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Fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups featuring Ben Rice, Kyren Paris and more

Published

8 months ago

April 11, 2025

Fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups featuring Ben Rice, Kyren Paris and more

Even though it’s very early into the 2025 fantasy baseball season, many of you might be looking at a roster that only partially resembles the team you drafted. Since roster churn is the name of the game, I’m running it back with your favorite speculator piece with my patented data-backed, formulaic approach to discover next week’s waiver wire headliners … today.

Going position by position, I mine my favorite obscure player statistics regarding control, batted ball quality and swing-and-miss ability. Then I mash them together to identify some cheap gems to grab before the squares figure it out next week. At the bottom, I rank my favorite available players around the diamond, two-start pitchers and speculative adds.

Access The Athletic’s guide for abbreviations used in fantasy baseball.

Hitters

When it comes to hitting, opportunity may be king, but we still need production — which comes from underlying skills. Scores of studies have proven the impact of exit velocity and its direct relationship with slugging percentage, so raw power is always a great place to start. The list below utilizes contact quality, paired with advanced statistics and, last but not least, pulled fly balls/line drives — because staying on-brand matters.

Ranking available hitters

POS	TEAM	PA	ZC%	HH%	XWOBA
OF	TBR	29	100.0%	57.1%	0.399
1B/OF	BAL	32	96.8%	44.0%	0.366
3B	PIT	46	93.2%	50.0%	0.372
3B	BAL	35	91.4%	42.3%	0.351
1B	CHW	35	90.9%	59.3%	0.351
2B/OF	SEA	30	87.5%	42.1%	0.401
C	TEX	21	87.0%	52.9%	0.384
OF	NYY	33	85.7%	52.2%	0.459
C	MIN	29	85.7%	42.9%	0.404
C	CHW	26	85.3%	53.3%	0.345

Hitters in this table have +86% zone-contact, +43% hard-hit, a +.345 expected weighted on-base average and a minimum of 20 plate appearances.

You’d think all the hubbub surrounding torpedo bats in the Bronx would’ve vaulted New York’s designated hitter Ben Rice into universal rostership, but that’s not the case thus far. Still just 40% rostered on Yahoo, Rice offers more than just power, and his balanced 5×5 production thus far — .305 BA/9 R/4 RBI/3 HR/2 SB — could be foretelling a monster breakout on the horizon.

For starters, he’s penciled in the lineup every day, and he even played his way into a top-two lineup spot in six of the past seven games. Rice represents your prototypical Bronx Bomber — he’s patient (16.3% BB), doesn’t chase (19.0% O-Swing) and possesses tons of pop (72.75 HH%, 28.0 Barrel%, .622 xwOBAcon). I’m not sure what’s stopping fantasy managers from adding Rice, but just make sure you’re not one of them.

What waiver wire article would be complete without mentioning Earth’s hottest hitter, Kyren Paris? The 23-year-old former second-round pick finally finds himself in a full-time role for the Angels after playing terribly through two short cups of coffee since 2023 — 105 PA, .110 BA, .378 OPS, 32.4% K, 10 wRC+. Yikes. Apparently, all it takes to turn your entire career around is a trip to see Aaron Judge’s swing doctor, Richard Schenck.

Better known as “Teacherman,” the unorthodox hitting coach must be doing something right if his pupil’s production is any indication — Paris is the first player in American League history with 5 HR and 4 SB in his first 10 games played of a season. Wow. This type of potential breakout should never be ignored, so check if he’s available before reading another word. That said, temper expectations before betting on an Ohtani-esque 50 HR/50 SB season — there are still some holes in his disciplinary metrics (17.0% SwStr, 78.6% Zone-Contact) that could be taken advantage of as scouting reports develop.

Unfortunately, injuries are a major, yet inevitable, part of fantasy baseball — and it’s a fantasy manager’s ability to respond to their subsequent effects that separates the wheat from the chaff. When Arizona signed infielder Geraldo Perdomo to a one-year, $2.25M deal this offseason, it felt more like an afterthought in fantasy circles than anything. Perdomo has never eclipsed 500 PA in a season, nor consistently cracked the bottom third of the Diamondbacks lineup.

