POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – Two former Gauchos took home AVP silverware this past Memorial Day weekend, as Theo Brunner and Ryan Wilcox teamed up to win the 2025 Palm Beach Open.
The first AVP Contender event of the season, it was also the first time the duo have played together in any AVP competition. They proved to be a solid team, winning both of their pool play matches on Saturday morning to earn the No. 2 seed ahead of the single elimination playoffs. Then, with a 21-19, 21-19 round of 16 victory, they were through to Sunday’s quarterfinals.
The Gaucho legends stayed alive with a very tight 21-19, 18-21, 15-13 win in the quarters before a sweep (21-17, 21-18) of third-seeded Evan Cory and Caleb Kwekel to advance to the championship. Facing No. 9 Rowdy Lennon and Logan Mister, the teams traded the first two sets to force a decisive third set. After Brunner/Wilcox got out to a 9-8 lead, they rattled off six in a row crown themselves champions via a 21-18, 18-21, 15-8 victory.
Overall, the pair went undefeated playing six matches in two days in 90-degree Florida weather. With the championship win, they automatically receive a wild card berth to the prestigious Manhattan Beach Open beginning August 15.
Brunner, a middle blocker, was an AVCA First-Team All-American in 2007 and four-time All-MPSF selection from 2005-2008. Wilcox, an outside hitter, was the AVCA Newcomer of the Year in 2019, a four-time AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, and two-time All-Big West First Team selection playing 2019-2023.
Fans can watch a replay of the championship match on the AVP Beach Volleyball YouTube channel and find full tournament results at volleyballlife.com.
Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
Blinn Cross Country Head Coach Jesse Parker (Joe Alberico)
The Blinn College Athletics Department is excited to invite former Buccaneer track and field and cross country athletes and coaches to the first Blinn College TFXC Alumni Reunion.
Blinn men’s and women’s cross country head coach Jesse Parker will host former Bucs coaches and runners at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, inside the Multi-Purpose Room at the Kruse Center on the Blinn-Brenham Campus. Refreshments and entertainment will be provided.
The event will coincide with the Blinn women’s and men’s basketball doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. at the Kruse Center.
To RSVP, please visit www.blinn.edu/athletics-forms/xctf-rsvp.html. For more information, please contact Jesse Parker at jesse.parker@blinn.edu.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Blinn’s track and field programs were considered national powerhouses across all levels of collegiate athletics. The Buccaneers captured a combined 18 indoor and outdoor NJCAA men’s track and field national championships, winning nine consecutive titles in both indoor and outdoor competition between 1987 and 1995. Blinn also won back-to-back NJCAA men’s cross country national championships in 1993-94. Numerous Buccaneers also made appearances in the Olympic Games.
Blinn relaunched cross country in the fall of 2024, fielding both men’s and women’s programs. Since the relaunch, the Buccaneer men and women have made two appearances in the NJCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Championships and two appearances in the NJCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Half Marathon Championships.
This Week’s Events Saturday, December 13
Women’s Basketball hosts Niagara – 2:00 p.m. {BUY TICKETS – all tickets $8.88} 80’s Weekend :: $1 Hot Dogs // KidZone // Postgame Layups on the Court (age 12 & younger) Sunday, December 14
Men’s Basketball hosts Oakland City – 2:00 p.m. {BUY TICKETS} 80’s Weekend :: $1 Hot Dogs // KidZone // Postgame Layups on the Court (age 12 & younger)
Viking of the Week Izabella Zingaro, Women’s Basketball
Averaged 17.5 points per game – shooting 83-percent from the floor on the week – while also averaging 7.0 rebounds per contest.
Women’s Basketball
-The Vikings return home for one game this week, hosting Niagara on Saturday.
-Saturday’s game will be played in Woodling Gymnasium, where the Vikings are 3-0 this season.
-Last time out, Cleveland State started Horizon League play, going 1-1 including a 72-55 victory at Oakland.
