Connect with us

Sports

No. 17 Winter Haven beach volleyball wins regional quarterfinal game over George Jenkins

WINTER HAVEN — It was evident that the Winter Haven beach volleyball’s No. 1 line was challenged by the No. 1 line of George Jenkins. That isn’t surprising, though, as like Winter Haven (17-0), George Jenkins (7-6) has been a winning program all season. And both teams met in the Class 3A regional quarterfinals Tuesday […]

Published

on


WINTER HAVEN — It was evident that the Winter Haven beach volleyball’s No. 1 line was challenged by the No. 1 line of George Jenkins.

That isn’t surprising, though, as like Winter Haven (17-0), George Jenkins (7-6) has been a winning program all season. And both teams met in the Class 3A regional quarterfinals Tuesday at Winter Haven High School.

Both No. 1 lines battled it out, but in the end, No. 1 seed Winter Haven prevailed 2-0 behind the efforts of senior player Rylee Tanner and junior Kylie Catrett, which helped catapult a 4-1 win over George Jenkins ― the No. 8 seed in regionals.

“(I’m) incredibly proud. It’s all really about that five-game mentality of playing the best that you can for five matches, and you win the state title. Today was game one of the five-game goal, so one step closer is exactly what it’s all about. One game at a time. And we’re just one step closer, which is where we want to be, so it feels amazing. I’m so proud of the girls for staying locked in and staying focused and finishing our last match against a Polk County opponent for the season,” Winter Haven head beach volleyball coach Dylan Sechrest said after the game.

While essentially the entire team was consistent on Tuesday, Sechrest said the No. 4 line should be able to tighten things ahead of the regional semifinals later this week.

“We got to get the 4 line moving a little bit. Got to get to get them playing a little bit better ball (and) a little bit more competitive, and really going forward,” Sechrest said. “We weren’t really happy with how we played.”

Still, the No. 2 (Sophia Whitaker and Kindyl Goff), 3 (Emily Drier, Addison Traina) and 5 lines (Camila DeJesus and Leah Robles) won like they’ve done all year, and their record is the same as the team’s: 17-0.

“That’s exactly what we were looking for. It’s really nice having those teams play solid. Can’t say a big enough shoutout to the 2, 3 and 5 lines. Can’t say enough good things about those three seedings and how solid and consistent they’ve been for our program in helping us to win,” he said.

Yes, the district champions are playing great. But Sechrest said he wants everyone to work on those deep corner shots heading into the regional semifinals, as they are by far the hardest shots. And they are the hardest shots because teams are usually occupying the middle, of course.

Winter Haven, the No. 17 team in Florida, will be gearing up to play Riverview Sarasota (11-3) in the semifinals 4 pm Friday at Winter Haven High School.



Link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Women’s Volleyball & Men’s Golf Honored With Raise Your Sights Award

INDIANAPOLIS – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s golf and women’s volleyball teams were recognized by the Horizon League with Raise Your Sights Awards on Thursday (June 12), honoring the highest team GPAs from each league institution.   The Raise Your Sights award is given annually to the top academic men’s and women’s teams in the […]

Published

on


INDIANAPOLIS – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s golf and women’s volleyball teams were recognized by the Horizon League with Raise Your Sights Awards on Thursday (June 12), honoring the highest team GPAs from each league institution.
 
The Raise Your Sights award is given annually to the top academic men’s and women’s teams in the Horizon League, based on combined GPA from the current academic year.
 
The Mastodon men’s golf team had the highest GPA among all Purdue Fort Wayne men’s teams with a combined GPA of 3.66. The women’s volleyball team recorded the highest among women’s sports, turning in a 3.70.
 
This is the fifth year in a row that the men’s golf team had the highest GPA in the Purdue Fort Wayne athletic department.
 
