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Sierra and Josh Kerr

Sierra Kerr’s qualification for the Challenger series, the second-tier of international surfing and pathway to the World Surf League, has been long foretold. Kerr, who recently turned 18, was a child surf prodigy; it was just a matter of time before the Australian – a former junior world champion – started climbing the competitive ladder. […]

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Sierra and Josh Kerr

Sierra Kerr’s qualification for the Challenger series, the second-tier of international surfing and pathway to the World Surf League, has been long foretold. Kerr, who recently turned 18, was a child surf prodigy; it was just a matter of time before the Australian – a former junior world champion – started climbing the competitive ladder.

Less foreseen was what happened late last month, when the final qualifying event wrapped up and the 2025 Challenger series field was announced. Alongside Kerr on the list of surfers contesting the five-stop, five-country competition was none other than her father, Josh Kerr.

Now 41, Kerr senior enjoyed a successful career on the WSL in the early 2010s, finishing in the top 10 for four consecutive years. An early pioneer of aerial surfing (he even has an above the lip manoeuvre – the Kerrupt – named after him), Kerr retired from the professional circuit in the late 2010s. But as he travelled the world with his daughter while she competed in recent years, Kerr decided he might as well join in. “If I’m at the party I may as well dance,” he said last month.

Sierra and Josh Kerr are hard to pin down. A busy travel schedule, surf competitions, illness and a cyclone all delayed their conversation with the Guardian. When the stars finally aligned, it took place with the WSL’s current leg, the El Salvador Pro, on television in the background. This is a family that live and breathe surfing.

Sierra made her WSL debut with a wildcard in Fiji last year and keeps a watchful eye on the current campaign. Several of her closest friends are competitors and, pending qualification through the Challenger series, she will join them at surfing’s top table full-time next year.

“Last year I wasn’t super wanting to qualify because I always wanted to finish high school before I do it,” Sierra says. “I want to get on and start competing with all of my friends – Bettylou [Sakura Johnson], Caity [Simmers, the defending world champion], Molly [Picklum]. I want to see how I stack up against them and surf some good waves.”

Josh, on the other hand, is very much taking a back-seat. “Honestly, it’s still just fun and games for me,” he laughs. When the competition “rashie” is on, Josh says, he will be wanting to win – but there will be no elite athlete diets or gruelling training regimes for him. Kerr senior harbours no aspirations of a WSL return – although it is not beyond the realms of possibility (surf legend Kelly Slater was competing on the tour into his 50s).

“That would be pretty mental,” Sierra says with a laugh at the idea of joining the WSL with her father in tow. “I don’t know if he’s gunning for it, but that would be sick.” Josh is quick to downplay the possibility. “Let’s just see if I can still mix it up,” he adds.

Australian surfers Josh and Sierra Kerr ride along the sand at Greenmount Beach, CoolangattaView image in fullscreen

The prospect of Josh – one of the best surfers in the world a decade and a half ago – competing with surfers half his age, the next generation of stars, will certainly make for great viewing when the Challenger series kicks off in Newcastle in June. But Josh shrugs off any suggestion that his rivals in the water might be intimidated. “I don’t know if they know who I am,” he says. “I’ve been off tour for seven years, and all of these guys are between 17 and 21. I think they just see me as Sierra’s dad.”

Not surprisingly, given her father’s career, Sierra has grown up around sport. In an Instagram post to celebrate her 18th birthday in February, Josh commented: “from ballerina classes to skateboarding, golf, rugby, fishing, surfing and everything else in between, I’ve loved being right by your side.” But it was not until Sierra hit her teenager years that surfing came to the fore (she had initially been touted as a skateboarding prodigy).

It was a trip to Indonesia that changed her sporting direction. Just 13, the Kerrs took Sierra on a surf trip alongside some of her young friends – Simmers, Bella Kenworthy (a WSL debutant this year), Erin Brooks (who joined Sierra as a WSL wildcard in Fiji last year and won the event, at just 17). “There were heaps of the crew there, it was just so fun – pushing each other,” she says. “That was the trip where I thought: ‘This is pretty fun, I want to keep doing this’.”

