It’s impossible to think about women’s volleyball without thinking about Nebraska.

It’s not about the six national titles the Cornhuskers have, or their extensive list of All-Americans. It’s because of a volleyball culture developed over the decades that has tied itself to the very core of the state’s identity. 

It’s top-tier investment from administration, fans and community that has led not just to the program’s on-court success, but to T-shirts boasting that Nebraska is “the volleyball state,” a match that was the second-highest attended women’s sporting event in the world and, crucially, a revenue-generating Cornhusker program. 

Texas A&M volleyball head coach Jamie Morrison wants the Aggies to reach that level — and he doesn’t think it’s that far away.

“When I took the job … I had a checklist of things, and one of them was where I could build something that is similar to here, where people really, really care about the sport of volleyball,” Morrison said before the Aggies’ first NCAA Tournament match in Lincoln, Nebraska, earlier in 2025. “And for me, it was about getting the 12th Man to get addicted to the game that we love. And I think that’s happening right now. So it’s not even like building there. I think we’re almost there. I think there’s a demand for season tickets next season. Things are happening along those lines where it’s going to get to that level.”

Of course, Morrison and the Aggies are no strangers to reaching ambitious goals. This season, A&M won its first national championship in school history by defeating three 1-seeds in a row in one of the sport’s wildest NCAA Tournament runs to date, all in Morrison’s third year in Aggieland.

But, to take that next step and build the sort of revenue-generating program that will stand the test of time, it’ll require more than just wins on the court. It requires buy-in from administrators and fans alike. 

Administration support

Like many A&M coaches, Morrison — who was hired by former athletic director Ross Bjork before the latter left for Ohio State — felt uncertain about the school’s athletic director vacancy.

Then came a major stroke of good fortune when, out of all candidates, the Aggies landed on then-Nebraska AD Trev Alberts, the Cornhuskers’ athletic director for, among other events, 2023’s “Volleyball Day in Nebraska,” a two-match event at Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium that featured an attendance of 92,003 — the world’s second-most attended women’s sporting event.

“When I got hired, I said, like, ‘I want to become the second program to be profitable in the United States, and I want to give back to the athletic department,’” Morrison said before the Aggies’ match against the Cornhuskers. “To have somebody that doesn’t scoff at that and be like, ‘That’s impossible,’ but someone that says, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s possible. Let’s get to work.’ I think that’s huge. And I think to have someone that knows what it can be and knows how to build it to that has been a huge asset for me.”

More than just having the experience of leading an athletic department that places an emphasis on volleyball, Alberts is a bonafide volleyball nerd.

“He loves watching the sport, and I think he’s probably been at 80% of our matches at home,” Morrison said. “He sits courtside and gets nervous and loves it and talks to me afterwards and knows the game enough to … be able to go back and forth and banter about the volleyball game. And I don’t think that’s the case at most schools, and I’m very, very thankful for it.” 

Though that investment has to include the pocketbook. In the fiscal year 2024 — the college sports fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 — Nebraska topped all Division I public institutions with a women’s volleyball operating budget of $5,911,267. A&M was seventh on that list with a budget of $3,747,561, according to data access via public records requests and published by Extra Points’ Matt Brown.

That does not include things like compensation earned via NIL or from revenue sharing with athletes. But the Aggies have confirmed that volleyball is one of the six programs that A&M is sharing revenue with athletes in.

Both Morrison and Alberts seem aligned with a growth mindset that A&M can be one of those few revenue-generating programs that turns into a profit for the athletic department. And they aren’t afraid to use Nebraska as the template.

“I brought a lot of people from our administration [to Lincoln] last year just to understand that this is possible,” Morrison said. “That having, I don’t know, a revenue-generating volleyball program that is adding to the athletic department, is possible. And I think we’re on our way there.”

But as part of that investment, there has to be another variable that continues to grow: fan buy-in.

Fan support 

When one walks into Nebraska’s Bob Devaney Sports Center, there’s a palpable weight that seems to fill the arena. 

It’s a feeling of hype, of expectation, a sense that this place is the peak of the sport. It’s a tangible feeling that represents everything Nebraska volleyball stands for, and the white whale that every program trying to reach the Cornhuskers’ level is chasing.

