Sports

Ranking The 20 Hottest MLB Prospects

Published

6 months ago

May 26, 2025

Baseball America’s Hot Sheet ranks the 20 hottest prospects from the previous week. This week’s installment considers how minor league players performed through May 25. Contributing this week were BA staffers Josh Norris, Geoff Pontes, Jesús Cano, Matt Eddy and J.J. Cooper.

The Hot Sheet simply recognizes how the hottest prospects in the minors did in the past week—it’s not a re-ranking of the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects.

Note that our Hot Sheet Show on YouTube will air at 3:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday this week due to the Memorial Day holiday. We’ll also be answering prospect questions in our weekly Hot Sheet chat on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET.

1. Jac Caglianone, 1B/OF, Royals

Team: Triple-A Omaha (Pacific Coast)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .346/.357/.923 (9-for-26) 5 HR, 10 RBIs, 1 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: Kyle Isbel leads all Royals outfielders in home runs… with three. He’s the only Royals outfielder with more than one homer this year. Royals outfielders have combined for seven home runs this season, which is two more than Caglianone hit this week. So, it’s fair to say that the Caglianone countdown is starting to get deafening in Kansas City. There still are real questions about whether he’s capable of holding down an outfield spot defensively—he’s played just 10 games there so far—but there’s little question at this point that, the moment he gets the call, Caglianone will immediately become one of the biggest power threats in the Royals’ lineup. (JJ)

2. Chase Burns, RHP, Reds

Team: Double-A Chattanooga (Southern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 2-0, 1.80 ERA, 10 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 17 SO, 1 HR

The Scoop: Well, what more can you say? Burns has been dominant at every stop—from the backfields, to High-A and now Double-A. The hard-throwing righty wrapped up a stellar week with a career-best 10 strikeouts, showcasing the kind of electric stuff that demands attention. He’s flashed elite command, issuing just one walk over his two outings. His fastball touches triple digits and pairs with a wicked slider. Both carry 70 grades—a rare combination for a pitcher this young and this polished. (JC)

3. Gage Jump, LHP, Athletics

Team: Double-A Midland (Texas)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 2-0, 1.38 ERA, 12 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 16 SO, 1 HR

The Scoop: Jump has been one of the most-featured players on the Hot Sheet over the past month. Could a leap onto the Top 100 Prospects list be next for the LSU product? At his current pace, he’s making quite the case. Jump has 20 strikeouts in 18 innings and has allowed just two runs in his first three starts at Double-A. The lefty’s success originates from his fastball, which sits at 94-95 mph, mixing in strong control and causing batters to whiff. He’s drawn comparisons to Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga, who is another undersized southpaw whose deceptive delivery amplifies the effectiveness of his arsenal. (JC)

4. Ryan Ritter, SS, Rockies

Team: Triple-A Albuquerque
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: .433/.452/1.000 (13-for-30), 8 R, 5 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 8 RBIs, 1 BB, 5 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: After hitting 24 home runs in his first professional season, Ritter only hit seven in 2024. This season, he’s reversed course, slugging his 10th, 11th and 12th home runs of the year on Sunday. Ritter’s first three home-run game might have gotten him onto the top of the Hot Sheet this week, but he’s been hot all season. He has improved his contact and swing decisions in 2025 and looks to be knocking on the door for a callup. Over 45 games with Triple-A Albuquerque, Ritter is hitting .284/.400/.580 with a 137 wRC+. A strong defender who can stick at shortstop long term, Ritter’s bat has caught up to his glove. (GP)

5. Travis Sykora, RHP, Nationals

Team: High-A Wilmington (Nationals)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 14 SO, 1 HR

The Scoop: Sykora’s season was delayed by hip surgery, leaving him to rehab until May 3 when he made the first of two rehab appearances in the Florida Complex League. Those were followed by two more at Low-A, a level he dominated in 2024. On May 25, the Nationals bumped the righty to High-A. You’ll never guess what happened next: Sykora sliced and diced the Aberdeen IronBirds for four innings, finishing with nine strikeouts, no runs and just a hit and a walk on his ledger. The 16 swings and misses he coaxed were tied for the second-most in all of High-A. For the season, Sykora has punched out 32 hitters in 15 innings. (JN)

