Sports

Bradford family: Giants in height and volleyball

When the Bradford family walks together on a beach, at an airport, in a restaurant, eyes turn. They aren’t just tall, they’re giants. They aren’t a basketball family — they play volleyball. On Memorial Day, mom, dad, daughter and son were at the beach looking for games. Lee Bradford was a 6-foot-7 middle blocker at […]

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1 month ago

May 29, 2025

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Lee Bradford was a 6-foot-7 middle blocker at Pepperdine in the 1990s. His wife, Sara, is 6-1 and played basketball at Fordham. Their oldest daughter, Carissa, was the 6-2 City Section volleyball player of the year at Granada Hills, played at Tennessee and South Alabama and is now head coach at Bates College.

Their son, Derek, is 6-8, won a CIF title with Royal and now trains with the USA beach volleyball team. Their son, Grayson, is a 6-11 senior at Mira Costa and plays for a state championship on Saturday in Fresno. He’s committed to UCLA.

Even the youngest in the family, 12-year-old daughter Brooke, is 5-10 and headed for volleyball stardom. Talk about good height genes — no giant shoes go unused in this family.

The Bradford volleyball family (left to right).

Dad gave his kids a choice growing up. “I love the sport and offered free private lessons,” he said.

They took him up and the rest is history. Lee has been a teacher at Granada Hills and used to be an assistant coach to Tom Harp. He eventually moved his family to Manhattan Beach after driving to the South Bay for years for club competition.

“We made a really good decision four years ago to go to a high level club program,” he said. “It’s been a great journey.”

At 6 feet 11, Grayson Bradford towers over everyone playing volleyball for Mira Costa. He's headed to UCLA.

Grayson has been a key player for Mira Costa, which won the Southern Section Division 1 championship, then the Southern California regional championship and play San José Archbishop Mitty in the first state Division 1 boys title match on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Fresno City College.

It’s a weekend for championships. The Southern Section baseball will be held Friday and Saturday at Cal State Fullerton and Blair Field in Long Beach.

The Southern Section softball finals are Friday and Saturday in Irvine.

The state track and field championships will be Friday and Saturday at Buchanan High in Clovis (temperatures will hit triple digits). The state tennis championships are Saturday in Fresno.

The City Section softball finals are Saturday at Cal State Northridge.

Tuesday’s Division 1 baseball semifinals produced a shocker. No. 1-seeded Corona, which started the year considered as high school baseball’s version of the Dodgers, was beaten by St. John Bosco 2-0. It was the first high school pitching defeat for Seth Hernandez, who came in 18-0.

St. John Bosco has unleashed a closer extraordinaire in junior Jack Champlin. Last week, in the bottom of the seventh inning with the score tied, Villa Park had the winning run on third and Champlin was brought in to get a strikeout. He threw 2 1/3 hitless relief before the Braves won 5-4 in nine innings.

He was inserted into the game with a 2-0 count, one runner on and one out in the seventh inning against Corona. He walked the first first batter, then got a strikeout and fly out to end the game.

He said of the situation, ““I love it,” he said. “There’s close to 1,000 people and it’s electric. I didn’t feel any pressure, didn’t feel nervous. It’s just fun to compete against all these Power 5 players.”

Jack Champlin of St. John Bosco picked up the save in 2-0 win over Corona.

That kind of closer’s mentality and confidence should help St. John Bosco in Friday’s 7 p.m. Division final against Santa Margarita at Cal State Fullerton. Champlin will gladly take the ball whenever coach Andy Rojo offers it.

“I haven’t had a blown save,” he said.

That’s not the kiss of death. That’s a teenager who wants the ball with the game on the line.

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Vote for Statesman Journal high school girls Athlete of the Year

Listen: How to sound like a local in Oregon The pronunciations of some places are challenging even for longtime residents. The 2024-25 high school sports season has wrapped up, and athletes from the Salem-Keizer area produced countless memorable performances this past school year. Now it’s your turn to vote for who is the best. Nominees […]

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6 minutes ago

June 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The 2024-25 high school sports season has wrapped up, and athletes from the Salem-Keizer area produced countless memorable performances this past school year.

Now it’s your turn to vote for who is the best.

