Sports
Panther volleyball rolls past Rice in three-set sweep
OMAHA, Neb. — UNI volleyball’s offensive and defensive units shined on Friday afternoon as the Panthers picked up a 3-0 sweep over the Rice Owls in the opening match of the 2025 Bluejay Invitational at Creighton’s D.J. Sokol Arena.
Coming off an impressive home victory over Iowa State on Tuesday, Northern Iowa’s blocking defense racked up eight total blocks while the Panthers dished out six service aces against the Owls, all while hitting .324 as a team.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI set the tone early with the Owls in the opening set, surging past an early 5-5 tie to take control with multiple long scoring runs. A 4-0 Panther run put Northern Iowa ahead 9-5 thanks to a Jadyn Petersen service ace, while a later 5-0 run gave UNI a 16-7 lead with Reese Booth adding an ace in her first collegiate match back in her hometown. With Maryn Bixby accounting for three blocks, the Panthers tallied 12 kills on .259 hitting while holding Rice to -.161 hitting in a 25-13 first set victory.
Northern Iowa faced a stiff challenge from the Owls in the second stanza, who hit .359 with 15 kills to challenge the Panthers. Bixby and Hartman both tallied aces in the set as UNI built a healthy lead before Rice stormed back to tie at 21-21 and ultimately force bonus ball. The Panthers would prevail however as kills by Kate Shafer and Lindsay Oldendorf sealed the 26-24 win for UNI and put the purple and gold ahead two sets to none.
After splitting the first 12 points of the third set, Northern Iowa surged into the lead with an impressive 9-0 run, including multiple kills by Lily Dykstra and another ace from Petersen. Hitting .262 in the set with 15 team terminations, the Panthers held off another late push from the Owls, taking the set by a score of 25-20 to complete the sweep.
Dykstra finished the match tying her career-high with 19 kills on .485 hitting, while Hartman tallied a double-double with 13 kills and ten digs. Oldendorf posted five terminations and three blocks, as Bixby totalled four kills and a team-high five blocks. Isabelle Elliott recorded four kills, with Clubb finishing with three kills and three blocks. Booth tallied 18 assists with Kate Shafer notching 12 assists, while Petersen finished with a team-high 12 digs.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI improves to 5-0 all-time against Rice with Friday’s win, having never dropped a set to the Owls in the series.
- Reese Booth surpassed 700 career assists in the win.
- Lily Dykstra has recorded at least nine kills in every match this year, including eight consecutive matches dating back to last season. She has also posted ten or more kills in four matches this year.
- Cassidy Hartman posted her 11th career match with ten or more kills on Friday and fourth of the 2025 season. Friday also marked her tenth career double-double performance and third of the year.
- Lindsay Oldendorf surpassed 300 career kills in the win. She previously notched 269 terminations in three seasons at San Francisco.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Saturday night as they take on No. 4 Louisville in a rematch of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT with live coverage available on YouTube and the Panther Sports Radio Network (106.5 FM Corn Country / 93.5 HD-2).
UNI volleyball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Volleyball), X (@UNIVolleyball) and on Instagram (@univolleyball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
Sports
Utah Volleyball Adds Three Transfers to the 2026 Roster
Opposite hitter Loryn Helgesen (Utah State), libero Sierra Grizzle (Texas Tech), and setter Izzy Mogridge (Tennessee) will join freshman outside hitter Suttyn Harris who signed in November.
“We are incredibly excited about adding Sierra, Loryn and Izzy to our team for the upcoming 2026 season,” said D’Errico. “These three add to the qualities our team embodies that make this place so special. They will help us compete at a championship level daily and are all in on our culture of authenticity, consistency and connection. We hit a home run with this class in so many ways and couldn’t be more excited to get them in the gym this spring to start training with our returning core.”
Loryn Helgesen | 6-2 | Opposite | Kaysville, Utah | Utah State (Davis High)
“Loryn is incredibly gifted as a physical volleyball player with a huge upside and determination to be great in her career at the highest level,” said D’Errico. “We absolutely love that we get to keep a local talent of her caliber HOME and representing Utah on and off the court. She brings an energetic and fun presence that will fit right into our special group of humans from the start.”
