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FHSAA high school beach volleyball: Fletcher, Episcopal previews

Two-Minute Drill: NFL Rookie minicamps, spring high school championships All three of Florida’s NFL teams will hold Rookie minicamps from May 9-11; Lacrosse, flag football, track, softball and baseball championships. Call it a breakthrough on the beach. Fletcher and Episcopal are set for the next step in their postseason adventures, traveling to the sands of […]

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Call it a breakthrough on the beach.

Fletcher and Episcopal are set for the next step in their postseason adventures, traveling to the sands of Tallahassee for the Florida High School Athletic Association state final four in girls beach volleyball.

Episcopal tips off the Class 1A semifinals against Westminster Christian from Miami at 8 a.m. May 9, followed by Fletcher’s Class 3A semifinal against Winter Haven at 6 p.m. Both matches take place at Florida State University’s beach volleyball complex.

Before this week, Bishop Kenny was the only team to qualify for a state final four since the FHSAA began the sport in the 2021-22 school year. Now, the Crusaders have some company.

Class 3A No. 2 seed Fletcher is no stranger to volleyball on the actual beach, playing numerous matches in the regular season within a few spikes’ distance of the Atlantic Ocean.

The first-ever regional champions to come from the Gateway Conference, they enter the final four with pairs of Ashton Kirton and Elina Adhikari at No. 1, Leila Brummel and Emilia Thorpe at No. 2, Karsyn Smith and Lila Waite at No. 3, Sofia Ventimiglia and Ramsey Langton at No. 4 and Amelia Richter and Addison Hilton at No. 5.

Episcopal, meanwhile, reached the final four with a pair of next-level players as its No. 1 pair: Caelan Chesser has signed with the University of North Florida and Elle Steiger is set for Stetson.

The Eagles’ lineup includes Quinn Edwards and Alexis Galani at No. 2, Fenley Almond and Kailyn Ryals at No. 3, Wren Tiedeberg and Claire Caserta at No. 4 and P.G. Chupp and Amelia Walthour at No. 5.

How does FHSAA beach volleyball work?

Five pairs from each school contest the semifinals in a best-of-3-sets format. The winning pair in each match scores one point, so the possible final team scores are 3-2, 4-1 or 5-0.

The first two sets are played on a first-to-21 basis, while the deciding third set (if necessary) is first to 15. As in indoor volleyball, a two-point margin is needed to win a set.

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Hassan Named SEC Men’s Newcomer Runner Of The Year

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State middle distance standout Abdullahi Hassan has been named the SEC Men’s Newcomer Runner of the Year. “Abdullahi has been a great addition to our program this season, both on and off the track,” said head coach Chris Woods. “His work ethic, resilience, and team-first mindset have set the tone for the […]

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STARKVILLE – Mississippi State middle distance standout Abdullahi Hassan has been named the SEC Men’s Newcomer Runner of the Year.

“Abdullahi has been a great addition to our program this season, both on and off the track,” said head coach Chris Woods. “His work ethic, resilience, and team-first mindset have set the tone for the season, and he has reaped the benefits of his hard work”

Hassan has been a staple in the middle distance group this season for State, leading the squad in both the 800m and 1500m. He has stayed in the top six nationally for the entirety of the outdoor season, posting a personal best time of 1:45.39 earlier this season.

At the SEC Outdoor Championships, Hassan ran 1:45.64 to finish as the runner-up in the 800m. He matched his performance from the indoor championships, taking silver in the event back in February.

Hassan will return to the NCAA Outdoor Championships this week in the 800m. He returns to the meet as the reigning NCAA Indoor Championships Runner-up in the same distance.

For more information on the Mississippi State track and field program, visit HailState.com and follow “HailStateTF” on X (formerly Twitter)Instagram and Facebook.

 

 





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West football, volleyball teams both win All-Star games

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Six Sun Belt Programs Among Leaders in Final 2024-25 Helper Helper Community Service Rankings

Story Links Helper Helper 2024-25 Report   NEW ORLEANS – For the second year in a row, the Sun Belt Conference led all NCAA Division I conferences with six members listed in Helper Helper’s annual rankings for community impact during the 2024-25 academic year.   Two of the top 10 and six […]

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Helper Helper 2024-25 Report
 
NEW ORLEANS – For the second year in a row, the Sun Belt Conference led all NCAA Division I conferences with six members listed in Helper Helper’s annual rankings for community impact during the 2024-25 academic year.
 
