In sports, every season tells a story. For Creighton volleyball, this season felt like a dream. From moments of triumph, resilience and love, it was a story of 19 women coming together, not just as a team but as a family, chasing the kind of aspiration that lives in every athlete’s heart.
For only the second time in program history, the Bluejays advanced to the regional semifinal, dethroning the back-to-back reigning national champions, Texas, in four sets to punch their ticket to the Elite Eight. However, on December 15, that dream of claiming a national championship met its end in front of the hostile atmosphere of Penn State’s Rec Hall, falling just short of a trip to the Final Four as the Nittany Lions prevailed, 3-2. Tears fell as the final kill from Penn State found the floor, but they weren’t just tears of loss. They were tears of pride, of gratitude, and of love—for the journey, for each other, and for a season that will live forever in Creighton’s history.
“This hurts,” Head Coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth said following the match against Penn State. “This isn’t where our journey was supposed to end, but man, I am proud of this group. I am proud of who they are off the court as much as I am proud of who they are on the court. The love that they have amongst each other is pretty remarkable, and I am grateful that we had this journey.”
Their journey this season began with a 9-2 record in nonconference play, the only losses coming in five-set thrillers at No. 4 Nebraska and No. 2 Louisville. The Bluejays earned notable wins over top-10 teams like Purdue and Kansas, proving they could hold their own against the best. These results earned them the program’s highest-ever ranking at No. 6 as they entered Big East play.
Despite the early success, the Bluejays understood that a deep run in the postseason depended on remaining focused and dominant in conference play—and they delivered. Creighton dropped just three sets during the regular season against their Big East foes, finishing a flawless 18-0. Their dominance carried into the conference tournament, where they swept both DePaul and Marquette to claim their fifth consecutive Big East Tournament title and an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Along the way, the team climbed to No. 5 nationally in the AVCA poll, the highest ranking achieved by any women’s team in Creighton history.
“It’s really special to be a part of,” senior Norah Sis said. “We talk all the time about the women’s backs that we’re standing on, and I know there was a very good handful of them here today which is really, really special, and I know that that’s going to be us next year… This group is awesome. I’m so proud of this group and how we were able to make that jump.”
Creighton’s tournament run began with a sweep over South Dakota, followed by a three-set thriller over Ole Miss to punch their ticket to the program’s second straight Sweet Sixteen in front of a record-breaking crowd of 2,665 at D.J. Sokol Arena.
Traveling to University Park in Pennsylvania, Creighton faced their toughest challenge yet: the Texas Longhorns, otherwise known as the two-time defending national champions.
Despite dropping the first set, the team reset and regrouped, rallying from behind to defeat Texas in four sets in a statement performance to advance to their second Elite Eight in program history. Senior outside hitter Norah Sis led the charge with 15 kills, while Kendra Wait tallied 47 assists and 17 digs. However, it was a collective team effort that propelled Creighton to the Regional Semifinal. Creighton hit .307, tallying 11 aces and 8 blocks to neutralize the Longhorns’ offense.
Creighton’s victory over Texas was a monumental step, but the Bluejays’ journey toward the national title would be tested again in the Elite Eight, where they faced off against the top-seeded Penn State. A crowd of 3,226 packed Rec Hall, dressed in white for the Nittany Lions’ famed “White-Out,” creating a charged atmosphere for one of the tournament’s most anticipated matchups.
Penn State and Creighton traded early blows to began the match, with Jess Mruzik delivering the opening kill for the Nittany Lions, followed by a pair of kills from Sis and a block by senior Elise Goetzinger and Wait to tie the opening frame at 7. However, Penn State surged ahead with a 14-3 run, fueled by four aces and their relentless defense, to put the first set firmly out of Creighton’s reach. The Nittany Lions stifled the Bluejays, limiting them to .081 hitting and collecting 21 digs to secure the first set, 25-15.
“Their serve disrupted us, especially in the first set,” Bernthal Booth said.
“We just said, you know, the ball’s getting on you fast. Angie [Oxley Behrens], our associate head coach, talked to them… and I knew they would respond,” she added.
The second set started similar to the first, as each team traded points to reach a deadlock at 7. However, this time it was Creighton who slowly inched ahead before a 7-1 run propelled the Bluejays to set point.
The kill from junior outside hitter Ava Martin sent senior libero Maddy Bilinovic to the service line at 24-16. Bilinovic, a graduate transfer from Penn State, had been the target of much of the crowd’s chants, but she silenced the crowd with an ace serve to level the match at a set apiece. Creighton closed out the set hitting .500, led by five kills from Martin.
Sophomore defensive specialist Sydney Breissinger and Martin each served up an ace of their own to build Creighton an 8-4 lead to start the third set. Martin picked up her second ace of the night to extend the lead at 17-12. PSU capitalized on a few errors from the Creighton offense to stay within reach, but kills from Wait and Sis put the Bluejays in the “red zone,” leading 20-17.
Just when it seemed Creighton might take a 2-1 advantage, the Nittany Lions strung together a 7-1 run, sparked by four kills from Mruzik, to steal the third set.
Down 2-1, it was a must-win set for the Bluejays to keep any dream of a trip to the Final Four alive. On an ace from Wait, block by senior Kiara Reinhardt and freshman Jaya Johnson, and a kill from Reinhardt, along with help from a few PSU errors, Creighton built a 6-2 advantage in the fourth frame.
Goeztinger began to find her rhythm after being quiet the first few sets, recording a pair of blocks and a pair of kills to maintain at steady lead for the Bluejays.
