Including players on the injured or ineligible lists, there are somewhere around 5,000 domestic minor league players at any given time. On the one hand, it’s a tiny number; the total domestic player pool for every organization combined could fit in Chase Field over nine times. On the other, it’s a huge number. For each […]
Including players on the injured or ineligible lists, there are somewhere around 5,000 domestic minor league players at any given time. On the one hand, it’s a tiny number; the total domestic player pool for every organization combined could fit in Chase Field over nine times. On the other, it’s a huge number. For each of those 5,000 players has a unique story, events that have made them who they are, set their lives on a path that has led them to this point. Tales of triumph and tragedy; stories of chance meetings, of being in the right place at the right time, and especially all of the work that it has taken them to reach this point, as well as the work they have yet to do. We’ll never know the majority of those stories. Telling one is an honor.
In from the bullpen jogs the new pitcher, summoned from the mound in a difficult situation. It’s a close game; his team is behind by a single run. There are two outs, but the previous pitcher has run out of gas, having walked two and given up a line drive that was thankfully right to a fielder. Up steps a slugger into the batter’s box, and out walks the manager. The pitcher just needs to get this guy out.
Stressful situation? Adrenaline rush? Yes, it is stressful, and for many pitchers this situation may be the most stressful thing they have faced. But not for Taylor Rashi, right-handed reliever of the Reno Aces. He’s faced far greater stress, and was doing so long before he threw a pitch for a major college program, let alone a professional team.
In addition to being a professional pitcher at the second highest level in the country, Rashi is a certified EMT. He has been since he was 18, over a decade ago. He was answering calls as a first responder before he was answering a coach’s or manager’s call in the bullpen. It puts pitching in perspective. “There’s [nothing] that I’ve found in my life that compares to the responsibility…of trying to save someone’s life or even bring them back from being basically dead.” While he has not worked as an EMT since his time at El Camino College, he has kept up his certification. Every two years, Rashi takes 24 hours of continuing education classes, a written test, and a skills test to maintain that certification. When his baseball career finally reaches its end,
Baseball has been part of Rashi’s life for as long as he can remember, playing in his California back yard with his grandfather. He grew up always playing the game, and when he started playing organized baseball, always pitching. He pitched for West Torrance High School in his hometown of Torrance, CA. He stayed in Torrance for junior college, at El Camino College, where he made 28 starts, and then went on to play for UC Irvine. It was as an Anteater that he made the transition from starting to the bullpen.
He went undrafted for the third time in 2018. Heading into his final season in 2019, Rashi made a determination. “I kind of let any expectation of what could happen, go. I knew I was a little bit older. I knew I didn’t throw as hard as everybody else. So during that entire season, I focused on enjoying the time I had left playing baseball and enjoying the people I was around, my teammates, my coaches…just enjoying the moment.” When the 2019 draft happened, Rashi was focused on finals. UC Irvine’s quarter system meant the school year was a little longer, and the draft was earlier in those days. That combination meant that, on the third day of the draft, he was walking to the baseball field to rest between finals when he got a text from coach Ben Orloff congratulating him. But it hadn’t been a focus. “I was just kind of playing and I knew I was having a pretty decent year, and whatever happened, happened.” (Pretty decent would be one way to describe it; Rashi was having a season that saw him named a third-team All American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, along with then-Georgia Tech player and future teammate Tristin English.)
The Giants had drafted him in the 23rd round of the draft, a round which no longer exists. He signed for a bonus of $2000. But thanks to the support structure he had in place, it wasn’t a hard decision to forgo firefighting for baseball. “It’s always been a dream to play major league baseball, and with the people I had around me and the support I had from my mom, it was a very easy decision.” Firefighters will always be needed and firefighting will always be a career available to Rashi, but having not been called by professional baseball out of high school, junior college, or after his junior year at UC Irvine, Rashi knew the chance wasn’t coming again, and he wasn’t done playing yet.
