Sports

Volleyball Begins 2025 Campaign at Maroon & White Invite Friday-Saturday

Published

3 months ago

August 28, 2025

Maroon & White Invite (Match 1-3)

Tournament Information:

Dates: Friday, August 29 – Saturday, August 30
Times: 11 a.m. | 6 p.m. | 3 p.m.
Location: Starkville, Miss.
Venue: Newell-Grissom Building
Opponents: Grambling State, Mississippi State, North Alabama

Head Coaches:
SEMO: Julie Yankus (228-207, 15^th Season)
Mississippi State: Julie Darty Dennis (87-107, Seventh Season)
Grambling State: Paige Phillips (Fourth Season)
North Alabama: Tristan Johnson (Fourth Season)

Follow the Redhawks:
X: @SEMOvb
Live Stats: Grambling State | Mississippi State | North Alabama
Watch: Mississippi State (SECN+)

Match Notes (PDF)

Volleyball Begins 2025 Season at Mississippi State Tournament Friday-Saturday

Southeast Missouri Volleyball (0-0) will begin the 2025 season this Friday and Saturday, August 29-30, at the ‘Maroon & White Invite’ hosted by Mississippi State. The Redhawks will play three matches beginning with Friday morning against Grambling State (11 a.m.) before taking on the tournament host, Mississippi State on Friday night (6 p.m.). The tournament will conclude on Saturday with a single match against North Alabama (3 p.m.).

Series History
Grambling State: The Redhawks and Tigers will meet for the first time in volleyball on Friday morning.

Mississippi State: Friday evening’s meeting will mark the fifth time that SEMO Volleyball has matched up with the Bulldogs. The two teams are split at 2-2 in the overall series with the last meeting coming in 2014 (3-2 MSU). The Redhawks defeated MSU during the 2010 & 2013 campaigns with a clean sweep (3-0) in 2010, and a 3-1 win in 2013 both matches in Starkville, Miss.

North Alabama: Saturday afternoon’s matchup marks the sixth time the Redhawks & Lions have met on the volleyball court. SEMO Volleyball is a perfect 5-0 against UNA with the last meeting happening in 2019. The Redhawks have yet to drop a set to UNA, defeating the Lions 3-0 in all five meetings.

Yankus’ 15^th Season

Head coach Julie Yankus enters her 15^th season in 2025 at the helm of SEMO Volleyball. She has compiled a 228-207 overall record and a 142-102 Ohio Valley Conference mark in her career. Under Yankus, the Redhawks have won two OVC Tournament Championships (2019 & 2021) and Regular season titles (2021 & 2024). She has been named OVC Coach of the Year once in her career (2021). The Redhawks have now competed in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in 13 of Yankus’ 14 seasons. She has mentored 29 All-OVC Team selections, three OVC DPOY selections (Tara Beilsmith 2x, Nina Schuberth), and one OVC Freshman of the Year (Lucy Arndt).

Championship Pedigree

The Redhawks are coming off a 19-14 season in 2024 with a 15-3 OVC record. In 2024, SEMO Volleyball captured its 11^th Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship, the most of any OVC school, past or present, in league history. As a program, SEMO Volleyball has captured 11 OVC regular season titles and seven tournament championships.

Tabbed First

SEMO Volleyball was picked to finish first in the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll voted on by the league’s head coaches and communications staff. SEMO received 15 first-place votes and 194 points overall, 33 points ahead of second place Lindenwood (161).

All-Conference Honors

Two All-OVC First Team selections return from the 2024 campaign in outside hitter Lucy Arndt and libero Nina Schuberth. Lucy Arndt finished with 437 kills in 2024 on a career-high 1480 total attacks. She finished with a .170 hitting-percentage and averaged 3.93 points-per-set. She is a two-time OVC First Team selection in her first two seasons in Cape Girardeau.

