Sports
At 76, 'Batman' is living his dream
Seventy-six-year-old Gene Chidester has experienced a lot in his life. He’s had two separate but equally successful careers, first in the tech industry with Hewlett-Packard, then in private business with a dietary supplements company. He’s lived in Oregon and Utah and spent three years in Uruguay as a Latter-day Saint mission president. He’s currently on the advisory board for the Center of Hope Food Pantry and serving on the Communications Committee (formerly Public Affairs) for the Church of Jesus Christ. He and his wife, Robyn, have raised five children and spoiled 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. They have a vacation cabin outside of Heber City.
But until four years ago, there was one experience he hadn’t had.
He’d never been a batboy.
The idea of being one had been lodged in his mind for as long as he could remember — ever since he was a young boy and his dad took him to watch the Salt Lake Bees play at Derks Field in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Retrieving balls and bats, hanging out in the dugout, close enough to feel the whir of 90 mph fastballs, all of it looked like it would be a cool experience.
So in the summer of 2022 he decided to do something about it.
He was watching the Bees play at Smith’s Ballpark (the former Derks Field) with his family, sitting above the dugout on the first-base line, soaking in the atmosphere in one of America’s most scenic baseball fields, when he leaned over to his wife and said, “The time has come.”
To which she said: “The time for what?”
“To get a job as a batboy,” he replied.
That night he went online to the Bees website, “and lo and behold there was an opening for a dugout attendant.” AKA batboy.
Gene applied.
There was nothing in the application regarding age so he didn’t put his down.
He was 73.
Then, lo and behold, he got hired.
He met with Marc Amicone, then the Bees general manager, and Chris Simonsen, the clubhouse manager, neither of whom took issue with his age, or stared at his gray hair, or asked him what time he went to bed.
Like the ballplayers, if he could cut it on the field, he was in.
He’s been in ever since.
This year is his fourth season. A good indicator to how well it’s going, when the Bees switched their playing field from downtown Salt Lake to Herriman this year — turning what had been a 15-minute commute for Gene into an hour when the traffic is heavy (which it usually is) — he didn’t balk at the added time and distance.
“Hey, man, I’m up to $12 an hour,” he grins, noting that he started at $10 an hour.
The experience hasn’t met his expectations, it’s far exceeded them.
“I’ve always loved baseball,” he says, “I just love being a part of all this.”
Except for cleaning cleats after the game, a task Gene calls “the only sucky part.”
Everything else, if anything it’s made him younger.
His shift starts around 5 p.m. with Gene and the other batboy, usually a high school-aged kid, “mudding” the baseballs. It takes about an hour to lightly smear MLB-approved Delaware River mud on 15 dozen baseballs. (The mud improves the grip, Gene explains; it’s a ritual that takes place before every game in every professional baseball league in America.)
During the game, he gets in his 10,000 steps and then some — delivering balls to the umpire, collecting bats and helmets and various other duties. Mentally, he has to stay acutely aware of foul balls, broken bats and everything else that’s going on. “You cannot drift,” he says.
He’s struck up friendships with opposing managers and umpires. “The umpires are very cordial,” he says, “very respectful. I’ve gotten to know some of them because I keep coming back, and it’s fun, because these are young guys trying to build their careers too, just like the players.”
He and Robyn have had Bees players for dinner and hosted them at their cabin. The club has had several Latin ballplayers, “and I make a point to speak to them in Spanish, and they really like that,” says Gene.
His family has a nickname for him. They call him Dug, “short for Dugout Attendant.” Some of the managers and umpires call him “Mr. Gene.” But the name he hears most often, of course, is Batman.
A friend of his has gone so far as to make up a baseball card with “Gene Chidester, Batman.”
“All I need now is some bubblegum and I’ll be in business,” jokes Gene.
“I know I’m an anomaly,” says what might be the world’s oldest batboy. “But I love being around young people and I love being around baseball. I want to do this as long as I can do it, as long as they’ll have me. It’s funny, as each season goes on, the legs just seem to get stronger.”
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JAMESTOWN — If you know anything about Annie Nabwe, you know she is never satisfied.
