Connect with us
https://yoursportsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/call-to-1.png

Sports

How Sweep It Is! LBSU Claims 2025 Men’s Volleyball National Championship

Published

on


COLUMBUS, Ohio – How sweep it is! No. 1 Long Beach State needed just three sets to down back-to-back defending champion UCLA to hoist the trophy at the 2025 National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship at the Covelli Center.  


With the win, Long Beach State claims the program’s fourth national title, all with Alan Knipe playing a part. In 1991, Knipe was a student-athlete, and now as the head coach of the Beach, a Knipe-led squad went back-to-back in 2018 and ’19 and now celebrates a championship once more in 2025.  


The nation’s best hitting team showed their offensive prowess by hitting .354 in the match, including an impressive .688 in the first set, to take the match with set scores of 25-17, 25-23 and 25-21 and cap the season with 30 wins to just three losses. UCLA meanwhile, only mustered a .192 percentage on the attack as LBSU got the better of the third-seeded Bruins for the third time this season.  


Long Beach State opened the first set with a service ace by AVCA and Big West Player of the Year Moni Nikolov, setting the tone for the match. UCLA was able to knot the score at one and two points apiece but the Beach maintained control throughout the frame, never relinquishing the lead. LBSU got back-to-back combo blocks for freshman Alex Kandev and Isaiah Preuitt to hold the six-point advantage at 20-14 before the set was finished off with the 25-17 score. 


The second set was the Bruins race out to the 4-1 lead after Zach Rama and Sean McQuiggan combined for the denial to force a LBSU timeout. UCLA held the lead  throughout the middle of the set, seeing a five-point margin after Caeron Thorne’s kill made it 15-10. The difference remained after an ace for UCLA’s Ido David forced yet another Beach break with the score at 18-13. LBSU sliced the deficit to two after an error for UCLA made it 20-18 in favor of the Bruins with Nikolov back to the service line. The nation’s leader in aces pounded two in back-to-back fashion with timeouts in between each bomb to knot the game at 20 apiece. Ties were seen at 21 and 22 before Preuitt’s turn at serve gave the Beach set point at 24-22 after a strike from Kandev.  


Managing to stave off the first set point, there was no stopping the finale as what looked to be an overpass was saved with a one-handed set at the net for Nikolov as DiAeris McRaven connected on the big swing to finish the frame 25-23. Kandev was a perfect 1.000 in the set with six kills on six swings while Nikolov provided 10 of LBSU’s 11 assists in the set. 


The third set was tight from the outset with ties at 1, 2 and 3 points before the Beach claimed the advantage of the Nikolov to Kandev Bulgarian connection. Showing range at the service line, Nikolov recorded the off-speed ace to give the Beach a 9-6 lead and a pair of kills for Skyler Varga stretched the advantage to 11-6. UCLA was able to rally to make it a one-point game at 12-11 with a triple block at the net, but LBSU went on a 5-2 run punctuated by a stuff from Varga and McRaven to put the score at 17-13.  


The final set stayed tight after three straight points for the Bruins put the score 21-20 after a big UCLA block of a powerful Kandev swing. Then it was the Beach’s turn for three in a row, finished off by a tip over for Kandev with the score at 23-20. Championship point came at 24-21 after a long rally was finished by a Kandev kill. In fitting fashion, the match ended like it began – with the ball in the hands of the Player of the Year. This time instead of the ace, Nikolov crushed the kill to send the Beach into celebration. 


LBSU was led by a 13-kill outing on .450 hitting for Kandev with Nikolov going off for 27 assists with six kills and four aces. Nato Dickenson provided seven kills with four digs and a pair of blocks with Varga adding five kills in the outing. Kandev, Varga and Nikolov were named to the All-Tournament Team with Nikolov adding Most Outstanding Player to the illustrious resume after a first year of collegiate volleyball.  

