Boasting 124 NCAA national championships, UCLA has some of the most memorable moments, teams and players in the history of collegiate athletics.
Headlining this mosaic of success is probably the most well-known coach of all time – John Wooden.
He won a record 10 national championships – including seven in a row – as head honcho of UCLA men’s basketball, all while mentoring greats such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton.
And his imprint on the UCLA campus is even greater.
Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success” adorns the walls of the student gym named after him. His iconic statue stands outside Pauley Pavilion – the arena forever memorializing his career and home to the court that commemorates him and his wife, Nell.
But while Wooden’s legacy stands the test of time, Pauley Pavilion is also home to UCLA’s winningest sports program.
Enter: men’s volleyball.
A juggernaut in the history of the sport, the men’s volleyball program leads all of UCLA Athletics with 21 national championships.
The 2024 UCLA men’s volleyball team celebrates after winning the NCAA national championship. (Daily Bruin file photo)
And for former Bruin outside hitter Ethan Champlin – who played at UCLA from 2021-2024 – winning is not only ingrained into the culture of Bruin volleyball but also curated through the deliberate development of its athletes.
“It can bring you to tears sometimes to think about the privilege and the experiences that you get to have with such a great group of guys that are not only just tremendous at their craft but your friends,” Champlin said. “I invited the whole team to my wedding because winning is such a bonding experience, and that’s what UCLA is. UCLA brings winners. They carry winners on their roster.”
Although the Bruins most recently fell in the national championship game to Long Beach State, their appearance marked three consecutive NCAA title appearances, with the first two resulting in Bruin championships.
Champlin – a three-time AVCA First Team All-American – was an integral part of the back-to-back championships, winning the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award in 2024.
While Champlin spearheaded a squad that broke an almost 20-year national championship drought, it is the relationships he built with his teammates and the culture they established that he values most.
“To be able to have our team written in the record books for the national championships we won, especially after the drought that UCLA had had since 2006, it’s just a tremendous honor,” Champlin said. “There’s not a single person on the team that I wouldn’t have, that I would have traded to have a different teammate. They all brought very different personalities, character traits, skills, but every single one of them was valued.”
Former Bruin outside hitter Ethan Champlin raises his arms to receive the ball. Champlin played for UCLA men’s volleyball from 2021-2024. (Shane Yu/Daily Bruin staff)
And while national glory illustrates the pedigree of a team, quality coaching can turn a great program into a legendary one.
Wooden passed the torch to the likes of Larry Brown and Jim Harrick. The former is a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member, and the latter is the only coach other than Wooden to capture a men’s basketball national title for UCLA.
Only three coaches have helmed the men’s volleyball program since the collegiate sport’s NCAA inception in 1970.
The newest of the bunch, coach John Hawks, finished his first year with a national title appearance this season. But in 2022, he also won AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year after leading the Bruins to the nation’s top hitting percentage with a .374 clip.
On the other end, Al Scates – the Wooden of UCLA men’s volleyball – led the program to 19 national championships, all while producing the next generation of volleyball greats, including UCLA’s second coach, John Speraw.
For junior libero Coleman McDonough, being able to continue Scates’ legacy is something he treasures.
“I’m a Pennsylvania kid, so getting recruited by UCLA – it’s definitely something you never thought would happen, especially coming from the storied legacy left behind by Al Scates and all that,” McDonough said. “It’s just great that you can contribute in any way possible to the legacy.”
Between Scates and Hawks is Speraw – a legend on the court as a player, on the bench as an assistant and as the head honcho for 12 years from 2013-2024.
Speraw’s trophy case holds 10 national championship trophies – two as a player, three as an assistant coach and five as a head coach – yet the scope of his impact on volleyball is arguably larger.
“In terms of volleyball, he was the greatest coach that I’ve ever had,” Champlin said. “I always felt like he had our team’s back. … I’d say that I was a pretty self-taught player, but the things that he said and the things that he taught me in terms of volleyball skills – I owe so much to him, and as a coach, he’s got a big reputation. He’s kind of a larger-than-life figure.”