During a match, that expectation turns into a roaring reality, like the jam-packed crowd that the Aggies had to face to beat the Cornhuskers in five sets to advance to the 2025 Final Four in Kansas City.

“At one point, I felt like I could barely hear myself think with how loud it was ringing in my ears when we went 30,” senior opposite hitter Logan Lednicky said after A&M’s win over Nebraska.

Morrison and the rest of his staff has been using the atmosphere that the Aggies had to overcome as a model for what they’d like Reed Arena to look like. 

“I have a lot of respect for this volleyball program, for the team that is here, for the atmosphere that happens around here, in the community around this area and how much they love the game of volleyball,” Morrison said. “And when I was choosing the place I was going to go to build a program to build. … A lot of it was based on, I wanted to build an audience similar to this. So to hear that that was that active back at home, I guarantee our attendance is going to go up next year, and again, we have some of the best fans in the country, but I’m proud that we’re well on the way to developing something that’s similar to what they have here at Nebraska.”

In a literal sense, the 12th Man has been buying in. In 2025 the Aggies set a program record for season tickets sold, and after winning a national title, nobody will be surprised to see that number skyrocket next year.

The Aggies’ student section and overall attendance have been reaching new heights, too. A&M set a program record with 9,801 fans attending its five-set win over Texas on Oct. 31, 2025. 

“To see how far it’s come, it’s just really awesome,” senior libero Ava Underwood said after the Aggies’ final match at Reed Arena, a 3-1 NCAA Tournament win over TCU. “It’s been a dream. I mean, the fact that we get to play in front of those fans every single day is great. And we knew it was gonna come to an end, but the 12th Man showed up, as they always do, and this place is becoming a volleyball powerhouse.”

Now, the trick is to make things sustainable. Nebraska has been able to reach the heights it has because it’s continued winning on the court, yes, but also because its athletic department and fans have remained invested in the program even when it’s not winning national titles, with its last coming in 2017.

Morrison has said publicly that winning a national championship every year cannot become an expectation — the sport just isn’t built that way. And as the defending national champions replace nine departing seniors and return just two starters, A&M is in for a rebuild year. 

But as long as the trifecta of continued investment, fan engagement and support paired with consistent on-court success remains, there’s no reason that the Aggies can’t accomplish all of the goals Morrison and his staff have set for the future.

“I came here not only to be good in one year,” Morrison said after the match against TCU. “I came only not to entertain this crowd … once this season and have them disappear, I came here to have sustained success. And I think that’s possible at this university. It’s possible because of the fan base, because of the 12th Man, the way people show up, people want to come play in front of people where this matters. I think this administration is supporting our program and women’s athletics, and I think we’re going to be a formidable force for years to come.”

 
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Maxim Rychkov took down yet another program record to headline the Lions Indoor Invitational for TCNJ’s men’s track and field squad.
 
ON THE TRACK
 
Rychkov’s new record came in the 400m, where he won the race with a rapid time of 47.95. That time, which shaves about half of a second off the previous record of 48.57, is 6^th-best in Division III and 23^rd-best across all three divisions. Noah Traverso finished in second behind Rychkov in that race, posting a time of 49.03. His time is currently the 16^th-fastest in Division III and also an NCAA top-100 mark.
 
Jayvee Dumas recorded a new PR in the 60m hurdles, finishing in 5^th place with a time of 8.54.
 
Tyler Seaton and Zach Salib both logged PR times en route to top-10 finishes in the 200m. Seaton finished in 6^th (22.85) and Salib finished in 9^th (23.07). Brody Dillich finished in under two minutes in the 800m, placing 6^th with a time of 1:59.17. Victor Akinboboye posted an impressive time of 35.54 in the 300m. His time was 18^th-best in Division III. Anthony Senatore was the first Lion across the line in the 500m; he finished 7^th in 1:06.36. 
 
Building off of a championship season, TCNJ’s cross country runners shined in the long-distance events. Brandon Chen (3^rd, 8:38.71), Phil Pace (4^th, 8:38.76), Kevin Matthews (7^th, 8:46.61), Josh Santiago (10^th, 8:50.29), Evan Melito (11^th, 8:52.87), and Anthony Guarino (15^th, 9:07.72), all recorded DIII top-100 times in the 3000m. In the mile, Ryan Segalla led the with a 10^th-place finish (4:28.13).
 
