GOLETA, Calif. — Joao Favarim and Hank Kaufman powered a balanced attack as CSUN defeated Harvard 25-16, 25-19, 26-28, 25-18 to improve to 2-0 at the Asics Invitational Friday afternoon at UCSB’s Rob Gym.

CSUN (2-0) struggled a times offensively, hitting .206 as a team, but controlled the match with steady serving and a strong block. The Matadors finished with a 9.5–7 edge in total team blocks as Favarim had a match-high six block assists. The sophomore middle also led the Matadors offensively with 10 kills on 17 swings to hit .471. Kaufman finished the match with nine kills (.065), two aces, and two blocks, while senior Shane Nhem chipped in six kills (.455) and a pair of blocks.

Setter Owen Douphner helped CSUN to a sizable 10-4 edge in team aces as he served a career-high five in the win. Doughner directed the offense with 30 assists and chipped in five kills, as CSUN placed four players in double figures in points. Shane Nhem added six kills on .455 hitting, and Joao Avila contributed a match-high 10 digs, seven kills (.214), and two aces.

CSUN jumped out early, rolling to a convincing win in the opening set behind efficient sideout play and four aces. The Matadors carried that momentum into the second set, pulling away late to take a two-set lead.

Harvard (0-2) extended the match by outlasting CSUN in a tightly contested third set, but the Matadors responded with their most complete effort in the fourth. CSUN broke open a close set with a decisive run midway through and closed the match on a kill by Grayson Albers.

Sawyer Nichols led Harvard with 15 kills, but the Crimson hit just .037 for the match and struggled to find consistency against the CSUN block and serve pressure.

HEAD COACH THEO EDWARDS SAID

“I thought we were inconsistent at times today. We had four guys out there that are starting to really learn how to do this and how to play at a consistent level. There were some great performances; Owen (Doughner) commanded the match for the most part. For me, it’s just about us learning and making progress throughout the season. Part of the struggle for us today was playing back-to-back days. We’re having some conversations about that and how to get the proper rest and get ready for tomorrow.”

UP NEXT

CSUN concludes the 2026 Asics Invitational on Saturday afternoon, meeting Kentucky State (0-1) at 4:30 p.m.

#GoMatadors

IRVINE, CALIF. – In a thrilling five-set showdown to kick off the 2026 men’s volleyball season, the Golden Eagles showcased heart, hustle, and plenty of promise in front of a spirited home crowd – ultimately falling in a close 3-2 (19-25, 25-22, 25-21, 27-29, 13-15) to Rockhurst. Despite the loss, CUI took numerous positive takeaways from an electric night of volleyball that highlighted depth, leadership, and grit. 

Fresh into his Golden Eagle debut, Aidan Case delivered a standout performance, delivering 54 assists, which is currently tied for ninth in the CUI record books for a five-set match. His ability to distribute the ball kept the Green and Gold competitive through every set and provided real momentum swings for the Golden Eagles. 

CUI’s offense was firing on all cylinders at times, with several players stepping up to the plate. Christian Galoppo led the Green and Gold with 15 kills and eight digs. Logan Whitaker and Nathan Habermas added 13 and 11, respectively. 

Defensively, the Golden Eagles were active at the net, finishing with 10 total blocks. Players like Paul Schulties and Logan Whitaker were particularly disruptive to the Hawks’ offense, recording nine blocks between the two of them. The back row also made key plays that extended rallies and pressured Rockhurst’s offense. The energy never wavered, even as the match went the distance. 

While the Green and Gold came up just short in their home opener, the performance laid a strong foundation for the rest of the season. The Golden Eagles will be on the road Sunday, January 11, to take on #1 UCLA at 5:00 PM in their first MPSF match-up. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SCHEDULE FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON

MALIBU, Calif. –  The Pepperdine men’s volleyball team (1-0) took three straight sets from the Spartans of Saint Thomas Aquinas (0-1) to open the 2026 season in Firestone Fieldhouse Friday night.
 
