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Big 12 Track and Field Teams Head to NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship

Story Links All 16 Big 12 teams will be represented at the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championship held June 11-14 in Eugene, Oregon. Student-athletes who advanced to the national championship posted qualifying marks at the East and West Preliminary Rounds last week. Heading into the final meet of […]

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All 16 Big 12 teams will be represented at the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championship held June 11-14 in Eugene, Oregon. Student-athletes who advanced to the national championship posted qualifying marks at the East and West Preliminary Rounds last week.

Heading into the final meet of the 2025 NCAA season, the Baylor women lead the National TRFI at No. 4 followed by Texas Tech at No. 8, BYU at No. 10 and TCU at No. 14. On the men’s side, the Red Raiders come in at No. 14 along with BYU at No. 16, Arizona at No. 19 and Houston at No. 25.

TTU had the fifth-most entries (12) of men’s DI programs, while the Horned Frogs tied for the fourth-most (11) entries and TTU and BYU both earned 10 selections in the women’s competition.

Athletes participating in the men’s decathlon and women’s heptathlon were also announced alongside the regional qualifiers, but will only compete at the national championship. The league garnered six selections to the national championship, while the women’s field featured two combined event specialists.

Action begins Wednesday, June 11, and will conclude Saturday, June 14. Live results can be found here, while live coverage will be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPN+ throughout the week.

2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship – Big 12 Qualifiers

Men’s Decathlon Qualifiers

Ben Barton, BYU

Jaden Roskelley, BYU

Nick Bianco, Colorado

Grant Levesque, Houston

Tayton Klein, Kansas

Emil Uhlin, K-State

 

Women’s Heptathlon Qualifiers

Juliette Laracuente-Huebner, Cincinnati

Annie Molenhouse, Oklahoma State

 

Qualified during East and West Preliminary Rounds

Camila Aguilar-Perez, Arizona – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Jesse Avina, Arizona – Men’s Javelin Throw

Jenica Bosko, Arizona – Women’s Long Jump

Jade Brown, Arizona – Women’s 100 Meters

Isaac Davis, Arizona – Men’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Zach Extine, Arizona – Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles

Keilee Hall, Arizona – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Tapenisa Havea, Arizona – Women’s Shot Put

Youssef Koudssi, Arizona – Men’s Discus Throw

Zach Landa, Arizona – Men’s Shot Put  

Brian Limage, Arizona – Men’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Diego Marquez, Arizona – Men’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Brooke Nordman, Arizona – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

James Onanubosi, Arizona – Men’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Reinaldo Rodrigues, Arizona – Men’s 4×100 Meter Relay and Long Jump

Antonia Sanchez Nunez, Arizona – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Ava Simms, Arizona – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Tyson Tippett, Arizona – Men’s 4×100 Meter Relay

McKenna Watson, Arizona – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Josiah Anderson, Arizona State – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Jayden Davis, Arizona State – Men’s 400 Meters and 4×400 Meter Relay

Malik Franklin, Arizona State – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Ines Lopez, Arizona State – Women’s Discus Throw

Mateo Medina, Arizona State – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Trevin Moyer, Arizona State – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Nicholas Ramey, Arizona State – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Abbas Ali, Baylor – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Mariah Ayers, Baylor – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay and 4×400 Meter Relay

Alexis Brown, Baylor – Women’s Long Jump and 4×100 Meter Relay

De’montray Callis, Baylor – Men’s 200 Meters

Laurenz Colbert, Baylor – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Janae De Gannes, Baylor – Women’s Long Jump and 4×100 Meter Relay

Nathaniel Ezekiel, Baylor – Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles and 4×400 Meter Relay

Michaela Francois, Baylor – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Jasmine Gryne, Baylor – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Molly Haywood, Baylor – Women’s Pole Vault

Tiriah Kelley, Baylor – Women’s 200 Meters, 4×100 Meter Relay and 4×400 Meter Relay

Ruth Kimeli, Baylor – Women’s 10,000 Meters

Aaryona Kinchen, Baylor – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Tenly Kuhn, Baylor – Women’s High Jump

Tyler Honeyman, Baylor – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Jack Jackson, Baylor – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Hannah Lowe, Baylor – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Serafima Lucero, Baylor – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Sameena Mathew, Baylor – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Igor Olaru, Baylor – Men’s Hammer Throw

Demario Prince, Baylor – Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles

Summer Sergeant, Baylor – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay and 4×400 Meter Relay

Aren Spencer, Baylor – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Calisha Taylor, Baylor – Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles and 4×400 Meter Relay

Danny Bryant, BYU – Men’s Shot Put

Tessa Buswell, BYU – Women’s 800 Meters

Riley Chamberlain, BYU – Women’s 1,500 Meters

James Corrigan, BYU – Men’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase

Luke Grundvig, BYU – Men’s 5,000 Meters

Lexy Halladay-Lowry, BYU – Women’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase

Carlee Hansen, BYU – Women’s 1,500 Meters

Eli Hazlett, BYU – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Jonah Heimuli, BYU – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Gretchen Hoekstre, BYU – Women’s Shot Put and Discus Throw

Meghan Hunter, BYU – Women’s 800 Meters

Jenna Hutchins, BYU – Women’s 5,000 Meters

Trey Jackson, BYU – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Taylor Lovell, BYU – Women’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase

Joey Nokes, BYU – Men’s 10,000 Meters

Sami Oblad, BYU – Women’s 400 Meters

Ty Oustrich, BYU – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Josh Taylor, BYU – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Creed Thompson, BYU – Men’s 10,000 Meters

Janiah Pulliam, UCF – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Jazmen Newberry, UCF – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Adaobi Tabugbo, UCF – Women’s 100 Meter Hurdles and 4×100 Meter Relay

I’Asia Wilson, UCF – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Kya Epps, Cincinnati – Women’s 200 Meters

Davenae Fagan, Cincinnati – Women’s 400 Meters

Fred Moudani-Likibi, Cincinnati – Men’s Shot Put

Amanda Ngandu-Ntumba, Cincinnati – Women’s Shot Put and Discus Throw

Ryan Rieckmann, Cincinnati – Men’s Javelin Throw

Macaela Walker, Cincinnati – Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles

Orry Willems, Cincinnati – Men’s Hammer Throw

Kole Mathison, Colorado – Men’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase

John Adesola, Houston – Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles

Trey East III, Houston – Men’s 400 Meters and 4×400 Meter Relay

Damarien Jacobs, Houston – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Jamar Marshall Jr., Houston – Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles

Adam Mason, Houston – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Antrea Mita, Houston – Men’s High Jump

Sahfi Reed, Houston – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Jaylin Santiago, Houston – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

King Taylor, Houston – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Dugion Blackman, Iowa State – Men’s 800 Meters

Makayla Clark, Iowa State – Women’s 800 Meters and 4×400 Meter Relay

Karynne David, Iowa State – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Cam Jones, Iowa State – Men’s Shot Put

Rachel Joseph, Iowa State – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Rodgers Kiplimo, Iowa State – Men’s 10,000 Meters

Robin Kwemoi Bera, Iowa State – Men’s 5,000 Meters

Becca Heitzig, Iowa State – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Mikey McClain, Iowa State – Men’s 200 Meters

Cameron Moon, Iowa State – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Quinton Orr, Iowa State – Men’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase

Maelle Porcher, Iowa State – Women’s 5,000 Meters

Joash Ruto, Iowa State – Men’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase

Brooklyn Sandvig, Iowa State – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Ashton Barkdull, Kansas – Men’s Pole Vault

Bryce Barkdull, Kansas – Men’s Pole Vault

Jacob Cookinham, Kansas – Men’s Shot Put

Ebba Cronholm, Kansas – Women’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase

Bryce Foster, Kansas – Men’s Shot Put

Erica Ellis, Kansas – Women’s Pole Vault

Aaliyah Moore, Kansas – Women’s 800 Meters

Dimitrios Pavlidis, Kansas – Men’s Discus Throw

Sofia Sluchaninova, Kansas – Women’s Discus Throw

Jourdin Edwards, K-State – Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles

Sharie Enoe, K-State – Women’s High Jump

Safhia Hinds, K-State – Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles

Tamaiah Koonce, K-State – Women’s Discus Throw

Monique Hardy, K-State – Women’s Hammer Throw

Riley Marx, K-State – Men’s Javelin Throw

Shalom Olotu, K-State – Women’s Long Jump and Triple Jump

Selva Prabhu, K-State – Men’s Triple Jump

Blair Anderson, Oklahoma State – Men’s Long Jump

Isca Chelangat, Oklahoma State – Women’s 800 Meters

Denis Kipngetich, Oklahoma State – Men’s 10,000 Meters

Fouad Messaoudi, Oklahoma State – Men’s 5,000 Meters

Brian Musau, Oklahoma State – Men’s 5,000 Meter Run

Josphine Mwaura, Oklahoma State – Women’s 10,000 Meters

Kaylie Politza, Oklahoma State – Women’s 800 Meters

Alex Stitt, Oklahoma State – Men’s 1,500 Meters

Emma Robbins, Oklahoma State – Women’s Hammer Throw

Maria Bienvenu, TCU – Women’s Javelin Throw

Amelliah Birdow, TCU – Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles and 4×400 Meter Relay

Bryce Brazzell, TCU – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay and 4×400 Meter Relay

Dominic Byles, TCU – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Kashie Crockett, TCU – Men’s 200 Meters, 4×100 Meter Relay and 4×400 Meter Relay

Kelaiah Daniyan, TCU – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Jayden Douglas, TCU – Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles, 4×100 Meter Relay and 4×400 Meter Relay

Destin Drummond, TCU – Men’s 4×100 Meter Relay and 4×400 Meter Relay

Finn Dunshee, TCU – Men’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Coulaj Eans, TCU – Men’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Justin Frater, TCU – Men’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Lloyd Frilot, TCU – Men’s 800 Meters and 4×400 Meter Relay