6. Lazaro Montes, OF, Mariners

Team: High-A Everett (Northwest)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .375/.400/.792 (9-for-24), 5 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 6 RBIs, 1 BB, 6 SO

The Scoop: Hitting a baseball so high and so far that it clears the batter’s eye might leave a mark. Doing it twice in one series? Let’s call that a Laz-eration. Montes pummeled a pair of pitches from Hops hurlers over the big blue wall in dead center field at Hillsboro Stadium for two of his three longballs over the past week. The outburst helped make Montes the first player in the Northwest League to reach 10 home runs. For context, the NWL’s leader in that category last year was Cole Carrigg, who hit 16 home runs. Montes is just six off of that mark with more than three months to go in the season. (JN)

7. Jesus Baez, SS/3B, Mets

Team: High-A Brooklyn (South Atlantic)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .647/.739/1.059 (11-for-17), 6 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBIs, 6 BB, 0 SO, 0-for-1 SB

The Scoop: Baez reached High-A as a 19-year-old last year but lost momentum when he had season-ending meniscus surgery on his knee in July. The Mets slow-played Baez in spring training, and his rust was evident early this season. After hitting just .187 with no thump in April, it’s been a different story in May. Baez collected six hits with two homers and seven RBIs in a May 23 doubleheader at Jersey Shore and, overall in May, is hitting .377/.482/.594 with four homers, 21 RBIs, 12 walks and 10 strikeouts in 20 games. (ME)

8. Arjun Nimmala, SS, Blue Jays

Team: High-A Vancouver (Northwest)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .364/.400/.773 (8-for-22), 4 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 2 BB, 3 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: This is what future stars look like. Young for the level? Nimmala was the second-youngest player in the Northwest League on Opening Day. Premium position? Nimmala has played shortstop on all of his non-DH days. Big-time performance? Nimmala’s name is all over the NWL’s offensive leaderboard, including the top spot for doubles (12) and extra-base hits (22, tied with Lazaro Montes), and second in home runs (nine), slugging percentage (.540) and total bases (87). With his early-season output, it’s clear that Nimmala has staked his claim as the best in the nest. (JN)

9. Kyle Teel, C, White Sox

Team: Triple-A Charlotte (International)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .500/.636/1.188 (8-for-16) 7 R, 2 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBIs, 65 BB, 5 SO

The Scoop: If you can string together a decent game night after night, you can put together a very solid season. And Teel has strung together a long run of solid games, even if he’s rarely been spectacular. He’s gotten a hit in 20 of his past 21 games, although his two three-hit games this week were his first three-hit games since March. He had a 10-game hitting streak earlier this month where he never had a multi-hit game. But Teel is hitting .356/.465/.644 this month and .293/.397/.490 overall. (JJ)

10. Sal Stewart, 3B, Reds

Team: Double-A Chattanooga (Southern)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .400/.444/.680 (10-for-25), 5 R, 4 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 4 SO, 2 BB

The Scoop: When Stewart gets hits, they tend to come in bunches—and he’s been piling them up. He’s notched 18 multi-hit games this season—including three more this past week—and is continuing to showcase the consistency and bat-to-ball skills that made him such a highly-regarded prospect. Long praised for his advanced approach at the plate, Stewart is backing it up with the numbers. He’s missing just 22.4% of the time overall, and his in-zone whiff rate sits just under 20%—a strong indicator of his pitch recognition and feel for the barrel. Stewart owns a 104.6 mph 90th percentile exit velocity, showing he’s consistently squaring balls up with authority. His max exit velocity of 110.4 mph adds even more intrigue, hinting at untapped power that could show up more consistently as he matures. (JC)