Josh and Sierra Kerr look out at the water at Greenmount Beach in QueenslandView image in fullscreen

Josh says that he did not want to encourage Sierra into competitive surfing, and risk jeopardising its lifestyle role for her and the family. “Surfing was always there for her in the background, as she focused on other sports,” he says. “I didn’t want surfing to be a ‘sport’ for her, until she wanted it to be.”

The parent-child dynamic in sport can be fraught; there are countless examples of over-expecting parents pushing their children to breaking point. Josh admits that he is no stranger to these challenging dynamics. “I watch it, on the sidelines,” he says. “But I just try and be a father, first and foremost, and enjoy the experience.” Josh serves as Sierra’s coach, but says he tries to keep it relatively light-touch.

“Surfing has given me everything in my life – so it’s very special to me, as a past-time, a lifestyle,” Josh says. “I want Sierra, no matter what happens with her surfing career, to still want to surf every day and enjoy the ocean.”

Sierra comes of age at a thrilling time for women’s surfing. Equal prize money, an integrated calendar and rapid advances in skill, in both heavy barrels and high-flying aerial maneuverers, have helped transform the sport.

“It’s a great time to be coming up through the ranks,” says Sierra, in a slight American twang – inherited from her time living in California, before the Kerrs returned to the Gold Coast, and her American mother, Nikki Kerr. “All of my friends – we’re just trying to push the level of those who came before us, try to take it to a level that’s never been seen before, and set the standard for the next generation.”

Josh and Sierra Kerr will both be competing in the WSL Challenger seriesView image in fullscreen

There is a certain continuity in Sierra being among an era-defining generation of young female surfers, changing the nature of the sport, just as her father helped forge the aerial surfing that is now commonplace on the WSL. “To see [Sierra] be at the forefront of that, the innovative surfing on the female side, it’s been pretty amazing to watch,” Josh says. “That’s the most interesting thing in surfing right now – watching the development of the female side, watching them break down all those barriers.”

His daughter’s love of surfing has certainly proven fortuitous for Josh. “She’s basically my best friend, my partner in crime,” he says. “She’s my jet ski partner when the waves come good, she’s a great ski driver [surfers use jet-skis to be towed into waves in big conditions].”

At some point, once Sierra is firmly established on the WSL, she might want more independence than the father-coach combo offers. Josh, for his part, talks of retirement to a yacht and occasional visits from his high-flying daughter. But for now, the Kerrs remain inseparable. “Dad always says until I kick him out, he’ll be there,” Sierra says. Come the Challenger series, Kerr senior will be there competing alongside his daughter. The past, present and future of surfing, in one father-daughter duo.

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Sabadell and Sant Andreu set up all-Spanish Champions League final

Sabadell’s USA star Maggie Steffens fired in a hat-trick against Olympiacos to help steer her side to a place in the final. Photo: Aniko Kovacs Title-holders Astralpool CN Sabadell defeated hosts Olympiacos SFP in the first thrilling semi-final of the Champions League Women Final Four in Piraeus. Two late goals secured the Spaniards’ 13-15 win […]

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Sabadell’s USA star Maggie Steffens fired in a hat-trick against Olympiacos to help steer her side to a place in the final. Photo: Aniko Kovacs

Title-holders Astralpool CN Sabadell defeated hosts Olympiacos SFP in the first thrilling semi-final of the Champions League Women Final Four in Piraeus. Two late goals secured the Spaniards’ 13-15 win over the Greeks, which has presented them with a chance for a three-peat. Sabadell may become the second team in history to achieve that feat after Orizzonte’s great run between 2004 and 2006. In Friday’s second semi, CN Sant Andreu downed newcomers FTC Telekom Waterpolo 10-7 to ensure Saturday’s final is an all-Spanish affair.
 
