NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Brown track and field programs competed at the Ivy League Heps Outdoor Championships hosted by Yale this weekend. The men’s team finished seventh with a total of 34 points, while the women’s team was tied for sixth with 37 points. Joseph Oduro won the triple jump title, while Elle Riley broke the school record in the 100 meter hurdles. 
 
MEN
Saturday
The Bears scored 10 points in the men’s long jump event, as sophomore Mubaraq Aderogba and junior Frank Monahan-Morang earned podium finishes. Aderogba finished third with a personal record of 7.43 meters. That mark tied him for eighth all time in Brown history. Monahan-Morang wasn’t far behind, finishing fourth with a mark of 7.41 meters. That PR pits him 10^th in school history. 

Sophomore Keith Daigneau earned a fifth place podium finish in the men’s hammer throw with a mark of 60.08 meters. In the javelin throw, junior Cole Nesselson garnered one point for his team with a sixth place javelin throw finish on a mark of 52.05 meters. 

Sunday

Junior Joseph Oduro became an Ivy Champion once again in the triple jump with a leap of 15.32 meters. His first place finish earned 10 points for Brown. Junior Jason Estrada performed well in the 400 meter dash, securing the fourth best time in school history of 47.15. He finished third and gained six points for the team. 

The men’s 4×100 meter relay squad was excellent, finishing fourth with a time of 40.76. That earned four points, as the team consisted of Frank Monahan-Morang, Trevor Wilder, Elias Archie and Estrada. The 4×400 team of Estrada, Link Lignell, Aaron Caveney and Wilder finished sixth. Their time of 3:14.20 earned one point. 

 

WOMEN

Saturday

Jada Joseph set a personal record in the long jump, placing fourth with a mark of 6.29 meters. The podium finish earned her team four points and tied her for second best in school history. 

Chidinma Agbasi finished third in the hammer throw, scoring six points. Her mark of 58.38 meters was a personal record while remaining third best in school history.  Julia’Belle Reyfman also scored points, finishing fifth in the javelin throw with a mark of 41.23 meters. 

Elle Riley improved on her ninth best time in school history in the 400 meter hurdles, finishing in 1:01.26. Alyssa Jackson improved to a tie for second in school history in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.86. 

 

Sunday

On Sunday, the women’s side re-wrote the record book on several occasions. Elle Riley broke her own school record in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 13.74. The fifth place finish earned two points. 

Kareema McKenzie finished fourth in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 59.34. It moved her to second in school history and earned her team four points. Olivia Fraga continued to dominate in the 3000 meter steeplechase, finishing fourth. Her time of 10:36.71 garnered four points for the Bears. 

The 4×400 relay team consisted of McKenzie, Maddelynn Brooks, Alyssa Jackson and Riley. They finished fifth with a time of 3:44.18 and set the seventh fastest time in school history. The podium finish earned two points. 

Delaney Seligmann and Jada Joseph were excellent in the triple jump. Joseph finished second with a mark of 13.15 meters. She is now tied for second best in school history. Seligmann finished seventh with a mark of 12.58 meters, which places her ninth in school history for the event. 

In the women’s high jump, Nene Mokonchu placed fourth and earned four points with a mark of 1.68 meters. Michelyn Appiah remains 10^th in school history, improving on her personal best in the discus with a throw of 45.61 meters. 

Rosie Volpintesta finished in fifth place in the heptathlon competition. She earned two points for the Bears with a personal record score of 4923 points. It puts her in fourth in school history. 

 

UP NEXT

Some Bears competitors will head to NCAA Regionals, which will be held in Jacksonville, Florida at the end of May. 

 

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All roads lead to the national championship.

But before a team can secure the title, it must fight for the right to continue down the path to glory.

And now that the Bruins are here, there’s only one route forward.

After sweeping No. 2 seed Hawai’i in the semifinal, No. 3 seed UCLA men’s volleyball (22-6, 10-2 MPSF) will face No. 1 seed Long Beach State (29-3, 8-2 Big West) on Monday in the NCAA tournament final at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio. A victory would give the Bruins their third consecutive and 22nd national title.

“I’m going to give my 110% and go die on the court with my brothers,” said redshirt junior outside hitter Cooper Robinson.

The Southern California rivals played each other twice in the regular season, with UCLA falling both times and picking up just one set in the process – the team’s only back-to-back defeat from the same opponent this year.

Across both duels, UCLA posted a .300-plus hitting percentage, combining for 82 kills across seven sets. However, the team struggled defensively to stymie Long Beach’s serve and attack, underperforming in digs and garnering three times as many reception errors as its counterpart across the net.

