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2025 Fall Virtual Coach Education Series Schedule Now LIVE; Register Today!

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REGISTER NOW!

Irvine, CA – August 27 – The Fall 2025 USA Water Polo Virtual Coach Academy Education Series schedule is here! Learn from some fantastic coaches and administrators covering a variety of topics with a focus on youth athlete development and sport growth. See below for a full description of each seminar and click here to register. Virtual Coach Academies are $35 for members or $45 for non-members. Register for all four academies and save – $95 for members and $150 for non-members. This project was funded partially funded by the World Aquatics Support Programme.

September 14 — Todd Clapper (1-3p PST)

“Your Season Just Ended — Now What?!”

Click HERE to register

Learn how to conduct a 360-degree review and SWOT analysis of your program through the lens of athlete development. This session will also guide you in structuring a comprehensive annual plan by breaking down the four key phases: off-season, pre-season, in-season, and post-season. Discover how to build individualized development plans that align with both team goals and athlete growth.

Todd Clapper began his coaching journey after graduating Cum Laude from Slippery Rock University, where he transformed from a walk-on to the starting goalkeeper and team captain, earning All-Conference honors in his senior year. He then built a solid resume: assistant coaching roles at Slippery Rock and Villanova, a standout head coach tenure at Wissahickon High School, followed by a six-year stretch at Brown University leading both their men’s and women’s teams and earning multiple “Coach of the Year” honors. From 2005-22, Clapper took the helm of Arizona State University’s women’s water polo program. Under his leadership, the Sun Devils consistently ranked in the national Top 10 and made their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2014, followed by a Final Four appearance in 2021.

That wealth of experience shapes the core of his upcoming session, “Your Season Just Ended—Now What?!” Drawing on years of program-building insight, he’ll guide attendees through conducting a comprehensive program review, detailing how to assess training methods, tactical systems, and overall team effectiveness. With a career marked by long-term planning and athlete development, Clapper is uniquely positioned to help coaches build thoughtful annual plans that align team goals with individual growth across the off-season, pre-season, in-season, and post-season phases.

October 12 — Brian “Chuckie” Roth (1-3p PST)

“Age Group Essentials: Developing the 12U & 14U Water Polo Athlete”

Click HERE to register

Examine the unique developmental needs of 12U and 14U water polo athletes and explore how to structure age-appropriate training sessions that build technical skill, tactical awareness, and overall game sense. Coaches will leave with practical strategies for maximizing engagement, teaching fundamentals, and setting athletes up for success in the next phase of their development.

Brian “Chuckie” Roth has been the head coach of the women’s water polo program at Santa Barbara City College since 2013, leading the Vaqueros to multiple 3C2A State Championships. With more than 25 years of coaching experience spanning youth, high school, and collegiate levels, Roth has built a reputation for developing athletes with a strong technical foundation, tactical awareness, and a deep love for the game.

In his upcoming session, “Age Group Essentials: Developing the 12U & 14U Water Polo Athlete,” Roth draws on decades of experience guiding young athletes through key developmental stages. He understands how to balance skill-building with fun, ensuring that training at these formative ages fosters confidence, game sense, and long-term growth. Having worked extensively with athletes who are just beginning to refine their competitive identity, Roth offers practical, tested strategies that prepare players for the demands of the next level while keeping their passion for the sport alive.

November 9 — Cassie Churnside (1-3p PST)

“Beyond Drills: Developing Training Environments Conducive to Real Learning”

Click HERE to register

Learn how coaches can move beyond traditional, static practices and focus on creating dynamic training environments that promote real, transferable learning. We’ll explore how to design sessions and create drills that reflect the game, encourage decision-making, and foster deeper understanding so athletes not only improve but retain and apply what they’ve learned. Ideal for coaches looking to elevate the purpose and impact of every minute spent in the water.

Cassie Churnside played a pivotal role in Stanford’s national championship victories in 2011 and 2012 as a standout athlete. After graduating from Stanford in 2012 with a degree in communication, she spent eight seasons as an assistant coach at Harvard University shaping both the men’s and women’s programs. During her time there, she guided the Crimson women to their first-ever Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Championship game appearance, and was integral to Harvard men’s historic undefeated season and conference championships. In 2022, Churnside was named head coach of the University of Michigan women’s water polo team. In her debut season, she led the team to a 23–10 overall record, a 9–1 conference showing, and a third-place finish in the CWPA Championship.

