Sports
Chris Beard Press Conference
Chris Beard addressed the media at Ole Miss on June 17, 2025, providing insights into the basketball program and his vision for future success. He focused on developing players within the context of the NIL landscape, emphasizing the importance of building a competitive team. Beard expressed gratitude for the support from fans and local businesses, […]


Chris Beard addressed the media at Ole Miss on June 17, 2025, providing insights into the basketball program and his vision for future success. He focused on developing players within the context of the NIL landscape, emphasizing the importance of building a competitive team. Beard expressed gratitude for the support from fans and local businesses, highlighting community engagement efforts as a crucial part of the program’s development. He reiterated his commitment to elevating Ole Miss basketball within the SEC and fostering strong athlete collaborations.
By the Numbers
- Beard aims to improve Ole Miss basketball’s ranking within the SEC, which is currently competitive among top-tier programs.
- He highlighted the growing NIL contributions, which have seen a 25% increase in athlete earnings this season compared to last.
Yes, But
While Beard’s vision is ambitious, critics argue that transitioning to a successful NIL strategy may take time, and not everyone is convinced this approach will immediately lead to wins on the court.
State of Play
- Ole Miss basketball is currently in a rebuilding phase, aiming to enhance its recruiting strategy.
- Community and business support for the program are on the rise, with partnerships focused on promoting athletes’ NIL opportunities.
What’s Next
Beard is expected to finalize his recruiting class over the summer, targeting players who align with his vision for creating a strong team culture while maximizing NIL potential.
Bottom Line
Chris Beard’s approach to leveraging NIL opportunities is pivotal for Ole Miss basketball’s future. The focus on community and athlete development could reshape the program’s trajectory, drawing in talent and support essential for success in a competitive athletic environment.
Sports
Man accused of faking his death to avoid rape charges is found guilty of sexual assault in Utah
By Canadian Press Aug 13, 2025 | 9:24 PM SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Rhode Island man accused of faking his death and fleeing the United States to evade rape charges was found guilty Wednesday of sexually assaulting a former girlfriend in his first of two Utah trials. A jury in Salt Lake County […]


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Aug 13, 2025 | 9:24 PM
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Rhode Island man accused of faking his death and fleeing the United States to evade rape charges was found guilty Wednesday of sexually assaulting a former girlfriend in his first of two Utah trials.
A jury in Salt Lake County found Nicholas Rossi guilty of a 2008 rape after a three-day trial in which his accuser and her parents took the stand. The verdict came hours after Rossi, 38, declined to testify on his own behalf. He will be sentenced in the case on Oct. 20 and is set to stand trial in September for another rape charge in Utah County.
An obituary published online claimed Rossi had died on Feb. 29, 2020, of late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma. But police in his home state of Rhode Island, along with his former lawyer and a former foster family, cast doubt on whether he was dead. He was arrested in Scotland the following year while receiving treatment for COVID-19 after hospital staff in Glasgow recognized his distinctive tattoos from an Interpol notice.
He was extradited to Utah in January 2024 after losing an extradition appeal in which he claimed he was an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight who was being framed.
Sports
5 questions heading into the high school volleyball season
5 questions heading into the high school volleyball season Published 2:00 pm Thursday, August 14, 2025 Volleyball is a unique high school sport in Central Oregon, as seemingly all pockets of the region have found success on the courts. Six different Central Oregon schools have brought home state titles a combined 22 times. Five teams […]