Two of the top 10 and six of the top 25 schools in the final rankings represent the Sun Belt including No. 4 Old Dominion and No. 9 James Madison. South Alabama (15th), Coastal Carolina (17th), App State (23rd) and Troy (24th) rounded out the league’s leaders.
 

By sport, three Sun Belt programs ranked first including two from Louisiana (women’s tennis and men’s golf) and South Alabama’s men’s basketball team. Six programs recorded runner-up finishes including Coastal Carolina (baseball), James Madison (volleyball), Old Dominion (women’s soccer and men’s soccer) and South Alabama (men’s track & field and women’s basketball).
 
The Sun Belt Conference had 34 total programs ranked in the top 10 for their respective sports including:
 
Baseball
Coastal Carolina (2), Louisiana (3), Old Dominion (8)
Men’s Basketball
South Alabama (1), Old Dominion (10)
Football
South Alabama (3), Coastal Carolina (5), Troy (6), James Madison (8)
Men’s Golf
Louisiana (1), Old Dominion (7), South Alabama (10)
Men’s Soccer
Old Dominion (2), West Virginia (4), Coastal Carolina (6), James Madison (10)
Men’s Tennis
Troy (7), Old Dominion (8), James Madison (9)
Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country
South Alabama (2)
 
Women’s Basketball
South Alabama (2)
Women’s Golf
Old Dominion (6), James Madison (7)
Softball
South Alabama (5), James Madison (6)
Women’s Soccer
Old Dominion (2), Louisiana (3)
Women’s Swimming & Diving
Old Dominion (3)
Women’s Tennis
Louisiana (1), South Alabama (8)
Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country
South Alabama (4), App State (6)
Volleyball
James Madison (2), Arkansas State (9)



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Ball State athletics announces Hall of Fame Class of 2025

MUNCIE — Ball State Athletics has announced the Class of 2025 for the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame. Former Ball State athletes/teams become eligible for nomination 10 years after their graduation or withdrawal from Ball State and must have earned at least two letters in one sport or one letter in two sports. The […]

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MUNCIE — Ball State Athletics has announced the Class of 2025 for the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame.

Former Ball State athletes/teams become eligible for nomination 10 years after their graduation or withdrawal from Ball State and must have earned at least two letters in one sport or one letter in two sports. The Class of 2025 features five individual inductees and one team. This year’s class won a combined 11 conference titles.

Each of the honorees will be inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame during an induction ceremony at the Ball State Alumni Center on Oct. 3.

Here’s a look at the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025:

1995 Ball State men’s volleyball team

The 1995 Ball State men’s volleyball team finished with a record of 25-9 and won the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association regular season and tournament championships. The Cardinals were ranked fifth in the final USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches poll. Ball State lost to UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament but defeated Hawaii in the third-place match.

The 1995 men’s volleyball team earned multiple individual accolades. Todd Reimer was named the MIVA Player of the Year, while Eduardo Ferraz was named the MIVA Tournament MVP. Three players earned all-MIVA first-team honors, and Reimer and Ferraz were both named AVCA second-team All-Americans. Head coach Don Shondell was named MIVA Coach of the Year.

Tameka Borders, women’s track and field

Borders was a seven-time Mid-American Conference champion and earned MAC MVP honors at the 1996 MAC Indoor Championships.

She was a crucial part of Ball State’s 1996 indoor and outdoor MAC championship-winning teams. In 1996, Borders competed in the NCAA provisional qualifier meet in the 55-meter dash, 200-meter dash, triple jump, and long jump. She was an NCAA participant in the 200-meter dash that year and placed 15th out of 22 competitors.

Jenna Hague, women’s golf

Hague will be just the second women’s golfer inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame, joining 2021 inductee Brittany Kelly. Hague earned MAC Championship medalist honors and second-team All-MAC accolades as a true freshman in 2012.