Libero Nina Schuberth finished as the 2024 OVC Defensive Player of the Year for the first time in her career after a stellar season on the backline. Schuberth finished with a career-high 563 digs, nearly 300 more digs from her freshman season (265). She averaged 4.36 digs-per-set. Schuberth recorded a single-game high of 39 digs against Morehead State in 2024.

Watch Out

Sophomore Alaina Lester landed on the 2025 OVC ‘Players to Watch’ list after a standout freshman campaign. Lester finished with 28 solo blocks, 108 block assists, and 136.0 total blocks. In single-season program history, Lester ranks ninth, third, and fifth, respectively, in those categories. “Alaina is arguably the best blocker I have ever coached. She is a sponge when it comes to any and everything blocking related” said Yankus on Lester.

The Schedule

SEMO Volleyball will play a 32-game regular season schedule including four non-conference tournaments, and an 18-match Ohio Valley Conference schedule. The Redhawks will face off with four power four conference teams, including two from the SEC and two from the BIG, in Mississippi State (Aug. 29), Indiana (Sept. 4), Iowa (Sept. 11), and Missouri (Oct. 22). Both Iowa and Missouri will each feature inside Houck Field House on their respective dates.

Eyeing 1,000

Lucy Arndt has had over 400+ kills in each of her first two seasons in a Redhawk uniform. After a career-high 446 kills during the 2023 season, Arndt followed that up with 437 kills in 2024. She now has 883 kills for her career and ranks 10^th in program history for career kills. She is averaging 3.48 kills-per-set and ranks sixth all-time with 2,780 total attacks.

History of Defense

Libero Nina Schuberth is eyeing 1,000 digs for her career after two seasons. After 563 digs in 2024, Schuberth now ranks ninth all-time in single season digs and currently ranks 13^th in career digs (828). Schuberth was also the third-straight Redhawk to garner the Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors after last year.

Freshman Phenom

Outside hitter Reagan Nelson enters her first season of collegiate volleyball in 2025 after a decorated high school career at Pattonville High School (Mo.). She was a First Team All-Conference and District selection all four seasons of her high school career. During her time, Reagan became the State of Missouri’s all-time kills record holder with more than 2,000 kills in her career.

Back For More

Sophomore outside hitter Marin Johnson returns to the Redhawks after a solid freshman campaign in 2024. Johnson finished her freshman season with 268 kills on 948 total attacks for a .152 hitting-percentage. She recorded a season-high 17 kills against Southern Indiana. She averaged 2.41 points-per-set over 127 sets played in 2024.

Seasoned Vet

Redshirt senior rightside hitter Avery Torrey is in her fifth season in Cape Girardeau. Torrey has played in 226 sets and 67 matches in her five seasons and is coming off a career year in 2024. She recorded career-highs in kills (131), total attacks (431), hitting-percentage (.186), and total points (156.5). Torrey recorded a game high 10 kills against SIUE in the final series of the season last year.

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2025 DI women’s volleyball championship: Bracket, schedule, scores

Published

7 minutes ago

December 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The DI women’s volleyball championship is here. The tournament continues Friday, Dec. 5 with both first and second round matches and lasts until the national championship on Sunday, Dec. 21 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

The full 64-team bracket was announced on Sunday, Nov. 30. Thirty-one conference champions earned automatic bids to the tournament, with the NCAA DI women’s volleyball committee selecting 33 other teams as at-large picks.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2025 women’s volleyball championship.

2025 DI women’s volleyball championship bracket

👉 Click or tap to see the interactive bracket

2025 DI women’s volleyball championship schedule

All times listed in ET

First round: Dec. 4-5
Second round: Dec. 5-6
Regionals: Dec. 11 and 13 or Dec. 12 and 14
Semifinals: Thursday, Dec. 18
National championship: 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21 | ABC

