Northwestern volleyball faces a crossroads this season, and head coach Tim Nollan seems poised to get the program back on track. But how lofty should expectations be?

As Inside NU’s Brendan Preisman highlighted last week, Nollan is in full command approaching his second season as NU’s head coach. He has worked throughout the offseason to construct and maintain a successful program, drawing upon his eight years of experience at Grand Canyon University.

While Nollan was hired last season, his place among the Wildcats never felt truly cemented. His offseason was frantic, as he was forced to assemble his coaching staff quickly, grapple with roster turnover and scrape together a team, all without much time for preparation or recruitment.

Nollan lacked the space to firmly stamp his mark and infuse his philosophy within the program. Teams built hastily will get bitten in the Big Ten, which Nollan has touted as “the best league in the country.” Thus, his squad finished with a forgettable 5-23 record and only three conference wins. Improvement was clearly needed and accomplishing that required some time.

Fortunately, Nollan got it this summer. With a full offseason to work with, he has made the most out of these past few months. He found eight new Wildcats, including five transfers, with Ayah Elnady headlining the class as a brand-new offensive machine. Aside from the portal, Nollan fields three freshmen this season, an increase from just two in his first year at the helm. The large number of newcomers stems from Nollan’s recruitment expertise and his success in maintaining NU’s reputation as a desirable destination. His mark has been made.

Much of the roster will look different as Nollan continues to adjust lineups and roles fluctuate. Sienna Noordermeer will take over for Alexa Rousseau as the team’s lead passer, while senior Lauren Carter likely carves out a bigger role as a facilitator. The ‘Cats will also hope for more offensive firepower from senior Buse Hazan, who led the team in kills last season.

Considering everything, what should we expect from Nollan’s team this season? For starters, there’s one word that should echo the locker room halls: improvement.

The ‘Cats are far better set up for success this season. They’ll have an influx of new talent and versatility across the roster — one Nollan and his staff have put ample time and effort into building. The young stars show promise, and as Elnady said during the program’s Big Ten Volleyball Media Day, the team plans to embrace its role as an underdog, recognizing the pressure is on its opponents and exploiting that to gain an advantage.

Big Ten volleyball is ruthlessly competitive, and teams with similarly disappointing records last season are likely hitting the drawing boards and planning to come back stronger next year. But this group of Wildcats is younger, hungrier and has Captain Nollan steering the ship and building a winning culture. Improvement shouldn’t just be the goal — it should be the baseline.

But how much progress can be considered realistic?

After finishing with a 3-17 Big Ten record last year, the Big Ten Volleyball Preseason Poll had NU jumping two spots this season, up from 17th place to 15th place. Based on the 2024 standings, the ‘Cats would need to win two more conference games to make that jump. That should be a reasonable expectation.

While any climb in the standings signifies improvement, Nollan and the players made clear during media day that they are aiming for higher. Cracking the top 10 would be an ambitious goal. Last season, an 8-12 conference record got a team 10th place in the Big Ten, meaning NU would have to win five more games this year if things play out similarly. That improvement would certainly be a jump, but it’s needed to affirm NU’s status as a competitive member of the conference

The talent, versatility, discipline and mentality are there. Nollan’s squad must now prove Northwestern isn’t a team that belongs at the bottom.

Beach volleyball, men’s volleyball, men’s tennis, and swim and dive teams lead the way as 145 Waves from 12 sports land on the WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll

Pepperdine Waves student-athletes and sports teams garnered academic accolades in July.

The Waves beach volleyball and the men’s volleyball squads received American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Awards and the men’s tennis team and seven team members earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Awards. The swim and dive team earned College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) All-America Team honors. Additionally, 145 student-athletes from 12 programs were named to the West Coast Conference (WCC) Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

The Waves swim and dive squad earned CSCAA Scholar All-American Team honors for the 20th straight semester. The 35-member team had a combined 3.57 grade-point average in the spring semester. Twenty-three of them had 3.5 GPAs or higher.

These academic honors follow the Waves’ Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship win five months ago.

Pepperdine head coach Ellie Monobe is thrilled and proud of the Waves’ commitment to academics.

“Not only have they shown dominance in the pool, but continue to pursue excellence in the classroom,” she said.

To earn honors, CSCAA teams needed at least a 3.00 GPA.

The AVCA Team Academic Award celebrates teams that maintained a year-long 3.3 GPA or higher.

Pepperdine’s beach volleyball and men’s volleyball teams are among the 1,450 collegiate and high school programs nationwide to receive this year’s award, which sets a record for the most teams honored in the award’s history. The beach volleyball team has received the award for nine straight years, while the men’s volleyball team has earned the honor for two consecutive years.

RECORDS AT SINGAPORE 2025

The edition in Singapore saw over 10 championship records, including three world records.

France’s Leon Marchand broke the men’s 200m individual medley world record with a time of 1:52.69 in the semi-finals, while the USA lowered the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay world record.

