TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State track and field begins competition at the 2025 NCAA East First Round Wednesday afternoon, with 16 Sycamore entries set to compete over the course of four days at Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium.
 
Men’s competition days are Wednesday and Friday, with women’s competition days set for Thursday and Saturday.
 

 
Strength In Numbers
Indiana State has double-digit entries at the NCAA East First Round for the fourth straight season, with the Blue and White having 16 entries and 14 athletes qualify for the 2025 NCAA East First Round. The Trees had 14 entries at the 2024 NCAA East First Round (17 athletes), 14 entries at the 2023 NCAA East First Round (15 athletes) and 15 entries at the 2022 NCAA East First Round (12 athletes).
 
The Sycamores are in the midst of their best stretch in over a decade from a regional standpoint, with the current four-year stretch of double-digit entries being the program’s best since a 10-year stretch from 2006-15.
 
Trees Atop The Valley
Indiana State continued its dominance of the Missouri Valley Conference, sweeping the MVC Outdoor Championships for the second straight season. A year after winning all four conference track and field titles, the latter two on home soil, the Sycamores won their fourth straight MVC Men’s Outdoor Championship and second consecutive MVC Women’s Outdoor Championship.
 
Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Indiana State has won 12 out of a possible 16 MVC Track and Field Championships (2022-24 men’s indoor, 2022 women’s indoor, 2024-25 women’s indoor, 2022-25 men’s outdoor, 2024-25 women’s outdoor). The vast majority of those conference titles have seen the Sycamores wrap up the top spot before the 4x400m relay, the final event of the championships.
 
Run It Back
Nine of Indiana State’s 14-athlete delegation for the NCAA East First Round has previous postseason experience, including a pair of All-Americans in Casey Hood Jr. (2025 indoor) and Will Staggs (2023 outdoor, 2024 indoor).
 
Staggs (2022-25) and Wyatt Puff (2021-23, 2025) will be making their fourth NCAA East First Round appearances, the most of anyone on the team. Terrance O’Bannon (2023-DNC, 2024-25) will be at his third NCAA East First Round, while Noah Bolt (2023, 2025), Collin Forrest (2024-DNC, 2025), Lillian Gibbs (2024-25), Hood Jr. (2024-25), Rachel Mehringer (2024-25) and Brooklyn Pfaff (2024-25) are all making their second NCAA East First Round appearance.
 
Welcome To The Show
Indiana State has five athletes who will be making their NCAA East First Round debut during the week in Jacksonville, with three men and two women representing the Sycamores at the regional round for the first time in their careers.
 
Three of the five Sycamore debutants come in throws events, with Niesha Anderson (hammer throw), Sloan Cox (shot put) and Aliseonna Garnett (shot put) all reaching the NCAA East First Round for the first time in their respective careers. Ryan Handy (3000m steeplechase) and Kilan Macklin (long jump) are also making their NCAA East First Round debut in 2025.
 
Those figures don’t include Collin Forrest, who was an alternate for the 4x100m relay last season but did not compete, along with Casey Hood Jr. and Terrance O’Bannon, who have competed in relays in previous seasons but are competing in individual sprints events at the regional round for the first time in their careers.
 
Meet The Sycamores
Indiana State’s 14 athletes in the 2025 NCAA East First Round are scheduled to compete in 16 events over the course of the four-day regional meet. Below is a summary of each qualified Sycamore, along with their event schedule for the week and season highlights.
 
Niesha Anderson | Hammer Throw
Thursday, May 29 | 10 a.m.
Anderson came through in the clutch at the MVC Outdoor Championships with a career-best mark of 58.51m (191-11) to finish as runner-up in the event in the conference. She ranks in the top 10 in program history with her mark from the conference championships and will be making her NCAA East First Round debut Thursday. Anderson is in the first flight of the hammer throw.
 