Nominees for Statesman Journal girls Athlete of the Year are:

Tia Allen, Kennedy track and field
Emma Brewer, Salem Academy basketball
Myleigh Cooper, Scio softball
Sarahi Chavez, McNary wrestling and soccer
Hadley Craig, Silverton basketball
Nelida Dalgas, North Salem track and field and cross-country
Brooke Friesen, Sprague volleyball
Kenzi Hollenbeck, Stayton basketball and softball
Celia James, Salem Academy track and field, basketball and soccer
Braeli Martin, West Salem softball, basketball and volleyball
Runon Muroya, Western Christian basketball
Harlow Nelson, Dallas softball
Eliza Nisly, Amity soccer and basketball
Polly Olliff, Dallas wrestling
Gretchen Orton, Jefferson basketball
Averie Peterson, Santiam track and field
Lillian Pickett, Cascade track and field
Malia Scanlan, Cascade softball
Marley Wertz, Silverton soccer and basketball

Information about each nominee is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at statesmanjournal.com/sports. The poll closes at 11 a.m. Friday, July 4.

Tia Allen, Kennedy track and field

The senior claimed the Class 2A state discus title and took seventh in the shot put. Allen finished the season with a personal-best discus throw of 149 feet, 4 inches, third-best in the state regardless of classification.

Emma Brewer, Salem Academy volleyball

The junior was named the Class 2A state player of the year after leading Salem Academy to the state title.

Brewer, who is committed to play at San Diego, racked up 27 kills in a 25-19, 25-17, 25-14 win over Crosshill Christian in the state title game at Ridgeview High School in Redmond.

Sarahi Chavez, McNary wrestling

The senior captured her second state wrestling title, winning the 6A/5A 100-pound championship by technical fall despite wrestling with a ruptured knee ligament.

Myleigh Cooper, Scio softball

For the third consecutive season, Cooper was named the Class 3A state player of the year. A Cal Poly signee, she led Scio to its first-ever state title.

Cooper was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Oregon. She broke the state record for home runs, ending her career with 75. Cooper finished as the third-winningest pitcher in state history with 83 victories.

Hadley Craig, Silverton basketball

The junior earned Class 5A first-team all-state honors after helping Silverton to a third-place finish at the state tournament at Linfield University in McMinnville. Craig was named to the all-tournament team.

Nelida Dalgas, North Salem track and field and cross-country

The junior took second place at the Class 6A state cross-country meet at Lane Community College. A week later, she took sixth place at the NXR Northwest Regional Championships in Eagle, Idaho. Dalgas’ personal-best time of 16 minutes, 46.3 seconds at the Rose City Championship Invite was the 18th-fastest in the nation this season.

During the spring track and field season, Dalgas placed second in the 3,000 (9:49.45) and seventh in the 1,500 (4:38.82) at the state meet at Hayward Field.

Brooke Friesen, Sprague volleyball

The sophomore was named the Central Valley Conference player of the year and earned Class 6A first-team all-state recognition after helping Sprague reach the state quarterfinals.

Kenzi Hollenbeck, Stayton basketball and softball

The senior was named the Oregon West Conference co-player of the year and earned Class 4A first-team all-state honors after helping lead Stayton to the state title.

In the spring, Hollenbeck earned first-team all-league honors on the softball field.

Celia James, Salem Academy track and field, basketball and soccer

For the third time in her career, the Crusaders’ versatile senior won the Class 2A 400-meter state title (57.69) on the track. She took third in the 800 (2:24.41) and ran anchor legs for Salem Academy’s state title-winning 4×400 relay team (4:04.62) and first-place 4×100 relay team (50.48).

On the basketball court, James earned first-team all-state honors after leading the Crusaders to the 2A state title.

She was a team captain for Salem Academy’s soccer team, which went 11-6 on the year and reached the second round of the state playoffs.

Braeli Martin, West Salem softball, basketball and volleyball

The Titans’ senior was named the Class 6A pitcher of the year and earned first-team all-state honors after helping West Salem reach the state quarterfinals.

On the basketball court, Martin was a first-team all-Central Valley Conference selection.

On the volleyball court, she earned second-team all-league recognition.

Runon Muroya, Western Christian basketball

The senior was named the Class 2A state player of the year after helping Western Christian reach the state title game.

Muroya was named to the all-tournament first team.

Harlow Nelson, Dallas softball and track and field

The freshman took third place in both the 100 (12.28) and 200 (25.05) at the Class 5A state meet at Hayward Field.

She also played third base and hit leadoff for Dallas’ softball team, which reached the state playoffs.

Eliza Nisly, Amity soccer and basketball

On the soccer field, the junior earned Class 3A/2A/1A first-team all-state recognition and was named 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 co-player of the year after leading Amity to the second round of the state playoffs.

On the basketball court, Nisly earned honorable mention all-state honors while helping the Warriors win the 3A state title.

Polly Olliff, Dallas wrestling

The senior won her third consecutive 6A/5A wrestling title, this time capturing the 115-pound championship by 10-3 decision.

Olliff won the 105 title as a sophomore before winning the 110 crown as a junior.