Iyana Gray, TCU – Women’s 100 Meters, 4×100 Meter Relay and 4×400 Meter Relay

Teanna Harlin, TCU – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Mikayla Hayes, TCU – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Irene Jepkemboi, TCU – Women’s Javelin Throw

Ronnie Kendrick, TCU – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Amari Kiluvia, TCU – Women’s 100 Meter Hurdles

Preston Kuznof, TCU – Men’s Javelin Throw

Indya Mayberry, TCU – Women’s 100 Meters, 200 Meters, 4×100 Meter Relay and 4×400 Meter Relay

Samarra Monrroy, TCU – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Jordan Parker, TCU – Men’s 4×100 Meter Relay and 4×400 Meter Relay

Sanjay Salmon, TCU – Men’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Laila Smith, TCU – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

London Tucker, TCU – Women’s 100 Meters and 4×100 Meter Relay

Tia Williams, TCU – Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles and 4×400 Meter Relay

Temitope Adeshina, Texas Tech – Women’s High Jump

Fanny Arendt, Texas Tech – Women’s 800 Meters and 4×400 Meter Relay

Vanessa Balde, Texas Tech – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Zoe Burleson, Texas Tech – Women’s Discus Throw

DeSean Boyce, Texas Tech – Men’s 400 Meters and 4×400 Meter Relay

Ernest Cheruiyot, Texas Tech – Men’s 5,000 Meters and 10,000 Meters

Johnathan Crawford, Texas Tech – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Oskar Edlund, Texas Tech – Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles and 4×400 Meter Relay

Shelby Frank, Texas Tech – Women’s Discus Throw and Hammer Throw

George Garcia, Texas Tech – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Victoria Gorlova, Texas Tech – Women’s Triple Jump

Sean Gribble, Texas Tech – Men’s Pole Vault

Magi Harris, Texas Tech – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Carl Hicks, Texas Tech – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Mekenze Kelley, Texas Tech – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Titus Kimaru, Texas Tech – Men’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase

Mario Paul, Texas Tech – Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles

Oscar Rodriguez, Texas Tech – Men’s Discus Throw

Destiny Smith, Texas Tech – Women’s 100 Meter Hurdles

Malachi Snow, Texas Tech – Men’s 100 Meters

Mercy Umoibang, Texas Tech – Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay

Shaemar Uter, Texas Tech – Men’s 400 Meters and 4×400 Meter Relay

Tamiah Washington, Texas Tech – Women’s Triple Jump

Trey Wilson III, Texas Tech – Men’s Shot Put

Chelsea Amoah, Utah – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Rachel Bair, Utah – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Mckaylie Caesar, Utah – Women’s 10,000 Meters

Morgan Jensen, Utah – Women’s 10,000 Meters

Bailey Kealamakia, Utah – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Emily Martin, Utah – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Megan Rose, Utah – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Chloe Shewell, Utah – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay

Joy Naukot, West Virginia – Women’s 10,000 Meters

Sarah Tait, West Virginia – Women’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase

 

 





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Loftus sees young players’ progress in Euro U22 qualifiers

England Head Coach Simon Loftus hopes the philosophy of blooding young players at the CEV U22 European Championships 2026 qualifiers will eventually pay dividends by accelerating their development.  The English squad were the youngest in the four-strong Pool A out in Cisterna di Latina, Italy that also comprised of the hosts, Ukraine and Denmark.  And […]

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England Head Coach Simon Loftus hopes the philosophy of blooding young players at the CEV U22 European Championships 2026 qualifiers will eventually pay dividends by accelerating their development. 

The English squad were the youngest in the four-strong Pool A out in Cisterna di Latina, Italy that also comprised of the hosts, Ukraine and Denmark. 

And while, as expected, they struggled in terms of results against teams ranked much higher than themselves, there were lots of promising performances, particularly from some of the younger members of the travelling contingent. 

“We took the likes of Jim Cox, Josh Sturland, Torin Cole, Finn Chalkley-Beales and others because we know these guys are going to be young enough do it again (at U22 level),” said Loftus. 

“It was our approach, a bit different to what we have done before, to give these players the experience of playing at this level. 

England U22 men in Italy July 2025 5

“The good news is that the younger players have got the NEVZA Championship coming up this year, so that group have got more opportunities to develop again. 

“Getting good competition is important in terms of trying to move things forward. It’s too soon to know if these players are going to come through to the Senior set-up, as there are too many variables, but we have to keep trying to raise their expectations and standards.” 

England prepared for their time in Italy with a stint in their Netherlands where they trained at the Dutch Olympic Centre and scrimmaged against its U20 side. 

The first of their Euro qualifiers pitched them against hosts Italy where they lost 25-11, 25-20, 25-15, before they were beaten by Denmark (26-16, 25-21, 25-13) and then took a set off Ukraine in their final match (25-20, 24-26, 25-14, 25-15). 

