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ECISD introducing esports to campuses

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ECISD introducing esports to campuses

Ector County Independent School District Director of Digital Learning Lauren Tavarez poses for a photo Thursday, October 28, 2021, at the ECISD Administration Building. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)

Since they are just starting, they don’t have data to back it up yet, but nationwide, it’s been shown that attendance improves when the students engage in esports because they want to be there and they want to be in school. Many students who take part in esports have never been part of an organization, club or athletic team at school.
“My guess would be more than likely, before the ‘25-26 school year, we’d potentially be looking at that. We wanted to provide this opportunity for our students so that they could be competitive in this way. Again, we want them to be future ready when they leave us. Our kids deserve to be able to participate in this if they would like to,” Tavarez said.
The students are competing, communicating, engaging and getting a chance at scholarships that they wouldn’t have without the introduction of esports, short for electronic sports. And they don’t have to be the biggest, strongest or fastest to be part of it.
She added that they are focusing on after-school clubs at the elementary level. There are coaches at each of the three campuses helping to lead those clubs.
There are at least 60 students taking part in esports between Odessa, Permian and New Tech high schools, Digital Learning Specialist Christina Sifuentez said. NTO has two courses that are part of the curriculum where students can earn high school credit.
“Some are gamers themselves and that’s what piqued their interest. But some are just willing to learn and figure it out, so I also applaud that,” Tavarez said.
People may see it as just playing video games at school, but a lot of teamwork goes into it.
“We want all students to have equal opportunity to be exposed to these experiences because it could ultimately lead to scholarships and things they can excel at down the road,” Tavarez said.
Another driver was equity as many students have the equipment at home, but others do not.
“That’s an incentive for both parties, for the students and for the teachers, because they do want to make sure that they’re paying attention to their coursework and their attendance, too, because they need to be there in order to get better,” Sifuentez added.
“Esports is organized gaming in our schools. We have students that are playing video games on both desktop computers and Nintendo Switches. Some of the big benefits to esports for students that really caught our attention is that it really encourages that sense of engagement and belonging at school,” Director of Digital Learning Lauren Tavarez said.
“We’re already seeing such success at the high school level. We’re already talking about having to put together the process and protocols for tryouts, because the club is getting so much attention that you have to have some limitations on how many kids. We only have so many devices for them to be playing on, and so you don’t want to have too many kids, but we also don’t want to turn kids away that are interested in it,” she added.
The hope, Tavarez said, is that esports will spread districtwide.
What is esports?
The STEM Academy also has esports, but Tavarez said they don’t help much with that squad.
She added that the coaches are “amazing educators that are willing to step up and do this, to be able to provide the opportunity for our kids.
“We’ve got three high schools, three middle schools, and three elementaries that currently have gaming,” she said. “Typically, the older kids are participating on the gaming desktops. We’re really looking to prepare them for college scholarships. There are huge opportunities out there for esports scholarships, which is crazy to think. A stat that I found was over million in esports scholarships were awarded to high school students in 2023. Many of the major universities have created esports teams. We’ve partnered several times with UTPB. They have started their esports program, and so we’re learning this together, but they’ve been great partners already. … Two-hundred-plus colleges and universities now offer varsity esports programs.”
In the last year, Tavarez said they have organized funding to provide gaming desktop computers.
“You think about the students that really connect with this. They may have been searching for their thing. What is their thing that they’re interested in? Doing something like this may help them realize that computer and hardware and those kind of things are something that they are interested in, so it opens up doors in that way also,” Tavarez said.

Abraham Suchil, a 17-year-old senior, and 15-year-old freshman Joshua Garcia, esports athletes at Permian High School, practice in the library. Both have enjoyed having esports on campus and find that it’s an incentive to come to school. (Ruth Campbell|Odessa American)

“They have to focus while they’re doing it; they have to be adaptable in their thinking as the situations change in the game. A lot of those things are skills that also benefit them in the academic world and improve their academic achievements,” Tavarez said.
With tournaments you have a manager, marketing team and shoutcasters, or announcers. Tavarez said there is also a whole production team because professional esports, for example, are broadcast worldwide.
Research shows that esports can provide a connection for kids that, for example, athletics, fine arts and Student Council would provide, she added.

