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William Peace University Announces Addition of Men’s Volleyball in 2026–27

William Peace University is proud to announce the addition of men’s volleyball to its NCAA Division III athletic program, with competition set to begin in the 2026–27 academic year. Men’s volleyball will become the 18th varsity sport at Peace. The addition reflects the sport’s rising popularity at the collegiate level and showcases the University’s continued […]

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William Peace University is proud to announce the addition of men’s volleyball to its NCAA Division III athletic program, with competition set to begin in the 2026–27 academic year.

Men’s volleyball will become the 18th varsity sport at Peace. The addition reflects the sport’s rising popularity at the collegiate level and showcases the University’s continued commitment to expanding opportunities for student-athletes.

“Volleyball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, and William Peace University is pleased to add men’s volleyball to our athletic program as a complement to the existing women’s volleyball team,” said President Lynn Morton. “I look forward to the positive impact this team will have on the Peace community both on and off the court.”

Athletic Director Claude Shields added, “We are excited to offer this as an option for our student-athletes. With a strong club presence in Raleigh, we believe that we will attract a quality head coach who will be able to build a premier DIII program.”

The NCAA men’s volleyball season runs from January through April. Peace’s program will compete as an independent in its inaugural season, allowing flexibility in scheduling and the opportunity to build a strong foundation.

A national search for the program’s first head coach is currently underway, with plans to bring in a leader who will hit the ground running to build the team ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Visit gopeacepacers to learn more about Athletics at Peace.



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Chambers named women’s volleyball Associate Head Coach

NEWBERRY — Newberry College Director of Volleyball Kiko Santos has officially welcomed Jasmine Chambers as the new Associate Head Coach for the Wolves women’s volleyball program. Chambers joins the Wolves with a diverse and impressive coaching résumé. She most recently served as an assistant coach and adjunct professor at South Carolina State University. She […]

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NEWBERRY — Newberry College Director of Volleyball Kiko Santos has officially welcomed Jasmine Chambers as the new Associate Head Coach for the Wolves women’s volleyball program.

Chambers joins the Wolves with a diverse and impressive coaching résumé. She most recently served as an assistant coach and adjunct professor at South Carolina State University. She has also held head coaching duties at Lamar Community College and contributed as a graduate assistant at Midwestern State University in Texas.

” I am absolutely thrilled to hire Jasmine Chambers as associate head women’s volleyball coach, said Santos. “She brings a wealth of experience to our program from playing and coaching in the collegiate volleyball. She has an absolute passion and excitement for the game and will help our program continue to grow.”

A rising star in the coaching ranks, Chambers was recently selected to participate in the prestigious 2025 NCAA Women’s Coaches Academy, an elite program hosted in partnership with WeCOACH and the NCAA. The Academy is dedicated to empowering women coaches through advanced leadership development and team-building strategies. Chambers was one of 85 coaches nationwide to complete the rigorous three-day program focused on reflection, growth, and professional connection.

In addition, Chambers was selected for the esteemed Big Ten Volleyball Mentorship Program—an initiative designed to elevate diverse leaders within the volleyball coaching profession. As part of the program, she was paired with Brad Keller, head coach of the University of Southern California (USC) women’s volleyball team, gaining invaluable insights from one of the sport’s top minds.

Chambers’ excellence in coaching has also been recognized with the 2021 AVCA Diversity Coaches Award, and she is an active member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

As a former collegiate standout at Alcorn State University, Chambers left her mark on the volleyball court as a decorated setter. She was named team MVP, earned multiple SWAC Setter of the Week honors, and ranks in the program’s top 10 for single-season and all-time assists. She also competed for one season as a member of the Lady Braves Women’s Basketball team.

A Fort Worth, Texas native, Chambers holds a Bachelor degree in Health and Physical Education from Alcorn State University, a Master’s degree in Sports Administration from Midwestern State University, and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Columbia International University. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Columbia International University.