England U22 men in Italy July 2025 4

Analysing each of the matches in turn, Loftus said: “Against Italy, I think they only made two service mistakes in the first set, they were superb, and it’s very hard to play against that. 

“In the second set, once we had got used to things a little bit, we played really well and perhaps surpassed our own expectations. In the third set, they upped their game and were better than us, but, overall, the guys were pretty pleased. 

“The Danish game was a bit disappointing on the back of that… it was a bit after the Lord Mayor’s show. Mentally and physically we invested so much in the first match that we started terribly. 

England U22 men in Italy July 2025

“But credit to the boys because we made some changes and were competitive in the second set, getting into the twenties. 

“It proved a bit too much for us in the third set and we weren’t as reliable on the first day, but after five or six days away, and a young group, it was understandable. 

“Ukraine had beaten Italy 3-1, so we feared the worst, but we did remarkably well. The first set was close and they just edged it with a bit better serving than us. 

“In the second set, we played to our maximum and they dropped off and we took an opportunity, when we were down but then won it in extra points. 

“We forced them to go back to their strongest six and, at that, point, they showed their class, but the team played at their best level for most of the match, which was really encouraging to see. 

England U22 men in Italy July 2025 16

Loftus was quick to praise the University of Nottingham’s Rob Morgan for the way he conducted himself on and off the court. 

“I’m not a massive fan of talking about individuals, and all 14 players contributed while we were there,” he said. 

“But we made Rob captain and he did an unbelievable job with his leadership and attitude. His spirit and caring nature were great to see.” 

The rest of the England staff was also most welcome to Loftus, who says each had important input during the trip.

He added: “Jeff(erson) Williams has been my mentor for years, and I wouldn’t be where I was in the game if it wasn’t for him. 

“Phil Crawford did some amazing things and worked really hard on the players’ development off the court, asking questions of them and trying to reframe things. 

England U22 men in Italy July 2025 8

“Chris (Jones), as ever, has done a great job organising all the logistics and we wouldn’t have been there without him. 

“Binh (Hai-Binh Ly) does an unbelievable job with all the analysis and stats and for the first time the sports therapy of Misa (Kalinova) gave us that extra level of professionalism.” 

“They are the best staff in the world, and I’d like to offer all of them my thanks.”

Images courtesy of CEV


Find out more about the national teams by clicking here.



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Empowerment helps Japan create sustainable beach volleyball model – FIVB

Before receiving Empowerment support, Japan’s beach volleyball programme was broad but decentralised, as teams trained independently with their own coaches and often in different locations. While there was no shortage of talent or experience, the national programme needed a shared direction that could coordinate planning and maintain consistent participation in international competitions. In 2023, the […]

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Before receiving Empowerment support, Japan’s beach volleyball programme was broad but decentralised, as teams trained independently with their own coaches and often in different locations. While there was no shortage of talent or experience, the national programme needed a shared direction that could coordinate planning and maintain consistent participation in international competitions.

In 2023, the Japan Volleyball Association (JVA) received $84,000 in application-based coaching support through the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme, which supported the appointment of veteran coach Steve Anderson, who guided Australia’s women’s team to Olympic gold in beach volleyball at Sydney 2000, as head coach and project manager of the national programme.

“Japan has a long history of volleyball success, technical expertise and innovation,” Anderson said. “But in beach volleyball, there was a lack of international coaching experience. Volleyball and beach volleyball are different disciplines, and many techniques and strategies don’t directly transfer.”

Steve Anderson with Japanese women’s beach volleyball athletes and coaches during training, strengthening team cohesion under the Empowerment programme. (Source: Japan Volleyball Association)

Rather than apply an imported style, Anderson worked with Japanese coaches and athletes to create a shared model built around local strengths. Together, they developed the JVA Style of Play, a national framework grounded in collaboration and cultural understanding.

“Our head coach is developing a JVA Style of Play as a foundation to be taught to all of our national team coaches and athletes. It incorporates the knowledge and nuances that highlight the specific characteristics, personal knowledge and history that only Japanese beach volleyball coaches and athletes can know,” Anderson explained.

Daily training is now centralised at the Beach Volleyball National Training Centre in Kawasaki, with players and staff operating under a consistent system. The approach also includes interpreters, assistant coaches, analysts and administrative staff, all working under an organised framework.

According to JVA Beach Volleyball Group Senior Director Chikashi Kawai Anderson’s strength has been his ability to adapt his coaching style to the Japanese team environment and communicate in a way that resonates with local athletes and staff.

“Steve has made an effort to understand Japanese culture, communicates in a way that suits the Japanese character, and is very attentive,” Kawai said. “In the past, several foreign coaches have joined the Japanese national team, but most of them left after a short period. However, Steve’s coaching method is calm, patient, and tailored to the situation, so it is expected that his training plan will gradually take root over time.”

