The annual NCAA Beach Volleyball Tournament was held in Gulf Shores over the weekend, where over a dozen schools competed for the national title.
16 schools from across the nation competed in the weekend tournament, ranging from the likes of Florida State, Texas, LSU and Stanford, but TCU and Loyola Marymount (LMU) ultimately met in the National Championship, which was played on Sunday morning.

Leading up to Sunday, LMU upset the four-time defending champions, USC, in the quarterfinals before coming back from behind to defeat UCLA, one of only three schools to even reach the finals, in the semifinals to punch their ticket to the National Championship game. Meanwhile, TCU defeated Georgia State, Texas and Cal Poly en route to their championship appearance.

In the end, TCU claimed their first national title, finishing with a 32-5 overall record, becoming the first school other than USC and UCLA to win the national championship. The Trojans won the first two, along with the most recent four in a row, while the Bruins won two straight from 2018 to 2019.

TCU’s Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno, both of whom took a year off to participate in the Paris Olympics last year, came back and helped the Horned Frogs seal the victory in the final match. They lost their first game 18-21 to LMU’s Michelle Shaffer and Anna Pelloia but rallied to win the final two 21-15 and 15-6.

Sunday’s championship game was played in single-elimination duals with 10 players split into five pairs from each team. The dual meet match is played in five best-of-three sets, with each pair’s match being worth one point.

The NCAA Beach Volleyball Tournament has become a new but iconic addition to the Gulf Shores area. Last December, a five-year agreement was reached that would keep the tournament in Gulf Shores until 2031 after what was initially supposed to be a two-year stint in California, according to previous reporting from Gulf Coast Media. However, NCAA and city officials decided to move it from Huntington Beach back to Gulf Shores this year in wake of the wildfires that impacted southern California in January. The event will return to the West Coast next year as originally scheduled before returning to Gulf Shores from 2027 through 2031.

The agreement to bring the sport’s culminating tournament to the Alabama Gulf Coast is thanks to the city’s ability to grow with the event, with the NCAA setting attendance records each year since the sport was originally sanctioned for championship play in 2016, GCM previously reported. Before then, the American Volleyball Coaches Association sand championships were held in Gulf Shores since 2012.

“The commitment to invest and support these championships in terms of facilities, staffing, marketing and more were integral data points to our decision-making process. We feel the efficiency of scale that can be realized with these long-term commitments between the NCAA and our hosts provides an opportunity for more enhancement of these championships, leading to an increased student-athlete and fan experience moving forward,” said Anthony Holman, NCAA vice president of championships and alliances, in a Dec. 9, 2024, announcement about the three-year extension of 2029-2031.

Improvements on the sand included additional spectator stadium seating and hospitality space. The television compound, marketing resources and student-athlete experiences were also mentioned as enticing amenities for the top collegiate beach volleyball players in the country.

GCM reported in March that the tournament was part of Alabama’s Beaches — formerly Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports & Events — earning the second-highest economic impact in the state in 2024. Across 123 events on the beach, Alabama’s Beaches recorded 123,641 hotel nights and an economic impact of $80.4 million.

With 91 events, Foley Sports Tourism recorded 31,615 hotel nights helped bring in an economic impact of $47 million to the city for the fifth-highest economic impact in the state last year. Birmingham was the leader where 150 events led to 261,989 hotel nights and an economic impact of nearly $250 million.

DURHAM, N.C. – In the final tune-up before the MEAC Outdoor Championships, the North Carolina Central men’s and women’s track & field teams competed at the Duke Twilight at Morris Williams Stadium on Sunday. Sophomore Jonathan Raijon-Koger claimed the men’s high jump crown for a season and college career best of 2.09m.

Raijon-Koger has been steadily increasing his leaps this outdoor season. His ranges were between 1.95m and 2.06m in every meet until Sunday’s outburst of 2.09m to win the men’s high jump. He’s now tied for 8^th in the Southeast region this year.

Fellow Eagle Theodore Skinner joined Raijon-Koger in the top five, clearing 2.01m (5^th) in the event. After his performance in the Raleigh Relays earlier this spring, Skinner still stands at 7th in the Southeast region.   

Tia Lucas is now tied for 2^nd on the HBCU Outdoor Performance list and 10^th in the Southeast region after her 2nd-place finish in the women’s high jump at Duke. Lucas earned a new personal record of 1.71m.

On the track, Nyree Bacchus came in third in the women’s 400m with a new personal record of 53.42. That new time moves her to 4^th on the 2025 HBCU Performance List in the 400 event.

Both relay teams posted top-five performances in the 4×100. The women’s team, comprised of Melanne Sutton, August Freeman, Gianna Marquez and Bacchus crossed the line in 2^nd (46.89). The men’s relay team featuring Allen Barnes, Zion Amadi, Alan Webster and Deshaun Johnson took 5^th (40.47).