Selection show: 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30
First round:
- Thursday, Dec. 4
  - No. 5 Colorado 3, American 0
  - No. 6 Baylor 3, Arkansas State 2
  - No. 8 UCLA 3, Georgia Tech 2
  - No. 5 Miami (Fla.) 3, Tulsa 1
  - No. 4 Indiana 3, Toledo 0
  - No. 6 UNI 3, Utah 2
  - North Carolina 3, No. 6 UTEP 1
  - Utah State 3, No. 7 Tennessee 2
  - No. 1 Kentucky 3, Wofford 0
  - No. 3 Purdue 3, Wright State 0
  - No. 4 Kansas 3, High Point 0
  - Cal Poly 3, No. 5 BYU 2
  - No. 3 Creighton 3, Northern Colorado 2
  - No. 3 Wisconsin 3, Eastern Illinois 0
  - No. 2 Arizona State 3, Coppin State 0
  - No. 4 USC 3, Princeton 0

DI women’s volleyball championship history

Here is the complete history of DI women’s volleyball champions:

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Sports

Track & Field Opening Indoor Season with Split-Squad Weekend – Penn State

Published

32 minutes ago

December 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State track & field is set to begin its indoor slate with a three-meet split-squad weekend. The Nittany Lions will start their week in Philadelphia on Friday, Dec. 5 at the Penn Opener, also competing on Saturday, Dec. 6. On Saturday, there will also be Nittany Lions competing at the Bucknell Opener in Lewisburg, and the Sharon-Colyear Danville Season Opener in Boston on Saturday. Dec. 6.

Penn State is set to begin the 2025-26 indoor season while continuing to build off its success from a season ago. The men’s squad finished 12^th in the Big Ten last indoor season while the women finished seventh. The squad returns six All-Americans from last year’s indoor team including 2024 First Team All-Americans Handal Roban and Hayley Kitching.

Head Coach John Gondak enters his 12^th season leading the Nittany Lion track & field program. His coaching resume includes 62 First Team All-Americans and 11 Big Ten team titles.

PENN OPENER – Friday-Saturday, December 5-6

Live Results | Watch on Saturday (ESPN+)

Penn State will send seven athletes to compete at the Penn Opener. Maddie Pitts will be the lone competitor on Friday in the pentathlon.

BUCKNELL OPENER – Saturday, December 6

Live Results

The largest group of Nittany Lions will be headed to Lewisburg to compete in the Bucknell Opener. 36 athletes in field events and sprints will be the main competition group for PSU this weekend at Bucknell.

SHARON COLYEAR-DANVILLE SEASON OPENER – Saturday, December 6

Live Results | Watch (FloTrack)

Penn State will be sending 10 athletes to Boston for season opening action. The middle distance/distance group will make up the group competing against some of the top talent in the nation.

FULL 2025-26 INDOOR TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE

Dec. 5-6 – Penn Opener | Philadelphia, Pa.

Dec. 6 – Bucknell Opener | Lewisburg, Pa.

Dec. 6 – Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener | Boston, Mass.

Jan. 17 – Nittany Lion Challenge | University Park, Pa.

Jan. 24 – Penn 10 Team Elite | Philadelphia, Pa.

Jan. 30-31 – Penn State National Open | University Park, Pa.

Feb. 7 – Sykes & Sabock Challenge | University Park, Pa.

Feb. 13-14 – Tyson Invitational | Fayetteville, Ark.

Feb. 13-14 – David Hemery Valentine Invitational | Boston, Mass.

Feb. 20 – Penn State Tune-Up | University Park, Pa.

Feb. 27-28 – Big Ten Indoor Championships | Indianapolis, Ind.

Mar. 13-14 – NCAA Indoor Championships | Fayetteville, Ark.

FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS

Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateTFXC) and X/Instagram (@pennstatetfxc). Live updates on race day regarding start times and other important notes will be posted on X.

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Women’s Volleyball vs University of Alaska Anchorage on 12/4/2025 – Box Score

Published

39 minutes ago

December 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

—

UAA subs: Hansen, Elena; Trotter, Hannah; Byrne, Trinity.

—

UAF subs: Flynn, Kellan; Smith, Ainsley.

UAF

0-1

[Henderson, Cynphany] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (block by Beck, Emma; Riba, Martina).

[Henderson, Cynphany] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (block by Beck, Emma; Riba, Martina).

