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GCU men’s volleyball program shut down without notice

UCLA and Long Beach State met tonight for the NCAA Men’s Volleyball National Championship. The Final Four was made up of blue-blood programs in the sport, along with Pepperdine and Hawai’i. But one year ago, Grand Canyon University (GCU) crashed the party of the traditional powerhouses, coming within five points of playing for an NCAA […]

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UCLA and Long Beach State met tonight for the NCAA Men’s Volleyball National Championship. The Final Four was made up of blue-blood programs in the sport, along with Pepperdine and Hawai’i.

But one year ago, Grand Canyon University (GCU) crashed the party of the traditional powerhouses, coming within five points of playing for an NCAA title.

Less than a year later, the university shut down the program without notice, leaving many still yearning for answers.

“Pretty unfortunate,” said senior Karter Rogers. “Something that nobody was really expecting.”

“We want to know why it was our program, why we didn’t hear about it sooner, why they [the GCU administration] aren’t doing anything to help us,” said junior setter and Valley native Jaxon Herr. “It’s been two weeks since we found out, and we haven’t heard a single thing. We had a program. One day we came in for five minutes and we found out we don’t have one.”

It was April 28, and the Lopes recently lost in the MPSF tournament to end their season. Players were called into an optional meeting that 15 of the 21 attended. They thought it was for an update on the search for a new head coach. Come to find out, their coaching staff was told five minutes prior, and subsequently held out of the players meeting that notified them the program was being shuttered after 17 years. At the same time, an Instagram post went out to the masses announcing the news.

“I was sitting in the meeting FaceTiming one of our other players, and I had about 40 different text messages from guys in our group chat, my parents, other people asking me, ‘what the heck just happened?’ And I don’t even know myself,” said Herr.

Ten incoming players found out on social media they no longer had a place to play, and there aren’t many landing spots elsewhere. The statement pointed out that men’s volleyball is sponsored by only 27 of more than 360 Division I universities, and none in the Mountain West Conference.

But there weren’t any in the WAC, either. In fact, men’s soccer, men’s swimming and diving and women’s beach volleyball also aren’t offered in the Mountain West. Swim and dive will continue in the Big West, women’s beach volleyball in the MPSF — just as the men’s volleyball team was planning on. The former programs with a fraction of the national prominence of the latter.

The statement saying, in a rapidly evolving college athletics landscape, the move will allow GCU to support its remaining 20 athletic programs.

“We have all these intangibles within our culture that has allowed us to progress. Adding in the whole dynamic of now NIL, the House settlement, we’re in a great position because we have such a great, stable financial model,” Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs said on the Big Mountain Podcast back in December. “Enrollment is strong, and there is a correlation between the health of the university and the health of athletics.”

The House settlement removes scholarship limits but reduces the number of players that can be rostered. Men’s volleyball had trimmed from 24 to 23 to 21 over the last three years. They only had 4.5 scholarships, with most guys paying their own way at GCU.

“Is there any amount of money of we can raise? Is there anything else we can do to help solve this problem that, apparently, we have with our program as to why it’s being cut,” Herr wondered had they been informed sooner.

In July 2020, Stanford announced plans to cut 11 non-revenue Olympic sports, including men’s volleyball, but had given those programs one year’s notice. Met with swift backlash, Stanford reversed that decision less than a year later.

In 2024, the program became the first in GCU history to be ranked number one nationally in any sport. And while volleyball is the fastest growing male team sport in the country, GCU was uniquely positioned as the lone Division I program in a state that has become a hotbed for volleyball talent.

“Obviously, I like beating them, but we want them to stay. It’s bad for the sport of volleyball, and Arizona volleyball as a whole,” said UCLA outside hitter Cooper Robinson. “Those kids grow up and they look up to the GCU program because it’s the best in their state.”

“It’s sad, because I remember being a 14-year-old kid and I had all these GCU guys coming in helping me with practice. Like you very much look up to these guys,” said Herr, who won a 6A State Championship at Sandra Day O’Connor High School alongside Hawai’i freshman Finn Kearney and UCLA star Zach Rama.

A Change.org petition to save the GCU men’s volleyball program has already gotten nearly 23,000 signatures.

More than 1,800 miles away in Columbus, Ohio — the site of the NCAA men’s volleyball championships — fans and opposing teams wore ‘Save GCU MVB’ shirts, and other programs used their press conferences to speak out about GCU.

“Just surprising,” said UCLA head coach John Hawks. “It’s the most successful program in the department, and the growth of men’s volleyball across the country is astronomical. I think it’s surprising that they would do it, and I think it’s short-sighted.”

“Just sad, because you put in a lot of work and time building something,” said Rogers, who spent five years at GCU. “Just to see it taken away is kind of unfortunate.”

