Sports
Athletes as brand ambassadors
The PRophet study“Athletes as Ambassadors” analyzes the brand impact of four globally renowned athletes and shows how the impact mechanisms of sponsorship have fundamentally changed. For communications managers, this creates a new strategic playing field: if you want more than mere presence, you have to focus on real fit and sustainable impact.
For the study, international online and social media posts as well as fan interactions were analyzed over a period of twelve months. It was supplemented by a six-month detailed analysis of the respective target groups. The focus is on four personalities from world sport, some of whom differ significantly in terms of style, impact and brand loyalty: Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton (brand ambassador for UNICEF and Dior), charismatic ex-football star David Beckham with commitments to UNICEF and adidas, tennis legend Serena Williams sponsored by UNICEF and Nike, and Simone Biles, world-class gymnast and face of sports fashion brand Athleta and Friends of the Children. Their individual profiles exemplify what works and what doesn’t in new generation sponsorship.
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The study reveals an uncomfortable truth: the media presence of athletes in itself does not activate a brand. Rather, the decisive factor is whether the athlete and brand fit together credibly, communicate shared values and create relevant narratives, memorable and, above all, coherent images in the overall context.
An example: Lewis Hamilton is at the forefront of sport. 24 race weekends, countless headlines, a huge fan base. But only a fraction of his media presence is brand-related. Only 0.6% of his content is related to his sponsor, the fashion house Dior. This is a clear indicator of a structural problem: high visibility without strategic linkage harbors the risk that the communicative effect will fail to materialize.
David Beckham shows that it can be done differently and, above all, how. The former soccer star achieved the highest impact value in the study with significantly less content. Around 1.9 percent of his content is linked to his long-standing sponsor adidas. More than any other athlete in the study. The reason: Beckham links his various commitments, including as a UNICEF ambassador, with strong brand values such as integrity, consistency and social responsibility.
Tennis legend Serena Williams also makes it clear how individual moments can have a big impact. Her Nike commercial on motherhood became a cultural reference point for many fans and at times achieved a brand-related visibility of 3.05 percent. Far beyond the tennis world. Olympic prodigy Simone Biles, on the other hand, remains weak in terms of brand loyalty despite high sporting attention: Only 0.04 percent of her media presence can be linked to sponsor Athleta.
But what exactly do Beckham and Williams do differently? What is striking is that successful sponsorship is not based on mere celebrity, but on narrative consistency. The brand message must fit organically into the athlete’s story. This means: through career progression, attitude and social positioning. It’s about attitude instead of hashtags. Serena Williams exemplifies this new quality. Her message of empowerment and equality is not contrived, but anchored in her biography. Nike succeeds in credibly picking up on this attitude and carrying it forward. The result: high authenticity, strong identification, measurable impact.
David Beckham uses his standing as a legend of world soccer not just for retro glamor, but for targeted communication of values. His commitment to social justice in particular makes him a long-term and credible reputation anchor for UNICEF and adidas.
And Lewis Hamilton? He may embody the modern winner image, but despite his obvious penchant for fashion and exclusivity, he lacks a connection to content. His community is primarily interested in motorsport and performance. For Dior, a luxury brand with no sporting DNA, this is a difficult match.
Simone Biles moved millions with her courage to speak openly about mental health. But this resonance had no effect on the brand impact of her sponsors. A strategic deficit that limits relevance and reach.
Authentic messages are only fully effective if they reach the right target group. Reach without relevance therefore remains strategically limited. If you want to create brand loyalty, you not only have to communicate credibly, but also precisely define who you actually want to reach. It is also important to regularly check whether this is successful. PRophet has segmented follower groups in the media analysis and examined their interests, value profiles and media behavior. The result: a differentiated target group picture and clear recommendations for the targeting of future campaigns.
Hamilton primarily reaches communities with an affinity for motorsport: performance-oriented, male-dominated and clearly structured. This target group is considered loyal, but is less receptive to fashion or lifestyle narratives. Serena Williams, on the other hand, appeals to a culturally diverse audience that is socially interested, predominantly female and open to topics such as inclusion and empowerment.
Beckham’s fanbase unites soccer fans, charity supporters and groups with an interest in pop culture. Sporting goods manufacturer adidas benefits here from an intersection of brand affinity and nostalgic attachment. Simone Biles’ fan structure is highly emotionalized, but her sponsors are only visible to a limited extent.
