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Harvard Women’s Water Polo Fights to Final in CWPA Championships | Sports

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No. 15 Harvard women’s water polo (24-6, 10-2 CWPA) is heading to the Collegiate Water Polo Association Championship match Sunday after a successful playoff run in Providence, RI.

In its matchup against Mercyhurst (5-22, 0-7 CWPA), the Crimson did not let up after taking an early, decisive lead. In the Saturday semi-final, Harvard prevailed despite a gritty overtime battle against No. 16 Michigan (18-11, 9-3 CWPA).

The Crimson clinched a share of the program’s first-ever conference title at the end of the regular season. Harvard entered the tournament weekend as the second seed and earned its spot in the Championship match on Sunday.

Throughout the season, the Crimson has flexed a well-rounded roster. Freshman Niki Piovan was named CWPA Rookie of the Year and earned First Team honors alongside sophomore center defender Emma Gilbert.

Freshman goalkeeper Orli Cooper, junior attacker Ruby Hodge, and sophomore attacker Maya O’Dea were named to the CWPA Second Team. Head Coach Ted Minnis was awarded CWPA Coach of the Year as well.

Harvard 20, Mercyhurst 5

The Crimson started the first quarter of its match against Mercyhurst by winning the opening sprint for possession of the ball, which it would continue to do in all four periods.

O’Dea scored Harvard’s first goal of the tournament off of a cross-pool pass from junior goalie Sutchie Ofori-Nyako. Immediately after, Gilbert followed up with her own point in the next possession.

Clearly focused on securing a strong start to the match, the Crimson used its trademark aggression as it pounced on any Mercyhurst passes, tallying up interceptions and turnovers.

The Lakers made a pair of goal attempts early on that were negated by offensive fouls, as Mercyhurst faced increasing pressure from Harvard’s defense.

Piovan scored her first goal, shooting the ball through the goalie’s hands and into the net. Junior utility Heidi Heffelfinger then contributed two back-to-back points of her own.

The Crimson’s speed and rapid passes allowed it to get ahead of Mercyhurst’s defense and challenge the goalkeeper.

Although the Lakers put together a cohesive defense towards the end, their offense was unable to produce in the first quarter, giving Harvard a 6-0 lead.

The Crimson continued forcing scrambles for possession in the second period, but Mercyhurst was finally able to score its first point more than two minutes in off of a long-distance shot.

Seemingly inspired by a potential weak spot in Harvard’s block, the Lakers secured another long-range point.

Gilbert responded by recording the Crimson’s first goal of the quarter. However, the opponent stuck by its new strategy and found success with a shot further from the goal again.

An assist from sophomore attacker Serafina Cortez helped fellow sophomore attacker Lucy Berkman start a string of three Harvard points to close out the first half of the match up 10-3.

Reinvigorating its defense, the Crimson began the third quarter literally pushing back Mercyhurst players’ attempts to advance on the goal. Despite a few power play opportunities, the Lakers could not score throughout the entire eight minutes.

Harvard, on the other hand, scored five goals — including a rebound off of the goalpost from senior center Kaity Greenwald and a sneaky lob over the goalie’s head from Heffelfinger.

Cortez made quick work of the Lakers with a goal in the last 40 seconds of the quarter, forcing the Lakers to call a timeout and try to regroup ahead of the final period.

Unfortunately for Mercyhurst, there was little difference in the fourth quarter. The Crimson again scored five goals, starting with Greenwald’s back-to-back points to earn a hat trick.

Mercyhurst did find hope in the form of another long goal and a typical shot, but Harvard did not let up despite its decisive 15-point lead.

Rolling with impressive momentum, the Crimson closed out the match 20-5 with a demoralizing interception as the Lakers attempted a last-second goal.

Harvard 9, Michigan 8

This anticipated matchup between the Crimson and the Wolverines started with intensity as Harvard immediately intercepted its opponent’s first possession.

The interception then turned into a goal for O’Dea, taking advantage of a power play and a pass from Hodge to give the Crimson the first lead only a minute into the match.

