Sports
UC Davis Beach Volleyball Adds Georgia Romine-Black As An Assistant Coach
DAVIS, Calif. – As she prepares for her first season as the head coach of UC Davis beach volleyball, Ari Homayun has added former student-athlete and Redlands assistant, Georgia Romine-Black, as an assistant coach.
“I’m incredibly excited to welcome Georgia to the Aggie family as our new assistant coach.” Said Coach Homayun, “She brings energy, a passion for developing amazing young women, and experience coaching at the collegiate level that will make an immediate impact on our program. I can’t wait to get to work!”
After spending the last two seasons as the head assistant coach for the Redland Bulldogs indoor volleyball program, Romine-Black returns to the sand, where she played during the majority of her collegiate career.
In her three seasons of indoor and beach volleyball with Park University, she helped lead the Buccaneers to multiple accolades, including a 2021 regular season and conference championship, with the team participating in the NAIA championships for the first time in program history.
A Kirkland, Wash. native, Romine-Black graduated from Park University with a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice along with a Master’s in Communication and Leadership.
“I’m very excited to join the UC Davis beach volleyball program.” Said Romine-Black, “This program already has great momentum, and I look forward to helping our student-athletes grow on and off the sand. I can’t wait to immerse myself into the UC Davis culture that supports its student-athletes! Go Ags!”
Sports
Volleyball’s M.E. Hargan Earns Academic All-America Recognition
ACADEMIC ALL AMERICA TEAMS
MOREHEAD, Ky. —
It was a storybook season for volleyball senior M.E. Hargan with a plethora of accolades on and off the court, and she’s added yet another to her trophy case. Hargan earned a spot on the prestigious Division I Academic All-America team, as selected by the College Sports Communicators. Hargan is a third-team honoree.
Only 21 student-athletes among the thousands in DI earned Academic All-America, and she is the lone representative from the Ohio Valley Conference.
“I am super honored and grateful to be recognized at this high level for all the hard work I’ve been putting in the last couple of years,” she said.
She is the seventh all-time Eagle volleyball student-athlete to be an Academic All-American and the first since Olivia Lohmeier in 2021. Others include Emma Keough (2011), Holly Evans (2010), Missy Blanford (1988), Kristen Pedersen (1982) and Tessa Fraki (1982).
Hargan was first named academic all-district and earned that honor for the third consecutive season. She also earned the highest individual scholastic award in the league, the OVC Scholar Athlete.
Hargan, from Elizabethtown, Ky., wrapped up her indoor collegiate career in November as the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was named Honorable Mention AVCA All-South Region. She has a 3.88 lifetime grade point average in veterinary science.
She led the Ohio Valley Conference with 493 kills this season (27th nationally), averaging 4.61 kills per set and ranking 15th in the country in NCAA Division I. Her 569 points (5.32 points per set average) ranked 21st in the nation overall and 11th in per set.
One of Morehead State’s most prolific hitters, Hargan finished her career with 1,488 kills – ranking third in program history for the modern era (2008-present when rally scoring changed to 25-point sets). Her 493 kills this season were the third-highest total in the modern era in the Eagle record book. Hargan finished with three seasons in the top 10 in program history for kills.
Her 2,575 total attacks’ tally is the second-highest in the program’s modern era. She also finished with 956 career digs, ranking ninth in the records. Her 98 career service aces and 36 career block solos both rank 10th in the program, as does her 439 career sets played.
Sports
This Week in Wake Forest Women’s Athletics – Presented by Truist (Jan. 12-18)
- Women’s Basketball:
- After a week in California facing the Cardinal and Golden Bears, The Demon Deacons return home Thursday evening to face in-state rival NC State at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
- In their most recent outing in a close contest with Cal, Wake Forest collected 32 points inside, while allowing Cal to score just 22, a 10-point deficit.
- Across 18 games, the Deacs have totaled 558 points in the paint (31.6 per game).
- Women’s Tennis:
- Wake Forest women’s tennis is set to make its season debut Saturday, January 17 at No. 16 Tennessee.
- The Demon Deacons are seeking revenge after falling 4-3 to the Volunteers in Winston-Salem last season.
- Tennessee is one of four preseason top-16 opponents on the schedule for the Deacs in 2026.
- The team will then make its home debut on Monday, Jan. 19, hosting ETSU. All home matches are free to attend.
- Wake Forest women’s tennis is set to make its season debut Saturday, January 17 at No. 16 Tennessee.
- Track & Field:
- The Wake Forest women’s track and field team are set to return to action with three meets during the month of January.
- The Demon Deacons begin 2026 by competing in the Mondo College Invitational (Jan. 17) at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem.
