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2025 Fall Preview: Kickapoo Volleyball

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By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

Kickapoo volleyball struggled a bit in 2024.

The Chiefs posted a 15-17 record, falling to Republic in the Class 5 District 6 tournament.

Long time head coach Marci Adams viewed the season as an opportunity to build team chemistry, develop skills and plan for the future.

“We knew we had a lot of new faces on the team, but we deliberately kept a competitive schedule and embraced every challenge that came our way,” Adams said. “We focused on building team chemistry across different ages and skill levels, while steadily gaining experience. This group was especially committed to learning and improving from every win and loss, all while making sure to keep the experience fun and positive.”

A quintet of talented returnees will lead Kickapoo on the court this season, including Abby Ferguson, Molly Doening, Chloe Sargent, Brittan Smith and Mila Asay.

Ferguson, a senior, will play middle blocker this season.

“Abby finished just a few blocks behind our team leader and continues to be a key contributor on both sides of the ball,” Adams said. “She takes great pride in her role, bringing physicality at the net and a strong presence on offense and defense. Over the summer, she’s put in the work to build strong connections with our setters, which has really elevated her game.”

Downing, a junior outside hitter, recorded over 100 kills in her first year playing varsity.

“Molly played on the right side last season,” Adams said. “This season, we expect her to take on a larger offensive role, potentially contributing both on the outside and right side. She’s also made big strides in her defensive play and serve receive, making her a reliable option out of the back row.”

Sargent, a junior middle blocker, finished last season with over 50 blocks and 140 kills.

“Chloe has a quick arm swing and consistently generates positive block touches, which help create favorable defensive opportunities for our team,” Adams said. “With her athleticism and continued growth, Chloe has the potential to become a dominant presence at the net on both offense and defense.”

Smith, a sophomore libero, led the team with nearly 400 digs as a freshman.

“Brittan moved into the libero position after the first couple weeks of season,” Adams said. “As a freshman she was reliable on serve receive and got better every match. The work she put in in the offseason mixed with a year of experience on varsity will prove to be a good recipe for a great sophomore season.”

Asay, a sophomore outside hitter, finished third on the team in kills.

“Mila took a lot of gutsy swings as a freshman and refuses to be labeled as ‘undersized,’” Adams said. “She works really hard on her physicality and athleticism. We’ll look to her to take a lot of swings on the outside and contribute in the back row as well. This kid plays with a lot of fire that’s evident in her energy and presence on the court.”

Adams also expects several varsity newcomers to step in and make an impact this season, including sophomore Paisley Eaton.

“Paisley has taken on the primary setting role throughout the summer and is a strong candidate to run a 5-1 offense this season,” Adams said. “She likely would have seen more varsity time last year if she hadn’t been playing behind a Division I-level setter. Paisley brings excellent defensive coverage, a strong serve and a team-first mindset to the setter position. I expect her to adjust to varsity play quickly and make an immediate impact.”

Sophomore, Addyson Kineman, senior Kaydin Burch and junior Adi Bratcher will also compete for varsity playing time this season.

“While our team is still young, we’ve gained valuable experience over the past year that will serve us well this season,” Adams said. “You can expect to see a rotation that is eager, adaptable, and continually improving. Our players are developing confidence and chemistry, which will translate into more consistent and dynamic play on the court.”

Adams believes her team has the right mix of experience and resilience to keep the Chiefs competitive on a nightly basis throughout the season.

“Our team’s biggest strength heading into the season is our blend of experience and resilience, combined with a commitment to growth and competitiveness,” Adams said. “Despite being young, many players gained valuable varsity experience last year and have worked hard over the offseason to improve both physically and mentally. The way we learn from every situation, stay focused on fundamentals, and support one another will be key to our success this season.”

Following an Aug. 26 home jamboree, Kickapoo opens its season Aug. 30 in the Bentonville Early Bird Invitational.





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Bailey Sinish named Gatorade Player of the Year

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Jan. 10, 2026, 4:04 p.m. ET





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Pride Men’s Track and Field Takes on Wesleyan Winter Invitational

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MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — The Regis College men’s track and field team traveled to Connecticut on Saturday morning to compete at the Wesleyan Winter Invitational, where Justin Thuotte set another indoor program recird in the long jump. 

