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But with Marbley releasing the liens on the Pugliese property, EGCC’s governance authority is free to proceed with the sale. U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley of the Southern District of Ohio lifted a previous order meant to protect the college’s assets — chiefly, the Pugliese building and the Jefferson County Campus — from sale or […]

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But with Marbley releasing the liens on the Pugliese property, EGCC’s governance authority is free to proceed with the sale.
U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley of the Southern District of Ohio lifted a previous order meant to protect the college’s assets — chiefly, the Pugliese building and the Jefferson County Campus — from sale or transfer pending a resolution of a lawsuit filed two years ago by Student Resources Center, the college’s one-time business partner.
Marbley’s pre-judgment attachment order, however, remains in place for the college’s buildings and grounds, currently also the focus of litigation in Jefferson County Common Pleas Court.
STEUBENVILLLE — The federal judge presiding over a multi-million-dollar breach of contract lawsuit involving the now-defunct Eastern Gateway Community College has signed off on the proposed sale of its Pugliese building to Steubenville City Schools, though the deal is at least weeks from being finalized.
But if all goes as planned, the Pugliese Center will be turned into an elementary school serving children in pre-K through Grade 5. Young said the building will require substantial renovations, so the earliest it would be ready for students would be for the 2026-27 school year.
The sale of the building that once housed the Pugliese Training Center at what was Eastern Gateway Community College can proceed, a federal judge has ruled.
Superintendent Melinda Young, though, cautions that it’s not a done deal: The Steubenville City Schools Board of Education still must sign off on it, but the January meeting agenda already has been set, so the earliest a vote can come is February.
Young declined further comment until her board makes its decision.
In December, Judge Michelle Miller ruled that a reversionary clause in the deed of title granted to the college more than 60 years ago is, in fact, enforceable. Still to be decided in her court is whether EGCC breached that educational use requirement, as well as the county’s petition to halt collections of the final two years of a 1-mill, voter-approved levy for the college’s operation and maintenance.
If it goes through, Steubenville City Schools will pay fair market value — somewhere around .1 million, according to court documents — for the 3.07-acre property, which includes the two-story training center along John Scott Highway, across from what was the college’s main campus.
Miller stayed both of those cases, quietly filed by Jefferson County commissioners several months ago to protect taxpayer interests.
photo by: Linda Harris

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Follow the national teams

Players representing England will often travel across Europe and the world to pull on the national vest. There are various websites and media outlets that can help you keep up to date with what is going on and detailed below are some of the most useful. Volleyball England will always endeavour to advertise any live […]

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Players representing England will often travel across Europe and the world to pull on the national vest.

There are various websites and media outlets that can help you keep up to date with what is going on and detailed below are some of the most useful.

Volleyball England will always endeavour to advertise any live streams where major matches and events staged overseas can be watched, though some of these may be via subscription only.

 

Screenshot 2025-05-09 160432

 

Useful websites

FIVB website. Official site for world volleyball’s governing body.

CEV website. Official site for European volleyball’s governing body.

World rankings. Regularly updated world rankings for beach volleyball.

Volleyball World. Provides coverage of a range of indoor and beach volleyball events. 

VBTV (subscription only). Watch live streams from major Beach Pro Tour events.

FIVB.12ndr.at. A site detailing a host of volleyball fixtures and results but particularly useful for viewing Beach Pro Tour events at glance.

Please note: Volleyball England is not responsible for the content of external websites



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20 from Men’s Track & Field Named to NEWMAC Academic All-Conference Team

Story Links Westwood, MA — Twenty members of the WPI men’s track and field team were recognized with spots on the 2025 NEWMAC Spring Academic All-Conference Team, as announced by the league office.   Graduate student Tristan Andrew (Newtown, CT) led the way as a four-time honoree, capping a standout academic and […]

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Westwood, MA — Twenty members of the WPI men’s track and field team were recognized with spots on the 2025 NEWMAC Spring Academic All-Conference Team, as announced by the league office.
 
Graduate student Tristan Andrew (Newtown, CT) led the way as a four-time honoree, capping a standout academic and athletic career. Seven student-athletes earned Academic All-Conference honors for the third time: seniors Jack Adiletta (Bolton, MA), Lucas Anthony (Lincoln, MA), Matthew Catuccio (Trumbull, CT), Justin Liona (Westford, MA), and Michael Neff (West Hartford, CT), along with graduate students Jarrett Gulden (Walpole, ME) and Chris Nguyen (Tewksbury, MA).
 
Five more Engineers were recognized for the second time: graduate student Avinash Bissoondial (Millbury, MA), juniors Nathan Barry (Newburyport, MA), Anthony Minichiello (Burlington, MA), Everett Mosher (Chester, VT), and Thomas Skerry (Dedham, MA).
 