Well, that all changed when superstar Ketel Marte hurt his hamstring and is now set to miss “significant time.” Perdomo, who was already playing every game, now slides into the two-hole for the D-backs. Do not underestimate the impact of a significant lineup boost, people. Not only are plate appearances the universal commodity in this game of ours, but he’s now set to see a huge boost in counting stats, given his profile. The 25-year-old shortstop boasts an elite plate approach (3.4% SwStr, 17.3% O-Swing, 95.0% Zone-Contact), which should provide a nice batting average in the middle of a good lineup with just enough power and speed to move the needle.

Top hitter waiver wire adds, by position

Catcher

Hunter Goodman (COL): 10+ teams
Sean Murphy (ATL): 12+ teams
Carson Kelly (CHC): 12/15 teams
Ryan Jeffers (MIN): 12/15 teams
Dillon Dingler (DET): 15+ teams
Pedro Pagés (STL): 15+ teams
Matt Thaiss (CHW): AL only
Austin Wynns (CIN): NL only

First Base

Ben Rice (NYY): 10+ teams
Jonathan Aranda (TB): 12+ teams
Andrew Vaughn (CHW): 12/15 teams
Ryan O’Hearn (BAL): 12/15 teams
Ty France (MIN): 12/15 teams
Kyle Manzardo (CLE): 15+ teams
Donovan Solano (SEA): AL only
Enmanuel Valdéz (PIT): NL only

Second Base

Kyren Paris (LAA): 10+ teams
Gavin Lux (CIN): 12+ teams
Colt Keith (DET): 12/15 teams
Max Muncy (ATH): 12/15 teams
Michael Massey (KC): 15+ teams
Tim Tawa (ARI): 15+ teams
Tsung-Che Cheng (PIT): 15+ teams
Will Wagner (TOR): AL only
Thomas Saggese (STL): NL only

Shortstop

Geraldo Perdomo (ARI): 10+ teams
Jacob Wilson (ATH): 12+ teams
Isiah Kiner-Falefa (PIT): 12+ teams ***
Tyler Fitzgerald (SF): 12/15 teams
Trey Sweeney (DET): 15+ teams
Taylor Walls (TB): 15+ teams
Jacob Amaya (CHW): AL only
Edmundo Sosa (PHI): NL only
Nick Allen (ATL): NL only

Third Base

Ke’Bryan Hayes (PIT): 10+ teams
Jorge Polanco (SEA): 10/12 teams
Ramón Urías (BAL): 12+ teams
Gabriel Arias (CLE): 12/15 teams
Joey Ortiz (MIL): 12/15 teams
Miguel Vargas (CHW): 15+ teams
Graham Pauley (MIA): 15+ teams
Oswaldo Cabrera (NYY): AL only
Santiago Espinal (CIN): NL only

Outfield, 10/12 teams

Jung Hoo Lee (SF) ***
Heston Kjerstad (BAL)
Pavin Smith (ARI)
Jordan Walker (STL)
Zac Veen (COL)

Outfield, 12/15 teams

Sal Frelick (MIL)
Kameron Misner (TB)
Trent Grisham (NYY)
Jake Mangum (TB) ***
Kyle Stowers (MIA)

Outfield 15+ teams only

Leody Taveras (TEX)
Trevor Larnach (MIN)
Alek Thomas (ARI)
Gavin Sheets (SD)
Alan Roden (TOR)
Mickey Moniak (COL)
Zach McKinstry (DET)
Harrison Bader (MIN)
Mike Yastrzemski (SF)
Jake Meyers (HOU) ***
Ryan Kreidler (DET) – AL only
Davis Schneider (TOR) – AL only
Oscar Gonzalez (SD) – NL only
Dane Myers (MIA) – NL only

*** = Prioritize for speed

Graduating class

Players from previous articles no longer under 50% rostered (Yahoo) who should be rostered first

Keibert Ruiz (C, WAS)
Spencer Torkelson (1B, DET)
Tyler Soderstrom (1B, ATH)
Willi Castro (2B/SS/3B, MIN)
Victor Scott (OF, STL)

