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Cardinals notebook

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Cardinals notebook

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals hoped Friday would bring optimistic news regarding Iván Herrera and his sore left hamstring.

Instead, they were greeted with a grim prognosis. Herrera, the team’s most impactful hitter, could miss up to six weeks with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. The Cardinals were made aware of the injury a few hours before Friday’s game, a 6-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds spurred by six scoreless innings from Andre Pallante. Still, the ramifications of losing Herrera for an extended period could be severe for St. Louis.

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Herrera sustained the injury in the top of the sixth inning during Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox, rounding first base after singling to right. Herrera, the starting catcher in Game 1, did not initially think the injury was serious and remained in the game for two more innings. When he continued to feel a twinge, the Cardinals removed him.

“I tried to go for two bases and I felt a pull in my hamstring, a small spot,” Herrera said. “I didn’t think it was bad. … I didn’t feel uncomfortable, but they did take me out of the game.

“I thought I could keep playing,” he added. “I was hoping that I could play today. But (the team) said if I keep playing with it, I risk missing all year.”

Herrera underwent imaging Friday morning at Busch Stadium, which revealed a significant strain that will keep him out a minimum of two weeks, but likely much more. The Cardinals’ initial recovery timeline ranged anywhere from two to six weeks. Herrera was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday afternoon, and the team recalled Thomas Saggese as the corresponding move.

Being without Herrera for any length of time is not ideal. Despite his defense continuing to be a work in progress, Herrera cemented himself in the starting lineup because of his bat. His .320/.392/.533 line is the most productive of any Cardinal, and his eight homers are the fourth-most on the team. The 25-year-old already missed a month of the season after sustaining a bone bruise on his left knee in early April, yet he still leads most of the roster in OPS (.925) and RBIs (36).

“It’s unfortunate, he’s been doing a really nice job,” manager Oli Marmol said of Herrera. “Swinging a really hot bat, just a real threat offensively. We’re going to miss that, but it’s an opportunity for someone else to step in.”

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The Cardinals will have to get creative in Herrera’s absence. They’ll also need multiple players to step up during the next two weeks. St. Louis (41-35, 4 1/2 games back in the National League Central) is entering a pivotal stretch of schedule where it will face division opponents in 12 of its next 15 games. The Cardinals also do not have a scheduled team off day until July 3. Here’s what to watch as the Cardinals navigate a serious blow to their everyday lineup — during a time where they could hardly afford it.

Nolan Gorman, Alec Burleson should see more playing time

For the last several weeks, Marmol’s lineup configuration resembled solving a Rubik’s Cube. Keeping Herrera as the starting designated hitter kept the best bat in the lineup, but made it impossible for Marmol to play Gorman, Jordan Walker, Burleson, Lars Nootbaar and Victor Scott II in the lineup at the same time.

Gorman and Burleson were the players who saw their playing time cut the most, despite both hitters swinging much better bats lately. Gorman entered play Friday hitting .286 with three homers and a .946 OPS in June, while Burleson is slugging a whopping .400/431/.600 and also has three home runs this month. What’s been most encouraging about Gorman and Burleson’s performances is that it has come regardless of opposing handedness. The two lefties are having no problem hitting lefty pitching lately, and Marmol is eager to play both hitters more.

“Gorman has shown over time that he can handle lefties, it’s more so if his swing is right,” Marmol explained. “When he’s feeling good, I don’t think it’s a matter of handedness, where Burleson is showing us that he can stay in there really well (against lefties) right now.”

The Cardinals believe they can increase playing time for Gorman and Burleson by utilizing the designated hitter role and also working in consistent rest days for Walker. Asked if there was some hesitancy about carrying a lefty-heavy lineup (Brendan Donovan, Nootbaar and Scott II will continue in their usual roles), Marmol acknowledged that could be a concern but said: “It is what it is. You take your shot with what you have, and we can give guys a blow with Saggese from the right side.”

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Expect St. Louis to use the designated hitter role as a carousel, similar to how it operated during Herrera’s first IL stint. Gorman and Burleson can trade off in that role, with Burleson also available to give Willson Contreras time off at first base or Walker in right field. The Cardinals could also elect to start Donovan in left field and Gorman at second base on days Nootbaar needs off, but that will raise questions about how much they are willing to sacrifice defensively to prioritize offense.

It’s not an ideal situation, but if the team is looking for a silver lining, it’s that Burleson and Gorman look ready to pick up in Herrera’s place.

“This will give more opportunity to Gorman (and Burleson) to step in there and show what they’re capable of, which will be fun to watch as well,” Marmol said.

Thomas Saggese will provide bench depth

Saggese was the logical call-up, with Yohel Pozo available to back up Pedro Pagés behind the plate. While there will be a clamor to play Saggese every day, Marmol made it clear the infielder’s role is to provide depth.