—

UAA subs: Hansen, Elena.

UAA

1-1

[Hansen, Elena] Kill by Henderson, Mikala (from Henderson, Cynphany).

—

UAF subs: Flynn, Kellan.

UAF

2-1

[Flynn, Kellan] Kill by Guc, Elena (from Henderson, Cynphany).

UAF

3-1

[Flynn, Kellan] Attack error by Ivakina, Lee (block by Engelauf, Presley; Guc, Elena).

UAF

3-2

[Flynn, Kellan] Kill by Burney, Bella (from Malikova, Johana).

—

UAA subs: Trotter, Hannah; Byrne, Trinity.

UAA

4-2

[Trotter, Hannah] Kill by Lyons, Haylee (from Henderson, Cynphany).

UAF

5-2

[Onaga, Tessa] Kill by Lyons, Haylee (from Byrne, Trinity).

UAF

6-2

[Onaga, Tessa] Attack error by Byrne, Trinity (from Galloway, Madison).

UAF

6-3

[Onaga, Tessa] Kill by Byrne, Trinity (from Trotter, Hannah).

UAA

6-4

[Ivakina, Lee] Attack error by Guc, Elena (from Henderson, Cynphany).

UAA

7-4

[Ivakina, Lee] Kill by Guc, Elena (from Henderson, Cynphany), block error by Burney, Bella.

—

UAF subs: Smith, Ainsley.

UAF

8-4

[Smith, Ainsley] Kill by Henderson, Cynphany (from Onaga, Tessa).

UAF

8-5

[Smith, Ainsley] Kill by Byrne, Trinity (from Trotter, Hannah).

UAA

9-5

[Galloway, Madison] Service error.

UAF

9-6

[Lyons, Haylee] Kill by Riba, Martina (from Trotter, Hannah), block error by Henderson, Cynphany.

UAA

10-6

[Malikova, Johana] Attack error by Riba, Martina (block by Hoshock, Peri).

UAF

11-6

[Hoshock, Peri] Kill by Engelauf, Presley (from Smith, Ainsley).

UAF

12-6

[Hoshock, Peri] Kill by Henderson, Mikala (from Smith, Ainsley).

UAF

12-7

[Hoshock, Peri] Kill by Allen, Tia (from Malikova, Johana).

UAA

12-8

[Allen, Tia] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (from Smith, Ainsley).

UAA

13-8

[Allen, Tia] Attack error by Riba, Martina.

UAF

14-8

[Henderson, Cynphany] Attack error by Beck, Emma (from Galloway, Madison).

UAF

15-8

[Henderson, Cynphany] Kill by Engelauf, Presley (from Henderson, Cynphany).

UAF

15-9

[Henderson, Cynphany] Kill by Beck, Emma (from Malikova, Johana).

UAA

16-9

[Hansen, Elena] Kill by Henderson, Cynphany (from Onaga, Tessa).

UAF

16-10

[Flynn, Kellan] Kill by Beck, Emma (from Engelauf, Presley).

UAA

17-10

[Trotter, Hannah] Kill by Guc, Elena (from Henderson, Cynphany).

UAF

17-11

[Onaga, Tessa] Kill by Byrne, Trinity (from Trotter, Hannah).

UAA

17-12

[Ivakina, Lee] Attack error by Hoshock, Peri (from Henderson, Cynphany).

UAA

18-12

[Ivakina, Lee] Service error.

UAF

18-13

[Smith, Ainsley] Attack error by Lyons, Haylee (from Smith, Ainsley).

UAA

19-13

[Galloway, Madison] Kill by Henderson, Cynphany (from Smith, Ainsley).

UAF

20-13

[Lyons, Haylee] Attack error by Allen, Tia (from Trotter, Hannah).

UAF

21-13

[Lyons, Haylee] Attack error by Byrne, Trinity (from Trotter, Hannah).

UAF

21-14

[Lyons, Haylee] Kill by Allen, Tia (from Trotter, Hannah).