Hitter stash candidates

Nick Kurtz (1B, ATH) — Depending on Tyler Soderstrom’s injury, Kurtz’s call-up could be imminent.
Austin Hays (OF, CIN) — He’s on a rehab assignment, and the Reds desperately need his bat.
Roman Anthony (OF, BOS)
Marcelo Mayer (SS, BOS)
Nick Yorke (2B, PIT)

Hitter drop candidates

Cam Smith (3B, HOU)
Victor Robles (OF, SEA)
Jose Miranda (3B, MIN)
Jordan Beck (OF, COL)
Orlando Arcia (SS, ATL)

Pitchers

As far as pitching goes, the thesis couldn’t be simpler — do our best to avoid any bias attached to surface stats (outputs) by instead focusing on underlying metrics (inputs). The most important SP skills are suppressing runs by keeping runners off base and striking out batters. Though simply showing up on this list so early may be noise, there’s an argument that this combination of skills signals an immediate call to action.

Ranking available starters

TEAM	IP	xERA	WHIP	K-BB%
TOR	10.1	2.01	0.68	21.1%
COL	19.0	2.58	1.00	19.7%
PIT	12.0	2.60	0.92	21.3%
LAA	12.1	2.81	0.97	19.6%
STL	12.1	3.26	1.14	22.4%

Pitchers in this table have a ≤3.75 expected earned run average, ≤1.20 WHIP, +20.0% strikeout minus walk rate, with a minimum of five innings pitched.

Similar to hitters, the season’s opening month provides an opportunity to front-run players with tremendous ceiling potential before they become household names. Enter Landen Roupp, San Francisco’s right-handed hurler, who won an opening day rotation spot against tough competition.

File this next speculation under “better to be a week early than a day late.” The recent injury tsunami just swallowed Minnesota’s ace starter Pablo López, leaving a rotation spot open in the Twin City. While it hasn’t been announced yet, I’m guessing it could be 24-year-old Zebby Matthews, who is next in line — and his potential is massive. Why churn through mediocre free agents when you can aim high on ceiling outcomes that could single-handedly swing your fantasy team’s trajectory?

Matthews doesn’t have much left to prove after dominating the minors over 96 IP in 2024 (2.60 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 28.6% K-BB) and following it up with just as sharp an encore this season in Triple A (1.80 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, 33.3% K-BB). Matthews has an excellent four-seam fastball with two devastating secondaries — slider and changeup. Sure, he struggled in his first taste of MLB action last season. Who cares? If anything, I hope that small sample will deter your league mates from scooping up Matthews before you get a chance.

There’s also a chance the Twinkies turn to righty David Festa, who has some upside. I’m more worried about his command than Matthews’, plus Festa just got hit around by the Columbus Clippers last time out (3.1 IP, 10 Hits, 5 ER). Even if Matthews doesn’t get the first crack, the price suppression to add him could be worth it. He’s the guy I want for the rest of the season, and I don’t mind playing the long game — it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Top waiver wire pitcher adds

Finding Mr. Right: Starters who could stick all year

Jack Leiter (TEX)
Landen Roupp (SF)
Max Meyer (MIA) ^^^
Matthew Boyd (CHC)
Tyler Mahle (TEX) ^^^
Cade Povich (BAL)
Jackson Jobe (DET)
Griffin Canning (NYM)
Hayden Wesneski (HOU)
Easton Lucas (TOR) ^^^
Matthew Liberatore (STL)

Team Streamers: Hold and deploy from the bench

Edward Cabrera (MIA) — He could start as soon as Friday, April 11.
Sean Burke (CHW)
Jordan Hicks (SF)
Shane Smith (CHW)
Kumar Rocker (TEX)
Will Warren (NYY)
Nick Martinez (CIN)
José Soriano (LAA)
AJ Smith-Shawver (ATL)
Martín Pérez (CHW)
Osvaldo Bido (ATH)
Mitchell Parker (WAS)
Landon Knack (LAD)
Ben Brown (CHC)