Former UCLA men’s volleyball coach John Speraw stands with his arms crossed. Speraw coached UCLA from 2013-2024. (Daily Bruin file photo)
Similarly to how Speraw molded the likes of Champlin, setter Micah Maʻa, outside hitter Garrett Muagututia and other current and future Olympians, Scates’ impact also stretched far beyond the walls of Pauley Pavilion.
Former Bruins not only line the rosters of men’s and women’s national and Olympic teams, but they also represent a significant part of the coaching staff.
Before Speraw’s coaching retirement this past year, he led the men’s Olympic team from 2013-2024, earning a bronze medal both in 2016 and 2024, while also taking gold at both the 2015 FIVB World Cup and 2014 FIVB World League. Speraw took on the position as CEO and president of USA Volleyball after the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Likewise, Scates’ apprentices – Erik Sullivan, Brandon Taliaferro and Karch Kiraly – and Hawks all fill roles on United States national teams. Sullivan heads the women’s team, with Taliaferro taking an assistant role alongside him. Kiraly replaced Speraw to helm the men’s team, while Hawks took lead on the U21 national squad.
Despite their impact on the national and professional stages, sophomore outside hitter Luca Curci said UCLA volleyball alumni are still present in the current culture and locker room.
“They’re a big part of our team, for sure,” Curci said. “We’re always doing alumni nights after all games and stuff like that, doing events so we can all be close still, and they help us a lot with donations and stuff like that.”
But relationships are more valuable than trophies – exemplified by the camaraderie between Champlin and former Bruin outside hitter and teammate Grant Sloane, who served as a groomsman at Champlin’s wedding.
“He did everything he could to get me to come to UCLA, and that ended up being at the expense of his own playing time and his own glory, and I benefited from that more than I’ll ever know,” Champlin said. “And that also embodies my experience at UCLA and the selfless people that I had on the team who showed me humility that I could never have and selflessness that I wish I could have in my best moments.”
Although capturing championships forges core memories, McDonough said brotherhood lasts a lifetime.
“The biggest thing I’ve taken away is the relationships that you build at UCLA. The people here at the school make this place special, so having that brotherhood to have for your whole life is something that I’ll take away, more than just the national championships,” McDonough said.
SEATTLE – The 2025 Husky Volleyball team, led by third-year Head Coach Leslie Gabriel, wrapped up its second year in the Big Ten with a 13-17 overall record, going 8-12 in conference play to finish in a four-way tie for 10th-place out of the 18 teams.
Washington was looking to make a second-straight NCAA tournament appearance, and had an RPi inside the top-50 throughout the entire season, but a couple close losses late in the season put a .500 finish out of reach, which was one of the requirements for postseason selection.
Battled The Best: Washington had the No. 2 toughest strength of schedule in non-conference play, and coupled with the always challenging Big Ten slate, UW tested itself against the best all year. The Dawgs defeated four teams that made the 2025 NCAA tournament, including one top-25 win over then-No. 17 Penn State, also taking down tourney qualifiers UCLA, Arizona and Northern Iowa (all in 3-0 sweeps)
The Huskies frequently took sets against ranked teams but were unable to get over the hump enough times to punch their postseason ticket. UW took sets against No. 11 SMU, No. 18 Minnesota, No. 12 Wisconsin, and in both meetings with No. 22/17 USC
Barton Earns All-Big Ten First Team: Junior outside hitter Kierstyn Barton was one of just five Big Ten players to have 400+ kills and 200+ digs for the season. She ended with exactly 400 kills to lead the Huskies, and had 220 digs, both career highs. Barton earned a spot on the All-Big Ten First Team after earning Second Team honors as a sophomore. She had double-digit kills in all but three matches, and was also named to the AVCA All-North Region Team.
