Sports
New era of Rock volleyball begins at FSU Classic
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University volleyball team commences its 2025 season this weekend with four matches over two days at the Fairmont State Classic.
FSU CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday: vs. Elizabeth City State (3 p.m.)
Friday: vs. UVa.-Wise (7 p.m.)
Saturday: vs. Palm Beach Atlantic (2 p.m.)
Saturday: at Fairmont State (6 p.m.)
LIVE COVERAGE
Live video and in-match statistics will be generously provided free of charge all weekend by the Fairmont State Athletic Communications office. Links to live coverage options for every match can be found below.
• Live Stats
• Live Video
• X (formerly Twitter) | In-game updates and highlights
MATCH 1 DETAILS
Opponent: Elizabeth City State
Date: Friday – 3 p.m.
Location: Fairmont, West Virginia
Venue: Joe Retton Arena
All-Time Series: SRU leads 4-0
Last Played: Sept. 1, 2023 (SRU won 3-0)
SERIES HISTORY
Slippery Rock is a perfect 4-0 all-time against Elizabeth City State with its most recent win in the series coming in the form of a 25-23, 25-14, 27-25 sweep of the Vikings at the 2023 FSU Classic. SRU posted a .227 team attack percentage in the win while being led by Erica Selfridge’s 12-kill, 19-dig double-double.
Three current Rock athletes saw playing time in the victory with Jaeden Yost collecting a 24-assist, 10-dig double-double of her own while Callie Chevalier and Lauren VonderHaar tallied seven kills apiece.
MATCH 2 DETAILS
Opponent: UVa.-Wise
Date: Friday – 7 p.m.
Location: Fairmont, West Virginia
Venue: Joe Retton Arena
All-Time Series: SRU leads 4-0
Last Played: Sept. 17, 2016 (SRU won 3-0)
SERIES HISTORY
While The Rock holds a flawless 4-0 record against UVa.-Wise all-time, the last time SRU and the Cavaliers met – a 2016 3-0 SRU win in West Liberty, West Virginia – the oldest current athletes on both rosters were barely in junior high school let alone on their respective college teams.
MATCH 3 DETAILS
Opponent: Palm Beach Atlantic
Date: Saturday – 2 p.m.
Location: Fairmont, West Virginia
Venue: Joe Retton Arena
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Last Played: N/A
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday’s match will be the first between The Rock and Palm Beach Atlantic.
MATCH 4 DETAILS
Opponent: Fairmont State
Date: Saturday – 6 p.m.
Location: Fairmont, West Virginia
Venue: Joe Retton Arena
All-Time Series: SRU leads 22-12
Last Played: Sept. 21, 2024 (SRU won 3-1)
SERIES HISTORY
Two Atlantic Region foes, The Rock and Falcons have met annually since 2015 including two-match meetings in each of the past four seasons. Following a pair of four-set victories in 2024, SRU has now taken the last four matches in the series for an overall record of 22-12 against FSU.
Top SRU Performers vs. FSU
(Per Match Average)
Callie Chevalier: 11.4 Kills, .165%, 9.8 Digs, 3.2 Blocks (5 matches)
Lauren VonderHaar: 5.0 Blocks, 3.8 Kills, .233% (5 matches)
Jaeden Yost: 21.6 Assists, 2.5 Aces, 8.7 Digs (6 matches)
Paityn Krause: 13.0 Assists, 4.5 Digs (2 matches)
Kara Pasquale: 7.0 Digs, 2.0 Aces (2 matches)
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Roster: Link
2024 Final Stats: Link
2024 Record: 12-14
2024 Home Record: 4-3
2024 Away Record: 3-8
2024 Neutral Site Record: 5-3
PSAC West Preseason Poll: Seventh
Head Coach: Dylan Lasher | First season at SRU (0-0) | Fifth overall (45-61)
TOP ROCK RETURNERS (2024 stats)
ATTACK: Callie Chevalier (210 kills / .177), Lauren VonderHaar (111 kills / .221)
ASSISTS: Jaeden Yost (550 / 5.67 per set)
ACES: Yost (40), Kara Pasquale (26)
DIGS: Yost (218 / 2.25 per set), Pasquale (169 / 1.90 per set)
BLOCKS: VonderHaar (122), Chevalier (42)
SRU BY THE NUMBERS
• 3: Consecutive season-opening wins.
