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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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4 months ago

April 5, 2025

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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, Coolangatta

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 Queensland

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 series

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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Chamov hired as women’s track and field assistant coach

Arkansas women’s head coach Chris Johnson announced the hiring of Iliyan Chamov (Il-e-an Cham-ov) as an assistant coach with the Razorback track and field program. Chamov has been an assistant coach at Missouri the past 10 seasons working with the men’s and women’s jumpers and combined events. Previously, he was an assistant coach at Southern […]

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5 minutes ago

August 13, 2025

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Arkansas women’s head coach Chris Johnson announced the hiring of Iliyan Chamov (Il-e-an Cham-ov) as an assistant coach with the Razorback track and field program.

Chamov has been an assistant coach at Missouri the past 10 seasons working with the men’s and women’s jumpers and combined events. Previously, he was an assistant coach at Southern Illinois at Edwardsville (2013-15) as well as NAIA school Lindenwood (2009-11).

“It’s exciting, it’s the best program in the country, the best program in the world,” noted Chamov. “Of course, I have big shoes to fill, but that makes it more exciting. I’m very eager to start working.”

Johnson noted: “We’re fortunate to get Iliyan, he has a plethora of experience being in the SEC while at Missouri. He’s tireless recruiter, and a really, really good coach. He’s going to help us in the vertical jumps as well as the horizontal jumps along with the multi. So, it gives the rest of the staff some relief from having to do all those things.

“He’s going to bring that knowledge and a recruiting expertise to the University of Arkansas. I think he did a fantastic job during this time at Missouri with plenty of All-Americans and conference champions. He’s going to help our program continue to fill out and be the program we want it to be, and that’s being very balanced.”

Over his time frame as an assistant coach, athletes coached by Chamov have totaled 57 All-America honors (first and second team), 14 conference champions with seven titles attained in the SEC, along with a NCAA champion and seven NAIA champions.

The 2025 season produced the national champion as Jonathan Seremes won the NCAA Indoor triple jump and SEC Indoor titles while Kristi Perez-Snyman claimed the SEC Outdoor women’s high jump. Chamov coached athletes earned five first-team All-America honors this past season.

“The SEC is the most competitive conference in the country and I’ve been rubbing shoulders with Arkansas the entire time I was with Missouri,” said Chamov. “We came here for a lot competitions while I was at Mizzou and I had the pleasure to experience the quality of the facilities and the quality of the team.

“I’ve known the coaches for quite a long time and they show a lot of quality on their end. That’s what makes it even more exciting, because now we’re going to be coaching together to win championships.”

Chamov, who hails from Yambol, Bulgaria, is a 2006 graduate of the University of Ruse in Bulgaria, where he earned a physical therapy degree. He is also a 2012 graduate of Lindenwood University (St. Charles, Mo.), where he earned his undergraduate degree in athletic training and a master’s in human performance.

The experience of being an international athlete himself helps Chamov during the recruiting process.

“It’s very beneficial,” noted Chamov. “A lot of international athletes leave their countries, family, friends, environment, and culture just to get to an education and better opportunities to compete.

“I believe I bring a lot on the table with that because I’ve walked through that path in the past and I know exactly how they feel. I can assist them through the process and give them an opportunity to be a better student-athlete.”

Johnson noted that Chamov is a fourth generation coach within his family and his mother coaches in Europe.

“That piece of it is really going to help us,” said Johnson. “He’s very much on top of it and his wife is from France, so they’re intertwined in the European network. That’s going to help us in recruiting and being able to acquire some kids from Europe.”

Upon graduation from Lindenwood, Chamov became an assistant coach at his alma mater and led the Lions to tremendous success in the NAIA. He mentored seven national champions and 16 All-Americans.

For his success as an athlete and a coach, Chamov was inducted into the Lindenwood Hall of Fame in 2014.

Chamov and his wife, Celia, have a daughter, Noami Essi-Petya, who was born in November of 2018. Celia was a six-time NAIA champion at Lindenwood.