She became the second player in program history to qualify for an NCAA regional and the second to be named All-MAC first-team twice, joining Kelly in both categories. As a junior, Hague set school records for single-season scoring average (74.34), 18-hole score (66), and 54-hole score (214).

Tyler Merkel, men’s golf

Merkel holds the second-best career stroke average in Ball State men’s golf history at 73.99. He competed in the NCAA Championship twice during his career by earned a regional invitation as an individual in 2012 before helping Ball State to Nationals in 2013. Merkel earned All-MAC first-team honors twice, All-MAC second-team once and was voted to the All-MAC Tournament team once.

Merkel garnered three tournament titles during his career and received the MAC Medal of Excellence in 2014. He was also a successful student off the course, as he was named a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar in 2013 and 2014.

Ray Leonard, men’s tennis

Leonard helped Ball State win back-to-back MAC titles in 2013 and 2014 as the Cardinals’ No. 1 singles player. He helped Ball State earn its seventh MAC tournament title with a straight-sets victory on the top court in 2014, clinching the Cardinals’ eighth berth to the NCAA Tournament. Leonard was a four-time All-MAC first-team selection and won the Jack Vredevelt Sportsmanship Award from the league office.

Willie Snead, football

Snead played wide receiver for the Cardinals from 2011-13. He earned All-MAC first-team honors as a sophomore in 2012 and as a junior in 2013 and was named a semifinalist for the 2013 Fred Biletnikoff Award, which honors college football’s best receiver.

Snead still holds Ball State records for single-season receiving yards (1,516), receptions (106), and touchdowns (15). He is one of only two players in Ball State football history to record two 1,000-yard receiving seasons in a career. He is third in program history for career receiving yards (2,991) and second in career receiving touchdowns (26).

After three seasons at Ball State, Snead spent seven seasons in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, and Miami Dolphins.

Contact Cade Hampton via email at cbhampton@muncie.gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CadeHamp10.



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UTRGV Athletics Announces Volleyball, Basketball, and Baseball Season Tickets and Multi-Sport Passes Are Now on Sale

Story Links Get Your Season Tickets Now RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Monday that season tickets for the 2025 volleyball season, 2025-26 basketball season, and 2026 baseball season and 2025-26 multi-sport passes […]

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RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Monday that season tickets for the 2025 volleyball season, 2025-26 basketball season, and 2026 baseball season and 2025-26 multi-sport passes are now on sale. 
 
Volleyball Season Tickets
Fans can purchase volleyball courtside season tickets for $155 each. General admission seats are available for $55 each. With the exception of courtside seating, all seating at the UTRGV Fieldhouse is general admission for volleyball matches during the 2025 season. 
 
Securing tickets early comes with additional benefits. Fans who renew or purchase volleyball season tickets for the upcoming season by June 13 will receive an invitation to watch an exclusive team practice only open to season ticket holders. Purchasing or renewing season tickets by June 27 ensures fans a card for free popcorn at every home match. 
 

Fans who renew or purchase their season tickets by July 25 will receive additional complimentary tickets (equal to the number of season tickets purchased) to the South Texas Showdown, presented by Rally Credit Union, match against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Locking in season tickets by August 8 will get fans an autographed team photo of the UTRGV volleyball team. 
 
Basketball Season Tickets

Fans can purchase basketball season tickets starting at $155 for general admission with seats in reserved sections A, D & H available for $205 each and seats in reserved sections B, C & G available for $280 each. 
 
Fans who renew or purchase season tickets by June 13 will receive a team photo of the UTRGV men’s and women’s basketball teams. For those who do not renew their season tickets by August 8, will risk losing their seats for the 2025-26 season. Fans renewing their season tickets before October 17 will be placed in their same seats as last season with an opportunity to upgrade or change their seats prior to the start of the season. 
 
New season ticket holders will have the opportunity to select their seats before the start of the season.
 
Baseball Season Tickets
Fans can get baseball season tickets starting at $130 for general admission with reserved season tickets available for $230 each. 
 

Fans who renew or purchase their season tickets by August 15, will receive a card for free popcorn at every home game. Purchasing or renewing season tickets by September 19, will receive additional complimentary tickets (equal to the number of season tickets purchased) to our games against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and fans who renew or purchase their season tickets by October 17, will receive an autographed photo of the UTRGV Baseball team. 
 
