Beach volleyball is an immensely popular sport in warm weather cities such as Los Angeles and Miami. But in the New York City area, while participation in organized competitive and social volleyball among youth and adults has rapidly risen, engagement in beach volleyball is still relatively limited to small circles. One woman aims to change that at the First Annual Spring Skyline Beach Slam, taking place this Saturday and Sunday, on 66th Street at Riverside Park on Manhattan’s Westside, featuring boys and girls ages 12 to 17.

“We partnered with NYC Parks, and from the kids that we had last year when we founded the company, they wanted to compete and learn,” NYC Beach Volley Ventures (NYCBVV) founder Barbara Miranda Winkler expressed to the AmNews.

“It is just like a full experience of how tournaments (are structured), kind of like a sneak peek of the Olympics,” said Winkler. “The name reflects New York. Our logo, you can see it’s like the sunrise or sunset with the skyline, and the bridge and the water, and they are all happy colors.” The visual is intentional as NYCBVV strives to provide physical as well as social-emotional development to its participants.

“Our holistic approach blends drills, fundamentals, and gameplay to build confidence, mental readiness, and sportsmanship,” Winkler, a Harlem-based mother of a 12-year-old, explained.

“At NYCBVV, I had an amazing experience, met great people, and I am incredibly inspired by both of my coaches,” 14-year-old Jovana said of her experience last year. “My coaches not only taught me the game, but also taught me resilience and self-confidence.”

“At NYCBVV, playing and learning with friends feels like it’s family, and the coaches are open-minded and kind,” said 12-year-old Ayla.

The tournament has eight divisions with a maximum of 10 teams in each. Registration begins at 7 a.m. and play starts at 8 a.m..

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Five Princeton student-athletes have been named finalists for the C. Otto von Kienbusch award which is awarded annually to a Princeton senior woman of high scholastic rank who has demonstrated general proficiency in athletics and the qualities of a true sportswoman. Presented in memory of C. Otto v. Kienbusch ’06, friend and benefactor of women’s athletics at Princeton.

The von KLienbusch Award will be presented at the Gary Walters ’67 Princeton Varsity Club Awards Banquet on Thursday, May 22nd starting at 5:00 p.m. ET. For more information on the 2025 banquet, click here.

Meet the 2025 finalists!

McKenzie Blake | Women’s Lacrosse

The Princeton women’s lacrosse record books have been rewritten by McKenzie Blake during her four seasons at Sherrerd Field. A sociology major from Haddonfield, N.J.,Blake’s 228 goals are the most ever by a Princeton women’s lacrosse player and fifth-most among all active Division I players and sit as the the second-most ever by an Ivy League player. Blake has amassed 260 career points during her career, ranking No. 4 all-time by a Princeton player and No. 6 all-time by an Ivy League player. The 2025 unanimous Ivy League Attacker of the Year, Blake is a three-time first-team All-Ivy selection whose 2025 season has seen her break the Ivy League record for goals in a season with 86 surpassing a record that had stood for 44 years. A two-time selection to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, Blake was 1 of 25 nominees for the Tewaaraton this season which is presented annually to the nation’s Most Outstanding Player. An honorable mention All-American in 2024, Blake is a two-time first-team All-Region selection and has earned five different Offensive Player of the Week honors during her career. Three times during the 2025 season, Blake tied the program record for goals in a game with eight tallies, becoming the first player in program history to reach that mark multiple times during a career. Over the course of her Princeton career, Blake has scored at least one goal in 69 of 71 career games played including each of the final 37 of her career. A part of two outright Ivy League championships during her freshman and senior seasons, Blake led her team to three NCAA Tournament appearances during her four seasons, reaching the second round all three times and advancing to the 2025 NCAA Quarterfinals.