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Volleyball Welcomes Seven Additions Ahead of 2025 Season

Story Links CHARLESTON – With the 2025 pre-season underway, Head Coach Carry Brown and the Charleston Southern volleyball staff have been pleased with the seven new additions who joined the program this off-season. #1 Emersyn Reiter | Outside Hitter | Freshman | 6’0″ | Mooresville, NC | Lake Norman High School Of […]

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15 minutes ago

August 13, 2025

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CHARLESTON – With the 2025 pre-season underway, Head Coach Carry Brown and the Charleston Southern volleyball staff have been pleased with the seven new additions who joined the program this off-season.

Of all seven new additions to this year’s VolleyBuc roster, no one has had their eyes set on being a Buccaneer longer than Emersyn Reiter. Reiter originally committed to play at Charleston Southern in April of 2024, and just a few months after that commitment, the Lake Norman High School star accumulated 222 kills, 71 digs, and 19 service aces during her senior campaign.

When asked about her true freshman outside hitter, Head Coach Carry Brown touched on the mental components Reiter brings to the program.

“Emersyn has a competitive fire that we need in a freshman. What she brings to our program is heart, passion, and a determination to improve. I have been waiting to coach her for a long time, now the moment is here… I know she will do great things here at CSU!”

One of two Polish additions to the 2025 squad, Ola Matusiak has arrived in Charleston to begin her collegiate volleyball career. Before making her way to the United States for the first time this August, Matusiak collected highly competitive volleyball experience in her home country of Poland. Last year, she played for one of the Top-8 clubs in Poland’s 19U division (LKS Lódz). She also won the team championship and tournament MVP award in her Polish equivalent of a state (Lodzkie Voivodeship).

Matusiak is also the tallest setter on record in Charleston Southern program history (6’2″). Head Coach Carry Brown made note of Matusiak’s size being one the strongest attributes her Polish freshman brings to the table entering this season.

“Ola’s height and hands will be great assets to our program… she collected a ton of experience playing top level and highly competitive volleyball in Poland.”

The tallest player on this year’s roster, Emma Bednarek arrived in the Lowcountry in the Spring of 2025. With her comes a wealth of on-court, collegiate volleyball experience. The Argentina-native played in 247 sets during her time at Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, and not only was she on the court, she was an impressive contributor on the stat sheet. As a sophomore, her 139 total blocks ranked 9th in the country (NJCAA Division 1) as well as 23rd in the hitting percentage category (0.335).

Bednarek’s physical attributes and history of being successful around the net were highlighted by her new head coach, Carry Brown.

“Emma brings size and a solid block to our program. She can attack any kind of set anywhere at the net. We have seen tremendous growth in her game after only being here for a few months.”

Another Spring 2025 addition, Manon Braunsteffer, has joined Coach Brown’s program after dominating the junior college ranks. During her two-year stint with the Monroe University Mustangs, Braunsteffer recorded 450 kills, 156 total blocks, and 68 digs, yet her most impressive statistic as an underclassman was her hitting percentage. In 2022, Braunsteffer led the nation (NJCAA Division 1) in the category posting a 0.438 mark on 484 attempts. Following that performance up in 2023, Braunsteffer again finished top-three in the country with a 0.397 mark on 406 tries.

Off of the volleyball court, Braunsteffer is also an avid traveler. Although one of her new teammates, Emma Bednarek, is the South American representative on the 2025 roster, Braunsteffer cited that portion of the globe as being home to one of her favorite recent travels, Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in Brazil.

When asked about what her French-blocker brings to the roster this season, Head Coach Carry Brown brought up several characteristics.

“Manon brings physical strength, a quick arm swing, and solid blocking ability to our front line. She is a true competitor who I’ve enjoyed seeing stack up against our other experienced players.”

A Chicago-native and Marist High School graduate, Cara McLean committed to play for Charleston Southern in March of 2025.

Attention to detail and competitive energy were two of the areas Head Coach Carry Brown highlighted in regards to McLean.

“Cara’s is an outright competitor… her last year in high school, she led her program to a 4A state championship in Illinois. Her work ethic and attention to detail really rounds out our setter position group.”

