Via Allegheny College Athletics, 21h ago

MEADVILLE, Pa. — Bill Ross , director of athletics and recreation at Allegheny College, has announced the hiring of former Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Coach of the Year Jason Falvo as the Gators’ new head cross country and track and field coach. Falvo, an experienced leader with more than two decades of collegiate coaching experience, spent the bulk of his career in the PAC at Waynesburg University. He founded Waynesburg’s track and field teams in 2005 and built the program into perennial conference contenders. A five-time PAC Coach of the Year and the 2010 Mid-East Region Women’s Coach of the…

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WRIGHT TWP. – Tori White loves volleyball.

Rewind back to her freshman year. White, now a senior at Crestwood High School, was approached about a new challenge. Something that she didn’t quite understand at the time, and to be honest, a prospect that was kind of scary.

Outdoor volleyball.

“I was told that it was a way of getting some extra reps in during the summer,” the Comet said. “ To be honest, I never heard of it, and the rules were different, so I was scared. But I wanted to give it a shot.”

And now?

“I play almost every weekend in the summer,” she laughed.

White, a defensive specialist, is one of four seniors on the Comets’ roster as Crestwood hopes to return back to the Class 3A postseason to make some noise.

Last year, the team reached the semifinals before falling to eventual champ, Berwick.

“It’s a little nerve-racking because there are only four seniors on the team. I am a little nervous, but excited at the same time,” she said. “I don’t feel pressure as much as I am excited to take on this leadership role. I really want to help the underclassmen, and I love being a leader. For me, it’s all about the team.”

Back to the outdoor life because it’s something that has grown in White’s heart.

Yes, there were nervous moments when she first started.

First, it was co-ed – meaning she was going to be facing off against players of all genders and ages.

Second, it was a new adventure. New rules. No hardwood court. And no six-on-six game.

Instead, she was a doubles’ player.

“Everyone thinks differently when it’s two-on-two instead of six-on-six. It gets a lot scrappier,” she said. “You see that a lot of balls get sent over on the first contact or second contact rather than getting three touches and trying to make it clean. You focus on getting the point whenever you can.”

Now, add in the variables.

Playing outside brings Mother Nature into the game. And everyone knows that Mother Nature is undefeated every season.

That’s something that White had to learn to deal with.

The games, while she wants to play as clean as possibly, weren’t always going to look perfect.

“You are playing in wind, rain, storms, 90-degree heat. It’s all the weather elements you can imagine,” she said. “It’s hard to be perfect when you are playing outside. It’s really tough sometimes, but I like that, though.”

It’s in the outdoor season where she’s done a good job of honing her game.

Playing doubles, it’s a little bit of everything balled up into one. She’s an attacker, maybe even a setter. She’s receiving passes, and working on her communication skills with her partner.

And she’s done it at the highest level on the East Coast Volleyball circuit where White’s played in the biggest events of the summer: The Pottstown Rumble and the Susquehanna Smash.

Most of all, she’s learned the greatest attribute of them all.

Love for the sport.

“Everyone wants to be around the game,” White said. “They love the game, and they are playing outdoor because they just love the sport. You aren’t always playing against people your age. You are playing against older people and younger people, guys and girls. Everyone is different. You get to learn so many different types of volleyball, and how they learned and how they play. Then, I can kind of go back and compare it to the way that I play. It’s an awesome experience.”

Now, it’s about her transition back to the indoor season where she’ll trade in the rain and sun for the bright lights of the hardwood gymnasium.

The transition? Not too hard, she admits, although, there are some slight differences.

“For outdoors, you can’t open-hand receive the first contact to the ball. And sometimes, I catch myself doing that inside and it doesn’t work. I have to remind myself every now and then,” she laughed.

At Crestwood, White will lead a squad that is young, but talented. The Comets will have to find some offensive punch as Sveva Cattaneo and Sydney Beddingfield have graduated. Those two combined for more than 320 kills in 2024.

“We are pretty young, but a lot of them did play club over the offseason,” White said. “My biggest goal is to just have fun and enjoy my last season. This is the last time I’ll get the chance to play with these girls, so I just want it to be a successful season.”

