Sports
Spikin’ In the Street brings 88 teams to town | News, Sports, Jobs
Journal file photo
Hundreds of tons of sand will transform Minnesota Street into beach volleyball courts for 88 teams and thousands of spectators at the third annual Spikin’ In The Street Sand Volleyball Tournament Friday and Saturday.
NEW ULM — Much of downtown New Ulm will become eight sand volleyball courts and sand wrestling mats for the third annual Spikin’ In the Street.
The Rolling Thunder Sand takedown wrestling tournament starts at 6 p.m. on Minnesota Street sand Friday. Age divisions are kindergarten through grade 12.
Rolling Thunder board member Shanna Kent said 38 male and female wrestlers from the Twin Cities to Wabasso were entered in the tournament as of late Monday afternoon.
New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Sarah Warmka said the Rolling Thunder wrestling club asked if they could participate in Spikin’ In the Street after last year’s event.
“They wanted to be part of the fun. It sounds fantastic. Why not use the sand for another thing?” said Warmka.
She said 60 to 70 dump truck loads of sand will be dumped on Minnesota Street Friday.
It’s a rain or shine event barring lightning or a tornado.
Volleyball games begin at 7 a.m. Saturday and continue until about 10:30 or 11 p.m.
Warmka said a number of volleyball teams from New Ulm and Mankato are entered plus teams from Lafayette, Sleepy Eye, Morgan, Redwood Falls, Stewart, Sioux Falls, Hutchinson, St. Cloud, Plymouth, St. Louis Park, St. Paul, Vadnais Heights, Dakota City, Ne., Madison Lake, Eagle Lake, Duluth, Mapleton, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Faribault, Jackson, Truman, St. James, St. Bonifacious, even as far away as Crestview, Fl.
Division B champion Team Thrivent of New Ulm returns this year.
There are cash payouts for all levels of play. The event is sponsored and planned by many local businesses. Funds raised will go to promote New Ulm and the New Ulm Business & Retail Association, a committee of the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce.
Warmka said she doesn’t have a figure on the amount of business the tournament brings to town but said it has a significant economic impact.
“We know our restaurants, bars and stores will be busy this weekend. The big picture is big events like this help businesses recruit and retain employees,” said Warmka.
Spectators are welcome. Bring a lawn chair. No coolers will be allowed. Food and beverages will be available for purchase on site.
Six food trucks will be downtown Friday–Legacy BBQ, Lola’s, Simply Made Right, Sleepy Bison Grill, Ruhland’s Strudel Haus and The Sugar Shack.
Ten food trucks are scheduled for Saturday–Jersey’s Food Truck, Legacy BBQ, Lola’s, NU Franklin Mobile, Reve Coffee Co., Sleepy Bison Grill, Chick-fil-A, Pronto Pups, Ruhland’s Strudel Haus and The Sugar Shack.
Downtown bars and restaurants have extended their liquor licenses into the street. The alley near the B & L Bar is a designated smoking area.
Warmka said volunteers are still sought for the tournament.
For more information, call the Chamber at 507-233-4300, email chamber@newulm.com or visit www.newulm.com.
Sports
Two Rams Named to the CSC Academic All-District Team
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Women’s Volleyball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
The CSC Academic All-District® teams include the student-athletes listed at the links above.
Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot.
For WSSU, Aria Caldwell and Zoe Chesson were named to the team.
Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced Jan. 13, 2026.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2025-26 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA governance structure.
Sports
Olivia Babcock Named Back-To-Back AVCA National Player of the Year
KANSAS CITY – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) named Olivia Babcock the 2025 AVCA National Player of the Year on Friday. Babcock becomes just the fifth player in the award’s history to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons. Additionally, she was honored as the inaugural AVCA Rightside Hitter of the Year, an award introduced this season.
Babcock once again swept the sport’s top individual accolades in 2025, earning AVCA National Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year and AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year honors. She is the only player in Pitt history to be named a three-time AVCA First Team All-American and was recently selected as the Pittsburgh Regional Most Outstanding Player after leading the Panthers to their fifth consecutive National Semifinal.
Earlier this season, Babcock set the program’s single-match kills record with 45 against North Carolina. She is the only player in NCAA volleyball this year to reach that mark and the first since Cincinnati’s Jordan Thompson recorded 50 kills against UConn on Nov. 3, 2019.
Anchoring the Pitt offense, Babcock averaged personal-best marks of 5.17 kills per set and 2.09 digs per set. She earned AVCA National Player of the Week honors earlier this season and was named ACC Offensive Player of the Week five times during the 2025 campaign.
Sports
Men’s Volleyball Individual Match Tickets On Sale
HONOLULU – Individual match tickets for the 2026 University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball season are currently on sale. Tickets may be purchased at www.etickethawaii.com or at the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center box office (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.).
Season tickets are still on sale starting as low as $150. Click here to purchase season tickets.
In addition, several promotions are also available for individual match tickets.