Horizon League Raise Your Sights Winners
 
Cleveland State
Men’s Soccer, 3.46
Women’s Cross Country, 3.82
 
Detroit Mercy
Men’s Soccer, 3.62
Women’s Golf, 3.64
 
Green Bay
Men’s Golf, 3.88*
Women’s Golf, 3.91*
 
IU Indianapolis
Men’s Tennis, 3.672
Women’s Golf, 3.706
 
Milwaukee
Men’s Cross Country, 3.563
Women’s Soccer, 3.716
 
Northern Kentucky
Men’s Tennis, 3.55
Women’s Tennis, 3.70
 
Oakland
Men’s Cross Country, 3.48
Women’s Tennis, 3.73
 
Purdue Fort Wayne
Men’s Golf, 3.66
Women’s Volleyball, 3.70
 
RMU
Men’s Soccer, 3.45
Women’s Soccer, 3.72
 
Wright State
Men’s Golf, 3.749
Women’s Basketball, 3.708
 
Youngstown State
Men’s Tennis, 3.70
Women’s Golf, 3.88

 

~ Feel The Rumble ~



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

From the Desk of Jeremiah Donati, No. 6 – University of South Carolina Athletics

South Carolina Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati discusses the hot topics around Gamecock Athletics DEAR GAMECOCKS: As the academic year has officially concluded and we wind down the athletic year, I hope your summer is off to a great start! Our department has accomplished a lot over the last six months and we are carrying a […]

Published

on


South Carolina Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati discusses the hot topics around Gamecock Athletics

DEAR GAMECOCKS:

As the academic year has officially concluded and we wind down the athletic year, I hope your summer is off to a great start! Our department has accomplished a lot over the last six months and we are carrying a lot of momentum heading into the fall.

HOUSE v. NCAA SETTLEMENT

In case you missed it, last Friday, Judge Claudia Wilken officially approved the House v. NCAA settlement, which will fundamentally change how college athletics departments around the country operate. The settlement paves the way for us to directly share revenue with our student-athletes, allowing them more opportunities than ever to financially benefit during their participation in college athletics. To learn more about the settlement and how it will affect college athletics, check out my From the Desk special edition.

NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Fourteen track and field student athletes are currently out in Eugene, Oregon competing in the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship. Good luck to all of our student-athletes competing!

Stay updated on the Championship

KICKING OFF FOOTBALL SEASON IN ATLANTA

Our football team will open the season in Atlanta on Sunday, August 31 against Virginia Tech in the Aflac Kickoff Game. We need all of Gamecock Country to help us paint Mercedes-Benz Stadium Garnet & Black. If you don’t have your tickets yet, there’s still time to get yours for the Labor Day Weekend matchup. See you in the ATL!

Purchase tickets for AFLAC kickoff Game

SOFTBALL SUCCESS

Congratulations to this year’s softball team on their tremendous accomplishments. They made a great run achieving a national seed for the first time in modern program history and hosted both the NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals. A special congratulations to head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard for being named the National Coach of the Year by D1Softball.

HALL OF FAMERS

Congratulations to Coach Dawn Staley who was inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame and Landon Powell (former baseball student-athlete) and Shannon Johnson (former women’s basketball student-athlete) who were both inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame last month.

MOMENTUM

As of today, we have had 13 of our 21 teams either finish the season or are currently in-season (track & field) ranked in the Top 25 of their respective sports, with five of our teams being ranked in the top 10. Our teams finished the year with 65 wins against Top 25 opponents, including 26 wins vs. Top 10 teams. I look forward to our teams building on this success for years to come.

FRANKIE GOES TO THE US OPEN

Congratulations to men’s golf redshirt junior Frankie Harris who punched his ticket to the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club last week after finishing as co-medalist at final U.S. Open Qualifying. U.S. Open play begins today, so be sure to tune in and cheer on Frankie.

CONGRATS TO OUR STAFF

Our creative video teams picked up 13 SVG College Sports Media Awards nominations and walked away with two wins at the annual SVG/NACDA College Sports Media Awards. Our Football Communications Staff also received the Super 11 Award given by the Football Writers Association of America.

Sport & Story’s the Brew won the Best Newsletter at the 2025 Digiday Media Awards. In addition to their working bringing you great content through Gamecocks Plus, they also create a daily newsletter, The Cock-A-Doodle Brew keeping you updated on all things Gamecocks.

The Brew is free to subscribe to, so visit gamecocksbrew.sportandstory.com/subscribe to sign up today.

