Sports

Volleyball Heads to Las Vegas for Mountain West Tournament

Published

2 months ago

November 27, 2025

BACK IN ACTION
The Aggies prepare for the Mountain West Tournament held at The Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. Utah State enters as the No. 1 overall seed and will begin its run in the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 28, at 2 p.m. (MT), against the winner between Boise State and Grand Canyon. Should USU advance, the MW Championship will be on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 4 p.m. (MT).

FOLLOW ALONG

All matches during the MW tournament will stream on the Mountain West Network with live stats available through UtahStateAggies.com.

BUT THIS TEAM IS PERFECT

With a Senior Day sweep of Nevada, Utah State closed out a perfect 18-0 season in Mountain West play, only USU’s second undefeated conference season in program history, following the 1979 season’s 10-0 showing in the Intermountain Athletic Conference. It is also be only the sixth undefeated regular season in MW history, joining Colorado State in 2003, 2015 and 2019, Utah in 2006, and UNLV in 2020.

TOURNEY TIME!!

Utah State is 3-3 all-time at the Mountain West Tournament with all four previous appearances coming in the past four seasons. USU won three-straight matches to win the tournament as a the No. 4 seed in 2022 but lost its first matches in 2021 as the No. 2 seed, 2023 as the No. 1 seed, and last season as the No. 3 seed.

TOURNAMENT HOPEFULS

Should the Aggies claim an automatic bid or receive an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament this year, it would be only the seventh appearnace in program history. Utah State also went dancing in 2023, 2022, 2010, 2005, 2001 and 2000. USU also made six appearances at the AIAI tournament in the 1970s and 80s, including a run of five-straight appearances at the AIAI Nationals, winning a national title in 1978.

HIGH PRAISE

Sophomore setter Kaylie Kofe was named the Mountain West Player of the Year, earning the award after leading the MW with 11.70 assists per set during league play, the most by any MW player since Colorado State’s Katie Oleksak recorded 11.76 assists per set in 2018. Kofe recorded the most assists by a MW player this season in a three-set match (44 at New Mexico), a four-set match (65 at San Jose State) and a five-set match (62 vs Boise State). She is one of only two players in the nation with multiple matches of 60 or more assists and currently ranks fifth over the full season with 10.94 assists per set. Kofe has also added 18 service aces and 19 blocks and averaged 2.63 digs per set during MW play. Kofe is USU’s first-ever conference player of the year in volleyball.

In addition to Kofe, senior middle blocker Tierney Barlow, sophomore opposite side hitter Loryn Helgesen, sophomore outside hitter Mara Štiglic were all named to the all-Mountain West team while sophomore outside hitter Andrea Simovski earned honorable mention.

ROB! ROB! ROB! ROB!

Head coach Rob Neilson was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year. This is Neilson’s third time receiving the honor, also being named Coach of the Year in 2021 and 2023. Neilson joins Colorado State’s Tom Hilbert and Utah’s Beth Launiere as the only coaches in MW history receive three Coach of the Year awards. Neilson was also named the AVCA Pacific North Region Coach of the Yearin 2023.

Earlier this season, Neilson hit the century mark for his career in the team’s 3-2 win over San Diego State. Now at 109-58 for his career entering this week, Neilson is just the fourth coach in Aggie history to record 100 wins and the fastest Aggie coach to reach the 100-win plateau since Marilyn McReavy and Mary Jo Pepper in 1978. Neilson is one of only two active coaches in the MW to reach 100 career wins, joining Boise State’s Shawn Garus.

RECORD WATCH

Utah State has several single-season program and conference records in its sights. The Aggies are currently hitting .265 as a team, which would break the current record of .238 set by the 2016 squad. Barlow is also hitting .440, which would break the current record of .375 (min. 5 attempts per set) held by Denae Mohlman and set in 1997. Barlow’s .440 over the full season currently ranks fourth all-time among Mountain West players, while her .471 mark in conference ranks alone in third place all-time in MW history. Including her first two seasons at Wyoming, Barlow’s career hitting percentage of .392 ranks fourth all-time in MW history.

YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN

Utah State clinched at least a share of the Mountain West regular season and the No. 1 overall seed at the MW Tournament with four matches remaining, then promptly clinched the title outright in their next match out with a win at Fresno State. This is USU’s third regular season title and fourth conference title overall in the last five seasons. Utah State has now won nine regular season conference titles overall in program history, also earning titles in the WAC in 2012 and a string of five-straight titles in the Intermountain Athletic Conference from 1977-81. The Aggies can clinch an outright title with just one more victory. The Aggies have now qualified for every MW Tournament since the conference reinstated the format in 2021.

MARK THE MILESTONE

A pair of Aggies hit career milestones late in the regular season. Senior middle blocker Tierney Barlow topped the 1,000-kill plateau against Fresno State, now totaling 1,049 in her career, including 501 at Utah State. Sophomore setter Kaylie Kofe registered her 2,000th career assist against San Jose State, now totaling 2,087 for her career.

AN INSANE STREAK

Barlow avoided recording any hitting errors across the team’s matches against Wyoming (9-0-17), Fresno State (9-0-18), San Jose State (17-0-26) and Air Force (18-0-26). The streak ultimately ended in the third set versus Nevada after Barlow had gone 97 attacks without an error. This is thought to be the longest known streak in Division-I history according to available research.

READY, SET, GO!

