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It's (Almost) On

Men   And with an eclectic selection of some of the more popular surfers outside of the WSL’s Championship Tour, the list of competitors doesn’t hurt either: – Harry Bryant (Australia)   In a to-camera update explaining everything going on in the NST Universe (there’s A LOT happening, including the mountain bike event in New Zealand on […]

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It's (Almost) On

It’s (Almost) On: What We Know About Natural Selection SurfMen  
The Inertia

And with an eclectic selection of some of the more popular surfers outside of the WSL’s Championship Tour, the list of competitors doesn’t hurt either:
– Harry Bryant (Australia)  
In a to-camera update explaining everything going on in the NST Universe (there’s A LOT happening, including the mountain bike event in New Zealand on February 15), Travis Rice said the surf event is “probably gonna run this week,” which means they’re getting closer to turning their ambitious, multisport vision into reality.
– Coco Ho (Hawaii)  
– Victor Bernardo (Brazil)  
– Al Cleland (Mexico)  
In other words, we don’t have to wait very long to see if the NST crew is able to redefine surf competition the same way they have with snowboarding. It’s a bummer the broadcast won’t be live, but with Aether Films — the crew that recently brought us Trilogy — being tapped to help document the event, the ingredients are there for one helluva show.
– Kirra Pinkerton (USA)  
“It’s a new format that none of us know much about and we’re in paradise. It doesn’t feel like a contest yet, and that’s why it’s so special and different,” explained Olympic gold medalist Kauli Vaast in the press release. “I’m excited to have a couple of sessions with all these legends because they’re my friends. Surfing is a small word, and we all know each other and just to be in the water with them is something special for me. And then especially because there are good waves on the way.”
– Kauli Vaast (Tahiti)  
Details about both the judging and competitive format have yet to be released. But with eight men and four women, the numbers are there for a heat-based system, possibly head-to-head like NST does with snowboarding. Who knows though. Maybe they’ve got something special up their sleeve.
Coco Ho, in fine form. Photo: Ryan Miller//NST
– Soli Bailey (Australia)  
Natural Selection Surf’s social channels has tipped its hand a little as well, revealing that there are a couple other legends in the mix, possibly to act as contest director and/or judges. Either way, it’s always a good sign when Brad Gerlach and Nathan Fletcher are on the scene.
Now whether or not there was a holding period to guarantee good waves, it sounds like it doesn’t matter because the guys and gals are already getting shacked and busting boards, true to the “waves of consequence” that organizers promised for the event. And we’re not yet sure where in Micronesia the contest will take place. Palikir Pass, or P-Pass, is the area’s most well-known, premier wave: a dreamy, critical right hander that has notes of a mirrored Cloudbreak. But the event is mobile, and the archipelago offers up all sorts of world-class reef breaks that can accommodate different swell and wind directions, so we’ll have to wait and see where the action unfolds.
– Mikey February (South Africa)  
When the NST announced earlier this year that it was expanding beyond snowboarding into mountain biking, skiing and surfing, the surf element seemed like it might be tough to pull off. But with a small crew of competitors and the alleviated pressure of not streaming the contest live, the crew is set up to deliver something special. We’ll see on February 18 whether or not they shake up the competitive surfing paradigm, or just put out a more-interesting-than-normal web edit. Either way, the pressure has certainly been ratcheted up. 
First off, with the confirmed athletes and broadcast crews already in place at an undisclosed Micronesian location, we know that the Natural Selection Tour’s take on competitive surfing will happen sometime in the very near future. And we know that the action — edited after the fact — will air on both Red Bull TV and NST’s YouTube channel on February 18, with the finals airing on February 20.
Confirmed Surfer Lineup:
Women  
+ Eithan Osborne (USA)  

It’s (Almost) On: What We Know About Natural Selection Surf– Noah Beschen (Hawaii)  

That’s a heavy crew. Photo: Ryan Miller//NST
– Anne Dos Santos (Brazil)  
– Milla Brown (Australia)  

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No. 17 Winter Haven beach volleyball advances to regional final

WINTER HAVEN ― It’s expected that the farther a team goes in the regional beach volleyball playoffs, the stiffer the competition will get. That’s exactly what happened in the Class 3A regional semifinals on Friday at Winter Haven, as Winter Haven, the No. 1 seed in regionals and the No. 17 team in all of […]

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May 2, 2025

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WINTER HAVEN ― It’s expected that the farther a team goes in the regional beach volleyball playoffs, the stiffer the competition will get.

