AUSTIN (KXAN) – As Texas volleyball gets set for a busy weekend hosting the regional semifinals and final at Gregory Gymnasium, the future takes the spotlight as much as the present.

The University of Texas issued a request for proposal (RFP) Wednesday as they look for private developers to help them create the new home for Texas volleyball and a student-athlete housing facility adjacent to the arena.

In a release, the university explained the aim is to have the arena hold around 6,000 fans, with some ability to change that number for shows and university events. The project, which will be located just north of East MLK Boulevard, is set to take up about four acres.

The request does not set a date for when the facility would begin construction, as the university currently seeks, “private developer(s) to plan, design, construct, equip, finance and operate,” the new arena and housing development. Essentially seeking partnership in developing the two buildings, the announcement delivers a message on Texas Athletics’ growing ambition to expand its facilities.

“It is important for us to be strategic about how we use our space and how our students and visitors engage with our campus,” UT President Jim Davis said. “This is a unique development that will enhance the University’s athletics facilities and housing portfolio and benefit students, Longhorn fans and our city for years to come. I am grateful to our Board of Regents for their support for our vision.”

Any initial arguments for a greater fan capacity was supported early this season when the Longhorns hosted Stanford in Moody Center in September. Setting a state of Texas volleyball attendance record of 10,899 fans, the Longhorns certainly made a case for why they deserve more space for their matches.

Texas volleyball currently resides in Gregory Gymnasium, which can officially hold a capacity of 4,000 fans, but can accommodate more if necessary. Regularly attracting a large crowd, Texas averaged 4,393 fans per match in 2024, according to UT Athletics.

“This is a critical step for the future of Texas Volleyball and our student-athletes’ housing experience,” Athletics Director Chris Del Conte said. “It is about creating an experience that our student-athletes, coaches and passionate fans will be proud of in the heart of a district built for elite talent and entertainment.”

The university’s proposal for the new facility will certainly create a new experience for the Longhorns. According to renderings released by the University via X, the arena will resemble the design of the Moody Center, have an upper bowl and a jumbotron over the center of the court.

Dedicating this arena is yet another indicator of the growing influence of women’s volleyball. A sport that continues to gain popularity, this step by Texas Athletics not only shows the team’s commitment to providing its athletes some of the nation’s best facilities, but to the growth of the sport as well.

Fans can watch the Thai women’s volleyball team take on the Philippines in their second group match at the 33rd SEA Games on Thursday, December 11, 2025. The game will be played at Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok, with live online coverage from 5.30pm.

The 33rd SEA Games, the biggest sporting festival in ASEAN, runs from December 9-20, 2025, featuring 50 sports. Thailand has set a target of 241 gold medals. Indoor volleyball at Huamark is one of the main highlights, with both the Thai women’s and men’s teams tipped as strong favourites to win gold on home soil.

This is the seventh time Thailand has hosted the SEA Games, following 1959, 1967, 1975, 1985, 1995 and 2007. Eleven countries are competing: Thailand (host), Brunei, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Cambodia has announced it will not take part.

ECAC Announces 2025 Division III Women’s Volleyball All-ECAC and Major Awards

12/11/2025 9:18:29 AM

DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2025 Division III Women’s Volleyball All-ECAC Teams and major awards.
 
Kean University brought home two awards this year as Ashley Torok won Rookie of the Year and Don Perkins won Coach of the Year. They are joined by Gwen Eustace from Salisbury University and Bella Demers from William Paterson University as Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive of the Year, respectively.
 
 
Gwen Eustace – Salisbury University, MB
 

Bella Demers – William Paterson University, Libero
 

Ashley Torok – Kean University, Outside Hitter
 

Don Perkins – Kean University, Head Coach

ECAC Division III Women’s Volleyball All-ECAC First Team

Gwen Eustace – Salisbury University, Sr., MB

Hannah Smith – Virginia Wesleyan University, Gr., OH

Cadence Jones – PSU Behrend, So., OH

Kai Fitzpatrick – NJCU, Jr., OH

Jadyn Orava – John Jay College, So., OH

Niya Nash – Virginia Wesleyan University, Jr., S

Bella Demers – William Paterson University, So., L

ECAC Division III Women’s Volleyball All-ECAC Second Team

Cayley Elena Morrison – Kean University, Jr., MH

Molly Mishinkash – Juniata College, So., MH

Shannon McGrath – Union College, So., OH

Maggie Hayes – Juniata College, Jr., MH

Loren Hernandez – Manhattanville University, Sr, OH

Aspen O’Brien – Kean University, Sr., S

Megan Wright – Utica University, Jr., L

ABOUT THE ECAC

The ECAC is an eighty-six year old intercollegiate athletics organization with roughly 200 member schools for traditional sports across all three NCAA Divisions – I, II and III – that exists to enhance the experience of student-athletes participating in NCAA sports, and provide great value for universities, by sponsoring championships, leagues, bowl games, tournaments and other competitions throughout the country. The ECAC also hosts a comprehensive esports program, with over 300 schools, 4,000 teams and 10,000-plus participants in twenty-four different games titles.