Rashi got to appear in a spring training game with the Giants in 2022Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images
After nine appearances at the complex in 2019, he had a single appearance in the Northwest League, then short-season A-ball. And thanks to the reshuffling of the minor league system after 2020, he went back to the Pacific Northwest in 2021, pitching well for Eugene. He was pitching even better for AA Richmond in 2022 (posting a WHIP of 0.971 in 30 appearances) when his season came to an abrupt end in August. He needed a complete repair of his latissimus dorsi tendon in the back of his shoulder. Surgery was performed by Dr. Anthony Romeo and the process of rehab and return started.
Hardcore baseball fans (and plenty of casual fans, even) are aware that the winter meetings end with the Rule 5 draft. Most are familiar with the major league portion of the draft, in which teams may select players with a certain amount of minor league service time who are not on the 40-man roster. What fewer fans know is that there is a minor league portion as well. Players not on the AAA roster are available for selection in that portion. It is easy to find articles about major league Rule 5 selections, and being selected in the major league Rule 5 portion is doubtless a moment of excitement for players, as they have the inside track towards a major league roster spot. The minor league portion goes largely unnoticed.
On December 7, 2022, Rashi was sitting in a hotel room playing video games with a teammate when he happened to glance at his phone. “I got somewhere around like 50 or 60 messages on my phone. And I was like, ‘what can this be about?’ And it was just a bunch of teammates of mine texting me saying ‘good luck this, good luck, we’re gonna miss you.’ And I was super confused…for the first couple of hours.” But he was in the Diamondbacks’ complex the next day, beginning to “work with a new set of people, a new set of trainers, physical therapists. [Figuring out] how do I get back on the field as soon as possible to help this organization?”
Five days short of one year after his last appearance in the Giants’ organization, Rashi made his first appearance in the Diamondbacks’ organization, a rehab appearance in the complex. After three rehab appearances, it was on to Amarillo, where he struck out 23 against just four walks in 17 innings. 2024 saw him make the journey between Amarillo and Reno several times. In 2025, he began the season in AAA for the first time.
Even at 29, Rashi knows that he is newer to the level, and he appreciates the way the bullpen construction in Reno provides development beyond coaching. “There’s a lot of good mentorship from the older guys teaching us newer and younger guys how things are done, the professionalism of being able to last an entire year in a bullpen.” And even as he is getting that mentorship, he is passing it along to the next generation. Rather than go to commercial pitching labs like so many, Rashi works in the offseason at UC Irvine, where he maintains a relationship with the coaches and they invite him and other players to work during the offseason. “They have all the equipment that you really need…to measure your progress through the offseason.” The relationship with the coaches at UC Irvine ties back into the support network that has been so important throughout Rashi’s career.
In 2025, he got to appear for the Diamondbacks against his former organization during the springRob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Will we see Taylor Rashi in a (regular season) Diamondbacks’ uniform at some point? It’s always been a long shot. He barely hits 90 MPH, and velocity is the calling card of a lot of relievers these days. But what he does have is a curveball and a delivery that combine to keep hitters off balance and have proven effective at every level. If he does get the call, it will be the result of his perseverance and the support received from family, friends, and coaches. And if he never appears for the Diamondbacks, he’ll return to a more important uniform.
Last Week: A Brief Recap
For the first time this season, no affiliates lost a series. Amarillo, Reno, and Visalia all pulled out 4-2 series wins, while Hillsboro fell just short, splitting the home series against Tri-City.
Offensive Players of the Week: A.J. Vukovich and Kristian Robinson
The outfielders were far and away the best bats in the organization for the week, despite there being other excellent performances. Vukovich tied for the lead in hits for the week with ten, hit three home runs, and drove in more runs than anyone else (nine). Robinson collected the most true total bases on the week (total bases plus walks and times hit by pitch) with 23, also hit three home runs, and had more walks (six) than strikeouts (four). His 1.483 OPS for the week led the organization.
Starting Pitcher of the Week: Tommy Henry
Henry got off to a dismal start, giving up four runs in his first inning of work. But over the next eleven innings, he gave up just three runs, including a quality start on Sunday. He struck out 12 and walked just four in his 12 innings of work for the week. While other pitchers had more dominant outings, Henry’s week was the most well-rounded.