2024/25 Champions League Women
Final Four, Semi-Finals
Friday, 2 May 2025

Olympiacos SFP (GRE) 13-15 Astralpool CN Sabadell (ESP)
CN Sant Andreu (ESP) 10-7 FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN)

Final Four, Finals
Saturday, 3 May 2025
(Local times shown)

16:30: Olympiacos SFP (GRE) v FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) – Bronze Medal Game
18:30: Astralpool CN Sabadell (ESP) v CN Sant Andreu (ESP) – Gold Medal Game

Sabadell’s Dutch forward Simone van de Kraats hammered in five goals in the semi-final. Photo: Aniko Kovacs

Fully-packed stands and an electrifying atmosphere awaited the teams in the first semi-final in Piraeus. It was another highly-anticipated showdown between Europe’s top two women’s sides, Olympiacos SFP and Astralpool CN Sabadell, as apart from Kinef Kirishi’s back-to-back triumphs in 2017 and 2018, only these two teams have lifted the trophy since 2013.

Sabadell went all the way six times, while Olympiacos have emerged as winners three times. Their last clash happened a year ago, when Sabadell were on a roll and left no chance for the Greeks – so this game was a rematch of last year’s final.

For Olympiacos, it was the first chapter in their quest to make the club’s 100th anniversary a memorable one on behalf of the water polo team – since the men’s team sank unexpectedly in the Champions League, the women remained their only hope to reach the highest heights.

As the game began, both attacks stepped up right away, as six of the first eight possessions ended up with a goal. Sabadell jumped to a 1-3 lead, thanks to a couple of pinpoint finishes from Dutch leftie Simone van de Kraats and a penalty from Bea Ortiz, but Vasiliki Plevritou also fired in a penalty and a fine backhander from Maria Myriokefalitaki on 2m, plus a counter attacking goal from Stefania Santa made it 3-3.

Paula Leiton also hammered in a brilliant one from the centre at the other end, before the defences regained some ground to freeze the scoreboard for two and half minutes.

Olympiacos’ Vasiliki Plevritou struck twice, but it wasn’t enough to take her team to the final. Photo: Aniko Kovacs

Aussie leftie Abby Andrews managed to swim away to equalise once more, and after Sabadell gave the ball away for the second time – with a way too long cross-pass – the Greeks had enough time to force a six on five and Santa sent the ball home to put Olympiacos ahead for the first time at 5-4, with 0:04 on the clock.

The second period started off in a similar manner, as the early minutes saw a flurry of goals. A deflected shot from Irene Gonzalez brought the title-holders back to even. Then Foteini Tricha netted a great one from action, but van de Kraats was also on target from a second attempt in an extra to make it 6-6.

After that, both defences got tighter, and tensions were also running high, so forced and unforced errors followed from the attackers.

Entering the last minute of the first half, Tricha arrowed in her shot nicely from a woman-up, but Maggie Steffens was also on target from the perimeter in the next possession. Still, the hosts retook the lead 15 seconds from time, as Vasiliki Plevritou converted another penalty for 8-7.

After two minutes of battling in the third, Rita Keszthelyi’s one-timer from the left wing levelled the scores, then Laura Aarts made a big save to deny Santa in a one-on-one, but she couldn’t put her hand on Myriokefalitaki’s next backhander after the corner.

Sabadell goalkeeper Laura Aarts made several sensational saves against Olympiacos. Photo: Aniko Kovacs

Sabadell had to score twice to equalise for 9-9 – as a VAR review led to a red card for Sofia Tornarou for an earlier act of unnecessary roughness (though no 4min expulsion), but this annulled the Spaniard’s previous possession where they forced a penalty and scored. Their replayed attack then bore an extra and US star Steffens pushed the ball in from close range to finally make it 9-9 with 3:44 to go in the third.

The next twist came following a six on five for the hosts, as after a time-out, an early shot was blocked, then Sabadell, hunting down the rebound, went for a clean counter and Ortiz gave goalkeeper Mia Rycraw no chance.

Myriokefalitaki had an easy put-away in the next six on five, but Leiton forced another penalty, and Ortiz sent it home for 10-11.

It could have been all square, but Aarts denied the Greeks in a woman-down – and the title-holders may have led by two, but van de Kraats hit the bar in the dying seconds of their extra, played after a time-out.