Seven student-athletes earned their first career honor: sophomores Ryan Coceano (Cinnaminson, NJ), Gabriel D’Amour (Somers, CT), Sam Manteria (Wilbraham, MA), Matt Richards (Peabody, MA), Craig Salois (Hopkinton, MA), and Trip Williams (Pelham, NH), along with junior Gavin Fleck (Bend, OR).
 
To earn Academic All-Conference honors, student-athletes must have maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (or 4.35 on a 5.0 scale) following the 2024 fall semester, achieved at least sophomore academic standing, and been a member of the varsity team for the entire season.
 
The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.

NEWMAC Release

 



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Women’s Tennis Inks Transfer from Washington State

Story Links SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara women’s tennis signed Madhu Satishbabu, a rising incoming sophomore from Washington State, for the upcoming 2025-26 season.    “I chose Santa Clara because of the incredible athletic and academic culture,” said Satishbabu.  “There are unlimited opportunities to grow as an athlete and as […]

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara women’s tennis signed Madhu Satishbabu, a rising incoming sophomore from Washington State, for the upcoming 2025-26 season. 
 
“I chose Santa Clara because of the incredible athletic and academic culture,” said Satishbabu.  “There are unlimited opportunities to grow as an athlete and as a person, and the supportive community is very inspirational.”
 
During her freshman campaign last season, the Redmond, Washington native saw action in both singles and doubles, mostly during the fall.  Satishbabu played in 13 singles and nine doubles matches total. 
 
In her lone singles match of the spring dual season, she played at the No. 6 spot of the lineup. 
 
While at Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, Washington, Satishbabu was a top 10 junior player in the Pacific Northwest and received the prestigious Presidential Education Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence, which is awarded to just 20 students in the nation. 
 
“We are thrilled to welcome Madhu to Santa Clara University,” said Broncos head coach Allie Will-Van Alstyne.  “Her vibrant energy and infectious positivity will be a perfect addition to our team culture.  Madhu is an exceptional student and a natural fit for the academic and athletic excellence we strive for at SCU.  We can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make both on and off the court.”

Connect with the Broncos on Social Media

Athletics: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Women’s Tennis: Twitter | Instagram





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Climate change makes some home maintenance neverending

Silver Lake is about a mile inland from Lake Michigan, and between the two lakes is just pure, rolling sand dunes more than 100 feet high. People come from all over to enjoy the dunes at Michigan’s Silver Lake State Park, and sometimes they end up on Dan Behm’s property.  “We say, ‘You have to […]

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Silver Lake is about a mile inland from Lake Michigan, and between the two lakes is just pure, rolling sand dunes more than 100 feet high. People come from all over to enjoy the dunes at Michigan’s Silver Lake State Park, and sometimes they end up on Dan Behm’s property. 

“We say, ‘You have to stay off the property,’” said Behm. “They’ll walk on the edge of the dune and say, ‘Well, you can’t own a dune,’ and I’ll say, ‘Yeah, but I do.’”

Behm owns the house right where the dunes meet the neighborhood. The dune on the western edge of his property towers over the house. 

On a windy day the dune blows in toward his cottage, sometimes by a foot or more. He’s been pushing this mountain of sand back with a front-end loader for several years with the help of a friend, Frank Phaff. 

“You can see right now the old sand machine is working pretty good right now,” said Phaff, watching 30 miles-per-hour gusts whip sand off the dune and into the driveway of Behm’s house. Phaff checks on the house while Behm is away to make sure the sand doesn’t get too close to the foundation. “My first goal is to make sure the house is safe.” 

Behm said these really windy days do cause some stress. But it’s not just the wind he has to worry about, there’s also a recreational dune-buggy park here that prevents the sand from settling or vegetation from taking root and stabilizing the dune. Behm also has to renew permits with the state to remove the sand from his property.  

And the worry is well-founded; there’s at least a handful of houses that have already been consumed by the sheer volume of sand to the west of Behm’s property. And the sand is slowly filling in Silver Lake, making it smaller and shallower over the course of decades.  

Behm bought the house next to the dune from the long-time owners in 2020. When it was built more than 30 years ago the three-story observation tower caught a view of Lake Michigan, but now the dunes are so high that the view is just a wall of sand to the west.  

It was an important purchase for his family because they already owned the next two cottages on the lake shore. 

“If we didn’t buy it, we didn’t know if anybody else would,” said Behm, “and that meant that this would be covered by a dune, and that the two cottages that are next door, which are my mother’s and mine, would be the next ones in line.”  

