Connect with us
https://yoursportsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/call-to-1.png

Sports

Forty Acres Insider: June 17

Published

6 months ago

on


Longhorn Nation, 

Well folks, WE DID IT AGAIN! It came down to the wire, literally. I must admit I was on the edge of my seat, sweating out every point late Saturday night as our Women’s Track and Field squad put on a final surge of Texas Fight at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene to get us across the finish line. And when the number crunchers frantically tallied in our tie for 10th-place NCAA finish as well as those of the two programs on our heels (Stanford & USC), it was confirmed — the LEARFIELD DIRECTORS’ CUP WAS CLINCHED and will remain right here where it belongs on the Forty Acres! What a breathtaking and heart pumping way to cap off another fantastic year across all sports. Now it’s not officially official as we’re awaiting the final results that will come from our friends at NACDA later this month at the conclusion of baseball, but rest assured nobody can catch us now. Your Longhorns have claimed The Cup as the nation’s premier all-sports athletic program for the second-straight year and fourth time in five years (how about that for absolute dominance!). YES, we are the champions, AGAIN!

That SPECTACULAR TROPHY will be delivered soon enough and look absolutely glorious taking center stage alongside the others in our collection of the Learfield Directors’ Cups inside the Frank Denius Family University of Texas Athletics Hall of Fame. It never gets old folks and shines brightly as a beacon of the PRIDE AND WINNING TRADITION of The University of Texas. This year’s Cup will forever be a bold reminder of the history made in our inaugural year as members of the Southeastern Conference. There were the eight SEC crowns (Beach Volleyball’s CCSA Championship made it nine conference titles), thrilling National Championships in Softball and Men’s Swimming and Diving, dramatic NCAA and CFP Final Four Tourney runs for Football, Women’s Basketball and Men’s Tennis, and top-three finishes from Rowing and Women’s Swimming and Diving that made it SEVEN teams among the nation’s top-three, along with 10 top-five’s and 13 top-10’s. And I’ve got to give credit where credit is due — it all starts with our unbelievable leaders — Chairman Eltife and President Davis — and their incredible support that allows our coaches, student-athletes and staff to do their thing. Longhorn Nation, you’re the absolute best too and have been right by our side helping us all vigorously row the boat in the same direction. When we do that — and keep those BBs in the box — we can accomplish anything under the sun! Y’all know, a United Texas is a reckoning my friends!

And while I’ve got you, here’s hoping everyone had an enjoyable Father’s Day weekend as we cherished the patriarchs in our lives. It was a day to applaud and thank them, and I do want to take a moment and send a shoutout to all of our Longhorn Dads. This week we will recognize and celebrate a very important Juneteenth holiday with our annual participation in the Central Texas Juneteenth Emancipation Parade on Thursday. It makes for another week of gratitude and family time filled with admiration, appreciation, reflection and love.

Speaking of appreciation, we’ve got to give our phenomenal women’s golfer Farah O’Keefe a huge round of applause and emphatic Hook ‘Em, Horns. Talk about WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD, Farah was en fuego and put that Texas Fight on full display in stampeding all the way to The Women’s Amateur Championship final in Nairn, Scotland last week. Facing an elite field of 144 golfers from 30 countries, she took dead aim and advanced from stroke play through several rounds of match play, including a thrilling semifinal victory that put her in the championship match. Then on a special Father’s Day with her dad by her side, Farah battled through a grueling 36-hole final and came up just short. She left it all on the course and there’s no shame in being the runner-up on the grandest of world amateur stages. Well done my friend, we are very lucky to have you in the Burnt Orange & White.

The same can be said for our Fab Freshman Timo Legout who on Friday was tabbed the ITA Men’s Tennis National Player of the Year (making it three -straight Longhorns to earn that honor to boot). He went 35-3 on the season, 12-0 in conference for our SEC Championship squad and was the nation’s No. 1-ranked singles player this year. Another first-year phenom, Baseball’s Dylan Volantis, was named the NCBWA National Freshman of the Year. Our towering lefty and conference freshman of the year for our SEC Champions tossed 74 strikeouts against just 12 walks in 51 innings this year. He led all rookies nationally in saves (12), while ranking second in ERA (1.94) and batting average allowed (.185). Additionally last week, our sensational student-athlete Marg Van der Wal, the SEC Rower and Scholar-Athlete of the Year, was tabbed a finalist for the CRCA Athlete of the Year award and Softball’s Katie Stewart earned Academic All-America honors for her efforts on and off the field as well. Those are just another in a long line of Longhorn student-athletes that received national recognition this year! We are so proud of all of them and the time and effort our student-athletes commit to be elite in their sports, the classroom and the community.

