Sports
Boundless Opportunity in The Big West: Education, Evolution and Entrepreneurship with Chris Eversley
In the world of sports, success is often measured by wins, losses, and championships. But for Chris Eversley, a former Big West student-athlete, success is about more than just the scoreboard — it’s about the lessons learned, the communities built, and the personal growth experienced along the way.
Eversley, who played men’s basketball at Cal Poly, credits the time in The Big West for shaping him into the person he is today. Eversley describes the conference as a unique and special place, offering student-athletes the opportunity to grow and create meaningful experiences. As a power forward for the Mustangs, the All-Big West performer was a catalyst in the 2014 run to the 2014 Big West title and NCAA Tournament appearance.
“It’s just awesome to come back 11 years later and be able to give kids advice from the future, as I like to say, and really try to empower them so that they can go on and do bigger things beyond campus,” Eversley said.
As the featured speaker at recent in-person Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) meetings in June, Eversley was able to relate to the current Big West SAAC members and impart wisdom learned on the journey from Chicago to Cal Poly to changing the world around him.
Embracing the power of community
One of the most significant lessons Eversley learned during his time in The Big West was the importance of being part of a close-knit campus and town in San Luis Obispo, realizing the value of investing in others and building strong relationships.
“It really showed me the importance of community and how important it is to be intentional about inviting people into your circle and investing in them,” Eversley shared.
As a student-athlete, Eversley understood that success is not achieved individually, embracing the old saying, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This mindset became a cornerstone of Eversley’s approach to life and future endeavors.
“It sets you up for long-term success because you have to realize that you can’t do it alone, and you shouldn’t do it alone,” Eversley explained.
Adapting to the challenges of life
Being a student-athlete also taught Eversley the importance of adaptability and resilience, crediting the time in The Big West as preparation for the ups and downs of life.
“As athletes, we know that every day is going to be different. We have bad nights, bad games, and slumps — that’s life,” Eversley said.
“Sports is one of the last few unifying things we have in terms of culture,” Eversley explained. “I really just took my unique perspective and created something that is uniquely me, and I know can help people not only as athletes but as they go through those transitionary periods.”
This perspective guides Eversley in the work to help guide emerging leaders navigating life’s challenges and finding their own paths to success.
The three T’s: transitions, tragedies, and triumphs
Eversley believes that life is a series of transitions, tragedies, and triumphs, emphasizing the importance of embracing these transitions and using them as opportunities for growth.
“You’re going to go through so many transitions in your life. You’re going to go through those tragedies, those transitions, and then hopefully your triumphs,” Eversley shared.
“I want to instill in emerging leaders that each season should be different, and you should be aging like fine wine,” Eversley said. “Over time, when you look back at your finished product, you can see the growth.”
A framework for long-term success
For Eversley, the lessons learned as a Big West student-athlete continue to shape his life and career. Eversley sees the time spent in the conference as a foundation for long-term success, providing him with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in the real world.
“The Big West provided the proper framework for me to become who I am,” Eversley explained. “Being a student-athlete really empowers you to do a lot because you learn that it’s all about adaptability and going through various transitions in your life.”
Eversley’s journey from student-athlete to entrepreneur is a testament to the power of community, adaptability, and personal growth. Through his work with Overtime Solutions, Eversley is dedicated to helping others find their own paths to success and inspiring them to become better versions of themselves.
“It’s all about investing in yourself and investing in others,” Eversley said. “If you want to go far, go together.”
Sports
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Following an NCAA national title winning run, Perkins heads to the golden state to join the Mojo’s roster before the start of the 2026 MLV season. The middle blocker was a model of efficiency for the Aggies during the 2025 campaign, hitting at .422 percent throughout the season which ranks second in the program’s record books for a single season.
“I’m extremely excited for Morgan [Perkins] to start her pro career,” head coach Jamie Morrison said. “It’s been incredible watching her journey, and I’m so glad to see another one of our athletes take the next step to the professional level. I know she will continue to excel in the MLV.”
The Rosharon, Texas, native logged 168 kills on the year on 339 swings with only 25 errors. Her performance stood out even further during the SEC slate, as she hit at .474 percent which was No. 1 in the conference. On the defensive end she recorded 98 blocks which ranked third on the team, while also tacking on a single-season high 44 digs.
