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Volleyball Adds Two Transfers and One Late Signee

Story Links VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Villanova volleyball program added to its incoming class this week, welcoming three players to the roster for the 2025 campaign on Friday. First-year Marikate Ritterbusch and transfers Ava Mehrten and Emma Vu join the previously announced trio of freshmen as newcomers to Villanova, each pledging to spend […]

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1 month ago

May 9, 2025

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VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Villanova volleyball program added to its incoming class this week, welcoming three players to the roster for the 2025 campaign on Friday.

First-year Marikate Ritterbusch and transfers Ava Mehrten and Emma Vu join the previously announced trio of freshmen as newcomers to Villanova, each pledging to spend next season on the VU roster.

“I’m super excited for all of our incomers,” head coach Josh Steinbach said. “Adding these three will really help solidify our roster.”

Ava Mehrten

Graduate Student / Opposite Hitter / 6’1

Walnut Creek, California / Carondelet High / University of California, Berkeley

Instagram: @avamehrten

UC Berkeley: Spent four seasons with the Bears … Totaled 136 kills, 94 blocks and 186 points in her time at Berkeley … Contributed 51 total blocks with 0.64 blocks per set in 2024 as a redshirt junior with eight kills at Syracuse and a season-high six blocks vs. Notre Dame … Third on the team in blocks (64) and fourth in kills (90) in 2023 … Earned Wolf Pack Invitational MVP and posted a career-high nine blocks and 19 kills on .452 hitting against Nevada … Redshirted her true freshman season in 2021 … Earned All-ACC Academic in her senior year and a Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll in 2023.

Carondelet High School: Played four years of volleyball … Earned Second Team All-League in her sophomore season … Earned a PrepVolleyball Sophomore 79 special mention in 2018 … Qualified for states in 2019 and made it to the semifinals in 2018 … Back-to-back NCVA champion in 2018 & 2019.

Personal: Born 1/22/03 … One of three children of Caroline and Will … Has two siblings, Pierce and Drew … Plans to pursue an MBA … Chose to attend Villanova because of “its strong academic reputation, outstanding MBA program and close-knit community. The collaborative environment, combined with a dedicated team and coaching staff, truly sets Villanova apart as the ideal place for my personal and professional growth”

Steinbach on Mehrten: “Ava is a physical presence at the net which will help bolster our team defensively, she’s got a natural blocking feel. Offensively she will give us some pop, adding a lefty attacker will give us some variety that we haven’t had in a few years.”

Marikate Ritterbusch

Freshman / Defensive Specialist / 5’7

Palatine, Illinois / Benet Academy

Instagram: @marikateritterbusch / X: @MKRitterbusch25

Benet Academy: Played three years of varsity volleyball, completing her career with a combined record of 111-7 … Team finished as the state runner up three times … Won team’s Sportsmanship Award as a senior … Played club with Sky High Volleyball club, placing fifth at the 2024 Sunshine Qualifier … Named to AVCA Phenom and JVA Girls watch lists … Also played three years of softball in addition to freshman basketball … Member of the National Honors Society … Earned AP Scholar with Honor and Highest Distinction of Academic Honor Roll six times … Named an AAU Academic All-American in 2022.

Personal: Born 7/10/06 … One of two children of CJ and Mary Catherine … Has one brother, Matthew … Aunt Patricia Dart played volleyball at Wichita State and pair of uncles, Peter (Northern Illinois) and Brian McAdams (UW-Stevens Point) played college football … Plans to major in civil engineering … Chose to attend Villanova because of “the commitment to academic excellence, superb athletics and strong Catholic faith.”

Steinbach on Ritterbusch: “Marikate is a really nice defender coming from a good club and high school program where she’s been playing at a really high level. She’ll give us added depth at defensive specialist and her serve receive skills are excellent so I’m hopeful that she can impact our gym immediately.”

Emma Vu

Graduate Student / Setter / 5’5

Allen, Texas / Allen High / Iona University

Instagram: @emma.vu9

Iona University: Played three seasons as a setter for the Gaels from 2022-24 … Accumulated 821 assists (4.77 per set), 47 aces, 27 kills, 296 digs and five blocks in over 55 matches played … Put forth a career high with 5.28 assists per set and 32 aces as a senior … Earned 2024 MAAC All-Academic Team … Graduated magna cum laude from Iona with a BBA in marketing and a sociology minor .. Member of Beta Gamma Sigma and dean’s list in six different semesters.

