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Lambert cooking up a storm for Stingers in and out of water

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It took just one bite of the wicked concoction Aussie Stingers water polo player Alexie Lambert whipped up from blended butterscotch fingers, melted butter, sweetened condensed milk and dark chocolate to make her an instant squad favourite.                                                                                                                                                                                              

If the caramel slices she shared with her teammates at their first training session the first week of training wasn’t enough, then the aroma of Lambert’s scrumptious lamb dinner wafting down the corridor of the squad’s accommodation during the Stingers pre-world championships camp on the Gold Coast made her the athlete everyone wanted to room with.

Lambert laughs when told her reputation as a master cook, awesome baker, and tough as teak competitor precedes her. However, in the next breath, the 22-year-old confessed her extraordinary cooking and baking prowess is a tried and proven treatment for her to unwind.

“I hadn’t roomed with any of the girls before, so I just started baking,” she said. “I often use cooking and baking to relax and not think about water polo. I made a caramel slice for everyone in the first week we were away.

“And when I’m training with the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) squad I like to put on a podcast while I bake a batch of cookies or cupcakes for the girls. 

“A few people have suggested I do it for a career, but I cook and bake things like lemon blondie brownies because I love doing it. It’s something I don’t feel pressured about. It just makes me happy.”

And, despite the frustration of a stubborn shoulder injury that stifled Lambert’s international career, she’s just as enthusiastic when professing her love for water polo. This deep seated passion even motivated her to change schools when she was halfway through Year Eight at Warner’s Bay High School (in Newcastle).

She decided to attend Lambton High because it was within walking distance to the local swimming pool, the place where Lambert finetuned her water polo skills. 

Even at a young age she did it with such purpose the renowned coach, Brett Arnold, a former Australian representative who has dedicated his energies to helping young players from regional NSW to shine, saw a young athlete blessed with the rare combination of heart, talent, and drive.

“Being able to walk to the pool meant I didn’t need anyone to drive me there, and I’d stay for all the training sessions: the men’s session, women’s session, and they’d usually finish when the pool closed at 7:30pm,” she said.

“I loved it; still do. I appreciate the supportive coaches I’ve had, as well as the people water polo has introduced me to. Someone I really care about, Brett Arnold, was one of my first coaches and he put the thought in my head that I could do something and be something if I put the effort in.

“Hearing that meant a lot. It meant someone believed in me. While I still keep in contact with Brett, I left Newcastle after I finished year 10. Mum said I needed to have a school certificate and driver’s license before I moved to Sydney, and I headed off as soon as I got them.”

Lambert (photographed above in 2022) moved south where; after moving in to live with her father, she joined Sydney University’s junior program. In between gruelling training sessions, she made a living by running swimming classes and coaching schoolgirl water polo. 

After becoming a NSWIS scholarship holder Lambert says she was influenced by a succession of great coaches: Mel Rippon, Bec Rippon – now her Stingers Head Coach – current NSWIS program Head Coach Neven Cirkovic and Assistant Coach Jackie Northam. 

“I built a support system at NSWIS,” said Lambert. “The coaches are all different, but they helped push me along. When Bec came into the picture she became a massive supporter [of mine] 

“Bec is something else . . . amazing . . . gives me tingles to think of how she’s helped me. But all the coaches have been very passionate. They’ll do anything for anyone they care about – and they care about all of us so much.” 

Lambert is back in Australia’s battle colours two years after making her debut against the powerhouse USA in Brisbane. As far as she’s aware there’s no vision of the match but admits whenever she replays her memories of that match in her mind’s lens she still shakes with nerves.

“I was definitely very, very nervous to say the least,” she says of her debut. “It was a wild experience, and I definitely wasn’t in the same place I am now. I think I’m much better prepared for this experience.

“That first game was very daunting, very tense. Though, I’d played [in Newcastle] with one of the girls from the USA team, Rachel Fatal, so it was so cool to be able to play against [the two-time Olympic gold medallist]. 

