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Final Four Bound, the Pepperdine University Men’s Volleyball Team Is Equipped to Handle Adversity | Newsroom

“What makes us unique is that, when it gets close and everyone gets tense, our team thrives,” says Ryan Barnett, an outside hitter for Pepperdine University’s men’s volleyball team. “It’s the opposite of most people.” Pepperdine men’s volleyball team celebrating their berth into the final four Barnett offered these comments in the postgame press conference […]

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“What makes us unique is that, when it gets close and everyone gets tense, our team
thrives,” says Ryan Barnett, an outside hitter for Pepperdine University’s men’s volleyball team. “It’s the opposite
of most people.”

Pepperdine men's volleyball team celebrating their berth into the final fourPepperdine men’s volleyball team celebrating their berth into the final four

Barnett offered these comments in the postgame press conference following the Waves
quarterfinal victory over Loyola Chicago on Thursday, May 8.  In that contest, Pepperdine
dropped the first set and  was forced to fend off three set points in the second  to
avoid falling behind 0-2 in the match. As pressure built, Barnett and his teammates
didn’t flinch. They settled in and seized sets two, three, and four—a reverse sweep—to
earn a spot in the NCAA final four.

Now the Waves take on Long Beach State—a non-conference rival who defeated them in
five sets early on in the year. With the stakes at an all-time high, Pepperdine needs
to play its best on the game’s biggest stage. But after overcoming a year of unexpected
hardships—including devastating wildfires—this particular group of Waves are equipped
to do just that. 

“A huge identity of our group is our toughness,” says Jonathan Winder (’08), Pepperdine University’s men’s volleyball head coach. “We’ve been through an
insane amount this year. The adversity we’ve battled through has been fantastic and
has really prepared us for these moments.”

A Stress-Filled Start

On January 7, 2025—one week into the collegiate men’s volleyball season—black smoke
began to billow over the Pacific Ocean. On that day, the Palisades Fire erupted and
burned quickly through the Santa Monica Mountains toward Malibu. At the same time,
other blazes broke out as record high winds battered Southern California. In total,
37,000 acres were burned, and 16,000 structures were destroyed.

As the inferno spread, Pepperdine’s men’s volleyball team relocated their early season
practices to Long Beach. Unable to travel to campus because of road closures, the
Waves stayed in a hotel together near their new training facility and watched as the
community around them managed the natural disaster.

“It was scary,” says Grant Lamoureux, a redshirt freshman on the team. “I feel like
no other team has gone through something like that this year . . . The team got close
by finding ways to make it through hard times like that.”

In the face of this initial adversity, the Waves squad and season was altered. The
catastrophe raging around them forced them to slow down, take things one day at a
time, and be grateful for one another and the game that brought them together. More
than anything though, the Los Angeles wildfires gave Pepperdine something to play
for. 

“Anytime you see such suffering, it produces something,” says Winder. “For us, it
produced more pride in the community where we live. We wanted to rally behind it and
support it.”

While practicing and living in Long Beach, the team volunteered to help with fire
relief efforts. They loaded semitrucks with clothes and water for those living in
affected areas. They met their neighbors in a time of need. And when the time came
to take to the court again, the Waves did so with greater unity and purpose than ever.

A Willingness to Pivot

Hopping back into the season after a difficult start to the year was not easy given
the Waves challenging schedule. Of the 29 matches they played, 17 of them were against
nationally ranked opponents, including a string of particularly grueling games against
Long Beach State, Loyola Chicago, and California State University, Northridge (CSUN).

In these three matches, Pepperdine went 0-3. They lost in five sets to Long Beach
State and Loyola Chicago in consecutive matches. Being so close but unable to escape
with the wins, Winder and his coaching staff felt like they needed to amp up the intensity
in practice heading into the contest against CSUN. Yet, after doing so, the Waves
lost again—that time in four sets.

“Following that match, we had some tough conversations with the players,” explains
Winder. “They gave us feedback that it was too much—they were too tired going into
that match . . . We ended up changing some practice structures and have adhered to
them ever since.”

Pepperdine men's volleyball team celebratingPepperdine men’s volleyball team celebrating

The team began to engage in shorter, more purposeful practice sessions. They prioritized
being fresh mentally and physically prior to matches, while still ensuring that they
had a grasp on the fine details of their opponents. 

These adjustments led to an immediate six-match winning streak, but more importantly,
overcoming adversity together engendered Winder’s team with a strong sense of trust
in one another. When things weren’t breaking their way competitively, the Waves began
to believe in their ability to preserve and win nonetheless—a strength that eventually
led them to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) tournament title and a berth
in the NCAA tournament.

The Trust Is Tested

In order to qualify for the NCAA tournament Pepperdine had to first defeat UCLA and
USC  in their conference championships. The Waves had battled both of these teams
earlier in the year, losing three times while winning only once against USC.

With the odds stacked against them, Pepperdine defeated UCLA in the semifinals and
beat USC in the championship to take the MPFS title—an unexpected result given the
individual contest stat lines. In both matches Pepperdine had lost in every single
statistical category—serves, kills, blocking, digs—but still managed to claim victory.