Allen High School: Played three years of volleyball … Multiple-time academic all-district and all-state … Member of the Gifted & Talented Program and National Honor Society … Played club with Dallas Premier Volleyball and was named to the 2021 JVA Ultra Ankle watch list.

Personal: Born 8/30/04 … One of four children of Jim and Tara … Has three siblings: Joshua, Cole and Cooper … Chose to attend Villanova because of “the top tier academics, competitive athletics and strong sense of community. I felt at home and knew this was a place I could challenge myself and grow.” … Plans to major in marketing.

Steinbach on Vu: “Emma has been a consistent presence for Iona as their main setter for the past three years. The offense she’s been running looks a lot like ours so she’ll fit in very well to what we do offensively.”

Keep up with the Villanova University volleyball program through social media by following on X formerly known as Twitter (@NovaVolleyball) and Instagram (@novavolleyball) and ‘liking’ on Facebook (/NovaVolleyball).

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Coaches Associations Warn NCAA Settlement Could Undermine Olympic and Non-Revenue Sports, Urge Congressional Action

Coaches Associations Warn NCAA Settlement Could Undermine Olympic and Non-Revenue Sports, Urge Congressional Action Following the approval of the House v. NCAA settlement agreement by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, four major collegiate coaching associations have issued a joint statement warning of serious consequences for Olympic and broad-based sports programs. The American Volleyball Coaches Association […]

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24 minutes ago

June 8, 2025

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Coaches Associations Warn NCAA Settlement Could Undermine Olympic and Non-Revenue Sports, Urge Congressional Action

Following the approval of the House v. NCAA settlement agreement by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, four major collegiate coaching associations have issued a joint statement warning of serious consequences for Olympic and broad-based sports programs.

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA), and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) acknowledged that the settlement marks important progress in addressing the rights of college athletes but expressed deep concern over its long-term impact on non-revenue sports.

In a joint statement, the associations cautioned that the financial strain on institutions stemming from the settlement could accelerate the elimination of Olympic and non-football, non-basketball programs. “This is no hypothetical,” the statement read. “Budget cuts and program eliminations have already taken place in anticipation of today’s outcome, and more are likely to follow.”

The House v. NCAA settlement resolves a trio of antitrust lawsuits tied to compensation for student-athletes and could open the door for schools to directly share revenue with athletes. However, the coaches associations argue that without broader structural reform, the decision may disproportionately benefit revenue-generating sports while eroding the foundation of broad-based athletic participation that defines collegiate athletics.

They also flagged unresolved concerns, including the employment classification of student-athletes and Title IX compliance—issues that they say remain dangerously vague and could result in further risk and confusion for sports that operate outside the financial spotlight.

“The future of college sports must not disproportionately benefit a small fraction of the NCAA student-athlete population while jeopardizing opportunities for others,” the statement continued. “Congress must intervene to address these pressing issues and ensure a balanced, equitable path forward for all student-athletes.”

Among the associations’ top legislative priorities are:

Protecting investment in Olympic sports by establishing proportional spending targets.

Maintaining NCAA sport sponsorship requirements, which currently mandate 16 sports for FBS programs and 14 for FCS and non-football Division I schools.

Ensuring athletes are not classified as employees, preserving the traditional collegiate model.

Creating consistent, national NIL regulation to prevent disparate policy enforcement across states.

The USTFCCCA, which represents more than 11,000 coaches and over 98 per cent of all NCAA track and field programs, reiterated its commitment to advocating for track & field and cross country as essential components of collegiate athletics. The organization, along with its fellow associations, emphasized its intent to work collaboratively with lawmakers to ensure the sustainability and integrity of college sports.

As the collegiate athletics landscape continues to evolve in the wake of legal and legislative shifts, the coaching associations made clear that without federal guidance, the sports that form the backbone of Olympic development and broad student participation could face an uncertain future.