Helgesen has two more seasons that she will spend with the Utes after starting her collegiate career two hours north at Utah State.
During her time with the Aggies, Helgesen was named an AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention (West Region), and All-Conference First Team in the Mountain West. Helgesen also broke a school record for hitting percentage over 20+ attempts, ranks 10th all-time in Utah State history in hitting percentage with at least five attempts per set, and seventh all-time in career hitting percentage.
Utah’s new opposite was a two-sport athlete before coming to college, excelling in track as well as volleyball and breaking records in junior high and high school.
The daughter of Lindzi and Jack, Helgesen has three siblings, Alyssa, Hadlee, and Jack. Mom, dad, and uncle, Kurt are all Utah alums. Hadlee, played soccer at Shoreline Washington College.
When not on the volleyball court, Helgesen enjoys painting, cooking, and hanging out with friends.
Sierra Grizzle | 5-7| Libero | Meridian, Idaho | Texas Tech (Mountain View HS)
“Sierra is an elite defender who led the Big12 in digs per set and was also one of the best servers in the conference in 2025,” said D’Errico. “She adds competitive energy, toughness, and a winning mindset to our program. She is the kind of competitor whose play will elevate those around her. We are excited for the impact she will have for us in her final collegiate season.”
Grizzle comes to the Utes after gaining experience as a freshman with the Wyoming Cowboys where she was a two-time Freshman of the Week and three-time Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week before transferring to Big 12 foe Texas Tech for her sophomore and junior years.
During her time with the Red Raiders, Grizzle was a two-time Defensive Player of the Week (Sep. 2 and 30 of 2025), ranked first in the Big 12 (20th nationally) in digs per set (4.82) and fourth in aces per set (.39). Additionally, Grizzle will bring 1356 career digs and 115 career aces to Salt Lake City.
As a high school prospect, Grizzle was recognized by the AVCA on their Under Armour Phenom Top 300 list, and their All-American Watch List. Additionally, the right-handed libero was a three-time all-conference and all-state selection, the Gatorade Idaho Player of the Year, and was named to Mountain View High School’s Hall of Fame.
She is the daughter of Valerie and Randall Grizzle and has one younger brother, Troy. Mother played basketball at Boise State, father played football at Montana State, and brother currently plays football for Boise State.
Grizzle enjoys snowboarding, biking, fishing, camping and food outside of volleyball.
Izzy Mogridge | 5-11 | Setter | Lutz, FL | Tennessee (Berkeley Preparatory School)
“Izzy is an elite athlete with a huge upside at the setting position,” said D’Errico. “She is a great competitor and teammate who has shown she can compete at the highest levels of the game through USA NTDP experiences and the Under Armour All-American game. She brings such joy and passion to the court that we feel fits perfectly with our programs culture.”
With one season at Tennessee under her belt, Mogridge comes to the Utes as a sophomore after playing 17 matches for the Volunteers with one start. She also had a stint last summer with the U.S. U19 National Team.
The four-year letter winner was a three-time Player of the Year and was one of 26 prep standouts chosen to play in the Under Armour All-American Game last January. In high school Mogridge helped lead Berkeley Prep to a runner-up finish in the 3A Florida Championships.
She is the daughter of Jennifer and Allen Mogridge and has two sisters, Liv and Lola. Father is the offensive line coach at Georgia Tech and sister Liv played volleyball for the Yellow Jackets and will finish her career at Iowa this upcoming season.
Mogridge enjoys making jewelry, collecting vinyl records, and listening to music when she is not on the volleyball court.
FOLLOW THE UTES
For an inside look at the Utah Volleyball program, including tournament, roster and news updates, fans can follow the Utes on social media (Twitter: @UtahVolleyball | Instagram: @utahvolleyball).
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH TODAY – UTAH 360
Sports
Johan Dulfer Announced as Next Hartford Volleyball Head Coach
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – On Monday, December 22nd, 2025, University of Hartford Director of Athletics & Recreation Alicia Queally announced the hiring of Johan Dulfer as the 12th head coach of the Hartford volleyball program.
