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Georgia State Appoints Charnay Ryland as Track and Field Head Coach

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ATLANTA– Georgia State athletics welcomes Charnay Ryland as the head coach of the women’s track and field coach, Director of Athletics Charlie Cobb announced Monday afternoon. 
 
Ryland comes to Georgia State from the University of Georgia, where she served as the assistant coach for sprints and hurdles from Aug. 2024-Aug. 2025. 
 
Prior to her time in Athens, she spent two seasons at the University of Michigan as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, where she worked with the sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers. Ryland has coached her student-athletes to a combined 46 NCAA All-America between stops at Michigan and Lee University.
 
During her time in Ann Arbor, Ryland assisted in coaching one national champion, one Olympic finalist, one World Champion finalist, 11 individual NCAA All-Americans and two All-American relay teams. Her student-athletes earned six individual Big Ten titles and two in the relays, and she coached and assisted in coaching 11 school records. She was a member of two Big Ten Championship teams at Michigan and guided eight individuals and two relay teams to the NCAA Preliminary round. 

During the 2023-24 season, Aasia Laurencin and Savannah Sutherland made NCAA Championships appearances in both the indoor and outdoor seasons while Dubem Amene made an NCAA Indoor Championship appearance under Ryland’s guidance. Sutherland won a pair of Big Ten titles in the indoor 400-meter dash and the outdoor 400m hurdles, defending her hurdles title from 2023. She finished on the podium at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, earning First Team All-America honors for each performance. Sutherland’s NCAA Outdoor Championship run saw her finish second and set the program and Canadian national record in the semifinals (54.04) and the finals (53.26). Laurencin took home the 60m hurdles Big Ten title and defended her 100m hurdles title, earning podium finishes and First Team All-America honors at the Indoor and Outdoor NCAA Championships. In the 60m hurdles semi-finals at the NCAA Indoor Championships, she ran a 7.99 as just the third Wolverine to break eight seconds. Amene finished third in the 400m at the Big Ten Indoor Championships before claiming the Big Ten Outdoor Championship title in the event to cap his career at U-M, also setting the indoor (45.75) and outdoor (45.36) 400m programs records.

 

Both the men’s and women’s DMR teams took home silver at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, with the men’s team setting the program record (9:43.96) and advancing to the NCAA Indoor Championships. Sutherland and Amene both qualified for the 2024 Olympics, with Amene representing Nigeria in the 4x400m relay and Sutherland representing Canada in the 400m hurdles.

During her first indoor season in 2022-23, she helped coach the women’s team to an indoor Big Ten Championship, along with assisting in leading four athletes to individual Big Ten event titles. Ryland also coached two athletes and one relay to NCAA All-American Honors at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. The U-M Women’s team won the outdoor title, with Ryland helping lead Ziyah Holman to a record-setting performance in both the 200m and 400m while winning the 400m. Holman advanced to the NCAA Championships after finishing second at the NCAA East Preliminaries, earning a sixth-place finish and First Team All-America honors. Ryland also assisted in coaching Holman in NACAC. Holman went on to compete for Team USA at the NACAC U23 Championships where she returned home with a silver medal in the 400m and a gold medal from the 4x400m relay. 

Ryland assisted in the hurdle performances of Aasia Laurencin and Savannah Sutherland, with Sutherland winning the NCAA 400m hurdle title as well as the Canadian Title. Ryland coached the 4x400m indoor and outdoor relay teams, setting the program record at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships in a narrow second-place finish. The 4x400m relay team of Nikki Stephens, Sophie Isom, Aurora Rynda and Ziyah Holman punched their ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, finishing 13th and coming just over a tenth-of-a-second behind the school record time. Joshua Zeller and Dubem Amene saw success in 2023 as well, with Zeller earning a silver medal at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships in the 110m hurdles and Amene winning the indoor 400m title, followed by a third place finish outdoors.

