Sports
A midseason review of San Diego FC’s inaugural run – The Daily Aztec
Before the start of the 2025 MLS season, pundits and analysts across the media had their fun with predictions, hot takes, and potential storylines ahead of the season. No one, however, could have predicted the early success of Major League Soccer’s newest member, San Diego FC.
Like most expansion teams in American sports, predictions about SDFC’s inaugural season generally followed the assumption that they would struggle throughout the year, ending up near the bottom of the league and building up from there.
Yet the San Diego squad is not one to abide by precedent, as not even hometown media could have predicted this level of early success. With a 10-3-5 record and sitting alone at second place in the Western Conference, SDFC is not only poised for a successful inaugural run but also a potential inaugural playoff run that borders on title contention.
Expansion clubs in the MLS have found early success before, as seen most recently with St. Louis City SC, which finished first in the Western Conference in its 2023 inaugural season. This, however, is very much the exception rather than the norm.
To better understand this unexpected development and where it might all be heading, it is important to break down some key developments that occurred both before the start of the season and during.
Blooming culture
Team culture is the foundation of any professional sports club, and SDFC Head Coach Mikey Varas and his staff have built a bedrock that players have fully bought into and built on.
Varas speaks often of maintaining a growth mindset in the squad, not allowing complacency to creep in. He promotes playing with bravery, always looking for ways to improve, and remaining focused on the task at hand.
“Making sure our feet stay on the ground, making sure that we’re not getting too high or too low, and part of that is just remembering that our first and ultimate goal is to be fighting for playoffs in our first year,” Varas said during a media availability regarding the group’s biggest challenge.

Underrated and hungry talent
Before San Diego’s inaugural season got underway, many of the players the team acquired were relative unknowns to the city. Outside of players named Hirving Lozano, you would be hard pressed to find someone outside of soccer fanatics who knew much about the squad.
When taking a closer look at this group, however, a fine collection of talent is revealed. Up and down the squad, players are making their mark not just on the team but on the league as well. Whether it’s Danish forward Anders Dreyer’s calculated offense and league-leading nine assists, team captain Jeppe Tverskov anchoring the midfield with veteran Aníbal Godoy, or supersub and Escondido native Milan Iloski putting his heart into every score off the bench.
The true depth of that talent will be put to the ultimate test over the course of the next few weeks, with many starters on the team missing due to injury or international duty.
Controlling the flow
Well before opening kickoff, Varas was clear in his desire to see his team play with relentless press and bravery on the ball against opponents. His squad heard him loud and clear, making SDFC’s offense in competition with some of the best in the league, holding a top 10 position in most attacking statistics.
Tied for first in the league in possession statistics, San Diego doesn’t let other teams dictate the game either, putting opponents on the back foot and forcing them to play uncomfortable and out of scheme.
Defensively, the squad has made incredible strides as well. After bouncing back from an abysmal April where the team allowed nine goals in four matches, the defense displayed real tenacity, stifling the opposition to allow only five goals in the last eight matches.
“That’s something we’ve been working on from day one, how we defend together,” defender Christopher McVey said of the improvement. “It’s a collective thing, a lot of times people think it’s just the defenders, but it’s a team effort, and I think we’ve been taking big steps in all of the positions, but especially up on the start of the press.”
With 16 matches to go, there is still plenty of gametime left and questions to be answered. Though barring a disastrous collapse, San Diego FC is well on its way to its first-ever postseason in its first-ever season.
As long as the squad remains consistent in their form, their destiny will remain in their own hands. With the supporters who have made Snapdragon Stadium a homefield bastion backing them, the sky is the limit for this young club.
Sports
Brendan Sorsby from Cincy would be interesting
I think I saw it rumored that he might portal…pretty nice stats against ACC-comparable competition…maybe he doesn’t see B12 starter to ACC starter as a logical move though…unless he’s just unhappy at Cincy
I don’t see us taking someone like Minchey…4-star or not, he’s only managed 15 attempts in 3 years. I think we’ll see someone with a proven on-field track college track record
Sports
Historic Pairing: Bickley, Sears Collect AVCA All-America Recognition
LEXINGTON, Ky. (December 10, 2025) — Lubbock Christian University Volleyball added another milestone to its record-setting 2025 campaign on Tuesday, as seniors Lily Bickley and freshman Camdyn Sears were both named AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, becoming the first NCAA-era All-Americans in program history. The selections cap a landmark season in which the Lady Chaps finished 25–8, claimed their first Lone Star Conference Regular Season Championship, and earned the program’s first NCAA Division II postseason berth, advancing to the South Central Regional in Denver.
