Team USA boasts four Trojans on the men’s roster and four on the women’s roster, including current USC student-athletes Emily Ausmus, Rachel Gazzaniga, Ava Stryker for the USA women. On the men’s side, current USC goalie Bernardo Herzer is repping the USA for the first time at a major senior level competition, while his USC teammate Andrej Grgurevic got the call-up for the Australian men. Herzer will have three fellow Trojans in the water with him as well, with Jake Ehrhardt also making his World Championships debut with the USA alongside Olympic bronze medalists Hannes Daube and Marko Vavic.

In addition of the trio of current Trojans, the USA women also have Trojan grad and two-time Olympian Amanda Longan capped up in goal, while the Aussie men have two USC alumni on board in 2024 Olympians Jacob Mercep and goalie Nic Porter. Also on the men’s side three-time Olympian and NCAA champion Kostas Genidounias remains in action for Greece. The women’s bracket also boasts two decorated USC alumnae in recent grad and two-time Olympian Tilly Kearns for Australia and four-time Olympian Anni Espar going strong for Spain.

To follow the action in Singapore, visit the 2025 World Aquatics Championships web site.

 

The Master’s University women’s volleyball team, the defending GSAC champion, which finished the season ranked No. 25 in the NAIA last year, has released its fall 2025 schedule.

Once again the season starts with the Hope Summer Slam and CSM Labor Day Classic tournaments, in which the Lady Mustangs will compete against other Top 25 teams. This will be followed by a 16-match conference schedule.

“We are beyond excited for what’s on the schedule for this upcoming fall,” said first-year TMU Head Coach McKenna Hafner. “Last year we were given the opportunity to travel to a couple of high-level tournaments and face off against some ranked teams from out of our area. These matches were confidence builders for us as we realized the program has what it takes to consistently compete at the highest level of NAIA women’s volleyball, and provided a roadmap for where we needed to improve to be able to do that. We wanted to replicate that experience as much as possible this year.”

The Hope Summer Slam tournament, played at Hope International in Fullerton, will include a match against Southern Oregon on Aug. 23, one of the top four teams in the country last season.

“Not every program gets the opportunity to compete against a team that finished in the semi-finals of the NAIA national tournament the previous year,” Hafner said. “So our match against Southern Oregon is particularly exciting. I know our girls are eager for the challenge.”

With both Soka University of America and La Sierra University joining the GSAC this year, the conference will be back up to 10 schools, with five in California and five in Arizona. However, Soka will not field a women’s volleyball team, so TMU will face each of the other eight schools twice, both home and away, to make the 16-match conference schedule.

“As far GSAC play goes, there are a lot of unknowns at this point,” Hafner said. “Adding new programs and changing coaching personnel always shakes things up. We are excited to see what the other GSAC programs will look like and it’s exciting to add an extra layer of challenge with the uncertainty of what that looks like. Our team will have to show up to every match open-minded, adaptable and ready to compete because nothing will be a given.”

To see the complete schedule, click HERE.

Related

LOS ANGELES — Professional beach volleyball is returning to the Los Angeles area – this time, inside one of its newest sporting cathedrals.

The Association of Volleyball Professionals tour will stop at the Intuit Dome, home of the Clippers, for its Week 5 action Friday and Saturday night. The touring league, stacked with Olympians and pioneers of the sport, will compete inside the Inglewood arena for the first time.

The Intuit Dome is the latest addition to L.A.’s pro sports infrastructure, and many players are eager to bring beach volleyball’s energy indoors. While the sport typically spikes in attention during Olympic years – ranked as the sixth most-watched sport during the Games – its leap to a major L.A. venue signals growth and offers fans a chance to see it up close in a high-profile setting.

“If fans come out and watch the event,” said Geena Urango of San Diego Smash, “those who haven’t been to one before would realize just how special and entertaining beach volleyball is.”

Urango has a unique relationship with the sport and the city. In 2007, she became the first beach volleyball recruit at USC, laying the foundation for a powerhouse that would go on to win six NCAA titles.

She’s still competing 17 years later.

Both members of the L.A. Launch women’s duo – Terese Cannon (2015-19) and Megan Kraft (2021-24) – followed in Urango’s footsteps at USC. The age gap disappears, they say, when they meet on the sand.

“It’s amazing that she’s still playing at such a high level,” Cannon said. “I sometimes forget she was the first one to play at USC Beach, because she still seems so fresh to the sport. But I know she’s a veteran and a legend.”

Urango is one of many big names in the league.