From winning national titles as a player at Stanford to building competitive success at Harvard and now leading Michigan’s program, Cassie Churnside has made it a priority to create training environments that mirror the realities of game play. In her session, “Beyond Drills: Developing Training Environments Conducive to Real Learning,” she draws on this experience to show how coaches can make every minute in the pool purposeful. Her approach blends dynamic, game-like scenarios with intentional decision-making opportunities, ensuring athletes not only improve but also retain and apply what they’ve learned. It’s a philosophy she has carried throughout her career, and one that has consistently translated into athlete growth and competitive success.

December 14 — Nicole Lum (1-3p PST)

“Developing Water Polo Programming Through City Partnerships”

Click HERE to register

Discover how strategic partnerships with city agencies, parks and recreation departments, and community organizations can be a game-changer for growing the sport. This session will explore real-world examples, practical frameworks, and proven approaches for launching and sustaining water polo programs at the grassroots level. You’ll walk away with practice tools to support program development, along with a step-by-step guide for engaging city municipalities and initiating conversations that lead to meaningful, lasting partnerships. Learn how to navigate systems, build trust, and create access points that make water polo more inclusive, visible, and community-driven.

Nicole Lum brings extensive experience in aquatic coaching with the Chicago Park District, where she has built and strengthened water polo programming at the community level since 2017. A former collegiate player at Villanova, she deeply understands what it takes to grow the sport from the grassroots—whether through running age-group teams or partnering with high schools. Beyond coaching, Lum has become an expert in navigating nonprofit and municipal systems, forging meaningful relationships with city agencies, parks and recreation departments, and community groups to expand access to water polo across Chicago.

In her session, “Developing Water Polo Programming Through City Partnerships,” she will draw on this background to share strategies for launching inclusive and sustainable programs. Nicole’s hands-on experience—like building an enthusiastic support community that crowds into a pool deck to cheer on her 12U team at JO’s semi-finals—underscores her ability to create not only programs but genuine, community-driven momentum around the sport  . Attendees will leave with tangible tools and frameworks for starting water polo initiatives that thrive because they’re rooted in trust, collaboration, and genuine city-level engagement.

 



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How to watch 2025 NCAA women’s volleyball championship: Texas A&M, Kentucky play for title

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11 minutes ago

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December 21, 2025

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By now, almost everything that can be said about the NCAA women’s volleyball final has been said. The serve zones have been diagrammed. The rotations studied. Every star has been labeled and ranked and debated into exhaustion. What Sunday in Kansas City does is ask two teams that have spent the whole season proving themselves to do it again, once more, as if none of it counted yet.

It is No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 3 Texas A&M, the first all-SEC championship match in Division I women’s volleyball history. Kentucky has been here before, winning the 2020 national title. Texas A&M has not. 

2025 NCAA women’s volleyball championship

ABC is available for free over the air and also streams on ESPN Unlimited. 

The Aggies bulldozed their way into the program’s first championship match by knocking out top overall seed Nebraska in five sets and then sweeping Pitt, another No. 1 seed, in the national semifinal. They arrive with a first-time finalist’s resume and are led by Jamie Morrison, who was just named the national coach of the year.

They’re also the harder team to know. You think you’ve seen their ceiling, and then they elevate. When the Aggies are in system, they can bury you before you’ve adjusted. When they’re not, they don’t panic. Texas A&M standout Logan Lednicky called the Aggies “the grittiest,” and they’ve played like it, especially during the late-set messiness that usually eats upstart teams. Clean volleyball doesn’t really exist in a title match, anyway.

Kentucky comes in with the steadier resume and scar tissue. The Wildcats survived Wisconsin in five sets in the semis. Kentucky’s Craig Skinner and Wisconsin’s Kelly Sheffield coached junior varsity volleyball together in Muncie, Ind., in 1990 and went undefeated. That history is part of how you get here. So is what happened Thursday, when Skinner’s team ended Sheffield’s season.

Here’s the boring truth of a championship: It usually comes down to first contact. If serve receive holds, the setter has options and the block can be manipulated. If serve receive cracks, the whole thing turns into emergency swings.

Notably, Kentucky beat Texas A&M 3-1 when they met during the regular season in early October. That matters as evidence that Kentucky can solve this puzzle. It does not matter as a prediction. Finals are their own species.

Ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process, and do not review stories before publication.



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UK Wildcats News: Kentucky Volleyball National Championship Gameday

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December 21, 2025

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Good morning, BBN! It’s game day!

