Local playwright Katie Ka Vang is no stranger to weaving her life’s stories into her work.
“It’s the way I understand the world, and it helps me make sense of myself,” she says.
Everything from her cancer diagnosis to stories about immigration and displacement is on the table. But until recently, she’d never been able to figure out how to write about her passion for Hmong volleyball—one of the largest sports in the Twin Cities that many have never even heard of. The competitive, cutthroat—but loyal and love-filled—world of Vang’s 20s is the setting for her newest work, Sixpack, opening May 31 at the Jungle Theater.
The Set
Hmong volleyball is similar to standard volleyball, but with more specific rules around faults and certain hits. Volleyball was wildly popular in Thai refugee camps, where many Hmong people were displaced during the Secret War, and its popularity grew as Hmong communities settled elsewhere.
“It reminds us of our stateless home,” Vang says.
Vang grew up playing and competed with teams around the country in her 20s. But she always saw Minnesota as the center of it all.
“Every year, thousands travel to St. Paul for the Hmong International Freedom Festival, where there’s a big tournament,” she says. “Even when I didn’t live here, we would make the trip. I was so scared of these Minnesota Hmong girls because they were so tough and ruthless—and then they recruited me to play for their team, Sixpack, and I became one of them.”
The Spike
The team showed her another way to be a Hmong woman—one that was a little louder and more assertive, and one that made her feel more like herself.
“They showed me so much I never thought I’d get to have,” she says. And even though Vang doesn’t play as much now, as is clear in Sixpack—an homage to the community and the relationships formed within it—her passion for the sport persists.
CARBONDALE, Ill. – School is back in session at Southern Illinois and Saluki athletics is back in full swing. Last week, both basketball squads were in action as well as the swim and dive team. And this week, track and field returns to competition.
Men’s Basketball (8-9, 2-4)
Men’s basketball had just one game last week, falling 70-57 at UIC. Damien Mayo Jr. was the game’s leading scorer with 17, and he also tied Quel’Ron House to lead all players in assists with five.
Two games await Southern this week. On Wednesday, Jan. 14, they host Drake at 7 p.m. SIU then welcomes Belmont to Banterra Center on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m.
Women’s Basketball (4-11, 1-5)
The women’s basketball squad split their two conference games last week.
First, the team lost to Evansville on Thursday, 75-70. Jeniah Thompson reset her career-high in points with 19, and grabbed 12 rebounds to complete a double-double. Karris Allen had a nice game as well with 15 points and eight rebounds, and Indya Green was the final Saluki to hit double-digit points with her 11.
SIU then picked up their first conference win of the season on Saturday, defeating Valparaiso 97-59. Thompson set a new career-high in points once again with 25, and had 14 rebounds as well for another double-double. Green, Kayla Cooper, and Tkiyah Nelson all had 10+ points as well.
This week, the Salukis host Murray State on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 6 p.m. They then welcome UIC to Carbondale on Sunday, Jan. 18, for a 2 p.m. match.
Swim and Dive
It was a busy weekend for swim and dive, who competed for the first time following winter break.
On Friday, the men’s squad traveled to Purdue and fell 207-103. Carter Ruthven won SIU’s first event of the day by taking gold in the 100-butterfly. Alex Cimera won the 200-freestyle event as well as the 100-freestyle. Southern’s last win of the meet came in the 400-IM thanks to Juraj Barcot.
SIU then hosted Evansville and Indiana State’s women’s team on Saturday for Senior Day. Both Southern squads took down Evansville, but the women’s team fell to Indiana State in a close meet. The Salukis started the meet by winning both sides of the 200-medley relay, and Joshua Aceves was the team’s first individual winner in the men’s 1000-freestyle. Susy Hernandez then won the 200-freestyle, as did Willem Huggins for the men’s team. In the 100-backstroke, Liseska Gallegos Gutierrez and Cimera both grabbed gold. Olivia Herron, Maddax Thompson, Nate Worsham , Tomáš Peciar, Benedek Andor, and Barcot all won events as well, and Oliver Mebs provided SIU a diving win in the one-meter dive.
It is another busy week for swim and dive. On Friday, Jan. 16, the team hosts McKendree at 2 p.m. before welcoming Vanderbilt’s women’s team on Saturday, Jan. 17, for a 1 p.m. meet.
