AUSTIN, Texas (WKOW) – Wisconsin volleyball is celebrating a thrilling victory after defeating top-seeded Texas in the NCAA regional finals. The Badgers, led by coach Kelly Sheffield, will advance to the Final Four.

Sheffield’s team triumphed in four sets, 25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, marking their sixth Final Four appearance under his leadership, and seventh overall in program history. This victory is Wisconsin’s first Elite Eight win at an opponent’s home venue.

The Badgers’ win comes after a previous loss to Texas on Aug. 31.

Wisconsin will face Kentucky in the national semifinals on Dec. 18, with Pittsburgh and Texas A&M also in the Final Four. The Final Four takes place in Kansas City.

MADISON (WKOW) – The Badger volleyball team is still dancing after upsetting the University of Texas in Austin for the Elite Eight of the NCAA volleyball tournament. The Final Four will take place in Kansas City, MO.

NCAA scheduling shows the Badgers will take on the Kentucky Wildcats in the second game of the day Thursday at the T Mobile center. Match #1 with Texas A&M and Pittsburgh is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. on the 18th.

The Championship is Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

With Thursday’s matches, the NCAA will open a “Fan Zone” from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the Fan Zone reopening for Sunday’s Championship. Attendees will experience engaging sponsor displays, autograph sessions, photo opportunities and other interactives. Wisconsin also has open practice on Wednesday starting just before 3 p.m.

Jake Schmitt led the Gusties to a 95-80 win over Saint John’s on 12/10 with 24 points on 8-for-11 shooting while going 5-for-8 from beyond the arc. Schmitt also had three steals, three assists, and three rebounds in the win.
 
MIAC Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Sam Koelling
Carleton College
Jr. | Forward
Ann Arbor, Mich. / Skyline

Sam Koelling averaged 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 23.0 points per game in a 2-0 week for the Knights with wins over Macalester (12/10) and Northwestern (12/13). Koelling had a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double with four blocks in Carleton’s win over the Scots and turned in 25 points, eight rebounds, and another blocked shot against the Eagles.

CLEVELAND – The Ohio volleyball team placed seven athletes on the 2025 Volleyball All-Mid-American Conference Team, as announced by the league on Monday, Dec. 15.
 
Eastern Michigan, Miami, and Western Michigan led the league with eight student-athletes honored. Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, and Ohio followed behind with seven honorees each. 
 
The Academic All-MAC honor is awarded to a student-athlete who has excelled in both athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests in that sport.
 
2025 Volleyball Academic All-MAC Team
Caroline Curran, Junior, Engineering Tech & MGMT (3.852)
Sierra Evans, Sophomore, Journalism News and Info. (3.457)
Olivia Gardner, Junior, Exercise Physiology (3.660)
Lexi Grissett, Sophomore, Marketing (4.000)
Kendall Hickey, Junior, Communication Studies (3.396)
Bryn Janke, Sophomore, Accounting & Finance (3.895)
Darbi Ricketts, Sophomore, Exercise Physiology – Strength & Conditioning (3.384)
 
#OUohyeah
 

NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Southern Connecticut State Univeristy cross country teams dominated the East Region year-end awards, selected by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).  

The Northeast 10 champions, Jonathan Volpe and Courtney Henchcliffe, each were named region Athletes of the Year.  Both also won the East Region and advanced with their teams to the NCAA Championships.

Coaches John Wallin and Melissa Stoll were each named East Region Coach of the Year.  Brian Nill is the SCSU lead assistant for cross country.  

The Owls dominated this fall, with the men becoming the first program in NE10 history to claim four consecutive NE10 championships.  The women repeated as conference champs for the second time in three seasons, winning the school’s first title in 2023.  Volpe’s individual crown was his second league title.

ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 10 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.

Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.

Fans can subscribe via this link to follow NE10 NOW on FloSports this season.  The partnership between the NE10 and FloSports works to provide funds back to the athletic departments of the Northeast-10 Conference in support of student-athletes while promoting the league on a national platform.

CLEVELAND — The Kent State volleyball program had five student-athletes earn Academic All-MAC honors, as the Mid-American Conference recognized a total of 78 student-athletes for their accomplishments this past season.

The Academic All-MAC honor is awarded to a student-athlete who has excelled in both athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests that season.

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2025 Volleyball Academic All-MAC Team (Kent State honorees)

Greta Bolognini, Senior, Business Management

Hailey Brenner, Sophomore, Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology

Lesley Furuta, Sophomore, General Business

Mackenzie McGuire, Senior, Exercise Science

Nadia Miller, Sophomore, Exercise Science