“We are excited to welcome Johan Dulfer as the next leader of the women’s volleyball program at the University of Hartford. Johan brings extensive head coaching and leadership experience with a proven track record of being able to build elite Division III volleyball programs that are successful both on and off the court. I’m excited to have him on board as we continue to build our championship culture here at Hartford.”
Dulfer brings more than two decades of collegiate coaching experience to Hartford, highlighted by success across multiple NCAA programs. Most recently, Dulfer served as head volleyball coach at Ithaca College from 2016- 2023, where he led the Bombers to eight consecutive NCAA Tournament selections. During his tenure, Ithaca would win back-to-back Liberty League championships in 2022 and 2023. Johan would also lead the Bombers into the sweet sixteen on three occasions in 2018, 2019, and 2023, an elite eight finish in 2018, and a final four appearance in 2017.
“I would like to thank the search committee and Director of Athletics Alicia Queally for the honor of becoming the next head coach at the University of Hartford. During my research and my visit to campus it became clear that I really could see myself as part of the UHart community. Coming back to coaching in the environment that I experienced when I visited, was a no-brainer decision. I was so impressed with everyone’s passion for their jobs and for the University, their care for the student-athlete experience, and the desire to be successful. I can’t wait to get started. Together we will take Hartford volleyball to the next level.”
Before his time at Ithaca, Dulfer spent ten seasons as head coach at Clarkson University (2006–2015), leading the Golden Knights to four consecutive NCAA Elite Eight appearances from 2012 through 2015 and posting a program-best 37-4 record in 2014.
Across 17 seasons as a head coach, Dulfer has compiled a career record of 431-173 (.714), earning seven Liberty League Coach of the Year honors and five American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Regional Coach of the Year awards.
Prior to joining Clarkson University, Dulfer was an assistant coach at Division I James Madison University, where he served as the first assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2003-2005. While with the Dukes, Johan helped JMU make two CAA Championship appearances in 2003 and 2005. In addition, he spent seven years with USA Volleyball as a program coordinator for the IREVA High Performance program, evaluating and coaching athletes at national championships.
Dulfer also served as a regional chair of the Divison III National Volleyball Committee from 2017-2022.
Dulfer holds a master’s degree in Kinesiology/Sport Psychology from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in International Organizations from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.
For the latest information on Hartford Athletics follow the Hawks on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Sports
BYU, Notre Dame agree to football series in 2026 and 2027 – BYU Athletics – Official Athletics Website
PROVO, Utah — BYU and Notre Dame today announced the two universities have agreed to a home-and-home football series that will bring the Fighting Irish to Provo in 2026 and take the Cougars to South Bend in 2027.
“We are excited to announce this home-and-home series between BYU and Notre Dame for the 2026 and 2027 seasons,” said BYU Director of Athletics Brian Santiago. “We have tremendous respect for Notre Dame, and appreciate Director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua, who has been great to work with in arranging this series. These will be competitive football games, and will highlight Kalani Sitake and Marcus Freeman, two of the best leaders and coaches in college football. As private, faith-based institutions, BYU and Notre Dame share many common values, and this series provides an exceptional opportunity to showcase two world-class universities. It’s a matchup that will resonate strongly with Cougar fans and college football fans everywhere.”
Notre Dame will be making its third appearance in Provo next season when it faces BYU in LaVell Edwards Stadium for the first time since 2004. When BYU travels to face the Irish in 2027, it will mark the first meeting in South Bend since 2013 and the seventh matchup overall in Notre Dame Stadium dating back to the start of the series in 1992.
Notre Dame owns a 7-2 advantage in the previous nine games played after winning the last outing in the series in 2022 by a 28-20 tally at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. That game, played on Oct. 8, 2022, was part of the Notre Dame Shamrock Series neutral site home games. BYU’s two victories came by a 21-14 tally in South Bend in 1994 during BYU head coach Kalani Sitake’s freshman season and later in the last contest in Provo when the Cougars earned a 20-17 win to open the 2004 season.