Kofe has proved vital to Utah State’s success after arriving in Logan as a walk-on before last season. In fact, the Aggies have gone 26-4 over the past two seasons when Kofe tops 10.0 assists per set in a match, compared to an 10-17 record otherwise. Furthermore, USU is an undefeated 16-0 when Kofe clears 11.5 assists per set during her career.

Kofe had a career day this season at San Jose State, totaling 65 assists in a four-set win over the Spartans. Kofe’s 65 assists are a career-high and the most by an Aggie in a single match since Erica Moscoso recorded 67 assists against UNLV in 2016. They are also tied for the most by any player in the nation in a four-set match this season and only one behind the top mark in the nation for any-length match. Kofe is one of only two players in the nation with multiple matches of 60+ assists and currently ranks fifth in the country with 10.94 assists per set.

NOT SO SCARY SEASON

Utah State went an undefeated 9-0 during the month of October. This is the second time in the past three seasons the Aggies have gone unbeaten during October as USU went 8-0 during the month en route to a regular season MW title in 2023.

AGGIES VS. EVERYONE

Utah State and Grand Canyon met for the first time ever earlier this season, resulting in a 3-0 Aggie sweep. Helgesen led the way with 20 kills on a .704 hitting percentage, setting a program record for hitting percentage of 20-plus attempts. USU hit .741 in the first set against the Lopes, the team’s top mark for a single set this season.

The Aggies and Broncos have played 58 times previously with BSU holding a 30-27 edge. The series is split 13-13 since the two again became conference mates in the Mountain West. USU has won eight of the past nine meetings but is 0-7 all-time against the Broncos on a neutral court, including MW Tournament losses last season and in 2021.

USU trails the all-time sereis against Colorado State, 19-36, though the series has begun to shift towards the Aggies under head coach Rob Neilson. Utah State broke a 32-match skid against the Rams with a home win in 2021 and twice since swept CSU, once in 2023 and again this season. The Aggies have now won five of the past eight matches against the Rams. This would be the first postseason meeting between the two teams.

Utah State and Wyoming have played 51 times previously with the Cowgirls holding a slim 26-25 lead in the series. USU, however, has won eight of the past nine meetings. The series has often been dominated in stretches as Utah State won their first nine meetings against Wyoming before the Cowgirls rattled off 13 of the next 14. The Aggies then won six straight before Wyoming then took 12 of the next 13 matches preceding Utah State’s current 8-1 stretch in the series.

The all-time series between USU and SDSU is tied, 17-17-1, although the Aggies have now won nine straight versus the Aztecs. Neilson has lost only once to San Diego State— in 2020 in his first season at the helm. USU defeated SDSU twice in route to the team’ AIAW national championship in 1978, the only times previously the two schools have met in postseason play.

NATURAL BORN KILLERS

USU is now averaging 15.22 kills per set during MW play, the top mark in the league and nearly a full kill more than second-place Colorado State (14.25). Utah State’s 15.22 kills-per-set average would rank first in the nation over the entire season. As it stands, the Aggies rank 14th nationally with 14.10 kills per set over the full season. Utah State has hit over .250 in 15 of 18 matches during MW play, including an active streak of nine-straight.

A HIGH CLIP

Utah State set a program record for hitting percentage in a three-set match, hitting .567 earlier this eason at home in the team’s first matchup against Fresno State. The Aggies recorded 43 kills to only five errors on 67 total attempts to break the previous record of .550, set against VCU in 1997. USU also posted 14 aces in the match, coming within one of the program record of 15 for a three-set match.

THREE-HEADED DRAGONS

Utah State had three players top 15 kills in the same match in three-straight games. Against San Jose State, sophomore outside hitter Mara Štiglic (17), senior middle blocker Tierney Barlow (16) and sophomore opposite side hitter Loryn Helgesen (15) reached the plateau while Štiglic (21), sophomore outside hitter Andrea Simovski (19) and Helgesen (18) then did so against Boise State. The trio of Štiglic (18), Simovski (17) and Helgesen (15) then did so against Wyoming. This is the first time USU has achieved this feat in three-straight matches in the 25-point rally-scoring era. Furthermore, the Aggies had registered only seven such games since 2010 and had only achieved three across a full season only once before when the trio of Lauren Anderson, Kayla DeCoursey and Kaylie Kamalu did so three times in 2016.

THE WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Utah State has received a league-leading 11 weekly awards from the Mountain West this season, with six different players earning a distinction.

– Sept. 2 – Tierney Barlow – Offensive Player of the Week

– Sept. 22 – Mara Štiglic – Offensive Player of the Week

– Sept. 29 – Lauren Larkin – Freshman of the Week

– Oct. 6 – Kaylie Kofe – Offensive Player of the Week

– Oct. 13 – Kendel Thompson – Defensive Player of the Week

– Oct. 27 – Loryn Helgesen – Offensive Player of the Week

– Nov. 3 – Mara Štiglic – Offensive Player of the Week

– Nov. 10 – Lauren Larkin – Defensive Player/Freshman of the Week

– Nov. 10 – Tierney Barlow – Offensive Player of the Week

– Nov. 17 – Tierney Barlow – Offensive Player of the Week

– Nov. 24 – Tierney Barlow – Offensive Player of the Week

– Nov. 24 – Lauren Larkin – Freshman of the Week

ROAD WARRIORS

Utah State has gone 11-1 in true road matches this season, only falling at No. 5 Stanford. USU’s road record is tied for fifth-best in the nation by winning percentage and would also be a program record for a season, topping the previous mark of .762 (16-5) set in 1977.

CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN

Utah State is at the top of the Mountain West in numerous categories in conference play. The Aggies currently lead the league in hitting percentage (.301), assists per set (14.21), kills per set (15.22) and aces per set (1.96), and ranks second in hitting percentage allowed (.198). USU also owns the top single-match performance during conference play for aces (14 vs Fresno State) and four of the top five performances for hitting percentage (.567 vs Fresno State, .462 at Colorado State, .414 at Grand Canyon, .390 at UNLV).

Sophomore setter Kaylie Kofe sits atop the conference during MW play with 11.70 assists per set and is one of only two players averaging more than 11.00 assists per set (CSU’s Erin Debiec – 11.16). Barlow also leads the league with a .471 hitting percentage during conference play and is the only player hitting over .400 against MW competition. Helgesen ranks ninth in the league with a .328 hitting percentage and is the only player in the top 10 with over 220 kills, totaling 260, second-most in the conference. Helgesen and Štiglic rank third and seventh, respectively, with 3.88 and 3.63 kills per set. The duo also sit in second and fourth, respectively, with 4.49 and 4.27 points per set. Junior libero/defensive specialist Kendel Thompson leads the league with 0.39 aces per set and ranks seventh with 3.78 digs per set during conference play. Sophomore outside hitter Andrea Simovski and Štiglic also rank third and sixth, respectively, with 0.36 and 0.31 aces per set, respectively. Redshirt freshman middle blocker Lauren Larkin also ranks 10th during league play with 1.13 blocks per set.

BLESS MY SOUL, AGS ARE ON A ROLL

Utah State has won 17 straight matches overall, the sixth-longest active streak in the nation, and is now 16-0 to begin conference play for the first time in program history. USU’s current 17-match streak is the fourth-longest in program history according to available records, trailing only the following:

• 18-game streak to begin 1977

• 23-game streak bridging national title run in 1978 and start of 1979

• 26-game streak to begin 1978

The streak also featured three-straight sweeps over Weber State, New Mexico and Grand Canyon, a feat the team has accomplished only four times during the 25-point rally-scoring era (since 2008) and not since a three-game streak spanning the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

KILLER PERFORMANCES

With 22 kills against San Jose State, Helgesen now has four matches this season with 20+ kills. Helgesen is only the third Aggie in the MW era (since 2013) with three matches of 20+ kills in the same season, joining Andrea Simovski who achieve the feat last season and Lauren Anderson in 2017.

A DOMINANT STRETCH

The Aggies posted hitting percentages of .300 or higher in three-straight matches against Colorado State, Fresno State and Boise State, a feat the team also achieved last season. USU began the stretch with a then-season high .462 hitting percentage against the Rams before immediatley topping it with a program-record mark of .567 against Fresno State. Tthe Aggies hit .336 in a 3-1 win at Boise State.

DIFFICULT TERRAIN

Utah State now ranks 33rd and 36th in the RPI and KPI rankings, respectively, the only MW team in the top 50 of either. USU’s strength of schedule is a large reason why as the Aggies’ season schedule to this point ranks as the toughest in the Mountain West and 48th-toughest nationally by opponent winning percentage (.586). Grand Canyon holds the second-toughest schedule in the MW to this point with an opponent winning percentage of .566, ranking 67th in the nation.

SMASHING PERFORMANCE

Helgesen rewrote the record books against Grand Canyon. The product of Kaysville, Utah, hit .704 while recording 20 kills with only one error on 27 attempts, setting a program record for hitting percentage of 20-plus attempts.

The Aggies came out on fire in the first set against the Lopes, hitting a blistering .741 as a team for the set as the team recorded 20 kills, a season-high for a single set, and recorded no attacking errors on 27 attempts. USU nearly matched the blistering pace in the opening set at Colorado State, hitting .731 on 20 kills with one error on 26 attempts.

BATTERING RAMS

Earlier this season, Utah State won at Colorado State for only the second time since 1982. The Aggies previously snapped a 16-game road skid versus the Rams in 2023 and have now won two of the past three meetings against CSU in Fort Collins. This was also the first time USU has swept the Rams in either Fort Collins or Logan since 1982. USU’s .462 hitting percentage is the highest hitting percentage allowed by CSU since 2022. Last week, USU completed the regular season series sweep against Colorado State for only the second time since 1982. USU also won both regular season matches versus CSU in 2023.

TOP MARKS AGAINST TOP COMPETITION

Despite falling in three sets to then-No. 16 BYU, Utah State hit .258 as a team versus the Cougars, the program’s highest hitting percentage against a top-25 team since hitting .301 to win the WAC Tournament title against then-No. 3 Hawai’i in 2010. Barlow posted 11 kills on a .733 hitting percentage, the highest-ever hitting percentage by an Aggie against a top-25 squad according to available records.

IS THIS WHAT YOU CALL A BLOCK CHAIN?

Napierski recorded nine total rejections against Marquette, including one solo block, shattering her previous career-high of six total blocks last season against Weber State.

In her first extended action of the seaosn, freshman middle blocker Ava Martin recorded 10 blocks in the team’s 3-2 home win against San Diego State, tied for the most by an Aggie freshman since Hannah Smith had 13 blocks against Fresno State in 2014.

