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Beach Volleyball Goes Back-to-Back as Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Champions

Story Links Results (v UTM) OVC Tournament Central CHATTANOOGA — For the second consecutive season, the Chattanooga beach volleyball team punched its ticket into the NCAA Tournament after the Sandy Mocs defeated UT Martin 3-2 to become Ohio Valley Conference […]

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CHATTANOOGA — For the second consecutive season, the Chattanooga beach volleyball team punched its ticket into the NCAA Tournament after the Sandy Mocs defeated UT Martin 3-2 to become Ohio Valley Conference tournament champions on Saturday at the UTC Sports Complex.

In front of a raucous home crowd at the UTC Sports Complex, the Mocs (26-5, 10-0 OVC) fought through one of the team’s most dramatic matches in program history as it took all five courts to get the job done. However, it was ultimately the reigning back-to-back OVC Pair of the Year of Neva Clark and Corina Vale who dealt the clinching blow on Court 1 for the Mocs, securing yet another title for the Sandy Moc Dynasty.

“It was gritty,” head coach Darin Van Horn said following the match. “UT Martin was an amazing opponent and every dual we’ve had against them has been a battle. It was just a gritty win for us. Once we split the first round I knew it was going to be a long road ahead, and then it came down to our 1’s pair and there’s nobody else I’d want to have in that position than them. It was just awesome to finish it off that way.”

Both Clark and Vale, as well as UTC’s Court 5 pairing of Sydney Jackwin and Ansley Gulledge received spots on the OVC’s All-Tournament Team for their efforts over the course of the championship weekend. Jackwin and Gulledge were ultimately named as OVC Tournament MVPs after finishing the tournament 3-0 as a pair.

“Coming in as transfers, we didn’t really know what to expect especially going into the tournament ranked as the No. 1 seed,” Gulledge said. “We definitely felt the pressure, but we just stayed in control on our side of the net. It’s the only thing we can control. Syd and I really thrive when we bring a lot of energy, so we just created our energy and trusted each other out there.”

“For everyone else here, they had already had the feeling of what this tournament is like and what it’s like to play in it and win it,” Jackwin continued. “For us, yeah it was new but at the same time we were like ‘why not us?’ Darin picked us and wanted us on the team for a reason.

“He gave us the opportunity to play and believed in us, so we just focused on that. Ansley and I, if either of us start to get in our heads we’re just so good at lifting the other person right back up. It may be our first year playing together, but it feels like she and I have been playing together for years.”

Chattanooga will now wait to learn who the Sandy Mocs will be matching up against in the 2025 NCAA Tournament next weekend in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The 2025 NCAA Tournament is set to run May 2-4 at Gulf Place Beach.

Chattanooga vs. UT Martin – W 3-2

The 2025 OVC title match lived up to the hype right from the get-go as both the Mocs and Skyhawks had their sights set on booking a trip to Gulf Shores. For the championship match formatting, it would be Courts 4 and 5 that would get things underway.

Chattanooga’s Court 5 pairing drew first blood in the in-state rivalry, as the OVC Tournament MVPs Sydney Jackwin and Ansley Gulledge got the ball rolling in favor of the Mocs. The No. 5 duo was dominant in their match, as they have been all weekend, picking up back-to-back 21-13 set wins to put the Mocs up 1-0 early-on in the contest.

The Sandy Mocs then looked to Joy Courtright and Julia Lawrence on Court 4 in what truly was a pivotal match in the game. With a win the Mocs would move just one more victory away from the title, while a loss would level things out for the Skyhawks at the turn.

Courtright and Lawrence got straight to work, feeding off of the crowd’s energy to put together a 21-13 win in the opening set of their match. UT Martin responded right back, however, forcing a third frame after a 21-14 result in the second. It was then the Skyhawks that dealt the final blow on Court 4, as the UTM duo earned a 15-8 win in the third set to officially level things out at 1-1 as Courts 1, 2 and 3 got ready to get underway.

