Sports
How do Guardians deal with Shane Bieber, Emmanuel Clase, Junior Caminero? The week …
ARLINGTON — Baseball gives and takes. It’s how one handles it that makes the difference.
On Friday night, Shane Bieber, the Guardians’ former ace and Cy Young winner, returned to a big league mound for the first time since April 2, 2024.
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Each week during the academic year, the NE10 honors Athletes of the Week for all of its 24 sponsored sports while they are in season. Faces in the Crowd shines a spotlight on outstanding on-field performances that didn’t earn Athlete of the Week recognition, while also highlighting academic or community efforts from student-athletes across the league.
Faces in the Crowd is presented by Athletic Solutions, a national leader in NIL fan engagement and e-commerce technology, collaborating with colleges and universities to bring NIL Locker Rooms to life. Their platform simplifies NIL opportunities, providing student-athletes with the tools and exposure needed to thrive in the evolving landscape of college athletics.
Below are this week’s NE10 Faces in the Crowd.
Brayden Naumann
School: Saint Michael’s
Sport: Ice Hockey
The Purple Knight assisted on three goals vs Rivier over the weekend, equalling the best total in an NE10 game this winter. He came back the next night and scored against Rivier as well.
Cherif Diarra
School: Southern Connecticut State
Sport: Basketball
The top defender in the NE10, Diarra has posted three straight double-figure rebounding games and his 18-board performance at Mercy is the top number in the conference this season. He’s averaging five offensive rebounds alone over the last three games.
Chelsea Reeves
School: American Int’l
Sport: Basketball
Reeves is a massive reason for AIC’s success this winter. She dropped a season-best 30 points while adding seven rebounds at SNHU. She’s scored 20 points five times this season for the eight-win Yellow Jackets. Reeves in No. 2 in the NE10 in scoring.
Justice Ellison
School: Southern Connecticut
Sport: Basketball
The Owls have won four straight, thanks in part to Ellison’s four straight double-doubles. This week, he scored a team-high 22 points in a win over Mercy, grabbing 10 rebounds and recording three steals. He followed up that performance with 17 points against Bentley, including 15 in the second half, also adding 10 boards to help the Owls to a come-from-behind conference victory.
Teagan Curran
School: Assumption
Sport: Basketball
Curran was the reason for a pair of Assumption wins last week, scoring 42 points between the pair. Against CSI she score 11 of the team’s final 14 points to come back from down five. She also scored the final three in a one-point win vs. Saint Michael’s.
This Year’s Faces in the Crowd
Week 1
Anna Daggatt, Saint Michael’s Volleyball
Dillon Labonte, SNHU Cross Country
Jakkai Stith, AIC Football
Jenni Huttunen, Franklin Pierce Soccer
Taylor Leckey, SCSU Field Hockley
Week 2
Alice Bender, Pace Volleyball
Annie Lorenz, Bentley Field Hockey
Isabel Hughes and Claudia Keith, SNHU Soccer
Reese Swanson, Franklin Pierce Field Hockey
Connor Dietz, AIC Football
Jay Kastantin, Assumption Football
Week 3
Dillon Labonte, SNHU Cross Country
Elizjah Lewis, Pace Football
Grace Almeida, Saint Michael’s Volleyball
Lana Mignon De Wet, Adelphi Field Hockey
Paola Soto Burgos, AIC Volleyball
Week 4
Brennah Abilheira-Cargill, Assumption Volleyball
Kerrigan Habing, SCSU Volleyball
Drew Forkner, St. Anselm Football
Khais Milligan, Pace Soccer
Madeline Krepelka, Bentley Field Hockey
Week 5
Connor Dietz, AIC Football
Elizjah Lewis, Pace Football
Kaylise McClure, Mercy Field Hockey
Mackenzie Casey, Adelphi Volleyball
Michael Guarnieri, St. Anselm Football
Week 6
Andrew Surprenant, SNHU Men’s Golf
Isaiah Osgood, Bentley Football
Jessica Evans, Mercy Field Hockey
Sarah Henault, SCSU Volleyball
Sydney DeRoche, Bentley Women’s Soccer
Week 7
Faith Kosiba, Saint Michael’s Soccer
Grace Presswood, Assumption Volleyball
John Giller, SCSU Football
McKenzie Carey, Bentley Field Hockey
Ruby Harrington, Saint Michael’s Field Hockey
Week 8
Avery Frommer, Bentley Field Hockey
Billy Gould, Assumption Football
Kerrigan Habing, SCSU Volleyball
Maya Fisher, SCSU Cross Country
Quinlyn Moll, AIC Field Hockey
Week 9
Isaiah Decias, Bentley Football
Jessica Evans, Mercy Field Hockey
Milagros Zanatelli, AIC Field Hockey
Ryan Rosario, Franklin Pierce Women’s Soccer
Sasha Luzina, Bentley Volleyball
