DURHAM, NC (May 2, 2025) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announces its 2025 Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Year, as voted by the CIAA Track & Field Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors Association. These outstanding student-athletes will be formally recognized tomorrow during the CIAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Durham, NC. 

2025 CIAA Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Year

Men’s:

Field Athlete of the Year: Zachary Jones, Virginia Union

Track Athlete of the Year: Tyson Williams, JCSU

Women’s: 

Field Athlete of the Year: Domanique Knowles, Fayetteville State

Track Athlete of the Year: Charnessa Reid, WSSU

Zachary Jones of Virginia Union University has been named the CIAA Field Athlete of the Year for the 2024–25 outdoor track and field season. He ranked 1st in the conference in both the shot put and discus, highlighted by a 15.63m shot put performance at Livingstone College in North Carolina and a 48.38m discus throw that set a new school record. Jones also demonstrated his versatility by ranking 5th in the javelin throw across the CIAA.

 

Tyson Williams of Johnson C. Smith University,Track Athlete of the Year has a stand out freshman season. Williams qualified for both the 100m and 200m events and began his outdoor campaign with dominant wins at the VertKlasse Invitational, running 10.21 and 20.17 seconds, both new school records. He also captured the NCAA Division II Indoor Championship title in the 200m with a time of 20.58, the fourth-fastest in Division II history. Williams’ exceptional times ranked him among the nation’s top sprinters and earned him multiple honors, including USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week. 

Domanique Knowles of Fayetteville State University, CIAA Women’s Field Athlete of the Year, ranked #1 in the high jump and #2 in the triple jump in the CIAA, with standout personal bests of 1.68m in the high jump and 11.96m in the triple jump at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational. She also recorded a 5.53m long jump at the Aggie Invitational, highlighting her range across multiple events. In addition to her individual success, Knowles contributed to Fayetteville State’s 4x400m relay team, finishing 3rd at the Trojan Relays. 

Charnessa Reid of Winston-Salem State University has delivered a dominant 2025 outdoor season, earning CIAA Track Athlete of the Week honors five times and maintaining the #1 conference ranking in the 100m hurdles all season. She captured first place in the 100H at the Southside Power & Fitness Invitational, VertKlasse Meet, and Livingstone Blue Bear Invitational, setting a new WSSU school record twice, most recently with a blazing NCAA qualifying mark of 13.32 at the Aggie Invitational. Reid has also contributed to two first-place 4x100m relay finishes and competed in the 200m and 4x400m relay, helping position WSSU at #3 in the region and #1 in the CIAA. On the field, she has been just as impactful, posting top-10 finishes in the long jump and high jump throughout the season, including a 5.89m long jump at VertKlasse and a 1.60m high jump at both Southside Power and the Aggie Invitational.

 

For more information about the CIAA, visit theciaa.com. You can also like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and on Instagram. 

About the CIAA 

Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country.

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 13 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, Saint Augustine’s University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

GULF SHORES, Ala. – No. 8-seed Florida State (26-13) lost 3-0 Saturday morning to No. 1-seed UCLA (32-6) in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

UCLA took a 2-0 lead with straight-set wins on Courts 2 and 3. The remaining three courts went to a third set, with Audrey Koenig and Alexis Durish evening the match on Court 1 with a 21-19 win in the second set.

The Bruins closed out the match against Koenig and Durish with a 15-11 win in the third set.

The two unfinished matches were in a third set, with Makenna Wolfe and Myriah Massey leading 11-9 on Court 4 and Angeline Bergner and Jordan Boulware even at 6-6 on Court 5.

For more information on the Florida State beach volleyball program, check Seminoles.com and follow us on social media at fsubeachvolleyball (IG) and @FSU_BeachVB (X). 

#1 UCLA 3, #8 Florida State 0

1. Sally Perez/Maggie Boyd (UCLA) def. Audrey Koenig/Alexis Durish (FSU), 21-19, 19-21, 15-11
2. Natalie Myszkowksi/Peri Brennan (UCLA) def. Gella Andrew/Maddie Trusty, 21-15, 21-15
3. Kenzi Brower/Jess Smith (UCLA) def. Bailey Higgins/Carra Sassack (FSU), 21-10, 21-12
4. Makenna Wolfe/Myriah Massey (FSU)  vs. Alexa Fernandez/Kaley Mathews (UCLA), 21-18, 16-21, 11-9, unf.
5. Angeline Bergner/Jordan Boulware (FSU) vs. Harper Cooper/Ensley Alden (UCLA), 19-21, 21-16, 6-6, unf.

Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1

By: John Grupp


Saturday, May 3, 2025 | 11:01 AM

The North Allegheny boys volleyball team is proof that you can learn more from your losses than your wins.

The top-ranked Tigers have rebounded from a pair of lesson-building defeats to regain the form that made them preseason WPIAL favorites and a state title contender.