 

Katherine George | Women’s Open Rowing

One of the best rowers in the country, Katherine George has collected two first-team All-American honors and was selected as a finalist for the CRCA Athlete of the Year last year. All George has ever known is the first varsity as she helped the Tigers to the Ivy League title and a bronze medal at NCAAs as a freshman, the boat’s best finish since 2013 at the time. As a sophomore, George rowed on the varsity eight that did not lose in the regular season including a victory over No. 1 Texas, ending the Longhorn’s 22-race winning streak. George and the Tigers won 2023 Ivy gold, earning the program’s fourth straight Ivy crown and third consecutive Ivy team title. Princeton earned bronze again at NCAAs in 2023, leading the team to third place in the team Standings, marking the first time in program history that Princeton finished top three in consecutive seasons. In 2024, George paced the 1V to the top time at the Ivy League Championships, earning the program the Sally P. Shoemaker Trophy and the NCAA automatic bid. George will look to make it four for four as the Tigers compete for the 2025 Ivy League championship this weekend on the Cooper River. The history major from Chearsley, United Kingdom has secured two All-Ivy accolades and has led the Tigers’ 1V to a 31-3 mark in her four seasons during the regular season.

 

Victoria Liu | Women’s Golf

Few women’s golfers in program history have put together a four-year career like Victoria Liu. A computer science major from Vancouver, British Columbia, Liu has won eight career tournaments during her time on the course as a Tiger which is tied for the fourth-most wins all-time by a Princeton women’s golfer. A two-time Ivy League Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024, she began her career with a selection as Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2022. Liu was the Ivy League Championship medalist in 2022 and 2024, making her one of four players in Ivy League history, each of them fellow Tigers, to win multiple individual Ivy League women’s golf championships. Liu is a four-time NCAA Regionals selection, twice competing alongside her teammates after an Ivy title, and twice earning an individual at-large selection. A three-time first-team All-Ivy selection, Liu has won her home event at the Princeton Invitational three times. In 2023 and 2024, Liu received a sponsor’s exemption to compete as an amateur on the CPKC Women’s Open in Canada to make her first two career starts on the LPGA.

 

Mena Scatchard | Women’s Cross Country

An eight-time Ivy League champion, Mena Scatchard is one of the most accomplished distance runners in the 47 year history of Princeton women’s track and field. A 2025 NCAA indoor runner-up in the mile, Scatchard is just the second Tiger to place that high at nationals – and she did it while climbing from 10th to second with the fastest final two laps in the entire field. At the conference level, Scatchard won individual Ivy League titles in four events, while winning four 4×800 relay titles. She set four facility records during her championship performances. Additionally, she is a nine-time First Team and three-time Second Team All-Ivy honoree. A public & international affairs major from North Yorkshire, U.K., Scatchard has rewritten the Princeton record books during her four years. She holds six program records, including the 5000m, 1500m, 3000m, mile, 4×800 relay and distance medley relay. She also ranks second all-time in the Princeton record books in three other events, while making the all-time top-10 in four more. Scatchard’s performances have landed her in the Ivy League all-time top-10, all-meets in seven events. A rare middle distance runner that also excels on the cross country course, Scatchard is a two-time All-Ivy performer and finished second overall to lead the Tigers to their first cross country Heps title in nine years. Scatchard’s individual achievements and leadership have guided Princeton women’s cross country and women’s track and field to new heights this year, helping the program complete its first Triple Crown since 2011 and third all-time – two milestones that will be cemented and cherished in the history of the program.

 

Kayla Yelensky | Women’s Water Polo

A four-time CWPA All-Conference player and soon to be three-time All-American, Kayla Yelensky was the engine of the Princeton Women’s Water Polo Team’s offense during her time with the Tigers. Yelensky led the Tigers to three CWPA Championship appearances including the 2023 and 2024 titles. In 2023, Yelensky registered 60 goals and 87 points for a squad that finished 30-4 overall, just the third team in program history to have least 30 victories (2014, 2015). Princeton won the CWPA title that season and reached the national semifinals for the first time ever, marking the first non-West Coast team to get to the Final Four since 2016. Yelensky set a new career high with 94 goals in 2025 becoming just the third Tiger to ever record 90+ goals in a season. A School of Public and International Affairs major from Stamford, Conn., Yelensky is a three-time ACWPC All-Academic Team member and CWPA Scholar Athlete, finishing her career with 278 goals, second-most all-time, along with 113 assists, 91 steals and 179 drawn ejections.