Week 10
Connor Smith, Assumption Football
Jake Croce, Saint Anselm Football
Madeline Chaapel, Adelphi Volleyball
Maggie Burchill, Saint Anselm Field Hockey
Riley Mastowski, Franklin Pierce Hockey
Week 11
Ana Carolina Westerich, Adelphi Volleyball
Dayshawn Walton, Adelphi Basketball
Taeya and Rheyna Steinauer, SCSU Basketball
Will Gomes, Franklin Pierce Football
Amelia Hohos, Saint Anselm Soccer
Week 12
Brady Gaudet, Franklin Pierce Soccer
Dom Santiago, Assumption Football
Elena Coban, Bentley Volleyball
Olivia Crespo, Franklin Pierce Soccer
Will Davies, Saint Anselm Basketball
Week 13
Alvaro Garcia, SNHU Soccer
Jojo Wallace, SNHU Basketball
Kaitlin McDonough, Saint Anselm Basketball
Margaret Montplaisir, Saint Michael’s Basketball
Zee McCown, Assumption Basketball
Week 14
Hope Fox, SCSU Basketball
Jodiann Ebanks, AIC Track and Field
Ruzgar Christina Boyle, AIC Basketball
Skyla Lang, Benltey Swimming
Valerii Pidhoretskyy, Adelphi Swimming
Week 15
Gigi Morossi, Pace Swimming and Diving
Jack Hall, SNHU Basketball
Jordan Wheaton, SNHU Track & Field
Makenzie Shean, Franklin Pierce Soccer
Raymond Baka, Franklin Pierce Basketball
Week 16
Braydon Naumann, Saint Michael’s Hockey
Cherif Diarra, SCSU Basketball
Chelsea Reeves, American Int’l
Justice Ellison, SCSU Basketball
Teagan Curran, Assumption Basketball
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 10 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
Fans can subscribe via this link to follow NE10 NOW on FloSports this season. The partnership between the NE10 and FloSports works to provide funds back to the athletic departments of the Northeast 10 Conference in support of student-athletes while promoting the league on a national platform.
“I am thrilled to welcome Julia to StarkVegas!” said head coach Darty Dennis. “Julia came highly recommended and checked all the boxes and more of what I was looking for in this hire. She is a tireless worker with great energy, and she has a passion for serving and helping people. I can’t wait for her to make an impact on our program and for her to help us give our student-athletes a transformative and special experience!”
Brooks joins MSU by way of Troy, where she most recently served as a graduate assistant with the volleyball team in the 2025 season. She also worked as a graduate assistant with the athletic business office and as a volunteer coach with Troy volleyball in 2024.
Brooks also had a stint as a professional volleyball player, playing for Esmoriz Ginasio Clube in Portugal early in 2024. As a college athlete, Brooks played volleyball for five years at Troy as a middle blocker, earning multiple All-Sun Belt Conference honors during her tenure as a Trojan.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Brooks received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a Master of Science in Strategic Communications, both from Troy.
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.
Longtime Fresno State track and field coach Bob Fraley — whose acts of selflessness helped define a man who also coached with genuine care — recently passed away.
Mr. Fraley, who died Dec. 30, was 88 years old.
Always one to think of others first, Fraley demonstrated in 2003 perhaps his greatest moment of selflessness.
With Fresno State eliminating sports to balance its athletic department budget and meet NCAA Title IX requirements , the Bulldogs men’s track and field program suddenly was on the chopping block.
But Fraley stepped up in a way that seemed so noble then, and remains practically unfathomable today.
The track and field coach — whose passion for the sport, along with connecting people, took a back seat only to his faith and family — struck a deal at Fresno State to sacrifice his coaching salary and work for free to save the program.
“Just speaks to man that he was,” said Scott Barnes, the Oregon State athletic director who with his wife Jody (Marsical) Barnes set up an endowment at Fresno State three years ago in the name both Bob Fraley and his wife Elaine.
“I’ve never heard of anyone else doing something like that in college athletics. Him giving back to keep men’s track and field in the fold and working for free … it just shows he was about impacting others and changing lives.”
Achievements on track, beyond
Fraley’s career spanned 65 years, coaching at the high school, junior college and collegiate Division I levels. He spent 28 years at Fresno State, including eight years as head coach.
