STANDISH, Maine – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) weekly honors have been released and Saint Joseph’s College of Maine was well-represented, with junior Jacob Schmader (Limington, Maine) named GNAC Track Athlete of the Week, freshman Stephen Pierre (Turner, Maine) selected as GNAC Field Athlete of the Week, and freshman Eli Benjamin (Rochester, N.H.) earning GNAC Rookie of the Week recognition following their performances at the Elm City Classic.

Schmader claimed Track Athlete of the Week after placing third in the 600 meters with a time of 1:24.80, a mark that meets the New England Division III provisional qualifying standard. 

Pierre earned Field Athlete of the Week honors by winning the long jump with a mark of 6.74m (22′ 1.5″), an automatic qualifier for the New England Division III Championships and a new Saint Joseph’s program record. He also cleared 1.83m (6′ 0″) in the high jump to place third, giving him two top-three finishes in the jumps and ranking him first in the GNAC in the long jump and fourth in the high jump as of December 7, 2025. 

Benjamin was tabbed Rookie of the Week after scoring in two events in his collegiate debut, finishing second in the high jump with a clearance of 1.88m (6′ 2″), which surpasses the New England Division III provisional standard, and adding a sixth-place effort in the 60 meters with a time of 7.64. His high jump mark currently ranks first in the conference as of December 7, 2025.

Saint Joseph’s will head to Southern Maine Saturday December 13th for the USM Alumni Open.

 

SALT LAKE CITY — Over her 36-year tenure as head coach of the women’s volleyball team at the University of Utah, Beth Launiere has become an icon of the sport.

That storied career — one that makes her the all-time winningest head coach (689-439) at Utah — has come to an end, though. Launiere announced her retirement from the game Monday, citing a desire to enter “the next chapter of my life.”

“Thank you to the hundreds of players whom I have had the privilege to coach, and the many assistant coaches, support staff and administrators who were my daily collaborators to build this program into what it is today,” Launiere said in a statement. “I will miss the daily interactions, but I know our relationships will last a lifetime.

“It has been an honor to represent one of the greatest universities in the country. I will forever love Utah and will always be a Ute!”

Launiere leaves as the third-longest tenured coach in Utah history, following former Red Rocks head coach Greg Marsden (40 years) and men’s swimming coach Don Reddish (37 years).

The decision, Launiere said, was a “difficult decision,” but it was time for another voice. Her decision comes after leading Utah to 20 NCAA Tournament appearances, with the most recent being the last two seasons.

In those 36 years, Launiere’s program reached four Sweet 16 appearances, six conference championships in the Mountain West, and 20 of the school’s 25 20-win seasons. She also helped Utah to a 45 consecutive week streak of appearing in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 from 2000-02 and again in 2019-22.

“Her legacy as one of the greatest coaches in the history of Utah athletics is well-established, and the number of student-athletes, coaches and staff she has influenced in such a positive way stands at the top of her lengthy list of accomplishments,” Utah athletic director Mark Harlan said. “The standard of excellence and winning culture that Beth has created and sustained here for nearly four decades cements her place in Utah athletics history.

“She will be greatly missed, but her established standard and culture will carry forward.”

That culture will continue with the hiring of associate head coach Alyssa D’Errico to the top position. After being in her role for three seasons, D’Errico now becomes the sixth volleyball head coach in Utah history.

“Alyssa D’Errico is a tremendous identifier of talent and is elite in developing student-athletes and building genuine relationships,” Harlan said in a statement. “With her championship pedigree, All-America playing experience, and the three years she has spent at the University of Utah as associate head coach, she is uniquely equipped to take over leadership of our volleyball program.

“I’m thrilled to appoint Alyssa as our new head coach, and excited to see her establish herself as this programs’ leader, building on the legacy that Beth Launiere has built.”

D’Errico comes to Utah after a six-year tenure at Dayton, where she spent time as the associate head coach and the school’s recruiting coordinator. She began her career at Louisville in 2015 following a four-time national championship playing career at Penn State where she was captain.

“I couldn’t be more pleased for Alyssa D’Errico to be named the next head volleyball coach at the University of Utah,” Launiere said in a statement. “She has great knowledge of the game, and a work ethic second to none.

“Alyssa is a leader who invests in her players in both time and care, and is a tremendous role model for young women. Her exceptionalism as a four-time NCAA women’s volleyball national champion was a prelude to her extraordinary attributes as a coach and what she brings to the profession. I have no doubt Alyssa will maintain the culture we have strived to create and continue Utah volleyball’s winning tradition.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt E. Bronson Ingram Chair in Football Clark Lea is a finalist for the George Munger College Coach of the Year it was announced Monday by the Maxwell Football Club, making the Commodore head coach a candidate for multiple national honors. He is also up for the Walter Camp Football Bowl Subdivision and American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year Awards.

The winner of the George Munger Award—other finalists are Curt Cignetti of Indiana, Mike Elko of Texas A&M and Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire—will be revealed on Dec. 30, with the formal presentation of the award set for March 14, 2026, in Atlanta.

Lea has already been named the AFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year, and he is also a candidate for the Paul “Bear” Bryant and Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Awards.

The recognition comes after Lea guided the Dores to their first-ever 10-win season and a 6-2 finish in SEC action, the most conference victories Vandy has posted in program history. The Commodores earned three victories over top-15 opposition, defeating four nationally-ranked schools in all, this fall and have been included in the Associated Press poll each of the last 12 weeks. That included helping the Dores to their first appearance in the AP top 10 since 1947.