“It was a wake-up call,” senior outside hitter Matthew LaMay said. “Even though we are a good team, it’s going to be a long grind and a lot of hard work to achieve any sort of success.”

A startling loss to Ambridge in the North Allegheny Invitational quarterfinals on March 22 and a 3-2 loss at Seneca Valley on April 7 meant the Tigers, then ranked No. 2 in the state, still had work to do.

The Tigers (5-1 in Section 3-3A, 9-1 overall as of April 29) regrouped by winning five straight matches. During its turnaround, NA also took second at the prestigious Koller Classic at Central York on April 12.

Their April 29 rematch with No. 3 Seneca Valley was postponed due to severe weather.

“I felt like they responded really well,” coach Dan Long said. “I don’t want to be the team that is peaking on April 15. I want to be improving.”

The Tigers were fortified by the return of all-state junior outside hitter Will Robertson, who suffered a sprained ankle March 21 playing a school-sponsored 3-on-3 basketball event. Robertson, who missed about two weeks, and LaMay were named to the all-tournament team at York. The Tigers went 7-1 in pool play and beat Northern York, No. 2 Central York and No. 4 Cedar Crest to reach the finals, where they lost to state No. 1 Cumberland Valley, 25-20, 25-21.

“I thought we met the challenge,” Long said. “Certainly, you want to win it. But given the full perspective of the day, it was a really good effort. … They showed that when we are at our best, we’re really good.”

The rest of the state took notice. The Tigers, who had dropped to No. 6 in the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association poll after the loss to Seneca Valley, returned to No. 2 in the April 14 rankings.

LaMay, who had 18 digs, 13 kills and 10 aces at York, said the runner-up finish encouraged the Tigers.

“It showed our team our potential,” he said. “That, combined with our losses, showed us how easily we can fall but how great we can be.”

North Allegheny is embracing hard work after losing to Shaler in the past two WPIAL Class 3A championships. But it hasn’t come easily. While Roberson is fully recovered, LaMay is playing through a knee injury, and junior hitter Brendan Moore, who had 25 kills and eight blocks at York, missed some time with strained back ligaments. The 6-foot-4 Moore returned for a 3-0 win over Butler on April 24.

Robertson, meanwhile, didn’t play in the Ambridge loss and wasn’t fully healthy in the loss at Seneca Valley. The Tigers led Seneca Valley 2-0 before dropping the last three games.

“We were disappointed because we felt every part of our game could have been better that night,” LaMay said. “We should have played better and worked harder.”

North Allegheny nearly won anyway. NA had a couple of match points before dropping the final game, 21-19. But the Tigers grew from the loss.

“We could have easily escaped that match and gone, ‘Phew,’ and moved on with our lives,” Long said. “One point different, and it feels completely different, and maybe you miss the lesson of what that has to offer.”

Tags: North Allegheny

SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

SECOND ROUND

DIVISION 3

Tesoro d. Harvard-Westlake, 25-14, 25-14, 25-15

Los Alamitos d. Valencia, 29-27, 25-23, 25-21

San Marino d. Long Beach Poly, 13-25, 26-24, 17-25, 25-23, 15-11

North Torrance d. Samueli Academy, 3-2

Warren d. Keppel, 21-25, 25-19, 21-26, 25-20, 15-10

Santa Monica d. University, 25-23, 25-19, 25-21

Orange Lutheran d. San Marcos, 3-1

Mission Viejo d. Great Oak, 25-20, 25-20, 25-15

DIVISION 5

Newbury Park d. Paloma Valley, 25-18, 25-21, 25-22

Oak Park d. Bolsa Grande, 25-15, 25-21, 25-19

Wiseburn-Da Vinci at Rancho Verde, Monday at 6 p.m.

Esperanza d. Cypress, 3-2

California d. El Rancho, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20

Rancho Alamitos d. Saugus, 3-2

Vista Murrieta d. Placentia Valencia, 25-16, 25-23, 25-16

La Palma Kennedy d. Redlands, 25-21, 25-17, 25-22

DIVISION 6

Rio Hondo Prep d. St. Monica, 25-16, 29-31, 23-25, 25-18, 15-13

Quartz Hill d. Leuzinger, 3-1

DIVISION 7

Lakewood d. Ocean View, 25-15, 25-21, 24-26, 26-24

Brea Olinda d. Vasquez, 25-22, 25-20, 25-20

San Jacinto d. Ventura, 25-23, 12-25, 15-25, 25-21, 15-13

La Serna d. Lancaster, 25-22, 25-19, 20-25, 26-24

Jurupa Valley d. Whitney, 25-22, 27-25, 14-25, 25-22

Brentwood d. Diamond Ranch, 17-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-17, 15-9

Hawthorne MSA d. Garden Grove, 3-1

DIVISION 8

Alta Loma d. Trinity Classical Academy, 3-2

DIVISION 9

Heritage d. California Military, 3-0

CAMS d. Bassett, 3-0

Duarte at San Jacinto Valley, Monday at 6 p.m.