- The Deacs will then have a dual slate during the final week of the month, with one group heading to Lynchburg, Va. to compete at the Brant Tolsma Invitational (Jan. 30-31), while another group traveling to Boston for the John Thomas Terrier Classic (Jan. 31).
- The Wake Forest women’s track and field team are set to return to action with three meets during the month of January.
About Truist
Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country, and offers a wide range of products and services through our retail and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, insurance, wealth management, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $574 billion as of March 31, 2023. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.
About Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is known for its distinctive combination of world-class academics, unrivaled campus experience, intimate learning environment and Power 4 athletics in a top-growing metro market. A Charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have won 59 conference titles and are one of nine ACC schools to win 11 or more national championships. Additionally, with 1.7 million people within 30 miles of campus, Wake Forest anchors the Winston-Salem and Triad market, which ranks as ESPN’s seventh-best nationally from a viewership perspective.
Wake Forest’s comprehensive excellence includes its highly regarded school of medicine, business school, law school, innovative department of engineering and its nationally renowned Program for Leadership and Character, which prepares students to live with purpose, integrity and courage. Additionally, Wake Forest has campuses across Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Washington, D.C. – providing many academic offerings to students from across the nation and around the world.
Learn more about Wake Forest University at www.wfu.edu and at GoDeacs.com.
Sports
Huskies add D1 transfer Keeley Nellis
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech volleyball has added Keeley Nellis to its roster for the upcoming 2026 season. Nellis is transferring to Tech from NCAA Division I Lamar University, where she was a member of the volleyball team for the past two seasons. The native of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, will have two years of eligibility remaining as a defensive specialist.
“We are very excited to add Keeley to our roster,” Tech volleyball coach Cindy Pindral said. “She adds a ton of experience playing at the D1 level and is a perfect fit for Michigan Tech, as she is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. She has excellent touch and is very competitive. Keeley adds a lot of depth to our defensive specialist group.”
Nellis appeared in 57 matches and 192 sets over the past two seasons for the Cardinals and totaled 579 digs, averaging 3.02 per set. As a freshman in 2024, she led the team with 421 digs and ranked second with 33 aces. She ranked fourth in the Southland Conference in digs (4.30/set) and seventh in aces (0.34/set) and was ranked seventh nationally amongst freshmen in digs. Nellis recorded 20 double-digit dig matches, including a career-high 24 against Nicholls (Nov. 7, 2024). She had nine aces against Nicholls on Sept. 6, 2024. Nellis had 158 digs in 2025, appearing in 28 matches and 93 sets. She was named to the Bluff City Showdown All-Tournament Team in 2024.
Nellis played high school at Oceanside Collegiate Academy, helping guide her team to back-to-back state titles (2021 and 2022) as one of the top defensive players in the Palmetto State. She received All-Palmetto Region honors in 2022 and followed that up with all-region recognition again in 2023. An Academic Honorable Mention All-America, Nellis was a defensive captain as a senior. She competed for Carolina Rogue Volleyball Club.
Sports
This Week in Huskie Athletics – Jan. 13, 2026
DEKALB, Ill. – Six NIU Athletics teams will be in action this week, including home dates for men’s basketball, wrestling and women’s tennis, who will host both Missouri and Wisconsin this weekend at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. Women’s basketball, gymnastics and track and field will also be in action on the road this week.
Men’s Basketball
Tuesday, Jan. 13: at Eastern Michigan, 5:30 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Stats | Live Audio
Saturday, Jan. 17: vs. UMass, 2 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Audio | Live Stats | Buy Tickets
Following a weekend off, the NIU men’s basketball team returns to action with a pair of games this week. The Huskies travel to Eastern Michigan on Tuesday before hosting UMass on Saturday. Dylan Ducommon has scored in double figures in seven-straight games and is averaging 15.3 points per game during that stretch. In league play, Ducommun is averaging a team-high 16.8 points per game, tied for 10th-best in the Mid-American Conference.
Eastern Michigan brings an 8-9 overall record into Tuesday’s contest, including a 2-3 mark in league play after falling to Western Michigan, 79-62, in Kalamazoo (Jan. 10) last time out. UMass comes into the week with a 10-7 record, 1-4 in league play.