11. David Davalillo, RHP, Rangers

Team: High-A Hub City (South Atlantic)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Last season, Davalillo led the minor leagues with a 1.88 ERA. This year, he’s doing it again… only better. Through eight starts, Davalillo has allowed just four earned runs. After some quick work on a nearby abacus, we can conclude that he’s averaging one earned run every two starts. That’s good for an ERA of 0.92. Davalillo’s most recent turn might have been his finest yet. He struck out a season-best 10 and got 18 swings and misses in the process. Over his last two turns, Davalillo has allowed four hits and two walks, struck out 17 and allowed—get this—no earned runs. (JN)

12. Trey Yesavage, RHP, Blue Jays

Team: High-A Vancouver (Northwest)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 2.25, 8 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 19 SO, 1 HR

The Scoop: Promoted to High-A just a week ago, Yesavage did a two-step in his first week with Vancouver. The 2024 first-round pick made two starts against Eugene striking out 10 on Monday and then punching out another nine on Sunday. Yesavage did struggle with command in each start, however, as he walked three batters in each outing. Up to this point, Yesavage has dominated both levels of A-ball with his high-rise four-seam fastball, cutter and splitter. If he continues to beat up on High-A competition, Yesavage should be in Double-A by the all-star break. (GP)

13. Franklin Arias, SS, Red Sox

Team: High-A Greenville (South Atlantic)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .571/.571/.762 (12-for-21), 4 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBIs, 0 BB, 1 SO, 2-for-3 SB

The Scoop: Last year, in BA’s annual article surveying scouts about the best players they saw in the backfields during spring training, one evaluator had this to say about Arias: “His arrow is pointing up this spring after a minor league camp where he showed off fluid athleticism and a swing that was both malleable up and down the zone and geared toward shooting line drives to all sectors.” More than a year later, those words look prophetic. The 19-year-old Arias made quick work of Low-A Salem in the early days of the season and didn’t skip a beat after moving to High-A. He’s 32 for his first 89 in 21 South Atlantic League games and has struck out just eight times in 96 plate appearances. (JN)

14. Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Pirates

Team: Triple-A Indianapolis (International)
Age: 25
Why He’s Here: 0-1, 4.50, 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO, 2 HR

The Scoop: The Pirates, despite being one of the worst teams in MLB, boast one of the best Triple-A rotations in the game with Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington and Braxton Ashcraft. Despite giving up some hard contact on Wednesday (two home runs) Ashcraft walked just one batter while striking out nine. Ashcraft had the swing-and-miss stuff working in this start as he generated a season-high 19 swinging strikes. Ashcraft has shown serious development over the last few seasons, displaying starter upside after an injury-plagued start to his career. (GP)

15. Emil Morales, SS, Dodgers

Team: ACL Dodgers (Arizona Complex)
Age: 18
Why He’s Here: .381/.409/.905 (8-for-21), 5 R, 1 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBIs, 1 BB, 3 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: The Dodgers’ embarrassment of riches seems to be never-ending, as Morales is one of the top prospects in the Arizona Complex League. Morales tallied a hit in all five games this week and had multiple-hit games on Monday and Thursday. He bookended the week with home runs on Monday and Saturday. Morales is hitting .266/.333/.563 with four home runs over 16 ACL games. He’s shown some concerning swing-and-miss early, but it’s coming with impact power in-game. (GP)

16. Jacob Gonzalez, SS, White Sox

Team: Double-A Birmingham (Southern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .304/.292/.696 (7-for-23) 6 R, 3 HR, 5 RBIs, 5 SO, 2 SBs

The Scoop: This is easily the best week of Gonzalez’s relatively young pro career. The 2023 first-round pick had never hit three home runs in a month before he hit three this week. Power is not usually Gonzalez’s calling card, but you wouldn’t be able to tell that from a week in which he was a pull-happy slugger. (JJ)

17. Keiner Delgado, 2B, Pirates

Team: High-A Greensboro (South Atlantic)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .409/.581/1.000 (9-for-22), 8 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 6 SO, 7 BB

The Scoop: Delgado was revealed as the player to be named later in the trade that sent JT Brubaker to the Yankees back in April 2024. After back-to-back strong seasons in the Yankees system, he struggled to carry that momentum into his first year with the Pirates. But in 2025, he’s starting to trend in the right direction and looking more like the version of himself that once impressed. This past week may have been his best yet, highlighted by a three-homer performance in what was his first career multi-homer game. It’s an encouraging sign of things possibly turning around. That said, there’s still work to do, particularly with his approach, as swing-and-miss and chase remain areas to tighten up. (JC).

