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Johnson unveils 2025 volleyball schedule

Story Links FLORENCE, Ala. (June 6, 2025) – University of North Alabama head volleyball coach Tristan Johnson announced the 2025 volleyball schedule Friday afternoon, with the 30-match slate including 11 contests inside CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall. The 2025 season will bring a historic moment on Sunday, Sept. 14, as the […]

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FLORENCE, Ala. (June 6, 2025) – University of North Alabama head volleyball coach Tristan Johnson announced the 2025 volleyball schedule Friday afternoon, with the 30-match slate including 11 contests inside CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall.

The 2025 season will bring a historic moment on Sunday, Sept. 14, as the Lions will host the University of Alabama in a volleyball match inside CB&S Bank Arena for the first time. Last season, UNA defeated Alabama 3-0 in Tuscaloosa. In 1975, UNA beat Alabama under Coach Don McBrayer to win the Alabama State Championship. This season will mark the 50th anniversary of that win.

Season four approaches for Coach Johnson, who looks to improve on a 15-win season from the 2024 campaign. The Lions open with four tournaments in non-conference play, including invitationals at Mississippi State and Houston. UNA also stays in-state for an invitational at UAB and will host the UNA Volleyball Classic in mid-September.

North Alabama has two standalone non-conference matches against Alabama A&M and Samford before ending with 15 Atlantic Sun Conference bouts. The Samford match will be UNA’s home opener on Sept. 9 at 6 p.m.

“I am excited to announce this schedule for the 2025 season,” said Johnson. “A tough non-conference schedule is an essential next step for preparing us for competitive ASUN play. I feel this schedule will push our team to be ready to pursue an ASUN championship this fall.”

The season begins with an exhibition at Arkansas State, set for Saturday, August 23.

UNA opens the regular season on Aug. 30-31 at the Mississippi State Invitational, facing Grambling State, Southeast Missouri State and Mississippi State. The Lions will play Grambling State and SEMO on August 30 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. UNA ends the weekend playing Mississippi State on August 31 at 2 p.m.

North Alabama’s first road match will come against Alabama A&M on Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. The Lions then travel to Birmingham, Ala. for the UAB Invitational from Sept. 5-6. UNA opens on that Friday against Tennessee Tech at 10 a.m. and USC Upstate and 4 p.m. Saturday finds the Lions taking on UAB at 3 p.m.

UNA will host four straight matches from Sept. 9-14, beginning with the Tuesday night opener against Samford.

The Lions will then host the annual UNA Volleyball Classic from Sept. 12-14, welcoming the Alabama and Western Carolina. UNA opens with Western Carolina on Friday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. The weekend concludes with a marquee bout against the Crimson Tide on Sunday, Sept. 14 at 2 p.m.

The final regular season invitational comes at the Houston Invitational, with set bouts against McNeese State, Houston and former Atlantic Sun Conference member Liberty. The Lions play McNeese State on Sept. 19 at 4 p.m., ending the tournament on Sept. 20 against Houston at 1 p.m. and Liberty at 4 p.m.

ASUN Conference play begins with two-straight home matches on Friday, Sept. 26 and Sunday, Sept. 28 against Austin Peay and Lipscomb.

Central Arkansas and Jacksonville open the month of October, with North Alabama facing road bouts against the Sugar Bears and Dolphins on Oct. 1 and 4. The Lions return to CB&S Bank Arena for matches versus Stetson and FGCU on Oct. 10 and 12 at 6 p.m. and 1 p.m.

The following week finds the Lions on the road with matches against West Georgia on Oct. 17 and Queens on Oct. 19. The West Georgia start time will be announced at a later date, while first serve against Queens is set for 1 p.m.

North Alabama will end their home schedule with four-straight matches from Oct. 24 – Nov. 2. The Lions face EKU on Oct. 24 at 6 p.m., followed by Bellarmine on Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. Central Arkansas makes the trip to Florence for a 6 p.m. contest on Oct. 29, with the home finale on Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. against North Florida.

The Lions conclude the regular-season schedule with four matches from Nov. 7-15. UNA heads to Nashville on Nov. 7 to face Lipscomb at 6 p.m. North Alabama then travels to face Austin Peay on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. UNA ends with its Kentucky roadtrip with respective matches against EKU and Bellarmine on Nov. 14 and 15.

To view the full schedule, click here.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.





