Clemson Athletic Director Graham Neff published a letter to Tiger fans on Wednesday. Neff addressed how the changes in the college landscape will impact the athletic budget.

Clemson Family – 

I hope you and your family have had a wonderful Independence Day weekend and are having a great summer.

The 2024-25 athletic year has officially come to a close in June, and as we look out upon a new era of college athletics, I wanted to take a moment to reach out to Thank You. There’s never been a more transitional time in college athletics, and I’ve never been more confident in our position. This year had an incredible number of records, big-time hardware and many big steps forward in our department – competitively and in the classroom – and we’re looking for even bigger things in 2025-26.

In May, nearly 100 student-athletes walked the stage, and our program’s academic accomplishment continues to set a national standard. We’ve led the nation among public Power Four institutions in graduation success rate (96%), had our second-best Academic Progress Rate on record (996 out of 1000), and our student-athletes have set GPA records in eight consecutive semesters.

We saw Lacrosse go to the NCAA tournament for the first time in their brief history, and advancing to the Sweet 16, our Men’s Tennis team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013, and our Women’s Tennis program made the Tournament for the first time since 2018. Our women’s indoor track and field program took home the ACC title. Rowing took great steps in its first season under Adrienne Martelli, who led the Tigers to a top-25 ranking in the final poll for the first time since 2014.

The Softball program, still in its relative infancy, won its first ACC Tournament Championship and advanced to a Super Regional for the third time in five full seasons, and won its first Super Regional game at eventual National Champion Texas’s home field. The whole Regional weekend McWhorter Stadium was electric!

Baseball was among the top 15 teams throughout the season, and is one of just two baseball programs to host a regional in each of the past three seasons. Gymnastics had another strong season, and we recently welcomed Justin Howell and Liz Crandall-Howell as Co-Head Coaches, which sent a major message that our program is poised and ready to take yet another step forward.

This year, we’re one of two schools nationally with our Football, Men’s Basketball and Baseball teams ranked at the end of the season, and Clemson led those programs in graduation success rate. Additionally, we won 40+ Baseball games, 25+ Men’s Basketball games and 10+ Football games in the same season for the third time ever.

Our football program has a tremendous core intact and is being talked about nationally as a contender after its ACC Title and CFP appearance in 2024. We also recently announced a 12-year series with Notre Dame, and we’re excited that our game with LSU on Aug. 30 will be in primetime on ABC.

We recently opened the Watt Family Performance and Wellness Center, a new 55,000-square-foot wellness facility, which is the new national standard, and a day-to-day home for 18 of our 21 sports. Rarely do we have the opportunity to impact so many of our programs with one facility, and this fits the bill.

Suffice it to say – there’s never been a better time to be a Tiger.

Much has changed in the past few months as we’ve positioned ourselves for the future.

We have settled our lawsuit with the ACC, and in doing so negotiated an enhanced revenue distribution model that rewards viewership in football and men’s basketball. While we’ve been among the best in the conference in those metrics previously, we must continue to keep those incentives a focus.

The settlement of the House Case was recently approved by Judge Claudia Wilken, and the new roster limits, scholarship allowances and the ability to enter into licensing agreements with student-athletes are transformational. I’ve had the privilege to serve on a committee to outline the “new era,” and that has allowed Clemson to stay informed and strategic.

As we unveiled previously, we plan to be among the most aggressive in support of our programs, and will add nearly 150 new scholarship opportunities, share the full allotment of revenue allowed ($20.5 million in 2025-26), and be thoughtful in our approach. We released a lengthy letter and FAQ in October 2024, and most of the philosophy and direction released then has not changed. There are still many nuances that need to be ironed out, but Clemson continues to be positioned for broad-based success nationally, and certainly among the most visible sports.

While the landscape has been fluid, one thing that has been reinforced is that culture matters. The support Clemson and IPTAY provide to our student-athletes off the field and court, the people we have in place, and our leadership have offered so much more than just a chance to play. We’ve vowed to “keep Clemson Clemson,” and each of our donors and fans play a central role in that.

We’ve continued to innovate in our business practices, while scrutinizing our expenses and seeking several new revenue categories within Clemson Ventures. Alcohol sales in our venues began at the Spring Football Game, and we’ve seen consistent support that will have an impact on our bottom line. We also hosted the Savannah Bananas in a surreal night in Death Valley, and unique events in our venues will continue to build new opportunities.

To cut to the chase, there’s a lot going on, and we couldn’t invest in our programs and perform at the highest level without your support.

We are so grateful to you, and we can’t wait to see you this fall.