All attention then turned to the top three pairings of the day, as a season of a lifetime for the Sandy Mocs relied on just two more victories out on the beach. All three matches provided thrilling first sets as across the board the opening set scores read: 24-22, 21-19 and 24-22.

McKenna Faychak and Maddie Lecik were the lone UTC pair to win their first set in that Top 3 grouping, as Faychak and Lecik grinded out a 21-19 victory to open their match. Galvanized by their tight win in the first, ‘Kenny and Lee’ left no doubt in their second set as the pair cruised to a 21-11 victory to seal a straight-set sweep on Court 2 that put the Mocs ahead 2-1.

Once again, the Skyhawks found a response though as UT Martin’s Court 3 duo snuck out a narrow 24-22 win over Paige Gallentine and Kit Gresham to kick off their matchup in the No. 3 position. While the senior duo of Gallentine and Gresham left all that they could out on the court in what was their final match at the UTC Sports Complex, the Skyhawks nabbed another 21-15 victory in the second, leveling out the score once more at 2-2.

It was here that the weight of the match, and the season, fell on Court 1. Chattanooga’s top flight pair, Neva Clark and Corina Vale, found themselves in an early hole having dropped the opening set of their match 24-22. It would be over the next two sets, however, that Clark/Vale proved why they are back-to-back OVC Pair of the Year award winners for the Mocs.

Clark and Vale went to work in the second frame, powering past UTM’s No. 1 duo with a 21-15 win. At this point, the record crowd at UTC Sports Complex was at a fever pitch as Chattanooga’s season came down to a third and final set.

From the start of the third frame, Clark and Vale proved they had nerves of steel and were up for the challenge as the UTC pair inched closer and closer to the thrilling conclusion of Championship Saturday. Every shot for the Mocs fell while every attempt from the Skyhawks had an answer, and it looked as though no was going to stop Clark and Vale from willing the Mocs to the victory.

With the scoreboard reading 14-9 in favor of Clark/Vale, it was one last point from the senior Neva Clark that sealed the deal for the Sandy Mocs. The three-time Player of the Year, with her final career point at the UTC Sports Complex, had just clinched the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference title for Chattanooga.

It was a dream realized for a woman who has given everything to building up Chattanooga beach volleyball to what it is today. Not only does she leave behind a legacy; she leaves behind a dynasty.

1. Neva Clark/Corina Vale (UTC) def. Riley Rushing/Dylan Sulcer (UTM) 22-24, 21-15, 15-9

2. McKenna Faychak/Maddie Lecik (UTC) def. Olivia O’Keefe/Kayla Bryant (UTM) 21-19, 21-11

3. Jenna Vallee/Lauren Mariscal (UTM) def. Paige Gallentine/Kit Gresham (UTC) 24-22, 21-15

4. Sydney Eckhardt/Reagan McGee (UTM) def. Joy Courtright/Julia Lawrence (UTC) 13-21, 21-14, 15-8

5. Sydney Jackwin/Ansley Gulledge (UTC) def. Kylie Surratt/Kristin Phillips (UTM) 21-13, 21-13

Order of finish: 5, 4, 2, 3, 1

FOLLOW CHATTANOOGA BEACH VOLLEYBALL

For the most up-to-date information regarding Chattanooga Beach Volleyball, please follow us on Twitter (@GoMocsBeachVB), Instagram (@GoMocsBeachVB) & Facebook (Chattanooga Athletics Department) or visit GoMocs.com.

GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Buy officially licensed gear in our online store. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter. Find out how to join the Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here.