2025 NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship All-Tournament Team  

Finn Kearney, Hawaii  

Ryan Barnett, Pepperdine  

Zach Rama, UCLA  

Cooper Robinson, UCLA  

Alex Kandev, Long Beach State  

Skyler Varga, Long Beach State    

Most Outstanding Player Moni Nikolov, Long Beach State 



Link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

12 RedHawks Recognized as Academic All-MAC

Published

on


CLEVELAND— The Mid-American Conference announced its Academic All-MAC honorees for the 2025 cross country season today. 12 RedHawks (eight men and four women) were recognized:
 
Nick Dunn, Sophomore, Nursing
Ben Fahnestock, Sophomore, Kinesiology
Tom Heal, Senior, Biology/Premedical & Pre-Health Studies
Anton Martinez, Senior, Data Science and Statistics
Weston Naville, Senior, Healthcare Sales/Kinesiology
Chris Perkins, Junior, Chemical Engineering
Josh Razor, Junior, Engineering Management
Patrick Wills, Senior, Political Science
Linda Conchetto, Sophomore, Chemical Engineering
Cara Naas, Sophomore, Nursing
Cara Razavi, Junior, Biology/Premedical & Pre-Health Studies
Nora Zubillaga, Senior, Biochemistry
 
To qualify for the Academic All-MAC Team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests scheduled or completed in the particular sport. First-year students and any transfer in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
 
The complete list of honorees is available here.
 



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

ESPN presents LOVB’s 2026 professional volleyball season

Published

on


ESPN and League One Volleyball (LOVB), the largest brand in youth volleyball, have announced their distribution schedule for LOVB’s 2026 women’s volleyball season. ESPN will present 28 matches across ESPN platforms beginning Sunday, Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET with LOVB Atlanta vs. LOVB Austin on ESPN2, building on a historic year for women’s volleyball across ESPN platforms in which the 2025 NCAA Tournament and regular season delivered record viewership and year-over-year growth.

The ESPN season opener from H-E-B Center at Cedar Park in Austin, Texas, features last year’s No. 1 regular-season team, LOVB Atlanta, as it seeks revenge in its first match since falling to eventual champions LOVB Austin in last season’s semifinals. Atlanta, led by hometown hero Tia Jamerson, faces Madisen Skinner and a LOVB Austin squad featuring eight former Longhorns.

The opening weekend also features LOVB Nebraska hosting LOVB Houston at 4 p.m. on ESPN+, spotlighting hometown favorite Lexi Rodriguez as she steps into a featured role for Nebraska with two-time Olympic medalist Jessica Wong-Orantes taking the season off. Nebraska faces a Houston squad led by Madi Kingdon Rishel, known for its high-energy style and strong social presence across platforms.

Kevin Barnett and Salina Rockwell will call LOVB Atlanta vs. LOVB Austin and Rich Burk and Kevin Wong will provide commentary for LOVB Houston vs. LOVB Nebraska.

All of ESPN. All in One Place.
ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans on the ESPN App, providing more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, including more than 47,000 live events per year, on-demand replays, industry-leading studio shows and original programming, and more. The ESPN App gives fans a unique viewing experience that includes multiview and synchronized two-screen viewing options, swipe-able vertical video and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as integrated game stats, ESPN Fantasy sports, betting odds and information from DraftKings, sports merchandise, and more. These features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a pay TV package. Bundling options available for fans include a limited time offer for the ESPN DTC Unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. For more visit stream.espn.com. 