Bickley closes her LCU career as one of the most decorated and productive players of the rally-scoring era. The AVCA All-Region selection finished the season with 368 kills (fifth in LSC), a .325 hitting percentage (fifth in Lone Star Conference), 100 blocks (eighth in LSC), and 435 points (3.48 points per set ranked 16th in LSC), ranking among the LSC’s top offensive threats while appearing in national statistical charts throughout the season. The First Team All-LSC selection ends her four-year career with 1,177 kills—the second-highest total in LCU’s rally-scoring era—and 266 total blocks, including 225 block assists, the fourth-highest rally-era total and top-10 overall in program history. Already the LSC’s Academic Player of the Year, Bickley’s All-America honor adds a fitting final accolade to a senior season in which she served as one of the league’s most efficient and consistent attackers.
Sears’ recognition completes one of the strongest freshman campaigns in school history. The LSC Freshman of the Year and Setter of the Year (first player in LSC history to claim those two honors in the same season) and AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention setter recorded a double-double in each of her final five matches, finishing the season with 23 double-doubles and solidifying herself among the most reliable setters in the South Central Region. She totaled 1,309 assists (ranks seventh nationally) — the 10th-best single-season total in program history and the second-best in LCU’s rally-scoring era—while adding 385 digs (12th in LSC), 29 blocks, and directing an offense that ended the season leading the LSC in both kills per set and assists per set. The LSC Championship All-Tournament Team selection delivered 39 assists and 11 digs in LCU’s NCAA Tournament match, continuing a late-season surge that helped carry the Lady Chaps to their first postseason appearance.
The honors mark the 23rd and 24th All-America honors issued to LCU student-athletes in the volleyball program’s history, and Bickley and Sears mark the first pair of LCU volleyball student-athletes to claim All-America honors (same season) since Jordan Goings and Elissa Loynes were recognized in 2009. Bickley and Sears mark LCU’s first-ever All-America recipients in the NCAA era and the first recognized since Goings received recognition in 2009 during LCU’s NAIA era.
LCU Volleyball All-America Honorees
NAIA Era
| Year | Student-Athlete | Team/Honor | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Kari Beznar | Second Team | NAIA All-America |
| 1998 | Mindy Jones | Third Team | NAIA All-America |
| 1999 | Kari Beznar | Second Team | NAIA All-America |
| 1999 | Mindy Jones | Honorable Mention | NAIA All-America |
| 2000 | Mindy Jones | Second Team | NAIA All-America |
| 2000 | Shelby Smith | Honorable Mention | NAIA All-America |
| 2001 | Beth Lankford | Honorable Mention | NAIA All-America |
| 2001 | Mandy Moffitt | Honorable Mention | NAIA All-America |
| 2002 | Beth Lankford | Honorable Mention | NAIA All-America |
| 2002 | Mandy Moffitt | Third Team | NAIA All-America |
| 2002 | Julie Williams | Honorable Mention | NAIA All-America |
| 2003 | Beth Lankford | Honorable Mention | NAIA All-America |
| 2003 | Mandy Moffitt | Second Team | NAIA All-America |
| 2003 | Stacy Simpson | Honorable Mention | NAIA All-America |
| 2004 | Mandy Moffitt | Second Team | NAIA All-America |
| 2004 | Meagan Kamplain | Honorable Mention | NAIA All-America |
| 2007 | Rachel Stuyvesant | Third Team | NAIA All-America |
| 2008 | Rachel Stuyvesant | Second Team | NAIA All-America |
| 2009 | Elissa Loynes | Third Team | NAIA All-America |
| 2009 | Jordan Goings | Honorable Mention | NAIA All-America |
| 2010 | Jordan Goings | Honorable Mention | NAIA All-America |
| 2011 | Jordan Goings | Honorable Mention | NAIA All-America |
NCAA Era (2013–Present)
| Year | Student-Athlete | Team/Honor | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Lily Bickley | Honorable Mention | AVCA All-America |
| 2025 | Camdyn Sears | Honorable Mention | AVCA All-America |
Sports
Jeremiah Harris and Collin Bui-Hayes Earn First Big South Weekly Honors of the Season – University of South Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After a first successful meet of the indoor season, the USC Upstate men’s track and field team has collected two Big South Athlete of the Week honors.
Jeremiah Harris was named the Big South Men’s Track Athlete of the Week following his performance at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-Off. Harris currently sits first in the Big South for the men’s 200m with his time of 21.53. His time was both a personal best and moved him to second all-time in school history.
Picking up the second weekly award for the Spartans was Collin Bui-Hayes. Tabbed the Big South Men’s Freshman of the week, Bui-Hayes sits second in the Big South for the 60m. In his first collegiate meet, the freshman posted a time of 6.88, a personal best. The time ranks him fourth all-time in school history.
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Sports
VB: Tayler Gray named Volleyball Head Coach
Tayler Gray has been named McNeese volleyball head coach, Vice President and Director of Athletics Heath Schroyer announced the hiring on Wednesday.
Gray, a former Sam Houston assistant coach spent two stints with the Bearkats following a short stint as assistant coach at UT-Arlington.