BYU owns a 1-1 record against the Irish in LaVell Edwards Stadium, while Notre Dame boasts a 5-1 record against the Cougars in South Bend and a 1-0 mark in their neutral site Shamrock Series. The last time the two schools met in South Bend was a frigid, snow-flurry of a game in 2013 that the Fighting Irish won 23-13. BYU ran for 247 yards behind quarterback Taysom Hill in a one-score game heading into the fourth quarter but came up short in the end.
With the addition of the Notre Dame series, BYU has now finalized its scheduled opponents for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
BYU will play seven home games next season, hosting Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Cincinnati and Iowa State in Big 12 play along with nonconference matchups with Notre Dame and Utah Tech. The Cougars will travel to face Colorado State in nonconference and Kansas, TCU, UCF and Utah on their Big 12 slate.
In 2027, BYU hosts Big 12 games against Colorado, Kansas, Texas Tech and Utah along with Oregon State and Weber State in the nonconference, while traveling in league to Arizona State, Houston, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and West Virginia as well as to South Bend to meet Notre Dame.
Game dates and times and television plans for all 2026 and 2027 games will be announced at a later date.
Sports
Wildcats of the Week: December 15-21
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Tyler Butler of B-CU Women’s Basketball and Jakobi Heady of B-CU Men’s Basketball have been named Wildcats of the Week for the week of December 15-21, 2025.
Tyler Butler was excellent for the Wildcats at the Stetson Hatter Invitational in DeLand. In two games against Stonehill and William & Mary, she totaled 23 points on an efficient 9-14 shooting with 18 rebounds, five blocks, and two steals.
Jakobi Heady starred in a road contest at the A10’s Saint Louis. He led all scorers with 23 on 8-14 showing with six rebounds, an assist, and three steals.
Each week, The Bethune-Cookman Office of Athletic Communications recognizes one male and one female student-athlete through the Wildcats of the Week award.
This award recognizes student-athletes who have excelled in competition, in the classroom, and in the community over the past week, exemplifying the Championship Culture of Wildcat Athletics.
2025-26 Wildcats of the Week
December 15-21
W: Tyler Butler, Women’s Basketball
M: Jakobi Heady, Men’s Basketball
December 8-14
W: N/A (No Women’s Competition This Week
M: Jakobi Heady, Men’s Basketball
December 1-7
W: Daimoni Dorsey, Women’s Basketball
M: Sha’Nard Walker, Track & Field
November 24-30
W: Chanelle McDonald, Women’s Basketball
M: Jakobi Heady, Men’s Basketball
November 17-23
W: Jordan Brooks, Women’s Basketball
M: Timmy McClain, Football
November 10-16
W: Shayla Henry, Volleyball
M: Javon Ross, Football
November 3-9
W: Madison Molock, Tennis
M: Arterio Morris, Men’s Basketball
October 27-November 2
W: Amya Jennings, Volleyball
M: Andrew Kiplagat, Cross Country
October 20-26
W: Sthefany Carvalho, Volleyball
M: Jaylen Lewis, Football
October 13-19
W: Melissa Gonzalez, Volleyball
M: N/A (No Men’s Competition this Week)
October 6-12
W: Valencia Butler, Cross Country
M: Andrew Kiplagat, Cross Country
September 29-October 5
W: Amya Jennings, Volleyball
M: Ali Scott Jr., Football
September 22-28
W: Sierra Herndon, Volleyball
M: Javon Ross, Football
September 15-21
W: Zahara El-Zein
M: Maleek Huggins, Football
September 8-14
W: Nola Hemphill, Volleyball
M: Cam’Ron Ransom, Football
September 1-7
W: Reese Wilson, Women’s Golf
M: Stephen Sparrow Jr., Football
August 25 – 31
W: Kaleigh Williams, Volleyball
M: Andrew Kiplagat, Cross Country
For all the latest Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Facebook (Bethune-Cookman Athletics), X (@BCUAthletics), Instagram (@BCU_Athletics) and BCUAthletics.com.