Teams to Watch

Berwick: The Bulldogs are the reigning Class 3A champ and have some young, talented players coming back into the mix – including Defensive Player of the Year Zoey Force. Berwick, the defending Wyoming Valley Conference champion, looks to be the frontrunner again in 2025.

Dallas: The Mountaineers only had one senior on the roster last year, so the Dallas underclassmen got that year of experience. Plus, Ava Adams is back after leading the league in kills last year.

Holy Redeemer: Yes, Holy Redeemer lost a good senior class. But the Royals never rebuild, but rather, reload. Citizens Voice Girls’ Volleyball Player of the Year Bella Boylan is back, as is Gracie Griffin, and head coach Jack Kablick has a strong freshman class coming in. Keep an eye on Redeemer as the year progresses.

Tunkhannock: Tunkhannock always finds a way to keep fighting in the conference. Coming off a nine-win season and a berth in the postseason, the Tigers need to find a way to replace middle Piper Lukasavage, but have Grace Volker and Maya Gunderson, who both had strong summers.

Players to Watch

Bella Boylan, Holy Redeemer: Boylan, an all-state selection last season while battling through an injury, begins her final year at Holy Redeemer. As a junior, she helped the Royals to an 18th district title as she finished the year with 378 kills, 134 digs, 41 blocks and 87 points.

Grace Robbins, Berwick: The junior was the featured attacker on the district titlist. She ended the year fourth in the WVC with 161 kills and was solid in the back line with 86 points, 33 aces and 40 digs.

Julia Rauch, Berwick: Rauch could be the premier setter in the WVC this year. The junior led the league with 383 assists, and added 85 points, 71 digs and 24 aces.

Ava Adams, Dallas: She had quite the debut in 2024. As a freshman, she led the WVC in league play with 231 kills. The middle hitter is expected to be one of the top attackers in 2025.

Zoey Force, Berwick: The reigning WVC Defensive Player of the year is back, and will sure up the back line for the Bulldogs. The senior had a strong 2024 where she finished with 171 digs, 155 points and 45 aces.

NEW YORK (Aug. 13, 2025) – Creighton volleyball star Kendra Wait was named BIG EAST Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while Villanova track and field standout Liam Murphy was named the BIG EAST Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the league announced on Wednesday. Both Wait and Murphy will receive a $4,000 scholarship, which may be applied to graduate or professional studies. The selection was made by the Conference’s Academic Affairs Committee.

Wait graduated with an undergraduate degree in Nursing, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA over her collegiate career at Creighton. The senior earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District and All-American First Team honors in 2024. In the community, she volunteered at the Children’s Hospital Omaha.

 

On the court, Wait helped lead the Creighton Bluejays to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, as well as a BIG EAST regular season and tournament title. Individually, she was named AVCA First Team All-American, BIG EAST Player and Setter of the Year and BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Leading the BIG EAST in assists per set, she was one of 14 finalists for the AVCA National Player of the Year award.

 

Murphy completed his tenure at Villanova with a master’s in business administration, boasting a 3.830 graduate GPA. A recipient of the BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award in Cross-Country in 2023-24.

 

One of the top distance runners in the country during a record-breaking collegiate career, Murphy set the NCAA record in the 1500 meters with a time of 3:33.02 at the Raleigh Relays on March 27, 2025. His collegiate body of work includes seven NCAA, collegiate and/or Villanova records. His nine career All-America honors and 12 career BIG EAST titles both tied Villanova men’s records. His top national finishes are fourth place in the 3000 meters (2024 indoor, 2025 indoor), 11th in the 1500 meters (2023 outdoor, 2024 outdoor) and ninth in cross country (2024). In the final BIG EAST Championships meet of his career (2025 outdoor) he won the 1500 meters for the second straight year for his 12th BIG EAST title (six indoor, four outdoor, two cross country).

The Conference also announced the male and female winners of the 2024-25 BIG EAST Institutional Scholar-Athlete Scholarships. Each institutional winner receives $2,000 toward graduate studies.