Committing to the VolleyBucs back in February of this year, Laila Hilton is excited to finally be in the Holy City playing for Carry Brown‘s volleyball program. The Denver, Colorado native played her first two seasons down in South Georgia at Fort Valley State University. At FVSU, Hilton received valuable on-court experience as she appeared in 151 sets through the two seasons. As a freshman, her 167 kills ranked second on the 2023 Wildcat roster.

Hilton’s talent on the volleyball court, in addition to her academic excellence and history of volunteer leadership work, makes her an ideal addition to what Head Coach Carry Brown is building her program to be at Charleston Southern.

“My first thought when I think about Laila is how good of a teammate and person she is. She works endlessly to improve her skill set which sets a great example and helps her teammates do the same… her volleyball IQ and college volleyball experience on top of all that makes her an outstanding transfer addition to our program,” said Coach Brown.

The oldest of Coach Brown’s additions to the 2025 roster is Oliwia “Liv” Durka. Having played at nearly all levels of college volleyball (NC State, Dodge City Community College, and St. Leo University), Durka brings a wealth of experience to the Buc Dome. Most recently, as a senior at St. Leo, the Szczecin, Poland native ranked first on her team in kills (274) and third in both blocks (37) and service aces (27).

Durka has already noticeably taken freshman, Ola Matusiak under her wing as she herself was a true freshman from Poland just four years ago.

Experience was the number one quality highlighted by Head Coach Carry Brown when asked what Durka brings to this year’s group.

“Liv’s experience across all levels of college volleyball is going to be tremendously valuable for us. When crunch time situations arise this season, her detailed understanding of the game will be utilized.”

Charleston Southern will open the regular season on August 29th as they host the 2025 Buc Dome Invitational. Their first official match-up of the year will be at 12:30 PM against Loyola Maryland.

For all the most up-to-date coverage involving CSU Volleyball, follow us on Instagram and X/Twitter @csubucs_vb.

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Defending National Champion Opens 2025 Season at No. 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Indiana Wesleyan headlines the Top 25 Poll to kick off the 2025 women’s volleyball season after successfully defending its title in 2024. The Wildcats also received all 19 possible first-place votes. The 2025 women’s volleyball season officially starts on Friday, Aug. 15, when teams will begin their pursuit of winning the […]

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21 minutes ago

August 13, 2025

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Indiana Wesleyan headlines the Top 25 Poll to kick off the 2025 women’s volleyball season after successfully defending its title in 2024. The Wildcats also received all 19 possible first-place votes.

The 2025 women’s volleyball season officially starts on Friday, Aug. 15, when teams will begin their pursuit of winning the Battle for the Red Banner in Sioux City, Iowa.

1. Indiana Wesleyan, 540 points

2024 Record: 37-2

Week 1: Aug. 21-22 home tournament, facing MidAmerican Nazarene (Kan.), Columbia (Mo.), and Concordia (Neb.)

Stat to know: received 19 first-place votes. Enters the season with a 34-game win streak. Won second consecutive title.

2. Bellevue (Neb.), 522 points

2024 Record: 32-5

Week 1: Aug. 22 Hope International Slam, facing College of Idaho, Southern Oregon, Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio)

Stat to know: is in the Top 5 of active ratings streaks with 44 consecutive appearances in the ratings prior to today’s poll

3. Corban (Ore.), 493 points

2024 Record: 27-6

Week 1: Aug. 21-22 MBU Spartan Invitational, facing St. Thomas (Fla.), Viterbo (Wis.), Midland (Neb.) & Missouri Baptist

Stat to know: opens season with a roster boasting six key returners, as the team only graduated three starters after 2024 season

4. Concordia (Neb.), 473 points

2024 Record: 27-4

Week 1: Aug. 16 Home vs York (Neb.); Aug. 21-22 Indiana Wesleyan Tournament, facing Columbia (Mo.), MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Indiana Wesleyan

Stat to know: returns two NAIA All-Americans in Ashley Keck & Gabi Nordaker

5. Eastern Oregon, 459 points

2024 Record: 31-5

Week 1: Aug. 21-22 Montana Tech Tournament, facing Montana State-Northern, William Carey (Miss.), Providence (Mont.), Taylor (Ind.)