That’s exactly what happened in the Class 3A regional semifinals on Friday at Winter Haven, as Winter Haven, the No. 1 seed in regionals and the No. 17 team in all of Florida, took on Riverview Sarasota as the No. 4 seed in regionals. The Rams took the momentum early before the Blue Devils recaptured its magical momentum that has been evident all year, ultimately winning 3-1 and advancing to the regional finals.

“(I’m) proud of the team for getting one step closer — 100%. This is two out of five. The third one is going to be big for a regional championship and to advance to a final four. But I’m so proud of them ― the fight that they showed today and the resolve playing against a better team and better competition where everything wasn’t going our way all the time. We had to battle some adversity, and the kids responded and answered that call. All the credit too. All the credit to the girls for seeing better competition and stepping up to the plate,” Winter Haven head volleyball coach Dylan Sechrest said.

Boasting some talented players, the No. 1 line of Sarasota won over Winter Haven’s, which comprises The Ledger’s Player of the Year Rylee Tanner and Kylie Catrett. But Tanner and Catrett put up a fight.

Still, the No. 2 line comprised of Sophia Whitaker and Kindyl Goff was challenged as well but eventually came up victorious 2-0.

For the No. 3 line, Emily Drier and Addison Traina seized control the entire time, winning 2-0.

Additionally, in an effort to play much better than last week’s performance, the No. 4 line of Hala Heath and Isabella Sumner fought tooth and nail down to the wire and would go on to go down 2-1.

“…I got to give them their flowers: They fought a lot better. They did lose the first set. Still came out a little slow there. But then the second set they came fighting back and took the second set from them. … So, a much better battle today (for)the 4 line, especially seeing some better competition as well. They played better today. (They) just got to continue to do a little bit better of a job of following the game plan and making in-game adjustments.”

And the No. 5 line, Camila DeJesus and Leah Robles, put on a dominate show from start to finish, also winning 2-0.

With an overall good showing, Sechrest said it will be all about honing skills, practicing solid serves, putting the opposing team in compromising situations and minimizing errors.

The regional final will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Winter Haven High School vs. Venice — the No. 22 team in Florida.



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Volleyball Returns to West End

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The re-introduced Vanderbilt volleyball program will play its first-ever NCAA match in Nashville on Aug. 29 versus Belmont with first serve slated for 7 p.m. The match will take place on Wyatt Lawn with a concert to follow. There will be special seating for season ticketholders based on availability. Fill out the season […]

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May 2, 2025

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The re-introduced Vanderbilt volleyball program will play its first-ever NCAA match in Nashville on Aug. 29 versus Belmont with first serve slated for 7 p.m. The match will take place on Wyatt Lawn with a concert to follow.

There will be special seating for season ticketholders based on availability. Fill out the season ticket interest form to be notified when season tickets go on sale.

Those interested in supporting Vanderbilt volleyball can do so through the program’s giving page.





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Utah dropping beach volleyball and cites its change in conferences as a factor

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah has decided to drop beach volleyball as a varsity sport after eight years in… SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah has decided to drop beach volleyball as a varsity sport after eight years in part because of conference realignment. Utah introduced beach volleyball — an Olympic sport since 1996 […]

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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah has decided to drop beach volleyball as a varsity sport after eight years in…

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah has decided to drop beach volleyball as a varsity sport after eight years in part because of conference realignment.

Utah introduced beach volleyball — an Olympic sport since 1996 — in 2017, when the Utes competed in the Pac-12 Conference. The Pac-12 had nine beach volleyball programs at the time but most of those schools have since left for the Big Ten, ACC and Big 12.

Utah is now in the Big 12, which has just three other beach volleyball programs and no automatic qualifying spot for the NCAA Tournament for its league champion.

“This was an extremely difficult decision,” athletics director Mark Harlan said this week. “We looked at the landscape of intercollegiate beach volleyball and the future opportunities of our student-athletes.”

Calling beach volleyball’s growth at the college level “stunted,” Harlan noted that just 12 power conference schools sponsor such teams “with little evidence of the sport expanding at this time.”

Harlan said the Utah athletic department would “work closely with each of our impacted student-athletes to provide them with all of the support they need” and honor the scholarships of those who decide to complete their education at Utah.

“Should a current or incoming student-athlete elect to pursue their sport at another school, Utah will do all that it can to facilitate the process,” Harlan said, adding that scholarship funds which had been dedicated to the beach volleyball program will be redirected to our other women’s sports.

Utah will now sponsor 19 intercollegiate sport programs in the coming academic year.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

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© 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.