Men’s Basketball
-The Vikings will have a single game this week, hosting Oakland City on Sunday.
-Sunday’s game will mark the second inside Woodling Gymnasium for the Vikings, a place where they picked up a 109-56 victory over Waynesburg earlier this year.
-Last time out, Cleveland State started Horizon League play, with Jaidon Lipscomb averaging 19.0 points and the duo of Priest Ryan and Josiah Harris averaging 9.0 rebounds through the first two #HLMBB games.
Track & Field
-Cleveland State opened the 2025-26 indoor season with three school records.
-The Vikings are now off until the Falcon Early Bird Open on Friday, Jan. 9.
-Natalie Keller set the 5000 mark with a time of 17:54.57 at the YSU Open.
-Olivia Todd and Madison Morris followed it up with school records in the 300 at the Tom Wright Open.
Two Hope College juniors have claimed MIAA Athlete of the Week distinction: Parker Hovey in men’s basketball and Dylan Terpstra in men’s track and field.
Hovey (Hart, Michigan / Hart) is the MIAA Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week for the first time.
Terpstra (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) is the MIAA Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week for the first time.
Hovey averaged 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.0 blocks over two games: a 71-64 victory at Ohio Northern University on Friday and a 60-59 win at Ohio Wesleyan University on Saturday.
The 6-foot-5 forward matched his career high with 21 points on 80% field-goal shooting at Ohio Wesleyan (8-of-10). He sank two go-ahead free throws with 10 seconds remaining and made all five of his attempts at the foul line.
Terpstra clocked the fastest 400-meter time in NCAA Division III on Friday with a school-record run of 48.16 seconds at Grand Valley State University’s Holiday Open.
The communication major eclipsed Brandon Wolliston’s 2017 Flying Dutchmen record in the event on GVSU’s 300-meter track and topped a field of 18 runners during the season-opening meet.
Terpstra also led off the second-place 4×400 relay that finished in 3:20.58.
TEMPE – No. 2 seed Sun Devil Volleyball is ready for its fourth NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal appearance in program history, facing No. 3 seed Creighton at the Lexington Regional on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 11 a.m. MST/1 p.m. EST on ESPN2.
This is the first of the two regional semifinal matches in Lexington, Ky. on Thursday. No. 1 seed Kentucky plays Cal Poly 30 minutes following Arizona State’s match. The winner of both matches will face each other in the regional final on Saturday, Dec. 13. The time will be determined following all matches on Thursday. It will be either 5 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. EST and will be on ESPN. The winner of this region will advance to the national semifinals in Kansas City on Dec. 18.
For Arizona State, this is the fourth trip to the round of 16 in program history, second in the last three years. The other years were 2023, 1995 and 1994. Additionally, this is the second time in school history ASU has won two matches in the NCAA Tournament, both under head coach JJ Van Niel. The program record improves to 14-21, 5-2 under Van Niel.
How to follow The Sun Devils will take on the Bluejays in the first regional semifinal match across the nation on Thursday, starting at 11 a.m. MST. It will be live on ESPN2, with live stats available as well. Updates will be provided on social media on X (@SunDevilVB) and Instagram (@sundevilvolleyball). More information can be found on the NCAA Championship website.
Sun Devil outlook No. 8 Arizona State (28-3, 17-1 Big 12)
Head coach JJ Van Niel has changed the Sun Devil Volleyball program in his three seasons. He has guided the team to back-to-back Big 12 Championships and three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, going 86-13 overall, 5-2 in the postseason. He has been the conference coach of the year in each of his first three seasons as a head coach, the third NCAA volleyball coach to achieve this across the country. The other two are Mary Wise (Florida, 1991-93) and Geoff Carlston (Ohio University, 2003-06).
The regional semifinal match will be Van Niel’s 100th match as a head coach. He has a 86-13 record (.868), all while in Tempe these last three seasons. Of the eight head coaches in the program before him, he has more wins than four of them. He has the best winning percentage of any ASU volleyball head coach through 100 matches, regardless of a win or loss in the regional semifinal.