Relief Pitcher of the Week: Hayden Durke
While Durke made just two appearances, he faced eight batters and recorded eight outs. He allowed just one batter to reach base, and that via the hit by pitch, and he erased that baserunner via the double play. He struck out four of the eight he faced. He threw 33 pitches, 22 of them for strikes. He’s harnessing his stuff better, and the results were obvious last week.
Numbers of the Week
9, which, in case you missed it, was the number of pitches Daniel Eagen threw in the first inning this week. His immaculate inning was the single most notable individual achievement down on the farm this week.
216, which was the number of strikeouts recorded on the week, from Tommy Henry’s 12 to Tristin English’s single strikeout. Across the system, there were 2.1 strikeouts for every walk.
4, the number of home runs hit by LuJames Groover, most in the system. The rest of his numbers were also solid, but not quite at the level of Vukovich or Robinson, but he still deserves a shout out here.
46, the percentage of the time Ben McLaughlin, Caleb Roberts, and Jack Hurley struck out this week. The trio of left handed bats struggled mightily, managing five singles and one walk between them while striking out 23 times. Hurley, however, walked in his final plate appearance Saturday and got his lone hit on Sunday, so perhaps he is breaking out of his funk.
15, the number of players in the system who posted an OPS over 1.000 last week. This includes top prospects starting to find their bats (Demetrio Crisantes, Abdias De La Cruz), players continuing to mash (Jordan Lawlar, Groover, Gavin Conticello), and players sent down to find their bats again (Jake McCarthy). It also includes Manny Pena, who made his 2025 debut and his AA debut, and went 7-for-16 with each type of extra base hit. He’s added noticeable muscle from last year and is finding his power.
1.095, Jordan Lawlar’s PCL-leading OPS. He leads the league in OPS despite being third in OBP and second in SLG. In addition to walking 13% of the time, he is getting extra base hits 14.6% of the time. Add in his two times hit by pitch, and Lawlar has either gotten an extra base or a free base in 29.3% of his plate appearances.
2, the number of major leagues that would be led in stolen bases by Lawlar’s 12. (He’d be tied for first in the NL with Pete Crow-Armstrong and Oneil Cruz.) This, despite 67 total bases, a number which leads all minor leaguers and would trail just Aaron Judge and Corbin Carroll among big leaguers.
Some Plays of the Week
No particular order, just some highlights from down on the farm.
That Crisantes-bomb was measured at 457 feet. You can see that it not only cleared the outfield wall comfortably, it landed on the other side of a chain link fence 15 feet or so beyond the outfield wall.
Congratulations are due to Vargas, who has had an incredible career, most of it in the Diamondbacks system. And he had a game saving (and ending) defensive play as well.
L
Next Up
Be on the lookout for some movement between Hillsboro and Visalia this week. Not because of performance (good or bad) but because the Hops are heading north of the border to Vancouver. It’s not unusual for a player not to have a visa (last year, Neyfy Castillo had this issue) and so they would be moved elsewhere.
Amarillo travels to face archrival Midland. Reno is in Sacramento. And Visalia will return home to face Fresno. Both Reno (14-13) and Visalia (8-13) are facing teams with identical records, and given the split-season system, having a good performance this week is key.
FanDuel bans bettor for heckling Gabby Thomas at Philadelphia track meet
FanDuel has banned the sports bettor who heckled three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas at a Grand Slam Track meet last weekend and later boasted that his actions helped him win a bet placed on one of her competitors. “FanDuel condemns in the strongest terms abusive behavior directed towards athletes,” a FanDuel spokesperson said in […]
FanDuel has banned the sports bettor who heckled three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas at a Grand Slam Track meet last weekend and later boasted that his actions helped him win a bet placed on one of her competitors.
“FanDuel condemns in the strongest terms abusive behavior directed towards athletes,” a FanDuel spokesperson said in a statement to The Athletic. “Threatening or harassing athletes is unacceptable and has no place in sports. This customer is no longer able to wager with FanDuel.”
