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How President Russell M. Nelson helped save the Olmstead twins – Deseret News

Mother’s Day will forever be a holiday anchored in faith and gratitude for BYU women’s volleyball coach Heather Olmstead and her family. President Russell M. Nelson helped spare the life of coach Olmstead’s mother, Trudy Olmstead, during a challenging surgical procedure. The coach says opportunities for athletes to grow and share their faith abound at […]

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  • Mother’s Day will forever be a holiday anchored in faith and gratitude for BYU women’s volleyball coach Heather Olmstead and her family.
  • President Russell M. Nelson helped spare the life of coach Olmstead’s mother, Trudy Olmstead, during a challenging surgical procedure.
  • The coach says opportunities for athletes to grow and share their faith abound at BYU.

Brigham Young University women’s volleyball coach Heather Olmstead doesn’t need a day like Mother’s Day to prompt a personal “put-life-in-its-proper-perspective” reset.

Olmstead’s family and faith already keep her anchored to those matters that eclipse professional priorities, such as winning conference games and titles in the hypercompetitive world of Division I college volleyball.

But make no mistake — Olmstead knows all about the elation that winning produces.

Winning, she’s quick to admit, is a lot of fun.

During her nine seasons at the helm of the Cougars’ celebrated volleyball program, the coach’s squads have walked away with victories in almost 90% of their matches.

No current NCAA DI women’s volleyball coach with more than three years tenure has a higher winning percentage than Olmstead — and no DI women’s coach has ever reached 200 wins faster.

But again — all the NCAA tournament wins, the conference titles, the national coaching awards and even a defining Final Four appearance are of distant importance to Olmstead.

For Olmstead, Mother’s Day simply serves as an unnecessary — yet still always joyful — reminder of a mother’s love. And the power of prayer. The promise of temples.

And the humble wisdom of a skilled surgeon/spiritual leader — President Russell M. Nelson — who continues to bless and guide her life.

Brigham Young University women’s volleyball head coach Heather Olmstead poses for a portrait while holding a photo of herself, her mother, Trudy Olmstead, and her twin sister, Nicole Hopkins, at Smith Fieldhouse on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, May 9, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Finding faith at a fearful moment

Forty-five years ago, raising a daughter to become a nationally renowned college volleyball coach was not on Trudy Olmstead’s wish list.

She simply wanted the unborn child that she would name Heather— along with her twin sibling, Nicole — to survive.

And, God willing, Trudy Olmstead wanted to survive herself.

Realizing both appeared improbable.

A team of doctors told her that a lump discovered on her right lung needed to be removed if she wanted to live. And to live, they added, Trudy would have to abort her unborn twins.

It was 1980 and Trudy Olmstead was 30 years old and relishing her life as a young Latter-day Saint wife and mother in a volleyball-loving Southern California family.

She and her husband, Rick, remember being thrilled to discover that their fourth child was on the way. They didn’t know yet that Trudy was expecting twins.

But a persistent cough tempered the Olmsteads’ excitement. Initially diagnosed as bronchitis, the cough continued. And Trudy was feeling unusually off.

A subsequent chest X-ray revealed a lump on her lung. A short time later, Trudy’s doctor discovered she was pregnant with twins.

“I was told this was life-threatening and was told I had three months to live,” recalled Trudy Olmstead, while sharing her experience with the Deseret News.

Life-saving treatments, her doctors insisted, could not be performed without aborting the fetuses.

Trudy Olmstead’s response: “Nope. We have to find an answer. There’s no way I’m going to abort two babies.”

Her decision to search for an option that did not include losing the babies was fortified by the words of her patriarchal blessing — a special Latter-day Saint blessing offering direction — which promised she would be “the mother of many” and would “live a long and useful life.”

“I was 30 years old and thought, ‘This is not what’s supposed to be happening,’” she said. “We wanted to seek out a (Latter-day Saint) doctor.”

Family photos from the life of Brigham Young University women’s volleyball head coach Heather Olmstead are displayed at Smith Fieldhouse on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, May 9, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

A mother traces God’s hand

When Trudy revisits those frightening and uncertain days, 45 years ago, she remembers tracing the Lord’s hand clearly.

Shortly before her diagnoses, Trudy’s father, Dwayne Andersen, was preparing to begin his calling as the first president of the soon-to-be-dedicated Japan Tokyo Temple.

Prior to departing for Japan, Andersen and his wife, Peggy, had spent several days in the Salt Lake Temple preparing for their upcoming temple assignment.

