The Nebraska volleyball team opened the 2025 campaign with its annual Red-White Scrimmage in front of a crowd of 8,414 in John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday afternoon. 

The Red team defeated the White team 3-1, though the Huskers mixed their teams and lineups around for each set. 

Here’s the full rundown from Nate Pohlen in Husker Communications:

Rebekah Allick led all players with 16 kills on .433 hitting with five blocks. It was a strong day for the middle blockers overall, as freshman Kenna Cogill posted 10 kills and five blocks and hit .421, and Andi Jackson had nine kills and hit .412. Freshman Manaia Ogbechie led all players with eight blocks in the match. 

Harper Murray tallied 15 kills and nine digs, while Virginia Adriano posted 11 kills with a match-high three aces. Teraya Sigler had a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs with a pair of aces, and Skyler Pierce contributed nine kills. 

Bergen Reilly had 41 assists and 15 digs, while Campbell Flynn had 34 assists and 11 digs. Laney Choboy and Olivia Mauch had 17 and 16 digs, respectively.  

Taylor Landfair finished with seven kills, five blocks and five digs, and Allie Sczech posted six kills, five digs and three blocks. Ryan Hunter recorded five kills and four blocks. Keri Leimbach and Maisie Boesiger had six and three digs, respectively. 

Red rallied from down 22-19 to win the first set 25-23 with a 6-1 run. Sigler served an ace, and Allick had a kill, while Ogbechie and Landfair had a key block for Red’s first lead of the set at 24-23. 

In the second set, Red put together a late comeback again. Trailing 21-16, Cogill had two kills before Sigler added one to cut the White lead to 21-19. Another Cogill and two White errors tied the score 22-22. Ogbechie and Sczech put White in front 23-22 with a block, but Allick terminated to tie the score again and she connected for the winning kill, 25-23. 

Set three was a back-and-forth battle with the teams tied at 20-20. Adriano posted a kill for Red, and Allick and Murray combined for a block to make it 22-20. Jackson answered with a kill for White, and the score was tied 22-22 before a White hitting error, an Allick kill, and another White hitting error that gave Red the 25-22 win. 

White got on the board in set four with a 25-17 win. Sigler and Allick each had four kills in the set. 

The Huskers continue their preseason with the inaugural Alumni Match next Saturday at 6 p.m. The Alumni squad will feature former Huskers Jordan Larson, Kelly Hunter, Lauren Stivrins, Kenzie Maloney, Annika Albrecht, Gina Mancuso, Callie Schwarzenbach, Lindsay Krause, Leyla Blackwell and Ally Batenhorst.  

A top young athlete in China has been admitted to the prestigious Peking University, earning her admiration for her ability to balance academic studies and sport.

Liu Xiajun, a 20-year-old sprint athlete from China’s national team, has been dubbed “track and field sweet sister” for her good looks.

She has spent most of her time training since she achieved a record result in the 100m in her hometown of Ziyang, southwestern Sichuan province in 2018, reported the mainland news outlet The Cover.

As a result of her time spent on sport, like other athletes, Liu’s academic scores lag far behind those of elite students.

Last year, Liu was offered a place at Fudan University in Shanghai, also a top school in China. But she declined without explaining why.

Following discussions with her family, Liu decided to study for another year to prepare for this year’s national college entrance exam, also known as gaokao in China.

Her goal is to be admitted to Peking University, which is ranked higher than Fudan University, as a student with special sporting talent.

To achieve this, Liu had to score at least 460 out of 750 in the exam.

ROCK SPRINGS — A familiar face is back on the Rock Springs High School volleyball sideline. Casey Rood, a former multi-sport standout and collegiate volleyball player, has been named head coach of the Lady Tigers, taking over the program following the retirement of coach Wendy Bider.

Rood, who previously served as an assistant coach for the Lady Tigers during a three-year stretch that included a conference title and three straight state tournament appearances, most recently worked at Green River High School. There, she helped guide the Wolves to a second-place conference finish and a state tournament berth.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity and working with these athletes,” Rood said. “I’m very passionate about volleyball, and it being a tool to help these young women gain invaluable life skills and lessons. I hope we can build a program and culture that carries its strength and values from season to season.”