I hope that you and your family have a great summer and I appreciate all you have done to welcome me and my family into Gamecock Country. I look forward to continuing to get to know all our amazing fans and can’t wait for the next athletic year to begin in a few months.

FOREVER TO THEE!





Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Sam Greenslade Returns to George Mason Men’s Volleyball as Assistant Coach

Fairfax, Va.- Sam Greenslade, a standout former outside hitter for George Mason University’s men’s volleyball team, has been appointed as the assistant coach for the Patriots. This move marks a significant return for Greenslade, who previously earned First Team All-EIVA honors in 2019 and Second Team accolades in 2020 and 2021. During his tenure at George Mason, […]

Published

on


Fairfax, Va.- Sam Greenslade, a standout former outside hitter for George Mason University’s men’s volleyball team, has been appointed as the assistant coach for the Patriots. This move marks a significant return for Greenslade, who previously earned First Team All-EIVA honors in 2019 and Second Team accolades in 2020 and 2021. During his tenure at George Mason, he amassed 174 kills, 22 service aces, and 126 digs in the 2021 season alone, solidifying his reputation as a dynamic and versatile player. 

“I am excited and grateful to be back in the Mason community”, said Sam Greenslade. “This program changed my life as a player, and I cannot wait to give my heart back to it as a coach. Thank you to Jay and the Mason Athletic Department for trusting me in this role. I am eager to get to work. Go Mason!”

Before returning to George Mason, Sam Greenslade served as an assistant coach for Winthrop University’s women’s volleyball team, where he played a key role in the program’s resurgence. In his 2023 season, he helped guide the Eagles to the Big South Championship match and a berth in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC), their first since 2019. Under his leadership, the team ranked second in the conference in hitting percentage, points, assists, and kills. Greenslade was also instrumental in player development, notably helping Sasha Ratliff earn All-SEC and AVCA South All-Region honors and guiding Payton Brgoch to a top-four single-season blocks record in program history.

Greenslade’s journey from player to coach has been marked by impressive achievements. After graduating in 2020, he furthered his education with a graduate certificate in Business Analytics and a Master’s in Sports Analytics. His coaching career began at the University of Mississippi, where he contributed to a remarkable turnaround, helping the Rebels improve from a 1-19 record in 2020-21 to 21-9 in 2021. Under his guidance, Ole Miss set multiple program records, including total team blocks and attacking percentage, and secured an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Greenslade’s appointment is expected to bring a wealth of experience and a player-centric approach to the Patriots’ program. His deep understanding of the game, combined with his leadership skills and analytical expertise, positions him to make a significant impact on the team’s development and success in the upcoming seasons.

“I am extremely excited to bring Sam back home as an assistant coach for the program! Sam was not only a great player for us, earning numerous accolades over his time here, but also a great teammate, and student”, said head coach Jay Hosack. “These experiences will no doubt help him connect with the athletes on the team as he will be a valuable resource for them to learn what it takes to be successful here at George Mason! As for coaching, Sam knows what I like in our gym and he will bring an inherent knowledge of what it takes to be successful here. He will bring another strong voice that will help guide these young men into becoming champions, and we can’t wait to get him in the gym!





Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Abbie Lee earns CUSA Spring Spirit of Service Award

Story Links DALLAS – Following a standout senior season, both on the course and in the community, Abbie Lee has been named the winner of the Spring Conference USA Spirit of Service Award, announced by the league office Thursday afternoon. The award honors student-athletes who continuously give back through community service endeavors, […]

Published

on


DALLAS – Following a standout senior season, both on the course and in the community, Abbie Lee has been named the winner of the Spring Conference USA Spirit of Service Award, announced by the league office Thursday afternoon. The award honors student-athletes who continuously give back through community service endeavors, good academic standing and participation in their respective sports. Award recipients are nominated by their institutions.
 
Senior Lee dedicates her off-course time to a number of causes while serving as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at MTSU. She helped organize a donation drive for MTSU student-athletes to take part in for the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital Teddy Bear Toss and fundraised for Ascension St. Thomas for new and expecting mothers. The Glasgow, Ky., native also helped make over 200 meals for local hospital staffs during the holiday break and over 250 meals for local children in need during Student Government’s Big Event. With SAAC, Lee led a department-wide food drive for local Murfreesboro food banks to get student-athletes more involved in the community.
 