One day in the Salt Lake Temple, the Andersens discovered that an old hometown friend, Dantzel White Nelson, was in the temple attending the wedding ceremony of one of her daughters.

Joining Dantzel Nelson that day was her husband, a noted surgeon named Dr. Russell M. Nelson.

Andersen introduced himself to Dr. Nelson, who, four years later, was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Today, now-President Russell M. Nelson is the church’s 17th president.

A short time after Andersen met Dr. Nelson in the temple, his daughter Trudy’s life-threatening illness was revealed.

Desperate for the life of his daughter and unborn grandchildren, Andersen reached out to Dr. Nelson. He described his daughter’s dire medical condition — and her doctors’ general consensus that she should abort the twins if she wanted to survive.

Dr. Nelson asked to see Trudy’s records, including her X-rays and all of her doctors’ notes. Immediately, Andersen flew to Salt Lake City to personally deliver them to the surgeon.

“My dad handed my records to Dr. Nelson,” said Trudy Olmstead. “Dr. Nelson put them to his chest and told my dad, ‘The Lord and I will talk about this tonight — I’ll call you in the morning.’”

After meeting with a team of his colleagues on an early Sunday morning, Dr. Nelson called Andersen with hopeful news.

“First, Dr. Nelson said, ‘Do not abort those babies — the Lord will decide what happens with them.’”

The surgeon added that Trudy Olmstead did not have cancer, but that the tumor was life-threatening and needed to be removed. Chemotherapy or radiation was not an option.

And Dr. Nelson agreed to perform the operation.

“That solved it for us,” recalled Trudy, remembering the calmness she immediately felt.

Trudy and Rick Olmstead were soon traveling with the Andersens from California to Utah for the surgery. But before going to the hospital, the Olmsteads received their endowments in the Provo Utah Temple and were sealed to their three children.

“And then we drove from the luncheon after the sealing to the LDS Hospital and I was admitted,” said Trudy Olmstead.

That memorable time spent with her loved ones in the Provo temple only added to the peace she had already felt knowing that the operation to remove the tumor would be performed by a technically skilled and prayerful surgeon.

“Everything was orchestrated,” she said, “in the most miraculous way.”

Miracles and an unforgettable measure of medical resourcefulness would be demanded during the challenging procedure.

In Sheri Dew’s book “Insights from a Prophet’s Life: Russell M. Nelson,” Dr. Nelson recalled the operation proving to be more complicated and extensive than he had anticipated:

“The tumor was so close to the heart that I did not have a clamp narrow enough to put a clamp on the artery and still have space for the cutting blade of the scissors.

“Therefore, the pulmonary artery had to be cut without being clamped. My only option was to put my finger in the artery to stop the blood and keep my finger there until I was able to suture the artery closed.

“All the time, I kept thinking, ‘I have three lives depending on my finger.’”

The operation, which required the removal of Trudy’s right lung, proved successful.

Trudy’s life had been spared.

Five months later, two baby girls joined the Olmstead family. They were named Heather and Nicole.

Years later, the twins met then-Elder Nelson for the first time.

Heather Olmstead remembered the surgeon-apostle pulling out a journal where he recorded the details of the operation that saved three lives — including her own.

Elder Nelson told the young women that their mother was an angel.

“That was powerful for me,” said Heather Olmstead, as recorded in the book. “To think that she was an angel here on earth really changed my relationship with my mother.

“Elder Nelson looked at me with those piercing blue eyes of his, and I believed him.”

Brigham Young University women’s volleyball head coach Heather Olmstead poses for a portrait at Smith Fieldhouse on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, May 9, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

BYU: Opportunities to compete — and ‘gather Israel’

May is an “offseason” for women’s college volleyball players. But for DI coaches competing in the storied Big 12 Conference such as Heather Olmstead, there are no down periods.

There’s always another outside hitter or skilled setter that needs to be recruited. Staffs and schedules need to be solidified and finalized. Preparation, followed by more preparation.

And, of course, college coaching in 2025 means coaching in the ever-evolving, always uncertain world of NIL and the transfer portal.

Olmstead and her colleagues need to be perpetually “re-recruiting” their own athletes, even while keeping a close eye on the portal in case a prized player becomes available.

“So we’re just focusing on our relationships with our players — helping them to feel our love and BYU’s love for them,” Olmstead told the Deseret News.

Her upcoming squad is a young team, she added, “so we’re still trying to learn which players are going to lead this team and help us through the summer.”

Meanwhile, coaching at a school sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presents both challenges and opportunities.

