SUWANEE, Ga. — Ten Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference programs were recognized by the league as Spring 2025 Sportsmanship Teams in their respective sports. Concordia Texas was represented by the men’s tennis team, who exhibited great spirit in competition in the spring campaign.

The SCAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee instituted the award prior to the 2016-17 academic year in an effort to honor the team that best portrays good sportsmanship and fair play from the players and coaches during the season. The spring awards are presented in baseball, men’s and women’s golf, softball, men’s and women’s tennis and men’s and women’s track and field.

The awards were voted on by each member institution’s SAAC, with each individual group ranking the top three teams in each sport. The first place selections were awarded five points, second place earned three points and third place earned one point. Points were then totaled to select the conference’s overall winner.

Click here to view the full story from the SCAC.

To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX tennis program, follow us on social media (@ctxathletics) and visit athletics.concordia.edu. 

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its Team Academic Award sponsored by INTENT winners for the 2025 season recently.  To earn the award, programs must have maintained a year-long grade point average of at least 3.30 on a 4.00 scale.

The John Jay women’s program, the 2024 CUNY Athletic Conference champion, was recognized with the award.

About AVCA

The association’s mission is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy, and professional development. The membership includes more than 9,500 collegiate, professional, high school, club, and youth volleyball coaches—primarily in the United States. The AVCA represents women’s volleyball, men’s volleyball, and beach volleyball coaches, and works to increase exposure and recognition for the sport of volleyball.

About INTENT

INTENT is a game-changing, digital platform that links student-athletes (along with military special ops veterans) to a powerful network of candidate-seeking employers. The tech, information, and internet company guides student-athletes and service members toward professional and personal success in life after sports and service.

For the latest news on the CUNY Athletic Conference, log on to cunyathletics.com – the official site of the CUNY Athletic Conference. Also, become a follower of the CUNYAC on Instagram (@CUNYAC), Twitter (@CUNYAC) and YouTube (@CUNY Athletic Conference), and “LIKE” Us on Facebook (CUNY Athletic Conference).

SAN DIEGO — University of San Diego Athletics will add women’s beach volleyball to its roster of NCAA Division I varsity sports, Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics Kimya Massey announced Wednesday. Set to begin competition in the spring of 2027, the addition will mark USD’s 18th varsity program and 10th women’s sport.

The Jansen family provided the lead gift to launch USD Athletics’ new NCAA Division I beach volleyball program, the first of its kind in San Diego.

“This is an exciting and monumental moment for the Toreros,” Massey said. “We’re incredibly grateful to the Jansen family who stepped forward with a significant gift to help us bring beach volleyball to USD — a natural fit for our institution and the San Diego community. Their investment in our women student-athletes and the future of our department was the catalyst that made this possible.”

“As a family, we believe in creating opportunities that empower young women to excel both on and off the court,” the Jansen family shared. “Supporting USD as they bring San Diego its first NCAA Division I beach volleyball program is an exciting milestone for the sport and the community. This program will open doors for women athletes to compete at the highest level while earning an exceptional education from one of the nation’s top 50 universities.”

A national search for the program’s inaugural head coach will begin immediately. The team would welcome its inaugural team of players in the fall of 2026 and would begin competition in spring 2027. The program is expected to carry a roster of up to 19 student-athletes.

Beach volleyball has experienced rapid growth in recent years and is recognized by the NCAA as one of its fastest-growing women’s sports. Between 2012 and 2015, participation nearly tripled and, by 2023, more than 90 institutions and 1,600 student-athletes competed at the collegiate level. The sport became an NCAA championship offering in 2016, with more than 100 institutions across Divisions I, II, and III now sponsoring it.

“This is about more than adding a sport — it’s about meeting a moment,” Massey added. “We’re the first Division I institution in San Diego to sponsor beach volleyball, and that speaks to both the momentum we’re building and our commitment to growing competitive opportunities for women. There’s real potential here to build something special and become a hub for the sport’s continued growth in Southern California. The club scene in San Diego is the best in the country, and we look forward to making the most of our homegrown talent, as well as building a competitive roster that can immediately compete for championships.”

The team is expected to compete on an on-campus facility with the ability to host tournaments, camps, and NCAA matches on a regular basis.

“With 17 miles of coastline and an average of 266 days of sunshine each year, San Diego is a mecca for beach volleyball,” said USD President James T. Harris III, DEd. “And we have a long legacy of volleyball on this campus. Given the fact that our women’s volleyball team recently advanced to the Final Four for the first time ever, there’s absolutely no better place to play volleyball — either on the court or on the beach — than at USD.”