Harvard fired away another shot attempt that was blocked by Michigan’s goalkeeper and missed a penalty shot before the Wolverines could tie the score.

The tension in the pool between the teams was palpable — eight exclusions were called in the first quarter alone as both teams fiercely guarded their goals.

In a rare breakaway opportunity, Heffelfinger burst ahead of the Michigan defense and set up Berkman, following close behind, who fired away at the goal. However, the Crimson would only remain ahead for a moment, as Michigan tied it back up soon after.

The Wolverines intercepted a pass and sped down the pool in the final seconds, looking to end the quarter on top.

Michigan’s quick passes at the goal put Harvard’s defense on edge, but Cooper firmly rejected the buzzer-beater attempt.

In the second period, the Wolverines continued moving the ball around in front of the net, hoping to spread the overwhelming Crimson block thin. However, with Cooper easily covering any gaps, Michigan was unable to score in almost the entire first half of the second quarter.

With their eventual goal, the Wolverines pulled ahead. But, Harvard then scored off of an exclusion opportunity and a penalty shot from Gilbert, flipping the lead once more.

The first half of the game ended in a bit of a panic for the Wolverines -—one player fouled out and another forgot to get in the pool after a timeout, leaving the team down a member momentarily. But, both teams remained tied 4-4.

Piovan put on a defensive show, securing two crucial blocks at the beginning of the third quarter and warding off the opponent.

The nail-biting lead-swapping continued, with Michigan scoring what would be the only goal for either team in the period. Harvard made many powerful shots on the opponent’s goal that barely missed the net or were blocked by the goalkeeper.

Returning with a vengeance, O’Dea scored a point in the first 30 seconds, kicking off the fourth period for the Crimson.

A minute later, Piovan caught the Michigan defense off guard by firing off an impressive, long-range goal.

The Wolverines again forced the match back into a tie, which O’Dea countered to earn herself a hat trick with three minutes remaining.

To the Crimson’s concern, its opponent scored twice to command the lead in what would have been the final moments of the match, were it not for Piovan.

Exploiting a power play situation and faking out the defenders, the freshman kept Harvard’s hopes of playing in the championship alive as the match proceeded into overtime at 8-8.

The first overtime began with a sense of urgency on Michigan’s side, while the Crimson appeared calm and controlled. Senior utility Dany Zapata scored early in the three-minute period.

Michigan ultimately could not match up, trying in vain to get a shot past the imposing defenders and Cooper. The second overtime period ended with the Crimson running out the clock and embracing at the buzzer, celebrating its semi-final victory.

Hoping to cap off its historic season with the program’s first title, Harvard will face regular season co-champion No. 10 Princeton (21-6, 10-2 CWPA) in the CWPA Championship match Sunday.



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When does Wisconsin volleyball play again? NCAA tournament next match

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December 13, 2025

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Dec. 12, 2025Updated Dec. 13, 2025, 12:33 a.m. CT



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UAA signs trio of Alaska prep stars

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December 13, 2025

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ANCHORAGE (Dec. 12) – Riding the momentum from an outstanding 2025 season, the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team has begun reloading for future success with the signing of Alaska prep stars Indy Kmet, Vaiula Leaoa and Sophie Tapley, head coach Stacie Meisner announced Friday.

The newest Seawolves hail from all over the state and represent three of the four classifications in Alaska high school volleyball – 2A, 3A and 4A.

“We are fortunate to live in a state with great coaching at the developmental and high school levels, which has been proven by the contributions of high-level Alaskans who have come through our program,” said Meisner, whose team went 23-6 and tied for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title this season. “We are thrilled that Indy, Ula and Sophie have decided to continue the tradition and welcome them to the Seawolf family.”

A 6-1 outside hitter, Kmet led South Anchorage to the Cook Inlet Conference regular-season title and an ASAA 4A State Tournament berth, along with earning MVP honors at the prestigious Dimond/Service tournament. She was also a key member of the 2024 South squad that finished state runner-up, making the ASAA All-Tournament Team as a junior.