The Kentucky Wildcats compete for a volleyball national championship this afternoon against Texas A&M. It’s Kentucky’s second appearance in the NCAA Volleyball National Championship and Texas A&M’s first appearance. It’s also the first time two SEC teams have competed for the national championship.

It’s been a fantastic postseason run for the Wildcats, going back to that thrilling win over Texas in the SEC Championship and all the way to that come-from-behind win over Wisconsin in the semifinals. Now, the Cats have a chance to top it off with a national championship.

Game time is set for 3:30 PM ET on ABC.

This will serve as today’s open thread, so make sure to come back here to talk about the game!

The SEC is stepping up its volleyball game.

She’s been a key piece for this team.

JQ wasted no time making his presence known.

Big performances from Quaintance and Lowe.

He certainly looks like a difference-maker moving forward.

Will Stein’s offense looked good last night.

Texas Tech vs Oregon is the most interesting to me. How about you?

Could you imagine how different things look?

Not a great Year 1 for Schottenheimer.

That’s a game Duke will wish they could have back.



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Lady Vols Announce Addition of Outside Hitter Nia Hall

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December 21, 2025

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee volleyball head coach Eve Rackham Watt announced the signing of outside hitter Nia Hall.

Hall spent the 2025 season at South Carolina after transferring from Cleveland State. At Cleveland State she was named a 2024 All-Horizon League First Team selection where she put up 397 kills and 143 digs. In her lone season with the Gamecocks, Hall recorded 273 kills and 89 digs during the 2025 campaign. Hall’s 273 led South Carolina in 2025 in both kills and kills per set (3.07).

The Lorain, Ohio native has played in 83 matches in her collegiate career, where she has posted 823 kills, 274 digs, 160 blocks over three seasons. Hall has reached double figure kills in 43 matches in her career. She owns five 20-plus kill performances in her career, and has racked up seven double-doubles.

Known for her defensive prowess as well, Hall has notched 80 or more digs in consecutive seasons. Hall set a career-high 143 in 2024 at Cleveland State, before helping solidify South Carolina’s backrow with 89 in 2025. Hall is also strong at the net, tallying 35-plus blocks in all three seasons. Hall totaled 35 blocks for South Carolina this past season, while setting a career-high in 2024 of 85.

In 2024, Hall helped lead Cleveland State to a Horizon League Championship and its first NCAA appearance since 2017. Before beginning her college career, Hall was a standout at Amherst Steele where she earned All-State, All-County, and All-Conference honors. Hall recorded 1,215 kills on a .365 hitting percentage.

Tennessee is coming off a 20-8 campaign in 2025 and its fifth-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The 20-win season marked the 26th in program history, and fourth under head coach Eve Rackham Watt. The Lady Vols finished with a 10-5 record in the SEC, earning the fourth seed in the SEC Tournament. The Big Orange has totaled six 10-plus win seasons in conference play under Rackham Watt.



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Bucknam passes baton as Arkansas Razorback track coach with ‘last last’

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December 21, 2025

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FAYETTEVILLE — Since announcing his retirement as the University of Arkansas men’s track and field coach Nov. 5, Chris Bucknam has been on a farewell tour of sorts.

There was the last home meet, the last NCAA championship meet and the last day at the office on Dec. 12.

This week at the annual convention for the U.S. Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association near Dallas, Bucknam took the stage to accept the John McDonnell Program of the Year Award for the last time Monday. Then on Thursday, Bucknam was able to experience one more thrill of victory as the Razorbacks’ head coach when former Arkansas sprinter Jordan Anthony won The Bowerman as the year’s top college track and field athlete.

“It’s the end of the road,” Bucknam said afterward. “This is the last last. … It’s a great way to go out.”

In 18 cross country and 17 track and field seasons at Arkansas, Bucknam’s teams won 2 national championships, 34 SEC championships, 5 McDonnell Program of the Year Awards and 3 Bowerman trophies. Hundreds of Razorbacks earned All-SEC and All-America honors during his tenure.

“There are a lot of people to think and a lot of people to be thankful for,” Bucknam said. “I just appreciate everybody’s effort. I feel like our program does a great job of bringing the best out of people.”

That was a note hit by Anthony during his acceptance speech Thursday night.

“Coach Buck, your championship pedigree speaks for itself,” Anthony said, “and I’m very thankful to have learned under your guidance.”