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Spring-Ford’s milestone season comes to an end against Central York in state quarterfinals

The unforgettable ride that was the 2025 Spring-Ford boys’ volleyball season has come to a stop. Three years ago, the program did not exist; on Saturday afternoon, the Rams competed in the PIAA-3A quarterfinals as one of the last eight teams still playing in Pennsylvania. Though they were swept 3-0 by established District 3 power […]

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25 minutes ago

June 8, 2025

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The unforgettable ride that was the 2025 Spring-Ford boys’ volleyball season has come to a stop.

Three years ago, the program did not exist; on Saturday afternoon, the Rams competed in the PIAA-3A quarterfinals as one of the last eight teams still playing in Pennsylvania. Though they were swept 3-0 by established District 3 power Central York (set scores were 20-25, 16-25, 22-25) in a season-ending defeat, the prevailing emotions afterward were of pride and gratitude.

“It was special,” Spring-Ford head coach Sam Moyerman said by phone once the Rams returned to campus from Cocalico High School, site of the quarterfinal match. “They all realize that. It’s hard to have that awareness, especially in a moment like this, but they were good about it. They understood how special what was happening was and that it could end at any moment. There were tears and hugs after, but every single person who spoke said it was the best ride of their lives.”

Seven of the program’s nine seniors — PJ Szczerba, Zach Parker, Colton Bogdan, Dawson Beccaria, Luc Nguyen, Ian Right and Peter Van Ness — were there from day one, while the other two, Alan Quintero Uribe and Connor Dadourian, joined as juniors. Over the past two to three years, they have helped set the foundation and build atop it something real and lasting. Spring-Ford is the only boys’ volleyball team in the Pioneer Athletic Conference, and these trailblazers went from no team to one of the final eight in warp speed.

Some of them will be borderline irreplaceable, and it’s entirely possible that the program takes a small step back in 2026 as it resets its rotation. At the same time, the Rams had 25 total players in the program, and interest will likely remain robust thanks to the team’s success this season. As Moyerman said, everybody at Spring-Ford loves to win, and this was the season that the boys’ volleyball program crashed the school’s athletics party.

“There’s no doubt what we’ve built is ready to thrive,” Moyerman said. “The next class is coming up and they want to be better; they saw the work those nine seniors put in and know they have to put in more to keep doing these things. At Spring-Ford I’ve learned that we want to be the best and to keep pushing. People here are not happy to rest on their laurels.”

Against Central York — one of five District 3 schools in the 16-team 3A bracket — the Rams immediately spotted their powerful opponent a lead in the first set and were fighting from behind the entire time. Every time that Spring-Ford fought back to cut the deficit to two or three points, the Panthers answered with another surge.

“We knew that they were talented and we had to be on our game,” Moyerman said. “We had to be perfect. We were under their boot from the start, and every time we fought back to make it close they extended it right back up.”

The second set was close until about midway through before the Panthers ran away with it. The third and final one was the most competitive of the match, with the Rams even claiming their first lead of the day at one point. But once again they could not get over the hump, and Central York got the final push it needed to finish off the sweep.

“Every time we got close, they extended or we stepped on our own toes,” Moyerman said. “We couldn’t make that one needed extra play.”

Szczerba’s final high school match consisted of 12 kills, 14 digs and a block. Nguyen (28 assists, seven digs), Beccaria (25 digs), Parker (three kills, four blocks), Bogdan (six kills, 10 digs, block), Dadourian (18 digs, two kills) and Ethan Smith (five kills, two blocks) all made significant contributions down to the wire.

Moyerman said that the team was still reaping positive tidings even in defeat, as the head volleyball coach at Elizabethtown College attended the match and offered Beccaria a spot on the team. Meanwhile, Szczerba and Parker will both be attending Virginia Tech and aim to keep their careers on the court going at the club level.

The volleyball experience for this group was so positive that it will be hard to stop playing. It was an absolutely seminal season that the Rams endured, and while they all likely had some whiplash in processing all of the emotions following the season’s end, the memories they made will be everlasting when the sting from defeat subsides.

“They weren’t just showing up to play – they were playing to win and playing for each other,” Moyerman said. “They hated losing and didn’t want it to end; they wanted another week, but everyone said that this was the best team they had ever been a part of. We had a losing record the second week of the season and made it to the round of eight.

“There’s only four teams left, and it sucks not being one of them. But these guys got to do something special and got it to click finally. The bond with this group – I can’t even imagine any team coming close to it.”