San Diego women’s volleyball head coach  Jennifer Petrie added, “I’m excited about the addition of beach volleyball. Adding the program to USD will generate national attention for the university — where the sun, the sand, and the potential for a national championship all coincide.”

The Toreros’ new beach volleyball team will compete in the West Coast Conference, with USD becoming the eighth school within the league to sponsor beach volleyball.

“San Diego’s addition of beach volleyball further grows the sport and the conference,” said West Coast Conference Commissioner Stu Jackson. “The West Coast Conference is one of the elite leagues in the sport with multiple nationally ranked teams each year, along with a NCAA finalist this past season. President Harris and Kimya Massey continue to invest in athletics and support opportunities for student-athletes to compete for national championships.”

While the program’s launch is made possible by a lead gift, continued philanthropic support will be vital to sustaining and elevating the program in the years ahead.

About USD Athletics
Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, USD Athletics is dedicated to the holistic development of student-athletes, fostering excellence both in competition and in the classroom. With a commitment to leadership, integrity, and service, USD Athletics provides opportunities for student-athletes to thrive on and off the field, while contributing to the university’s mission of confronting humanity’s challenges through peace and justice. The University of San Diego sponsors 17 NCAA Division I athletic programs, competing in the West Coast Conference, the Pioneer Football League, and the Big West Conference, and is known for cultivating both athletic success and academic achievement. USD has been recognized by The Princeton Review as the No. 1 Most Beautiful Campus in America and ranks No. 3 in the nation for Best Quality of Life on Campus.
 

World Championships: Rita Keszthelyi Repeats at Tournament MVP

Hungary’s Rita Keszthelyi was named the most valuable player of the women’s water polo tournament at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.

Of the seven players on the all-tournament team voted by members  of the media, only gold medalist Greece had two representatives, with Ioanna Stamatopoulou named the top goalie and Foteini Tricha among the field players.

American Emily Ausmus made it on the team, though bronze medalist Spain did not have a representative. Joining them are Japan’s Yumi Arima, Agnese Cocchiere of Italy and Morgan McDowall of New Zealand.

Keszthelyi continues an amazing run. The MVP of the 2024 tournament in Doha is on the all-tournament team for the seventh time, a run that dates back to 2013 for the 33-year-old who shows now signs of slowing.

Keszthelyi was held to 1-for-6 shooting in the final by Stamatopoulou and Greece. But for the tournament, she scored 19 goals on 32 shots to go with 13 assists for the silver medalist.

“I’m not angry. Obviously I’m sad, but I’m very proud of my team,” Keszthelyi said after Wednesday’s 12-9 loss to Greece in the final. “We did what we could today, and this was the maximum. So I think we should keep our heads high and be proud of ourselves, but also we have to stay humble and know that we have to work more to step one step forward. Obviously, we are not going to give up. We’ll keep fighting and we just want to win games.”

Stamatopoulou and Greece allowed 67 goals in seven games. She didn’t play in the group stage against Croatia, but she shined with six saves in an 8-7 win over Australia in the quarterfinals, 11 stops in a 14-10 win over the United States in the semifinals and 16 in the final victory over Hungary.

“She’s the best goalkeeper in the tournament,” Greek captain Eleftheria Plevritou said. “She deserves it.”

Tricha, aged 20, was the leading scorer for the tournament, pouring in 25 goals on 38 shots (66 percent). She added 10 assists and 13 blocks.

“This doesn’t matter at all. I really care about the gold more,” Tricha said about the top scorer honor. “The goals are an outcome of the system of the team. Everyone’s passing, when the ball comes to me, I only think about what I have to do correctly. If it’s to shoot, then I shoot. It’s an outcome of the system and it’s a team effort. My teammates are great, they can find me easily.”

Arima scored 23 goals on 52 shots. She was second in scoring in leading Japan to an eighth-place finish. She was also on the all-tournament squad at the 2023 edition in Fukuoka.

Ausmus, still just 19, scored 17 goals on 31 shots to lead the Americans to the bronze-medal match, where they fell to Spain.

Cocchiere scored 20 goals, second to teammate Chiara Ranalli and fourth in the tournament, as Italy finished seventh.

McDowall scored 19 goals for New Zealand, which finished 10th. She was also the leading scorer at the 2024 World Championships with 31 goals.