 

 

GABORONE, Botswana – Members of the Bowie State women’s volleyball team, Nina Edards, Taylor Johnson, Trinity Loundmon and Nicole Taylor, will compete in the second annual Ditsala International Cup from May 29 – June 1 in Gaborone, Bostwana hosted by Bring It Promotions (BIP) and the Bostwana Volleyball Federation.

The second annual Ditsala International Cup is a premier women’s volleyball tournament bringing together collegiate student-athletes from the United States and national teams from across Southern Africa.

The tournament provides a platform for elite-level competition while offering local student-athletes the opportunity to sharpen their skills and engage with international players and coaches. Beyond the matches, the event promotes cultural exchange and fosters the development of volleyball in the region.

This year’s tournament will feature a historic showing from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), with two teams comprising student-athletes from eight HBCUs: Alabama State University, Bowie State University, Elizabeth City State University, Hampton University, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, and Winston-Salem State University. Additionally, two BIP-sponsored mixed teams will include 18 student-athletes from 14 universities nationwide. The participation of HBCU student-athletes highlights a growing commitment to expanding global opportunities for HBCU student-athletes in collegiate volleyball.

Coaching the U.S. delegation are representatives from Alabama State University, Bowie State University, Morgan State University, and Winston-Salem State University, among others. Former Olympian and current San Diego Mojo assistant coach Deitre Collins-Parker will lead the delegation alongside Dr. Ingrid Wicker McCree, a retired NCAA Division I athletic director, head women’s volleyball coach, and Sr. Associate Director of Duke Sports Sciences Institute Sports Performance.  Wicker McCree is also CEO/founder of WM Leadership & Legacy Coaching, which helps prepare young leaders and executives for career success.

“This is a game-changing moment for these young women,” McCree said. “For many, it’s their debut on the international stage, and the opportunity to showcase their talents while representing their universities, communities, and HBCU athletics worldwide is incredibly exciting.”

The tournament also serves as the first leg of a three-country African tour for the U.S. delegation. Following the event, the group will travel to Francistown and Kasane, hosting youth volleyball clinics and coaching workshops for local players. The trip includes visits to the Mokolodi Game Reserve, Khama Rhino Sanctuary, and a Chobe River Safari, providing student-athletes with an immersive cultural experience. The delegation will conclude the tour with an overnight stay in Zambia and a visit to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

In addition to competing, the American student-athletes will visit the U.S. Embassy in Botswana to meet with diplomats, learn about embassy initiatives, and engage in discussions on sports diplomacy. This visit underscores how athletics serve as a bridge for international collaboration and development.

All matches will be livestreamed on BallerTV at: https://www.ballertv.com/events/ditsala-international-cup.

About the Botswana Volleyball Federation

Founded in 1979, the Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) has grown into a competitive force in Southern Africa, with 44 teams and more than 500 active players. Affiliated with international governing bodies, the BVF continues to elevate the sport through grassroots programs, annual competitions, and player development initiatives.

About Bring It Promotions

Bring It Promotions (BIP) is a full-service volleyball travel agency with a global presence, specializing in international volleyball tours, events, and professional career development. Since 1996, BIP has organized volleyball experiences at all levels, leveraging an extensive international network to serve athletes and coaches.

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 13 varsity sport teams, visit bsubulldogs.com.

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LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference coaches will attend this year’s NCAA Women Coaches Academy (WCA), hosted by WeCOACH: Clarion Men’s and Women’s Swimming head coach Brehan Kelley, Millersville Field Hockey assistant coach Erica Metz, and Kutztown Women’s Soccer assistant coach Madeline Reed. Reed was also the recipient of the Margueritte Aozasa Legacy Coach Academy Scholarship, awarded as one of multiple legacy scholarships that honor the memory of the trailblazing women coaches who came before.