“We won with the ability to respond to adversity,” says Barnett. “That’s something
beautiful about volleyball. Everyone thinks you have to be a monster, who can hit
the ball as hard as you can. Everyone thinks you have to be seven foot to block a
ball. But that’s not the case. Being smart and being crafty are often the biggest
differences in these important matches.”

After a season full of lessons—on the court and off of it—Pepperdine is now prepared
for its biggest competitive challenge yet. In the final four, the Waves must take
down the number one team in the nation in order to compete in the national championship
match. However, if the 2025 season has proved anything, it’s that this particular
Pepperdine team thrives in pressure-packed situations like the one its now in.

“I’ve been impressed by them,” says Winder. “I haven’t had that feeling in a long
time. It’s impressive the pride they’ve taken in getting our program back to this
spot.”

The Waves take on Long Beach State, in the NCAA semifinals on Saturday, May 10, 2025,
at 2 PM PDT. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.





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When Are The 800-Meter Events At The 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships?

Sprinters get to be known as the fastest athletes around. Relay team members are revered for their speed, coordination, timing and teamwork. Long-distance runners are admired for their pace and patience. In between, are the middle-distance events that may not be as flashy, but they still demand a balance of technique, endurance and strategy.  Among […]

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June 9, 2025

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Sprinters get to be known as the fastest athletes around. Relay team members are revered for their speed, coordination, timing and teamwork. Long-distance runners are admired for their pace and patience.

In between, are the middle-distance events that may not be as flashy, but they still demand a balance of technique, endurance and strategy. 

Among those races is the 800-meter event, complete with its own stars and fans, all ready to see who claims the 800m national titles this year at the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

The meet will take place over four days – June 11-14 – at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Oregon.

The semifinals of the men’s 800m event will be June 11 at 8:58 p.m. Eastern, and the final will take place June 13 at 9:14 p.m. EDT.

The semifinals of the women’s 800 will be June 12 at 8:58 p.m. Eastern, and the final will be run June 14 at 10:43 p.m. EDT.

Catch all the action from the 2025 Division I Outdoor Championships live on ESPN+, and visit FloTrack for breaking news, results, highlights and more. 

Portions of the competition on June 11-12 also will be broadcast on ESPN, while some events on June 13-14 will air on ESPN2.

To earn their spots at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the student-athletes battled their way through a pair of regional competitions to determine the field for the national event at Hayward Field.

Every individual event at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will feature 24 athletes – 12 from each regional – while each relay welcomes 24 teams – 12 from each regional event.

The 2025 NCAA Division I Track and Field West Regional was held in College Station, Texas, and the East Regional took place in Jacksonville, Florida. Both were held May 28-31.

Below, are the lists of men and women who qualified for the 800-meter events, respectively:

Men’s 800m Qualifiers

  1. Christian Jackson (Virginia Tech) – 1:45.31
  2. Rynard Swanepoel (Wake Forest) – 1:45.42
  3. Tinoda Matsatsa (Georgetown) – 1:45.36
  4. Abdullahi Hassan (Miss State) – 1:45.64
  5. Handal Roban (Penn State) – 1:45.47
  6. Nicholas Plant (Virginia Tech) – 1:45.90
  7. Samuel Navarro (Miss State) – 1:46.47
  8. Patrick Tuohy (NC State) – 1:46.60
  9. Kirk Dawkins (Florida A&M) – 1:46.62
  10. Tyrice Taylor (Arkansas) – 1:46.64
  11. Sam Whitmarsh (Texas A&M) – 1:46.68
  12. Kyle Reinheimer (Washington) – 1:46.82
  13. Rivaldo Marshall (Arkansas) – 1:46.97
  14. Aidan McCarthy (Cal Poly) – 1:47.01
  15. Matthew Erickson (Oregon) – 1:47.07
  16. Dugion Blackman (Iowa State) – 1:47.13
  17. Lloyd Frilot (TCU) – 1:47.15
  18. Koitatoi Kidali (Oregon) – 1:47.17
  19. Yared Kidane (Wichita State) – 1:47.35
  20. Samuel Rodman (Princeton) – 1:47.24
  21. Brian Kweyei (Clemson) – 1:47.28
  22. Allon Clay (Penn State) – 1:47.29
  23. Patrick Hilby (Wisconsin) – 1:47.30
  24. Andrew Casey (Wisconsin) – 1:47.30