“It was great to start off our season with a win,” head coach Jonathan Winder said. “Our serving was really strong for a few stretches with Aidan Tune and Grant Lamoureux in different sets that opened up the games. All in all, pleased with the effort and focus of the group and ready to get prepared for Sunday’s game.”
 
In the closest of the three sets, the Waves went back and forth with the Spartans in the first, withstanding opposing runs while maintaining the lead. Hitting a monster .700, Cole Hartke led the squad with seven kills to give Pepperdine a 25-18 win in the opening set of the 2026 season.
 
Forcing a negative hitting percentage for STAC in the second set, the Waves kept the foot on the gas. Ryan Barnett and Lamoureux split the heavy lifting for Pepperdine with three kills on five attempts a piece. After a close set through the opening 14 points, Tune took his turn at the service line to compose the Waves, aiding in a 6-0 run on seven-straight serves to give Pepperdine a 20-11 lead. From there, it was smooth sailing as Pepperdine took the second set 25-17.
 
Five aces by Lamoureux highlighted the third and final set of the night as Pepperdine shut down the Spartans completely to close the night out. Six errors by the opposing side helped the Waves hold STAC to 12 points, finishing the sweep with a 25-12 set win.
 
WAVES VS. SPARTANS
 
PEPPERDINE ATTACK BY SET
Set      K         E         TA       Pct 
1         13      2         19       .579
2         12       2         22       .455
3         7         1         13       .462
 
STAC ATTACK BY SET
Set      K         E         TA       Pct 
1         10       3         25       .280
2         7         9         24       -.083
3         7         6         19       .053
 
The Waves have the second home match of the weekend Sunday against Daemen. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. with streaming available on B1G+ (subscription required) and live stats available at www.pepperdinewaves.com
 
 
GAME NOTES
• Cole Hartke led the Waves offensively, hitting .381 on 21 attempts.
• Grant Lamoureux shined from the service line, leading the Waves with five aces.
• The Waves only recorded five errors on the night, compared to the Spartans 18.
• Noé Matthey had a hand in the most blocks tonight, with three assists and one solo block.
• Andrej Polomac recorded over 85 percent of Pepperdine’s assists with 26.
• Polomac also led the team in digs with five.
• Zach Chapin, Matthey, Polomac, Lamoureux, and Ford Harman made their Wave debuts tonight.
• Chapin recorded an ace in his third collegiate set.
 
ABOUT PEPPERDINE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Pepperdine men’s volleyball boasts one of the richest histories in collegiate volleyball, with five NCAA National Championships. Four of those championships came under the direction of Hall of Fame coach Marv Dunphy who totaled 612 victories in 34 seasons at the helm. With 19 NCAA Appearances and 63 All-Americans, the program has consistently been a destination for top talent across the country. Under current head coach Jonathan Winder, the Waves reached the NCAA Final Four in his third season at the helm in 2025.
 
TICKETS
For more information and to purchase tickets to upcoming home events, visit here.
 
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine women’s soccer news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineMVB_ .
 

LONG BEACH, CA. – The Lindenwood Men’s Volleyball team (0-1, 0-0 MIVA) fell in their season opener on the road at #3 Long Beach State in three sets by scores of 21-25, 16-25, 20-25. Luke Kraft led the Lions in kills with seven in his first game in a Black and Gold uniform while Zach Solomon led the team in assists with 22.

In the first set, both teams went back and forth early. Trailing 6-4, the Lions went on a 4-0 run as Caden Whiteside had a kill during the run to put LU in front 8-6. The Beach responded with an 8-2 run of their own to take control of the first set by a score of 14-10. Amir Grant and Brendan Louthain each had a kill following the LBSU run to cut the deficit to three at 17-14, but the Beach were able to use their run in the middle of the opening set and protect their lead to take the first set by a score of 25-21. In set two, Long Beach State was able to limit the Lions to a hitting percentage of 0.033% and recorded five blocks in the middle set. LBSU won the set by a score of 25-16 and Luke Kraft led the Lions with three kills in the middle frame.