2026 League One Volleyball (LOVB) on ESPN Platforms:

Day Times (ET) Network Away Host Market
Sun, Jan 11 4:00 p.m. ESPN+ Houston at Nebraska Omaha
Sun, Jan 11 7:30 p.m. ESPN2 Atlanta at Austin Austin
Sun, Jan 18 6:00 p.m. ESPN+ Atlanta at Nebraska Omaha
Thu, Jan 22 8:00 p.m. ESPN+ Houston at Salt Lake City Salt Lake
Sun, Jan 25 7:00 p.m. ESPN2 Nebraska at Atlanta Atlanta
Thu, Jan 29 9:00 p.m. ESPN+ Austin at Salt Lake City Salt Lake
Fri, Jan 30 8:00 p.m. ESPN+ Madison at Nebraska Omaha
Sun, Feb 1 4:00 p.m. ESPN+ Austin at Nebraska Omaha
Sun, Feb 1 6:30 p.m. ESPN2 Madison at Houston Houston
Thu, Feb 5 8:00 p.m. ESPN+ Salt Lake City at Madison Madison
Sat, Feb 7 2:00 p.m. ESPN+ Atlanta at Madison Madison
Fri, Feb 13 TBD ESPN+ LOVB Classic Kansas City
Sat. Feb 14 TBD ESPN+ LOVB Classic Kansas City
Sun, Feb 15 TBD ESPN+ LOVB Classic Kansas City
Thu, Feb 19 8:00 p.m. ESPN+ Atlanta at Houston Houston
Fri, Feb 20 8:00 p.m. ESPN+ Madison at Austin Austin
Sun, Feb 22 6:00 p.m. ESPN+ Madison at Nebraska Omaha
Sun, Mar 1 3:00 p.m. ESPN+ Salt Lake City at Atlanta Atlanta
Thu, Mar 5 9:00 p.m. ESPN+ Atlanta at Salt Lake City Salt Lake
Fri, Mar 6 8:00 p.m. ESPN+ Houston at Austin Austin
Thu, Mar 12 8:00 p.m. ESPN+ Nebraska at Madison Madison
Sun, Mar 15 3:00 p.m. ESPN+ Austin at Madison Madison
Fri, Mar 20 8:00 p.m. ESPN+ Nebraska at Austin Austin
Thu, Mar 26 8:00 p.m. ESPN+ Madison at Austin Austin
Sat, Mar 28 TBD ESPN+ Madison at Atlanta Atlanta
Thu, Apr 2 8:00 p.m. ESPN+ Salt Lake City at Austin Austin
Sat, Apr 4 TBD ESPN+ Houston at Atlanta Atlanta
Sat, Apr 11 TBD ESPN2 LOVB Finals Louisville

-30-

Media Contact:
Beatrix.Panitz@espn.com
Garrett.Cowan@espn.com



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Track & Field Opens Indoor Season Saturday at Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational

Published

on


HOUSTON – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) track & field teams will open their indoor seasons Saturday at the Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational hosted by Houston at the Yeoman Fieldhouse. 
 

Competition begins with field events at 10 a.m. Running events will start at 1:30 p.m. Participating teams include the Vaqueros and hosting Cougars, Southland Conference (SLC) foes Lamar and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas, Rice (men only), Prairie View A&M, Sam Houston State, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Huston-Tillotson, Jacksonville College, St. Thomas (TX), and Texas Southern. 
 
The Vaqueros are familiar with Yeoman Fieldhouse and have had success at the facility. UTRGV’s sprinters will be competing en masse to show where they are early in the season and try to earn their way onto a relay. UTRGV will see 12 student-athletes make their Vaqueros debuts at the meet. 
 
Returners to watch include Efe Latham, Nayla Harris, Jizzale Davis, Aaron Cooper, Keamonie Archie, Corin Burns and Richard YoungHarris and Davis were UTRGV’s top women’s sprinters in 2025 and come into the new season with high expectations. Cooper and Archie headline the talented men’s jumps squad. Burns and Young shined in the men’s sprints last season and are sure to continue stacking up record book marks in 2026. 
 
Meet Schedule 
Field Events 
Women’s weight throw, 10 a.m. 
Efe Latham 
 
Women’s shot put, following weight throw competition 
Efe Latham
 
Men’s shot put, following women’s 
Antoine Walker
 
Men’s high jump, 11 a.m. 
Zaire Cunningham
Paul Agba
 
Women’s long jump, 1:30 p.m. 
Saniyah Richardson 
Nayla Harris 
 
Men’s long jump, 1:30 p.m. 
Keamonie Archie 
 
Women’s triple jump, following long jump
La’Zariah Bethany 
Avianna Miller 
 
Men’s triple jump, following long jump 
Aaron Cooper 
Hebrew Hunter 
 
Running Events 
Women’s 60-meter dash semifinal, 1:30 p.m. 
Aliyah Castillo
Nayla Harris 
Jizzale Davis 
Aniya Heckstall 
Treasure Vallerie 
Kaliyah Poston 
Ashley Lingueno 
 