Inside the Numbers

  • Brian LaPorte earned a fourth-place finish in the 800 meters, crossing the line in 2:14.40.
  • Justin Thuotte turned in a standout performance, claiming a top finish in the long jump with a mark of 6.70 meters to set a new indoor program record, besting his own previous mark of 6.65 set at the last meet. He also placed third in the triple jump at 12.99 meters and rounded out his day with a 10th-place finish in the weight throw, posting a personal-best mark of 13.59 meters.
  • Brady Elliott placed seventh in the high jump with a leap of 1.80 meters.
  • Additional Pride personal-best performances came from Michael Hatch in the long jump (4.92m), DJ Marks in the long jump (5.31m), and Griffin McGahan in the weight throw (10.26m).

Up Next

The Pride return to the track next Sunday, January 18, when they head to Track at New Balance for the Suffolk Ice Breaker, beginning at 9:00 a.m.



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2025 Providence Journall All-State Girls Volleyball Team

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Take a look: 2025 Providence Journall All-State Girls Volleyball Team



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Track and Field Opens 2026 Calendar year at Wesleyan Winter Invitational

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MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — The Regis College women’s track and field team traveled to Connecticut on Saturday morning to compete at the Wesleyan Winter Invitational, where Zoe Kirk set a new indoor program record in the high jump.

Inside the Numbers

  • Zoe Kirk continued her strong rookie campaign with a pair of top-10 finishes. She placed third overall in the high jump with a mark of 1.50 meters, setting a new indoor program record and surpassing the previous mark of 1.46 held by teammate Grace Miklon. Kirk also finished ninth in the 60-meter hurdles, posting a time of 9.93.
  • Hannah Griffin claimed the top spot in the 800 meters with a time of 2:44.36, edging her nearest competitor by nearly one second.
  • Olivya Bush joined her fellow first-year athletes with a top-10 performance in the 400 meters, as the Texas native recorded a personal-best time of 1:09.67 to finish 10th overall.
  • Grace Micklon added another solid result for the Pride, placing seventh in the pole vault with a mark of 2.15 meters.
  • Aleyo Amasa-Titus rounded out the day with a sixth-place finish in the triple jump (9.86m) and a seventh-place showing in the long jump (4.66m).

Up Next

The Pride return to the track next Sunday, January 18, when they head to Track at New Balance for the Suffolk Ice Breaker, beginning at 9:00 a.m.



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Nowak Paces Jaspers; Men’s Volleyball Opens Program at Penn State

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – The Manhattan Jaspers’ Men’s Volleyball program (0-1, 0-0 NEC) fell in its inaugural match against the No. 13 Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten) in straight sets (21-25, 16-25, 20-25) inside the Recreation Hall South Gym on Saturday afternoon.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • On top by a couple of points were the Nittany Lions, before an attack error by Penn State gave the Jaspers the program’s first ever point.
  • Two points ahead, it was Kasen Owens who posted the first ever attempt and kill off a perfect Drew Blonski setup.
  • Back and forth went the Jaspers and Nittany Lions, before Wojtek Nowak tied the game at nine with the program’s first service ace. Then, two points later, it was Nowak again, who was fed a perfect pass to give Manhattan its second tie in just three points.
  • The Jaspers would keep the game within two until Nowak continued his all-around game by tacking on a block solo to his resume to narrow Penn State’s lead 15-14.
  • Down the stretch, Owens and Nowak added another two points before the Nittany Lions took the first set.
  • Looking to bounce back in the second set, Blonski set up Kasen Owens for a go-ahead kill, before Max Larcheid added his first point of the afternoon to go ahead of the home team.
  • Trailing by three midway, the Jaspers, once again, took advantage of a Penn State setback, before the Nittany Lions pulled away down the stretch.
  • Opening the third set trailing by two, Chase Marston joined the inaugural party with a kill, before Manhattan tacked on another two for the program’s first scoring run. The Jaspers would tack on the next three of four points, before Marston tied the match at 12 with back-to-back service aces.

STATS AND NOTES

  • Junior outside hitter Wojtek Nowak led the Green and White with nine kills on the afternoon while attempting a total of 13, and a hitting percentage of .538. Nowak posted the program’s first service ace and logged one block solo for a total of 11 points on the day.
  • Sophomore outside hitter Kasen Owens posted six kills on 19 attempts, while blocking three and totaled 7.5 points on the afternoon.
  • Freshman opposite hitter Blake Perkins registered three kills in 10 attempts, added two digs, and one block.
  • Freshman opposite hitter Chase Marston logged three kills in five total attempts and added two aces and a pair of blocks.
  • As a team, the Jaspers posted 25 kills on 64 total attacks, while logging three service aces, and 14 team digs, while blocking seven.

