Sports

BHS boys volleyball team wins state championship

Published

7 months ago

June 14, 2025

With every new set on Friday night, Brookline looked more and more like the state’s consensus No. 1 boys volleyball team. The Warriors’ struggles to receive Needham’s serves ended midway through the second set. Their tendency to fall behind early and give the Rockets too much of a lead stopped being a problem in the third set.

By the fourth set, the Warriors looked like the team they’ve been all season, and the Division 1 trophy was theirs for the taking.

Senior outside hitter Kristaps Vaivars led the way with 27 kills, and Brookline secured its first title since 1992 with a 20-25, 27-25, 25-22, 25-15 over the No. 3 Rockets on Friday at Xaverian Brothers High School.

“This is something I’ve worked for for my whole high school career,” Vaivars said. “For it to finally come true in my senior year, my last couple days here, it’s amazing.”

Trailing 18-15 in the second set, the Warriors (23-1) looked in danger of squandering their best chance to win it all in years. They’d yet to lead by even a single point, and looked unsure against a Needham team that had been to four straight state finals, winning three.

Junior Amir Tomer (10 kills, 2 blocks) got Brookline back in the set, sandwiching two kills around a block to tie it 18-18. Needham still served twice with a chance to win it, but served out of bounds both times. One more kill from Tomer and a combined block from setter Alec Smagula (4 kills, 2.5 blocks, 47 assists) and middle Luka Gallucci (1 kill, 4 blocks, 1 ace) gave Brookline a comeback win.

“This is so incredible,” Gallucci said. “It’s so incredible to be part of our high school’s history. I’m so excited for that year to go up on the wall. Every time we go into that gym for any reason, we’ll know that we’re the ones who did that.”

With momentum back on their side, Brookline took control. Two big kills from Conor Christopher (8 kills) helped give the Warriors a six-point lead midway through the third set, and Vaivars wrapped it up with back-to-back spikes. Equally able to score from the back and front rows, Vaivars tallied eight kills in the third set.

Brookline’s Kristaps Vaivers spikes the ball during the MIAA D1 boys volleyball championship game. Photo by Libby O’Neill

“I knew we had to win that third set,” Vaivars said. “I knew the ball was coming to me. I knew what I had to do.”

Vaivars might’ve led the way, but Brookline won on its versatility. Six different Warriors recorded at least one kill in the match, and the team used that range to build an insurmountable lead in the clinching fourth set.

Down 5-6, Vaivars and Smagula each recorded a kill and Smagula and Liam Raybould (4 kills, 4.5 blocks, 1 ace) combined on a block to finish a seven-point run. Later, Raybould, Tomer and Vaivars all scored in a five-point run that made it 20-9 and sent the packed Brookline fan section into a frenzy.

“We have the most weapons in the state,” said Smagula. “I can set the ball anywhere, front row, back row, and there’s going to be someone who can put it down.”

Vaivars brought home the final point, crushing his hit off Needham’s block and out of bounds. The win brought a stellar end to the inaugural season for head coach Lexi De la Cruz, a professional volleyball player in Puerto Rico and New England who also coaches with SMASH Volleyball, one of New England’s premier travel clubs.

“I knew that we had a target, I knew that everyone expected us to be here,” De la Cruz said. “We put in a lot of work in practice, and it showed off today. This team earned it. It wasn’t given.”

The title was not only Brookline’s first since 1992, but the culmination of almost a decade of getting close without r winning it all. The Warriors have qualified for every postseason since 2018, but Bay State Conference rivals like Newton North and Needham had previously always been there to end their season: Needham in the 2021 South sectional finals, 2022 Round of 16 and 2024 quarterfinals; and Newton North in the 2023 semifinals.

Brookline celebrates after their victory over Needham High School in the MIAA D1 boys volleyball championship game. Photo by Libby O’Neill

This time Brookline wouldn’t be denied, surviving first-set losses and then winning three sets in a row against both Newton North in the semis before the final win against Needham.