One-and-done: Pitch-and-ditch desperation plays

Richard Fitts (BOS)
Zack Littell (TB)
JP Sears (ATH)
Kyle Hart (SD)
Kyle Hendricks (LAA)
Davis Martin (CHW)
Jack Kochanowicz (LAA)
Carson Spiers (CIN)
Taijuan Walker (PHI)
Germán Márquez (COL)
Randy Vasquez (SD)
Brad Lord (WAS)
Andrew Heaney (PIT)

^^^ = Riser

Pitcher stash candidates

Zebby Matthews (MIN)
Braxton Ashcraft (PIT) — Like David Festa, Ashcraft could get the first shot over Bubba Chandler even if he’s my close second choice for the long haul.
Lucas Giolito (BOS) — He looked sharp in a 3.1 IP rehab outing for the Woo Sox.
David Festa (MIN)
Bubba Chandler (PIT)
Hayden Birdsong (SF)
Kyle Gibson (BAL)

Pitcher drop candidates

Reynaldo López (SP, ATL)
Thomas Harrington (SP, PIT)
Mike Clevinger (RP, CHW)
Calvin Faucher (RP, MIA)

Relievers

Luke Jackson (TEX)
Dennis Santana (PIT)
José Alvarado (PHI)
Tommy Kahnle (DET)
Seth Halvorsen (COL)
Emilio Pagán, (CIN)
Tony Santillan (CIN)
Anthony Bender (MIA)
Camilo Doval (SF)
Victor Vodnik (COL)
Jordan Leasure (CHW)

Graduating class

Players from previous articles no longer under 50% rostered (Yahoo) who should be rostered first

Kris Bubic (SP, KC)

Ranking next week’s available two-start pitchers

PLAYER	TEAM	OPP.	OPP. SP	OPP.	OPP. SP
Jake Irvin	WAS	at PIT	Mitch Keller	at COL	Antonio Senzatela
Brad Lord	WAS	at PIT	Paul Skenes	at COL	Kyle Freeland
Tyler Alexander	MIL	vs. DET	Tarik Skubal	vs. ATH	Jeffrey Springs
Patrick Corbin	TEX	vs. LAA	Yusei Kikuchi	vs. LAD	Dustin May
Carlos Carrasco	NYY	vs. KC	Seth Lugo	at TB	Ryan Pepiot
Logan Allen	CLE	at BAL	Charlie Morton	at PIT	Mitch Keller
Connor Gillispie	MIA	vs. ARI	Merrill Kelly	at PHI	Jesus Luzardo
Antonio Senzatela	COL	at LAD	Dustin May	vs. WAS	Jake Irvin

That’s a wrap! I hope you enjoyed the second speculative piece on the 2025 season.

For more MLB news, follow me on X @JohnLaghezza.

(Top photo of Ben Rice: Justin K. Aller / Getty Images)

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Baylor’s Ezekiel one of three finalists for The Bowerman

Published

29 seconds ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

GRAPEVINE, Texas – Baylor’s first-ever finalist for college track & field’s most prestigious honor, reigning NCAA outdoor 400-meter hurdles champion Nathaniel Ezekiel will join the two other male finalists and three female semifinalists for The Bowerman Presentation on Thursday at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center.

Hosted by ESPN broadcaster and former University of Indiana runner Larra Overton, The Bowerman Presentation will be streamed live by RunnerSpace beginning at 6:30 p.m. with the red-carpet entrance to the Grapevine Ballroom. The Bowerman is given annually to the top collegiate track and field men’s and women’s athlete of the year.

A nine-time All-American and six-time Big 12 champion, Ezekiel capped off his collegiate career by winning the NCAA outdoor 400-meter hurdles title with a school-record time of 47.49. He also broke the school indoor mark in the 400 meters (44.74), winning the silver medal at the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships.

Ezekiel, who represented his native Nigeria at the 2024 Olympics in the 400 hurdles, turned pro this summer and finished fourth at the World Track and Field Championships with a Nigerian-record time of 47.11.

The other male finalists are Ja’Kobe Tharp from Auburn, who won NCAA championships in the indoor 60-meter hurdles and outdoor 110-meter hurdles; and Arkansas sprinter Jordan Anthony, who swept NCAA titles in the indoor 60 meters and outdoor 100 meters.

On the women’s side, the finalists are distance runner Pamela Kosgei from New Mexico, 3,000-meter steeplechaser Doris Lemngole from Alabama and 400-meter hurdler Savannah Sutherland from Michigan. Five of the six schools have finalists for the first time in their programs’ history.

Last year’s winners were University of Texas decathlete Leo Neugebauer and record-setting distance runner Parker Valby from Florida.

The RunnerSpace live stream is available at: https://the-bowerman-presentation.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?event_id=14920&do=videos&video_id=436664

For the latest news on the Baylor track and field team all year long, follow its official Facebook, X and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.

– BaylorBears.com-

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Three-Time National Champion Sits Atop Women’s Volleyball Postseason Poll

Published

7 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The 2025 NAIA Women’s Volleyball Postseason Poll is topped by Indiana Wesleyan after the Wildcats won their third Red Banner in three years.

Both Indiana Wesleyan and Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) made moves up seven spots in the postseason poll. Nine other teams made a move up, including Cornerstone (Mich.) and Huntington (Ind.), who joined the Top 25 from receiving votes. Three teams remained at the same rank as the final season edition of the Top 25: Concordia (Neb.), Corban (Ore.) and Mobile (Ala.).

Receiving Votes: Northwest (Wash.) 44, Park (Mo.) 43, Taylor (Ind.) 35, Southern Oregon 29, Walla Walla (Wash.) 28, Marian (Ind.) 20, Montana-Northern 19, Nelson (Texas) 14, Columbia International (S.C.) 14, Grand View (Iowa) 12, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 5, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 3, OUAZ(Ariz.) 3, Bethel (Kan.) 2

Poll Methodology

The national poll is for publicity purposes only and does not influence the selection process for national championship consideration.
A panel of head coaches representing each conference and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) votes in the poll.
The Top 25 teams are selected using a points-based system:
- 30 points for a 1st-place vote, 29 for 2nd, 28 for 3rd, and so on.
The highest and lowest rankings received by each team are discarded before final tallying.
Teams receiving only one point are not listed as “receiving votes.”
For the Preseason Poll, there is no “previous ranking” column since it is the initial poll and differs from the prior rating system.

Key: RV – Receiving Votes, NR – Not Ranked, ▲– Climbed, ▼– Dropped, ● – Steady

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KWHS senior Madyn Waring signs to Oregon State for track & field

Published

16 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CASPER, Wyo. –– Kelly Walsh High School athlete Madyn Waring will compete in track and field at Oregon State University.

The KW senior held a signing ceremony on Tuesday with family and classmates to announce the signing, which will take her to Corvallis, Oregon, a region known for its quality college track and field athletics.

“It’s really exciting,” she said. “They compete a lot of their outdoor meets at Hayward Field in Eugene, which is like a track capital of the world. So many people don’t get to compete there in their lifetimes, so to be able to compete there is really exciting.”

As an added bonus, OSU has joined the PAC 12 starting next year. “Maybe having a chance at that PAC 12 title is really cool,” she added.

Waring said that OSU is particularly unique because they feature only women’s track, with no men’s team at all. “I like to have the attention on me, as you most likely know,” she joked while addressing the assembled crowd. “That was kind of a bonus.”

Waring said she had considered a number of other schools over the previous year, including an Ivy League school and even the Navel Academy. She made a visit to Boise State at one point, but was quickly won over by OSU. “I decided that it was the better fit and aligned more with what I was wanting in a college experience.”

Waring’s high school athletic skills were strong on the basketball and volleyball courts, but she fell in love with track & field, and decided it offered more options in her college career. “It was always [more] about the school than the sport,” she said.

“What I like about track is it’s all on me,” she continued. “So while coaching can help me a lot and I have teammates, it really comes down to how I perform and the effort I put in myself.”

She’s looking at competing in the heptathlon, which includes seven events over two days. “I don’t think I would ever get bored, there’s always something to grow in,” she said, adding that she has never tried the javelin since Wyoming doesn’t offer that activity. “I think my volleyball arm might lend itself well to that,” she said.