Sabadell wasted another extra early in the fourth and they paid for it as Andrews’ pinpoint shot in Olympiacos’ next six on five was simply brilliant – so the scores stood at 11-11 instead of 10-12.

Another fine counter, this time finished off by van de Kraats, gave the lead back to Sabadell, but not for long as Santa found the back of the net from 7m.

The thrilling action continued, as another penalty for Sabadell, this time from a counter, saw van de Kraats send the ball home – her fifth hit of the night.

Andrews’ fierce shot during an extra levelled things up once more at 13-13, but Sabadell managed to score again despite their first shot being denied in their six on five – a smart assist from Keszthelyi to Tara Prentice for a close shot made it 13-14.

Van de Kraats made a crucial steal, then the title-holders’ patient play ended in another extra and a great set-up for Steffens resulted in a two-goal gap at 13-15, for the first time since 1-3.

The Greeks wasted their very last chance, as they gave the ball away in a six on four with 1:17 to go, so they failed to make the final at home again after 2022. Still, the crowd celebrated the team as if they had won the trophy – it was a really great moment after the match.

At the other end, the Sabadell players happily hugged each other as they advanced to the final for the fourth time in a row, and it’s going to be their 10th appearance in the last 12 editions.

Sabadell’s players and coaches celebrated reaching a fourth successive Champions League final. Photo: Aniko Kovacs

Later, in the second semi-final, a quick-exchange of woman-up goals kicked off the action, with both coming from the same position at the top of the arc, by Greta Gurisatti, then by Elena Ruiz.

St Andreu goalkeeper Martina Terre came up with a big save in the next six on five, and a bit later Queralt Anton’s fine shot from the perimeter gave the Spaniards a 2-1 lead.

FTC’s stopper Boglarka Neszmely also joined the party with a penalty block, but she couldn’t do anything with Anton’s bouncer that followed.

Fradi were having problems in attack, as they couldn’t break through St Andreu’s zonal defence, plus they missed another extra. And the Ruiz siblings were making them pay for that, this time it was Ariadna’s turn to hit a one-timer.

A bit of bad luck also denied the Magyars, as they had a goal disallowed by an exclusion call – the referee waved sorry to the bench – and they missed their third six on five in a row to remain scoreless after netting the opener after 33 seconds.

St Andreu’s Spanish Olympic champion Elena Ruiz rifled in two goals against FTC. Photo: Aniko Kovacs

There were more missed six on fives early in the second quarter, before Gurisatti found a hole under Terre’s arm to score from an extra, at the second attempt.

What wasn’t working in the opening period, now started to click for Fradi, as a couple of fine blocks denied the Spanish perimeter shots, while a good set-up, finished off by Eleftheria Plevritou reduced the gap to one at 4-3.

St Andreu missed a six on five and Fradi had an extra to go even, but a bad pass ruined their play and Elena Ruiz scored a nice one from the ensuing counter for 5-3.

With 53 seconds on the clock, the first action goal from FTC arrived, as Vanda Valyi’s sneaker made its way to the net. Still, there was time for more as Paula Camus delivered a penalty and Ariadna Ruiz converted that in the next possession, so St Andreu led 6-4 at half-time.

Great blocking killed six on fives at both ends early in the third, then Terre had a brilliant stop – as did Neszmely in the other goal. Six 6 on 5s saw no goals – three apiece – which was a bit more painful for FTC as the clock was ticking down and the Spaniards still led by two.

The seventh, from St Andreu, came after a time-out with two minutes remaining – a 2m violation spoiled it, but a turnover foul and extra created another chance for the Spaniards and Anton finally broke the ice with 1:26 to go.

FTC’s Orsolya Hertzka tried in vain to drive her team forward. Photo: Aniko Kovacs

Dora Leimeter gave some hope for the Hungarians, as she netted a woman-up with seven seconds to go – though only after they missed another one; so the Spaniards were still sitting in the driving seat at 7-5.

FTC were unable to create a clean shooting opportunity in their first extra in the fourth, and that came back to hurt them when Camus beat two defenders and the goalie from the centre to make it 8-5.

