Former St. John’s track and field student-athlete Pariis Garcia is forever tied to the university. Her parents — both track and field standouts — met at St. John’s. It was no surprise that there were several Johnnies at Garcia’s wedding to former NFL running back Mack Brown, including current director of track and field/cross-country Aliann Pompey, who coached Garcia to outstanding collegiate accomplishments.  

“I have athletes who are now in their 30s, and it took me a while to come to terms with that,” said Pompey, a four-time Olympian who began coaching at St. John’s in 2014. “Pariis is probably the easiest athlete I’ve ever coached.”

When Pompey first arrived at St. John’s, she set up one-on-one meetings with the student-athletes. She hadn’t played a role in their recruiting, so she wanted a chance to connect before training began. “I tried to explain to them how this could benefit them and we [could] accomplish things together,” Pompey recalled. “Pariis said yes to everything and she was excited.”

After graduating in 2016, Garcia continued training with Pompey for a year and a half as she pursued pro track and international competition, representing Puerto Rico.

Also on Pompey’s recent schedule was being inducted into the Shore Athletic Club (NJ) Hall of Fame. After earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Manhattan College, she continued to compete internationally for her native Guyana. Elliot Denman, now a lifetime trustee, invited her to join the club.

“He made the pitch about how Shore AC supports athletes that are kind of in a transition period,” said Pompey. “After I left school, that was the only club I was affiliated with … up until I retired from my professional career.”

These days, she attends Shore AC meets when her schedule permits and contributes to the support of today’s athletes as she can. “The club was a crucial part of me being able to continue doing the sport that I love,” said Pompey, who has the meet record for the club’s 400-meter race, which is now named after her.

This summer, Pompey and her St. John’s coaching staff will be reviewing the recently concluded season, planning for the 2025–26 school year, and scoping out possible recruits for 2026–27. “We have an amazing group returning,” she said. “We want to make sure we get them high-level competition.”

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 9, 2025) – The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated a scrappy Thailand team, 3-1 (28-26, 21-25, 27-25, 25-15) to begin the third round of Volleyball Nations League (VNL) play on Wednesday night at the UT Arlington College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.

The U.S. (5-4) returns to the court tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. PT against the Dominican Republic (4-5).

Tickets are still available for the remaining U.S. matches. Buy your tickets now.

The U.S. finished with a 57-46 advantage in kills, while also holding narrow leads in blocks (10-7) and aces (3-2). The U.S. was out-blocked 6-5 through the first three sets before using a 5-1 margin in the fourth set to seal the match.

“I like the way we competed. Congratulations to Thailand. They are a very-well coached team and when they are running their systems, they are hard to defend. They can frustrate you a lot, so I liked the way we were resilient, stuck with the game plan and figured it out in the end,” said U.S head coach Erik Sullivan, who saw improvement later in the match on his team’s serve and pass. “In the last set, we put a little more pressure on them and got them out of rhythm.”

2024 Paris Olympian and outside hitter Avery Skinner made her 2025 VNL debut a memorable one, leading the U.S. with 19 kills and 22 points, adding two blocks and an ace, while also leading the match with 10 digs.

“Thailand is an amazing team. We knew the rallies were going to be long, so for us, it was about being patient, not trying to score necessarily on the first ball but when we got our chance, then going for it,” Skinner commented. “It was special. I have been so excited waiting for this match. I’m glad we could come out and get a win. It’s really fun being back with this group. Coming to Arlington is so fun because we get to play in front of our crowd. We are grateful for all the fans who have come out to support us.”

Outside hitter Logan Eggleston scored 19 points on 18 kills and a block, contributing nine digs, and a match-best 10 successful receptions. Middle blocker Dana Rettke totaled 10 points on nine kills and an ace. Opposites Stephanie Samedy and Danielle Cuttino made their 2025 VNL debuts in style with Samedy recording nine kills and Cuttino leading all players with four blocks to go with four kills for eight points.

Libero Lexi Rodriguez made several outstanding plays, finishing with seven digs and three successful receptions. Captain and setter Jordyn Poulter, another 2024 Paris Olympian making her 2025 VNL debut, ran the U.S. offense while adding a kill, an ace and three digs.

Middle blockers Brionne Butler (three kills and three blocks) and Asjia O’Neal (four kills in her 2025 VNL debut) combined for 10 points.

An Eggleston kill followed by a Thailand error gave the U.S. a four-point lead, 16-12, in the opening set. With a 17-14 lead, the U.S. stretched the lead to six on two kills by Skinner, one set up by a great dig from Rodriguez, and an Eggleston kill on a back row attack.