Perkins concluded her collegiate career with a plethora of honors, including most recently being named AVCA All-Southwest Honorable Mention. She was also tabbed as SEC Defensive Player of the Week last season, and All-Big 12 Second Team, All-Big 12 Freshman Team and two-time Big-12 Rookie of the Week during her time at Oklahoma.
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Men’s Volleyball | 1/6/2026 12:10:00 PM
Saint Francis Men’s Volleyball has been picked to tie first in the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll, the conference announced on Tuesday.
The Red Flash claimed two first place votes after repeating as NEC regular season champions in 2023, 2024, and 2025. This also marks the third time in the last four years that Saint Francis has been tabbed the preseason favorite.
The poll results are:
1. (tie) Daemen (3)
Saint Francis (2)
3. LIU (1)
4. FDU (1)
5. Manhattan
6. UMES
7. D’Youville
Manhattan and Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) will join the conference as both teams are newly formed men’s Division I volleyball programs. Both the Jaspers and the Hawks are immediately eligible for the NEC Championship during the 2026 season.
Saint Francis will begin its season in Utah against #8 BYU on Jan. 9 and 10.
Jan. 6, 2026, 5:55 a.m. ET
- The Akron Beacon Journal high school girls volleyball all-star team features multiple players from Archbishop Hoban and Wadsworth
- Rowan Kelly of Wadsworth and Emerson Spiesz of Aurora are among the players named Player of the Year in their respective conferences.
- Several recognized athletes, including players from Wadsworth, Highland, Copley and Nordonia, have committed to play volleyball at the collegiate level.
- The list highlights top performers from various divisions, including seniors Rowan Kelly, Lauren Decker of Wadsworth, and the Mintz twins (Macie and Madison) of Hoban.
The 2025 high school girls volleyball season concluded with one Greater Akron team — Archbishop Hoban — reaching the state tournament. The Knights lost to eventual state champion Tipp City Tippecanoe (29-0) in Division III.
Wadsworth also made a Division II regional final appearance, losing to eventual state champion Avon (27-1).
So it is not a surprise the Beacon Journal girls volleyball team includes multiple Hoban and Wadsworth players.
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Here are the best of the best from the fall on the court in Greater Akron:
Rowan Kelly, Wadsworth, sr.
Kelly helped lead Wadsworth to Suburban League National Conference and Division II sectional and district championships. She was named the SLNC Player of the Year, and earned first-team honors on the All-Ohio, all-district and All-SLNC squads. Kelly finished this season with 671 assists (9.2 per set), 180 digs, 121 kills, 56 blocks and 35 aces. She has committed to play volleyball at Ohio University.
Lauren Decker, Wadsworth, sr.
Decker helped guide Wadsworth to Suburban League National Conference and Division II sectional and district titles. She was named the Division II District Player of the Year, earned first-team honors on the all-district and All-SLNC squads and was a second-team All-Ohio selection. Decker finished the season with 442 kills, 261 digs, 45 aces, 27 blocks and 22 assists. She has committed to play volleyball at Robert Morris University.
Macie Mintz, Hoban, sr.
One half of the Mintz twins who helped propel Hoban to Division III sectional, district and regional championships, Macie was a first-team selection on the All-Ohio and all-district teams. Mintz totaled 546 digs, 142 assists, 56 aces and two kills this season.
Madison Mintz, Hoban, sr.
The other half of the Mintz twins who helped lead Hoban to Division III sectional, district and regional titles, Madison was an All-Ohio second-team selection and an all-district first-team pick. Mintz totaled 892 assists, 291 digs, 91 kills, 49 aces and 30 blocks this season.
Samantha Dehrmann, Hoban, sr.
Dehrmann earned All-Ohio third-team and all-district first-team accolades after helping Hoban win Division III sectional, district and regional titles. She contributed 406 kills, 265 digs, 50 aces, 24 blocks and 12 assists in 2025.
Kamryn Heldreth, Highland, sr.