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Luckless Drogheda ladies come up just shy again in water polo’s Irish Senior Cup Finals

Drogheda’s ladies team came up just short yet again in their pursuit of Irish Senior Cup glory. Picture credit: Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE Drogheda Independent Today at 11:30 While many observers in the world of water polo thought it would be fifth time lucky for the Drogheda senior ladies team in 2025, it turned out […]

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50 minutes ago

June 8, 2025

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Drogheda’s ladies team came up just short yet again in their pursuit of Irish Senior Cup glory. Picture credit: Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE

Drogheda Independent

Today at 11:30

While many observers in the world of water polo thought it would be fifth time lucky for the Drogheda senior ladies team in 2025, it turned out to be an earlier exit from the Irish Senior Cup this spring.

Having under-performed by their own standards early on in the season due to missing a number of key players, the Drogheda outfit began to find their form in recent months as they picked up a number of notable wins in the run-up to the ‘Diamond Event’, the Irish Senior Cup Finals.

The tournament was held in Limerick University, with a total of 14 teams involved between men’s and ladies.

It all started off well enough for Drogheda as, after being paired off against one of their many old rivals North Dublin, the Boynesiders prevailed 12-6 thanks to a well-executed team plan.

Next was a match versus Tribes of Galway who entered the competition as one of the most in-form teams in the country, on the back of a very impressive run of eight wins and just one loss.

It was in this encounter that Drogheda unfortunately were outplayed and so they secured ‘only’ the runners-up position in Group B and therefore had to face Group A winners St Vincents in the semi-finals.

This was a highly anticipated match in light of the fact that Drogheda knocked them out at the same stage in 2024 following a penalty shootout, but this time the Boynesiders were beaten by a better team who went on to win the competition and record their 12th triumph in the last 13 Irish Senior Cup finals.

Still, Drogheda can look forward with optimism to the 2025/26 season which will see the return of some pivotal stalwarts. Perhaps that will boost their chances of finally going all the way in the Irish Senior Cup, having contested four of the last five finals.

The Drogheda senior ladies squad are always looking for new players, as are the junior ranks of the Drogheda underage club who train in Aura in Drogheda on a Monday night.

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Nevada Preps: Boys volleyball All-Southern Nevada 2025 team revealed

First team Regi Beshiri, Sierra Vista — The senior and first-team Class 5A all-state selection led the state with 495 kills and added 251 digs. Dexter Brimhall, Coronado — The senior and first-team 5A all-state selection recorded 324 kills, 242 digs and 38 aces for the 5A state champion. Dane Galvin, Coronado — The senior […]

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2 hours ago

June 8, 2025

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First team

Regi Beshiri, Sierra Vista — The senior and first-team Class 5A all-state selection led the state with 495 kills and added 251 digs.

Dexter Brimhall, Coronado — The senior and first-team 5A all-state selection recorded 324 kills, 242 digs and 38 aces for the 5A state champion.

Dane Galvin, Coronado — The senior recorded 306 kills and 151 digs for the 5A state champion

Ty Hardy, Basic — The junior, the 4A Sky League and state player of the year, had 312 kills and 272 digs for the 4A state champion.

Dylan Ho, Palo Verde — The senior and first-team 5A all-state selection had 135 kills for the 5A state runner-up.

Porter Hughes, Basic — The junior first-team 4A all-state selection had 327 kills, 198 digs and 40 aces to lead the Wolves to their second straight 4A state title.

Kingston Jerome, Shadow Ridge — The senior, the 5A state and Desert League player of the year, recorded a .399 hitting percentage with 161 kills, 102 blocks and 55 aces.

Lincoln Larson, Centennial — The junior led the state with 99 aces and added 370 kills, 175 digs and 47 blocks.

Deacon Menlove, Coronado — The senior and first-team 5A all-state selection was fourth in the state with 388 digs for the 5A state champion.

Eli Nelson, Palo Verde — The senior and first-team 5A all-state selection recorded 99 kills for the 5A state runner-up.

Owen Romzek, Shadow Ridge — The senior and first-team 5A all-state selection was fifth in the state with 95 blocks for the Desert League champion.

Braxton Rowley, Coronado — The senior and 5A Mountain League player of the year was second in the state with 836 assists and added 212 digs, 63 blocks and 40 aces for the 5A state champion.