“(Saggese) was the bat that was available, but he gives you some flexibility in being able to give certain guys days off if needed,” Marmol said. “He allows for several positions.”

The 23-year-old appeared in 15 games in April for St. Louis before he was optioned back to Memphis to see more consistent playing time. He’s hitting .317 with an .847 OPS over 42 Triple-A games, but his ability to play around the infield is where he brings the Cardinals the most value. Marmol wants to prioritize Gorman’s and Burleson’s playing time, though there will still be opportunities for Saggese to play.

“The priority is the guys that have been here, more so than the guy who’s getting here,” Marmol explained. “An opportunity — in an undesirable way — has presented itself, but I think the guys that have been waiting for their opportunity should get it.”

Saggese was the designated hitter in Friday’s starting lineup, as both Contreras and Nolan Arenado were scheduled for days off after Thursday’s doubleheader. Saggese could start against opposing left-handers, but his primary obligation will be bench depth for now.

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Michael McGreevy will likely make another spot start against the Cubs

A rainout Wednesday allowed St. Louis to bring up McGreevy for a spot start Thursday as its 27th man — before his eligibility date of June 24. The result? Five innings of one-run ball against the White Sox, where the right-hander scattered three hits and a walk with five strikeouts. The Cardinals had to send him back to Memphis after Thursday (McGreevy was sent down on June 10 and, by rule, must wait 15 days before he’s eligible to be called back up, with the exception of injury and doubleheaders).

Expect to see him back with the big-league club as soon as it’s permitted.

The Cardinals will likely spot start McGreevy against the Cubs on Tuesday, his third start of the year and his fourth overall appearance. Sonny Gray, who was supposed to start Wednesday’s postponed game, was pushed back to Saturday. Miles Mikolas will take Sunday’s series finale against the Reds, and Matthew Liberatore is scheduled to start Monday’s game — the first of four against Chicago, whom St. Louis is facing for the first time this season.

St. Louis has aimed to keep its starters on a six-day schedule for most of the season. By starting McGreevy on his eligibility date, the Cardinals will be able to enforce that schedule. They plan to finish the series with Erick Fedde on Wednesday and Pallante on Thursday, both of whom would be on a five-day schedule if not for a spot start Tuesday.

It’s fair to question why McGreevy, who has allowed five earned runs over 16 2/3 major-league innings this season, isn’t a fixture in the rotation. The Cardinals certainly would like him to be, but remain concerned about their lack of starting pitching depth in the minor leagues. St. Louis is one of the few MLB teams that has not suffered a significant starting pitching injury, which has kept McGreevy in Triple A.

The club could re-evaluate McGreevy’s usage ahead of the trade deadline. Until then, St. Louis will continue utilizing McGreevy for spot starts when the schedule allows and look to find a clear avenue for him to remain in the big leagues for good later in the year.

(Photo of Ivan Herrera: Jeff Hanisch / Imagn Images)

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Indy volleyball coach in viral video charged after allegedly sexting a minor

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INDIANAPOLIS — A viral video has led to criminal charges against an Indianapolis volleyball coach accused of sending sexually explicit images to someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced that Levi Garrett, 34, of Danville, faces attempted dissemination of matter harmful to minors, a Level 6 felony, following an independent investigation by the prosecutor’s office.

According to the probable cause affidavit, the charges stem from allegations that on March 2, 2025, Garrett engaged in explicit conversations and sent sexually graphic photos on the dating app Grindr to someone he believed was a minor.

A member of a private online investigative organization used a fake Grindr profile titled “tryna have fun” with a photo portraying themselves as a 14-year-old male named “Josh.” The decoy allegedly engaged with Garrett’s profile, “Hmu & find out.”

During the conversation, court documents show the minor texted Garrett, “U mind if I’m young,” and Garrett replied, “No I don’t mind.” When the decoy told Garrett, “I’m 14 but I down for whatever,” Garrett allegedly “liked” the message and proceeded to send three sexually explicit images, including photos of male genitalia and sexual activity.

The messages also allegedly included language about meeting for sex, with Garrett asking whether the encounter would be “safe or bareback.”

Court records show Garrett initially agreed to meet at a location in Greencastle but later blocked the account.

The case gained widespread attention in August when YouTuber JiDion, who is affiliated with the private investigative group, posted a 26-minute video titled “Volleyball Coach Gets EXPOSED” that has been viewed over 1.2 million times.

In the video, JiDion confronts Garrett at The Academy Volleyball Club located on East 30th Street, showing him screenshots of the alleged text exchanges and explicit photos.

Notably, the video showed several Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers at the scene during the confrontation. When JiDion urged them to arrest the coach, one officer stated, “I have run into this before. Our prosecutor will not touch this,” a response that was controversial to many of JiDion’s followers.