“We’ve been preparing for it all year,” Robinson said. “We have a lot of stats on them. We played them twice, and it obviously didn’t go our way, but we’re so fired up and we cannot wait to play.”

In UCLA’s 2025 season finale, the squad said it will uphold a mindset that treats each and every point with the same importance – whatever the score may actually be.

“A big part of our endgame this week is that 0-0 mentality,” said junior setter Andrew Rowan. “We’ve blown a lot of leads in the past.”

Since the squads last faced off in February, both the Bruin and Beach lineup has shifted. On the former’s side of the court, redshirt sophomore David Decker – who contributed 14 kills in two games against Long Beach – has seen his opposite hitter spot overtaken by junior outside hitter Zach Rama, leaving space for freshman outside hitter Sean Kelly to also join the fray.

Likewise, redshirt junior middle blocker Matthew Edwards has found less time on the court and more on the bench in favor of fellow redshirt junior middle blocker Sean McQuiggan – who had been on and off the court for months nursing a shoulder injury.

But the Beach has also seen some shuffling, with injuries sidelining outside hitter Sotiris Siapanis and opposite Daniil Hershtynovich, who haven’t played since early March and mid-April, respectively.

The former, a two-time All-American, and the latter, who made this year’s All-American honorable mention list, spearheaded Long Beach’s offense against UCLA, combining for 36 kills through both games.

While only time will tell if their absences will impede the Beach’s performance against the Bruins, a constant remains for them in Long Beach setter Moni Nikolov.

Moni Nikolov, who became the second freshman to earn AVCA Player of the Year behind his brother Alex Nikolov, has paved the way for a team that dropped just three matches this season, all to top-five schools.

But Long Beach coach Alan Knipe indicated that it took some time for the whole squad to accept Moni Nikolov as the team’s ace.

“Whether everyone wants to agree with it or not, all great teams have a great player, and Moni’s our great player. That doesn’t mean that we don’t have other really, really good volleyball players on the court,” Knipe said. “But to be able to reduce or eliminate the ego and not be in conflict with your guy who is your guy is part of the maturity of the team.”

Coach John Hawks’ squad, on the other hand, takes a different approach. Hawks credited multiple players on the team, including Kelly and McQuiggan, for success in the semifinal match against Hawai’i – a philosophy in line with former UCLA coach John Speraw’s pride in a deep bench.

“We’re a family right now,” Robinson said. “Our leaders are stepping up in the right ways and just all clicking at the same time.”

No men’s volleyball program other than UCLA has ever broken into three-peat territory. Since 2012, six consecutive programs have earned back-to-back titles but have failed to win thrice.

But in his first year at the helm, Hawks has the chance to contribute to the legacy of three-title streaks established by former head coach Al Scates in the 1970s and 80s.

“I mean, shoot, it’s the stuff that dreams are made of,” Hawks said.

Hawks knows where the road in front could take them. And on Monday, his squad can take it.

“They have hearts of champions, and you can see it in just the way we play,” Hawks said.

Happy Day-After Mothers’ Day to all the moms out there. 

There’s nothing quite like the mom of a college athlete. Those four years in college are the culmination of a lifetime of organizing carpools, spending hours watching club tournaments or swim meets or any other sport and keeping their growing athletes fed and hydrated. 

They’ve taken a backseat during birthdays and anniversaries — and loved every minute of it. When it’s over, they miss it terribly.

And nobody cheers like the college sports moms. They high-five and hug and wear their collective hearts on their sleeves. There’s a reason the TV cameras find them after a goal is scored.

Hopefully, for everything they’ve done, they were showered yesterday with gifts and flowers and whatever they might have wanted. 

The Princeton Department of Athletics is loaded with moms as well. Hopefully they received the same treatment. 

Not all moms had the day off. There were plenty of track and field moms who were in New Haven for the Ivy League Heptagonal outdoor track and field championships.

Those whose offspring compete for Princeton went home very happy .

The Princeton men and women swept the team championships on a history-making day. For one thing, both teams completed the “Triple Crown” of having won Heps titles in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. That makes an extraordinary 12 times that the men have done so and three times that the women have. 

This academic year joins 2010-11 as years where both teams won Triple Crowns. 

Also, the two Ivy championships brought the year’s total to 16, eclipsing the old league record of 15 that Princeton had done on two other occasions. That’s 16 Ivy League championships with three still on the table this coming weekend in women’s open rowing and men’s heavyweight and lightweight rowing. 

TigerBlog went to the Ivy website yesterday to see what the updated team scores were. To get there, he clicked on a story that read “Harvard Men, Princeton Women Lead After Day 1 Of Heps.” 

