Creighton Volleyball experienced a heartbreaking defeat against Kentucky in the NCAA Regional Finals on Saturday, losing 3-0 with scores of 19-25, 13-25, and 18-25. This loss eliminates the Bluejays from the 2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championships.
In the moments following the defeat, Bluejays head coach Brian Rosen shared his emotions and reflected on his team’s performance both in the match and throughout the season.
Creighton Volleyball Coach’s Message Following the NCAA Regional Finals Defeat
Creighton Bluejays concluded their 2025 volleyball season with an impressive 28-6 record. Although the defeat against Kentucky was difficult, players like Ava Martin (8 kills), Jaya Johnson (8 kills), and Annalea Maeder (26 assists) delivered commendable performances, showcasing a fierce fight in the NCAA Regional Final.
Speaking at the post-match conference, Bluejays head coach Rosen highlighted Kentucky’s remarkable performance, which outmatched his team entirely in the game.
Rosen said, while analyzing his team’s defeat to Kentucky, “I just thought Kentucky were really good defensively, made it hard on us to score all match. Loved the fight that we had in the first and third, I thought we stayed right there. We kind of had a lead, and then kind of lost in the 15-point mark. Second set, we just went down big and could never really get back into it.”
Rosen further expressed his admiration for his players and the team, noting, “They did a really nice job sighting out all match, and I thought that was the difference between the two teams. I give credit to Kentucky for putting us in tough positions, but in the end, I love my team more than any team in the country, never stopped fighting, never stopped showing that grit.”
Rosen also emphasized Kentucky’s strong performance on the court, which disrupted Creighton’s ability to serve effectively and play to their strengths. The NCAA Regional Finals provided an excellent opportunity for the Bluejays to advance to the NCAA Championships semifinals for the first time in their history.
However, due to Kentucky’s dominant play, Rosen’s team will have to wait until next season to pursue this historic achievement. In contrast, Kentucky will move on to compete in the NCAA semifinals against the winner of the NCAA Regional Final match between Wisconsin and Texas.
Brian Rosen Reflects on the Growth of Women’s Volleyball in Recent Years
Rosen shed light on the development of women’s volleyball in the country, highlighting the increased interest from major broadcasters such as ABC and ESPN in covering the 2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championships.
Rosen said, following Creighton’s defeat to Kentucky on Saturday, “I think volleyball has been booming for years now. It’s grown and grown really since I started getting into it and watching it. I love that moments like this are on ESPN. We got the first two rounds on ESPN too, so I love that it’s on TV more.”
Rosen himself has been one of the instrumental coaches in the volleyball community in recent years. He joined Creighton as the head coach earlier this year and led his side to an NCAA Regional Final appearance. In addition to Creighton, Rosen has also served stints at Nova Southeastern University.
