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Fort Myers beach volleyball beats Estero for Class 2A-Region 4 title

History doesn’t repeat itself often, but for the Fort Myers beach volleyball team, it resulted in the hoisting of a trophy once again against a familiar opponent. And for Estero, the agony of being one set win away once more stung even more than it did the first meeting. The Green Wave closed out the […]

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History doesn’t repeat itself often, but for the Fort Myers beach volleyball team, it resulted in the hoisting of a trophy once again against a familiar opponent.

And for Estero, the agony of being one set win away once more stung even more than it did the first meeting.

The Green Wave closed out the Wildcats in the Class 2A-Region 4 championship game, beating them for the second time this season in an identical 3-2 decision as the one 13 days ago.

“The fact that we are so tiny, our team is chugging along like a train,” Fort Myers coach Kelly Corr said. “They pull together, they do their part, they cheer when they have to, they play their hearts out, we try to touch every ball, we’re working in practice hard so that when we come to the game, they’re just seeing our skills.

“We still have some work to do each and every day just to get ready for state, but I’m proud of the fact that we’re hanging in there. We’re pushing through, and we’re fighting.”

Corr didn’t make any lineup changes relative to the last match against Estero, rolling with her best three pairs on the No. 1, No. 3, and No. 5 courts. After a dramatic three-set win in the district title game, Isabella Higby and Erin McDowell exploited the serve receive of Avery McCarthy and Jordyn Selander on the No. 5 court, cruising to a 21-13, 21-11 win.

It was a welcoming sign for Corr, who saw Higby and McDowell squander a 20-14 lead in the second set in the first meeting, losing 22-20 after McCarthy and Selander went on an 8-0 run.

“It was relieving,” Corr said. “It stresses me a little because sometimes they can get a little back and forth with it and give a little too much and get in their heads a little bit, but they pulled it together. They proved they deserve to be there. You could tell they wanted it more than anyone out here. The way they were looking and playing and communicating, their one mistake, they just let it fuel them to get the next point.”

Kasey Corr and Amber Englehart moved to 17-0 on the season with an easy 21-9, 21-5 win over Lilly Engle and Capri Phillipine, while Estero got a 21-17, 21-5 win on the No. 4 court from Katie Kuieck and Julia Martus. The No. 2 court saw the Wildcat tandem of Casey Kennedy and Kassia Perkins beat Briley Dodge and Addi Sprecher 21-14, 21-11.

The drama then shifted to the No. 1 court to close it, with a battle between Fort Myers’ Gabby Dwyer and Ashlee Tenkley and Brooke Smith and Delayna Kerry of Estero. Dwyer and Tenkley had their way through the duration of the district title match, but received a stingier fight on Tuesday, especially early.

Smith and Kerry fought hard, capitalized at the service line on misplays from the Fort Myers seniors, and nearly handed them their first set loss of the season. Level at 19-all, Dwyer and Tenkley ended things on a tip to the near side that went past Kerry’s outstretched arms.

“Of course you’re pulling for them at that point,” Estero caoch John Ban said. “I have so much faith in that team. They’re such great beach volleyball players, I thought we had every shot in the world to take them down in first set. That would’ve changed the whole momentum of the match.”

Smith and Kerry would fall behind early in the second, trailing 7-1. Dwyer and Tenkley would hold that mid-single digit lead the rest of the way, pulling away to win 21-12 with the regional trophy shortly in hand thereafter.

For Ban and the Wildcats, Martus and Kuieck are the lone seniors set to graduate from the program, giving them the foundation to be arguably the area’s top squad in 2026.

“The team was amazing this year,” Ban said. “We went 15-2 and lost to the same team twice. That’s the only team we lost to. The girls are a bunch of very good volleyball players and can play on the beach as well. Moving forward into the future, we’re just locked and loaded for next year.

“But the loss was definitely bittersweet. I’m happy for the Fort Myers kids that I coached in middle school at Saint Francis and the kids I’ve been able to coach in club over the years.”

The Green Wave will now head to Tallahassee to take on Gulf Breeze, the No. 2 seed in Region 1 who beat Chiles 3-2 with wins on the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 5 pairs.

