Boasting 124 NCAA national championships, UCLA has some of the most memorable moments, teams and players in the history of collegiate athletics.
Headlining this mosaic of success is probably the most well-known coach of all time – John Wooden.
He won a record 10 national championships – including seven in a row – as head honcho of UCLA men’s basketball, all while mentoring greats such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton.
And his imprint on the UCLA campus is even greater.
Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success” adorns the walls of the student gym named after him. His iconic statue stands outside Pauley Pavilion – the arena forever memorializing his career and home to the court that commemorates him and his wife, Nell.
But while Wooden’s legacy stands the test of time, Pauley Pavilion is also home to UCLA’s winningest sports program.
Enter: men’s volleyball.
A juggernaut in the history of the sport, the men’s volleyball program leads all of UCLA Athletics with 21 national championships.
The 2024 UCLA men’s volleyball team celebrates after winning the NCAA national championship. (Daily Bruin file photo)
And for former Bruin outside hitter Ethan Champlin – who played at UCLA from 2021-2024 – winning is not only ingrained into the culture of Bruin volleyball but also curated through the deliberate development of its athletes.
“It can bring you to tears sometimes to think about the privilege and the experiences that you get to have with such a great group of guys that are not only just tremendous at their craft but your friends,” Champlin said. “I invited the whole team to my wedding because winning is such a bonding experience, and that’s what UCLA is. UCLA brings winners. They carry winners on their roster.”
Although the Bruins most recently fell in the national championship game to Long Beach State, their appearance marked three consecutive NCAA title appearances, with the first two resulting in Bruin championships.
Champlin – a three-time AVCA First Team All-American – was an integral part of the back-to-back championships, winning the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award in 2024.
While Champlin spearheaded a squad that broke an almost 20-year national championship drought, it is the relationships he built with his teammates and the culture they established that he values most.
“To be able to have our team written in the record books for the national championships we won, especially after the drought that UCLA had had since 2006, it’s just a tremendous honor,” Champlin said. “There’s not a single person on the team that I wouldn’t have, that I would have traded to have a different teammate. They all brought very different personalities, character traits, skills, but every single one of them was valued.”
Former Bruin outside hitter Ethan Champlin raises his arms to receive the ball. Champlin played for UCLA men’s volleyball from 2021-2024. (Shane Yu/Daily Bruin staff)
And while national glory illustrates the pedigree of a team, quality coaching can turn a great program into a legendary one.
Wooden passed the torch to the likes of Larry Brown and Jim Harrick. The former is a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member, and the latter is the only coach other than Wooden to capture a men’s basketball national title for UCLA.
Only three coaches have helmed the men’s volleyball program since the collegiate sport’s NCAA inception in 1970.
The newest of the bunch, coach John Hawks, finished his first year with a national title appearance this season. But in 2022, he also won AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year after leading the Bruins to the nation’s top hitting percentage with a .374 clip.
On the other end, Al Scates – the Wooden of UCLA men’s volleyball – led the program to 19 national championships, all while producing the next generation of volleyball greats, including UCLA’s second coach, John Speraw.
For junior libero Coleman McDonough, being able to continue Scates’ legacy is something he treasures.
“I’m a Pennsylvania kid, so getting recruited by UCLA – it’s definitely something you never thought would happen, especially coming from the storied legacy left behind by Al Scates and all that,” McDonough said. “It’s just great that you can contribute in any way possible to the legacy.”
Between Scates and Hawks is Speraw – a legend on the court as a player, on the bench as an assistant and as the head honcho for 12 years from 2013-2024.
Speraw’s trophy case holds 10 national championship trophies – two as a player, three as an assistant coach and five as a head coach – yet the scope of his impact on volleyball is arguably larger.
“In terms of volleyball, he was the greatest coach that I’ve ever had,” Champlin said. “I always felt like he had our team’s back. … I’d say that I was a pretty self-taught player, but the things that he said and the things that he taught me in terms of volleyball skills – I owe so much to him, and as a coach, he’s got a big reputation. He’s kind of a larger-than-life figure.”
