COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Mountain West Conference today announced that Grand Canyon University will join the league immediately for the 2025-26 academic year. GCU was scheduled to join the MW on July 1, 2026. In the spirit of partnership, the Mountain West extended a unique opportunity to GCU and its student-athletes, allowing them to compete for conference championships and NCAA postseason eligibility immediately.

“The addition of Grand Canyon for the 2025-26 academic year is a significant win for the student-athletes at GCU and in the Mountain West,” said MW Commissioner Gloria Nevarez. “Grand Canyon brings elite recruiting, a passionate fanbase, and state-of-the-art facilities, elevating the Mountain West’s competitiveness and national profile. In a time when the student-athlete experience is of utmost importance, we felt it was in the best interest to allow them to compete for conference championships and the NCAA postseason immediately. GCU is a great addition to the Mountain West and positively raises the competition level in the league.”

Grand Canyon will compete in 17 conference-sponsored sports in the Mountain West. Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, indoor and outdoor track and field, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball. Men’s sports include basketball, baseball, cross country, golf, indoor and outdoor track and field, and tennis.

Grand Canyon recently concluded a historic year in the Western Athletic Conference, securing its fifth consecutive WAC Commissioner’s Cup. The men’s and women’s basketball teams combined to go 58-11 (.841), win conference tournament championships, and appear in the NCAA Tournament. The men’s basketball program has appeared in four of the last five tournaments and advanced to the second round in 2024 with a win over Saint Mary’s.

Overall, Lopes’ teams won seven conference championships in 2024-25, including two programs that swept both the regular-season and tournament championships (softball and women’s basketball).

GCU softball debuted in the top 25, made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season, and won a tournament game for the third straight year.

In addition to those titles, GCU teams also brought home tournament championships in women’s tennis and men’s indoor track and field. The men’s golf team earned an at-large selection into the NCAA Regionals.

The Mountain West will feature 14 universities in 2025-26 with the United States Air Force Academy, Boise State University, Colorado State University, California State University, Fresno, Grand Canyon University, University of Nevada, Reno, University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, San José State University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Utah State University and the University of Wyoming. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will compete in football only, and Colorado College in women’s soccer.

“We are incredibly appreciative of the Mountain West Conference’s support of our student-athletes, our university and our fans for the opportunity to compete this fall,” GCU President Brian Mueller said. “Lope Nation has grown first and foremost because of the innovative strategies and creative delivery models that enable us to provide cutting-edge academic programs both on our campus and across the country. That has created a tremendous amount of momentum that benefits our athletic programs.”

First established in 1949, Grand Canyon University has grown exponentially and is the largest private Division I university in the nation. Residing in the heart of Phoenix, the fifth-largest city in the U.S., GCU has gone from nearly closing its doors 20 years ago to having an enrollment this fall of over 25,000 on its campus and over 100,000 students studying online. With over 17,000 students living in its 32 on-campus residence halls, GCU is also the largest residential campus among private universities in the country and is ranked No. 21 for best college campuses in America by Niche.com. The enrollment growth reflects significant expansion in academic offerings, growing from four to 10 distinct colleges and from 100 academic programs, emphases and certificates to over 350.

“GCU is excited for this opportunity for our student-athletes, the Havocs and our fanbase,” GCU Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs said. “After winning 76 conference championships, this opportunity best positions GCU to be nationally competitive, and we are excited about the vision and future of the Mountain West. We are joining a conference that has enjoyed national success and has developed a rich tradition in its 26 years. We want to thank Commissioner Nevarez and the member institutions, and we are eager to compete for championships with our new peers in the Mountain West.”

-mw-

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Southeastern Conference continues to expect greatness from Kentucky volleyball. The Wildcats were selected as the preseason favorite to win the conference, as voted on by the league’s 16 head coaches.

Kentucky also earned a league-best four spots on the preseason All-SEC team: Brooke Bultema, Brooklyn DeLeye, Eva Hudson and Molly Tuozzo.

Kentucky received nine of the 16 first-place votes, while Texas, who was picked second, gathered six first-place votes. Texas A&M received one.

Kentucky received 218 points, beating out Texas by two points, as the Wildcats were selected to win what would be their ninth-straight SEC championship. Texas A&M was picked third with Missouri (fourth) and Florida (fifth) rounding out the top five.

SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. Kentucky (9)
2. Texas (6)
3. Texas A&M (1)
4. Missouri
5. Florida
6. Tennessee
7. Oklahoma
8. LSU
9. Georgia
10. Ole Miss
11. Arkansas
12. Vanderbilt
13. Auburn
14. South Carolina
15. Mississippi State
16. Alabama

The All-SEC Preseason Team consists of the top 15 vote-getters in the SEC from the coaches, regardless of position. DeLeye is coming off winning SEC Player of the Year in 2024 and will be looking to become the second player at Kentucky to win SEC Player of the Year twice, joining program great, Leah Edmond.

Preseason All-SEC Team

• Jaela Auguste (MB, Florida)
• Brooke Bultema (MB, Kentucky)
• Brooklyn DeLeye (OH, Kentucky)
• Eva Hudson (OH, Kentucky)
• Molly Tuozzo (L, Kentucky)
• Jurnee Robinson (OH, LSU)
• Nia Washington (OH, LSU)
• Mokihana Tufono (S, Ole Miss)
• Maya Sands (L, Mizzou)
• Alexis Shelton (OH, Oklahoma)
• Caroline Kerr (S, Tennessee)
• Emma Halter (L, Texas)
• Torrey Stafford (OH, Texas)
• Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (MB, Texas A&M)
• Logan Lednicky (OPP, Texas A&M)

BBN Tonight

Kentucky’s 2025 season kicks off Saturday, August 30 at Lipscomb, before playing in the first-ever “Broadway Block Party” inside Bridgestone Arena one day later. The blockbuster event will pit Kentucky against Nebraska in a nationally-televised match on ABC.

The home season for UK open Sept. 13 against SMU as part of a four-team event with UK, SMU, Houston and Purdue.

For more on the upcoming season and the program’s quest for a 9th-straight SEC title, click here.

For more on Kentucky volleyball and all of the Cats, join us on weeknights at 7:30 p.m. on BBN Tonight.

GREENWOOD, IN – Stevens Institute of Technology women’s lacrosse rising senior Lauren Sullivan earned Division III Women’s At-Large College Sports Communicators (CSC) First Team Academic All-America honors, the organization announced Tuesday.

The CSC honor marks the latest postseason accolade for Sullivan who’s already been selected Second Team All-America, First Team All-Region, First Team All-MAC Freedom, and MAC Freedom Defender of the Year, earning selection for the second straight season in the latter three.

Sullivan set new personal bests this past season in ground balls, caused turnovers, and draw controls, ranking among the top three on the team in all three metrics. She caused at least three turnovers in five games and collected at least five draw controls in seven games.

In the classroom, Sullivan has maintained a perfect 4.00 cumulative GPA, earning Academic All-Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) recognition following the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Sullivan becomes the seventh female At-Large All-American in Stevens history, the second female First Team honoree (Laura Barito, 2011), and the first women’s lacrosse honoree since Kyra Bednarski earned back-to-back selections in 2020 and 2021.

The at-large category is comprised of student-athletes from Women’s Beach Volleyball, Women’s Bowling, Women’s Crew, Men’s and Women’s Fencing, Field Hockey, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Men’s and Women’s Gymnastics, Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey, Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s and Women’s Rifle, Men’s and Women’s Skiing, Men’s and Women’s Water Polo and Wrestling.

Athletic Department Social Media

Facebook: “Like” Stevens Athletics         

X (Formerly Twitter): @stevensducks

Instagram: @stevensducks

 

#AllRise

HIGH POINT, N.C. — High Point University Director of Track & Field Mike Esposito announced the addition of assistant coach Collin Post on Tuesday afternoon. Post will help coach the throws.

“I already felt we had the best track and field staff in the country, but it gets even better with the addition of Collin Post,” Esposito said. “We are ecstatic that Collin has chosen to join us.  He represents everything we are looking for in a coach: high character, great motor, genuine concern for the student-athlete, and a track record of success at the highest level.  With the current landscape of track and field, we are now positioned to continue our march towards national prominence.”

“I’m incredibly excited to begin a new chapter coaching at High Point University,” Post added. “The leadership here is inspiring and it’s clear that this is a program built on integrity, excellence, and a true team-first mentality. It’s an honor to be given an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing success at HPU Track and Field and work alongside such a dedicated and collaborative coaching staff. Thank you for the warm welcome.”

