RIVERDALE, NY – Manhattan Men’s Volleyball Head Coach Chris Schortgen has officially announced his first-ever signing with freshman setter Gabriel Vergés, on Thursday afternoon.

“We are very excited to welcome Gabriel Vergés as our first international commit for our inaugural men’s volleyball season.” said Schortgen.

“Gabriel comes to us from Barcelona where he left his home at 13 to train at one of the top volleyball academies in Spain. He’s a very technical setter with a high IQ and proven leader throughout his career. We look forward to building with him.”

Vergés, the 6-4 setter who hails from Vilanova I la Geltru, Barcelona in Spain, attended INS Dolors Mallafré I Ros School, where he played six years of high school volleyball.

The incoming freshman was presented a high-performance athlete scholarship during his time at Vilanova I la Geltru, while helping his team to a third-place finish in back-to-back years in the Spanish Primera División Championships.

On the club circuit, Vergés most recently played for CEVOL Torredembarra. Prior to CEVOL, Verges competed with Club CV Barberá, Get BLUME, and VC Sant Martí as early as 2021-22.

Additionally, the Spaniard competed in Taekwondo for eight years in grade school in Barcelona.

In the classroom, Vergés was among the top three in his graduating class.

Vergés will be pursuing his bachelor’s degree in physics in Riverdale.

Follow Manhattan Men’s Volleyball on X and Instagram (@ManhattanMVBall).

British Weight Lifting is thrilled to learn that Weightlifting will be included in the sport programme of the 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games to be held in Malta.

This marks a celebratory return for the sport, having last been featured at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa.

With over 1,150 athletes aged 14–18 expected to participate from across the Commonwealth Youth Games, the 2027 edition in Malta promises to be one of the most exciting yet. The sports programme includes athletics, para athletics, swimming and para swimming, water polo, netball, triathlon, sailing, squash—and, proudly, weightlifting.

Why This Matters to Weightlifting

• A welcome milestone: This marks the sport’s return after a 12 year gap.
• Pathway for youth athletes: The Commonwealth Youth Games has launched the careers of many past champions. Take Chris Murray, who earned his first international medal—a bronze—in the men’s 62kg category at Samoa 2015, before going on to become Commonwealth Games Champion in 2022.
• Spotlight on our next generation: The Malta platform will offer young UK weightlifters the invaluable experience of international competition in a multi-sport environment much like the stepping stones ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Weightlifting’s return to the Commonwealth Youth Games in Malta 2027 is a momentous and welcome development. 12 years on from Samoa 2015, this edition offers young British weightlifters a powerful launchpad and fans a chance to cheer on the stars of tomorrow on an international stage.

Chris Murray commented “I am so pleased to see Weightlifting back on the programme for the Commonwealth Youth Games. Opportunities like this offer young athletes an important international experience where they can build confidence for future competitions. I had a fantastic time competing at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa and look forward to other athletes having the same experience in Malta.”

Chris Murray with his Bronze medal, Samoa Commonwealth Youth Games 2015

Chris Murray with his Gold medal, Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022

Marcell Ozuna’s sacrifice fly drove in Matt Olson with the go-ahead run in the 10th inning as the visiting Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 12-11 on Thursday night in a wild game in Cincinnati.

After the Braves scored eight runs in the top of the eighth, the Reds followed with eight runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. It was just the third time in major league history that both teams scored eight-plus runs in the same frame, per Elias Sports Bureau.

Pierce Johnson (2-3) didn’t surrender any hits in the ninth to collect the win, and Raisel Iglesias was perfect in the 10th to earn his 13th save in 18 chances. Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies had four hits and two RBIs, and Ozuna contributed a single, three walks and three runs.

Ke’Bryan Hayes and Spencer Steer each had three-run home runs in the Reds’ eight-run eighth inning while Elly De La Cruz hit his first home run since June 23 in the third inning, snapping the longest homer drought of his career.

Yankees 7, Rays 4

Ben Rice hit a three-run homer in the second inning after Giancarlo Stanton blasted a two-run shot in the first as host New York raced out to a seven-run lead and recorded a victory over sliding Tampa Bay.

Yankees starter Marcus Stroman (3-2) allowed four runs on six hits in five innings. Jonathan Loaisiga converted his first save with a shutout ninth as New York won the last three games of the four-game series.

Brandon Lowe had two hits for the Rays, who have lost seven of eight. Ryan Pepiot (6-9) gave up seven runs on six hits in four innings.

Mariners 6, Rangers 0

Cal Raleigh hit his major-league-leading 42nd home run of the season and George Kirby pitched six strong innings as Seattle defeated visiting Texas in the opener of a four-game series.

Kirby (6-5) continued his mastery of the Rangers by allowing just three hits. In 10 career starts against Texas, Kirby is 8-0 with a 1.04 ERA. Rookie Cole Young hit a solo shot and a run-scoring triple for the Mariners.

Texas starter Kumar Rocker (4-5), who was 3-0 over his previous seven starts, gave up three runs on six hits over 4 2/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

Coach Jhamal Diggs has spent the last two weeks growing the sport of volleyball in the state of Rhode Island.

The leader of the state championship boys program at Cranston East & girls program at La Salle Academy hosting a skills clinic the past two weeks in Providence.