Ryland came to Ann Arbor from Tennessee’s Lee University, where she most recently served as associate head coach of the track and field team. She left Lee University with an impressive track record, guiding the women’s track and field team to four Gulf South Conference (GSC) outdoor championship titles and three indoor GSC championship titles, along with an additional GSC outdoor and indoor championship title for the men’s team. In 2022, she was named USTFCCCA South Region Men’s Indoor Track and Field Assistant Coach of the Year before earning women’s assistant coach of the year honors during the outdoor season. She became associate head coach at Lee in May of 2020 after serving as assistant coach from 2016 to 2020. Ryland was named USTFCCCA South Region Men’s Indoor Track and Field Assistant Coach of the Year for the first time in 2018, earning the same honor outdoors in 2021. 

 

Prior to her time with Lee University, Ryland served as head track and field coach at Mount Anthony Union High School and Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Southern Vermont College simultaneously. Ryland was a National Champion, All-American and school record-holder in the triple jump, long jump, and 4x100m while attending Montgomery Junior College (Md.). She then went on to Montreat College (N.C.) where she was an All-American and national champion, setting a school record in the triple jump. Ryland was a multi-sport athlete playing basketball at Montgomery and Montreat.

After graduating with a degree in Communications from Montreat College in 2015, Ryland went on to earn her Master’s of Education in Higher Education from Lee University in 2018. She was inducted into the Montreat College Hall of Fame in 2022.

Outside of her coaching career, she has served as a dental tech in the U.S. Air Force Reserve since 2020.

 



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UK Wildcats News: Kentucky Volleyball National Championship Gameday

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December 21, 2025

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Good morning, BBN! It’s game day!

The Kentucky Wildcats compete for a volleyball national championship this afternoon against Texas A&M. It’s Kentucky’s second appearance in the NCAA Volleyball National Championship and Texas A&M’s first appearance. It’s also the first time two SEC teams have competed for the national championship.

It’s been a fantastic postseason run for the Wildcats, going back to that thrilling win over Texas in the SEC Championship and all the way to that come-from-behind win over Wisconsin in the semifinals. Now, the Cats have a chance to top it off with a national championship.

Game time is set for 3:30 PM ET on ABC.

This will serve as today’s open thread, so make sure to come back here to talk about the game!

The SEC is stepping up its volleyball game.

She’s been a key piece for this team.

JQ wasted no time making his presence known.

Big performances from Quaintance and Lowe.

He certainly looks like a difference-maker moving forward.

Will Stein’s offense looked good last night.

Texas Tech vs Oregon is the most interesting to me. How about you?

Could you imagine how different things look?

Not a great Year 1 for Schottenheimer.

That’s a game Duke will wish they could have back.



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Lady Vols Announce Addition of Outside Hitter Nia Hall

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December 21, 2025

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee volleyball head coach Eve Rackham Watt announced the signing of outside hitter Nia Hall.

Hall spent the 2025 season at South Carolina after transferring from Cleveland State. At Cleveland State she was named a 2024 All-Horizon League First Team selection where she put up 397 kills and 143 digs. In her lone season with the Gamecocks, Hall recorded 273 kills and 89 digs during the 2025 campaign. Hall’s 273 led South Carolina in 2025 in both kills and kills per set (3.07).

The Lorain, Ohio native has played in 83 matches in her collegiate career, where she has posted 823 kills, 274 digs, 160 blocks over three seasons. Hall has reached double figure kills in 43 matches in her career. She owns five 20-plus kill performances in her career, and has racked up seven double-doubles.

Known for her defensive prowess as well, Hall has notched 80 or more digs in consecutive seasons. Hall set a career-high 143 in 2024 at Cleveland State, before helping solidify South Carolina’s backrow with 89 in 2025. Hall is also strong at the net, tallying 35-plus blocks in all three seasons. Hall totaled 35 blocks for South Carolina this past season, while setting a career-high in 2024 of 85.