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Men’s Water Polo Adds Ten In the 2025 Signing Class

Story Links DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis men’s water polo head coach Daniel Leyson and his staff have brought in ten new players set to join the Aggies for the upcoming 2025 season, with five recruits coming from California, one from Arizona, one from the East Coast, and three from international waters. […]

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DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis men’s water polo head coach Daniel Leyson and his staff have brought in ten new players set to join the Aggies for the upcoming 2025 season, with five recruits coming from California, one from Arizona, one from the East Coast, and three from international waters.

“We are excited about this year’s recruiting class!” said Coach Leyson. “I would like to thank Assistant Coach Nick Alden for his important contributions in making such a great class come to fruition. Some of these players will step in and play right away, filling immediate needs we have, and some will need some time to adjust to the Division 1 level.” 

“All have bright futures. This recruiting class also shows our commitment to finding players from areas not known to be water polo hotspots. We will turn over every stone to find the right people for our program! Go Ags!”

Mateo Ruano (Sacramento, Calif./American River College)

Transferring to UC Davis following his freshman season at American River College, Ruano looks to build off of a stellar 2024 campaign with the Beavers, scoring 110 goals and adding 37 assists for a total of 147 points. 

In last year’s Aggie Roundup, Ruano found himself on the All-Tournament team after scoring 11 goals across three contests. Against San Joaquin Delta on September 18, he had a season-high 13 points with 10 goals and three assists. He also had double-digit points on October 11, scoring eight goals and three assists versus Mt. San Antonio. Overall, Ruano had three or more goals 19 separate times, including having five or more goals in 13 different games.

Daniel Leyson on Ruano:

“Mati arrives at our program from American River Junior College, where he was an outstanding player for one year. Mati is a strong, physical player who we expect to play significant minutes in his first year. He can play all positions when needed and will be a match-up defender for us.”

Oriol Viñas (Spain/Club Natació Barcelona)

Hailing from Spain and C.N. Barcelona, Viñas comes to the Aggies after spending last season competing in both the European Aquatics Champions League and Euro Cup, the first and second-tier water polo competitions in Europe.

No stranger to high-level competition, Viñas previously won a juvenile gold medal for C.N. Barcelona in the 2021-22 Spanish Junior Men’s Water Polo Championship in the Royal Spanish Swimming Federation, the governing body for all aquatics competition in Spain.

Leyson on Viñas:

“Oriol is a smart, fast attacking player who can also score goals. He comes from CN Barcelona and has experience training and playing with Spanish National Teams. We expect Oriol to contribute significantly to all facets of the game, including leadership, as soon as he arrives.”

Luka Palavra (Croatia/HAVK Mladost)
Coming to the Aggies from Croatia, Palavra competes for HAVK Mladost, one of the top clubs in the Croatian water polo scene. Over the last four years, Palavra has gone from starting on the Cadet Team and working his way up to the Junior Team.

This past season, Palavra has also competed with the Delfin Water Polo Club, scoring five goals across seven contests, including two scores in a game versus Siscia.

Daniel Leyson on Palavra:

“Luka comes from the Mladost Club in Zagreb, one of the top clubs in Europe, and has spent time training with the Croatian National Team. He will play center and defender, and his size and strength will create immediate challenges for opponents. More importantly, Luka has the right attitude and work ethic to embody our core values and to be really successful in our program.”

Jacob Carrera (San Anselmo, Calif./Archie Williams HS)

Hailing from San Anselmo in Marin County, Carrera joins the Aggies after a successful high school career at Archie Williams. Last year, during his senior season, Carrera led the Peregrine Falcons with 41 goals and 63 assists for a total of 104 points, also adding 30 steals.

His high level of play has also led to a number of accomplishments for Carrera throughout his career, including winning the Marin County Athletic League water polo title as a freshman in 2021 and participating in the 18U North Irvine Water Polo Club.

Coach Leyson on Carrera:

“As a coach’s son, Jacob has been exposed to high-level water polo games his entire life. Jacob brings that experience and knowledge to the right side of the pool to our program. He is a crafty passer who has good vision and can also score timely goals.”

Jaden Joemtree (Arcadia, Calif./Arcadia High School)

Coming to UC Davis from the Arcadia Apaches in Southern California, Joemtree joins the program after helping to lead his team to back-to-back first-place league finishes in his junior and senior seasons.

Joining the varsity team as a freshman, Joemtree and his teammates transformed their team from a Division Four club into a Division One powerhouse in just four years, with Joemtree’s offensive prowess leading the way. In his four years of playing, Joemtree finished his career as a top ten goal scorer in the California Interscholastic Federation’s history.