The US also smashed their own world record in winning the women’s 4x100m medley relay world title with 3:49.34, beating their previous record of 3:49.63 from Paris a year ago.

Germany’s Florian Wellbrock dominated in the waters off Sentosa, becoming the first athlete to win four gold medals in open water swimming at the championships.

China topped the medal table with 15 gold, 12 silver and 10 bronze medals across the six sports.

This was followed by Australia – 13 gold, seven silver, eight bronze – and the US with 10 gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze medals. 

TEAM SINGAPORE

There were plenty of firsts and historic moments for Team Singapore, which fielded its largest contingent of 72 athletes, including 30 debutants. 

Paris Olympian Gan Ching Hwee smashed three national records in two days in the women’s 400m, 800m, and 1,500m freestyle.

She also became the first Singaporean woman since 2007 to reach a final at the World Aquatics Championships, when she qualified fourth in the women’s 1,500m freestyle heats. She later finished seventh in the final.

In the ever-shifting landscape of global media and information services, News Corp (NASDAQ:NWSA) has emerged as a rare success story, delivering a staggering 139.92% total return for shareholders over the past five years—far outpacing the S&P 500’s 90.70% benchmark. This performance is not a fluke but the result of a meticulously executed strategy to harness digital transformation, cost discipline, and the monetization of intellectual property. For investors seeking a long-term value play in the media sector, News Corp’s structural growth drivers and evolving business model warrant serious consideration.

The Structural Catalysts Behind News Corp’s Growth

1. Digital Real Estate Dominance
   News Corp’s digital real estate services, including its Re/Max and Move.com platforms, have become a cash-generating engine. The company capitalized on the surge in online homebuying during the pandemic, streamlining its digital tools to offer hyper-localized data, virtual tours, and seamless transaction processes. In 2023 alone, this segment contributed to a 41.02% annual stock price surge, reflecting investor confidence in its recurring revenue model.

2. Subscription Video Services: A Netflix Counterpoint
   While Netflix and Disney dominate streaming, News Corp’s Fox Sports and Star+ platforms have carved a niche by blending live sports, localized content, and news-driven programming. The company’s 2022 acquisition of Paramount Global’s international streaming assets further solidified its foothold in emerging markets, where demand for affordable, culturally relevant content is soaring.

3. Cost-Cutting and Shareholder Returns
   Under CEO Robert Thomson’s leadership, News Corp has prioritized operational efficiency. A $1 billion share buyback program announced in 2024 reduced the share count by 6.7%, directly boosting earnings per share (EPS) and signaling management’s confidence in the company’s balance sheet. This disciplined approach has translated into a 7.07% annualized return over five years, with a current P/E ratio of 35.37—reasonable for a company with such robust growth.

Navigating Volatility: A Resilient Business Model

Despite a 17.20% stock price drop in 2022, News Corp’s long-term trajectory remained unshaken. The company’s diversified revenue streams—spanning news, real estate, and entertainment—buffered it against sector-specific downturns. For instance, while the real estate segment faced a cooling market in 2022, the subscription video and book publishing divisions offset losses with double-digit growth.

Key financial metrics underscore this resilience:
– Return on Equity (ROE) improved from -16.52% in 2020 to 6.71% in 2025, reflecting stronger profitability.
– Debt-to-equity ratio dropped from 0.47 in 2022 to 0.32 in 2025, demonstrating prudent capital management.
– Enterprise value-to-sales (EV/Sales) of 1.84 is well below its 2023 peak of 1.68, suggesting undervaluation relative to revenue.

Why News Corp is a Long-Term Value Play

The media industry is in a period of creative destruction, but News Corp’s hybrid model—combining legacy brands (e.g., The Wall Street Journal, Fox News) with digital-first platforms—positions it to thrive in both eras. Here’s why investors should take notice:

1. Monetizing Legacy Assets
   News Corp’s intellectual property (IP) is a goldmine. The Fox and Star trademarks, along with its real estate data, are being repurposed into AI-driven tools for advertisers and developers. For example, its Real Estate API now powers third-party apps, generating recurring licensing fees.

2. Global Expansion Tailwinds
   Emerging markets represent a $500 billion opportunity for digital media. News Corp’s Star+ service is already the leading streaming platform in India and Southeast Asia, with a 45% market share in some regions. As smartphone penetration and internet access grow, the company is poised to capture incremental users.

3. Dividend Sustainability
   While the dividend yield has fallen from 1.75% in 2020 to 0.60% in 2025, the payout ratio of 23.41% is sustainable, leaving room for future increases as margins stabilize.

Risks and Considerations

No investment is without risk. News Corp faces regulatory scrutiny in its real estate and media segments, particularly in the U.S. and U.K. Additionally, its reliance on content licensing exposes it to inflationary pressures and creative talent costs. However, the company’s $17.23 billion market cap and $17.22 billion enterprise value indicate that the market already factors in these risks, offering a margin of safety for long-term investors.