The betting platform took action after Thomas said Monday that a sports bettor followed her around Franklin Field in Philadelphia, the site of the track event, and heckled her.
“This grown man followed me around the track as I took pictures and signed autographs for fans (mostly children) shouting personal insults- anybody who enables him online is gross,” Thomas wrote on X.
In response to a previous post from Thomas, a man posted a video on X where he can be heard heckling Thomas at the starting line. He calls himself “The Track and Field Bully” and “The King of Track and Field and Sports Betting Dramedy” in his X bio.
The man also shared a screenshot of a winning bet slip showing he won over $800 on a parlay, which included a victory by Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in the women’s 100m. Thomas, who won gold at the Paris Olympics in the 200m, was bested by Jefferson-Wooden in the 200 on Saturday and then beaten by Jefferson-Wooden again Sunday in the 100.
The man wrote, “I made Gabby lose by heckling her. And it made my parlay win.”
Grand Slam Track said Tuesday that it was working to identify the man in the video and opened an investigation into the incident.
Thomas is the latest athlete to address the growing trend of alarming treatment from fans related to sports betting.
Last month, Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and his family received death threats from a fan on social media after his rough outing in a 13-9 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. The Astros alerted Major League Baseball and the Houston Police Department, which later identified the fan as a frustrated bettor who lashed out online while inebriated.
NBA players have reported an uptick in verbal abuse at games and receiving threatening or harassing messages on social media from bettors in recent years, prompting the league to put processes in place that allow players to report incidents to their teams and/or the league office.
“I’ve never felt genuinely threatened, but there has been some really disrespectful s— said,” the New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson told The Athletic earlier this year when asked if he’s felt threatened by messages he receives. “It’s a lot of people who don’t have profile pictures. There is part of me that has thought about airing them out, but s— always comes back around.”
Editor’s note: The Athletic has a partnership with BetMGM. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
Warm weather draws crowds to Plattsburgh City Beach
are you leddy ready… TODAY’S WARM WEATHER made LOCAL BEACHES a popular spot. FROM BEACH VOLLEYBALL TO JUST RELAXING AND laying IN THE SAND, PEOPLE WERE TAKING IT ALL IN AT THE PLATTSBURGH CITY BEACH. BEACHGOERS WITH SAY THE WATER IN LAKE CHAMPLAIN WAS TOO COLD TO SWIM IN. but, THE BREEZE OFF THE LAKE […]
are you leddy ready… TODAY’S WARM WEATHER made LOCAL BEACHES a popular spot. FROM BEACH VOLLEYBALL TO JUST RELAXING AND laying IN THE SAND, PEOPLE WERE TAKING IT ALL IN AT THE PLATTSBURGH CITY BEACH. BEACHGOERS WITH SAY THE WATER IN LAKE CHAMPLAIN WAS TOO COLD TO SWIM IN. but, THE BREEZE OFF THE LAKE HELPED them cool if you want to go in the water… LIFEGUARDS AR
Warm weather draws crowds to Plattsburgh City Beach
Beachgoers say the steady breeze coming off Lake Champlain provided welcome relief from the heat
Updated: 5:36 PM EDT Jun 4, 2025
Wednesday’s warm weather brought residents and visitors flocking to local beaches, eager to soak up the sunshine and unwind by the water. At the Plattsburgh City Beach, people of all ages could be seen enjoying the day — whether playing beach volleyball or simply lounging in the sand.Despite the inviting atmosphere, beachgoers reported that the waters of Lake Champlain were still too cold for a swim. However, the steady breeze coming off the lake provided welcome relief from the heat.“It’s nice. It’s relaxing and it’s not so hot down here on the beach because of the breeze,” said Stacey Simpson, a Plattsburgh resident enjoying the afternoon. “Nice, cool air off the water. So, it’s nice.”For those who didn’t get a chance to enjoy the sun this time, there’s no need to worry. The Plattsburgh City Beach will remain open through Labor Day.