Can’t get enough of the reminders of the THRILL OF VICTORY Coach White and our Softball program provided us. This recap with Coach White and our National Championship Longhorns will take you back and have you puttin’ those Horns Up. What a fabulous time it was watching our squad dig deep and win big, there was nothing “Weak or Timid” about their Texas Fight at the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City! Now that the championship hardware is home in Austin, be sure to get that National Championship gear to add to your collection, too!

Oh, and be sure to grab your copy of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine. I know y’all can’t get enough football in the offseason and thumbing through the wealth of information DCTF has provided for generations is an annual ritual for so many in our great state. Our guy COACH SARK’S ON THE COVER and it’s a keeper for sure! You can check out all the behind-the-scenes video from the photo shoot here as well.

So, folks, THAT’S A WRAP. With the Learfield Directors’ Cup clinched and our sports seasons complete, what a perfect time for our final Forty Acres Insider of 2024-25. You’ve got plenty to be oh-so-proud of, so wear your Burnt Orange & White often and keep those Horns Up all the livelong day! We’ll be prepping for the year ahead while our student-athletes put in the work to continue to chase greatness. Y’all get yourself some much-deserved good solid R&R, let your road trips commence, so you’re ready to roll when the action heats up again in August. We’ve got lots of fun on the horizon and we’ll be ready to get revved back up soon enough because our work is not done. Preparations for 2025-26 are underway! See you soon!!

M/W Track and Field put a bow on season at NCAA Outdoor Championship

Coach Flo and our Longhorns took on the best of the best over in TrackTown USA last week at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Our individual highlights included a pair of bronze medal performances. For the women, Nina Ndubuisi led the way with a third-place finish in the shot put on the strength of a personal-best throw of 19.50 meters, that’s over 60 feet y’all! Kody Blackwood paced the men with his third-place showing in the 400-meter hurdles. Both 4×100-meter relays earned points, as the women’s group placed fifth and the men’s team finished eighth in the finals. And kudos to Xavier Butler and Kenondra Davis, who both earned first-team All-America honors in the 200-meter dash with top-seven performances.

Here’s some final nuggets to carry you over this summer!

Before I let you go for the summer, I mentioned quite a few of our outstanding notables from this recently completed 2024-25 academic calendar year. But folks, here’s a few more so that you can puff your chest out at the water cooler around your co-workers at the office and take with you on your family vacations this summer. With our Men’s Swimming and Diving and Softball teams capturing National Championships this season, this marks the FIFTH-STRAIGHT year that the Longhorns have won multiple national titles in the same academic season. Excluding the COVID-shortened year of 2019-20, Texas has now won at least one NCAA team title in 10-STRAIGHT seasons! Over the last five years, the Longhorns have won 13 NCAA team championships by eight different programs, while seven additional programs have either made the Final Four OR finished in the top three at the NCAA Championships. We sponsor 21 intercollegiate programs here on the Forty Acres, and 15 OF THOSE 21 PROGRAMS have now claimed a National Championship. WOW! We qualified 20 of our 21 NCAA eligible sports for their respective NCAA Championship events. Texas was the ONLY SCHOOL IN NCAA DIVISION I to have its Football, either Men’s or Women’s Basketball, and either Baseball or Softball programs reach the Final Four of their NCAA Tournaments this season!

The Longhorns have captured 68 all-time National Championships (64 NCAA titles). And how about a few more nuggets. Our 10 top-five performances in 2024-25 marked a tie for the second-most in school history, trailing only the 12 recorded in 2021-22. And our 13 top-10 efforts also tied for the second-most in school history, just one shy of the record 14 in 2021-22. We have recorded a total of 49 top-five NCAA team finishes and 65 top-10 NCAA team finishes during the last five years.