“When searching for someone to take the reins of our volleyball program, it was important to me to find an energetic coach who recruits tenaciously, is a fierce competitor and is passionate about developing athletes both on and off the court” said Schroyer.
“Coach Gray checks every box. We’re thrilled to welcome her to our university, and I can’t wait to see the mark she’ll make on this program and within our community.”
Gray has spent a total of 16 years at Sam Houston, both as a student-athlete and a member of the coaching staff. She has also served as a Health and Kinesiology adjunct professor since 2014.
“First and foremost, I give all glory to God for this incredible opportunity,” said Gray. “I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to Athletic Director Heath Schroyer, Senior Woman Administrator Bridget Martin, and the entire hiring committee for their trust and belief in my vision to lead the McNeese Volleyball program.
“I am thrilled to be returning to the Southland Conference and am beyond excited to get to work building something special at McNeese. Lastly, I want to thank my family for their unwavering love, support, and belief in me throughout this journey.”
From 2014-2020, she was a member of a Sam Houston staff that accumulated 87 SLC wins, several all-conference selections, 10 student-athletes were named to the All-Academic Team, two Student-Athletes of the Year and over 25 Player of the Week honors.
In 2019 Sam Houston advanced to the second round of the NIVC and in 2020 advanced to the WAC Championship.
The dual-sport athlete was a member of the volleyball team from 2010-13 and the softball team from 2011-14. Gray was a member of the 2012 Southland Conference Volleyball Championship team, a two-time all-SLC performer on the volleyball court where she earned All-SLC first team honors in 2012 and second team honors in 2013. She was named team MVP in 2012 and 2013 and was selected Sam Houston’s Female Athlete of the Year in 2013.
In the classroom, Gray was twice named to the SLC All-Academic team (2012, 2013) and served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee both those years.
She concluded her volleyball playing career with 2,352 assists, where she still ranks in the Top 10 at Sam Houston.
Gray also spent one season (2018-2019) as an assistant coach at UT-Arlington before returning to Sam Houston.
Gray also has experience on the national level, serving as assistant coach for the 2024 USAV All-Star Championship (17U Team).
Gray graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (2013) along with two master’s degrees, Master of Arts in Health (2015) and a Master of Business Administration (2020), all from Sam Houston.
COLLEGIATE COACHING EXPERIENCE
2014-2025 Assistant Coach, Sam Houston
2018-2019 Assistant Coach, UT-Arlington
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
2010-2013 Sam Houston (VB)
2011-2014 Sam Houston (SB)
HONORS
2013 All-SLC (1st team/VB)
2012 All-SLC (2nd team/VB)
EDUCATION
2020 Master of Business Administration (Sam Houston)
2015 Master of Arts in Health (Sam Houston)
2013 Bachelor of Science in Public Health/Minor in Psychology (Sam Houston)
Sports
Dillard Claims MEAC Weekly Award
NORFOLK, Va. (December 10, 2025) – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) uncovered its men’s track & field weekly awards where Howard University sophomore Drew Dillard (Silver Spring, Md.) claimed the league’s Field Athlete of the Week. The announcement came Wednesday afternoon.
At the HBCU & Ivy Challenge (Dec. 5), Dillard won the high jump with a MEAC-best mark of 2.07 meters, which currently ranks 21st nationally.
Senior sprinter Dylan Gaines (Houston) received honorable mention after winning the 200-meter dash a time of 21.52.
North Carolina Central sophomore Zion Amadi was named MEAC Track Athlete of the Week.
On Dec. 13, HU returns to the Northeast for the Seahawk Shootout, hosted by Wagner College.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com or the MEAC website at www.MEACSports.com.
Sports
NCAA women’s volleyball regionals: Live updates, scores, schedule, highlights
Ahead of regionals, Michella Chester re-ranked the 16 teams still standing. Here are her top five before regional action tips off on Thursday:
1. Nebraska (No. 1 seed)
This one seems obvious. The Cornhuskers are the team to beat as the only undefeated squad in DI.
2. Kentucky (No. 1 seed)
With just two losses all season, it’d be hard to move the Wildcats any lower even though they were the only No. 1 seed to drop a set in the first two rounds.
3. Texas (No. 1 seed)
The Longhorns had one of the toughest second round matchups with No. 8 Penn State, but they posted an impressive sweep, holding the Nittany Lions to just nine points in the second set.
4. Pitt (No. 1 seed)
The Panthers swept Michigan in the second round, but maybe not as easily as they would’ve liked. Sets one and two were each just two-point wins, but with the reigning AVCA Player of the Year Olivia Babcock on their side, it’s hard to count out Pitt.
5. SMU (No. 2 seed)
The Mustangs are the first 2-seed to crack the re-rankings after setting an NCAA tournament record with a .618 hitting percentage in the first round. This team is hot right now heading into regionals.
👉 Click or tap here to find all 16 teams re-ranked
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