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. —
Wednesday’s warm weather brought residents and visitors flocking to local beaches, eager to soak up the sunshine and unwind by the water.
At the Plattsburgh City Beach, people of all ages could be seen enjoying the day — whether playing beach volleyball or simply lounging in the sand.
Despite the inviting atmosphere, beachgoers reported that the waters of Lake Champlain were still too cold for a swim. However, the steady breeze coming off the lake provided welcome relief from the heat.
“It’s nice. It’s relaxing and it’s not so hot down here on the beach because of the breeze,” said Stacey Simpson, a Plattsburgh resident enjoying the afternoon. “Nice, cool air off the water. So, it’s nice.”
For those who didn’t get a chance to enjoy the sun this time, there’s no need to worry. The Plattsburgh City Beach will remain open through Labor Day.
Getting our game on with Steve Bevan (Brisbane Hustlers) and Abbie Jane (The Rainbow Shoelace Project)
4 Jun 2025 Getting our game on with Steve Bevan (Brisbane Hustlers) and Abbie Jane (The Rainbow Shoelace Project) Health, Sports & Recreation Welcome to Game On JOY 94.9’s Home of Sport every Wednesday from 6-7pm where you’ll hear where you can get your game on! This show is all about showcasing where sport is […]
Getting our game on with Steve Bevan (Brisbane Hustlers) and Abbie Jane (The Rainbow Shoelace Project)
Health, Sports & Recreation
Welcome to Game On JOY 94.9’s Home of Sport every Wednesday from 6-7pm where you’ll hear where you can get your game on! This show is all about showcasing where sport is safe, inclusive, welcoming and fun for the Rainbow community!
We chat Heart, Hustle and Hits with Steve Bevan, President of the Brisbane Hustlers, Brisbane’s gay and inclusive rugby team. There is a lot going on! A new women’s team and a first in Australia for the league! The 2025 IGR Purchas Cup will be held in Auckland from September 11-14, celebrating inclusive rugby with fierce competition, camaraderie, and a focus on diversity and unity in the sport. The 12th Edition of the Bingham Cup will be hosted by the Hustlers! This prestigious global event, which celebrates gay and LGBTQIA+ inclusive rugby, will take place in late August of 2026 and opportunities to volunteer to support the event are a plenty! And there a some fun social events on the Brisbane Hustlers’ calendar! (Starts 3mins 08secs)
We are joined by Abbie Jane, Founder of The Rainbow Shoelace Project – an initiative that started in Broken Hill to counter bullying that is now a global movement. Abbie Jane is an author, speaker, LGBTIQA+ advocate and entrepreneur and is only fifteen with the goal of tackling homophobia in sport. (Starts 15mins 30secs)
The Rainbow Sports Wrap keeps you up to date with news and events in the LGBTQIA+ sporting world (Starts 27mins 40secs) and we hear from Thomas Swords, Research Assistant Australian Ballet and Vice-President Melbourne Surge Water Polo Club as our Who is getting their game on weekly special guest! (Starts 37mins 33secs)
A big thank you to our wonderful guests for their support of an inclusive and supportive sporting culture and mindset, and encouraging everyone in the Rainbow community to get their game on!
And thank you for being a part of Team Game On!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()
Subscribe or Follow Us: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS
Sun Belt Conference Announces 2025 Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
Story Links
NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference has announced the eight student-athletes selected to receive 2025 Sun Belt Conference Postgraduate Scholarships. Old Dominion’s Kiersten Donnelly (Women’s Swimming & Diving) and Marshall’s Ethan Bowens (Men’s Track and Field) were the top honorees, each receiving a $9,750 scholarship.
Donnelly, a three-year […]
NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference has announced the eight student-athletes selected to receive 2025 Sun Belt Conference Postgraduate Scholarships.
Old Dominion’s Kiersten Donnelly (Women’s Swimming & Diving) and Marshall’s Ethan Bowens (Men’s Track and Field) were the top honorees, each receiving a $9,750 scholarship.