18. Blaze Jordan, 1B/3B, Red Sox

Team: Double-A Portland (Eastern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .435/.500/.739 (10-for-23) 4 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBIs, 2 BB, 3 SO, 2 SB

The Scoop: Jordan came to fame in high school because of his power, but in pro ball, he’s actually proven to be a pretty polished hitter with modest power. He’s a career .289 hitter, and his excellent work this week boosted him to a .306/.401/.485 line this year in his return to Portland. Jordan is showing improved power, and he’s extremely difficult to strike out (10.8% rate). He has started to play more first base than third, flipping what had been a pretty 50-50 job share. At this point, Jordan seems quite likely to reach the big leagues, and as a 22-year-old, there’s still time for his power to further blossom. (JJ)

19. Luis Morales, RHP, Athletics

Team: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: First impressions matter, and Morales made his count in a big way. In his Triple-A debut, he picked up right where he left off in Double-A, spinning six no-hit innings. Most impressively, he filled up the zone with 62 of his 88 pitches for strikes. Developing homegrown pitching hasn’t traditionally been the A’s calling card, but that narrative might be shifting. Along with Gage Jump, Morales is one of two rising arms in the system who have turned heads all season, earned well-deserved promotions and continue to shine on the mound. (JC)

20. Sterlin Thompson, OF, Rockies

Team: Triple-A Albuquerque (Pacific Coast)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .389/.522/.889 (7-for-18) 5 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 3 BB, 3 SO, 1 SB

The Scoop: Thompson needed a week like this. Albuquerque is a very hitter-friendly environment, and the Isotopes also play at places like Reno that are even better for hitters. As a team, the Isotopes are hitting .271/.357/.467 this year, so Thompson’s .255/.349/.443 slash line is actually below average. But a few weeks like this one could fix that quickly. (JJ)

Helium

Victor Figueroa, 1B, Padres

We reported Figueroa as an under-the-radar player making noise in his first week of ACL play, and he’s kept right on rolling. He was promoted to Low-A soon after and left the ACL as one of its best hitters, leading the league in nearly every major category while hitting over .600. At 22 years old, however, he was one of the older players in the desert. The new level didn’t seem to faze him either. Figueroa slugged two homers in his first week at Low-A and looked like he belonged. An 18th-round pick out of Florida SouthWestern State College, he’s showing the same mix of power, speed and contact that made him successful in the junior college ranks. (JC)

Sports

Miami Announces 2026 Schedule – University of Miami Athletics

Published

14 minutes ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami track and field program announced its highly competitive 2026 indoor and outdoor schedules Friday, highlighted by three home meets at Cobb Stadium.

The Hurricanes open the season Jan. 16 in Gainesville, Fla., at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational before traveling to Fayetteville, Ark., for the Razorback Invitational on Jan. 30–31. The regular season continues at the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, S.C., on Feb. 13–14.

The ACC Indoor Championships are set for Feb. 26–28 in Boston, Mass., while the NCAA Indoor Championships will be held March 13–14 in Fayetteville.

Miami opens the outdoor season at home with a pair of meets, hosting the Hurricane Invitational on March 20–21 and the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational on March 27–28.

The Hurricanes return to Gainesville for the Florida Relays on April 3–4 before hosting their final home meet of the season, the Hurricane Alumni Invitational, on April 10–11.

Miami then heads back to Gainesville for the Tom Jones Memorial on April 17–18 prior to competing at the historic Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa., from April 23–25. The Hurricanes close the regular season at the UNF East Coast Relays in Jacksonville, Fla., on May 1–2.

Louisville, Ky., will host the ACC Outdoor Championships from May 14–16, while the NCAA East Prelims are set for May 27–30 in Lexington, Ky.