Having Final Four experience on the roster this year will only help, as Kelly Corr coached Bishop Verot to Tallahassee a season ago. Kasey Corr and Higby were on the team that advanced last year, giving the team multiple voices to mentally prepare for the two-day stretch.

“We led with that at the beginning of the season,” Kelly Corr said. “These goals are attainable, they’re reachable, they are tough, but you can do it if you put your mind to it. That was literally one of our goals, was to get (to Tallahassee) for our seniors, for the experience of our underclassmen.

“To do that, and to be able to say you did it, very few teams get to do that. That’s always been one of the goals and one of the things we’ve talked about… They all know that experience, what it’s like, and they’ll be able to talk it up and hopefully that’ll fuel them to want to play even harder.”

Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.





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Five Vikings Named USTFCCCA All-Region

Story Links NEW ORLEANS – The Augustana track and field teams were recognized with five athletes dubbed USTFCCCA All-Region Performers for the 2025 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field season, officials announced.   The top-five individuals in each event from each region earn All-Region distinction, in addition to each member of […]

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NEW ORLEANS – The Augustana track and field teams were recognized with five athletes dubbed USTFCCCA All-Region Performers for the 2025 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field season, officials announced.
 
The top-five individuals in each event from each region earn All-Region distinction, in addition to each member of the region’s top-three relay teams. The regions used for this award—Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast and West—match those used during the cross country season.
 
VIKING MEN
Ryan Hartman – 1500-meter run, 5000-meter run
Andrew Martens – 110-meter hurdles
 
VIKING WOMEN
Ella Bakken – 5000-meter run
Bryn Greenwaldt – high jump
Kylee Sallee – long jump
 

–GoAugie.com–



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UW gives volleyball head coach Prigge extension

    Wyoming Cowgirl Volleyball Head Coach Kaylee Prigge. (University of Wyoming photo) May 19, 2025 — Wyo4News Today, it was announced that the University of Wyoming Athletics has agreed to a multi-year extension with Cowgirl Volleyball Head Coach Kaylee Prigge. The extension runs through the 2027 season. “I am eternally grateful to love what I […]

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Wyoming Cowgirl Volleyball Head Coach Kaylee Prigge. (University of Wyoming photo)

May 19, 2025 — Wyo4News

Today, it was announced that the University of Wyoming Athletics has agreed to a multi-year extension with Cowgirl Volleyball Head Coach Kaylee Prigge. The extension runs through the 2027 season.

“I am eternally grateful to love what I do and who I do it with,” said Prigge, who has led the Cowgirls to 39 victories in her two seasons at the helm. That success has led UW volleyball to receive back-to-back national postseason appearances in the NIVC, where the team advanced to the Great Eight Round each season.

 

“Our future is bright, and that is because of the group of young women that make up Cowgirl Volleyball. Their commitment to the development and growth of our program is what I am most proud of and excited to continue. GO POKES,” added Prigge.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue growing and building Wyoming Volleyball for this community and the state of Wyoming,” added Prigge. “I want to thank Tom Burman, Taylor Stuemky, and our entire administration for their support of the program and trust in our staff. Our athletics department is special because of the high-level commitment to every UW team. We truly are one state, one university, and one team.”

 



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6 Bears Named To MPSF All-Academic Team

Matthew Smith / KLC fotos BVB5/19/2025 3:11 PM | By: Cal Athletics Cal Upperclassmen Earn Inaugural Honor BERKELEY – Six members of the California beach volleyball team were named to the inaugural MPSF All-Academic Team, the conference announced Monday.   Cal was represented by all upperclassmen with graduate […]

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6 Bears Named To MPSF All-Academic Team


Matthew Smith / KLC fotos


Cal Upperclassmen Earn Inaugural Honor

BERKELEY – Six members of the California beach volleyball team were named to the inaugural MPSF All-Academic Team, the conference announced Monday.
 