Women’s 800m Qualifiers 

  1. Michaela Rose (LSU) – 1:58.91
  2. Meghan Hunter (BYU) – 1:58.95
  3. Gladys Chepngetich (Clemson) – 1:59.47
  4. Makayla Paige (North Carolina) – 1:59.73
  5. Roisin Willis (Stanford) – 1:59.81
  6. Smilla Kolbe (North Florida) – 2:00.09
  7. Lauren Tolbert (Duke) – 2:00.27
  8. Janet Jepkemboi Amimo (Kentucky) – 2:00.36
  9. Sophia Gorriaran (Harvard) – 2:00.46
  10. Veronica Hargrave (Indiana) – 2:00.51
  11. Laura Pellicoro (Portland) – 2:01.44
  12. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch (Iowa) – 2:01.70
  13. Emma Sullivan (Kennesaw State) – 2:01.71
  14. Makayla Clark (Iowa State) – 2:01.75
  15. Victoria Bossong (Harvard) – 2:01.83
  16. Emma Kelley (Wisconsin) – 2:01.87
  17. Kaylie Politza (Oklahoma State) – 2:02.04
  18. Jenna Schwinghamer (Kentucky) – 2:02.38
  19. Tessa Buswell (BYU) – 2:02.54
  20. Fanny Arendt (Texas Tech) – 2:02.63
  21. Aaliyah Moore (Kansas) – 2:02.87
  22. Marie Warneke (UCLA) – 2:02.93
  23. Sanu Jallow (Arkansas) – 2:03.16
  24. Maeve O’Neill (Providence) – 2:03.44

Who Won The National Titles In The 800-Meter Events At The 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships?

At last year’s NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Virginia senior Shane Cohen took the men’s 800m title with a 1:44.97 performance, finishing ahead of Texas A&M’s Sam Whitmarsh (1:45.10) and Iowa State’s Finley McClear (1:45.66).

The women’s champion in the 800 was Stanford’s Juliette Whittaker, who completed the coveted double in 2024 by winning the 800 at the NCAA’s indoor and outdoor championship meets. 

Whittaker won the outdoor title with a time of 1:59.61, besting her teammate Roisin Willis (2:00.17) and Oklahoma State’s Gabija Galvydyte (2:00.23).

How To Watch The 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track And Field Championships

The 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships will take place June 11-14 at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Oregon.

Live coverage will be provided by ESPN+ starting at 3 p.m. Eastern on June 11; 12:45 p.m. EDT on June 12; 2:45 p.m. on June 13; and 3:30 p.m. on June 14.

On June 11, ESPN will broadcast men’s action at 7 p.m. Eastern. On June 12, the women will be on ESPN at 7 p.m. EDT. On June 13, the second day of men’s competition will air on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. EDT. On June 14, the women will take the ESPN2 spotlight at 9 p.m. EDT.

For the entire event, FloTrack will be your one-stop shop for breaking news, highlights, results and more, so make sure top pop open that extra tab.

NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Men’s Schedule

All Times Eastern

Wednesday, June 11

Field Events

  • 4:30 p.m. – Hammer Throw Final
  • 7:35 p.m. – Pole Vault Final
  • 8:15 p.m. – Javelin Final
  • 8:40 p.m. – Long Jump Final
  • 9:10 p.m. – Shot Put Final

Combined Events

  • 3 p.m. – 100m (Decathlon)
  • 3:40 p.m. – Long Jump (Decathlon)
  • 4:55 p.m. – Shot Put (Decathlon)
  • 6:10 p.m. – High Jump (Decathlon)
  • 9:43 p.m. – 400m (Decathlon)

Track Events

  • 7:05 p.m. – 4×100 Relay Semifinals
  • 7:21 p.m. – 1,500m Semifinals
  • 7:38 p.m. – 3,000m Steeplechase Semifinals
  • 8:08 p.m. – 110m Hurdles Semifinals
  • 8:25 p.m. – 100m Semifinals
  • 8:41 p.m. – 400m Semifinals
  • 8:58 p.m. – 800m Semifinals
  • 9:14 p.m. – 400m Hurdles Semifinals
  • 9:29 p.m. – 200m Semifinals
  • 9:56 p.m. – 10,000m Final
  • 10:36 p.m. – 4×400 Relay Semifinals

Thursday, June 12

Combined Events

  • 12:45 p.m. – 110m Hurdles (Decathlon)
  • 1:35 p.m. – Discus (Decathlon)
  • 2:45 p.m. – Pole Vault (Decathlon)
  • 5:15 p.m. – Javelin (Decathlon)
  • 9:43 p.m. – 1,500m (Decathlon)

Friday, June 13

Field Events

  • 5:15 p.m. – Discus Final
  • 7:30 p.m. – High Jump Final
  • 8:10 p.m. – Triple Jump Final

Track Events

  • 7:50 p.m. – National Collegiate Wheelchair 100m Final
  • 8:02 p.m. – 4×100 Relay Final
  • 8:12 p.m. – 1,500m Final
  • 8:24 p.m. – 3,000m Steeplechase Final
  • 8:42 p.m. – 100m Final
  • 9:02 p.m. – 400m Final
  • 9:14 p.m. – 800m Final
  • 9:27 p.m. – 400m Hurdles Final
  • 9:37 p.m. – 200m Final
  • 9:55 p.m. – 5,000m Final
  • 10:21 p.m. – 4×400 Relay Final

NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Women’s Schedule

All Times Eastern

Thursday, June 12

Field Events

  • 4:30 p.m. – Hammer Throw Final
  • 7:35 p.m. – Pole Vault Final
  • 8:15 p.m. – Javelin Final
  • 8:40 p.m. – Long Jump Final
  • 9:10 p.m. – Shot Put Final