Conclusion: A Media Conglomerate for the Digital Age

News Corp’s five-year performance is a masterclass in strategic reinvention. By doubling down on digital real estate, subscription video, and cost efficiency, the company has transformed from a fading print giant into a diversified digital powerhouse. At current valuations, it offers a compelling combination of growth and stability—a rare profile in today’s volatile market.

For investors with a 5–10 year horizon, News Corp is not just a play on media; it’s a bet on the future of information itself. As CEO Robert Thomson notes, “We are not just selling content—we are selling access to the world’s most critical data.” In a digital-first economy, that’s a value proposition worth investing in.

Penn State women’s volleyball is defending two championships in 2025, and right now, it has a good chance to get back on top in the Big Ten. The only team standing in the way? Nebraska.

In 2024, the Nittany Lions and Cornhuskers technically shared the Big Ten title. Unlike other sports, the Big Ten doesn’t sponsor a championship game for women’s volleyball, so the champion is determined solely by team records. Both Penn State and Nebraska finished the season with a 19-1 record. The Nittany Lions earned their fair share of the title by defeating the Cornhuskers on Nov. 29. Nebraska then beat Maryland after to secure its share.

Now heading into 2025, the two teams are projected to be the top duo again. In the Big Ten Preseason Poll, Penn State is ranked second under No. 1 Nebraska.

Though placed below, the Nittany Lions beat their conference foe twice in 2024. In the Final Four, they pushed the Cornhuskers into five sets in a reverse sweep victory. Penn State fell in the first two sets, but then took the third, stole the fourth from a 22-16 trail behind, and earned the semifinal win 15-13 in the fifth.

The full preseason poll results here:

1. Nebraska

2. Penn State

3. Wisconsin

4. Minnesota

5. UCLA

6. USC

7. Purdue

8. Washington

9. Illinois

10. Michigan

11. Indiana

12. Oregon

13. Ohio State

14. Michigan State

15. Northwestern

16. Maryland

17. Iowa

18. Rutgers

Two Nittany Lions were unanimously named to the 2025 Big Ten Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team as well.

Sophomore setter Izzy Starck, who was named the 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and National Freshman of the Year, and junior right side hitter Kennedy Martin, who was a 2024 All-American and All-SEC First Team selection. Martin transferred from Florida to Penn State after last season. She played two seasons with the Gators. Both Starck and Martin earned spots on the Player of the Year Watch List as well.

Senior libero Gillian Grimes was also selected to the preseason All-Conference Team. She was a 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team selection, voted to the NCAA Championship All-tournament team, and was named to the State College NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team.

The full list of preseason All-Conference selectees here:

Michigan: Outside hitter Allison Jacobs

Minnesota: Outside hitters Julia Hanson and McKenna Wucherer

Nebraska: Middle blockers Andi Jackson (unanimous selection) and Rebekah Allick, outside hitter Harper Murray (unanimous selection), and setter Bergen Reilly (unanimous selection)

Penn State: Libero Gillian Grimes, right side hitter Kennedy Martin (unanimous selection), and setter Izzy Starck (unanimous selection)

UCLA: Middle blockers Phekran Kong and Marianna Singletary, outside hitters Cheridyn Leverette and Maggie Li

USC: Outside hitter Adonia Faumuina

Washington: Outside hitter Kierstyn Barton and middle blocker Julia Hunt

Wisconsin: Middle blocker Carter Booth, outside hitter Mimi Colyer, and setter Charlie Fuerbringer

Paquiz brings over 19 years of coaching experience at NCAA Division I, elite club and high school (both girls and boys) levels. Paquiz comes to Ypsilanti from Houghton, Mich. where he was the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for the Huskies.

Prior to his time at Michigan Tech, the Chicago, Ill. native spent the 2011 season as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay as well as serving as a volunteer assistant coach at DePaul University, in 2008-09.

Outside of his collegiate coaching experience, Paquiz spent nearly five years as the head coach of the First Alliance Volleyball Club in Western Springs, Ill. He coached both 17-and 18-year old classes, leading both squads to multiple top-placing finishes in national tournaments. As the master coach of the First Alliance 18 Silver squad, Paquiz led his team to a first place finish in the Great Lakes Power League in 2012. His 2009 squad posted a bronze medal at the AAU Junior Nationals and a ninth place finish at the Junior Volleyball Directors Association Championships.

In 2011, his 17 Silver squad was ranked as high as eighth in the PrepVolleyball.com national poll, while earning a gold medal at the Junior Volleyball Association’s World Challenge. His 17 Silver team earned a top-15 finish in the Great Lakes Power League’s Under-18 division.

Before taking the reigns at First Alliance, Paquiz spent over eight years of coaching in Southern California an area known for its volleyball. Paquiz served as head coach of the boy’s and girl’s teams at the Brentwood School in Los Angeles, Calif. and the head coach of the Santa Monica Beach Volleyball Club.

A 1998 graduate of the University of Illinois-Chicago, Paquiz spent three years (1995-97) playing club volleyball as a defensive specialist for UIC. He is also an avid beach player.