Hook ‘Em Horns,

Chris Del Conte

P.S. — Glad we’ll be able to be a part of Coach Corso’s final GameDay show. He’s been an institution for generations and is the absolute best!

P.S. — Hope all Longhorn Dads had a great Father’s Day!

P.S. — The boys are hard at work!

P.S. — Toast of the Town!

P.S. — What Starts Here!


HEADLINES:

Former Longhorns Raynard Davis, Sharon Neugebauer-Shepard earn spots in San Antonio ISD Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Women’s Golf’s O’Keefe advances to final at The Women’s Amateur Championship

Baseball’s Volantis, Galvan collect ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors

Men’s Basketball to host Virginia in 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge

Women’s Basketball to host North Carolina in ACC/SEC Challenge

Baseball’s Volantis, Galvan earn spots on NCBWA All-America Teams

Additional kickoff time, TV window assignments announced for Football

ESPN’s College GameDay coming to Football’s opener at Ohio State

Baseball’s Rodriguez, Volantis headline Perfect Game Freshman All-Americans

Men’s Golf quartet named to PING All-Central Region Team

Baseball lands four on ABCA/Rawlings All-Region teams

Baseball’s Volantis tabbed Freshman All-American





Link

10
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Jacksonville All-First Coast team, FHSAA girls volleyball

Published

53 minutes ago

on

December 28, 2025

By


Dec. 28, 2025, 4:59 a.m. ET



Link

0
Continue Reading

Sports

Top honours for national volleyball

Published

2 hours ago

on

December 28, 2025

By


Top honours for national volleyball

Cook Islands men’s and women’s volleyball teams received recognition at the recent Matariki Cup competition held in Tauranga. CIVF- FIONNA MATUTU/25122401/25122402

The Cook Islands men’s and women’s volleyball teams received recognition at the recent Matariki Cup competition held in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Jackie Rongo, Cook Islands Volleyball Federation (CIVF) development coordinator and women’s coach, received the Coach of the Tournament Award.

“I was blown away and humbled receiving the Coach of the Tournament Award! Even more so, I was very proud of our athletes that achieved individual recognition for their efforts,” Rongo said.

“Each athlete has trained or currently trains under ‘Ātui’anga ki te Tango (AKTT) Volleyball – the team I coach alongside Liam Clegg, who I am extremely thankful to for being on this journey with me.

“Seeing these athletes shine in an international tournament and receive recognition as Cook Islands National Volleyball team players was the cherry on top.”

Rongo said Cook Islands women’s captain Tuaana Mitchell and men’s captain Ryan Nicholson led their respective teams well. 

The men’s and women’s teams finished as runners-up, losing to AMP Tipua and AMP Waiariki in their respective finals.

“A special mention to men’s MVP Jacques Koteka and men’s vice-captain, who was part of the very first team I ever coached and is still with AKTT today. He is one of the hardest working athletes I know and it was awesome to see him playing high level volleyball in this tournament.”

Rongo said the 4th Matariki Cup Volleyball Challenge was a true embodiment of the spirit of why this competition was created – “to strengthen our cultural connection and bond across Te Moananui-a-Kiva through our shared love of volleyball.”

With Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau as major sponsor, the tournament was held in Rarotonga in 2022 and 2023, hosted by the Cook Islands Volleyball Federation. Last year, it was hosted by Volleyball Tahiti and this year it was held in Tauranga, New Zealand, hosted by Aotearoa Maori Poirewa.

Rongo said the Aotearoa Maori Poirewa (AMP) under the direction of Ngākohu and Tui Papunui were incredible hosts in Tauranga, housing them at the beautiful Hungahungatōroa Marae and organising their competition playing at the new flash courts at Haumaru Sport and Recreation Centre.

“We are so grateful! Our men’s and women’s teams truly enjoyed their experience. It was so awesome to see our home-grown local athletes from Rarotonga and Aitutaki play at the next level.”

Rongo acknowledged everyone – parents and guardians, volleyball community here and in Aotearoa, sponsors, her husband Dr Teina Rongo and children – who supported them in every shape or form to build indoor volleyball opportunities for the national team athletes in the Cook Islands.