OHS and PHS will be adding esports as a course next year, she added.
Kids at Ector County ISD high schools are playing video games during class, but it’s not just messing around.
Every year, students complete a Panorama Survey that gauges their engagement and belonging in school, among other things. Those feelings take a drastic drop the older kids get, Tavarez said.
Sifuentez said OHS and PHS currently run esports after school.
As with other extracurricular activities, students have to maintain their grades, so the coaches have to make sure that they are eligible to be a part of the program, Sifuentez said.
It’s not sanctioned by the University Interscholastic League, but the state is considering it.
“The big tournaments, you can find them on TV or you can find them streamed,” Tavarez added.

She added that esports also opens career paths for kids such as coding, engineering and professional gaming.

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Mustangs Upset 5-Seed BYU and Advance to NCAA Round 2 Versus USC

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December 6, 2025

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Set-by-Set Story

The Mustangs started strong, trading points with BYU early and holding a narrow 15-14 edge at the first-set media timeout. Cal Poly pushed ahead to 19-17 after the break, forcing BYU to burn both timeouts. Then, behind Leluge’s six first-set kills, the Mustangs closed the set on a 6-0 run to win 25-19.

Leluge, Beshear, and Fredrick powered an offense that posted 15 total kills with zero errors in the opener, hitting .357 as a team and siding out at a remarkable 94% rate. The set featured 16 ties, foreshadowing the back-and-forth battle to come.

BYU shrugged off any momentum shift in the second set, racing to a 12-7 lead while hitting .778. Though Cal Poly hit .500 during that stretch, passing struggles near the net allowed the Cougars to pull away and even the match with a 25-17 win.

In the third, BYU used several small runs, including a 4-1 spurt to go up 10-6, to build an early edge. Cal Poly closed within one point twice late, but the Cougars held firm to take the set 25-20 and a 2-1 match lead.

Facing elimination, the Mustangs responded with force in the fourth. Beshear’s powerful attacks and a strengthened net presence from Charlotte Kelly, Annabelle Thalken, Leluge, and Bullis helped Cal Poly seize control midway. Leading from 10-9 onward, they closed out the set 25-20 to force a fifth.

The Mustangs grabbed the tiebreaker early, taking a 4-3 lead and never looking back. A locked-in defense limited BYU to a .000 hitting percentage in the fifth, and Cal Poly surged to a 15-10 victory to seal the upset.



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NCAA Tournament Central: Colorado – Indiana University Athletics

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December 6, 2025

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A trip to the NCAA regional semifinals is on the line Friday (Dec. 5) evening at Wilkinson Hall. Fourth-seeded Indiana and fifth-seeded Colorado will meet in Bloomington at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ to determine the first berth in the round of 16 this season.

 

The Hoosiers worked an impressive sweep of Toledo on Thursday (Dec. 4) to open their first NCAA Tournament journey since 2010. Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles led the way with 12 kills while freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager recorded a double-double on 11 kills and 10 digs.

 

Below is a list of notes to know ahead of Friday’s second round match at Wilkinson Hall.

 

Gameday Info

vs. (5) Colorado (Friday, December 5th, 2025 – 6 p.m. ET)

Live Video: bit.ly/3MkznXp

Live Stats: bit.ly/3MF39WS

 

Notable

PROGRAM RECORD: The Hoosiers made program history this week in Bloomington after Thursday’s win over Toledo. IU broke a single-season program record for wins (24) in the NCAA era, passing the former mark of 23 from 2010. It will have a chance at a 25-win campaign on Friday against Colorado.

 

BALANCE ON THE PINS: Indiana is the only Power Four program who has three different players averaging at least 3.22 kills per set this season. On 10 different occasions this year, all three of IU’s pin hitters have gone for 10+ kills each. Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles leads the team with 3.49 kills per set.

 

POSTSEASON BALL: For just the sixth time in program history, IU is playing in the NCAA Tournament. It’s IU’s first appearance since going to the regional semifinals in 2010. The Hoosiers broke one of the longest postseason droughts (15 years) of any power four program. IU is hosting for just the second time in school history.

 

ALL-BIG TEN HOOSIERS: IU had three First Team All-Big Ten selections in 2025. Before this year, IU had never even had two players picked to the All-Big Ten First Team in the same year. Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles, senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum and freshman setter Teodora Krickovic all made the team this season.

 

STRONG AT HOME: The Hoosiers have been fantastic at Wilkinson Hall over the last four years. Dating back to 2022, IU is 39-15 on the home court. For the first time since 1998-2000, IU has won 10-or-more home games in three-straight years. IU hasn’t lost at home to an unranked team since Nov. 12, 2023.