We requested comment from GCU Athletic Director Jamie Boggs, but a university spokesman said she wouldn’t be doing any interviews or providing any additional statements.





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No. 4 Long Beach Poly Girls’ Volleyball Wins CIF-SS Championship – The562.org

The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial. The562’s coverage of high school volleyball in 2025 is brought to you by the MLP’s Bay Area Breakers. The Long Beach Poly girls’ volleyball team showed “the Long Beach” in them while winning a five-setter against Bishop Diego in the CIF-SS Division 3 championship last […]

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The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.

The562’s coverage of high school volleyball in 2025 is brought to you by the MLP’s Bay Area Breakers.

The Long Beach Poly girls’ volleyball team showed “the Long Beach” in them while winning a five-setter against Bishop Diego in the CIF-SS Division 3 championship last November, earning the No. 4 spot on our Top 10 Long Beach Sports Moments of the Year.

The championship win was Poly’s third in girls’ volleyball program history and marked the 131st CIF-SS championship in school history. It was also the Jackrabbits’ first volleyball title since 2010.

“It’s just the grit, it’s the Long Beach in them,” said Poly coach Gerald Aquiningoc after the win. “It feels amazing. I can’t even put it into words yet—I haven’t processed it. It was up and down, but it’s just them. They don’t give up. That fifth set, when it was win or go home, they went into the huddle and said, ‘We’re not losing. We’re not going home without a ring.’”

Cedra Saolotoga-Talaga had 15 digs and a team-high 14 kills in the match, and also contributed one of Poly’s 12 total aces. Sydney Mercado finished the game with a match-high five aces. Taimane Poe and Aleeya Salima also chipped in with 10 kills each.

Moore League Players of the Year and middle blocker duo Layla Moore and Kristin Dear held UCLA-committed outside hitter Eliana Urzua to just a .095 hitting percentage, while combining for seven blocks. Dear also hit a match-high .571.

“Just look at this, man—it’s amazing,” said Aquiningoc after the game, while the Jackrabbits celebrated behind the Cerritos College gym with family and friends. “The bond that we have is just unbreakable and too undeniably good to lose. They did their very best today, and as the game went on, we just decided we’re not losing.”



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Bearcat alum Marcus Johnson set to compete at USA Track and Field National Outdoor Meet

EUGENE, OR (WBNG) — Recent Binghamton University graduate Marcus Johnson was accepted to participate in the USA Track and Field National Outdoor Meet in Eugene, Oregon. The former Bearcat will run his first race, the 400-meter hurdles, on Aug. 1 at 6:30 P.M. EDT. Johnson ended his graduate year in June at the NCAA Outdoor […]

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EUGENE, OR (WBNG) — Recent Binghamton University graduate Marcus Johnson was accepted to participate in the USA Track and Field National Outdoor Meet in Eugene, Oregon.

The former Bearcat will run his first race, the 400-meter hurdles, on Aug. 1 at 6:30 P.M. EDT.

Johnson ended his graduate year in June at the NCAA Outdoor Championship, where he placed 22nd in the first round of the 400 hurdles.

In his four years as a Bearcat, he was a five-time America East champion and two-time NCAA East Region qualifier.



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Greenville Lady Lions to face challenging volleyball schedule | Local Sports

Greenville’s Lady Lions will face another challenging schedule in volleyball this season, especially in District 9-5A play. The Lady Lions, who went 24-17 in 2024, are to start two-a-day workouts on Aug. 4, practicing from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and then from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. × This page requires Javascript. Javascript […]

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Greenville’s Lady Lions will face another challenging schedule in volleyball this season, especially in District 9-5A play.

The Lady Lions, who went 24-17 in 2024, are to start two-a-day workouts on Aug. 4, practicing from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and then from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.


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Registration Opens For ‘Popular’ Youth Volleyball League In Los Alamitos

LOS ALAMITOS, CA — Registration is now open for the “ever-so-popular” Youth Volleyball League in Los Alamitos, city officials announced Thursday. Each kid will receive a jersey and medal, but will compete in their respective division for a championship. The season will also conclude with a skills contest and award ceremony to celebrate everyone’s progress, […]

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LOS ALAMITOS, CA — Registration is now open for the “ever-so-popular” Youth Volleyball League in Los Alamitos, city officials announced Thursday.

Each kid will receive a jersey and medal, but will compete in their respective division for a championship. The season will also conclude with a skills contest and award ceremony to celebrate everyone’s progress, according to city officials.

“The league emphasizes skill development, teamwork, and sportsmanship,” city officials said in a statement Thursday. “This program is a great way for youth to stay active, make friends, and grow both on and off the court.”