“I’ve been dreaming about this since I was in sixth grade watching my brother play, so it definitely feels amazing,” Smagula said. “There are so many people I could thank. So many people go into this. Not just people inside the program – people in the Brookline community, parents, players, coaches. It means a lot for the town of Brookline.”

Students, parents and even volleyball alumni packed the Xaverian Brothers gymnasium, their cheers becoming louder and louder as Brookline got stronger with each subsequent set. The student fan section, all wearing white Brookline shirts, screamed and cheered with each new point, at times completely drowning out the competing cheers from Needham’s black-attitred student section.

“Two years ago I came to the playoffs. They made it to the top four, and I was really proud of them,” said Robert Loo, a former BHS volleyball player and coach. “For this time to do this is monumental, because it’s been (more than) 30 years.”

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Avery Elizabeth Merritt, loved animals, volleyball

Published

15 minutes ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Avery Elizabeth Merritt, born Feb. 27, 2009, embodied the best parts of all of us. The beloved daughter to Russell Merritt and Tina Dombroski, younger sister to Jackson Merritt and Nathan Young, and cherished granddaughter to Janice Merritt, journeyed beyond this world Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025.

Avery was the glue that connected our lives. She saw through pretenses and offered advice with a depth of insight and clarity far beyond her 16 years.

Her natural creativity was boundless, and throughout her life, she produced incredible sketches, paintings, sculpture, jewelry, clothing, written stories, and culinary delights. Her attention to detail was evident in everything she did, completing even the simplest tasks with an artistic whimsy or a deeply thoughtful purpose.

Avery had a profound love for animals and was pursuing a future in veterinary medicine. She devotedly cared for her dog Lucy, her cats River Forrest and Terra, and her hamster Seuss. Her “heart horse” was Miley, with whom she shared an incredible bond of loving, trust and understanding. Together, they had become a fearless duo completing high jumps, courses, and liberty work. Avery competed in many equestrian shows and received numerous ribbons and accolades.

Avery’s natural curiosity of the world around her also included plants and herbology. She often grew plants from clippings or seeds to create natural products and art, many times drawing her inspiration from Native American culture.

Avery loved an engaging story and enjoyed reading books, listening to podcasts about a wide range of topics from true crime to indie music to survivalism. She was a true aficionado of SpongeBob SquarePants as well as the Breaking Bad series. Despite living in an age of online content, she had an innate ability to remain connected in the present moment. To say she was nonconformist by nature would be an understatement. She was a truly special person in so many ways but did not like to receive attention for her exceptionalism. She was also academically gifted, excelling in all subjects, especially math, science, and literature.

Avery also shared a love for volleyball and grew her skills while playing for Premier travel teams, Sandsharks beach team and Sussex Technical High School. The friendships she gained through these leagues were meaningful to her, and the shared experiences of victory, loss, and growth made a great positive influence in her life

Avery was taken from this world far too early, leaving before her full potential was ever realized. Her family will never allow the beauty of her life to be overshadowed by the tragedy of her death and will honor her with every beat of their collectively heavy hearts.

A viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Watson Funeral Home and Crematorium, 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro. A funeral service will follow at noon. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Avery’s name to feast-ed.org, an organization dedicated to bringing awareness and support to loved ones suffering from the illness of an eating disorder.

Visit Avery’s Life Tribute webpage and sign her online guest book at watsonfh.com.

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How Kansas women’s volleyball will remember 2025 season, Sweet 16 run

Published

31 minutes ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dec. 31, 2025, 3:04 a.m. CT

In the immediate aftermath of Kansas women’s volleyball’s NCAA tournament loss in mid-December against Nebraska, KU coach Matt Ulmer praised the winning side.