Last May, Nabwe completed the University of Minnesota’s hammer throw sweep at the BIG 10 Championships. Nabwe, a Jamestown High School Class of 2022 grad, set a BIG 10 Championships meet record with a lifetime best throw of 69.85 meters (229 feet, 2 inches), which also goes down as a new Minnesota program record.
Prior to that, Nabwe earned her second-straight conference title in the women’s weight throw at the 2025 BIG 10 Indoor Track and Field Championships. Nabwe’s championship throw measured 24.22 meters (79 feet, 5 inches) — a personal best for the former Blue Jay. With the win, Nabwe became the fifth BIG 10 women’s weight thrower to defend her conference title and the first to do so since 2016 when two-time Olympian Kelsey Card of the University of Wisconsin went back-to-back.
Nabwe owns the NCAA No. 21 mark all-time in the weight throw and also holds the second-best indoor shot put mark all-time at the University of Minnesota at 56 feet, 6 1/2 inches.
Still — the former Blue Jay would categorize her second season with the Gophers as a “learning experience.”
“I had a lot of highs but also challenges both mentally and physically,” Nabwe said. “I didn’t finish exactly where I wanted, but that helped me grow more as a person and an athlete.”
What she’s growing into should scare her competition.
At the university’s M City Classic on Dec. 5, Nabwe secured wins in the weight throw and the shot put. Both of Nabwe’s winning marks in the shot put and weight throw were school records. Nabwe launched the shot 16.40 meters (53 feet, 9 3/4 inches) and the weight 23.74 meters or 77 feet, 10 3/4 inches.
Contributed / Annie Nabwe
“People should know that I am motivated, focused, committed and overall having fun,” Nabwe said. “I am thankful for the support that I have gotten from loved ones, teammates, coaches, and everyone who has supported me. I am grateful and excited to keep growing and to see what the future holds.”
Nabwe’s season-opening weight throw mark is more than 4 feet farther than her 2024 opening weight throw of 73-8. Nabwe’s mark in shot was also an improvement from last year’s opening indoor competition by nearly 2 feet.
On Dec. 9, the Big Ten tabbed Nabwe as the conference’s indoor track and field athlete to watch.
“People should know that I am ready, working hard, and I don’t give up easily,” Nabwe said. “They should know that every time I show up, I give my best.”
Her “best” is honed daily by the University of Minnesota’s training program.
Since the season officially began, Nabwe and her teammates weight lift on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for four hours. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, team members lift for anywhere between 1 hour, 45 minutes, and 2 hours. On Saturdays, the team practices or lifts for about 90 minutes.
“A typical training session is based on my class schedule,” Nabwe said. “A normal, let’s say, Monday, I have practice at 8:30 (a.m.) so I wake up at 7, get ready and eat breakfast. Then I scooter over to practice, warm up with my teammates and have practice.
“After, I go home and if I have time to eat and shower, I do, then I have class from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.,” she said. “I try to eat in between or after that class, because my next class is at 1 to 2:15 and after that class I have lift at 3. … After lift, I go to the trainer’s to get worked on and after that it’s about 5 o’clock. I go to the dining hall to eat dinner and then go home around 6-7 (p.m.) and do school work or if I do not have any I try to relax.”
The next competition on the docket for Nabwe is the Minnesota Open at the University of Minnesota on Jan. 10. The indoor season will conclude with the BIG 10 Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 13-14.
“My goals for this year are being more confident, being mentally tough and starting off competitively instead of laid back, breaking some records and winning titles,” Nabwe said. “These are all achievable because I have worked hard and I am in the position to do it. All I have to do is connect the pieces.”
Contributed / Annie Nabwe
Katie Ringer is a sports reporter for the Jamestown Sun. Katie joined the Sun staff in the summer of 2019 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire with a degree in journalism. She can be reached by email at kringer@jamestownsun.com or by phone at 701-952-8460.
Dec. 26, 2025, 7:37 p.m. CT
The historic Texas A&M volleyball season has concluded, and now the seniors are moving on to pursue other endeavors. For some, it might be entering the job market, while for a few, it might be beginning a professional volleyball career. However, for one Aggie, it’s the restart of another college athletic career.
On Friday, it was announced that senior outside hitter Emily Hellmuth will be transferring to LSU to compete in beach volleyball. Although she is not eligible for indoor sports, beach volleyball is considered a separate sport and is not offered at Texas A&M. That means she would have to transfer, regardless of whether she wants to continue playing. She will be eligible for the spring season and will have two years remaining.