That’s where Phaff and the front-loader come in. Phaff fills a giant gravel-train dump truck with sand and hauls it out, sometimes daily. They sell locally to construction sites and fracking operations, for horse arenas and beach volleyball courts.  

Behm and Phaff can haul away more than 1,500 semi-truck sized loads of sand a year from the property. It isn’t a profitable business, in fact Behm’s hoping to break even for the first time this year. But for Behm it’s all worth it because he has reason to believe he can save the house. 

Jenny Schuetz, an expert in housing policy and economy with Arnold Ventures, said disaster-prone areas make the housing sector a vulnerable segment of the economy, particularly in the age of climate change.

“We know that people tend to underestimate the likelihood of bad things happening to them,” she said. “People move to wildfire-prone areas or hurricane-prone areas thinking, it’s not going to hit my house.”

“There’s a tension between people wanting to live in high-amenity places — on beach fronts, near mountains with great views, in places that have warm winters and lots of sunshine — but those same amenities often are the risks that are going to harm people and housing.”

About 26% of homeowners say they’re unprepared financially for any unforeseen expenses due to extreme weather events, according to a survey from the personal finance website Bankrate. 

The thing with Dan Behm is he knows precisely the beast he’s taken on. He’s successfully moved the dune towering beside his house back about 40 feet away from the house.  

So why do this? Behm will tell you right away, it’s for his family. Four generations enjoy these homes during the summer; it’s their favorite place to gather.  

Behm’s mom, Dotty Meyers, pieced together a jigsaw puzzle in the sun-soaked front room of her cottage looking out over Silver Lake and the sand yard between the two. She said sand is part of the family. 

“You know, if you don’t like sand you shouldn’t be living here because it’s all part of our living experience,” she said.

“Our grandchildren absolutely love climbing the dunes. We do as well,” said Behm. “It is a love-hate relationship.” 

Behm said he hopes his kids and grandkids will be willing to keep up the maintenance of this relationship someday, even as the sand keeps rolling in.

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Hungary and Spain unbeaten en route to quarterfinals

Overview The competition has reached the critical stage where the wheat is being sorted from the chaff. The leading Groups A and B have been ranked and the top two teams earn direct access to the quarterfinals. The lower two teams in each group — Italy, USA, Montenegro and Greece, await the winners of the […]

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Overview

The competition has reached the critical stage where the wheat is being sorted from the chaff. The leading Groups A and B have been ranked and the top two teams earn direct access to the quarterfinals. The lower two teams in each group — Italy, USA, Montenegro and Greece, await the winners of the Crossovers 1 groups — Iran and Germany and Australia and China, who play on Tuesday. The winners of Wednesday’s matches go to the quarterfinals. Groups G and H enter round-robin series, eventually to decide rankings 13-20.

Match Reports

Match 17, Group E, COLOMBIA 5 ARGENTINA 13 (1-2, 1-6, 1-2, 2-3)


Image Source: Martin Del Rosso (ARG)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Argentina outplayed Colombia and channelled shots to the goalkeeper, who had a fantastic day. The slow start gave way to an excellent second quarter and the match then cruised to its finalisation. Argentina opened and closed the opening quarter and denied Colombia a penalty success. Alejo Teijeiro, who scored six goals against Australia on day two, blasted in a seven-metre shot for 2-1 inside the last minute. He was in the mix of five different players who progressed the score to 7-1 in the first five minutes of the second quarter with the last three all coming on counter. Juan Castillo broke the near 10-minute famine and Santiago Rivera scored his second on counter as Argentina turned at 8-2.


Image Source: Thomas Arias (COL)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Felipe Merino opened for Colombia in the third period and Juan Zuluaga, a five-goal hero on day one, hit the crossbar on penalty. Argentina sent in two more to go the final quarter 10-3 ahead. Rivera cross-caged his third goal from the right and Thomas Arias converted a Colombian penalty attempt for 11-4. Enrique Olano made it 11-5 with his six-metre-foul shot, leaving Argentina to close out the match with the final two goals, the last to Teijeiro from five metres for 13-5.

Match Heroes
Teijeiro
and Rivera made three each, but the real hero was goalkeeper Martin Del Rosso with a spectacular 17 saves.

Turning Point
Argentina shaking off the 1-1 shackles to race to 7-1 and 8-2 by halftime.


Image Source: Ivan Saavedra (ARG)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Stats Don’t Lie
Argentina made just three from seven on extra but stopped 11 of 13 Colombian attempts. Argentina made its one penalty shot and Colombia missed two of three. Argentina had the better of steals at 10-8 and was more parsimonious on shooting at 25 to 39.

Bottom Line
Argentina gained its first victory for second in the group behind Australia and Colombia is winless.