The JVA also implemented new internal processes. Teams are now required to submit training schedules and follow a coordinated calendar. National team selection is based on transparent criteria, with shared expectations across all athletes.

“By clarifying the conditions for selection as a candidate for the Japanese national team and ensuring transparency, the awareness of each team has improved.”

Coach Steve Anderson leads a training session with Japan’s national beach volleyball teams during their overseas camp in Brisbane. (Source: Japan Volleyball Association)

To strengthen international competitiveness, Anderson pushed for more overseas experience. He encouraged teams to plan off-season training camps abroad and accompanied them to foster cohesion. The JVA raised its travel support, enabling each team to attend up to eight international tournaments per year.

“Immediately after taking Steve’s position, he recommended overseas training camps during the off-season to each team, had them come up with plans, and accompanied them on their overseas training camps to discuss with each team and foster a sense of unity as Team Japan,” Kawai said.

“We prioritised establishing Steve’s new system and increasing the number of overseas trips subsidised by the NF, thereby increasing each team’s opportunities to participate in international tournaments and raising their international competitiveness.”

Recent results have reflected that increased exposure. Asami Shiba & Reika Murakami placed as high as fourth on the Asian Tour and currently ranked third in the AVC qualification standings for the World Championship. Miki Ishii & Saki Maruyama reached the podium in Asia, and Ren & Non Matsumoto earned top finishes at Beach Pro Tour Futures events.

While the women’s programme has made strides, the men’s side has faced challenges. At the 2023 Asian Games, Japan’s men’s quota was reduced from two teams to one. Previous Olympic cycles also saw limited progress. This contrast has added urgency to the effort to build a cohesive system that supports athletes across both programmes.

Japan’s men’s beach volleyball athletes and coaching staff pose during their overseas training camp, part of the national effort to strengthen international competitiveness. (Source: Japan Volleyball Association)

The changes have also shaped how coaches plan and collaborate. Yoshi Atsumi, who coaches Shiba & Murakami, said the national planning model has influenced his own approach.

“In terms of planning, I have come to realise the importance of team planning by conducting larger-scale planning as a representative team rather than as individual teams,” Atsumi said. “I feel that this programme has had a positive effect in terms of reaffirming my coaching style.”

Coach Yoshi Atsumi with Reika Murakami and Asami Shiba at the Beach Pro Tour Challenge Alanya. (Source: Japan Volleyball Association)

For the athletes, this shift has brought new tools and greater clarity. Murakami said Anderson’s neutral role helped her accept a fresh perspective on her game.

“Since Steve is not a coach for any team, I find it easy to accept his objective advice, and I think it has helped me grow by giving me new ideas for my play.”

Shiba said the presence of Anderson at international events deepened her sense of responsibility and allowed her to grow beyond her long-term coaching relationship.

“I have been working with my current coach (Yoshi Atsumi) for over seven years, but this support has broadened my perspective by receiving advice from a third-party perspective,” Shiba said.

“Additionally, while I have always had a sense of responsibility as a representative of Japan, the increased opportunities for Steve to accompany us to competitions alongside our regular coach have made me feel even more accountable as part of the national team. As a result, I have become more positive in my outlook and gained greater confidence. As a team, I believe we are making steady progress gradually.”

JVA has outlined competitive targets from 2025 until LA28 Olympic Games. These include medal finishes at FIVB and AVC events, qualification for both editions of the World Championships, and a direct Olympic berth.

“We have re-structured our national team programmes to include important beach volleyball community stakeholders in our talent identification and development process,” Anderson said. “We are formalising our coach education and mentoring processes to share JVA national team systems, philosophy, and Japan’s winning style of play.”

He described the project not as a quick turnaround, but as the foundation for something lasting.

“The Volleyball Empowerment programme provides critical financial support to fund my head coach and project manager position. This enables me to share my knowledge and experience with the national team members and the wider Japan beach volleyball community,” Anderson stated.

Anderson described the project as more than just a sporting initiative, highlighting its broader potential to impact both individuals and society.

“I foresee continued growth and success on and off of the court, where athletes and coaches develop as people as well as professionals. I also foresee beach volleyball being a vehicle for societal impact – modelling human excellence for Japan’s wider population,” he concluded.



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U.S. Women On Their Way to Poland for 2025 Volleyball Nations League Final Round

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 17, 2025) — Fifteen U.S. Women’s National Team athletes are on their way to Łódź, Poland, to compete at the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Final Round, July 23-27. The top eight teams from the preliminary phase advanced to the Finals, and the U.S. earned its spot with a 7-5 record, […]

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 17, 2025) — Fifteen U.S. Women’s National Team athletes are on their way to Łódź, Poland, to compete at the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Final Round, July 23-27. The top eight teams from the preliminary phase advanced to the Finals, and the U.S. earned its spot with a 7-5 record, finishing eighth in the standings.

The U.S. Women will open the single-elimination bracket on July 23 at 7:30 a.m. PDT against No. 1 seed Italy in the quarterfinals. Other countries who qualified for the Final Round are Brazil, Japan, Poland, China, Türkiye and Germany. All matches will be streamed live on VBTV.