The third set saw the Lions take a 15-13 lead into the media timeout thanks to two kills each from Grant and Kraft. Kraft also had a block assist and solo block in the third set which helped give the Lions the lead in the middle of the set. However, out of the media timeout Long Beach State went on a 7-1 run and took a 20-16 lead. The Beach never gave the lead up after that and went on to complete the sweep over the Lions, winning the final set by a score of 25-20.

Lindenwood will now head to Costa Mesa, CA tomorrow where they will wrap up their first road trip of the season at Vanguard University. First serve is set for 4 p.m. CT.

 

HONOLULU – The second-ranked University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team valiantly battled back from an 2-0 deficit before falling in four sets to No. 7 Loyola Chicago Friday to close out a two-match series at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Set scores were 25-23, 25-22, 24-26, 29-27.
 
The teams split the season series for the second time in three years after UH took the opener in straight sets on Thursday.
 
The Rainbow Warriors (3-1) would not fold easily, rallying from a seven-point deficit in Set 3 and fending off five match points in Set 4. Ultimately, the Ramblers pulled off the upset with a block on their seventh match point.
 
Hawai’i committed 25 attack errors and allowed eight service aces and 15.5 blocks in virtually a repeat of the teams’ 2024 series in which the Warriors won the opener in straight sets and dropped the rematch in five.
 
Louis Sakanoko recorded his first career double-double with 18 kills and 12 digs along with two service aces and two blocks. Kristian Titriyski added 16 kills before giving way to Kainoa Wade in the third set. Wade finished the match with four kills, one ace, and three digs.
 
Adrien Roure added nine kills in 26 errorless attempts, nine digs and five blocks while Ofeck Hazan, who started in place of Trevell Jordan, posted five kills and five blocks. Tread Rosenthal dished out 50 assists along with seven digs and four blocks and Quintin Greenidge tallied 13 digs.
 
The Ramblers (1-1) were led by Aleksandar Sosa’s match-high 19 kills. Setter Ryan McElligott had five of the team’s eight aces along with 11 digs and four blocks.
 
Loyola led big early in Set 1 after McElligott fueled an 8-0 run with three aces. UH chipped away and tied it at 22 after an ace by Wade but McElligott’s fourth ace closed out the set. In Set 2, the Ramblers rallied from a 21-19 deficit and out-scored Hawai’i 6-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
UH trailed by as much as seven in Set 3 including 20-13. But again, the Warriors would not go away, scoring four straight, including two kills by Wade and an ace by Sakanoko to tie it at 23. After a Rambler point, UH’s block came alive during a 3-0 run to steal the set.
 
Hawai’i reeled off five straight points for a 13-11 lead in Set 4. The Ramblers tied it and surged ahead 20-18 after a three-point run before the Warriors tied it at 20. Loyola jumped back ahead but Hawai’i rallied to tie it at 23. From there, the teams traded side-outs until the Ramblers blocked Hazan to end it.
 
The Warriors will next host a pair of doubleheaders next week against Roberts Wesleyan and Rockhurst, Wednesday, Jan. 14 and Friday, Jan. 16 at Bankoh Arena. Match times are 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. each day.

#HawaiiMVB

As a teenager, Sam Betz used to walk the halls of Danville Area High School into its athletic training room as a curious co-op student. Now he walks in as one of the school’s two certified athletic trainers, responsible for the health and safety of hundreds of student-athletes.

“Every day is different. You never know what’s going to come through the door,” said Betz ’23/25M, a Danville native and Commonwealth University–Lock Haven alumnus. “As a high school athletic trainer, you cover pretty much everything.”

Betz’s responsibilities include injury evaluation and management, game and practice coverage, and handling parts of the registration process, such as tracking physicals. On any given day, the training room fills with athletes from nearly every sport the school offers.

“I really wanted to come back to Danville,” said Betz, who completed Lock Haven’s accelerated three-plus-two athletic training program, finishing his undergraduate work in three years and advancing straight into the two-year graduate program. “This is home, and it’s pretty special to be working with the same person I did my co-op with.”

Discovering Athletic Training

Betz’s interest in athletic training started in the same place he now works, spending afternoons as a co-op high school student in the training room with John Zayas ’12/13M, the athletic trainer and Bloomsburg alumnus who’s now his colleague.

