Sports

After injury and uncertainty, Amy Leather finds her footing

For redshirt sophomore Amy Leather, the path to becoming a key player for Cal Poly women’s tennis has been anything but straightforward. The Bath, England native’s collegiate journey has tested her resilience, challenged her perspective, and ultimately evolved her love for the game. Now forming half of Cal Poly’s formidable No. 1-2 doubles team alongside […]

Published

3 weeks ago

May 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

After injury and uncertainty, Amy Leather finds her footing

Now forming half of Cal Poly’s formidable No. 1-2 doubles team alongside Peyton Dunkle, Leather boasts an impressive 13-7 record this season en route to earning All-Big West Conference Second Team doubles honors.

But just a year ago, she was watching from the sidelines with an injury, unable to contribute on the court, frustrated and falling out of love with the game of tennis.

Leather’s journey to Cal Poly

Tennis has been a family affair for Leather since her childhood. She was introduced to the sport through her siblings at a local tennis club in England, and the passion stuck.

Leather had an illustrious prep school career playing at the Ralph Allen School, leading them to two league championships. She was recruited as the No. 12-ranked U18 junior nationally.

Her brother Joe Leather played five years at Cal Poly, but initially, Amy wanted to forge her own path.

That independent streak led her to the University of Tulsa. Though Tulsa had strong tennis credentials, Leather didn’t feel aligned with the team culture and environment.

After a challenging year, Leather decided to transfer. She visited her brother at Cal Poly and quickly fell in love with the campus, the team, and the entire coaching staff.

“It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Leather said.

Physical setbacks and mental growth

What should have been a fresh start quickly turned into another unexpected challenge.

Shortly after arriving at Cal Poly, Leather began experiencing knee problems, diagnosed as patellar tendinopathy, that eventually sidelined her for the entire 2023-24 season.

“It was obviously really hard,” Leather said. “Tennis was pretty much the only reason that I came out to America, now to not be able to play was a harsh reality.”

Head Coach Ellie Edles Williams, however, saw this as an opportunity for growth despite the disappointment. Having experienced injuries during her own playing career, Williams understood the potential for personal development during recovery.

“One of the silver linings of being injured is that you really appreciate the sport in a different way,” Williams said. “You learn who you are outside of the court as well. It’s so easy for us athletes to kind of just get wrapped up in our identity around sport.”

Amy Leather (right) transferred to Cal Poly from Tulsa. Credit: Emma Arredondo / Mustang News

Leather was forced to adapt quickly. The coastal California location proved to be a blessing during this difficult period.

She embraced the chill California lifestyle, finding solace in activities that connected her with her new tennis family and the rich community of San Luis Obispo.

“I had to learn to find other things outside of tennis that I enjoy,” Leather said. ” I love going to the beach with my friends and just hanging out and getting coffee, the little things in life.”

The support system at Cal Poly proved crucial during this challenging period. Coach Williams made the decision to redshirt Leather, preserving her eligibility while allowing her to focus on recovery.

“Just showing me that she still believes in me and she wants me to get back to my full fitness,” Leather said. “I had that year to really just focus on myself and get back to my potential.”

The mental game

The road back to competition has been as much a mental challenge as a physical one. Leather admits the journey has been “very up and down,” filled with frustration, moments of doubt and gradually rebuilding confidence.

“When I first got back, I was just super happy to be back on the court,” Leather said. “And then there was a long period of time, to be honest, still kind of coming out of it, where I actually didn’t like being on the court, because my head affected my playing.”

The gap between her pre-injury level and her current capabilities created a mental barrier that proved difficult to overcome.

“I was just kind of looking at the past and thinking about where I could have been,” Leather said.

Coach Williams has worked closely with Leather to keep her focused on the present rather than getting caught in what-ifs and said Leather needed to reframe her expectations and approach.

“Amy’s personality, there’s a desire for perfection,” Williams said. “We’re playing in a sport that’s never perfect. That’s what makes her great because of her tenacity and her work ethic, but it can also drive you crazy.”

That mental shift has been crucial for Leather’s return to form. Rather than trying to recapture her previous level of play, she’s embraced the opportunity to evolve as a player and person.

Now Amy is back on the court, happy and healthy, ready to defend the Mustangs’ 2023-24 Big West Championship.

Leading on and off the court

On the court, Leather brings a powerful serve and aggressive forehand to the Mustangs’ lineup. Her game revolves around her serve, setting up opportunities to attack with her forehand or move to the net, a style perfectly suited for doubles play.