Save & Serve Wednesdays: $5 Tickets available while supplies last
Military: 30% off all matches & 50% off on April 17th match
Hawai’i Hero’s Night: 50% off for First Responders on January 8th match
*All special offers are based on availability and only in select seating areas.
Link to purchase individual games online: https://hawaiiathletics.evenue.net/events/MVBI
Individual Ticket Prices:
Lower Level (only single seats available)
Lower Level Sideline – $25
Lower Level Baseline
Adult – $24
Senior citizen (65 and over) – $20
Youth (ages 4-High School) – $15
Upper Level Sideline
Adult – $20
Senior citizen (65 and over) – $15
Youth (ages 4-High School) – $10
Upper Level Baseline
Adult – $17
Senior citizen (65 and over) – $10
Youth (ages 4–High School) – $8
#HawaiiMVB
Sports
Kalei Edson, Kamille Gibson Join Houston Volleyball
“We are really excited to add two players that have played at a high level for two seasons,” Rehr said. “Kalei will compete as our setter while Kamille will make an impact on either pin. This is just the beginning for the 2026 volleyball team.”
KALEI EDSON | SETTER | JUNIOR | AUBURN
Edson arrives in Houston following two seasons with the Auburn Tigers. She played in all of the team’s 28 matches in 2025, contributing the second most assists on the team with 482, an average of 4.72 per set. Edson also added 177 digs, 19 aces and five double-doubles throughout the season. In 2024, she earned the SEC Freshman of the Week honor on Oct. 14 and excelled at the service line, leading her team with 30 aces at a rate of 0.32 aces per set.
Overall, Edson has 956 assists in 54 career matches, also recording 49 aces and 331 digs.
Edson collected numerous prep and club accolades, including USA Volleyball Junior National All-America and 2023 USAV GJNC All-Tournament Team honors. She was also a 3A All-State and All-South Region honoree and a PrepVolleyball First Team All-State selection. Ranked as the #9 overall prospect in Illinois, Edson was the #3 setter in the country. Across her prep career, she posted over 700 assists along with 800 kills, 100 aces and 100 blocks.
KAMILLE GIBSON | OUTSIDE HITTER | JUNIOR | OKLAHOMA
Gibson, a two-year contributor at Oklahoma after a season at Tennessee, brings a significant offensive mind to Houston while also being a prolific presence on defense. Across two seasons, she tallied 421 kills along with 97 blocks for 500.5 points. Primarily a right-side, Gibson averaged 2.29 kills per set while at Oklahoma.
Last season, Gibson posted 194 kills for a .387 kill percentage while adding 60 blocks. She played in 26 of the Sooner’s 27 matches and started in 16, missing just eight sets across the entire season.
A Crossroads, Texas, native, she prepped at Braswell High School while playing club for TAV. She finished her high school career with 1,161 kills, 500 digs and 137 blocks and was named to the District 5-6A first team in 2021 and to the second team in 2020.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Volleyball by providing NIL opportunities or by joining the Point Houston Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Volleyball for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarVB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team’s Facebook page at UHCougarVB. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarVB.
– UHCougars.com –
Sports
Pitt’s season once again ends in the Final Four after getting swept by Texas A&M
Sports
Kentucky Volleyball beats Wisconsin in thriller, will face Texas A&M in National Championship
Kentucky Volleyball is headed to the national championship after a hard-fought five-set win over Wisconsin on Thursday night, as the Wildcats defeated the Badgers 3-2 in a match that tested every ounce of their resilience.
The opening set belonged to Wisconsin as the Badgers took control early and forced Kentucky to play from behind. The Wildcats struggled to find their rhythm but quickly regrouped. Kentucky responded in the second set with improved offensive execution and steady defense to even the match and shift momentum back in their favor.
Wisconsin answered by taking the third set and once again putting pressure on Kentucky with the season hanging in the balance. Facing a must-win fourth set, the Wildcats jumped out to a 13 to 10 lead and appeared ready to take control. Wisconsin refused to fold and battled back until the set was tied at 24 to 24. With the moment at its biggest, Kentucky delivered two straight points to force a decisive fifth set.
The Wildcats opened the final set on fire, racing out to a 9 to 2 lead. Wisconsin made one last push and closed the gap late, but Kentucky held its composure and finished off the match with a 15 -13 win to secure a spot in the NCAA National Championship Game.
Kentucky was led by Eva Hudson, who turned in a dominant performance with a season high of 29 kills. The SEC Player of the Year and National Player of the Year finalist consistently rose to the moment and carried the Wildcats offensively when they needed it most.
Defensively, Molly Touzzo anchored the back row with 17 digs, providing stability and extending key rallies throughout the match.
There is no question that head coach Craig Skinner has built something special in Lexington. Kentucky Volleyball has established itself as a national power, and Thursday night’s win was another example of the toughness and belief that define this program.
The Wildcats will now face Texas A&M in the national championship match on Sunday at 3:30 PM ET as the BBN continues to rally around this team.
Kentucky volleyball is one win away from the ultimate prize.
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