“I got to see what the job really looks like day to day,” Betz said. “I saw how much care goes into it with building relationships with athletes, coaches, and the whole community.”

What impressed him most was watching injured athletes move through the entire process.

“Treating someone, helping them through rehab, and then seeing them come back to the sport they love,” Betz said. “That really stuck with me,”

Majoring in Athletic Training

When it came time to pick a college, Betz toured several schools but kept coming back to Lock Haven. The campus, the town, and especially the athletic training faculty made the decision easy.

“I really liked the professors I met and the curriculum they had,” Betz said. “Lock Haven is a beautiful town, and the sports culture there is strong. Working with all the different teams was great.”

As an undergraduate, Betz took courses in anatomy, physiology, exercise physiology and sports psychology, among others. Those classes, he said, laid the groundwork for graduate study.

“I really enjoyed learning about the body, especially in lab,” Betz said. “Getting that foundational understanding was huge for going into the master’s program.”

Advancing in Athletic Training

In graduate school, Betz said the focus shifted to higher-level skills. Courses in evaluation techniques and functional anatomy were particularly meaningful. Betz points to the cadaver lab as a pivotal experience.

“Being able to see a real human body — muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels — that’s pretty much everything you’d want to see,” he said. “It made the anatomy we learned in undergrad come to life.”

Betz credits his evaluation techniques courses with shaping him as a clinician.

“Evaluation and assessment are one of the big domains of athletic training,” he said. “Those classes were probably my favorite, because that’s where you really learn how to assess the body.”

Clinical Rotations

Clinical experiences started close to campus. Betz’s first rotation was at Lock Haven, where he worked with football, volleyball, track and field. His second rotation took him to Lycoming College in Williamsport, where he focused primarily on men’s lacrosse, with some time with wrestling and women’s lacrosse.

A third rotation exposed him to multiple settings in quick succession. He spent time at Bald Eagle High School, rode along with an EMS crew, and observed at a chiropractor’s office that emphasized sports patients. He also participated in an industrial athletic training day at the Frito-Lay facility in Williamsport.

“In the industrial setting, you’re working with people in factories, doing a lot of ergonomics and injury prevention,” Betz said. “It’s a different world, but it’s good to know those options exist. Amazon and other companies hire athletic trainers for those roles.”

High-Level Immersion at Clemson

The capstone of Betz’s clinical training was his immersion experience — a full-semester internship that serves as the fourth and final clinical rotation in the graduate program. Betz headed south to Clemson University and joined the track and field sports medicine staff for five months. The internship sharpened skills in three key areas, he said.

“First was rehab,” Betz said. “Really understanding how to program rehab. My preceptor (internship mentor) emphasized how important that is.”

Second was preparation.

“I didn’t travel much with the team, but I helped pack before trips,” Betz said. “You make sure you have everything — rehab equipment, electrical stimulation units, medications, foam rollers, cupping sets. You may not need all of it, but if you do, it has to be there.”

The third lesson was about balance.

“Athletic training is a serious job, because you’re responsible for people’s health,” Betz said. “You need to build relationships, ask athletes how school is going, what their goals are. Crack a joke once in a while. That makes a difference for them.”

High-impact Experiences

Across his clinical rotations, Betz saw athletes from a wide range of sports and levels. That variety, he said, is essential for athletic training students.

“Different sports come with different injury patterns,” he said. “In swimming and baseball, you see a lot of upper extremity injuries like shoulders and elbows. In track and cross country, you see a lot of lower extremity injuries. Football adds more acute injuries like ankle sprains and contusions.”

Prepared for the Profession

Looking back, Betz says Lock Haven’s athletic training program gave him both the technical skills and the confidence he needed.

“The professors were really supportive in the classroom, with clinical placements, and with helping you figure out your goals,” Betz said. “The curriculum prepared me to pass the board exam and to do my job day to day.”

That preparation shows up every time an athlete walks in with a new injury.

“There are moments where I’m doing an evaluation and I can remember sitting in class learning the exact technique,” Betz said. “It’s a good feeling to know that what you learned translates directly to helping someone in front of you.”