• 6-2: The Rock’s record when competing at the FSU Classic over the last two years.
• 3: Number of starters returning for The Rock from 2024.
• 50%: Percentage of SRU’s 2025 roster yet to appear in a collegiate match.
• 3rd: Lauren VonderHaar’s rank among active Atlantic Region (PSAC + MEC + CIAA) athletes in career blocks.
COMING OUT STRONG
Slippery Rock is 10-1 in its season-opening match dating back to the 2013 campaign. Over the last 11 completed seasons, SRU has exited its opening weekend with a winning record seven times, a .500 mark in three other years and a losing mark just once.
A year ago, SRU defeated Virginia Union in three sets in its season-opener to spur on a 3-1 showing overall at the Fairmont State Classic.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Slippery Rock has garnered 56 of its last 97 wins (57.7 percent) dating back to the 2015 season against non-conference foes. The Rock were a healthy 7-5 outside of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in 2024.
COMFORTABLE AWAY FROM HOME
Of The Rock’s 27 matches in 2025, 19 will occur outside of Morrow Field House. Luckily for SRU, playing away from home has not been a problem of late. Over the last three years, 25 of Slippery Rock’s 32 wins have come in road / neutral site matches.
DÉJÀ VU WITH FSU
As has been the case for the last four years, Slippery Rock and Fairmont State will once again meet in two non-conference matches in 2025. The Rock and Falcons are yet to split a season series as FSU swept SRU in 2021 and 2022 with Slippery Rock getting revenge by way of two victories in each of the last two years.
GETTING GOING EARLY
Slippery Rock took the first set in 15 of its 26 matches last year.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
While the 2025 edition of Slippery Rock volleyball does feature a strong veteran presence of seniors in setter Jaeden Yost, outside hitter Callie Chevalier and middle blocker Lauren VonderHaar, only four athletes on this year’s roster begin the year with more than 25 matches of collegiate experience. Of the 22 athletes suiting up for SRU in 2025, 15 are playing in their freshman or sophomore seasons of eligibility.
Charting The Rock Vets
Career Games Played (Starts)
Jaeden Yost: 85 (73)
Callie Chevalier: 74 (66)
Lauren VonderHaar: 68 (56)
Kaitlyn Danszczak: 26 (15)
Kara Pasquale: 24 (0)
Victoria Nalbach: 21 (2)
Paityn Krause: 20 (0)
Brooke Farrah: 19 (0)
Gwen McCarthy: 15 (5)
Arielle Walter: 15 (0)
Marley Annis: 14 (3)
Ava Haynes: 0 (0)
Addison Jones: 0 (0)
TRIO OF SENIOR MILESTONES ON DECK
The core of The Rock’s in-match experience comes from its talented senior trio of Yost, Chevalier and VonderHaar: all of whom have been key contributors since their rookie seasons.
• The trio are already ranked among the program’s all-time best in a myriad of statistical categories as Yost opens her senior year slotted ninth in program history in career assists (1,705) and 17th in aces (113) while VonderHaar is 10th in total blocks (258) and Chevalier being positioned 25th in kills (645). In addition to their lofty program rankings, all three are all closing in on impressive milestones that have been rarely seen at SRU.
• VonderHaar is 42 blocks shy of joining a club that currently consists of only five athletes at SRU to have compiled 300 blocks.
• Yost is 295 assists away from becoming the eighth athlete in program history to record 2,000 career assists.
• Chevalier needs 55 kills to become one of 19 athletes in program history to have reached the 700-kill threshold.
• When the trio reach their respective milestones, it will mark just the third time in program history that Slippery Rock has had three active athletes playing when one has 700 kills, one has 300 blocks and one has 2,000 assists. The previous two times came in 1994 (Nikki St. Antoine-K, Bev Rea-Ast., Laurie Flynn-Blk.) and 2010 (Kaylee Smith-K, Anna Bixler-Ast., Keira Peoples-Blk.).
TOP RETURNING UPPERCLASSMEN
• VonderHaar has firmly established herself as one of the top middle blockers in the Atlantic Region over the last two years. One of three athletes to start all 26 matches a season ago, VonderHaar recorded 122 blocks (41 solo / 81 assisted) defensively in addition to 111 kills via a .221 attack percentage on offense. She closed 2024 ranked 22nd in the nation, and fourth in the PSAC, in blocks per sets (1.26).