In 2024, Hall helped lead Cleveland State to a Horizon League Championship and its first NCAA appearance since 2017. Before beginning her college career, Hall was a standout at Amherst Steele where she earned All-State, All-County, and All-Conference honors. Hall recorded 1,215 kills on a .365 hitting percentage.

Tennessee is coming off a 20-8 campaign in 2025 and its fifth-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The 20-win season marked the 26th in program history, and fourth under head coach Eve Rackham Watt. The Lady Vols finished with a 10-5 record in the SEC, earning the fourth seed in the SEC Tournament. The Big Orange has totaled six 10-plus win seasons in conference play under Rackham Watt.



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Bucknam passes baton as Arkansas Razorback track coach with ‘last last’

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December 21, 2025

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FAYETTEVILLE — Since announcing his retirement as the University of Arkansas men’s track and field coach Nov. 5, Chris Bucknam has been on a farewell tour of sorts.

There was the last home meet, the last NCAA championship meet and the last day at the office on Dec. 12.

This week at the annual convention for the U.S. Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association near Dallas, Bucknam took the stage to accept the John McDonnell Program of the Year Award for the last time Monday. Then on Thursday, Bucknam was able to experience one more thrill of victory as the Razorbacks’ head coach when former Arkansas sprinter Jordan Anthony won The Bowerman as the year’s top college track and field athlete.

“It’s the end of the road,” Bucknam said afterward. “This is the last last. … It’s a great way to go out.”

In 18 cross country and 17 track and field seasons at Arkansas, Bucknam’s teams won 2 national championships, 34 SEC championships, 5 McDonnell Program of the Year Awards and 3 Bowerman trophies. Hundreds of Razorbacks earned All-SEC and All-America honors during his tenure.

“There are a lot of people to think and a lot of people to be thankful for,” Bucknam said. “I just appreciate everybody’s effort. I feel like our program does a great job of bringing the best out of people.”

That was a note hit by Anthony during his acceptance speech Thursday night.

“Coach Buck, your championship pedigree speaks for itself,” Anthony said, “and I’m very thankful to have learned under your guidance.”

Bucknam will be succeeded as Arkansas’ track and field head coach by Doug Case, his longtime assistant who was recruited by Bucknam to Northern Iowa in the early 1980s. Bucknam plans to continue living in Fayetteville.

“I’m excited to see what comes next with Coach Case in his coaching era,” Bucknam said. “This is a great stepping off the stage kind of event for me and (I am) passing the baton.”

Matt Jones

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Matt Jones is the managing editor of WholeHogSports.com and hosts the WholeHogSports Daily Podcast. He is a member of the Football Writers Association of America and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, and voter for the Heisman Trophy. He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas.



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NCAA women’s volleyball championship 2025 tips off

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December 21, 2025

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Dec. 20, 2025, 11:55 p.m. ET

The Kentucky Wildcats celebrate after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the Final Four.

The Kentucky Wildcats celebrate after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the Final Four.

Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images



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2025 All-Area Volleyball: Meet the complete team | Sports

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December 21, 2025

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All-Area First Team

Player YR. Pos. School

Lily Bosworth Sr. MB Mahomet-Seymour

Maddy Doggett Jr. OH Westville

Sophie Duis Sr. MB Cissna Park

Addison Lucht Sr. OH Cissna Park

Reis McFarland Sr. OH Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin

Mady Melton Sr. L Monticello

Cassidy Monahan Sr. OH St. Thomas More

Josie Neukomm Sr. OH Cissna Park

Jillian Schlittler Sr. S/OH Unity

Ava Yeakel Sr. OH Mahomet-Seymour

All-Area Second Team

Player Yr. Pos. School

Brin Armstrong So. OH Champaign Central

Nia Bolton Sr. L Centennial

Laila Carr Sr. OH LeRoy

Erin Dallas Sr. S Mahomet-Seymour

Mady Marcott Jr. S Cissna Park

Tinley Parkerson Sr. S/OH Armstrong-Potomac

Thayren Rigsby Sr. MB Watseka

Bella Romine So. MB Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond

Aeralyn Thrasher Sr. OH Sullivan

Paige Young Sr. L Prairie Central

All-Area Honorable Mention

➜ Arcola: Kiera Leal (Sr. OH), Maddie Pilkington (Sr. S), Ema Simpson (Sr. MB)