“Atawai Wolo to our Pukapuka community in Auckland and Minister Tingika Elikana who accommodated us on our way to Tauranga, and to our Cook Islands families based in Tauranga for caring for us throughout,” she said.

“One last special thanks to the Cook Islands Volleyball logistics and management team along with the travelling aunties and players for doing what they do to keep us as one. We started together and finished together!

“There is more work to do for sure. We look forward to hosting AMP on Rarotonga in 2026.”

Awards

Womens: Best Spiker – Tuaana Mitchell, Best Blocker – Twina Tangirere, Best Defender – Elizabeth Akaruru; Mens: Most Valuable Player – Jacques Koteka, Best Server – Jacques Koteka, Best Blocker – Jacques Koteka, Best Defender – Ryan Nicholson.





Link

2
Continue Reading

Sports

Adriana Jeanpierre, Beachside, All-First Coast girls volleyball award

Published

3 hours ago

on

December 28, 2025

By


Dec. 28, 2025, 5:00 a.m. ET



Link

2
Continue Reading

Sports

Assistant Director, Behavioral Health & Performance in New Orleans, LA for Tulane University

Published

3 hours ago

on

December 28, 2025

By


Details

Posted: 27-Dec-25

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

Type: Full-time

Categories:

Operations

Sector:

Collegiate Sports

Required Education:

Masters

Internal Number: IRC34061

Position Summary: The Assistant Director of Behavioral Health & Performance Specialist provides clinical leadership, direct services, and program oversight within Tulane University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Reporting to the Assistant Athletic Director, Behavioral Health & Performance, this position is responsible for managing the delivery of comprehensive mental health services to student-athletes. The Assistant Director of Behavioral Health & Performance ensures high-quality, evidence-based care while collaborating with internal and external partners to promote student-athlete wellbeing, resilience, and performance.

Essential Functions of the Job:

1. Function: Clinical Services – Provides psychotherapy (individual, crisis, and group) to Tulane student-athletes, with emphasis on performance-related and sport-specific concerns; conducts intake evaluations, diagnostic assessments, treatment planning, and referrals for student-athletes, including coordination with athletic and medical partners as needed; oversee clinical caseload management for the Behavioral Health & Performance unit to ensure timely access for new student-athlete clients; serves as a primary point of contact, with student-athlete consent, for communication with collateral parties including parents, coaches, medical staff, faculty, and administrators; ensures the Behavioral Health & Performance unit’s adherence to university, NCAA, and professional standards, updating and implementing policies and procedures as needed; provides leadership in case formulation, clinical decision-making, and team consultation to support effective care delivery; oversee and ensure that treatment approaches are tailored to the unique needs of student-athletes, while maintaining professional standards of care; directs case disposition decisions, coordinating referrals internally and externally to ensure comprehensive support for student-athletes; carries an appropriate treatment caseload, including individual therapy cases and leading and/or co-leading groups and workshops when appropriate, and takes responsibility for ongoing monitoring and management of case assignments; provides leadership and oversight during complex cases, crisis consultations, and hospitalizations, serving as the clinical point of escalation; documents patient records in EHR in a timely manner and ensures that the records are accurate; maintains professional standards of mental health care delivery, including ethical and legal issues; provides consultation and supervision to Clinical Case Manager; and promotes professional development for the Behavioral Health & Performance team, including ongoing training, supervision, and performance feedback. (65%)

2. Function: Leadership & Supervision – Provides consultative assistance to the Tulane community and Campus Partners regarding mental health as needed; represents the Tulane Athletics at campus events, including weekend parent and student orientation sessions, off-hours outreach and workshop opportunities, etc.; forms positive working relationships with Campus Partners and others within Student Affairs and throughout the University Community; demonstrates willingness to be a Tulane Athletics representative and campus presence at a variety of events as needed; 0versee daily operations of the Behavioral Health & Performance case management team; provide supervision, mentorship, and consultation to case management, and interns as appropriate; and assist in hiring, training, and evaluating team members to support departmental goals. (10%)