• Yost has served as Slippery Rock’s lead setter in each of the last three seasons. Along with VonderHaar and the now-graduated Selfridge, Yost was one of three Rock athletes to start every match a season ago. In addition to delivering 550 assists (5.67 per set), Yost also compiled a team-high 40 aces and ranked third in digs with 218 (2.25 per set).
• Chevalier has displayed the ability to take over a match on any given night as evidenced by her 28 career double-digit kill performances. Last season, Chevalier went for 210 kills in 22 matches (79 sets) on a .177 attack percentage to go with 42 blocks.
• After seeing limited playing time as rookies in 2023 the junior trio of opposite / outside Hitter Kaitlyn Danszczak, defensive specialist / setter Brooke Farrah and middle blocker / opposite Victoria Nalbach all saw a serious uptick in playing time a season ago.
• Danszczak started 14 matches while making 22 appearances en route to finishing the season with 104 kills and 24 blocks. Nalbach added 20 blocks in 18 matches and Farrah split time as The Rock’s second setter with 159 assists and nine aces in 19 contests.
NOT THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK ANYMORE
• Outside Hitter / defensive specialist / libero Marley Annis, libero Kara Pasquale, setter Paityn Krause and defensive specialist / outside hitter Gwen McCarthy all saw playing time as rookies.
• As a freshman, Pasquale appeared in 24 of The Rock’s 26 matches while leading all Rock rookies in sets played (89). She concluded the year ranked third on the team overall in aces (26) and fourth in digs (169 / 1.90).
• Krause split time as Slippery Rock’s second setter during her rookie campaign on the way to recording 234 assists (3.97), 115 digs (1.95) and 11 aces across 20 matches.
• As outsides a season ago, opportunities were scarce for Annis and McCarthy behind the veteran quartet of Chelsie Wheeler, Selfridge, Chevalier and Danszczak. The pair combined to provide SRU with 60 kills, seven aces and 10 blocks with McCarthy making 15 appearances and Annis 14.
FRESHMAN ORIENTATION
The Rock’s 2025 freshman class is made up of nine athletes covering the entire court. The new enrollees come from three states in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.
2025 SRU Freshman Class
Name-Position-Hometown (in Pennsylvania unless noted)
Hayden Deming – Outside Hitter / Opposite – Mattawan, Michigan
Ashley Deniker – Middle Blocker – Greensburg
Alayna Esselink – Middle Blocker – Richmond, Michigan
Abby Kolcum – Setter – Chardon, Ohio
Emry Rumbaugh – Outside Hitter / Opposite – Kittanning
Leah Schreckengost – Libero / Defensive Specialist – Freeport
Cassidy Stancombe – Libero / Defensive Specialist – Johnstown
Sidney Stevenson – Libero – Pittsburgh
Addie Varnish – Setter – Carnegie
LASHER SET FOR YEAR 1
First-year head coach Dylan Lasher was chosen as the next leader of the Slippery Rock volleyball program on March 28, 2025. Lasher is the 13th head coach in SRU varsity volleyball history.
Lasher comes to Slippery Rock after most recently serving as the head coach of both the women’s and men’s volleyball teams at Thiel College. He has also been a head coach at both Chatham and Millikin. Overall, he has 10 seasons of collegiate head coach experience (women’s + men’s).
Lasher’s coaching resume includes being named the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Coach of the Year on two occasions – in 2017 as the women’s coach at Chatham and in 2025 as the men’s coach at Thiel.
The Ford City, Pennsylvania native served five seasons as the head men’s volleyball coach at Thiel and added the role of head women’s coach prior to the 2024 fall season. He inherited a women’s program that went 3-22 in 2023 and immediately made it a contender in his first full season with the squad by guiding the Tomcats to a 17-9 record in 2024.
The 14-win improvement from 2023 to 2024 was the second-best year-to-year improvement among all 419 NCAA Division III women’s volleyball programs that fall.
Lasher rounded out his coaching staff over the summer with the addition of assistant Raquel McDonald. A familiar face to Lasher, McDonald comes to The Rock after spending two successful seasons at Thiel where she assisted in all facets of the men’s and women’s volleyball programs.
