Sixth-year senior Kiara Reinhardt led the Bluejays off the court, head held high, as the scoreboard made it official: No. 11 Creighton’s season had ended with a 25-19, 25-13, 25-22 loss to No. 2 Kentucky in the NCAA regional final at Historic Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, KY. The Bluejays’ playoff run was over. Kentucky closed out the Elite Eight match in straight sets. Creighton showed it could compete with the nation’s top teams, but the consistency required to do so proved challenging.
The opening set reflected that tension. Creighton traded points with Kentucky early and stayed even at 14 points before the Wildcats created separation. A 5-0 Kentucky run flipped the set, forcing Creighton into longer rallies and tougher swings. Kentucky finished the set with 17 kills to Creighton’s nine, although redshirt freshman Nora Wurtz provided a spark with three aces, setting a new Creighton single-season record.
“[Kentucky] were really good defensively, made it hard for us to score all match,” Creighton head coach Brian Rosen said. “They did a really nice job siding out all match, and I thought that was the difference between the two teams. We’re so good at serving and going on runs, and we just weren’t able to do enough of those today.”
The second set became the clearest example of that gap. Kentucky jumped out to a 7-1 lead and never allowed Creighton to settle. The Wildcats hit .289 in the set while holding the Bluejays to .000 across 43 swings. Even clean looks were dug up, extended, and turned back into points the other way.
Kentucky’s ability to defend without breaking structure forced Creighton into predictable situations, especially against a disciplined block. That was the pressure Kentucky wanted to apply.
“Our main thing was to get their star attackers to kind of feel our presence up there,” Kentucky outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye said. “ I think it also helped that our serve got them out of system a lot. So it helped us from a blocking standpoint, [to] know where they’re going every time.”
The third set offered Creighton its best chance to extend the match. There were seven ties and three lead changes, with rallies stretching longer and the pace slowing. Senior Ava Martin and redshirt sophomore Jaya Johnson each finished with eight kills, and Annalea Maeder recorded her fourth straight double-double with 26 assists and 13 digs.
But Kentucky’s defense never wavered. Every ball seemed to find a Kentucky hand. Outside hitters Brooklyn DeLeye and Eva Hudson both posted double-doubles, which limited Creighton’s ability to score in transition. When rallies extended, Kentucky consistently turned first contact into controlled swings. The Wildcats finished the night with 62 digs and didn’t miss a single pancake.
The loss closed the match, but it did not define the season. Creighton finished 28-6 in Brian Rosen’s first year as head coach. The Bluejays won 23 straight matches, tied for the second-longest streak in program history. They matched a school record with nine true road wins. Five of their six losses came against teams ranked in the top five at the time.
In the concourse after the match, sophomore Saige Damrow embraced freshman Abbey Hayes in a hug. Hayes said she had wanted the win for her senior teammates. The gesture carried the weight of the season. For seniors Ava Martin, Kiara Reinhardt, Annalea Maeder and Sky McCune, the loss marked the end of something much more personal.
Martin talked about how much she enjoyed playing alongside her teammates.
“Our big thing is playing with joy,” the AVCA second-team All-American said. “I really hope that other people can see that, because we just have so much fun out there playing together. We love each other so much, we love the sport of volleyball, and we’re just happy to be out there doing it.”
Kiara Reinhardt, who returned for a sixth year, spoke about what the season meant beyond wins and losses. She joked about being the “mom” of the team, a role that reflected both her experience and her connection with a younger roster.
“They’ve kept me young, they’ve kept me funny, and I’ve got a lot out of it too,” Reinhardt said. “It was really unique to connect with some of the younger girls…to get to know our transfers a bit more. They’re a really sweet and special group.”
Rosen said Reinhardt’s decision to return helped shape the team’s run. She gave Creighton stability at the middle blocker position and a reliable voice in the locker room. That consistency mattered on a roster balancing experience, new pieces, and postseason expectations.
“Her play is really, really good, and I think she’s one of the best middles in the country,” Rosen said. “But what she does beyond that is so much more important to our program. [She’s] the best leader, best captain, and does everything the right way.”
The Final Four goal remains unmet, but it has become part of the program’s identity. For Creighton, progress has come through consistency and standards, not resets. Each season builds on the last.
“Obviously, it stings and I wish we had a chance to run it back,” Martin said. “It’s an expectation here at Creighton now, just to keep building and getting better…They’re going to get back in the gym next spring, and they’re going to continue working toward a Final Four.”
Rosen said his message to the team after the match was simple.
“The biggest thing I told them was that I love them, and how grateful I am to them for not just sticking with me, but showing up every day and fighting like crazy,” Rosen said. “Not just for me, but for the people next to them.”
He paused, then added what felt like the final word on the season.
“I’m so proud of the fight they had,” Rosen said. “I’m grateful for them and for all they did this season, for our Creighton community.”
