Sports
Empire 8 Conference Players of the Week – December 8, 2025
General | 12/8/2025 1:00:00 PM
Below are the Empire 8 Players of the Week, released on December 8, 2025, for games played from December 1 – December 7. It is the 15th Empire 8 weekly honors release of the 2025-26 season. Sports featured include men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s ice hockey, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, and men’s wrestling.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Kelton Brown, Elmira, So., G, Olive Branch, MS/Olive Branch
Brown helped lead the Soaring Eagles to a 2-1 record on the week, including wins over SUNY ESF and Penn College. Brown, who leads the Soaring Eagles statistically in steals, assists, rebounds, and points, averaged 23.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Against Penn College, he recorded 28 points and five rebounds and tallied three steals and one block. On Saturday against St. Elizabeth, Brown recorded a double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds. He also tallied four steals and one block for his second E8 weekly honor.
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Anthony Rose, SUNY Poly, Sr., G, Bronx, NY/Fannie Lou Hammer Freedom
Stellar play from Rose lifted the Wildcats to a 3-0 week with wins over St. Lawrence, Hamilton and Worcester State. He averaged 22.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, while shooting 55 percent (27-of-49) from the field. On Tuesday, Rose compiled 20 points and seven rebounds in a 64-51 victory over St. Lawrence. Just two days later, Rose exploded for for 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including 5-for-5 from 3-point range with five boards and three assists in a 78-72 victory over Hamilton. He added 21 points and four assists in a 78-59 win over Worcester State.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Ajani Flemming, SUNY Brockport, Fr., G, Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy
Flemming scored a season-high 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor, draining 4-of-5 from 3-point range to go along with three assists and a pair of rebounds in Brockport’s 84-65 win at RIT on Tuesday evening.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Layla Acosta, Russell Sage, Sr., G, Haines City, FL/Haines City
Acosta became just the tenth Russell Sage College women’s basketball player to surpass 1,000 career points in Monday’s 71-68 win vs. SUNY Cobleskill. She tallied 26 points on Monday to reach the milestone and help the Gators defeat the defending North Atlantic Conference Champions and improve to 5-2 overall in 2025-26. It is Acosta’s second E8 weekly honor of the season.
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Katie MacLachlan, Nazareth, Sr., G, Marcellus, NY/Marcellus
MacLachlan shot 7-of-15 from the floor, including 5-of-11 from 3-point land en route to 23 points, four rebounds, two assists, and three steals in a win over Alfred on Saturday to open Empire 8 play.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Keely Mullins, Houghton, Fr., G, Livingston, TN/White County
Mullins scored 17 points and pulled down six rebounds to go along with a pair of assists in just 12 minutes of action in Houghton’s 103-66 win over Pitt-Bradford on Thursday. It is her second weekly honor of the season.
MEN’S ICE HOCKEY
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Alex Dameski, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., F, Oakville, Ontario
Dameski recorded a six-point weekend with two goals and four assists and was plus-4, as the nationally-ranked Knights wrapped up the semester with a weekend sweep against Empire 8 foe St. John Fisher, winning by scores of 8-2 on Friday and 4-0 on Saturday. He tallied a goal and three assists and was plus-2 in Friday’s win, as the Knights erased a 2-0 deficit. On Saturday, Dameski scored twice, including the game-winner to open the scoring in a 4-0 win.
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK – Jacob Torgner, SUNY Geneseo, Fr., G, Mjolby, Sweden
Torgner stopped all 22 shots he faced in Saturday’s 4-0 shutout win over St. John Fisher. He made five first period saves, seven more in the second period, and competed the shutout with 10 third period stops, as the Knights moved to 5-1-0 in UCHC and 3-1-0 in E8 competition.
WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Brooke Judkiewicz, Nazareth, So., F, East Concord, NY/Springville Griffith
Judkiewicz enjoyed a banner weekend with six points on two goals and four assist and was plus-4, as the Golden Flyers improved to 10-0-0 with wins over Trinity and Wesleyan of the NESCAC over the weekend. She had a goal and two assists in a 3-0 win over Trinity on Friday and added a goal and two assists in a 6-4 win over Wesleyan on Saturday.