Amy Leather has found herself in a prominent doubles role this past season. Credit: Christina Thai / Mustang News

But Leather’s contributions extend far beyond her play. She has become a cornerstone of team morale and culture. Williams describes Leather as someone who helps steady the team during challenging moments, bringing a calm perspective that helps keep everyone grounded.

Her commitment to the program extends to academics as well, where she maintains exceptional standards, achieving a 4.0 GPA during the fall quarter.

“She’s an absolute machine in the classroom,” Williams said. “She was one of the few student-athletes who got a 4.0 last quarter. Extremely hard worker on court, committed to doing things the right way, not taking shortcuts, but also just such a genuinely nice and humble person.”

Perhaps most importantly, Leather has emerged as an ambassador for Cal Poly tennis in the community. She regularly engages with fans, boosters, and young players at matches, helping build support and interest in the program.

During matches, Leather can often be spotted in bubbly conversation with program supporters, families, and young fans, forming connections that strengthen the program’s community’s strong ties.

“I genuinely think that this feels like a second home to her,” Williams said. “It makes that a lot easier for her to be able to connect with people and connect with fans.”

A new perspective

Now playing No. 1 doubles with Peyton Dunkle, Leather has found her joy again on the court. The pair has established themselves as a formidable team, combining similar playing styles with natural chemistry.

“I love playing with Peyton,” Leather said. “I think we’re doing really well. Our games work pretty well together.”

Doubles play has provided the perfect re-entry point for Leather, with its fast pace and one-set format allowing her to compete without overextending her recovering knees.

Playing at home in front of her friends in people close to her in Cal Poly’s new tennis facility has been particularly meaningful for Leather after watching from the sidelines last season.

“Playing at home is something that I really, really missed,” Leather said. “Competing here, you want to try that much harder because of all the people that really care and are coming out to support us.”

Leather and Peyton Dunkle have formed a formidable duo at doubles line No. 2. Credit: Emma Arredondo / Mustang News

With her positive attitude and resilient spirit, Leather embodies the kind of mental toughness that makes tennis such a demanding sport. Her advice to other athletes facing similar challenges reflects her growth through adversity.

“What will be, will be,” Leather said. “Lean into whatever your PT’s [physical therapists] are saying, whatever the training room is saying. Communicate a lot with your coaches and anyone who is your support system. Stay in the moment and never lose your spirit.”

Looking ahead, Leather has shifted her focus from specific outcomes to process improvement, a mindset change that she believes will ultimately benefit both her individual play and the team’s success.

Her journey from injury to competitive play represents not just a physical recovery but a transformation in how she approaches both tennis and life, finding balance, perspective, and joy in the process rather than fixating solely on results.

“I’ve realized that I just want to be thinking more big picture,” Leather said. “I want to be more open-minded, more process-oriented. Tennis is such a results-driven game, but I’ve started to love my growth and appreciate the struggle.

On March 25, on the road against the University of Hawaii Pacific, Leather made her singles debut for the Mustangs at line No. 6 and won 7-5, 6-2.

With her renewed mindset and undeniable talent, that new start looks promising for Leather and the entire Cal Poly tennis program.

Sports

Gamecocks Finalize 2025 Squad – University of South Carolina Athletics

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 2025 Gamecocks volleyball roster is finalized, head coach Sarah Rumely Noble announced on Friday, May 30. South Carolina added six new members during the spring, four collegiate transfers and two high school prospects, to go along with six signed during the fall semester. “I am really excited how our roster came […]

Published

17 minutes ago

May 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 2025 Gamecocks volleyball roster is finalized, head coach Sarah Rumely Noble announced on Friday, May 30. South Carolina added six new members during the spring, four collegiate transfers and two high school prospects, to go along with six signed during the fall semester.

“I am really excited how our roster came together heading into the fall,” Noble said. “Our returners made huge strides in the gym in the short time we had together in the spring and they set the tone for our team this fall. They did a great job of creating and maintaining our culture every day. I’m excited to integrate our new players into our system and culture. They will collectively bring a great deal of athleticism, competitiveness, and desire to win.”

The newcomers join six letter winners from the 2024 roster, including starting setter Sarah Jordan (9.91 assists per set, 8^th in the SEC), SEC All-Freshman honoree Victoria Harris (4.04 digs/set, 6^th in the SEC) and senior Alayna Johnson (500 career kills).

The team’s 2025 spring signees are:

Ava Leahy

6-1 middle from Charlotte, N.C.
Spent two seasons at Appalachian State, appearing in 52 matches and 195 sets in Boone.
Named second-team All-Sun Belt Conference in 2024.
Totaled 365 kills (1.87 k/s) with a hitting percentage of .243.
Defensively, had 150 total blocks.
Recorded double-figure kills in 11 matches as a sophomore, including a career high 22 kills against Marshall on Nov. 9, 2024.
Played for the Carolina Union Volleyball Club.
Daughter of Margaret and Brian.
Has three siblings: Grace, Will, and Violet.