Most recently, Post was the throws coach at Wake Forest University from 2018 to 2025. His leadership was astronomical for the Demon Deacons as his event groups were atop the points scored at the ACC Outdoor Championships. The women’s track & field team accounted for 48 percent of all points scored, while the men’s track & field team scored 30 percent points during his time at the institution competing in the ACC Championships.

He coached Tommy Kitchell to First Team All-American honors at the 2024 Indoor NCAA Nationals and Leia Braunagel to Honorable Mention All-American honors at 2024 Outdoor NCAA Nationals. Kitchell, who threw his graduate year at North Carolina and earned 2025 First Team All-American honors in Eugene, will follow Post to High Point to train post-collegiately while serving as an assistant coach.

“Director Mike Esposito has built an outstanding and enduring coaching staff at High Point University — a true testament to his leadership and the culture he has cultivated,” HPU Deputy AD and Track & Field Sport Supervisor Drew Sanchez said. “Collin Post is the next exceptional addition to this already impressive team. He has achieved tremendous success coaching the throws at Wake Forest University, and I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know him during that time. Collin is a strong leader, and he is widely respected throughout the track and field community for his character, coaching acumen, and his ability to develop student-athletes. I’m excited to see the impact he’ll make at High Point University.”

Before Wake Forest, Post coached at Colorado State University for two years. He coached shot put, hammer throw, discus, javelin and indoor weight while aiding in recruitment, designing workouts and mentoring high school athletes through Colorado State sponsored throwing technique camps.

Prior to Colorado State, Post was the assistant track & field coach at Mesa Community College from May 2007-August 2016. While at Mesa, Post coached 38 All-Americans, including four national champions, six runners-up and 59 top-nine finishers.

Along with coaching the throws events, Post was responsible for designing and implementing strength and conditioning programs, assisting the head coach with budgeting, marketing and fundraising and hosting large track meets. He also served as the strength and conditioning coach for men’s basketball and women’s softball programs.

Outside of athletics, Post was an adjunct faculty member for the department of exercise science at Mesa. He taught courses including Strength Fitness: Principles and Techniques, Exercise Program Design and Instruction and Theory and Methods of Coaching Track and Field. In November 2007, Post took on responsibility as a student services specialist where he counseled students regarding admission requirements, eligibility status, financial aid and more. Post also served as a site supervisor at Mesa as well as an interim sports information director.

Athletically, Post has experience on a large stage. He competed at the 2012 and 2016 USATF Olympic Trials as well as at USATF Nationals, earning 11th in the hammer throw in 2013 and 15th in 2011. His mark of 69.64m at the 2013 USATF state meet was an Arizona state record.

Post earned a Bachelor of Science in biology with human emphasis from Boise State University in 2005. While there, he was a two-time NCAA Regional Competitor. He then went on to earn a Master of Science in Exercise Science Sports Performance and Injury Prevention at California University of Pennsylvania in December 2009.

Prior to his time at Boise State, he was an eight-time NJCAA All-American at Mesa Community College from 2000-2002.

Post is a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He is also a certified performance enhancement specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and a speed and explosions specialist through the National Association of Speed and Explosion (NASE).

 

#GoHPU

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Jaci Carpenter has been named to the CSC Academic All-American At Large Team, the organization announced today. Carpenter is the first Florida Gulf Coast University beach volleyball player to earn the award and the eighth Eagle to be honored.

“Thank you to the CSC Academic All-America committee for recognizing my academic accomplishments throughout the year,” Carpenter said. “I am truly honored to be selected as a second team Academic All American among some of the best athletes in the country. I would also like to thank my FGCU Family for providing me the opportunity and resources to excel in the classroom while competing at the highest level!”

Carpenter’s accolades are numerous. She was the 2025 ASUN Female Student-Athlete of the Year, 2025 ASUN Beach Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Kavanagh Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a member of the 2025 FGCU Hall of Fame class. Carpenter graduated from FGCU in 2025 summa cum laude with a degree in communications.

“Jaci has been one of the most dedicated student athletes that we have had at FGCU and seeing her earn this award just shows how hard she worked for so long,” head coach Chris Sweat said. “She has shown what it takes to be at the top academically and athletically and we are all very proud of her.”

