The Women in Sport Summit 2024 served as a clear indicator of the increasing commercial viability and strategic importance of women’s sport.

The event, which sold out, brought together a high calibre of speakers and attendees, highlighting the sector’s rapid professionalisation and its role in driving new audience engagement and growth. The sold-out status of the 2024 Summit signifies a market trend for the sector.

Reflecting on the previous event, Karren Rogers, noted: “This is the first time I’ve seen Women in Sport events sold out, so it’s pretty exciting to see that, having come so many years.”

This shift reflects heightened industry interest and demand for insights into a rapidly expanding market segment for Women in Sport.

The presence of a “huge calibre of speakers” and “international speakers,” as observed by Genevieve McCulloch and Karren Rogers, further validates the professional depth now present in the women’s sports environment.

The discussions at the summit focused on themes of leadership, purpose, and progress, with Paul Nolan identifying some ideas shared as “the cutting edge of driving new audience and new growth.”

The Women in Sport Summit highlights a strategic importance for sports business professionals to actively engage with the women’s sport movement, recognising its potential as a key growth engine for the broader industry.

In addition, Indicating a mature sector focusing on collaborative development and emphasising knowledge exchange, Ilene Hauser, concluded: “There’s so much good information out there and people that are knowledgeable of the space.”

Looking ahead, the 2025 summit will return to the Gold Coast for two days on 27-28 August and three major events, aiming to go further, deeper, and bigger, and signalling continued investment and expansion in Women in Sport.

Don’t miss out on the latest in sports business – Subscribe today to the free Ministry of Sport newsletter and stay ahead of the game. For even more exclusive insights, event tickets, professional development and networking events, become a MoS Member today!.

ROANOKE, Va. – July is National Park and Recreation Month, and in Roanoke, it’s a time to celebrate the places people play, the community members who support them, and the projects shaping the city’s future.

Roanoke’s parks are more than just recreational spaces. They are carefully planned with community feedback and maintained with dedication long after ribbon-cutting and groundbreaking ceremonies.

This year’s theme for National Park and Recreation Month is “Build Together, Play Together,” a fitting motto for a city actively working to improve its parks.

Molly Hagan, marketing coordinator for Roanoke Parks and Recreation, said, “It’s a way to recognize that it’s not just our department; it’s a community effort. All the things we do, like the pool we just built, a lot of community input went into the design of that, same with the Eureka Recreation Center. So as we build these projects, as we make changes and plan for the future, we really want to do it together.”

The Eureka Recreation Center has been under construction for about a year, with an expected opening in early 2026. While Roanoke builds new spaces, it is also focused on maintaining existing ones.

“As we build new amenities, you know it’s a lot of work for our department. We do a lot of maintenance and a lot of repairs. So when the greenway floods, we have to repair it and things like that. So it’s a lot of benefit to the community, it’s also a lot of work,” Hagan said.

Other improvements are gaining momentum. Work is underway at Wasena Skatepark and the city’s future In-River Park, while new trails are being finished on Mill Mountain.

Looking ahead, Roanoke Parks and Recreation plans more updates across the area.

“We actually have some master planning coming up for both Washington Park and McCadden Park. What that looks like is it’s just a way for the public to give input, and then as we have funds available, we can start making some updates or changes or additions to those parks,” Hagan said.

Officials say volunteers play an essential role in maintaining trails, caring for trees, supporting events, and adopting parks to keep Roanoke’s outdoor spaces vibrant and welcoming.

AI-assisted summaryThe Enquirer previews top high school volleyball blockers in Greater Cincinnati for the 2025 season.Players highlighted include Jillian Forrest (Ursuline), Sydney Geselbracht (Mount Notre Dame), and Morgan Justice (Scott).The article also includes a poll for readers to vote on the best blocker.Ahead of the 2025 high school volleyball season, The Enquirer is previewing the top players by position in Greater Cincinnati.

The penultimate list highlights the top blockers in the city. A good block is one of the most exciting plays in the sport, and these players execute their duties to perfection.

In previous weeks, we featured the top defensive specialists and liberos, and top setters.

Remember to vote for the best blocker in the poll at the bottom of the story.

Jillian Forrest, Ursuline

Taking second place in blocks in the Girls Greater Catholic League as a sophomore isn’t easy. But Forrest did just that with 92 blocks to go with 195 kills and 38 digs. The Lions have been on a roller coaster since 2022 with a DI state championship and a DIII state runner-up sandwiching an 11-15 season. They lose a lot of production from last year, but Forrest will help ensure the roller coaster ride doesn’t take another dip. Even though recruiting opens up in the summer between a player’s sophomore and junior years, Forrest is already verbally committed to the University of Washington.

