BALTIMORE, MD – The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) has announced the addition of the NCAA Division-III Connecticut College and Johns Hopkins University Men’s Water Polo teams to the conference, beginning with the upcoming 2025 season. The Blue Jays’ water polo program previously competed in the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference.
 

Johns Hopkins Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Director of Athletics & Recreation Jennifer S. Baker added, “We are thrilled to be joining the MPSF, and are grateful to [MPSF Commissioner] Foti Mellis and his team for welcoming Johns Hopkins Water Polo.  The conference’s commitment to excellence is evident in everything it does, and we are excited for our players to have access to championships, while competing against some of the best teams in the country. The MPSF continues to elevate the sport of water polo nationally, and we believe our program will thrive as its newest member.”
 

The 2025 MPSF Men’s Water Polo season will feature 11 teams. California, Stanford, UCLA, and USC compete in the western division, while Connecticut College and Johns Hopkins join Augustana, Austin College, Penn State Behrend, Washington & Jefferson and Wheaton in the eastern division. The 2025 conference championship, which will be in its fourth year of crowning a champion for two divisions, will be held at Stanford’s Avery Aquatics Center (Nov. 21-23).
 
Johns Hopkins is coached by Max Schlegel, who enters his seventh year at the helm, and has been on staff since 2016.
 
“I couldn’t be more excited to be joining the MPSF and the experiences it can provide for our players,” said Schlegel. “Johns Hopkins University Athletics prides itself on student experience and with this change, I believe our water polo program is taking a big step forward in that regard.”
 
Since the hiring of Mellis in 2021, the conference has added 58 teams, 30 schools, and six sports. 
 
“We are thrilled to welcome Connecticut College and Johns Hopkins University to the MPSF family,” said Mellis. “Their rich history of excellence in Division-III men’s water polo will bring new energy and competition to our conference, and we look forward to the exciting matchups ahead. Together, we continue to elevate the sport and inspire the next generation of athletes.”
 

Johns Hopkins is set to open the season on Saturday, September 6 at the Washington & Jefferson Tournament. The Blue Jays return their top three goal scorers, including a pair of All-Americans, from last year’s squad that won 12 games.
 
The MPSF has captured all 33 NCAA D-I Championships in men’s water polo since its inaugural season of 1992.   The conference enters the 2025-26 year with 121 total national championships, including four during 2024-25, with its 113 NCAA titles leading the nation amongst Non-Power Four Conferences.
 

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – With the start of his first season at the helm of the University of Evansville volleyball program just over two months away, head coach Zach Weinberg has announced seven signees to the Purple Aces squad.
 
“With at least one player in each position, this class will provide us with a ton of depth and versatility across the board,” Weinberg said. “I am excited to get these seven integrated into our team and culture and see how they impact our growth on the court. Go Aces!”
 
McKenzie Laubach – Middle Blocker – Sanford, Fla.
 
Following two seasons at Eastern Kentucky, McKenzie Laubach makes her way to Evansville in 2025.  A native of Sanford, Fla., Laubach played in a total of seven matches in her first two collegiate campaigns with the Colonels. 
 
She graduated from Lake Mary High School in 2023 and enjoyed a stellar career that saw her earn First Team All-Seminole Athletic Conference honors as a senior.  In her final high school season, Laubach accumulated 155 kills, 90 blocks, 93 digs, and 45 service aces while leading her team to a district championship.  Included in that tally was a 16-kill performance versus Lyman HS.  Named her team’s MVP in her final campaign, Laubach was named to the Top 100 Watch List and was invited to the All-American Camp.
 
As a junior in 2021, she recorded 133 kills, 85 digs, 75 blocks, and 20 aces while earning Second Team All-Conference recognition.  Aside from earning four letters in volleyball, she was a 2-year letterwinner in varsity cheer and helped her team win state championships in 2020 and 2021.
 
Coach Weinberg on Laubach: “McKenzie will be a great addition to our middle blocker group, but she also provides us with a ton of versatility across the front row, having played every attacking position at some point in her career. Her heavy arm and the ability to run all sorts of offensive routes will position her to score lots of points for us.”
 
Makenzie Miller – Middle Blocker – Kansas City, Mo.
 
Makenzie Miller posted an impressive 290 kills in her senior season at Liberty North HS on her way to numerous accolades in 2024.  Included in those honors were All-District First Team, All-Conference First Team, AVCA Regional Team, Academic Team recognition, and Liberty North Offensive Player of the Year.  She hit .249 in her final season while registering 65 blocks. 
 
In her junior season, Miller finished with 135 kills, 65 blocks, and a .296 hitting tally.  Along with All-District and All-Conference recognition, she was named to the AVCA Phenom Watch List.  Her team took second place in the Missouri Class 5 State Championship.  Miller was a KMBC Athletic Scholarship Award recipient.  Some of her top high school performances include 14 kills and a .737 hitting tally against Staley and a 17-kill match while hitting .520 versus Lee’s Summit North.
 
Coach Weinberg on Miller: “Mak’s length and versatility will benefit our gym immediately. She is a very cerebral middle blocker with a high volleyball IQ, and her ability to score off of two feet will enhance our gym immediately, and her blocking presence will instantly put pressure on opposing offenses.”
 
Hinsley Everett – Outside Hitter – Norris City, Ill.
 
Reigning All-South Player of the Year Hinsley Everett makes the short trek from Norris City, Ill. to Evansville.  Named a First Team All-State player as both a junior and senior, Everett put up stellar statistics in her final two years at NCOE High School.
 
In her senior campaign, Everett finished with 326 kills, 76 blocks, 54 aces, and 113 digs while hitting .434.  She recorded an even higher kill total as a junior posting 369.  Aside from garnering All-State recognition, Everett earned the Offensive Award in her final two years while garnering Defensive Award honors as a sophomore.
 
Coach Weinberg on Everett: “Hinsley is a dynamic attacker who comes from a family of volleyball players. She is a physical attacker with experience on both Pins, and I expect her to make an instant impact on our pin group.”
 
Brooke Herdes – Outside Hitter – Evansville, Ind.
 
Evansville native Brooke Herdes signs with the UE program from Mater Dei HS where she earned four letters in volleyball along with two in basketball and two in lacrosse.  A team captain with her squad, Herdes reached the 1,000-kill mark in her career.
 
Herdes picked up numerous accolades during her high school career including Academic All-City, Academic All-State, First and Second Team All-Metro, and Indiana South Team.  She was a nominee for Player of the Year.
 
Coach Weinberg on Herdes: “When it comes to the freshman outsides, if Hinsley is the Thunder, then Brooke is the lightning. She is crafty with her attacking and her ball control will bring some stability to our gym.”
 
Ryan Scheu – Right Side – Evansville, Ind.
 
Ryan Scheu comes to UE following a successful career at Memorial HS.  A 3-time letterwinner in volleyball, Scheu lettered four times in lacrosse, and once in bowling and track/field.  Scheu put forth the top season of her career as a senior in 2024 accumulating 427 kills and 18 blocks following a junior season that saw her post 181 kills and 41 blocks.
 
Scheu put forth some of her top performances when it mattered most, totaling 28 kills against Heritage Hills and 27 versus Boonville in the 2025 Sectionals.  Memorial was the Sectional champion in each of her three seasons.  She was named a First Team All-SIAC and Academic All-State player in volleyball.  Her lacrosse accolades were even more impressive as she was named a Second Team All-State player along with earning a spot on the North/South All-Star Team.
 
Coach Weinberg on Scheu: “Ryan will slot into our right-side group, but she’ll cross-train on both pins. She is a dynamic athlete with a high touch point, and her high motor will allow her to grow quickly to the advanced level of play.”
 
Kendall Agler – Libero – Evansville, Ind.
 
Kendall Agler is the second signee from Memorial HS to join the Purple Aces squad.  Agler spent four years with the volleyball team earning letters in her final two seasons.  She was a Second Team All-Conference honoree while garnering Academic All-State accolades.  The 3-time Defensive Player Award winner was also the recipient of the Volleyball Kiwanis Award.
 
Agler contributed to three Sectional Championships with Memorial.  Aside from volleyball, Agler earned three letters in track while playing one season of basketball.
 
Coach Weinberg on Agler: “Kendall is a gritty defender who doesn’t like to see balls hit the floor. We will rely on her to help stabilize our serve receive instantly along with Maddie and Ainoah, has the ability to play any of the back row positions. Kendall’s grit and drive will be felt in our gym immediately.” 
 
Brynne Krangnes – Setter – Collierville, Tenn.
 
Brynne Krangnes posted 963 assists as a senior at Collierville HS on her way to multiple accolades.  She completed her career as a 2-time District 15 All-District Team honoree, 2024 Collierville HS Varsity Volleyball Most Valuable Player, 2023 Collierville HS Varsity Volleyball Player of the Year, and multiple tournament MVP honors.
 
Her team finished in the top eight in the State of Tennessee in all three of her seasons with the program.  Krangnes also participated in USAV Nationals each year.
 
Coach Weinberg on Krangnes: “Brynne will add to our setter depth and gives us more options in our gym. She is a good defensive setter and should have no problem grasping our offensive system.”
 

VINCENT, Ohio (WTAP) – Today marked the halfway point of Warren’s junior high volleyball camp. Up and coming Lady Warriors came to learn from coaches and players. The emphasis for this camp, as always, is the fundamentals. Building on the basics is how head coach Ann Skufca wants the campers to learn the game.

“Well, the best part is from our coaching staff, from the high school all the way down in the middle school, everybody’s on the same page,” Skufca says. “So we know what to look for if a kids not making the correct motion or play on the court, we know all right, let’s go make it better. And it’s very uniform going through across the board at all levels.”

 So far so good for the first session of campers. Coach Skufca has been thrilled with the young players’ efforts thus far.