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK – Brynn Bacak, St. John Fisher, Fr., G, Williamsville, NY/Nichols School
Bacak stopped 69 of 74 shots as the Cardinals wrapped up their opening semester with a weekend split against NESCAC institutions Wesleyan and Trinity. On Friday, she made 34 saves on 35 shots, as the Cardinals defeated Wesleyan, 2-1. She made 35 saves on Saturday against Trinity.
MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
SWIMMER OF THE WEEK – Andrew Ayala, Alfred, Fr., Distance/Individual Medley, Mexico City, Mexico/Prepatoria No. 5
Ayala had a record-breaking weekend at the 14th Annual Bomber Invitational hosted by Ithaca College over the weekend. He broke two records in total, both of them have stood on the AU record boards since the 80’s. Ayala began with breaking the 500-yard freestyle record, winning the event with a time of 4:34.00, breaking the previous mark of 4:38.03 held by four-time All-American and Alfred University Hall of Fame member, John Jewell ’85, set in 1984. He then competed in the 1,650-yard freestyle and while on-pace to win the event, once he reached the 1,000-yard mark, he combined mark at the time of his touch, he broke the school record of 9:45.27, set by Jeffery Benton ’89 in his senior year. Ayala had time of 9:43.28 after 1,000-yards, en route to a thrilling mile win. His 500-yard freestyle and 1,650-yard freestyle victories were accompanied by his first-place finish in the 400-yard individual medley as he clocked a time of 4:04.94 to break his own school record time of 4:08.54.
DIVER OF THE WEEK – Greg Meder, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., Diver, Plainview, NY/Plainview
Meder tallied the top score in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives this past weekend at the Don Richards Diving Invitational, hosted by RIT, scoring a 557.05 and 587.75 respectively. It is Meder’s fourth E8 weekly honor of the season.
WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
SWIMMER OF THE WEEK – Liv Richeda, Alfred, Jr., Distance/Breaststroke, Endwell, NY/Maine-Endwell
Richeda hit back-to-back personal best marks during the 14th Annual Bomber Invitational hosted by Ithaca College over the span of three days. During Saturday’s preliminary round in the morning session, Richeda posted the fifth-best time in the 200-yard breaststroke with a personal best mark of 2:33.42. She finished sixth in the evening finals with a time of 2:36.24. A day earlier, Richeda posted a personal best time of 5:13.73 during the prelims of the 400-yard individual medley. She then broke that again with a time of 5:09.84 in the finals. Richeda competed in a total of nine events with one more top-10 finish, swimming the anchor leg of the 800-yard freestyle relay, joining Alexandra Simmons, Lauren Mott and Courtney Cherricks for a time of 8:51.42 for seventh place. Richeda split a time of 2:16.14 in the event.
DIVER OF THE WEEK – Lydia Benjamin, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., Diver, Elmira, NY/Elmira
Benjamin was the top diver for the Knights at the Don Richards Diving Invitational at RIT this past weekend, scoring a 425.40 in the 1-meter dive and a 362.65 in the 3-meter dive. It is Benjamin’s second E8 weekly accolade of 2025-26.
MEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Jacob Miller, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., Sprints, Brockport, NY/Brockport
Miller opened the indoor track season on a high note for the Knights, winning both the 400-meter dash and 4×400-meter relay at Nazareth on Friday. Miller posted a time of 48.27 in the 400-meters, adjusted to 47.55 seconds in the NCAA rankings, which is currently third in Division III. Miller was also part of the winning 4×400-meter relay team with a time of 3:18.55, which adjusted to NCAA standards, is the top time in Division III to date in 2025-26.
FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Dennis Bobbitt, SUNY Brockport, So., Jumps, Buffalo, NY/St. Joseph’s
Bobbitt opened the 2025-26 season at Houghton Classic over the weekend, in style, showing out with two first place finishes. Bobbitt finished strong in the long jump with a 7.28 meter (23’ 10.75”) jump good for first overall at the meet and ranks third to date in Division III. He then made a statement in the triple jump, taking first with a leap of 14.86 meters (48’ 9”), which was one of the best in league history and currently puts him third in all of Division III.
WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Laura Suppa, Utica, Gr., Hurdles, Canastota, NY/Canastota
Suppa made her presence on the track known in her debut for the Pioneers, posting a new school, facility, and briefly shattered the Empire 8 record in the 60-meter hurdles. In the prelims, Suppa managed to shatter the school record with a time of 8.75 seconds and followed that performance up with a massive 8.69 second effort in the finals. The previous Empire 8 record of 8.72 was set last season by Geneseo’s Jillian Ambler, who also re-broke the mark with a time of 8.67 seconds over the weekend. Suppa currently has the fourth-best time in Division III.
FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Jillian Ambler, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., Sprints/Jumps, Fairport, NY/Fairport
Ambler won two events for the Knights in their season opening meet at Nazareth on Friday. Ambler won the finals of the 60-meter hurdles in 8.70 seconds after breaking her own E8 record earlier in the meet at 8.67 seconds, then took the top spot in the long jump at 5.89 meters (19’ 4”). She currently has the best long jump in all of Division III and has the third best 60-meter hurdles time in the nation.
MEN’S WRESTLING
WRESTLER OF THE WEEK – Trevor Bishop, St. John Fisher, So., 149 lbs., Brunswick, NY/Tamarac
Bishop earned runner-up honors at 149 lbs. at the RIT Invitational on Saturday. He snuck past Isaac Judson of Williams by a 3-0 decision in his first match before winning 18-0 by technical fall in 4:10 over Jake Brown of Penn State Behrend, 8-0 by major decision over Brett Thomson of Scranton and by fall in just 58 seconds over Ty Trickle of Trinity College. He lost a hard-fought 1-0 battle to Caleb Seyfried of Williams College in the 149-pound championship bout.
Sports
NCAA Women’s Div I Volleyball Tournament Glance
2025 NCAA Women’s Div I Volleyball Tournament Glance All Times EST First Round Thursday, Dec. 4 No. 4 Colorado def.…
2025 NCAA Women’s Div I Volleyball Tournament Glance All Times EST
First Round
Thursday, Dec. 4
No. 4 Colorado def. American, 25-16, 25-19, 25-16
No. 4 Kansas def. High Point, 25-20, 25-15, 25-18
No. 6 Baylor def. Arkansas St., 23-25, 25-20, 30-28, 23-25, 15-10
No. 5 Miami (FL) def. Tulsa, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 25-20
No. 4 Indiana def. Toledo, 25-18, 25-15, 25-17
North Carolina def. No. 6 UTEP, 24-26, 25-11, 25-18, 25-21
No. 8 UCLA def. Georgia Tech, 24-26, 25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 25-10
No. 6 N. Iowa def. Utah, 15-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-10
Utah St. def. No. 7 Tennessee, 25-19, 25-15, 20-25, 18-25, 15-11
No. 3 Purdue def. Wright St., 25-13, 25-21, 25-19
No. 1 Kentucky def. Wofford, 25-11, 25-19, 25-12
Cal Poly def. No. 5 BYU, 25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-10
No. 3 Creighton def. Northern Colorado, 25-12, 23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-8
No. 2 Arizona St. def. Coppin St., 25-11, 25-14, 25-12
No. 4 Southern Cal def. Princeton, 25-19, 25-12, 25-13
No. 3 Wisconsin def. Eastern Ill., 25-11, 25-6, 25-19
Friday, Dec. 5
Marquette def. No. 7 W. Kentucky, 25-22, 25-21, 25-16
Michigan def. No. 8 Xavier, 25-19, 25-15, 25-23
Kansas St. def. No. 8 San Diego vs., 21-25, 25-17, 26-28, 25-22, 15-12
No. 6 TCU def. Steven F. Austin St., 25-8, 26-24, 25-20
Florida def. No. 7 Rice, 27-25, 25-23, 25-19
No. 5 Iowa St. def. St. Thomas (Minn.), 21-25, 25-13, 25-16, 21-25, 15-8
No. 8 Penn St. def. South Florida, 25-23, 12-25, 25-21, 25-19
No. 1 Pittsburgh def. UMBC, 25-10, 25-17, 25-13
No. 2 Louisville def. Loyola Chicago, 25-17, 25-9, 25-12
No. 2 SMU def. Cent. Arkansas, 25-13, 25-13, 25-13
No. 3 Texas A&M def. Campbell, 25-17, 25-9, 25-12
Arizona def. No. 7 South Dakota St., 25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 25-15
No. 1 Nebraska def. LIU, 25-11, 25-15, 25-17
No. 1 Texas def. Florida A&M, 25-11, 25-8, 25-14
No. 4 Minnesota def. Fairfield, 25-12, 25-7, 25-13
No. 2 Stanford def. Utah Valley, 21-25, 25-21, 25-13, 25-14
Second Round
Friday, Dec. 5
No. 3 Purdue def. No. 6 Baylor, 25-16, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20
No. 4 Indiana def. No. 5 Colorado, 25-20, 25-17, 25-13
No. 1 Kentucky def. No. 8 UCLA, 30-25, 25-16, 28-30, 25-17
No. 4 Kansas def. No. 5 Miami, 25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 27-25
No. 3 Creighton def. N. Iowa, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21
No. 2 Arizona St. def. Utah St., 25-15, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15