2024-25 BIG EAST Institutional Female Scholar-Athlete Awards

School	Name, Sport(s)
Butler	Talia Sommer, Soccer
Connecticut	Olivia Wright, Tennis
Creighton	Kendra Wait, Volleyball *
DePaul Georgetown Marquette	Rachel Krasowski, Volleyball Chloe Scrimgeour, Cross Country Hanna Bodner, Lacrosse
Providence	Alexandra Millard, Cross Country
St. John’s	Anastasia Serafinko, Softball
Seton Hall	Olivia Gilbert, Softball
Villanova	Roschell Clayton, Track & Field
Xavier	Samantha Wiehe, Soccer

*Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year 
 
2024-25 BIG EAST Institutional Male Scholar-Athlete Awards

School	Name, Sport(s)
Butler	William Zegarski, Track & Feld
Connecticut	Diarmuid O’Connor, Track & Field
Creighton	Dominic Cancellieri, Baseball
DePaul	Darius Brown, Track & Field
Georgetown	Abel Teffra, Track & Field
Marquette Providence	Sam Cascella, Track & Field Bernardo Prego, Soccer
St. John’s	Braeden Pratt, Men’s Lacrosse
Seton Hall	Sean Vizzard, Baseball
Villanova	Liam Murphy, Track & Field *
Xavier	Aiden Leamer, Swimming & Diving

*Men’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year 

BIG EAST Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year

Year, Name, School, Sport

1985: Leigh Curl, Connecticut, Basketball

1986: Joanne Keehs, Villanova, Track & Field

1987: Karen Ferreria, Providence, Volleyball

1988: Noreen Coughlin, Pittsburgh, Volleyball

1989: Vicki Huber, Villanova, Track & Field

1990: Siobhan Gallagher, Providence, Track & Field

1991: Cami White, Providence, Field Hockey

1992: Kelly Larkin, Syracuse, Field Hockey

1993: Nnenna Lynch, Villanova, Track & Field

1994: Allison Williams, Pittsburgh, Track & Field

1995: Becky Spies, Villanova, Cross Country/Track & Field

1996: Najuma Fletcher, Pittsburgh, Track & Field

1997: Jen Renola, Notre Dame, Soccer

1998: Charity Wachera, West Virginia, Track & Field

1999: Gladys Ganiel, Providence, Cross Country/Track & Field

2000: Jenny Streiffer, Notre Dame, Soccer

2001: Ruth Riley, Notre Dame, Basketball

2002: Jarrah Myers, Notre Dame, Softball

2003: Erin McIntyre, Rutgers, Swimming & Diving

2004: Vanessa Pruzinsky, Notre Dame, Soccer

2005: Nicole Lee, Georgetown, Cross Country/Track & Field

2006: Kelly Harrigan, Rutgers, Swimming & Diving

2007: Jessica Javelet, Louisville, Field Hockey

2008: Jillian Drouin, Syracuse, Track & Field

2009: Jennifer Kleinhans, Connecticut, Field Hockey

2010: Meagan Dooley, Pittsburgh, Volleyball

2011: Maya Moore, Connecticut, Basketball

2012: Natalie Kulla, Marquette, Soccer

2013: Sam Roecker, Providence, Cross Country/Track & Field

2014: Emily Sisson, Providence, Cross Country/Track & Field

2015: Shelbey Manthorpe, Seton Hall, Volleyball

2016: Rachel Daly, St. John’s, Soccer

2017: Lauren Smith, Creighton, Volleyball

2018: Alexis Walkden, Seton Hall, Softball

2019: Taryn Kloth, Creighton, Volleyball

2021: Aspasia Avgeri, DePaul, Tennis

2022: Maggie Donahue, Georgetown, Cross Country

2023: Julia Leas, Georgetown, Soccer

2024: Julia Leas, Georgetown, Soccer

2025: Kendra Wait, Creighton, Volleyball

 

Note: In 2019-20, the BIG EAST did not present the Male or Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BIG EAST Male Scholar-Athletes Of The Year