Men’s 60-meter dash semifinal, 1:50 p.m. 
Richard Young 
Derrick Hahn 
Alejandro Arellano 
Corin Burns 
Gael Romo 
Keamonie Archie 
 
Men’s 600-yard run, 2:25 p.m. 
Derrius Henry 
 
Men’s 60-meter hurdles semifinal, 2:35 p.m. 
Daniel Siaffa 
Jaylen Critton 
Jefferson Jean 
Braydn Gilliam
 
Women’s 60-meter hurdles semifinal, 2:50 p.m. 
Dior Williams 
Madisyn Jackson 
Ashley Lingueno 
Talyna Ligier
Trezur Connley 
 
Women’s mile, 3:05 p.m. 
Lilliana Guerrero 
N Vanee Anchike
Faith Cruz 
Kailey Salazar 
 
Men’s mile, 3:20 p.m. 
Adrianno Gonzalez 
Abraham Morales 
Nirmit Dahiya
 
Women’s 400-meter dash, 3:35 p.m. 
Madisyn Jackson 
Talyna Ligier 
 
Men’s 400-meter dash, 3:50 p.m. 
Jaylen Critton 
Daniel Siaffa 
Sam Johnson II 
 
Women’s 60-meter hurdles final, 4:10 p.m. 
TBD 
 
Men’s 60-meter hurdles final, 4:15 p.m. 
TBD 
 
Women’s 60-meter dash final, 4:20 p.m. 
TBD 
 
Men’s 60-meter dash final, 4:25 p.m. 
TBD 
 
Women’s 1,000-meter run, 4:30 p.m. 
N Vanee Anchike 
 
Men’s 800-meter run, 4:50 p.m. 
Diego Pina 
 
Women’s 200-meter dash, 5 p.m. 
Trezur Connley 
Madisyn Jackson 
Dior Williams 
Talyna Ligier 
Aliyah Castillo 
Saniyah Richardson 
Treasure Vallerie 
Kaliyah Poston
Aniyah Heckstall 
Jizzale Davis 
 
Men’s 200-meter dash, 5:25 p.m. 
Braydn Gilliam
Jefferson Jean 
Jaylen Critton 
Daniel Siaffa 
Derrick Hahn 
Gael Romo 
Alejandro Arellano 
Corin Burns 
Richard Young 
 
Women’s 3,000-meter run, 6 p.m. 
Faith Cruz 
 



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Four from Lion Volleyball named to SLC Volleyball All-Academic team

Published

on


FRISCO – The East Texas A&M University volleyball team had four volleyball players named to the Southland Conference Volleyball All-Academic Team on Friday morning.
 
Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak), Rendi Fetty (Farmersville), Haley Mullaney (Victory Christian Academy), and Jade Washington (Waco – Midway) are the four honorees for the Lions.
 
To be eligible for the Southland All-Academic team, each nominee must have a minimum 3.25 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale); completed at least ONE full semester at the nominating institution during the season in which the nomination occurs; and participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s meets in the position listed on this form during the most recently completed season.
 
Campbell was named to first team All-Southland last season, while also earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team honors. She is also a Dean’s List scholar and has been named to the Southland Commissioner’s Honor Roll throughout her career. Campbell is a business administration major.
 
Fetty appeared in 26 matches last season and has also been named to the Dean’s List. She is a communication studies major.
 

Mullaney was also named to the CSC Academic All-District team and serves as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at East Texas A&M. She appeared in all 28 matches last season and is a Dean’s List Scholar and was named to the SLC Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Mullaney is an early childhood education major.
 
Washington was named to first team All-Southland following her freshman season, appearing in 28 games. She is a Dean’s List recipient and is a psychology major.
 