Noah Bolt | Discus
Friday, May 30 | 1 p.m.
Bolt won the MVC discus title for the first time in his career in 2025, and was also an all-conference selection in the hammer throw during the outdoor campaign. He ranks in the top 10 in program history in both the discus (56.48m/185-4) and hammer throw (61.65m/202-3), and will be making his second NCAA East First Round appearance (2023). Bolt is in the third flight of the discus.
 
Sloan Cox | Shot Put
Wednesday, May 28 | 6 p.m.
Cox broke the school record in the shot put at the MVC Outdoor Championships with his 18.62m (61-1.25) launch to place second in the conference in the event. One of two Sycamores to qualify in the men’s shot put, Cox will be making his NCAA East First Round debut and has the rare feat of holding the shot put record at two different schools (Indiana State and Bellarmine). He is in the third flight of the shot put.
 
Collin Forrest | 110m Hurdles
Wednesday, May 28 | 6 p.m. (first round)
Friday, May 30 | 6:15 p.m. (quarterfinals)
The two-time defending 110m hurdles champion in the MVC, Forrest will compete at the NCAA East First Round for the first time in his career after being an alternate for the 4x100m relay last season. His time of 13.84, which was run in Terre Haute, ranks among the top 10 in program history for all-conditions times, and he led a 110m hurdles group which finished the regular season ranked in the top 15 nationally. Forrest is in lane nine of heat five, and will need to either finish in the top three of his heat or be one of the six fastest times among those who don’t automatically qualify to advance to Friday’s quarterfinal.
 
Aliseonna Garnett | Shot Put
Thursday, May 29 | 6 p.m.
Garnett was an all-conference honoree in the shot put with a mark of 15.30m (50-2.5), and surpassed the 15-meter mark twice during the 2025 outdoor season. She ranks among the top 10 in program history in both the shot put (15.34m/50-4) and discus (49.02m/160-10), both of which were thrown this season. Garnett is in the first flight of the shot put, and will be making her NCAA East First Round debut.
 
Lillian Gibbs | Javelin
Thursday, May 29 | 2:30 p.m.
Indiana State’s school record holder in the javelin, Gibbs owns the top eight marks in the MVC this season headlined by her current record of 48.04m (157-7) which was set in Terre Haute. Gibbs was MVC runner-up in the event for the second straight season and will be making her second appearance at the NCAA East First Round. She is in the second flight of the javelin.
 
Ryan Handy | 3000m Steeplechase
Friday, May 30 | 5:40 p.m.
Handy is Indiana State’s first NCAA East First Round qualifier in a distance event since 2021, and earned his spot in the field in a major way. He won the steeplechase at the MVC Outdoor Championships with a career-best time of 8:51.38, a top 10 time in program history and his second time under the 9-minute mark this season, to secure his place in the field. Handy is in the second heat of the steeplechase, and will need to finish in the top three in his heat or among the three fastest times among those who don’t automatically qualify to punch his ticket to Eugene.
 
Casey Hood Jr. | 100m and 200m
Wednesday, May 28 | 7 p.m. (100m first round)
Wednesday, May 28 | 8:45 p.m. (200m first round)
Friday, May 30 | 6:35 p.m. (100m quarterfinals)
Friday, May 30 | 7:50 p.m. (200m quarterfinals)
The 2025 MVC Most Valuable Athlete and a Second Team All-American during indoor season, Hood will compete in both the 100m and 200m, events where he earned all-conference accolades this season. It will be his first individual events at the NCAA East First Round after previously representing the Trees in the 4x100m relay at this stage. He is Indiana State’s record holder in the 100 with a wind-legal 10.08 and is second in program history in the 200 at 20.64. Hood Jr. is in lane six of heat six for the 100m and lane three of heat five for the 200m, and will need to either finish in the top three of his heat or be one of the six fastest times among those who don’t automatically qualify to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals.
 
Kilan Macklin | Long Jump
Wednesday, May 28 | 4:30 p.m.
Macklin made his mark in his debut season with the Sycamores, climbing into the top 10 in program history with his long jump mark of 7.56m (24-9.75), which was set at Louisville in April. He earned all-conference accolades in the long jump and also scored points in the high jump this season at the conference championships. An NCAA East First Round debutant, Macklin is in the first flight of the long jump.
 