Match 18, Group F, CANADA 12 CHINA 13 (1-3, 4-5, 5-2, 2-3)


Image Source: Ion Diacenco (CAN) shoots against China/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

China gained its second win to win the group and set it up for the harder matches to come. The win took its toll as China had to work hard to maintain the lead after a wonderful start and then a damaging third period where Canada forced its way into the reckoning, levelling by the final break. Canada started the scoring with China landing the next four goals with Yang Yiheng netting a pair either side of the first break. Giancarlo Marquez scored off the left-post position on action for 4-2 while Liu Jinyi went on counter for 5-2. Nicholas Furneaux and Marquez scored their second goals for 5-4. However, Yang and captain Cai Yuhao lengthened China’s margin to three. Marquez hammered in his third and Deng Zirui scored on extra from the right-post position for 8-5 by halftime.


Image Source: Liu Jinyi (CHN)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Canada allowed Yang to make it 9-5 and then scored the next three goals. Li Diheng stopped the rot on counter and Leo Hachem and Ion Diacenco scored their second goals for 10-10 before the final break. Canada was back in the match. Li Chang countered for the first goal of the fourth and Kyson Becker was naughty enough to gain a red card with substitution. Yang scored his fifth on the subsequent extra-man play for 12-10. Marquez was equal to the task with two smashing goals from two metres for 12-12 at 2:39. scored from the post at 1:35 and despite both teams having a timeout, no further goals came. Canada had the last two shots with one forcing a corner. Both were stopped by the goalkeeper and China had survived the resurgent Canadian tactics.

Match Heroes
Yang
top-scored with five goals for China and captain Cai landed two. For Canada, Marquez also scored five and goalkeeper Harrison Labrosse made 10 saves.

Turning Point
China led 4-1 and then 9-5. Canada swung the pendulum in the third for 10-10, but could not cross the line in the final quarter.


Image Source: Yang Yiheng (CHN)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Stats Don’t Lie
China went four from six on extra to Canada’s one from one. On penalties, China converted two and Canada one. China stole the ball 11 times to nine and outshot Canada 37-3.

Bottom Line
China wins the group and Canada has to settle for second, ahead of Singapore.

Match 19, Group C, BRAZIL 9 GERMANY 18 (2-5, 2-3, 2-4, 3-6)


Image Source: Carlo Martineli (BRA) shoots against Germany/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Germany cruised into the next stage with two victories with four positive quarters at the expense of Brazil. Germany had bigger men lurking and some swift shooters as the score kept amassing. Artur Diaz started the scoring for Brazil. Germany slotted the next three and then the last two after another Brazilian strike. Senior international Till Hofmann scored on extra and then hit the bar on penalty. First-day hero Lucas Wulfhorst began the second period on extra for Brazil as goals were traded to 7-4. Finn Taubert nabbed his second on a cross pass to the left post to bring up the 8-4 halftime scoreline in favour of Germany.


Image Source: Tobias Scherrieble (GER)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Luk Jaschke and Taubert made it 10-4 early in the third period before trading continued until Tobias Scherrieble blasted from the top for 12-6 by the buzzer. Come the final quarter, the goals kept flowing with Elias Metten and Wulfhorst trading; Vukasin Simic and Taubert lifting Germany to 15-7 and Diaz having his penalty attempt stopped. He made up for it with a score on extra at the left-post position. Then Scherrieble scored identical shots with Andre Freitas firing from the top for Brazil and Fynn Janke slotting his second on a cross pass to centre forward.

Match Heroes
Taubert
scored four and Scherrieble three while goalkeeper Max Spittank took in eight saves. For Brazil, Wulfhorst nailed three and Diaz two. Lucas Gomes made nine saves in three quarters in goal for Brazil.

Turning Point
From 3-1 to 5-2, setting the tone of the match early on.


Image Source: Lucas Wulfhorst (BRA) and Luk Jaschke (GER)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Stats Don’t Lie
Germany converted five from eight on extra and Brazil five from nine. Germany missed one of three penalty attempts and Brazil one from two. Germany made 20 steals to 12 and shot 39 times to 23.

Bottom Line
Germany easily won the group with two wins, setting it up for the crossovers. Brazil finished second ahead of South Africa.

Match 20, Group D, KAZAKHSTAN 9 IRAN 16 (1-1, 2-7, 3-4, 3-4)


Image Source: Ali Shabanian (IRI)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Iran made it two from two thanks to an abundance of goals in the second quarter that spearheaded the victory. Iran had a 15-13 win over New Zealand already in the bag and wanted more glory, achieving that with some precision shooting and excellent extra-man statistics. The first quarter was tight as the score attests and the first few minutes of the second quarter were also close. The breakthrough came after the 2-2 scoreline when Iran rattled in a pair with Aldiyar Akimbay — a four-goal scorer in the first match — slotting a penalty goal for 4-3 down. Then Soheil Pargari scored his second and third goals in a four-goal spurt that had Iran at 8-3 by halftime.