Head coach Erik Sullivan’s roster for Poland includes three 2024 Olympians: setter Jordyn Poulter, middle blocker Dana Rettke and outside hitter Avery Skinner.

Eleven of the remaining players competed in at least one of the three preliminary rounds: outside hitters Madi Skinner, Roni Jones-Perry, Sarah Franklin and Logan Eggleston; liberos Morgan Hentz and Lexi Rodriguez; setter Saige Ka’aha’aina-Torres, opposite Stephanie Samedy; and middle blockers Brionne Butler, Amber Igiede and Tia Jimerson.

Outside hitter Khalia Lanier will make her 2025 debut at the Finals. Lanier made her VNL debut in 2023, playing in two of the preliminary rounds and the Finals. She also played in week two in 2024.

The VNL Finals bring together the world’s top teams for a shot at the title. Since the tournament’s inception in 2018, the U.S. Women have consistently been among the top performers, winning gold in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

U.S. Women’s VNL Finals Roster

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Illinois, Rocky Mountain)
3 Avery Skinner (OH, 6-1, Katy, Texas, Kentucky, Lone Star)
6 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer)
7 Lexi Rodriguez (L, 5-5, Sterling, Ill., Univ. of Nebraska Great Lakes)
8 Brionne Butler (MB, 6-4, Kendleton, Texas, Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
9 Madisen Skinner (OH, 6-2, Katy, Texas, Univ. of Kentucky and Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
13 Amber Igiede (MB, 6-3, Baton Rouge, La., Univ. of Hawaii, Delta)
16 Dana Rettke (MB, 6-8, Riverside, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
19 Khalia Lanier (OH, 6-2, Scottsdale, Ariz., Univ. of Southern California, Arizona)
21 Roni Jones-Perry (OH, 6-0, West Jordan, Utah, BYU, Intermountain)
22 Sarah Franklin (OH, 6-4, Lake Worth, Fla., Univ. of Wisconsin, Florida)
25 Tia Jimerson (MB, 6-3, Sugar Hill, Ga., Univ. of Ohio, Southern)
32 Saige Ka’aha’aina-Torres (S, Honolulu, Hawaii, Univ. of Texas, Aloha)
33 Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-2, Brentwood, Tenn., Univ. of Texas, Southern)
34 Stephanie Samedy (Opp, 6-2, Clermont, Fla., Minnesota, Florida)

Coaches
Head Coach: Erik Sullivan
Assistant Coach: Mike Wall
Second Assistant Coach: Brandon Taliaferro
Second Assistant Coach: Tayyiba Haneef-Park
Second Assistant Coach: Joe Trinsey
Team Manager: Rob Browning
Team Doctors: William Briner, James Suchy, Chris Lee, Andrew Gregory
Physiotherapist: Kara Kessans
Physical Trainers: Shawn Hueglin, Shannon Boone
Mental Performance Coach: Andrea Becker, Katy Stanfill
Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham

VNL Finals Schedule
July 23: USA vs. Italy, 7:30 a.m. PDT
July 26: Semifinals
July 27: Medal matches

Week 1 Results: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
June 4 Italy def. USA, 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 30-28)
June 5 Brazil def. USA, 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-19)
June 6 Czechia def. USA, 3-2 (23-25, 20-25, 25-17, 25-20, 27-25)
June 8 USA def Korea, 3-0 (25-13, 28-26, 25-17)

Week 2 Results: Belgrade, Serbia
June 18 USA def. Serbia, 3-2 (25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 22-25, 15-11)
June 19 Poland def. USA, 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-18)
June 21 USA def. Netherlands, 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-19)
June 22 USA def. France, 3-2 (25-22, 26-24, 20-25, 21-25, 15-13)

Week 3 Results: Arlington, Texas
July 9 USA def. Thailand, 3-1 (28-26, 21-25, 27-25, 25-15)
July 10 USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-20)
July 12 USA def. Canada, 3-2 (26-24, 23-25, 20-25, 25-21, 19-17)
July 13 China def. USA, 3-2 (18-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-21, 18-16)



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The Movie’ feels like Brad Pitt fanfiction that wrongs female characters and fans – The Prospector

“F1: The Movie” arrived in theaters after a year of anticipation, especially from Formula One (F1) fans who were ready to scrutinize every detail and eager to point out any inaccuracies to see if Hollywood had actually sensationalized the sport. But, the real letdown wasn’t the racing at all. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the film stars […]

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“F1: The Movie” arrived in theaters after a year of anticipation, especially from Formula One (F1) fans who were ready to scrutinize every detail and eager to point out any inaccuracies to see if Hollywood had actually sensationalized the sport. But, the real letdown wasn’t the racing at all.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the film stars Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a washed-up driver who has been retired from F1 for 30 years. The movie follows APXGP, a fictional team, featuring Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce, a talented but immature rookie, and Kerry Condon as Kate McKenna, the team’s technical director and the first and only woman to hold that title in the film’s F1 universe.

