LAS CRUCES, N.M. – In the nearly 250 days eclipsed since Nov. 24, 2024, NM State Volleyball Head Coach Mike Jordan has been hard at work prepping for another shot at glory in 2025. After bringing in two assistant coaches and Jaelynn Kohli during the spring, the Aggie roster was rejuvenated ahead of summer workouts. Six new student-athletes are set to debut for the Crimson & White next month, including two transfers and a quartet of true freshman. 
 
In total, the newcomers consist of two middle blockers, a pair of outside hitters, one setter and a defensive specialist. The four front-row additions boast an average height of 6-foot-3, including two that would have been the tallest on the 2024 roster. The four freshmen include two New Mexico natives, a Texan and a Canadian.
 
(#77) Zoe Ziegler | Jr. | Outside Hitter | 6-6 | Cypress CC | Pacoima, Calif.
As the tallest Aggie in at least two decades, Zoe Ziegler brings size that simply cannot be taught to the front row. The Cypress Community College transfer appeared in 51 matches, tallying 2.70 kills per set and a career hitting percentage of .306. Last season, she recorded 284 kills and 100 total blocks, doubling the next closest Charger as she averaged 1.18 rejections per set. On Sept. 6-7, she led the team with 35 kills and 18 blocks across three matches. In a bout against San Diego Miramar, Ziegler dominated with five blocks and 14 kills on 17 swings without an error en route to a sweep.
 
(#9) Katie Funk | Jr. | Middle Blocker | 5-11 | Tyler JC | Shreveport, La.
Following two seasons with Tyler Junior College, Katie Funk headed west to learn from Jordan and assistant Lia Mosher in hopes of continuing a long line of exceptional Aggie middle blockers. The Louisiana native made her mark with the Apaches, tallying 160 kills and 137 blocks. In 2024, she added eight aces, including five on Sept. 7 against Amarillo College. Funk is set to join the group of 2025 middle blockers that boasts Mia Fox as the lone returner. 
 
(#11) Jaelynn Kohli | Fr. | Outside Hitter | 6-3 | Eastlake HS | El Paso, Texas

Kohli was the first option for the Eastlake offense all fall, leading her team to the UIL 6A Division I Texas Regional Semifinals for the first time. The fourth-year star paced the Falcons in kills (564), kills per set (5.08), hitting percentage (.365), blocks (53), solo blocks (14) and blocks per set (0.47). Kohli drove her squad to the school’s first-ever two-win postseason in history, advancing to the Regional Semifinals before falling to Allen. For the spring semester, she joined the Crimson & White for practice after graduating high school early. Read her release [here].
 
(#14) Mia Mendoza | Fr. | Setter | 5-8 | Los Lunas HS | Los Lunas, N.M.
Mia Mendoza joins the 2025 roster as one of two freshmen from the Land of Enchantment. The Los Lunas product will begin her collegiate career this fall after four seasons as a starter for the Tigers. Mendoza tallied 2,962 career assists, including a career-high 808 as a junior. Across 323 sets played, she averaged 9.2 assists, 2.9 digs and 0.49 aces per frame. Additionally, the New Mexico native posted 364 kills with a .219 hitting percentage over four seasons. Last fall, the squad advanced to the semifinals of the NMAA 5A State Playoffs.
 
(#16) Kate Sinclair | Fr. | Middle Blocker | 6-4 | Ernest Manning HS | Calgary, Alberta
Rounding out the middle blocker rotation is true freshman Kate Sinclair. The lone international product on the roster hails from Calgary, making her the first Canadian on Jordan’s club in five years. In 2024, she competed with her nation’s National Excellence Program. Sinclair, alongside Ziegler, completes a duo that stands nearly 13 combined feet tall at the net. Competing with Team Alberta, she went on to claim a fifth-place finish at the 2023 Canada Cup. 
 
(#17) Jazlyn Vasquez | Fr. | Libero | 5-9 | Centennial HS | Las Cruces, N.M.
From just 3.1 miles away, Jazlyn Vasquez caught the attention of Mike Jordan, leading Centennial High School from the back row. The senior paced the team with 267 receptions in 2024, racking up 254 digs (3.53 per set) along the way. At the net, Vasquez posted 132 kills and 28 total blocks, ranking among the team’s top four in each category. Finally, the defensive specialist tallied 23 aces, including 14 in district play. The Hawks made two trips to the NMAA 5A State Playoffs during Vasquez’s high school career, including a run to the quarterfinals in 2022. That fall, she played alongside Bella Castro and Tess Fuqua; two teammates she is set to reunite with on the floor next month.
 
Who They Join
This fall’s unit will be spearheaded by 13 returners, including a quartet of senior setters. Nellie Reese started all but one match a season ago, landing a team-high 678 assists. The returning crop combined for 250 kills a season ago, accounting for just 15.7% of all 2024 production. Ashley Herman’s 164 kills rank highest among the bunch after appearing in 29 of 33 matches. The back row will boast a trio of returning defensive specialists in Bella Castro, Makayla Martinez and Kaylee Peterson. The grouping combined for 186 digs, 269 receptions and 33 aces a season ago. 
 