Diggs hopes teaching these youngers players (grades six through eight) will help provide another option for a high school sport to play.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (July 31, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s U23 National Team played another close first set before dominating the final two sets in a 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-13) win over Belize to close out pool play at the 2025 NORCECA Men’s U23 Pan American Cup on Thursday in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

The U.S. finished second in its pool with a 2-1 record and moves on to the quarterfinals tomorrow, Friday, July 31, where they will play Costa Rica at 6 p.m. PT.

Scoring: Ryan Barnett (15 points), Wesley Smith (10), Cam Thorne (7), George Bruening (7), Jalen Phillips (6), Nathan Flayter (4), Patrick Rogers (2) and Ryan McElligott (1).

Belize led 8-5 in the first set but neither team led by more than two the rest of the set after the U.S. scored the next two points. Belize led 21-19 before committing two consecutive hitting errors. Trailing 22-21, the U.S. scored three points in a row to bring set point on a Ryan Barnett kill, Nathan Flayter block and Jalen Phillips kill.

Belize fought off two set points before a service error gave the U.S. its third set point. A strong serve by Flayter caused an overpass that Thorne scored on to end the set. Barnett scored five points on four kills and a block, and Cam Thorne (two kills, two blocks) and Wesley Smith (three kills and one block) each contributed four points.

Leading 8-7 in the second set, a Phillips kill and Smith ace started the U.S. on an 8-3 run capped on a Phillips kill off an overpass after a Thorne serve to take a 16-10 lead. A Barnett kill extended the lead to seven, 19-12. Belize scored the next point, which was followed by a 14-minute delay that eventually led the teams to warm up again. The U.S. scored four of the first five points when play finally resumed to take control.

The U.S. ran out to a 7-2 lead in the third set. A Thorne swipe kill pushed the lead to seven points, 14-7. Thorne’s block increased the lead to eight points, 17-9, and a Barnett ace put the U.S. ahead by double digits, 19-9. Outside hitter Patrick Rogers scored the final two U.S. points on back row attacks.

USA Volleyball Men’s U23 Roster for Pan Am Cup

Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, College/Pro, Region)

1 Ryan Merk (L, 6-1, 2003, Chicago, Ill., Penn State, Great Lakes)
4 Nathan Flayter (S, 6-4, 2005, Hales Corner, Wisc., McKendree, Badger)
5 Cam Thorne (MB, 6-4, 2004, Hollywood, Fla., UCLA, Florida)
6 Ryan Barnett (OH, 6-5, 2003, Vero Beach, Fla., Pepperdine, Florida)
8 Jalen Phillips (OPP, 6-5, 2004, Anaheim, Calif., CSUN, Southern California)
9 Ryan McElligott (S, 6-6, 2004, Mundelein, Ill., Loyola Chicago, Great Lakes)
14 Nicodemus Meyer (MB, 6-4, 2003, Franklin, Wisc., Loyola Chicago, Badger)
18 Patrick Rogers (OH, 6-7, 2004, Rutherford, N.J., Ball State, Garden Empire)
19 George Bruening (OPP, 6-10, 2004, Newport Beach, Calif., UCSB, Southern California)
21 Wesley Smith (MB, 6-11, 2004, Encinitas, Calif., USC, Southern California)
22 Owen Rose (MB, 6-8, 2003, Merrick, N.Y., Penn State, Garden Empire)
25 Theo Snoey (OH/OPP, 6-8, 2004, Berkeley, Calif., Stanford, Northern California)

Alternates
2 Donovan Constable (S, 6-2, 2003, Clovis, Calif., CSUN, Northern California)
7 Andrew Deardorff (OH, 6-5, 2003, Itasca, Ill., St. Francis, Great Lakes)
10 Paul Wyszynski (L, 6-0, 2003, Northbrook, Ill.,  Miedzyrzeckie Towarzystwo Siatkarskie, Great Lakes)
13 D’Aaron McCraney (MB, 6-9, 2003, Las Vegas, Nev., McKendree, Southern California)
16 Nyherowo Omene (OPP, 6-7, 2003, Chicago, Ill., Princeton, Great Lakes)
17 Trent Moser (OH, 6-8, 2003, Gilbert, Ariz., BYU, Arizona)
23 Alex Rottman (OH, 6-7, 2004, Santa Barbara, Calif., Stanford, Southern California)

Coaches
Head Coach: Nickie Sanlin (McKendree)
Assistant Coach: Reid Priddy (Indoor VC, Olympian)
Assistant Coach: Luke Reynolds (Pepperdine)
Performance Analyst: Mackenna Basore (Auburn)
ATC: Claire Pointer (LOVB Madison)
Team Lead: Will Berdecia (OTVA)

Schedule

All times Pacific

July 29: Dominican Republic def. USA, 3-1 (23-25, 26-24, 31-29, 25-16)
July 30: USA def. Mexico, 3-1 (25-23, 25-18, 25-27, 25-23)
July 31: USA def. Belize, 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-13)
Aug. 1: Quarterfinals: USA vs. Costa Rica, 6 p.m.
Aug. 2: Semifinals/Classification Matches
Aug. 3: Medal Matches/Classification Matches