Track and Field
The indoor track and field season resumes this week when the Salukis head to the Indiana Invitational on Friday, Jan. 16, and Saturday, Jan. 17.
Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on X at @SIUSalukis, on Instagram at @siusalukis, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SalukiAthletics/. Fans can also download the “Salukis” Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
WASHINGTON – After three years as head coach and nine years in the American University volleyball program, Ahen Kim has been named the new head coach of Duke University volleyball. Kim most recently led AU to a historic season in 2025, capturing the program’s first Patriot League title since 2019. He leaves American with a 44-25 overall record at the helm.
“We are incredibly grateful to Ahen for everything he has given to American University volleyball,” said Director of Athletics and Recreation JM Caparro. “His connection to this program runs deep, from his time as an assistant under Barry Goldberg during one of the most successful eras in our history to leading the program through an important transition as head coach. This past season’s Patriot League championship and NCAA Tournament berth were a testament to his leadership, commitment to our student-athletes, and belief in this program. While we will miss Ahen, we are proud of the work he has done at AU and understand the significance of the opportunity he has earned. We wish him nothing but success in his next chapter.”
“I’m forever grateful to American University Volleyball and will cherish the time I’ve had coaching here both as an Assistant and as Head Coach,” said Kim. “It has been an honor to serve the program after Coach Barry, and I am extremely proud of the work by our student-athletes and staff to restore its competitive legacy. I want to thank President Alger, JM, Katie Benoit and the AU community for all the support for me and our program over the years. With the addition of the Meltzer Center and Goldberg Court, I know this program will continue to be a winner. AUVB will always be special to me and I wish the program continued success. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle.”
As an assistant from 2012 to 2017 and a head coach since 2023, Kim has been synonymous with many of AU volleyball’s greatest moments. He was on the bench for five Patriot League championships and all three of AU’s NCAA Tournament wins, and returned in 2023 to find more success as a head coach. Kim led the Eagles to back-to-back 20-win seasons in 2023 and 2024, leading to one of the best campaigns in program history in 2025. American won 24 games up through the Patriot League final, with Kim guiding several players to unprecedented individual success. AU earned six All-Patriot League selections and took home all five major postseason awards, including the Coaching Staff of the Year distinction given to Kim and his assistants. In total as a head coach, Kim oversaw 12 All-Patriot League players, six major award winners, two AVCA All-Region selections, and two All-Americans.
With undeniable success on the court, Kim made an equal impact off the court. 30 of his players have landed on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll and three players earned spots on the Academic All-Patriot League team in 2025, which recognizes both on-court and academic performance.
American University will conduct a national search for its next volleyball coach.
Keep up With Us
For the latest on American University Volleyball, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_Volleyball), Facebook (/AU.Volleyball) and Instagram (@au_volleyball).
Wichita, Kan – McPherson College started their 2026 off with an indoor meet on the campus of Wichita State for the First Chance Qualifier. Following their Christmas break, the Bulldogs sought after a solid performance in their first meet of the new year.
The Basics Location: Heskett Center
Women’s Highlights
In the Women’s 60m Hurdles, Blake Posey would run her personal best time of 9.47 and place 2nd in the meet. Nina Zimmerman finished the Women’s 60m with a 9.24 personal record. Chloe Guzman, a dual-sport athlete for the Bulldogs (women’s soccer), would continue the personal best category after running a 9.40 in the Women’s 60m.
Johanna Walker’s mile time in the Women’s Mile was also a personal best time, running a 6:19.02; this would beat her previous best time by an astonishing 29 seconds.
In the throws department, Cara Shultz’s shot put would travel 12.44m for a personal best throw; she would have a personal-best weight throw of 15.14. In both event Schultz competed in, she placed fourth.
Men’s Highlights
For the men, Eric Brown began his indoor season with a time of 1:29.86 in the Men’s 600m. Lamar Gordon lit up the competition taking first place in the Shot Put and the Weight Throw events. His shot put would travel 15.29m and his weight throw landed at 17.99m.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will travel to Maryville, Missouri this upcoming weekend for the Coach Alsup Invitational hosted by Northwest Missouri State University on January 17th.
First place winners of the Granby volleyball tournament in April 2025, K-Town. Granby Recreation Department/Courtesy photo
As of Jan. 5, the Granby adult co-ed volleyball league has continued its season with some hard-hitting competition.