 

VIC STEPPING UP: When freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray gets the ball, she’s been especially lethal. During the month of November, her game was at a new level. In nine games last month, she hit .416 with 52 kills. Her best game was a career-high 12 kills against Purdue to end the regular season.

 

BIG TIME AVRY: Senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum has loved the big moments during her IU career. She had 10+ kills in nine of 13 matches against teams that made the NCAA Tournament. In two games last week, Tatum averaged 3.86 kills per set while hitting at a .396 clip.

 

POWER DUO: IU is 26-8 over the last three years when senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles and senior opposite Avry Tatum each record 10 kills in the same match. It last happened in a dominant win at Illinois (Nov. 26). On the season, the Hoosiers are 7-1 in conference play in 2025 when this occurs.

 

SERVING TOUGH: IU went for 10 aces in Thursday’s win over Toledo. It’s the fifth time this season that the team has gone for double-digit aces. Since November 14th, IU has recorded 52 aces and is averaging 2.26 aces per set in that seven-game stretch. Six different players tallied at least one ace in the first-round victory.

 

BIG BLOCK GRAY: Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray became the first freshman to record 100 blocks in a season after her four-block night against Toledo. She’s had 14 different matches with at least four blocks this year. The Hoosiers have also had 14 matches with at least nine blocks as a team this season.

 

First Round Notes: Indiana 3, Toledo 0

• With a win on Thursday evening, IU set a single-season program record for wins (24) in the NCAA era. The 2010 team won 23 contests but this year’s squad has officially passed that mark. IU will go for its first 25-win season tomorrow night against Colorado.

• Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles moved into ninth in program history in career kills. She recorded 12 in the win over Toledo, passing Katie Pollom (2001-04) in the process. Thursday’s win was the 72nd time she’s recorded double-digit kills in her career.

• Freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager recorded the sixth double-double of her young career on Thursday evening. She provided 11 kills and a team-high 10 digs in the victory over Toledo. It’s the seventh time this season she’s recorded at least 10 digs. Jager matched a career high with three aces.

• IU will play Colorado tomorrow night at Wilkinson Hall with a shot at the NCAA regional semifinals. The Hoosiers have made it to the round of 16 just once in program history (2010). These two teams haven’t met since 1993 but will play at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ tomorrow in Bloomington.

• Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray shared the team lead with four blocks. She became the first IU freshman since Ashley Benson (2007) to record over 100 blocks in a season. Since the beginning of the 25-point rally-scoring era, no freshman has more blocks in a single season than Gray (102.0).



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Campbell Falls to No. 3 Texas A&M in 2025 NCAA Volleyball Championship Opening Round

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December 6, 2025

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Campbell Falls to No. 3 Texas A&M in 2025 NCAA Volleyball Championship Opening Round

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Dylan Smith


COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Despite a valiant defensive effort, the Campbell volleyball team saw its season come to an end after falling to No. 3 Texas A&M at the 2025 NCAA Volleyball Championship in straight sets (20-25, 10-25, 13-25) inside Reed Arena on Friday evening.
 
The Camels finished the season with a 23-7 record. Hannah Pattie and Bella Illig battled on the back line, each reaching double figures in digs with 11 and 10 apiece, respectively. Abbie Tuyo notched a team-best nine kills on Friday.

The CAA Champions kept pace with the Aggies (24-4) in the opening set, going point-for-point before taking an early 7-6 lead on a tandem block from Tuyo and Aley Clent. Texas A&M surged shortly after with a 9-2 run halted by a slam by Campbell’s Gwen Wolkow. The Camels did not go away quietly with an 8-1 stretch of their own, starting with a kill from Maja Daca and finishing with a Clent and Tuyo stuff on A&M’s Kyndal Stowers at the net to pull within three, 23-20. The Aggies went on to capture the first set two points later, 25-20.

Campbell’s Daca helped her team to a 3-3 tie to start the second frame after earning a kill and painting the end line for a service ace. The Aggies pulled away after seeing Logan Lednicky register four kills and a solo block on the team’s 10-1 run to close out the set, 25-10 win.

The Camels’ Illig fought off heavy swings from the Aggies’ attackers all evening, but her impressive defensive abilities were on full display to start the third set. The graduate libero saved a floater from hitting the floor and dug out two more attacks before setting up Tuyo for the kill, tying the score at two early in the third set. Texas A&M proved to be too much and secured a 25-13 win in set three.

Follow #CAAVB on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get up-to-date information and learn more about CAA member institutions and their volleyball programs.