Arizona State is guaranteed at least the second-best winning percentage in program history, currently at .903, which would be second behind 2024’s .909 (30-3). The top three winning percentages in team history are under Van Niel.
Junior opposite Noemie Glover, the Big 12 Player of the Year, has been a force for the Sun Devils this year, particularly in the last three matches. She has hit over .500 in all three wins. She’s hit that clip or better five times. This year, she’s had double-digit kills in all but one match she’s played in, four times surpassing 20 kills.
Not far behind Glover in kill total is senior Bailey Miller, also having a strong offensive season. She’s having her most productive season yet, currently at 383 kills, 50 more than any other year. She’s had double-digit kills in 15 of the last 16 matches and leads the team in double-doubles with 10.
The block has been a big factor in Arizona State’s success this year. There have been 21 matches this season that the team has had double-digit blocks. Three on the roster have over 100 blocks: Colby Neal (168), Ella Lomigora (132) and Glover (108). Neal ranks nationally in blocks, currently No. 7 in blocks per set (1.50) and No. 8 in total blocks.
Opponent outlook No. 11 Creighton (27-5, 16-0 BIG EAST)
The Bluejays have had a strong season, going undefeated in conference play and winning their sixth-consecutive BIG EAST title. This is their third-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinals, fifth overall.
Hosting the first two rounds, Creighton made the third round after a tough 3-2 win in the first round against Northern Colorado followed by a 3-1 win over UNI in the second round.
This will be the second meeting between ASU and Creighton, first since 2002, which the Sun Devils won.
No. 2 Kentucky (27-2, 15-0 SEC)
The Wildcats have won the last 24-straight matches heading into this weekend. They won the SEC Tournament and have won nine SEC titles in a row. Their two losses on the year were to Pitt and Nebraska.
As a No. 1 seed (No. 2 overall), Kentucky hosted the first two rounds and is hosting this regional. Kentucky beat Wofford in straight sets in the first round, then beat No. 8 seed UCLA in four sets to advance to the regional semifinals.
ASU trails in the all-time series against Kentucky, 1-2. However, all meetings were decades ago, the last meeting being in 1986, which ASU won.
Cal Poly (27-7, 14-4 Big West)
The Mustangs won the Big West Championship to earn the autobid for the NCAA Tournament, their first postseason appearance since 2018.
This is Cal Poly’s seventh appearance in the regional semifinal in team history, the first since 2007. The Mustangs are the only team in this year’s tournament to take down two seeded teams.
Arizona State leads 4-2 in the all-time series against Cal Poly, last winning in 2021 in straight sets.
Sidney Yap, a George Mason alumnus and former track and field athlete, is set to participate in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, taking place December 9-20.
The 33rd edition of the multi-sport event returns to the location of the very first regional Games in 1959, as the Thai capital of Bangkok plays host together with the Chonburi region. The full SEA Games schedule is available to view here.
During his four years as a member of the Patriots’ track and field program, Yap developed into one of Mason’s top throwers, earning multiple Atlantic 10 Championship appearances and cementing his place in the program’s record books. Yap credits his time at George Mason for preparing him to compete at the international level. He believes that the four years of balancing academics, athletics, and an internship gave him the confidence to pursue his dreams.
“I really have to thank all the coaches, professors, and managers that have been through this journey with me the past several years,” said Yap. “Without the support of them, I don’t think I would be where I am at today.”
One of Yap’s most memorable moments at George Mason was breaking the school record in men’s hammer throw during the season opener of his final year. He recounts the experience as unexpected but incredibly rewarding, as he had two throws that surpassed the previous record.
“It was even more memorable because there was a lot going on throughout the year as a team, and I was fortunate enough to have Coach Becky (Hartley) there,” Yap said. “She was the one that saw something in me and gave me a chance to compete for Mason. Being able to celebrate with her and have that moment where all the hard work is on display, that is something that I will never forget.”