Stat to know: The Mounties only losses in 2024 were to Cascade Collegiate Conference teams but they are picked as the No. 2 in the conference to open the season.

6. Southern Oregon, 439 points

2024 Record: 32-4

Week 1: Aug. 15-16 Raider Invitational, facing Simpson (Calif.), Park Gilbert (Ariz.), Arizona Christian

Stat to know: advanced to the semifinals for the first time in school history, where its run ended with a loss to the eventual national champion

7. Northwestern (Iowa), 423 points

2024 Record: 32-1

Week 1: Aug. 22 Siouxland Invitational, facing Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.), Valley City State (N.D.), McPherson (Kan.), Missouri Valley

Stat to know: Was working on an undefeated season until they were surprised in championship pool play by Montana Western for the team’s first loss of the season. The Red Raiders look to have another strong season with top returners Zavyr Metzger, Emma Westphal, Maddy Sampson, Logan Miller & Liv Reitsma.

8. IU Kokomo (Ind.), 382 points

2024 Record: 33-6

Week 1: Aug. 20 Home vs Bethel (Ind.)

Stat to know: returns their two top players in Lexi Broyles and Mya Grigsby.

9. St. Thomas (Fla.), 374 points

2024 Record: 33-1

Week 1: Aug. 15 Southeastern (Fla.) Tournament, facing Reinhardt (Ga.) & Point (Ga.)

Stat to know: Advanced out of pool play for the first time in 2024 and graduated five players that contributed significantly to the team’s previous success, but reloads with three freshmen and three transfers.

10. Providence (Mont.), 351

2024 Record: 27-7

Week 1: Aug. 22 Big Sky Challenge, facing Nelson (Texas), Eastern Oregon, Evergreen State (Wash.), Taylor (Ind.)

Stat to know: UP won the Frontier Conference regular season & championship and will look to defend their conference titles with new teams added to the league this season

RANK	INSTITUTION	RECORD	POINTS
11	Montana Western	25-10	317
12	McPherson (Kan.)	30-7	317
13	Oklahoma Wesleyan	31-4	308
14	Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio)	31-5	290
15	Aquinas (Mich.)	40-3	277
16	Viterbo (Wis.)	26-11	261
17	Montana Tech	20-12	236
18	College of Idaho (Idaho)	22-14	209
19	Missouri Baptist	27-12	208
20	Midland (Neb.)	18-13	192
21	Nelson (Texas)	31-6	188
22	Marian (Ind.)	25-9	184
23	The Master’s (Calif.)	21-8	131
24	William Carey (Miss.)	29-11	91
25	Central Methodist (Mo.)	RV	85

Receiving Votes: Columbia (Mo.) 62, Texas Wesleyan 52, Morningside (Iowa) 44, Grace (Ind.) 35, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 34, Dakota State (S.D.) 31, CIU (S.C.) 31, Park (Mo.) 31, Indiana Tech 29, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 21, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 18, Benedictine (Kan.) 18, Oregon Tech 17, Cornerstone (Mich.) 16, Bushnell (Ore.) 15, Reinhardt (Ga.) 15, Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 10, Saint Xavier (Ill.) 8, Taylor (Ind.) 7, Rio Grande (Ohio) 7, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) 6, Cumberlands (Ky.) 6, St. Ambrose (Iowa) 5, Carroll (Mont.) 4, Valley City State (N.D.) 3, OUAZ (Ariz.) 2

Poll Methodology

The national poll is for publicity purposes only and does not influence the selection process for national championship consideration.
A panel of head coaches representing each conference and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) votes in the poll.
The Top 25 teams are selected using a points-based system:
- 30 points for a 1st-place vote, 29 for 2nd, 28 for 3rd, and so on.
The highest and lowest rankings received by each team are discarded before final tallying.
Teams receiving only one point are not listed as “receiving votes.”
For the Preseason Poll, there is no “previous ranking” column since it is the initial poll and differs from the prior rating system.

