Ten athletes are heading back to school to help young Australians tackle problems, think creatively and connect with sport.

Aussie Stingers player Luci Marsh, Australian boxer Adrian Paoletti and two-time Olympic sailor Olivia Price are among the lineup of ambassadors for the 2025 AIS Problem Solvers Program.

“Sport has always taught me how to think clearly under pressure, break down problems and use frameworks to keep learning through every setback,” Price said.

“I’m excited to share that mindset with young students and show them that problem-solving is a skill anyone can build with the right tools, a bit of courage and a willingness to try.”

Now in its third year, the program sees elite athletes present primary school students with a sporting challenge that encourages outside-the-box thinking.

Over several weeks students work together to solve the problem with the help of AIS-designed resources, before delivering their solution back to the athlete.

Among the four returning ambassadors is Para Matildas co-captain Carly Salmon, who’s passionate about making sport accessible for all.

“I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 18 months of age and was told I would never be able to play sport,” Salmon said. “I worked hard to defy those odds and have now competed in athletics, volleyball and soccer at an elite level.

“Having accessible opportunities to participate in physical activity and the education to increase my health has had a profoundly positive impact on my life.”

Olympic kayaker Yale Steinepreis agrees and is also excited to return.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to visit schools and speak with future problem solvers about how we can create meaningful change, not just in sport and their given problem, but in their own lives as well,” Steinepreis said.

Many athletes balance dual careers, bringing diverse expertise to the classroom. This year’s cohort includes three teachers, an osteopath, an engineering student, a creative industries student, a lawyer and a member of the Army Reserve.

“As a teacher and athlete I am passionate about education and youth development,” Melbourne Mavericks netballer Kimberley Brown said. “Now I’m using my experience and leadership to inspire the next generation both in the classroom and through sport.”

Two-time Olympic rower and returning ambassador Ria Thompson said students also gain insight into the life of an athlete and the opportunities sport can unlock.

“I love sharing what I’ve learnt through my life and journey as an athlete to help the next generation build resilience, find solutions and make a positive difference in the world,” Thompson said.

For the athletes, the experience is just as meaningful.

“This is an amazing opportunity for me to engage with the next generation,” Paoletti, who fights in the 92kg division, said. “Ultimately I am grateful to be able to give back to the community and build strong connections along the way.”

The AIS Problem Solvers Program is free and on offer to all students in years 4-6. Schools can apply here.

Proudly supported by HART Sport – Australia’s leading supplier of sporting equipment and training aids – the program’s inclusive approach reflects HART Sports’ mission to get everyone active, regardless of age, circumstance or ability.

2025 Ambassadors

• Adrian Paoletti, Boxing Australia
• Aiden Carberry, Paddle Australia
• Carly Salmon, Football Australia
• Katerina Paul, Snow Australia
• Kimberley Brown (nee Jenner), Netball Australia
• Luci Marsh, Water Polo Australia
• Olivia Price, Australian Sailing
• Ria Thompson, Rowing Australia
• Stefanie Fejes, Volleyball Australia
• Yale Steinepreis, Paddle Australia

NAPERVILLE — Eight College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) women’s volleyball programs earned the 2025 Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) on Monday.
 
Teams that maintained a year-long grade-point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale) were recognized. Carroll earned the additional distinction of the Team Academic Honor Roll, celebrating programs in the top 20% of GPAs for their division.
 
2025 AVCA Team Academic Award 
Augustana
Carroll*
Elmhurst
Illinois Wesleyan
Millikin
North Central
North Park
Wheaton

* — denotes AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll

 

Women’s Volleyball | 7/22/2025 3:20:00 PM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher women’s volleyball team announced its full 2025 schedule on Tuesday. 

The Cardinals’ 27-match schedule features six home, nine neutral-site and 12 road contests. They play in multi-match events at Itahca College, Clarkson University, St. Lawrence University, Hamilton College, Buffalo State University and SUNY New Paltz. 