5 questions heading into the high school volleyball season
Published 2:00 pm Thursday, August 14, 2025
Volleyball is a unique high school sport in Central Oregon, as seemingly all pockets of the region have found success on the courts. Six different Central Oregon schools have brought home state titles a combined 22 times. Five teams have won multiple state championships. And most of the titles have come within the past 30 years.
The Bulletin has already asked questions about the upcoming soccer and cross-country seasons, now here are the five big questions heading into the volleyball season:
1. Can Bend stay on top of the Intermountain Conference?
Since the Intermountain Conference reformed to its current iteration in 2022, Bend High has been the dominant force.
The Lava Bears have gone 28-2 in league play over the past three years and won the league outright each of those years. (Counting the 2021 season, when competing in 6A’s Mountain Valley Conference, the Lava Bears are 42-2 over the past four years.) Bend has also reached the Class 5A championship match two of the past three years.
The Bears lost three all-state players to graduation, including IMC Player of the Year and first-team all-state player Lucy Schuller. But Bend has proven over the past decade to be a team that retools as well as any program.
2. Can another IMC team make a tournament run?
Perhaps there is a little nostalgia for when teams in the IMC would square off in the state championship match, like in 2017 when Bend took down Summit. But it has been several years since an IMC team not named Bend has advanced past the opening round of the state tournament.
Outside of Bend, only two teams have reached the 5A volleyball tournament since 2022. Caldera made the state tournament for the first time in program history a year ago, but fell in the quarterfinals. Summit made it to the tournament in 2023, but had a similar fate. Ridgeview, which won the 5A title in 2019, has not made the tournament since 2021.
3. How does Crook County fit back into the IMC?
Crook County is returning to compete at the 5A level and is joining the IMC after competing in 4A’s Tri-Valley Conference.
The Cowgirls made the 4A state tournament each of the past three seasons and are coming off of a third-place finish last fall. Crook County was even a force when it was a 5A IMC team from 2018 to 2022, making two 5A tournament appearances and placing fourth in 2019.
It has been nearly 20 years since Crook County has been in the same conference as the Bend schools. It is worth nothing that during the Cowgirls’ run of eight-straight state titles between 2006 and 2013, Crook County beat both Summit and Mountain View twice in state championship matches.
4. Can Sisters find its way back?
For the first time since 2012, Sisters’ season ended before the state tournament, falling in the second round of the 3A playoffs last year.
Sisters has been one of the dominant volleyball programs in the state the past decade with four state titles since 2014, including one in 2023.
The Outlaws must replace three all-conference seniors from last year’s team. Sisters will also have its third coach in as many seasons, with Mahryahna Callegan, a Mountain View grad, taking over the program from Josh Kreunen.
5. Will boys volleyball become sanctioned?
Boys volleyball isn’t yet a fully sanctioned high school sport and is not played until the spring, but a decision will likely be reached in the next few months on whether or not boys volleyball becomes an official OSAA sport.
The Oregon School Activities Association plans to make the decision by early October. Boys volleyball spent the past two springs as an “emerging activity,” hoping to become a sanctioned sport just like girls volleyball.
Summit, Crook County and Central Christian were the only three Central Oregon schools to field a boys team last spring. Both Summit and Crook County went on to play in their classifications’ state title matches, with the Storm bringing home the 5A title.
Sports
Chinese tariff on canola seed comes into force as farmers hope for resolution
By Canadian Press Aug 14, 2025 | 1:01 AM REGINA — A Chinese tariff of nearly 76 per cent on Canadian canola seed is set to come into force today. The duty, announced Tuesday, has already caused the price of one of Canada’s most valuable crops to fall, wiping out millions of dollars in its […]


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Aug 14, 2025 | 1:01 AM
REGINA — A Chinese tariff of nearly 76 per cent on Canadian canola seed is set to come into force today.
The duty, announced Tuesday, has already caused the price of one of Canada’s most valuable crops to fall, wiping out millions of dollars in its value.
It comes a year after China launched an anti-dumping investigation into Canadian canola.
The investigation was in response to Canada’s 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, and the two countries have since hit each other with various levies.
Sports
Crimson Hawk Student Athletes Recognized by DII Athletics Directors Association
Story Links CLEVELAND, Ohio – As announced by the Division II Athletic Directors Association on Thursday, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference earned the most student athletes recognized with the 2024-24 Academic Achievement Awards. Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) had 130 of the 2051 PSAC Student Athletes Recognized. To be recognized, the […]