Graham

—courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta University Volleyball head coach Sharon Quarles has announced the addition of 11 student-athletes set to join the program for the 2025 season. The incoming class includes a strong mix of transfers and freshmen, featuring five Division I transfers, one Division II transfer, three international signees, and two true freshmen.

The new additions bring Augusta’s 2025 roster to 16 student-athletes and represent every position group on the court. Quarles emphasized the athleticism, size, and diverse backgrounds of this year’s class.

“It is that time again to introduce our newest players to Jaguar Nation. We will be welcoming 11 student-athletes to the Jaguar family. Every position is seeing new players filling those roles and along with that comes tremendous opportunities for our players to make their mark.

As in the past, we have always recruited players that will help expand our offensive opportunities at the net and solid players in the backcourt. By adding some additional height in certain positions with the incoming class, we are encouraged to be able to continue maintaining and possibly fortifying our block.

In addition, we have added some additional culture to our roster this season with three international players hailing from Poland, Spain, and the Ukraine. Preseason will be a welcome time to have these 16 faces walking in as individuals bringing their skill and competitive drive to start the process of becoming a highly competitive team that will battle every night and bring excitement to the crowds that come to watch.”

Meet the Newest Jaguars

Alexis Belarmino

Daphne, Ala. | 5’11” | Setter | Sophomore | University of New Orleans

Belarmino is a Division I transfer with three years of eligibility remaining. As a freshman at UNO, she appeared in 21 matches, averaging 3.73 assists and 1.05 digs per set. Notable matches include 26 assists and 8 digs against Alcorn, 22 assists and 6 digs against Southern, and 20 assists versus Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. At Daphne High School, she was ranked 1st in Alabama and 2nd nationally in assists in 2022–23. She set a career school record with 3,649 assists, earned AL.com Super All-State Team honors twice, and was named to the 6A State Championship All-Tournament Team.

Sydney Harrington

Albany, Ore. | 5’10” | Setter | Senior | UNC Greensboro / VCU

Harrington brings two years of eligibility after competing at both VCU and UNC Greensboro. She appeared in 21 matches at UNCG as a defensive and serving specialist.

At West Albany High School, she was a First Team All-State and All-State Tournament honoree in 2022. She led her team to its first 5A State Championship since 2013 and was nominated for Oregon Sports Volleyball Player of the Year.

Lauren Nelson

Oro Valley, Ariz. | 6’0″ | Outside Hitter | Senior | Jacksonville University / Rhode Island

Nelson joins Augusta with one year of eligibility after playing at the University of Rhode Island and Jacksonville University. In 2024, she appeared in nine matches, totaling 39 kills, 16 digs, and 40 points. Her top performance came against Florida A&M with 11 kills and 6 digs.

As a sophomore in 2023, she added 19 kills and two blocks across nine sets. She opened her career at Rhode Island in 2022 with 65 kills, 18 digs, and 18 blocks in 18 matches.

Serenity Jones

Warner Robins, Ga. | 5’11 | Middle Hitter | Sophomore | Georgia State University

Jones redshirted her freshman year at Georgia State but brings strong high school experience. At Veterans High School, she appeared in 84 sets and tallied 162 kills while averaging 75.7% kill efficiency. She was a 2023 All-Region First Team selection and helped lead her team to a 30-9 record, winning both the 6A region and county championships.

Hunter MacFarland

Rome, Ga. | 5’6″ | Libero | Sophomore | Northwestern State

MacFarland saw action in 23 matches and 79 sets, finishing with 126 digs and 19 aces. She reached double-digit digs four times and posted a season-high 13 digs at Lamar.

At Rome High School, she recorded over 1,000 career digs, was a four-time all-region player, three-time defensive MVP, and earned the Rome Orthopedic Most Outstanding Student-Athlete award. She held leadership roles in the National Honor Society, Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, and was the soprano section leader in her school’s honors choir.

Isis Barrett

Lawrenceville, Ga. | 5’11 | Middle Hitter | Sophomore | St. Thomas Aquinas College

Barrett was a consistent presence in the middle last season, appearing in 25 matches. She averaged 1.5 kills per set and posted a .239 hitting percentage, along with 0.79 blocks per set.

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Patrycja Kabala

Warsaw, Poland | 5’10” | Outside Hitter | Sophomore | Palm Beach State College

Kabala competed in both indoor and beach volleyball at PBSC, winning two NJCAA beach national championships as part of the #2 pair. Indoors, she earned First Team All-Conference honors, was a Region 8 Offensive Player of the Week multiple times, and was runner-up for Region 8 Player of the Year. In 23 matches, she averaged 3.91 kills per set and 2.33 digs per set with a .285 hitting percentage. In beach volleyball, she was named a First Team Doubles All-American.

