Omaha volleyball to face Kansas in first round of the NCAA tournament

Omaha had been close before, but Sunday the Mavericks were able to watch in anticipation knowing that their name would be on the screen during the NCAA Volleyball Selection Show.

And the Mavs found out they would be playing No. 4 seed Kansas in the opening round of the tournament. UNO (15-13) will play at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

UNO earned its spot in the tournament by winning the Summit League tournament. It had been runner-up in the league tournament three times under coach Matt Buttermore before getting over the hump last Tuesday.

Omaha won five-set thrillers in the semifinal and final to claim the league trophy. In the final, the Mavs lost the first two sets and trailed UMKC 21-19 in the third set before rallying to take a match that lasted 2 hours, 35 minutes.

The Mavs won the trophy after turning around their season during league play.

Facing a strong nonconference schedule, UNO lost its first eight losses of the season, including to the likes of Creighton, Kansas and Nebraska. The loss to the Huskers came during a historic match at Memorial Stadium as they played in front of a record crowd of 92.003.

Omaha's record slipped to 1-10 after losing its Summit opener at home — a five-setter to UMKC. But the Mavs would win 14 of its last 17 matches, finishing in a four-way tie for the league's regular-season title in the process.

UNO had just one player — outside hitter Rachel Fairbanks — go through Senior Day ceremonies. Fairbanks is part of a balanced offense as she's one of four Mavs with more than 220 kills this season — the others are Shayla McCormick, McKenna Ruch and freshman Amanda Hardt.

Another key attacker, sophomore Kali Jurgensmeier, missed nearly two months with a knee injury before returning earlier this month.

Freshmen are key to the UNO roster. Six of the 15 players on the roster who have seen game action are freshmen. That includes the setter tandem of Ivy Leuck and Olivia Tukufau.

Photos: Creighton and Omaha players react as the 2023 NCAA volleyball tournament bracket is unveiled

Photos: Omaha volleyball hosts Creighton