The 2026 season concludes at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., from June 10–13.

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Track & Field Opens Campaign with Strong Showing at HBCU & Ivy Challenge

Published

30 minutes ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard opened the 2025-26 track & field season on home turf, as the Crimson orchestrated wins in seven events at the fifth annual HBCU & Ivy Challenge.

A two-time All-Ivy League selection in the women’s weight throw and the 2024 Ivy League champion in the event, junior Emilia Kolokotroni started the day with a fantastic showing at Gordon Indoor Track, winning the women’s weight throw after posting a 19.10m (62’8″).

Harvard found more success in the field events, as first-year Jillene Wetteland earned a win in her collegiate debut after clearing 1.69m (5’6.5″) in the women’s high jump, as sophomore Tyler Glover finished in first in the women’s shot put after logging a throw of 15.42m (50’7.25″).

The Ancient Eight’s defending women’s pole vault champion in indoor competition, sophomore Ella McRitchie started the year with a win in the women’s pole vault after clearing 4.10m (13’5.25″).

On the track, a pair of seniors started the season with stellar performances on the straightaway. The 2025 Ivy League champion in the women’s 60 hurdles, senior Fabiola Belibi finished in first place in the women’s 60 hurdles at the HBCU & Ivy Challenge after posting a time of 8.50 in the final. One of Harvard’s team captains, senior Jonas Clarke kicked-off his final collegiate season with the Crimson with a win, finishing in first in the men’s 60m after crossing the finish line in 6.85.

Harvard’s men’s 4x440y relay team of sophomore Harlow Tong, first-year Hudson McGough, sophomore Brayden Chavez and first-year Oliver Parker ended the day on a high note, winning the event after combining for a time of 3:18.44.

In the team standings, the women’s squad took second with 82 points, while the men finished in fourth with 54 points.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

Harvard started on the front foot in the throws cage, capturing the top two spots in the women’s weight throw. A two-time All-Ivy League selection and 2024 Ivy League champion in the women’s weight throw, Kolokotroni finished atop the podium with a throw of 19.10m (62’8″). Senior Michaela Denson finished in second to start her final track & field campaign with the Crimson, doing so with a throw of 18.19m (59’8.25″).

A Crimson debutant picked up a win in the women’s high jump, as Wetteland took first after clearing 1.69m (5’6.5″). Junior Lilly Hodge also placed fourth in the event after leaping past 1.60m (5’3″).

The Crimson orchestrated a promising effort in the men’s high jump, with two Harvard student-athletes finishing in the top five. First-year Joachim Johnson finished in third in his collegiate debut after clearing 2.04m (6’8.25″), a mark that is tied for 10^th all-time in school history. Senior and team captain Daire Mahon finished in fourth place after clearing a personal-best 1.98m (6’6″).

The track action started with a scoring effort in the men’s 600m, as first-year Hudson McGough added to Harvard’s total with a third place finish after crossing the finish line in 1:21.29.

Back in the throws cage, another Crimson first-year scored in his Harvard debut, as first-year Daniel Ye finished in second in the men’s weight throw with an attempt of 17.69m (58′.5″).

Harvard continued producing wins in the throws, as Glover started her second collegiate campaign with authority, winning the women’s shot put with a mark of 15.42m (50’7.25″). Glover’s throw from the HBCU & Ivy Challenge ranks third all-time in school history.

The men’s side of the shot put saw two Crimson compete, as junior Isaac Delaney finished in third with a throw of 16.45m (53’11.75″).

The straightaway finals started with a top five showing in the men’s 60 hurdles, as junior Simon Weiser placed in fifth with a time of 8.16.

Wins arrived for Crimson seniors in both the women’s 60 hurdles and the men’s 60m. The Ivy League’s defending women’s 60 hurdles champion, Belibi kicked off her final collegiate season with a win in the event, posting a time of 8.50 to capture first place. In the men’s 60m, Clarke, one of Harvard’s team captains, outlasted the field to take first place with a time of 6.85.