Donnelly, a three-year letterwinner for the Monarchs as a swimmer, earned a bachelor’s degree in bio-medical science. She plans to attend medical school to follow her passion for family medicine and has been accepted to the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Bowens, a three-year letterwinner for the Thundering Herd as a sprinter for the men’s track and field team, earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science with a minor in chemistry. He plans to attend medical school with a desire to become a physician for the U.S. military.
“We are thrilled to recognize the accomplishments of these decorated Sun Belt student-athletes and to provide postgraduate scholarships to support their continued education,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill.
As the overall female and male postgraduate award winners, Donnelly and Bowens will be formally recognized at the Sun Belt Conference Honors Banquet in conjunction with the Sun Belt Fall Meetings on October 16, 2025 in Atlanta.
Texas State’s Sierra Dickson (Women’s Basketball), Troy’s Abby Grosinske (Women’s Track & Field), South Alabama’s Delien Kleinhans (Women’s Tennis), Georgia Southern’s Ellie McIntyre (Women’s Soccer), Coastal Carolina’s Nicolette Picone (Softball) and Georgia State’s Alaina West (Women’s Soccer) will also be awarded $4,500 scholarships.
Dickson, a five-year women’s basketball letterwinner for the Bobcats, graduated from Texas State with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. In 2024-25, she served as Vice President for Texas State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and is currently pursuing her MBA at her alma mater.
Grosinske, a four-year letterwinner as a thrower on the Trojans’ women’s track & field team, graduated from Troy with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a minor in psychology. She will attend Northern Illinois University to pursue a doctorate degree in physical therapy beginning in the fall of 2025.
Kleinhans, a four-year letterwinner for the Jaguars’ women’s tennis program, graduated from South Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. She has been accepted to multiple schools to pursue her doctorate degree in physical therapy.
McIntyre, a three-year letterwinner on the Eagles’ women’s soccer team, graduated from Georgia Southern with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. She was hired as a graduate assistant coach at her alma mater in May 2025 and will begin pursuing her master’s degree in coaching education.
Picone, a four-year letterwinner and 2025 Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year for the Chanticleers’ softball program, earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in pre-health professions from Coastal Carolina. She will attend the State University of New York at Stony Brook to pursue her doctorate degree in occupational therapy with a focus on serving children with special needs.
West, a four-year letterwinner for the Panthers’ women’s soccer team, graduated from Georgia State with a bachelor’s degree in biological science. In 2024-25, she served as Vice President for Georgia State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and her next goal is to attend medical school.
The scholarships are awarded to selected student-athletes with stated intentions to pursue a graduate degree following the completion of their undergraduate requirements and are sent directly to the graduate school of each recipient’s choice. The recipients were selected by the Sun Belt Postgraduate Scholarship Committee, which is comprised of Faculty Athletic Representatives from across the conference.
To be eligible for Sun Belt Conference Postgraduate Scholarships, nominees must have exhausted eligibility, been declared or designated a varsity letter winner in a Sun Belt-sanctioned sport at a member institution for at least two seasons and achieved a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.3 (on a 4.0 scale).
2025 Sun Belt Conference Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
Overall Female Postgraduate Award Winner:
Kiersten Donnelly, Old Dominion (Women’s Swimming & Diving)
Overall Male Postgraduate Award Winner:
Ethan Bowens, Marshall (Men’s Track and Field)
Postgraduate Scholarship Award Recipients:
Sierra Dickson, Texas State (Women’s Basketball)
Abby Grosinske, Troy (Women’s Track & Field)
Delien Kleinhans, South Alabama (Women’s Tennis)
Ellie McIntyre, Georgia Southern (Women’s Soccer)
Nicolette Picone, Coastal Carolina (Softball)
Alaina West, Georgia State University (Women’s Soccer)
Marquette volleyball adds transfers Allie Korba and Julia Stanev – Marquette Wire
It’s been just over three months since Tom Mendoza was hired as the sixth head coach in Marquette women’s volleyball history, and he’s still not done adding to the roster quite yet. Last Wednesday, the program announced the additions of transfers Allie Korba and Julia Stanev. Korba, a 5-foot-9 setter from Arlington Heights, Illinois, was […]
It’s been just over three months since Tom Mendoza was hired as the sixth head coach in Marquette women’s volleyball history, and he’s still not done adding to the roster quite yet.