Track Events

  • 7:05 p.m. – 4×100 Relay Semifinals
  • 7:21 p.m. – 1,500m Semifinals
  • 7:38 p.m. – 3,000m Steeplechase Semifinals
  • 8:08 p.m. – 100m Hurdles Semifinals
  • 8:25 p.m. – 100m Semifinals
  • 8:41 p.m. – 400m Semifinals
  • 8:58 p.m. – 800m Semifinals
  • 9:14 p.m. – 400m Hurdles Semifinals
  • 9:29 p.m. – 200m Semifinals
  • 9:56 p.m. – 10,000m Final
  • 10:36 p.m. – 4×400 Relay Semifinals

Friday, June 13

Combined Events

  • 2:45 p.m. – 100m Hurdles (Heptathlon)
  • 3:45 p.m. – High Jump (Heptathlon)
  • 5:45 p.m. – Shot Put (Heptathlon)
  • 9:43 p.m. – 200m (Heptathlon)

Saturday, June 14

Field Events

  • 3:30 p.m. – Discus Final
  • 8:30 p.m. – High Jump Final
  • 9:10 p.m. – Triple Jump Final

Combined Events

  • 6:30 p.m. – Long Jump (Heptathlon)
  • 7:45 p.m. – Javelin (Heptathlon)
  • 10:43 p.m. – 800m (Heptathlon)

Track Events

  • 8:50 p.m. – National Collegiate Wheelchair 100m Final
  • 9:02 p.m. – 4×100 Relay Final
  • 9:11 p.m. – 1,500m Final
  • 9:24 p.m. – 3,000m Steeplechase Final
  • 9:42 p.m. – 100m Hurdles Final
  • 9:52 p.m. – 100m Final
  • 10:02 p.m. – 400m Final
  • 10:14 p.m. – 800m Final
  • 10:27 p.m. – 400m Hurdles Final
  • 10:37 p.m. – 200m Final
  • 10:55 p.m. – 5,000m Final
  • 11:21 p.m. – 4×400 Relay Final

About Hayward Field

Hayward Field, which was built in 1919, is no stranger to top-tier track and field events, including the Diamond League and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

The venue is named after Bill Hayward, who ran the University of Oregon track and field program from 1904 to 1947. Though it originally was intended for Ducks football, many additions and renovations over the century have helped it become a premier destination.

In September 2023, the venue became the first facility outside of Zurich or Brussels to host the two-day season-ending Wanda Diamond League Final, where the year’s 32 overall champions were crowned.

What Schools Won The Team Titles At The 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s And Women’s Outdoor Track And Field Championships?

The Arkansas women took home the outdoor team title in 2024, sweeping the indoor and outdoor championships for the 2023-2024 season.

Florida, led by legendary head coach Mike Holloway, secured the men’s title in 2024, giving the Gators three consecutive outdoor men’s titles. Florida became the first team to three-peat since Texas A&M (2009-2011).

What Schools Have Won The Most Titles At The NCAA Division I Outdoor Track And Field Championships?

The NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships first was held in 1921. 

USC owns the most men’s titles with 25, while Arkansas is the only other program with 10 or more (10).

The NCAA Division I Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships first was held in 1982. 

LSU has won the most women’s titles with 14. The next-closest is Texas with five.

From FloTrack YouTube

Aidan McCarthy Runs One of The Top NCAA 800m Times At Franson Last Chance

FloTrack Is The Streaming Home For Many Track And Field Meets Each Year

Don’t miss all the track and field season action streaming on FloTrack. Check out the FloTrack schedule for more events.

FloTrack Archived Footage

Video footage from each event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloTrack subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

Join The Track & Field Conversation On Social





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Semifinal Matchups Set In CIAC Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse And Volleyball Tournaments

After a week and a half of slogging through rainy conditions and/or enduring postponements, 72 high school teams from the state have reached the semifinals of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) state tournaments in baseball, softball, boys’ and girls’ lacrosse and boys’ volleyball. Nine teams have a chance to duplicate their 2024 triumphs, including […]

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After a week and a half of slogging through rainy conditions and/or enduring postponements, 72 high school teams from the state have reached the semifinals of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) state tournaments in baseball, softball, boys’ and girls’ lacrosse and boys’ volleyball.

Nine teams have a chance to duplicate their 2024 triumphs, including semifinalists in all four girls’ lacrosse brackets (New Canaan, Masuk, New Fairfield, Lauralton Hall). Cheshire, Daniel Hand and New Fairfield have a chance to repeat in boys’ lacrosse, while Masuk and Woodland Regional have a shot at retaining their softball titles.

New champions will be crowned in all four baseball finals and both boys’ volleyball title contests, as none of the defending champions in those sports qualified for the final four this year.

Find out what’s happening in Across Connecticutfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Tickets to CIAC semifinal and championship games are only available by pre-ordering through the website, which may be accessed here. No tickets will be sold at the gates.

Here is the schedule of semifinal events, click the class headers for complete brackets.