The group joins four incoming freshmen that signed in the November period and two mid-year transfers that trained in Columbia during the spring semester:

Lina Merz

6-2 pin hitter from Dresden, Germany.
Played at the club level for VC Olympia Dresden since 2020-21.
Helped her team win the national U20 championship and Vice-Champion at the U18 level in 2022. Her team finished third at this year’s German U20 National Championship.
Intends to major in International Business.
Daughter of Gerit and Steffen.
Has one brother, Jonas.
Her grandfather was a member of the German National Team in rowing, winning Olympic gold medals at the 1968 and 1972 games.

Sydney Davis

6-0 middle from Orlando, Fla.
Played at the club level for Gamepoint Volleyball, helping the team to a top finish of 2nd place at the 2021 AAU Nationals.
Named to the 2023 Junior Volleyball Association’s World Challenge All-Tournament Team, a 2024 Triple Crown tournament Show Stopper and 2024 USA Volleyball Nationals Supernova.
Attending Timber Creek high school in Orlando, coming off a senior season where she hit .474 with 211 kills.
Set her high school record for blocks in a season in 2021.
Florida Athletic Coaches Association 2024 all-state honoree.
Intends to major in Public Health.
Daughter of Daryl and Cathy.
Has one brother, Daryl.
Her father Daryl is in the UCF athletics hall of fame for basketball, as is her cousin Jermaine Taylor, who also played in the NBA.

Anne Bradley Bing

5-8 defensive specialist from Gastonia, N.C. Played at the club level for Stars Volleyball Club, which were two-time Mideast Qualifier champions and two-time Southern Exposure tournament champions.
Stars made the USA Volleyball National tournament four years in a row and had multiple top finishes in the gold bracket at AAU Nationals. Most recently, her Stars team finished third in their division at USA Volleyball’s 18s Junior Nationals.
Helped Gaston Day School win the North Carolina 2A state championship as a senior, the second state title of her career.
Leaves her high school as one of the most well-rounded players in its volleyball program’s history, holding school records for career digs, single-season kills and single-season assists.
A four-time all-state honoree.
Intends to major in Public Health.
Daughter of Derek and Rebekah.
Has two sisters, Sidney and Emily Charles.

Kaia Pixler

6-0 setter from Phoenix, Ariz.
Played at the club level for Arizona Storm Elite VBC, winning five USA Volleyball nationals titles in a six-year span (13s, 14s, 16s, 17s and 18s).
While leading her club team to the open division title at USA Volleyball’s 18s Junior Nationals, she also made the division’s All-Tournament team.
Was a four-year varsity letterwinner at Sunnyslope High School, finishing her career with a number of major statistical milestones, most notably going over 2,500 assists and 100 service aces.
Daughter of Chris and Michael.
Has one brother, Kal.
Her mother Chris played volleyball at Texas Tech and her father Michael played volleyball at Arizona State and Long Beach State.

Emily Beeker

6-5 middle blocker from Hendersonville, N.C.
Spent four seasons at Tennessee, playing in 47 matches.
Played in 43 sets during the 2024 campaign, totaling 60 kills with a .396 hitting percentage.
Has one season of eligibility remaining.
Daughter of Angela and Thomas Beeker.
Her brother, Ben, played basketball at Carson-Newman and her father played basketball at Mars Hill.

Laiya Ebo

6-1 pin hitter from Washington, D.C.

Played for two seasons at Butler, highlighted by a 2024 season with 154 kills over 85 sets played.
Has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Majored in political science at Butler, recently earning a place on the College Sports Communicators’ Academic All-District team.
Daughter of Milford and Lois Ebo.
Has two siblings, Mark and Lauren.
Her brother Mark played football at Holy Cross from 2016-19 and her sister Lauren played college basketball at Penn State, Texas and Notre Dame between 2018 and 2023.

For continued updates on the team, follow Gamecockvolley on X/Twitter and GamecockVB on Instagram.

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Sports

Eagles win 2 all

Selfless service to community In service, Carpenter was a dedicated volunteer with numerous nonprofit organizations, consistently giving back to FGCU and the local community. After Hurricane Ian struck in 2022, she contributed and coordinated more than 30 hours of volunteer work to assist local students and residents. She also led the bone marrow registration initiative […]

Published

24 minutes ago

May 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Selfless service to community

In service, Carpenter was a dedicated volunteer with numerous nonprofit organizations, consistently giving back to FGCU and the local community. After Hurricane Ian struck in 2022, she contributed and coordinated more than 30 hours of volunteer work to assist local students and residents. She also led the bone marrow registration initiative within athletics and across campus and co-founded the See Her Soar initiative, which promotes professional development, mentorship and networking for female student-athletes. In 2024, she received the FGCU Athletics Community Service Award.