ISLAND LIVING

Utah State defeated Hawaii, 3-0, last weekend as part of the Rainbow Wahine Volleyball Classic. The win was the program’s first road win over Hawaii since 2007 and only the fourth time in program history the Aggies have defeated the Rainbow Wahine on the road. Utah State and Hawaii were previously conference mates in the Big West from 1990-95 and the WAC from 2005-11.

BACK FOR MORE

The Aggies boast a pair of players who received preseason all-Mountain West recognition this season, making Utah State the only team in the conference with multiple selectees. Barlow and Kofe each earned the honor. Both also earned all-MW honors last season, as Barlow was named to the all-MW team for the second time in her career, first earning the award in 2023 while at Wyoming. Kofe earned all-MW honorable mention last season, one of only three freshmen to receive all-MW honors from the conference last year.

DRAWING A CROWD

Utah State set a new program record in home attendance earlier this season against BYU. Playing in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, the Aggies drew 4,932 fans, shattering the previous program attendance record of 2,559, set last season in the Spectrum versus Utah Valley.

WELL TRAVELED

Utah State has three international players on its roster in sophomores outside hitter Andrea Simovski (Belgrade, Serbia), libero/defensive specialist Jagoda Bialek (Opole, Poland) and outside hitter Mara Štiglić (Rijeka, Croatia). USU’s 2025 roster also features eight different U.S. states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Texas, Utah and Washington).

EARNED RESPECT

The Aggies enter the 2025 campaign as preseason favorites to win the Mountain West title according the conference’s preseason coaches poll. Utah State received seven of 12 first-place votes and 114 total points, finishing ahead of second-place Colorado State with 106 points and three first-place votes. San Diego State received the final two first-place votes and placed third with 96 points. This is the second time in the past three seasons the Aggies have been picked to win the conference after also entering the 2023 season as preseason favorites. It is also the fourth-straight year USU has been picked in the top two entering the season after heading into 2022 and 2024 picked second in the preseason poll.

YOUTH MOVEMENT

This year, Utah State’s roster still leans young as the Aggies field only one senior (Barlow) and two juniors (Kendel Thompson and Olivia Tukuafu). Seven sophomores and two redshirt freshmen return from last season’s roster in addition to two sophomore transfers (Cala Cooper and Ava Nakai) joining USU. The Aggies also bring in three true freshmen for 2025 (Ava Martin, Hailey Spencer and Sadie Warren).

USU boasted the third-youngest roster by age in the nation last season, fielding 12 freshmen out of 18 rostered players.

BEEN HERE BEFORE

Utah State lost only three letterwinners from the 2024 squad, needing only to replace graduated seniors Adna Mehmedovic, Kelsey Watson and Kaylie Ray. The Aggies return eight letterwinners from last year, including seven players who appeared in over 20 matches and four players who appeared in all 29 matches last season. Barlow, redshirt junior Kendel Thompson and freshmen outside hitters Andrea Simovski and Delaney Lawson all saw action in every match of 2024, with Barlow also starting every match. Kofe appeared in 28 matches, while sophomore libero/defensive specialist Jagoda Bialek, sophomore right side hitter Loryn Helgesen and sophomore outside hitter Mara Stiglic appeared in 27, 22 and 15 matches, respectively. Additionally, sophomore middlbe blocker Ava Napierski and junior setter Olivia Tukuafu appeared in 11 and 10 matches, respectively, during the 2024 season.

GOING THE DISTANCE

Last year, the Aggies played seven consecutive matches which went a full five sets, beginning with the team’s win over Ohio and ending with USU’s comeback win at San Diego State. According to available sources and research, this is the longest known streak of five-set matches in women’s volleyball history at the Division-I level. USU played in 12 five-set matches last season, going 6-6 in those contests.

SHATTERED RECORDS

In Utah State’s first match against the Broncos in 2024, the Aggies set a new program record for hitting percentage in a five-set match. USU hit .371 in the 3-2 win against the Broncos, breaking the previous record of .361 against Alaska-Fairbanks in 1997 and ranking third in the nation last season for hitting percentage in a five-set match.

DOUBLE TWENTIES

Last season, Simovski and Štiglić each topped 20 kills against Boise State, while Simovski and former Aggie Kaylie Ray also achieved the feat against UNLV. Prior to 2024, Utah State had never recorded any such instances of multiple 20-kill performances in the same match since joining the Mountain West in 2013.

AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN

Utah State won the outright Mountain West regular season title in 2023, making it three-straight MW championships under head coach Rob Neilson. The Aggies also shared the MW regular season title in 2021 before winning the MW tournament in 2022. USU has won eight regular season conference titles in program history, including the WAC in 2012 and five consecutive titles in the Intermountain Athletic Conference from 1977 through 1981.

UP NEXT

Following the Mountain West Tournament, the Aggies will ready themselves for the NCAA Tournament. The Selection Show airs on ESPN on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 4 p.m. (MT). The First and Second Rounds will take place at various locations on Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 4-6.

Season tickets, mini-plans, and single-game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here or by contacting the USU Ticket Office at 435-797-0305.

Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.

– USU –

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Molinares Joining Mean Green as XC/Distance Coach

Published

38 minutes ago

January 12, 2026

Your Sports Nation

DENTON – UNT head track and field coach Doug Marshall announced the hiring on Monday of new cross country and distance coach Jafet Molinares.

