PROVO — BYU women’s volleyball is turning to a familiar name as the seventh head coach in program history.

The Cougars hired former BYU men’s volleyball assistant and one-time interim head coach Rob Neilson on Tuesday, returning to Provo after a historic six-year career at Utah State.

Neilson replaces Heather Olmstead, who led the Cougars through one of the best stretches in program history before stepping down two weeks ago.

The former BYU starting setter who went 91-31 as a player, including the 2004 national championship, Neilson ranked fifth in the Cougars’ rally-scoring era with 2,790 career assists to go with a top-10 finish in solo blocks with 28.

“Coaching at BYU is a dream come true,” Neilson said in a statement. “This is a distinguished university with storied volleyball programs, built by amazing student-athletes, incredible coaches and a community that’s all in. I’m honored to continue that legacy with our women’s team.”

Neilson returns to his alma mater after a legendary six-season run at Utah State, leading the Aggies to a 112-59 record that included a program-best 24-8 mark and an 18-0 finish in Mountain West play in 2025.

The Aggies also won the Mountain West Tournament title to secure their second NCAA Tournament appearance in four years, and upset seventh-seeded Tennessee in the tournament opener to snap a losing skid on that national stage that dated back to 2001.

Under Neilson’s tutelage, Utah State also captured three Mountain West regular-season championships, two tournament titles, 12 all-conference honorees, three all-region selections and one All-American status. He was named the Mountain West coach of the year in 2021, 2023 and 2025 and earned AVCA Pacific North Region coach of the year honors in 2023.

“I’m grateful for Rob’s leadership in our volleyball program, including multiple conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances,” Utah State athletic director Cam Walker said in a statement. “The profile of Utah State volleyball has been elevated, and we expected that standard to continue under new leadership. We will be efficient and aggressive in our pursuit of the next leader of Utah State volleyball and will begin an immediate national search.”

Neilson, who also earned an MBA from BYU while coaching in 2014 prior to spending time with the U.S. men’s national team, replaces Olmstead, who went 279-55 in 11 seasons as head coach after taking over for her brother Shawn.

A graduate of Utah State, Olmstead became the fastest coach to reach 200 Division I wins, doing so in just 225 matches, and was the third-fastest to 100 wins just 111 matches while transitioning the Cougars from the West Coast Conference to the Big 12.

The former AVCA national coach of the year in 2018 helped develop 14 All-Americans, 23 all-region honorees, and 22 all-conference awards in the two leagues.

With Neilson’s hire, each of Utah’s three largest Division I universities will have a first-year head coach in 2026. In addition to Neilson and Olmstead’s departures, Beth Launiere retired after 31 seasons at the University of Utah and was immediately replaced by associate head coach Alyssa D’Errico.

With the changes, the Cougars already lost a pair of departures to the NCAA transfer portal: star outside hitter Suli Davis committed to SMU, while reserve opposite Blaykli Bobik committed to TCU.

But Neilson’s hire brought good news from another portal departure: BYU All-American setter Alex Bower, who announced Tuesday evening that she was returning to the program where her mother Caroline and sisters Whitney and Morgan both graduated.

The rising junior dished out 1,265 assists last year as a sophomore, helping the Cougars to a 22-9 campaign that included a 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

“I’m so excited to play and learn from coach Neilson, a BYU legendary setter,” she wrote on Instagram. “I’m grateful for my teammates’ support. I know this has been a difficult couple of weeks for them. I love them and can’t wait to be with them soon.”

GRAND FORKS — David Nguyen was in his mid-20s when Fairleigh Dickinson University hired him as head volleyball coach.

“He was the youngest coach in Division I,” FDU deputy athletic director Jason Young said.

Nguyen took over a program that had gone 10-70 in the Northeast Conference the previous six seasons. But things quickly changed. The Knights went 43-15 in the NEC during Nguyen’s four-year tenure.

“What he was able to do with our volleyball program…,” Young said, “we had never made the NCAA tournament, we hadn’t made the playoffs in years. In Year 1, he takes us to the NCAA tournament. In Years 2 and 3, we’re in the championship game. It was just an incredible four-year run. He deserves all the accolades coming his way.”

Nguyen is the new head coach at UND, where he will be tasked with resurrecting another program that’s fallen on hard times.

The Fighting Hawks haven’t had a winning season since reaching the NCAA tournament in 2017, and they’ve never won a match at the Summit League tournament since joining the conference in 2018.

But Nguyen has directed a major turnaround before.

“I think it’s one of the biggest (turnarounds) in Division I,” Young said. “I think he’s a little beyond his years. He’ll go toe-to-toe with anyone in that conference. I think his volleyball mind is exceptional and his ability to develop is, too.

“His demeanor is going to be unique. He’s a silent assassin in a lot of ways. He’s not a yeller and screamer. He’s very calm, cool and collected. His players carry it through in how they play volleyball. They’re steady throughout. He was able to instill a winning culture. He’ll be able to do that there, too.”