Hellmuth was excellent in her role at Texas A&M, appearing in several crucial moments that helped propel the Aggies to their first national title. Below is the official announcement from the LSU beach volleyball X account.
Emily Hellmuth Career stats:
Kills: 646 / 2.85 per set
Hitting %: .178
Blocks: 98 / 0.4 per set
Aces: 16 / .07 per set
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
First Team
Alyssa Anderson, Woodlan
Class: Senior
Position: Middle blocker
Statistics: 289 kills (2.9/set), 47 aces, 53 blocks, 119 digs (1.2/set)
Of note: IHSVCA Class 2A All-State second team
Reagan Beitler, South Adams
Class: Senior
Position: Setter
Statistics: 145 kills (1.3/set), 73 aces, 376 digs (3.4/set), 644 assists (5.9/set)
Of note: 1A/2A Senior All-Star
Sydney Blackwell, Concordia
Class: Junior
Position: Middle hitter
Statistics: 360 kills (4.0/set), 47 aces, 57 blocks, 110 digs (1.2/set)
Of note: 3A/4A Junior All-State
Reagan Bollenbacher, South Adams
Class: Senior
Position: Outside hitter
Statistics: 304 kills (2.9/set), 25 aces, 392 digs (3.7/set)
Of note: 1A/2A Senior All-Star
Victoria Crozier, Woodlan
Class: Senior
Position: Setter
Statistics: 56 kills, 27 aces, 32 blocks, 151 digs (1.5/set), 874 assists (8.8/set)
Of note: Signed with Trine
Keira Dommer, Concordia
Class: Senior
Position: Setter
Statistics: 52 aces, 200 digs (2.4/set), 863 assists (10.2/set)
Of note: SAC Glass Spike winner
Sophia Gisslen, Carroll
Class: Senior
Position: Setter
Statistics: 46 kills, 37 aces, 36 blocks, 135 digs (1.6/set), 878 assists (10.5/set)
Of note: IHSVCA Class 4A All-State second team; signed with Quinnipiac
Cala Haffner, Carroll
Class: Sophomore
Position: Defensive specialist
Statistics: 60 aces, 432 digs (4.0/set), 133 assists (1.2/set)
Of note: MaxPreps second-team All-America
Maya Harris, Angola
Class: Senior
Position: Outside hitter
Statistics: 637 kills (6.3/set), 177 aces (1.8/set), 228 digs (2.3/set)
Of note: Ms. Volleyball finalist; led the state in aces
Ellie Hepler, Warsaw
Class: Senior
Position: Libero
Statistics: 73 aces, 555 digs (5.2/set), 99 assists
Of note: Signed with Indiana; IHSVCA Class 4A All-State first team
Elyse Mead, West Noble
Class: Sophomore
Position: Outside hitter
Statistics: 530 kills (5.6/set), 44 aces, 25 blocks, 314 digs (3.3/set)
Of note: IHSVCA Class 3A All-State second team
Elli Oskey, Carroll
Class: Junior
Position: S/RS
Statistics: 194 kills (1.8/set), 21 aces, 58 blocks, 330 assists (3.1/set)
Of note: 3A/4A Junior All-Star
Abbie Powell, Southern Wells
Class: Sophomore
Position: Middle blocker
Statistics: 503 kills (5.1/set), 83 aces, 79 blocks, 350 digs (3.6/set)
Of note: Led state with a 0.564 hitting percentage; ACAC Player of the Year
MaryKate Scheumann, Bellmont
Class: Senior
Position: Outside hitter
Statistics: 508 kills (4.8/set), 30 aces, 434 digs (4.1/set)
Of note: Signed with Purdue
Bailey Sinish, Carroll
Class: Senior
Position: Outside hitter
Statistics: 557 kills (5.4/set), 62 aces (0.6/set), 47 blocks (0.5/set), 219 digs (4.0/set)
Of note: Indiana Ms. Volleyball winner; MaxPreps first-team All-America
Sarah Stegall, Carroll
Class: Junior
Position: Outside hitter
Statistics: 270 kills (2.6/set), 19 aces, 24 blocks, 60 digs