BYU’s Honor Code, insists Olmstead, is a benefit.

“Whether it’s spiritually, athletically, or academically, our recruits know what they’re getting into when they come here,” she said. “So we want to lean into that Honor Code.”

A pragmatist, Olmstead is also choosing to focus on the opportunities offered by today’s college sports realities.

“It’s here to stay,” she said. “So adapting to the NIL and the transfer portal and the Honor Code are all things that are going to help us reach our goals.”

The coach counts the opportunities that BYU offers its athletes “to share the gospel of Jesus Christ” as defining. Wearing the school’s blue-and-white jersey — and what it represents — stretches beyond victories inside the lines.

“President Nelson,” she said, “has said there’s no greater work than the work that’s happening to gather Israel on both sides of the veil.”

BYU, added Olmstead, is a faith-based institution. “That gives us the opportunity to really praise God and just understand that we’re representing something bigger than ourselves — and our players do a really good job at that.”

There are inherent pressures of competing for BYU. Players are watched closely by the school’s global fanbase and others because of its unique aspects.

“We talk about that all the time: Doing the best you can with what you have and being honest and true and having integrity and playing with character.”

It’s easy to spot the same spiritual impulses that guided Trudy Olmstead at a difficult moment 45 years ago now at play in the life of her daughter.

During the good times — and the rough times — Heather Olmstead discovers strength through her faith. “Just by turning to the Lord and being able to be in the temple weekly and growing in my relationship with Jesus Christ.”

A ‘volleyball family’ not defined by volleyball

The Olmsteads, of course, are one the church’s first families of volleyball.

Rick Olmstead played volleyball at what’s now known as Brigham Young University-Hawaii. He later coached the sport, counting sport legend Karch Kiraly as one of his players.

Growing up in Southern California gave the Olmstead kids almost daily opportunities to hone their skills. Several played volleyball at the college level — including Heather (Utah State) and her older brother, Shawn, who’s now the men’s coach at BYU.

So are all Olmstead family gatherings and discussions centered around volleyball?

“We don’t talk about volleyball at all when we’re with family or celebrating,” said Heather Olmstead, laughing. “We’re just living our lives. We’re at baptisms. We’re at Thanksgiving and we’re at family gatherings. We’re at missionary homecomings for our nieces and nephews. … There’s no volleyball talk.”

And, no, Heather Olmstead never drops unsolicited coaching advice on her brother, Shawn — or vice versa.

Still, she’s quick to add she welcomes and appreciates coaching mentors — including her brother, her dad and family friend, Karch Kiraly.

Olmstead’s own unique faith and family history continues to inform her interactions with her players in a highly-competitive and always scrutinized college sports environment.

“How can we help them remember,” she asks, “that their individual worth comes from being a daughter of God?”

Cherishing each Mother’s Day

For many years, Mother’s Day was, well, work, for Trudy Olmstead. After all, the holiday falls on a Sunday. It may have been mom’s “special day” — but there were also seven active kids that needed to be scrubbed and dressed for church.

But time has deepened Trudy’s appreciation for the holiday.

“I cherish it,” she said. “I am so grateful as a mother to have my children and to have my grandchildren.

“Mother’s Day, to me, is like the celebration of life, because I was given life.”

And, yes, anytime the Olmsteads watch President Nelson provide people, worldwide, with their own reasons to hope and believe, their spirits are once again lifted.

“I say to myself, ‘The prophet had my heart in his hands,’” said Trudy Olmstead. “He did, literally, have my heart and lungs in his hands — but also figuratively. My heart is completely in awe and respect and love for him.”

And with each passing year of her own life, Coach Olmstead’s “awe and respect” for her mother — and the risks she made, without hesitation, for her and Nicole — only expand.

“Being able to be with my mom,” she said, “and to spend Mother’s Day with her, and show my gratitude and my love for her, has been special.”



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Footvolley league returns to Tel Aviv bringing summer energy

“We’re proud to turn the beaches of Tel Aviv–Jaffa into a hub for sports, community, and culture – open and accessible to people of all ages and levels,” said Zipi Brand, Deputy Mayor and head of the city’s Beaches and Parks Division. “The footvolley league is part of our broader push to develop beach sports […]

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“We’re proud to turn the beaches of Tel Aviv–Jaffa into a hub for sports, community, and culture – open and accessible to people of all ages and levels,” said Zipi Brand, Deputy Mayor and head of the city’s Beaches and Parks Division. “The footvolley league is part of our broader push to develop beach sports across the city. Just this year, we’ve added dozens of volleyball and footvolley nets along the coastline for free public use. The municipality will continue working to make our beaches active, inclusive, and full of life.”