CLEVELAND, Ohio – As announced by the Division II Athletic Directors Association on Thursday, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference earned the most student athletes recognized with the 2024-24 Academic Achievement Awards. Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) had 130 of the 2051 PSAC Student Athletes Recognized.
To be recognized, the student athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher, attend a minimum of four semesters of college, and be an active member of their team.
According to the release sent out by the PSAC, this is the sixth time in seven years that the PSAC has led the nation in the number of student-athletes recognized. 2,051 is nearly 300 more than the next conference, and the conference saw a 6.88 % increase in student-athletes nominated. IUP is one of 11 PSAC institutions with at least 100 student-athletes nominated.
Follow the link to read the complete release by the PSAC.
Sports
Women's Soccer Falls to UCF 2
BIRMINGHAM – UAB women’s soccer (0-1) fell in its home opener 2-1 against UCF (1-0) at PNC Field. The Knights were the first to score on Thursday night when Liz Worden found the back of the net off a corner kick in the 22nd minute. At the 35th minute UCF’s Rajanah Reed recorded the Knights second goal with […]


BIRMINGHAM – UAB women’s soccer (0-1) fell in its home opener 2-1 against UCF (1-0) at PNC Field.
The Knights were the first to score on Thursday night when Liz Worden found the back of the net off a corner kick in the 22nd minute. At the 35th minute UCF’s Rajanah Reed recorded the Knights second goal with an assist from Gabi Berchon.
UAB got on the board late in the first half with a goal in the 41st minute. Freshman Rebecca Sierra scored her first collegiate goal with an assist from Lauren Lucero to make the score 2-1 heading into halftime.
The second half went scoreless with both teams playing stout defense. UCF was able to get off five shot in the second while the Blazers had two shots. UAB’s junior Leah Parsons saw her first collegiate start in goal with the Green and Gold and had five saves on the night.
Up next, the Blazers face their first road test as they travel to Johnson City, Tennessee to take on ETSU. Kickoff is set for noon CT.
2025-26 GOLD CARD
The 2025-26 Gold Card is on sale. The 2025-26 Gold Card will get you access to all home events for Women’s Soccer, Men’s Soccer, Volleyball, Women’s Basketball, Softball, and Baseball (Regions Field & Young Memorial). This card is not valid for American Conference or NCAA Championship events.
YOUR SUPPORT FUELS SUCCESS!
With your help, Blazer Student-Athletes are given the resources, tools, and opportunities they need to achieve greatness. Every contribution you make directly supports our teams, ensuring they excel not only on the field but in the classroom as well. We invite you to renew your support to UAB Athletics today and for more information on ways to show your generosity through the Blazer Scholarship Fund, capital initiatives, and sport specific giving go to blazerboosters.com or call us at (205) 996-9969.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB women’s soccer team, follow @UAB_WSOC on X and Instagram.
Sports
Michaela Kaliniak – Track & Field Coach
Michael Kaliniak was named Assistant Coach for the Oakland men’s and women’s track and field team in the fall of 2020. She is responsible for working with pole vaulters, jumpers, multis, and recruiting operations. Kaliniak is USTFCCA Strength and Conditioning certified and is recognized as […]

Michael Kaliniak was named Assistant Coach for the Oakland men’s and women’s track and field team in the fall of 2020. She is responsible for working with pole vaulters, jumpers, multis, and recruiting operations.
Kaliniak is USTFCCA Strength and Conditioning certified and is recognized as a jumps specialist.
Before being named Assistant Coach, she spent two years as a Volunteer Assistant Coach for the teams.
Kaliniak graduated from Olivet College in 2019, where she spent three years as one of the track and field captains. At Olivet College, she primarily competed in the pole vault and still holds the indoor, outdoor, and conference record.
The Sparta, Mich. native also graduated from OU in 2021 with a master’s in exercise science.
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