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Softball adds transfer Taylor Anderson from Oklahoma State

Story Links AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Softball has signed transfer utility player Taylor Anderson to the roster for the 2026 season, head coach Mike White announced Wednesday. Anderson, who played her freshman season at Oklahoma State in 2024, will be immediately eligible with three years of eligibility remaining. The Dripping Springs, Texas, […]

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AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Softball has signed transfer utility player Taylor Anderson to the roster for the 2026 season, head coach Mike White announced Wednesday. Anderson, who played her freshman season at Oklahoma State in 2024, will be immediately eligible with three years of eligibility remaining.

The Dripping Springs, Texas, product appeared in 43 games with five starts at OSU in 2024. She hit .250 with a .438 slugging percentage and .368 on-base percentage in 16 at-bats, totaling four hits, 16 runs scored, one home run, two RBI and three walks. A top-option on the base path for the Cowgirls, she was successful on four of her six stolen base attempts. She earned her first career start in left field against BYU on March 22, 2024, and launched a solo home run – her first career home run. In the rubber match against the Cougars on March 23, 2024, she went 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored while drawing a walk, reaching base on all three plate appearances.

During high school, Anderson was a three-time all-state honoree, a District MVP (2022), a Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star (2022) and a District Offensive Player of the Year (2021), leading Dripping Springs to multiple district championships. She also competed in track and field for Dripping Springs, winning bi-district titles as part of the 4×100 meter and 4×200 meter relay teams.



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Kingsford community funds track and field renovations

KINGSFORD, Mich. (WLUC) – Compactors and loaders carry gravel across what was grass only a few weeks ago. Right now, Flivver Field could pass for a parking lot, but soon, new turf will be placed as part of a renovation of the track and field. Breitung Township School District Superintendent Aaron Yonke says the field […]

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June 26, 2025

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KINGSFORD, Mich. (WLUC) – Compactors and loaders carry gravel across what was grass only a few weeks ago.

Right now, Flivver Field could pass for a parking lot, but soon, new turf will be placed as part of a renovation of the track and field.

Breitung Township School District Superintendent Aaron Yonke says the field will see more use afterward.

“This is like a prime piece of location in Dickinson County,” Yonke said. “Right now, with our football and track events, usually you’re going to see some event going on here 12-15 times a year. With the completion of this project, that’s going to be at the minimum doubled.”

The field could also be used for marching band or the school’s physical education program.

Yonke says the renovations will help the school host more events.

“We have the annual U.P. track final here,” Yonke said. “We hold a bunch of camps with soccer and football. That’s something that, with this new upgraded facility, we’ll be able to attract more of those events like that.”

The entire project cost almost $1.75 million, but the money came from community donations, not tax hikes.

Kingsford High School Athletic Director Chris Hartman says community support has been consistent.

“It started out really, really hot with a boatload of people coming in,” Hartman said. “Then, it kind of cooled off, but now, the people are walking by and driving by and seeing the project come to life and I’ve had some more calls here in the past couple weeks now that they are really seeing it.”

Donors get their names placed on the track or the field. There are still 15 spots available.

If you are interested in donating, contact the Kingsford High School office.

The video above will feature the TV6 livestream until staff can clip the corresponding story, if available, from broadcasts or other TV6 content. You can subscribe to our YouTube page or download TV6+ to stream the latest local news and weather.

Copyright 2025 WLUC. All rights reserved.



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Four Penguins Named CSC Academic All-District®

Story Links The Youngstown State men’s and women’s track and field teams had four student-athletes named to the 2025 Academic All-District® Men’s Track & Field teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, the organization announced on Tuesday. The four student-athletes recognized as some of the nation’s top individuals for their combined performances on […]

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June 26, 2025

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The Youngstown State men’s and women’s track and field teams had four student-athletes named to the 2025 Academic All-District® Men’s Track & Field teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, the organization announced on Tuesday.

The four student-athletes recognized as some of the nation’s top individuals for their combined performances on the track, in the field, and in the classroom were Emily Bee, Nia Williams-Matthews, Ainsley Hamsher and Thomas Caputo.