Cal was represented by all upperclassmen with graduate student Sierra Caffo, seniors Ella Dreibholz, Ella Sears, Alexandria Young-Gomez, and juniors Gia Fisher and Jenna Colligan all making the list.
 
This was the third straight all-academic selection for Young-Gomez and Dreibholz and second straight for Fisher and Colligan. The Bears previously competed in the Pac-12 Conference
 
A total of 41 student-athletes made the MPSF’s first all-academic team. To earn the honor, one must be at least a sophomore academically with one year completed at her current institution, have a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average, and have competed in at least 50% of her team’s contests.
 
The full list of honorees can be viewed at MPSF.org.



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Three Goleta Students Killed in Multi-Vehicle Accident Near Lompoc

Sunday’s fatal crash occurred on Highway 1 near San Julian Ranch. | Credit: Santa Barbara County Fire Department By the time students started showing up for Monday morning classes at Dos Pueblos High School, rumors had already been circulating about the deaths of three teenagers in a multi-vehicle collision just 30 miles away on Highway 1 […]

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Sunday’s fatal crash occurred on Highway 1 near San Julian Ranch. | Credit: Santa Barbara County Fire Department

By the time students started showing up for Monday morning classes at Dos Pueblos High School, rumors had already been circulating about the deaths of three teenagers in a multi-vehicle collision just 30 miles away on Highway 1 outside of Lompoc the previous evening. The only official information at the time, according to a 60-word statement from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department Sunday night, was that three victims were pronounced dead on scene, and two more taken to the hospital with major injuries, following an incident with at least four vehicles involved.

At 8:59 a.m., Principal Bill Woodard sent out a community-wide message via ParentSquare, confirming to the public that the three killed in the collision were in fact three students from Dos Pueblos High School: 18-year-old senior Jake Curtis, 17-year-old junior Michael Ochsner, and 15-year-old sophomore Alexander Wood. According to sources close to the Dos Pueblos community, the three teens were returning from a lifeguard training course held earlier in the day at Jalama Beach.

“We want to extend our utmost sympathy to the family and friends of these three students,” Woodard said. “The DPHS community is close-knit and supportive, and I thank you all for keeping us and the family and friends impacted in your thoughts.”

Later on Monday morning, California Highway Patrol released more details on the fatal crash, which occurred just after 6 p.m. near San Julian Ranch on Highway 1. According to CHP Officer Gabriel Rodriguez, the preliminary investigation found that all three teens were traveling southbound in a Toyota Yaris driven by Curtis, when at some point their car apparently attempted to make a pass and entered into the northbound lane, colliding head-on with a Tesla Model 3. At least two more vehicles, both driven by teens, were involved in the collision.

The driver of the Tesla, 54-year old Lompoc physician Hafez Nasr, and his passenger, 53-year-old Saghar Golpayegani, were both transported to the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital emergency room with major injuries. The drivers of the two other vehicles, a 17-year-old swimmer from Dos Pueblos and a 16-year-old water polo player from Santa Barbara High School, were both released with minor injuries.

“This was a tragedy, and local families have lost loved ones,” said CHP Buellton Area Commander Lieutenant Jason Bronson. “We grieve with the families and work every day to prevent this loss of life in our communities.”

The incident is still under investigation. Dos Pueblos High School set up a compassion center for students and staff with grief counselors from the Santa Barbara Response Network. 

“Any student or staff member can come to the Wellness Center at any time throughout today if they are needing support or just want to be with others during this difficult time,” Principal Woodard said. “In my message to the DP students, I asked them to honor our students’ memory by striving to be extra-kind and compassionate — especially to those who are struggling with the loss of their friend and student.”

Family Shares Update on Condition of Young Woman Critically Injured in Alleged DUI Crash on Hwy. 154



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University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics

CHARLOTTE – UAB Track & Field completed its regular season portion of the schedule at the American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Charlotte. Three athletes recorded their PRs while the 4×100 and 4×400 teams picked up their season-bests. Birthe Franck-Petersen competed in her last collegiate meet this weekend. The senior narrowly missed her […]

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CHARLOTTE – UAB Track & Field completed its regular season portion of the schedule at the American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Charlotte. Three athletes recorded their PRs while the 4×100 and 4×400 teams picked up their season-bests.