UND is planning to introduce Nguyen at a press conference at a later date.

Young said he expects Nguyen to be involved in the community.

“It will be great for that volleyball community,” Young said. “He’ll know how to make sure camps and clinics are getting done and kids get connected to the program. It will be pretty special.”

Young said Fairleigh Dickinson is happy for Nguyen’s new opportunity and happy that he “put FDU volleyball back on the map.”

“I loved my time with him,” Young said. “He’s a wonderful person with a wonderful family and an incredible volleyball mind. I’m really happy for him and his family. I think he’s going to do great things.”

Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald’s circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.

It took Norah Davis just one season in a Vikings uniform to cement her place among Wilmington’s elite.

The junior outside hitter made a seamless transition to Hoggard this season after transferring from Coastal Christian, where she established herself as one of the area’s most dominant attackers. Davis had 287 kills in her breakout campaign for the Centurians in 2024.

She brought that same firepower with her to Hoggard and immediately elevated a Vikings team hungry to reclaim its spot atop the Carolina Coast Conference.

Davis finished the fall with a conference-best 317 kills as the Vikings rolled to a 26-4 record. Her production, consistency and ability to deliver in big moments earned her StarNews All-Area Girls Volleyball Player of the Year honors, the first of her career and the first for a Hoggard player since 2021.

Hoggard capped its season with a second-round playoff appearance, a run fueled in part by its dominance over rival Topsail. The Vikings defeated the Pirates three times, reclaiming the conference crown from their Hampstead neighbors and asserting control over the league.

Davis saved some of her best performances for those matchups. All three of her top outings in 2025 came against Topsail, including a 20-kill effort in the Vikings’ Sept. 4 win, a season-high 23 kills on Sept. 30, and another 19-kill performance in the conference tournament championship on Oct. 15.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rob Neilson back to BYU as our head women’s volleyball coach,” Santiago said. “Rob has been a part of a rich history at BYU, both as a player and coach on the men’s side, highlighted by winning a national championship. He is a proven winner, as evidenced by his experience as a head coach at Utah State and as an assistant coach for the USA National Team. We are excited to have Rob lead our BYU women’s volleyball program and exceptional student-athletes into the future.”

A setter at BYU from 2003-06, Neilson was part of the Cougars’ 2004 national championship team. He compiled a 91-31 record in his collegiate career. He tallied 2,790 assists, ranking fifth in BYU’s rally-scoring era record book upon graduation, and finished eighth in solo blocks with 28.

“Coaching at BYU is a dream come true,” Neilson said. “This is a distinguished university, with storied volleyball programs, built by amazing student-athletes, incredible coaches and a community that’s all in. I’m honored to continue that legacy with our women’s team. Thank you to the board of trustees, President Reese, Brian Santiago, Chad Lewis and the search committee. I’m excited to get to work preparing for great things as we hurl our challenge to all foes. Rise and shout. Let’s go.”

Neilson has spent the past six seasons as head coach at Utah State, posting a 112-59 (.655) record in Logan. Most recently, he led the Aggies to a historic 2025 campaign, finishing 24-8 overall with an 18-0 mark in Mountain West Conference play, winning the Mountain West Tournament title and recording a first-round upset of No. 7 seed Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament, Utah State’s first tournament win since 2001.

During his tenure, the Aggies captured three Mountain West regular-season championships (2021, 2023, 2025) and two Mountain West Tournament titles (2022, 2025). Neilson was named Mountain West Coach of the Year three times (2021, 2023, 2025) and earned AVCA Pacific North Region Coach of the Year honors in 2023.

Neilson coached 12 all-conference honorees, three all-region selections and one All-American, while guiding Utah State to winning records in five of his six seasons and three NCAA Tournament appearances. He is just the third coach in program history to reach the 100-win milestone and the first to do so since 1978.

Prior to his time in Logan, Neilson served as the first assistant coach with the U.S. Men’s National Team, helping Team USA earn a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships and a silver medal at the 2019 Volleyball Nations League.

Before joining USA Volleyball, Neilson spent 10 seasons on the BYU men’s volleyball staff. He served as an assistant coach from 2006-10, acting as recruiting coordinator and overseeing player development. Neilson was BYU’s interim head coach in 2011, returned as an assistant in 2012 and was named associate head coach in 2014. During that span, he helped lead the Cougars to two conference championships and a national runner-up finish in 2013.

Neilson earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from BYU in 2006 and completed an MBA in 2013. He and his wife, Sarah, have five children.

The Rob Nielson File

• Played setter for BYU men’s volleyball team (2003-06)
• Assistant coach, BYU men’s volleyball (2006-2010, 2012-2014)
• Interim head coach, BYU men’s volleyball (2011)
• First Assistant, USA Men’s National Team (2014-2019)
• Head coach of Utah State women’s volleyball team (2020-2025)

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros volleyball team enjoyed incredible success in the 2025 season. 
 