Fans renewing their season tickets before October 17, will be placed in their same seats as last season with an opportunity to upgrade or change seats prior the start of the season. New season ticket holders will have the opportunity to select their seats before the start of the season.
 
Multi-Sport Passes
Multi-sport passes are available with two seating options with holders getting access to all regular season home games in every sport during the 2025-26 season. 
 
Fans can purchase or renew reserved passed for $465 each, securing a reserved seat for baseball and men’s and women’s basketball as well as a general admission seat for volleyball. General admission multi-sport passes can be purchased for $265 each.
 
Fans renewing or purchasing multi-sport passes before August, will be placed in their same seats as last season with an opportunity to upgrade or change seats before the start of the season with new season ticket holders having the opportunity to select their seats before the start of the season.
 
Get Your Tickets Now
Volleyball, basketball, and baseball season tickets and multi-sport passes can be purchased online at GoUTRGV.com/SeasonTickets respectively, or by contacting assistant athletic director for tickets sales and operations Nick Swanson (956-665-4205) over the phone or through email at tickets@utrgv.edu.

Support UTRGV Athletics | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube





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Cal Poly Director of Athletics Don Oberhelman to Retire

Story Links SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly Director of Athletics Don Oberhelman today informed the university that he will retire at the end of the summer or when a new athletic director is appointed (whichever comes first). A national search for Don’s replacement will begin immediately. Oberhelman is in his […]

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly Director of Athletics Don Oberhelman today informed the university that he will retire at the end of the summer or when a new athletic director is appointed (whichever comes first). A national search for Don’s replacement will begin immediately.

Oberhelman is in his 15th year leading the Mustangs after coming to San Luis Obispo in 2011. During this time, Cal Poly Athletics has experienced an era of unprecedented growth, and competitive and academic success. The Mustangs have captured 54 team conference championships, including 51 in Cal Poly’s 16 Big West sponsored sports—more than any other Big West university in those sports over this span.

Beyond athletics, Oberhelman prioritized academic achievement, as demonstrated by a rise in the Graduation Success Rate by Cal Poly student-athletes from 71% in 2011 to 93% in the most recent year—among the highest in the nation.

“Don has embraced the Cal Poly hallmark of continued improvement and leaves our Athletics program significantly enhanced from the day he arrived,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. “On behalf of our entire university community, I offer our sincere thanks to Don for his commitment to athletic and academic excellence and his unwavering support for our student-athletes over the years.”

Facility development has been a hallmark of Oberhelman’s tenure. Every athletic program has benefited from new construction projects or renovations totaling $100 million, helping to shape a modern and competitive athletic environment for student-athletes and fans alike. Signature projects include:

·      New Facilities: Mustang Golf Academy at Dairy Creek, Dignity Health Baseball Clubhouse, Comerford Tennis Pavilion at the Ronca Tennis Center, Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex, Alumni Softball Hitting Facility, Doerr Family Field, Cal Poly Partners Plaza at Spanos Stadium, Swanson Nutrition Athletic Center, and the John Madden Football Center.

·      Upgrades & Renovations: Eight upgraded locker rooms, the Mott Athletic Center lobby and Hall of Fame, Baggett Stadium seating, Slover Sports Medicine Center, two updated weight rooms, seven video boards, the Hoffman Press Box, the Miller-Capriotti Track Complex, and a state-of-the-art video production studio.

Oberhelman has served in a number of national leadership roles during his tenure, including being appointed to the first NCAA Division I Council (the decision-making body for the association) and serving as chair of the NCAA Division I Legislative Committee. 

“I want to thank President Armstrong for his support and partnership over the years,” Oberhelman said. “I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to serve our amazing university. To our incredible staff and student-athletes, I have enjoyed my time with you greatly and look forward to celebrating your future success. For D.D. and I, this is our forever home, and we are excited to support Cal Poly as fans and donors in the future.”

The native of rural Kansas holds degrees from Kansas State and Florida State, and previously served in athletics roles at San Diego State, Southern Miss, Texas A&M and Florida State.










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