Rachel Mehringer | 100m Hurdles
Thursday, May 29 | 6 p.m. (first round)
Saturday, May 31 | 6:15 p.m. (quarterfinals)
The Indiana State and Missouri Valley Conference record holder in the 100m hurdles, Mehringer won her second straight MVC crown in the event by breaking the championship record at 13.07. She also owns the conference record at 13.04, which was set in Terre Haute, and has a slightly wind-aided 13.03 on her resume this season as well. Mehringer, who will be making her second appearance at the NCAA East First Round, is in lane five of heat six, and will need to either finish in the top three of her heat or be one of the six fastest times among those who don’t automatically qualify to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals.
 
Terrance O’Bannon | 110m
Wednesday, May 28 | 7 p.m. (first round)
Friday, May 30 | 6:35 p.m. (quarterfinals)
O’Bannon won his second straight MVC 100m title with a time of 10.36, and has run three times of 10.30 or faster this season. His two fastest times of 10.20 and 10.23 were both run in Terre Haute this month, with his times consistently improving with the weather getting warmer. O’Bannon is in lane two of heat three, and will need to either finish in the top three of his heat or be one of the six fastest times among those who don’t automatically qualify to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals.
 
Brooklyn Pfaff | Pole Vault
Thursday, May 29 | 5:30 p.m.
Pfaff, the MVC outdoor pole vault champion in 2025, received good news just hours after the original declarations were announced, as she was a late addition to the field. She ranks within the top 10 in program history in the event with her clearance of 4.15m (13-7.25) last season, and has a top clearance of 4.09m (13-5) this season. A model of consistency, Pfaff has cleared 3.81m (12-6) or better at every meet this season, including twice going above the 4-meter mark. Pfaff is in the first flight, with both pits running simultaneously.
 
Wyatt Puff | Shot Put and Discus
Wednesday, May 28 | 6 p.m. (shot put)
Friday, May 30 | 1 p.m. (discus)
Puff is making his fourth appearance at the NCAA East First Round and is pulling double-duty at the preliminary round for the third time in his career. The MVC runner-up in the discus, he ranks among the program leaders in both the shot put (18.47m/60-7.25) and discus (career-best 56.53m/185-5, season-best 55.06m/180-8). Puff scored double-digit points at three different MVC Outdoor Championships (2022, 2023, 2025) and also won the shot put at the 2025 MVC Indoor Championships. He is in the second flight of both the shot put and discus.
 
Will Staggs | Pole Vault
Wednesday, May 28 | 5:30 p.m.
A two-time All-American and the Indiana State indoor and outdoor pole vault record holder, Staggs is making his fourth NCAA East First Round appearance and looking to earn his second NCAA Outdoor National Championships berth. He cleared 5.53m (18-1.75) earlier this month at Ohio State and also has a clearance of 5.51m (18-1) at Louisville. Staggs has cleared 5.40m (17-8.5) or better at five meets this outdoor season. He is in the second flight, with both pits running simultaneously.
 
 
Where The Sycamores Are Seeded
Below is a list of where each of Indiana State’s athletes are seeded in the NCAA East First Round field.

• Will Staggs – pole vault (fourth, 5.53m/18-1.75)
• Rachel Mehringer – 100m hurdles (11th, 13.03)
• Casey Hood Jr. – 100m (14th, 10.08), 200m (32nd, 20.64)
• Sloan Cox – shot put (24th, 18.62m/61-1.25)
• Noah Bolt – discus (23rd, 56.48m/185-4)
• Wyatt Puff – shot put (28th 18.47m/60-9.75), discus (33rd, 55.06m/180-8)
• Lillian Gibbs – javelin (30th, 48.04m/157-7)
• Collin Forrest – 110m hurdles (30th, 13.84)
• Niesha Anderson – hammer throw (37th, 58.51m/191-11)
• Terrance O’Bannon – 100m (39th, 10.23)
• Kilan Macklin – long jump (43rd, 7.56m/24-9.75)
• Ryan Handy – 3000m steeplechase (44th, 8:51.38)
• Brooklyn Pfaff – pole vault (48th, 4.09m/13-5)
• Aliseonna Garnett – shot put (48th, 15.34m/50-4)

 
What’s At Stake
The top 12 finishers in each event will advance to the NCAA Outdoor National Championships June 11-14 in Eugene, Oregon.
 