Brands achieve impact above all when they see athletes not just as advertising space, but as credible identification figures with social relevance. This requires more than just media budgets. Strategic sensitivity, a sound understanding of the target group and the will to tell stories that are not only visible but also create trust are crucial. Because brand loyalty is created where values resonate and relevance endures.
SPORT BRAND MEDIA by ESB Marketingnetzwerk is the industry summit for everyone who wants to know more about the strategic combination of sports, brands and media. Get exclusive insights from leading brands, sports organizations and media experts who are shaping the future of sports marketing. The conference offers the ideal opportunity for exchange between media, sponsors, suppliers, service providers and start-ups. The conference takes place on 01 and 02 DEC. at ISPO 2025 in Munich – be there!
- Celebrities alone are not effective: It’s not the loudest but the most appropriate voice that counts. Despite his high visibility, Lewis Hamilton is not at the forefront of brand impact. His strong media presence rarely leads to Dior being mentioned. This is an example of how popularity does not automatically mean added value.
- Credibility trumps visibility: David Beckham shows how authentic brand loyalty succeeds. His role with UNICEF and consistent storytelling around values such as integrity make him the top performer in the Impact Index, despite a lower media presence. Social commitment proves to be just as strong a lever as major sporting events such as the Olympics or Formula 1.
- Audience fit determines performanceSerena Williams’ campaign on motherhood struck a chord with her community. It was a cultural moment that perfectly matched Nike’s target group and brand identity. Her followers are not only sports enthusiasts, but also culturally and socially interested.
- Legacy pays offBeckham’s impact shows that no current sporting performance is needed to generate relevance. His legacy is a stable foundation for sustainable brand communication. A model that could also be used for other former stars. What is important here is that legacy results from consistency and continuity.
- Purpose becomes performanceSimone Biles has moved millions with her openness in dealing with mental health. Integrating such moments into brand communication in a targeted manner offers great potential to create value-based relevance and strengthen emotional brand loyalty.
Jan. 13, 2026, 12:15 p.m. ET
It was quite the volleyball season for Westerly’s Lyla Auth.
The outside hitter steered the Bulldogs to an undefeated championship-winning season in Division II and she graduated from Westerly in December. The 6-foot-1 star already enrolled at Manhattan University, a Division I program, after excelling in the classroom and on the court.
Auth now adds more to her high school trophy case as she earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors, which Gatorade announced on Dec. 9. She managed 268 kills with a .401 hitting percentage as Westerly won its second girls volleyball crown overall. Auth also added 256 assists, 151 digs and 41 service aces this past fall.
Auth, after earning enough credits, chose to graduate on Dec. 21. It gives her the chance to train, and become acclimated to college life, early so she can hit the ground running with the Jaspers next season. She started planning for early graduation in the summer, well before Westerly went undefeated.
“I’m moving to New York City. Anyone would be nervous about that,” Auth told the Journal in October. “But I’m really excited, and I have a good group of girls behind me and a lot of support.”
Auth, who recently made The Providence Journal All-State Girls Volleyball First Team, maintained a weighted 4.75 GPA in the classroom, according to the release. And donated her time to organizing a fundraiser that raised $6,000 for the Westerly Hospital Foundation. She also volunteered locally as a mentor to elementary school students and was a tee-ball coach for the Westerly Girls Softball League.
“Westerly was dominant in [D-II] and [Auth] was the focal point of the team,” Cranston West coach, Tom Ferri said in a statement. “She was the best hitter we faced all year — in D-I and D-II —and she set from the back row, and did it very well.”
Westerly was never truly challenged this season, outside of the D-II championship against Barrington. The Bulldogs edged the Eagles, (25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 18-25, 15-8), in a thrilling D-II championship. Auth was the best player on the court that day at Rhode Island College and helped finish off the Bulldogs’ perfect season.
Westerly (18-0) compiled 16 sweeps in the regular season and snagged a pair of 3-1 victories to open its playoff run.
“We definitely had our nerves,” Auth said after winning the title. “But it all boiled down to the fifth set. This is the set that matters, so we need to either take home the trophy or leave it behind.”
Syracuse, N.Y. — Several of Section III’s best girls winter volleyball players have proved vital to their teams this season.
We contacted volleyball coaches to get nominations for their team’s midseason MVP. Here are the responses we got.