“I’m thankful to (Director of Track & Field) Doug Marshall for the opportunity to join the UNT cross country and track and field family,” Molinares said. “I’m excited to work with an elite staff and can’t wait to get started with our athletes and coaches as we continue pushing the program forward.”

Molinares comes to the Mean Green following a successful stint at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, where he led one of the nation’s top NJCAA programs and coached All-American performers. He is the two-time reigning USTFCCCA Central Region Men’s Head Cross Country Coach of the Year and also won the Women’s award in 2025. He also coached the USTFCCCA Central Region Male and Female Athletes of the Year and individual national champions this past fall at Hutchinson, while the men’s team finished national runner-up and the women claimed a third-place finish. In all at Hutchinson, Molinares coached 13 All-American performers combined in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track.

Before his three-year run at Hutchinson, Molinares was the coach at Fort Scott Community College for three seasons (one as an assistant and two as head cross country coach) and coached 16 All-American performers in cross country and track. Before that, Molinares spent one season at Iowa Central Community College as an assistant, where the Tritons won the NJCAA Indoor national title on the men’s side and was runner-up on the women’s side.

As a student-athlete, Molinares was part of the 2013 NJCAA national championship half-marathon team at Iowa Central Community College before he transferred to Fort Hays State and ended up serving as a graduate assistant for the Tigers and coached an individual national champion, six MIAA conference champions and had runners set 14 new program records.

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Deacon Sports Xtra: Tina Readling Reflects on Journey Back into Coaching and Joining Demon Deacons Volleyball

Published

39 minutes ago

January 12, 2026

Your Sports Nation

When Tina Readling looks back on the path that led her to Wake Forest, it’s not a straight line — and it’s not one she believes was rushed or accidental.

After stepping away from full-time coaching to take an operations role at Penn State, Readling was clear with herself and with those around her that the move was never meant to be permanent. She wanted to return to the gym. She wanted to coach again. She just didn’t know exactly when.

“I wasn’t trying to make a career out of an operations job,” Readling said. “It was a blessing, but I knew it wasn’t me long-term.”

That clarity mattered when timing intervened. Just as Readling felt ready to pursue coaching opportunities again, circumstances shifted. Penn State head coach and national champion Katie Schumacher-Cawley announced her breast cancer diagnosis in October, and Readling felt an unmistakable pull to stay.

“I really can’t explain it,” she said. “I just felt like God had something else for me. When Coach Katie shared what she was going through, it became very clear that I was supposed to be there that extra season.”

Readling stayed, supporting the program through a demanding year that culminated in a national championship — an experience she still describes as uniquely meaningful, not just professionally, but personally.

“It was meant to be,” she said. “There are no words to describe it.”

Only after that season did Readling reopen the door to what came next. When she did, she wasn’t targeting a location or a conference. She was looking for the right fit culturally, professionally and personally.

That search led her to Wake Forest and to first-year head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer, even though the two had never worked together.

“I didn’t know Jeff at all,” Readling admitted. “But when I heard he got the job, I thought, ‘That says a lot.’ He’s been around successful programs for a long time and he knows what he’s doing.”

What followed was a chorus of trusted voices encouraging her to look more closely — former coaches, colleagues across the volleyball world and longtime friends who knew both Readling and Hulsmeyer well.

“In this business, it’s hard for a head coach to hire someone they don’t know,” Readling said. “So the fact that so many people made calls on my behalf mattered.”

Her campus visit didn’t answer every question, but it confirmed something deeper.

“I just knew this was a place I was supposed to be,” she said.

Two days later, another piece of the puzzle fell into place. Readling learned that her mother-in-law, who lives in the area, had been diagnosed with leukemia. Being closer to family suddenly carried even more weight.

“All things work together for good,” she said. “That part became very real, very quickly.”

Readling joined a staff that emphasized experience and continuity — an intentional choice for a program emerging from transition. Wake Forest entered the 2025 season following a difficult 2024 campaign that ended with an eight-match losing streak and a 5–15 ACC record. Demon Deacons Volleyball was in need of a reset, and Hulsmeyer built a staff ready to facilitate that change.

Year one showed signs of stabilization. Wake Forest finished with 15 overall wins and nine in the ACC – the latter being its most since the 2010 season. The team proved competitive at home and more consistent week to week.

For Readling, those results were never meant to be an endpoint.

“Being able to make it to the NCAA tournament would be great,” she said. “But that’s not enough for us.”

That mindset aligns with Hulsmeyer’s resume — built across the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 — and with Readling’s own experience inside programs that understand what sustained success actually requires.

“He knows what it takes to get there,” Readling said of Hulsmeyer. “And not just get there once.”

Equally important was retaining Director of Volleyball Operations Drew Langston, whose presence smoothed the early transition.

“We’re not spending time figuring out how things work,” Readling said. “Drew has it dialed in. That matters more than people realize.”

Recruiting, too, has been approached with patience rather than urgency. Readling views growth as something built deliberately over time. She’s been immersed in volleyball at nearly every level: collegiate coaching, youth and club development, USA Volleyball leadership, and conference governance. The sport’s growth, particularly on the women’s side, is something she believes Wake Forest is positioned to capitalize on.

“This is a great product,” she said. “The campus, the facilities, the academics — all of it matters.”

For Readling, returning to the gym has been both energizing and grounding. She speaks with enthusiasm about film sessions, practice planning, recruiting trips and the day-to-day rhythm of coaching — work she missed while in operations.

“I love being back in it,” she said. “I love the conversations, the teaching, the challenge.”