“I vividly recall lining up before the game and hearing everyone’s name read out before singing the national anthem. There’s nothing you can compare it to; I get tingles, goosebumps, thinking about it even now.”

Lambert felt a similar jolt of emotion when she made her long awaited return to the Australian team in a recent World Cup match against China. With China leading 11-10, a Lambert rocket levelled the score before Australia celebrated a 16-14 victory.  

“[After I scored the goal] I was like: ‘Okay. I just scored, now get back to halfway, just get back to halfway. Now, what’s next? Go back and defend and don’t let them score.’ I didn’t really get a chance to think about that goal until after the match and, obviously, I was very, very happy.”

Lambert’s success is hailed by her supporters as just reward for the resilience she displayed in returning from the shoulder injury that cost her time in the water, and numerous opportunities to represent Australia. 

She admitted that, after the battle she waged to return to the Stingers, there aren’t words that can possibly describe how it felt to see her name in the World Aquatics Championships squad. Australia’s campaign kicked with the Stingers stinging host nation Singapore 32-2 in their opening match and then ????? Italy ??-??

“Definitely shocked,” she says, still excited. “It was a different feeling to last year when I was told I wasn’t going to play for a while [through injury]. I sat out on the stairs outside NSWIS bawling my eyes out. I called my mum, and she was like: ‘you’ve either got to lock in or quit. And I was like, ‘okay’.

“I’m just so happy I gave it my all. It’s paid off.”

And there’s no doubt her teammates are as well. After all the lioness-hearted Lambert has been through they’d be wanting her to continue enjoying the sweet taste of success . . . in and outside the pool.

  FAST FACTS, ALEXIE LAMBERT

  • Lambert enjoyed completing a four month pathology and blood collection course at TAFE.  
  • While it’s hard to secure a job in that field due to her training and playing commitments, Lambert likes the idea of making people comfortable in what can be, for some, something they dread – needles! 
  • She works for What Ability, a support service in which people with a disability are taken on outings.
  • Lambert’s first What Ability session was – perhaps unsurprisingly – at the local pool where the person she was with enjoyed throwing a water polo ball around.
  • Lambert played professional water polo for Petra in Greece and was stunned by the fanaticism of the spectators who took flares, flags and drums to matches: “We had the riot police at one match keeping the supporters apart.”



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When does Wisconsin volleyball play again? NCAA tournament next match

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December 13, 2025

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Dec. 12, 2025Updated Dec. 13, 2025, 12:33 a.m. CT



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UAA signs trio of Alaska prep stars

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December 13, 2025

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ANCHORAGE (Dec. 12) – Riding the momentum from an outstanding 2025 season, the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team has begun reloading for future success with the signing of Alaska prep stars Indy Kmet, Vaiula Leaoa and Sophie Tapley, head coach Stacie Meisner announced Friday.

The newest Seawolves hail from all over the state and represent three of the four classifications in Alaska high school volleyball – 2A, 3A and 4A.

“We are fortunate to live in a state with great coaching at the developmental and high school levels, which has been proven by the contributions of high-level Alaskans who have come through our program,” said Meisner, whose team went 23-6 and tied for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title this season. “We are thrilled that Indy, Ula and Sophie have decided to continue the tradition and welcome them to the Seawolf family.”

A 6-1 outside hitter, Kmet led South Anchorage to the Cook Inlet Conference regular-season title and an ASAA 4A State Tournament berth, along with earning MVP honors at the prestigious Dimond/Service tournament. She was also a key member of the 2024 South squad that finished state runner-up, making the ASAA All-Tournament Team as a junior.

Coach Meisner says…

“Indy is a strong athlete who we had the opportunity to work with at camp over the summer. She is incredibly coachable and a great all-around player with a lot of potential for continued improvement. She has impressive instincts on defense and puts up a big block in the front row. We are excited to see what she will bring to the table next fall to only increase the physicality of our roster.”