STAY CONNECTED

Stay updated on the latest news, championships and more by connecting with the ECAC on Facebook (ECACSports), Twitter (@ECACSports) and Instagram (@ECACSports).

Follow @ASUNSports

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – EKU, West Georgia and Queens claimed this week’s Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) Men’s Indoor Track and Field honors while EKU and West Georgia earned this week’s Women’s honors, announced Wednesday by the league office.

EKU’s Taha Er Raouy was named Men’s Track Performer of the Week. The 2025 ASUN Cross Country Individual Champion finished sixth in the 3,000 meters at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. Er Raouy competed in a field of collegiate and professional athletes. He is currently ranked fourth in the nation in the 3K after his performance of 7:40.56. The Colonels’ Daryoce Flemons and West Georgia’s Isaiah McMichael were both named Field Athlete of the Week. Flemons took first place in the weight throw at the KTCCCA Commonwealth Opener. He threw a school-record 17.81 meters. McMichael competed in the high jump at the KTCCCA Commonwealth Opener. He claimed first place with a 2.00-meter jump. Queens’ Oliver Cooper was named Freshman of the Week. He took sixth place in the men’s mile at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick Off. His 4:17.87 mile is currently ranked first in the ASUN. 

EKU’s Edna Chelulei earned Women’s Track Performer of the Week after she ran 15:42.14 in the 5K. Her performance at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener marked a new school indoor record. Kristan Simmons was named Field Performer of the Week. She took first place in the women’s weight throw. Her 17.28-meter throw marked a new school record for EKU. Kellie Walker earned Freshman of the Week after earning two top-5 finishes for the Wolves on the weekend. She ran 25.66 seconds in the 200M to earn third place then followed with a 7.77-second 60m to claim fifth. 

 

Men’s Track Performer of the Week 

Taha Er Raouy, EKU

Other Nominees: Trey Leggins, Queens; Gavin Barlow, West Georgia. 

Men’s Field Performer of the Week 

Daryoce Flemons, EKU and Isaiah McMichael, West Georgia

Other Nominees: Justin Davis, Lipscomb; Josiah Ford, Queens. 

Men’s Freshman of the Week 

Oliver Cooper, Queens

Other Nominees: Tola Taiwo, Bellarmine; KeShawn Allen, Lipscomb; Juliam Mays, West Georgia. 

Women’s Track Performer of the Week 

Edna Chelulei, EKU

Other Nominees: Regan Watts, Lipscomb; Rowan Shannon, Queens; Chloe Leblanc, West Georgia. 

Women’s Field Performer of the Week 

Kristan Simmons, EKU

Other Nominees: Madelyn Kocik, Austin Peay; Amelia Svidal, Bellarmine; Vesna Kljajevic, Queens; Dru Green, West Georgia. 

Women’s Freshman of the Week 

Kellie Walker, West Georgia 

Other Nominee: Kacie Bailey, Queens. 

2025 Season Award Winners

Men’s
Dec. 10 | Track: Taha Er Raouy, EKU; Field: Daryoce Flemons, EKU and Isaiah McMichael, West Georgia; Freshman: Oliver Cooper, Queens

Women’s

Dec. 10 | Track: Edna Chelulei, EKU; Field: Kristan Simmons, EKU; Freshman: Kellie Walker, West Georgia

 

Men’s Track & Field | 12/11/2025 9:33:00 AM

SEAHAWK SHOOTOUT HISTORY
The 2025-26 season marks only the second time that Saint Francis will be participating in the Wagner College Seahawk Shootout. The meet has been an annual event since the 2015-16 campaign. Last year, Sevison took first place in weight throw as a part of 16 top 10 finishes for the Red Flash. 