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Field Hockey’s Siedem and Myklebust to Compete at USA Field Hockey Senior Nexus Championship

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown standouts Mia Karine Myklebust and Kate Siedem have been selected to compete in the 2025 USA Field Hockey Senior Nexus Championship. USA Field Hockey made the announcement on Monday (June 23).   The Senior Nexus Championship begins on July 18 and continues through July 20 at the Virginia Beach Regional Training […]

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June 26, 2025

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown standouts Mia Karine Myklebust and Kate Siedem have been selected to compete in the 2025 USA Field Hockey Senior Nexus Championship. USA Field Hockey made the announcement on Monday (June 23).
 
The Senior Nexus Championship begins on July 18 and continues through July 20 at the Virginia Beach Regional Training Center and features 145 collegiate and post-collegiate players.
 
A step along the Olympic Development Pathway program, the Senior NXC serves as a selection opportunity for the 2025-26 U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team Selection Camps, Junior USWNT Selection Camps, U.S. Women’s National Development Squad and U.S. Women’s National Team.
 
“As a program deeply committed to player development, I’m incredibly proud to see Kate Siedem selected to join MK Myklebust in the U.S. Olympic Development Pathway at the Senior Nexus Tournament this July,” said head coach Britt Broady. “This tournament will be an important final tune-up for MK ahead of the Junior Pan-American Games with the U-21 squad, and a tremendous opportunity for Kate as she positions herself for the next U-21 cycle as current players age out.”
 
Siedem started in all 17 games at Brown as a sophomore in 2024 and has played in every game in her collegiate career. It marks the first USA Field Hockey selection for the Madison, New Jersey native.
 
“I’m very honored and excited to play at the Senior Nexus Championship in July!” said Siedem. “I am looking forward to competing and continuing my development as a player in preparation for our season this fall.”
 
Myklebust was recently named to the United States Under-21 National Team to earn her spot at the Nexus Championship. The Los Gatos, California native was named First Team All-Ivy last fall after leading the Bears with nine goals.
 
There are 40 colleges represented among the 144 players named to the Championship. Brown is one of six Ivy League programs represented along with Princeton (5), Yale (2), Columbia (1), Harvard (1), and Penn (1). Brown is one of 24 programs with multiple selections.
 
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION

The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the lifeblood of the athletics program, and exists to enhance the student-athlete experience through philanthropic support from alumni, parents, fans and friends. A gift through the Sports Foundation makes an immediate impact on today’s Brown Bears and helps them to be their best in the classroom, in competition and most importantly in the community. To learn more about supporting the Bears, please click here.

 

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on X, @BrownU_Bears on Instagram, like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
 





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Women’s sport shows ‘unprecedented’ digital growth despite broadcast dip

While broadcast viewership is down 13%, women’s sport’s growth on social platforms such as TikTok and YouTube suggests a different trend is emerging.  Ahead of a bumper summer of sport, the Women’s Sport Trust’s latest visibility report sheds light on what is happening among audiences, broadcasters and digital platforms. According to the analysis, in collaboration […]

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While broadcast viewership is down 13%, women’s sport’s growth on social platforms such as TikTok and YouTube suggests a different trend is emerging. 

LinkedIn sports UEFA Women's EURO 2022

Ahead of a bumper summer of sport, the Women’s Sport Trust’s latest visibility report sheds light on what is happening among audiences, broadcasters and digital platforms.

According to the analysis, in collaboration with insights agency GSIQ, viewership is down year-on-year, with a 13% decline in three-minute UK broadcast reach between January and May 2025. This is the first decline since 2022. However, it doesn’t mean fans aren’t watching and brands shouldn’t be investing.  

The drop in viewership coincides with a 15% reduction in coverage hours and a decline in Barclays Women’s Super League (BWSL) and Guinness Women’s Six Nations (W6N) average audiences.  

Ahead of a bumper summer of sport, the Women’s Sport Trust’s latest visibility report sheds light on what is happening among audiences, broadcasters and digital platforms.