Last Wednesday, the program announced the additions of transfers Allie Korba and Julia Stanev.
Korba, a 5-foot-9 setter from Arlington Heights, Illinois, was the 2024 Mid-American Conference Setter of the Year at Central Michigan University after posting 1,137 assists over 126 sets in 2024. She played under current MU assistant coach Stef Jankiewicz the past three seasons in Mount Pleasant, helping the Chippewas to 69 wins.
“We are excited to add Allie to the team,” Mendoza said in a release from Marquette Athletics. “She brings experience and leadership, coming in the reigning MAC Setter of the Year. We know Allie’s presence will be a difference maker in our gym.”
In addition to earning Setter of the Year honors, Korba was a First Team All-MAC selection. She posted 11 double-doubles and her 1,137 assists ranked 12th on CMU’s single-season list. She was also named MAC Setter of the Week twice in 2024.
Korba has big shoes to fill after the departure of former Big East Setter of the Year Yadhira Anchante. It looked like setter Malayah Long was slated to become MU’s starting setter this fall after Anchante graduated, but Long announced that she was transferring to Michigan State just hours after Mendoza was hired in March, leaving MU with one true setter on its roster in first-year Isabella Haggard. Korba has one year of eligibility remaining.
Marquette also announced the addition of Stanev, a 6-foot-3 middle blocker from Reggio Emilia, Italy. She joins the Golden Eagles after two seasons at Eastern Illinois, where she helped lead the Panthers to a 28–5 record and an OVC title in 2023.
“Adding Julia to the team will provide great depth and experience to our middle group,” Mendoza said. “She can impact the game both with her block and attack and she’s excited to compete at a highest level.”
Stanev appeared in both of Eastern Illinois’ recent matches against Marquette — in the First Round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament and in the 2024 season opener in Charleston, Illinois. She played one set in the tournament and two in the rematch last fall.
For her career at EIU, Stanev averaged 0.96 blocks per set, 0.82 kills per set and was hitting at a .250 clip. She led the Panthers with 99 blocks in 2023 and has recorded up to seven blocks in a match.
Stanev played club volleyball for PallavoloAlsenese (Piacenza) and attended LiceoLinguistico G. Marconi School in Parma. She has two years of eligibility remaining.
Earlier last month, Marquette unveiled its 2025 non-conference schedule. The Golden Eagles will face six teams that participated in last year’s NCAA Tournament, including returning to Fiserv Forum for the second time to face Wisconsin on Sept. 17. The Golden Eagles notably also welcome Florida to the Al McGuire Center just two days later, which will mark the first time that former head coach Ryan Theis will return to Milwaukee after leaving for Florida after 11 seasons at MU.
The rest of Marquette’s schedule is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
This story was written by Matthew Baltz. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter/X @MatthewBaltzMU.
U.S. Falls to Olympic Champion Italy in 2025 Women’s VNL Opener
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 4, 2025) – The young U.S. Women’s National Team opened its 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) season with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 30-28) loss to reigning Olympic champion and the world’s No. 1 team Italy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The U.S., the Olympic silver medalists and world’s third-ranked team, return […]
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 4, 2025) – The young U.S. Women’s National Team opened its 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) season with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 30-28) loss to reigning Olympic champion and the world’s No. 1 team Italy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The U.S., the Olympic silver medalists and world’s third-ranked team, return to the court tomorrow at 5 p.m. PDT against host Brazil.
“Obviously excited to compete and get going,” said head coach Erik Sullivan. “We learned a few things about where we need to be, but I am proud of how we continued to fight. We played with grit and determination. There were a few points where it was easy to give up at the end and we didn’t do that. Italy is a great team and the ability to play them early is huge. They are going to set the bar for us the rest of the summer. Looking ahead to Brazil, there may be some lineup changes, but it is another opportunity to improve by playing an elite team in their home environment.”