TOP ACTIVE STREAKS
Consecutive Starts: VonderHaar (55), Yost (26), Callie Chevalier (7)
Matches Played: Jaeden Yost (85), Lauren VonderHaar (55), Kara Pasquale (24)
Double-Doubles:
Matches With at least 10 Kills: N/A
Matches With at least 20 Assists: Yost (2), Paityn Krause (1)
Matches With at least 10 Digs: N/A
Matches With at least 2 Blocks: VonderHaar (17)
Matches With at least 1 Ace: Yost (10)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES
Key Losses (2024 stats)
Erica Selfridge: 312 Kills, 36 Aces, 318 Digs
Aslyn Pry: 137 Kills, 69 Blocks
Chelsie Wheeler: 180 Kills, 46 Blocks
Kate Lachendro-Biery: 505 Digs, 24 Aces
NEXT FIVE MATCHES
Sept. 12 (10 a.m.) at Malone
Sept. 12 (2:30 p.m.) vs. Bluefield State*
Sept. 13 (11:15 a.m.) vs. Illinois-Springfield*
Sept. 13 (1:30 p.m.) vs. Bloomsburg*
Sept. 19 (1 p.m.) vs. Assumption^
* Match played in Canton, Ohio
^ Match played in Buffalo, New York
RECORDS WATCH
Assists
5. Zoe Rivet (2016-19): 2,888
6. Anna Bixler (2007-10): 2,379
7. Haley Defibaugh (2014-17): 2,058
8. Missy Peretin (1993-96): 1,935
9. Jaeden Yost (Active): 1,705
Blocks
5. Keira Peoples (2007-10): 304
6. Nikki St. Antoine (1993-96): 287
7. Michelle Hren (2011-14): 286
8. Shayla Ray (2015-18): 272
9. Heidi Slatcoff (1998-01): 263
10. Lauren VonderHaar (Active): 258
Aces
t12. Hannah McShea (2009-12): 131
t12. Jen Howser (2001-03): 131
14. Michele Ide (1999-02): 126
15. Erica Selfridge (2021-24): 121
16. Kaylee Smith (2008-11): 119
17. Jaeden Yost (Active): 113
Kills
20. Caroline Houston (2010-13): 684
21. Sarah Cadwallader (2008-12): 673
22. Shayla Ray (2015-18): 665
23. Sara Kirsch (2003-06): 654
24. Chelsie Wheeler (2021-24): 650
t25. Callie Chevalier (Active): 645
t25. Misy Watson (1990-93): 645
ELIZABETH CITY STATE PRIMER
Roster: Link
2024 Final Stats: Link
2024 Record: 11-18
2024 Home Record: 4-1
2024 Away Record: 3-4
2024 Neutral Site Record: 4-13
CIAA Preseason Poll: Seventh
Head Coach: Rasha Gladney | First season (0-0)
TOP VIKING RETURNERS (2024 stats)
ATTACK: Clarke Blakemore (176 kills / .152), Kendall Washington (160 kills / .173)
ASSISTS: Paola Gonzalez (144 / 3.13 per set)
ACES: Andrea Rose (20), Washington (16)
DIGS: Washington (198 / 2.41 per set)
BLOCKS: Rose (91), Blakemore (68)
UVA-WISE PRIMER
Roster: Link
2024 Final Stats: Link
2024 Record: 12-16
2024 Home Record: 9-5
2024 Away Record: 2-9
2024 Neutral Site Record: 1-2
SAC Preseason Poll: Eighth
Head Coach: Alyssa Hanley | Fourth season at Wise (27-51) | Eighth overall (48-161)
TOP CAVALIERS RETURNERS (2024 stats)
ATTACK: Riley Brandon (240 kills / .194), Serina Petersen (157 kills / .163)
ASSISTS: Piper Suddeth (473 / 4.93 per set)
ACES: Abigail Curtis (26), Suddeth (25)
DIGS: Curtis (495 / 5.00 per set)
BLOCKS: Petersen (73), Brandon (51)
PALM BEACH ATLANTIC PRIMER
Roster: Link
2024 Final Stats: Link
2024 Record: 8-22
2024 Home Record: 2-11
2024 Away Record: 2-9
2024 Neutral Site Record: 4-2
SSC Preseason Poll: 10th
Head Coach: Jeff Huebner | Second season at PBU (8-22) | 10th season overall (108-129)
TOP SAILFISH RETURNERS (2024 stats)
ATTACK: Sydney Corbett (245 kills / .110), Harper Stokes (157 kills / .256)
ASSISTS: Savanna Rogers (160 / 1.51 per set)
ACES: Rogers (28), Corbett (26)
DIGS: Rogers (283 / 2.67 per set)
BLOCKS: Stokes (116), Kelsey Rogers (78)
FAIRMONT STATE PRIMER
Roster: Link
2024 Final Stats: Link
2024 Record: 18-14
2024 Home Record: 12-3
2024 Away Record: 3-7
2024 Neutral Site Record: 3-4
MEC North Preseason Poll: Second
Head Coach: Travis Hinkle | Fifth season at FSU (86-45) | Eighth overall (129-81)
TOP FALCON RETURNERS (2024 stats)
ATTACK: Joey Borelle (417 kills / .232), Baylie Ostvig (413 kills / .198)
ASSISTS: Kelsie Dangerfield (782 / 6.41 per set)
ACES: Josie Skinn (44), Borelle (25)
DIGS: Skinn (656 / 5.38 per set)
BLOCKS: Natalie Zemba (106), Gabi Smith (75)
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock continues non-conference competition with four matches Sept. 12-13 at the Hall of Fame City Challenge.