No. 3 Wisconsin def. North Carolina, 25-14, 25-21, 27-25
Cal Poly def. No. 4 Southern Cal, 25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 15-7
Saturday, Dec. 6
No. 2 Louisville def. Marquette, 21-15, 25-11, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12
No. 1 Pittsburgh def. Michigan, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18
No. 1 Texas def. No. 8 Penn St., 25-16, 25-9, 25-19
No. 1 Nebraska def. Kansas St., 25-17, 25-21, 25-16
No. 2 SMU def. Florida, 25-11, 25-21, 26-24
No. 3 Texas A&M def. TCU, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 29-27
No. 4 Minnesota def. No. 5 Iowa St., 25-22, 25-21, 25-14
No. 2 Stanford def. Arizona, 25-16, 25-27, 25-17, 25-20
Third Round
Thursday, Dec. 11
No. 2 Arizona State vs. No. 3 Creighton, 1 p.m.
No. 1 Kentucky vs. Cal Poly, 3:30 p.m.
No. 1 Pittsburgh vs. No. 4 Minnesota, 7 p.m.
No. 2 SMU vs. No. 3 Purdue, 9:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 12
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 4 Indiana, noon
No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 3 Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m.
No. 2 Louisville vs. No. 3 Texas A&M, 7 p.m.
No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 4 Kansas, 9:30 p.m.
Copyright
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Sports
Info on Purdue Volleyball’s Regional Semifinal Match vs. SMU Released
For a third consecutive year, Purdue’s volleyball team is headed to the Regional Semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers defeated Wright State in the opening round and took down Baylor in the second round to advance to college volleyball’s Sweet 16, where they’ll face a familiar foe.
No. 3 seed Purdue will travel to Pittsburgh to play No. 2 seed SMU on Thursday, Dec. 11. The two teams played earlier this season in Lexington, Ky., with the Boilers pulling out a 3-1 victory over the Mustangs. The winner of the match will play the winner of No. 1 Pitt and No. 4 Minnesota, with a trip to the National Semifinals hanging in the balance.
Purdue’s match against SMU will be the second matchup of the night in Pittsburhg. Host Pitt will play Minnesota at 7 p.m. ET, with the Boilermakers and Mustangs scheduled to play 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first match.
Both matches will air on ESPN2.
Here’s a look at what you need to know for Thursday’s match between Purdue and SMU.

How to watch No. 3 Purdue vs. No. 2 SMU
- What: NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal Round
- Who: #3 Purdue (26-6) vs. #2 SMU (27-5)
- When: Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025
- Where: Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh, Pa. (4,122 capacity)
- Time: 30 minutes after conclusion of Pitt-Minnesota match (approx. 9 p.m. ET)
- TV: ESPN2
Purdue beats SMU earlier this year
Thursday night’s matchup between No. 3 Purdue and No. 2 SMU will be the second time the two teams have met on the volleyball court this season. The two squads also played in Lexington on Sept. 14, just a few weeks into the 2025 season.
Ranked No. 14 at the time, that was Purdue’s biggest win of the season to that point, taking down an SMU team that was ranked No. 10 nationally. The Boilers had to rally to win that match, too.
The Mustangs took the first set 25-23, but the Boilermakers responded in a big way. The churned out tight victories in the next two sets, defeating SMU 25-22 in the second and 27-25 in the third. Purdue had a convincing 25-18 fourth-set win to close out the match.
While a lot has happened in the three months since they last played, Purdue will carry confidence into this match, knowing it’s capable of beating a team like SMU. The Mustangs, on the other hand, will be looking for revenge against a team that defeated them early in the season.
It should make for a fun postseason matchup on Thursday.