Averie Peterson, Santiam track and field

The versatile senior won the Class 2A 800-meter state title with a state meet-record time of 2:15.71. She took second at state in the 1,500 (4:41.94) and triple jump (36-4 3/4).

Peterson, a St. Mary’s College track and field commit, finished the season with 2A top-10 marks in the 200, 400, 800, 1,500, long jump and triple jump.

Gretchen Orton, Jefferson basketball

The senior was named the Class 3A state player of the year after leading Jefferson to the state semifinals.

Lillian Pickett, Cascade track and field

For the second consecutive season, the senior won the Class 4A 400 state title. She clocked a personal-best time of 55.77 — the sixth-fastest time in the state this season, regardless of classification. Pickett’s time was also the third-fastest ever for a 4A girls runner in the state of Oregon.

She also finished as runner-up in the 200 (25.25).

Malia Scanlan, Cascade softball

The Cougars’ senior was named the Oregon West Conference player of the year after helping the Cougars reach the state playoffs.

A Western Oregon University signee, Scanlan hit .543 on the year and ranked among the state leaders with 11 home runs, 18 doubles and 62 RBIs.

Marley Wertz, Silverton soccer and basketball

The Foxes’ sophomore was named the Mid-Willamette Conference player of the year and earned Class 5A first-team all-state honors after helping lead Silverton to the state quarterfinals.

On the basketball court, Wertz received honorable mention all-league recognition.

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Texas A&M Volleyball Coach guides U.S. U19 Squad to NORCECA sweep

Coach Morrison and the United States win the U19 Pan-American Cup This marks Coach Morrison’s fourth straight international title with the U19’s They swept Mexico in the final for the win #GigEm // #AggieVB pic.twitter.com/UL5eNq5kyy — Texas A&M Volleyball (@AggieVolleyball) June 28, 2025 Texas A&M volleyball coach Jamie Morrison is bringing home some […]

Published

22 minutes ago

June 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Coach Morrison and the United States win the U19 Pan-American Cup

This marks Coach Morrison’s fourth straight international title with the U19’s

They swept Mexico in the final for the win #GigEm // #AggieVB pic.twitter.com/UL5eNq5kyy

— Texas A&M Volleyball (@AggieVolleyball) June 28, 2025

Texas A&M volleyball coach Jamie Morrison is bringing home some gold after leading the United States Women’s U19 National Team to a title at the 2025 North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation Pan American Cup (NORCECA).

Morrison has long been a mainstay on the international volleyball stage, having been part of three Olympic medal-winning teams, earning gold with the men’s team in 2008, silver with the women’s team in 2012, and bronze with the women’s team in 2016.

In the U19 Pan American bracket, he’s become a consistent medal winner over the past three summers. When the lights dimmed at Queens College in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Morrison secured his fourth straight title.

Team USA dropped just one set across 16 matches. Mexico, which the team had swept earlier in the tournament, put up a valiant effort in the final. Still, Morrison’s squad completed its fourth sweep of the tournament with a 3-0 win over Mexico (25-21, 25-22, 25-21).

Under Morrison’s leadership, Texas A&M volleyball has taken a significant leap, reaching the Sweet 16 in just his second season. The program also recently secured a commitment from the top setter in the country, setting the stage for a strong 2025 campaign.

We wish the Aggies the best this upcoming season.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.

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Famous in a Small Town With Several Huskers at ‘Small Town Famous’

Already a popular store, Small Town Famous turned itself into Small Town Huskers for the past week in downtown Hastings. Volleyball Day at STF! Excited the freshmen are here!! Posted by Small Town Famous on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 On Wednesday, June 25, Nebraska volleyball freshmen Teraya Sigler, Ryan Hunter and Campbell Flynn all trekked west […]

Published

47 minutes ago

June 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Already a popular store, Small Town Famous turned itself into Small Town Huskers for the past week in downtown Hastings.

On Wednesday, June 25, Nebraska volleyball freshmen Teraya Sigler, Ryan Hunter and Campbell Flynn all trekked west to greet eager fans. They signed autographs for much of their appearance, but also found themselves working the soft-serve ice cream machine in the store, which of course was pumping out Husker red ice cream.

The players were commended for their personalities during the visit and how they smiled and greeted all the fans who came to see them. Of course, they heard their fair share of “Go Big Reds” chanted throughout the store.

Then just two days later, “Volleyball Day” turned into “Softball Day” at Small Town Famous. NU standout pitcher Jordy Bahl came out to greet Husker fans, and much like her volleyball counterparts – was put to work.

Bahl also signed autographs, but she quickly got in on the act of making shirts and hoodies. The store said it was “Make Your Own Softball T-Shirt or Hoodie Day” on social media. It quickly turned into “Jordy Bahl Day” when she arrived to a long line of fans looking for autographs and personal interactions. They got all of that and more, and Jordy was tossed onto a screenprinting machine in the process.