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Volleyball adds Riley Whitesides as Assistant Coach » Urban Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE – Riley Whitesides joins the Marquette University women’s volleyball staff as an assistant coach, first-year head coach Tom Mendoza has announced. “I’ve known Riley for a long time and we could not be adding a better person to the program and mentor for our student-athletes.” Mendoza said. “She’s successful because of the work she […]

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MILWAUKEE – Riley Whitesides joins the Marquette University women’s volleyball staff as an assistant coach, first-year head coach Tom Mendoza has announced.

“I’ve known Riley for a long time and we could not be adding a better person to the program and mentor for our student-athletes.” Mendoza said. “She’s successful because of the work she puts in and the relationships she builds. I am excited to work with her and the impact she will have on Marquette Volleyball.”

She joins associate head coach Ethan Pheister and fellow assistant coach Stef Jankiewicz on the MU staff.

Whitesides played five seasons for Mendoza at the University of South Carolina and was a First Team All-Southeastern Conference and AVCA All-Region selection as a graduate student in the fall of 2024. The native of Greenville, South Carolina averaged 4.47 kills per set as a grad student to rank among the top-20 nationally while hitting .241.

Whitesides ended her indoor career fifth in program history in kills (1,452), second in service aces (100), ninth in digs (920) and fourth in points scored (1,645.0).

She also excelled academically at South Carolina, twice earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-District recognition and SEC academic honors. Whitesides graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in May 2024 and earned a Master of Business Administration this spring.

Most recently, Whitesides completed her third season playing beach volleyball in Columbia with an 18-13 record this spring after a 20-15 mark during 2024. Overall, she boasts a career 38-27 record in dual action on the sand.

Earlier this spring the Golden Eagles announced their non-conference schedule for the fall of 2025, featuring a match against Wisconsin at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday, Sept. 17 in addition to key matchups with WKU, Dayton, Florida and Minnesota at the Al McGuire Center. Marquette went 25-9 in the fall of 2024 and made its third NCAA Regional appearance before falling to the eventual NCAA Champion in the regional semifinals.

Keep up with the Marquette University women’s volleyball program through social media by following on X (@MarquetteVB) and Instagram (@MarquetteVB) and ‘liking’ on Facebook (/MarquetteVolleyball).

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

Mentioned in This Press Release

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Six Navy Football Players Named Preseason All-AAC in National Magazine

The Navy Midshipmen have six players on Lindy’s Sports’ all-American Athletic Conference preseason team, released recently. The publication hit newsstands earlier this month. The publication picked the Midshipmen to win the AAC this season. Navy went 10-3 last season, concluding the campaign with a victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Armed Forces Bowl. The […]

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The Navy Midshipmen have six players on Lindy’s Sports’ all-American Athletic Conference preseason team, released recently.

The publication hit newsstands earlier this month. The publication picked the Midshipmen to win the AAC this season.

Navy went 10-3 last season, concluding the campaign with a victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Armed Forces Bowl. The season was Navy’s sixth with at least 10 wins and fell one win short of their 11-wins seasons in 2015 and 2019.

More news: Navy Water Polo Star Earns Spot on Prestigious USA Junior National Roster

Quarterback Blake Horvath, wide receiver Eli Heidenreich, defensive lineman Landon Robinson and defensive back Andrew Duhart. Running back Alex Tecza and offensive lineman Ben Purvis were on the second team.

Horvath will be a huge key for the Midshipmen. Horvath emerged as the starter last year and put together a year that helped the Midshipmen win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.

He rushed for 1,246 yards and 17 touchdowns and throw for 1,353 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. He threw for the 10th most yards in program history. He also became the third quarterback in Navy history to rush and pass for more than 1,200 yards in the same season.

More news: Navy Football’s Stock in American Athletic Conference Title Race Rises

Heidenreich caught six touchdown passes, which tied him for the most in Navy history in a single season. He was also Navy’s first receiver with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games in a decade. He finished the season with 39 receptions for 671 yards and six scores. He also rushed for 444 yards and three touchdowns.

Robinson was named an all-AAC first-team nose guard last year. He finished the season with 61 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, seven quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles. He was part of the Midshipmen’s defensive effort that ended Army quarterback Bryson Daily’s program record of 10 straight games with 100 or more rushing yards.

Duhart returns after he finished last season with 29 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. He also had four pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He has started nearly all of Navy’s games the past two seasons.