—

UAA subs: Sapon, Eleasha.

UAA

21-15

[Sapon, Eleasha] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (from Smith, Ainsley).

UAA

21-16

[Sapon, Eleasha] Kill by Allen, Tia (from Trotter, Hannah).

UAA

21-17

[Sapon, Eleasha] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (from Smith, Ainsley).

UAA

22-17

[Sapon, Eleasha] Kill by Henderson, Mikala (from Onaga, Tessa).

UAF

23-17

[Hoshock, Peri] Kill by Henderson, Mikala (from Lyons, Haylee).

UAF

24-17

[Hoshock, Peri] Kill by Henderson, Cynphany (from Smith, Ainsley).

UAF

24-18

[Hoshock, Peri] Attack error by Henderson, Mikala (from Hoshock, Peri).

UAA

25-18

[Allen, Tia] Kill by Henderson, Cynphany (from Smith, Ainsley).

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#11 Creighton Volleyball Outlasts Northern Colorado to Advance to Second Round of NCAA Tournament

Published

54 minutes ago

December 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Courtesy of Rob Anderson, Creighton Athletics

OMAHA, Neb. — No. 11 Creighton Volleyball was pushed to the brink but survived to win its 21st straight match on Thursday evening, opening up NCAA Tournament play with a 3-2 victory over Northern Colorado. Scores of the Bluejay triumph were 25-12, 23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-8.

Creighton earns itself a Second Round match-up against Northern Iowa (26-5) after the sixth-seeded Panthers finished off their first reverse sweep in the NCAA Tournament since 2022 with a 15-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-10 win over Utah. Creighton defeated the Panthers at D.J. Sokol Arena on Sept. 14 to close out play at the Bluejay Invitational.

Five women had multiple kills in the first set as Creighton powered past Northern Colorado, led by six kills from Ava Martin. Martin also had a pair of aces late in the set to solidify CU’s 25-12 victory. The Jays hit .438 and had 17 kills to UNC’s six kills on .000 hitting and never trailed in the frame.

UNC snapped Creighton’s 17-set win streak with a 25-23 victory in the second set, which featured nine ties and five lead changes. Isabel Bennett had go-ahead kills to make it 23-22 and 24-23 and Alayna Tessena put down the winner on set point. Northern Colorado had 15 kills and 18 digs in the second set and held the Bluejays to 11 kills and .200 hitting. Martin had seven kills for CU in the second set, while Sydney Breissinger added six digs.

The Bears won the first three points of the third set and moved in front 8-4 to force an early timeout from CU head coach Brian Rosen. The stoppage did little to improve the fortunes for the hosts, who called another timeout six points later after falling behind 12-6 to the Big Sky Tournament champions. The second timeout did the trick, as the Bluejays countered with an 8-2 burst to even the score at 14-all. Northern Colorado settled down, never surrendering the lead, and led 23-20 before one last push from the hosts. Martin pounded her 18th kill of the night, and Nora Wurtz followed with her 56th ace of the fall to cut CU’s deficit to 23-22 and lead UNC coach Lydnsey Oates to call timeout. Martin slammed a cross-court kill to tie the score at 23-all, but UNC answered with a Zoe Gibbs kill for a set point opportunity. The Bears won the set on a Bluejay attack error, 25-23.

The Bluejays got off to a 6-2 lead in the fourth set thanks in part to three early UNC hitting errors, then extended the advantage to 14-6. The Jays won the set 25-17, with freshman Abbey Hayes stepping up with a team-best four kills. CU had 4.5 blocks in the set, including one of set point from Reinhardt and Martin.

Creighton got off to a quick start in the fifth frame, scoring the first three points on two Martin kills and a UNC attack error. CU led 8-3 at the changeover

Martin was dominant with 30 kills on 65 swings, while Jaya Johnson finished with 12 kills. Reinhardt rounded out the Bluejays in double figure kills with 10. Annalea Maeder closed the match with a double-double, delivering 53 assists and 20 digs.