Practices and games will take place at Oak Middle School Gym. Registration fees are $145 for residents and $150 for non-residents.

To register kids for the program or view other recreational opportunities in Los Alamitos, click here.

Oak Middle School Gym is located at 10821 Oak St. in Los Alamitos



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Countdown to Brisbane 2032: How you can celebrate 7 years to go

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli plants a commemorative Games tree with youth athletes Addison Houslip (triathlon), Grace Brimelow PLY (Paralympic Triathlete), Sam Eyles (water polo), Hannah Pollock (triathlon) and Daisy Quinn (open water swimming). (Supplied) In just seven years, the world will turn its attention to the Sunshine Coast for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and […]

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Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli plants a commemorative Games tree with youth athletes Addison Houslip (triathlon), Grace Brimelow PLY (Paralympic Triathlete), Sam Eyles (water polo), Hannah Pollock (triathlon) and Daisy Quinn (open water swimming). (Supplied)

In just seven years, the world will turn its attention to the Sunshine Coast for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

On 23 July, Mayor Rosanna Natoli was joined by Member for Caloundra Kendall Moreton, and a group of young local athletes at Lake Kawana to plant a ceremonial tree, officially launching 7 Years to Grow—a vibrant initiative to green our backyard and celebrate our region’s growth on the road to 2032.

With an ambitious goal to give away 2032 trees to be planted in thousands of backyards, schools and clubs across the region, Divisional Councillors will hold 20 free tree events from July 23 until September 5.

The initiative also includes the planting of 500 trees at the Sunshine Coast Ecological Park and 92 trees on Sportsmans Parade alongside the Sunshine Coast Stadium–set to host Olympic Football in 2032.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the trees planted in the coming months will grow and thrive, just as our region will over the next seven years as we prepare to co-host the Games in our backyard.

“It’s incredible to think that on July 23 in seven years’ time, the opening ceremony will light up South East Queensland, and the Sunshine Coast will be on the world’s stage,” Mayor Natoli said.

“Our preparations go beyond co-hosting. We’re focused on building a legacy that supports long-term growth across the Sunshine Coast.

“The Games will bring increased visibility, investment and opportunity to the Sunshine Coast, supporting growth across tourism, transport, local business, environment and infrastructure.

“Two of our Games venues are progressing to procurement and will be some of the first in Queensland to come out of the ground.

“Our community will be able to enjoy the upgraded Sunshine Coast Stadium and the new Mountain Bike Centre at Parklands well before, and long after, the closing ceremony in 2032.”

Mayor Natoli said she also anticipated an exciting expansion in regional sports on the Sunshine Coast, including the growth and development of our young athletes.

“We have so much talent on the Sunshine Coast and our young athletes are already training with dedication for the opportunity to represent their region and their country at a home Games.

“I cannot wait to see what our region, our community and our athletes can achieve over the next seven years and beyond.”



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Joel Reinhardt – Stanford Cardinal

Joel Reinhardt joined Stanford Football’s staff as the assistant sports performance coach and applied sports science coordinator in 2022. He will oversee Stanford’s sports science and data tracking for Cullen Carroll’s football sports performance staff. Prior to Stanford, Reinhardt worked at UMass as the assistant sports performance coach since 2019. At UMass, Reinhardt oversaw sports science, […]

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Joel Reinhardt joined Stanford Football’s staff as the assistant sports performance coach and applied sports science coordinator in 2022. He will oversee Stanford’s sports science and data tracking for Cullen Carroll’s football sports performance staff.
 
Prior to Stanford, Reinhardt worked at UMass as the assistant sports performance coach since 2019. At UMass, Reinhardt oversaw sports science, practice planning and return to play for football, while also leading all aspects of women’s lacrosse and men’s soccer’s performance training.
 
He previously worked at Nicholls State in Thibodaux, La., where he helped design and implement a comprehensive strength and conditioning program for football. He was also responsible for the implementation of all agility work for the team’s offseason development program. He also worked with women’s track and field, women’s soccer, softball and both tennis programs at Nicholls State, in addition to organizing and analyzing Playertek GPS data.
 
Reinhardt arrived at Nicholls State following an internship with the Minnesota Football program.
 
Reinhardt graduated from Springfield College, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Strength and Conditioning in 2017. While studying at Springfield College, Reinhardt worked as a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach. He earned his undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College (Northfield, Minn.) in Kinesiology and Exercise Science in 2015.
 
Reinhardt’s strength and conditioning expertise also includes internship tenures with Total Hockey Minnesota (2013), Springfield College Athletics (2015), the UConn Athletic Department (2016) and Western Michigan football (2016).
 
He and his wife, Lauren, were married in 2021.
 



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