Phil Dalhausser, a 2008 Olympic gold medalist and four-time Olympian, will retire after the 2025 season. The AVP regards him as perhaps the most dominant player in the sport’s history.

Kelly Cheng, another USC alum (2014-17), competed in the past two Olympics and now plays for Miami Mayhem alongside 2016 Olympian Chaim Schalk.

San Diego Smash’s Chase Budinger joined the AVP after seven seasons in the NBA. He and partner Miles Evans competed for Team USA in 2024.

While these athletes made their names in Olympic arenas, this weekend offers a rare chance to see them compete live, at home.

“It’s the sport that only comes into people’s purview every four years,” said UCLA alum and L.A. Launch player Hagen Smith. “Everybody loves it, but now there’s more opportunity to see all those Olympic athletes. You can just latch on to some amazing new personalities, amazing athletes – and I mean, how can you beat a beach sport? Plus, it’s at Intuit, which makes it even more sick.”

The AVP runs on a team-based format with eight city-backed franchises: L.A. Launch, Miami Mayhem, San Diego Smash, Palm Beach Passion, Brooklyn Blaze, Austin Aces, New York Nitro, and Dallas Dream.

Each tour stop includes four matchups per team contest – two men’s and two women’s – with all results contributing to the team score and standings.

The format encourages continuity and chemistry. Each team travels with consistent men’s and women’s pairs, building bonds that stretch beyond the court.

“You guys are going through this together,” Smith said. “I have so many friends on the tour. When you step on the court, we’re competitors – no friends out there. But off the court, we’re all family.”

This week, Smith and the Launch return “home.”

Through four weekends, L.A. leads the league standings. Now, they’ll look to defend that top spot in front of friends and family on one of the city’s brightest stages.

“It’s so exciting to play in L.A.,” Kraft said. “It’s especially cool because we’re part of the L.A. Launch this year, so we’re able to represent the city and make it our home event. We’ll have some good people in the stands. I invited all my former teammates, friends and family. Hopefully, we get a good crowd at Intuit.”

AVP League Week 5

When: 5 p.m. Friday; 4 p.m. Saturday

Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood

How to watch: Friday (6-7 p.m. YouTube @avpbeach; 7-9 p.m. CBS Sports Network; 9-10 p.m. YouTube @avpbeach); Saturday (5-7 p.m. The CW Network; 7-9 p.m. YouTube @avpbeach)

Originally Published: July 10, 2025 at 9:39 AM PDT

McCurdy, from Philadelphia, is described as a dedicated, detailed head coach who seeks effort on and off the court. 

Mike McCurdy hadn’t yet formalized his basketball training company when he began working with a seven-year-old Autistic boy in Philadelphia. The boy’s mother was looking for a coach to do basic skills training and felt comfortable working with McCurdy. 

Over the past three years, McCurdy worked with the boy, and each session saw the boy’s growth on the court. More importantly, the child was enjoying the game.

“The response and the reward you get from seeing a person grow and what happens after drives me as a coach,” McCurdy said. “You see the look on their face, the work they put in, it’s so rewarding. You can’t fully put words to it. It’s being inspired by a dedication to watching them grow themselves.”

McCurdy, of Northeast Philadelphia, will become the Women’s Basketball, Women’s Volleyball and Men’s Volleyball head coach for Manor College starting in the Fall 2025 semester. 

“Mike is so dedicated to his craft that his hiring was a no-brainer for me,” John Dempster, Manor College Athletic Director, said. “Coach McCurdy is a great recruiter and will have this team up and running in no time. I’m really looking forward to watching our programs grow.” 

McCurdy isn’t a stranger to Manor College. He graduated from Franklin Towne Charter High School and currently works as a health Teacher at MaST Community Charter School II in Northeast Philadelphia. 

McCurdy was first introduced to Manor through Men’s Basketball Head Coach Leo Mahon, who saw McCurdy during a summer camp and liked McCurdy’s attention to detail. The two clicked over coaching. 

“There’s no way he’s putting in the hours he does if he doesn’t love it,” McCurdy said of Mahon. “He loves the process of coaching. He’s a great mentor to me.” 

McCurdy sums up his coaching style as someone who rewards effort – “give and take.” 

“Whatever you give me, I expect you to reciprocate with your effort on the court,” McCurdy said. “I am not going to micromanage your game. I’m going to let you go out there and be comfortable playing your game as long as you’re giving me that effort on the court.”

McCurdy’s volleyball experience begins with playing the sport as a child. He stopped playing after breaking his arm in sixth grade, but continued to manage teams in the years since. 

“I love volleyball because it can’t be won with one person,” McCurdy said. “One person can take over, but to finish it, it takes six players on the court. I’m trying to find the closest knit group and make them a family. You need to trust that your teammate has your back.” 

McCurdy describes playing at Manor College as a place where one can work hard and gain opportunities.  

“You’re going to get the opportunity to play and what you do with that time is up to you,” McCurdy said. “When I go there, I see it. At Manor, you have to work hard, but Manor will give you the opportunity.”

Read More:

Manor College Debuts Women’s Flag Football, Men’s Volleyball for 25-26 Academic Year

Manor College Offers Free Resources to Former Crozer Health Employees

Meet the Voices of Manor College’s 2025 Graduating Class

Learn More:

Schedule a visit to Manor College

Apply to Manor College

Become a Blue Jay Athlete

Undefeated top seed L.A. Launch (4-0) returns to the court to face their fiercest challenger yet – the red-hot Palm Beach Passion (6-2). Over eight matches across two nights, the stakes are high: can Launch keep their perfect record, or will Passion take control of the leaderboard?

Top Storylines

• Seven Olympians, one roof. Dalhausser’s farewell tour meets 2024 silver medalists Brandie & Mel.
• Perfect vs Proven. Launch are unbeaten but have to play the #2 ranked Passion; Saturday decides control of the standings.
• Stat monsters. Wilkerson/Humana-Paredes hit an astounding .660 last outing — one of the best pair efficiency of the season: Kraft’s four-ace run and Cannon’s four-block wall headline Launch’s counter punch.
• Newberry’s Introduction. UCLA alum Devon Newberry steps in for Smash to replace injured Rodriguez

Current Standings Snapshot

1. L.A. Launch 4-0 (10 pts) — 2nd of 4 events
2. Palm Beach Passion 6-2 (17 pts) — 3rd of 4 events
3. Brooklyn Blaze 6-6 (19 pts)
4. Austin Aces 4-4 (11 pts)
5. Dallas Dream 5-7 (17 pts)
6. San Diego Smash 3-5 (9 pts)
7. New York Nitro 3-5 (8 pts)
8. Miami Mayhem 1-3 (5 pts)

Broadcast Schedule (Pacific Time)

Recent Head-to-Head Numbers

Earlier this season, every rematch went the distance—four matches, four three-set thrillers. Week 2 in San Diego: LA Launch’s Hagen Smith & Logan Weber survived the Smash 13-15, 16-14, 18-16, while Terese Cannon & Megan Kraft out-lasted Urango/Van Winkle 15-9, 21-23, 15-11. Week 3 in Miami: Palm Beach Passion’s Phil Dalhausser & Trevor Crabb flipped a 13-15 opener into 15-13, 15-10 over Mayhem, and Brandie Wilkerson & Melissa Humana-Paredes rallied past Cheng/Shaw 18-20, 15-11, 15-10.

• Hagen Smith (.368, 5 aces) & Logan Weber (.308, 4 blocks) edged Budinger/Evans by +2 pts.
• Phil Dalhausser (.647, 2 aces, 2 blocks) & Trevor Crabb (.478) iced Schalk/Shaw by +5 pts.
• Megan Kraft (.423, 4 aces, 21 Digs) & Terese Cannon (.455, 1 ace, 4 blocks) beat Urango/Van Winkle by +8 pts.
• Brandie Wilkerson (.739, 2 aces, 4 blocks) & Melissa Humana-Paredes (.593) beat Cheng/Shaw by +7 pts.

Takeaway: Passion’s women own the efficiency crown (.666), LA Launch Men and Women’s ace + block combo, and Dalhausser still hits like it’s 2008.

Friday — July 11

Palm Beach Passion vs Miami Mayhem

• Wilkerson/Humana-Paredes vs Cheng/M. Shaw
• Dalhausser/T. Crabb vs Schalk/J. Shaw

L.A. Launch vs San Diego Smash

• Cannon/Kraft vs Urango/Newberry (rookie debut)
• Smith/Weber vs Budinger/Evans

Saturday — July 12

#1 Passion vs #2 Launch

• Wilkerson/Humana-Paredes vs Cannon/Kraft
• Dalhausser/T. Crabb vs Smith/Weber

Miami Mayhem vs San Diego Smash

• Cheng/M. Shaw vs Urango/Newberry
• Schalk/J. Shaw vs Budinger/Evans

Get in the Building

Intuit Dome, 3930 W Century Blvd, Inglewood.

Doors Open: Fri 5 pm, Sat 4 pm.

Grab seats at AVP.com/tickets