Coach Meisner says…

“Indy is a strong athlete who we had the opportunity to work with at camp over the summer. She is incredibly coachable and a great all-around player with a lot of potential for continued improvement. She has impressive instincts on defense and puts up a big block in the front row. We are excited to see what she will bring to the table next fall to only increase the physicality of our roster.”

A 6-foot outside hitter, Leaoa finished a legendary career at Unalaska last month, leading the Raiders to a second consecutive 2A state title and a 39-match win streak to end her career. The Outstanding Hitter award-winner at this year’s state tournament, she ripped 19 kills in the title-match sweep of Su Valley.

Coach Meisner says…

 “Ula is a really special player out of Dutch Harbor; it’s not often we see a player of her caliber coming from rural Alaska, and we are thrilled that she wanted to join our program. She is already very athletic and physical, with a big jump and a heavy arm swing. She also came to camp in July, so we got to work directly with her, and I believe her ceiling is going to be incredibly high.”

A 5-8 rightside hitter, Tapley led Kenai Central to its third 3A state championship in four seasons this year, earning Outstanding Hitter and All-Tournament honors. Tapley, who only started playing volleyball in seventh grade, was also an all-tournament selection at the 2024 state tournament.

Coach Meisner says…

 “Sophie is a springy, left-handed attacker who sees the court well and plays an aggressive game. Her size is deceiving as she jumps incredibly well and has a very fast arm on her attack. We look forward to seeing how she will develop and continue to grow.”

The trio gives UAA five Alaskans on its 2026 roster, joining sophomore rightside hitter Emma Beck (Kenai) and sophomore libero/defensive specialist Eleasha Sapon (Anchorage/Dimond).

 



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UGOLINI NAMED TO ALL-ECAC SECOND TEAM

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December 13, 2025

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DANBURY, Conn. – Arianna Ugolini picked up another major award on Friday afternoon, earning a selection to the All-ECAC Second Team. 

Ugolini’s surplus of awards include America East Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference, and an honorable mention to the AVCA All-Region team. 

She led the America East in several statistical categories including kills (419), aces (43), and points (476.5). Her 419 kills and 3.99 kills/set are now the most in a single season in Bryant’s Division I history. This season, she also eclipsed 1,000 career kills and points. She became the fifth player in Bryant’s Division I history to surpass 1,000 kills. 



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No. 1 seed Texas hosts No. 4 seed Indiana in the Sweet 16

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December 13, 2025

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The Longhorns also welcome welcome No. 5 seed Stanford and No. 10 seeWisconsin to the Forty Acres for the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8. Friday’s match marks the Longhorn’s 42nd appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the 20th-straight Sweet 16 appearance under head coach Jerritt Elliott, the longest active streak in the NCAA.

The No. 4 seeded Hoosiers stand No. 15 in the AVCA rankings and are making only their sixth all-time NCAA tournament appearance and second trip to the Sweet 16. Indiana is the only Power Four program who has three different players averaging at least 3.21 kills per set this season. On 10 different occasions this year, all three of IU’s top hitters have gone for 10-plus kills each with senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles leading the Hoosiers with 3.54 kills per set. Along with Alonso-Corcelles, senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum and true freshman setter Teodora Krickovic received First-Team All-Big Ten honors. Krickovic has averaged 10.67 assists per set this year while Tatum has 353 kills and .324 hitting percentage which are both career highs. When Indiana blocks well, the Hoosiers tends to produce great results with a record of 17-1 when they record at least eight blocks in a set.

No. 1 seeded Texas ranks No. 3 in the AVCA and in the top five in multiple categories across the country, including fourth in hitting percentage (.316), third in kills per set (14.83) and third in assists per set (13.86). Outside hitter Torrey Stafford stands ninth in the country with her 4.74 kills per set average and 12th in the NCAA with 5.32 points per set alongside middle blocker Ayden Ames who holds the fifth spot in the conference with a .383 hitting percentage. Setter Ella Swindle sits ninth in the SEC in assists per set tossing 8.98 while libero Emma Halter holds the back line down ranking ninth in digs per set with 3.64.

