Nearly two years ago, Texas Longhorns athletics director Chris Del Conte teased the potential for a “mini-Moody” with a capacity of 5,000 to 6,000 to allow the volleyball program to move out of Gregory Gymnasium, the venerable building built in 1930.

On Wednesday, the school revealed a request for proposal as Del Conte tries to build the new multipurpose arena with minimal outlay from the university, reprising the game plan for the Moody Center, which constructed and operated through a partnership between the university, Oak View Group, Live Nation/C3 Presents, and Matthew McConaughey as Texas managed to avoid the $375 million price tag for the facility, which hosts men’s and women’s basketball games.

Del Conte is looking for a similar partnership to plan, design, construct, equip, finance, and operate the public arena and an adjacent housing facility for athletes on a four-acre parcel of land next to the Moody Center north of East MLK Jr. Boulevard between Robert Dedman Drive and Interstate 35.

One of the few relatively undeveloped areas left, the planned site for the arena and housing is also conveniently located next to the new football facility under construction across Robert Dedman Dr. that will also have an underground parking garage with 500 spaces.

“It is important for us to be strategic about how we use our space and how our students and visitors engage with our campus,” said UT President Jim Davis. “This is a unique development that will enhance the University’s athletics facilities and housing portfolio and benefit students, Longhorn fans and our city for years to come. I am grateful to our Board of Regents for their support for our vision.”

The plan is for 6,000 seats at the multipurpose arena with the ability to expand seating for concerts, shows, and university events, hence the “mini-Moody” moniker.

The housing facility could also offer retail opportunities on the ground level to encourage investment.

“This is a critical step for the future of Texas volleyball and our student-athletes’ housing experience,” said Del Conte. “It is about creating an experience that our student-athletes, coaches, and passionate fans will be proud of in the heart of a district built for elite talent and entertainment.”

PROVO, Utah — BYU women’s volleyball head coach Heather Olmstead announced Thursday that she will be transitioning out of her role as head coach of the BYU women’s volleyball team to pursue new professional avenues.

“Coaching at BYU has been an incredible chapter — one filled with championships, NCAA tournament runs and record-setting seasons,” Olmstead said. “But the true highlight has always been the people. I’m grateful for every athlete who let me be part of her journey and for the chance to help shape strong leaders, teammates and women who go on to make a difference long after their playing days. As I move into this next chapter, I do so with deep gratitude for the BYU community, for the players who trusted me with their development and for the staff who stood beside me through every challenge. I wish this program continued success, and I’m excited for what’s next.”

Olmstead took over the BYU women’s volleyball program in the 2015 season. In 11 seasons, Olmstead amassed a record of 279-55. She’s the fastest coach to reach 200 Division I wins, doing so in just 225 games, and also the third-fastest coach all-time to reach 100 Division I wins, doing so in just 111 games.

“I want to thank Heather for everything she has done to make BYU women’s volleyball great,” said BYU director of athletics Brian Santiago. “She poured her heart and soul into this program and guided incredible teams that have had consistent national relevance and success and represented BYU well. Her student-athletes have gone on to do remarkable things. We wish Heather all the best as she pursues new opportunities, and we will open a national search for a new women’s volleyball head coach immediately.”

The 2018 AVCA National Coach of the Year, Olmstead and her staff’s development of players has led to 14 different All-Americans, 23 different All-Region honorees, nine different All-Big 12 honorees and 22 different All-WCC honorees in addition to a national player of the year candidate, the 2018 AVCA National Freshman of the Year and multiple West Coast Conference awardees.

Olmstead led the 2018 team to one of the greatest seasons in program history, ranking No. 1 for 11-consecutive weeks as they won their first 27 matches, including against then-No. 1 Stanford. BYU was awarded its highest-ever NCAA Tournament seed at No. 4, then reeled off wins against Stony Brook, Utah, Florida and Texas in front of standing-room-only crowds at the Smith Fieldhouse to advance to the Final Four before falling to eventual champion Stanford in the national semifinals.

BYU’s 30-2 (.939) record in 2021 led to the highest win percentage in program history and a No. 9 final national ranking. Other program records included six All-Americans, six All-Region citations, five All-WCC honorees, three Academic All-District awardees and one Academic All-American in addition to national coach and freshman of the year awards and sweeps of the region and conference awards. The Cougars finished the season ranked No. 1 in defensive hitting percentage and No. 3 in hitting percentage after ranking first most of the season.