Fans in Hastings were able to enjoy a little bit of Lincoln and hour and a half west of the capital city for a week, and as you can tell – they soaked it up!

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.

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Navy Athletics Finishes 98th out of 365 Schools in the Learfield Directors Cup

Story Links ANNAPOLIS, Md.–Navy Athletics finished 98 out of 365 schools in the NACDA Learfield Directors Cup for the 2024-25 athletic season. The Mids scored 191.8 points, which was the most of any Service Academy, the second-most of any Patriot League school (Boston University finished 73rd with 314.5 points) and the second-most of […]

Published

56 minutes ago

June 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ANNAPOLIS, Md.–Navy Athletics finished 98 out of 365 schools in the NACDA Learfield Directors Cup for the 2024-25 athletic season. The Mids scored 191.8 points, which was the most of any Service Academy, the second-most of any Patriot League school (Boston University finished 73^rd with 314.5 points) and the second-most of any American Athletic Conference school (USF finished 78^th with 294.75 points).

The Learfield Directors Cup is given annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics to the colleges and universities with the most success in collegiate athletics. Points for the NACDA Directors’ Cup are based on order of finish in various championships sponsored by the NCAA or, in the case of FBS football, the coaches’ poll and bowl wins.

A first-place finish in a sport earns 100 points, second place 90 points, third place 85 points, fourth place 80 points, and lesser values for lower finishes (exact numbers beyond fourth place depend on the sport.

NCAA Division I counts the top 19 sports at each school with the following breakdown: Four sports that must be counted are baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and women’s volleyball. The next highest 15 sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender, will be used in the standings (except men’s water polo, which is the only NCAA sponsored sport that NACDA does not give points for. For FBS Football: the top 25 teams are awarded points based on their final rank in the coaches poll, while 26th place is considered a tie between every non-ranked bowl winner and the next available rank is considered a tie between every non-ranked bowl loser.

Navy scored 72 points in the fall (27 points by men’s cross country, 45 points by football), 85.5 points in the winter (32.5 points from men’s gymnastics and 53 points from wrestling) and 34.3 points in the spring (9.3 points by women’s golf and 25 points by women’s lac

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Basey/Hurst, Kinna/Loreen combinations take first place at AVP Contender Series in Virginia Beach – Daily Press

The teams of Gage Basey/Thomas Hurst and Marine Kinna/Chloe Loreen captured top honors Sunday in the $60,000 Association of Volleyball Professionals’ Contender Series tournament in Virginia Beach. Each of those pairs split $9,750 first-place prizes. People going by 12th Street and Atlantic Avenue on the weekend saw powerful spikes, diving digs and precise sets on […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

People going by 12th Street and Atlantic Avenue on the weekend saw powerful spikes, diving digs and precise sets on the sand from players who are looking to break through to the AVP’s top-tier events.

The last player from Hampton Roads in the event was Ayden Keeter of Yorktown, who combined with his Webber International beach volleyball college teammate Carson Barnes of Ocean View, Delaware, to go 3-0 Saturday — 2-0 in pool play before a round-of-16 victory. They split $1,200 after a 21-14, 21-18 quarterfinal defeat to eventual semifinalists Diego Perez and Jeff Samuels.

Basey, from the University of Colorado, and Hurst, from Irvine, California, were seeded fifth. Those 21-year-olds outlasted top-seeded Derek Bradford of Porter Ranch, California, and Evan Cory of Metairie, Louisiana, 18-21, 21-19, 15-12 in the final for their third victory of the day. Bradford and Cory split $5,250.

In the women’s competition, Kinna and Loreen capped a dominant day with three straight-sets victories, beating 15th-seeded Piper Ferch and Hailey Hamlett 21-18, 21-13 for the championship.

Kinna, a 25-year-old from France, played for three colleges, including Division I Loyola Marymount. Loreen, 26, from Seattle, played for Santa Clara and the Washington Huskies.

After a three-set triumph Saturday in their second round of pool play, Kinna and Loreen never came close to losing a set in the elimination bracket.

Ferch, 21, a Cal Poly player, and Hamlett, from TCU, split $5,250. They defeated a pair of higher-seeded teams to reach the title match, including a 15-21, 21-18, 15-13 semifinal thriller over No. 4 Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah, a Long Beach State combination.

All of the teams that lost in the round of 16 split $600, the quarterfinal losers divided $1,200, and the semifinalists pocketed $2,700. The finalists earned wild-card berths in the higher-level AVP Manhattan Beach Open in California in August.

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