2025 SOUTHLAND VOLLEYBALL ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMS
STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Isabella Costantini, UTRGV, Jr., Multidisciplinary Studies
 
2025 Southland Volleyball All-Academic Team
EAST TEXAS A&M
Gracie Campbell, Sr., Business Administration 
Rendi Fetty, Sr., Communication Studies
Haley Mullaney, Jr., Early Childhood Education
Jade Washington, So., Psychology
 
HCU 
Allana Archie, Jr., Psychology 
Katy Barger, So., Allied Health
Joya Euhus, Fr., International Business
Peyton Fadal, So., Allied Health
Hannah Redrow, Jr., Marketing
 
UIW 
Alex Beauchamp, So., Business Administration
Vanessa Eregie, So., Nursing 
Finely Evans, Biology
Kyla Malone, Sr., Healthcare Science 
 
LAMAR
Alexa Gonzalez, So., Marketing
Lyric Jordan, Jr., Exercise Science
Hailey McElrath, So., Communication Broadcasting
Taisha Rhone, Jr., Exercise Science
Daniella Udegbunam, R-Fr., University Studies
 
MCNEESE
Neal Grace Berry, Fr., Agricultural Sciences 

Lauren Fuller, Sr., Health & Human Performance
Ava Henry, Fr., Marketing
Kinga Ziolkowska, Fr., Marketing
 
NEW ORLEANS
Vanae Sapp, Gr., Master’s Counselor Education
Alessandra Meoni, Gr., Mathematics
Defne Eciroglu, Jr., Chemistry
Lani Alleman, Jr., Psychology
Courtney Roundtree, Sr., Sociology
 
NICHOLLS
Tierney Terrell, Jr., Psychology
 
NORTHWESTERN STATE
Olivia Bush, Jr., Business
Julia Whitfield, Fr., Business
Emmarie McFarland, Fr., Criminal Justice
Samaya Wesson, Jr., Marketing
Makenna Tryon, Jr., Marketing
 
SOUTHEASTERN
India Bennett, R-Sr., Integrated Science and Technology 
Ainsley Driska, Jr., Child Life
Lily Morgan, Sr., Kinesiology
Alexis Logarbo, Sr., Biological Sciences
Peyton Stokley, Sr., Biological Sciences
 
SFA 
Caroline Kahle, Sr., Kinesiology Teaching
Kyanna Creecy, Jr., Kinesiology Teaching
Jayden Flynn, Sr., Communication Sciences and Disorders
Izabella Ortiz, Sr., Kinesiology
Katherine Holtman, So., Biology 
 
TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI
Brooklyn Jaeger, Jr., Kinesiology 
Virginia Van Der Werff, So., Biomedical Studies
Kenna Buchanan, Jr., Kinesiology
Katelyn Krienke, Sr., Biomedical Sciences
Kaitlyn Baumann, Sr., English
 
UTRGV
Isabella Costantini, Jr., Multidisciplinary Studies 
Martina Franco, So., Kinesiology
Dimitra Nanou, Fr., Biology
Julianna Bryant, Jr., Criminal Justice
Valentina Sarti Cipriani, Sr., Mass Communication

 

-ETAMU-



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Bulldogs Host UNC Asheville Collegiate Opener at Tryon International

Published

on


ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville track & field team will officially open its 2026 season by hosting the UNC Asheville Collegiate Opener at Tryon International this Saturday (Jan. 10). 

The Bulldogs are hosting the inaugural Collegiate Track and Field meet in Tryon Athletics state of the art Mondo Super X 720 Indoor Track. The facility will later host the Big South Indoor Championships Feb. 27-28. 

The meet will begin at 10 a.m. starting with the women’s pole vault and men’s and women’s 3k and will conclude with the 4x400m relays at 5:15 p.m. Results for all events tomorrow can be found here.

EARLY SEASON RESULTS

Seven members of the program opened their seasons at the Winston-Salem College Kick-Off on Dec. 6, with early-season excitement as two school record resets and three additional personal bests highlighted the event. Alison Graf set a new school record in the women’s mile with a time of 4:56.64, and Aneta Kucerová dropped the women’s 3,000m record to 9:54.49. 


To stay updated with all things surrounding Asheville track & field, follow the team on 𝕩.





Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Reese Gregory named Vermont Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year

Published

on


Jan. 9, 2026, 2:45 p.m. ET





Link

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending