The Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers have continued their winning run at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships with a four goal victory over Italy.
After matching up against them only days ago in the Tri Nations Test Match Series in Perth, the Stingers took some extra confidence in the game having claimed the earlier win on home soil.
Team captain and New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder Bronte Halligan led from the front, scoring the first goal of the game to set up an early lead for the Stingers. It was a lead they managed to hold on to from start to finish, with fellow NSWIS athlete Hayley Ballesty scoring the last goal of the game to close it out, 19-15.
With five goals of her own, Abby Andrews was named Player of the Match.
“We’ve matched up a lot with Italy this year, and we know they’ve got really great shooters as well as a strong centre forward,” Andrews said. “They got some great shots, but I think we stamped the pressure really early on in the game and we were able to consistently build off that momentum.
“They came back a little bit but I think we held them out well in the end – we had great assists, great passing and some good execution,” she said.
The team includes multiple NSWIS scholarship holders such as Hayley Ballesty, Sienna Green, Bronte Halligan, Sienna Hearn, Dani Jackovich, Tilly Kearns, Alexie Lambert, Gen Longman, and Olivia Mitchell, as well as NSWIS staff – Senior Sports Physiotherapist Bernie Petzel and Sport Performance Analyst Joshua Dipple.
The Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers will now play trans tasman rivals New Zealand in their final pool match on Tuesday 15 July at 7:35pm AEST. Watch LIVE and FREE on 9Now.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Kids K-12 are free on Thursday (Jan. 1) when the Purdue Fort Wayne men’s basketball team hosts Green Bay at 2 p.m. at the Memorial Coliseum.
Game Day Information
Who: Purdue Fort Wayne (8-7, 2-2 Horizon League) vs. Green Bay (6-8, 1-2 Horizon League)
When: Thursday, January 1 | 2 PM ET
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Memorial Coliseum
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: 1380 AM
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Green Bay
Know Your Foe
A much improved from last season Green Bay team comes to the Summit City on Thursday. The Phoenix own Division I non-league wins over UMass, Iona and UC Santa Barbara. They won at IU Indy in league play, but have losses to Wright State and Robert Morris. C.J. O’Hara is averaging 12.7 points per game.
Series History
Purdue Fort Wayne leads 9-2, winning the last nine games. Green Bay’s only two wins came in the 2020-21 regular season when games were played in empty gyms. Even that year, though, the ‘Dons topped Green Bay 89-84 in double overtime in the league’s postseason. That game is best remembered for Jalon Pipkins’ game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer of the first overtime session.
‘Dons & Ends
// In December, Corey Hadnot II was named to the Lou Henson Award Watch List. The award recognizes the best player in NCAA Mid-Major Division I basketball. The award is given out at the end of the season.
// The Mastodons have eight games this season with single-digit turnovers, including just two vs. Detroit- Mercy on Dec. 14.
// Corey Hadnot II is one of only five juniors or seniors in NCAA Division I men’s basketball currently averaging 20 or more points who entered the season never having averaged 10 points in a season. (Cameron Carr, Baylor | Chandler Cuthrell, Elon | MJ Collins, Utah State | Dennis Parker Jr, Radford)
// The win over Notre Dame put the ‘Dons on a four-game win streak. The ‘Dons have now had a winning streak of at least four games in every season since 2009-10 except for one (2017-18). That is 16-of-17 seasons.
// The top two scoring games in the league this season belong to Corey Hadnot II. He had 33 at Oakland (Dec. 3) and 32 at Western Michigan (Nov. 12). Mikale Stevenson’s 29 against Chicago State (Nov. 25) is the fifth best scoring performance in the league this season.
// Through four league games, Corey Hadnot II is averaging 21.8 points per game in league play, second best in the league.
// Jon Coffman picked up his 200th career victory on Nov. 15 against Boyce. He is the program’s leader in victories.
// DeAndre Craig Jr. has scored double-digits 15-of-16 games this season. He has four games of exactly 18 points this year. The only game under 10 points was a seven-point outing vs. Chicago State (Nov. 25). He tied a career high with 22 points vs. Oakland.
// Darius Duffy has 73 rebounds on the season, 40 have been on the offensive glass.
// Redshirt freshman Ebrahim Kaba has shown early results from beyond the arc, hitting 16-of-43 (38.1 percent) from three.
// DeAndre Craig Jr. has demonstrated an ability to fill up the box score. Not only does he have 10+ points in all but one game this season, he has three games with six or more rebounds, three games with five or more assists and two games with three steals; all while turning the ball over only 16 times in 397 minutes.
// How good has Corey Hadnot II been this year?
– Corey Hadnot II is 3rd in the nation with 116 field goals. He has 306 points this season, 2nd in the nation. He is 1st in the league at 20.4 points per game. Hadnot is also 9th in the nation in steals with 36.