Follow the Sycamores

For the latest information on the Sycamore Track & Field and Cross Country teams, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from the both the App Store and the Google Play Store.
 

– #MarchOn –

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Montana State track and field adds another chapter to a historic season this week, sending their second-largest group ever to the NCAA West First Rounds as 21 Bobcats head to College Station, Texas, for competition beginning Wednesday at Texas A&M University.

The total number of 21 student-athletes who will wear Montana State across their chests at E.B. Cushing Stadium during the four-day meet is second only to last year’s group of 23.  

“The number of qualifiers and having so many ranked so high signifies the strength of the track and field program,” head coach Lyle Weese said. “It is especially reflective of the breakthrough season for the women’s team across all event groups.” 

12 of the Cats’ 19 event entries come on the women’s side, and include the ninth-ranked 4×400 meter relay team among the stacked field in the West.

Indeed, the 19 entries showcase incredible balance indicative of Montana State’s team strength across one of the best seasons in program history, with seven distance runners, six sprinters, four throwers, three pole vaulters, and one long jumper in College Station.

The meet structure this week in College Station parallels that of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, with the men in action on Wednesday and Friday and the women in action on Thursday and Saturday. 

Athletes who ranked among the top 48 in their respective events earned a berth into the NCAA West First Rounds. The top 12 in each event at the NCAA West First Rounds advance to the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, held June 11-14 at Hayward Field. 

13 of Montana State’s 19 entries are seeded in the top 30 in the West region, with several Bobcats entering this week knowing they have legitimate chances to book a coveted ticket to Eugene. 

“The level of competition at this meet is obviously really impressive,” Weese said. “We will need to make sure we are focused on ourselves, stick to our routine, and realize we don’t have to do anything we are not prepared for or haven’t done previously. Our season schedule has prepared us for success in this meet and the NCAA finals because we have seen competitors of this caliber throughout the season.” 

The Bobcat men begin competition on Wednesday with Elijah Jackman entered in the hammer throw at 10 a.m. CT/9 a.m. MT. The junior is seeded 36^th out of 48 competitors. 

Later on Wednesday, five-time Big Sky champion Colby Wilson competes in the pole vault (5:30 p.m. CT) looking for his third appearance at the NCAA Championships. The native of Olympia, Washington, is seeded 22nd in the West region.

Wrapping up the men’s entries on Wednesday will be the duo of Harvey Cramb and Sam Ells racing in the 1,500 meter prelims at 6:30 p.m. CT. Cramb, the Big Sky champion, is ranked eighth in the West Region, while Ells is ranked 13^th. The top five finishers from each of the four heats plus the next four fastest times advance to Friday’s national quarterfinal.

Thursday, Clara Fox kickstarts Montana State’s week on the women’s side competing in the javelin at 2:30 p.m. CT.

Shortly after, Hailey Coey looks to continue one of the all-time seasons by a Bobcat with the long jump at 4:30 p.m. CT. The junior from Billings is ranked ninth in the West Region and will be in an advantageous position as part of the final flight. 

For the first time in program history, multiple women’s pole vaulters will compete at the regional stage, with both Big Sky champion Tatum Richards (seeded 41^st) and Megan Bell (seeded 48^th) in action at 5:30 p.m. CT. in the national semifinals on Thursday. 

At 6 p.m. CT. on Thursday, Big Sky Conference record-holder Sydney Brewster enters the shot put ring for a highly-anticipated competition. The sophomore is ranked 13^th in the West region, and will be joined in the event by fellow sophomore teammate Emma Brensdal, ranked 29^th in the West. 