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Cardinal Mooney volleyball sets sights on state tournament

The Cardinal Mooney volleyball team has established itself as one of the premier programs in Southwest Florida since winning a state championship in 2019. After graduating four seniors from last year’s 22-5 team that made it to a regional final, however, some might wonder if the Cougars can stay on top. That doubt could work […]

Published

40 minutes ago

August 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Cardinal Mooney volleyball team has established itself as one of the premier programs in Southwest Florida since winning a state championship in 2019.

After graduating four seniors from last year’s 22-5 team that made it to a regional final, however, some might wonder if the Cougars can stay on top.

That doubt could work in Cardinal Mooney’s favor this fall.

“I think people are maybe expecting us to have a drop off, but I don’t think that’s going to happen this year,” senior setter Layla Larrick said. “We have a bunch of good talent. We just have to figure out how it’s going to mesh together.”

Cardinal Mooney graduated three of its top four hitters from last year in Izzy Russell, Riley Greene and Zoe Kirby as well as Katie Powers, the team leader in digs.

That’s a tough loss for any team, but it could wind up creating a better, and more unpredictable offense for opposing teams to stop.

There are talented returners to lead the transition.

Charlee Hermann, a 6-foot-2 hitter who had the team’s second-most kills last season, is back along with the setter, Larrick and right side Sydney Sparma (fifth-most kills, third-most digs).

Junior outside hitter Charlee Hermann is expected to be Cardinal Mooney's top offensive player following the graduation of three top hitters from last year's team. — Junior outside hitter Charlee Hermann is expected to be Cardinal Mooney’s top offensive player following the graduation of three top hitters from last year’s team.

Another returner is Kelsey Fisher, a 5-foot-10 senior outside hitter who didn’t play indoor volleyball in 2024, but was a part of the beach volleyball team’s No. 1 pairing alongside Russell this past spring.

“My coach in Tampa (Jeff Lamp) and coach (Allan Knight) are best friends, and there was a little bit of talking going on,” Fisher said. “Indoor is my first love, and I decided to come back. It’s my last year, so I might as well have fun.”

Some newcomers have players and coaches excited as well.

Sophomore Brooke Gruhl transferred in from Venice, where she had 697 assists last season for an Indians team that went 14-10 and made it to a regional final.

Outside hitter Gracie Cody is the team’s only freshman, but is already turning heads.

“She’s honestly impressed me the most,” Larrick said of Cody. “I’ve never seen a more mature freshman before. She hits the ball really hard. She has a few mechanicals to work on, but once she gets those down, she’ll be a really good player when she gets older.”

With a mix of returners, newcomers, seniors and underclassmen, coach Knight views depth as the strength of his 2025 team.

It may take time, however, for Knight and his staff to figure out how these players work together and in what rotations.

“I think we have a lot of really good young talent on this team, but we’ve also picked up a few players from here and there, and that’s also strengthened our depth as well,” Knight said. “With our returning talent, our young developed talent and some new players on our squad, I think we’re right back where we were, as strong as ever.”

Junior right-side player Sydney Sparma is back as a veteran for a young Cougars team.

Players have classes together, sit together at lunch, share jokes over team meals and constantly communicate via the team’s group chat.

“In our team group chat, we are already making jokes with each other and some of us have known each other for like a week,” Sparma said. “We are already very friendly with each other, which is a big part of a sport that involves a lot of communication with each other on the court.”

Knight will test his new team early and often.

Cardinal Mooney will play teams such as Port Charlotte (Class 5A state semifinals in 2024), Tampa Prep (2A Region-2 final in 2024), and play in the Nike Tournament of Champions in Gainesville, all within the first month of the season.

The district, however, will be the Cougars’ to lose.

District opponents include Avon Park (16-9 in 2024, lost to Cardinal Mooney 3-0 in district tournament), Lake Placid (9-15 in 2024) and Sarasota Military Academy (7-10 in 2024).

If Cardinal Mooney can win that district, the regular season won’t matter much beyond being a test for another run at a regional championship.

“I think we are right on that same path that we were on last year,” Knight said. “It’s our goal to make it past our region and get to states, and I think this is the team that can do it, but we have a very competitive region. Some of our goals are very short-term and some are long-term. We want to get a feel of what we have and what’s going to work best for us.”