The women’s 60m final saw sophomore Ella Cooper clock a personal-best time of 7.59, taking fourth place in the process.

McRitchie, another returning Ivy League champion, started the 2025-26 with a first place finish in the women’s pole vault, doing so after clearing 4.10m (13’5.25″). Hodge finished in second, as she also cleared 4.10m.

The Crimson’s women’s 4x440y relay team of sophomore Abigail Dennis, sophomore Saige Forbes, Cooper and sophomore Kaelin Creagh took second after clocking a 3:56.07.

On the men’s side of the 4x440y relay, Tong, McGough, Chavez and Parker combined for a time of 3:18.44 to earn the win.

UP NEXT:

The Crimson conclude the opening weekend of the 2025-26 track & field season with two meets tomorrow, as Harvard will host the Harvard Classic at Gordon Indoor Track and will also feature at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener at Boston University’s Track & Tennis Center.

For complete coverage of Harvard Track & Field, follow us on Twitter (@HarvardTFXC) and Instagram (@harvardtfxc).

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Harris, Stewart & O’Brien Represent Ohio Track & Field at GVSU Holiday Open

Published

47 minutes ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ALLENDALE, Mich. – The Ohio women’s track & field team concluded its first meet of the indoor season, the GVSU Holiday Open, on Friday, Dec. 5.

Sophomore Mairin O’Brien (Lewis Center, Ohio) kicked off competition for Ohio in the women’s 3,000 meters. O’Brien placed seventh in Heat 1 of the event, running a time of 10:01.30.

Graduate student Kelsi Harris (Liberty Township, Ohio) and sophomore Kaitlyn Stewart (Floyd Knobs, Ind.) competed in the women’s 5,000 meters. Harris placed eighth in the Heat 1 of the event, recording a time of 16:45.66. Stewart took home eighth place in Heat 2 with a time of 17:07.16.

The Bobcats will be back in action at the Marshall Alumni Classic on Saturday, Jan. 10.

#OUohyeah

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Blazers Complete 2025 Season Opener

Published

1 hour ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BIRMINGHAM – UAB Track and Field opened the 2025 season on Friday as the Blazers competed in the Birmingham Indoor Icebreaker at the Birmingham Crossplex.

Victory George competed in multiple events as the newcomer participated in the 60m and the Long Jump. George placed 12th out of 69 athletes in the 60m Prelims with a time of 7.71 seconds. George narrowly missed the finals by .01 seconds as she placed second in heat 4. The newcomer from Nigeria placed 11th of 55 athletes in the Long Jump where she finished with a mark of 5.52m and placed third in flight 3.

Leticia Quingostas started her senior season strong in the 300m. The senior from Brazil placed ninth overall out of 28 athletes and won heat 4 with a time of 40.51 seconds.

The freshmen middle distance duo consisting of Kelly Hughes and Katelyn Valtos made their college debuts in the 1000m. Hughes (3:05.08) and Valtos (3:06.08) finished sixth and seventh overall respectively. Valtos’ time was tops in heat 2.

The Blazers saw four Pole Vault athletes compete on Friday. Noelle Hambrick was the leader of the quartet placing fifth with a mark of 3.70m. Victoria Freeland, Fiona Eastman, and Trinity Fellows each finished at 3.55m.

The Green and Gold rounded out the day with true freshman Sarah Hopkins competing in the Weight Throw. Hopkins finished her day with a mark of 14.58m on her final successful throw, which ranks third-best in school history for Indoor Weight Throw.

UAB returns to action on January 9, 2026 as it returns to the Birmingham Crossplex for the Blazer Invite. Meet information, schedules, and live results will be posted at a later date.

FOLLOW THE BLAZERS

To keep up with UAB Track & Field, follow @UAB_TF_XC on Instagram and X.

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Aggies Fend Off Vols in Five-Set Epic to Advance in NCAA Tournament

Published

1 hour ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

TEMPE, Arizona – At first, it seemed like Utah State volleyball would waltz into the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Then, it seemed like the USU’s dream season might end in heartbreaking fashion.