Former UCLA men’s volleyball coach John Speraw stands with his arms crossed. Speraw coached UCLA from 2013-2024. (Daily Bruin file photo)
Similarly to how Speraw molded the likes of Champlin, setter Micah Maʻa, outside hitter Garrett Muagututia and other current and future Olympians, Scates’ impact also stretched far beyond the walls of Pauley Pavilion.
Former Bruins not only line the rosters of men’s and women’s national and Olympic teams, but they also represent a significant part of the coaching staff.
Before Speraw’s coaching retirement this past year, he led the men’s Olympic team from 2013-2024, earning a bronze medal both in 2016 and 2024, while also taking gold at both the 2015 FIVB World Cup and 2014 FIVB World League. Speraw took on the position as CEO and president of USA Volleyball after the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Likewise, Scates’ apprentices – Erik Sullivan, Brandon Taliaferro and Karch Kiraly – and Hawks all fill roles on United States national teams. Sullivan heads the women’s team, with Taliaferro taking an assistant role alongside him. Kiraly replaced Speraw to helm the men’s team, while Hawks took lead on the U21 national squad.
Despite their impact on the national and professional stages, sophomore outside hitter Luca Curci said UCLA volleyball alumni are still present in the current culture and locker room.
“They’re a big part of our team, for sure,” Curci said. “We’re always doing alumni nights after all games and stuff like that, doing events so we can all be close still, and they help us a lot with donations and stuff like that.”
But relationships are more valuable than trophies – exemplified by the camaraderie between Champlin and former Bruin outside hitter and teammate Grant Sloane, who served as a groomsman at Champlin’s wedding.
“He did everything he could to get me to come to UCLA, and that ended up being at the expense of his own playing time and his own glory, and I benefited from that more than I’ll ever know,” Champlin said. “And that also embodies my experience at UCLA and the selfless people that I had on the team who showed me humility that I could never have and selflessness that I wish I could have in my best moments.”
Although capturing championships forges core memories, McDonough said brotherhood lasts a lifetime.
“The biggest thing I’ve taken away is the relationships that you build at UCLA. The people here at the school make this place special, so having that brotherhood to have for your whole life is something that I’ll take away, more than just the national championships,” McDonough said.
USF opens its inaugural season Feb. 20 at Tulane; Will host two home events on Clearwater Beach.
TAMPA, FLA., JAN. 9, 2026 – University of South Florida Beach Volleyball Head Coach Pri Piantadosi-Lima has announced the program’s competition schedule for its inaugural 2026 season, marking a historic milestone as the newest varsity sport within USF Athletics.
The Bulls, which open their debut campaign February 20–21 at Tulane and will face a challenging slate that features seven teams that were ranked in the final 2025 AVCA Collegiate Beach Volleyball Poll, including No. 8 Florida State (two meetings), No. 11 LSU, No. 15 FAU, No. 17 Georgia State, No. 18 FGCU and No. 20 Washington.
South Florida will host a pair of two-day tournaments on Clearwater Beach during its inaugural season. The Bulls will welcome teams for the Stampede Beach Opener March 27–28 and The Gulf Front Invitational April 17–18. Home events will feature five or six teams with several matches each day, highlighted by marquee matches generally in the 1:30-3:30 p.m. window each day.
Admission to all South Florida home beach volleyball events is free.
“This schedule represents years of building, planning, and believing in what USF Beach Volleyball will become,” Piantadosi-Lima said. “We are ready to compete and officially represent the University of South Florida on the sand. Our players have been building toward this moment, and beginning our first NCAA season is something we take great pride in.”
USF will compete in beach volleyball as a member of Conference USA. FAU is the defending conference champion after winning the 2025 CUSA Beach Volleyball Tournament. The 10-team league also includes FIU, Jacksonville State, Missouri State, Sam Houston, Tarleton State, Tulane, UAB and UTEP.
Following the season opener at Tulane, the Bulls travel to Florida State February 27–28 to face a Seminoles program that reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament last year.
South Florida returns to the Tampa Bay area March 6–7 for matches at the University of Tampa, marking the Bulls’ first local competition before their home debut later in the month.
The Bulls continue play at Coastal Carolina March 13–14 before hosting their first-ever home event, the Stampede Beach Opener, March 27–28 on the sands of Clearwater Beach. The two-day showcase will feature teams from Sacramento State, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, UAB and UTEP and will introduce South Florida Beach Volleyball to the Tampa Bay community.