Get top Boilermakers stories, expert analysis, and can’t-miss moments straight to your inbox for free by signing up for the Purdue Boilermakers on SI newsletter!
Related stories on Purdue volleyball
BOILERS BEAT BAYLOR TO ADVANCE: For a third consecutive season, Purdue is headed to the NCAA Regional Semifinal. The Boilermakers punched their ticket with a 3-1 win over Baylor. CLICK HERE
ANDERSON POWERS PURDUE: Senior outside hitter Akasha Anderson had a big night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, powering Purdue to a win over Wright State. CLICK HERE
Sports
Longtime Utah volleyball coach Beth Launiere retires – Deseret News
Beth Launiere, the longest-tenured volleyball coach in Utah history, has retired, the school announced Monday.
Over 36 years as Utah’s coach, Launiere amassed 689 wins and took Utah to the NCAA tournament 20 times.
With Launiere in charge, the Utes won six Mountain West titles and advanced to the Sweet 16 four times, most recently in 2019.
“After 36 years as the head volleyball coach at the University of Utah, I have made the difficult decision to announce my retirement,” Launiere said in a school press release.
“While it is not easy to walk away from a lifetime’s work, I am ready and excited to begin the next chapter of my life. Thank you to the hundreds of players whom I have had the privilege to coach, and the many assistant coaches, support staff and administrators who were my daily collaborators to build this program into what it is today.
“I will miss the daily interactions, but I know our relationships will last a lifetime. It has been an honor to represent one of the greatest universities in the country. I will forever love Utah and will always be a Ute!”
Utah was ranked in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll for 183 weeks under Launiere’s leadership, and the program produced 16 All-Americans.
During her 36-year career at Utah, Launiere was rewarded with three Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year awards and one Pac-12 Coach of the Year award in 2019.
In her final season, Launiere and the Utes made the NCAA Tournament, finishing the season with a 15-15 record with wins over No. 23 BYU and No. 13 Kansas before losing to the University of Northern Iowa in the first round of the NCAAs.
Launiere will leave a lasting legacy as the volleyball program’s greatest coach.
Utah athletic director Mark Harlan wasted no time naming her successor, appointing Alyssa D’Errico as the sixth head coach in program history.
“Alyssa D’Errico is a tremendous identifier of talent and is elite in developing student-athletes and building genuine relationships,” Harlan said. “With her championship pedigree, All-America playing experience, and the three years she has spent at the University of Utah as associate head coach, she is uniquely equipped to take over leadership of our volleyball program.
“I’m thrilled to appoint Alyssa as our new head coach, and excited to see her establish herself as this program’s leader, building on the legacy that Beth Launiere has built.”
D’Errico is a three-year assistant of Launiere’s, joining the program ahead of the 2023 season.
“I want to sincerely thank Mark Harlan, Charmelle Green and Jason Greco for their trust and support in giving me this opportunity to lead Utah volleyball,” said D’Errico in a press release.
“Of course, I also must thank Beth Launiere. I am deeply grateful to Beth for bringing me out here to be a part of this incredible volleyball program and athletic department. Her countless contributions to our sport, her care for the athletes, and the legacy she leaves behind are inspiring — truly leaving the program better than she found it.
“As I step into this role, I am honored and energized to help guide our program into the next era, with new heights in sight and a strong vision for sustained excellence. I look forward to building on our foundation, elevating our competitive standard, and fostering a culture where our student-athletes thrive on and off the court.”
Sports
Nevada volleyball’s team leaders in kills, assists and digs enter the transfer portal
The Nevada volleyball team’s leader in kills (Haylee Brown), assists (Audrey Jensen) and digs (Kinsley Singleton) all entered the transfer portal Monday, as reported by College Volleyball Transfers and shared by those players on Instagram.
Brown was an All-Mountain West honorable mention selection in 2025 after transferring to Nevada following two seasons at Georgia Washington. The 6-foot-2 outside hitter from Maricopa, Ariz., hammered 351 kills, which were 165 more than the team’s second most. She led the Wolf Pack with 374 points and added 36 blocks. Brown will have one season of eligibility remaining at her next school.
Jensen was Nevada’s top freshman and starting setter, racking up a team-best 658 assists (391 more than second place) and adding 63 kills, 49 blocks (third on team), 203 digs (second on team) and 26 services aces (second on team). The 6-footer from Parker, Colo., was one of the Mountain West’s top rookies and started a team-high 27 of 28 matches for Nevada, racking up 116 points. She will have three seasons of eligibility remaining at her next school.