Of note: IHSVCA Class 4A All-State second team
Reagan Edwards, Warsaw, MB
Cece Goode, Warsaw, OH
Braelynn Hodgeman, Bishop Dwenger, RS/S
Delaney Johnson, Lakewood Park Christian, L/OH
Victoria Kim, Canterbury, OH/MB
Reagan Lyons, Homestead, OH/OPP
Lindsay Snyder, Bishop Dwenger, OH
Aspen Sutton, Angola, S/DS/L
Laney Trausch, South Adams, S
KaVeaya Turner, Concordia, MH
Emma Vachon, Norwell, S/DS
Kylie Walz, East Noble, L/DS
Nicolette Watercutter, Bishop Dwenger, OH
Emersyn Weaver, Leo, OH/DS
Also honored
High Honorable Mention
Bellmont: Ella Ross, Taylor Sutter
Bishop Dwenger: Genevieve Renbarger, Claire Shively
Bishop Luers: Taylor Albers, Aubriana Flotow
Blackhawk Christian: Cici Sefton, Lily Stangland
Carroll: Hayden Finefrock, Katelyn Peters, Lauren Peters, Lola Sasse, Addi Shippy
Canterbury: Alexa Coble, Sophia Miller
Churubusco: Kelsee Coil, McKayla Reuter
Columbia City: Elizabeth Blackburn
East Noble: Ava Larson
Eastside: Adelaide Elden
Garrett: Sarah DePew, Kaylee Gaar, Amelia Kesterke
Heritage: Maya Ehrman, Ava Johnson
Homestead: Lyla Tindall, Savannah Walker
Huntington North: Grace Anderson
Lakewood Park Christian: Emilia Crider
Leo: Isabella Hensley
Northrop: Madison Corley
Norwell: Macie Saalfrank
Snider: Lindsay Gonzalez, Oriana Smiley, Arielle Stephens
Warsaw: Madison Branam
Wawasee: Hadley Allen
Wayne: Jasmine Fowlkes, Story Gaines
West Noble: Izzy Beers, Reagan Eash, Ella Limerick
Whitko: Meredith Hindbaugh
Honorable Mention
Adams Central: Katie Summers
Angola: Mady Conrad, Khloe Stanner
Bellmont: Gracie Riggs, Lilly Selking
Bishop Dwenger: Maddie Gephart, Kobi Johnson
Bishop Luers: Vahsti Garcia, Victoria Strack
Bluffton: Konley Ault
Carroll: Paityn Lauck
Central Noble: Katie Forker, Jaylee Slone, Grace Swank, Jalayna Winebrenner
Columbia City: Breana Rumschlag, Sophia Van Buskirk
Concordia: Bella Dellinger, Courtney Inman, Shelby Petersen
DeKalb: Vivian Irk, Lilli VanGessel
East Noble: Alyssa Desper, Izzy Leffers, Carys Shire
Eastside: Lauren Hickey, Rylan Moughler
Fremont: Chloe Verdin
Garrett: Rilyn Flotow, Kaelynn York
Heritage: Alana Gutshall, Lexie Walter
Lakeland Christian: Eva Meza
Leo: Mia Norris, Rhianna Wallace Porter, Leah Shappell
New Haven: Annika Koepke
North Side: Desire Buckhanon, Sieriphoe Luangphaxayachack, Shilin Warren
Northrop: Kalaeh Alexander, Maleah Schmucker, Jersey Webb
Norwell: Izzy Anderson, Autumn Lee, Hope Mitchell
Snider: Ava DeFay, Denny-Lynn Dunton, Jasmine Gates
South Adams: Avery Brown, Reece Beitler
South Side: Na’Kayla Williams
Warsaw: Avary Hoeppner, Maddie Williamson
Wawasee: Jadyn Klenke
Wayne: Lexie Clark, Marlo Schinbeckler
Whitko: Caitlin Beer
Woodlan: Makaila Gruber
– Victoria Jacobsen, The Journal Gazette
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Men’s Basketball closes the 2025 calendar year at Colgate University on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at Cotterell Court in Hamilton, New York in the Crimson’s non-league finale.
What to Know
- Harvard features four double-figure scorers on the year in a group that includes sophomore guard Robert Hinton (16.5 points per game), senior guard Chandler Piggé (13.7), sophomore guard Tey Barbour (11.5), and junior forward Thomas Batties II (10.3).