Find out what’s happening in Across Connecticutfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

BASEBALL

Class LL
Tuesday, 6/10, Palmer Field (Middletown)

  • No. 4 Fairfield Warde vs. No.32 Glastonbury, noon
  • No. 2 South Windsor vs. No. 3 Norwalk, 3:30 p.m.

Class L
Tuesday, 6/10, Municipal Stadium (Waterbury)

  • No. 5 Berlin vs. No. 8 Guilford, 3:30 p.m.
  • No. 3 Lyman Hall vs. No. 10Cheshire, 7 p.m.

Class M
Tuesday, 6/10, Muzzy Field (Bristol)

  • No. 6 Killingly vs. No. 15 St. Joseph, 3:30 p.m.
  • No. 1 Suffield vs. No. 4 Stonington, 7 p.m.

Class S
Tuesday, 6/10, Sage Park (Berlin)

  • No.3 Shepaug Valley vs. No. 10 Holy Cross, 3:30 p.m.
  • No. 1 St. Paul vs. No. 5 East Catholic, 7 p.m.

SOFTBALL

Class LL
Tuesday, 6/10, West Haven HS

  • No. 1 Cheshire vs. No. 4 Southington, 4 p.m.
  • No. 6 Fairfield Warde vs. No. 18 Ridgefield, 7 p.m.

Class L
Tuesday, 6/10, Eastern Connecticut State University

  • No. 2 Waterford vs. No. 3 Ellington, 4 p.m.
  • No. 1 Masuk vs. No. 5 St. Joseph, 7 p.m.

Class M
Monday, 6/9, West Haven HS

  • No. 1 Woodland Regional vs. No. 13 Oxford, 4 p.m.
  • No. 2 Foran vs. No. 3 Nonnewaug, 7 p.m.

Class S
Monday, 6/9, Eastern Connecticut State University

  • No. 1 North Branford vs. No.20 St. Bernard, 4 p.m.
  • No.2 St. Paul vs. No. 3 Hale Ray, 7 p.m.

BOYS LACROSSE

Class LL
Wednesday, 6/11, Fairfield University

  • No. 1 New Canaan vs. No. 4 Darien, 5:30 p.m.
  • No. 2 Ridgefield vs. No. 3 Staples, time TBA

Class L
Wednesday, 6/11

  • No. 1 Fairfield Ludlowe vs. No. 4 Conard, 1 p.m. (Municipal Stadium, Waterbury)
  • No.2 St. Joseph vs. No. 3 Cheshire, 4 p.m. (Guilford HS)

Class M
Wednesday, 6/11, Municipal Stadium (Waterbury)

  • No. 2 Joel Barlow vs. No. 3 Guilford, 5 p.m.
  • No. 1 Daniel Hand vs. No. 5 Brookfield, 7:30 p.m.

Class S
at University of Hartford

  • No. 1 New Fairfield vs. No. 4 Haddam-Killingworth (Tuesday, 6/10, 3 p.m.)
  • No. 2 Somers vs. No. 3 Sheehan (Wednesday, 6/11, 5:30 p.m.)

GIRLS LACROSSE

Class LL
Tuesday, 6/10, Fairfield University

  • No. 2 New Canaan vs. No. 3 Wilton, 5:30 p.m.
  • No. 1 Darien vs. No. 4 Ridgefield, 7:30 p.m.

Class L

  • No. 2 Cheshire vs. No. 3 Amity Regional (Monday, 6/9, 6:30 p.m., Sheehan HS)
  • No. 1 Simsbury vs. No. 4 Masuk (Tuesday, 6/10, 5 p.m., Brookfield HS)

Class M
Tuesday, 6/10, Guilford HS

  • No. 2 Branford vs. No. 3 Daniel Hand, 4 p.m.
  • No. 1 New Fairfield vs. No. 4 Suffield, 6 p.m.

Class S
at University of Hartford

  • No. 1 Lauralton Hall vs. No. 4 Somers (Tuesday, 6/9, 5:30 p.m.)
  • No. 2 Granby vs. No. 6 Sacred Heart Academy (Wednesday, 6/11, 3 p.m.)

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Class L
Monday, 6/9, Southington HS

  • No. 2 Trumbull vs. No. 3 Maloney, 4:30 p.m.
  • No. 1 Conard vs. No. 4 Shelton, 7 p.m.

Class M
Tuesday, 6/10, Naugatuck HS

  • No. 2 Masuk vs. No. 3 New Canaan, 4:30 p.m.
  • No. 1 Joel Barlow vs. No. 4 Newington, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph has advanced to the Class M baseball semifinals after topping Ellington in extra innings Sunday. (Tim Jensen/Patch)

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Stanford’s Ryann Neushul Named 2025 Women’s Cutino Award Winner

Courtesy: Stanford Athletics SAN FRANCISCO – Ryann Neushul was recognized with the most prestigious honor of her career on Saturday night, named the 2025 Peter J. Cutino Award recipient in a ceremony at The Olympic Club of San Francisco. Presented annually to the most outstanding female collegiate water polo player in the nation as voted by Division […]

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June 9, 2025

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Courtesy: Stanford Athletics

SAN FRANCISCO – Ryann Neushul was recognized with the most prestigious honor of her career on Saturday night, named the 2025 Peter J. Cutino Award recipient in a ceremony at The Olympic Club of San Francisco.