Tessena led Northern Colorado with 14 kills, while Brynn Reines finished with 11 kills

First serve of tomorrow’s Second Round match is at 6:30 p.m.

NOTES: Creighton improved to 18-14 all-time in 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a 12-3 mark in the First Round … Creighton has won 21 straight matches, its third-longest streak in program history … Creighton is now 8-4 in home matches in the NCAA Tournament, including five straight victories … Creighton has won its last 11 home matches this fall … Creighton is now 4-1 all-time against Northern Colorado … Creighton has won 68 straight matches over unranked foes and 56 non-televised matches in a row … Ava Martinmoved into third place in CU history in career service aces with 126 … Ava Martinhad her 25th straight match with 10 or more kills and 108th in a row with five or more kills … Ava Martin had her 13th career match with 20+ kills, and seventh this season.

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Sports

Throwers Set Personal Bests At Liberty Kickoff

Published

2 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LYNCHBURG – Propelled by a pair of personal-best performances in the weight throw, the Elon University women’s track and field team opened its indoor season Thursday at the Liberty Kickoff inside the Liberty Indoor Complex.

In the women’s weight throw, the Phoenix placed two athletes inside the top four. Adriana Clarke claimed runner-up honors with a personal-best toss of 18.14m, moving into third on Elon’s all-time performance list. Isabella Johnson finished third overall at 17.33m, also marking a new PR for the sophomore.

Elon also featured three competitors in the pentathlon. Senior Lizzie Lopez was the top Phoenix finisher, placing seventh with 3,510 points. She highlighted the event by tying for first in the high jump with a clearance of 1.65m. Freshman Greta Urbonaviciute debuted with a tenth-place finish and 3,309 points, landing inside the program’s top-10 performance list. Classmate Carolina Frada scored 2,832 points to place 11th in her first collegiate pentathlon.

ON DECK
Elon continues action at the Liberty Kickoff on Friday, beginning with the women’s 5,000-meter run at 10 a.m.

— ELON —

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Five Dons Earn WCC All-Academic Honors

Published

2 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

SAN BRUNO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference officially announced its Volleyball All-Academic team for the 2025 season on Thursday afternoon.

For San Francisco, Crystal Galaviz, Jamie Low, Shannon Knight, Astrid Puig, and Abby Wadas earned WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention honors.

At the conclusion of each athletic season, the West Coast Conference selects an all-academic squad for each conference-sponsored sport. To be considered, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average, while also being a significant contributor to her team and in at least their second year at their school.

The full 2025 West Coast Conference Volleyball All-Academic Team can be viewed below:

2025 WEST COAST CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

Name	School	Class	GPA	Major
Genevieve Bane	Saint Mary’s	Gr.	3.70	Busiiness Administration
Olivia Bennett	San Diego	Sr.	3.54	Behavioral Neuroscience
Lucie Blazkova	Washington State	So.	3.92	Psychology
Maddie Boerstra	LMU	Gr.	3.82	Sociology
Nevaeh Bray	Portland	Gr.	4.00	Sports Business
Lucia Busso	Portland	Sr.	4.00	Marketing
Alyson Cox	Pacific	So.	4.00	Computer Science
Alyssa Eimer	Santa Clara	Sr.	3.94	Marketing
Grace Flanagan	Santa Clara	Jr.	4.00	Studio Art
Kate Herrick	Gonzaga	So.	3.91	Biology
Emma McMahon	Pepperdine	Sr.	3.83	Psychology
Chloe Pravednikov	Pepperdine	So.	3.63	Pre-Business Administration
Maui Robins	Portland	Sr.	4.00	Marketing
Lauren Rumel	Oregon State	Sr.	3.91	Speech Communication
Cate Shanahan	Santa Clara	Jr.	3.83	English
Lexi Trapani	Santa Clara	Jr.	3.88	Business

For more information and updates on the University of San Francisco volleyball program, follow the Dons on Twitter @USFDonsVB, @USFDonsVB on Instagram, and @USFDonsVball on Facebook.

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