In addition, he coached at Riverdale High, his alma mater Laton, and Lemoore, as well as at Clovis West and College of the Sequoias in his post-retirement .
Along the way, Fraley mentored 44 All-Americans, four NCAA champions, which included his son Doug in pole vaulting, and established himself as a renowned pole vault expert.
He was USA Track & Field’s National Coach of the Year and U.S. Olympic Committee Developmental Coach of the Year in 2003. He served a term as president of the U.S. Track and Field Coaches Association. In addition, Fraley went on to be inducted into the Pole Vault Hall of Fame.
He’d also go on to create the national Pole Vault Summit and the popular Clovis Street Vault competition in his post-retirement years.
“Coach Fraley wasn’t just a good pole vault coach — he was an expert,” said Melissa (Price) Western, who became the first NCAA women’s pole vaulting champion in 1998 and was a three-time All-American.
“He studied how to get better, how to jump higher. He helped us understand those details.”
Fraley’s love for pole vault stemmed from his desire to be like his childhood idol and legendary Fresno State star pole vaulter Dutch Warmerdam.
“All of us kids wanted to be like Dutch,” Fraley said according to his bio in the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. “Dutch was a great teacher and motivator. I learned so much from him about the dynamics of the pole vault, but I loved his philosophies.
“He’d say, ‘Compete and give your best, be a cheerleader for your teammates, go to church on Sunday, and we’ll work on it on Monday.’”
Coaching and connecting
While Fraley’s knowledge helped him climb the ranks of track and field and aided his athletes, it was his sincere way of coaching and communicating that endeared him to so many.
“He just always did the right thing,” said Jody (Marsical) Barnes, who was a high jumper at Fresno State from 1984-1988. “He was a coach, he was a mentor, he was a father to a lot of us.
“He was just so impactful for so many people on so many levels. He spoke life into a lot of people. It’s hard losing someone like Coach Fraley.”
Former Bulldogs basketball player Brandon Bakke met the track and field coach through the student organization Fellowship of Christian Athletes with Fraley and Elaine hosting FCA meetings at their home.
“Most coaches are so self-absorbed with their own program that they don’t have the space or time to reach out to others,” said Bakke, who played at Fresno State from 1991-96. “Coach Fraley was all about all of the athletes at Fresno State.
“He really taught me how I was representing something bigger than myself. And that you were more than just a basketball player. He really cared about other parts of our lives.”
Fraley’s care for others extended beyond Fresno State.
Fraley authored articles regarding obesity and diabetes in youth, and how track and field could help address such problems.
“One of the reasons Coach Fraley fought hard for track and field was, it’s one of those sports that caters to people of all sizes,” Jody Barnes said.
And he had a keen interest in recruiting athletes from small, rural communities.
After all, Fraley was from the tiny Fresno County town of Laton., where he
“You can’t help but respect him and want him to lead you,” said former Bulldog vaulter and Coalinga native Roy Phelps in 2008. “He’s a genuine person, the kind of person I’d love to see myself being when I get older.
“He always told me: ‘It’s not where you came from, but what you make of it. Anyone is capable of anything.’”
Mr. Fraley is survived by his wife of 67 years, Elaine, their three children (Tammi Fraley Groom, Jill Fraley Palacios and Doug Fraley), five grandchildren, as well as four great grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9, at Oak Grove Cemetery in Laton.
“In a time when college athletics is so transactional, we need more Bob Fraleys in the world,” Scott Barnes said. “A coach who can connect and build trust with his athletes, thinks about them beyond the competition setting.
“Someone parents know their kid is getting taken care of under someone like coach Fraley. I pray for more coaches like coach Fraley.”
This story was originally published January 7, 2026 at 10:06 AM.
ATLANTA — Georgia State announced the promotion of Isabella “Bella” Ferary to assistant coach of the beach volleyball program in January 2026, elevating one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history into a full-time coaching role.
Ferary joins the coaching staff following a record-setting and decorated playing career with the Sandy Panthers and a brief stint as a graduate assistant while completing her master’s degree. She previously served as a graduate assistant and director of beach volleyball operations from August 2024 through December 2025.
A four-year letterwinner from 2021–24, Ferary leaves an indelible mark on Georgia State Beach Volleyball. She is the program’s all-time career leader in individual wins with 105 and, alongside her twin sister Angel, holds the school record for most pair victories with 100. Competing primarily in the top flight, the duo earned national recognition throughout their careers, including back-to-back All-Sun Belt First Team selections in 2023 and 2024 and being named the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Pair of the Year.