Sydney Geselbracht, Mount Notre Dame

She led the Cougars with 56 blocks and 215 kills last fall. Geselbracht will use every bit of her 116-inch approach touch this season as she will spend a lot of time in the air, both on the attack and the block. She is especially light on her feet, can get to either side of the net when needed, and can seemingly float in midair to track down any ball. She will play at Binghamton University.

Morgan Justice, Scott

With a super-talented group of seniors, Scott’s expectations for this season are sky-high. Justice will also be sky-high at the net. As a junior, she led the Eagles with 66 blocks while also logging 275 kills, 179 digs and 39 aces. She is committed to Thomas More University.

Violet Main, St. Henry

As a freshman, Main finished second on the team with 68 blocks and was one of four players with more than 200 kills. She also had 75 digs and 37 aces, and was named to the Ninth Region all-tournament team. The Crusaders graduated two linchpins at the net in Corinne Blackburn and Lizzie Casey but will have one of the most imposing net presences in Northern Kentucky this season.

Charley Moeddel, Seton

After breaking her left hand in the summer before her sophomore season, Moeddel made her first varsity appearance on Sept. 5 and finished the season with 54 blocks and 127 kills. She had multiple blocks in each of the Saints’ final 10 matches, including a career-high five against Lakota West. At 6-foot-1, she should only continue to dominate at the net.

Addy Nutley, Mason

Nutley led the Greater Miami Conference with 56 blocks in 2024, while also posting 164 kills, 56 digs, 23 aces. She had at least four blocks in a match five times last year, including five in the regional final. Her career-high is seven, which she did in back-to-back three-set matches as a sophomore. Nutley has also been used primarily as a hitter with her club team during the spring and summer, so look for her to potentially lead the Comets in blocks and attacks. She is committed to Hillsdale College.

Andrea Ptaszkiewicz, Fenwick

The Falcons will have some of the best net play in the city this season as they return the majority of their attacking and blocking production from 2024. As a freshman, Ptaszkiewicz played the most sets of any Fenwick player, logging 51 blocks and 96 kills. The skills are definitely there; once she develops additional aspects of her game, she could become an all-state caliber player.

Sophia Richardson, Kings

The last player to lead the Eastern Cincinnati Conference in blocks in three straight seasons was Kings’ Jules Fink from 2018 to 2020. Richardson has a solid chance to complete the feat this season. As a junior, she had 98 blocks to go with 276 kills and 49 aces. She has 219 blocks for her career.

Morgan Sunderman, Roger Bacon

She was one of two Spartans to record 42 blocks last season (Etellina Jackson was the other). She also had 130 kills. Roger Bacon led the Miami Valley Conference with 193 blocks as a team. With Mariah Gaines, Ally Hughes and Raegan Waller all graduated, Sunderman and Jackson will feature heavily at the net.

Lilly Tierney, McNicholas

Tierney really broke out for the Rockets last year. She led the Greater Catholic League-Coed with 101 blocks, was fourth in the league with 56 aces, and was fifth in the league with 201 kills. She also dug 86 attacks. McNicholas was ranked No. 1 in DIV for the majority of the 2024 season. With an incredibly talented group of juniors and seniors, the Rockets will be a frontrunner for the state title this fall.

Additional blockers to watch in Greater Cincinnati

Ella Allen, Edgewood; Kaylee Barker, Edgewood; Audrey Benkert, Taylor; Annika Berwanger, Conner; Miya Cornelius, Little Miami; Lauren Dorger, St. Ursula; Sadie Ellis, Sycamore; Grace Hamm, Milford; Emma Hartmann, Blanchester; Grace Herzog, Turpin; Etellina Jackson, Roger Bacon; Josie Mayfield, McNicholas; Abigail Pettyjohn, Deer Park; Callie Ritter, Bishop Brossart: Ava Schroeder, Kings; Lauren Sterbling, Bethel-Tate; Bella Thomas, Highlands; Jillian Turvey, CHCA; Layna Wilkinson, Ryle

Vote: Who is the top blocker in Greater Cincinnati in 2025?

Readers can vote once per hour per device. This poll will close at 4 p.m. on July 25.

PEORIA (25News Now) – The Ironmen and Saints met in a spirited football practice at Bloomington Central Catholic. Limestone, Peoria Notre Dame and Illini Bluffs among the impressive teams at the ICC Volleyball league. Plus, young kids are grinding at the YKG Camp at ICC.

You can watch 25News – any newscast, anywhere – streaming LIVE on 25NewsNow.com, our 25News mobile app, and on our WEEK 25News SmartTV streaming app. Learn more about how you can get connected to 25News streaming live news here.

Copyright 2025 WEEK. All rights reserved.