Despite living with Type 1 diabetes, Carpenter consistently prioritized others, logging more than 120 service hours in her senior year and over 300 during her collegiate career.

“I’m so honored to have earned this award,” she said. “The ASUN Conference is so special, and everyone in it provides the opportunities, resources and support for us to be well-rounded athletes and to be high achievers in the classroom, on the court and in the community.”

Carpenter’s impact extended beyond the court and classroom. She served as president of the FGCU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and chaired the ASUN’s advisory committee. She was also a mentor through Adaptive Services and represented student-athletes on the university’s Hazing and Prevention Team. She will pursue a master’s degree in recreation and sports management at the University of Tennessee, with aspirations of becoming an athletics director.

“Despite Jaci’s many exceptional accomplishments, I am particularly impressed with her humility and genuine concern for others,” said Thomas Roberts, FGCU’s faculty athletics representative. “Her overall academic, service, leadership and athletic achievements are profound. She is an engaged and caring leader. Her teammates, fellow students, coaches, professors and administrators revere her.”

Sports

Women’s Water Polo’s Piovan Named ACWPC Third Team All-American, Four Others Earn Honorable Mentions

Story Links CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Five members of the Harvard women’s water polo team – Niki Piovan, Ruby Hodge, Orli Cooper, Maya O’Dea, and Emma Gilbert – have earned ACWPC All-American honors, the association announced today. The five selections mark the most in a single season in program history. Rookie Niki Piovan led […]

Published

38 minutes ago

May 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Five members of the Harvard women’s water polo team – Niki Piovan, Ruby Hodge, Orli Cooper, Maya O’Dea, and Emma Gilbert – have earned ACWPC All-American honors, the association announced today. The five selections mark the most in a single season in program history.

Rookie Niki Piovan led the way with a third-team selection, becoming the program’s first to earn that distinction since 2023 and only the third in Harvard history. Piovan was one of two standout first-years on the Crimson roster this season, finishing with 58 goals and 48 assists. Her 106 points helped earn her CWPA Rookie of the Year and CWPA Tournament Rookie of the Tournament honors.

Hodge, Cooper, O’Dea, and Gilbert were all named ACWPC Honorable Mention selections. Hodge, O’Dea, and Gilbert earned the honor for the second consecutive year after playing pivotal roles in Harvard’s historic season.

Cooper, the second standout rookie on the team, was recognized following a record-setting season in goal. She broke the program’s single-season saves record and was named the Most Outstanding Player at the CWPA Tournament.

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Sports

Ben Colello Tabbed as USTFCCCA East Region Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year

Story Links MEDFORD, MA (May 30, 2025) – Tufts University women’s track and field assistant coach Ben Colello was named the USTFCCCA Division III Women’s Outdoor Track and Field East Region Assistant Coach of the Year after helping the Jumbos to five All-American honors under his guidance. In just his first […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MEDFORD, MA (May 30, 2025) – Tufts University women’s track and field assistant coach Ben Colello was named the USTFCCCA Division III Women’s Outdoor Track and Field East Region Assistant Coach of the Year after helping the Jumbos to five All-American honors under his guidance.

In just his first year with the Tufts program, Colello made his mark on the Jumbos instantly as he coached athletes to three new school records in the long jump, triple jump and javelin. Throughout the season, he coached the multis and all the field events except pole vault. At the NCAA Division III Championships, Colello had four athletes earn six entries into the competition where they earned five All-American finishes. The triple jump combo of Jordan Andrew and Elysse Cumberland were ranked No.1 in the national #EventSquad rankings.

Colello is the first Tufts assistant coach to receive the USTFCCCA honors since Steven Fleagle was named East Region Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year in 2022. Under his guidance, the Jumbos are in a fantastic position to continue to improve next season.

–JUMBOS–

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Sports

Alaksza Becomes Two-Time All-America Honorable Mention Selection

Story Links STOCKTON, Calif. – For the second straight year, Pacific women’s water polo standout Dora Alaksza was tabbed an All-America Honorable Mention by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches. The junior from Budapest, Hungary led the team with 95 goals on the season, which was the second-most in the […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

STOCKTON, Calif. – For the second straight year, Pacific women’s water polo standout Dora Alaksza was tabbed an All-America Honorable Mention by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches.