Also at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday, junior Millie Hubbell will race in the prelims of the 100 meter hurdles. The two-time Big Sky silver medalist currently holds the second-fastest time in program history and is seeded 29th in the West region.

Later on Thursday at 8:20 p.m. CT junior hurdler Giulia Gandolfi will race in the prelims of the 400 meter hurdles. The native of Faenza, Italy, is doubling this week in College Station, and hopes to run twice on Saturday—once in the 400 meter hurdle final and again as part of the 4×400 meter relay.

In the final event on Thursday, school record-holder Peyton Garrison gets in the starting blocks for the 200 meters at 8:45 p.m. CT. Garrison, seeded 45th, will also run in the Bobcats’ 4×400 meter relay on Saturday evening.

Friday, the men’s 1,500 meter national quarterfinal begins the slate—with hopefully Harvey Cramb and Sam Ells fighting for tickets to Eugene.

Immediately after, ‘Steeple U’ hits the track with three Bobcats including Rob McManus (seeded 4th), Owen Smith (seeded 23rd), and Will Kelly (seeded 30th) toeing the line to try to continue the Bobcats’ dominance in the event. In the latest USTFCCCA Event Squad Rankings, the Montana State men’s steeplechase group ranked second nationally behind only BYU.

Saturday, Bozeman native and school record-holder Grace Gilbreth (seeded 13th) races in the women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase to begin the day in the early evening ahead of the finals in the 100 meter hurdles and 400 meter hurdles.

In the penultimate event of the night, school-record holder Kyla Christopher-Moody takes to the track for the 5,000 meters. In her final collegiate season, the graduate student has re-written the record books, with four new school records on top of four All-Big Sky honors.

Finally, the women’s 4×400 meter relay team of Jadyn VanDyken, Peyton Garrison, Giulia Gandolfi, Caroline Hawkes, and Olivia Lewis will run in the national semifinals aiming to become the first Montana State relay to ever make it to the NCAA Championships. The group is seeded ninth in the West Region thanks to their school-record time of 3:33.66 set at the Mt. SAC Relays in April.

The NCAA West First Rounds will stream live on ESPN+ with coverage beginning at 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT on both Wednesday and Thursday, and beginning at 4 p.m. MT/5 p.m. CT on both Friday and Saturday.  

A full meet schedule is available here and start lists can be viewed here. A meet central webpage with links to live results, information, streaming, and more can be found here.  

#GoCatsGo

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 27, 2025) — The third-ranked U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team captured the silver medal at the 2025 ParaVolley Pan America Zonal Championship after a 3-0 (26-28, 22-25, 20-25) loss to second-ranked Brazil in the gold medal match at the Colorado Convention Center.

It was the third meeting between the two teams in the tournament, with the U.S. (4-1) winning the previous matches in five sets and four sets, respectively. With the gold medal, Brazil (3-2) qualifies for the 2026 ParaVolley World Championship. The U.S. has already qualified due to winning the 2024 Paralympic Games.

Lora Webster was named Best Blocker for the tournament, and Kaleo Kanahele Maclay was named Best Setter.

“We’re disappointed in the outcome,” head coach Bill Hamiter said. “We had set one; we had a five-point lead once, a four-point lead once, and our errors gave it back to them. We were just being really lackadaisical. I tried to tell them, ‘hey, we gotta pick up the energy.’ We let them back in to win that one, and of course that gave them a lot of emotion, and we could never climb back in. I tried every sub I had trying to climb back in. Some days, it just doesn’t happen.”

Raelene Elam was on fire for the U.S., scoring 14 points on 12 kills, two aces and one block. She was the only one in double figures. Monique Matthews (five kills) and Webster (four kills, one block) each scored five. Nicky Nieves had three kills and an ace, and Kanahele Maclay had two kills and a block. Whitney Dosty, Tia Edwards, Jillian Williams Coffee and MaKenzie Franklin all had two points. Lexi Patterson and Emma Schieck each had a kill.

Shout out to Bethany Zummo, who was amazing at libero the entire tournament, playing in every set.