Fisher opens the season against Ithaca College in the Bomber Invite at 3 p.m. Friday, August 29. The Cardinals don’t open the home portion of their schedule until they face Fredonia State at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at Manning and Napier Varsity Gym. 

Always one of the decisive matches of the year in the Empire 8 Conference, the Cardinals face East Avenue rival Nazareth at Kidera Gymnasium at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21. Fisher swept Nazareth in the E8 title match last November to punch its ticket to the NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Tournament. 

The Cardinals, who finished 21-9 and lost just two E8 contests in 2024, have won five of the last six conference championships. 

View the Cardinals’ full 2025 schedule below:

The Hungarian men’s water polo team defeated the Olympic champion Serbs 19-18 in Tuesday’s semifinal at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, meaning that they will now play for gold alongside the women’s team. The Hungarians were leading by five goals with six minutes to go, but their rivals managed to make the final minutes exciting. This is the first time since 1998 that the Hungarian team has triumphed over Serbia at the World Championships.

After the success in Fukuoka in 2023, national team coach Zsolt Varga can now prepare for his second World Championships final at the helm of the men’s team, with European champions Spain as their opponents in Thursday’s final. The two teams met in the third round of the group stage at this year’s World Cup, with Spain winning by one goal thanks to a 5-1 victory in the fourth quarter. Outside of the World Cup, they last met in January this year, when Spain triumphed in the final match of the World Cup qualifiers in Otopeni.

So far, only once, in 2005 in Montreal, have both the men’s and women’s national teams played in the World Championships final, with the women returning home with gold medals and the men with silver.

The Hungarian men’s team is preparing for its eighth classic World Championships final, winning three times, in 2003, 2013 and 2023. The Spanish have the same record, with their three successes to date coming in 1998, 2001 and 2022 (the latter in Budapest).

Krisztián Manhercz. Photo: MTI/Koszticsák Szilárd

The strength of the Spanish team is demonstrated by the fact that they have won medals in five consecutive world championships and, with the exception of two Olympic Games, have been on the podium at every major world competition since 2018. The Spanish team is extremely experienced, with 11 members of the 2022 Budapest-winning team still on the roster today.

Márton Vámos is on the verge of a historic achievement for the Hungarian team, as he could become the first Hungarian water polo player to win three world championships.

Zsolt Varga could become the first Hungarian national team coach to win two world championships, but Dénes Kemény leads the coaching rankings with one gold and three silver medals.

Gergő Fekete. MTI/Koszticsák Szilárd

According to Zsolt Varga, in an incredibly difficult match, the Serbs were “outplayed” in the semifinals, which was also a triumph for the heart. “I would like to start by congratulating the girls, they played fantastically yesterday, it is a huge achievement, and we can be proud that both teams are playing in the final,” said Zsolt Varga in his assessment to M4 Sport in the mixed zone.

“Today’s match started well, but as three-time Olympic champions, the Serbs know how to win these games. We had to work very hard to stay in it at the end, the defense was incredibly tough, they fought for a lot of penalties, but today we simply managed to outscore them, which was one of the keys to victory.” The expert said that in the final minutes, a “huge chess game” began, with the aim of taking the tired Serbian players, who had made several personal mistakes, out of the game. This strategy was largely successful, although Dusan Mandic still managed to make his mark, but that was to be expected from him, he explained.

Kristóf Csoma goalkeeper (R) and Dusan Mandic of Serbia. Photo: MTI/Koszticsák Szilárd

The national team coach noted that the stakes will be no higher in the final against Spain than they were in this match:

The two teams know each other well, we train together regularly, we know that they are a very strong opponent, but it is the heart that we showed today that is needed for success.”

The Hungary-Spain World Championships final will be held on Thursday at 3:35 p.m. Central European Time.

Related article

World Aquatics: Women’s Water Polo Team Knocks Out Olympic Champions to Reach Final

Via MTI, M4 Sport; Featured image: MTI/Koszticsák Szilárd