By the time he had clicked on the “live results” link, the Princeton men were way ahead. 

The women built their Day 1 lead with help from Georgina Scoot in the long jump and Shea Greene in the javelin, both of whom 1) won their event and 2) set a Heps record while doing so. For Greene, a junior, that’s three straight Heps javelin titles. 

Princeton went 1-2-4 in the javelin, with Greene, Niki Woods and Kameil Crane. Princeton went 1-2 in the long jump, as Scoot was followed by teammate Alexandra Kelly. 

Greg Foster won yet another Ivy League high jump championship of his own, by nearly a foot, for the first points of the meet Saturday. That’s six between indoor and outdoor, if you’re keeping score. 

As yesterday afternoon went along, Princeton added points without many first place finishes but with seconds and thirds, and sometimes both in the same event (like Marcelo Parra Ramon and Franco Parra Ramon in the men’s steeplechase and Joe Licata and Casey Helm in the men’s shot put). 

There was even a 2-3-4, with Layla Giordano, Makenna Marshall and Siniru Iheoma. Each time TB checked the team standings, Princeton was further ahead, especially after Mena Scatchard and Harrison Witt did what they do, which was to sweep the 1,500. 

And then there was Foster again, with a win in the 110 hurdles, followed in third by teammate Easton Tan and fourth by teammate Yuki Hojo. There was another 2-3-4 in the men’s 100 meters, with Jadon Spain, Jackson Clarke and Paul Kuhner. 

By mid-afternoon, the team titles were pretty much locked up. There would still be more highlights. 

Scoot would win the triple jump. Iheoma won the shot put. Helm and Avery Shunneson went 1-2 in the discus. Clarke and Gant went 1-2 in the 200. 

The women put up 202.5 points, followed by runner-up Harvard with 178.5, with nobody else over 100. The men won by a larger margin, with 212.5 points to 128 for Harvard, who was also in second-place here. 

Dominance? Yes, having the men and women win a Triple Crown in the same year fits that description. 

So does winning 16 of the first 30 Ivy titles awarded in an academic year. 

That’s a lot of high fives from the Tiger moms.

St Vincent’s Water Polo Club, based in Dublin 15, are celebrating on the double after both their women’s and men’s teams claimed victory in the Irish Senior Cup.

The women’s team played out a nail-biting final against Galway’s Tribes at the university pool in Limerick on Saturday.

After an intense battle, nothing could separate the two teams, with the All-Ireland decider ending in a 10-10 draw.

Tribes led for most of the match, but St Vincent’s stayed in the game, edging ahead 10-9 in the final two minutes.

However, Tribes were awarded a penalty in the dying moments and levelled the score.

Both teams used their timeouts, but neither could find the winner, and the match went to penalties.

St Vincent’s edged the shootout 3-2, with Zoe O’Brien saving the final penalty, sealing the Irish Senior Cup title for her team.

It was a heart-breaking outcome for a Tribes side making their first senior cup final appearance.

The result means St Vincent’s complete their own double, having also defeated Tribes on penalties in last week’s league final.

Clíona Colvin captained the senior team and was named in the Ladies Team of the Tournament alongside Ciara Williams and Aoife Hennessy.

Meanwhile, St Vincent’s faced another Galway side, Corrib, in the men’s Senior Cup final, leading from start to finish, closing out the match 14-9.

This marks the third consecutive Irish Senior Cup win for St Vincent’s.

Announcing the wins on social media, the club gave a “big thanks” to all the players, coaches, and team managers who worked “so hard all season” and showed incredible dedication to the club.

Both senior teams are now Division One League and Irish Senior Cup champions for the season.

In an era defined by mobile-first audiences, on-demand content and real-time social media interaction, sport remains one of the most powerful engines of engagement. Its unpredictability captures the imagination of a global audience, while technology continues to transform how fans experience the action, no matter how far they are from the field.

And as personalisation becomes central to sports consumption, streaming platforms feed this transformation with anytime, anywhere viewing. This expands reach and offers flexibility that caters to the diverse demands of sports enthusiasts, in return driving smart monetisation models that support and benefit a growing segment. From pay-per-view to on-demand shows, sports broadcasting has undergone a sea change.

The MENA region, with its historic love for football, has witnessed growing loyalty towards cricket, driven largely by the South Asian diaspora and the recent trend of hosting international cricketing events in the region. The sport has established a stable following in markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, attracting significant viewership and offering brands a valuable opportunity to connect with a niche audience.

Identifying the substantial cricket fanbase in the region, evision seized the opportunity to establish itself as the MENA home of cricket. The media and entertainment arm of the region’s biggest tech company, e&, has seen the region’s demand for premium cricket and has strategically acquired broadcasting rights to some premium games, including exclusive ICC rights.