Heldreth led Higland to Divison III sectional and district championships, and a share of the Suburban League American Conference title. She was All-Ohio honorable mention, and was first-team all-district and All-SLAC. She finished the season with 271 kills, 78 digs, 78 blocks, 42 aces and eight assists. Heldreth has committed to play volleyball at Ashland University.
Emerson Spiesz, Aurora, sr.
Spiez led Aurora to Division III sectional and district titles, and a share of the Suburban League American Conference championship. She was named the Division III District Player of the Year, the SLAC Player of the Year, an All-Ohio honorable mention and earned first-team all-district and All-SLAC honors. Spiez totaled 328 digs, 305 service receptions, 97 assists and 43 aces. She has committed to play volleyball at University of South Carolina Upstate.
Kalynn Stoner, Copley, sr.
Stoner was named the Division I District Player of the Year and received first-team all-district and Suburban League American Conference honors. She finished the season with 303 digs, 294 kills, 48 blocks, 48 aces and 14 assists. Stoner has committed to play volleyball at Cedarville University.
Taylor Pucky, Twinsburg, sr.
Pucky received first-team Division II all-district and Suburban League National Conference accolades. She helped the Tigers win sectional and district crowns, and finished 2025 with 396 kills, 191 digs, 55 assists, 29 blocks and 22 aces.
Addison Lefeld, Nordonia, jr.
Lefeld earned first-team Division II all-district and Suburban League National Conference accolades. She completed the season with 328 kills, 137 digs, 70 aces, 33 blocks and seven assists. Lefeld is committed to play volleyball at University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Tessa Milicia, Revere, sr.
Milicia received first-team all-district and Suburban League American Conference honors. She totaled 549 assists, 279 digs, 176 kills, 61 aces and 27 blocks in 2025.
Annie Quinlan, Copley, sr.
Quinlan received all-district first-team honors in Division I and finished the season with 714 assists, 228 digs, 58 kills, 33 blocks and 30 aces. She has committed to play volleyball at Ursuline College.
Lily Flohr, Norton, jr.
Flohr was named a Division IV District Player of the Year, the Metro Athletic Conference Player of the Year and received first-team all-district and All-MAC honors. She finished 2025 with 474 assists, 212 digs, 144 kills, 40 blocks and 33 aces.
Emma Butler, Mogadore, soph.
Butler recorded all-district first-team honors in Division VI-VII. She totaled 354 assists, 233 digs, 230 kills, 69 aces and seven blocks.
Rylee Kinnell, Nordonia, sr.
Kinnell earned all-district first-team honors in Division II and finished the season with 232 kills, 50 digs, 30 blocks, five aces and three assists. She has committed to play volleyball at George Mason University.
Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.
After leading Indiana volleyball to its most historic season in program history, head coach Steve Aird agreed to a contract extension through 2031, according to an IU Athletics release Tuesday.
Aird, who will enter his ninth season as Hoosiers’ head coach in 2026, signed the extension after leading the team to a 25-8 overall record — which marked the most wins in program history. Indiana also earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament for just the sixth time in program history and first time since 2010.
In the release, Indiana University athletic director Scott Dolson said this season the Hoosiers helped turn “Wilkinson Hall into one of the best environments in Big Ten Volleyball.”
“On top of that, with an amazing group of returnees back in the fall plus a talented incoming recruiting class, I believe that the future is even brighter,” Dolson said. “We look forward to Steve’s continued leadership as we build on this momentum and pursue even bigger things in the years to come.”
The Hoosiers finished ranked fifth in the Big Ten standings — the first time since 1999 the program ended the season in the top five of the conference. They also saw their highest placement in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, finishing the season ranked No. 13.
Aird last signed a contract extension in January 2024, which put him under contract until 2029. During that season, Aird helped Indiana to a 21-12 overall record, which marked just the sixth time the program reached 20 wins in a season.
Indiana had three first team All-Big Ten selections during the 2025-26 season with Aird at the helm — outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles, opposite hitter Avry Tatum and freshman setter Teodora Kričković. It marked the first time in program history that three Hoosiers received first team All-Big Ten honors in the same season.
The 2025-26 season also marked the first time an Indiana volleyball player was drafted in the Major League Volleyball Draft. Alonso-Corcelles and Tatum were selected in the second and fourth rounds, respectively.