“It is going phenomenal. We’ve had about 70 just junior high athletes come out for this camp and I could not be happier with how much love for the game in this community that these girls are showing. And it’s another day to get better for them.”

 Helping coach run the camp has been some of her players. For senior Mya Stemple, it’s been a full circle experience as she’s enjoyed working with the campers and her teammates.

“I remember going to these camps when we were really young and I definitely like sparked my interest of volleyball and it definitely was like a peak moment of me beginning to learn how to play volleyball,” says Stemple. “It’s been great. We’ve definitely been, like working together as a team and learning on having to build together while helping girls up and coming learn how to play volleyball.”

 Junior Elayna Greenwalt has had a similar experience. Going to camps like this one was a big part of her summers growing up.

“I was always like when I was a kid,” Greenwalt says. “I was always looking forward to coming to camp, getting better. I’m sure they’re thinking the same thing and as a coach, it’s being like getting fun to coach them.”

 For young camper Reagan Lawrentz, it’s been a great chance for her to get some work in with potential future teammates and coaches.

“Probably being able to serve like with all my friends and teammates, future teammates and the coaches,” says Lawrentz. “My setting skills and I’ve learned a lot from my serves.”

 Tomorrow will conclude the junior high camp. Warren will be back with their kids camp starting Monday of next week.

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Frankie Velez, a veteran with 30 years of coaching experience, including with Team USA, will be Wiley University’s new head volleyball coach, as announced by Director of Athletics Rafael Gonzalez. Velez will become the sixth head coach since 2005.

“When our head volleyball coaching position opened, I knew exactly who I wanted to hire,” Gonzalez said. “Coach Velez has a great track record and experienced incredible success. Most importantly, he knows the State of Texas and will be able to bring in quality athletes who will help turn our program into contenders for Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) titles.”

Velez joins the Wildcat coaching staff after spending the last 13 years coaching club volleyball in the Houston Area. Since 2020, he’s been with the Houston/Katy Stars. From 2001 to 2008, he was responsible for training athletes and coaches at Team Texas Elite. Velez played a key role in the program’s consistent participation in the USA Volleyball Junior National Tournaments each year. The team reached the semifinals from 2002 to 2006, with a notable final appearance in 2003.

“I’m excited to return to college and getting to stay in Texas, where I received my first collegiate position,” Velez said. “I love coaching and making a positive impact. I’m ready to get started, not only to build a strong team but also to help these young women succeed in life.”

From 1999-2001, Velez was on the coaching staff with USA Women’s National Volleyball Team. He served as an assistant coach under the legendary coach Toshi Yoshida. Velez helped with on-court training, preparing them for the 2000 Summer Olympics. He also served as the director of developmental camps.

“It was an amazing opportunity,” Velez said. “I not only learned more about the game but the mental aspects — how I should feel and think as a coach. Coach Yoshida taught me to be more in tune with myself.”

Velez’s first collegiate position was at Lon Morris College, serving as head volleyball coach from 2010 to 2012, where he met Gonzalez, who was serving as the head soccer coach at the time.

Velez inherits a Lady Wildcat squad that has won nine matches the last two seasons and missed the postseason for the first time since 2005. From 2006-2019, the Lady Wildcats were annual contenders for the Red River Athletic Conference championship, reaching at least the semifinals in seven straight seasons (2015-2022) and winning the conference tournament in 2008 and 2018. Velez said establishing the culture will be key to returning to that level of success and beyond.

“Winning will happen,” Velez said. “It’s going to be important for us to buy into the culture. We will focus on the fundamentals of communication, ensuring that it’s executed at a high level. The mental aspects of the game are just as important as the physical ones. It’s crucial that we approach the match with the right mindset, stay focused, and keep our emotions in check.”

Velez graduated from Houston Christian University, formerly Houston Baptist University, with Bachelor of Arts degrees in physical education and management with a background in Marketing and Economics. He has already begun recruiting and moved to Marshall with his son Noah.

Campbell County High School’s Reese Dorr has chosen her track and field career at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS). Dorr was a two-time state champion during her prep career. She earned all-state honors in indoor and outdoor track and field. Reese qualified for the indoor track state championships three times and all four years for the outdoor state track meet.

Dorr won the 2024 state championship in the pole vault at the Wyoming Indoor Track State Championships. Her best vault saw her clear 11 feet. She was also part of Campbell County’s victorious 4×100-meter relay at the 2022 Wyoming Outdoor Track and Field State Championships. Their time was 49.34 seconds. Dorr also won a pair of regional pole vault titles in 2023 and 2025 during the outdoor track seasons.

Dorr earned varsity letters four times in outdoor track and field, three times in indoor track, and also in volleyball at CCHS. She has played club softball with Wicked 307. Dorr was part of two club state championships. Reese had offers to play softball at the next level but chose to pole vault collegiately.

She was a member of the National Honor Society and was a Salutatorian this year at Campbell County High School in Gillette. Dorr plans to study nursing and specialize in Labor and Delivery.

UCCS is in Colorado Springs, CO. The Mountain Lions compete at the NCAA Division II level. They are members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).