In service, Carpenter was a dedicated volunteer with numerous nonprofit organizations, consistently giving back to FGCU and the local community. After Hurricane Ian struck in 2022, she contributed and coordinated more than 30 hours of volunteer work to assist local students and residents. She also led the bone marrow registration initiative within athletics and across campus and co-founded the “See Her Soar” initiative, which promotes professional development, mentorship and networking for female student-athletes. In 2024, she received the FGCU Athletics Community Service Award. Despite living with Type 1 diabetes, Carpenter consistently prioritized others, logging more than 120 service hours in her senior year and over 300 during her collegiate career.

Carpenter’s impact extended beyond the court and classroom. She served as president of the FGCU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and chaired the ASUN’s advisory committee. She was also a mentor through Adaptive Services and represented student-athletes on the university’s Hazing and Prevention Team. She will pursue a master’s degree in recreation and sports management at the University of Tennessee, with aspirations of becoming an athletic director.

“Balancing the demands of collegiate athletics and academic rigor is no small feat, and Jaci has done it with grace, determination, perseverance and excellence,” faculty athletics representative Dr. Thomas Roberts said. “She is an ideal student, athlete, leader, and human being. We are incredibly proud of her outstanding accomplishments in all aspects of life.”

On the court in 2025, Carpenter helped lead FGCU to a semifinal appearance in the ASUN Tournament and victories over four ranked opponents. The Eagles upset No. 14 FIU, No. 15 Georgia State and No. 15 Florida Atlantic twice. Carpenter played a key role in FGCU’s rise to a top-20 national ranking. The team finished the season 22-13, peaking at No. 18. Carpenter opened the season with a thrilling win over No. 8 LSU and competed primarily at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions, finishing her senior year with a 21-13 record. She won more than 73 matches in her career—becoming just the fourth player in program history to surpass 70 wins.

A native of Chotomow, Poland, Lagida spent the last two seasons at Chicago State University, where she most recently capped off an All-American season with the Cougars for the fall 2024 campaign.

“It’s not often you can add someone with such experience to your roster, but having Patrycja join us as an All-American, All-Midwest region honorable mention pick and league MVP is a wonderful addition to our program,” said head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer. “The training and competition she is getting this summer, playing for Poland’s Under-22 National Team, is also irreplaceable and will prepare her for the jump into the ACC. Getting to know Patrycja during the recruiting process, I can share that she is self-driven and very motivated to become the best player she can be. Patrycja loves the challenge of playing at the highest level of collegiate volleyball and wants to continue her playing career beyond college. I know the training we can give her, and the level of the ACC will give her that opportunity.”

Patrycja Lagida | 6-3 | Outside Hitter | Chotomow, Poland | Chicago State

During her sophomore year at Chicago State in 2024-25, Lagida finished as the team leader in total kills (346) for a mark that ranked second in the Northeast Conference. The standout hitter strung 17 performances of double-digit kills throughout the fall, including three separate showings with 24-plus. Lagida also showed high skill in her serving and defense to rank second on the roster in service aces (38) and fourth in digs (221). Her efforts resulted in being named the 2024 NEC Player of the Year, first team all-conference and NEC Tournament MVP. In December, she added to her postseason honors by earning honorable mention nods to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I All-America Team and All-Midwest Region Team. Lagida ultimately became the second all-time Chicago State volleyball player to receive AVCA All-American recognition.

Lagida helped pace the Cougars to a 19-10 record, recording the most single-season wins in program history en route to winning the NEC regular-season and tournament championships. Chicago State wrapped conference play with a 13-1 record and capped its historic season with a first-round NCAA Tournament appearance.

As a freshman in 2023-24, Lagida made an immediate impact to stand second in both kills (193) and aces (25) for the Cougars. The second and third matches of her collegiate career saw her post 22 and 24 kills, respectively, at Northern Illinois (Aug. 27) and UC Irvine (Sept. 1). She went on to have 10 or more kills in 10 different outings. Defensively, Lagida tallied 100 digs for her first year.

Lagida is the fifth player to sign with the Deacs in the Jeff Hulsmeyer era, joining a group that consists of Ryleigh Whitekettle, Ivana Cvetkovic, Anya Santrac and Sanaa Williams.

Patrycja Lagida Career Accolades & Accomplishments