Mateska In Rare Air For Freshman: Serbia native Simona Mateska brought her game to the NCAA with little lost in the translation, as she turned in the most productive freshman season by a Husky in well over a decade. Mateska earned AVCA All-North Region honorable mention, ranking second on the team with 2.96 kills per set with a .257 attack percentage that ranked first among all Husky outside hitters. She became the first Husky freshman with over 300 kills (326) since former National Player of the Year and current assistant coach Krista Vansant in 2011. Mateska led or shared the team lead in kills for UW in eight of the final 13 matches, after not leading the team once in the first 17 matches.
Heard Locks Down At Libero: Senior Zoria Heard, in her second season as a Dawg, moved into the starting libero role and thrived, earning All-Big Ten Second Team honors. Heard was the only Husky to play all 115 sets and she ranked second in the Big Ten with 437 digs, averaging a career-high 3.80 per set. Her 437 digs were the most by a Husky since the 2019 season. Heard surpassed 1,000 career digs during the season, and did so in style with a career-high 29 digs on Nov. 2 at UCLA. Heard was also named to the All-Tournament Team at the DoubleTree Invitational hosted by SMU, averaging 4.70 digs per set over the three matches.
Markley Leaves Mark At UW: Another new face to make a major contribution this season was grad transfer Alexa Markley, who came to UW for her final year after three seasons at Penn State. Markley started every match and ranked second on the team with 330 total kills, hitting .225 with a strong 0.68 blocks per set. She led UW in kills seven times, including powering UW to its one top-25 upset victory of the season, a 3-2 triumph over Markley’s former team, the Nittany Lions. Markley had 16 kills in that win, and had the final three Husky kills in the fifth set, including on match point at 14-13.
Ducks Double Swept: For the first time since … the Huskies posted two straight-set wins over rival Oregon. In the first meeting in Eugene, the Huskies had a pair of extra-point wins in the first and third sets for a 27-25, 25-22, 29-27 win. The Dawgs hit .243 and held Oregon to .155 with 11 Husky blocks. In the battle in Seattle, UW was in full control, hitting .372 and holding the Ducks to just .117 for a 25-22, 25-19, 25-16 win. Kierstyn Barton had 15 kills and hit .464 with Alexa Markley adding 11 kills on a .320 percentage, and Elise Hani chipped in seven kills on a .500 mark out of the middle.
Wessels On The Block: Junior Katy Wessels has grown her game at the net significantly every year, and the 2025 season saw her rank among the Big Ten’s best. The middle from Idaho finished ranked second in the league with 152 total blocks, and third in blocks per set with 1.35. Wessels has gone from 0.74 blocks per set as a freshman, to 1.06 as a sophomore, up to .135 as a junior. She posted 3+ blocks in all but two matches this year, and had 5+ in 18 of 30 matches.
Husky Nation Shows Up Again: For the 21st year in a row, Washington finished in the top-20 in the nation in home attendance. Husky Nation turned up to Alaska Airlines Arena and voiced their unwavering support, averaging 3,408 fans per match to rank 14th in the NCAA at the end of the regular season. That mark also ranked sixth in the Big Ten.
Dawgs Incoming: At the end of December, the Huskies had officially signed seven new Dawgs for the 2026 season including five high school seniors and two college transfers. Head Coach Leslie Gabriel calls this incoming freshman class “the foundation of our future.” The initial five signees include setter Lily Mae Buerkle, middle blocker Hayden Conner, outside hitter Sammy Destler, outside hitter Kylie Kleckner, and libero Kaitlyn Nguyen. Since the end of the season, Coach Gabriel has hit the portal, bringing in outside hitter Addie Kanouff from Texas Tech, who will have two seasons of eligibility. Gabriel then signed setter Andrea Fabikovicova, a native of the Czech Republic who just finished her freshman season at San Francisco.
There’s plenty to think about as the setter. Everything offensively flows through the position. They have to be able to read the passes from the back row, then determine where to place the ball. Of course, defensively the setter helps out, too.
With the ability to think ahead, handle all the responsibilities that come with the position and run a play without much instruction resulting in an excellent season in assisting her teammates, Red Wing’s Annie Reinitz is the Republican Eagle/Cannon Falls Beacon volleyball player of the year.