According to the analysis, in collaboration with insights agency GSIQ, viewership is down year-on-year, with a 13% decline in three-minute UK broadcast reach between January and May 2025. This is the first decline since 2022. However, it doesn’t mean fans aren’t watching and brands shouldn’t be investing.  

The drop in viewership coincides with a 15% reduction in coverage hours and a decline in Barclays Women’s Super League (BWSL) and Guinness Women’s Six Nations (W6N) average audiences.  

BWSL’s broadcast audience fell by 35%, while W6N’s reach dropped from 8.1 million to 6.6 million. 

“Progress isn’t linear,” says Women’s Sport Trust CEO Tammy Parlour. “There will be fluctuations and not all metrics will move in the same direction at the same time.”  

However, she describes the broader picture for women’s sport as one of “momentum and opportunity”, noting that investment is continuing to rise. 

Growth in digital

The “unprecedented” growth in digital channels suggests the media mix for women’s sport is evolving.  

The first five months of 2025 saw a 105% increase in TikTok views for the eight most-viewed women’s sport accounts on the platform. On YouTube, this figure is 84%.  

In the UK, BWSL’s digital engagement was the highest, with 56 million TikTok views, 20 million YouTube views and 6 million Instagram engagements. Globally, the Women’s National Basketball Association led the way with 131 million views and the Women’s Tennis Association came out on top on YouTube, with 75% growth to 63 million views.  

“It’s hugely encouraging to see women’s sport thriving on digital platforms, with athletes, teams and leagues leveraging new ways to connect with fans. This ecosystem – built through collaboration between broadcasters, rights holders and platforms – is vital to continuing the sport’s growth,” says Parlour. 

However, she cautions the decline in broadcast viewership is a reminder of the “fierce competition” for audience attention.

“We must ensure that investment in production and distribution keeps pace with fan demand and the quality of the sport on offer,” says Parlour. 

She describes the report as sending a “strong signal” to brands that digital engagement in women’s sport is growing fast and the opportunity to connect with fans, particularly through player-led content, has “never been greater”.

“The upcoming UEFA Women’s EURO will bring a wave of attention, but the real value lies in showing up consistently – not just in the big moments,” Parlour adds. “The brands that invest now, with the right tone and timing, will be the ones that build lasting connections as the audience matures.”





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News – Water Polo Australia

Water Polo Australia is pleased to announce its team for the 2025 World Aquatics U20 Water Polo Championships. WPA has selected 14 athletes to compete at the event, which will be held in Salvador, Brazil from 10-16 August 2025. The team has been selected following a camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. […]

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Water Polo Australia is pleased to announce its team for the 2025 World Aquatics U20 Water Polo Championships.

WPA has selected 14 athletes to compete at the event, which will be held in Salvador, Brazil from 10-16 August 2025.

The team has been selected following a camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

Water Polo Australia would like to congratulate the following athletes on their selection:

Anneliese Pamp (Sydney Uni, NSW)

Bless Daly (Polo Bears, QLD)

Charley Stephens (Drummoyne, NSW)

Chelsea Johnson (Mermaids, QLD)

Ebony Nash (Sydney Uni, NSW)

Georgia Chapman (Balmain, NSW)

Isabel Scott (Sydney Uni, WA)

Kali-yah Taoso (Mermaids, QLD)

Koko Bacic (Drummoyne, NSW)

Layla Smith (Balmain, NSW)

Samantha Hardingham (Sydney Uni, NSW)

Saskia Dunn (Balmain, NSW)

Sienna Owen (Mermaids, QLD)

Tayla Dawkins (Balmain, SA)

Reserve: Horatia Schlect (Polo Bears, QLD)

Reserve: Matilda Waugh (Balmain, NSW)

Reserve: Sophie Pethers (Balmain, NSW)

 

Head Coach: Dusan Damjanovic (QLD)

 





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