Ulmer highlighted Cornhuskers coach Dani Busboom Kelly, and her team. He mentioned it’s been exciting to watch their run, even as much as it was a bummer to be a part of it. He looked forward to seeing how far they could go, which ended up being an Elite Eight exit against eventual national champion Texas A&M.

But as much as Ulmer understood the moment didn’t feel all that great for his team, he also pointed to how much the Jayhawks achieved this season and how proud he was of them. He couldn’t help but gush over the community support, that helped make the run to the Sweet 16 special. Ulmer left Oregon to take over at KU after Ray Bechard — the program’s all-time winningest head coach — retired, and enjoyed a stellar first season at Kansas.

“That was a lot of blue shirts, as many as we could have, I think, as many as Nebraska would allow,” Ulmer told reporters in Lincoln, Nebraska. “Having the band here — we had a sendoff before. When we left, we had sendoff from the hotel. Like, things like that which, maybe Nebraska’s used to, I’m not. Never had that at Oregon. And this is my sixth one of these, and that was the first time that I’ve experienced that.”

Ulmer both hopes the seniors are proud of what they did, and sees this first year at Kansas as the foundation for what the program is going to be moving forward. He committed to the Jayhawks consistently making runs like this, as his players get a taste of what it’s like to make it this far. It’s fuel for the offseason, for those who’ll be back in 2026, because after KU made its fourth-ever trip to the Sweet 16 — and first since 2021 — he wants to keep raising the bar.

This year alone, from Ulmer’s perspective, already saw a mind-blowing journey take place. His first conversations with the team included returning players mentioning playing time as a goal, and it made him think about how far they have to go to just be competitive. And now, considering all the individual growth from those returners and how the newcomers were embraced, they can build on a Sweet 16 run as he continues to develop the roster as needed to compete at the highest level.

The journey the 2026 Jayhawks go on will be different, just as any team’s is, but one characteristic that they could take from the group in 2025 is how adaptable it was. Senior Ryan White, a libero/defensive specialist, said she learned that about her team as it went through a schedule she thought was the most competitive season she’s ever played — if not the most competitive the majority of the team’s played. White, one of those newcomers and an Oregon State transfer, described this as the best last year she could have wished for.

“At my program before this, I didn’t even make it to the tournament,” White said. “So, I’ve never been in the tournament before. I think Matt told me something earlier, like this week, but this is like the most I’ve ever won in my career, in this season. Like, the most games I’ve won. So, looking back on it, it’s been, like, such a great experience. And obviously to come in and play the best team in the nation, like they were firing on all cylinders tonight. But it’s just been the greatest experience. Like, I’m so thankful for it. And never would I have thought that I’d be in Kansas playing college volleyball, but it’s been super, super fun.”

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

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Sports

Two of area’s best high school volleyball coaches call it quits

Published

47 minutes ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dec. 31, 2025, 3:01 a.m. CT

Two of the most successful high school volleyball coaches in northeastern South Dakota, Rosemary Bellum of Watertown and Nancy Hoeke of Milbank, are stepping down.

Bellum announced her resignation, which is pending approval from the Watertown School Board in January, on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025.

The announcement came a couple of weeks after Hoeke’s resignation was approved by the Milbank School Board on Dec. 8, 2025.

Bellum is the winningest coach in Watertown High School history, leading the Arrows to a 192-80 record in nine seasons. She spent the past 28 years involved in the program either as a head coach or an assistant.

Hoeke spent 35 years as a volleyball coach, including the past 25 as a head coach at Milbank. She is the school’s all-time winningest coach with a career record of 449-279.

Watertown coaches, from left, Erica Paulson, Rosemary Bellum, Kelly Kettwig, Katie Tobin and Kelly McCarty celebrate after a first-round Class AA match against Sioux Falls Lincoln in the South Dakota State High School Volleyball Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, at The Monument in Rapid City. Watertown won 3-2.

Successful run for former Arrow

Bellum, a 1994 Watertown High School graduate, was a member of the Arrows’ state Class AA girls basketball championship team in 1993 and the Arrows’ state Class AA volleyball runner-up team in 1994.