Thailand used a 9-3 run to even the set at 23. An Eggleston kill, a Rettke kill on a slide, and a Skinner kill gave the U.S. three different set points, but they were unable to convert. After a hitting error gave the U.S. its fourth set point, Cuttino’s second block finished the set. Skinner scored seven points on six kills and an ace, while Eggleston provided five kills.

The second set was even at 16 when Thailand recorded back-to-back blocks to start a 5-0 run. The U.S. pulled within two points, 23-21, when a great up by Eggleston led to another Skinner kill, but Thailand evened the match by scoring the final two points of the set. Skinner totaled six points on five kills and a block, and Cuttino scored four points on two kills and two more blocks.

Another great dig by Rodriguez led to a Skinner kill to give the U.S. a 16-14 lead in set three. Back-to-back kills by Samedy and an Eggleston kill gave the U.S. its biggest lead of the set at 19-15. Thailand bounced right back with four consecutive points to tie the set at 19.

An Eggleston kill down the line and a back row tip by Skinner put the U.S. back up by two points, 21-19, but it was the final two-point lead until the end of the set. Just as it did in the first set, Thailand defended three set points, but the U.S. took a 2-1 set lead when Samedy scored on a kill to the back line and then again with a kill off the block. Eggleston scored seven points on kills, with Skinner and Samedy each contributing five kills.

A Rettke kill gave the U.S. an early 5-1 lead in the fourth set and her ace later extended the lead to five points, 10-5, and force Thailand to take a timeout. Consecutive blocks by Skinner and Butler followed by a Poulter ace pushed the U.S. to a 14-6 lead. The lead grew to as many as 11 points, 19-8, before Thailand scored four consecutive points. Samedy registered two kills in a row, the second set up by a great dig by Roni Jones-Perry, for a 22-13 lead. Eggleston paced the U.S. with five points on four kills and an ace.

U.S. Women’s Week Three Roster for 2025 VNL

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Illinois, Rocky Mountain)
3 Avery Skinner (OH, 6-1, Katy, Texas, Kentucky, Lone Star)
6 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer)
7 Lexi Rodriguez (L, 5-5, Sterling, Ill., Univ. of Nebraska Great Lakes)
8 Brionne Butler (MB, 6-4, Kendleton, Texas, Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
9 Madisen Skinner (OH, 6-2, Katy, Texas, Univ. of Kentucky and Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
11 Taylor Mims (Opp, 6-3, Billings, Mont., Washington St., Evergreen)
15 Rachel Fairbanks (S, 6-0, Tustin, Calif., Pitt, Southern California)
16 Dana Rettke (MB, 6-8, Riverside, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
18 Asjia O’Neal (MB, 6-3, Southlake, Texas, Texas, North Texas)
20 Danielle Cuttino (Opp, 6-4, Indianapolis, Ind., Purdue, Hoosier)
21 Roni Jones-Perry (OH, 6-0, West Jordan, Utah, BYU, Intermountain)
22 Sarah Franklin (OH, 6-4, Lake Worth, Fla., Univ. of Wisconsin, Florida)
25 Tia Jimerson (MB, 6-3, Sugar Hill, Ga., Univ. of Ohio, Southern)
33 Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-2, Brentwood, Tenn., Univ. of Texas, Southern)
34 Stephanie Samedy (Opp, 6-2, Clermont, Fla., Minnesota, Florida)

Coaches
Head Coach: Erik Sullivan
Assistant Coach: Mike Wall
Second Assistant Coach: Brandon Taliaferro
Second Assistant Coach: Tayyiba Haneef-Park
Second Assistant Coach: Joe Trinsey
Team Manager: Rob Browning
Team Doctors: William Briner, James Suchy, Chris Lee, Andrew Gregory
Physiotherapist: Kara Kessans
Physical Trainers: Shawn Hueglin, Shannon Boone
Mental Performance Coach: Andrea Becker, Katy Stanfill
Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham

Week 3 Schedule: Arlington, Texas (all times PDT)
Matches will be shown on VBTV, Big Ten Network and/or CBS Sports Network. Please check listings for BTN and CBSN.

July 9 USA def. Thailand, 3-1 (28-26, 21-25, 27-25, 25-15)
July 10 at 5:30 p.m. USA vs. Dominican Republic
July 12 at 5:30 p.m. USA vs. Canada
July 13 at 5:00 p.m. USA vs. China

Week 1 Results: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
June 4 Italy def. USA, 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 30-28)
June 5 Brazil def. USA, 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-19)
June 6 Czechia def. USA, 3-2 (23-25, 20-25, 25-17, 25-20, 27-25)
June 8 USA def Korea, 3-0 (25-13, 28-26, 25-17)

Week 2 Results: Belgrade, Serbia
June 18 USA def. Serbia, 3-2 (25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 22-25, 15-11)
June 19 Poland def. USA, 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-18)
June 21 USA def. Netherlands, 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-19)
June 22 USA def. France, 3-2 (25-22, 26-24, 20-25, 21-25, 15-13)

After a thrilling third day of action at the men’s Elite U16 European Water Polo Championships in Istanbul, Italy and Serbia topped their respective groups after both sides earned hard-fought victories on Wednesday. In the Division One tournament in Ljubljana, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Bosnia & Herzegovina continued to impress as they all maintained their 100% records.