Kaylynne Bennett, Tully, outside hitter, senior
“Kaylynne eats, sleeps and breathes volleyball since I can remember and has done everything in her power to help the program and her team be successful. When a play needs to be made she is typically involved in some way. She plays with an energy and a power like very few others and has the way to impact a game right when it is needed the most. Always a powerful and intelligent hitter, but has turned into a real threat both defensively and from the service line. Every team prepares for her and she goes head-to-head with other teams’ best players and always finds an advantage and way to contribute.” — Jeremy Cook
Brooke Egresits, Rome Free Academy, setter, senior
“(She) has stepped up tremendously this season as the primary quarterback (setter), a position that does not get the recognition that it should as the setter position has a huge effect on the volleyball court. As a coach, it’s not always about the stats, but Brooke is someone who makes a significant contribution that has an enormously positive effect on the entire team. Brooke is one of the best setters in the game who changes the dynamic of the match with her athleticism, great court vision and volleyball IQ to keep the ball in play. She is a team player that is always looking for ways to help her team succeed. Brooke sees the game as opportunities to add value.” — Pete Keoviengsamay
Ella Griffin, Morrisville-Eaton, senior
“Ella is our quarterback. She distributes the ball to keep our offense balanced and moves quickly to set effectively anywhere on the court. Ella possesses a high volleyball IQ, works hard in the off-season and is a positive motivator in practice and in the game. When Ella is on the court, good things happen. The Lady Mavs are in good hands with Ella serving as the quarterback and a tri-captain.” — Wil Curtis
Phoenecia Hathway, Sandy Creek, outside hitter, senior
“Her overall insight, team leadership, execution of skills under pressure and ability to encourage her team to excel no matter what the circumstances is an important quality an MVP must possess.” — Dori Hathway
Chloe Jubar, Cooperstown, middle hitter, senior
“Chloe leads our team in kills and blocks, (has) double digits in kills in five of our seven matches.” — Rich Jantzi
Alachiir Kuany, East Syracuse Minoa, middle hitter, sophomore
“Alachiir is becoming a dominant player in our league. She is proving that she is going to be a problem for other schools for years to come. When she has it going, she is probably the toughest player in the league to stop.” — Jake Cline
Jaiden Maher, Remsen, middle hitter/blocker, senior
“As a middle hitter/blocker, Jaiden leads the team in both blocks and kills. She is quickly approaching a career total of 500 kills. Her leadership both defensively and offensively has helped our team be in such good standing this year.” — Amy Piaschyk
Michaela Mousaw, Fabius-Pompey, setter, junior
“Michaela has been the heartbeat of our offense. Michaela elevates the entire team with her communication, decision-making under pressure, and relentless competitiveness. Her ability to control tempo and lead in critical moments have been instrumental to our success this season, making her a deserving midseason MVP.” — Amy Wagner
Brooklyn Palmer, Whitesboro, libero, senior
“Brooklyn is the backbone of our defense and covers the whole court. Not only has she been averaging over 20 digs a match, she has over a 95% serve receive rate. She also serves at a 95% rate.” — Carl Manganaro
Morgan Penizotto, Pulaski, senior, setter
“She plays with such heart and positivity. She hustles and is determined to turn every pass into a perfect set.” — Monique Ritter
Melina Poturovic, Utica Academy of Science, middle blocker, freshman
“Melina has been doing an incredible job this season. She is one of our three captains, and leads our team in both blocks and kills thus far. The team is continuously inspired by her unmatched energy and we are so lucky to have her.” — Ku Ku
Layla Rice, Mount Markham, hitter, senior
“She is our team leader in kills and aces. But her leadership on and off the court are equally as vital to our success.” — Terry McKane
Alayna Richards, General Brown, hitter, senior
“She’s not necessarily the strongest, but she’s one that will lead the team. So definitely just a good person to have on the court at all times and is one of my leading servers and headers. She’s a senior, so she’s very dedicated to making her team better. She knows how to place the ball. She’s very strategic, I guess would be a good word to describe her in that respect.” — Carrie LaSage
Lucy Storms, Carthage, sophomore
“I pulled her up at the end of last season and she had proven to be a consistent, solid player all around the court. I feel this goes unnoticed as she is not some 6-foot middle hitter or libero but Lucy is a key player on our offense and defense. This became evident more so as she just suffered an injury that has put her on the sideline for an extended period of time.” — Joelle Decillis.