Gurisatti couldn’t beat Terre either – FTC were four from 15 in extras at this stage, which is definitely not game-winning stats.

A time-out gave the Hungarians a little boost, as Leimeter scored a great one from action, Neszmely then had a big save in a 6 on 4, followed by Valyi’s hit from a counter – so in a span of just 49 seconds, Fradi were back in the game at 8-7.

Anton’s 4th hit of the night came at a crucial moment for St Andreu. It was a great play during their extra, as it reset the two-goal gap with two minutes remaining. And some good defending killed the Magyars’ momentum, what’s more, another cold-headed finish from Alba Munoz for 10-7, closed down the contest as only 1:03 remained in the match.

St Andreu scored back-to-back extras when it mattered the most – the only way to win matches at this level. This sent them to the final to set-up another all-Spanish showdown after 2023 when Sabadell downed Mataro. Now, it’s St Andreu’s turn to challenge the mighty queens of Europe.

Sant Andreu’s players celebrated reaching the Champions League final for the first time in their history. Photo: Aniko Kovacs

More photos from today’s semi-finals can be found by clicking here, credit Aniko Kovacs. Saturday’s Champions League Women finals can be viewed live on www.euroaquaticstv.com, and stay up-to-date with live results/tables and real-time updates through the European Aquatics App. Download it here: Google Play.

Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics



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CIAA Announces 2025 Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Year

Story Links DURHAM, NC (May 2, 2025) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announces its 2025 Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Year, as voted by the CIAA Track & Field Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors Association. These outstanding student-athletes will be formally recognized tomorrow during the CIAA Outdoor Track & […]

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DURHAM, NC (May 2, 2025) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announces its 2025 Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Year, as voted by the CIAA Track & Field Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors Association. These outstanding student-athletes will be formally recognized tomorrow during the CIAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Durham, NC. 

2025 CIAA Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Year

Men’s:

Field Athlete of the Year: Zachary Jones, Virginia Union

Track Athlete of the Year: Tyson Williams, JCSU

Women’s: 

Field Athlete of the Year: Domanique Knowles, Fayetteville State

Track Athlete of the Year: Charnessa Reid, WSSU

Zachary Jones of Virginia Union University has been named the CIAA Field Athlete of the Year for the 2024–25 outdoor track and field season. He ranked 1st in the conference in both the shot put and discus, highlighted by a 15.63m shot put performance at Livingstone College in North Carolina and a 48.38m discus throw that set a new school record. Jones also demonstrated his versatility by ranking 5th in the javelin throw across the CIAA.

 

Tyson Williams of Johnson C. Smith University,Track Athlete of the Year has a stand out freshman season. Williams qualified for both the 100m and 200m events and began his outdoor campaign with dominant wins at the VertKlasse Invitational, running 10.21 and 20.17 seconds, both new school records. He also captured the NCAA Division II Indoor Championship title in the 200m with a time of 20.58, the fourth-fastest in Division II history. Williams’ exceptional times ranked him among the nation’s top sprinters and earned him multiple honors, including USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week. 

Domanique Knowles of Fayetteville State University, CIAA Women’s Field Athlete of the Year, ranked #1 in the high jump and #2 in the triple jump in the CIAA, with standout personal bests of 1.68m in the high jump and 11.96m in the triple jump at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational. She also recorded a 5.53m long jump at the Aggie Invitational, highlighting her range across multiple events. In addition to her individual success, Knowles contributed to Fayetteville State’s 4x400m relay team, finishing 3rd at the Trojan Relays. 

Charnessa Reid of Winston-Salem State University has delivered a dominant 2025 outdoor season, earning CIAA Track Athlete of the Week honors five times and maintaining the #1 conference ranking in the 100m hurdles all season. She captured first place in the 100H at the Southside Power & Fitness Invitational, VertKlasse Meet, and Livingstone Blue Bear Invitational, setting a new WSSU school record twice, most recently with a blazing NCAA qualifying mark of 13.32 at the Aggie Invitational. Reid has also contributed to two first-place 4x100m relay finishes and competed in the 200m and 4x400m relay, helping position WSSU at #3 in the region and #1 in the CIAA. On the field, she has been just as impactful, posting top-10 finishes in the long jump and high jump throughout the season, including a 5.89m long jump at VertKlasse and a 1.60m high jump at both Southside Power and the Aggie Invitational.