To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official Athletic Communication accounts on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter, @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).
Row brings more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience to Bakersfield, including seven years at the NCAA Division I level, four years at the NCAA Division II level, and one year national team experience. His background includes recruiting coordinator, full program operations, and on-court technical development.
Most recently, Row served as Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of North Florida, where he was named recruiting coordinator during the 2024 offseason and helped assemble the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history. In 2023, he was recognized nationally as one of the sport’s rising coaches, earning a spot on the Volleyball Magazine College Coaching Hotshots Watchlist.
Row previously coached at Cal State Bakersfield from 2022–23 and also held coaching roles at the University of Georgia, the Women’s Canadian National Team, and Carson-Newman University. Across his NCAA Division I coaching career, he has helped develop multiple All-Americans, All-Conference honorees, conference award winners, and professional athletes.
“I’m thrilled to be back in Bakersfield and to continue my journey alongside Coach Wright,” Row said. “Her genuine care for people, high standards for culture, and relentless pursuit of excellence align with my coaching values, and I’m excited to see Bakersfield grow to the top of the Big West.”
“Bakersfield provides a comprehensive student-athlete experience – academic achievement, athletic excellence, and personal growth. The backbone of this experience is outstanding administration and the supportive Bakersfield community.”
“I’m grateful for the mentors and family who have supported me to this point. I’m confident Bakersfield is on a path to making history, and I’m honored to be part of the future. It’s great to be back in Bako!”
Wright highlighted Row’s impact and familiarity with the program.
“I’m elated to have Brandon join our staff as Associate Head Coach,” Wright said. “He’s a proven players coach and has an excellent balance of skills to help make a program great! It’s important to have everyone ‘Rowing in the Wright direction,’ and Brandon will help our program do just that! His work ethic is unmatched, and I am excited to continue what we’ve been doing together in a community I’m deeply proud of and in the Big West.”
For more information on Cal State Bakersfield women’s volleyball, including schedules, roster updates, and program news, visit GoRunners.com and follow the Roadrunners on social media.
NEW YORK, N.Y. – In just her first race as a member of the TCNJ women’s track and field squad, Lucia Garcia-Beltran took down a program record which had stood for 14 seasons. Her record-setting run highlighted TCNJ’s performance at the Lions Indoor Invitational on Friday.
ON THE TRACK
Lucia Garcia-Beltran posted a time of 7.63 in the 60m, breaking Miriam Khan’s previous program record set in 2011 (7.74). Garcia-Beltran’s time is also currently the fifth-best in Division III. Sarah Scepkowski ran the 60m before that race, finishing fifth with a time of 9.34—a new PR.
Kelly O’Grady claimed TCNJ’s second win of the day, logging a time of 1:16.62 in the 500m. Her time was over a second faster than the runner-up from Fordham. Kelsey Thomas posted a time of 41.75 in the 300m, while Mackenzie Burke logged a 42.10 in that same race. Burke’s time set herself a new PR. Cameron Ruffini and Breanna Casais both finished inside the top 10 in the 400m. Ruffini finished in 7th (1:02.68) with Casais right behind in 8th (1:03.14).
TCNJ’s distance runners also ran well, with Alex Grivas setting a new PR in the mile (5:24.99). Ava Biemuller logged the best overall finish among the group; she finished in 5th with her PR time of 10:34.02.