Remington Stull, McGraw, middle hitter, sophomore
“Remington is a middle hitter, however we can depend on her at any position. She is our go-to girl if a ball needs to be chased down. We can always depend on Remington to go get it and feed it back to her team. Remington gives 100% at practice and in games. We look forward to watching her continue to grow and develop.” — Jessyca Doran
Rachel Zdep, Christian Brothers Academy, setter, junior
“She plays all the way around all the time. She’s also my captain. She’s a great player. Just very motivated, very good teammate. She’s just very consistent. I feel like all my other players kind of have ups and downs, but she’s very stable through every game.” — Kristen DeLorenzo
Updated Jan. 13, 2026, 11:21 a.m. ET
- Reese Shugart of Dorman volleyball was named the South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
- The Auburn commit led her team with 452 kills, 246 digs, and 57 aces during the 2025-26 season.
Reese Shugart of Dorman volleyball was named the South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season for the second straight year.
Shugart, an Auburn commit, finished the season with 452 kills, 246 digs, and 57 aces this season. Shugart made the Class 5A All-State team, the AVCA All-Region team, and was named to the North team for the North-South girls’ all-star game.
Dorman finished the season with a 30-6 record, 14-0 in Region 2-AAAAA, and a third consecutive state championship after the Cavaliers topped River Bluff 3-2 in the state final.
The team is led by National High School Hall of Fame coach Paula Kirkland, who has won 16 state championships with the program.
This marks the third consecutive season a Dorman volleyball player was named Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina. Carly O’Brien won the award in 2024.
Kamryn Jackson covers high school sports for the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, Anderson Independent Mail, Greenville News, and the USA TODAY Network. Please email her at KEJackson@gannett.com and please follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @KamxJack.
By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech student-athletes posted the highest GPA (3.5097) outside of the Spring 2020 COVID semester in program history.
This is the 34th consecutive semester that the Athletics Team Composite GPA has exceeded 3.0, a legacy that began in spring 2009. Fall 2025 was the second straight semester that all 15 teams tallied a team GPA above 3.0.
Men’s Golf led all teams with a 3.77 GPA, which is their highest GPA ever recorded. Soccer finished in a very close second place with an impressive (3.766), which is their highest ever recorded GPA, and Tennis completed the top 3 with a strong (3.71).
Volleyball (3.475) continues the longest streak of uninterrupted semesters (51) with a team GPA exceeding 3.0, and Soccer ranks second with a streak of 44 straight semesters.
Softball (3.557) and Women’s Track & Field (3.537) have consecutive 3.0+ streaks of 43 semesters. Tennis just completed its 35th and Women’s Cross Country (3.589) reached its 27th consecutive 3.0+ semester. While the Women’s Golf (3.542) team streak stands at 25 semesters.
Men’s Golf, Soccer, and Men’s Basketball all achieved their highest GPAs ever recorded (excluding COVID-19). Football achieved its highest-ever GPA during the Fall semester, and Women’s Basketball and Men’s Cross Country achieved the second-highest GPA ever recorded.
Other notable team GPAs include: Women’s Basketball (3.609), Men’s Cross Country (3.492), Beach Volleyball (3.445), Baseball (3.294), Men’s Basketball (3.236), and Football (3.086).