Set to take place May 18-21, 2025 in Denver, Colorado and hosted in collaboration with the NCAA, the WeCOACH Academies offer multi-day transformational experiences focused on leadership development and personal growth for women coaches from all sports and collegiate levels, including both two-year and four-year institutions.  

A total of 103 women coaches will convene in Denver, with 85 participating in WCA and 18 engaging in the advanced Academy 2.0 program. 

These women represent 24 different sports and come from a diverse range of institutions including NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, NAIA, 3C2A, NJCAA, and NWAC. 

“The NCAA is proud to continue its partnership with WeCOACH to host the 2025 NCAA Women Coaches Academy and NCAA Academy 2.0,” said DeeDee Merritt, NCAA Managing Director of Leadership Development. “The NCAA remains committed to educating and empowering student-athletes, coaches, and athletics administrators through transformative experiences that foster effective leadership, promote inclusive excellence, and strengthen the college sports landscape. These academies align seamlessly with our mission and have consistently delivered meaningful outcomes in the support, advancement, and retention of women coaches in collegiate athletics. WeCOACH continues to be an invaluable partner in providing development and community for women coaches. Through collaborations like this, we are able to expand our reach and deepen our impact.”  

A highlight of this year’s Academies will be the presentation of the 2024-25 Lifetime Achievement Awards, presented by Jostens, recognizing five outstanding women coaches for their enduring impact on the profession. Attendees will also gain insights and inspiration during a keynote conversation with the honorees.  

“The Academy experience is nothing short of transformational,” said Vanessa Fuchs, CEO of WeCOACH. “Our participants leave feeling renewed and equipped with tools, strategies, and a powerful sisterhood of support. Data shows our graduates remain in the coaching profession at rates well above the national average—and that’s the kind of impact we aim to scale. Thanks to our generous donors, we’re proud to have awarded more than $39,000 in scholarship funding for Denver participants to expand access and support participation.”  

Since its inception, more than 2,300 coaches have graduated from the NCAA WCA. The program centers on holistic leadership development, providing women coaches with the skills, confidence, and community to elevate their effectiveness both personally and professionally. Academy 2.0, an advanced program exclusively for WCA alumnae, offers a deeper dive into leadership and professional growth in a highly interactive, small-group setting.  

WeCOACH extends deep gratitude to the NCAA for its longstanding support. WeCOACH also wants to extend thanks to this year’s generous Academy Partners whose support makes these programs possible: Gatorade, Hudl, Marines, Simple Modern, Jostens, Alex Morgan Foundation, Athlete Assessments, Bakline, Betsy Butterick – the Coaches’ Coach, Equitable Advisors – Latrice Smith, Legends of the Ball, Natasha Watley Foundation, NOX, Return on Inclusion, The Sports Bra Project, This One Media, and Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport.  

Several conferences and sport associations also stepped up to support our Academies as sponsors: Atlantic 10 Conference, Big Ten Conference, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC), Horizon League, Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA), Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA), National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), Pac-12 Conference, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), and Sunshine State Conference (SSC).  

May 19-21 NCAA Women Coaches Academy Class #54 Participants:  

Claire Abele | Butte College – Head Coach, Soccer   

Devan Acosta | Hanover College – Head Coach, Golf  

Lindsay Allman | Florida State University – Associate Head Coach, Volleyball  

Lauryn Andrew | Concordia University-Irvine – Graduate Assistant Coach, Volleyball  

Miranda Armstrong | Pomona-Pitzer Colleges – Associate Head Coach, Soccer  

Sloane Baumgartner | Elmhurst University – Head Coach, Lacrosse  

Emily Bitka | Daemen University – Head Coach, Lacrosse  

Jenn Blomme | Whitman College – Head Coach, Swimming  

Eileen Bringman | Cornell University – Associate Head Coach, Swimming & Diving  

Laura Broderick | Yale University – Assistant Coach, Cross Country, Track & Field  

Jasmine Brown | Oberlin College – Head Coach, Volleyball  

Lynnzee Brown | Pennsylvania State University – Assistant Coach, Gymnastics  

Daiysa Burrell | Norfolk State University – Assistant Coach, XC, Track & Field  

Kendra Bush | Rochester Institute of Technology – Assistant Coach, XC, Track & Field  