Year	Name, School, Sport
1985	Joey David, Pittsburgh, Basketball
1986	John Prior, Connecticut, Track & Field
1987	Harold Jensen, Villanova, Basketball
1988	Dave Echeverria, Villanova, Swimming & Diving
1989	Chris Craft, Villanova, Swimming & Diving
1990	Pat O’Kelly, Seton Hall, Soccer
1991	David Honor, St. John’s, Baseball
1992	Steve Holman, Georgetown, Track & Field
1993	Hector Zamora, Seton Hall, Soccer
1994	Sebastien Goulet, Swimming, Syracuse
1995	Kevin Lyles, Seton Hall, Track & Field
1996	Gil Kovalski, Miami, Tennis
1997	Christian Fogarazzo, St. John’s, Track & Field
1998	Errol Williams, Notre Dame, Track & Field
1999	Angelo Ciminiello, Providence, Baseball
2000	Scott VanEpps, Pittsburgh, Swimming & Diving
2001	Chris Hamblin, Boston College, Soccer
2002	Gregory Strohmann, Seton Hall, Soccer
2003	Casey Schmidt, Boston College, Soccer
2004	Chris Wingert, St. John’s, Soccer
2005	Guy Melamed, Boston College, Soccer
2006	Trevor O’Grady, Rutgers, Track & Field
2007	Drew Eckman, Villanova, Track & Field
2008	Jeremy Stultz, Pittsburgh, Swimming & Diving
2009	Zak Boggs, USF, Soccer
2010	Francisco Aristeguieta, USF, Soccer
2011	Brian Karalunas, Villanova, Lacrosse
2012	Eric Finan, Cincinnati, Cross Country/Track & Field
2013	Grant Van De Casteele, Notre Dame, Soccer
2014	Charles Lyon, Marquette, Soccer
2015	Sam McEntee, Villanova, Cross Country/Track & Field
2016	Thomas Hackimer, St. John’s, Baseball
2017	David Goldsmith, Butler, Soccer
2018	Eric Dick, Butler, Soccer
2019	Sven Koenig, Creighton, Soccer
2021	Marcelo Rocha, Providence, Track & Field
2022	Dante Polvara, Georgetown, Soccer
2023	Will Bowen, Georgetown, Lacrosse
2024	Parker Stokes, Georgetown, Cross Country/Track & Field
2025	Liam Murphy, Villanova, Track & Field

 
Note: In 2019-20, the BIG EAST did not present the Male or Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

Clever volleyball enjoyed another successful campaign in 2024.

The Blue Jays and head coach Mackenzie Stoner recorded the program’s third 20-win season in a row with a 23-10-2 record, falling to Strafford in the Class 3 District 10 tournament.

“Last season was a whirlwind for our team, filled with growth, challenges and a lot of firsts,” Stoner said. “With many new pieces in place, including on the coaching side, no one was entirely sure what to expect—but the team embraced the season with energy and determination.

“One key lesson we learned as a team was the importance of maintaining intensity throughout the entire season. Heading into this season, we’re carrying that lesson with us. We believe in what this group can accomplish, and we’re aiming to extend our season—and our growth—as far as we can.”

Heading into her second season at the helm, Stoner will look to a trio of returning players to lead the Clever attack in Addy Hoover, Lauren Bos and Bella Argo.

Hoover, a junior right side/setter, pushed her career assist total to 311 last season.

“Addy stepped into the setter role last season and has continued to build on that foundation in the offseason,” Stoner said. “She’s been working hard on both her setting and hitting, becoming even more versatile. Addy’s competitiveness and passion for the game will be a true difference-maker for our team this year.”

Bos, a junior right side/setter, ended her sophomore season with 135 career kills.

“Lauren played primarily as a right side hitter last season and during summer training, she’s taken on the challenge of setting as well,” Stoner said. “Her strong volleyball IQ and well-rounded skill set will play a key role in our team’s success this season.”

Argo, a sophomore middle blocker/outside hitter, enters the season with 101 career kills.

“Bella contributed as a middle blocker last season and has been transitioning into more time as an outside hitter,” Stoner said. “Her intensity, athleticism, and versatility make her a valuable asset as we head into the new season.”

Junior defensive specialist Izi Hunter, junior defensive specialist/outside hitter Maycee King and sophomore outside hitter/setter Hayden Cobb also return for the Blue Jays.

“Izi, Maycee and Hayden all spent last season contributing on JV while gaining valuable experience on the varsity bench,” Stoner said. “This year, they’re stepping into varsity roles, bringing fresh energy, effort, and a range of skills that will strengthen our team.

“Anna Staiger is also making the jump to varsity after serving as our JV libero last season. She has trained hard all summer in preparation to take over as our varsity libero, and we’re confident she’ll thrive in that role.”