Recognising the growing demand for cricket, evision launched CricLife in 2019 alongside the 12th ICC Cricket World Cup, and the channel quickly evolved into a dedicated platform for showcasing international cricket. Rising interest in the sport soon led to the launch of CricLife2 and CricLife3, along with their availability on the streaming platform StarzPlay. This was the first local streamer to recognise the value of sports content and begin investing in niche sports rights, challenging the near-monopoly of regional heavyweight beIN. The subsequent acquisition by evision of a majority stake in StarzPlay strengthened both companies’ positions in the competitive sports rights arena, establishing them together as a formidable force in the region.

After securing key tournament exclusive rights from the ICC, the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board, evision expanded the lineup in 2023 to include the Indian Premier League (IPL), the most popular cricket league in the world. “Since then we’ve strategically built one of the most comprehensive cricket portfolios in the region, now holding the rights to all ICC tournaments, the Asia Cup, the IPL and more,” says Sunil Joy, Head of Content at evision.

While evision has made a special investment in cricket, it has also broadly invested in sports rights that serve a wide range of interests and preferences. “Sport has helped us create appointment viewing again. We’ve seen significant spikes in user acquisition, time spent and retention, particularly among younger audiences. More importantly, it has strengthened our platform’s brand equity,” says Joy.

Cricket rights are no doubt expensive, but evision has always made it publicly clear that it only goes after rights that are commercially viable. To make that possible, it has developed a multifaceted monetisation strategy that combines strategic partnerships, subscription models, advertising revenues and content bundling.

Specifically with the IPL, where evision has exclusive MENA linear broadcasting rights and non-exclusive MENA digital rights, leveraging both depends on how smartly it can activate and scale. For the latter, evision platforms offer superior quality of service through ultra-low latency, regional customisation and smart bundling options, making it the preferred streaming destination for IPL in the region.

“Our approach ensures we cater to the monetisation potential of exclusivity and the fan-first promise of accessibility. It boosts our advertising inventory and revenue potential, as more brands can enter the IPL ecosystem through targeted, scalable campaigns,” says Joy.

With media rights valued at a staggering $6.2bn for the 2023- 2027 cycle and per-match value of $15.1m, the IPL is a global sport and entertainment phenomenon. It has consistently ranked among the top five sports leagues worldwide, standing with the NFL (US), Premier League (UK), NBA (US) and MLB (US) in terms of media rights valuation, fan engagement and franchise worth. With a diverse, top-tier player base from the great cricketing nations of the world, its global footprint continues to expand.

Broadcast in over 190 countries, it is one of the most-watched sporting events in the world, with the Middle East emerging as its largest international market.

Securing rights to a premium sports property like the IPL was the result of a clear, forward-looking strategy centred on market insight, regional commitment and platform capability. It is a more controllable, scalable asset with long-tail value, explains Joy.

“IPL is a commercially sustainable asset. It’s repeatable, localisable and monetisable each year. And when it comes to securing such a powerful property, exclusivity is everything. We understand that streaming success hinges on strategic rights management. While licensing remains key, the true value lies in how those rights are activated in a region witnessing exponential digital growth.”

Recognising the region’s growing passion for cricket, and understanding the craving for accessibility and engagement, allowed the company to move swiftly and decisively when the rights became available. Aligned with that came its core commitment to building long-term value in sport.

“We weren’t just bidding for content; we were investing in a multi-year vision that supports the growth of cricket and other premium sports in the region. Our track record with exclusive properties like UFC, Serie A, PGA and the ICC portfolio strengthened our position for evision and StarzPlay as a credible, capable partner,” adds Joy.

Marking a bold step forward this year, with the aim of significantly expanding reach across segments, some IPL matches have been made free to watch via evision’s AVOD (advertising-based video on demand) platform Starz On.

In today’s competitive rights environment, exclusivity is merely a part of the ecosystem. It is primarily about the end-to-end experience – activating, packaging and retaining value – rather than just about streaming the game. Being a premium appointment viewing model backed by high-value sponsorships, expert coverage and curated programming has reinforced evision’s prospects. Low latency, regional language options and smart bundling make the platform an important choice for cricket fans in the MENA.

“What sets us apart is the broader network that has been built to retain sports audiences beyond the tournament. We’re not just a cricket destination, we’re an entertainment hub – viewers are left with fewer reasons to leave and more reasons to stay,” says Joy.