Penn State stayed within striking distance, pulling within three at 20-17 after a block by freshman setter Izzy Stark and senior Taylor Trammell. However, Penn State’s fifth service error of the set, followed by kills from Reinhardt and Johnson sealed the fourth set for the Jays, sending the match into a winner-takes-all fifth set.
It was a race to 15 with a trip to Louisville and the Final Four awaiting at the finish line.
Creighton struggled to keep up with the Nittany Lions in the fifth and final set. A pair of PSU service errors helped the Bluejays tie the score at 3, but a 9-2 run from Penn State dug Creighton into a hole too large to climb out of.
A kill from Goetzinger and block by Wait and Reinhardt brought the score to 7-12, but a service error from Hausmann, a block on Reinhardt’s attempt, and a kill from Trammell sealed the match for the Nittany Lions, 3-2.
With the loss came the end of a historic season for the Creighton Bluejays—a season that shattered records, upended brackets, and elevated the public’s perception of Creighton Volleyball. But what this team will be remembered for most isn’t just the stats or the titles; it is the pure love this team has for each other.
“We’ve talked all season that we have grit, we have heart, and we play with that every single point,” Wait said.
“We fought our hearts out on that court,” she added. “We battled, and there is no other group of women that I would want to go out there and battle with.”
Creighton took on a larger roster this season, complete with 19 athletes. With only six players on the court at a time, Bernthal Booth and the rest of the coaching staff shared concerns about how each player would find their role while ensuring the team remained unified. Yet, those worries quickly faded as the Bluejays embraced a culture of selflessness and mutual support.
“I just think the way that all 19 women on this team came into the gym every single day and, no matter what we were dealing with, with school or outside life, I think everyone wanted it so badly for each other, and whether it was people on the court or people that were on the bench the whole year, I think everyone fought so hard for one another,” Sis said. “I think that is something that I will remember about this team.”
This commitment to one another, whether on the court or from the sidelines, became a defining characteristic of Creighton’s season. Every player, regardless of their role, contributed to the team’s success, creating an unshakable bond that propelled the Bluejays to one of their most memorable seasons.
“It’s so unique to be on a team where so many people are so selfless,” Wait said. “They don’t care if they’re on the court. They don’t care if they don’t see a single point, but they truly care and want the best for every other person on the team, and not a lot of programs can say that.”
Leading this mindset for the Bluejays were seniors Abbey Milner, Katie Maser, and Emma Ziegler. Each incredible volleyball players, but even better leaders. Although they didn’t see much of the court this season, the team’s success wouldn’t have been possible without their contributions.
“They worked hard every single day,” Bernthal Booth said. “They were the people supporting younger players that maybe were struggling with their role… They were captains and… I leaned on them at different times for different things. Those guys, …they’re just incredible people and fantastic volleyball players.”
Among the senior class are AVCA Honorable Mention All-Americans Elise Goetzinger and Maddy Bilinovic. After graduating from Kentucky and Penn State, respectively, the duo transferred to Creighton for their final year of college volleyball. Though their time in the white and blue may have been brief, their impact will leave a lasting legacy.
“To be lucky enough to play for this coaching staff and alongside the most amazing women is something I will never forget,” Bilinovic said on Instagram. “To be lucky enough to have this fifth year at Creighton University where I fell back in love with the game is something I will forever be grateful for.”
And last but certainly not least, rounding out the graduating class are Norah Sis and Kendra Wait: two of the most decorated players in Creighton Volleyball history.
Sis, an Omaha native, committed to the program as just a sophomore in high school. Little did the Pro Volleyball Federation No. 3 overall pick know, she would go on to be the 2021 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, Volleyball Magazine 2021 National Freshman of the Year, 2022 BIG EAST Player of the Year, and a 2024 AVCA Second-Team All-American, just to name a few of the countless accolades she collected during her career.
“Looking back, I just think it’s so cool. I was literally like 15. I don’t know how old I was. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. And just like looking back at how the Lord so specifically picks all these people to come here is so, so cool,” Sis said, overcome with emotion. “It’s so cool how just random girls from all over the country suddenly we’re spending every minute together and we’re best friends—I am just going to miss it so much. I am so, so thankful that I got the opportunity to play for Creighton.”
Wait leaves behind a legacy that cements her place as one of the program’s all-time greats. A four-time All-American and Creighton’s first-ever AVCA First-Team All-American, she has been the backbone of the Bluejays from the moment she arrived in Omaha. The back-to-back BIG EAST Player and Setter of the Year and the 9/24 AVCA National Player of the Week, Wait has continually elevated her game to match the biggest moments. Her precision, drive, and leadership elevated those around her, leaving a mark that will be felt long after she’s gone. Her impact may not fully be realized until Creighton takes the court without her guiding the way.
“It’s hard for me to put into words,” Bernthal Booth said when asked about what this senior class has done for the program. “These two [Sis and Wait] and our senior group, God, they are just the best women. I love them like my daughters… They are selfless. You know, we talk about what’s wrong with college athletics; these guys are what’s right about college athletics. They are student athletes. They are wonderful humans. I am just sad I didn’t get to coach them longer.”
This historic Creighton team finished the season with a program-record 32-3 record, the most wins in a season, with their only losses coming at the hands of teams that reached the Final Four, including the two that faced off in the national championship. Their final loss came to the eventual 2024 NCAA National Champions.
Along the way, they earned a program-record and national-leading five AVCA All-Americans—more than any team in the Final Four—and six All-BIG EAST Team honorees, including one All-BIG EAST Freshman and the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year award. They ended the season ranked No. 6 in the nation. What a season. What a team.