IN THE FIELD
In addition to her top-5 finish in hurdles, Scepkowski finished in second place in the high jump, clearing 1.60m and recording a new PR in the process. That 1.60m-mark is top-20 in Division III. Lia Malave led the way in the long jump with her mark of 5.32m. Finally, Allison Lavin put a bow on the meet with her second-place efforts in both the shot put and weight throw (11.13m, 14.34).
It’s impossible to think about women’s volleyball without thinking about Nebraska.
It’s not about the six national titles the Cornhuskers have, or their extensive list of All-Americans. It’s because of a volleyball culture developed over the decades that has tied itself to the very core of the state’s identity.
It’s top-tier investment from administration, fans and community that has led not just to the program’s on-court success, but to T-shirts boasting that Nebraska is “the volleyball state,” a match that was the second-highest attended women’s sporting event in the world and, crucially, a revenue-generating Cornhusker program.
Texas A&M volleyball head coach Jamie Morrison wants the Aggies to reach that level — and he doesn’t think it’s that far away.
“When I took the job … I had a checklist of things, and one of them was where I could build something that is similar to here, where people really, really care about the sport of volleyball,” Morrison said before the Aggies’ first NCAA Tournament match in Lincoln, Nebraska, earlier in 2025. “And for me, it was about getting the 12th Man to get addicted to the game that we love. And I think that’s happening right now. So it’s not even like building there. I think we’re almost there. I think there’s a demand for season tickets next season. Things are happening along those lines where it’s going to get to that level.”
Of course, Morrison and the Aggies are no strangers to reaching ambitious goals. This season, A&M won its first national championship in school history by defeating three 1-seeds in a row in one of the sport’s wildest NCAA Tournament runs to date, all in Morrison’s third year in Aggieland.
But, to take that next step and build the sort of revenue-generating program that will stand the test of time, it’ll require more than just wins on the court. It requires buy-in from administrators and fans alike.
Administration support
Like many A&M coaches, Morrison — who was hired by former athletic director Ross Bjork before the latter left for Ohio State — felt uncertain about the school’s athletic director vacancy.
Then came a major stroke of good fortune when, out of all candidates, the Aggies landed on then-Nebraska AD Trev Alberts, the Cornhuskers’ athletic director for, among other events, 2023’s “Volleyball Day in Nebraska,” a two-match event at Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium that featured an attendance of 92,003 — the world’s second-most attended women’s sporting event.
“When I got hired, I said, like, ‘I want to become the second program to be profitable in the United States, and I want to give back to the athletic department,’” Morrison said before the Aggies’ match against the Cornhuskers. “To have somebody that doesn’t scoff at that and be like, ‘That’s impossible,’ but someone that says, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s possible. Let’s get to work.’ I think that’s huge. And I think to have someone that knows what it can be and knows how to build it to that has been a huge asset for me.”
More than just having the experience of leading an athletic department that places an emphasis on volleyball, Alberts is a bonafide volleyball nerd.
“He loves watching the sport, and I think he’s probably been at 80% of our matches at home,” Morrison said. “He sits courtside and gets nervous and loves it and talks to me afterwards and knows the game enough to … be able to go back and forth and banter about the volleyball game. And I don’t think that’s the case at most schools, and I’m very, very thankful for it.”
Though that investment has to include the pocketbook. In the fiscal year 2024 — the college sports fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 — Nebraska topped all Division I public institutions with a women’s volleyball operating budget of $5,911,267. A&M was seventh on that list with a budget of $3,747,561, according to data access via public records requests and published by Extra Points’ Matt Brown.
That does not include things like compensation earned via NIL or from revenue sharing with athletes. But the Aggies have confirmed that volleyball is one of the six programs that A&M is sharing revenue with athletes in.
Both Morrison and Alberts seem aligned with a growth mindset that A&M can be one of those few revenue-generating programs that turns into a profit for the athletic department. And they aren’t afraid to use Nebraska as the template.
“I brought a lot of people from our administration [to Lincoln] last year just to understand that this is possible,” Morrison said. “That having, I don’t know, a revenue-generating volleyball program that is adding to the athletic department, is possible. And I think we’re on our way there.”
But as part of that investment, there has to be another variable that continues to grow: fan buy-in.