She became the sixth head coach in the history of the program (which began in 1990-91) when she replaced Kim Rohde in April of 2017. Other Watertown coaches and their records with the Arrows include Beth Schutt (139-71-5 in seven seasons), Tiffany Beste (88-69 in seven seasons), Rohde (64-60 in five seasons), Karen Bossman (74-150 in seven seasons) and Jeff Denzer (9-24 in one season).

Under Bellum’s guidance, the Arrows qualified for the state Class AA tournament seven times in nine seasons highlighted by a state Class AA championship in 2019 (the second in program history).

“Coach Bellum emphasized fundamentals, discipline and preparation. She not only had high expectations for her athletes but also for herself. ” Watertown School District Activities/Athletic Director Craig Boyens said. “Her dedication extended far beyond the matches as she spent countless hours in the gym developing the program and players with it. She poured herself into this program with her amazing work ethic, attention to details and a commitment of doing things the right way.”

In her final season this fall, the Arrows went 22-11 and concluded a third-straight appearance in the state Class AA tournament with a fourth-place finish.

“It was a really a hard decision. There’s just so many good things about what you do that it’s hard to step away from the girls, the families and and the athletic department,” Bellum said. “And all of my assitant coaches. They have just been an amazing part of my coaching. The hardest part about giving this up is all the relationships and memories.”

Boyens also thanked Bellum for the positive way she led the program. A search for a new head coach is underway.

Not only is Bellum the winningest coach in program history, under her watch the Arrow program has been one of the best in the state. That could very well continue.

“I feel the cupboards are well stocked,” said Bellum. “There’s so much talent and energy and the culture is good coming up. I feel it’s been left in good condition.”

Bellum plans to continue as a social studies instructor at Watertown High School.

Hoeke also left a lasting mark

Hoeke, a 1984 Aberdeen Central High School graduate, also left a lasting mark on the volleyball program at Milbank.

She took over as the third head coach is Milbank volleyball history in 2001 (following Gloria Van Dykhorst and Brad Olson) and produced a very successful run that included nine trips to the state Class A tournament.

The Bulldogs made seven consecutive appearances in the state Class A tournament from 2003 through 2009. Included in the run were state Class A championships in 2004 and 2007 and state runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2009. The Bulldogs also qualified for state in 2015 and 2016.

“It was my decision,” Hoeke said. “I wanted to go out on my terms instead of going out when somebody says you need to move on. I don’t feel like I have the edge anymore. You need to make some tough and unpopular decisions and it’s harder for me to make those.”

Hoeke also plans to continue teaching (she’s an e-mentor for online and middle school classes in Milbank) and plans to continue coaching middle school and club volleyball for Milbank.

She thanked Olson and Vaughn Johnson for their help when she first joined the program as an assistant and also all the assistants she’s worked with as a head coach. That group included Nancy Paulson, who was a long-time assistant for the Bulldogs during Hoeke’s tenure.

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Vote for Athens all-area high school volleyball player of the year

Published

1 hour ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dec. 31, 2025, 4:01 a.m. ET

Up next for voting is volleyball.

Below are the 2025 Athens high school volleyball all-area players, which were hand selected by the coaches. Cast a vote for who you think deserves the ultimate title of “Volleyball Player of the Year.”

The poll will be open until Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 5 p.m.

Athens all-area high school volleyball player of the year poll

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Oak Grove volleyball freshman invited to USA program

Published

6 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A student from Oak Grove High School was recently invited to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Freshman Piper Hudson was invited to the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program where she spent four days of her winter break refining her skills and showcasing her talents.

The school shouted out Hudson on its social media commending the freshman for her achievement.

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Sports

All-Local Volleyball Team – Republic-Times

Published

7 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Ava Mathews (12) hits a shot towards the net against East Alton Wood River at Columbia High School on Tuesday September 9, 2025.