Leyson on Joemtree:

“Jaden scored more than 600 goals in his high school career. He has a knack for shooting and will always be a dangerous threat from the outside for any opponent we face. But he is also unselfish and plays with poise and control when holding the ball. He also brings U.S. National Team experience to our team. We are looking forward to watching him develop!”

Lyle Weitz (Vancouver, B.C./Pacific Storm Water Polo)

Weitz joins the Aggies all the way from British Columbia, Canada, where he has spent the last three years playing primarily for the Pacific Storm Water Polo Club in Vancouver.

In 26 games with Pacific Storm in the 2022-23 season, Weitz scored 48 goals, including eight hat tricks and a season-high four goals against the Mavericks Red on May 26.

Daniel Leyson on Weitz:

“Lyle joins our team from Vancouver, Canada, and has experience playing with the Canadian National Team. He is a strong player who will help us as a utility/center defender. Lyle brings a level of seriousness, a strong work ethic, and a total team attitude that will mesh well with our team culture. We have high hopes for him and expect him to develop into a great Division 1 player.”

Max Prokhin (Brooklyn, N.Y./Y Pro Water Polo Club)

Joining the Y Pro Water Polo Club in September of 2015, Prokhin currently serves as the club’s team captain, consistently leading his squad in goals and points across tournament play. His high level of play also led Prokhin to be selected for the 2024 USA Water Polo Youth National Team last August.

Prokhin’s father, Yevgeniy, is the founder and head coach of Y Pro Water Polo. A native of Kazakhstan, Yevgeniy has played in many top water polo leagues, including participating in the 2000 Summer Olympics for the Kazakhstan National Team.

Coach Leyson on Prokhin:

“Max brings high-level experience to the Aggies, including international play with the U.S. (Youth) National Team and many years of club water polo on the East Coast. He is also a coach’s son, so he has seen a lot of water polo games and plays with the experience of an older player. He shoots the ball hard and has the size and strength to contribute right away if the need arises.”

Oliver Wilmink (Paradise Valley, Ariz./Phoenix Country Day HS)

A multi-sport athlete from the Phoenix area, Wilmink participated on both the water polo and swimming teams for the Eagles, finishing his swimming career as the 30th-ranked athlete in the Grand Canyon state.

Last November, in the 2024 Arizona Interscholastic Association Division III Championships, Wilmink put his swimming skills on display, placing first in the 500m free swimming competition.

Leyson on Wilmink:

“Oliver is from Phoenix, Arizona, and has trained with Team Vegas. Oliver is big, strong, and fast. We expect him to help us at the center defender position and to spend a lot of time in front of the cage at both ends of the pool. While he is likely to redshirt, I expect him to be ready to play in Fall 2026. He has a bright future.”

William McKeon (Danville, Calif./West Valley College)

A 25-game starter for the West Valley Vikings at the goalkeeper position in 2024, McKeon comes to the Aggies with a wealth of experience playing against Division I competitors.

With a 20-5 record during his freshman season, McKeon posted a number of top-notch performances, including shutouts against Cabrillo on Oct. 12 and Nov. 8, holding UC Merced to only one score on Sept. 18, and helping the Vikings cruise to a 24-2 win over San Mateo on Oct. 2. He also contributed a season-high 14 saves three separate times, including in the Aggie Round Up against American River College on Sept. 14, at home against Cuesta on Sept. 20, and against American River College again on Nov. 16. Overall, he had double digit saves in eight games.

Daniel Leyson on McKeon:

“Will joins us from West Valley College, where he was the starting goalie last year. He brings maturity and steadiness to the goalkeeper position for us. We expect him to really push all our goalkeepers once he gets up to speed with our system of play.”

Cassius Wolf (Soquel, Calif./Soquel HS)

Joining UC Davis from Soquel, Wolf was a talented multi-sport athlete for the last three years with the Knights, playing on both the water polo and basketball teams.

As a senior in 2024, Wolf produced a team-high 106 goals for the Knights, coming in as the 59th-best goal scorer in the nation. Among his top performances are a season-high seven goals against Palo Alto on Sept. 14 and Pacific Grove on Oct. 10. Overall, he secured a hat trick in 21 of 27 games while scoring five or more goals ten times.

Coach Leyson on Wolf:

“Cash is a big, strong, fast left-handed center from Watsonville and Soquel High School. He is relatively late to water polo, but is extremely athletic, works hard and has an exciting future ahead of him. He excelled for his club team this summer. We cannot wait to see what he can do in our program.”

The Aggies will look to build off of a ten-win season and Big West Semifinal appearance from a year ago as they gear up for the 2025 season.
 



