Sports
Katie Ledecky Overcame Tough Competition to Cap Off Season
Katie Ledecky Overcame Unprecedented Competition to Cap Off Historic Season
Few swimmers have ever matched the magic Katie Ledecky brought to international competition in her first five years of major meets. A 15-year-old prodigy pulling a huge upset at the 2012 Olympics turned into three world titles and a pair of world records one year after that. By 2015, Ledecky had obliterated existing world records in the 400, 800 and 1500 freestyle, and she added 200-meter gold for an unprecedented sweep. Her peak performance came in 2016, her Rio Olympic performance personifying mastery and dominance.
The season Ledecky put together in 2025 has been her best one since, thanks to her first world record in the 800 free in nine years plus one of the hardest-fought victories of her career at the recent World Championships.
Katie Ledecky — Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
That’s not to take anything away from the relentless winning of the past eight years. During that span, Ledecky was beaten exactly once in the 800 or 1500 free, and it was at a tune-up meet of little consequence last spring. Several years ago, she surrendered her dominance in the 400 free as Ariarne Titmus and then Summer McIntosh emerged as true rivals, but she has never missed the international podium in that event. She no longer races the 200 free internationally but has remained the vital cog for the American women in the 800 free relay.
But this year has stood out since Ledecky opened the Fort Lauderdale Pro Series meet with the second-fastest time ever in the 1500 free, behind only her world record set seven years earlier. Two days later, Ledecky pulled off another stunner in the 400 free, sling-shotting ahead of McIntosh to record her second-best time ever in that event, coming within tenths of her American record from the 2016 Games.
Those two swims were a precursor to her stunning 800-meter time of 8:04.12 on the meet’s final night. The performance earned Ledecky standing ovation as she embraced current and former teammates and coaches, with former Stanford coach and current USA Swimming National Team Director Greg Meehan calling her “beyond inspiring.”
But world titles had not yet been handed out, and the challenges were coming. First came McIntosh, who fired off a warning shot of 8:05.07 at Canadian Trials, quicker than Ledecky swam at her selection meet. That was followed shortly thereafter by a time of 8:10.84 from Lani Pallister at Australian Trials, quicker than the previous Aussie record set by Titmus en route to Olympic silver behind Ledecky last year.
So for the first time in her career, Ledecky went to Singapore as merely the co-favorite in the 800 free rather than the unequivocal No. 1. What transpired was a testament to both her greatness and her legacy.
The medal count shows that Ledecky expanded upon a résumé that was already the best in the history of the World Championships. Her two additional world titles in individual races brought her career to 18, three ahead of second-place Michael Phelps and four clear of next-best female Sarah Sjostrom. Including relays, Ledecky now owns 23 gold medals and 30 total medals, both second all-time to Phelps. And her win in the 800 free made her the first swimmer to capture seven world titles in a single event.
Look deeper, and you’ll see that Ledecky surpassed the fastest silver-medal-winning times ever. In the 1500, Ledecky won gold by five seconds, but Italy’s Simona Quadarella took silver in 15:31.79, chopping seven full seconds from the European record and annihilating her previous best time by nine.
Quadarella, whose already-sizeable international medal collection would include far more golds if not for Ledecky’s presence, broke up Ledecky’s stranglehold on the top-25 performances in history. She is now within 12 seconds of Ledecky’s world record in the 1500 free. It had been a decade since anyone had ever been that close.
Four days later in the 800 free final, Quadarella swam another huge personal best as she knocked off Rebecca Adlington’s continental standard in the 800 free. The time of 8:12.81 would have won a medal at every previous international competition. Not this time, not even close.
Lani Pallister, Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh on the 800 free podium — Photo Courtesy: Emily Cameron
Before Singapore, Ledecky was the only swimmer to ever break 8:10 at a major competition, and McIntosh was the only other swimmer to ever go below that barrier (on two prior occasions, both this year). This final, though, saw McIntosh and Pallister stick with Ledecky the entire distance. Only in the final meters could the American legend break away, but a championship record of 8:05.62 was required to edge Pallister by 0.36.
Yes, a championship record, quicker than any times Ledecky posted in her previous six title-winning swims. McIntosh was profoundly disappointed with her bronze-medal swim, but her time of 8:07.29 was still a tick quicker than Ledecky’s previous meet record of 8:07.39 from a decade earlier. The times by the top-three performers were the second, third and fourth-fastest times ever at a championship meet, trailing only Ledecky’s result from the 2016 Olympic final.