With the Commodores set to play Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31, Lea has guided Vandy to consecutive postseason bowl berths for just the second time ever.

The Panthers drew the curtains on their season after suffering a 3-0 loss against No. 2-ranked University of La Verne Leopards on Saturday, Nov. 8. The loss closed out a season that started with promise, but ultimately ended in a losing conference record.

In the sweep, the Panthers recorded an average hitting percentage of 0.135 with 33 total kills compared to the Leopards’ .284 percentage and 45 kills. Ultimately, La Verne proved to be the better team in this match, allowing them to clinch the regular season Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) title. La Verne went on to make a run to the national championship of the NCAA DIII tournament, finishing runners-up.

The match was also senior night for the Panthers. Political science major Olivia Sampon, strategic and corporate communications major Emma Derksen, psychology major Olivia Harrison and public relations, advertising and entertainment marketing majors Brooke Leslie and Keira Sarni were honored during the ceremony.

“Being surrounded by my teammates, coaches, friends and a lot of family made the night really meaningful,” Sarni said. “There’s something powerful about looking around the gym and realizing how much support you’ve had over the years.”

Although the seniors closed out their collegiate careers with a loss, the Panthers fought for every point. The first set ended 25-17 with La Verne immediately dominating the court. During the second set, Chapman had its first and only lead of the match at 7-5 but eventually fell short 25-22. In the final set, the Panthers could not shut down La Verne’s offense or break through their defense, ultimately ending the set at 25-16. 

In preparation for the match, the team prioritized adjusting their defense and offense to match La Verne’s. The Panthers had 50 digs, and junior business finance major Lia Ono leading with 16 — the most of any player in the match. Chapman also had two blocks compared to the Leopards’ 10.

The Panthers finished with a 6-10 conference record, and missed the SCIAC playoffs for the third time in four seasons.  

The Panthers took the time to reflect on their journey this season to improve for the next. The seniors waved their goodbyes and looked back on how much the program has given them.

“Playing volleyball at Chapman has shaped me into the person I am today,” Sarni said. “I’ve grown so much, not just as an athlete, but as a leader, a teammate and a friend.”

Despite the emotional night, a new chapter is in the works for next season. With a talented group returning, they’ll look to follow in their seniors’ footsteps.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – The 2025 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Mix Six/2A volleyball state championships gathered schools from nearly every corner of the state under Dimond High School’s roof over the weekend, and a pair of familiar names emerged from the crowd.

At the 2A level, the Unalaska Raiders, led by UAA commit Dalyla Nettleton, capped off an undefeated season with a three-set sweep of Su-Valley, giving the Aleutian town its second straight crown.

“It feels great,” head coach Louisa Fernandez said. “These girls earned it, and from the very beginning of the season, we said everything is a privilege, you need to earn it, and that’s exactly what they did.”

On the Mix Six side, so named for the co-ed nature of its teams, the field whittled down to a Lynx-on-Lynx matchup between Port Alsworth’s Tanalian School and Golovin’s Martin L. Olson School. Two of the four sets, including the decider, went to tiebreakers, and Tanalian ultimately triumphed for its third trophy in four years.

“This was a great year,” head coach Glen Alsworth said of his squad’s accomplishment. “There’s been some years where you feel like you almost walk through the competition. There were no freebies this year.”

“This one feels really good,” said junior Erik McGee, who closed the match out with an ace. “I think it’s our best season yet and I think we can only get better. I’m just proud of the whole team, this is the best team we’ve ever had.”

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Lynchburg, Va. — The University of Lynchburg and Director of Athletics Jon Waters are thrilled to announce the hiring of Joshua Knapp as the new head coach of the men’s volleyball program. 

“Josh made a great impression on our staff with his student-focused leadership and desire to build a championship-level program,” said Waters. “His commitment to the well-rounded student experience was evident through his past experiences. We are excited to have him get in to motion with our group next month.”

“I want to thank the Director of Athletics, Jon Waters, and the staff at the University of Lynchburg for giving me this opportunity to lead this newly established Men’s Volleyball Program,” said Knapp. “The University of Lynchburg has a proven history of success within its athletic department, and my goal is to embody that culture and elevate Men’s Volleyball to become a top contender in both the ODAC and the NCAA. I look forward to the opportunity to challenge the narrative of what’s possible for a newly founded program and to be part of a growing volleyball environment for the student-athletes here at the University of Lynchburg.”

Knapp arrives in the Hill City with experience as a coach, student-athlete, and official, bringing a versatile background that will support the continued growth of the Hornets’ emerging men’s volleyball operation.

Knapp most recently served as the head coach for the Liberty University men’s club volleyball program, where he led the team since January 2023. In that role, he managed all aspects of the program, including training direction, recruitment efforts, and the coordination of support staff. Prior to taking over as head coach, he worked with the Flames as an assistant coach from August 2022 to January 2023, helping integrate skills development, training plans, and travel logistics for the team.

In addition to his coaching experience, Knapp is also a certified volleyball official with the Virginia High School League and the NCAA, a role he began in August 2025. His work as an official allowed him to use working knowledge of volleyball rules, regulations, and procedures while exhibiting professionalism through all interactions.

A former two-sport student-athlete at Liberty University, Knapp competed for four years in a high-level collegiate setting and served as a team captain for the men’s volleyball team from 2020 through 2022. Knapp earned his B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Liberty University in 2022, completing academic specializations in business, sports management, and carpentry.

The University of Lynchburg looks forward to the leadership, energy, and experience Knapp brings to the program as he begins his tenure with the Hornets men’s volleyball team.

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–LYN–