“Playing our first match at Tulane will be a moment this program remembers forever, but bringing this sport home to Clearwater Beach is something truly special,” Piantadosi-Lima said. “It’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the country, and also a well-known beach volleyball Mecca where Olympians have come to compete here. We can’t wait for our fans to experience our team up close for the first time.”
USF resumes competition at Georgia State April 3–4 before making the longest road trip of the season to Boise, Idaho, for matches at Boise State April 10–11. The Bulls will close the regular season at home, hosting The Gulf Front Invitational April 17–18 on Clearwater Beach. For that event, the Bulls will host teams from Florida State, FGCU, LSU and Mercer – FSU, FGCU and LSU all were ranked in the top 20 last year.
“We’re building a team, a culture, a standard, and a fan base,” Piantadosi-Lima said. “Every match we play, home or away, is a chance to establish who we are and who we want to become. We’re ready to begin this journey, and we can’t wait for Bulls Nation to join us.”
Postseason play begins with the Conference USA Championship, scheduled for April 23–25 at Sugar Beach in Youngsville, La. The NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship will be held May 1–3 at Gulf Place Beach in Gulf Shores, Ala.
2025 USF Beach Volleyball Inaugural Season Schedule
February 20–21: at Tulane – New Orleans, La.
February 27–28: at Florida State – Tallahassee, Fla.
March 6–7: at University of Tampa – Tampa, Fla.
March 13–14: at Coastal Carolina – Conway, S.C.
March 27–28:Stampede Beach Opener – Clearwater Beach, Fla.
April 3–4: at Georgia State – Statesboro, Ga.
April 10–11: at Boise State – Boise, Idaho
April 17–18:The Gulf Front Invitational – Clearwater Beach, Fla.
April 23–25: Conference USA Championship – Youngsville, La.
May 1–3: NCAA Championship – Gulf Shores, Ala.
About USF Beach Volleyball The University of South Florida Beach Volleyball program is the newest program in the now 21-team USF Athletics program. South Florida Beach Volleyball joined Conference USA on July 1, 2025. Pri Piantadosi-Lima was named South Florida’s first-ever beach volleyball head coach on June 6, 2023. She also serves as the head coach of USAV Beach and the national team development program and was honored as the 2022 USA Volleyball Female Junior Coach of the Year. Before joining South Florida, Piantadosi-Lima helped launch the Eckerd College program in 2015 as an assistant coach and helped lead the program to its first AVCA national championship and two consecutive NCAA championship podium finishes.
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TULSA, Okla. — Registration for Tulsa Parks’ spring volleyball is now open.
Tulsa Parks said registration is open for the Youth Volleyball: Skills and Play league for grades 2nd through 5th and Volley Tots, a beginner volleyball program for grades Kindergarten through 1st.
Volley Tots is designed to help kids build confidence, learn volleyball fundamentals and have fun in a positive, team-focused environment.
Players will practice skills like serving, passing, setting and hitting through a mix of instruction, drills and game play, all led by supportive coaches.
Tulsa Parks shared the following details for each league:
Youth Volleyball
Co-ed
Meets once during the week on Saturday mornings
Rotates between Tulsa Parks’ Recreation Center
March 3 – April. 25
$50 per resident
Volley Tots
Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Reed Community Center
5-week introductory program
Spots are limited. You can register by clicking here.
HONOLULU, Hawaii – Loyola Chicago opened the 2026 season with a 3-0 setback at No. 2 Hawaiʻi on Thursday, Jan. 8. In front of 5,800 fans at the Stan Sheriff Center, the Rainbow Warriors claimed the match in straight sets (25-18, 25-19 and 25-15).
Daniel Fabikovic led the Ramblers offensively with 11 kills on .333 hitting, while Ryan McElligott directed the offense with 26 assists. Loyola recorded nine total team blocks in the match, with Bryce Robbins and Aidan Klein contributing multiple stuffs at the net.
Coach Quote: Shane Davis
“Opening on the road against a team like Hawaiʻi is a great measuring stick for us. We showed flashes of what we’re capable of, especially early in sets but our consistency and execution have to greatly improve. We’ve got some new pieces, but we’ve got to learn to play better together and execute things at a high level. Lots of things to improve on as we prepare for tomorrow’s match.”
