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USD Volleyball Dominates 2025 WCC Awards

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1 month ago

December 2, 2025

SAN BRUNO, Calif. — San Diego volleyball’s West Coast Conference dominance was punctuated by a flurry of end-of-year awards on Monday afternoon.

The Toreros, who went a perfect 18-0 in conference play in 2025 to earn their 13th WCC Championship and their 27th bid to the NCAA Tournament, took home four of the league’s five major awards alongside four 2025 All-WCC First Team selections, one All-WCC Second Team Selection, two All-WCC Honorable Mentions, and one All-WCC Freshman Team nod.

Jennifer Petrie was recognized as the 2025 WCC Coach of the Year, junior outside hitter Nemo Beach was named the 2025 WCC Player of the Year, senior Olivia Bennett was chosen as the 2025 WCC Libero of the Year, and sophomore Kylie Munday was selected as the 2025 WCC Setter of the Year.

Beach, Munday, sophomore outside hitter Isabel Clark, and graduate middle blocker Kali Engeman all received 2025 All-WCC First Team honors. Bennett was the Toreros’ lone 2025 All-WCC Second Team selection, and freshman middle blocker Ava Durgan and redshirt junior middle blocker BayLea Sparks both received All-WCC Honorable Mentions. Durgan also picked up an All-WCC Freshman Team nod.

For Petrie, it’s the eighth WCC Coach of the Year nod of her legendary career and her first since 2022, when she was also named the nation’s top coach by both the AVCA and VolleyballMag.com. She has steered USD to a 25-4 overall in 2025 — already tied for the fourth-most victories in a single season in program history — while achieving the 18th 20-win season of her 27-year Torero tenure. Eight Torero players combined to capture a conference-best 16 weekly WCC honors under her supervision in 2025 as USD went unbeaten in the league for just the third time ever and only the second time under the WCC’s current 18-game format.

Petrie has now won 10 WCC Championships and steered San Diego to the NCAA Tournament 22 times. Additionally, she has now mentored 11 WCC Players of the Year, Four WCC Setters of the Year, Four WCC Defenders of the Year, Two WCC Liberos of the Year, 11 WCC Freshmen of the Year, and 69 All-WCC First Team selections.

Beach, who was named the WCC Freshman of the Year in 2023, was selected as the 13th WCC Player of the Year in program history after a dominant 2025 season that saw her hit .261 and lead the league with 467 kills and 527 points, marks that ranked 25th and 26th nationally. Beach also recorded 208 digs, 41 blocks, and 36 service aces, and achieved eight double-doubles this season. She received three WCC Offensive Player of the Week honors in 2025.

Bennett was named just the second WCC Libero of the Year in program history after totaling 440 digs, 146 assists, and 20 service aces in 2025. She achieved her 1,000th career dig on November 22 and was named the WCC Defensive Player of the Week two days later.

Munday earned her second straight WCC Setter of the Year honor after totaling 1,108 assists, 273 digs, 65 blocks (seven solo), 65 kills, and a team-high 47 service aces in 2025. She is the first player in program history to be named the WCC Setter of the Year in back-to-back seasons. Munday achieved 13 double-doubles in 2025 and had 50 or more assists in six different matches. She was named the WCC Setter of the Week four times this season.

Clark, the 2024 WCC Freshman of the Year, earned a 2025 All-WCC First Team honor after racking up 377 kills, 200 digs, 51 blocks (nine solo), and six service aces this season. She was named the WCC Offensive Player of the Week twice in 2025.

Engeman, who joined Beach, Bennett, and Munday on the 2025 All-WCC First Team, made the most of her final college campaign, picking up a WCC Defensive Player of the Week nod on October 20 before finishing the regular season with a team-high 110 blocks (16 solo) alongside 227 kills while hitting a strong .390.

Sparks picked up an 2025 All-WCC Honorable Mention after shining on both sides of the ball in first season as a Torero, totaling 99 blocks (15 solo) and 115 kills while hitting a blistering .448. She was named the WCC Defensive Player of the Week on September 1.

Durgan was named a 2025 All-WCC Honorable Mention and to the 2025 All-WCC Freshman Team after impressing in her debut college season, earning three WCC Freshman of the Week honors as she totaled 116 kills and 43 blocks (two solo) across 22 matches.

San Diego will play Kansas State in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament on Friday, December 5 at 2:30 p.m. PST at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. The matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+.