A 6-foot outside hitter, Leaoa finished a legendary career at Unalaska last month, leading the Raiders to a second consecutive 2A state title and a 39-match win streak to end her career. The Outstanding Hitter award-winner at this year’s state tournament, she ripped 19 kills in the title-match sweep of Su Valley.

Coach Meisner says…

 “Ula is a really special player out of Dutch Harbor; it’s not often we see a player of her caliber coming from rural Alaska, and we are thrilled that she wanted to join our program. She is already very athletic and physical, with a big jump and a heavy arm swing. She also came to camp in July, so we got to work directly with her, and I believe her ceiling is going to be incredibly high.”

A 5-8 rightside hitter, Tapley led Kenai Central to its third 3A state championship in four seasons this year, earning Outstanding Hitter and All-Tournament honors. Tapley, who only started playing volleyball in seventh grade, was also an all-tournament selection at the 2024 state tournament.

Coach Meisner says…

 “Sophie is a springy, left-handed attacker who sees the court well and plays an aggressive game. Her size is deceiving as she jumps incredibly well and has a very fast arm on her attack. We look forward to seeing how she will develop and continue to grow.”

The trio gives UAA five Alaskans on its 2026 roster, joining sophomore rightside hitter Emma Beck (Kenai) and sophomore libero/defensive specialist Eleasha Sapon (Anchorage/Dimond).

 



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UGOLINI NAMED TO ALL-ECAC SECOND TEAM

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December 13, 2025

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DANBURY, Conn. – Arianna Ugolini picked up another major award on Friday afternoon, earning a selection to the All-ECAC Second Team. 

Ugolini’s surplus of awards include America East Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference, and an honorable mention to the AVCA All-Region team. 

She led the America East in several statistical categories including kills (419), aces (43), and points (476.5). Her 419 kills and 3.99 kills/set are now the most in a single season in Bryant’s Division I history. This season, she also eclipsed 1,000 career kills and points. She became the fifth player in Bryant’s Division I history to surpass 1,000 kills. 



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No. 1 seed Texas hosts No. 4 seed Indiana in the Sweet 16

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December 13, 2025

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The Longhorns also welcome welcome No. 5 seed Stanford and No. 10 seeWisconsin to the Forty Acres for the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8. Friday’s match marks the Longhorn’s 42nd appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the 20th-straight Sweet 16 appearance under head coach Jerritt Elliott, the longest active streak in the NCAA.

The No. 4 seeded Hoosiers stand No. 15 in the AVCA rankings and are making only their sixth all-time NCAA tournament appearance and second trip to the Sweet 16. Indiana is the only Power Four program who has three different players averaging at least 3.21 kills per set this season. On 10 different occasions this year, all three of IU’s top hitters have gone for 10-plus kills each with senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles leading the Hoosiers with 3.54 kills per set. Along with Alonso-Corcelles, senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum and true freshman setter Teodora Krickovic received First-Team All-Big Ten honors. Krickovic has averaged 10.67 assists per set this year while Tatum has 353 kills and .324 hitting percentage which are both career highs. When Indiana blocks well, the Hoosiers tends to produce great results with a record of 17-1 when they record at least eight blocks in a set.

No. 1 seeded Texas ranks No. 3 in the AVCA and in the top five in multiple categories across the country, including fourth in hitting percentage (.316), third in kills per set (14.83) and third in assists per set (13.86). Outside hitter Torrey Stafford stands ninth in the country with her 4.74 kills per set average and 12th in the NCAA with 5.32 points per set alongside middle blocker Ayden Ames who holds the fifth spot in the conference with a .383 hitting percentage. Setter Ella Swindle sits ninth in the SEC in assists per set tossing 8.98 while libero Emma Halter holds the back line down ranking ninth in digs per set with 3.64.