Next up for the U.S. Women is the Dutch Tournament, July 3-6, in the Netherlands. The ParaVolley World Cup will be hosted in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Oct. 12-18.

Schedule/Results

May 24
USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-15)

May 25
USA def. Brazil, 3-2 (25-17, 25-17, 24-26, 23-25, 15-11)
USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-9, 25-15, 25-11)

May 26
USA def. Brazil, 3-1 (15-25, 25-20, 25-17, 27-25)

May 27
Gold medal match, Brazil def. USA, 3-0 (26-28, 22-25, 20-25)

Roster

No Name (Position, Height, Hometown)
1 Lora Webster (MB, 5-11, Point Lookout, N.Y.)
2 Bethany Zummo (L, 5-3, Dublin, Calif.)
3 Lexi Patterson (S/L, 5-4, Waseca, Minn.)
7 Monique Matthews (MB/OH, 6-0, Ardmore, Okla.)
8 Whitney Dosty (OH/OPP, 6-3, Tucson, Ariz.)
9 Tia Edwards (OH/MB, 5-7, Skiatook, Okla.)
11 Jillian Williams-Coffee (MB/OPP/OH, 5-10, Odem, Texas)
12 Emma Schieck (OH, 5-7, Statesville, N.C.)
14 Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (S, 5-6, Oklahoma City, Okla.)
15 Kendra Hall (5-7, Westfield, Ind.)
16 Nicky Nieves (MB/OH, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla.)
18 Courtney Baker (OH, 5-9, Crofton, Ky.)
22 MaKenzie Franklin (OH, 6-0, Red Wing, Minn., North Country)
24 Raelene Elam (OH, 6-1, St. George, Utah, Northern California)

HIGH POINT, N.C. – After late medical scratches at the NCAA East First Rounds, two members of the High Point University men’s track and field team were added to the selection lists, both qualifying for the first time in their careers. Drew Noblet will compete in the men’s javelin competition on Wednesday, May 28 at 2:20 p.m. and Graham Ferguson will run in the men’s 1500m later that day at 6:30 p.m. With the addition of Noblet and Ferguson, HPU’s qualification total increases to 18 student-athletes, making it the most athletes at an NCAA First Round in program history.

This past season, the graduate student from Waxhaw, North Carolina joined the Panthers for his final season. He placed in the top five at five different meets and finished out the season with a silver medal at the Big South Outdoor Championships. He threw a personal best 62.83m which landed him a spot at the NCAA East First Rounds. The top 12 athletes in the field will advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

In Ferguson’s last season as a Panther, he competed in the men’s 1500m and 800m events. Improving significantly in both throughout his career, he recorded a new personal best in the 1500m at the Duke Twilight on May 4, 2025 with a 3:41.35 time which was the time that helped him secure a spot at the NCAA East First Rounds. He most recently took home the Big South title in the 1500m for the second consecutive year. Following the first round on Wednesday, the top 24 athletes will advance to the quarterfinals on Friday, May 30 at 5:15 p.m. The top 12 athletes from the quarterfinals will move on to the NCAA Championships.

Noblet will be the first athlete to start competition at the NCAA East First Rounds.

 

#GoHPU x #DefendTheTeam

HAMMOND, La. – The reigning, back-to-back Southland Conference Regular Season Champion Southeastern Louisiana University volleyball team has charted its course to a third-straight title with the release of the team’s 2025 schedule on Monday.
 
“We are very excited and looking forward to the 2025 season,” said first year head coach Lee McBride. “With the players we have returning and the new group coming in, we feel like we are in a great position to win the conference championship again.”
 

The Green & Gold match wraps up preseason camp in the University Center on Aug. 21.
 
On Aug. 29-30, the 2025 season begins in earnest in the University Center with SLU hosting the Southeastern Showdown. It will feature matches against Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana Tech on day one before wrapping up the opening weekend against Jackson State to close out the event.
 