How It Happened
Set One | Loyola dropped the first set 25-18 despite a decent showing on the attacking end, putting together a .313 hitting clip with nine kills in the set loss. Kills from Fabikovic and Aleksandar Sosa helped keep the score tight through the midway point until Hawai’i closed the frame on a 9-2 stretch, powered by strong serving and efficient attacking.
Set Two | The Rainbow Warriors jumped out to an early advantage in set two, capitalizing on a trio of service aces during a decisive run. Loyola responded with improved blocking, led by Robbins and Brad Bell, and kills from Fabikovic and Klein to trim the deficit to three late in the set, but Hawai’i maintained control and took the set 25-19.
Set Three | Loyola showed fight early in the third, trading points and staying close through the first half. Hawai’i’s serving pressure was pivotal as the home team rattled off a late run to widen the gap and secure the final frame 25-15. The Rainbow Warriors finished the match hitting .211 in the final set, while the Ramblers were limited to a .000 attack percentage.
Inside the Box Score
Robbins set a career high three block assists and one solo, and Klein also set a career high four block assists.
Sosa recorded nine kills in his Loyola debut and added two block assists and one dig.
Rookie Ayden DesLauriers made his collegiate debut and made three serves for a perfect service percentage.
Up Next
The Ramblers and Rainbow Warriors rematch tomorrow night, Friday, Jan. 9 at 11 p.m. CT.
Hoboken, N.J. – The Stevens Institute of Technology men’s volleyball team has announced its schedule for the upcoming season on Friday.
The Ducks, who will be looking for their fifth straight Middle Atlantic Conference Championship, will face a challenging slate this season, culminating with postseason play in April.
The Ducks open the season at home on Friday, January 16, hosting a tri-match at Canavan Arena against St. Joseph’s University–Long Island and Drew University. Stevens will face St. Joseph’s-LI at 2:30 p.m., followed by Drew at 6:30 p.m., with Drew and St. Joseph’s-LI meeting in between.
Stevens begins its road schedule with a matchup at Baruch College on January 20, before traveling to New Paltz on January 28. The Ducks will compete in a multi-match weekend in Union, N.J., on January 30–31, facing Juniata, Lasell, and Kean.
February includes a mix of home and road action, highlighted by a home contest against Carthage College on February 5 and a road trip to Springfield, Mass., for matches against Springfield College and either Drew or Hobart. Stevens also welcomes NYU to Canavan Arena on February 10 before traveling to face Rutgers-Newark on February 17 and competing against Wentworth Institute of Technology and Wheaton College (Mass.) on February 21 in Boston.
MAC play begins on March 4 at Arcadia University. Stevens returns home on March 7 to host Hood College and New Paltz, followed by a conference matchup against Eastern University on March 11. The Ducks continue league play on the road at Misericordia University and Widener University before returning to Hoboken to host Messiah University on March 21.
The regular season concludes with home matches against Southern Virginia University on March 26 and Stevenson University on March 28, before road contests at King’s College (Pa.) on April 1 and a tri-match at Vassar College on April 4 against Vassar and Elizabethtown.
The MAC Tournament begins with the quarterfinals on April 7, followed by the semifinals on April 9 and the MAC Championship on April 11.
ESPN and League One Volleyball (LOVB), the largest brand in youth volleyball, have announced their distribution schedule for LOVB’s 2026 women’s volleyball season. ESPN will present 28 matches across ESPN platforms beginning Sunday, Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET with LOVB Atlanta vs. LOVB Austin on ESPN2, building on a historic year for women’s volleyball across ESPN platforms in which the 2025 NCAA Tournament and regular season delivered record viewership and year-over-year growth.
The ESPN season opener from H-E-B Center at Cedar Park in Austin, Texas, features last year’s No. 1 regular-season team, LOVB Atlanta, as it seeks revenge in its first match since falling to eventual champions LOVB Austin in last season’s semifinals. Atlanta, led by hometown hero Tia Jamerson, faces Madisen Skinner and a LOVB Austin squad featuring eight former Longhorns.