Stoner also expects a trio of freshmen to compete for playing time this season including middle blocker Taryn Wheeler, defensive specialist Allie Dunn and middle blocker Olivia Compton.

“Taryn and Allie, both new to Clever, have quickly proven to be valuable additions to the program,” Stoner said. “Throughout the summer, they’ve demonstrated strong fundamentals, a solid understanding of the game, and a willingness to learn and grow. Olivia returns to the program after playing for Clever Junior High last season and brings great energy and skill to the court. Together, these three freshmen add depth and promise to our roster this season.”

While the Blue Jays will feature a new look roster this season, Stoner is confident in her team’s ability to step in and compete.

“This season will look completely different from last year,” Stoner said. “With four senior starters graduating, we have several key roles to fill—but our team is ready for the challenge. There’s a new energy, a hunger to grow and a lot of potential. It’s going to be an exciting journey watching this group step up and make it their own.”

Stoner believes Clever’s overall team energy will be a significant asset heading into the season.

“These girls genuinely love the game of volleyball, and it shows in everything they do,” Stoner said. “They bring intensity, effort and positivity to the court every day. What stands out most is the balance they’ve found between working hard and having fun—they compete with passion and joy, and that energy is contagious when they play.”

Following an Aug. 26 jamboree at Carl Junction, Clever opens its regular season Sep. 1 at Logan-Rogersville.

DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis Athletics has announced its ESPN+ streaming schedule for the upcoming fall sports season, with 31 games set to air from Aug. 14 through Nov. 22, 2025.
Coverage includes selected contests from women’s soccer, men’s soccer, field hockey, men’s water polo, football, and women’s volleyball. Women’s soccer will kick off the streaming schedule on Aug. 14, with additional broadcasts for the aforementioned sports spanning through late November.
 
The streaming lineup provides convenient access for Aggie fans and supporters, enhancing visibility for UC Davis Athletics programs throughout the fall.
 
ESPN+ Fall Streaming Schedule:
Women’s Soccer:

• Aug. 14 vs. Fresno State
• Aug. 21 vs. San Jose State
• Sept. 4 vs. Saint Mary’s
• Sept. 14 vs. Montana
• Sept. 25 vs. UC Santa Barbara
• Sept. 28 vs. Cal Poly
• Oct. 12 vs. Long Beach State

Men’s Soccer:

• Sept. 3 vs. Saint Mary’s
• Sept. 13 vs. Seattle University
• Sept. 18 vs. Pacific
• Sept. 24 vs. San Jose State
• Oct. 8 vs. UC Santa Barbara
• Oct. 18 vs. UC Riverside

Field Hockey:

• Sept. 5 vs. Ball State
• Sept. 11 vs. Ohio
• Sept. 12 vs. Michigan

Men’s Water Polo:

• Sept. 6 vs. Stanford
• Sept. 6 vs. San Jose State
• Oct. 17 vs. Fullerton

Football:

• Sept. 20 vs. Southern Utah
• Sept. 27 vs. Weber State
• Oct. 11 vs. Northern Arizona
• Nov. 1 vs. Idaho State
• Nov. 22 vs. Sacramento State

Women’s Volleyball:

• Oct. 2 vs. Fullerton
• Oct. 4 vs. UC Irvine
• Oct. 9 vs. UC San Diego
• Oct. 23 vs. UC Santa Barbara
• Oct. 28 vs. UC Riverside
• Oct. 30 vs. Hawai’i
• Nov. 20 vs. CSUN

SIOUX CITY, IA — The Dakota Wesleyan volleyball team was picked to finish fifth in the 2025 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Coaches Preseason Poll, the GPAC announced this morning. 

Dakota Wesleyan received 77 points after finishing 13-16 (7-9 GPAC) last year with a trip to the conference tournament.  Concordia has been picked to win the conference with 117 votes, while Northwestern is the projected runner-up with 115 votes.  The Tigers also received votes (10 total points) in the NAIA’s 2025 preseason volleyball poll, being named amongst 27 other schools who just missed out on the top 25.

DWU will open the season on the road with its first trip in Valley City, ND, where they will face Valley City State and Dickinson State.  The Tigers will open up at home on September 6th against Waldorf. 

For full GPAC Release, click here. The NAIA’s preseason top 25 can be viewed here.

All things DWU Volleyball, click here.

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