➜ Argenta-Oreana: Khloe Hartrich (So. MB), Alexis Havener (Sr. L), Mya Hill (Sr. OH)

➜ Armstrong-Potomac: Ashlyn Ackerman (So. MB), Makenna Ackerman (Sr. DS), Isabel Bullington (So. OH), Carly Grant (Jr. S), Elie Lomax (Jr. OH/MB)

➜ Arthur Christian: Maddie Goff (Jr. MB), Avery Herschberger (So. S), Aselynn Kauffman (Jr. OH), Brileigh Mast (Sr. OH), Sheri Miller (Sr. DS)

➜ Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond: McKenna Blaudow (Jr. OH), Savannah Butcher (Sr. OH), Morgan Casteel (Jr. S), Summer Melton (Sr. OH), Annabelle Vanausdoll (So. S), Karaline Vanausdoll (Sr. L)

➜ Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin: Ella Acton (Sr. MB), Mallory Brines (Jr. S), Raylynn Hearnley (So. MB/OH)

➜ Blue Ridge: Ava Franzen (Jr. MB)

➜ Centennial: Journey Davis (So. MB/OH), Kate Pitcher (Jr. S)

➜ Cerro Gordo/Bement: Rylan Petty (Jr. S), Avery Stoerger (Fr. MB)

➜ Champaign Central: Summer Abudayeh (Jr. OH), Grace Bandy (Jr. L), Ava Clark (Sr. S), Avery Miller (Fr. OH), Prestyn Roberts (Jr. S)

➜ Chrisman: Jaidyn Alexander (Sr. OH), Leah Phipps (Sr. S/OH)

➜ Cissna Park: Marina Day (So. MB), Ava Henrichs (Jr. OH), Kendyl Neukomm (So. L), Ella Schluter (So. S)

➜ Clinton: Paisley Schick (Jr. L)

➜ Deland-Weldon: Ellie Hayward (Sr. OH)

➜ Fisher: Avery Carleton (Jr. OH), Brooklynn Kellems (Jr. S), Bella Kelsey (So. OH), Raegan Kilman (Jr. OH)

➜ Georgetown-Ridge Farm: Addisen Ellis (So. MB/OH), Milee Ellis (Sr. OH), Rubyrae Fraser Soule (Sr. S), Hadlee Hayes (Sr. MB/OH), Madi Spesard (Jr. DS)

➜ Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley: Abby Brown (Sr. MB), Bailey Bunting (So. OH), Bailey Grider (Sr. S), Maci Lindelof (Jr. OH), Londyn Roderick (Jr. S)

➜ Heritage: Addison Hopper (Jr. L), Faith Latham (Sr. S/OH), Bre Ploense (Jr. S/OH), Brooklynn Powell (Jr. MB)

➜ Hoopeston Area: Addyson Kelnhofer (Sr. MB), Abby Steiner (Sr. MB)

➜ Judah Christian: Liza Carder (Sr. OH), Olivia Dailey (Sr. OH), Kisandra Fazio (Sr. L), Mackenzie Jackson (Sr. S), Avoni Kelly (Sr. MB)

➜ LeRoy: Ella Mennenga (Jr. L), Sadee Owens (Jr. S), Kendyl Spratt (Sr. S/OH)

➜ Mahomet-Seymour: Pfeifer Manuel (So. L), Hannah Martin (Jr. MB), Addy Reigart (Sr. OH), Joelle Snodsmith (So. OH), Anna Streicher (Sr. OH)

➜ Milford: Erica Felton (Sr. MB), Lillie Harris (Sr. OH), Kami Muehling (Jr. L), Sydney Seyfer (Sr. OH)