Women’s Basketball
Wednesday, Jan. 14: at Toledo, 6 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Stats | Live Audio
Saturday, Jan. 17: at Ohio, 12 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Stats | Live Audio
The NIU women’s basketball team plays a pair of road games this week. The Huskies head to Toledo on Wednesday to face the Rockets at 6 p.m. The two teams split last season’s two games with the road team winning each. NIU halted Toledo’s 20-game home court winning streak on Jan. 1, 2025 with a 59-58 win at Savage Arena. On Saturday NIU takes on Ohio the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio at 12 p.m. The Huskies are coming off a 65-48 loss to Bowling Green on Saturday. Senior forward Teresa Mbemba led the Huskies with 15 points off the bench. Mbemba is averaging 10.5 points per game in conference play and shooting 63.0 percent from the field.
Gymnastics
Saturday, Jan. 17: at Eastern Michigan, 3 p.m.
NIU gymnastics heads to Ypsilanti, Mich. this weekend for a tri-meet against Eastern Michigan and SUNY Brockport in the Golden Girls Classic on Saturday.
The Huskies fell at Kent State in their season opener on Sunday, 195.350-191.675. Freshman Avery Riiff tied for first place on beam with a 9.800 in her first-ever collegiate competition. Sophomore Drake White competed as an all-arounder, scoring a career-best 38.000.
Eastern Michigan (1-0) is coming off a 192.925-191.900 over Bowling Green while Brockport (1-2) enters the tri-meet following a 191.200-187.600 win over Ithaca College.
Wrestling
Friday, Jan. 16: vs. Central Michigan, 7 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Scoring
Returning to DeKalb, the Northern Illinois University wrestling program is set to host the Central Michigan University Chippewas in a MAC dual on Friday, January 16. Action will take place at 7 p.m. inside Victor E. Court. The Huskies and Chippewas will have their second meeting in a week as they met at the 2026 NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa on January 9. The Huskies pulled out a 20-14 win in that dual as they would take fourth at the competition.
At the NWCA National Duals, the Huskies posted wins over Harvard (22-20), Central Michigan, and Campbell (53-0). The Huskies competed against then-No. 8 South Dakota State (26-10) and Drexel (21-12) over the two-day competition. Markel Baker went 5-0 on the weekend, including a win over No. 33 Andrew Austin of Central Michigan. Devon Dawson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Goddard) went 4-0 on the weekend and had a pair of ranked wins.
Women’s Tennis
Friday, Jan. 16: vs. Wisconsin, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 17: vs. Missouri, 9 a.m.
Saturday, Jan. 17: vs. Chicago State, 6 p.m.
The dual season is underway this weekend for NIU women’s tennis as the Huskies host Wisconsin, Missouri and Chicago State at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. NIU takes on the Badgers on Friday at 2 p.m. and will have a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning with Missouri at 9 a.m. and Chicago State at 6 p.m.
NIU competed in the Northwestern Invitational in Evanston, Ill. this past weekend against both DePaul and Northwestern. The Huskies recorded seven doubles victories and two singles wins over the three-day invite.
Wisconsin finished the 2025 regular season ranked No. 23 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament while Missouri was also nationally ranked last season.
Track and Field
Friday, Jan. 16: at Bill Bergan Open (Ames, Iowa)
The NIU track and field team returns to action for the first time in 2026 this Friday, Jan. 16, when the Huskies compete at Iowa State’s Bill Bergan Open. Field events are scheduled to begin at 11:20 a.m. while events on track are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Arianna Calloway is the defending champion in the high jump at the Bill Bergan Open.
NIU competed once in December before breaking for the Holidays as the Huskies attended Notre Dame’s Blue & Gold Invitational. Stella Oyebode won the 60 meters, Emma Curry won the 800 meters and Precious Umukoro won the triple jump at Notre Dame.
Sports
Bauer Named CSC Third Team All-American
Bauer becomes only the third player in program history to earn CSC Academic All-American, joining Natalie Furry (2002) and Paige Briggs (2023).
To be selected, athletes must maintain a minimum 3.50 GPA and meet athletic eligibility requirements.
The 2025 Alyssa Cavanaugh CUSA Player of the Year was one of the top setters in the country, finishing the regular season ranked 22nd nationally and first in the conference in assists per set at 10.42. Her 1,073 total assists during that time ranked 48th nationally and second in CUSA. Bauer also helped the Hilltoppers to the third-best hitting percentage in the country (.312), fifth-best assists per set (13.63), and sixth-best kills per set rate (14.57) in the country.
Playing in 106 of the 108 total sets this season, Bauer finished her senior year with a total of 88 kills, 1,109 assists, 25 service aces, 225 digs, and 32 blocks. The CUSA First Team All-Conference selection also posted a total of five double doubles on the season, totaling 17 in her career. Bauer was also named CUSA tournament MVP.
In the classroom, Bauer carried a 3.88 GPA as a Business Management major.
Sports
Reilly Named Academic All-America Team Member of the Year – University of Nebraska
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