IN THE FIELD
 
Jayvee Dumas headlined the action in the field for TCNJ with his 3^rd-place finish in the pole vault (4.55m). With his performance, Jayvee set the new 22^nd-best mark in Division III.
Tyler Meier was the best Lion in the high jump (9^th, 1.80m), while Ryan Donnelly (9^th, 6.34m) and Juan Alino (10^th, 6.14m) were the best TCNJ athletes in the long jump.
 
Finally, Braden Paulmenn and Christian Farhat logged a pair of top-5 finishes in the shot put and weight throw. In the shot put, Paulmenn finished in 3^rd with a mark of 15.38m, while Farhat finished in 4^th with a mark of 14.41. The two finished in 4^th and 5^th respectively in the weight throw; Paulmenn logged a 13.98 and Farhat logged a 13.64m.
 

Ryan Windisch gave up his role as a head coach at a lower level to join Rita Stubbs’ first staff when she assumed the top job for Arizona volleyball. The former Division I libero has proven to be indispensable to Stubbs in his three years on staff. He is being rewarded with a promotion to associate head coach.

“I am thrilled to announce Ryan’s promotion to Associate Head Coach,” Stubbs was quoted in Arizona’s press release. “He has been on my staff since the beginning and is extremely knowledgeable about the game of volleyball which has helped our program grow over the past three years. I am thankful to have him on staff and look forward to seeing him continue to grow with our program.”

Windisch has primarily handled the liberos and defensive specialists at Arizona. He was considered a de facto defensive coordinator when he was hired in 2022. However, the staff has been short one coach the last two years, so he has had to take on additional roles. In 2025, he added setters to his responsibilities after former assistant head coach Steven Duhoux took a job as an assistant coach with Ohio State men’s volleyball.

In addition to his role on the court, Windisch makes an impression on recruits. When asked about their reasons for choosing Arizona, commits and freshmen typically speak of him and Stubbs as a pair.

He helped lead the team to its first NCAA Tournament since 2018 and first tournament win since 2016 this season. Last season, he helped coach them to an NIVC championship and two 11-game winning streaks. The team ended with a 24-9 record.

This year, Windisch and assistant coach Simone Asque-Favia helped Stubbs coach the team to a 17-13 record that included 10 matches against ranked teams. The Wildcats won three of those matches, including sweeps over No. 16 Baylor and No. 13 TCU. They took one set in five more, including against No. 5 Stanford in the NCAA Tournament.

This year, Windisch’s professional accomplishments came after he and his wife Amber welcomed their first child at the beginning of the season.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 9, 2026) — USA Volleyball announced today that Rob Browning has been named an assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team. Browning brings decades of experience at both the collegiate and international levels, adding valuable perspective as the program continues to compete at the highest level of the sport worldwide.

Browning most recently served as an assistant coach at NC State during the 2025 season. Prior to that, he spent 20 years as head coach at Saint Mary’s College of California, becoming the winningest coach in program history. Under his leadership, Saint Mary’s made five postseason appearances and captured its first West Coast Conference title in 2009. He also launched the school’s beach volleyball program in 2013, helping develop multiple West Coast Conference award winners.

“I’m honored to join the U.S. Women’s National Team staff and work with this outstanding group of athletes and coaches,” Browning said. “I’m excited to contribute and help the program continue to grow and succeed on the world stage.”

Internationally, Browning has spent six years as an assistant coach with the U.S. Men’s National Team, contributing to four Olympic cycles, including the gold medal run at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He has also worked with the U.S. Women’s National Team and U.S. Women’s Junior National Team, helping teams earn gold medals at the 2010 NORCECA Championship and the 2019 Pan Am Cup. Most recently, Browning served as team leader for the U.S. Women’s National Team this past summer.

“Rob’s experience and passion for the game make him a tremendous addition to our staff,” said Erik Sullivan, U.S. Women’s National Team head coach. “He has a proven history of developing athletes and building competitive programs, and we’re excited to welcome him as we prepare for the next phase of international competition.”

Browning succeeds Mike Wall, who has stepped away from the role to spend more time with his family. USA Volleyball thanks Mike for his dedication and contributions to the U.S. Women’s National Team.