With a track record of leadership, competitive drive, and a passion for student-athlete development, Chambers is poised to make a powerful impact to the Wolves volleyball program.



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GB U18 Men’s team selected for European Championships in Portugal

July 11, 2025 The Great Britain U18 Men’s Water Polo team has been announced ahead of the upcoming European Aquatics U18 Water Polo Championships 2025. This tournament will mark the debut of the new ‘Division I’ format, following the changes to European Aquatics age group competitions which was revealed in May 2024. Great Britain will […]

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The Great Britain U18 Men’s Water Polo team has been announced ahead of the upcoming European Aquatics U18 Water Polo Championships 2025.

This tournament will mark the debut of the new ‘Division I’ format, following the changes to European Aquatics age group competitions which was revealed in May 2024.

Great Britain will travel to Rio Maior, Portugal, to compete in Group C of Division I and are set to face off against Israel, Belgium and Austria.

The championships will run from Monday 18 to Sunday 24 August, with the ‘Division Elite’ competition being held concurrently in Romania.

See the 14-strong squad below.

GB U18 Men’s Water Polo team

  • William Bamborough
  • Erik Buhaescu
  • Edward Carpenter
  • Dusan Crompton
  • Jason Dickson
  • Riaz Garnie
  • Sidney Gruber
  • Jack Hinton-Davies
  • Miles Kinloch
  • Joe Mathieson
  • Oliver Phillips
  • Iolo Roberts
  • Oli Salimbeni
  • Reuben Wall

Team staff

  • Tom Wall – Head Coach
  • Shaun Hill – Assistant Coach
  • Anne-Marie Houghton – Team Manager
  • Steve Kinloch – Team Manager



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Olympia Track and Field Club turns kids into champions | Sports

Fifteen years ago, Maddette Smith recognized a void in Southwest Florida’s sports scene and founded the Olympia Track and Field Club to fill that void. “I’m a lover of track,” said Smith. “I went on a track scholarship myself. I traveled all over the world with track and field. When I first moved back to Southwest […]

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Fifteen years ago, Maddette Smith recognized a void in Southwest Florida’s sports scene and founded the Olympia Track and Field Club to fill that void.

“I’m a lover of track,” said Smith. “I went on a track scholarship myself. I traveled all over the world with track and field. When I first moved back to Southwest Florida, I felt like track had pretty much died out here.”

Smith’s vision has grown into a club with nearly 70 athletes training year-round, producing more than 50 college athletes with the help of dedicated coaches and parents.

“She’s a very great coach and she’s taught me a lot since I’ve been here,” said Mikayla Burton, a club member.

“She means a lot to me,” said Ava Fredrickson, a club member. “She’s a really fun coach and I just love her.”

Practices are held at Dunbar High School, where athletes have become a force to be reckoned with at the Junior Olympics.

“It just makes me feel really happy that I get to run and jump,” said Fredrickson.

Several athletes have run their races this year and more are preparing for the Junior Olympics at the end of this month.

“I’m training every day, almost every day, and practice has been hard, but I’m getting through it,” said Burton.

For many young athletes, the goals extend beyond this summer.

“I want to go to the Olympics, be a gold medalist and make my dad proud,” said Kyana Cranston, another club member.

“My goals are to run in middle school and high school and maybe one day become an elite runner,” said Fredrickson.

Thanks to Smith’s vision, these athletes are getting a jump start on winning medals.

“I’m so proud. Words can’t even express how I feel about how great they have done. I have a very good coaching staff. I have a very good parent support team. All the kids that are here right now, it’s always fruits of their labor because they come out here every day it’s hot and raining, it doesn’t matter,” said Smith.

The Olympia Track and Field Club continues to change lives and set the stage for young athletes to achieve their dreams.