Presented annually to the most outstanding female collegiate water polo player in the nation as voted by Division I coaches, Neushul is the eighth player in school history to win the award. The Cardinal has been awarded 11 Cutino Award honors overall, with other honorees including Aria Fischer (2023), Makenzie Fischer (2019, 2022), Kiley Neushul (2012, 2015), Annika Dries (2011, 2014), Melissa Seidemann (2013), Jackie Frank (2003) and Brenda Villa (2002).

Neushul, who last month closed out a unique seven-year career which began as a freshman in 2019, became Stanford’s first four-time NCAA champion in school history (2019, 2022-23, 2025) following the Cardinal’s 11-7 victory over USC in the NCAA final on May 11.

One year after taking a leave of absence and redshirt year to train and compete with Team USA at the Paris Summer Olympics, Neushul returned for a seventh season and fueled the Cardinal’s 10th NCAA championship in school history and third over the last four years.

Recognized as the ACWPC Player of the Year last week, Neushul is a four-time ACWPC All-American (2019, 2022-23, 2025) who started all 26 contests as a senior and led the Cardinal in multi-goal games (20) while ranking second in goals (60), assists (39) and shot attempts (105). Neushul departed The Farm with 228 career goals, ranking fifth all-time in school history.

Joining older sisters, Jamie and Kiley, as All-American standouts on The Farm, Neushul was also recognized as Stanford’s eighth MPSF Player of the Year while also earning all-conference accolades for the fourth time. Neushul became the second student-athlete in MPSF history to earn both a player of the year and newcomer of the year honor (2019), joining UCLA’s Maddie Musselman.

Neushul is a four-time NCAA All-Tournament Team selection and three-time MPSF All-Tournament team pick.

A three-time ACWPC All-Academic honoree and three-time MPSF All-Academic selection, Neushul is once again on track for more scholastic honors as she boasts a 3.78 GPA in human biology. She remains in the running for CSC Academic All-America honors, looking to become Stanford’s fourth all-time recipient.

Neushul also serves as a teaching assistant for an on-campus Spanish service learning course and participates in the Bridge Peer Counseling Center, Stanford’s student-run peer counseling center.





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‘Brotherhood’: Camaraderie defines UCLA men’s volleyball’s winning culture, legacy

UCLA Athletics is synonymous with success. Boasting 124 NCAA national championships, UCLA has some of the most memorable moments, teams and players in the history of collegiate athletics. Headlining this mosaic of success is probably the most well-known coach of all time – John Wooden. He won a record 10 national championships – including seven […]

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UCLA Athletics is synonymous with success.

Boasting 124 NCAA national championships, UCLA has some of the most memorable moments, teams and players in the history of collegiate athletics.

Headlining this mosaic of success is probably the most well-known coach of all time – John Wooden.

He won a record 10 national championships – including seven in a row – as head honcho of UCLA men’s basketball, all while mentoring greats such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton.

And his imprint on the UCLA campus is even greater.

Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success” adorns the walls of the student gym named after him. His iconic statue stands outside Pauley Pavilion – the arena forever memorializing his career and home to the court that commemorates him and his wife, Nell.

But while Wooden’s legacy stands the test of time, Pauley Pavilion is also home to UCLA’s winningest sports program.

Enter: men’s volleyball.

A juggernaut in the history of the sport, the men’s volleyball program leads all of UCLA Athletics with 21 national championships.

The 2024 UCLA men's volleyball team celebrates after winning the NCAA national championship. (Daily Bruin file photo)
The 2024 UCLA men’s volleyball team celebrates after winning the NCAA national championship. (Daily Bruin file photo)

And for former Bruin outside hitter Ethan Champlin – who played at UCLA from 2021-2024 – winning is not only ingrained into the culture of Bruin volleyball but also curated through the deliberate development of its athletes.

“It can bring you to tears sometimes to think about the privilege and the experiences that you get to have with such a great group of guys that are not only just tremendous at their craft but your friends,” Champlin said. “I invited the whole team to my wedding because winning is such a bonding experience, and that’s what UCLA is. UCLA brings winners. They carry winners on their roster.”

Although the Bruins most recently fell in the national championship game to Long Beach State, their appearance marked three consecutive NCAA title appearances, with the first two resulting in Bruin championships.

Champlin – a three-time AVCA First Team All-American – was an integral part of the back-to-back championships, winning the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award in 2024.

While Champlin spearheaded a squad that broke an almost 20-year national championship drought, it is the relationships he built with his teammates and the culture they established that he values most.

“To be able to have our team written in the record books for the national championships we won, especially after the drought that UCLA had had since 2006, it’s just a tremendous honor,” Champlin said. “There’s not a single person on the team that I wouldn’t have, that I would have traded to have a different teammate. They all brought very different personalities, character traits, skills, but every single one of them was valued.”