 

For more information about the CIAA, visit theciaa.com. You can also like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and on Instagram. 

About the CIAA 

Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country.

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 13 member-institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine’s University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.





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Florida State University Athletics

GULF SHORES, Ala. – No. 8-seed Florida State (26-13) lost 3-0 Saturday morning to No. 1-seed UCLA (32-6) in Gulf Shores, Alabama. UCLA took a 2-0 lead with straight-set wins on Courts 2 and 3. The remaining three courts went to a third set, with Audrey Koenig and Alexis Durish evening the match on Court 1 […]

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GULF SHORES, Ala. – No. 8-seed Florida State (26-13) lost 3-0 Saturday morning to No. 1-seed UCLA (32-6) in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

UCLA took a 2-0 lead with straight-set wins on Courts 2 and 3. The remaining three courts went to a third set, with Audrey Koenig and Alexis Durish evening the match on Court 1 with a 21-19 win in the second set.

The Bruins closed out the match against Koenig and Durish with a 15-11 win in the third set.

The two unfinished matches were in a third set, with Makenna Wolfe and Myriah Massey leading 11-9 on Court 4 and Angeline Bergner and Jordan Boulware even at 6-6 on Court 5.

For more information on the Florida State beach volleyball program, check Seminoles.com and follow us on social media at fsubeachvolleyball (IG) and @FSU_BeachVB (X). 

#1 UCLA 3, #8 Florida State 0

  1. Sally Perez/Maggie Boyd (UCLA) def. Audrey Koenig/Alexis Durish (FSU), 21-19, 19-21, 15-11
  2. Natalie Myszkowksi/Peri Brennan (UCLA) def. Gella Andrew/Maddie Trusty, 21-15, 21-15
  3. Kenzi Brower/Jess Smith (UCLA) def. Bailey Higgins/Carra Sassack (FSU), 21-10, 21-12
  4. Makenna Wolfe/Myriah Massey (FSU)  vs. Alexa Fernandez/Kaley Mathews (UCLA), 21-18, 16-21, 11-9, unf.
  5. Angeline Bergner/Jordan Boulware (FSU) vs. Harper Cooper/Ensley Alden (UCLA), 19-21, 21-16, 6-6, unf.

Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1



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Mustangs Defeat No. 3 Seed Stanford in NCAA Championship Quarterfinals

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Cal Poly beach volleyball took down the No. 3 seed Stanford 3-1 in the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship Saturday to advance to the Semifinals later on Saturday. The No. 6 seed Mustangs will take on No. 2 seed TCU in the semifinals at 11:30 a.m. PT. The match will air […]

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GULF SHORES, Ala. – Cal Poly beach volleyball took down the No. 3 seed Stanford 3-1 in the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship Saturday to advance to the Semifinals later on Saturday.

The No. 6 seed Mustangs will take on No. 2 seed TCU in the semifinals at 11:30 a.m. PT. The match will air live on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

Against Stanford, Cal Poly got wins from the No. 1 pair of Erin Inskeep and Piper Ferch, the No. 5 pair of Abbey Reinard and Elise Lenahan, and was clinched by the No. 4 pair of Ella Connor and Madi Nichols.

This is the second straight year Cal Poly has advanced to the NCAA Championship Semifinals.