Fan support
When one walks into Nebraska’s Bob Devaney Sports Center, there’s a palpable weight that seems to fill the arena.
It’s a feeling of hype, of expectation, a sense that this place is the peak of the sport. It’s a tangible feeling that represents everything Nebraska volleyball stands for, and the white whale that every program trying to reach the Cornhuskers’ level is chasing.
During a match, that expectation turns into a roaring reality, like the jam-packed crowd that the Aggies had to face to beat the Cornhuskers in five sets to advance to the 2025 Final Four in Kansas City.
“At one point, I felt like I could barely hear myself think with how loud it was ringing in my ears when we went 30,” senior opposite hitter Logan Lednicky said after A&M’s win over Nebraska.
Morrison and the rest of his staff has been using the atmosphere that the Aggies had to overcome as a model for what they’d like Reed Arena to look like.
“I have a lot of respect for this volleyball program, for the team that is here, for the atmosphere that happens around here, in the community around this area and how much they love the game of volleyball,” Morrison said. “And when I was choosing the place I was going to go to build a program to build. … A lot of it was based on, I wanted to build an audience similar to this. So to hear that that was that active back at home, I guarantee our attendance is going to go up next year, and again, we have some of the best fans in the country, but I’m proud that we’re well on the way to developing something that’s similar to what they have here at Nebraska.”
In a literal sense, the 12th Man has been buying in. In 2025 the Aggies set a program record for season tickets sold, and after winning a national title, nobody will be surprised to see that number skyrocket next year.
The Aggies’ student section and overall attendance have been reaching new heights, too. A&M set a program record with 9,801 fans attending its five-set win over Texas on Oct. 31, 2025.
“To see how far it’s come, it’s just really awesome,” senior libero Ava Underwood said after the Aggies’ final match at Reed Arena, a 3-1 NCAA Tournament win over TCU. “It’s been a dream. I mean, the fact that we get to play in front of those fans every single day is great. And we knew it was gonna come to an end, but the 12th Man showed up, as they always do, and this place is becoming a volleyball powerhouse.”
Now, the trick is to make things sustainable. Nebraska has been able to reach the heights it has because it’s continued winning on the court, yes, but also because its athletic department and fans have remained invested in the program even when it’s not winning national titles, with its last coming in 2017.
Morrison has said publicly that winning a national championship every year cannot become an expectation — the sport just isn’t built that way. And as the defending national champions replace nine departing seniors and return just two starters, A&M is in for a rebuild year.
But as long as the trifecta of continued investment, fan engagement and support paired with consistent on-court success remains, there’s no reason that the Aggies can’t accomplish all of the goals Morrison and his staff have set for the future.
“I came here not only to be good in one year,” Morrison said after the match against TCU. “I came only not to entertain this crowd … once this season and have them disappear, I came here to have sustained success. And I think that’s possible at this university. It’s possible because of the fan base, because of the 12th Man, the way people show up, people want to come play in front of people where this matters. I think this administration is supporting our program and women’s athletics, and I think we’re going to be a formidable force for years to come.”
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Maxim Rychkov took down yet another program record to headline the Lions Indoor Invitational for TCNJ’s men’s track and field squad.
ON THE TRACK
Rychkov’s new record came in the 400m, where he won the race with a rapid time of 47.95. That time, which shaves about half of a second off the previous record of 48.57, is 6th-best in Division III and 23rd-best across all three divisions. Noah Traverso finished in second behind Rychkov in that race, posting a time of 49.03. His time is currently the 16th-fastest in Division III and also an NCAA top-100 mark.
Jayvee Dumas recorded a new PR in the 60m hurdles, finishing in 5th place with a time of 8.54.
Tyler Seaton and Zach Salib both logged PR times en route to top-10 finishes in the 200m. Seaton finished in 6th (22.85) and Salib finished in 9th (23.07). Brody Dillich finished in under two minutes in the 800m, placing 6th with a time of 1:59.17. Victor Akinboboye posted an impressive time of 35.54 in the 300m. His time was 18th-best in Division III. Anthony Senatore was the first Lion across the line in the 500m; he finished 7th in 1:06.36.
Building off of a championship season, TCNJ’s cross country runners shined in the long-distance events. Brandon Chen (3rd, 8:38.71), Phil Pace (4th, 8:38.76), Kevin Matthews (7th, 8:46.61), Josh Santiago (10th, 8:50.29), Evan Melito (11th, 8:52.87), and Anthony Guarino (15th, 9:07.72), all recorded DIII top-100 times in the 3000m. In the mile, Ryan Segalla led the with a 10th-place finish (4:28.13).