Singleton is a 5-4 libero from Phoenix who led Nevada with 361 digs while adding 104 assists. The defensive specialist also had a team-best 28 service aces and was one of Nevada’s top players each of the last two years. She will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at her next school.
Nevada volleyball has struggled with player retention for several seasons and lost stars Gabby McLaughlin and Tehya Maeva to Syracuse last season with McKenna Dressel also transferred to Mississippi State. The Wolf Pack went 8-20 overall and 4-14 in the MW this season, ranking 11th out of 12 schools under second-year head coach Shannon Wyckoff-McNeal.
With the transfer departures, Nevada would retain just one of its top-five players last season in matches started in sophomore-to-be Kamryn Tifft, whose 20 starts were the fourth most on the team.
Sports
Adrian College SID, Mike Prang, Earns Distinguished CSC 30 Under 30 Recognition
GREENWOOD, Ind. — College Sports Communicators announced its 30 Under 30 Class of 2025 on Monday afternoon, naming 30 of the nation’s top collegiate athletic communicators under the age of 30 to its recipient’s list. Landing his name on the list is Adrian College’s own, Mike Prang, who serves as the Sports Information Director, leading the charge for all 53 athletic programs in the department for the last 5+ years.
The annual honor recognizes emerging athletics communications professionals at all levels of college sports in strategic, creative, and digital spaces.
“We are proud to recognize and honor the rising talent and amazing achievements of so many incredible individuals with the latest 30 Under 30 class,” said 2025-26 CSC President Patrick Crawford. “College Sports Communicators, at its core, is an organization that is driven by the strengths, skills and passions of its members. As new communicators join our ranks and begin to build their careers, we are fortunate to take this opportunity to celebrate the best of CSC’s young professionals. This class is representative of both the diversity of our membership and the breadth of our overall community. Congratulations to this year’s honorees.”
The 28-year old from Carol Stream, Illinois attended Loras College in Iowa, where he studied Sport Management, worked as an Athletic Communications student-worker, and played on the varsity Baseball team. Prang graduated in the Fall of 2019 before relocating up to Michigan where he joined the Bulldogs’ Athletic Communications staff shortly after in December 2019.
Mike first began his tenure at Adrian as the Assistant Sports Information Director, where he assisted in athletic communication operations for just over a year before he was promoted to the head Sports Information Director role in March 2021. Since then, Mike has been stewarding the operations of the largest Athletic Department in the nation, overseeing the everyday tasks of covering 53 athletic programs, from graphic design to social media and statistics among other duties.
During his time as a Bulldog, Mike has traveled to four NCAA Division III Frozen Fours and two National Championship games, as well as the 2021 NCAA DIII College World Series. His experience also includes attending three NCAA DIII Baseball Regionals, hosting one Regional, and traveling to a Super Regional. He has hosted four NCAA Men’s Wrestling Regionals—two at Loras and two at Adrian—along with one Women’s Wrestling Regional and two Women’s Wrestling National Championships. Additionally, he traveled to the NCAA DIII Women’s Golf National Championship and has hosted six NCAA DIII Tournament Hockey games. His work has taken him to a Men’s Rugby National Championship, an NCAA DIII Track & Field Championship, and three NCAA Tournament Men’s Basketball games, including two at Loras and one for Adrian. He also served as the official scorer for the 2019 NCAA DIII Women’s Volleyball National Championship (Final 8) and has covered two Bass Fishing National Championships. Mike has also been around for three ACHA Hockey National Championship victories at Adrian.
Mike handled the redesign of the adrianbulldogs.com website in 2021, reshaping the image of the department online. In addition, he has helped grow the department’s social media following, increasing the Instagram follower count by 6,000+, the Twitter follower count by 4,000+, and the Facebook follower count by roughly 3,500+ in just over five years. As the lead point of media contact for the department, Mike also works with local media outlets to promote Adrian Athletics through television and radio, including the likes of Adrian College TV, BCSN, 96.5 The Cave, and more.