Italy finished with advantages in kills (45-30), blocks (13-6) and aces (3-0). Middle blocker Molly McCage of the U.S. led all players with four blocks.
Opposite Logan Lednicky shared the team-high with nine points on eight kills and a block in her U.S. Women’s National Team debut. Outside hitter Sarah Franklin led the squad with nine kills. McCage added three kills to total seven points. Middle blocker Amber Igiede contributed six kills.
Get Tickets to Women’s VNL in Arlington, Texas, July 9-13
Italy used a strong serve and block to control the first set, taking its biggest lead on the set-clinching point. Lednicky, who will enter her senior year at Texas A&M this fall, led the U.S. with four kills in her first set as a U.S. Women’s National Team member.
The U.S. played some scrappy defense early in the second set, but a 14-4 Italy run turned a one-point U.S. deficit into an 11-point Italy lead, 20-9. Franklin recorded a pair of kills for the second consecutive set.
It was the U.S.’s turn to jump out in front in the third set. Lednicky’s third kill of the set gave the U.S. a 16-9 lead. The lead remained seven points at 21-14 before Italy scored eight points in a row to take its first lead of the third set.
A strong serve by outside hitter Logan Eggleston led to a kill by Franklin on an overpass to give the U.S. set point at 24-23. Italy scored the next two points to reach match point. The U.S fought off four match points before Italy won the set 30-28.
Franklin (five kills), Lednicky (four kills, one block) and McCage (two kills, three blocks) each scored five points in the final set.
U.S. Women’s Week One Roster for 2025 VNL
No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region) 6 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer) 9 Madisen Skinner (OH, 6-2, Katy, Texas, Univ. of Kentucky and Univ. of Texas, Lone Star) 13 Amber Igiede (MB, 6-3, Baton Rouge, La., Univ. of Hawaii, Bayou) 14 Anna Dodson (MB, 6-5, Fort Collins, Colo., UCLA, Rocky Mountain) 17 Zoe Jarvis (previously Fleck) (L, 5-6, Granada Hills, Calif., UCLA and Univ. of Texas, Southern California) 21 Roni Jones-Perry (OH, 6-0, West Jordan, Utah, BYU, Intermountain) 22 Sarah Franklin (OH, 6-4, Lake Worth, Fla., Univ. of Wisconsin, Florida) 24 Olivia Babcock (Opp, 6-4, Los Angeles, Calif., Pitt, Southern California) 27 Ella Powell (S, 6-0, Fayetteville, Ark., Univ. of Washington, Delta) 28 Logan Lednicky (Opp, 6-3, Sugar Land, Texas, Univ. of Texas A&M, Lone Star) 29 Molly McCage (MB, 6-3, Spring, Texas, Univ. of Texas, Lone Star) 32 Saige Ka’aha’aina-Torres (S, Honolulu, Hawaii, Univ. of Texas, Aloha) 33 Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-2, Brentwood, Tenn., Univ. of Texas, Southern) 43 Serena Gray (MB, 6-2, Temple City, Calif., Pitt, Southern California)
Head Coach: Erik Sullivan Assistant Coach: Mike Wall Second Assistant Coach: Brandon Taliaferro Second Assistant Coach: Tayyiba Haneef-Park Second Assistant Coach: Joe Trinsey Team Manager: Rob Browning Team Doctors: William Briner, James Suchy, Chris Lee, Andrew Gregory Physiotherapist: Kara Kessans Physical Trainers: Shawn Hueglin, Shannon Boone Mental Performance Coach: Andrea Becker, Katy Stanfill Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham
Week 1 Schedule: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Matches will be shown live and on-demand on VBTV. CBS Sport Network and the Big Ten Network will also air matches.
All times PDT June 4 Italy def. USA, 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 30-28) June 5 at 5 p.m. vs. Brazil June 6 at 5 p.m. vs. Czechia June 8 at 1 p.m. vs. Korea
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25974509/1239836301.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25974512/usa_today_25589603.jpg)