Fall 2025 Athletics Director Honor Roll (Alphabetically by team)
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Baseball |
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Barnett, Ty |
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Bennett, Tyler |
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Bragga, Luke |
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Casabella, Carter |
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Casteel, Cooper |
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Davis, Carson |
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Denton, Tyler |
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Fallon, Justin |
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Fuller, Cade |
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Garza, Manny |
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Holpuch, Garrett |
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Huddleston, Eli |
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Jimenez, Jorsixt |
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Jones, Jaxon |
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Kirby, Drew |
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Kuntz, Alex |
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Marchetti, AJ |
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McDuffie, Reece |
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Moffitt, Aaron |
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Moller, Logan |
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Robertson, Jamie |
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Smelser, Landon |
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Stricklin, Lawson |
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Summar, Micah |
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Men’s |
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Basketball |
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Ayers, Colin |
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Cameron, Mekhi |
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Floreence, Ja’Quavian |
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Owens, Ty |
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Payne, Jah’Kim |
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Slatten, Grant |
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Varnado, Owen |
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Women’s |
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Basketball |
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Cawthorn, LaReesha |
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Larry, Chloe |
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Mathews, Cambridge |
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Newman, Maddy |
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Pfeiffer, Amelia |
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Redd, Amaya |
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Thomas, Amaya |
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Men’s |
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Cross Country |
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Bridges, Sam |
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Chambers, Nicholas |
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Gambling, Luca |
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Glisson-Schlitt, Jack |
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Hesling, Cruz |
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Legault, Isaac |
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Myles-Hawkins, Zak |
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Torres, Dante |
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Women’s |
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XC/Track |
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Amos, Savanna |
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Beneke, Ally |
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Bowles, Paris |
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Brewer, Rachael |
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Bush, Mattie |
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Dotson, Alexis |
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Forstner, Megan |
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Hoover, Angela |
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Jackson, Lauryn |
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Jepleting, Joy |
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Johnson, Madison |
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Joy, Kyla |
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Knoyle, Riley |
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Little, Hannah |
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Lokiles, Jane |
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Ludwig, Sophia |
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Stanton, Sidnee |
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Stegall, Hayley |
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Wells, Rylee |
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Winbush, Kennedi |
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Football |
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Ashby, Spencer |
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Baker, Torin |
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Bolton, Toby |
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Booker, Cameron |
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Brooks, Kanstin |
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Brown, Steve |
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Bryant, Richard |
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Bryson, Gavin |
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Courtney, Brian |
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Coutras, Tim |
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Crawford, AJ |
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Delk, Wes |
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Downs, Brady |
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Edwards, Jyi |
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Gaines, Theron |
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Giles, Naquavious |
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Graves, Luke |
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Hand, Josh |
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Haston, Ahmad |
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Holloway, Tre |
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Holmberg, TJ |
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Jackson, Isaac |
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Johnson, Thomas |
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Jones, Aja |
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Jordan, Justin |
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Kendrick, Jack |
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King, Idris |
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Knowles, Isaac |
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Lapierre, Maurice |
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LeBlanc, Dominic |
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Lehal, Armaan |
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Lindsey, Dylan |
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Linkins, DJ |
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Littles, Aiden |
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Mendez, Jeremy |
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Meyer, Luke |
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Moss, Ty |
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Munoz, Richie |
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Nix, Tyler |
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Opara, Chinonso |
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Owens, Nick |
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Pozniak, Sean |
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Purdy, Kaleb |
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Randolph, Xavier |
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Rodriguez, Laz |
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Shaw, Christian |
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Shephard, Jalin |
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Shields, Luke |
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Simmons, Nason |
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Smith, Andrew |
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Smith, Jayun |
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Swafford, Aaron |
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Swann, Tyler |
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Swift, Tayton |
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Taylor, Eric |
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Taylor, Mason |
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Thomas, Leon |
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Thompson, Cole |
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Turner, Greg |
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Vaughn, Seth |
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Visperas, Kekoa |
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Vorhees, Parker |
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Walton, Coburn |
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Weedman, Logan |
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Wharton, Jameson |
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Wilder, Drew |
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Wilson, Gavin |
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Young-Rolle, Stefon |
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Men’s |
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Golf |
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Bright, Owen |
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Broyles, Alex |
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Etherton, Nicklaus |
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Gettler, Cooper |
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Maxwell, Haden |
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Shull, Matthew |
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Thompson, Hil |
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White, Bryson |
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Women’s |
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Golf |
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Baker, Lydia |
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Branson, Sydney |
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Griffith, Chloe |
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Kaiser,Ella |
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Soccer |
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Bibbee-Page, Halle |
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Ham, Sophie |
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Hardardottir, Krista |
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Howard, Natalie |
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Johnson, Addison |
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Lee, Ally |
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McCloud, Cheyenne |
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McNamee, Laila |
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Nappier, Diana |
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Nye, Mary |
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Palya, Claire |
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Schroeffel, Samantha |
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Wade, Delaney |
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Wood, Ashley |
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Softball |
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Abell, Addison |
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Bishop, Gabrielle |
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Capelouto, Ashley |
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Carroll, Sofia |
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Fitzgerald, Lainey |