BOONE, N.C. – The App State women’s track and field team is headed to Mill Spring, N.C. for the UNC Asheville Collegiate Opener at Tryon International on Saturday. The meet will is slated to start at 10 a.m. 
 
Meet Rewind
App State opened the indoor season at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-off at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Dec. 6. Highlighting the day’s action was a new meet record of 3:45.76, set by the 4×400-meter relay quartet of junior Nicole Wells, seniors Damyja Alejandro-Ortiz and Daye Talley, and junior Jayla Adams. The previous meet record was 3:49.07, set in 2021 by Duke, and the new time was two seconds shy of the App State indoor 4×400-meter program record (3:43.85, set in 2023). Individually, Adams and Talley clocked times of 24.39 and 24.77 to place third and fifth, respectively, in the seeded section of the women’s 200 meters. 
 
Freshman Alana Braxton placed first in both the women’s triple jump (12.32m (40’5″)) and women’s long jump (5.87m (19′ 3.25″)). With a leap of 12.14m (39′ 10″), fellow freshman Ashlynn Wimberly placed second in the women’s triple jump. With a clearance of 3.95m (12′ 11.5″), senior Ava Studney placed first in the women’s pole vault. 

On the track, junior Kendall Johnson placed second in the women’s 60 meters with a time of 7.50, which was 0.08 shy of her personal best and App State school record of 7.42.  Stopping the clock at 2:18.09, senior Addison Ollendick-Smith placed fourth in the women’s 800 meters. She was seven seconds shy of her personal best of 2:11.13, which she set last winter to move to second all-time in the App State record book. 

 

Ranked Mountaineers

Heading into Saturday’s meet, six Mountaineers stand among the NCAA’s top-30. The women’s 4×400-meter relay squad of Wells, Alejandro-Ortiz, Talley, and Adams leads the Sun Belt and ranks fourth in the region as well as 19th nationally. Individually, Adams leads the Sun Belt, ranks eighth in the region, and stands 21st in the NCAA in the women’s 200 meters. 

 

Leading the SBC in the women’s triple jump is Braxton, who also rounds out the region’s top-five and checks in at 23rd nationally in the category. Braxton also stands second in the league in the women’s long jump. Studney leads the conference and rounds out the region’s top-five and the nation’s top-30 in the women’s pole vault. Ollendick-Smith and sophomore Ella Battel take the SBC’s top two spots in the women’s 800 meters.

 

On Deck 

The Mountaineers will head to Lexington, Va. for the VMI Team Challenge on Jan. 17. The meet will mark the first of four indoor meets the Mountaineers will appear at in the state of Virginia this winter.

 

 

 

By: Chris Salim, Assistant Sports Information Director

FRISCO, Texas – The Northwestern State volleyball team had five players named to the 2025 Academic All-Southland team including Olivia Bush, Emmarie McFarland, Julia Whitfield, Samaya Wesson and Makenna Tryon, the league office announced Friday.

Bush, a junior, finished with a GPA of 3.39. The business major played in 20 matches for the Demons with 11 starts and had 103 kills, 50 digs and 23 blocks. The Port Arthur, Texas native had a season-high of 10 kills and nine digs in the team’s match Nov. 6 against East Texas A&M.

Julia Whitfield, a freshman, had a 3.40 GPA. Also a business major, Whitfield played in 30 matches with 27 starts for the Demons this season. The Mandeville, Louisiana product had 52 blocks, 48 kills and three service aces to show her versatility.

McFarland, a Criminal Justice major out of Alvin, Texas, had 3.47 GPA this year. The freshman played in all 30 matches for the Demons and led the team in digs with 319 including 29 in a season-opening win over Tennessee State on Aug. 29.

Wesson turned in a 3.56 GPA majoring in marketing. The Demons’ junior had 186 which was second on the team. The Euless, Texas native also scattered nine aces throughout the season.

Makenna Tryon is a marketing major that accumulated a 3.82. The junior was second on the team with 211 digs. The Waller, Texas native also had 166 kills for the season while playing and was the only Demon to start in all 30 matches. She had a double-double on Nov. 6 against East Texas A&M with 14 kills and 10 digs.

UT-Rio Grande Valley’s Isabella Constanti was named Student-Athlete of the Year of she had a 4.0 GPA for the Vaqueros who finished 22-8 and 15-1 in Southland play.