Angela Mateos

Seville, Spain | 6’3″ | Right Side | Junior | Southern New Hampshire University

Mateos competed in 25 matches for SNHU in 2024, where she averaged 1.73 kills per set and hit .179. She also contributed defensively with 0.53 blocks per set. Her height and international experience will bring a strong presence to Augusta’s right side attack.

Sofia Snitsarevych

Odessa, Ukraine | 6’2″ | Freshman | CSM Constana (Romania)

Snitsarevych brings international experience from both Ukraine and Romania. She earned a spot on Ukraine’s U17 National Team and helped secure podium finishes in tournaments in Belarus and Latvia. After moving to Romania, she won the U17 Romanian National Championship with CSM Constan?a and is currently playing with the club’s A1 team.

Ronya Shackleford

McDonough, Ga. | 5’11” | Outside Hitter | Freshman | Creekside Christian Academy

Shackleford is an incoming freshman who will add depth to the outside hitter position. She brings raw athleticism and potential to the court and joins a talented class of newcomers.

Shadé Rich

Evans, Ga. | 6’0″ | Right Side | Freshman | Greenbrier High School

Local product Shade Rich brings length and versatility to the right side. She joins Augusta from Greenbrier High School and is expected to provide immediate depth in the front row.

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RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros head volleyball coach Todd Lowery announced on Thursday the addition of nine student-athletes for the 2025 season, including Martina Franco, Sujeili Mermella, Dimitra Nanou, Ana Julia Peixoto, Valentina Sarti Cipriani, Aaliyah Snead, Carmina Tijerina, Shylah Totten and Maria-Angeliki Tsagkopoulou. 
 
“We are incredibly excited about this incoming class. Each student-athlete brings a unique combination of talent, character and drive that aligns perfectly with our program’s values. They’re not just great players, they’re the kind of teammates and leaders who will help us continue building something special,” Lowery said. 
 
Martina Franco | Sophomore | Outside Hitter | 5-11 | San Lorenzo, Santa Fe, Argentina | UTSA
Franco spent the 2024 season at UTSA and played in 24 matches making 14 starts. She contributed 2.27 points per set while averaging 1.82 kills per set and 1.86 digs per set for the Roadrunners. Franco totaled 22 aces and 15 blocks in her rookie campaign. 
 
Prior to UTSA, Franco competed at Red Star de San Lorenzo Tennis Club and helped the squad achieve promotion to the A1 division of the Rosarina Association. She competed for Argentina in national events, including helping her country win the 2022 U19 South American Championship. She was a National Champion Santa Fe Region All-State Team honoree in 2022 and participated in the Villa Dora Senior Team National League after being called up to Argentina’s senior squad in 2023.
 
Sujeili Mermella | Junior | Setter/Defensive Specialist | 5-6 | San Antonio, Texas | St. John’s 
Mermella brings two years of Div. I experience to the Vaqueros after beginning her career competing in the Big East as a member of the St. John’s volleyball team. She played in 54 matches at St. John’s and made two starts at libero. She averaged 0.95 digs per set and totaled 15 assists and seven aces while boasting a .936 reception percentage in 2024. Mermella helped the Johnnies reach the NIVC Fab Four in 2024 and earn back-to-back postseason appearances. St. John’s played for the Big East tournament championship in 2023. 
 

Prior to her collegiate career, Mermella was a three-sport standout at Antonian College Preparatory High School in San Antonio, competing in volleyball, basketball and track & field. She was a two-time all-state and all-district first team honoree and earned Academic All-State nods in 2021 and 2022. Mermella was the team MVP and a finalist for Vype Private School Athlete of the Year in 2022 and also made the Express News All-Area Team and Super Team and the Under Armor All-American Watchlist. She played for the San Antonio Lady Stangs Volleyball Club. 
 
Dimitra Nanou | Freshman | Outside Hitter | 6-0 | Kozani, Greece | Panthires Kozanis
Nanou brings international experience to UTRGV after playing at a high level in Greece. She was a starter for the U17 and U18 Greek national teams. In 2023, Nanou was the MVP of the U17 Balkan Championship and was named the best receiver at the European Championship Qualification. 
 
Ana Julia Peixoto | Freshman | Outside/Right Side | 6-1 | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | Montverde Academy 
Peixoto is a decorated indoor and beach volleyball player hailing from Brazil. As a high school junior in 2024, she led Montverde Academy with a 16-2 beach record, playing all but one match in the No. 1 spot, to help the team earn the Citrus League and Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 1A District 10 championships. She was named the team MVP and to the Orlando Sentinel All-Area Team. In Brazil, Peixoto captured second and third-place finishes in national championship beach tournaments. 
 