Karen Byers | Seattle Pacific University – Head Coach, Basketball  

Jasmine Chambers | South Carolina State University – Assistant Coach, Volleyball  

Erin Chrissobolis | Ohio Northern University – Assistant Coach, Swimming & Diving  

Adeline Chung-Feder | Wagner College – Assistant Coach, Fencing  

Shannon Coughlin | UW Green Bay – Assistant Coach, Volleyball  

Alexandria Courtney | Minot State University – Head Coach, Volleyball  

Vinsetta Covington | Kentucky State University – Assistant Coach, Basketball  

Chloe Curtis | Loyola Marymount University – Head Coach, XC, Track & Field  

Jeanne Czipri | Central College (Iowa) – Head Coach, Volleyball  

Jessica Darmelio | Carmel High School – Head Coach, Basketball  

Arla Davis | McDaniel College – Assistant Coach, Field Hockey  

Melissa DeVore | Coker University – Head Coach, Basketball  

Amy Donovan | University of Alaska Fairbanks – Head Coach, Basketball  

Kaycie Dunkerley | Lewis & Clark College – Assistant Coach, Basketball  

Maisie Elston | Mount St. Joseph University – Head Coach, Basketball  

Catherine Ely | Bryn Mawr College – Head Coach, Crew  

Uloma Enyogasi | Lynn University – Assistant Coach, Basketball  

Alyxx Estrada | Regis University – Assistant Coach, Softball  

Amanda Evans | New Mexico Highlands University – Head Coach, Soccer  

Hillary Fitts | Hofstra University – Head Coach, Field Hockey  

Allison Fordyce | Susquehanna University – Head Coach, Field Hockey  

Marissa Fortuna | St. Lawrence University – Graduate Assistant Coach, Soccer  

Lindsey Garcia | Occidental College – Head Coach, Water Polo  

Mahogany Green | Hamilton College – Head Coach, Basketball  

Katie Guns | St. Norbert College – Head Coach, Soccer  

Elyssa Hawkins | Biola University – Assistant Coach, Water Polo  

Madison Heck | Virginia Wesleyan University – Head Coach, Lacrosse  

Shirlynn Hight | Talladega College – Head Coach, Acrobatics & Tumbling  

Gabrielle Holko | Susquehanna University – Head Coach, Basketball  

Katie Horton | Florida State University – Director of Operations, Beach Volleyball  

Cornysia Island | University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff – Assistant Coach, Volleyball  

Kellis Johnson | Dominican University – Assistant Coach, Soccer  

Jenna Kalwa | University of Saint Joseph – Head Coach, Soccer  

Maile’ana Kanewa-Hermelyn | University of Michigan – Assistant Coach, Gymnastics  

Brehan Kelley | PennWest Clarion – Head Coach, Swimming  

Abigail Kemble | Eastern University – Head Coach, Field Hockey  

Nina Klein | Quinnipiac University – Head Coach, Field Hockey  

Megan Kronschnabel | Claremont Mudd Scripps – Assistant Coach, Volleyball  

Courtney Kust | Hope College – Associate Head Coach, Basketball  

Moneshia McKenney | Clemson University – Assistant Coach, Volleyball  

Erica Metz | Millersville University – Assistant Coach, Field Hockey  

Baylee Mires | University of Louisville – Assistant Coach, XC, Track & Field  

Brittney Morris | St. Mary’s College of Maryland – Head Coach, Lacrosse  

Raina Nolan | Emmanuel University – Head Coach, Acrobatics & Tumbling  

Haley Overstreet | Sewanee, The University of the South – Head Coach, Field Hockey  

Sara Pasour | University of North Carolina at Pembroke – Assistant Coach, Volleyball  