– Hadnot is averaging 20.4 points per game, should he finish at that average, it would rank tie for 5th in Mastodon history for a single season.
– He has the most field goals made (tied, 12 at Oakland) and most field goals attempted (22 at WMU) by a Horizon League player this season.
– He has the third most steals in a game by a Horizon League player this season (6 at Ohio State).
– Through 15 games, Hadnot is on track to score 628 points in the regular season this year. This would rank 7th all time for points scored by a player in a single season in Mastodon history.
– Through 15 games, he is on track to have 73 steals in the regular season this year. This would rank 6th all time for steals by a player in a single season in Mastodon history.
– At 20.4 points per game, Hadnot’s scoring is up this year as is his shooting percentage. He is shooting 55.0 percent from the floor. He shot 44.6 percent last year.
– His field goal percentage has improved each season.
– 22 former Mastodons have played professionally in the last 14 years.
Jalon Pipkins (2021-22) is playing for Gargzdu in Lithuanian. He had 14 points and four assists in a loss to Juventus on Dec. 27.
// John Konchar to enter Mastodon Hall of Fame
– Former Mastodon John Konchar (2014-19) will be inducted into the Mastodon Hall of Fame on Jan. 31. Konchar, the seven-year NBA veteran with the Memphis Grizzlies, finished his collegiate career as the first student-athlete in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists and 200 steals.
// Drafting notes from the Mastodons’ game at Milwaukee
– Deangelo Elisee tied a career high with four blocks.
– Maximus Nelson tied a career high with three steals.
// Here come the notes on the win at Notre Dame
– Only four players scored in the contest (Corey Hadnot II, Maximus Nelson, Mikale Stevenson and DeAndre Craig Jr.). It is the first game in the Division I era of the program with only four players scoring in a contest. The previous low was five, which has occurred multiple times.
– It was the Mastodons’ first win over an ACC opponent.
– It was Purdue Fort Wayne’s fourth win against a major conference foe. The Mastodons beat Indiana in 2016 and 2017 and DePaul in 2023. All four wins have come under head coach Jon Coffman.
– Corey Hadnot II scored 29 points, his sixth game of 25 or more points this season.
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech was back in the national spotlight Tuesday ahead of its first appearance in the Capital One Orange Bowl, meeting with media who have arrived in Miami Gardens from across the country.
The 45-minute media session was an opportunity for many of the Red Raiders to see Hard Rock Stadium for the first time ahead of Thursday’s 11 a.m. CT kick in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals against Oregon. The Ducks followed later in the day to close out the Media Day portion of the Orange Bowl festivities.
The Red Raiders previously held a nearly hour-long walkthrough practice earlier in the morning on the campus of Florida Atlantic University. It was one of two practices the Red Raiders will have in Florida ahead of the Orange Bowl as Texas Tech will go through its typical “Fast Friday” workout Wednesday morning similar to its schedule during the regular season.
Below is coverage of the Red Raiders from Media Days as well as behind-the-scenes footage from our TexasTech+ cameras.
RED RAIDERS IN THE NEWS
Dec. 30, 2025 – “We found our guy:” Texas Tech’s gamble on HS legend pays off (ESPN.com)
Dec. 30, 2025 – ‘It’s like euphoria’: How Jacob Rodriguez mastered the art of the punch-out fumble (CBSSports.com)
Dec. 30, 2025 – How Skyler Gill-Howard remains one of Texas Tech’s best leaders while injured (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Dec. 30, 2025 – Behren Morton and the journey that shaped him (Dave Campbell’s Texas Football)
Dec. 30, 2025 – Caleb Douglas back in Florida, excelling with Texas Tech (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Dec. 30, 2025 – Why former Texas star is backing Texas Tech in CFP (Houston Chronicle)
Dec. 30, 2025 – How Bryce Ramirez turned a walk-on opportunity into a Texas Tech legacy (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Dec. 30, 2025 – Which Texas Tech team is better – 2008 or 2025? (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Dec. 29, 2025 – Behren Morton carries name for two families (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Dec. 29, 2025 – Big time boosters transformed Texas Tech, but that’s not all it took to reach CFP (The Athletic)
Dec. 29, 2025 – Ben Roberts and the making of a Red Raider Dynasty (Dave Campbell’s Texas Football)
Dec. 29, 2025 – Can Texas Tech’s Cody Campbell fix college sports? (ESPN.com)
Former Austin Peay volleyball coach Taylor Mott has been hired to the same position at Volunteer State Community College. ROBERT SMITH/APSU ATHLETICS
Volunteer State Community College has hired former Austin Peay coach Taylor Mott to lead its new volleyball program.
Mott coached the Governors from 2012-2024, winning 200 games in that span. Together they won the 2017 Ohio Valley Conference volleyball championship and the 2021 OVC beach volleyball title.
Their NCAA trip for volleyball marked the school’s second tournament appearance.
Mott led Brooke Moore to become the program’s all-time leader in kills, coached Ginny Gerig to the second-most digs in Austin Peay history and recruited NJCAA Player of the Year Mikayla Powell to the school in 2021.
She started her coaching career at Division II Flagler College, with 304 wins and two Division II Elite Eights in 13 years.
Mott and Austin Peay parted ways before the end of the 2024 season.
Vol State announced the addition of volleyball and women’s soccer in August.
The Pioneers hired Tye Cole to lead their soccer program. Cole coached at Averett University and West Georgia and was most recently Tennessee United Soccer Club’s Director of Coaching.
Justin McKinney and Brad Swope were also announced as additions to the athletic department – the former as assistant athletic director and Swope as athletic trainer.
“The growth of Pioneer Athletics reflects the momentum we are seeing across the college,” VSCC athletic director Bobby Hudson said. “By adding new teams and leadership, we are investing in our student-athletes and the future of the athletics program.”
The Appalachian Newspapers’ 2025 All Mountain Volleyball Team is composed of players from the 15th Region, Jenkins, Buckhorn, Knott Central, Perry Central and Hazard.
The 2025 All Mountain Volleyball team was voted upon by the Appalachian Newspapers’ Randy White, Steve LeMaster and Adam Mahan.
All Mountain Volleyball Player of the Year nominees:
Kylie Kinner — Paintsville
Miley Riddle — Shelby Valley
Lindy Gearheart — Pikeville
Taylor Baker — Knott Central
All Mountain Volleyball
Player of the Year
Miley Riddle — Shelby Valley: Riddle had an outstanding junior season. She led the state in kills with 838 (Paintsville’s Kylie Kinner finished second with 828). Riddle helped Shelby Valley to its most successful season in school history as the Lady Wildcats finished the season with a 34-6 record. Shelby Valley won the 15th Region All “A” Classic and advanced to the state All “A” Classic Bronze Division finals, the 59th District Tournament, their first-ever 15th Region Tournament championship, a win over Knott Central in the opening round of the KHSAA Volleyball State Tournament and an appearance in the state volleyball quarterfinals.
All Mountain Coach of the
Year nominees:
Misty Riddle — Shelby Valley
Dawn Kinner — Paintsville
Shae Cornett — Knott Central
All Mountain Coach of the Year:
Misty Riddle — Shelby Valley: Riddle helped Shelby Valley to its most successful season in school history as the Lady Wildcats finished the season with a 34-6 record. Shelby Valley won the 15th Region All “A” Classic and advanced to the state All “A” Classic Bronze Division finals, the 59th District Tournament, their first-ever 15th Region Tournament championship, a win over Knott Central in the opening round of the KHSAA Volleyball State Tournament and an appearance in the state volleyball quarterfinals.
Iowa State finished the 2025 campaign with a winning record (8–4 overall, 5–4 in the Big 12), highlighted by a five-game win streak to start the season, but an uneven finish set the stage for major staff turnover.
On December 8, head coach Matt Campbell was officially named Penn State’s head coach, departing Ames after 10 seasons as the program’s winningest coach (72–55 overall).
Iowa State moved quickly, naming Jimmy Rogers as head coach on December 6.
Rogers comes from Washington State, where he led the team to a 6–6 record in the 2025 season, and previously held assistant and defensive coordinator roles at South Dakota State and Florida Atlantic.
Since the coaching change, multiple Cyclones have entered the transfer portal, most recently wide receiver Chase Sowell on Monday.
He becomes the 41st player from Iowa State to enter the portal and the 16th starter, according to analyst Josh Pate.
NEW: Iowa State WR Chase Sowell plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Sowell totaled 500 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns this season.https://t.co/kSYG7dZ8sR pic.twitter.com/pvDDRTrDHy
Sowell was Iowa State’s second-leading receiver in 2025, tallying 32 catches for 500 yards and two touchdowns, after spending two seasons at East Carolina (2023–2024) and one at Colorado (2022).
Since Campbell’s departure, several other high-impact players have announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal, including starters QB Rocco Becht, RB Carson Hansen, TE Ben Brahmer, and WR Brett Eskildsen, as well as multiple defensive backs and linemen.
As Pate noted on his podcast, top cornerbacks Jontez Williams and Jeremiah Cooper have also announced their intention to enter the transfer portal and are currently ranked sixth and seventh among available players.
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) passes during the second half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys | William Purnell-Imagn Images
The departures remove several established starters and depth, including the starting QB, lead rusher, lead receiver, and multiple starters on both sides of the ball, creating an urgent rebuild task for Rogers and his new staff.
Practically, that means accelerated recruiting/portal work, accelerated opportunity for younger players, and a likely short-term performance reset.
Read More at College Football HQ
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