Former Bruin outside hitter Ethan Champlin raises his arms to receive the ball. Champlin played for UCLA men's volleyball from 2021-2024. (Shane Yu/Daily Bruin staff)
Former Bruin outside hitter Ethan Champlin raises his arms to receive the ball. Champlin played for UCLA men’s volleyball from 2021-2024. (Shane Yu/Daily Bruin staff)

And while national glory illustrates the pedigree of a team, quality coaching can turn a great program into a legendary one.

Wooden passed the torch to the likes of Larry Brown and Jim Harrick. The former is a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member, and the latter is the only coach other than Wooden to capture a men’s basketball national title for UCLA.

Only three coaches have helmed the men’s volleyball program since the collegiate sport’s NCAA inception in 1970.

The newest of the bunch, coach John Hawks, finished his first year with a national title appearance this season. But in 2022, he also won AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year after leading the Bruins to the nation’s top hitting percentage with a .374 clip.

On the other end, Al Scates – the Wooden of UCLA men’s volleyball – led the program to 19 national championships, all while producing the next generation of volleyball greats, including UCLA’s second coach, John Speraw.

For junior libero Coleman McDonough, being able to continue Scates’ legacy is something he treasures.

“I’m a Pennsylvania kid, so getting recruited by UCLA – it’s definitely something you never thought would happen, especially coming from the storied legacy left behind by Al Scates and all that,” McDonough said. “It’s just great that you can contribute in any way possible to the legacy.”

Between Scates and Hawks is Speraw – a legend on the court as a player, on the bench as an assistant and as the head honcho for 12 years from 2013-2024.

Speraw’s trophy case holds 10 national championship trophies – two as a player, three as an assistant coach and five as a head coach – yet the scope of his impact on volleyball is arguably larger.

“In terms of volleyball, he was the greatest coach that I’ve ever had,” Champlin said. “I always felt like he had our team’s back. … I’d say that I was a pretty self-taught player, but the things that he said and the things that he taught me in terms of volleyball skills – I owe so much to him, and as a coach, he’s got a big reputation. He’s kind of a larger-than-life figure.”

Former UCLA men's volleyball coach John Speraw stands with his arms crossed. Speraw coached UCLA from 2013-2024. (Daily Bruin file photo)
Former UCLA men’s volleyball coach John Speraw stands with his arms crossed. Speraw coached UCLA from 2013-2024. (Daily Bruin file photo)

Similarly to how Speraw molded the likes of Champlin, setter Micah Maʻa, outside hitter Garrett Muagututia and other current and future Olympians, Scates’ impact also stretched far beyond the walls of Pauley Pavilion.

Former Bruins not only line the rosters of men’s and women’s national and Olympic teams, but they also represent a significant part of the coaching staff.

Before Speraw’s coaching retirement this past year, he led the men’s Olympic team from 2013-2024, earning a bronze medal both in 2016 and 2024, while also taking gold at both the 2015 FIVB World Cup and 2014 FIVB World League. Speraw took on the position as CEO and president of USA Volleyball after the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Likewise, Scates’ apprentices – Erik Sullivan, Brandon Taliaferro and Karch Kiraly – and Hawks all fill roles on United States national teams. Sullivan heads the women’s team, with Taliaferro taking an assistant role alongside him. Kiraly replaced Speraw to helm the men’s team, while Hawks took lead on the U21 national squad.

Despite their impact on the national and professional stages, sophomore outside hitter Luca Curci said UCLA volleyball alumni are still present in the current culture and locker room.

“They’re a big part of our team, for sure,” Curci said. “We’re always doing alumni nights after all games and stuff like that, doing events so we can all be close still, and they help us a lot with donations and stuff like that.”

But relationships are more valuable than trophies – exemplified by the camaraderie between Champlin and former Bruin outside hitter and teammate Grant Sloane, who served as a groomsman at Champlin’s wedding.

“He did everything he could to get me to come to UCLA, and that ended up being at the expense of his own playing time and his own glory, and I benefited from that more than I’ll ever know,” Champlin said. “And that also embodies my experience at UCLA and the selfless people that I had on the team who showed me humility that I could never have and selflessness that I wish I could have in my best moments.”

Although capturing championships forges core memories, McDonough said brotherhood lasts a lifetime.

“The biggest thing I’ve taken away is the relationships that you build at UCLA. The people here at the school make this place special, so having that brotherhood to have for your whole life is something that I’ll take away, more than just the national championships,” McDonough said.



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Appalachian State Volleyball Announces 2025 Schedule

App State Volleyball head coach Chad Sutton announced the schedule for the 2025 season, his first in charge of the Mountaineers. This fall’s slate will feature a nonconference tournament, a pair of nonconference midweek matches and eight home conference matchups. The Mountaineers’ nonconference slate will feature clashes with a trio of ACC opponents and a […]

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June 9, 2025

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App State Volleyball head coach Chad Sutton announced the schedule for the 2025 season, his first in charge of the Mountaineers.

This fall’s slate will feature a nonconference tournament, a pair of nonconference midweek matches and eight home conference matchups. The Mountaineers’ nonconference slate will feature clashes with a trio of ACC opponents and a clash with Big 10 contender Michigan State.