More news: Air Force Football Projected for Bounce-Back Season in Mountain West

Tecza was Navy’s second-leading rusher with 576 yards and 8 touchdowns on 125 carries and the third-leading receiver with 229 yards and 2 touchdowns on 12 catches. Purvis was an all-AAC honorable mention last season.  

Date, Time, Opponent (TV)

(all times local)

Aug. 30: vs. VMI, 12 p.m., CBSSN

Sept. 6: vs. UAB*, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN

Sept. 13: at Tulsa*, 8 p.m., ESPN+

Sept. 27: vs. Rice*, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN

Oct. 4: vs. Air Force, 12 p.m., CBS

Oct. 11: at Temple*, TBA, TV TBA

Oct. 25: vs. FAU*, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN

Nov. 1: at North Texas*, TBA, TV TBA

Nov. 8: at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m., NBC

Nov. 15: vs. USF*, 12 p.m., ESPN Family

Nov. 27: at Memphis*, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Dec. 13: vs. Army West Point, 3 p.m., CBS

(note: Army-Navy game at Baltimore, Md.)

(if Navy qualifies for AAC title game, it will be played Friday, Dec. 5, at site of higher seed)

For More Navy Coverage, Head to Armed Forces Sports On SI



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MLB Takes Minority Stake in Jomboy Media to Strengthen Digital Content Strategy

Major League Baseball (MLB) has acquired a minority stake in digital content company Jomboy Media, formalising a partnership aimed at expanding the league’s reach among younger and more digitally native audiences. The investment was made through MLB’s investment arm, Baseball Endowment L.P. (BELP), which is co-owned by all 30 MLB teams. The deal allows MLB […]

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Major League Baseball (MLB) has acquired a minority stake in digital content company Jomboy Media, formalising a partnership aimed at expanding the league’s reach among younger and more digitally native audiences.

The investment was made through MLB’s investment arm, Baseball Endowment L.P. (BELP), which is co-owned by all 30 MLB teams. The deal allows MLB to integrate Jomboy Media’s content capabilities into its digital and event strategies, including activations around marquee fixtures like the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby.

While the financial details of the investment remain confidential, Jomboy Media confirmed it crossed USD $10 million in revenue in 2024 and returned to profitability following a 44% year-on-year revenue increase. The company has also raised $5 million through a funding round led by Connect Ventures and appointed Courtney Hirsch as CEO in March, positioning the business for further growth.

As part of the partnership, Jomboy Media will gain selective access to MLB and team intellectual property, enabling the creation of licensed merchandise—including apparel and home goods—for sale through its direct-to-consumer channels.

Importantly, the partnership preserves editorial independence for Jomboy, a stipulation acknowledged by both parties.

“It was a very important part of the deal that we don’t have editorial control,” said Kenny Gersh, MLB’s Executive VP of Media & Business Development.

Jomboy Media has built a reputation for candid and at times controversial commentary, notably covering incidents such as the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal and umpire disputes. Retaining creative freedom is seen as critical to the brand’s continued appeal and audience engagement.

CEO Courtney Hirsch noted that discussions with MLB had been ongoing since mid-2024.

“It just felt like the right time… they’re really going to let us continue to do our thing,” said Hirsch.

The deal also opens opportunities to expand Jomboy’s IP portfolio and commercial footprint, with co-branded merchandise and broader content distribution planned. Hirsch and founder Jimmy O’Brien formally presented the proposal to MLB’s Investment Committee last week, receiving strong interest from key owners, including committee chair Mark Attanasio and John Henry.

Jomboy Media reports more than 93 million annual social media engagements and has secured brand partnerships with several MLB sponsors, including T-Mobile and Corona.

The strategic investment highlights MLB’s ongoing shift toward non-traditional media and influencer-driven storytelling to reach fragmented audiences. It also reflects a broader trend across global sports leagues—where digital-first platforms are being integrated into rights holder ecosystems through investment, rather than acquisition.

Don’t miss out on the latest in sports business – Subscribe today to the free Ministry of Sport newsletter and stay ahead of the game. For even more exclusive insights, event tickets, professional development and networking events, become a MoS Member today!.





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University of Memphis

EUGENE, Ore. – Memphis throwers Gabriel Koletsi and Sascha Salesius Schmidt are set to make their NCAA Championships debuts on Wednesday, as both will compete on the first day of the NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships.   The events will go from June 11 to 14 at historic Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. […]

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EUGENE, Ore. – Memphis throwers Gabriel Koletsi and Sascha Salesius Schmidt are set to make their NCAA Championships debuts on Wednesday, as both will compete on the first day of the NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships.  