“I’m truly honored to receive the CSC 30 Under 30 Award. This recognition reinforces my commitment to growing within the profession,” said Prang. “Working with 53 athletic teams at Adrian College has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. The success of our teams and student-athletes, along with the relationships I’ve built with them, continues to motivate me every day. Thank you so much to those who nominated me for the award, and to those who have helped me grow into the SID that I am today. I can’t take all the credit for this honor. I’m incredibly thankful for every member of the Adrian College Sports Information staff, past and present. To our student workers and interns, thank you for all you do. I couldn’t do my job the same without you.”
To bolster his resume, Mike is a two-time D3SIDA Regional SID of the Year nominee and an active member of the College Sports Communicators Young Professionals Committee (YPC), where he also serves on the YPC Programming Subcommittee. In the summer of 2024, he was selected as a speaker for the CSC U-Summit. Additionally, he contributes to institutional recognition efforts as a member of the Adrian College Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.
“I’m excited to keep growing Adrian College Athletics and to continue sharing the stories and promoting the amazing teams and student-athletes who proudly call themselves Bulldogs,” added the newest 30 Under 30 recipient.
Adrian College congratulates Mike Prang on this prestigious honor and extends their gratitude for everything Mike continues to do for the Athletic Department. He will be honored at the 2026 CSC Convention in Las Vegas next summer.
Sports
D’Errico Named Head Coach of Utah Volleyball Program
A press conference to introduce D’Errico and celebrate Launiere’s career is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m., at Crimson Court.
“Alyssa D’Errico is a tremendous identifier of talent and is elite in developing student-athletes and building genuine relationships,” Harlan said. “With her championship pedigree, All-America playing experience, and the three years she has spent at the University of Utah as associate head coach, she is uniquely equipped to take over leadership of our volleyball program. I’m thrilled to appoint Alyssa as our new head coach, and excited to see her establish herself as this programs’ leader, building on the legacy that Beth Launiere has built.”
Through three seasons in Salt Lake City, D’Errico has made her presence known, helping the Utes improve from an 11-19 record in 2023 to 25-6 in 2024, including a return to the NCAA Tournament for the 19th time and a final AVCA ranking of 23rd. She helped guide Utah to its 20th NCAA Tournament appearance in 2025. Primarily responsible for the defense, D’Errico has overseen all scouting and training concerning that side of the net, as well as Utah’s serve/receive strategy.
“I want to sincerely thank Mark Harlan, Charmelle Green and Jason Greco for their trust and support in giving me this opportunity to lead Utah Volleyball,” said D’Errico. “Of course, I also must thank Beth Launiere. I am deeply grateful to Beth for bringing me out here to be a part of this incredible volleyball program and athletic department. Her countless contributions to our sport, her care for the athletes, and the legacy she leaves behind are inspiring—truly leaving the program better than she found it. As I step into this role, I am honored and energized to help guide our program into the next era, with new heights in sight and a strong vision for sustained excellence. I look forward to building on our foundation, elevating our competitive standard, and fostering a culture where our student-athletes thrive on and off the court.”
D’Errico came to Utah after six seasons on the staff at Dayton. Hired in 2017, she was promoted to associate head coach in 2019, and served as the program’s recruiting coordinator. D’Errico specialized in the blocking and defensive efforts for the Flyers, while also being involved in all aspects of recruiting and program-wide decisions. She helped guide Dayton to two A-10 regular season championships (2020, ’21) and four A-10 Tournament championships (2018-21). Additionally, the Flyers saw two athletes earn A-10 Libero of the Year honors under D’Errico’s watch while coaching four All-Americans and leading the Dayton defense to a top-30 ranking in 2020 and ’21. D’Errico’s astounding early efforts as a coach was recognized by the AVCA in 2018 as part of its Thirty Under 30 honorees.
D’Errico began her coaching career at Louisville from 2015-2016, where she was instrumental in helping the Cardinals to their first ACC Championship shortly after her arrival, and coaching 2015 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year Molly Sauer.
“I couldn’t be more pleased for Alyssa D’Errico to be named the next head volleyball coach at the University of Utah,” said Beth Launiere. “She has great knowledge of the game, and a work ethic second to none. Alyssa is a leader who invests in her players in both time and care, and is a tremendous role model for young women. Her exceptionalism as a four-time NCAA Women’s Volleyball National Champion was a prelude to her extraordinary attributes as a coach and what she brings to the profession. I have no doubt Alyssa will maintain the culture we have strived to create and continue Utah Volleyball’s winning tradition.”