 





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Watch Wisconsin volleyball in NCAA tournament tonight; time, TV

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December 6, 2025

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Dec. 5, 2025, 2:21 p.m. CT



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No. 3 Volleyball sweeps Florida A&M, 3-0, to advance in NCAA Tournament

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December 6, 2025

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AUSTIN, Texas. — The No. 3 Texas Volleyball team improved to 42-0 in the NCAA First Round after sweeping Florida A&M (25-11, 25-8, 25-14). The Longhorns improved to 24-3 on the season behind Emma Halter’s historic night on defense. 

Halter moved up to No. 8 on the all-time Texas digs list with 25 tonight, making it a 1,282 total. Halter also broke the Texas record in three-set matches with 25 digs. She’s now the fourth Longhorn to record 25, joining Dariam Acevedo (2006), Adrian Greenmail (2001) and Carrie Busch (1995). 

Ayden Ames matched her career high with eight blocks, leading the Longhorns to tally nine total. Ramsey Gary also recorded a season high three aces for a match high. The Longhorns recorded 42 kills to the Rattlers 15, holding them to a -.027 – the lowest opponent hitting percentage of the season. 

Set One: Texas dominated the opening set 25-11, limiting the Rattlers to a .000 attacking percentage while hitting .414 themselves. Torrey Stafford led the charge with five kills and a .455 hitting percentage. Swindle recorded nine assists and Halter registered 10 digs. The Texas defense totaled four and a half blocks in the first set. 

Set Two: The Longhorns held the Rattlers to only eight points, tying their opponent season low in the second set. Stafford added six more kills out of her 13 total, while Texas put up four team blocks behind Ames’ four. 

Set Three: The Longhorns saw Cari Spears add four kills and Whitney Lauenstein add one of her five kills in the third. Lauenstein also totaled four blocks on the night and hit for .571. 

Up next Texas will face off against No. 25 Penn State in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+. 



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Volleyball sees season end in NCAA DII Second Round

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December 6, 2025

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WINGATE, N.C. – Another successful Lenoir-Rhyne Volleyball season has come to an end. The Bears fell 3-1 to #3 seeded Anderson in the NCAA DII Tournament second round on Friday, closing their season at 23-8.  

Emmaleigh Allen led the team with 13 kills while Emmie Modlin and Alicia Barbarito combined for 38 assists.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: Anderson 3, Lenoir-Rhyne 1 (29-27, 20-25, 25-9, 25-18)

Records: Anderson (23-7, 16-4 SAC), Lenoir-Rhyne (23-8, 14-4 SAC)

Location: Wingate, NC | Cuddy Arena

STORY OF THE MATCH: 

  • Down early on, the Bears went on a late 4-0 run to tie the score at 22 in the first set.

  • Lenoir-Rhyne had set point at 26-25, but a 4-1 run from Anderson gave the Trojans the 29-27 set victory.

  • Hadley Prince produced back-to-back service aces to help Lenoir-Rhyne win the second set 25-20.

  • Anderson dominated the third set 25-9, finishing with a .317 hitting % and just four attack errors.

  • Lenoir-Rhyne responded early in the fourth set, jumping ahead 6-3.

  • The Trojans did not look back after tying the match at 7, keeping the Bears an arms length away the rest of the set. 

STATS OF THE GAME:

  • Anderson finished with an advantage in kills (59-to-46), hitting % (.276-to-.127), and assists (57-to-43).

  • There were a combined 38 block assists and solo blocks between the two teams.

  • Kayli Cleaver and Averie Dale combined for 11 total blocks

  • Hadley Prince led the team with 19 digs while Addison Vary collected two service aces.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

  • This was the fourth meeting this season between the Bears and Trojans, with each team winning twice.

  • Emmaleigh Allen generated her sixth double-double this season after finishing with 13 kills and 16 digs.

  • Kayli Cleaver finished the season as the team leader in kills (363) and kills per set (3.36) for the second straight season.

  • The 2025 Lenoir-Rhyne Volleyball Team finished with the second highest hitting % in school history at .235, just .05 away from the record held by the the 1998 squad.

  • Averie Dale finished with a .399 hitting %, which ties the program’s individual season record held by Michelle Baity in 1999.

  • The Bears produced their third straight season with 20 or more wins and set a new program record winning 13 matches at home. 

  • Nicole Barringer now holds an 87-35 record in four years as the Bears’ head coach. 

  • Barringer is the first coach in program history to lead the team to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. 





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