3. Function: Program Development & Collaboration – Partner with the Assistant Athletic Director, Behavioral Health & Performance to design and implement innovative mental health and performance initiatives; develop workshops, team training, and outreach programming to enhance student-athlete wellbeing and reduce stigma around mental health; serve as a key liaison between Athletics, the Tulane Center for Sport, Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine, and other campus and community resources; and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, and best practices for student-athlete care. (10%)

4. Function: Administrative & Compliance – Collect and analyze data to evaluate program effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement; ensure departmental practices align with NCAA, institutional, and professional ethical guidelines; and uphold strict confidentiality standards and safeguard student-athlete records. (5%)

5. Function: Emergency Preparation and Response – Serves as a member of the department and/or divisional crisis response teams and/or the University’s Essential Personnel, as needed; carries out activities detailed in the All-Hazards Plan; participates/contributes to annual review of emergency processes and procedures; maintains departmental emergency equipment and supplies; assists with coordination/support of department operations during emergencies; attends training to maintain knowledge of emergency response protocols; adheres to federal, state, and local regulatory requirements to maintain safety and emergency protocols; and participates in regularly scheduled drills to maintain safety procedures and university protocols. (5%)

6. Function: Other Duties – Performs other duties as requested or required, whether or not specifically mentioned in this job description. (5%)

Required Education and Experience:

  • Master’s Degree in Counseling, Social Work, or Psychology  
  • Current Licensed Professional Counselor, PLPC, LCSW or other mental health therapist license recognized by the State of Louisiana (or the ability to obtain within 30 days of the start date) 
  • Experience working with athletic population  
  • One year of clinical experience  

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities/Competencies:

  • Ability to protect confidentiality and meet all ethical standards associated with the practice of psychology within a university counseling center context
  • Strong clinical expertise in the assessment and treatment of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and sport-performance concerns.
  • Outstanding oral and written communication skills, able to dialogue effectively with a wide range of students, faculty and staff
  • Ability to effectively utilize an electronic medical records system
  • Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, and team-building skills.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills with diverse stakeholders, including students, families, coaches, administrators, and healthcare providers.
  • Knowledge of developmental trends and concerns of undergraduates, as well as graduate and professional students
  • Ability to engage in an ongoing pursuit of self-knowledge and understanding of own personal factors affecting clinical work

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Training and interest in working with multicultural issues and students with diverse identities
  • Experience in developing and delivering case management to high profile athletes and their families.
  • Prior experience working with NCAA Division I student-athletes or high-performance/elite athlete populations.
  • Certification or advanced training in sport psychology, trauma-informed care, or performance enhancement strategies.
  • Experience in administrative leadership, program development, or interdepartmental collaboration.

NCAA Related:

Ensures that all Department of Athletics and University related activities operate in full compliance with university, conference, and NCAA rules and regulations. Attends and participates in scheduled compliance seminars and complies with all the Athletic Department’s efforts to monitor compliance with NCAA regulations. Seeks interpretations from the compliance staff before acting when necessary. Reports potential rules violations immediately.  Completes required compliance paperwork in a timely and efficient manner. Monitors all of their areas and/or programs activities closely to maintain compliance with applicable rules and regulations. 

In order to be considered for this position, applicants are required to apply for IRC34061 via the Tulane University employment website (https://jobs.tulane.edu/position/IRC34061).  The position is OPEN UNTIL FILLED.

Please Note: Tulane University has officially adopted a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, which includes the requirement of a booster when eligible. All employees and visiting faculty must be fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccination or obtain approval for a medical or religious exemption prior to beginning employment.

 

Tulane University is an EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged.

Employer Logo

About Tulane University

Founded in 1834, Tulane is one of the most highly regarded and selective independent research universities in the United States. A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, we take pride in being a part of this select group of 62 universities with “pre-eminent programs of graduate and professional education and scholarly research.” Our schools and colleges offer undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees in the liberal arts, science and engineering, architecture, business, law, social work, medicine and public health and tropical medicine. With a seventeen-sport program that competes in the American Athletic Conference, Tulane Athletics is on the rise, boasting one of the oldest and most storied athletics programs in the Southeast, and indeed the nation.Tulane University is an EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged.