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Rood said her time coaching in both Rock Springs and Green River has been invaluable.

“I’m incredibly grateful to have been a part of both Rock Springs and Green River’s volleyball programs,” she said. “I’ve gotten to work alongside some incredible coaches like Jessica Demaret, Shawn Pyer, Jordan Christensen, and Jenna and Abby, who I now have as assistants. Each of these women have taught me so much about the game of volleyball, how to coach, and how to strengthen a program. I cherish every season I’ve gotten to be a part of in Sweetwater County.”

Bider’s tenure as head coach, which spanned nearly three decades of coaching in Sweetwater County, left a lasting mark on the program. While Rood never coached alongside her, she said Bider created “space for her athletes to be passionate,” adding, “I think that speaks volumes. I hope this coaching staff we’ve got now can continue to foster an atmosphere of excitement for these girls.”

Rood’s coaching philosophy centers on “process over outcome” and focusing on what can be controlled. “Wins and losses are an outcome, so I tend not to focus on that,” she said. “I want my team to be disciplined and be able to walk off the court proud of the effort they gave, no matter the outcome.”

That approach translates directly into her practice structure.

“A drill or skill we struggle with? Well, get comfortable because we are going to finish it,” she said. “Volleyball is a unique sport in that you can’t just ‘run out the clock,’ so we’ve got to be mentally tough enough to control the game and physically disciplined enough to trust our training.”

Leadership, accountability, and resilience are key pillars in her program.

“I think the small details over time become the big ones, so I want my athletes to also focus on the small things,” Rood said. “We are attentive and present during meetings, practices, and games. I want a high level of communication and understanding of the game, and that comes from being educated myself and then educating my players.”

The Lady Tigers finished last season with a postseason push that saw them take a set off top-seeded Evanston before falling 3-1 and then battling Jackson in a tight third set before being eliminated in straight sets. Rood sees potential to build on that competitive fight.

“It’s still early, but from what I’ve seen over the summer we’ve got a lot of potential,” she said. “They seem hungry and ready to work hard. We are really going to work hard on mental toughness and grit, being able to shift momentum when things aren’t in our favor.”

Short- and long-term, Rood’s goals remain consistent: building confident, skilled athletes from the freshman level through varsity. “I hope we can get to a point long term where each incoming class contributes to that culture, and we are strong year after year,” she said.

Above all, Rood hopes her players leave the program with life skills they can carry well beyond the court.

“I hope my girls learn the value of hard work, dedication, discipline, teamwork, and communication,” she said. “At the end of the day volleyball is just a game, but it’s a game that can teach us so much about ourselves. I want them to be proud of the effort they gave to their team. I hope they come away from the program knowing they were cared about as a student, athlete, and a person.”

In a world obsessed with scale, we often forget the power of one: one individual, one spark, one drop creating ripples across a lake.

At 17, I split my time between two close-knit mountain communities: Vail, Colorado and South Lake Tahoe, California. These towns constantly remind me of the words of Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” In both places, nature humbles us, and the people around me consistently model what it means to care. These communities understand fire, not just how quickly it can ignite and spread, but how much it can take from us. Yet, they also understand spark: how passion and purpose can carry like embers, igniting something much greater.

Over a year ago, my brother and I launched Smokey Spice which is sold at the Fallen Leaf Lodge Store. Our company is inspired by our love for outdoor grilling and our deep respect for the forests we’ve grown up exploring. From the start, our mission was clear: elevate outdoor cooking while helping to prevent wildfires that on average in California spread from 300 – 500 acres and each can cost up to $10 million – $100 million. For that reason we donate our profits to local fire departments because protecting this land isn’t just a tagline, it’s personal. My family and I are stewards of this land. Our cabin sits on Forest Service property and we live with the memory of the Caldor Fire that scarred the community around us.