Coach of the year

Jazlynn Mau, Coronado — The first-year coach led the Cougars to a 38-2 record and the 5A state title.

Second team

Luke Dennett, Basic — The senior and first-team 4A all-state selection had 564 assists and 103 digs for the 4A state champion.

Ridge Gardner, Centennial — The senior and second-team 5A all-state selection had 164 kills and a .322 hitting percentage.

David Haldeman, Arbor View — The senior and second-team 5A all-state selection had 125 digs and 578 assists.

Reece Leavitt, Virgin Valley — The senior led the 3A state champion with 63 blocks and added 308 digs, 235 kills and 47 aces.

Zion Moore, Shadow Ridge — The junior and second-team 5A all-state selection recorded 217 kills and 157 digs.

Zechariah Nissley, Green Valley — The senior and second-team 5A all-state selection had 233 digs, 163 kills and 300 assists.

Gage Poulsen, Sky Pointe — The senior and first-team 4A all-state selection had 519 assists, 132 digs, 56 aces and a .375 hitting percentage.

Yeheshua Ruiz, Foothill — The junior and second-team 5A all-state selection was third in the state with a .418 hitting percentage and added 180 kills and 70 blocks.

Destry Tobler, Virgin Valley — The senior led the 3A state champion with 345 kills and 58 aces and added 191 digs.

Dyson Twitchell, Sky Pointe — The senior and first-team 4A all-state selection had 266 kills and 132 digs.

Kenyon Wickliffe, Arbor View — The junior and second-team 5A all-state selection had 135 kills.

David Zwahlen, Boulder City — The junior and 3A Mountain League player of the year recorded 183 kills, 54 aces and 302 digs.

Honorable mention

Carter Aldridge, Desert Oasis

Jaeden Alexander, Del Sol

Jacob Bay, Legacy

Jack Cox, Durango

David Davila-Matamoros, Green Valley

Dylan Domine, Liberty

Logan Hanshew, Legacy

Matthew Hill, Valley

Kaleb Law, Mojave

Tautai Malauulu, Del Sol

Ellis McGrath, Desert Oasis

Isaiah Moore, Legacy

Jordan Pierce, Chaparral

Levi Randall, Boulder City

Clayton Sellers, Valley

Izaeya Tili, Chaparral

Austen Tippetts, Sky Pointe

Aiden Tran, Bishop Gorman

AJ Tuitele, Mojave

Daniel Vargas, Cimarron-Memorial

Luke Wilkinson, Coronado

Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.

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Heritage girls win third straight track and field title, Glass’ Smith gets No. 4

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June 8, 2025

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New York Mets sign veteran reliever to minor league contract

The New York Mets have had one of the best pitching staffs in baseball to start the season. Through 64 games, the unit boasts a league-low 2.84 ERA and has paved the way for the team’s 40-24 start. But the club is still looking to add pitching depth, as evidenced by their two transactions on […]

Published

2 hours ago

June 8, 2025

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New York Mets sign veteran reliever to minor league contract

The New York Mets have had one of the best pitching staffs in baseball to start the season.

Through 64 games, the unit boasts a league-low 2.84 ERA and has paved the way for the team’s 40-24 start. But the club is still looking to add pitching depth, as evidenced by their two transactions on Saturday, trading for RHP Justin Garza and signing RHP Julian Merryweather to a minor league deal.

Merryweather, a six-year pro, was most recently with the Chicago Cubs, but was DFA’d in late May after 21 appearances out of the bullpen. In 18.1 innings, the righty was 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA and 15 strikeouts. Merryweather’s best season in Chicago was 2023, when he went 5-1 with a career-low 3.38 ERA across 69 appearances out of the pen.

Before joining the Cubs, Merryweather spent his early career in the Cleveland Indians’ minor league system. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 and was moved to the Toronto Blue Jays in a trade for former AL MVP Josh Donaldson. It was here where Merryweather made his MLB debut in 2020 at age 28.

Merryweather’s 2024 season was derailed by shoulder, back, and knee injuries, and he only managed to pitch in 15 games. The 33-year-old possesses above-average velocity in his fastball (96 mph), which he pairs with a slider.

David Stearns and the Mets targeted the righty as another injury-plagued arm that has had seasons of high-level production. Merryweather will look to regain this form in the minor leagues to fight for a role in the bullpen.