Men’s U16 European Water Polo Championships
Day 3 Elite Division
Group Stage – Istanbul, Türkiye
Wednesday 9 July 2025

Group A

Hungary 17-10 Türkiye
Serbia 14-12 Spain

Standings: 1. Serbia 9pts, 2. Spain 6pts, 3. Hungary 3pts, 4. Türkiye 0pts

Group B

Montenegro 12-12 (5-4P) Croatia
Greece 15-19 Italy

Standings: 1. Italy 9pts, 2. Greece 6pts, 3. Montenegro 2pts, 4. Croatia 1pt

Group C

Malta 14-11 Moldova
Netherlands 16-8 Georgia

Standings: 1. Netherlands 9pts, 2. Georgia 6pts, 3. Malta 3pts, 4. Moldova 0pts

Group D

Germany 16-11 Romania

Standings: 1. Germany 6pts, 2. Romania 3pts, 3. Poland 0pts

Day 3 Division One
Group Stage – Ljubljana, Slovenia
Wednesday 9 July 2025

Group A

Portugal 6-17 Cyprus
France 9-10 Bulgaria
Slovakia 16-17 Slovenia

Standings: 1. Bulgaria 9pts, 2. France 6pts, 2. Slovenia 6pts, 4. Cyprus 3pts, 4. Slovakia 3pts, 6. Portugal 0pts

Group B

Latvia 4-21 Lithuania
Ukraine 10-4 Czechia
Bosnia & Herzegovina 13-11 Switzerland

Standings: 1. Ukraine 9pts, 1. Bosnia & Herzegovina 9pts, 3. Switzerland 6pts, 4. Lithuania 3pts, 5. Czechia 0pts, 5. Latvia 0pts

Italy rallied to a big 15-19 win over Croatia to clinch the first place in Group B. It was a brilliant match of twists and turns with a flood of goals in the first half where the Italians, once up by four, took a 9-11 lead.

The Greeks hit back in the third with Maximos Mantzouridis leading the charge. His double in 64 seconds brought his team back to even at 12-12, and Konstantinos Papanikolau put the Greeks ahead with 2:51 remaining.

However, this only triggered the Francesco Corelli Show – the Italians’ master shooter equalised right away and, after Francesco d’Arrigo quickly added another for 13-14, he then netted two more in 30 seconds at the start of the fourth.

The Greeks were stunned, then a minute later Paolo Borsalino’s action goal expanded the gap to four which practically floored their rivals. They pulled one back, but Corelli crowned his performance with his seventh goal 1:30 from time to secure the top spot for Italy.

In the other match, the third place was at stake, but in the current format this had smaller importance – both Croatia and Montenegro were to play a crossover anyway – it was more about pride and, after two defeats, to gain some confidence before the knockout-stage kicks off.

Consequently, the clash was as fierce and close as it could be. Midway through the second period, the Montenegrins jumped to a 6-3 lead, but the Croats fought themselves back to 7-7, still before the middle break.

Montenegro kept going ahead, leading 10-9 before the last break and went 11-9 up early in the fourth, but Duje Burazin was on fire and hit two in 36 seconds to make it 11-11.

Again, Danilo Roganovic sent the Montenegrins ahead by burying a penalty, but Burazin levelled it up once more – he scored the last four for the Croats. Almost three minutes remained to score the winner but neither side found the back of the net, leaving the decision to the penalties.

There, a single save decided the outcome, as in the fourth round, Strahinja Vranes made the crucial stop, so Montenegro finished third.

In the highlighted match in Group A, Serbia staged a devastating 5-0 run against Spain to jump from being 4-5 down to a 9-5 lead deep into the third period.

Spain, offering some sparkling offensive display on the previous two days, were completely frozen up front for 10 long minutes, before they could score again. They then netted two in quick succession, but Nikola Pavlovic scored a fine action goal with 0:02 on the clock to make it 10-7 before the final period.

And the Spanish defence was unable to stop the Serbs in the fourth as well. An early penalty cut the difference to two goals, but Spain’s hopes were short-lived as the Serbs put away two 6 on 5s while killing their rivals’ extra to reset the four-goal gap.