During the 2024 season, Ferary helped lead Georgia State to its second consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championship and a third straight NCAA Championship berth, as the Sandy Panthers finished ranked inside the nation’s top 16. She and Angel posted a 25-14 record, highlighted by nine wins over nationally ranked opponents and an 11-1 mark in conference play. The pair was named Sun Belt Conference Pair of the Week on March 27.
Ferary’s junior campaign in 2023 was highlighted by her selection to the AVCA All-America Second Team. She played a key role in Georgia State’s inaugural Sun Belt Conference championship and contributed to a season that included a program-defining victory over USC’s top pair, handing the Trojans their only regular-season loss. She finished the year with a 19-14 record and eight wins over ranked opponents.
In 2022, Ferary and her sister compiled a historic 37-2 record, setting school records for both individual and pair wins in a single season. The duo earned All-Conference USA First Team honors and AVCA Top Flight Award recognition as the Sandy Panthers claimed their first Conference USA Championship and advanced to the NCAA Round of Six, including a victory over No. 2 TCU. Georgia State’s No. 7 final AVCA ranking marked the highest finish for any athletic program in school history in a Division I national poll.
As a freshman in 2021, Ferary led the team with a 24-9 record, earned a spot on the CCSA All-Tournament Team and helped the Sandy Panthers secure wins over multiple nationally ranked opponents.
Ferary also excelled in the classroom, earning CSC All-District At-Large honors in 2023 and multiple appearances on the President’s List and Dean’s List. She graduated with a degree in criminal justice with a concentration in legal studies and continues her education in graduate school at Georgia State.
Prior to her collegiate career, Ferary was named an AVCA High School First Team All-American in 2020. A multi-sport athlete at Mount Paran Christian School, she was part of state championship teams in indoor volleyball and track and field and also lettered in basketball.
A native of Kennesaw, Ga., Ferary is the daughter of Joseph and Lisa Ferary. Her twin sister Angel, also a standout for Georgia State Beach Volleyball, remains a long-time teammate and partner on the sand.
Ferary brings extensive competitive experience, deep institutional knowledge and a championship pedigree into her new role, where she will support coaching efforts and program operations as the Sandy Panthers continue to compete at the national level.
The four-time All-American played a significant role for the Badgers throughout the 2025 season where she capped off her collegiate career with a AVCA First Team All-America honor, AVCA Outside Hitter of the Year, AVCA All-Region North Player of the Year, and a First Team honoree in the Big Ten.
Colyer concluded the season with a .340 hitting percentage and racked up the most kills in the UW history with 598, leading the Badgers to their highest hitting percentage in the rally scoring era (since 2008) at .327. She finished ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the NCAA in kills per set (5.44) and point per set (5.99). She also totaled 659.0 total points which finished No. 5 in the NCAA.
The California native eclipsed both the 2,000 career kill and 1,000 career dig totals this season, while also collecting 15 matches with 20 or more kills, including a career-high 32 kills at the National Semifinals against Kentucky. Colyer totaled double0-figure kills in every match but one this season, including 10 double-doubles (kills and digs).
Joining the list of volleyball finalists with Colyer are Olivia Babcock (University of Pittsburgh), Eva Hudson (University of Kentucky), and Bergen Reilly (University of Nebraska).
Colyer will look to become the second Badger in program history to win the award. In 2021-22, Badger volleyball great, Dana Rettke, became the first in program history to win the award. Outside hitter Sarah Franklin was also nominated in 2023 and 2024.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont Volleyball and head coach Fritz Rosenberg announced the addition of Butler transfer Lauren Evans on Wednesday morning.
The sophomore defensive specialist from Carmel, Indiana, will wear jersey No. 0, becoming Belmont Volleyball’s second spring 2026 transfer.
Evans arrives in Nashville after spending her first two collegiate seasons at Butler, competing in the BIG EAST Conference. During the 2025 season, she appeared in all 29 matches, totaling 448 digs while averaging 3.57 digs per set and adding 93 assists. She posted a season-high 26 digs at St. John’s on Oct. 25 and played a key role in Butler’s defense throughout the season.
As a freshman in 2024, Evans appeared in 29 matches and 96 sets, collecting a team-high 270 digs. She finished the season with 59 assists and 31 service aces, ranking ninth in the BIG EAST.
Prior to Butler, Evans was a standout at the high school level in Indiana. She was ranked as the fourth-best player in the state by PrepDig and was a four-year starter, competing primarily as an outside hitter.
Evans joins the Bruins’ Class of 2028, bringing proven defensive versatility and experience to Belmont’s back row.
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