Connections working at Tulane University



Link

5
Continue Reading

Sports

Prep Volleyball: Texas High earns multiple honors in District 10-5A awards

Published

3 hours ago

on

December 28, 2025

By


TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas High was well-represented in the District 10-5A all-district volleyball selections, with two players earning superlative honors and several more recognized across the first and second teams.

Senior Kyleigh Perkins was named Co-Utility Player of the Year, sharing the award with Lufkin’s Akira Smallwood. Taryne Stiger, also a senior, earned Co-Blocker of the Year alongside Hallsville sophomore Kylee Fernandez.

Eva Treadway and Sydney Woods were selected to the first team, while Kenley Dewberry and Cruz Hopkins were named to the second team.

Four players earned honorable mention: Karasha Hayes, Zanasia Nelson, Deja Aubrey and Lexie Burton.

Texas High also had 12 players named to the Academic All-District team: Aubrey, Burton, Madelyn Carroll, Dewberry, Hopkins, Phoenix Jones, Acasia Nelson, Zanasia Nelson, Perkins, Stiger, Treadway and Woods.

Hallsville’s Kaycin Farrell was named Most Valuable Player, and Hallsville head coach Tara Wager and her staff earned Coaching Staff of the Year.

——

2025 District 10-5A All-District Honors

Most Valuable Player: Kaycin Farrell – Hallsville – JR. No. 25

Most Valuable Hitter: Chesney McCullough – Lufkin – SR. No. 4

Most Valuable Setter: Lilly Fry – Hallsville – SR. No. 3

Co-Utility Player of the Year: Kyleigh Perkins – Texas High – SR. No. 2 and Akira Smallwood – Lufkin – SR. No. 12

Libero of the Year: Danika Cantu – Marshall – JR. No. 13

Co-Blocker of the Year: Taryne Stiger – Texas High – SR. No. 6 and Kylee Fernandez – Hallsville – SO. No. 12

Server of the Year: Ava Wise – Whitehouse – SR. No. 2

Newcomer of the Year: Ja’Lee Flores – Tyler – SR. No. 9/17.

Coaching Staff of the Year: Tara Wager – Hallsville

——

1st Team All-District

Lyla Evans – Hallsville

Madi Farrell – Hallsville

Tailor Benson – Hallsville

Eva Treadway – Texas

Sydney Woods – Texas

Ellie Cooley – Whitehouse

Vaida Hocker – Whitehouse

Lily Holzbauer – Whitehouse

Kaylee Garner – Whitehouse

Savannah Bergman – Lufkin

Aleciera Smallwood – Lufkin

Kinlee Smith – Marshall

Jazlyn Duran – Tyler

Kaelyn McLean – Tyler

Emmy Finnerude – Nacogdoches

——

2nd Team All-District

Livi Vineyard – Hallsville

Miller Goswick – Hallsville

Caroline Slaten -Hallsville

Kendall Bostik – Whitehouse

Ava Reese – Whitehouse

Jazlynn ONeal – Lufkin

ZaNyia Johnson – Lufkin

Kenley Dewberry- Texas High

Cruz Hopkins – Texas High

Ella Kate Runnels – Marshall

Addi Watkins – Marshall

Ruby Hulen – Mount Pleasant

Miyah Amador-Farrier – Mount Pleasant

Zarriya Swindle – Nacogdoches

Kinsley Fields – Nacogdoches

Elaine McCown – Jacksonville

Gretchen Ault – Jacksonville

Ryan Vega – Tyler

Marilyn Cardenas – Tyler

——

Honorable Mention

Karasha Hayes – Texas High

Zanasia Nelson – Texas High

Deja Aubrey – Texas High

Lexie Burton – Texas High

——

Academic All-District

Texas High: Deja Aubrey, Alexeia Burton, Madelyn Carroll, Kenley Dewberry, Cruz Hopkins, Phoenix Jones, Acasia Nelson, Zanasia Nelson, Kyleigh Perkins, Taryne Stiger, Eva Treadway, Sydney Woods

This file photo shows Texas High's Kyleigh Perkins serving. (Submitted photo)
This file photo shows Texas High’s Kyleigh Perkins serving. (Submitted photo)
Texas High's Taryne Stiger. (Photo contributed)
Texas High’s Taryne Stiger. (Photo contributed)



Link

5
Continue Reading

Sports

USA Volleyball Mourns the Passing of Hall of Fame Leader and Visionary Glen Lietzke

Published

4 hours ago

on

December 28, 2025

By


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec 27, 2025) – USA Volleyball is deeply saddened by the passing of longtime volleyball leader Glen Lietzke, a respected and influential figure whose dedication to the sport touched athletes, families, and organizations nationwide.