Firebaugh d. Bloomington, 20-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-15, 15-13

Downey Calvary Chapel d. Marshall, 3-2

Whittier Christian d. Ojai Valley, 25-21, 19-25, 25-23, 25-22

Beverly Hills at Legacy College Prep

Yeshiva d. Acaciawood, 3-1

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

(Matches at 6 p.m. unless noted)

SECOND ROUND

DIVISION 4

Corona Santiago at Woodcrest Christian

Crescenta Valley at Westlake

Western at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 1 p.m.

Santa Barbara at Santa Ana Foothill

Fontana at Dos Pueblos, 2 p.m.

Thousand Oaks at Crean Lutheran

Sage Hill at Pasadena Poly, 4 p.m.

Long Beach Wilson at Royal

DIVISION 6

Corona Centennial at Village Christian

Westminster La Quinta at Oxford Academy

Rancho Cucamonga at OC Pacifica Christian

La Canada at Laguna Blanca, 4 p.m.

Yucaipa at Anaheim

El Toro at Norwalk

DIVISION 7

Aquinas at San Gabriel Academy, 8:30 p.m.

DIVISION 8

Miller at Lancaster Desert Christian, 3 p.m.

Montclair at Carpinteria

Highland at Katella, 4:30 p.m.

Nuview Bridge at Southlands Christian

Channel Islands at Magnolia

Century at Wildwood, 2 p.m. at Willows School

Orange Vista at Avalon

Here are the local athletes who have signed letters of intent in the spring signing period.

De Smet Jesuit

Baseball

Brayden Wakula to Rockhurst University

Basketball

Owen Duff to Quincy University

Cross country and Track & Field

Will Poelker to Mercer University

Soccer

Jack Saladin to Truman State University

Brady Smith to Bellarmine University

Sean Sossou to Quincy University

Landon Weber to Creighton University

Volleyball

Evan Strahlendorf to Southwest Baptist University

Water polo

Cooper Venneman to Mercyhurst University

Eureka

Softball

Brooke Belosi to Ellsworth Community College

Basketball

Jack Cubbage to Washington University

Lacrosse

Belle DeRennaux to University of Montevallo

Wrestling

Addison Neumann to Central Methodist University

Track & Field

Noelle Reed to Missouri Baptist University

Baseball

Michael Siebels to Jefferson County Community College

Incarnate Word Academy

Golf

Gia Moresi to Ava Maria University

Soccer

Khiyah Perkins  to McKendree University

Alyssa Beasly to Grand View University

Dance

Kaitlin Savage to Rockhurst University

Bowling

Meghan Fowlie to Central Missouri State University

Lafayette

Cross country and Track & Field

Michael D’Andrea to Missouri S & T

Daniel D’Andrea to Missouri S & T

Volleyball

Alexander Griffon to McKendree

Ethan Tran to Maryville University

Football

Jake Ference to Northern Illinois University

Wrestling

Hannah Henderson to Oklahoma State University

Aidan Schoen to Grand View University

Baseball

James Dolley to Gateway Community College

Dance

Lydia Werk to Iowa State University

Lacrosse

Drake Smola to Quincy University

Marquette

Baseball

Aaron Akin to Mineral Area Community College

Basketball

Sydney Bode to Hope College

Soccer

Keira Bumiller to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Zoe Bumiller to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Lacrosse

Izzy Homfray to Drury University

Football

Malik Johnson to Missouri Baptist University

Cameron Kossmann to University of Florida

Witt Tatum to Truman State University

Softball

Aubrey Watson to Maryville University

Water polo

Nevaeh Kerber to Wagner College

Parkway Central

Volleyball

William Biggs to Wentworth College

Parkway South

Basketball

Ava McCulla to Missouri S&T

Josie Portell to University of Illinois

Noah Barnes to St. Louis Community College

Football

August Johansen to Carroll University

Mansa Lyons to Culver-Stockton College  

Priory

Football

Davis Weas to DePauw

Tennis

John Varley to Saint Louis University

Esports

Andrew Broder to Maryville

Baseball

Connor Stone to Rockhurst

Westminster Christian Academy

Softball

Paige Branstetter to Truman State University

Soccer

Landon Cassidy to Eastern Illinois University

Cross country and Track & Field

Anna Drochelman to Truman State University

Stunt

Jadyn Mueller to Maryville University

Golf

Sophie Nall to Evangel University

Lacrosse

Lauren Pollack to Calvin University

Volleyball

AJ Snyder to Greenville University

Beach volleyball

Rebekah Thoenen to Arizona Christian University

Baseball

Asher Waitkus to Rockhurst University

Football

Isaiah Warren to University of Central Missouri