Results from last week’s games
Washed Up downed Net WERK Timberline over Spike Tysons CV Electric beat Sagebrush Prather Plumbing beat Eastside Gang Washed Up downed Ski Pigs Spike Tysons over Liberty Spikes Drowsy Water Ranch downed Float Goats CV Electric beat Prather Plumbing Ski Pigs downed Liberty Spikes Drowsy Water Ranch over Timberline Float Goats beat Sagebrush Net WERK over Eastside Gang Drowsy Water downed Ski Pigs
League Standings as of Jan. 5
Washed Up 8-0 Drowsy Water Ranch 8-1 Timberline 7-2 Float Goats 6-2 CV Electric 6-3 Sagebrush 5-4 Net WERK 5-4 Prather Plumbing 4-5 Spike Tysons 2-7 Ski Pigs 2-7 Eastside Gang 0-9 Liberty Spikes 0-9
MOSCOW, Idaho- Before the spring semester officially gets underway, Idaho Athletics has announced that its programs recorded another strong performance in the classroom in the fall. Another team GPA record fell and Vandal student-athletes recorded a cumulative GPA of 3.44 across all sports.
Fall 2025 Academic Highlights
This is the 23rd consecutive semester that the Vandals earned a mark of 3.0 or higher as a whole.
Every program turned in a team GPA of 3.15 or higher.
Volleyball led the way for the department with a team GPA of 3.75. Fifteen student athletes had a 3.0 or higher and five of those turned in a perfect 4.0.
Men’s Basketball set a program record team performance for the second consecutive term, recording a team GPA of 3.44 by way of fifteen Vandals having a 3.0 or better and two of those with a 4.0. This tops the program record mark of 3.37, set last spring.
Swimming and Diving and Women’s Track and Field recorded the most athletes with a 4.0 individual average, with 22 each.
Football turned in a total of 83 student athletes with at least a 3.0.
Listed below are team GPAs, including student-athletes who earned a 4.0.
Mia Boltz, Ashlyn Chase, Calli Chiarelli, Annika Farley, Bella Gissendanner, Miranda Goldner, Emma James, Claire Manis, Kya Parke, Sara Rodgers, Heather Squitieri, Makenna Stuart, Izzy Thoma
3.00-3.99 semester GPA’s: 13
TEAM GPA: 3.63
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
4.00 semester GPA’s: 3
3.00-3.99 semester GPA’s: 11
TEAM GPA: 3.54
MEN’S BASKETBALL
4.00 semester GPAs: 2
3.00-3.99 semester GPAs: 13
TEAM GPA: 3.43 – Program Record
VOLLEYBALL
4.00 semester GPAs: 5
3.00-3.99 semester GPAs: 10
TEAM GPA: 3.75
MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
4.00 semester GPAs: 5
3.00-3.99 semester GPAs: 19
TEAM GPA: 3.15
WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
4.00 semester GPAs: 22
Simona Bartosova, Malia Chipouras, Francesca Cuccu, Cami Cvitkovich, Mara Fuerniss, Belen Garcia Arias, Ashley Hollenbeck, Lara Holzhauer, Tesse Kamps, Beatriz Marciano, Jada Miller, Amanda Munoz, Mary Nakamura, Constanze Paoli, Kim Priebe, Ivy Smith, Hanna Tait, Naomi Taylor, Alex Terry, Abigail Thomas, Jana Willems, Adie Wimer
3.00-3.99 semester GPAs: 17
TEAM GPA: 3.59
MEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY
4.00 semester GPAs: 5
3.00-3.99 semester GPAs: 3
TEAM GPA: 3.25
WOMEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY
4.00 semester GPAs: 5
3.00-3.99 semester GPAs: 4
TEAM GPA: 3.55
Department GPA: 3.44
All in all, 291 Idaho student-athletes delivered a GPA of 3.0 or higher for the fall semester, and 102 of those earned a perfect 4.0, continuing an established trend of excellence in the classroom for the Vandals. As the only Carnegie R1 institution in the state, athletes are coming to Moscow not just to compete at a high level, but receive one of the best educations in the northwest.
Below is a consolidated chart of 3.0+ and 4.0 GPAs by sport.