Beach Volleyball Match Results 
Stanford vs Cal Poly May 03, 2025 at Gulf Shores, AL 
#6 Cal Poly 3, #3 Stanford 1

1. Piper Ferch/Erin Inskeep (CP) def. Taylor Wilson/Ruby Sorra (STAN) 21-16, 21-15 
2. Brooke Rockwell/Avery Jackson (STAN) def. Izzy Martinez/Logan Walter (CP) 21-14, 21-15 
3. Quinn Perry/Lindsey Sparks (CP) vs. Charlotta Bell/Kelly Belardi (STAN) 10-21, 24-24, unfinished 
4. Ella Connor/Madi Nichols (CP) def. Chloe Hoffman/Logan Tusher (STAN) 21-19, 21-16 
5. Abbey Reinard/Elise Lenahan (CP) def. Daria Gusarova/Emmy Sharp (STAN) 21-17, 21-13

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,5,4) 



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North Allegheny boys volleyball revving up after early season speed bumps

By: John Grupp Saturday, May 3, 2025 | 11:01 AM Andrew Palla | For TribLive North Allegheny’s Brendan Moore looks to squeeze a shot between Shaler’s Logan Schimmel (16) and Peyton Planz (24) during the 2024 WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball championship match. The North Allegheny boys volleyball team is proof that you can learn […]

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Saturday, May 3, 2025 | 11:01 AM


The North Allegheny boys volleyball team is proof that you can learn more from your losses than your wins.

The top-ranked Tigers have rebounded from a pair of lesson-building defeats to regain the form that made them preseason WPIAL favorites and a state title contender.

“It was a wake-up call,” senior outside hitter Matthew LaMay said. “Even though we are a good team, it’s going to be a long grind and a lot of hard work to achieve any sort of success.”

A startling loss to Ambridge in the North Allegheny Invitational quarterfinals on March 22 and a 3-2 loss at Seneca Valley on April 7 meant the Tigers, then ranked No. 2 in the state, still had work to do.

The Tigers (5-1 in Section 3-3A, 9-1 overall as of April 29) regrouped by winning five straight matches. During its turnaround, NA also took second at the prestigious Koller Classic at Central York on April 12.

Their April 29 rematch with No. 3 Seneca Valley was postponed due to severe weather.

“I felt like they responded really well,” coach Dan Long said. “I don’t want to be the team that is peaking on April 15. I want to be improving.”

The Tigers were fortified by the return of all-state junior outside hitter Will Robertson, who suffered a sprained ankle March 21 playing a school-sponsored 3-on-3 basketball event. Robertson, who missed about two weeks, and LaMay were named to the all-tournament team at York. The Tigers went 7-1 in pool play and beat Northern York, No. 2 Central York and No. 4 Cedar Crest to reach the finals, where they lost to state No. 1 Cumberland Valley, 25-20, 25-21.

“I thought we met the challenge,” Long said. “Certainly, you want to win it. But given the full perspective of the day, it was a really good effort. … They showed that when we are at our best, we’re really good.”

The rest of the state took notice. The Tigers, who had dropped to No. 6 in the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association poll after the loss to Seneca Valley, returned to No. 2 in the April 14 rankings.

LaMay, who had 18 digs, 13 kills and 10 aces at York, said the runner-up finish encouraged the Tigers.

“It showed our team our potential,” he said. “That, combined with our losses, showed us how easily we can fall but how great we can be.”

North Allegheny is embracing hard work after losing to Shaler in the past two WPIAL Class 3A championships. But it hasn’t come easily. While Roberson is fully recovered, LaMay is playing through a knee injury, and junior hitter Brendan Moore, who had 25 kills and eight blocks at York, missed some time with strained back ligaments. The 6-foot-4 Moore returned for a 3-0 win over Butler on April 24.

Robertson, meanwhile, didn’t play in the Ambridge loss and wasn’t fully healthy in the loss at Seneca Valley. The Tigers led Seneca Valley 2-0 before dropping the last three games.

“We were disappointed because we felt every part of our game could have been better that night,” LaMay said. “We should have played better and worked harder.”

North Allegheny nearly won anyway. NA had a couple of match points before dropping the final game, 21-19. But the Tigers grew from the loss.

“We could have easily escaped that match and gone, ‘Phew,’ and moved on with our lives,” Long said. “One point different, and it feels completely different, and maybe you miss the lesson of what that has to offer.”