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Yucaipa’s volleyball star James Lopez earns All-CIF | Sports

The key to success for most high school volleyball teams is the setter. All the offense goes through the setter to set up outside and middle hitters for attacks that often result in points. For the past two years, James (J.R.) Lopez provided that floor leadership. For his efforts, Lopez was named to the 2025 […]

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The key to success for most high school volleyball teams is the setter. All the offense goes through the setter to set up outside and middle hitters for attacks that often result in points.

For the past two years, James (J.R.) Lopez provided that floor leadership. For his efforts, Lopez was named to the 2025 All-CIF Southern Section Division 6 first team.

Lopez was a key factor in the Thunderbirds 20-12 season in 2025 that enabled them to finish third in the Citrus Belt League at 9-4 to earn a spot in the CIF playoffs. The team won two playoff matches before losing to El Toro, 3-1 in the third round of section play.

He was also valuable during a CBL championship season in 2024, setting the ball for teammates as they finished with a 31-4 record and unbeaten in the CBL at 12-0. Unfortunately, the T-Birds lost their first-round match, 3-2, to Crean Lutheran.

Lopez finished the 2025 season with 635 assists (9.6 assists per set) in 66 sets played. He contributed 29 service aces and 140 digs (2.1 digs per set). In 2024, Lopez produced 611 assists in 89 sets (6.11 assists per set) with 59 service aces and 141 digs. His two-year assist total was 1,246 to go with 88 service aces in that span.



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Pepperdine Athletics’ Building Waves Program Continues to Empower and Prepare Student-Athletes for Life

Story Links MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine Athletics is proud to highlight another successful year of its Building Waves program, the department’s professional development initiative designed to prepare student-athletes for life after their time in Malibu. Launched in 2020, Building Waves helps student-athletes clarify their career interests, establish connections with alumni and industry […]

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MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine Athletics is proud to highlight another successful year of its Building Waves program, the department’s professional development initiative designed to prepare student-athletes for life after their time in Malibu.

Launched in 2020, Building Waves helps student-athletes clarify their career interests, establish connections with alumni and industry professionals, and build confidence in their transferable skills. The program includes resume and career skills workshops, one-on-one mentoring, life beyond sport discussions, and networking events with Pepperdine alumni where many of whom were student-athletes themselves.

In 2024–25, the program engaged over 80 student-athletes across 12 programs and all four class years in a variety of workshops, events, and mentorship opportunities focused on career preparation and personal growth.

 

This year, 32 alumni mentors stepped up to guide, encourage, and inspire our student-athletes. Since 2021, almost 90 alumni have shared their time and expertise with student athletes. Our signature program is the one-on-one mentoring program which matches current student athletes with alumni who match their career interests.

 

The academic year saw the highest-ever recorded department-wide GPA with multiple programs setting new program-record GPA-highs.

“This has been an inspiring year for Building Waves with participation across sports at an all-program high,” noted Academic Support Coordinator/Career Development Erin Carroll. “Helping our student athletes prepare for the transition out of college athletics and appreciate their unique value in the professional world, I’m seeing them step into this new confidence. For this, I have to thank our Wave alumni who are the linchpin of this program. We know the caliber of our alumni is tremendous, and they are making an enormous impact on the next generation of Waves.”

2024–25 Program Impact

  • 78 participants representing 12 men’s and women’s sports
  • Engagement across all class years:

    • Freshmen: 17
    • Sophomores: 16
    • Juniors: 22
    • Seniors: 23

  • Participating teams:

    • Baseball (20), Men’s Water Polo (14), Cross Country/Track (14), Women’s Swimming/Diving (7), Women’s Basketball (5), Women’s Soccer (5), Women’s Basketball (5), Beach Volleyball (4), Women’s Tennis (2), Men’s Tennis (2) and Men’s Golf (1)

“Building Waves gave me a deeper understanding of how the business world truly works. I learned what stands out in interviews, gained technical knowledge specific to commercial real estate, and received valuable answers to both basic and advanced questions. I also made some meaningful connections that could lead to future job or internship opportunities. Overall, I feel much more confident in my skills—I’m now interning in the field and adapting quickly thanks to what I learned through this program.”
— Karina Gonzalez, Women’s Soccer Senior

“Jen Karson was the perfect mentor for me! She came in at a perfect time as I was trying to land an internship. With her interview help and demo reel advice, I landed an internship that I am very excited about.”