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Hear Aussie Olympian Kyle Chalmers Predict Inaugural 50s Stroke OLY Champions

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last month, you know that World Aquatics announced the addition of 50s of backstroke, butterfly and breaststroke to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games event lineup. The swimming community’s response has been mostly positive, with Olympians and swim enthusiasts vocalizing their excitement for these rapid-fire races. Speculation […]

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May 2, 2025

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last month, you know that World Aquatics announced the addition of 50s of backstroke, butterfly and breaststroke to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games event lineup.

The swimming community’s response has been mostly positive, with Olympians and swim enthusiasts vocalizing their excitement for these rapid-fire races.

Speculation of who potentially could be the first-ever 50m sprint Olympic champions is happening all over the world and it’s not just limited to swim fans in the stands.

World Aquatics recently asked Australian Olympic multi-medalist Kyle Chalmers who could be at the top of the podiums just about three years from now.

To start, he’s not shy about pegging an Aussie duo for the men’s and women’s 50m backstroke, identifying Isaac Cooper and Kaylee McKeown as the inaugural champions.

Via the social media post below, hear who else Chalmers has tabbed for gold and his reasoning for the predictions.

Chalmers’ Predictions:

  • 50m back – Isaac Cooper (AUS) & Kaylee McKeown (AUS)
  • 50m breast – Adam Peaty (GBR) & Ruta Meilutyte (LTU)
  • 50m free/fly – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE)





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Badgers news: Could Wisconsin go after Florida star Kennedy Martin?

The Wisconsin Badgers are losing a player to the transfer portal, as it was reported by the Wisconsin State Journal’s Dennis Punzel that libero Lola Schumacher is headed elsewhere for her sophomore season. Schumacher was a key piece as a true freshman, playing in 30 games, while starting 23 at libero, leading the team with […]

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The Wisconsin Badgers are losing a player to the transfer portal, as it was reported by the Wisconsin State Journal’s Dennis Punzel that libero Lola Schumacher is headed elsewhere for her sophomore season.

Schumacher was a key piece as a true freshman, playing in 30 games, while starting 23 at libero, leading the team with 3.64 digs per set. She was named to the 2024 All-Big Ten Freshman Team as a result.

Stepping in at a position of uncertainty for the Badgers, Schumacher played better than expected, but was expected to be competing with incoming freshmen Aniya Warren and Kristen Simon this fall.

Wisconsin was expected to be active in the spring transfer portal for another piece, but that may come at another position, as Florida star Kennedy Martin made the major decision to leave the Gators on Thursday.

A 6’6 opposite, Martin is a two-time All-American and would’ve likely been in the conversation for Player of the Year in 2024. She has two years of eligibility remaining.

The Badgers were already looking for an opposite hitter after losing transfer Grace Lopez to a torn ACL, and the opportunity to land a premier player at the position has now opened up.

Martin could also go the pro route and bypass her remaining collegiate eligibility, so it’s still up in the air what her next decision will be. But, if Wisconsin is ultimately able to land her, it would be a major addition for the program heading into 2025.



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Southern Virginia Beach Volleyball’s Milius and Grasteit Earn AVCA Top Flight Honors in Inaugural Season

Story Links Buena Vista, Va. — The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) has announced its 2025 Top Flight award winners, and Southern Virginia University’s Flight 1 duo, Kami Milius and Claire Grasteit, have been recognized among the nation’s best. The Top Flight program, now in its seventh year, celebrates beach volleyball […]

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Buena Vista, Va. — The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) has announced its 2025 Top Flight award winners, and Southern Virginia University’s Flight 1 duo, Kami Milius and Claire Grasteit, have been recognized among the nation’s best.

The Top Flight program, now in its seventh year, celebrates beach volleyball pairs who compete in at least 15 matches at the same flight and win at least 75% of those matches. This year, only 88 pairs from 45 schools across NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, NAIA, and two-year colleges earned this distinction—highlighting the elite level of performance required to make the list.

Milius and Grasteit, both freshmen, stood out in Southern Virginia’s inaugural beach volleyball season, finishing the year with a team-best 23-6 record at the top flight. Their remarkable chemistry, and competitive spirit anchored the Knights throughout a groundbreaking debut campaign that lead up to a seventh-place finish at the AVCA Small College Beach Volleyball Championships.

BVB at Lynchburg University Grasteit 2025

Head Coach Jon Baker shared high praise for the standout freshmen duo:

“Way to go Kami and Claire. I’m so proud of them. I believe they are the only freshmen pair to be recognized. They are so awesome and they worked so hard this year. I see big things happening for them in the future.”

The Knights closed their first-ever season with 12 total wins, establishing themselves as a rising force in NCAA Division III beach volleyball. With Milius and Grasteit leading the charge, the future of Southern Virginia beach volleyball looks brighter than ever.

For the latest updates on Southern Virginia beach volleyball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_beach on Instagram.



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