For complete coverage of NM State Volleyball, follow us on Twitter (@NMStateVBall), Instagram (@NMStateVBall) and like us on Facebook (NM State Volleyball). You can also follow along with Aggie Volleyball via NMStateSports.com.
 

##NM State##

Breakers Boys Water Polo at the Junior Olympics: Nine team members were part of the SET16U squad that won the Gold Division, finishing 14^th overall out of 120 teams competing in 16’s.

Summer Programs

Summer training sessions for various sports are underway. A full list of offerings is available at lbhs.lbusd.org/athletics/summer-programs. 

WATER POLO

The U16 squad, coached by Laguna Boys’ Water Polo Head Coach Camron Hauer, won the Gold Division, finishing 14^th overall out of 120 teams in the 16’s. Nine of the 13 squad members were from the Breakers. Two San Diego teams met in the finals. More information on JO’s and USA teams is available at usawaterpolo.org. Coach Hauer ‘13 returns for his fourth season guiding the Breakers and has an overall record of 53-40, with a 6-3 record in the SSCIF D-1 playoffs.

High School Sports

Week of July 28

Girls’ Volleyball at the North Gym. Team tryouts on Aug. 1.

Girls’ Lacrosse at Thurston, Flag Football with coach Ryan Kollock. Grades 9-12 at Thurston.

Baseball at Cabrillo Field.

Fall Sports Preview

The 2025-2026 high school sports season kicks off in just two weeks. Girls’ volleyball will begin competition on Aug. 2 and 3 at the Queens Court Tournament, with all three levels participating. The flag football team will travel to Loara on Aug. 12. Varsity football opens the season on Thursday, Aug. 21, at Chino. The cross-country team will race at the Saddleback Cup, hosted by Trabuco Hills High School, on Aug. 30. Boys’ water polo begins their season Aug. 26 with a match at Aliso Niguel.

Have a note on Laguna High School sports, or want an updated PDF file of the football and baseball record books? Email Frank Aronoff at frank@twometer.net.

2025 High School FALL SCHEDULES? Check Laguna Beach High School on the Max Preps website or

the schedules tab on the Athletics website at lbhs.lbusd.org/athletics/schedules. To get scores on the school site – select the sport and level, click year and move the “Show older events” toggle under the selected season.

TUCUMCARI, N.M. (KFDA) – The boys basketball team will have to wait a little while before they get things started, but the Lady Rattlers volleyball team will hit the court here very soon, trying to build on an amazing season last year.

In 27 games, the Lady Rattlers put 21 tallies in the win column last year and didn’t suffer a loss until eight games into the season.

They carried that momentum into District 6-2A, getting hot at the right time and finishing with a perfect 10-0 record to claim the district championship.

Plenty of veteran leadership from the senior class who recently graduated, who say last year was a good season to end their high school career with.

With the returning Lady Rattlers, the program is still in good hands.

“Last year was a special year. We’ve always played good together but last year I felt like group of girls we really played for each other rather than ourselves and it made the year super special. We didn’t end it how we wanted to but it was still a great year. I wouldn’t change a thing,” said July Lafferty.

“It was so special because there was really only a few seniors on the team so the rest were just underclassmen, so it was really important for us to bring up the underclassmen with us. It was so rewarding to see their hard work pay off with ours because it really it really felt like we’re mentoring them into the next season,” said Aliyah Marez.

“The girls next year they’re going to be really good. They still have some strong hitters back and strong passers. They’re going to be good next year too. They just gotta get back into it again,” said Caylee Benavidez.

As the reigning champs, the Lady Rattlers will have a target on their back.

The girls say they are more than ready to defend their title and go further than they did last season.

Copyright 2025 KFDA. All rights reserved.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –  A pair of outside hitters with Creighton Volleyball ties — rising senior Ava Martin and 2024 graduate Norah Sis — are among the 12 athletes who will represent the United States at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s U23 Pan American Cup, taking place July 27-Aug. 1 in León, Mexico. Martin and Sis were selected from the 17-member Women’s U23 National Team following a training block at the National Team Training Center in Anaheim, California.

The U.S. team begins play on Sunday, July 27 against the Dominican Republic at 3 p.m. CT. In pool play. The U.S. will also face Suriname and Costa Rica. The other pool features Cuba, Mexico, Canada and Nicaragua.

DePaul University head coach Marie Zidek will lead the team in Mexico, assisted by five-time Olympian Danielle Scott (LOVB) and Olympian Kayla Banwarth (PVF).

“This roster reflects a clear vision for how we aim to compete on the international stage — with adaptability, depth and a commitment to playing a connected, intelligent game,” Zidek said. “We look forward to being tested as a group and stay committed to representing the USA with a fighting spirit as we chase competitive success in critical developmental tournaments.”

