Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) has introduced Kirk Ong as new head coach of its women’s volleyball team.

The San Marcelino-based squad moves on from Rod Palmero after a series of unsuccessful seasons.

It hopes to rebuild its women’s volleyball program with Ong.

Since the NCAA women’s volleyball resumed action after the Covid-19 pandemic, EAC has been a cellar-dweller, only winning seven out of 45 games in the last four seasons.

They hit the rock bottom of the standings in season 98 and 99 while finishing second to the last in season 97 and 100.

Ong has been a long-time mentor of the Chiang Kai Shek (CKSC) girls volleyball team for more than a decade.

“What began as a personal passion for the game has grown into over a decade of dedicated coaching at the high school level. Throughout the years, Coach Kirk Ong developed not just athletes but young leaders, guiding teams through growth, discipline and success on and off the field,” Dr. Lorenzo Lorenzo, EAC representative to the NCAA management committee, told GMA Synergy and Regional TV News.

He led the CKSC 19-under team to a back-to-back championship in the Filipino-Chinese Amateur Athletic Association in 2024 while also winning the gold in the beach volleyball tournament.

“Now, he is stepping into the next challenge. Coaching at the college level with years of hands-on player development, and a commitment to continuous learning,” Lorenzo said.

“He is ready to bring that same energy and vision to the collegiate arena,” he added.

In NCAA Season 100, the Lady Generals showed some flashes of brilliance with a couple of career games from Elizza Alimen and an impressive performance by Erica Bodonal.

SAVANNAH, Georgia – Impressive displays of speed over the hurdles and on the sprint straight closed out the 58th USATF National Junior Olympics Championships Sunday at Ted Wright Stadium on the campus of Savannah State University.

Jasir Fontenot (Mercury San Diego TC) and Amari Scott (Mark Trail Flying Eagles) both bettered the national record in the boys’ 15-16 110 hurdles, with Fontenot taking gold in a stellar 13.56 and Scott the silver in 13.73. The previous meet record was 13.74, set by future Trinidadian Olympian Wayne Davis (Hurdle First) in 2007. Andrew Jones almost knocked down another Davis meet record, winning the 17-18 boys’ race in 13.42, just off the 13.38 recorded by Davis in 2009.

Doubling back from her record-setting win in the girls’ 17-18 400 hurdles, Jasmine Robinson (The Heat TC) picked up her second gold over the barriers with a 13.36 in the 100H. Her time was only .03 away from the meet record that was set by Alia Armstrong (Future Track) in 2018.

Had he not already claimed the meet record in the prelims of the boys’ 15-16 100 with a 10.34, Dillon Mitchell (Track Houston Youth TC) would have gotten it in the final, where he zipped to a 10.41. Coming into the Championships, the meet record was 10.49 by Kennedy Lightner (Fellowship of Champions) in 2018.

The top field event performance of the day came in the boys’ 15-16 javelin, with Walker Ferguson (Carolina Rockets) winning by more than five feet with a best of 60.53/198-7. Penn Virgil won the girls’ 11-12 high jump on the basis of fewer misses at the winning height of 1.51/4-11.5 as she went over on her second attempt to top Abby Harris and Malayah Polk (Hottest in the City TC), who each needed three tries.

3000s

Girls 11-12 Beau Sitzman (West Seattle Road Runners) 10:25.49 (PR)

Boys 11-12  Samuel Weinraub (Quick Track Club)  9:44.89

Girls 13-14 Quinn Hanley (Boweman Track ) 10:12.74 (PR)

Boys 13-14 James Fullerton (Unattached) 9:18.35

Girls 15-16 Madison Howland (Kansas Flyers)  10:26.57

Boys 15-16 Richard Mendoza (El Paso Westside Run Squad) 9:03.45 PR

Women’s 17-18 Desi Broadley (Vermont Exiles) 10:37.74 PR

Men’s 17-18 Taye Newman (Pacific Coast Shock Waves)  8:44.97 PR

400s

Girls 8 & Under Hope Bradley (DeKalb Elite) 1:09.39

Boys 8 & under Eli Wright, Jr (Mercury San Diego) 1:05.76

Girls 9-10 Cerenity Bell (Unattached) 1:02.10PR

Boys 9-10 Axyl Peterson (Afterburners) 59.84 PR

Girls 11-12 Morgan Doggett (Major Impact) 58.15

Boys 11-12 Keyzelle Thomas Jr (Carolina Rockets) 54.68 (PR)

Girls 13-14 Abigail Robisky (Ocean Breeze Wave Runners) 54.38 (PR)

Boys 13-14  Mekhi McIntyre (Drive Phase Track Club) 50.09 (PR)

Girls 15-16 Julia Wallace (MVP Track League) 54.96

Boys 15-16 Ronald Duplessis (Advancement through Athletics) 47.75 (PR)

