Sterling’s Lexi Rodriguez (Nebraska), Rock Falls' Maya Sands (Missouri) on to Sweet 16

College volleyball

Sterling, Rock Falls natives have success in NCAA tournament: Sterling High School grad Lexi Rodriguez (Nebraska) and Rock Falls grad Maya Sands (Missouri) both advanced in the NCAA volleyball tournament, and Sterling’s Bree Borum helped Loyola Chicago open the tournament with a big upset.

Seventh-seeded Missouri faces third-seeded Kentucky at 1 p.m. Friday on ESPN2, and top-seeded Nebraska hosts fifth-seeded Dayton on Friday 30 minutes after the 7 p.m. Wisconsin and Texas A&M match ends on ESPN2.

Borum and the Ramblers fell to Purdue, but not before sweeping BYU to earn the program’s first NCAA tournament win Thursday. Borum had her third straight double-double and 23rd of the season with 32 assists and 10 digs.

Loyola ended its season at 22-12, which is its second 20-win season since joining the Atlantic 10 and fourth under head coach Amanda Berkley.

“This was a tough match for us,” Berkley said. “I thought Purdue played really well, but there were definitely moments of good play from our end today. I’m glad the entire volleyball world got to see our program play, beat BYU, and make history. We believed we would be here tonight, and I am really proud of this group for this season, especially the last 14 matches.”

Sands, the back-to-back SEC Libero of the Year, led the Tigers (22-8) with 14 digs and added four aces and five assists as Missouri beat SMU 25-22, 25-14, 31-33, 25-22 to advance to the Sweet 16. It is the first time the Tigers have reached the third round of the tournament since 2017. Sands, a junior, had 20 digs in the win against Texas State on Thursday.

The Cornhuskers (32-2) swept Miami, and Rodriguez had nine digs to get to 226 in the NCAA Tournament, which ranks fourth in Nebraska history. The three-time Big Ten Libero/Defensive Player of the Year had 15 digs in a sweep of Florida A&M in the first round. Rodriguez is 47 digs away from the Nebraska career record.

Following the regional finals this weekend, the semifinals take place Dec. 19 with the national championship Dec. 22 in Louisville, KY.

In the National Invitational Volleyball Championships, Sterling grad Brook Borum and Virginia lost 25-21, 27-25, 25-23, 25-20 to St. John’s to finish 21-11. It is the Cavaliers' most wins since 2006. Borum, a senior, had 15 digs, seven kills, four assists and a block in the loss.