Owing to the nature of its fan following, serving a vast viewing field was an important element of the IPL content acquisition strategy. Cricket audiences in India have deep-rooted state and city allegiances, which the IPL thrives on. The MENA viewer, on the other hand, is cosmopolitan and player-driven, with a higher ARPU (average revenue per user). The IPL balances both worlds – in India it builds on loyalties, while in the MENA it amplifies cross-border narratives that resonate with a multicultural audience.

“This duality is what makes the IPL such a powerful property,” says Joy. “It is deeply local at its core, yet truly global in its appeal. And we tailor our strategy to suit that. Our storytelling, promotions and platform experience differ by market, making the experience inclusive, aspirational and globally tuned.”

India is undoubtedly the IPL’s core market, accounting for over 80% of viewership. Ad models reflect broad targeting, high frequency and multi-platform amplification. In contrast, the MENA is a premium, precision-driven market. Brands think of regional relevance, audience affinity and cultural alignment.

Optimising a premium product such as the IPL requires a model that can adapt to changing viewing patterns as well as diverse market conditions. Evision depends on a blend of multiple streams that include subscription, ad-supported models and sponsorships tailored to different content types and viewing experiences. For the current IPL season, it has introduced an ad-supported model that allows it to leverage programmatic ads as well as partner with brands to tap into a larger audience base, and simultaneously increase revenue through targeted, scalable ad opportunities.

Given the popularity of the IPL in the GCC, customisation efforts are geared towards enhancing the experience with curated match highlights, smarter ad targeting based on user behaviour and low-latency streaming.

“On our platforms, latency has been brought down to 8-12 seconds and the aim is to adopt the ultralow-latency tech (1-3 seconds) soon. We are using adaptive cloud-based delivery infrastructure, [and have] built responsive UIs and synchronised data layers that ensure users get the same experience on a mobile app, web browser or connected TV,” says Joy.

Piracy poses a significant challenge to rights exclusivity. Illegal streaming during high-profile tournaments, facilitated by social media and unauthorised IPTV apps, is prevalent. It threatens overall revenue and undermines sponsor confidence, says Joy. “By investing in advanced security measures, enhancing legal streaming services and collaborating with regulatory bodies, the industry can combat piracy effectively and safeguard investments in sports media.”

Sports consumption is undergoing a significant transformation in the MENA, with exciting possibilities for the future of sports media in the region. From a passive consumer base, it has evolved into an active sports engagement hub and curator of premium sporting content, strengthening the link between audiences and sport.

And as AI leans into all of this, interactive viewing will be the standard. Broadcasters are integrating real-time stats, interactive features and social media-style edits to optimise vertical viewing. As technology brings about this flexibility, power has shifted to viewers. Fans enjoy deeper engagement than ever before by way of AR, VR and 360-degree broadcasts. AI powers dynamic graphics and visuals during live sport, and offers in-game enhancements like player tracking, augmented reality overlays or even virtual commentators.

“Traditional gave a fixed angle, and digital is changing all of that,” says Joy. “On-demand controls allow viewers to pause, rewind or watch key moments in slow motion or at their own pace.”

Growth in MENA digital sports consumption is largely driven by Gen Z and millennials, whose engagement and viewership surpasses their counterparts in Europe and the US. Interest in sport has climbed from 27% in 2021 to 36% in 2024 among 16-24-year-olds, a 33% increase over three years. This is linked to strategic regional investment in local and international sports leagues, clubs and events that are increasingly accessible via digital platforms.

Football remains the dominant sport in terms of content acquisition, viewership numbers and commercial viability. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, nearly 93% of the adult population in the country tuned in for key matches. However, cricket is becoming increasingly significant. Data from the 2023 IPL shows strong viewership growth in the GCC, with the UAE leading in engagement. This growth is expected to continue with the rising popularity of the IPL and as more international cricket tournaments are hosted in the region.

The future of MENA sports streaming, and specifically in the GCC, will be about delivering a personalised, accessible sporting experience for the viewer while unravelling new revenue streams that guarantee long-term digital growth and sustainability for the broadcaster.

“Evision’s objective is to invest responsibly, scale strategically and become the trusted digital sports destination in the region, and in so doing deepen our impact on the sporting landscape,” concludes Joy.

By Tina Meketa, University Communications and Marketing

As USF shifts into summer, thousands of new graduates are entering the workforce prepared
to meet industry demand and elevate the talent pipeline across Tampa Bay, the state
and nation.

Their final semester at USF was packed with milestone moments: a record-setting donation,
multiple national championships and top-tier rankings that affirm the value of a USF
degree.

While the 2024-2025 academic year may have come to a close, USF’s research momentum
continues – strengthening communities and driving solutions for a healthier, more
innovative world. 

Here are some of the spring semester’s biggest moments.

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