“I just give a lot of credit to my team and Sydney, especially. I love volleyball and I was just playing my game,” Reinitz said. “Sydney definitely brought out a different side to my game that I’d never had. Being a setter, you can look at yourself and be like, I’m a good setter, but you can’t really be a good setter without the rest of your teammates.”
After the volleyball season ended, Reinitz hasn’t stopped assisting. She currently coaches the Red Wing 12U volleyball team. That enables her to remain involved in the sport she loves and to help others.
It’s not surprising at all that Reinitz would choose the coaching path. She often was already one or two steps ahead of where varsity head coach Sydney Boutelle needed her or the team to be. When calling out plays or making sure everyone was aligned for the serve receive, Reinitz was all over it. On several occasions over the past two seasons Boutelle said she would instruct Reinitz to call out a certain play. Many times the response she got was Reinitz telling her she already called it.
She could read the opponents’ body language and get the hitters to place the ball toward areas of the court or at certain players, knowing the Wingers will have the advantage.
Reinitz was empowered to lead, direct her teammates at all times and be the coach on the court. Dissecting the game, her opponents and her team was a strength for Reinitz It’s why Boutelle called her Red Wing’s “floor general.”
“I think everyone this year led in their own ways, but I think being a setter and controlling who gets the ball and how the flow of the game basically. I think that kind of just helped me,” Reinitz said. “I would talk out situations with people and just as a setter you need to have open lines of communication because if something’s not working this game, it could be working the next game or something like that. And Sydney’s always given me kind of free reign.”
Reinitz surpassed 1,000 career assists early in the season, then as section playoffs neared, Boutelle was noticing the career assists pile up. She ended with 1,698 assists in her career with 804 of them coming in just this season.
“I guess we all kind of knew I was gonna hit 1,000, but we’re getting towards the end of the season and Sydney texted me. She’s like, ‘my gosh, if we go far, you could get 2,000. That is crazy.’”
She wasn’t always a setter, however. Reinitz started out wanting to play libero. In seventh grade that changed. Reinitz was asked to switch to setter because the team at the time didn’t have one. Former Winger volleyball star and close cousin Kennedy Knopp even said Reinitz would make an excellent setter. That analysis seemed to be spot on as Reinitz never played anything else.
In the spring, Reinitz will once again be on the golf team. After that, perhaps more coaching as Reinitz said it would be hard not to share her love of volleyball.
LONG BEACH, Calif. — UC San Diego men’s volleyball won both of its matches on Friday during day one of the North American Challenge. The two exhibition contests were played against Canadian schools Calgary and Alberta.
The Tritons beat Calgary 3-2 before immediately turning around and sweeping Alberta 3-0. Head coach Brad Rostratter largely used two different squads for the two contests. Only Ethan Hornyak and Tyler Stewart played in both matches, with both coming off the bench in the second exhibition.
Long Beach State is the host for all matches this weekend. The challenge resumes on Sunday at the Gold Mine on Long Beach State’s campus.
HOW IT HAPPENED – CALGARY
UC San Diego won set one with Calgary 25-17 before the Dinos took sets two and three by scores of 26-24 and 25-16. The Tritons then came back to win set four 25-23 and set five 15-12.
Luke Chandler led the Tritons with 18 kills, hitting .324 in the match. Aidan Powell added 13 kills and tied the team-high digs mark with eight. John Luers also had eight digs and powered the offense with 45 assists.
As a team the Tritons hit .259 and had 10 aces. Their nine total blocks helped hold Calgary to a .217 hitting percentage.
HOW IT HAPPENED – ALBERTA
The Alberta match saw the Tritons cruise to a 25-14 win in set one. Set two was much closer, with UC San Diego coming out on top after a 25-23 frame. Set three was then another comfortable scoreline as the Tritons won 25-12 to complete the sweep.