But in a do-or-die fifth set, the Aggies fought off a furious comeback from seventh-seeded Tennessee to claim a thrilling 3-2 (25-19, 25-15, 20-25, 18-25, 15-11) victory in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. This is the first NCAA Tournament victory for Utah State volleyball since recording wins in back-to-back seasons in 2000 and 2001.

With the win, Utah State will now face No. 2 Arizona State on Friday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. (MT).

Sophomore setter Kaylie Kofe engineered the Aggie offense to a .312 hitting percentage, recording 57 assists. Senior middle blocker Tierney Barlow led USU with 16 kills on a team-best .560 hitting percentage while sophomore opposite side hitter Loryn Helgesen added 14 kills. The duo also tied for the team lead with four blocks apiece with each player also registering a solo block. Sophomore outside hitter Andrea Simovski also had 14 kills and sophomore outside hitter Mara Štiglic stuffed the stat sheet with 12 kills, six digs, three blocks and three assists. Junior libero/defensive specialist Kendel Thompson led the Aggie defense with 16 digs, also leading the team with two service aces.

Head coach Rob Neilson

“What a match. Hats off to that Tennessee team. We gave them all they could handle in those first two sets and then they responded. They’re a great team obviously, well coached and talented, physical. Then you get to a fifth set and it’s a coin flip. I thought we made enough plays and battled and came through adversity. I’m really proud of this group and I’m excited that we get to play some more volleyball together.”

Set One

The Aggies came roaring out of the gates, registering kills on nine of their first 13 attacks en route to taking a 10-5 lead to force a Tennessee timeout. Štiglic posted three kills during the early run, part of a 7-0-10 line for the Croatian in the opening set. Out of the timeout, the Vols responded with a 9-2 stretch to take a lead midway through the frame and force an Aggie timeout. USU stemmed the tide with a kill from redshirt freshman middle blocker Lauren Larkin that preceded a block by Barlow and Helgesen. A Helgesen kill and Thompson ace then made it a 4-0 Aggie run to deliver the advantage back to Utah State. The Vols scored back-to-back points to tie it at 16 before the teams alternated the ensuing six rallies. With the set tied at 19, the Aggies closed the frame on a 6-0 burst. Helgesen ignited the run with a kill before teaming with Larkin on a block to firmly give the Aggies control late in the set. Štiglic then delivered back-to-back kills to clinch the 25-19 win to open the match. Utah State hit .382 in the opening frame while holding Tennessee to .188 to take a 1-0 lead.

Set Two

Utah State again came out strong, using a 14-3 onslaught to grab hold of the second set. Simovski powered the on-fire start with five kills while Thompson added her second ace of the match to help build a double-digit cushion. The Aggies went a perfect 8-of-8 on attacks to begin the frame. Tennessee closed the gap with a 6-1 stretch, forcing a USU timeout. A Helgesen kill halted the Vols’ momentum before Utah State went on to close the set on a 5-1 run featuring a pair of kills from Barlow and a Helgesen ace plus a block by Štiglic and Barlow to help seal the 25-15 win. The Aggies improved on both their offensive and defensive marks from the first set, hitting .444 while holding Tennessee to .171 to go up 2-0 for the match.

Set Three

The Aggies again went up early as Barlow recorded three-straight kills and then a solo block as part of a personal 4-0 run to put USU ahead 7-4. The Vols, however, answered back with an 11-4 stretch to take a late four-point lead in the set. The Aggies battled back within two at 21-19 with Simovski supplying a pair of kills but Tennessee went on a 4-1 run to take the set, 25-20, to extend the match to a fourth set.

Set Four

The Vols maintained momentum to begin the fourth set, opening up a 10-5 lead out of the gates. USU scored three-straight points with Larkin and Helgesen both registering kills to trim the deficit to two points. Tennessee answered again, scoring seven of the next 10 rallies to extend their lead to six points. The Aggies were unable to build a comeback attempt as the Vols secured a 25-18 win to send the match to a winner-takes-all fifth set.