Seven athletes headed to Mexico have previous international experience for the U.S:

• Averi Carlson: 2021 Women’s U21 National Team, 2021 U20 World Championship (fifth)
• Chloe Chicoine: 2023 Women’s U21 National Team, Pan Am Cup (gold, MVP, best outside hitter); 2022 Women’s U21 National Team, Pan Am Cup (gold, best spiker); 2021 Girls U18 National Team, U18 World Championship (bronze)
• Raven Colvin: 2023 Women’s U21 National Team; 2022 Women’s U21 National Team, Pan Am Cup (gold)
• Cara Cresse: 2024 Women’s National Team, Pan Am Cup Final Six (silver)
• Eva Hudson: 2024 Women’s National Team, Pan Am Cup Final Six (silver); 2023 Women’s U21 National Team, Pan Am Cup (gold)
• Emmy Klika: 2023 Women’s U21 National Team
• Norah Sis: 2023 Women’s U21 National Team, Pan Am Cup (gold, 2nd best outside hitter); 2022 Women’s U21 National Team, Pan Am Cup (gold)

Newcomers are Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, Caroline Kerr, Ava Martin, Jurnee Robinson and Lauren Rumel.

Last summer Martin was one of 19 women’s collegiate athletes to be selected for the 2024 Women’s Collegiate National Team, which trained in Anaheim, Calif., alongside the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team. Sis won gold medals with the Women’s U21 National Team in both 2022 and 2023 at the Pan Am Cup, earning “Second Best Spiker” honors following her second competition.

Last season at Creighton, the duo formed once of the most formidable outside hitting tandems in the nation to help the Bluejays finish 32-3 and reach its first Elite Eight since 2016. Both women were unanimous All-BIG EAST selections and named AVCA All-Americans in 2024. Martin will return for her senior year in August looking to help Creighton win a 12th consecutive BIG EAST Conference title, while Sis won the Pro Volleyball Federation title with the Orlando Valkyries in May and looks to carry that momentum into her second professional season next spring.

Creighton has had several women play internationally with USA Volleyball in recent seasons, as Brittany Witt (Thailand), Jaali Winters (Croatia), Taryn Kloth (China) and Sis (Mexico) have all represented Team USA at one time or another in the past decade. Sis was part of back-to-back gold medal-winning teams at the U21 Women’s NORCECA Pan American Cup, while Kloth became Creighton’s first female student-athlete to compete in the Olympics last summer when she tied for ninth in Beach Volleyball along with partner Kristen Nuss.

 

USA Volleyball Women’s U23 Roster

Name, (Pos., Height, Hometown, College/Pro, Region)

1 Emmy Klika (L, 5-7, 2003, Novelty, Ohio, Pro Volleyball Federation, Ohio Valley)

3 Chloe Chicoine (OH, 5-10, 2004, Lafayette, Ind., Univ. of Louisville, Hoosier)

4 Cara Cresse (MB, 6-6, 2003, Ft. Wayne, Ind., Univ. of Louisville, Hoosier)

6 Raven Colvin (MB, 6-1, 2003, Indianapolis, Ind., Pro Volleyball Federation, Hoosier)

8 Eva Hudson (OH, 6-1, 2004, Ft. Wayne, Ind., Univ. of Kentucky, Hoosier)

9 Norah Sis (OH, 6-2, 2003, Papillion, Neb., Pro Volleyball Federation, Great Plains)

10 Averi Carlson (S, 5-11, 2003, Lucas, Texas, SMU, North Texas)

11 Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (MB, 6-2, 2004, Flower Mound, Texas, Texas A&M, North Texas)

13 Caroline Kerr (S, 5-11, 2004, Champaign, Ill., Univ. of Tennessee, Great Lakes)

15 Ava Martin (OH, 6-1, 2004, Overland Park, Kan., Creighton Univ., Heart of America)

16 Jurnee Robinson (OPP/OH, 6-1, 2004, Simpsonville, S.C., LSU, Palmetto)

18 Lauren Rumel (OPP, 6-2, 2003, Tucson, Ariz., Oregon State Univ., Arizona)

Alternates

7 Brooke Bultema (MB, 2004, Cincinnati, Ohio, Univ. of Kentucky, Ohio Valley)

12 Ella Swindle (S, 6-2, 2004, Columbia, Mo., Univ. of Texas, Heart of America)

14 Devin Kahahawai (OPP, 6-4, 2004, Kailua, Hawaii, Univ. of Texas, Aloha)

17 Marianna Singletary (MB, 6-4, 2004, Charleston, S.C., UCLA, Southern)

19 Maya Sands (L, 5-7, Rock Falls, Ill., Univ. of Missouri, Great Lakes)

Coaches

Head Coach: Marie Zidek (DePaul)

Assistant Coach: Kayla Banwarth (PVF, Olympian)

Assistant Coach: Danielle Scott (LOVB, Olympian)

Performance Analyst: Matthew Adams (Michigan)

ATC: Cherryl Bueno (Coast to Coast AthletiCare)

Team Lead: Taylor Marten (Ozark Juniors)

Schedule

All times Central

July 27: USA vs. Dominican Republic, 3 p.m.

July 28: USA vs. Suriname, 3 p.m.

July 29: USA vs. Costa Rica, 5 p.m.

July 30: Quarterfinals

July 31: Semifinals and Classification Matches

Aug. 1: Medal Matches and Classification matches