Aird and his staff will now be tasked with replacing the production of Tatum, Alonso-Corcelles and two others via graduation. The Hoosiers brought in one player from the transfer portal — middle blocker Keondreya Granberry from the University of Tennessee — will return key players from last season and have signed three top-ranked recruits.
“We are very excited to announce that we have agreed to a new contract with IU volleyball coach Steve Aird,” Dolson said. “When we brought Steve to Bloomington, we did so with the belief and goal that the program could compete at a very high level in the Big Ten and nationally. Steve is turning that vision into reality.”
Aird and the Hoosiers are coming off the most successful season in program history. During the 2025 campaign, IU broke single-season records in the NCAA era for wins (25), regular season wins (23), Big Ten wins (14), road wins (9) and ranked road wins (3). IU finished in the top five of the Big Ten for the first time since 1999.
“This past year was historic. In addition to our program-record 25 wins and our first Sweet 16 appearance in 15 years, we energized our fanbase and the IU community and turned Wilkinson Hall into one of the best environments in Big Ten Volleyball,” Dolson said. “On top of that, with an amazing group of returnees back in the fall plus a talented incoming recruiting class, I believe that the future is even brighter. We look forward to Steve’s continued leadership as we build on this momentum and pursue even bigger things in the years to come.”
IU finished the year ranked No. 13 in the AVCA poll – the highest ranking in the program history. The Hoosiers hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament at Wilkinson Hall, sweeping Toledo and No. 24 Colorado to advance to the second NCAA regional semifinal in program history.
Aird helped oversee the development of three First Team All-Big Ten selections, two AVCA All-Americans and two selections in the Major League Volleyball Draft in 2025. Outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles became the program’s winningest player (77) while finishing her career at number eight on the all-time kills list (1,386).
“My family and I are proud to call Bloomington home,” Aird said. “Indiana University is a special place and my staff and I are excited to continue this journey. 2025 was a historic season and I strongly believe the best is yet to come. The department’s leadership is outstanding and the momentum around IU Athletics is contagious. President Whitten, Scott Dolson and Jeremy Gray have shown tremendous belief in our staff and we are grateful for their support. Our focus is to continue to develop great human beings that compete at the highest level and represent the institution and state with pride. From day one I believed that IU volleyball had a rightful place amongst the nation’s elite and we will work hard every day to chase that goal.”
IU’s program has been on an upward trajectory over the past several seasons. Since the 2022 campaign, IU has gone 77-51 (.602) overall and 42-38 (.525) in Big Ten action. The Hoosiers have finished .500 or better in each of the last four seasons with two 20-win campaigns to their name. In each of those four years, IU has met or exceeded preseason conference expectations.
The Hoosiers have built their program behind elite recruiting at the prep level and the development of impactful transfers. Aird and his staff have signed three top-15 classes since 2020 – including an impressive seven-player class in 2025. Three of the four highest ranked recruits in school history have signed to play for Aird.
Under his watch, Wilkinson Hall has become one of the toughest venues to play at in the Big Ten. Since the start of the 2022 season, IU has gone 40-15 (.727) in its home arena. That run of form includes ranked wins over No. 15 Purdue (Oct. 11, 2023) and No. 24 Colorado (Dec. 5, 2025). IU has won 23-straight games against unranked teams at Wilkinson Hall.
“The program is ready to take the next step. We have proven to be able to develop professionals and win big matches,” Aird said. “The team thrives in the classroom and values their education. They care about the community and love Bloomington. The growth and popularity of the game is reflected in the crowds and energy at Wilkinson Hall. You are a good coach when you have good players and the program is full of them. We have eight months to prepare for the 2026 season and we will attack each day with the intent to make more history.”
Since he became the head coach in 2018, 13 players have graduated from IU and gone on to play at least one season of professional volleyball. Of the 17 student-athletes on IU’s 2025 roster, 14 of them began their collegiate career in Bloomington. All 13 eligible players are set to return for the 2026 campaign. IU was the only program this past season to have a different freshman record 1,000 assists (Krickovic), 380 kills (Jager) and 100 blocks (Gray).
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