The next weekend begins nearly a month of matches away from home for the Lady Lions, starting with a pair of matches in Conway, Ark. at the Central Arkansas Invitational. That weekend will see SLU play the host Sugar Bears on Sept. 5 before taking on Little Rock on Sept. 6.
 
A week later, Southeastern makes the trip east to Mobile, Ala. for the Jaguar Invitational. On Sept. 11, the Lady Lions take on the host, South Alabama, and then wrap up play there on Sept. 12 against Tulane.
 
Two days later, the Lady Lions make the short drive to Baton Rouge for a match against LSU on Sept. 14.
 

A very tough weekend follows as SLU goes over to Bryan-College Station, Texas to take part in the Texas A&M Invitational where all three of Southeastern’s opponents in that event are NCAA Tournament qualifiers from 2024, two of which won at least one match in the tournament. It starts with a battle of Lions, taking on Loyola Marymount, a second round team in 2024, in the first match of the day on Sept. 19 before wrapping up day one against New Hampshire. The home-standing Aggies, who made it to the third round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, await on Sat., Sept. 20, to wrap up SLU’s multi-team event portion of the schedule.
 
After a month away from home, the Lady Lions return home for a three-match homestand which includes the start of Southland Conference action. On Sept. 23, Southern makes the drive from Baton Rouge to Hammond, America to wrap up non-conference action. Two days later, SLC action starts when McNeese comes to the University Center. That’s followed two days later by a visit by Nicholls to the U.C. to wrap up the homestand and the month of September.
 
The first Southland road trip of the season opens the month of October as the Lady Lions head to Lamar on Oct. 2 before heading to Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 4.
 

Returning home, Southeastern welcomes Northwestern State to Hammond, America on Oct. 9 before another battle of Lions on Oct. 11 as East Texas A&M comes to the University Center.
 

The trip way down south is next as SLU heads to Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Oct. 16 and then the final match against a 2024 NCAA Tournament team on the schedule, traveling to The Island to take on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Oct. 18. The three-match road trip wraps up on Oct. 22 in San Antonio to take on Incarnate Word.
 
Houston Christian comes to Hammond on Oct. 25 to open a run of four matches out of five inside the University Center. The one road trip in that span is next as the Lady Lions head down I-55 to New Orleans for a date with the Privateers on Oct. 28. UNO makes the return trip to Hammond just two days later to start a run of three straight at home for the Lady Lions. The month of November starts with both Lamar and Stephen F. Austin making their return trips on Nov. 6 and Nov. 8, respectively, to wrap up the homestand and the home portion of SLU’s schedule overall.
 
2025’s regular season ends with two road matches as the Lady Lions make their return trips to McNeese and Nicholls on Nov. 13 and 15 to end the season slate.
 

The 2025 Southland Conference Volleyball Championship runs Nov. 21-23 at The Field House on the campus of East Texas A&M in Commerce, Texas. The 2025 NCAA National Champion will be crowned on Dec. 21 in Kansas City, Mo. at the T-Mobile Center.
 
Preseason practice for the 2025 volleyball season starts in mid-August.
 
2025 Indoor Volleyball Schedule:
Aug. 21 Green & Gold Match
Southeastern Showdown – Hammond, La.
Aug. 29 vs. ULM
Aug. 29 vs. Louisiana Tech

Aug. 30 vs. Jackson State

Central Arkansas Invitational – Conway, Ark.
Sept. 5 @ Central Arkansas

Sept. 6 vs. Little Rock

Jaguar Invitational – Mobile, Ala.
Sept. 11 @ South Alabama

Sept. 12 vs. Tulane

Sept. 14 @ LSU
Texas A&M Invitational – Bryan-College Station, Texas
Sept. 19 vs. Loyola Marymount
Sept. 19 vs. New Hampshire

Sept. 20 @ Texas A&M

Sept. 23 vs. Southern
Sept. 25 vs. McNeese*
Sept. 27 vs. Nicholls*
Oct. 2 @ Lamar*
Oct. 4 @ Stephen F. Austin*
Oct. 9 vs. Northwestern State*
Oct. 11 vs. East Texas A&M*
Oct. 16 @ Texas-Rio Grande Valley*