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Gooden, Skylar |
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Harris, Makayli |
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Harvey, Ella Grace |
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Klinefelter, Abbee |
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McElhaney, Addison |
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Midkiff, Kaylee |
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Miller, Jayla |
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Ochoa, Isabella |
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Paderez, Jailynn |
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Pitzer, Kyleigh |
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Schlageter, Alina |
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Stack, Bailee |
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Sybesma, Skylar |
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Wampler, Ella |
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York, Emily |
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Men’s |
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Tennis |
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Alvarez Moreno, Alex |
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Antunes Burckhardt, Murilo |
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Dao, Oliver |
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Garavi Yepez, Ricard |
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Oshnavie, Elyad |
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Spaks, Davids |
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Volleyball |
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Berkebile, Audrey |
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Falk, Tuva |
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Milhouse, Jordyn |
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Noto, Sarah |
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Pierce, Alayna |
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Powell, Bella |
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Roberts, MK |
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Schubert, Ava |
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Spradley, Eryn |
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Watford, Ella |
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Beach Volleyball |
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Jones, Piper |
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Kamp, Margaret |
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Kilgore, Audrey |
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Mish, Zoe |
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Robards, Vivian |
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Managers and |
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Trainers, etc. |
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Andrews, Will |
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Baker, Jayden |
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Bennett, Hudson |
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Davis, Abigail |
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Day, Owen |
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Douglass, Christian |
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Everett, Jack |
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Fox, Jaxon |
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Garrett, Shaela |
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Goins, John |
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Griffith, Austin |
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Hilliard, David |
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Hook, Hayden |
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Jamison, Jerhen |
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Linder, Luke |
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Morgan, Kendall |
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Reynolds, Jarick |
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Sells, Matthew |
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Swann, Caden |
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White, Weston |
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Williamson, Anabeth |
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Wood, Grace |
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Cheer and Dance |
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Akande, Lauren |
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Askins, Akeyra |
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Aslinger, Emma |
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Baucom, Kaitlyn |
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Britton, Addison |
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Cannon, Abbigail |
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Chandler, Jacey |
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Craig, Alanah |
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Crateau, Mariah |
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Crump, Isabella |
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Edwards, Ella |
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Engstrom, Brett |
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Greene, Emily |
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Gresham, Isabella |
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Jackson, Madison |
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Jones, Jaylian |
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Joyce, Kennedy |
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Karstens, Grace |
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Kelley, Ashlyn |
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Mccann Rojas, Fancy |
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Michaelson, Hayden |
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Sells, Autumn |
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Terry, Ashlyn |
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Turner, Kimsey |
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Watts, Ava |
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Williams, Jasmine |
Student-Athletes with 4.0 GPA for Fall Semester
Baseball
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Crowell, Nash |
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Crowson, Connor |
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Mattox, Andrew |
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Parrott, Carson |
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Pease, Jaxson |
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Men’s |
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Basketball |
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Evans, Maguire |
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Mcpherson, CJ |
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Muntu, Brandon |
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Women’s |
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Basketball |
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Girgenson, Angelika |
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Grimes, Reghan |
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Hurst, Reagan |
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Miller, Sofi |
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Men’s |
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Cross Country |
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Bradford, Carter |
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Women’s |
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XC/Track |
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Faudi, Hannah |
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Flowers, Carrie |
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Jessee, Makaleigh |
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Kennedy, Aliyah |
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Seratt, Annalee |
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Tilt, Zaely |
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Wolfenbarger, Chase |
Football
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Cooney, Miles |
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Crummie, Kalvyn |
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Fauntleroy, Kennedy |
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Jacobs, Robbie |
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Patterson, Griffin |
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Sanni, Obie |
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Thomas, Christian |
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Tucker, Hudson |
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Turnbow, Branson |
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Wagner, Tyler |
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Men’s |
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Golf |
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Bolton, Drew |
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Stuke, Spencer |
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Women’s |
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Golf |
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Julian, Lexus |
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Lane,Kailey |
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Pilot, Summer |
Soccer
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Baker, Anna |
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Conrad, Maggie |
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Cuadra, Lucia |
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Davis, Abigail |
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Hamm, Melina |
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Lott, Phoebe |
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Melin, Ebba |
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Sauers, Brooke |
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Smiley, Reagan |
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Soutuyo, Victoria |
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Toney, Katie |
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Williams, Presley |
Softball
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Evans, Olivia |
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Kimmell, Reece |
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Lange, Hannah |
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Martin, Julie |
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Power, Olivia |
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Stewart, Brooklyn |
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Men’s |
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Tennis |
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Bitzer, Lucas |
Volleyball
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Fruge, Caroline |
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Karlen, Jordan |
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Lineberger, Bella |
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Rodgers, Ayanna |
Cheer and Dance
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Bettencourt, Faith |
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Crowley, Kamyah |
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Davis, Krista |
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Dyer, Norah |
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Fish, Kylie |
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Fleenor, Chloe |
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Grissom, Sarah |
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Haggard, Seneca |
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Hale, Katie |
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Murphy, Jordan |
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Smith, Mia |
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Tito, Cassie |
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Walker, Tinsley |
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Whitton, Alivia |
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Williams, Maya |
MATCH #2 • Thursday, January 15 • 7 p.m. PT
No. 5 USC (1-0, 0-0) at Vanguard (1-1, 0-0)
Freed Center for Leadership • Costa Mesa, Calif.