The Vaqueros won the program’s fourth conference title as they dominated in their second season competing in the Southland Conference (SLC), going 15-1 to claim the regular season championship. They went 22-8 overall, earning the second-most wins in program history. They won 16 consecutive matches, notching a new program best for longest winning streak. They saw a record number of fans fill the UTRGV Fieldhouse to support the squad during its impressive run. 
 
The individual accomplishments were just as numerous as the team ones. Head coach Todd Lowery was named the Katrinka Jo Crawford SLC Coach of the Year – one of four superlatives and 10 total all-conference honors collected by UTRGV this season, leading all teams in the conference in postseason awards for the second consecutive year. Junior Isabella Costantini earned her second SLC Setter of the Year title, while sophomore outside hitter Martina Franco was named the Newcomer of the Year and outside hitter Dimitra Nanou was tabbed Freshman of the Year. 
 
Costantini, Franco and Nanou earned First Team All-Conference recognition while junior libero Celianiz Cabranes, junior outside hitter Nadine Zech and redshirt sophomore middle blocker Julianna Bryant made Second Team All-Conference. 
 
Since the preseason practices in early August, Lowery knew his gym was packed with talent and potential. But the Vaqueros were also starting the 2025 campaign with only three consistent starters from the previous season and nine completely new players on the roster. 
 
The first month of the season was filled with ups and downs as Lowery and his coaching staff put the pieces of the puzzle together. UTRGV mixed up lineups and saw many players get reps in different spots as early bang-ups caused some changes to rotations. 
 
Throughout four non-conference tournaments, Lowery said the Vaqueros were either really good or really bad with not much in between. Seven of UTRGV’s first 11 matches were decided in three sets – if the Vaqueros came out sharp, they swept their way to victory, but when things were bumpy, they got swept just as quickly. They played some competitive matches against future top 50 and tournament teams such as UTEP, James Madison and Texas State. 
 
UTRGV split Week 1 of the SLC season, sweeping Lamar at home before dropping an extremely tight match at Stephen F. Austin, 3-2. Something clicked after that loss in Nacogdoches. The Vaqueros didn’t hang their heads after the match – instead, Lowery said, seeing how close they were that early in the season to knocking off the perennial power showed the team how high their ceiling was. They knew they had things to work on, but they also saw that they were ahead of schedule in terms of their goals for 2025, and they used that as motivation to find another level of play. 
 
“We talked tournament run all year long because that’s where we thought we’d be. Our goal was to be playing our best volleyball at the end of the year, but they were able to mesh together so quickly and things started falling in place after that SFA match,” Lowery said. “We saw flashes, at times, where we were really, really good. The girls were never shaken up by the early losses. They exposed some things to work on and the girls took those things as challenges.” 
 

After starting the year 6-7, the Vaqueros stacked up 16 wins in a row. They closed the regular season with a 14-match winning streak to earn the No. 2 seed in the SLC Tournament. They dominated the first two rounds of the tournament, sweeping Houston Christian and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to set up a championship bout of destiny against SFA. UTRGV came up short in the title match, but they came out of it hungrier than ever. 
 
“We felt like it was a coin toss going into that match. It’s always going to be a battle for us against SFA. I think now that we’ve been in the championship, we’ll be mentally more prepared. I think the moment got to us a little bit this year, but I think having so many pieces back, we’ll take care of that next year,” Lowery said. 
 
In the locker room after the match and in end-of-year meetings with the coaching staff, the Vaqueros players talked about two things: how determined they are to build on the 2025 success and how fun this season was. 
 
That response encapsulates the culture UTRGV established this fall. The Vaqueros had a special season because they truly enjoyed playing together and going to work every day. They were determined to get better for the team more than for their individual goals. Players dutifully stepped up or stepped aside as rotations changed based on the hot hand, and even when someone was on the sideline instead of on the court for a few matches, they cheered for their teammates and continued to compete in practice as if they were the starter. 
 
The selfless play and encouraging environment led to outstanding play. The Vaqueros hit over .400 as a team in five matches, including tabbing two of the most efficient performances in program history as they hit .471 at McNeese and .463 at Nicholls, taking the third and fourth spots in the record books for best single-match hitting percentage. UTRGV had three hitters with 200+ kills and six players who scored 2.24 points per set or better, with senior right side Valentina Sarti Cipriani and junior middle blocker Aaliyah Snead contributing at a high rate along with the four attackers who earned all-conference honors.  
 
The team accomplishments, the individual accolades, the records set; it all amounted to a season UTRGV will look back on with pride. It was fun. It was special. It was program-shifting, but not just because of the success. The culture established in 2025 – one of genuine fun and dedication and support in a team-first environment – was the key to the historic season, and the Vaqueros will hold that key tight and use it to unlock even more potential with a veteran group next season. 

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