The movie was one of the most anticipated releases of the summer and had a strong opening weekend making $140 million globally and $55.6 million in the United States .

While the movie was met with mixed reactions, it got several things right, including the cinematography.

It is clear Kosinski went to great lengths to achieve as much realism as possible. Pitt and Idris trained in Formula Two (F2) cars which were modified to resemble F1 cars. Seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, served as a producer for the movie. Scenes were filmed during real races in the 2024 season, including Silverstone, the Las Vegas Strip Circuit and the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Several F1 drivers and team principals appeared as themselves, as did Sky Sports F1 commentators Martin Brundle and David Croft. Presenters Will Buxton and announcer Leigh Diffey were also involved in the film.

While there were technical inaccuracies, they likely stemmed from limited run-time. The setting itself only left nine races for the team to improve their performance. Some plot points would have led to major penalties and even disqualifications, but the movie prioritized pacing and character arcs over strict accuracy.

That said, small inaccuracies were not the film’s biggest problem.

The most disappointing aspect of the movie was its portrayal of the female characters.  While the movie made it clear that they were aiming to showcase the growing role of women in motorsports by highlighting four female team members, those efforts were undermined almost immediately.

McKenna, the groundbreaking technical director, ends up romantically involved with Hayes despite repeatedly insisting she would never date someone on the team, especially someone as arrogant and difficult as him. Her reversal feels forced, reinforcing the trope that a woman in power can’t exist in a male-dominated field without being reduced to a love interest.

Then there’s Jodie played by Callie Cooke, the only female member of the pit crew whose primary arc involves a series of mistakes, including one during a pit stop that ruins Pearce’s race. The intended message seems to be about learning from failure and escaping self-doubt. But, in a sport where women are already hyper-criticized, having the only female mechanic repeatedly mess up only reinforces harmful perceptions, ones that are already used to exclude women from the sport.

A smaller but still frustrating moment occurs when a woman approaches Pearce at a nightclub to ask if he can introduce her to real-life F1 driver Carlos Sainz. It’s a joke that is intended for laughs but doesn’t land when you consider how often women are told they only like F1 because they find the drivers attractive. The scene feels like it’s playing into the stereotypes rather than challenging them.

F1 offers built-in drama with rivalries, jealousy and high-stakes competition; the movie even added unresolved family dynamics. Both Hayes and Pearce lost their fathers at age 13, hinting at an emotional storyline about chasing a shared dream that could’ve been explored more deeply. Instead, I feel like we got a romantic subplot and gendered mishaps that felt unnecessary.

By the end of the film, I felt entertained, but also like I had just watched a high-budget Brad Pitt fanfiction. Speaking of Pitt, his casting is arguably the biggest inaccuracy of all. A 61-year-old F1 driver simply wouldn’t be realistic given the sport’s physical demands.

If viewers are genuinely interested in learning about F1, this film could be a decent start. It is visually stunning and action-packed, but the best way to experience F1 is to watch the real thing. The sport itself already has all the intensity, emotion and excitement the big screen could ever hope to capture, without needing to fall back on old, tired tropes.

Ximena Cordero is the web and copy editor for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected] 



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Princeton University

PRINCETON –  The Princeton Women’s Water Polo Team had 12 members named to the ACWPC All-Academic List. The list features student athletes with a GPA of 3.2 and higher. Outstanding laurels include GPAs between 4.0-3.71, Superior is 3.70-3.41 and Excellent is 3.40-3.20. Ava Houlahan, Charlotte Riches, Hadley Harbilas and Kate Mallery nabbed Outstanding honors with […]

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PRINCETON –  The Princeton Women’s Water Polo Team had 12 members named to the ACWPC All-Academic List.

The list features student athletes with a GPA of 3.2 and higher. Outstanding laurels include GPAs between 4.0-3.71, Superior is 3.70-3.41 and Excellent is 3.40-3.20.

Ava Houlahan, Charlotte Riches, Hadley Harbilas and Kate Mallery nabbed Outstanding honors with CJ Weigel, Grace Houlahan, Kayla Yelensky, Lindsey Lucas and Rachael Carver nabbing Superior accolades with Ally Lurie, Olivia Krotts and Shanna Davidson corralling Excellent marks.

 



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PubMatic Launches AI-Powered Live Sports Marketplace with Real-Time Game Moment Curation, FanServ Joins as Premier Partner

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PubMatic (Nasdaq: PUBM), the independent technology company delivering digital advertising’s supply chain of the future, today launched an AI-powered Live Sports Marketplace that enables advertisers to target specific game moments across streaming platforms in real-time. This breakthrough proprietary technology analyzes live game data, offering granular event-level […]

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REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PubMatic (Nasdaq: PUBM), the independent technology company delivering digital advertising’s supply chain of the future, today launched an AI-powered Live Sports Marketplace that enables advertisers to target specific game moments across streaming platforms in real-time. This breakthrough proprietary technology analyzes live game data, offering granular event-level curation and real-time access to premium live sports ad inventory.