SERIES RECORD: USC leads, 3-0 (1.000)
LAST MEETING: W 3-0 (Feb. 28, 2025 • Galen Center)
STREAK: Won 3 • LAST 10 MEETINGS: 3-0
TV/STREAM: B1G+
OPPONENT WEBSITE: VanguardLions.com
MATCH #3 • Friday, January 16 • 7 p.m. PT
No. 5 USC (1-0) vs. No. 18 Princeton (0-0)
Galen Center • Los Angeles, Calif.
SERIES RECORD: USC leads, 5-0 (1.000)
LAST MEETING: W 3-0 (Jan. 11, 2025 • Galen Center)
STREAK: Won 5 • LAST 10 MEETINGS: 5-0
TV/STREAM: B1G+ (Avi Singh & Makena Arteaga)
OPPONENT WEBSITE: GoPrincetonTigers.com
FIRST SERVE (TL;DR)
- USC is led by 11th-year head coach Jeff Nygaard, a three-time Olympian in indoor and beach volleyball and a two-time NCAA champion.
- The Trojans are ranked fifth in the AVCA Coaches Poll; the program’s 504th appearance in the national poll.
- USC is 36-20 all-time in conference openers and defeated Vanguard in its first MPSF match in 2025 (3-0 at Freed Center for Leadership, Feb. 26).
- The Trojans are 1-0 at Galen Center. Last year, they won 11 home matches. USC will play 16 times at home in 2026 and plays in Southern California for all but two regular-season matches (at BYU, April 10-11).
- USC returns five players in 2026 that were recognized by the AVCA All-America committee in 2025 including first-team choice OH Dillon Klein and second-team MB Parker Tomkinson. S Caleb Blanchette, OH Sterling Foley, and LIB Johnny Dykstra each received All-America honorable mention.
- The Trojans lead the MPSF (2nd in the NCAA) in opponent hitting percentage (.056) and are second in the league (4th NCAA) for hitting (.417).
LAST TIME OUT: The Trojans collected their first sweep of the season with a win over St. Thomas Aquinas at Galen Center. Dillon Klein led all players with 12 kills on 16 swings without an error to register a .750 hitting percentage. In his first action as a Trojan, Thiago Zamprogno went straight to work and collected nine kills on 10 swings (.900) to go with four blocks. Caleb Blanchette had 28 assists and shared team-high honors with Johnny Dykstra with five digs apiece.
POLL POSITION: The Trojans were ranked No. 5 in the AVCA Preseason Poll. USC ranks fifth in the Jan. 12 poll for the Trojans’ 504th time in the coaches poll. Last season, the Trojans reached fifth on Feb. 3 to mark their highest position since they were also ranked No. 5 in 2022 (April 18). On March 10, USC’s spot at No. 5 marked the 200th time the Trojans had been ranked in the poll’s top five; now 209 times. The Trojans’ reached the top three (March 24) for the first time in over 10 years and were previously ranked as high as third on Feb. 16, 2015.
EXTENDED: 11th-year head coach Jeff Nygaard had his contract extended through the 2028 season. He is the longest-tenured coach in program history and has collected 124 wins at USC. In 2025, he led the Trojans to their highest ranking in over a decade.
1K DK: OH Dillon Klein has reached double-digit kills in 62 of 79 career matches and reached the 1,000-kill mark in his career on April 17, 2025, in a match at UCLA. He now has 1,057 career kills and counting.
2K GOLD: S Caleb Blanchette crossed the 2,000-assist mark in his career in the Trojans’ season opener against St. Thomas Aquinas (Jan. 10). He dished out 28 assists in a 3-0 win over the Spartans and is now up to 2,011-career assists. In 2025, he led the MPSF—ranked fourth in the NCAA—in assists (10.61 aps) and equaled his career-high (61) twice.