The junior from Budapest, Hungary led the team with 95 goals on the season, which was the second-most in the program’s single-season history. She was named to the Golden Coast All-Conference First-Team and GCC All-Tournament Team.

Alaksza broke the school record for goals in a game with 11 in a win against Concordia on 13 shots. She scored in goal in all 24 games on the season and registered 18 hat tricks, eight four-goal games and six five-goal outings.

In three games at the GCC Tournament, Alaksza netted 11 goals. She helped the team earn a third-place finish.

Alaksza, who has another year of eligibility remaining, is up to 243 career goals, which ranks third all-time in Pacific history. She’s chasing Molly Smith’s program-leading tally of 286 goals from 1997-00 and Jessica Schroeder who is second with 268 goals from 2001-05.

Alaksza is the sixth student-athlete in program history to earn All-America honors multiple times. It includes Smith (1998, 2000), Schroeder (2003, 2005), Dara Tawarahara (2010-11), Grace Smith (2014-15) and Mariana Duarte (2017-19, 2022).

As a department at Pacific, Alaksza is the seventh Tiger to earn All-America honors in 2024-25. The list includes Alexa Edwards from women’s volleyball, and the men’s water polo quintet of Jeremie Cote, Reuel D’Souza, Bae Fountain, Matthew Hosmer and Mihailo Vukazic.

Click here to view the full ACWPC Women’s All-America teams.

Stay Social

For all the latest on Pacific women’s water polo, be sure to follow the team on X (@UOPWaterPoloU), Instagram (@pacificwaterpolo) and “like” the team’s official Facebook page (Pacific Women’s Water Polo).

#PacificProud

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Sports

Sports Mutli-Media Journalist

At KPRC 2, the Graham Media Group-owned news and information hub in Houston, TX, we embrace innovation and creativity within our news team. We’re looking for a dynamic Sports Multi-Media Journalist who thrives on engaging with and enriching our community with their storytelling on our broadcast, streaming and social media channels. We’re looking for someone […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

At KPRC 2, the Graham Media Group-owned news and information hub in Houston, TX, we embrace innovation and creativity within our news team. We’re looking for a dynamic Sports Multi-Media Journalist who thrives on engaging with and enriching our community with their storytelling on our broadcast, streaming and social media channels. We’re looking for someone who’s ready to break away from the traditional constraints of a television sportscast and can excel at developing and creatively presenting “off the field” stories – unique local content you won’t get from ESPN or your favorite sports app.

POSITION OVERVIEW

As a Sports Multi-Media Journalist for Graham Media Group, you’ll need keen editorial judgment to identify sports stories in our community with real audience impact. With a focus on innovative storytelling, you will shoot and edit your stories for both linear and digital platforms. An understanding of the kind of sports content modern audiences seek out is paramount. Passion and creativity are also vital for this role and our newsroom. This position also offers exciting opportunities for growth within an organization committed to reinventing how news is delivered.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Engage viewers with compelling storytelling across all platforms, prioritizing clarity, engagement, and innovation.
Generate unique sports story ideas daily, demonstrating a keen understanding of the community’s pulse and what kind of sports content will resonate with our target audience.
Showcase exceptional storytelling skills as a researcher, photographer, writer and editor.
Demonstrate the required editorial judgement, producing skills and presentation skills to serve as Sports Anchor as necessary.
Collaborate with news management and producers to maintain a cohesive and comprehensive strategy for covering local sports as part of our daily news coverage plans.
Produce and participate in the production and presentation of sports specials throughout the year.
Other related duties as assigned.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum 2 – 3 years of experience in a broadcast news environment, with demonstrated expertise in storytelling, live reporting, and newsgathering.
Strong on-camera presence with clear, dynamic and engaging delivery.
Exceptional interviewing skills with the ability to shoot and edit video content as needed.
Proficiency in the industry standard editing software, newsroom rundown systems, smartphone technology, and social media platforms.
Versatile reporting experience, including experimental video formats and innovative storytelling approaches.
Proven track record in original sports reporting, with the ability to deliver in-depth coverage beyond standard highlights and interviews.
Ability to thrive under tight deadlines in a fast-paced news environment

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

A college degree in Journalism, Communications, or a related field is preferred.

Location: KPRC 2

8181 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074

To apply: Please submit your updated resume and application to:

Tiffani Lupenski, Manager of Content and Coverage

tlupenski@kprc.com

Click HERE to download and complete employment application.

Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screening, investigative background check, employment/education verifications, and reference checks. You must hold a valid driver’s license and be insurable under Texas Law.

No Phone Calls Please

KPRC 2 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In addition to complying with the requirements of federal law, KPRC 2 will comply with applicable state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination.

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