This past weekend, our local Fallen Leaf Lake Fire Department held its annual fundraiser. Standing beside the Smokey Spice auction table, I shared my story, and connected with neighbors who share my bond with the forest. With each spice pack purchased in support of the department, my gratitude grew. That night reminded me that people do care when given the opportunity. It made the impact tangible: the support, the community, the ripple effect. A single donation won’t solve all the damages a forest fire may bring, but one spice tin might spark awareness. The Fallen Leaf Lake Fire Department responds to 12 major fires per year, with nearly half their resources going to Rescue and EMS, as they respond to over 28 serious calls annually. A small gift won’t change everything, but one act of generosity can reduce cost, prevent fatalities, and protect the environment. Scale isn’t the point, intention is.

Now, as a senior in high school, I see how my generation is stepping up. We’re not waiting, we’re leading. We want more than success, we want significance. We aim to shape the future, not just benefit from it. We’re not only building companies; we’re building communities through a commitment to social entrepreneurship. Charles Dickens once wrote, “A day wasted on others is not wasted on one’s self.” That’s the mindset I strive to embody: giving back isn’t a side project, it’s at the heart of who I want to be.

Like the wake of a boat across a mountain lake, every action ripples outward. Maybe someone hears about Smokey Spice and chooses to support their local fire department. Maybe a camper remembers our story and thinks twice before lighting an illegal fire. Small actions begin where we are, with what we have, and carry forward not like the wildfires we fight so hard to prevent, but like a purpose igniting our community.

Grant Iverson currently works at the Fallen Leaf Lodge Store. For more information on Smokey Spice, visit smokeyspice.com.

There are several members of last year’s AC/GC Chargers volleyball team that will be returning this season, with many starters taking the court once again as well.

One major returner is Stella Largent, who was number three last season in Class 2A for kills per set with 5.4. She led the team in kills with 443, kill errors with 201 and kill attempts with 1080 for a kill efficiency of .224. Largent started all matches and sets for the team last season, and will be an important leader for the team coming into the season as a junior, helping the seniors and coach to also develop the talent in the underclassmen on the team.

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By Ty Bartell

AUSTINTOWN OH-  Entering her third season at the helm of Austintown-Fitch volleyball, head coach Kylee Herberger has built a program that’s as close-knit as it is competitive. With six seniors and a core group that has been with her since she took over, the Falcons return a roster rich in varsity experience, trust and familiarity.

Herberger’s tenure has already produced a 38-12 record and back-to-back All-American Conference championships. This fall, she believes that bond between coach and players will help the Falcons push their game to newer heights.

Leading the way is senior setter Rylie Simons, the program’s steady cornerstone who enters the season with 2,590 career assists. Her high volleyball IQ, smooth hands and decision-making give Fitch stability and poise, even in chaotic moments. Around her, a wealth of offensive firepower returns, including outside hitter Kylie Folkwine, opposite hitter Morgan Roby and the athletic Kaliana Ray!

Herberger is balancing refinement of proven systems with expansion into more complex offensive sets. The Falcons’ schedule is designed to challenge them early, with non-conference matchups against perennial powers such as Archbishop Hoban, Masillon Jackson and top-tier competition at the two-day Avon Lake tournament.

The AAC race, however, will be as challenging as ever. Herberger points to Canfield’s young but battle-tested hitters and a dangerous Boardman squad as the toughest conference threats. Fitch will aim not just to defend its crown, but to improve in key areas such as consistency and pace of play, lessons learned from fast-tempo opponents last season.The Falcons’ identity this year centers on their competitiveness. Even with many multi-sport athletes who may not pursue volleyball at the next level, Herberger says this group knows when to rise to the moment.

For Herberger, volleyball has been a lifelong passion, nurtured from childhood by her mother’s own coaching career. After playing in college and stepping away to start a family, she returned to the sideline and found herself right back where she belongs, building a culture of hard work, positivity and pride in the Falcons’ tradition. Fitch opens the 2025 season at home on Aug. 15, looking to protect its AAC title and extend the winning standard that has become a hallmark of the program.

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