A true champion and pioneer of the game, Lietzke’s service spanned decades and encompassed numerous initiatives to grow and strengthen the volleyball community. He was a cornerstone of the sport, the founder of Austin Juniors Volleyball, and an AVCA Hall of Fame inductee.

In 1998, he was inducted into the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame as a recipient of the USA Volleyball George J. Fisher Leadership Award. His impact was felt profoundly at the national level through his work with First Point Volleyball, now an arm of USA Volleyball, and his service on the USA Volleyball Foundation Board, where his vision helped expand opportunities for countless young athletes.

He was a longtime coach, including collegiate stints at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Southwest Missouri State University, and the University of Texas. He also coached many teams at Austin Juniors and coached with the U.S. junior and youth national teams.

“Glen Lietzke always amazed me with the depth of his innovation and the lasting influence he had on our sport, shared John Speraw, President and CEO of USA Volleyball. “But what impressed me most in recent years was his generosity and the quiet way he made an impact. I always knew I could call Glen for honest insight and thoughtful perspective. He worked behind the scenes, never seeking attention, always focused on making things better for others. That is what our sport has lost, a humble icon and we have lost a good friend.”

Lietzke was a tireless advocate for the growth of boys and men’s volleyball, investing resources and leadership to help programs thrive in regions where few opportunities previously existed. At the time of his passing, he was actively leading preparations for January’s Southwest Boys Classic, one of the premier events on the national calendar.

Beyond his professional achievements, Glen was a trusted friend to the First Point Volleyball and a visionary leader whose belief in what was possible strengthened the sport. His legacy is one of generational impact; a volleyball community made better, more inclusive, and more vibrant through his lifelong commitment.

USA Volleyball extends its heartfelt condolences to his wife, Kathy, his children, Nathan and Lauren, the Austin Juniors community, and the many athletes, coaches and colleagues inspired by his life and work.



Link

5
Continue Reading
Motorsports3 weeks ago

SoundGear Named Entitlement Sponsor of Spears CARS Tour Southwest Opener
Rec Sports3 weeks ago

Black Bear Revises Recording Policies After Rulebook Language Surfaces via Lever
Motorsports4 weeks ago

Jo Shimoda Undergoes Back Surgery
Motorsports3 weeks ago

Donny Schatz finds new home for 2026, inks full-time deal with CJB Motorsports – InForum
NIL4 weeks ago

Bowl Projections: ESPN predicts 12-team College Football Playoff bracket, full bowl slate after Week 14
Rec Sports4 weeks ago

Robert “Bobby” Lewis Hardin, 56
Rec Sports4 weeks ago

How this startup (and a KC sports icon) turned young players into card-carrying legends overnight
Rec Sports3 weeks ago

How Donald Trump became FIFA’s ‘soccer president’ long before World Cup draw
Rec Sports3 weeks ago

David Blitzer, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
Sports4 weeks ago

Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Release 2026 Indoor Schedule with Opener Slated for December 6 at Home
Motorsports4 weeks ago

Michael Jordan’s fight against NASCAR heads to court, could shake up motorsports
Sports4 weeks ago

Wisconsin volleyball sweeps Minnesota with ease in ranked rivalry win
Motorsports4 weeks ago

Pohlman admits ‘there might be some spats’ as he pushes to get Kyle Busch winning again
Motorsports3 weeks ago

JR Motorsports Confirms Death Of NASCAR Veteran Michael Annett At Age 39
Motorsports4 weeks ago

Increased Purses, 19 Different Tracks Highlight 2026 Great Lakes Super Sprints Schedule – Speedway Digest

Most Viewed Posts

Trending