Womens 17-18 Maddison Brister-Wesley (Lane 4 TC)  53.38

Men’s 17-18 Eddie Bruner Jr., (Kitsap Flyers) 46.18

100s

Girls 8 & under Narai Blanchard (High Voltage) 14.71

Boys 8 & under Avery Rey (Valley United) 13.58

Girls 9-10 Cerenity Bell (Unattached) 13.05

Boys 9-10 Cole McCullar (Track Houston) 13.04

Girls 11-12 Cortney Jones (Golden Knight Track Club) 12.47

Boys 11-12 Mason Whitehead (Wilson Wide Awake Elite Track Club) 11.96

Girls 13-14 Abigail Robisky (Ocean Breeze Wave Runners) 12.10

Boys 13-14 Calvin Portley III (Valley United) 10.91

Girls 15-16 Joya Clark (Run U Xpress) 11.56

Women’s 17-18 Ewomazino Edet (The Heat)11.58

Men’s 17-18 Elijah Monroe (Track Masterz NC) 10.40

110mH

Boys 15-16 Jasir Fontenot (Mercury San Diego) 13.56

Men’s 17-18 Andrew Jones (unattached) 13.42

100mH

Boys 13-14 Jonathan Parra (Valley United) 13.74

Girls 15-16 Valynsia Calhoun (Lane 4 TC) 13.77

Women 17-18 Jasmine Robinson (The Heat) 13.36

Girls 13-14 Harmony Moore (Sapphire Ruff Riders TC) 14.28

80mH

Girls 11-12 Raelynn Wilmore (Arizona Cheetahs) 12.48

Boys 11-12 Jasir Davis (Do Right Educational Sports) 12.04

High Jump

Girls 11-12  Penn Virgil (Unattached) 1.51/4-11.5

Men’s 17-18 Ryan Buskey (Sky’s the Limit) (2.08/6-9.75)

Long Jump

Boys 9-10 Maxwell Winter (Eagles Wings) (4.74/15.675)

Girls 9-10 Xaadia Miller (Zoom Elite) (4.57/15.00)

Girls 11-12 Ashlynn Newton (Elite) (4.98/16-4.25)

Discus

Boys 11-12 Colsen Cobert (Unattached) (36.69/124-04) PR

Boys 13-14 Evan Grays (Athlead Indy) (59.62/195-07)

Shot Put

Girls 13-14 Destiny Ojo (The Throwing Factory) (13.29/43.075)

Girls 8 & under Layla Lopez (unattached) (6.69/21-11.50)

Javelin

Women’s 17-18 Emily Norris (Unattached) (45.09/147-11) PR

Complete results may be found here.

The Virginia Tech Hokies stunned the Pittsburgh Panthers in a thriller, winning 3-1 (25-19, 19-25, 25-22, 26-24).

Before this game, the Panthers were No. 1 in the ACC.

“Pitt is a very good team, very disciplined,” Head Coach Chris Riley said. “We had to be able to match their intensity and balance.”

In the first set, Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh were stuck in a cat-and-mouse scoring duel. The Hokies pulled away, highlighted by a 5-1 run, after a questionable call that favored Virginia Tech late in the set.

Lindsey Owens recorded seven kills in the set, most of which were assisted by Rhegan Mitchell, who tallied 14 assists in the first set.

The Hokies were extremely efficient in the first set, committing just one attack error, leading to their .469 attack percentage.

In the second set, neither team played pretty volleyball. The second set went to the Panthers, thanks to a 6-1 run in the middle of the set. Virginia Tech committed nine errors and Pitt committed seven.

Those attack errors led to Virginia Tech to have an attack percentage of -0.033 for the second set.

Mitchell added to her assist total, racking up seven more in the set.

In the third set, Virginia Tech was off and running early, going on a 7-1 run, including five consecutive points to start the set.

Towards the end of the set, another questionable call irritated Pittsburgh head coach Dan Fisher, who kept talking to the referees about a call that did not go Pitt’s way, resulting in a yellow card for him.

Rhegan Mitchell continued to impress, racking up 17 assists in the third set. Owens and Amanda McKinzie each recorded six kills a piece.

The Hokies stayed focused in set number four, winning the set and the match.

A 13-5 scoring run by Virginia Tech brought the Hokies back after being down by as many as seven points early on.

Chris Riley commented on the resiliency of his squad saying, “You know that you’re never ever completely out of it and our team will fight no matter what.”

Mitchell racked up 11 more assists, and the setter finished with 49 for the match.

“She (Mitchell) is really maturing every single day in practice,” Riley said. “We love having her, and she’s doing a great job.”

Owens recorded a double-double with 20 kills and 11 digs. McKinzie chipped in with 15 kills of her own. Kenedy McGrath, a libero for Virginia Tech, added 11 digs.

With the win, the Hokies improve to 11-4 (2-1 ACC) and Pittsburgh falls to 12-3 (2-1 ACC).

The Hokies will travel to U.Va. on Saturday, Oct. 3 to face the in-state and ACC-rival Cavaliers.

“The right thing to say is that it’s just another match, but anytime U.Va. and Virginia Tech get together, it’s special,” Riley said. 