— Jenna Parsio, Track Junior

“I have had an excellent experience with this program, not only has Emily been extremely helpful, but she has given me excellent resources and other connections that have helped so much. This has been one of the best resources from Pepperdine Athletics.”

— Emma Martinez, Cross Country and Track Sophomore

“This is an amazing program. I only wish it was available when I was a graduate. Thankfully, I’ve been able to mentor a number of people along the way in my professional life but it just seems much more special giving back to someone from Pepperdine who is an athlete. Very excited about Karina’s future when she leaves Pepperdine.”

— Pat Meaney, Mentor, Men’s Water Polo 1980

 

Since its inception, Building Waves has helped foster strong bonds between current Waves and alumni dating back as far as the Class of 1979. These connections have provided insight into industries such as law, business, education, healthcare, and more while delivering tailored support from those who understand the unique journey of a student-athlete.

The program, which began virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, now offers in-person and hybrid programming with increasing reach and frequency. Once focused primarily on seniors, Building Waves now serves all student-athletes, with expanded sessions created in partnership with Pepperdine’s sport psychology staff. This includes special emphasis on life beyond sports, equipping student-athletes with tools to manage the emotional and professional transitions that come after their final season.

 



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Noles Set Program Record on All-ACC Academic Team

TALLAHASSEE– The Florida State Outdoor track and field teams placed a program record of 29 student- athletes on the All-ACC Outdoor Track and Field Academic team, the league office announced on Friday.   To be eligible student-athletes must have a 3.00 cumulative GPA or greater and must have participated in either the ACC Championship and […]

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TALLAHASSEE– The Florida State Outdoor track and field teams placed a program record of 29 student- athletes on the All-ACC Outdoor Track and Field Academic team, the league office announced on Friday.
 
To be eligible student-athletes must have a 3.00 cumulative GPA or greater and must have participated in either the ACC Championship and or the NCAA Championship.
 
The women were represented by 16, the fifth highest total in the league. Suus Altorf led the way with her third selection, while Bieke Schipperen and Kayla Pinkard earned their second. The men secured 13 honorees, led by Zach Cloud who captured his third career nod.
 
2025 Women’s All-ACC Academic Team
Zianna Curtis– Communication Disorders
Nicole Dinan-Entrepreneurship
Takiyah Ferguson– Media/Communication Studies
Alyia Green– Public Health
Ava Povich– Exercise Physiology
Kaelyaah Liburd– Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
Joella Lloyd– Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
**Bieke Schipperen-Media Communications 
***Suus Altorf– Exercise Physiology 
Brooke Mullins– Sport Management
Emily Brown– Athletic Coaching-Masters
Leah Taylor– Exercise Physiology
**Kayla Pinkard-Criminology
Lucy May Sleeman– Economics
Oludoyin Soremi– Computational Biology
Oluwadara Soremi– Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
 
2025 Men’s All-ACC Academic Team
**Zach Leachman-Athletic Coaching Graduate Certificate
***Zachary Cloud- Sport Science
Austin Kleinman-Sport Management- Masters
**Joseph Farley- Interdisciplinary Social Studies
**Lucas Bouquot-Finance and Real Estate
Tyler Azcano– Finance
Curtis Bain-Media/Communication Studies
Cooper Crowell-Exercise Physiology
**Andre Korbmacher-Entrepreneurship
**Neo Mosebi– Political Science
Durian Moss– Psychology
Amare Williams– Media/Communication Studies
Tyson Williams-Sociology
 
*Denotes number of All-ACC Academic Team honors 

For more information on Florida State track and field, follow Twitter (X) @FSU_Track and Instagram @FSU_Track.    

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