Image Source: Deniz Dronin (KAZ) defends Ali Abolghasemi)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Mehrab Golestanirad opened the second half from two metres for his second strike with second-day hero Arman Shams, who scored eight goals against New Zealand, putting away a penalty. The next Iran penalty attempt was stopped and Kazakhstan seized the opportunity to score twice with the first the best goal of the match when Al-Farabi Kubaidolla steered in a high pass at centre forward. Almat Madimar converted a penalty for his second and the margin was trimmed to five. Goals were traded until the buzzer with Iran holding a commanding 12-6 lead going into the final period. Madimar converted two extra-man situations at the top of the fourth period with Farbod Borghei replying from the top after a timeout. Madimar brought up his fifth goal of the match and eighth of the tournament from the deep left for 13-9, but Iran fired in the last three with Golestanirad claiming his fourth at 14-9 off the right-post position on extra.

Match Heroes
Golestanirad
racked up four goals with Ali Abolghasemi and Pargari netting three apiece for Iran. Amirhossein Amirian was once again on form, pulling in 11 saves for Iran. Kazakhstan’s best scorer was Madimar with five to go with the three from the first match. Akzhan Aday made 10 saves in goal.


Image Source: Arman Shams (IRI)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Turning Point
Iran going from 2-2 early in the second quarter to 8-3 by halftime.

Stats Don’t Lie
Iran plundered seven from 12 on extra and Kazakhstan only two from four. On penalties, Kazakhstan sent in both chances and Iran missed one of its two. Both teams were in stealing mood with Iran edging Kazakhstan 16-15. Kazakhstan shot 35-34.

Bottom Line

Iran has been impressive with big players and big shooters and this shone through today with  the group victory. Kazakhstan did well to target Shams and restrict him to one goal.

Match 21, Group B, SERBIA 14 ITALY 12 (4-5, 4-3, 5-2, 1-2)


Image Source: Luca Gladovic (SRB) defends Alessandro Gullotts (ITA)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Serbia emerged the victor in a spiteful match in which 10 players failed to make it to the final whistle. It all started in the second quarter when Rodoljub Gajic gained his third major foul. Filippo Gandolfo did the same a minute into the third period. Then senior international Luka Gladovic allegedly mouthed off once too often and was sent for the match at 6:11. Enrico Tringali Capuano gained a red card, followed soon after by Serbia’s Kosta Bodiroga even though he had only two majors against his name.


Image Source: Ejected and dejected players/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

The fourth period was where it all happened as the volcano started to erupt. Emanuele Marini joined the burgeoning list of departees, alongside Filip Novakovic in a double exclusion. With the match 13-11 to Serbia, Augusto Massa collected a third foul, as did Mattia di Corato. Tommaso Cora, Italy’s top scorer with four goals, went at 1:40 on three fouls. Serbia was 14-12 up at this stage. Come the final minute and Italian goalkeeper Jacopo Rubini left the pool in pain and slammed his fist on the referees’ rostrum, earning a red card. This meant, substitute goalkeeper Federico Castrucci had to go on attack, as Rubini had, and he played out the last 30 seconds at centre forward. The referees were taking no nonsense as the substitute benches were swiftly depleted.


Image Source: Enrique Tringali Capuano (ITA) defending by Vuk Kojic (SRB)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

The score was level at two, three and four in the first quarter and all the numbers from five to eight in the second quarter where Alessandro Gullotta grabbed a pair of goals for Italy and Gladovic collected his third.

The third period was tied at nine and 10. Then Miljan Dokanovic scored twice either side of a timeout and Strahinja Krstic scored his second with a brilliant catch and turn at centre forward for 13-10, 15 seconds from the break. Italy pulled two back with Cora taking his fourth at 2:49. Vuk Andelic responded on extra at 1:38 and Italy, despite taking a timeout, could not narrow the gap, even with Rubini up on attack.

Match Heroes
Gladovic
topped the Serbian roster with three goals with four others hitting two. Goalkeeper Mihailo Gosic made 12 saves. For Italy, Cora topped with four goals with three others on two.


Image Source: Serbia departees/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Turning Point
The three-goal difference at the end of the third period.

Stats Don’t Lie
Serbia was strong on extra with 10 from 16 to Italy’s six from 13. On penalties, Italy scored the only two. Italy stole the ball eight times to five and shot 43 to 34.

Bottom Line
Serbia had less players ejected — four to six — and managed to win without Gladovic in the second half. It was the battle for second in the group and for kudos for later rounds.