IMPD later responded to the backlash and clarified that the video lacked important context, noting that a police report was filed at the scene, Garrett was trespassed from the property, and detectives were informed about the allegations.

Following the viral incident, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office opened a formal investigation into the allegations.

“There are no shortcuts in the investigative process,” Mears said in a statement Monday. “When it comes to crimes against children, justice demands that an independent investigation occur and evidence be properly obtained, so that a case is built that will hold offenders accountable in a court of law.”

According to the affidavit, body camera footage from the incident shows Garrett identifying himself by name and providing his date of birth and phone number to officers, information that matched the Grindr profile under investigation.

Garrett is scheduled to appear for a change of plea hearing on January 27, 2026, at 9 a.m. in Marion County Superior Court.





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Volleyball Lands Four on CSC Academic All-District Team

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GREENWOOD, Ind. – College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced its annual All-District listing on Tuesday, including four Central Michigan Volleyball members.
 
To qualify, a student-athlete must hold a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.50, across both undergraduate and graduate courses, if applicable. Athletically, volleyball student-athletes must have either competed in 90% of their team’s contests for the season or started at least 66% of contests.
 
The list of honorees is below:
 
Senior Alina Anderson (Rockford, Mich. / Rockford / Ferris State)
Senior Abby Olin (Coopersville, Mich. / Coopersville / Michigan State)
Sophomore Izzy Swiercz (Hudsonville, Mich. / Hudsonville)
Sophomore Grace Thomas (Dublin, Ohio / Dublin Coffman)
 
Both Anderson and Olin earned the honor for the 2024 season.
 
For the latest news and updates on CMU Volleyball, follow the team in X (@cmuvolleyball) and on Instagram (@cmuvolleyball).
 



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Affidavit reveals AI-generated plan in alleged grooming case against Mesquite pastor’s son and volleyball coach

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An arrest affidavit obtained by CBS News Texas reveals more details about what led up to the arrest of a teacher and volleyball coach accused of grooming a teenage girl to have a sexual relationship with her, including the discovery of an AI-generated document outlining manipulation tactics.

Matthan Lough, 32, was arrested on Dec. 10 on a charge of child grooming, a third-degree felony. His father, Kevin Lough, was the senior pastor of the Christian Center of Mesquite, where some of the alleged grooming took place.

The victim and her mother filed a report with Mesquite police about Lough on Oct. 2. According to police, the victim’s mother found out about the relationship earlier that week.

Mesquite police: Grooming began more than two years ago

The affidavit outlines how the case began with an interaction at a party in the spring of 2023.

According to the affidavit, the victim met Lough at her cousin’s graduation party when he approached her while she was playing volleyball. The victim recognized Lough from church, as his wife was the worship leader for their youth group. Lough asked her if she would be interested in joining a club volleyball team he wanted to start at the church. 

It was not until the fall of 2024 that Lough held tryouts for the team, and the victim was given a spot, the affidavit said. The victim reported a series of unusual interactions with Lough over the following months in which he shared overly personal details about his life and marriage, then began to make flirty and inappropriate jokes, according to the report.

Lough’s inappropriate behavior escalated further over the summer of 2025, when he started sending the victim explicit messages and discussed committing murders, the affidavit said. Lough also repeatedly made sure the victim knew he was carrying a gun, making her fear for her safety.

In September, the affidavit describes the relationship turning physical. Lough allegedly kissed the victim at a church event. Later that month, he sexually assaulted her twice, the victim told police.

The relationship ended after the victim’s mother discovered the inappropriate messages on the victim’s devices. Her mother then contacted Lough’s wife.

Police said that after the victim filed the report, detectives obtained a search warrant and found an AI-generated document on Lough’s iPad titled “Hypothetical Counter-Influence Plan.” The document outlined phases such as “rebuild her autonomy” and “shift the power dynamic,” and provided guidance on how to achieve success.

Fallout from child grooming case

After the relationship was uncovered, police said Lough’s wife left Texas. Court records show she filed for divorce in October.

Lough’s father also resigned as senior pastor of the Christian Center of Mesquite. In a post on the church’s website, its board said the church would work to seek justice for the victim. It also said the church has “initiated an immediate internal review of all child protection policies, volunteer screening processes, and facility access logs to ensure the absolute safety of every child and youth within our care.”



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2025 NCAA women’s volleyball championship: How to watch, schedule

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Texas A&M shook up the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament when the No. 3 Aggies upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten Nebraska in their regional final. Now, the Aggies are headed to their first Final Four in program history.