Birthe Franck-Petersen competed in her last collegiate meet this weekend. The senior narrowly missed her PR and school record in the Shot Put with a mark of 13.84m.

Mya McDanal recorded her PR in the Javelin Throw where she got her PR in her final college meet with a mark of 43.98m. She also placed 5th out of 17 throwers.

Christiana Mudd competed in the Heptathlon where she had her second 5000 point showing of the season. The senior totaled 5250 points which is her PR. Mudd finishes with the fourth most points in an outdoor heptathlon in school history.

Sangie Lincoln-Velez posted another strong showing in the 1500m. She finished in 4:32.07 which was good for 3rd place out of 23 runners.

Regina Harris competed in her final 800m race of her career. She posted her PR in the Prelims with a time of 2:11.66.

Hope Foster and Olivia Beard competed in the High Jump. The duo each finished at a mark 1.65m each.

The Blazers 4x100m team consisting of Destiny Roper, Gabby Washington, Kat Duren, and Leticia Quingostas posted their season-best time of 46.11 seconds.

UAB’s 4x400m also posted their season-best time. Quingostas, Washington, Regina Harris, and Jasmine Dereje finished in 3:42.98.

Several Blazers will await their postseason fate for the NCAA East Preliminary Meet in Jacksonville, Florida.

For more information on UAB Track & Field, follow @UAB_TF_XC on Instagram and X.

Your Support Fuels Success!

With your help, Blazer Student-Athletes are given the resources, tools, and opportunities they need to achieve greatness. Every contribution you make directly supports our teams, ensuring they excel not only on the field but in the classroom as well. We invite you to renew your support to UAB Athletics today and for more information on ways to show your generosity through the Blazer Scholarship Fund, capital initiatives, and sport specific giving go to blazerboosters.com or call us at (205) 996-9969.



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Mississippi State – Official Athletics Website

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State head coach Julie Darty Dennis announced the addition of four signees last week. Those four include Laura Williams, McKenna Dressel, Avery Power and Bre Perrin.   “We are excited to add Laura, McKenna, Avery and Bre to our roster,” Dennis said. “All four bring unique abilities and experience and we can’t […]

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STARKVILLE – Mississippi State head coach Julie Darty Dennis announced the addition of four signees last week. Those four include Laura Williams, McKenna Dressel, Avery Power and Bre Perrin.
 
“We are excited to add Laura, McKenna, Avery and Bre to our roster,” Dennis said. “All four bring unique abilities and experience and we can’t wait to get them in StarkVegas.”
 
Williams, a 5-9 outside from Lakewood, California, joins the Maroon and White after spending the past two seasons at CSU Fullerton. She collected 279 kills through two seasons, averaging 2.01 kills per set last season. She began her collegiate career at Oregon State, where she appeared in 11 matches.
 
Dressel, a 6-2 middle blocker from Gilbert, Arizona, makes the move to Starkville after one season at Nevada. She played in all 29 matches, making starts in 23 of those. She collected 112 kills and 83 blocks for the Wolfpack last season. She ranked second on the team in total blocks. Prior to last season at Nevada, Dressel spent two seasons at the junior college level, collecting 1.19 kills per set and 0.98 blocks per set at Scottsdale Community College.
 
Power, a 5-6 defensive specialist, chose to stay in-state. The Brandon, Mississippi, native has collected numerous accolades during her four seasons at Brandon High School. She led the Bulldogs to four state championship appearances, including two championship victories. She finished her career with over 2,000 digs, a school-record, and set a single-game program record with 45 digs in a single match. Her senior season, she was named the 7A All-Region MVP.
 
Perrin, a 5-7 setter from Pell City, Alabama, made her marks on the club level. She played for Alabama Performance, which is known for producing college talent, including current assistant coach Lacey Jeffcoat. Perrin brought in numerous honors during her time, including being named to multiple AVCA watchlists.
 

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on volleyball. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching ‘HailStateVB’ on X, Facebook and Instagram
 





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