Texas has improved its blocking in the back half of the season — in their last five matches, the Longhorns have totaled 51 blocks, compared to the previous five where they tallied only 38 with Ames at the helm with help of true freshman Taylor Harvey and sophomore Nya Bunton to total 201 of the team’s blocks.

Setter Rella Binney and outside hitters Devin Kahahawai and Cari Spears are just a few of the individuals that keep the machine running for the Longhorns. Libero Ramsey Gary, a transfer from Indiana was on the All-Big Ten second team in her first two years as a Hoosier, now faces her former team and could give some insight and understanding on the Indiana game.

First serve in Austin is at 11 a.m. Central on ESPN.



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Nebraska Volleyball sweeps Kansas; advances to NCAA Regional Final

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December 13, 2025

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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Volleyball team handled business on Friday night sweeping 4-seed Kansas (25-12, 25-11, 25, 25-12). NU will face Texas A&M in the Lincoln Regional Final playing for a spot in the final four.

The Huskers were led by Rebekah Allick who finished with 9 kills on just 9 swings, a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage. Andi Jackson added 9 kills as well and Harper Murray recorded 7 kills with 10 digs.

Bergen Reilly was reportedly sick throughout the week but played through the illness. True Freshman Setter, Campbell Flynn, was OUT for the match and potentially the season as the Huskers Radio Network reported she has a broken pinky finger.

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Husker Volleyball dominates Kansas, advances to Elite 8

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December 13, 2025

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Nebraska Volleyball is back in the Elite Eight for a third straight season. The Huskers swept Kansas in the Sweet 16 in Lincoln, Neb. on Friday night. Nebraska won set one 25-12. Nebraska continued to dominate in set two, earning a win over the Jayhawks 25 to 11. It was more of the same in set three as the Huskers earned the sweep with a 25-12 victory over their old Big 12 foe. “A lot of it is our mentality and how we practice,” said senior Rebekah Allick after the match. “We’re creatures of habit.”Nebraska will play Texas A&M on Sunday in Lincoln. The match will be televised on KETV at 2 p.m. “Here at Nebraska, we feed our middle blockers,” said middle blocker Andi Jackson. “Credit goes to our passers because they put us in great positions.”The Huskers hit .450 while holding Kansas to .029. Nebraska had six aces and only three service errors. Nebraska’s middle blockers had 21 kills on 28 attacks. Both Jackson and Allick led the Huskers with 9 kills. Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly spoke with media on Thursday, stating they have a team-first mindset with one goal in mind: hanging a sixth national title banner in the Devaney Center.PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Nebraska volleyball is ready to take on Kansas as they continue their national title chaseThe Huskers will look to advance to their third straight Final Four. They’re now three games from a sixth national title. Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

LINCOLN, Neb. —

Nebraska Volleyball is back in the Elite Eight for a third straight season. The Huskers swept Kansas in the Sweet 16 in Lincoln, Neb. on Friday night.

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Nebraska won set one 25-12. Nebraska continued to dominate in set two, earning a win over the Jayhawks 25 to 11. It was more of the same in set three as the Huskers earned the sweep with a 25-12 victory over their old Big 12 foe.

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“A lot of it is our mentality and how we practice,” said senior Rebekah Allick after the match. “We’re creatures of habit.”

Nebraska will play Texas A&M on Sunday in Lincoln. The match will be televised on KETV at 2 p.m.

“Here at Nebraska, we feed our middle blockers,” said middle blocker Andi Jackson. “Credit goes to our passers because they put us in great positions.”

The Huskers hit .450 while holding Kansas to .029. Nebraska had six aces and only three service errors.

Nebraska’s middle blockers had 21 kills on 28 attacks. Both Jackson and Allick led the Huskers with 9 kills.

Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly spoke with media on Thursday, stating they have a team-first mindset with one goal in mind: hanging a sixth national title banner in the Devaney Center.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Nebraska volleyball is ready to take on Kansas as they continue their national title chase

The Huskers will look to advance to their third straight Final Four. They’re now three games from a sixth national title.

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.

NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |





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