- Among the Crimson’s four double-figure scorers, three of them averaged fewer than 7.0 points per game as first-years. Senior Chandler Piggé (1.9 points per game in 2022-23; 13.7 in 2025-26), junior Thomas Batties II (6.8 points per game in 2023-24; 10.3 in 2025-26), and sophomore Tey Barbour (4.8 points per game in 2024-25; 11.5 in 2025-26) have all increased their production over their careers.
- In the Ivy League rankings, Harvard stands second in free throw percentage (78.5), second in steals per game (7.46), third in scoring defense (68.3), and fourth in field goal percentage (47.0). In the NCAA, the Crimson sits sixth in fewest fouls per game (13.5), ninth in free throw percentage (78.5), and 70th in scoring defense (68.3).
- Sophomore guard Robert Hinton has averaged 16.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game on the year, while shooting 84.5 percent on free throws. Hinton ranks first in the Ivy League in field goals (79), second in steals per game (1.6), third in points (214), third in free throws (49), third in free throw percentage (84.5), sixth in points per game (16.5), and sixth in minutes per game (31.2). On the year, he has scored in double figures 10 times, netted 20 or more points four times, and eclipsed 30 points twice. He earned Ivy League Player of the Week honors on Dec. 8. Hinton – the 2024-25 Ivy League Rookie of the Year – averaged 14.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 2024-25.
- Hinton dropped a career-high 35 points on 12-of-22 field goals and 11-of-12 free throws with eight rebounds at UMass (Dec. 3). Hinton poured in 34 points on 13-of-17 field goals, 4-of-5 3-pointers, and 4-of-4 free throws vs. BU (Nov. 22). He totaled 26 points, five rebounds, and five assists at Furman (Dec. 6) and scored 22 points vs. UNH (Nov. 9). Hinton notched 16 points and seven boards vs. Holy Cross (Dec. 20) and contributed 16 points at Army (Nov. 15). He netted 13 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 5.1 seconds left at Marist (Nov. 16) and added 12 points and nine rebounds at BC (Nov. 26).
- Senior guard Chandler Piggé has posted 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game on the year. He ranks fourth in the Ivy League in field goals (70), fourth in assist/turnover ratio (2.2), fourth in steals per game (1.5), fourth in minutes per game (32.4), fifth in assists per game (3.5), seventh in points (178), and ninth in points per game (13.7). He has scored in double figures in 10 games on the year. Piggé – an Honorable Mention All-Ivy selection and CSC Academic All-District honoree last season – notched 13.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in 2024-25. He has steadily increased his production over his career, averaging 1.9 points per game in 2022-23, 8.1 points per game in 2023-24, and 13.1 points per game in 2024-25.
- Piggé totaled 23 points and six assists, while shooting 8-of-11 from the floor vs. UNH (Nov. 9). He dropped 21 points with a career-high nine assists at Penn State (Nov. 19). Piggé posted 16 points and seven rebounds vs. Holy Cross (Dec. 20). He registered 14 points against both Army (Nov. 15) and Marist (Nov. 16), connecting on a game-tying 3-pointer with 35.8 seconds left against the Red Foxes. He netted 15 points against both Northeastern (Nov. 11) and Bryant (Nov. 29).
- Sophomore guard Tey Barbour has registered 11.5 points and a team-high 5.5 rebounds per game on the year, while shooting 41.0 percent from 3-point distance. Barbour ranks fourth in the Ivy League in 3-pointers made (32), fifth in 3-pointers per game (2.5), fifth in minutes per game (31.5), and 11th in rebounds per game (5.5). He has scored in double figures in nine games on the year. Barbour notched 4.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game on the year in 2024-25.
- Barbour scored a career-high 18 points with eight rebounds vs. Holy Cross (Dec. 20), hitting 4-of-5 3-pointers. He posted 15 points and nine rebounds at BC (Nov. 26) after scoring 15 points vs. BU (Nov. 22). He posted 14 points, six rebounds, and a career-high four made 3-pointers vs. UNH (Nov. 9) before netting 12 points on four 3-pointers vs. Northeastern (Nov. 11). He compiled 12 points and seven rebounds at Penn State (Nov. 19). Barbour netted 10 points and hit the game-winning 3-pointer vs. Bryant (Nov. 29).