Yap’s passion for track and field is what drives him to continue competing. He loves the process, the training, and the constant pursuit of improvement. Despite most athletes retiring after college, Yap felt he had the discipline, drive, and physical ability to keep going.
In addition to his love for the sport, representing the Philippines added an extra layer of motivation for Yap. As a first-generation Filipino-American, he takes pride in his heritage and is inspired by the opportunity to wear the country’s colors.
“I very much throw to achieve goals that I set for myself,” said Yap. “But to also make my family and friends proud is something that inspires me as well.”
Competing in the SEA Games is an opportunity for Yap to honor his family’s heritage. It allows him to visit the Philippines, see his relatives, and express gratitude for the love and support he has received throughout his journey. As Yap prepares to compete in the SEA Games, he looks forward to representing the Philippines and contributing to the success of his country.
“It makes me very proud being able to represent where my family comes from,” Yap said. “I can’t express my gratitude to all the family and friends who have shown me love and support through this journey. At the end of the day, I want to make them proud.”
His dedication, discipline, and love for the sport continue to drive him towards achieving his goals and making his family and friends proud.
Beyond athletics, Yap has also begun building a successful professional career. A graduate of four academic programs from the Costello College of Business, Yap currently works for Navy Federal Credit Union, where he supports member-focused financial services and applies the same discipline and work ethic that defined his collegiate experience. Balancing full-time work with elite-level training has strengthened his time-management skills and reinforced his commitment to pursuing excellence both on and off the field. Read the recent article on Yap’s career success LINK.
“I have trained ever so hard for this moment, and I have faith leading up to these games that I know I can put out a solid performance,” said Yap. “Likewise, I personally want to contribute towards the success and make the country proud.”
The first and second rounds of the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament are in the books, and the answer to which team will lift the trophy after the national championship match later this month in Kansas City is becoming a bit clearer.
The action in the opening matches of the NCAA tournament included clean sweeps, massive upsets and five-set heavyweight matches that were some of the best played this year. Favorite and overall No. 1 seed Nebraska is still undefeated, boosted by big performances from middle blocker Andi Jackson. However, the lone remining unseeded team, Cal Poly, might have something to say about who makes a deeper tournament run. As we prepare for the NCAA volleyball Sweet 16, let’s take a look back at who’s in and who’s out.
Here are your winners and losers of the first two rounds of the NCAA volleyball tournament:
NCAA volleyball tournament winners
Opening round sweeps
Break out the brooms. There were a staggering 25 sweeps in the opening rounds of the NCAA tournament, including 18 in the first round. Even ranked squads, such as No. 7 Western Kentucky, No. 8 Xavier, and No. 7 Rice, were no match for “the broom.” One of the most head-turning wins was No. 4 Indiana sweeping No. 5 Colorado behind a masterful performance from outside hitters Candela Alonso-Corcelles (16 kills on .556 hitting) and Jaidyn Jager (15 kills on .375 hitting). The Hoosiers move on to the Round of 16 for the second time in program history.
Five-set thrillers
If high-intensity matchups are what fans desire, the NCAA tournament did not disappoint. There were 10 five-set thrillers over the opening days of action, including eight in the first round. While there were likely many head-to-heads that had fans on the edge of their seats, the best of the weekend was the unseeded Marquette Golden Eagles taking the No. 2 Louisville Cardinals to the brink.
The back-and-forth rumble was a sight to behold, but in the end, Louisville that escaped with the win. Outside hitter Chloe Chicoine had a career-high 28 kills on .415 hitting, the most for a Cardinal in the NCAA tournament in 20 years. Outside hitter Payton Petersen added 19 kills on .364 hitting, and middle blocker Cara Cresse assisted on seven of the Cardinals’ 22 team blocks.