NEXT UP:
The Jaspers are back in action on Friday, January 16, and Saturday, January 17 when the Green and White trek to Boston to face the Harvard Crimson beginning at 7 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. The contests can be viewed on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.
 
Follow Manhattan Men’s Volleyball on X and Instagram (@ManhattanMVBall).



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Hadziahmetovic, Hale and Marshall Among Ball State Leaders at Badgers Midwest Invite

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CHICAGO — Ball State won four of its 10 events Saturday in the Badgers Midwest Invite, hosted by the University of Wisconsin at the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track at Gately Center. Early in the Cardinals’ indoor season, the three-team event gave head coach Adrian Wheatley an opportunity to carry a young roster and gain experience for the season ahead.

The Cardinals used a lineup heavy with freshmen and sophomores, including 6 of 7 Ball State entries in the 300m dash that was won by freshman Amina Hadziahmetovic. Winning her first college event, the freshman from nearby Mount Prospect, Illinois, set a personal record and led Ball State finishers who claimed four of the top five places, out of 17 runners. Shortly after winning her first college medal she earned another, pacing the Cardinals’ 4x400m relay team comprised of three freshman. Hadziahmetovic led off the 4×400, then handed to senior Abby Brennan who passed the winning baton to freshmen Haylie Yeazell and Lia Patterson.

Sophomore Kylee Marshall posted her best jump of the season while getting past 12 participants to claim first place in the long jump. It was the second long jump win of her career. She also finished in sixth place to lead Ball State competitors in the 60m dash.

Sophomore Lexi Hale won the high jump competition, besting 10 competitors including teammates Bella Jackson and Malina Miller who both cleared the same height at 1.65m. Hale matched her personal best and was the only jumper to clear the height on her first try. Hale, Jackson and Miller were among four who advanced to a final height at 1.70m. None cleared that height in three tries and Hale earned the win.

Senior Kenli Nettles finished second in the 60m hurdles with a personal record time of 8.76. In the 3,000 meters, freshman Emily Decker finished second with a time of 10:01.01 and junior Maci Hoskins finished third with a personal-best time of 10:10.48.

High Jump

1st, Lexi Hale, So. – 1.65m PR (tie)

t-2nd, Bella Jackson, Gr. – 1.79m

t-2nd, Malina Miller, Jr. – 1.75m

60m Hurdles

2nd, Kenli Nettles, Gr. – 8.76 PR

3rd, Lia Patterson, Fr. – 8.97

6th, Lily Eagleston, Fr. – 9.28

Long Jump

1st, Kylee Marshall, So. – 5.70m

6th, Anisa Barnett, Fr. – 5.27m

7th, Brenna Lehrke, Sr. – 5:07m

DNF, Kenli Nettles, Gr. – foul

60m Dash

6th, Kylee Marshall, So. – 7.76

8th, Trinity Bibbs, Fr. – 7.81

Savannah Lake, So. – 7.84

Jiah Davenport, So. – 7.90

Weight Throw

7th, Malena Higgins, Sr. – 15.09m

11th, Brooklyn Taylor, Jr. – 12.59m

12th, Sydney Miller, Jr. – 12.19m

300m Dash 

1st, Amina Hadziahmetovic, Fr. – 40.79 PR

2nd, Abby Brennan, Sr. – 40.89 PR

4th, Haylie Yeazell, Fr. – 41.24

5th, Savannah Lake, So. – 41.41 PR

11th, Trinity Bibbs, Fr. – 42.73

13th, Jiah Davenport, So. – 43.43 PR

14th, Lily Eagleston, Fr. – 43.89

Triple Jump

5th, Brenna Lehrke, Sr. – 11.30m

DNF, Anisa Barnett, Fr. – foul

3,000m Run

2nd, Emily Decker, Fr. – 10:10.01

3rd, Maci Hoskins, Jr. – 10:10.48 PR

Shot Put

3rd, Brooklyn Taylor, Jr. – 13.18m

4th, Sydney Miller, Jr., 13.03m

5th, Malena Higgins, Sr. – 12.82m

9th, Kenli Nettles, Gr. – 12.11m

4x400m Relay

1st, Hadziahmetovic, Brennan, Yeazell, Patterson – 3:56.48

 



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