➜ Monticello: Emma Arnold (Jr. S), Addison Finet (Sr. S/OH), Madison Highland (Jr. MB), Shelby Smith (Sr. OH), Emerson Snook (Sr. OH), Ashley Stiverson (Sr. MB), Sadie Walsh (Sr. DS)

➜ Oakwood: Sophia Hart (Sr. L), Mady Nicoson (Sr. MB), Kendyl Rogers (Sr. OH/DS)

➜ Paxton-Buckley-Loda: Emmy Bagwell (Jr. MB), Ellie Dirks (So. OH), Logan Loschen (So. S), Olivia Rehg (Sr. OH), Kylie Rust (Jr. S)

➜ Prairie Central: Kyah Creek (Sr. S), Mia Elliott (Jr. MB), Miranda Hari (Jr. OH), Lydia Kilgus (Sr. DS), Charlee Popejoy (Jr. DS), Jules Woodrey (Sr. OH)

➜ Rantoul: Airiana Bell (Sr. OH), Lauren Herbert (Sr. S), Josie Roseman (Sr. L)

➜ Ridgeview: Claire Edwards (Sr. S/L)

➜ St. Joseph-Ogden: Katie Ericksen (Sr. L), Hadley McDonald (Jr. OH), Emma McKinney (Sr. S), Emerson Williams (Jr. OH)

➜ St. Thomas More: Audrey Gooding (Sr. L), Sophia Hill (Sr. OH/MB), Avery Humphrey (Fr. S), Juju Kerr (Jr. S/OH), Campbell Phillips (Sr. MB)

➜ Salt Fork: Rain Pitlik (Sr. MB/OH), Ava Ringstrom (Sr. S), Maya Smith (Sr. OH)

➜ Schlarman: Izzy Bogen (Sr. OH), Addison Forsyth (Jr. S), Irene Rangel (Jr. L)

➜ Sullivan: Kate Bushue (Sr. MB), Mae Dawkins (Sr. S), Nevaeh Dovell (Sr. MB), Mya Dyer (Jr. L)

➜ Tuscola: Sawyer Cleland (Jr. OH), Reese Davis (Sr. L), Lilly Kurtz (Sr. MB), Sicily Moss (Jr. S), Bella Wishard (So. OH)

➜ Unity: Lauren Stratton (Sr. L), Olivia Williams (So. OH)

➜ Urbana: Sophia Sheyko-Frailey (Jr. OH)

➜ Villa Grove: Piper Kiser (Sr. S/OH), Hayden Thomas (Sr. L)

➜ Watseka: Christa Holohan (Sr. S), Gabby Kohl (So. MB), Liana Navas (So. S), Avery Pufahl (So. OH), Noelle Schroeder (Sr. L)

➜ Westville: Gwen Bennett (Jr. OH/S), Ady Blakeney (Jr. OH), Carlee Miller (Jr. MB), Lainey Wichtowski (Sr. S), Daylin Zaayer (Jr. L)





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Volleyball Wildcats face Texas A&M for national championship

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December 21, 2025

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – For the second time in school history, the Kentucky volleyball Wildcats will be playing for a national championship, when UK faces Texas A&M on Sunday.

Kentucky coach Craig Skinner won the 2020 NCAA championship, a first at UK.

The Wildcats and the Aggies met back in October, in College Station, with UK rallying from a set down to win the match, 3-1.

“I think it’s important just to treat it like every other game we’ve played in the last 30,” libero Molly Berezowitz said on Friday.

Kentucky, a number one seed and the number two seed overall, defeated Wisconsin on Thursday, 3-2, to advance to the final match.

“We’re at the pinnacle of our sport,” coach Craig Skinner said on Friday. “It’s a great opportunity for Kentucky volleyball and our fans to be in this moment.”

Sunday’s championship match marks just the seventh time two teams from the same conference will play for a title.

First serve in the national championship match is set for 3:30 p.m.

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Copyright 2025 WKYT. All rights reserved.



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