RECORD HIGH: USC set a new single-match hitting record in 2025 with a .691 hitting percentage against Dominican (Feb. 8). Last seaosn, the Trojans hit north of .300 in 19 matches with 10 matches over the .400 mark. Six times, USC logged a hitting percentage higher than .450.
MOUNTAIN SPECIFICS: USC was picked to finish second in a preseason poll of Mountain Pacific Sports Federation head coaches and tied with defending league champion Pepperdine with 72 points each. The Trojans had two first-place votes while the Waves had four. UCLA also received four first-place votes and finished in first with a narrow three-point margin (75 points). In 2025, the Trojans were also chosen to finish second and went 8-4 to take second. The Men of Troy are 36-20 all-time in conference openers.
Sports
Major League Volleyball Partners with LTN for Record Broadcast Season and Video Production Innovation
Major League Volleyball (MLV) is partnering with LTN to power live video production and distribution for its most expansive broadcast schedule to date in 2026.
With a record 50-match broadcast slate across major national networks, streaming services and local stations, the collaboration enables continued audience growth for MLV, providing fans with wider access to their favorite teams and high-quality live experiences on multiple viewing platforms.
After the unification of Major League Volleyball and Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) in 2025, MLV is continuing to elevate professional women’s volleyball in the United States.
As an evolution of PVF, its 2026 campaign will be recorded as the league’s third season following a high-growth year where broadcast coverage grew 350%. LTN will again serve as MLV’s live production and distribution partner, powering the largest media rollout in league history through a suite of on-site and remote production, live event customization and intelligent video transport services.
“We’re kicking off a milestone season for MLV with new energy, closer fan connection and our widest broadcast coverage to date,” says Rob Carolla, Vice President, Public & Media Relations at MLV. “LTN has been a vital part of our growth journey, advancing our production quality, working across any venue and enabling new graphics and viewing features to enhance the fan experience — all while simplifying customization and distribution for multiple rights partners.”
Purpose-built IP infrastructure for live sports
MLV will harness a comprehensive range of LTN production and transport services, leveraging a multi-camera setup and ultra-reliable remote transmission technologies while enabling fully centralized production from LTN’s state-of-the-art Kansas City technical operations center (TOC). LTN manages all the complexities of live event production, from announcer integration to audio mixing, replay, custom graphics insertion and playout. LTN’s purpose-built global IP network provides 99.9999% reliability and <200ms latency, providing seamless signal transport from all venues, real-time customization, and delivery to all downstream rights partners.
“We’re seeing huge growth in a new generation of dynamic, innovation-first sports leagues,” says Bryan McGuirk, Chief Revenue Officer at LTN. “With rights models evolving and demand for live events surging, MLV is a standout example of how sports organizations can harness agile production models and purpose-built IP distribution to enhance reach and monetization.”
The 2026 MLV season builds on a breakthrough year for professional volleyball broadcasting. Last year, LTN supported the league in delivering over 45 linear broadcast matches and 70 live digital events, including generating 4.7 million YouTube views, up one million year-over-year, and an All-Star Match with 455,000 viewers on CBS.
As a start to the current season, LTN also underpinned the annual MLV Draft of collegiate players, which was broadcast live on the Roku Sports Channel for the first time. The California-based studio production was managed remotely from LTN’s centralized production facility, seamlessly connecting distributed draft teams to participate with presenters in real-time from locations nationwide with ultra-low latency, IP-based video transmission.
Enhanced volleyball viewing experiences
MLV is leveraging innovative technologies, supported by LTN’s flexible video infrastructure and production expertise, to elevate fan engagement and enhance the depth of data for viewers. Its latest advances include:
- An enhanced tracking system that delivers real-time ball tracking, improving officiating accuracy and powering advanced performance analytics — enabling teams and fans to better understand attacking patterns and player dynamics.
- Displayed for the first time on opening weekend, viewers will see enhanced visuals including ball speed and jump height metrics on matches aired by CBS Sports, offering deeper insights into the athleticism of the game.
- In another league-first, teams like the Indy Ignite will now air both home and away games in their local market outside of the national broadcast schedule, offering fans unrivaled access to their teams via local stations.
Alongside CBS Sports and the Roku Sports Channel, which aired opening weekend games this January 9, 10 and 11, MLV’s media partners include ION — the national network from The E.W. Scripps Company with exclusive rights for the championship finals — and VICE, both new for 2026. The second MLV All-Star Match will air live on CBS and Paramount+, with all other matches available via MLV’s YouTube channel and team-led local market agreements.
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