After 12-8, the Serbs could always respond to Spain’s hits, and they still led 14-10 turning into the last three minutes. Despite Javier Sanchez-Toril’s late heroics, he scored four alone in the fourth, Spain never had a realistic chance to force a shootout and had to settle for the second place.

The third place was decided in the last match of Day 3, between Türkiye and Hungary. After the hosts had pushed Serbia and Spain close in the previous two days, it seemed they had ran out of some steam.

The Türks did lead 4-5 at the first break, but then the young Magyars started to take control, stylishly shutting up shop and winning the second quarter 3-0.

Almost 12 minutes had passed before Türkiye could score again, this time through Eymen Altay, but Hungary kept piling forward and edging further and further ahead.

In the last quarter, the Hungarians found another gear and put together a 4-0 finish to put some gloss on what was an emphatic win.

The top spots were at stake on Wednesday in Groups C and D too. Both winners hit 16 goals to finish top respectively. The Netherlands downed Georgia, and Germany beat Romania with ease – all these sides had already secured their berths in the crossovers, though the top division contenders they face are still the heavy favourites in the coming round. Malta had the better of Moldova to claim the third place in Group C.

In Ljubljana, at the Division One tournament, Bulgaria edged out France in the battle of the two unbeaten sides in Group A. Niki Tsvetkov finished off a counter 34 seconds from time to win it for the Bulgarians, who still came out on top despite missing two penalties in crucial moments.

In Group B, Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina made it three wins from three. Ukraine blew away the Czechs, while the Bosnians upended the Swiss in a thrilling encounter.

In the other matches, Cyprus thrashed Portugal and Lithuania showed no mercy against their neighbours Latvia, while at the end of the day, hosts Slovenia narrowly won an entertaining clash with Slovakia.

The Slovaks trailed by three at 4-7 four minutes into the second quarter, but fought back to level the scores at 8-8 just before the long break.

After nudging ahead briefly in the third, the Slovenians wrestled back the lead and were 13-14 up going into a tense final eight minutes.

Slovakia still refused to lie down and equalised twice at 14-14 and 15-15 and even went ahead again at 16-15, but they ultimately left with nothing, as two late goals from Luka Vujanovic won it for Slovenia.

The winner came from a penalty with just 21 seconds remaining and the fans’ celebrations will surely last long into the night.

–

Watch all the action live from Istanbul and Ljubljana for free on the European Aquatics TV channel, which can be found by clicking here.

For the full results/tables and schedule from Istanbul, click here.

For the full results/tables and schedule from Ljubljana, click here.

Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

FAYETTEVILLE — Jordan Anthony is not on the University of Arkansas football team’s 2025-26 roster in real life. But in the EA Sports College Football 26 video game, which will hit stores for standard release at 11 a.m. Central on Thursday after early access began Monday for the deluxe edition, Anthony is still a wide receiver for the Razorbacks.

Anthony announced in June he would forgo his remaining college eligibility to begin his professional track and field career. A national champion in the 60 and 100 meters and one of three finalists for the prestigious Bowerman award, given annually to the top American collegiate track and field athlete, Anthony is coming off the best track season of his career and was one of the top sprinters in the collegiate ranks this year.

But when the video game was made, Anthony had not yet announced he would no longer be playing football for the Razorbacks.

“I left the announcement ’til after it was announced that (the game) was going to come out, so therefore I could be in the game,” Anthony said. “I knew a lot of people were going to probably riot if I wasn’t in the game, because why wouldn’t I be in the game?”

There were other factors in the timing of Anthony’s announcement, which came the day after the conclusion of the NCAA Outdoor Championships, but remaining in the game is an added bonus, he said.

In the game, Anthony has a speed rating of 99. It is the highest rating a player can achieve, and he is one of four in the new edition with that score. He is joined by LSU receiver Barion Brown, UCLA cornerback Rodrick Pleasant and South Carolina receiver Nyck Harbor.

No college players have had a rating of 100. In Madden NFL, also made by EA, a few NFL players have had a speed rating of 100. Devin Hester did in Madden NFL 08, and DeSean Jackson did in Madden NFL 12.

“My little disappointment that I have with EA Sports and the NCAA is that I’m 99 speed,” Anthony joked. “I should have been 100. We should go (back to) when they used to give one person 100. I should be 100 because, like, who else? Who else is the catch?”

Anthony said he has been playing the new edition of the game and is glad to be part of it for a second season.

“That was all I grew up on was playing video games, playing football games,” he said. “I really don’t play football games anymore, just because I used to do it in real life. Like, I can run fast. I don’t need 99 speed. I can catch. I can do all this in real life. … But ever since NCAA came out, I’ve been playing just NCAA because I’m in the game. Why wouldn’t I play?”