- Junior forward Thomas Batties II has registered 10.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on the year, while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 52.4 percent from 3-point distance. He ranks fourth in the Ivy League in 3-point percentage (52.4) and sixth in blocks per game (1.0). He has scored in double figures eight times on the year. In 2024-25, Batties II averaged 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game on the year after registering 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on the 2023-24 season.
- Batties II tallied a season-high 17 points, career-high five made 3-pointers, and a career-high six assists at Penn State (Nov. 19). He scored a game-high 17 points against both MIT (Nov. 7) and Army (Nov. 15). Batties II posted 14 points and a career-high six assists vs. BU (Nov. 22) and notched 13 points at BC (Nov. 26) and vs. UMass (Dec. 3). He totaled 12 points and nine rebounds vs. Bryant (Nov. 29).
- Sophomore guard Austin Hunt has tallied 7.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game on the year, while shooting 55.1 percent from the field. He ranks sixth in the Ivy League in field goal percentage (55.1). Hunt scored a career-high 19 points on 8-of-9 field goals and 3-of-4 3-pointers vs. Holy Cross (Dec. 20). He notched 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists vs. UNH (Nov. 9) and netted 10 points at Furman (Dec. 6). Hunt averaged 7.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in 2024-25.
- Sophomore guard Ben Eisendrath has notched 5.1 points, 3.0 assists, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game on the year, while shooting 51.1 percent from the field. Eisendrath ranks third in the Ivy League in steals per game (1.6) and 10th in assists per game (3.0). He scored a career-high 15 points on 6-of-7 field goals at Penn State (Nov. 19) and netted 10 points at Furman (Dec. 6). Eisendrath distributed a career-high nine assists vs. BU (Nov. 22).
- Harvard and Colgate have met 24 times with the Crimson holding a slight lead in the all-time series, 13-11. The Crimson has won the last eight matchups, including a 78-67 home victory last season.
Next Up
Harvard hosts Dartmouth on Monday, Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at Lavietes Pavilion in its Ivy League opener.
NORTH Liberty, Iowa (KCRG) – A former Iowa high school volleyball star has earned All-American recognition at the college level.
Shelby Kimm, a three-time all-state selection at Iowa City Liberty, was named a Division II All-American this year for St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. The junior led her Husky team this season with nearly 3.4 kills per set.
The Huskies have made it to the round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament each of the past two years, which is tied for the best finish in program history.
After winning a state title at Liberty, Kimm wanted to experience college outside of Iowa.
“We had so many people on our team that were probably their best or one of the best on their high school or club team when you put a lot of those players together it can be a little challenging cause they’re not used to maybe not playing as much,” Kimm said. “You definitely have to work really hard and I think I learned that nothing is guaranteed you have to go into college and work your butt off and hopefully your coaches recognize that and that’s why I try to do.”
Kimm says she’s already excited to get back on the court for her senior season next year.
Three other Iowans are listed on the SCSU roster, including Kimm’s Liberty teammate Asta Hildebrand, Grundy Center alum Carlie Willis and Aplington-Parkersburg alum Kinsey Mohwinkle.
Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team was picked No. 2 in the AVCA preseason poll, marking the eighth consecutive year it earned a top 3 preseason ranking.
The Rainbow Warriors earned seven first place votes and 473 total points, just eight points behind preseason favorite UCLA, who garnered 12 first place votes. Long Beach State was third with five first place votes and 460 points.
UH’s schedule features seven teams ranked in the preseason Top 10 and 11 teams in the Top 20.
Hawai’i finished last season with a No. 3 final AVCA ranking after advancing to the NCAA Championship semifinal round. The No. 3 ranking marked the eighth consecutive year with a Top 5 national finish. The Warriors completed the year with a 27-6 mark and captured their fourth Big West Championship title, defeating eventual national champion Long Beach State in the championship match.
Head coach Charlie Wade, who became the program’s all-time winningest coach last season, is entering his 17th season at the helm with a career record of 319-131.
UH opens the 2026 season with a two-match series against NJIT, Friday, Jan. 2 and Sunday, Jan. 4.
#HawaiiMVB
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