Match 22, Group A, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 16 MONTENEGRO 10 (5-5, 4-1, 3-3, 4-1)


Image Source: MaxZelikov (USA) and Drasko Samardzic (MNE)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

USA broke through for its first win in Zagreb, recovering from two goals down to win the rest of the match 16-8. USA’s progression is going in the right direction with the tougher matches yet to come. After Montenegro went two up, USA captain Ryder Dodd, an Olympian, scored from the penalty line and then from low inside on the left after two snap passes. Montenegro regained the lead and USA snatched it back with consecutive goals for 4-3. Montenegro regrouped and Ivan Markovic and Tim Perov made it 5-4. William Schneider scored off the left-post position on extra for 5-5 soon before the break. Dodd had his penalty stopped at 4:59 in the second quarter as goals were hard to come by. On the next attack, Drasko Samardzic scored the first goal for four minutes to put Montenegro in front, for what was the last time. A USA juggernaut was unleashed with four goals — two from Max Zelikov — closing the half with USA in front 9-6.


Image Source: Ben Liechty (USA) and Ivan Markovic (MNE)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Perov and Markovic both scored on extra to start the third period. USA went to a timeout with no effect but soon after Schneider buried twice on extra and senior international Ben Liechty added another for 12-8. Danilo Dragovic blasted from the top before the buzzer. USA’s Bode Brinkema converted three penalty fouls in the final quarter and team-mates missed two more as did one Montenegrin attempt. The goalkeepers were on fire. Srdan Janovic’s stop by Charlie Mills rebounded to halfway.

Match Heroes
USA’s Schneider with his four-goal haul, followed by Dodd and Brinkema with three each. Mills made 11 saves in goal. Perov and Markovic were double scorers for Montenegro.


Image Source: Charlie Mills (USA)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Turning Point
USA busting free in the second quarter and maintaining that three-goal difference through the third quarter.

Stats Don’t Lie
USA managed four from seven on extra to Montenegro’s slightly better four from six. USA put away an incredible six penalty goals while missing three. Montenegro gained one from two. On steals, Montenegro was sneakier with 10-6 and it also shot more at 35-30.

Match 23, Group A, HUNGARY 15 CROATIA 11 (4-1, 3-2, 3-5, 5-3)


Image Source: Vince Varga (HUN)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Hungary kept its title hopes alive with group victory and a third straight win in Zagreb.  It was a match packed with 35 major fouls with Hungary giving up the most. Hungary was in control from the start at 4-1 at the quarter and then 7-3 by halftime. Hungary used six different scorers and another missed a penalty attempt. It was Zsombor Porge who closed the first-half’s scoring for his second goal. On the other side of the ledger, the tournament’s most prolific shooter, Vlaho Pavlic, had three goals and a missed penalty attempt.


Image Source: Botond Balogh (HUN)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Croatia came back strongly in the third period, scoring the first two goals before Mor Benedek, son of the late legendary triple Olympic champion Tibor Benedek, converted a penalty for Hungary. Maro Susic squeezed in a pair for Croatia on extra and the margin was one. Hungary called a timeout to no avail and Ante Jerkovic slotted his second goal for the 8-8 score. Botond Balogh and Andras Toth scored their second goals to give Hungary the ascendancy at the final break. Luka Penava traded goals with Benedek and Balogh for 12-10 and Pavlic nailed his fourth at 2:39 to trail Hungary by one. Balogh, captain Oliver Leinweber and Porge laid in goals on three consecutive attacks while keeping the door shut at the other end for the victory.

Match Heroes
Hungary’s Balogh lifted his tournament tally to nine with four goals and Porge netted three to double his score. Pavlic (CRO) is the tournament’s best with four goals pushing him out to 16. Both goalkeepers snared 13 saves — Hungary’s David Szitas and Croatia’s captain Mauro Cubranic.


Image Source: Mauro Cubranic (MNE)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Turning Point
Hungary’s 6-1 two minutes into the second quarter and then Croatia’s resilience to level at eight and then 12-11 inside the final three minutes. Hungary’s final triple sealed the deal.

Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary converted six from nine on extra and denied Croatia a humbling 14 from 20. Bothe teams missed one of their three chances on penalty; Hungary led the steals 6-5 and both shot 37 times.

Bottom Line
Hungary is the reigning champion and made sure with that late burst. Croatia has more work to do.

Match 24, Group B, GREECE 17 SPAIN 18 (3-5, 5-5, 4-2, 5-6)


Image Source: Greece v Spain/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

The real action in this match was saved for the final quarter, or so it seemed. Spain was chasing group supremacy and Greece was hoping for a second win. It came down a five-minute period in the final quarter. Spain started with the first two goals and maintained that differential until quarter time for 5-3. Greece levelled midway through the second quarter for six, but Spain kept sneaking out to two goals, making Greece play catch-up. Oier Aguirre became the second highest scorer in Zagreb, scoring twice in the first quarter and three more in the second while big man Semir Spachits was making waves with a hat-trick for Greece.


