AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta University head track & field and cross country coach announced the hiring of Bri Tillman as the program’s assistant coach for men’s and women’s track & field and men’s and women’s cross country.

The hire marks the first full-time assistant coaching position in the history of Augusta University’s track & field and cross country programs.

Tillman, a native of Augusta, Georgia, returns home following a decorated competitive career and a long-standing connection to Augusta University. She is a graduate of the Academy of Richmond County, where she emerged as a standout sprinter and multi-event athlete. During her high school career, she was a 400-meter Region Champion, Garden City Champion, and a multi-event state qualifier. She was also recognized for her leadership and service, earning the CSRA All-Star Community Service Award and being named Georgia’s Most Positive Track Athlete.

Tillman began her collegiate career at Indiana Tech before transferring to Coastal Carolina University. As a student-athlete, she earned All-America honors three times, won two national championships, and placed on Coastal Carolina’s Top 10 list in the indoor 300 meters.

Her connection to Augusta University dates back to her high school years, when she volunteered through the Volunteen Board. She continued her involvement with the university as a VolunJag during her freshman year of college and later returned to Augusta following her undergraduate studies to volunteer with the Jaguars’ track & field program.

“I am excited to continue supporting Augusta University’s student-athletes and remain committed to uplifting my local community,” said Tillman. “This program and this city mean a great deal to me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back.”

Tillman will assist with coaching responsibilities across all track & field disciplines and support both the men’s and women’s cross country programs.

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FULL COLLEGE SPORTS COMMUNICATORS RELEASE

GREENWOOD, Ind. – Four UNC Asheville volleyball student-athletes have earned Academic All-District® honors from College Sports Communicators, the organization announced Tuesday (Dec. 16).

Payton Rolfsen, Michelle Thao, Baylor Herlehy, and Albertine van der Goot represented UNC Asheville on this year’s All-District list. To qualify for Academic All-District honors, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, and appear in at least 90 percent of their team’s competitions or start in at least 66 percent.

Thao earned her second consecutive Academic All-District honor after being named to last year’s list. She was also named Big South Co-Libero of the Year, marking the first Libero of the Year honor in program history and the first on-the-court Big South major award for the program since 2000, when Kelly Budnik earned Freshman of the Year honors. UNC Asheville previously had Scholar Athlete of the Year recipients in 2023 (Ona Elkins) and 2021 (Grace Volk).

During the 2025 season, Thao played in all 30 matches and 110 sets, recording 523 digs (4.75 per set), 26 service aces, and an impressive .954 reception percentage across 585 receptions. She reached the 1,000-career-dig milestone on Oct. 17 and earned Big South Libero of the Week honors three times. Thao was also named to the Big South All-Tournament Team after helping lead the Bulldogs to their first Big South Conference Championship appearance since 2006.

Rolfsen led Asheville’s offense with 565 assists, averaging 5.28 per set. She finished second on the team with 27 service aces and totaled 18 blocks on the season. Her performance in the Big South Conference Tournament earned her All-Tournament Team honors.

In 22 matches, Herlehy recorded 137 kills and led the Bulldogs with 92 total blocks.

Van der Goot was named to the Big South All-Academic Team and earned Big South Honorable Mention recognition. She finished the season second on the team with 231 kills (2.12 per set) and ranked second in total blocks with 87.

About Women’s Athletics Presenting Partner First Bank

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Championship Fund
 
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University Volleyball student-athletes Elli Barry, Marae Reilly and Bella Thompson were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team on Tuesday.
 
To be eligible, the student-athlete must maintain a 3.50 GPA, be at least a sophomore and have played in 90 percent of the team’s matches or started 66 percent of the contests.
 
Barry, a senior from Huntington, played in all 30 matches making 25 starts with 186 points, 162 kills and 41 blocks. Registering five contests with 10 or more kills, Barry recorded a season-high 13 in a win over UMES on September 12.
 
Reilly, a sophomore from Lakewood, Colorado, finished with the second-most blocks on the team at 61 while finishing third on the squad in points, 215.5, and kills, 168, playing in all 30 matches, including 29 starts. Reilly recorded a season-high 13 kills against Gardner-Webb on September 20.
 
Thompson, a senior from Mooresville, North Carolina, was one of just two players on the team to start all 30 matches this season as she led MU with 727 assists and registered 229 digs across 109 sets. The setter registered a season-high 50 assists against Gardner-Webb on September 20.
 
To donate to the Championship Fund for Marshall volleyball, please click HERE. All proceeds go directly to the Marshall volleyball team.
 
For all the latest information about Marshall volleyball, follow @HerdVolleyball on Twitter and Instagram.

To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.

 

—HerdZone.com—

KENT, Ohio – Kent State student-athletes Greta Bolognini, Adalynn Ginley, Mackenzie McGuire and Christina Vigil and have been named to the 2025 Academic All-District® Volleyball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC).

The award recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. In order to be eligible for selection, a student-athlete must have reached sophomore athletic status and either competed in 90% of the team’s games or started in at least 66% of games while maintaining a 3.50 or higher cumulative grade point average.

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Charlotte, NC (December 16, 2025) – Week Two of CIAA Indoor Track and Field continued to showcase high level performances as competition intensified across early season meets. The conference saw distance excellence and strong field event execution as athletes built momentum heading deeper into the indoor season. The CIAA recognizes two student athletes for their standout performances during the week. 

WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK 

Faith Kiplimo, Fayetteville State 

Sophomore distance runner Faith Kiplimo delivered a breakthrough performance at the JDL Early Bird Meet, recording a personal best time of 4:51.07. Her effort earned a second place finish overall while setting a new Fayetteville State school record. The mark also met the NCAA Division II provisional qualifying standard and currently ranks Kiplimo No. 1 in the Atlantic Region and No. 5 nationally in Division II. Her performance continues to establish Fayetteville State as a force in women’s distance events. 

WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK 

Sheree Wright, Fayetteville State 

Senior high jumper Sheree Wright opened her season with a strong and composed showing at the JDL Early Bird Meet. Wright cleared 1.57 meters (5-01.75) to earn a fourth place finish in a competitive field. Her consistency and execution highlighted an encouraging start to her indoor campaign and provided a solid foundation as the season progresses. 

Media Contact 

Anna M. Butzlaff 

Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications 

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) 

abutzlaff@theciaa.com 

About the CIAA 

Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the United States and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management for both 2018 and 2019. 

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.