The opening weekend also features LOVB Nebraska hosting LOVB Houston at 4 p.m. on ESPN+, spotlighting hometown favorite Lexi Rodriguez as she steps into a featured role for Nebraska with two-time Olympic medalist Jessica Wong-Orantes taking the season off. Nebraska faces a Houston squad led by Madi Kingdon Rishel, known for its high-energy style and strong social presence across platforms.
Kevin Barnett and Salina Rockwell will call LOVB Atlanta vs. LOVB Austin and Rich Burk and Kevin Wong will provide commentary for LOVB Houston vs. LOVB Nebraska.
All of ESPN. All in One Place. ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans on the ESPN App, providing more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, including more than 47,000 live events per year, on-demand replays, industry-leading studio shows and original programming, and more. The ESPN App gives fans a unique viewing experience that includes multiview and synchronized two-screen viewing options, swipe-able vertical video and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as integrated game stats, ESPN Fantasy sports, betting odds and information from DraftKings, sports merchandise, and more. These features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a pay TV package. Bundling options available for fans include a limited time offer for the ESPN DTC Unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. For more visit stream.espn.com.
2026 League One Volleyball (LOVB) on ESPN Platforms:
Day
Times (ET)
Network
Away
Host Market
Sun, Jan 11
4:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Houston at Nebraska
Omaha
Sun, Jan 11
7:30 p.m.
ESPN2
Atlanta at Austin
Austin
Sun, Jan 18
6:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Atlanta at Nebraska
Omaha
Thu, Jan 22
8:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Houston at Salt Lake City
Salt Lake
Sun, Jan 25
7:00 p.m.
ESPN2
Nebraska at Atlanta
Atlanta
Thu, Jan 29
9:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Austin at Salt Lake City
Salt Lake
Fri, Jan 30
8:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Madison at Nebraska
Omaha
Sun, Feb 1
4:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Austin at Nebraska
Omaha
Sun, Feb 1
6:30 p.m.
ESPN2
Madison at Houston
Houston
Thu, Feb 5
8:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Salt Lake City at Madison
Madison
Sat, Feb 7
2:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Atlanta at Madison
Madison
Fri, Feb 13
TBD
ESPN+
LOVB Classic
Kansas City
Sat. Feb 14
TBD
ESPN+
LOVB Classic
Kansas City
Sun, Feb 15
TBD
ESPN+
LOVB Classic
Kansas City
Thu, Feb 19
8:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Atlanta at Houston
Houston
Fri, Feb 20
8:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Madison at Austin
Austin
Sun, Feb 22
6:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Madison at Nebraska
Omaha
Sun, Mar 1
3:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Salt Lake City at Atlanta
Atlanta
Thu, Mar 5
9:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Atlanta at Salt Lake City
Salt Lake
Fri, Mar 6
8:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Houston at Austin
Austin
Thu, Mar 12
8:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Nebraska at Madison
Madison
Sun, Mar 15
3:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Austin at Madison
Madison
Fri, Mar 20
8:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Nebraska at Austin
Austin
Thu, Mar 26
8:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Madison at Austin
Austin
Sat, Mar 28
TBD
ESPN+
Madison at Atlanta
Atlanta
Thu, Apr 2
8:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Salt Lake City at Austin
Austin
Sat, Apr 4
TBD
ESPN+
Houston at Atlanta
Atlanta
Sat, Apr 11
TBD
ESPN2
LOVB Finals
Louisville
-30-
Media Contact: [email protected] [email protected]
The high school girls volleyball season on the SouthCoast was a strong one. Of the area’s nine teams, five — Dartmouth, Fairhaven, GNB Voc-Tech, Old Rochester and Wareham — qualified for the 2025 MIAA playoffs.
Old Rochester had the deepest run, reaching the Division 3 Elite 8 after winning the South Coast Conference Large Division crown.
The Bulls, which open their debut campaign February 20–21 at Tulane and will face a challenging slate that features seven teams that were ranked in the final 2025 AVCA Collegiate Beach Volleyball Poll, including No. 8 Florida State (two meetings), No. 11 LSU, No. 15 FAU, No. 17 Georgia State, No. 18 FGCU and No. 20 Washington.