2025 Southland Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Year: Isabella Costantini, Jr., 4.00 GPA, Multidisciplinary Studies 

2025 Southland Volleyball All-Academic Team

EAST TEXAS A&M

Gracie Campbell, Sr., 3.76 GPA, Business Administration 

Rendi Fetty, Sr., 3.67 GPA, Communication Studies

Haley Mullaney, Jr., 3.64 GPA, Early Childhood Education

Jade Washington, So., 3.72 GPA, Psychology

HCU 

Allana Archie, Jr., 3.52 GPA, Psychology 

Katy Barger, So., 3.79 GPA, Allied Health

Joya Euhus, Fr., 3.83 GPA, International Business

Peyton Fadal, So., 4.00 GPA, Allied Health

Hannah Redrow, Jr., 3.46 GPA, Marketing

 

UIW 

Alex Beauchamp, So., 3.25 GPA, Business Administration

Vanessa Eregie, So., 4.00 GPA, Nursing 

Finely Evans, 3.72 GPA, Biology

Kyla Malone, Sr., 3.86 GPA, Healthcare Science 

LAMAR

Alexa Gonzalez, So., 3.45 GPA, Marketing

Lyric Jordan, Jr., 3.27 GPA, Exercise Science

Hailey McEllrath, So., 3.30 GPA, Communication Broadcasting

Taisha Rhone, Jr., 3.53 GPA, Exercise Science

Daniella Udegbunam, R-Fr., 3.40 GPA, University Studies

MCNEESE

Neal Grace Berry, Fr., 4.00 GPA, Agricultural Sciences 

Lauren Fuller, Sr., 3.77 GPA, Health & Human Performance

Ava Henry, Fr., 3.53 GPA, Marketing

Kinga Ziolkowska, Fr., 3.82 GPA, Marketing

NEW ORLEANS

Vanae Sapp, Gr., 4.00 GPA, Master’s Counselor Education

Alessandra Meoni, Gr., 4.00 GPA, Mathematics

Defne Eciroglu, Jr., 3.87 GPA, Chemistry

Lani Alleman, Jr., 3.60 GPA, Psychology

Courtney Roundtree, Sr., 3.34 GPA, Sociology

NICHOLLS

Tierney Terrell, Jr., 4.00 GPA, Psychology

NORTHWESTERN STATE

Olivia Bush, Jr., 3.39 GPA, Business

Julia Whitfield, Fr., 3.40 GPA, Business

Emmarie McFarland, Fr., 3.47 GPA, Criminal Justice

Samaya Wesson, Jr., 3.56 GPA, Marketing

Makenna Tryon, Jr., 3.82 GPA, Marketing

SOUTHEASTERN

India Bennett, R-Sr., 4.00 GPA, Integrated Science and Technology 

Ainsley Driska, Jr., 4.00 GPA, Child Life

Lily Morgan, Sr., 3.75 GPA, Kinesiology

Alexis Logarbo, Sr., 3.54 GPA, Biological Sciences

Peyton Stokley, Sr., 3.70 GPA, Biological Sciences

SFA 

Caroline Kahle, Sr., 4.00 GPA, Kinesiology Teaching

Kyanna Creecy, Jr., 3.79 GPA, Kinesiology Teaching

Jayden Flynn, Sr., 3.74 GPA, Communication Sciences and Disorders

Izabella Ortiz, Sr., 3.65 GPA, Kinesiology

Katherine Holtman, So., 3.85 GPA, Biology 

TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI

Brooklyn Jaeger, Jr., 4.00 GPA, Kinesiology 

Virginia Van Der Werff, So., 3.84 GPA, Biomedical Studies

Kenna Buchanan, Jr., 3.81 GPA, Kinesiology

Katelyn Krienke, Sr., 3.94 GPA, Biomedical Sciences

Kaitlyn Baumann, Sr., 3.90 GPA, English

UTRGV

Isabella Costantini, Jr., 4.00 GPA, Multidisciplinary Studies 

Martina Franco, So., 3.38 GPA, Kinesiology

Dimitra Nanou, Fr., 4.00 GPA, Biology

Julianna Bryant, Jr., 3.40 GPA, Criminal Justice

Valentina Sarti Cipriani, Sr., 3.33 GPA, Mass Communication