Image Source: Semir Spachits (GRE)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

It was Spachits who drew Greece level at 2:58 in the third period screaming one in from the four-metre line. Apostolos Georgaras levelled at 12 to close the third period after Biel Gomila had taken Spain ahead at 12-11. Spain led the way in the fourth with Greece catching up twice for 14-14. The rhythm was lost as Greece did the unthinkable and Nikolaos Giannatos took Greece into uncharted territory and one goal ahead. It was short-lived as Greece pounded in the next four goals with Albert Sabadell scoring twice, Aguirre with his seventh and Eudald Flaque with his third. In two minutes, Spain changed the face of the match and had a three-goal advantage with 1:05 on the clock. Spachits scored at 0:48 and Spyridon Lykoudis, who had an excellent match, converted a penalty at 0:09 — too late to force a shootout.

Match Heroes
Aguirre
with a fantastic seven goals to lift him to 13 from three matches. Flaque and Perrone scored three each. For Spain. Spachits notched five, Lykoudis and Georgaras three each for Greece.


Image Source: Oier Aguirre (ESP)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

Turning Point
There were six levelled scores — six, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Spain scored four straight to come from one down to three ahead in just on two minutes that saw it clear by three a minute from time.

Stats Don’t Lie
Spain went four from eight on extra and denied Greece a huge nine from 15. Spain missed its one penalty chance while Greece scored three from four. Spain won the steals 7-5 and Greece the overall shots 41-38.

Bottom Line
Spain is unbeaten and Greece was looking for way out of the bottom two. Still, there is plenty of time to redress this situation.

Final Points

Group A: Hungary 9, Croatia 6, United States of America 3, Montenegro 0
Group B: Spain 9, Serbia 5, Greece 4, Italy 0
Group C: Germany 6, Brazil 3, South Africa 0
Group D: Iran 6, Kazakhstan 3, New Zealand 0
Group E: Australia 6, Argentina 3, Colombia 0
Group F: China 3, Canada 3, Singapore 0

Day 4 Schedule

Group G
Match 25. 09:00. 2C Brazil v 3D New Zealand
Match 26. 10:30. 2E Argentina v 3F Singapore

Group H
Match 27. 16:00. Group H, 3C South Africa v 2D Kazakhstan
Match 28. 17:30. Group H, 3E Colombia v 2F Canada

Crossovers 1
Match 29. 19:00. 1D Iran v 1C Germany
Match 30. 20:30. 1E Australia v 1F China





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Kendall Fearn Hired As The New Head Coach For Long Beach State Softball

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State Athletics has announced Kendall Fearn will be the new head coach for Long Beach State Softball, replacing Kim Sowder who announced her retirement following her 19th season in charge of the program in 2025.   Kendall Fearn has played a large part in the rise of San Diego […]

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LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State Athletics has announced Kendall Fearn will be the new head coach for Long Beach State Softball, replacing Kim Sowder who announced her retirement following her 19th season in charge of the program in 2025.
 
Kendall Fearn has played a large part in the rise of San Diego State Softball nationally as the lead assistant for the Aztecs, joining the team prior to the 2023 season. Leading the team’s recruiting efforts and serving as the defensive coordinator, Fearn and San Diego State have made three straight NCAA tournament appearances during her tenure, including a memorable run to the Super Regionals in 2023 when the Aztecs advanced out of the Los Angeles Regional hosted by UCLA and coming one game short of the program’s first trip to the Women’s College World Series. 
 
The Aztecs have won three straight Mountain West Tournament Championships and the 2024 regular season title, posting a 108-56 record during Fearn’s time with the program. 
 
“I am ecstatic to share that Kendall Fearn has accepted the position of Head Coach of Long Beach State Softball,” said Executive Director of Athletics, Bobby Smitheran. “She brings with her a strong foundation shaped by mentorship under some of the most respected figures in the sport. Her experience, passion, and relentless drive will no doubt elevate a program already steeped in proud tradition and history, one built on the foundation laid by coaching icons Pete Manarino and Kim Sowder.
 
“Fearn has proven herself as a program builder, a championship winner, and a leader who has successfully guided teams through NCAA Regional and Super Regional competition. She understands what it takes to compete and win at the highest levels of collegiate softball. Known nationally as a tireless recruiter, she brings a compelling and visionary plan for the future of Beach Softball, emphasizing sustained success and a culture where student-athletes can thrive. Beyond wins and losses, Fearn is a developer of people, someone who deeply values academic achievement and the holistic development of her student-athletes.”
 