Sports
Four repeat honorees highlight 2025 #SummitVB Academic All-League Team
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Four repeat honorees highlighted the 2025 Summit League Volleyball Academic All-League Team released by league officials Monday. There was a total of seven student-athletes named to the team that was voted on by the membership’s faculty athletic representatives and sports information directors.
South Dakota State’s Joslyn Richardson, a two-time Summit League Scholar of the Championship presented by JLG Architects, collected the second all-academic honor of her career.
South Dakota’s Avery Van Hook also earned her second honor and was joined by teammates and first-time honorees Kamryn Farris and Amanda Loschen.
First team All-Summit Leaguer Kali Jurgensmeier of Omaha added a second all-academic award to her list of honors this season.
North Dakota’s Lauren Perugini rounded out the quartet of repeat honorees while North Dakota State’s Ally Barth earned her first honor for the Bison.
To be eligible for the Academic All-League team, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.30 (on a 4.0 scale), completed at least one full academic year at the current institution and participated in 50 percent of their team’s competitions.
Nominations are brought forth by sports information directors from the league’s ten institutions and voting is conducted by both the SIDs and facility athletic representatives (FARs). The team is made up of the seven student-athletes receiving the most votes with all ties standing.
2025 Summit League Volleyball Academic All-League Team
| Name | School | Yr. | Pos. | GPA | Major |
| Ally Barth | NDSU | Sr. | MB | 3.94 | Management Communication |
| Kamryn Farris | South Dakota | Sr. | DS | 3.75 | Business |
| Avery Van Hook** | South Dakota | Jr. | S | 3.87 | Kinesiology & Sport Management |
| Kali Jurgensmeier** | Omaha | Sr. | OH | 3.82 | Biology |
| Amanda Loschen | South Dakota | Jr. | MB | 3.86 | Medical Biology |
| Lauren Perugini** | North Dakota | Jr. | OH | 4.00 | Dietetics |
| Joslyn Richardson** | SDSU | Jr. | DS | 4.00 | Construction Management |
*Career Academic All-League honors
#SummitVB
Sports
Wisconsin volleyball starter Una Vajagic enters transfer portal
Dec. 22, 2025, 3:11 p.m. CT
- Wisconsin volleyball starter Una Vajagic has entered the transfer portal.
- Vajagic is the sixth player from the 2025 Final Four team to leave the program.
- The redshirt sophomore outside hitter averaged 2.79 kills per set and showed significant improvement throughout the season.
Wisconsin volleyball has lost one of its starters from the 2025 Final Four team to the transfer portal.
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Una Vajagic has entered the portal, UW coach Kelly Sheffield confirmed Dec. 22.
Vajagic averaged 2.79 kills per set in 2025, which was her first season with college playing time. The Serbia native showed significant improvement throughout the season, finishing with 10-plus kills in 10 of UW’s last 11 matches. Setter Charlie Fuerbringer called Vajagic “literally the most underrated player in the whole NCAA.”
“I just don’t think she’s talked about enough, and the amount she does for our team is huge,” Fuerbringer said after the Badgers’ win over Stanford.

Vajagic is UW’s sixth player from the 2025 team to leave via the transfer portal, following setter Addy Horner, outside hitter Trinity Shadd-Ceres, middle blocker Tosia Serafinowska and liberos/defensive specialists Aniya Warren and Maile Chan. Unlike the other five, though, Vajagic was a starter throughout the 2025 season.
Wisconsin’s outside hitters for next season include Grace Egan, Madison Quest, incoming transfer Eva Travis and much-anticipated 2026 prospects Halle Thompson and Audrey Flanagan.
The transfer portal will remain open through Jan. 5. Players need to enter the portal during the window, but they do not necessarily need to commit during that time.

Sheffield said after the first five players left that he’s “extremely supportive” of the departing players.
“Them leaving is not an indictment on them or the program,” Sheffield said in a phone call on Dec. 20. “I care deeply about them and their families, and I would venture to say they loved and appreciated and enjoyed their experiences here. But you could also want more, and I’m good on that.”
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