D’Errico’s competitive spirit became immediately apparent during her impressive college career at Penn State as a member of four Big Ten championship and national championship teams from 2007-2010 where she served as team captain for three of those seasons. She is the only player in NCAA Division I volleyball history to have won four national championships after winning state championships in her last three years of high school.
The 2010 All-Big Ten honorable mention selection was a member of the Nittany Lions’ record-setting 109- match win streak, and won 24-straight NCAA tournament matches through her four seasons in Happy Valley. D’Errico amassed 1,245 career digs, 146 career aces, and was named the 2011 NCAA Woman of the Year to wrap up her illustrious collegiate career.
After graduating, D’Errico placed her sights on Europe, playing three seasons overseas as a libero with stops in Spain, Croatia and France. During her professional career, D’Errico was the MVP of the Princess Cup, a four-time Superliga weekly MVP, and a “Super 7” All-League honoree with the Feel Volley Alcobendas Club in Spain.
D’Errico is not only accomplished as a college coach, but has built an extensive resume with USA Volleyball, having spent eight years with the organization in various roles including serving as an assistant on the 2020 Youth National Team, an assistant coach for the U17-U18 National Team Development Program summer training series in 2023 and 2024, an assistant coach for the U17-U18 NTDP spring training series in 2024, the head coach for the U18-U20 NTDP spring training series in 2025, and the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Program evaluator in 2025. Most recently, D’Errico served as an assistant coach for the 2025 U19 National Team that took home the silver medal at the World Championships this past summer.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ALYSSA D’ERRICO
Penn State Head Coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley:
“I am absolutely thrilled for Alyssa and for Utah Volleyball. She is stepping into a program built on excellence under Beth, and there is no doubt she will honor that foundation while elevating it even further. Alyssa’s energy, passion, and unwavering commitment to doing things the right way will only strengthen the culture and push the program to new heights.
She has always led with heart, humility, and an incredible competitive drive, and Utah is gaining not only a great coach but an even better person. I couldn’t be happier for her and for the bright future ahead.”
Former Penn State Head Coach Russ Rose:
“Alyssa arrived at Penn State with terrific skills, natural leadership and confidence, and she graduated with four Big Ten and four National Championships on her resume. She received numerous academic and athletic awards, and was always committed to the University, the team and its members.
After a brief professional playing career, Alyssa entered the coaching track and experienced great mentoring at Louisville with Anne Kordes, at Dayton with Tim Horsman, and then of course with Beth Launiere at the University of Utah. At each of her stops she gained not only meaningful experience, but the benefits of working with elite coaches.
I’m confident that Alyssa will continue to excel and build on the exceptional tradition established by Beth, and I expect to see great things in the future.”
Dayton Head Coach Tim Horsmon:
“I’m really excited for Alyssa to get this opportunity as the head coach of the Utah program. Utah made a great hire. She’s won as a player, winning four national championships, and she continues to win as a top-25 coach.
I’m not sure I’ve been around someone so passionate about this sport or our profession. Alyssa is smart, hard-working and connects with her players on and off of the court. She is a real pro, and more importantly a great human being who demonstrates great character in all things she does. I couldn’t be happier for one of my favorite people in this world.”
Minnesota Head Coach Keegan Cook:
“Congratulations to the University of Utah on the hiring of Alyssa D’Errico. Simply put, there is no one better prepared or more capable of seizing this opportunity than Alyssa. The Utes have ensured that the legacy of leadership and championship-caliber coaching at the University of Utah will continue.”
Michigan State Head Coach Kristin Kelsay:
“I can’t think of anyone better than Alyssa D’Errico to lead the Utah Women’s Volleyball Program. Alyssa is a champion on and off the court and will lead the Utes with character, integrity, and her competitive fire. Alyssa’s passion to grow the game of volleyball and her relational leadership will mentor, guide, and challenge the student-athletes in her program. I am so excited for this next chapter of Utah Volleyball with Alyssa at the helm”
Oregon Head Coach Trent Kersten:
“Huge congratulations to Alyssa D’Errico on being named the head coach at University of Utah. She’s a phenomenal coach and an even better person. Beth built an incredible foundation there, and Alyssa is the perfect leader to honor that legacy while putting her own stamp on the program. I’m excited to see Utah Volleyball thrive under her leadership.”
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