She also understands that building something meaningful doesn’t happen overnight, especially in a changing college athletics landscape.

“We have a vision for what we want this program to be,” Readling said. “It’s a journey, but it’s also about getting better. Every year.”

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Former Alabama Volleyball Standout Alyiah Wells Rejoins Crimson Tide as Assistant Coach

Published

55 minutes ago

January 12, 2026

Your Sports Nation

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Former Alabama standout player Alyiah Wells has rejoined the Crimson Tide as its newest assistant coach, it was announced Monday by head coach Rashinda Reed.

“It’s an honor and a blessing to return to Tuscaloosa, where I committed to at just 15 years old,” Wells said. “I spent five years helping to grow this program on the court and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to do so from the sidelines alongside the same staff who believed in me from the very beginning.

“I’m incredibly thankful for Coach Reed’s mentorship over the past four years. She pours her heart and soul into developing this program and its players every day, on and off the court, even long after they leave the Capstone. During my time playing for her, we always discussed building a program people would be proud to be a part of, creating a winning culture and leaving a legacy. Now, I’m even more excited to bring my loyalty and passion for Alabama into a new role.”

Wells played at Alabama from 2019-23, accumulating 987 career kills over 117 matches played with the Tide. She was an SEC All-Freshman team selection in 2019 and finished her career with a .312 hitting percentage and 411 blocks. Following her graduation, she played professionally in Europe with the Elite Féminine league in Sens, France for Sens Volley 89 in 2024-2025 and the Hungarian first division for MÁV Elore Foxconn in Székesfehérvár, Hungary serving as team captain 2025.

“Thank you to Coach Reed, Greg Byrne and the entire compliance and administrative staff who watched me grow from an 18-year-old student-athlete into someone ready for this opportunity,” Wells said. “I’m proud to be home with my family after my professional career in Europe.

“Thank you to my parents and grandparents for your endless support of a little girl chasing her dream of becoming a professional athlete and always putting me in the best position to be successful. I would not be here without my village! I can’t wait to get to work and be back in Foster Auditorium this fall. Bama has always had my heart. Roll Tide!”

Memphis, Tenn. native

2018-19 Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year at Briarcrest Christian School

2019 SEC All-Freshman Team

Finished her Alabama career (2019-23) with 987 kills, a .312 hitting percentage and 411 blocks over 117 matches played

Played professionally in Europe for the Elite Féminine league in Sens, France for Sens Volley 89 in 2024-2025 and the Hungarian first division for MÁV Elore Foxconn in Székesfehérvár, Hungary serving as team captain 2025

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Sports

Rising Phoenix: This Week In Elon Athletics

Published

1 hour ago

January 12, 2026

Your Sports Nation

ELON – The Elon women’s tennis team is set to begin its spring season at Charlotte this Friday. The Phoenix is coming off of the 2025 CAA Championship win over William & Mary at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center last spring.

Each Monday, Rising Phoenix will preview the week ahead in Elon athletics. Here is a look at each Elon team competing this week.

Men’s Basketball

After trailing the entire contest against Campbell on Saturday night, the Phoenix prevailed, going on a 10-0 run to defeat the Camels, 83-82. Kacper Klaczek and Chandler Cuthrell paced the team with 20 points each, followed by Randall Pettus II and Ja’Juan Carr, who scored 17 apiece. Pettus II scored the go-ahead layup to secure the victory. The Phoenix will spend the week on the road, facing Northeastern in Boston on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Hofstra in Hempstead on Saturday at noon.

Women’s Tennis

For the first time this spring, the Elon women’s tennis team will take the court, facing off against Charlotte on the road Friday. The Phoenix returns with junior Simone Bergeron, the 2025 CAA Player of the Year, 2025 CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and member of the All-CAA First Team in both singles and doubles. Also returning is Bergeron’s doubles partner junior Mariana Reding, seniors Helen Sarikulaya and Madison Cordisco and sophomore Lisa Kranec. Elon welcomed three newcomers this offseason in Cornelia Kack, Nathalie Marinovitch and Alexis Nyborg.

Men’s Tennis

The Elon men’s tennis team earned its first victory of the 2026 season against St. Joseph’s on Saturday, 6-1. Elon secured the doubles point via victories from Rafael Ymer and Jack Curtis on Court 2 and Veljko Krstic and Nikola Parichkov on Court 1. Krstic, Ymer and Parichkov, as well as Charles Pilet and Oskar Antinheimo, also earned their first singles victories of the season. Elon heads to Durham to face No. 17 Duke on Friday at 5 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

The road slate continues for the Elon women’s basketball team, who will face UNCW on Friday at 7 p.m. and College of Charleston on Sunday at 1 p.m. Against Campbell last week, Ashanti Fox scored a career-high 14 points with a career-high and team best four steals. LaNae’ Corbett led the team with 17 points and one block.

Track & Field

The Elon University track & field team will compete for the first time in 2026 on Saturday at the Mondo College Invitational in Winston-Salem. At the Liberty Kickoff, Jasmine Young took home first place in the 5,000 and Winter Oaster also placed first in the mile. In Boston for the Sharon Colyear-Danville Opener, Sarah Petitjean ran a personal-best 9:49.97 in the 3,000 while Hannah Weber ran a personal-best 16:29.00 in the 5,000.