A stifling defensive effort saw the Tritons hold Alberta to a -0.111 hitting percentage. UC San Diego hit .271, adding six aces. Leo Pravednikov and Sebastiano Sani both registered solo blocks as the Tritons finished with eight total.
Sani was the team’s top offensive performer with 11 kills and a percentage of .368. Josh Ewert hit .263, adding eight kills and a team-high three aces. Cameron Wurl orchestrated the attack with 25 assists. He also had a team-high six digs.
UP NEXT
The Tritons will return to Long Beach State on Sunday to face the same two teams in the Tritons’ final exhibition matches ahead of the 2026 regular season. UC San Diego will first battle Alberta at 12:30 p.m. before squaring off with Calgary at 3:00 p.m. Live stats will be available HERE.
The Tritons open the regular season at home next Tuesday, Jan. 6. Jessup will visit LionTree Arena for a match that begins at 7:00 p.m.
About UC San Diego Athletics After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West inNCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world’s preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.comor follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
Introducing the All-Area volleyball teams from the Cannon Falls Beacon and Republican Eagle.
Alec Hamilton, community editor for the Beacon, and Martin Schlegel, sports editor for the Eagle, cooperated to put together two teams from their respective schools: Cannon Falls, Randolph, Red Wing, Goodhue and Lake City.
The head coaches were able to nominate up to three players for Player of the Year in addition to their nominations for all-area. Statistics and accomplishments were taken into account when forming all-area teams. Coaches’ votes and overall honors were used in naming a Player of the Year.
From head coach Sydney Boutelle: “Izzy Guetzlaff is a steady force and presence the Wingers rely on. Her consistent level of play with her kills and blocks spark momentum during their games. She is a player you look to when you need a side-out through moments of adversity and someone who carries the team effortlessly.”
Claire Meyers (Sophomore, Cannon Falls, outside hitter)
HVL All-Conference.
2025 Stats: 275 kills (led the team), 3.2 kills per set, 35.4% kill, 275 digs, 304 receptions (3.5 per set), 46 ace serves, 90.3% serving, 17 blocks.
From head coach Melissa Huseth: “Claire is a gifted, athletic player who embraced a major new challenge this season and made an immediate impact. In her first two years on varsity she played as a middle attacker with limited back-row responsibility. This year, we moved her to the outside and into a middle-back defensive role. She welcomed the transition and quickly became a force at the net and a gritty, reliable defender in the backcourt. Claire stays calm under pressure and gives her best at all times.”
Senior Izzie Reynolds. Alec Hamilton / Cannon Falls Beacon
Annie Reinitz (Senior, Red Wing, setter)
Republican Eagle/Cannon Falls Beacon Player of the Year, Big 9 All-Conference, MSHSL Academic Award, two-year team captain.
From head coach Sydney Boutelle: “For the past couple years, Annie Reinitz has been the floor general of Winger Volleyball. With grit, intelligence, and unwavering confidence, she has led her team through every moment — leaving a legacy of leadership, maturity, and excellence.”
Izzie Reynolds (Senior, Randolph, left side outside hitter/right side setter)
From head coach Karli O’Reilly: “Izzie is a student of the game. She is always watching film and looking for ways to grow as an athlete. She loves the game and she is very competitive.”
Sophomore Libby Sampson. Alec Hamilton / Cannon Falls Beacon
Libby Sampson (Sophomore, Cannon Falls, setter)
HVL All-Conference, surpassed 1,000 career assists (currently at 1,149), team captain.
From head coach Melissa Huseth: “Libby embodies everything you want in a setter. She is knowledgeable, consistent and a calm, confident leader with beautifully skilled hands. She worked hard to build strong connections with all of her hitters so she could meet their individual needs and put them in the best position to score. Libby plays hard for her teammates, is always striving to improve and brings a smile to the court every time she steps on it.”
Katie Tipton (Junior, Cannon Falls, libero)
HVL All-Conference, 1,000+ career digs, sixth in the state in digs last season according to MaxPreps, team captain.