Kate Pearson | Rowan University – Head Coach, Basketball  

Ana Pego | Quinnipiac University – Assistant Coach, Volleyball  

Barbara Perkins | University of Denver – Head Coach, Triathlon  

Megan Rabenberg | Loyola University Maryland – Assistant Coach, Rowing  

Madeline Reed | Kutztown University – Assistant Coach, Soccer  

Erin Reeves | Colby College – Head Coach, Tennis  

Kaitlyn Reny | University of Redlands – Assistant Coach, Swimming & Diving  

Kelly Rider | Curry College – Head Coach, Hockey  

Toccara Ross | Central Michigan University – Assistant Coach, Basketball  

Erin Schneidtmiller | University of Louisville – Assistant Coach, Field Hockey  

Katelyn Sherman | Ave Maria University – Head Coach, Lacrosse  

Janelle Silver-Martin | Florida Gulf Coast University – Assistant Coach, Basketball  

Katie Smith | Xavier University – Head Coach, Soccer  

Claire Sporer | Michigan State University – Strength Coach, Basketball  

Hannah Tepper | Trinity College – Assistant Coach, Field Hockey  

Arli Tilves | Carnegie Mellon University – Assistant Coach, Swimming  

Julieta Toledo | The Ohio State University – Assistant Coach, Fencing  

Arieon Trinity | Agnes Scott College – Head Coach, Volleyball  

Melissa Valenzuela | Illinois Wesleyan University – Head Coach, Flag Football  

Amy Vaughan | Nova Southeastern University – Head Coach, Soccer  

Jae-Lyn Visscher | University of South Florida – Assistant Coach, Beach Volleyball  

Lauren Voigt | The College of Wooster – Head Coach, Field Hockey  

Janice Washington | Lincoln University – Head Coach, Basketball  

Shannon Witzel | Spalding University – Head Coach, Lacrosse  

Doshia Woods | University of Denver – Head Coach, Basketball  

For the first time since returning to in-person Academies after the COVID-19 pandemic, WeCOACH will host a second Women Coaches Academy in Indianapolis at the NCAA National Office from November 16-18. Applications are currently open for WCA Class #55 in Indianapolis. 

ABOUT the NCAA

The NCAA is a diverse association of more than 1,100 member colleges and universities that prioritize academics, well-being and fairness to create greater opportunities for more than half a million student-athletes each year. The NCAA provides a pathway to higher education and beyond for student-athletes pursuing academic goals and competing in NCAA sports. More than 54,000 student-athletes experience the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics by competing in NCAA championships each year. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaa.com for more details about the Association and the corporate partnerships that support the NCAA and its student-athletes.

ABOUT WeCOACH 

Founded in 2011, WeCOACH is a one-of-a-kind 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to recruiting, advancing, and retaining women coaches in all sports and levels through year-round professional growth & leadership development programs. Prior to Title IX, over 90% of women’s collegiate sports teams were coached by women. Today, over 50 years later, the data indicates that number has decreased to 41% across all three NCAA Divisions, with only 7% women head coaches of color. Only 5% women coach men’s teams. At the youth level, the data is hard to estimate, approximately less than 20% of teams are coached by women. WeCOACH launched MOVE the NUMBERS in 2022 to help change the landscape for women coaches and the student-athletes they lead. If she can see her, she can be her. For more information visit MOVE the NUMBERS. 

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Nineteen members of the St. Olaf College men’s track and field team were recognized for their performances at the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 2025 MIAC Track & Field Awards, as announced on Thursday.

At the outdoor conference meet last week, St. Olaf recorded seven All-MIAC (places 1-3) individual performances, one All-MIAC relay, nine Honorable Mention All-MIAC (places 4-6) individual showings, and one honorable-mention relay. The Oles finished third in the team standings at the meet.

Junior Lance Nemecek and senior Andrew Skemp accounted for St. Olaf’s two first-place individual finishes, as Nemecek won the 800-meter run and Skemp won the 10,000-meter run. The Oles also won the 4×800-meter relay with the quartet of first year Jackson Bullock, senior Sean Hartney, junior Zach Martin, and first year Austin McInturff.

Below is a complete list of St. Olaf’s honorees in the 2025 MIAC Track & Field Awards.