The Live Sports Marketplace launches with FanServ as its premier partner, providing immediate access to premium NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL and National Women’s Soccer League inventory, including exclusive local programming for the Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, and Cleveland Guardians. This partnership is a pivotal step in unifying and expanding access to premium live sports inventory across the digital ecosystem.

“FanServ was built by fans, for fans, and now, with PubMatic, we’re redefining how brands reach and engage fans through programmatic sports advertising. This partnership is about more than just access, it’s about precision and possibility,” stated Brad Friedman, CEO of FanServ. “By combining FanServ’s deep sports expertise with PubMatic’s unique event-level curation, we’re empowering brands to connect meaningfully at the exact moments that matter most, across every platform they love,” added Ben Goodfriend, VP of Demand Partnerships.

The Live Sports Marketplace launches with substantial momentum, building on PubMatic’s sports advertising business where live sports activity has more than tripled in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The company exceeded its entire 2024 live sports activity in just the first six months of 2025, positioning it to more than double last year’s performance and demonstrating explosive market demand for precision-targeted live sports solutions. Beyond FanServ’s premium inventory, the marketplace provides unified access to major publishers including MLB, FuboTV, DirecTV, Spectrum Reach, and Roku, and covers comprehensive sports content from major leagues (MLB, NBA & WNBA, NHL, MLS) to alternative sports (surfing, pickleball, MMA, FIFA, NASCAR & F1, tennis, golf, cricket) and NCAA college athletics. The company has recently monetized CTV inventory for the official FIFA Club World Cup, which took place from June 19 to July 17.

Currently, traditional programmatic sports buying often fails to distinguish between low- and high-engagement moments, leading to wasted impressions during less impactful periods, such as commercial breaks in lopsided games, while missing opportunities to reach audiences during the most valuable, high-attention moments. The marketplace addresses these and other critical pain points, including fragmented streaming and under-monetized inventory, limited targeted precision across live events, and the technical complexities of managing unpredictable viewership spikes and behaviors. The Live Sports Marketplace enables advertisers and publishers to unlock the full value of live sports audiences through:

  • Industry-First Event- and Channel-Level Precision: PubMatic’s proprietary AI enables advertisers to target specific games, teams, or even high-impact moments, across a fragmented streaming landscape, maximizing relevance and engagement for every campaign.
  • Dynamic Scheduling & Real-Time Packaging: By importing and analyzing live TV schedules from all partners, the marketplace uses up-to-the-minute sports schedules, ensuring brands can target the right moments as they happen across all publishers.
  • Expert Management of Live Spikes: PubMatic’s owned-and-operated infrastructure can expertly manage unpredictable spikes in live viewership, with the potential for separate endpoints for DSPs dedicated to live sports, ensuring seamless, reliable ad delivery at scale, even during the most high-demand moments.
  • Scalability and Automation Roadmap: The platform is designed to provide both immediate manual flexibility and future automation, supporting scalable, automated deal creation and reporting. This ensures that both buyers and sellers can benefit from streamlined workflows and real-time insights as the market evolves.

“This revolutionary technology and premium partnership with FanServ transforms fragmented live sports inventory into programmatically accessible, of-the-moment opportunities, setting a new standard for precision and impact in digital sports advertising,” stated Nicole Scaglione, VP of CTV and Online Video at PubMatic.

According to eMarketer, 114.1 million people are projected to watch live sports digitally in 2025, compared to 82.0 million via traditional TV. As audiences migrate to streaming and connected devices, there is a real need for real-time, precise, and scalable ad delivery during unpredictable, high-attention moments. With the Live Sports Marketplace, PubMatic delivers the precision, speed and reliability advertisers need to succeed.

To learn more about the Live Sports Marketplace and how it can elevate your live digital advertising strategy, please visit www.pubmatic.com/live-sports

About Fanserv:
Fanserv pairs the power of sports with the promise of digital by unifying inventory, enabling granular targeting, and providing unparalleled analytics. As the exclusive monetization partner for premiere teams, leagues, and federations, Fanserv delivers seamless monetization solutions purpose-built for live sports.

About PubMatic:
PubMatic (Nasdaq: PUBM) is an independent technology company maximizing customer value by delivering digital advertising’s supply chain of the future. PubMatic’s sell-side platform empowers the world’s leading digital content creators across the open internet to control access to their inventory and increase monetization by enabling marketers to drive return on investment and reach addressable audiences across ad formats and devices. Since 2006, our infrastructure-driven approach has allowed for the efficient processing and utilization of data in real time. By delivering scalable and flexible programmatic innovation, we improve outcomes for our customers while championing a vibrant and transparent digital advertising supply chain.

Press Contact:
Ashley Jacobson, Director of Corporate Marketing, press@pubmatic.com
Broadsheet Communications for PubMatic, pubmaticteam@broadsheetcomms.com




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