Olmstead led BYU to Sweet 16 appearances six times as well as six WCC titles. The Cougars have won at least 19 matches each year (17 during COVID-19) during her time as head coach. Olmstead has also contributed internationally, including serving as head coach of the U.S. Women’s U21 National Team that won gold at both the 2025 NORCECA Pan American Cup and the 2024 NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship, the U.S. Collegiate National Team in Japan in May 2019 and as the assistant coach on the U.S. team that won gold at the 2015 Pan American Games. 

With Olmstead’s departure, BYU women’s volleyball associate head coach David Hyte will now serve as interim head coach.

LINCOLN – The No. 3 seed Texas A&M volleyball team faces No. 2 seed Louisville in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Friday evening at the Bob Devaney Sports Center with first serve set for 6 p.m.
 
The Aggies secured back-to-back appearances in the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history following wins over Campbell and No. 6 seed TCU in the opening two rounds.
 

In the first match of the weekend, the Maroon & White put on a dominant showing versus the Camels ensuring their 16^th sweep of the year. The offense put on an efficiency clinic, as the group hit .419 percent which marked the third time this you over .400. Individually, both Logan Lednicky and Emily Hellmuth broke the programs postseason record for hitting percentage in a three-set match which stood at .650 previously, as Lednicky recorded 18 kills at .654 percent and Hellmuth 10 at .667.
 

The following day Texas A&M faced TCU in a four-set battle with every set being decided by three or less points. The Horned Frogs struck first the opening frame, but the Aggies rallied back to win the next three. Thriving under pressure was the key to the Maroon & White’s win, as they survived five set points in the deciding fourth frame to seal their spot in the Sweet 16.
 
The Matchups

Friday’s matchup versus Louisville will be the eighth all-time meeting between the programs. Texas A&M holds a strong advantage in the series at 5-2, however the Cardinals captured the most recent matchup taking a five-set victory on their home court in 2019.
 

The teams will meet in a neutral setting for the fourth time, where once again the Maroon & White have a small lead in the meetings at 2-1. During the 2025 campaign the Aggies are 3-1 on a neutral court and Louisville is 2-1.
 

Diving into the stat sheet, Texas A&M holds the advantage in four of the seven team statical categories leading in kills per set, assists per set, hitting percentage and aces per set, while the Cardinals hold the advantage in opponent hitting percentage, blocks per set and digs per set.
 
Tracks and Trends
Logan Lednicky has recorded double-digit kills in her last 19 matches and sits 23 kills away from No. 3 on Texas A&M’s career kill list.
 
Ifenna Cos-Okpalla has logged five or more blocks in her last three games and is 11 blocks away from ranking third on the programs all-time block list.
 
The Aggies have hit over .300 percent as a unit seven times in their last 10 contests.
 
Streaming & Stats
Fans can watch the match on the ESPN2 and follow stats on 12thman.com.
 
Follow the Aggies
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M volleyball team on Facebook, Instagram and on Twitter by following @AggieVolleyball.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Scottie Ellsworth of the Central Washington University volleyball team was selected to the AVCA Division II All-America Team as an Honorable Mention, the association announced on Wednesday.
 
Ellsworth was honored among eight total representatives from the GNAC.
 
Ellsworth, the senior right-side hitter from Kent, Wash., led the Wildcats on the offensive side this season with 333 kills for an average of 3.03 per set. She also was a strong presence on the defensive side–logging 107 total blocks, as well as 54 digs. Ellsworth had milestone a game this season–recording a career-high 24 kills on Nov. 15 against Alaska Anchorage and also tying her career-high seven blocks in that same game against the Seawolves.
 
Ellsworth’s efforts led the Wildcats to a share of the GNAC regular season title and an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. In the first-round matchup against the Simon Fraser Red Leafs, Ellsworth led the offense with 19 kills on 47 total attempts for a .319 hitting percentage, while also recording five blocks and three digs as the Wildcats defeated SFU to advance to the semifinals of the NCAA West Regional. Ellsworth followed that up with a strong performance in Regional Semifinals, logging 18 kills, six blocks, and six digs. However, the Wildcats would fall in a closely-battled fifth set that saw Fresno Pacific win 15-13 to take the match and end CWU’s season.
 
Ellsworth, alongside Ellie Marble, earned All-West Regional Tournament Team. In the West Regional, Ellsworth recorded 37 kills, 11 blocks, and seven digs for a total points count of 43, while Marble logged 20 kills, 34 digs, and seven blocks, recording a double-double in each contest.
 
For the full AVCA All-America list, click HERE.