Indoors, Peixoto totaled 266 kills (2.82 kills per set) and 180 aces (1.91 aces/set) across two seasons at Montverde. She was named to the Florida Gem High School Classic All-Tournament Team in 2022. 
 
Valentina Sarti Cipriani | Senior | Right Side | 6-1 | Milan, Italy | CSU Bakersfield 
Sarti Cipriani played the 2024 season at CSU Bakersfield after a strong junior college career at the College of Southern Idaho. 
 
Last season, she made 15 starts and played in 28 matches at CSUB and averaged 1.57 kills, 0.54 blocks and 0.41 digs per set while competing in the Big West. Sarti Cipriani was a two-time NJCAA All-Region 18 honoree while playing for CSI and a 2023 NJCAA All-Tournament Team selection. She played in 58 matches, making 50 starts, and accumulated 485 kills, 36 aces, 208 digs and 120 blocks. As a sophomore in 2023, she contributed 2.77 kills/set, 1.00 digs/set and 0.86 digs/set. 
 
Aaliyah Snead | Junior | Middle Blocker | 6-2 | Atlanta, GA | Tyler Junior College
Snead played two years at Tyler Junior College, including one with UTRGV setter Isabella Costantini. She appeared in 47 matches and averaged 1.14 kills per set in her JUCO career with a .348 hitting percentage. As a sophomore in 2024, Snead totaled 119 kills, 94 blocks and 32 aces to contribute 2.1 points per set as Tyler went 11-21. 
 
Snead led the team in blocks in 2024 and was third in kills and points per set. She tallied a single-match high 14 kills on .521 hitting with seven blocks in a match against Blinn College. 
 
Prior to TJC, Snead was a standout at Dutchtown High School and with her club team, Atlanta Performance. 
 
Carmina Tijerina | Freshman | Defensive Specialist | 5-2 | Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico | Brownsville St. Joseph 
Tijerina had a strong high school career playing for St. Joseph Academy in Brownsville and for Venom volleyball club. As a senior in 2025, she earned TAPPS All-State honorable mention and TAPPS District 4-5A Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. She helped the Lady Bloodhounds win the first bi-district title in program history with her dynamic defense. 
 
Tijerina surpassed 1,000 career digs and had over 700 digs in the 2025 season. She tallied 44 digs and a whopping 10 aces in a tournament match early in her senior season. She is the younger sister of former UTRGV libero/defensive specialist, Regina Tijerina (2021-22). 
 
Shylah Totten | Freshman | Middle Blocker | 5-11 | Chesapeake, VA | Oscar Smith High School 
Totten will add needed depth to the middle position for UTRGV. She had a solid career at Oscar Smith High School and playing with the East Coast Volleyball Club. Totten has good length and a heavy swing in the middle. She is athletic and expected to develop well with the Vaqueros. 
 
Maria Angeliki Tsagkopoulou | Freshman | Outside/Right Side| 6-0 | Athens, Greece
Tsagkopoulou is an athletic and versatile addition with experience playing at a high level internationally, including with the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball (CEV). She was a standout at the European Volleyball Exposure showcase. She can line up and contribute at both pins and is “extremely light off the floor,” said Lowery. Tsagkopoulou will add length to the block and is expected to make an impact right away. 

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GALLOWAY, NJ – Stockton University senior Michaela Pomatto (Egg Harbor Twp./EHT) was announced this week as one of 42 spring-sport student-athletes who received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The awardees came from all three NCAA divisions, with the list consisting of 21 men and 21 women.
 
Pomatto will receive a one-time award of $10,000, which will go toward her graduate study in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee. The senior was selected from the pool of applicants based on a combination of her academic and athletic success at Stockton.
 
Established in 1964, the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program promotes and encourages graduate education by recognizing the Association’s most accomplished student-athletes. Each year, the NCAA awards 126 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes who have completed their final year of competition. The scholarships are distributed three times annually — in the fall, winter and spring.
 

Pomatto competed as a thrower for the Stockton women’s track & field team for three years following one year at Ursinus College as a freshman. She specialized in the discus, earning numerous accolades highlighted by an All-America Second Team honor in 2024.
 
Pomatto was a four-time conference champion in the discus, winning the event for Stockton at three straight NJAC Championships (2023-25) following a Centennial Conference title in 2022. She also qualified for USTFCCCA All-Region honors three times and earned three NJAC Field Athlete of the Week awards during her career.
 

Pomatto set the school record in the discus with a throw of 47.15 meters at the 2024 All-Atlantic Region Track & Field Championships. She won the event 13 times in her four college seasons, including 11 victories as an Osprey.
 
In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Pomatto was a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District, USTFCCCA All-Academic Individual and NJAC All-Academic Honorable Mention student-athlete twice each.