Media All-Star Team

• Ioanna Stamatopoulou, Greece (GK)
• Yumi Arima, Japan
• Emily Ausmus, USA
• Agnese Cocchiere, Italy
• Rita Keszthelyi, Hungary (MVP)
• Foteini Tricha, Greece
• Morgan McDowall, New Zealand

Final Standings

1. Gold: Greece
2. Silver: Hungary
3. Bronze: Spain
4. United States
5. Netherlands
6. Australia
7. Italy
8. Japan
9. China
10. New Zealand
11. Great Britain
12. France
13. Croatia
14. Argentina
15. South Africa
16. Singapore

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt lacrosse team had 19 student-athletes named to the 2024-25 Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Division I Academic Honor Roll. The IWLCA announced the honorees Wednesday.

To be eligible for this honor, student-athletes must be a junior, senior, or graduate student and have earned a cumulative academic GPA of 3.50 or greater.

In addition, the entire Vanderbilt lacrosse program was named an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad for the 2024-25 academic year. To qualify for this prestigious honor, the women’s lacrosse team must have posted a 3.2 or higher team GPA for the academic year.

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the complete 2025 schedule for the Vaqueros volleyball team on Wednesday. The Vaqueros will play 10 home matches at the UTRGV Fieldhouse and host the Southwest Showdown. 
 
UTRGV opens the season in Phoenix for the GCU Invitational Aug. 29-31 hosted by Grand Canyon (GCU). The Vaqueros will face Gonzaga, GCU and Long Island. 
 

The first home matches of 2025 will be part of the Southwest Showdown – a four-team rotating tournament featuring the Vaqueros, Texas State, UTEP and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The tournament will bring five exciting matches to the UTRGV Fieldhouse Sept. 4-6. UTRGV will face Texas State at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 4 in the home opener, then battle UTEP at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 5. 
 
Season tickets are on sale now for $55. Interested fans can join the UTRGV Volleyball Premium Seating waitlist for courtside season tickets for $155. Faculty and staff members are eligible for discounted season ticket pricing. Single match tickets and Southwest Showdown tickets will go on sale at a later date. All tickets, except for courtside seating, are general admission for the 2025 volleyball season at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
 

Fans who renew or purchase their season tickets by July 25 will receive additional complimentary tickets equal to the number of season tickets purchased to the South Texas Showdown matches against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Fans who renew or purchase by Aug. 8 will receive an autographed team photo. Fans can purchase season tickets at GoUTRGV.com/SeasonTickets or by calling the UTRGV Tickets team at (956) 665-4205. 
 
“We’re looking forward to a highly competitive schedule that will challenge us from the start,” head coach Todd Lowery said. “Opening the season with teams like GCU and Gonzaga, then coming home to play against quality in-state opponents in Texas State and UTEP gives us a great opportunity to set the tone early. These matches will help prepare us for what we know will be a tough conference slate, especially with long-standing rivals like Stephen F. Austin and Corpus. Every match is a step toward building the toughness and cohesion we’ll need when postseason time arrives.” 
 

The Vaqueros will go back on the road for their next six contests. First, they’ll travel to Richmond, Kentucky for the Geri Polvino Invitational hosted by Eastern Kentucky Sept. 12-13. UTRGV will play Northern Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky and Akron. The Vaqueros close the non-conference schedule at James Madison’s Erie Insurance Invitational Sept. 19-21 in Harrisonburg, Virginia. They’ll face James Madison, William & Mary and Delaware State. 
 
The Vaqueros open the Southland Conference (SLC) slate with a home match against Lamar on Sept. 24 at 12 p.m. at the UTRGV Fieldhouse before its first road conference match Sept. 27 at Stephen F. Austin. 
 

UTRGV will alternate weekends playing two home matches and two away matches through the next four weeks on the schedule. The Vaqueros will host Northwestern State and East Texas A&M on Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. and Oct. 4 at 12 p.m., respectively, before heading to Incarnate Word and Houston Christian.  
 
The Vaqueros host reigning regular season SLC champion Southeastern on Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. and New Orleans on Oct. 18 at 12 p.m. at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. UTRGV then heads to Louisiana to play at McNeese and Nicholls. 
 

UTRGV will face rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the 2024 SLC Tournament champions, twice in the same week. The first South Texas Showdown match, presented by Rally Credit Union, will be Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in Edinburg. The Vaqueros and Islanders will rematch in Corpus on Nov. 1. 
 

The Vaqueros will host Incarnate Word on Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. and Houston Christian on Nov. 8 at 12 p.m. in the final home matches of the regular season. They’ll wrap up the conference slate with matches at Northwestern State and East Texas A&M.  
 
The SLC Championship is scheduled for November 21-23 in Commerce. The NCAA Tournament runs Dec. 4-21. The first two rounds and the regional matches will be played at to-be-determined campus sites. The national semifinals will be played Dec. 18 and the national championship match is scheduled for Dec. 21, both at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. 

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