Season tickets are available to purchase and renew for $65. App State faculty and staff have the opportunity to redeem a discount for a $35 season ticket by calling the ticket office at 828-262-7733. Fans interested in courtside seats may also call the ticket office for availability.

​​”I am really excited for this schedule,” Sutton said. “We have a strong non conference slate composed of P4’s and high RPI mid-major opponents. I believe this will be critical to our development and help prepare us to compete in the Sun Belt, while pursuing our goal of reaching the NCAA Tournament.”

The Mountaineers will open non conference play at the College of Charleston Classic. App State will take on Mercer in that event on Aug. 29 before challenging the College of Charleston and Eastern Kentucky on Aug. 30.

The Black and Gold will open its home slate with a midweek clash against Elon on Sept. 2 in the Holmes Convocation Center. App State will take on VCU and Virginia in the Cavalier Classic in Charlottesville, Va. (Sept. 5-6) before heading down to Kennesaw, Ga., for the Kennesaw State Invitational (Sept. 12-13) to clash with Michigan State and Kennesaw State. On Sept. 16, App State will head to Chapel Hill for a midweek clash against North Carolina before hosting the Mountaineer Classic on Sept. 19-21 in Holmes. The tournament will feature a clash with Duke on Sept. 19 and a match against Davidson on Sept. 21.

App State’s conference slate will feature eight home matches, beginning with a pair of matches against James Madison on Sept. 26 and 27. The Mountaineers will travel to Lafayette, La., to challenge Louisiana on Oct. 3 and 4 before returning to the High Country to host Old Dominion on Oct. 10 and 11. After stops in Statesboro, Ga., and Conway, S.C., to take on Georgia Southern (Oct. 16 and 17) and Coastal Carolina (Oct. 24 and 25), the Mountaineers will return to Boone to host Georgia State on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The regular season slate will wrap up with a pair of road matches against Marshall (Nov. 6 and 7) and a weekend in Boone against Troy (Nov. 14 and 15).

The Sun Belt Tournament is scheduled for Nov. 20-23 in Foley, Ala.

{Information provided by Appalachian State Athletics}



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Dodgers GM Says 'We Should Be Pushing' Minor Leaguers to Prevent Injuries

Twelve years ago, the Dodgers found the perfect test case for applying their most cutting-edge knowledge of pitching development to mold a future anchor of their starting rotation. Julio Urías was only 16 when he signed with the Dodgers in 2012. He made his debut at Class-A the following season. While pitching to much older […]

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Dodgers GM Says 'We Should Be Pushing' Minor Leaguers to Prevent Injuries

Twelve years ago, the Dodgers found the perfect test case for applying their most cutting-edge knowledge of pitching development to mold a future anchor of their starting rotation.

Julio Urías was only 16 when he signed with the Dodgers in 2012. He made his debut at Class-A the following season. While pitching to much older hitters, Urias passed nearly every performance-related test as he ascended the minor league ladder.

More news: Veteran Pitcher Re-Signs With Dodgers, Days After DFA

Along the way, the Dodgers were careful to mitigate Urías’ workload. In his third professional start, he was pulled after throwing five shutout innings on 56 pitches.

By 2016, Urias — still just 19 — was in the Dodgers’ major league rotation. A year later, his shoulder broke.

More news: Former Manager Accuses Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani of Gambling, MLB ‘Protecting’ Him

Despite controlling Urías’ workload from an age when most pitchers are still in high school, the Dodgers still could not prevent their top prospect from undergoing major surgery within five years of his professional debut.

Flash forward to 2025. The pitching injury epidemic has only worsened. The cautionary tale of Urías’ shoulder injury hardly seemed to provide caution — or, at least, offer actionable guidance for teams attempting to optimize the workload of their top pitchers in the minor leagues.

More news: Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw Gets Honest About Early Season Struggles

The Dodgers have done more than taken note of the injury epidemic. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Brandon Gomes have spoken openly about taking steps to actively modify how they optimize pitchers’ workloads for performance and health.

The results of those steps might need years to bear fruit. As of now, the Dodgers have an entire pitching staff replete with All-Star starters, closers, middle relievers, and promising youngsters on their injured list.

More news: Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw Gets Honest About Early Season Struggles

Gomes, speaking this week to the New York Post, has an idea what the solution might involve.

“I think a little bit of it is, we should be pushing (our minor league pitchers) and challenging them more, and not less,” he said. “I think we’ve been very conservative.”

On the same day the Arizona Diamondbacks announced that Corbin Burnes, the 2023 National League Cy Young Award winner, needed season-ending Tommy John surgery, the Dodgers had 15 pitchers on their injured list.

More news: Dave Roberts Declines to Name Dodgers Closer Amid Tanner Scott’s Struggles

“It’s obviously an ‘us’ problem, but it’s also across the industry, unfortunately,” Gomes told the Post.

Gomes acknowledged that he and Friedman are “far from having the answer” to keeping pitchers healthy from the minors to the majors. If nothing else, they’re committed to avoiding the definition of insanity: doing the same thing twice and expecting different results.

For more Dodgers news, head over to Dodgers on SI.

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