Bucknam will be succeeded as Arkansas’ track and field head coach by Doug Case, his longtime assistant who was recruited by Bucknam to Northern Iowa in the early 1980s. Bucknam plans to continue living in Fayetteville.

“I’m excited to see what comes next with Coach Case in his coaching era,” Bucknam said. “This is a great stepping off the stage kind of event for me and (I am) passing the baton.”

Matt Jones

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Matt Jones is the managing editor of WholeHogSports.com and hosts the WholeHogSports Daily Podcast. He is a member of the Football Writers Association of America and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, and voter for the Heisman Trophy. He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas.



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NCAA women’s volleyball championship 2025 tips off

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December 21, 2025

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Dec. 20, 2025, 11:55 p.m. ET

The Kentucky Wildcats celebrate after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the Final Four.

The Kentucky Wildcats celebrate after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the Final Four.

Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images



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2025 All-Area Volleyball: Meet the complete team | Sports

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6 hours ago

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December 21, 2025

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All-Area First Team

Player YR. Pos. School

Lily Bosworth Sr. MB Mahomet-Seymour

Maddy Doggett Jr. OH Westville

Sophie Duis Sr. MB Cissna Park

Addison Lucht Sr. OH Cissna Park

Reis McFarland Sr. OH Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin

Mady Melton Sr. L Monticello

Cassidy Monahan Sr. OH St. Thomas More

Josie Neukomm Sr. OH Cissna Park

Jillian Schlittler Sr. S/OH Unity

Ava Yeakel Sr. OH Mahomet-Seymour

All-Area Second Team

Player Yr. Pos. School

Brin Armstrong So. OH Champaign Central

Nia Bolton Sr. L Centennial

Laila Carr Sr. OH LeRoy

Erin Dallas Sr. S Mahomet-Seymour

Mady Marcott Jr. S Cissna Park

Tinley Parkerson Sr. S/OH Armstrong-Potomac

Thayren Rigsby Sr. MB Watseka

Bella Romine So. MB Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond

Aeralyn Thrasher Sr. OH Sullivan

Paige Young Sr. L Prairie Central

All-Area Honorable Mention

➜ Arcola: Kiera Leal (Sr. OH), Maddie Pilkington (Sr. S), Ema Simpson (Sr. MB)

➜ Argenta-Oreana: Khloe Hartrich (So. MB), Alexis Havener (Sr. L), Mya Hill (Sr. OH)

➜ Armstrong-Potomac: Ashlyn Ackerman (So. MB), Makenna Ackerman (Sr. DS), Isabel Bullington (So. OH), Carly Grant (Jr. S), Elie Lomax (Jr. OH/MB)

➜ Arthur Christian: Maddie Goff (Jr. MB), Avery Herschberger (So. S), Aselynn Kauffman (Jr. OH), Brileigh Mast (Sr. OH), Sheri Miller (Sr. DS)

➜ Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond: McKenna Blaudow (Jr. OH), Savannah Butcher (Sr. OH), Morgan Casteel (Jr. S), Summer Melton (Sr. OH), Annabelle Vanausdoll (So. S), Karaline Vanausdoll (Sr. L)

➜ Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin: Ella Acton (Sr. MB), Mallory Brines (Jr. S), Raylynn Hearnley (So. MB/OH)

➜ Blue Ridge: Ava Franzen (Jr. MB)

➜ Centennial: Journey Davis (So. MB/OH), Kate Pitcher (Jr. S)

➜ Cerro Gordo/Bement: Rylan Petty (Jr. S), Avery Stoerger (Fr. MB)

➜ Champaign Central: Summer Abudayeh (Jr. OH), Grace Bandy (Jr. L), Ava Clark (Sr. S), Avery Miller (Fr. OH), Prestyn Roberts (Jr. S)

➜ Chrisman: Jaidyn Alexander (Sr. OH), Leah Phipps (Sr. S/OH)

➜ Cissna Park: Marina Day (So. MB), Ava Henrichs (Jr. OH), Kendyl Neukomm (So. L), Ella Schluter (So. S)

➜ Clinton: Paisley Schick (Jr. L)

➜ Deland-Weldon: Ellie Hayward (Sr. OH)

➜ Fisher: Avery Carleton (Jr. OH), Brooklynn Kellems (Jr. S), Bella Kelsey (So. OH), Raegan Kilman (Jr. OH)