Some other personal records from NCCU included Naa’Irah Andrews (women’s shot put – 10.90m), Ryan Chong (men’s 3000m steeple – 10:15.47), Laila Jackson (2:08.89), Kayla Johnson (2:09.50) and Navi McDowell (2:17.37), all in the women’s 800m, Marquez (women’s 400m hurdles – 1:01.78), Sutton (women’s 200m – 23.86) and D. Johnson (men’s 100m – 10.58).  

NC Central turns its attention to the 2025 MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships on May 15-17 at William Price Stadium in Norfolk, Va.

NCCU Top-Five Finishes

Women’s 400m

Nyree Bacchus – 3^rd (53.42)

Men’s High Jump

Jonathan Raijon-Koger – 1^st (2.09m)

Theodore Skinner – 5^th (2.01m)

Women’s High Jump

Tia Lucas – 2^nd (1.71m)

Men’s 4x100m Relay

Barnes, Johnson, Amadi, Webster – 5^th (40.47)

Women’s 4x100m Relay

Sutton, Bacchus, Freeman, Marquez – 2^nd (46.89)

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. –  Jose Fernandez of B-CU Baseball has been named Wildcats of the Week for the week of April 28 – May 4, 2025. 

ose Fernandez played a massive part of a three-game series sweep of No. 1 seed Bethune-Cookman over No. 2 seed Alabama State this weekend. In three games, he collected four hits, two runs scored, four RBI, a double, a walk, and his first homer of the season. After coming in as a pinch hitter in game one, Fernandez’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth walked off the Hornets to open the series with a win and erase an Alabama State lead of as much as five. 

Each week, The Bethune-Cookman Office of Athletic Communications recognizes one male and one female student-athlete through the Wildcats of the Week award.

2024-25 Wildcats of the Week

April 28 – May 4

M: Jose Fernandez, Baseball

April 21 – April 27

M: Edwin Sanchez, Baseball

W: Kasie Ugeh, Track & Field

April 13 – April 20

M: De’Quon King, Track & Field

W: Katie Robinson, Women’s Golf

April 7 – April 13

M: Shanard Walker, Track & Field

W: Alyssa Lopez, Softball

March 31 – April 6

M: Andrey Martinez, Baseball

W: Alyssa Lopez, Softball

March 24 – March 30

M: Joel Core, Baseball

W: Kasie Ugeh, Track & Field

M: (CO) Xavier Bogan, Track & Field

March 17 – March 23

M: Sytrevion Dyer, Track & Field

W: Kasie Ugeh, Track & Field

March 10 – March 16

M: Edwin Sanchez, Baseball

W: Zahara El-Zein, Tennis

March 3 – March 9

M: Nehemiah Armstrong, Track & Field

W: Zion Harvey, track & Field

February 22 – March 1

M: Armani Newton, Baseball

W: Shanai Owens, Softball

February 17 – February 23

M: Joel Core, Baseball

W: Lauren Johnson, Track & Field

February 10 – February 16

M: Joel Core, Baseball

W: Emma Bradley Tse, Softball

February 3 – February 9

M: De’Quon King, Track & Field

W: Molly Blackwood, Softball

January 27 – February 2

M: Xavier Bogan, Track & Field

W: Keona Burley, Women’s Tennis

January 20 – January 26

M: Victor Kibet, Track & Field

W: Valencia Butler, Track & Field

January 12 – January 19

M: Trey Thomas, Men’s Basketball

W: Asianae Nicholson, Women’s Basketball

January 6 – January 12

M: Xavier Bogan, Track & Field

W: Alyssa Wiliams, Track & Field

December 30 – January 5

M: Brayon Freeman, Men’s Basketball

W: Janessa Kelley, Women’s Basketball

December 16 – December 22

M: Reggie Ward Jr., Men’s Baskeball

W: Daimoni Dorsey, Women’s Basketball

December 9 – December 15

M: Daniel Rouzan, Men’s Basketball

W: Asianae Nicholson, Women’s Basketball

December 2 – December 8

M: Victor Kibet, Track & Field

W: Alyssa Williams, Track & Field

November 25 – December 1

M: Brayon Freeman, Men’s Basketball

W: Asianae Nicholson, Women’s Basketball

November 18 – November 24

M: Dennis Palmer, Football

W: Ktyal Price, Volleyball        `    

November 11 – November 17

M: Brayon Freeman, Men’s Basketball

W: Mecca Freeman, Volleyball

November 4 – November 10

M: Dallaz Corbitt, Football

W: Asianae Nicholson, Women’s Volleyball

October 28 – November 3

M: Joshua Thornhill, Football

W: Mecca Freeman, Volleyball

October 21 – October 27

M: Victor Kibet, Cross Country

W: Valencia Butler, Cross Country

October 14 – October 20

M: Dennis Palmer Jr., Football

W: Elizabeth Philips, Volleyball

October 7 – October 13

M: Victor Kibet, Cross Country

W: Elizabeth Phillips, Volleyball

September 30 – October 6

W: Ashlie Hobbs, Women’s Golf

W: Ktyal Price, Volleyball

September 16 – September 22

M: Victor Kibet, Cross Country

W: Valencia Butler, Cross Country

September 9 – September 15

M: Darnell Deas, Football

W: Jasmine Robinson, Volleyball

September 2 – September 9

M: Raymond Woodie III, Football

W: Elizabeth Phillips, Volleyball

August 26 – September 1

M: Dearis Thomas, Football

W: Niara Hightower, Volleyball

For all the latest Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics) and www.bcuathletics.com. 