IN THE FIELD
Jayvee Dumas headlined the action in the field for TCNJ with his 3rd-place finish in the pole vault (4.55m). With his performance, Jayvee set the new 22nd-best mark in Division III.
Tyler Meier was the best Lion in the high jump (9th, 1.80m), while Ryan Donnelly (9th, 6.34m) and Juan Alino (10th, 6.14m) were the best TCNJ athletes in the long jump.
Finally, Braden Paulmenn and Christian Farhat logged a pair of top-5 finishes in the shot put and weight throw. In the shot put, Paulmenn finished in 3rd with a mark of 15.38m, while Farhat finished in 4th with a mark of 14.41. The two finished in 4th and 5th respectively in the weight throw; Paulmenn logged a 13.98 and Farhat logged a 13.64m.
Ryan Windisch gave up his role as a head coach at a lower level to join Rita Stubbs’ first staff when she assumed the top job for Arizona volleyball. The former Division I libero has proven to be indispensable to Stubbs in his three years on staff. He is being rewarded with a promotion to associate head coach.
“I am thrilled to announce Ryan’s promotion to Associate Head Coach,” Stubbs was quoted in Arizona’s press release. “He has been on my staff since the beginning and is extremely knowledgeable about the game of volleyball which has helped our program grow over the past three years. I am thankful to have him on staff and look forward to seeing him continue to grow with our program.”
Windisch has primarily handled the liberos and defensive specialists at Arizona. He was considered a de facto defensive coordinator when he was hired in 2022. However, the staff has been short one coach the last two years, so he has had to take on additional roles. In 2025, he added setters to his responsibilities after former assistant head coach Steven Duhoux took a job as an assistant coach with Ohio State men’s volleyball.
In addition to his role on the court, Windisch makes an impression on recruits. When asked about their reasons for choosing Arizona, commits and freshmen typically speak of him and Stubbs as a pair.
He helped lead the team to its first NCAA Tournament since 2018 and first tournament win since 2016 this season. Last season, he helped coach them to an NIVC championship and two 11-game winning streaks. The team ended with a 24-9 record.
This year, Windisch and assistant coach Simone Asque-Favia helped Stubbs coach the team to a 17-13 record that included 10 matches against ranked teams. The Wildcats won three of those matches, including sweeps over No. 16 Baylor and No. 13 TCU. They took one set in five more, including against No. 5 Stanford in the NCAA Tournament.
This year, Windisch’s professional accomplishments came after he and his wife Amber welcomed their first child at the beginning of the season.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 9, 2026) — USA Volleyball announced today that Rob Browning has been named an assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team. Browning brings decades of experience at both the collegiate and international levels, adding valuable perspective as the program continues to compete at the highest level of the sport worldwide.
Browning most recently served as an assistant coach at NC State during the 2025 season. Prior to that, he spent 20 years as head coach at Saint Mary’s College of California, becoming the winningest coach in program history. Under his leadership, Saint Mary’s made five postseason appearances and captured its first West Coast Conference title in 2009. He also launched the school’s beach volleyball program in 2013, helping develop multiple West Coast Conference award winners.
“I’m honored to join the U.S. Women’s National Team staff and work with this outstanding group of athletes and coaches,” Browning said. “I’m excited to contribute and help the program continue to grow and succeed on the world stage.”
Internationally, Browning has spent six years as an assistant coach with the U.S. Men’s National Team, contributing to four Olympic cycles, including the gold medal run at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He has also worked with the U.S. Women’s National Team and U.S. Women’s Junior National Team, helping teams earn gold medals at the 2010 NORCECA Championship and the 2019 Pan Am Cup. Most recently, Browning served as team leader for the U.S. Women’s National Team this past summer.
“Rob’s experience and passion for the game make him a tremendous addition to our staff,” said Erik Sullivan, U.S. Women’s National Team head coach. “He has a proven history of developing athletes and building competitive programs, and we’re excited to welcome him as we prepare for the next phase of international competition.”
Browning succeeds Mike Wall, who has stepped away from the role to spend more time with his family. USA Volleyball thanks Mike for his dedication and contributions to the U.S. Women’s National Team.
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