No. 3 Wisconsin, which ousted Texas, another No. 1 seed, on its home court, and No. 1 seeds Kentucky and Pittsburgh join Texas A&M in the national semifinals, which take place Thursday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Aggies will take on Pitt in one semifinal, while Wisconsin and Kentucky will face off in the other. Neither Texas A&M nor the Panthers have won a national championship, though Pitt will play in its fifth straight Final Four. Both Wisconsin (2021) and Kentucky (2020) have won one national title.

Here are key facts about the 2025 NCAA Division I women’s volleyball tournament:

What is the remaining schedule?

*All times Eastern

Thursday, Dec. 18

Semifinal: No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 1 Pittsburgh – 6:30 p.m. on ESPN

“NCAA Women’s Volleyball Studio Show” – 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Semifinal: No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 1 Kentucky – 9 p.m. on ESPN

Sunday, Dec. 21

“NCAA Women’s Volleyball Preview Show” – 3 p.m. on ABC

Championship – 3:30 p.m. on ABC

How can fans watch?

Fans can catch all of the action in the ESPN App and in the NCAA women’s volleyball streaming hub.

How can fans access more college sports coverage from ESPN?

Check out the ESPN college sports hub page for the latest news, scores, rankings and more.



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Three Clarkson Volleyball Players Named to CSC Academic All-District List

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Seniors Ashley Currier and Marin Hangliter as well as sophomore Olivia Baxter of the Clarkson University Volleyball team have been named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Volleyball team. 

The 2025 Academic All-District® Volleyball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. To be eligible, student-athletes need to be of sophomore standing both athletically and academically, hold a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or better, and have participated in 90% of sets or have started at least two-thirds of their respective team’s matches. 

Baxter, a sophomore majoring in Chemical Engineering, was a Liberty League Second-Team All-Star thanks to her excellence in the back row. Baxter ranked 22nd nationally in digs per set (5.40 dps) and was 57th nationally in aces per set (0.63 aps).

Currier, a senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering, continued to be relied upon in a variety of roles for the Knights, averaging 7.09 assists, 0.95 kills, 2.50 digs, and 0.61 blocks per set. In a match against University of Rochester she nearly posted an incredibly rare feat, coming up just one kill short of a quadruple double (31 assists, 16 digs, 10 blocks, and 9 kills). 

Hangliter, a senior majoring in Environmental Engineering, finished the season averaging 2.62 kills per set, which ranked second on the team. She also was second in the Liberty League in aces per set with 0.64, which placed her 49th nationally in that category.  



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Three Tennessee Volleyball Players Earn CSC Academic All-District Honors

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Three Tennessee volleyball student-athletes College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team, as announced on Tuesday. Caroline Kerr makes the list for the second consecutive year, while Hayden Kubik and Gülce Güçtekin make the list for the first time in their careers.

This marks the first time in program history that three Lady Vols have been named to the Academic All-District Team. In Eve Rackham Watt‘s eight years as head coach, eight total players have earned Academic All-District honors. Tennessee has had two or more players selected to the All-District team now in three seasons, all coming under Rackham Watt.

CSC’s Academic All-America program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Both Kerr and Kubik earned spots on the CSC Academic All-America ballot, which will be announced on January 13, 2026.

Compiling a 3.87 GPA in the Sport Management program, Kerr garnered First Team All-SEC honors after leading the team with 945 assists. Kerr was a key force for a Tennessee attack that finished the season top 15 in both hitting percentage and kills per set. Kerr had 20 matches with 30 or more assists, including tying her career high with 57 against Florida on Oct. 15. 

One of the top setters in Tennessee history, Kerr currently ranks sixth all-time in both assists (3,259) and assists per set (10.65). The two-time All-American setter has led the team in assists in each of the last three seasons, eclipsing the 1,000-assist mark in both 2023 & 2024.

Earning her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies, Kubik had her best offensive season of her career in her final collegiate season. Kubik led the team in kills (390), kills per set (4.19), points (431.0), and points per set (4.63) this season. She had double-digit kills in 24 matches, reaching 20 or more on four occasions.

Kubik also ranked top ten in the conference in both kills per set and points per set in 2025. A stellar defender in the back row, Kubik finished third on the team with 209 digs. The First Team All-SEC selection had seven double-doubles on the campaign, all of which came against conference opponents.

Boasting a 4.00 GPA in Communication Studies, Güçtekin became an important piece to Tennessee’s defensive success. The senior libero  led the team in 2025 with 408 digs. Güçtekin finished the season ranking top five in the SEC in both digs and digs per set. She recorded double figure digs in 23 matches, including having 20 or more in six. She set a career-high of 30 digs at Kentucky on Nov. 9, becoming the first Tennessee player to reach 30 or more digs since Yelianoz Torres had 30 against Arkansas on Oct. 20, 2023.

Güçtekin eclipsed 1,000 digs in her career this season, and finishes her collegiate career with 1,293 digs. An all-around player in college, Güçtekin also finished with 423 assists and 117 aces.



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