‘Rising Phoenix’ is a student-led initiative to cover Elon Athletics. Through innovative content creation and storytelling, Elon University students will have the opportunity to highlight the moments, people and events that make an impact, leveraging the athletic department’s various web and social media platforms for distribution. Follow Rising Phoenix on X (@EURisingPhoenix) and Instagram (@elonrisingphoenix). Interested in joining this initiative as a content creator (video, graphics, writing, storytelling, or more)? Contact Sydney Spencer at sspencer9@elon.edu.

–ELON–

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Sports

What to know about the 2026 NCAA Convention

Published

1 hour ago

January 12, 2026

Your Sports Nation

The 2026 NCAA Convention begins Tuesday in the Washington, D.C., area, where all three divisions will gather for the annual event, which includes education sessions on important topics, action on legislative proposals and celebrations to honor the achievements of many people in college athletics.

The event runs through Friday. Roughly 3,000 attendees from member schools and conferences across the country are expected to attend. Below is a snapshot of the event. View the full schedule here.

New championships

All three divisions will vote on recommendations to make stunt and acrobatics and tumbling NCAA championship sports. If the measures are approved, the two sports will host their first championships in spring 2027. They would also join the following sports to earn NCAA championship status through the Emerging Sports for Women program: rowing (1996), ice hockey (2000), water polo (2000), bowling (2003), beach volleyball (2015) and wrestling (2025).

Additionally, Divisions II and III will vote on proposals at their business sessions to create division-specific championships for women’s bowling (Division II) and women’s wrestling (Division III). If approved, both division-specific championships first would be held in 2028.

Division I

Division I will hold a full membership vote on a proposal that would add three units each to the men’s and women’s basketball distribution funds: one unit for each team competing in the respective championship games and an additional unit for each national champion. If approved, teams competing in championship games during the 2026 tournaments will begin earning distributions that will be paid out to conference offices starting in 2027.

The Division I Cabinet is expected to consider a proposal to allow additional commercial logos on uniforms, apparel and equipment — except during NCAA Championships. The measure would become effective in August. The Cabinet also will consider proposals to create National Collegiate Championships for women’s stunt and women’s acrobatics and tumbling and may introduce women’s flag football to the Emerging Sports for Women program. Additionally, the Cabinet will review proposals from oversight committees in several sports — men’s and women’s basketball, track and field, wrestling and men’s ice hockey — to adjust notification-of-transfer windows in those sports.

The Division I Board of Directors will receive an update on the Decision-Making Working Group’s recommendation to decentralize certain regulatory areas of NCAA rules and will consider a proposal that requires a supermajority to approve changes to Division I membership requirements, effectively preventing the autonomy conferences from unilaterally acting without the support of at least one other voting member of the Cabinet or board.

Division II

Division II’s Convention week will include key committee meetings, impactful education sessions and its business session.

The business session Friday will include 17 proposals, with 11 membership-sponsored proposals and a resolution specific to the Division II Football Championship date formula. The Division II Official Notice and Question and Answer Guide provide details on all the proposals. In addition, the winner of the 2026 Division II Award of Excellence will be announced during the business session. The finalists were revealed last week.

The Division II Executive Board, Management Council and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will also meet individually and collectively during the week.

Division II will hold division-specific education sessions on topics covering business models and enrollment strategies, the future of Division II championships, strengthening the Division II academic and compliance framework, and the impact of Division I decisions on the Division II landscape.

Additionally, Eric Gaynor from Bentley will be recognized at a reception Thursday as the 2025 Dr. Dave Pariser Faculty Mentor Award recipient. Also at the reception, Division II will celebrate 20 years of Division II faculty athletics representative institutes, which provide professional development and education.

Division III

Division III will vote on legislative proposals and continue its divisional analysis. The NCAA’s largest division will focus on the betterment of student-athletes and its schools and conference offices.

Key legislative proposals for Friday’s business session include establishing a Division III women’s wrestling championship, redefining how a season of eligibility is used, permitting multiple automatic qualifiers for conferences and requiring use of the Transfer Portal. Dive deeper into the proposals.

The Presidents and Management Councils and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee all will gather. During those meetings — as well as the Presidents and Chancellors Forum and the Issues Forum — delegates will engage in initial discussions of the Division III analysis the Presidents Council is undertaking.

The Division III educational sessions include “Connecting With Generation Z,” “Building Campuswide Relationships for Athletic Success” and “How Technology Can Help an Athletics Department.”

The annual Special Olympics event will occur Wednesday afternoon, and the Division III LGBTQ of the Year Award celebration will be held that evening. This celebration recognizes those in college athletics for their service and leadership. Division III delegates are encouraged to attend these events.

For more information, visit the Division III Convention resources page.

Awards

Several student-athletes, coaches and administrators will be celebrated during the Convention for their success on and off the field, as well as their positive contributions to college sports and society.

The NCAA Honors Presentation will be livestreamed from 5-6:30 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday. The following award winners will be recognized during the event, which will also include the State of College Sports address from NCAA President Charlie Baker. (Livestream)

Theodore Roosevelt Award: Dikembe Mutombo, Georgetown men’s basketball.

NCAA Woman of the Year: Sam Schott, The University of Texas at Tyler softball.

Silver Anniversary Awards: Nick Ackerman, Simpson men’s wrestling; Drew Brees Purdue football; Tamika Catchings, Tennessee women’s basketball; and Dr. Lauren Witmer, Millersville women’s tennis.

Gerald R. Ford Award: Charlene Curtis, Radford women’s basketball.