The events will go from June 11 to 14 at historic Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. A full schedule, live results link and streaming information can be found above. 

Koletsi will be the first to represent the Tigers, with the men’s javelin set to begin at 7:15 p.m. CT. After reaching NCAA Regionals each of the last two seasons at UMBC, Koletsi qualified for his first Championships after placing 11th behind a 67.84-meter javelin throw at the East Regional in Jacksonville.  

Schmidt also will compete in his first Championships after coming up just short in each of his first two seasons at Memphis. His season-best shot put launch of 18.77 meters placed 12th in the competition to earn him a berth. His competition will begin at 8:10 p.m. CT.

Koletsi is the first javelin thrower to represent Memphis at NCAAs since Mona Jaidi and Ashley Pryke in 2018, and Sascha marks the first shot put qualifier in a decade (Vivian Brandhoff, 2015). 

How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Cross Country and Track & Field, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team’s social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 





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Midland Volleyball Schedule released – The Bull

FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University has released its 2025 volleyball schedule, which features 28 regular-season matches ahead of the postseason. The Warriors, under the direction of new head coach Micah Rhodes, will open their campaign August 21 at the Missouri Baptist University Invitational in St. Louis, Missouri. Midland will face a challenging schedule right out […]

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FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University has released its 2025 volleyball schedule, which features 28 regular-season matches ahead of the postseason. The Warriors, under the direction of new head coach Micah Rhodes, will open their campaign August 21 at the Missouri Baptist University Invitational in St. Louis, Missouri.

Midland will face a challenging schedule right out of the gate, with seven of its first nine opponents having qualified for the 2024 NAIA National Tournament. In total, 11 of the Warriors’ matches will come against national tournament teams, providing early and consistent tests for a program that has made 11 NAIA Championship appearances in the past 12 seasons.

“We will be challenged, and I couldn’t be more excited to hit the ground running with this particular group of young women,” said Rhodes, who takes over the program following the retirement of longtime head coach Paul Giesselmann. “Opening the season down in St. Louis against four teams that advanced to the NAIA National Tournament final site is about as tough as you can get, but the team will be well-prepared. That level of competition is the standard these players have come to know and expect.”

The 2025 slate opens with four matches over two days in St. Louis, including matchups against perennial powers Viterbo and host Missouri Baptist. After their home opener against York University on August 26, the Warriors head to Omaha for the College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic, where they will take on four more quality opponents including College of Idaho, Benedictine (Kan.), and The Master’s.

Rhodes has also emphasized growth and development through the junior varsity program, which includes a home JV/Varsity doubleheader against Grand View University and the addition of the program’s first-ever home JV tournament.

“I really want to embrace the concept of using the JV program as developmental for our younger athletes,” he said. “I’m also excited to have added a non-conference home JV/V doubleheader with Grand View to give our home fans another opportunity to see us play.”

Conference play begins September 6 on the road against College of Saint Mary. Midland will play 16 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) matches, concluding regular-season action at home against Hastings College on November 4.

“As always, our tough preseason and conference schedules are designed to prepare us for when it matters most, which is the postseason and our goal of advancing to Sioux City,” Rhodes said. “We aren’t playing for August and September, but instead for November and December.”

Rhodes also shared his outlook for the program’s new chapter, stating, “I’m excited for the players to embrace the change that comes with new leadership, while remaining true to who we are as a team and program. The standards and expectations are the same. We are competing for a national championship. But my hope is that the players will take pride in beginning a new era of Midland Volleyball.”

Postseason play is set to begin with the GPAC Tournament on November 8, with the NAIA National Championship Opening Round on November 22. The NAIA Championship Final Site will once again take place in Sioux City, Iowa from December 3-9.

Key returners from last year’s squad include All-GPAC First Team honoree and Freshman of the Year Brooklynn Snyder, as well as All-GPAC Honorable Mention selection Cameran Jansky.

2025 Midland Volleyball Schedule Highlights

  • Season Opener: August 21 vs. Viterbo University (St. Louis, Mo.)
  • Home Opener: August 26 vs. York University (Fremont, Neb.)
  • Conference Opener: September 6 at College of Saint Mary
  • Homecoming Match: September 27 vs. Dakota Wesleyan University
  • Final Home Match: November 4 vs. Hastings College
  • NAIA Championship Dates: December 3-9 (Sioux City, Iowa)



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