Oct. 18 @ Texas A&M-Corpus Christi*
Oct. 22 @ Incarnate Word*
Oct. 25 vs. Houston Christian*
Oct. 28 @ New Orleans*
Oct. 30 vs. New Orleans*
Nov. 6 vs. Lamar*
Nov. 8 vs. Stephen F. Austin*
Nov. 13 @ McNeese*
Nov. 15 @ Nicholls*
Nov. 21-23 – SLC Championship – Commerce, Texas
Home Matches in BOLD
* – Southland Conference Match
 
DIGGIN’ IT CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the Southeastern volleyball program are encouraged to join the Diggin’ It Club. Lion volleyball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Diggin’ It Club and S Club (volleyball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern volleyball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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Jamie Chin, a senior chemistry and French double major, has been named the recipient of the Cecil F. Cheverton Award for 2025. 

The Cheverton Award is the oldest and highest undergraduate student honor, awarded by a vote of the full Chapman faculty. A gift of the class of 1929, the original bronze Cheverton Award cup remains on exhibit in Argyros Forum along with its successor, a silver bowl. These trophies are engraved with the names of all Cheverton awardees since 1929.

“I am incredibly grateful and honored. This award means a lot to me, and it could not have been possible with everyone who has supported me,” said Chin.

Chin will pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Texas Austin this fall. “I am grateful to Dr. Owens, my very first research mentor, who kicked off my journey towards being a scientist,” said Chin. “I would also like to thank Dr. Wang and Dr. Kim for guiding and supporting me through the graduate school application process.” 

Chin is graduating with a wide array of research experiences behind her. As a Stauffer Fletcher Jones Fellow, under the mentorship of Dr. Cedric Owens, Chin researched the efficacy of esterase on chlorogenic acid, exploring its applications in food science. Her project, for which she co-authored a research paper in the Journal of Food Science, examined the upcycling of sunflower flour in baked goods. Sunflower flour is a nutritious alternative to wheat flour, but it produces an unpleasant green color due to chlorogenic acid. To resolve this problem, Chin added an esterase enzyme to the mixture to break down the chlorogenic acid, eliminating the green hue. 

“Participating in scientific research has taught me valuable skills and allowed me to cultivate novel scientific knowledge that can be shared with the world,” said Chin. 

At the Schmid College of Science and Technology Awards Night, Chin was named the Outstanding Chemistry Major. “Jamie has distinguished herself in the lab, the classroom, and across our academic community,” said Dr. Elaine Schwartz, Associate Dean for External Relations and Student Advancement. “Her record speaks to a rare combination of discipline and curiosity. As she heads to the University of Texas for her Ph.D., we can say with confidence that the future of science is in very good hands.”

Outside of the lab, Chin competes on the Women’s Water Polo team. Her first year, Chin set the second-highest single-season shooting percentage, and she served as a starter for the next three years. In the 2023-2024 season, Chin helped her team reach the post-season tournament for the first time in program history. 

“I am so grateful to have been supported by a group of strong, loving, and amazing women,” said Chin. “They all taught me to push myself to the limit and believe in myself.” 

Additionally, Chin is president of Chapman’s chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS). “I never knew what being a club president was like until I became one,” said Chin. “I am naturally more hands-off, so I have often felt uncomfortable taking the lead. However, as president I had to learn to communicate effectively with my executive board to complete our tasks.” 

Chin put on ACS’ first fundraising initiative (a popular “pie your professor” event) and coordinated outreach activities with the local community. “My most memorable outreach event was at the Santa Ana Zoo, where we conducted a hidden-messages experiment with colored lenses. I felt incredibly fulfilled to foster a sense of excitement for the sciences in these young children.” 

“Throughout my four years here, I have been transformed from a shy, hesitant student into a confident leader, a determined athlete, and a dedicated researcher,” said Chin. “I am so excited to see what is next, and I will carry my Chapman community with me all the way to Texas.”