2025 WEST COAST CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL AWARDS

COACH OF THE YEAR
Jennifer Petrie, San Diego

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nemo Beach, San Diego

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Alana Marrs, Oregon State

LIBERO OF THE YEAR
Olivia Bennett, San Diego

SETTER OF THE YEAR
Kylie Munday, San Diego

ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
Genevieve Bane, Saint Mary’s
Nemo Beach, San Diego
Lucie Blažková, Washington State
Isabel Clark, San Diego
Sjakkie Donkers, Gonzaga
Kali Engeman, San Diego
Macy Hinshaw, Santa Clara
Havannah Hoeft, Portland
Alana Marrs, Oregon State
Kylie Munday, San Diego
Ella Piskorz, Pepperdine
Chloe Pravednikov, Pepperdine
Tristen Raymond, Pepperdine
Maui Robins, Portland
Lauren Rumel, Oregon State
Cate Shanahan, Santa Clara

ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
Olivia Bennett, San Diego
Lucia Busso, Portland
Maddie Boerstra, LMU
Annika Hester, Oregon State
Taina Kaauwai, Portland
Lexi Trapani, Santa Clara

HONORABLE MENTION
Mya Allen, Saint Mary’s
Maeve Bailey, San Francisco
Laine Briggs, Pepperdine
Madyn Cervellera, Seattle U
Melina Christodoulou, Washington State
Ava Durgan, San Diego
Grace Flanagan, Santa Clara
Tinons Munar Galmes, Washington State
Morgan Hayes, Santa Clara
Olivia Keller, Pacific
Elin Larsson, Portland
Astrid Puig, San Francisco
BayLea Sparks, San Diego
Sophie Stephenson, LMU
Layla Truitt, Santa Clara

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Mya Allen, Saint Mary’s
Maeli Cormier, Oregon State
Ava Durgan, San Diego
Petra Fritz, Seattle U
Alana Marrs, Oregon State
Tristen Raymond, Pepperdine
Eliana Ti’a, Washington State

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Emerald Acres Volleyball Tournament | MyRadioLink.com

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2 hours ago

January 2, 2026

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Emerald Acres Volleyball Tournament | MyRadioLink.com

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Former Illini basketball sharpshooter Luke Goode engaged to Illinois volleyball star Kayla Burbage

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2 hours ago

January 2, 2026

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Love is in the air for two of Champaign’s top athletes in recent years. Former Illini men’s basketball wing Luke Goode popped the question to Illinois volleyball middle blocker Kayla Burbage, the couple shared via Instagram on Wednesday.

“Proverbs 18:22: ‘He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord,’” Goode wrote. “Going into the New Years as future Mr. and Mrs. Goode!”

Goode spent the first three years of his college career in Champaign, graduating from the Gies School of Business in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in finance. After his sophomore season was cut short due to a foot injury, Goode bounced back as a junior, playing in all 38 games for the 2024 Elite Eight team. That season, the 6-foot-7 sharpshooter averaged 5.7 points and shot 38.9% from three on just over four attempts per game.

Last season, Goode spent his final year of eligibility playing for his home state Indiana Hoosiers before turning pro. He is currently suiting up for the South Bay Lakers in the NBA G League. In 11 games so far as a rookie, Goode is putting up 7.6 points and 3.0 rebounds in just above 20 minutes per game.

Burbage just finished up her final season of college volleyball. After spending her freshman campaign at Missouri, Burbage decided to make the move to Champaign. As a sophomore and junior, Burbage played in every match on Illinois’ schedule: 60 total. A shoulder injury sidelined the 6-foot-4 North Carolina native for her senior season, but she returned for a graduate year in 2025. In her final season at Huff Hall, Burbage ranked second in total blocks (82.0) for the Illini and had the fifth-most kills on the team (98).

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Hawkeyes Knock Down Nebraska – Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics

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2 hours ago

January 2, 2026

Your Sports Nation

IOWA CITY, Iowa – No. 14 Iowa (12-2, 3-0) defeated No. 20 Nebraska (12-2, 1-2) on New Years Day inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, 86-76.

Sophomore Chit-Chat Wright dominated the day for the Hawkeyes with a career-high 24 points, three assists, and two steals. Senior Hannah Stuelke followed with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists to notch her third double-double of the season.