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Emporia State Volleyball Opens Training Camp on Wednesday

Women’s Volleyball | 8/12/2025 5:01:00 PM Story Links August 12, 2025- As the school year moves closer, Emporia State volleyball begins training camp this week in preparation for their third season under head coach Ken Murczek. The Hornets reported over the weekend and after team meetings and photo opportunities early this […]

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56 minutes ago

August 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Women’s Volleyball | 8/12/2025 5:01:00 PM

August 12, 2025- As the school year moves closer, Emporia State volleyball begins training camp this week in preparation for their third season under head coach Ken Murczek.

The Hornets reported over the weekend and after team meetings and photo opportunities early this week will practice for the first time on Wednesday, August 13 at 9:30 a.m. with a second practice in the afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Practices for the first week will be held in the volleyball practice gym in the HPER Building.

Emporia State’s first action will come on Saturday, August 16 for the Washburn exhibition tournament in Topeka, KS. The Hornets will have an NCAA mandated off day on Monday, August 18 for the first day of classes before beginning their regular practice schedule through the regular season with practices at 3:00 p.m.

The Hornets will have two more exhibition tournaments before the regular season starts. Emporia State will travel to Warrensburg, Mo. on Saturday, August 23 and to the Homefield Kansas City Kansas Showcase Center on Saturday, August 30.

The regular season will open with a trip to the West Coast on September 4-6 for the San Diego Invitational. The Hornets will open the season against Point Loma on Thursday followed by games against Cal State San Bernardino on Friday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday. The home opener is set for Friday, September 26 against Missouri Western in White Auditorium.

Emporia State went 17-10 last season, their first winning season since 2014 and were the sixth seed in the MIAA Tournament. The Hornets 17 wins are the most in a season for ESU since the 2013 season.

Emporia State Volleyball Training Camp and Exhibition Schedule

Wednesday, August 13	Practice 1	Volleyball Practice Gym	9:30-11:30 a.m.
	Practice 2	Volleyball Practice Gym	3:00-5:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 14	Practice 3	Volleyball Practice Gym	9:30-11:30 a.m.
	Practice 4	Volleyball Practice Gym	3:00-5:00 p.m.
Friday, August 15	Practice 5	Volleyball Practice Gym	8:30-10:30 a.m.
	Practice 2	Volleyball Practice Gym	3:00-5:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 16	at Washburn Exhibition Tourney	Topeka, KS	10:00 a.m.
Sunday, August 17	Off Day
Monday, August 18	Off Day – First Day of Class
Tuesday, August 19	Begin Regular Practice Schedule	Practice Gym or White Auditorium	3:00-5:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 23	at UCM Exhibition Tourney	Warrensburg, Mo.
Saturday, August 30	at Homefield KCK Showcase Exhibition	Kansas City, KS

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Sports

Track Hires Roger An As Assistant Coach

Story Links Eastern Illinois director of track & field James Gildon has announced the hiring of Roger An as an assistant coach with the Panthers team. An comes to EIU after coaching the last four years at Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland. He will serve as EIU’s sprints and hurdles […]

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1 hour ago

August 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Eastern Illinois director of track & field James Gildon has announced the hiring of Roger An as an assistant coach with the Panthers team.

An comes to EIU after coaching the last four years at Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland. He will serve as EIU’s sprints and hurdles coach.

During four seasons coaching at Mount St. Mary’s An coached 36 All-Conference performers with 14 ECAC All-Region performers.

His athletes have continued to have success on the international level ranking in the United Kingdom national rankings along with athletes that competed at both the Pan American Games and Canadian Olympic Trials.

Prior to his time at Mount St. Mary’s, An coached one season at Amherst College preceded by two years at Lake Superior State as an assistant track coach.

An holds a bachelor’s degree from The College of Wooster and a master’s degree from Southern Nazarene University.

He has had additional coaching and athletic department experiences at The College of Wooster, Southern Nazarene University, the North Coast Athletic Conference and Putnam City High School in Oklahoma.