Tags: North Allegheny





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High school boys’ volleyball: Playoff results and pairings

SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS FRIDAY’S RESULTS SECOND ROUND DIVISION 3 Tesoro d. Harvard-Westlake, 25-14, 25-14, 25-15 Los Alamitos d. Valencia, 29-27, 25-23, 25-21 San Marino d. Long Beach Poly, 13-25, 26-24, 17-25, 25-23, 15-11 North Torrance d. Samueli Academy, 3-2 Warren d. Keppel, 21-25, 25-19, 21-26, 25-20, 15-10 Santa Monica d. University, 25-23, 25-19, […]

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SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

SECOND ROUND

DIVISION 3

Tesoro d. Harvard-Westlake, 25-14, 25-14, 25-15

Los Alamitos d. Valencia, 29-27, 25-23, 25-21

San Marino d. Long Beach Poly, 13-25, 26-24, 17-25, 25-23, 15-11

North Torrance d. Samueli Academy, 3-2

Warren d. Keppel, 21-25, 25-19, 21-26, 25-20, 15-10

Santa Monica d. University, 25-23, 25-19, 25-21

Orange Lutheran d. San Marcos, 3-1

Mission Viejo d. Great Oak, 25-20, 25-20, 25-15

DIVISION 5

Newbury Park d. Paloma Valley, 25-18, 25-21, 25-22

Oak Park d. Bolsa Grande, 25-15, 25-21, 25-19

Wiseburn-Da Vinci at Rancho Verde, Monday at 6 p.m.

Esperanza d. Cypress, 3-2

California d. El Rancho, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20

Rancho Alamitos d. Saugus, 3-2

Vista Murrieta d. Placentia Valencia, 25-16, 25-23, 25-16

La Palma Kennedy d. Redlands, 25-21, 25-17, 25-22

DIVISION 6

Rio Hondo Prep d. St. Monica, 25-16, 29-31, 23-25, 25-18, 15-13

Quartz Hill d. Leuzinger, 3-1

DIVISION 7

Lakewood d. Ocean View, 25-15, 25-21, 24-26, 26-24

Brea Olinda d. Vasquez, 25-22, 25-20, 25-20

San Jacinto d. Ventura, 25-23, 12-25, 15-25, 25-21, 15-13

La Serna d. Lancaster, 25-22, 25-19, 20-25, 26-24

Jurupa Valley d. Whitney, 25-22, 27-25, 14-25, 25-22

Brentwood d. Diamond Ranch, 17-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-17, 15-9

Hawthorne MSA d. Garden Grove, 3-1

DIVISION 8

Alta Loma d. Trinity Classical Academy, 3-2

DIVISION 9

Heritage d. California Military, 3-0

CAMS d. Bassett, 3-0

Duarte at San Jacinto Valley, Monday at 6 p.m.

Firebaugh d. Bloomington, 20-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-15, 15-13

Downey Calvary Chapel d. Marshall, 3-2

Whittier Christian d. Ojai Valley, 25-21, 19-25, 25-23, 25-22

Beverly Hills at Legacy College Prep

Yeshiva d. Acaciawood, 3-1

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

(Matches at 6 p.m. unless noted)

SECOND ROUND

DIVISION 4

Corona Santiago at Woodcrest Christian

Crescenta Valley at Westlake

Western at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 1 p.m.

Santa Barbara at Santa Ana Foothill

Fontana at Dos Pueblos, 2 p.m.

Thousand Oaks at Crean Lutheran

Sage Hill at Pasadena Poly, 4 p.m.

Long Beach Wilson at Royal

DIVISION 6

Corona Centennial at Village Christian

Westminster La Quinta at Oxford Academy

Rancho Cucamonga at OC Pacifica Christian

La Canada at Laguna Blanca, 4 p.m.

Yucaipa at Anaheim

El Toro at Norwalk

DIVISION 7

Aquinas at San Gabriel Academy, 8:30 p.m.

DIVISION 8

Miller at Lancaster Desert Christian, 3 p.m.

Montclair at Carpinteria

Highland at Katella, 4:30 p.m.

Nuview Bridge at Southlands Christian

Channel Islands at Magnolia

Century at Wildwood, 2 p.m. at Willows School

Orange Vista at Avalon



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