The Huskers came out to a fast-paced 8-0 run to start the game. Stuelke got the scoring started for Iowa by getting to the line, sinking both free-throws. Three minutes into gameplay, the Hawkeyes began to capitalize on Nebraska miscues. Sophomore Ava Heiden led a 7-0 run for Iowa to bring the gap to 9-12 with 4:46 left in the quarter. The Huskers contained a narrow 21-18 lead headed into the second quarter.

Wright drained a three-pointer to start the second period, tying up the score for the first time on the day. The Hawkeyes went on to gain nine points on seven forced Husker turnovers in the half. Heiden led the quarter with eight points going 4-for-4 on field goals. A combined 26 points, shooting 66.7 percent in the quarter, left Iowa behind 44-45 at half.

The Hawkeyes came out of the locker room with an 8-2 run to put them in front. Iowa forced four Husker turnovers in the first three minutes of the third quarter, capitalizing five points off of them. Stuelke continued to be a difference maker for Iowa with seven points and two rebounds. This momentum pushed Iowa up 64-61 heading into the fourth.

In the final quarter, the Hawkeyes continued their defensive pursuit, forcing five more turnovers, adding to their total of 18 on the day. Senior Taylor McCabe hit a three-point basket at 4:32 to power Iowa to the end. The Hawkeyes pushed out a 15-6 run to secure a Hawkeye victory.

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Dallas Pulse set to make history in season opener at Comerica Center

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4 hours ago

January 2, 2026

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North Texas’ first women’s professional volleyball team will officially launch its inaugural season on Saturday, Jan. 10.

DALLAS — For North Texas volleyball fans, Saturday’s season opener represents more than just a first serve, it’s the beginning of something the region has been waiting for.

The Dallas Pulse, the region’s first women’s professional volleyball team, will open its inaugural season Saturday, Jan. 10, hosting the Indiana franchise at Comerica Center in Frisco.

The matchup marks the first Major League Volleyball game played by a Dallas-based team and is a milestone moment for the metroplex.

The Pulse will play 14 home matches during the 2026 Major League Volleyball season, giving local fans a consistent opportunity to support a women’s pro team built in their own backyard.

Saturday, Jan. 10 – Indy
Thursday, Jan. 15 – San Diego
Thursday, Feb. 5 – Omaha
Sunday, Feb. 8 – Grand Rapids
Thursday, Feb. 19 – Indy
Sunday, Feb. 22 – Grand Rapids
Friday, Feb. 27 – Orlando
Friday, March 13 – Columbus
Sunday, March 15 – Atlanta
Saturday, March 21 – San Diego
Thursday, March 26 – Atlanta
Friday, April 17 – Columbus
Friday, May 1 – Omaha
Sunday, May 3 – Orlando

Leading the team into its first season is head coach Shannon Winzer, who was named to the role in September. The January debut places Dallas at the center of the league’s early growth as women’s professional volleyball continues to gain momentum nationwide.

The timing feels right for North Texas. The region has long been a volleyball hotbed, producing elite athletes through nationally recognized club programs, championship high school teams and top-tier collegiate programs. Until now, many of those players, and the fans who followed them, had no local professional team to rally behind.

Dallas Pulse leadership told WFAA that they hope to change that.

Season ticket deposits are currently open, and the Pulse holds the No. 1 overall pick in the Major League Volleyball Draft scheduled for Nov. 24, giving the team a chance to add a cornerstone player ahead of its debut season.

Major League Volleyball is also preparing for future growth, announcing plans to add expansion teams in Washington, D.C. and Northern California in 2027.

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Iola outside hitter takes top honor on Texas 2A all-state volleyball team | APG State News

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4 hours ago

January 2, 2026

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Tritons Set for Preseason North American Challenge

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6 hours ago

January 2, 2026

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LONG BEACH, Calif. — UC San Diego men’s volleyball will prepare for the upcoming season with four exhibitions this weekend as part of the North American Challenge. The event will be hosted by Long Beach State on Friday and Sunday at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid.

The Tritons will play two Canadian sides, Alberta and Calagry. They will play each team once on both days of the challenge.

SCHEDULE

Friday, Jan. 2

2 PM – vs Calgary

4:30 PM – vs Alberta

Sunday, Jan. 4

12:30 PM – vs Alberta

3 PM – vs Calgary

Live stats for all four matches will be available HERE. Fans interested in attending matches can purchase tickets through Long Beach State HERE.

UP NEXT
The Tritons open the 2026 season at home next Tuesday, Jan. 6. Jessup will visit LionTree Arena for a match that begins at 7 PM.

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world’s preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.