Fifth Set

In a pivotal start to the set, Utah State went up 5-2 courtesy of a pair of Simovski kills and three attacking errors from the Vols. The Aggies led by four points at 12-8 following two kills from Helgesen before Tennessee clawed back within one after three-straight points. USU regained the advantage from the defensive side as Barlow and Helgesen combined for a block to make it 13-11. Barlow then killed back-to-back balls off the slide to secure the 15-11 victory and send the Aggies into the second round.

Quick Notes

Utah State also extended their overall winning streak to 22 matches, the third-longest streak in program history, trailing only a 23-game streak spanning the team’s 1978 national title season and 1979, and a program-record 26-game streak in 1978. USU’s streak is now tied for the third-longest active streak in the nation.

Utah State hit .312 for the match, their 11th-straight match recording a .250 hitting percentage or better. The Aggies are now hitting .274 on the season, a mark which would break the current program record of .238 set in 2016.

Larkin added another eight kills on a .500 hitting percentage plus two blocks and a career-high three digs.

Sophomore outside hitter Delaney Lawson and freshman defensive specialist Sadie Warren provided key defensive contributions with eight and six digs, respectively.

Utah State is now 3-6 in the NCAA Tournament all-time, recording their first win since defeating BYU in Salt Lake City in 2001. USU also defeated Missouri the year prior in Provo, Utah.

The Aggies are now 19-13-1 all-time against SEC teams and recorded their first win over the conference since beating Alabama in 2003.

Utah State improved to a 29-4 record during Kofe’s career when she records at least 10.0 assists per set.

Up Next
The Aggies continue play in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against second-seeded Arizona State on Friday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. (MT). The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.

– USU –

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Sports

Women’s Track and Field Look to Continue Success as a Squad this Winter

Published

2 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Hartford Women’s Track and Field team look to build off of a strong season in the spring as the team moves into the indoor portion of the schedule. Last year, the team found success both indoors and outdoors with strong placements in marquee meets such as 2nd in the Conference of New England (CNE) Championships, 12th and tied for 14th in the NCAA DIII Championships, and 17th and 25th in the NEICAAA All-New England Championships.

New Year, Similar Squad

With Head Coach Connor Green returning for his third year and the team only graduating two seniors a year ago, Hartford will be running out a whole host of familiar faces this season. 31 out of the 48 Hawks will be back for Coach Green with eight entering into their senior season. Amongst the group of notable returners is Lauren Duffy (Southington, Conn.) who is coming off of a standout freshman campaign last season. Duffy finished with seven top ten finishes last season with two top three finishes at The Reggie Open.

“Our team expectations are to just stay consistent, disciplined, and work on the little things a lot. Like being in the weight room, getting consistent miles in, and also hurdle mobility, injury prevention stuff, just to stay healthy throughout the season.” Duffy said.

Another key returner for the Hawks is junior Leslie Samuel (Montauk, N.Y.) who is coming off a season in which she was named to the USTFCCCA All-Region Team.

“I am mostly excited to get back into it. I didn’t compete last year, so I am excited to get back to where I am, and make it to nationals hopefully.” Samuel said.

A third key returner for the Hawks is Tommie Barker (Canton, Conn.). Barker last season was nominated to the CNE All-Conference Third Team for her/their performance in both hammer throw and shotput.

“I have high expectations for this year, given it’s my senior year. I’m hoping to keep improving and PR consistently at almost every meet. My main goal is to make it to all New Englands this year, and I think it’s very doable! I’m super excited for indoor and even more so for outdoor! Between lifting and practicing consistently for the past few months, I think we’re all at our best going into this season. Practice makes progress, and we’ve had a lot of time to make some amazing progress!” Barker said.

Season Outlook:

The Hawks will begin their season at the Yale invitational on Dec. 6th. Following that event they will take on the Wesleyan University Invitational on Jan. 24th. They will also compete in the John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University on Jan. 31st. The Hawks will close out the indoor track and field season at the NCAA Division III New England Championships in Boston at the New England at the Track of New Balance

For the latest information on Hartford Athletics follow the Hawks on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

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