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NU Volleyball coach becomes opposing player for upcoming Alumni Match

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Kelly (Hunter) Natter will coach the Nebraska volleyball team at practice on Friday. The following day, she’ll be on the opposing side of the net. Natter, a 3-time All-American setter, is playing on the Alumni team for the Huskers’ inaugural Alumni Match. Natter will be on a star-studded roster that figures […]

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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Kelly (Hunter) Natter will coach the Nebraska volleyball team at practice on Friday. The following day, she’ll be on the opposing side of the net.

Natter, a 3-time All-American setter, is playing on the Alumni team for the Huskers’ inaugural Alumni Match. Natter will be on a star-studded roster that figures to challenge the AVCA Preseason #1 team in college volleyball. Nebraska’s alumni team features Husker legends Jordan Larson, Lauren Stivrins, and Gina Manuco-Prososki.

“I know when I walk into the Devaney (Center), I’ll feel like an athlete again,” Natter said.

Natter, who’s maiden name is Kelly Hunter, led the Huskers to NCAA Championships in 2015 and 2017. She has been on the Huskers’ coaching staff since 2021 and currently focuses on Nebraska’s liberos and defensive specialists. Hunter previously coached the setters, but took on a new role under Dani Busboom Kelly. The first-year head coach said Natter has made an outstanding transition and naturally coaches her new position.

The Alumni match is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Devaney Center.

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San Marcos Girls Volleyball Wins in Erica Downing’s Return to Coaching | Sports

Erica Menzel Downing took a break from coaching girls volleyball at San Marcos after eight seasons in the 2016. She’s returned to the program at her alma mater and learned in Tuesday’s season opener that opponent Arroyo Grande still plays as scrappy as it did when she was suiting up for the Royals in the […]

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Erica Menzel Downing took a break from coaching girls volleyball at San Marcos after eight seasons in the 2016.

She’s returned to the program at her alma mater and learned in Tuesday’s season opener that opponent Arroyo Grande still plays as scrappy as it did when she was suiting up for the Royals in the late 1990s.

Erica Menzel Downing is back as the head coach of the San Marcos girls volleyball team. Downing stepped down in 2016 after eight years at the helm.

After a blowout first-set win, San Marcos found itself in a battle for the rest of the night. The Royals pulled through against the spunky Eagles in four sets (25-11, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21) to make Downing a winner in her return to the bench at the Thunderhut.

“Ever since I’ve played them, they have always been super scrappy,” said Downing of the Eagles. “But we just had a little bit of a let down (after the first set). It’s the first game of the season, it’s going to happen. I pushed them a little bit. They haven’t played three games, they haven’t played four games (against an opponent) so the fatigue, the brain fog, all those kind of things kind of come into play. So it’s good to push them a little bit to see what they can do and how they can battle back.”

Charlotte Hastings led the Royals with a double-double of 11 kills and 19 digs. Cora Loomer put away nine kills and added five blocks, Reese Paskin collected seven kills, Gracie Stone had six and Sam Fallon added five to go with five blocks.

Libero Alina Stapf led the defense with 21 digs and setter Lila Westmacott handed out 29 assists and served three aces.

With her sons Austin and Blake in high school and middle school, respectively, Downing felt the time was right in her life to return to coaching high school volleyball. She’s having a lot of fun working with the players and her coaching staff.

Tina Brown, who with Dwayne Hauschild co-coached the team after Downing stepped down in 2016, is on her staff along with two of Downing’s former players, Kristen Berlo and Carly Yarnell; Jenna McFarlane, the 2017 Channel League MVP from San Marcos, and former Westmont coach Jesse Wheeler, who is the JV coach, round out the staff.

“We have, like, a really great staff, and that really helps, because I can lean on them to get different ideas,” said Downing. “Tina knows the girls from prior years, but I think it’s nice to have new eyes and different people to look at different things.”

Charlotte Hastings (13) had a double-double of 11 kills and 19 digs for San Marcos in the four-set win over Arroyo Grande. (Lily Chubb / Noozhawk photo)

Downing also has the luxury of having a senior-heavy team for her first year back.

“And they’re all really good, so they’re all going to contribute at some point during the season. And I think that they’re all really close, so that’s really beneficial too,” she said.

So, even though she’s been through a coaching debut before, was Downing nervous about Tuesday’s opener?

“I was a little nervous, only because I want to be the best I can be for (the players),” she said. “And, I’ve been out of it for so long that I had to kind of pull the cobwebs out of there and that. But that’s the beauty of having such a great coaching staff. Whatever I don’t see, they can tell me whether I want to do it or not.”