➜ Georgetown-Ridge Farm: Addisen Ellis (So. MB/OH), Milee Ellis (Sr. OH), Rubyrae Fraser Soule (Sr. S), Hadlee Hayes (Sr. MB/OH), Madi Spesard (Jr. DS)

➜ Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley: Abby Brown (Sr. MB), Bailey Bunting (So. OH), Bailey Grider (Sr. S), Maci Lindelof (Jr. OH), Londyn Roderick (Jr. S)

➜ Heritage: Addison Hopper (Jr. L), Faith Latham (Sr. S/OH), Bre Ploense (Jr. S/OH), Brooklynn Powell (Jr. MB)

➜ Hoopeston Area: Addyson Kelnhofer (Sr. MB), Abby Steiner (Sr. MB)

➜ Judah Christian: Liza Carder (Sr. OH), Olivia Dailey (Sr. OH), Kisandra Fazio (Sr. L), Mackenzie Jackson (Sr. S), Avoni Kelly (Sr. MB)

➜ LeRoy: Ella Mennenga (Jr. L), Sadee Owens (Jr. S), Kendyl Spratt (Sr. S/OH)

➜ Mahomet-Seymour: Pfeifer Manuel (So. L), Hannah Martin (Jr. MB), Addy Reigart (Sr. OH), Joelle Snodsmith (So. OH), Anna Streicher (Sr. OH)

➜ Milford: Erica Felton (Sr. MB), Lillie Harris (Sr. OH), Kami Muehling (Jr. L), Sydney Seyfer (Sr. OH)

➜ Monticello: Emma Arnold (Jr. S), Addison Finet (Sr. S/OH), Madison Highland (Jr. MB), Shelby Smith (Sr. OH), Emerson Snook (Sr. OH), Ashley Stiverson (Sr. MB), Sadie Walsh (Sr. DS)

➜ Oakwood: Sophia Hart (Sr. L), Mady Nicoson (Sr. MB), Kendyl Rogers (Sr. OH/DS)

➜ Paxton-Buckley-Loda: Emmy Bagwell (Jr. MB), Ellie Dirks (So. OH), Logan Loschen (So. S), Olivia Rehg (Sr. OH), Kylie Rust (Jr. S)

➜ Prairie Central: Kyah Creek (Sr. S), Mia Elliott (Jr. MB), Miranda Hari (Jr. OH), Lydia Kilgus (Sr. DS), Charlee Popejoy (Jr. DS), Jules Woodrey (Sr. OH)

➜ Rantoul: Airiana Bell (Sr. OH), Lauren Herbert (Sr. S), Josie Roseman (Sr. L)

➜ Ridgeview: Claire Edwards (Sr. S/L)

➜ St. Joseph-Ogden: Katie Ericksen (Sr. L), Hadley McDonald (Jr. OH), Emma McKinney (Sr. S), Emerson Williams (Jr. OH)

➜ St. Thomas More: Audrey Gooding (Sr. L), Sophia Hill (Sr. OH/MB), Avery Humphrey (Fr. S), Juju Kerr (Jr. S/OH), Campbell Phillips (Sr. MB)

➜ Salt Fork: Rain Pitlik (Sr. MB/OH), Ava Ringstrom (Sr. S), Maya Smith (Sr. OH)

➜ Schlarman: Izzy Bogen (Sr. OH), Addison Forsyth (Jr. S), Irene Rangel (Jr. L)

➜ Sullivan: Kate Bushue (Sr. MB), Mae Dawkins (Sr. S), Nevaeh Dovell (Sr. MB), Mya Dyer (Jr. L)

➜ Tuscola: Sawyer Cleland (Jr. OH), Reese Davis (Sr. L), Lilly Kurtz (Sr. MB), Sicily Moss (Jr. S), Bella Wishard (So. OH)

➜ Unity: Lauren Stratton (Sr. L), Olivia Williams (So. OH)

➜ Urbana: Sophia Sheyko-Frailey (Jr. OH)

➜ Villa Grove: Piper Kiser (Sr. S/OH), Hayden Thomas (Sr. L)

➜ Watseka: Christa Holohan (Sr. S), Gabby Kohl (So. MB), Liana Navas (So. S), Avery Pufahl (So. OH), Noelle Schroeder (Sr. L)

➜ Westville: Gwen Bennett (Jr. OH/S), Ady Blakeney (Jr. OH), Carlee Miller (Jr. MB), Lainey Wichtowski (Sr. S), Daylin Zaayer (Jr. L)





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