From head coach Melissa Huseth: “Katie was arguably one of the strongest liberos in the state. She was instrumental in sustaining long rallies, covering a tremendous amount of court with confidence and consistency. Katie brings excellent ball control, an unwavering work ethic and a big heart to everything she does. She continues to sharpen her game and elevate her leadership—not only through her skills, but through her communication and defensive direction. Katie is someone you can always depend on.”
Junior Katie Tipton. Alec Hamilton / Cannon Falls Beacon
From head coach Amber Lohman: “Shelby is a great leader on and off the court. She not only led the team in kills, but also on digs and this is what makes her a great six-position player. She will be greatly missed next season.”
From head coach Amber Lohman: “Ashlee showed great strength on the outside this year and has a great read on playing defense in the back row. I look forward to seeing her leadership out on the court next season.”
Senior Hadley Cooreman. Alec Hamilton / Cannon Falls Beacon
Gopher All-Conference, Gopher Conference Sportsmanship Award, team captain.
2025 Stats: 122 kills, 25 digs, 44 blocks.
From head coach Karli O’Reilly: “Hadley leads her teammates with kindness and perseverance. She stands out for her attacks and blocks in the front row. She is loved by everyone and absolutely shined as a varsity captain.”
Alexa Guetzlaff (Junior, Red Wing, outside hitter)
From head coach Sydney Boutelle: “Alexa Guetzlaff has proven herself as a true six-rotation weapon — explosive at the net and in the backrow. Her competitiveness fueled the Wingers’ determination all season long. Alexa stepped into a leadership role with confidence as a returner. As we look ahead, we know she will continue to lead with the same drive and excellence as the seniors this year.”
Senior Falon Hepola. Alec Hamilton / Cannon Falls Beacon
Alli Helmin (Senior, Lake City, middle blocker)
HVL All-Conference Honorable Mention.
2025 Stats: 198 kills, 27 blocks.
From head coach Katlyn Bade: “A dominant senior middle blocker whose presence at the net changed every match played.”
Falon Hepola (Senior, Cannon Falls, setter/opposite)
HVL All-Conference, Academic All-State, team captain.
2025 Stats: Injured most of the season. 138 assists (3.7 per set), 68 kills (1.8 per set), 79 digs, 24 ace serves, 92.9% serving.
From head coach Melissa Huseth: “This young lady is a true game changer. Her leadership, energy and talent propelled the Bombers through four successful seasons, including a state championship her freshman year. More importantly, she helped her teammates find confidence in themselves. I have genuinely enjoyed coaching Falon and watching her grow into a talented, fun, and caring young athlete. She has left a lasting, positive impact on Cannon Falls High School that extends far beyond her time on the volleyball court.”
Mackenzie Murray (Junior, Randolph, libero)
Junior Mackenzie Murray. Alec Hamilton / Cannon Falls Beacon
Gopher All-Conference Honorable Mention.
2025 Stats: 44 assists and 218 digs.
From head coach Karli O’Reilly: “Mackenzie is hardworking and coachable. She is quick on her feet and dependable in the back row. She is responsible, reliable and well-liked by her teammates.”
From head coach Amber Lohman: “Hazel stepped up with confidence this year as one of the setters in our 6-2 offence. She worked hard at making plays happen and led the team in set assists. I look forward to her confidence and leadership on the court next season.”
LONGVIEW – Division I state champion Decatur landed the two top honors in voting for the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 4A All-State Volleyball Team for the 2025 season.
Voting was conducted by TSWA members based on nominations from coaches and media members from around the state.
LONGVIEW – Division 1 champion Goliad and Division II champ Boyd took top honors in voting for the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 3A All-State Volleyball Team for the 2025 season.
The state champs shared Coach of the Year and Player of the Year honors.
Voting was conducted by TSWA members based on nominations from coaches and media members from around the state.
COACH OF THE YEAR: (Tie) Jess Odem, Goliad; Clark Oberle, Boyd
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: (Tie) Addy Delgado, Boyd; Addison Yendry, Goliad FIRST TEAM