A true scholar, Lee earned a bachelor’s degree in mechatronics engineering with a minor in mathematics this past semester, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She is a three-time CUSA All-Academic First Team selection and a two-time Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar.
 
On the links, Lee had a phenomenal season which culminated in her earning All-CUSA Second Team honors. Her 73.09 scoring average enters the record books as the third-lowest single season scoring average in program history and she closed out the spring season with four-straight top 10 finishes, including a fifth place finish at the CUSA Championships, earning her a nod to the All-Tournament Team.
 
2024-25 Spring Spirit of Service Award Recipients
Ethan Riley, Outdoor Track and Field, FIU
Ella Tuomela, Women’s Tennis, Jacksonville State
Ema Baraniakova, Women’s Tennis, Kennesaw State
Daniella O’Neill Garcia, Women’s Tennis, Liberty
Alannah Rogers, Softball, Louisiana Tech
Abbie Lee, Women’s Golf, Middle Tennessee
Emma Schuber, Beach Volleyball, UTEP
Averi Cline, Women’s Golf, WKU
 



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

D-Day in Diamond Bar Ended with Defeat of Rules 1111 and 1121 | News

On the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy in France, at least one large busload of people and several shuttle buses arrived at the South Coast Air Quality Management building in Diamond Bar. Armed with signs, buttons and clothing with messages supporting the elimination of gas furnaces and water heaters, […]

Published

on


On the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy in France, at least one large busload of people and several shuttle buses arrived at the South Coast Air Quality Management building in Diamond Bar. Armed with signs, buttons and clothing with messages supporting the elimination of gas furnaces and water heaters, the troops filed in and took their places. At 7:45 am, most of the seats were already taken for the meeting which was scheduled to begin at 9:00. The assembled multitude expected to be present for the triumph of electric HVAC and water heating over natural gas.

Hand-held signs in abundance were held up by attendees, but a sign in English and Spanish at the entrance to the building warned “No Posters, Costumes, or Props” and “No Megaphones/Bullhorns.” Armed sheriff deputies were posted outside and inside the building, and bags of those who entered were inspected. An abundance of pre-printed messages on 8 ½ X 11” papers (which were legal) were held up frequently. The Board had received 30,000 comment letters, so they were prepared for expressions of emotion.



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Red Sox get Roman Anthony’s first major-league impact in win – 98.5 The Sports Hub

After going 0-for-4 in his major league debut on Monday night, baseball’s No. 1 prospect Roman Anthony made his first big league contribution in Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. The win propelled the Red Sox to a record of 33-36 (9.0 games back in the AL East) and gave them a chance […]

Published

on


After going 0-for-4 in his major league debut on Monday night, baseball’s No. 1 prospect Roman Anthony made his first big league contribution in Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. The win propelled the Red Sox to a record of 33-36 (9.0 games back in the AL East) and gave them a chance to win their second consecutive series for the first time in a month.

In the effort, Anthony notched his first hit in the majors with a strong opposite field line drive to the left field corner that he turned into a double while driving in two runs in the process.

After two games and nine plate appearances in the majors, Anthony is slashing .125/.222/.250 with three RBI, one walk, and two strikeouts. Prior to being called up earlier this week, Anthony slashed .288/.423/.491 with 10 homers and 29 RBI at Triple-A in 2025.

On the defensive side, Anthony struggled in right field during his debut – committing an untimely error on a routine ground ball – but he turned it around for the most part on Tuesday. Most notably making a difficult sliding grab late in the contest.

So, Anthony began to show signs of his skill in the win. Of course, he is still batting just .125, but as he continues to adjust to big league pitching, the bat should get better.

The Red Sox will need him to find consistent production and quickly, however, as they are teetering on the edge of a lost season. It seems that their last hope for 2025 almost entirely rests on the shoulders of the 21-year-old.

Luke Graham is a digital sports content co-op for 98.5 the Sports Hub. He is currently a sophomore at Northeastern University studying communications and media studies. Read all his articles here, and follow him on X @LukeGraham05.



Link

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending