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

 

ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Winthrop University track & field squads head down to Columbia to start the 2026 leg of their indoor campaign on Saturday at the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex. 

Gamecock Opener
WHO	Allen, Bahamas Unattached, Benedict, Bethune-Cookman, Claflin, Columbia (S.C.), Denver Track Club, LaGrange, North Carolina Wesleyan, SC State, South Carolina, Southern Wesleyan, TrackmasterzNC, Unattached, USC-Beaufort, Winthrop
WHEN	Saturday, Jan. 10 | 10:00 a.m. | EDT
WHERE	Columbia, S.C.  | Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex
LIVE RESULTS	Live Results
MEET SCHEDULE	Schedule
SHOP	Find all your needs for Winthrop gear – ShopWinthropeagles | ShopWinthropGear | Winthrop NIL Store
SOCIAL MEDIA	Instagram – @winthroptrackxc | Twitter (X) @winthroptrackxc / @WUEagles | Facebook | #ROCKtheHILL | #EverStand

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ABOUT THE EAGLES 

• Winthrop opened its season in Winston-Salem 
• Newly minted head coach Raffael Craig guides the Eagles in his first season at the helm 
• “I’m proud of the work they have all put in,” said Craig. “This first meet will be a good opportunity to see where we are at heading into the holiday season.” 
• The men’s squad returns 25, adding ten newcomers 
• The women’s squad returns 16, and adds 13 new athletes 

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RECAP OF LAST MEET 

• Freshman Carina Fiorucci delivered one of the day’s highlights with a 3.30m clearance in the women’s pole vault, moving her to fourth all-time in program history. 
• Senior Faith Wood added another top performance in the women’s triple jump, finishing with an 11.62m mark that ranks fifth all-time for the Eagles. 
• On the men’s side, senior Timothy Speaks broke into the Winthrop top five in the weight throw, placing fifth overall with a 16.24m toss that now stands fifth all-time.  
• The men ignited the afternoon with a sweep of school records on the track. Junior Shane King opened the run with a 21.85 performance in the 200m, securing the win and breaking the long-standing indoor school record of 21.89 set in 2007. Teammate Michael Boucher also climbed the charts, posting a 22.09 claiming the #4 all-time spot. 
• The momentum continued in the 600m, where junior Kendale Cooke stormed to a 1:23.11 finish to take the event to win and shatter the program record. Juniors Jurnii Lucas (1:24.01) and Darrell Price (1:24.58) followed close behind, slotting into #2 and #3 all-time, respectively. 
• Winthrop closed the meet wiht another solid time, as Price, King, Lucas, and Cooke combined to win the men’s 4x400m relay in 3:18.06.
• On the women’s side, junior Jordan Bailem turned in a strong showing in the 60m hurdles, running 8.85 to earn fourth all-time in program history. 

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LOOKING BACK ON 24-25 

VMI INVITATIONAL (JAN. 24-25) 

• Kevin Brown won the men’s 300m in 34.68, topping the field on VMI’s banked oval. 
• Faith Wood claimed runner-up in the women’s triple jump at 11.61m. 
• Timothy Speaks opened the weekend with 3rd in the 35lb weight throw at 16.54m. 
• Maurion Jamison finished 8th in the triple jump with a 14.15m effort. 

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GAMECOCK CHALLENGE (FEB. 1) 

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DOC HALE INVITATIONAL & LIBERTY OPEN (Feb. 7-8) 

• Kevin Brown took 3rd in the 60m at Virginia Tech (6.79) and added 7th in the 200m (21.86). 
• Maurion Jamison placed 8th in the triple jump at 14.03m. 

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USC INDOOR INVITE (Feb. 22) 

• Maddie Spenner finished 8th in the women’s weight throw (12.96m). 
• Maurion Jamison finished 3rd in the men’s triple jump at 14.25m. 
• Timothy Speaks placed 3rd in the shot put (13.94m) and 5th in the weight throw (16.06m). 
• Logan Ruehl finished 5th in the men’s shot put (13.63m). 
• Jade Reese placed 8th in the 200m (26.23). 
• The women’s DMR took 2nd, with returners Kayah Marques and Morgan Ruff contributing. 
• The men’s 4×400 relay took 2nd in 3:13.91 with returners Cooke, Lucas, Brown, and King. 

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BIG SOUTH INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – DAY ONE (Feb. 28) 

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BIG SOUTH INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – DAY TWO (Mar. 1) 

• Maurion Jamison repeated as Big South champion in the triple jump with 14.58m. 
• Kevin Brown earned runner-up in the 60m with a 6.81. 
• The men’s 4×400 (returners Cooke, Lucas, Brown, King) grabbed 3rd in 3:14.86. 
• Faith Wood and Jaelyn Lynch finished Top-8 in the women’s triple jump. 
• Maya Flynn cleared 2.90m for 8th in the pole vault. 
• Faith Wood and Jurnii Lucas were named to the Big South All-Academic Team. 

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JOIN THE EAGLE CLUB
The Eagle Club is the official fundraising arm of Winthrop Athletics. Your generosity directly supports Winthrop Athletics and helps provide our student-athletes with the resources they need to succeed on and off the field. From facility upgrades and enhanced game-day experiences to scholarships, equipment, travel, and academic support, every dollar makes a difference.
By investing in the Eagle Club, you’re helping us build a stronger future for Winthrop Athletics—one that prioritizes excellence, opportunity, and a championship culture.

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WINTHROP IMPACT NETWORK

Winthrop Athletics is proud to announce the launch of WIN: Winthrop’s Impact Network- a distinguished philanthropic giving society established to support and elevate Winthrop’s 16 NCAA Division I programs and nearly 300 student-athletes.

In the new era of college athletics, it is critical now more than ever to generate revenue to provide Winthrop student-athletes with the resources and opportunities needed to compete for Big South championships and advance in the NCAA tournament. Winthrop’s Impact Network members will have an elite level of direct impact on the future of Winthrop Athletics. For more information, click here.

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To keep up with the latest news on the Winthrop track& field programs, follow the Eagles on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

CLEVELAND— The Mid-American Conference announced its Academic All-MAC honorees for the 2025 cross country season today. 12 RedHawks (eight men and four women) were recognized:
 
Nick Dunn, Sophomore, Nursing
Ben Fahnestock, Sophomore, Kinesiology
Tom Heal, Senior, Biology/Premedical & Pre-Health Studies
Anton Martinez, Senior, Data Science and Statistics
Weston Naville, Senior, Healthcare Sales/Kinesiology
Chris Perkins, Junior, Chemical Engineering
Josh Razor, Junior, Engineering Management
Patrick Wills, Senior, Political Science
Linda Conchetto, Sophomore, Chemical Engineering
Cara Naas, Sophomore, Nursing
Cara Razavi, Junior, Biology/Premedical & Pre-Health Studies
Nora Zubillaga, Senior, Biochemistry
 
To qualify for the Academic All-MAC Team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests scheduled or completed in the particular sport. First-year students and any transfer in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
 
The complete list of honorees is available here.
 

ESPN and League One Volleyball (LOVB), the largest brand in youth volleyball, have announced their distribution schedule for LOVB’s 2026 women’s volleyball season. ESPN will present 28 matches across ESPN platforms beginning Sunday, Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET with LOVB Atlanta vs. LOVB Austin on ESPN2, building on a historic year for women’s volleyball across ESPN platforms in which the 2025 NCAA Tournament and regular season delivered record viewership and year-over-year growth.

The ESPN season opener from H-E-B Center at Cedar Park in Austin, Texas, features last year’s No. 1 regular-season team, LOVB Atlanta, as it seeks revenge in its first match since falling to eventual champions LOVB Austin in last season’s semifinals. Atlanta, led by hometown hero Tia Jamerson, faces Madisen Skinner and a LOVB Austin squad featuring eight former Longhorns.

The opening weekend also features LOVB Nebraska hosting LOVB Houston at 4 p.m. on ESPN+, spotlighting hometown favorite Lexi Rodriguez as she steps into a featured role for Nebraska with two-time Olympic medalist Jessica Wong-Orantes taking the season off. Nebraska faces a Houston squad led by Madi Kingdon Rishel, known for its high-energy style and strong social presence across platforms.

Kevin Barnett and Salina Rockwell will call LOVB Atlanta vs. LOVB Austin and Rich Burk and Kevin Wong will provide commentary for LOVB Houston vs. LOVB Nebraska.

All of ESPN. All in One Place.
ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans on the ESPN App, providing more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, including more than 47,000 live events per year, on-demand replays, industry-leading studio shows and original programming, and more. The ESPN App gives fans a unique viewing experience that includes multiview and synchronized two-screen viewing options, swipe-able vertical video and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as integrated game stats, ESPN Fantasy sports, betting odds and information from DraftKings, sports merchandise, and more. These features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a pay TV package. Bundling options available for fans include a limited time offer for the ESPN DTC Unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. For more visit stream.espn.com. 

2026 League One Volleyball (LOVB) on ESPN Platforms:

Day	Times (ET)	Network	Away	Host Market
Sun, Jan 11	4:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Houston at Nebraska	Omaha
Sun, Jan 11	7:30 p.m.	ESPN2	Atlanta at Austin	Austin
Sun, Jan 18	6:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Atlanta at Nebraska	Omaha
Thu, Jan 22	8:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Houston at Salt Lake City	Salt Lake
Sun, Jan 25	7:00 p.m.	ESPN2	Nebraska at Atlanta	Atlanta
Thu, Jan 29	9:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Austin at Salt Lake City	Salt Lake
Fri, Jan 30	8:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Madison at Nebraska	Omaha
Sun, Feb 1	4:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Austin at Nebraska	Omaha
Sun, Feb 1	6:30 p.m.	ESPN2	Madison at Houston	Houston
Thu, Feb 5	8:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Salt Lake City at Madison	Madison
Sat, Feb 7	2:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Atlanta at Madison	Madison
Fri, Feb 13	TBD	ESPN+	LOVB Classic	Kansas City
Sat. Feb 14	TBD	ESPN+	LOVB Classic	Kansas City
Sun, Feb 15	TBD	ESPN+	LOVB Classic	Kansas City
Thu, Feb 19	8:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Atlanta at Houston	Houston
Fri, Feb 20	8:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Madison at Austin	Austin
Sun, Feb 22	6:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Madison at Nebraska	Omaha
Sun, Mar 1	3:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Salt Lake City at Atlanta	Atlanta
Thu, Mar 5	9:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Atlanta at Salt Lake City	Salt Lake
Fri, Mar 6	8:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Houston at Austin	Austin
Thu, Mar 12	8:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Nebraska at Madison	Madison
Sun, Mar 15	3:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Austin at Madison	Madison
Fri, Mar 20	8:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Nebraska at Austin	Austin
Thu, Mar 26	8:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Madison at Austin	Austin
Sat, Mar 28	TBD	ESPN+	Madison at Atlanta	Atlanta
Thu, Apr 2	8:00 p.m.	ESPN+	Salt Lake City at Austin	Austin
Sat, Apr 4	TBD	ESPN+	Houston at Atlanta	Atlanta
Sat, Apr 11	TBD	ESPN2	LOVB Finals	Louisville

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Media Contact:
Beatrix.Panitz@espn.com
Garrett.Cowan@espn.com