LAST EVENT
The women’s team accumulated seven top 10 performances. Olivia Renk finished second in the 200-meter and fourth in the 60-meter on the women’s side. The sophomore clocked in a time of 25.46 in the 200-meter and a 7.72 time in the 60-meter. In the women’s long jump, Taylor Foster finished in fifth place in the event with a jump of 5.29m. Foster also claimed eighth place in the women’s triple jump with 10.63m. Aubrie Wells and Karsyn Ford both finished with 3.25m to tie for eighth place. Rounding out the top 10 finishes was Rylee Nicklas taking 10th in the women’s weight throw with a toss of 14.22m.

On the other side, the men’s team registered 12 top 10 finishes on the day. Jayden Foster took eighth place in the men’s 200-meter dash with a time of 22.81. Meanwhile, Tyler Craft claimed the ninth spot with a time of 37.08 in the 300-meter. Craft jumped his way into second place in the long jump with 6.94m.  Staying in the meter dashes, James Parmelee (1:10.38) took third and Holden Schreier finished seventh (1:12.90) in the men’s 500-meter. Two more Red Flash placed top 10 in the high jump, Ayden Martinage (8th, 1.85m) and Braydon Beach (10th, 1.80m). 

Running over to the pole vault, Dylan Andrews finished with a jump of 4.25 to give himself seventh place. Clark Gulycz took fourth in the men’s shot put with a mark of 17.07m. Saint Francis took another two top 10 finishes, this time in the men’s triple jump. Nehemyah Williams gained third place with a leap of 14.35m. Ian Conway was not far behind him in seventh with 12.54m. Vincent Franco finished out the Red Flash in sixth place with a time of 15.94m. 



NEC PRESEASON POLL 

Saint Francis women’s track & field was picked fifth in the NEC Preseason Poll. Wagner earned five first-place votes and earned the distinction of being the preseason favorite. Stonehill and CCSU both gained two first-place nods to finish in second and third place. Chicago State gained the last vote for first-place, finishing in fourth. After the Red Flash in fifth place, FDU, LIU, New Haven, Mercyhurst, and Le Moyne round out the ten-team poll. 

Saint Francis men’s track & field was picked seventh in the NEC Preseason Poll. CCSU earned eight first-place votes and earned the distinction of being the preseason favorite. Wagner gained one first-place vote to finish in second. Stonehill and Chicago State were picked to finish in third and fourth. FDU and LIU were both tied in fifth place, however, LIU earned the last vote for first-place. After the Red Flash in seventh place, New Haven, Le Moyne, and Mercyhurst round out the ten-team poll. 



NEXT UP FOR RED FLASH

Saint Francis will take some time off until January 17 when it will attend the Nittany Lion Challenge located at University Park, Pa.

AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to seek private developer(s) to plan, design, construct, equip, finance and operate a small multipurpose public arena to serve as the competition home for the Longhorns’ four-time National Champion Women’s Volleyball and an adjacent student-athlete housing facility, with minimal financial outlay from the University. The project will encompass approximately 4 acres in the Athletics and Entertainment District of UT’s main campus, located north of East MLK Jr. Boulevard between Robert Dedman Drive and Interstate 35.

“It is important for us to be strategic about how we use our space and how our students and visitors engage with our campus,” said UT President Jim Davis. “This is a unique development that will enhance the University’s athletics facilities and housing portfolio and benefit students, Longhorn fans and our city for years to come. I am grateful to our Board of Regents for their support for our vision.”

The arena aims to seat approximately 6,000 fans, with the flexibility to expand seating for concerts, shows and University events that complement the adjacent Moody Center. The student-athlete housing facility is envisioned to provide a best-in-class housing experience for the University’s student-athletes that reflects UT’s commitment to recruiting and developing premier talent. Additionally, it could provide ground-level retail opportunities that will enhance the campus, community, and visitors’ experience.

“This is a critical step for the future of Texas Volleyball and our student-athletes’ housing experience,” said Athletics Director Chris Del Conte. “It is about creating an experience that our student-athletes, coaches and passionate fans will be proud of in the heart of a district built for elite talent and entertainment.”

The RFP seeks private developers who have successfully developed and operated best-in-class, multipurpose public arenas, student housing and retail facilities, and who have the financial capability to contribute all or a substantial portion of the cost to develop, build and operate the new facilities. Under the proposed public-private collaboration, UT would own both the arena and student-athlete housing properties, and an outside entity would operate them.

UT issued the RFP Dec. 10 after the UT System Board of Regents authorized it last month. The 2033 Higher Education Development Foundation will lead the RFP process, and developer(s) will have the option to submit proposals for both or each facility by Feb. 6. The specific timeline and financial arrangement between the University and developer(s) will be determined through negotiations before any agreement is reached.