Fearn brings extensive coaching experience from across the country, which has shaped her path to Long Beach State. Prior to her time in San Diego, she spent five seasons as the Associate Head Coach at Indiana under Shonda Stanton, working primarily with the offense and defense. Indiana posted a 126-101 record during Fearn’s tenure, and the program set school records in both home runs and stolen bases under her offensive leadership.
 
Preceding her time in Indiana, Fearn worked for four seasons at Marshall, also with Stanton, as the program’s Associate Head Coach. Fearn was the team’s hitting coach while working with the outfielders. During her time at Marshall, the team hit .313 and the Thundering Herd won 135 games in her four seasons in Huntington, which included a Conference USA title and the second-ever NCAA postseason appearance for the program.
 
Fearn was a four-year starter at UNLV as a corner infielder and was coached in part by Long Beach State legend Pete Manarino. After her playing career, she immediately transitioned into coaching, spending two seasons on the UNLV staff before taking a position at Georgia Southern and eventually moving on to Marshall.
 
“I am honored to be named the next head coach of Long Beach State Softball and am grateful for this incredible opportunity!” said Fearn. “I would like to thank President Jane Close Conoley and Vice President Scott Apel for their support and extend a huge thank you to Bobby Smitheran, Katie Burd, and everyone who participated in the search process for believing in me and my vision as a head coach. Through this process it was exciting to see how our values align in all the right ways prioritizing character, hard work, and community. I am committed to our softball student-athletes growing and winning in every area of their lives to include their student-athlete experience, on-field performance, academic success, and building connections within the Long Beach community that we are so proud to represent. 
 
“As the leader of this program, it will be my charge to celebrate and continue telling the amazing traditions of Long Beach State Softball to our recruits, current team, and community. Under the leadership of two amazing coaches in Kim Sowder and Pete Manarino, Long Beach State has a legacy of going to the Women’s College World Series, winning conference championships, making NCAA tournament appearances, and creating a dynamic group of softball alumni that have left their mark on this special program. 
 
“My vision is to establish a purposeful culture that is grounded in talent, grit, and unity. My coaching staff and I will drive our holistic player development approach paired with relentless recruiting efforts to lead us to compete for Big West titles while also graduating champions and remarkable people who are prepared for success beyond the game.”
 
Fearn becomes just the fifth head coach in program history, and only the third in the last 42 years, with Manarino (23 seasons) and Sowder (19 seasons) having led the program for the majority of its existence.
 
“I would like to extend my thanks to Katie Burd, our Softball sport supervisor and Senior Associate AD for Financial Operations for leading this national search,” added Smitheran. “This is a highly prized job and drew interest from a competitive pool of candidates nationwide. Katie’s diligence and commitment to finding the best fit for our program were instrumental in this exciting new chapter for Long Beach State Softball.”
 
What they’re saying about Fearn:
“Long Beach State Softball has a proud and rich tradition and to see a former player of mine in Kendall Fearn assume the head coaching role is exciting. During my two seasons with her at UNLV and as a graduate assistant coach, she demonstrated great passion, leadership, and hard work. These traits will serve her well as head coach and I wish her the best of luck!”

~Pete Manarino, Former Head Coach, Long Beach State & UNLV
 
“Long Beach State Softball has made a remarkable hire in Kendall Fearn. As a dynamic and relational leader, she will foster a connected program with high-functioning synergy. Kendall’s aggressive and fundamental style of play will produce an exciting brand of softball. Her passion for the game is matched only by her unwavering commitment to equipping and empowering her student-athletes to continuously grow and excel. As an elite recruiter and talent developer, Kendall’s competitive character, heart-driven mindset, and person-first approach are instrumental in building a championship culture. She has consistently elevated every program she has been associated with, and her vision, coupled with a process-based approach, will propel Long Beach State Softball into a new era of success.”
~Shonda Stanton, Head Coach, Indiana
 
“Kendall Fearn is a home run hire for Long Beach State. She is a first-class human, mentor, leader, recruiter and developer of talent. She will no doubt elevate the Beach softball program and do it with class and integrity. Truly one of the good ones, I am excited to see her put her mark on the LBSU program and compete for Big West championships.”
~Stacey Nuveman-Deniz, Head Coach, San Diego State
 
“What a great day for Long Beach State softball! Kendall is an excellent coach that is invested deeply in the development of young women. Beach fans can expect a team that will compete hard, play fundamentally sound softball, and be excellent members of the community. I look forward to watching Kendall’s head coaching career begin.”
~Jessica Allister, Head Coach, Stanford

 



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