Cal Poly bracket-busting skills
Deepest condolences are in order for any bracket that did not survive Cal Poly’s tour of destruction against seeded teams. To open the tournament, the Mustangs took down the No. 5 seed BYU Cougars in a five-set stunner. Outside hitter Kendall Beshear led the way with 20 kills on .383 hitting and 12 digs that helped create 25 points against BYU. What’s more, the Cougars hit .000 in the fifth set against Cal Poly and logged four kills.
In the second round against No. 4 seeded USC, it was outside hitter Emma Frederick who led the Cal Poly with 17 kills and 15 points. Outside hitter Annabelle Thalken and Beshear also added 12 kills. The Trojans had a better overall match, but ran out of steam in the fifth set, recording four kills. After the Mustangs are headed to the Round of 16 for the first time in 18 years.
Big performances
With so many games, it’s hard to keep up with who had stellar performances. One of the best outings of the opening rounds came from the No. 2 seed SMU Mustangs, who hit a blistering .618 as a team against the Central Arkansas Bears on Friday. Outside hitter Jadyn Livings led SMU with 15 kills on .609 hitting and two blocks. Here’s a list of other performances that deserve recognition:
Thursday, December 4
No. 8 seed UCLA Bruins middle blocker Marianna Singletary vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – 22 kills on .556 hitting and 11 blocks
No. 3 seed Creighton Bluejays outside hitter Ava Martin vs. Northern Colorado Bears – 30 kills
No. 5 seed Miami Hurricanes outside hitter Flormarie Heredia Colon vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane – 33 kills
No.1 seed Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Long Island University Sharks
Nebraska middle blocker Andi Jackson – 10 kills on .833 hitting and five blocks
Nebraska middle blocker Rebekah Allick – 10 kills on .750 hitting and four blocks
No. 3 seed Wisconsin Badgers outside hitter Mimi Colyer vs. North Carolina – 22 kills on .405 hitting, 13 digs and three blocks
No. 5 seed Iowa State Cyclones libero Rachel Van Gorp vs. St. Thomas Tommies – 33 digs
Saturday, December 6
No.1 seed Nebraska middle blocker Andi Jackson vs. Kansas State Wildcats – 10 kills on .533 hitting and three blocks
No. 1 seed Pittsburgh outside hitter Olivia Babcock vs. Michigan Wolverines – 24 kills on .370 hitting, eight digs and three blocks
Losers
Penn State’s repeat bid
Penn State won’t have the chance to win back-to-back championships. The No. 8 seed Nittany Lions and head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley were swept by the No. 1 seed Texas Longhorns, behind dominant stat lines from outside hitters Torrey Stafford and Cari Spears. Together, the duo had 30 total kills and six total blocks. The Nittany Lions had very few answers offensively and hit .124 against Texas.
Tennessee Volunteers’ tournament dreams
The No. 7 seed Volunteers, who were largely expected to make a deep tournament run, fell flat against Utah State. Ultimately, they could not pull off a reverse sweep after falling behind 2-0. Tennessee ran out of steam in the fifth set, losing it 15-11, handing Utah State its 22nd straight win. Outsider hitter Starr Williams was the bright spot for the Volunteers, logging 15 kills on .387 hitting, seven digs and four blocks.
Ranked team upsets
The seeded losses didn’t stop with Tennessee. Kansas State beat No. 8 seed San Diego in five sets, Michigan swept No. 8 Xavier, and both No. 7 seed Rice (swept by Florida) and No. 7 seed South Dakota State (lost in four sets to Arizona) had first-round exits. Another notable upset was North Carolina unraveling No. 6 UTEP in four sets. The Miners had 35 attacker errors against the Tar Heels, and their hitting percentage was .079 percent.
The floor after Dior Charles dented it
It’s not very often that the floor ends up on the losing end of a volleyball match. However, Purdue Boilermakers middle blocker Dior Charles hit a volleyball so hard during a Thursday matchup against Wright State that it dented the floor.
