas A&M 3, No. 1 Nebraska 2
No. 3 Wisconsin 3, No. 1 Texas 1
National semifinals
Dec. 18
No. 3 Texas A&M 3, No. 1 Pittsburgh 0
No. 1 Kentucky 3, No. 3 Wisconsin 2
National championship
Dec. 21
No. 3 Texas A&M 3, No. 1 Kentucky 0
Tournament storylines
The unlikeliest journey to NCAA volleyball's final four
Kyndal Stowers was medically retired because of concussions before transferring to Texas A&M. After helping the Aggies oust No. 1 Nebraska, she's ready to star in the final four. Read more
Dani Busboom Kelly, a two-time Nebraska national champion, is now the Cornhuskers' head coach, succeeding her mentor John Cook.
For Nebraska's Dani Busboom Kelly, home is where you hang a banner
Replacing legendary coach and mentor John Cook was just a step on her path to building a legend of her own. Read more
Indiana freshman defies death, makes NCAA volleyball tournament
Toxic shock syndrome nearly killed Charlotte Vinson. Now she's hoping to help Indiana advance at the NCAA tournament. Read more
Ten (maybe 11) players to watch at 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 makes the cut to the final four. Read more
Sleeper picks, must-watch players and more
Ahead of the tournament, our ESPN college volleyball experts give their take on five big questions. Read more
"Game On" explores UNC sophomore Jackie Taylor's challenges growing up in the shadow of her dad, 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 No. 21 for North Carolina. When she leaps for a ball and slams it to the ground, NFL fans remember a man she never met. Read more
Learn 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 volleyball's ponytail predicament
The NCAA volleyball tournament will feature dozens of stars wearing a hair-tie solution invented by none other than three-time champion Jerritt Elliott. Read more