One year on from the unforgettable Paris 2024 Olympic Games, beach volleyball stars Ana Patricia Silva Ramos and Eduarda Santos Lisboa (Duda), along with French Olympian Arnaud Gauthier-Rat and his new partner Téo Rotar, returned to the site of the iconic Eiffel Tower Stadium on the Champs-de-Mars. 

Dubbed “The Greatest Stadium on Earth” by The Wall Street Journal, the Paris 2024 beach volleyball arena hosted nearly 450,000 fans during the Games, becoming one of the most talked-about venues of the summer. Its backdrop of the iconic Eiffel Tower made it a defining image of Paris 2024. 

Overlooking the former stadium site from the top of the Eiffel Tower, the athletes reminisced about the electric atmosphere that surrounded last summer’s Games. For Ana Patricia and Duda, it was a golden memory – the place where they were crowned Olympic champions. 

Ana Patricia commented: “Standing here and looking down at where we won Olympic gold, brings back so many emotions. The Eiffel Tower Stadium was magical – the crowd, the energy, everything. It’s incredible to be back and feel that all over again. Paris and the Eiffel Tower especially, will always have a special place in our hearts.”  

For Arnaud Gauthier-Rat, the experience of competing on home soil in front of passionate French fans remains a career highlight. 

Gauthier-Rat added: “Coming back to this place, where I played in front of a sea of French flags and cheers, still gives me goosebumps. It was one of the proudest moments of my career so far. I’m honoured to be here again to relive last summer while celebrating beach volleyball with fans here in Paris.”  

During the visit, the athletes and FIVB delegation, which included Head of Beach Volleyball Yu Cao and Head of Development and Sustainability Paulo Barone, were welcomed by Eiffel Tower Managing Director Patrick Branco-Ruivo. Branco-Ruivo personally guided the group on an exclusive tour of the iconic landmark, offering unique insights into its history and significance.  

In a special moment, the FIVB delegation presented Branco-Ruivo with a limited-edition print of a painting by renowned artist Peter Spens of the Eiffel Tower Stadium.  

The visit also attracted significant media interest, with international outlets gathering to speak with the athletes and officials atop the tower. 

Head Coach Matt Campbell answers questions from the media during the 2025 to 2026 Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium on July 25, 2025, Ames, Iowa.

Iowa State concluded its 2024 football season on a high note, marking its most successful season in school history. The Cyclones ended the season with an 11-3 record, highlighted by a win over Miami in the Pop-Tart Bowl.

To ensure the 2025 season is as successful as the last, the Cyclones are relying on strong leadership from their veteran players to display the players’ newfound maturity on the field.

Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said that leadership and maturity on and off the field are pivotal for the team’s success this season.

“I think it’s just a toughness that it’s going to require,” Campbell said. “Maturity to really be able to tackle this season and really find out if you can consistently be your best throughout the entirety of the season.”

The Cyclones head into the 2025 season with at least 14 starters from the 2024 season returning, along with transfers and freshmen joining the team.

To build and foster chemistry within the team, the Cyclones have relied on the leadership of coaches, staff and players to help unify the group for the season ahead. Using Veteran players, such as offensive lineman Tyler Miller, to foster growth on the field.

“I think we have a great group of guys that have been in the same system for a little while now,” Miller said. “Even the guys we brought in, the transfers who are older or have played for a little, they understand what it takes and I think that everybody as a team is mature in taking that next step.”

Miller started in 38 consecutive games as a right tackle and helped Iowa State rush for 27 touchdowns in the 2024 season. Campbell said that the redshirt senior is one of the team’s biggest leaders.

“Every time he speaks, everybody listens because I think the respect that everybody has for him, what he sings for, how he angles his life outside of football, how he handles his family and how he handles the business every day here is super,” Campbell said.

Alongside Miller, Campbell said how other returning players, such as junior tight ends Benjamin Brahmer and Gabe Burkle, are bringing the same sense of maturity that former leaders, wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, brought to the field during their time at Iowa State.

“What those two guys can give us at the tight end position is the same maturity that Higgins and Noel brought every Saturday and really brought every day from the start of camp to the end of football season,” Campbell said.

Burkle played in all 14 games in 2024 and made eight starts. During his time on the field, he had a career-best with 26 receptions for 296 yards. Alongside Burkle, Brahmer accomplished 10 receptions for 179 yards and one touchdown before he shortened his season due to a stress fracture of his tibia

“We are really working on pad level, technique in the blocking game,” Burkle said. “In terms of running routes and things like that, it’s just focusing on footwork on the top of routes and being better against man coverage.”

After having led the Cyclones to a double-digit win for the first time in program history, junior quarterback Rocco Becht has only enhanced his leadership abilities, as that was his sole focus in the offseason.

“The big thing for me is that I am always trying to grow in my leadership style and be able to connect with the guys on the team,” Becht said. “I think our coaches have done a great job of bringing guys in and maturing guys on our team that have already seen success in order to have a better season than we did last year.”