Outside of sports, Waring is excited to pursue a degree in environmental engineering, and OSU has been listed as an R1 research institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

“It checks all the boxes in that way,” said Waring.

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NTDP/WNT Athletes Ready to Shine in 2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Semifinals

Published

23 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec 16, 2025) – From the NTDP courts to the NCAA semifinals, the impact of USA Volleyball’s development pipeline is on full display once again. Athletes and coaches from all four teams will bring rich experience from NTDP programs and U.S. national teams, showing how the pathway continues to prepare players and staff for the sport’s biggest stages.

The NCAA semifinals are set for Thursday, Dec. 18. No. 1 Pitt and No. 3 Texas A&M square off in the first semifinal at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by No. 1 Kentucky and No. 3 Wisconsin, 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first match. Both matches are live on ESPN.

The final is December 21 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Pitt

Pitt’s roster is led by 2025 U.S. Women’s National Team athlete Olivia Babcock, who competed with the team during Volleyball Nations League. She also helped the senior national team earn silver at the 2024 NORCECA Pan American Cup Final Six.

Fifty-eight percent of Pitt’s NTDP-eligible roster (international athletes not included) have either participated in an NTDP Training Series or with an age-group national team.

Blaire Bayless: 2024-25 U21 National Team (2024 U21 Continental Championships, gold; 2025 U21 Pan Am Cup, gold); 2023 U19 National Team (2023 Pan Am Cup, gold and MVP)
Abbey Emch: 2025 U19 National Team (2025 U19 World Championship, silver)
Bre Kelley: 2022-23 U21 National Team (2022 U21 Pan Am Cup, gold; 2023 U21 Pan Am Cup, gold); 2018 U18 National Team (2018 U18 Continental Championship, gold)

Babcock, Bayless, Emch, Sophia Gregoire, Ryla Jones and Haiti Tautua’a are all NTDP Training Series athletes.

Head coach Dan Fisher brings extensive USA Volleyball history to Pitt’s sideline, including coaching stints with the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams. He’s also led age-group national teams to multiple Pan American Cup golds. Fisher and assistant coaches Kamalani Akeo and Kellen Petrone hVW also both coached with NTDP.

Texas A&M

Texas A&M’s emergence this season reflects its deep ties to NTDP.

Ifenna Cos-Okpalla was MVP and Best Blocker of the gold-medal winning 2025 U23 Pan Am Cup team, and Logan Lednicky was part of the 2025 Women’s National Team, competing in weeks one and two of Volleyball Nations League. Kirra Musgrove was on the 2024 Girls U19 National Team.

Sixty-nine percent of TAMU’s NTDP-eligible roster (international athletes not included) have either participated in an NTDP Training Series or with an age-group national team.

Musgrove, Addi Applegate, Megan Fitch, Lexi Guinn, Margot Manning, Taryn Morris, Morgan Perkins, Ava Underwood and Maddie Waak are all NTDP Training Series athletes.

Head coach Jamie Morrison brings world-class credentials from his years with both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, as well as leading multiple age-group national teams to gold medals.

TAMU Director of Analytics Joe Skinner is a former coach with the U.S. Men’s Sitting National Team (helping lead them to the 2016 Paralympic Games) and has also coached with NTDP, as has assistant coach Jeff Fiorenza.

Kentucky

Kentucky continues its proud NTDP tradition, led by Brooklyn DeLeye, MVP of the 2024 and 2025 U21 NORCECA events, and Eva Hudson, who played for the 2025 U.S. Women’s U23 National Team and the 2024 senior national team. DeLeye was also part of the 2023 U19 National Team.

Seventy-one percent of Kentucky’s NTDP-eligible roster (international athletes not included) have either participated in an NTDP Training Series or with an age-group national team.

Eva Hudson: 2025 U23 National Team (U23 Pan Am Cup, gold); 2024 Women’s National Team (Pan Am Cup Final Six, silver); 2024 Women’s National Team Spring Training; 2023 U21 National Team (U21 Pan Am Cup, gold)
Brooke Bultema: 2025 U23 National Team
Molly Tuozzo: 2025 U21 National Team

Hannah Benjamin, Bultema, Jordyn Dailey, Kassie O’Brien, Asia Thigpen, Kennedy Washington and Georgia Watson are all NTDP Training Series athletes.

Associate head coach Meredith Jewell and assistant coach Kyle Luongo have both worked within NTDP.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin showcases a strong NTDP background, with Carter Booth also having senior U.S. National Team experience.

Sixty-nine percent of Wisconsin’s NTDP-eligible roster (international athletes not included) have either participated in an NTDP Training Series or with an age-group national team.

Carter Booth: 2024 Women’s National Team (Pan Am Cup Final Six, silver); 2020-21 U20 National Team; 2019 U18 National Team (U18 World Championship, gold)
Mimi Colyer: 2023 U21 National Team
Charlie Fuerbringer: 2025 U21 National Team; 2023 U19 National Team (U19 World Championship, gold); 2022 U19 National Team
Natalie Wardlow: 2025 U19 National Team; 2024 U19 National Team
Aniya Warren: 2025 U19 National Team; 2024 U19 National Team (U19 Continental Championship, gold)

Colyer, Grace Egan, Fuerbringer, Addy Horner, Madison Quest, Kristen Simon, Wardlow and Warren all have NTDP Training Series experience.

Assistant coach Lauren Carlini, a 2024 Olympian and longtime Women’s National Team setter, brings elite experience to the Badgers’ bench, and assistant coach Brittany Dildine has worked with NTDP.

From collegiate courts to the international arena, NTDP athletes continue to elevate the level of play. As the NCAA semifinals unfold, these connections underscore USA Volleyball’s commitment to developing world-class talent, with coaches and players alike from youth programs to the highest stages of competition.

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Three Husker volleyball players make first-team All-America

Published

39 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Andi Jackson, Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly all earned first-team All-American honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association on Wednesday. Rebekah Allick was recognized on the second team.

It was the second straight year that Jackson was voted on to the first team. She set a Big Ten record for hitting percentage in conference games at .559 this season.

Murray and Reilly each earned a spot on the AVCA All-American team for the third season in a row, but made the first team for the first time this year. It was the first All-American honor for Allick in her fourth year of college.

For the Creighton Bluejays, Ava Martin and Kiara Reinhardt were voted onto the second team, while Annalea Maeder joined the third team.

All three Bluejays on the AVCA team are seniors, and this year’s team is the 14th in a row that included a Creighton player.

A committee of 11 Division I volleyball coaches selects the 42 players that make up the first, second and third teams for the prestigious honor.

Nebraska tied with Kentucky and Texas A&M for the most players on the first, second or third teams, with four players each. Creighton was next in line with three players.

The Huskers and Bluejays are among seven schools to place more than one All-American on the AVCA team for five years straight, joining Kentucky, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Stanford and Wisconsin.

Both in-state programs dropped a match in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament last weekend.

NU fell, 3-2, against Texas A&M. The Cornhuskers ended the campaign 33-1 under first-year coach Dani Busboom Kelly. Only one team in school history has finished the season undefeated. That was the 2000 squad, former head coach John Cook’s first in Lincoln.

Creighton lost to Kentucky in a 3-0 sweep. The Bluejays were also under a first-year head coach, Brian Rosen, who led the program to its second consecutive and third-ever Elite Eight appearance. It finished the season with a 28-6 record and a 16-0 conference record.

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Utah State Volleyball’s Kaylie Kofe Earns AVCA All-American Honorable Mention

Published

54 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State volleyball sophomore setter Kaylie Kofe earned AVCA All-American honorable mention, the organization announced on Wednesday.

This is only the fifth AVCA All-America honors in program history for Utah State and the first since Liz McArthur also earned honorable mention in 2010.

Kofe led the Aggie offense to a program-record .274 hitting percentage this season, ranking third in the nation with 11.08 assists per set and also earning Mountain West Player of the Year honors. Kofe is the only player in the nation with three matches of 60 or more assists. Her 1,330 total assists this season ranks fifth all-time at USU while she already sits in eighth for career assists at Utah State with 2,290. Kofe also added 32 kills, 28 aces, 285 digs and 37 total blocks on the year.

Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.

– USU –

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