Pat Summitt Award: Nikki Franke, Temple fencing.

Inspiration Award: Francesca Loiseau, Marymount (Virginia) women’s tennis.

Award of Valor: Alex Guerra, Radford baseball.

Impact Award: Ella Brissett, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women’s tennis; Mia Levy, Yale rowing; Brayden Long, Slippery Rock football; Aino Martikainen, Franklin Pierce women’s soccer; Micaylon Moore, Nebraska men’s indoor and outdoor track and field; and Matt Wrather, John Carroll football.

Featured Association-wide sessions (all times Eastern)

The Power of Partnership: Leveraging Team IMPACT To Transform the Student-Athlete Experience (2:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday): This panel will highlight how NCAA member schools are partnering with Team IMPACT to create life-changing experiences for children facing serious illness and disability while enhancing student-athlete development. Panelists will share best practices, outcomes and stories that demonstrate the profound influence on community engagement and the leadership development of student-athletes. (Livestream)

Sports Betting (10-11 a.m. Wednesday): This session will educate attendees about prevention and harm-reduction strategies related to gambling and sports betting in collegiate athletics, including educational and mental health resources available for member schools. Experts will also discuss integrity trends and social media abuse research and monitoring techniques. (Livestream)

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Sports

Week Ahead: Monday, Jan. 12 to Sunday, Jan. 18

Published

3 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Your Sports Nation

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — Here’s a look at the week ahead (Jan. 12-18) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams:

WEDNESDAY

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL, at Anna Maria College, 5:00 PM: The Bears travel to Paxton, Mass., for a game against the AMCATS.

Anna Maria is a new member of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference after moving from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.

The AMCATS are 4-7 overall and dropped their lone conference game to Salem State, 71-67.

BSU, after a 1-9 start in non-conference games, are 2-0 in the MASCAC with wins over Fitchburg State and Salem State.

MEN’S BASKETBALL, at Anna Maria College, 7:00 PM: BSU takes on a MASCAC newcomer on the road.

The teams played non-conference games the past two seasons with the Bears winning both. They opened the 2023-24 season with a 119-110 overtime win on the road and defeated Anna Maria, 89-64, in a game played at Wheaton College last season.

The AMCATS are 4-8 overall and 1-1 in the conference with a loss to Salem State and a win over the Mass. College of Liberal Arts.

BSU is 3-10 overall and is 1-1 in the MASCAC, defeating Fitchburg State and losing to Salem State.

FRIDAY

MEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD, at the Bates Invitational & Multi, 10:00 AM: Ryker King and Drew Alves will compete in the heptathlon at the two-day meet held at Bates College’s Merrill Gymnasium.

The University of New Hampshire finished first last season while Bates was second in the seven-team field.

SATURDAY

MEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD, at the Branwen Smith-King Invitational, 10:00 AM: The Bears will take part in the meet held at Tufts University.

Last season, BSU was third in the six-team field with Kevin McBirney winning the 1,000-meter run, breaking the school record with a time of 2:29.42.

MEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD, at the Bates Invitational & Multi, 10:00 AM: King and Alves will wrap up their two-day stay at the Bates College meet in Lewiston, Maine.

WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD, at the Branwen Smith-King Invitational, 10:00 AM: The Bears compete in the meet at Tufts University.

Kiara Abrantes led BSU by winning two events last season, setting a school record of 25.26 seconds in the 200 and placing first in the 60.

Serenity Sands was also first for BSU in the high jump, helping the Bears wind up third overall.

WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING, at home, Brandeis and Keene State, Noon: The Bears have their first competition since Dec. 6 when they host a tri-meet against the Judges and the Owls.

BSU lost to both Keene State, 166-133, and Brandeis, 165-121, in a tri-meet in New Hampshire last year.

MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING, at home, Brandeis and Keene State, Noon: The Bears return to the pool for the first time since hosting the BSU Invitational on Dec. 6.

In a tri-meet a year ago in New Hampshire, BSU split a pair, defeating Keene State, 145-112, and losing to Brandeis, 184-77.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL, at home, Mass. College of Liberal Arts, Noon: The Bears close out January with four of five games at the Tinsley Center, beginning with a matchup with the Trailblazers.

The teams are meeting for the first time since Feb. 3, 2024.

WRESTLING, at home, Williams College, 12:30 PM: The Bears will host Senior Day at Kelly Gym as part of the final home match of the season.

BSU lost at home to Williams a year ago, 42-9.

Williams was No. 3 in the last New England Wrestling Association rankings.

MEN’S BASKETBALL, at home, Mass. College of Liberal Arts, 2:00 PM: After playing just two home games in the opening two months of the season, the Bears will be playing four of five games at the Tinsley Center to finish January.

BSU and Mass. College split two games last season, each winning at home.

The Trailblazers begin the week 3-8 with three straight losses and are 0-2 in the MASCAC.

SUNDAY

MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING, at Bentley University, 1:00 PM: The Bears will be in Waltham, Mass., to face the Division II Falcons.

Desmond Ng led BSU last season against the Falcons, winning the 100 breaststroke and placing second in the 200 freestyle. the Bears were defeated at home, 173-50.

WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING, at Bentley University, 1:00 PM: The Bears compete in the first of two straight road meets, traveling to Waltham, Mass., to take on the Division II Falcons.

BSU lost at home to Bentley, 189-99, a year ago.

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