 

Sydney deVroedt. Sound familiar?

Perhaps the best athlete in New York City you’ve never heard of.

Don’t believe it?

Try these stats on for size – then we’ll tell you the sport.

How about 132 goals on 230 shots, 57 steals, 34 blocks, 156 points – that’s goals and assists for the uninformed.

The five-foot-five-inch senior from Hollywood, Fla.is a member of the Long Island University women’s water polo team. Make that, she is the water polo team for the Sharks.

But why water polo, of all sports?
“I was always in the pool,” she told the Brooklyn Eagle. “My parents had a pool in our backyard.”

And growing up, deVroedt played on the South Broward (Fla.) High team, as well as with some local clubs, she said. One of those clubs – the Princeton (NJ) Tigers, youth team.

“One of the girls I played with,” deVroedt said, “Committed to St. Francis College. It was Division I water polo; but a big adjustment. The lifestyle was completely different. And it was a different style of water polo.”

deVroedt played defense and was assisting. “The coach turned me into a scorer; more physical and aggressive,” she said.

It sounded almost perfect – until May, 2023 when St. Francis College eliminated their athletic department.

“For a minute, I actually freaked out,” deVroedt admits. “But I knew I wasn’t done. I had an apartment as well as a job in New York City; so, I reached out to LIU. And it was really an easy transition.”

And a super find for the Sharks.

The Sharks won 18 of 30 matches this past season, and deVroedt was named co-Offensive Player of the Year on top of being a unanimous First-Team All-Metro Athletic Conference selection. She was a Second-Team All-MAAC selection in the 2024 season and a 2023 First-Team All-MAAC selection as a member of St. Francis, Brooklyn.

“Huge congratulations to Sydney for being named the MAAC women’s water polo co-Offensive Player of the Year,” LIU women’s Water Polo Head Coach Morgan Allison said. “Her dedication and relentless work over the past four years have truly paid off. Scoring 100 goals and counting this season, this award is well deserved. I couldn’t be prouder of her receiving this..”

That pool isn’t all fun and games, either. “We practice six days,” she said; for two hours in the pool early morning. And two to three days a week we were in the gym for about an hour.”
She started her scoring prowess in college, and said she wanted to be a bigger name, through scoring – she did. As for the sport of water polo, deVroedt, an Exercise and Wellness major, says, “Making a nice play and connecting with teammates is what the sport is all about. There’s something about connecting to teammates.”

As for the Sharks of LIU, and their coach – they’ve connected as well.
Worldwide.

Allison coaches both the women’s and men’s teams at LIU. “We have 16 on the men’s roster and 12 women,” she said. “And not all are on scholarship.”

And not all took the subway to LIU. “We have players from Italy, Australia, Mexico, Germany, South Africa, Canada and Spain,” Allison said.

Allison was a two-sport athlete in the pool, competing for the women’s water polo and swimming and diving teams at St. Francis College, Brooklyn.

The Sharks season ended when they fell to No. 3 seed Mount St. Mary’s 13-11 in the MAAC Championship, held in Poughkeepsie, ten days ago.

LIU finished their fifth consecutive winning season – with a little help from the Terriers of St. Francis College.

Andy Furman is a Fox Sports Radio national talk show host. Previously, he was a scholastic sports columnist for the Brooklyn Eagle. He may be reached at: [email protected] X: @AndyFurmanFSR.

CONWAY, S.C. – Coastal Carolina women’s basketball head coach Kevin Pederson has announced the signing of Wisconsin transfer D’Yanis Jimenez for the 2025-2026 season. 

“Our staff is excited to welcome D’Yanis and her family to Coastal Carolina!”, Pederson said. We recruited D’Yanis out of high school so we’ve been familiar with her for a while and we see her as a big time addition to our team.  D is a great fit in our motion offense and she will provide a skill set that we believe can establish her as one of the premier guards in this league.”

Jimenez, a 5-8 guard who enters the program as a junior, played at Wisconsin from 2023-2025. The Cape Coral, Florida native is the second player to be signed by the Chants after playing at Wisconsin, following the signing of Tessa Grady for the upcoming season. 

Last season, Jimenez played 26 games with one start for the Badgers. She averaged 9.8 minutes per game, 1.8 points per game, and scored a career high of seven at Oregon on January 4th. 

Her 2022-23 season saw the guard play 29 games with nine starts in her freshman year. Jimenez averaged 20 minutes per game with 6.9 points per game, posting a career-high of 20 against St. Thomas on December 13th, 2023. Jimenez also averaged 2.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals per game in her first season of collegiate basketball. 

Jimenez was rated a 3-star recruit and 108th nationally by ESPN after her career at Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda, Florida.  

For complete coverage of CCU women’s basketball, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalWBB (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.