With a state title and school-record 39 wins from Columbia this fall, this year’s Republic-Times All-Local Volleyball Team will feature several Eagles.

But there were other standout team and individual volleyball highlights locally, as this list will show.

FIRST TEAM

Ava Mathews, Columbia. This all-state senior will showcase her talents at Southeast Missouri State University next season. She did just about everything on the court, finishing with 248 kills, 485 assists, 95 blocks and 264 digs for the state champs.

Claire Sandstrom, Columbia. An all-stater for the second time, this junior led the Eagles with a whopping 348 kills. She also recorded 296 digs and 62 blocks.

Ellie Day, Waterloo. A senior all-conference selection, she led the Bulldogs with 340 assists and 179 service points. Day will play next season at St. Louis Community College.

Karmon Grohmann, Gibault. An all-around amazing athlete, this senior led the Hawks in points, kills and assists this fall. Grohmann will play next season at Lewis & Clark Community College.

Ella Horner, Columbia. The captain of the state champs, she provided senior leadership and recorded a team-high 536 digs to go along with 156 points.

Kenzy Koudelka, Waterloo. Another senior all-conference selection, she capped off a solid Bulldogs volleyball career with 113 points, 148 kills and 395 digs this fall.

Ellie Zweigart, Waterloo. An all-conference senior libero, Zweigart was the engine that made the Bulldogs go this fall. She finished with 471 digs and 110 points.

Maura Kohlenberger, Columbia. An all-conference senior, she led the state champion Eagles with 130 blocks and also contributed 153 kills.

Kadence Seitz, Valmeyer. The lone all-conference selection for the Pirates, Seitz led her team in both kills and digs.

Samantha Spruill, Columbia. This junior led the Eagles with 503 assists and contributed 237 points. She’ll be a key part of Columbia’s 2026 squad.

Megan Huebner, Waterloo. Yet another senior all-conference selection, She finished with 67 blocks and 98 kills on the season.

Sam Juelfs, Waterloo. A tall multi-sport talent, this senior all-conference selection finished with 120 kills.

SECOND TEAM

Kinley Jany, Columbia. This senior will play sand volleyball for McKendree University next season after leading the state champion Eagles in points with 244 to go along with 444 digs and 139 kills.

Hope Chambers, Gibault. Another top senior for the Hawks, she led the team with 317 digs and also had 146 kills.

Izzy Mushaney, Dupo. Just a sophomore, she earned all-conference honors after leading the Tigers in kills.

Addison Dewilde, Columbia. This fabulous freshman finished second on the team with 117 blocks. The future looks bright.

Aubry Thomas, Gibault. Another senior leader for the Hawks, she led the team with 419 digs.

Maddi Huddleston, Valmeyer. She led the Pirates in assists this season.

Marley Mathews, Columbia. The younger sister of Ava, this sophomore recorded 199 kills and 63 blocks.

Ashlynn Reinhold, Gibault. A sophomore, Reinhold finished with 204 assists and 130 digs for the Hawks.

Kaitlyn Roberts, Dupo. A junior all-conference selection, she led the Tigers in aces and made her mark in other statistical categories.

Claire Kessler, Gibault. This senior led the Hawks in blocks.

Alli DeClue, Dupo. A junior all-conference selection, she was an important part of the passing game for the Tigers.

Addison Mitchell, Dupo. This senior all-conference selection led the Tigers in assists this season.

SPECIAL MENTION

Emery Bockhorn (Waterloo), Julia Briggs (Waterloo), Raina Roessler (Waterloo), Maggie Altes (Gibault), Kaleigh Hicks (Valmeyer), Kylie Fillinger (Dupo), Lilianna McMannis (Dupo), Leah Schlemmer (Gibault), Olivia Biffar (Gibault), Ava Gilbert (Waterloo), Kaidyn Moore (Waterloo), Brynn Moore (Gibault)