She said when she got up on a box to hit balls at the players for digging practice and didn’t have a sore arm the next day, she knew she was ready and able to coach again.

“It’s fun. I love San Marcos. My kids are here and my parents are here. It’s just a great community. I was at the point where I could help, so I came back.”



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The ‘Final Draft’ Cast: Your Guide to the Japanese Athletes

In the past few years, Netflix has built out its slate of Japanese TV shows, from the death-game thriller Alice in Borderland to its groundbreaking gay dating show The Boyfriend. Now, Netflix Japan is courting Physical: 100 fans with Final Draft, the streaming giant’s first-ever Japanese survival show. The new physical competition show recruits 25 […]

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In the past few years, Netflix has built out its slate of Japanese TV shows, from the death-game thriller Alice in Borderland to its groundbreaking gay dating show The Boyfriend. Now, Netflix Japan is courting Physical: 100 fans with Final Draft, the streaming giant’s first-ever Japanese survival show.

The new physical competition show recruits 25 former athletes, who walked away from their careers and are looking for another chance at glory and security. Over several days, the contestants compete in strength, agility, perseverance, and stamina games that range from climbing an icy mountain to the ultimate monkey bars challenge. The last one left standing will walk away with a grand prize of 30 million yen (about $204,000) to support their families and the next stage of their careers.

The cast of 'Final Draft,' a Japanese survival show on Netflix.

(Image credit: Netflix)

For the must-watch reality series, producers gathered a range of athletes, including sports legends wanting to prove they still have it, underdogs hoping to amplify their lesser-known sports, and players whose careers were cut short. Below, read on to meet the athletic phenoms in the cast of Final Draft.

Akira Kaji





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'Marty Supreme' trailer

A24 has released the first trailer for Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie’s 1950s-set sports dramedy starring Timothée Chalamet as a table tennis player chasing respect and recognition. The film marks Safdie’s first directorial effort since co-helming Uncut Gems with his brother Benny, and his first solo feature in more than a decade. ‘The Smashing Machine’ trailer: […]

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'Marty Supreme' trailer

A24 has released the first trailer for Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie’s 1950s-set sports dramedy starring Timothée Chalamet as a table tennis player chasing respect and recognition. The film marks Safdie’s first directorial effort since co-helming Uncut Gems with his brother Benny, and his first solo feature in more than a decade.

Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a gifted but underestimated ping pong player whose ambitions take him on a turbulent journey toward greatness. Along the way, he begins an affair with a glamorous movie star, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, while navigating the personal and professional challenges of life on the road. The ensemble cast includes Fran Drescher as Marty’s mother, rapper Tyler, the Creator, magician Penn Jillette, Odessa A’zion, Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary, and filmmaker Abel Ferrara.

Co-written by Safdie and longtime collaborator Ronald Bronstein, Marty Supreme is a fictionalised retelling inspired by the life of Marty Reisman, a five-time World Table Tennis Championships bronze medalist who became a showman for the sport.

Chalamet reportedly underwent extensive training to capture the physicality and technique of a professional player. Cinematographer Darius Khondji noted earlier this year that the actor “wanted to be like a real [professional] ping pong player when he started shooting.”

The film is produced by Safdie, Bronstein, Eli Bush, Anthony Katagas, Chalamet, and A24.

Chalamet, who has previously praised the Safdie brothers’ “raw and untethered” approach to filmmaking, now takes center stage in one of the year’s most anticipated releases. Marty Supreme is set to open in theaters on December 25, positioning itself as both a holiday release and a potential awards contender.

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2025 Harvard vs Claremont M-S – Men’s – Water Polo – News

Event Info Here’s how to watch the 2025 Harvard vs Claremont M-S – Men’s – Water Polo broadcast on FloSwimming. The 2025 Harvard vs Claremont M-S – Men’s – Water Polo broadcast starts on Sep 14, 2025. Stream or cast from your desktop, mobile or TV. Now available on Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast and Apple […]

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Event Info

Here’s how to watch the 2025 Harvard vs Claremont M-S – Men’s – Water Polo broadcast on FloSwimming. The 2025 Harvard vs Claremont M-S – Men’s – Water Polo broadcast starts on Sep 14, 2025. Stream or cast from your desktop, mobile or TV. Now available on Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast and Apple TV. Don’t forget to download the FloSports app on iOS or Android! If you can’t watch live, catch up with the replays! Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloSwimming subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.





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