Texas has improved its blocking in the back half of the season — in their last five matches, the Longhorns have totaled 51 blocks, compared to the previous five where they tallied only 38 with Ames at the helm with help of true freshman Taylor Harvey and sophomore Nya Bunton to total 201 of the team’s blocks.

Setter Rella Binney and outside hitters Devin Kahahawai and Cari Spears are just a few of the individuals that keep the machine running for the Longhorns. Libero Ramsey Gary, a transfer from Indiana was on the All-Big Ten second team in her first two years as a Hoosier, now faces her former team and could give some insight and understanding on the Indiana game.

First serve in Austin is at 11 a.m. Central on ESPN.



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Nebraska Volleyball sweeps Kansas; advances to NCAA Regional Final

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December 13, 2025

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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Volleyball team handled business on Friday night sweeping 4-seed Kansas (25-12, 25-11, 25, 25-12). NU will face Texas A&M in the Lincoln Regional Final playing for a spot in the final four.

The Huskers were led by Rebekah Allick who finished with 9 kills on just 9 swings, a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage. Andi Jackson added 9 kills as well and Harper Murray recorded 7 kills with 10 digs.

Bergen Reilly was reportedly sick throughout the week but played through the illness. True Freshman Setter, Campbell Flynn, was OUT for the match and potentially the season as the Huskers Radio Network reported she has a broken pinky finger.

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Copyright 2025 KOLN. All rights reserved.



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Husker Volleyball dominates Kansas, advances to Elite 8

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December 13, 2025

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Nebraska Volleyball is back in the Elite Eight for a third straight season. The Huskers swept Kansas in the Sweet 16 in Lincoln, Neb. on Friday night. Nebraska won set one 25-12. Nebraska continued to dominate in set two, earning a win over the Jayhawks 25 to 11. It was more of the same in set three as the Huskers earned the sweep with a 25-12 victory over their old Big 12 foe. “A lot of it is our mentality and how we practice,” said senior Rebekah Allick after the match. “We’re creatures of habit.”Nebraska will play Texas A&M on Sunday in Lincoln. The match will be televised on KETV at 2 p.m. “Here at Nebraska, we feed our middle blockers,” said middle blocker Andi Jackson. “Credit goes to our passers because they put us in great positions.”The Huskers hit .450 while holding Kansas to .029. Nebraska had six aces and only three service errors. Nebraska’s middle blockers had 21 kills on 28 attacks. Both Jackson and Allick led the Huskers with 9 kills. Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly spoke with media on Thursday, stating they have a team-first mindset with one goal in mind: hanging a sixth national title banner in the Devaney Center.PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Nebraska volleyball is ready to take on Kansas as they continue their national title chaseThe Huskers will look to advance to their third straight Final Four. They’re now three games from a sixth national title. Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

LINCOLN, Neb. —

Nebraska Volleyball is back in the Elite Eight for a third straight season. The Huskers swept Kansas in the Sweet 16 in Lincoln, Neb. on Friday night.

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Nebraska won set one 25-12. Nebraska continued to dominate in set two, earning a win over the Jayhawks 25 to 11. It was more of the same in set three as the Huskers earned the sweep with a 25-12 victory over their old Big 12 foe.

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“A lot of it is our mentality and how we practice,” said senior Rebekah Allick after the match. “We’re creatures of habit.”

Nebraska will play Texas A&M on Sunday in Lincoln. The match will be televised on KETV at 2 p.m.

“Here at Nebraska, we feed our middle blockers,” said middle blocker Andi Jackson. “Credit goes to our passers because they put us in great positions.”

The Huskers hit .450 while holding Kansas to .029. Nebraska had six aces and only three service errors.

Nebraska’s middle blockers had 21 kills on 28 attacks. Both Jackson and Allick led the Huskers with 9 kills.

Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly spoke with media on Thursday, stating they have a team-first mindset with one goal in mind: hanging a sixth national title banner in the Devaney Center.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Nebraska volleyball is ready to take on Kansas as they continue their national title chase

The Huskers will look to advance to their third straight Final Four. They’re now three games from a sixth national title.

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.

NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |





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