Though most of her previous wins in the 800 free have been in dominant fashion, Ledecky had faced tougher competition on occasion. Her most difficult win came at the 2019 World Championships, a meet where she battled illness all week and needed a late burst to hold off Quadarella. In the past two Olympic finals, Titmus has stayed close throughout. However, Ledecky was not close to her best form on any of those occasions.
This year, Ledecky took the best shot from all of her main rivals minus Titmus, who took the year away from competition. The 1500 was closer and the 800 down to the wire not because of Ledecky faltering but because of massive improvements from Pallister, McIntosh and Quadarella. None of these women would have dreamed of approaching these times if not for Ledecky showing them what was possible, but yet again, the distance queen came through.
Perhaps we have taken her greatness for granted when the races have been not so competitive, when the records have been out of reach. Not this time; this was maximum Ledecky, the greatest female swimmer ever somehow surpassing herself.
Sports
Kansas State volleyball vs Nebraska in NCAA Tournament channel, time
Dec. 6, 2025, 6:03 a.m. CT
Kansas State volleyball survived and advanced, and now it will take on the No. 1 team in the country in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats and Nebraska Cornhuskers will face off at 7 p.m. in the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Saturday, Dec. 6.
Watch K-State volleyball in NCAA Tournament
Nebraska enters the match 31-0, seeking its first championship since 2017. The Huskers cruised to a three-set win over Long Island.
K-State’s win over San Diego to advance was more dramatic. The Wildcats (18-9, 10-8 Big 12) pulled it off in five sets, while needing to win the fourth to make it possible.
What channel is Kansas State volleyball vs Nebraska on today?
- TV channel: None
- Stream:ESPN+
Kansas State volleyball vs. Nebraska will be available to stream on ESPN+.
Watch K-State volleyball in NCAA Tournament
Kansas State volleyball vs Nebraska time today
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 6
- Start time: 7 p.m. CT
Kansas State and Nebraska will begin at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, Dec. 6.
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com
Sports
Women’s track and field begins indoor season at M City Classic
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The St. Olaf College women’s track and field team turned in 13 performances that ranked on its all-time performers’ list at the season-opening M City Classic on Friday at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse.
First years accounted for 11 of the 13 performances that ranked on St. Olaf’s all-time list at the unscored meet, which included teams from the NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and club levels. In addition to the top-10 list performances, senior Ella Landis posted St. Olaf’s lone first-place finish at the meet by winning the one-mile run in 5:17.28.
In her first collegiate meet, first year Evangeline Sappington broke onto the program’s all-time performers’ list in both the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash. Sappington was the top Division III finisher and was 10th overall in the 200-meter dash (26.84), while also taking second among Division III competitors and 16th overall in the 60-meter dash. Sappington’s time in the 60-meter dash ranks second on the Oles’ all-time list – just four one-hundredths of a second off the record – and her time in the 200-meter dash is fifth.
Sophomore Izzi Jaeckle clocked in with St. Olaf’s No. 4 time in the 60-meter dash by placing 17th (8.10), while first year Ellie Semple also broke onto the list in 10th with a time of 8.28 seconds to finish 27th. Sophomore Logan Paulsen moved up to seventh on the Oles’ list with a sixth-place performance in the shot put (12.48m, 40′ 11 ½”), while first year Abigal Frei cleared 3.26 meters (10′ 8 ¼”) for a No. 5 all-time result and an eighth-place finish.
First years Svea Frantzich and Claire Stein recorded St. Olaf’s No. 8 and No. 10 scores in the pentathlon by finishing seventh (3,005) and eighth (2,993), respectively. Frantzich tied for third in the long jump (5.44m, 17′ 10 ¼”) and was sixth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.47), which both ranked on St. Olaf’s all-time list. Stein also tied for third in the long jump (5.44m, 10′ 10 ¼”) to highlight her day. First year Annika Walsh was the runner-up in the high jump (1.62m, 5′ 3 ¾”) – fifth all-time – and was seventh in the 60-meter hurdles (9.48) – ninth all-time – as part of a ninth-place finish in the pentathlon (2,881).
St. Olaf will be back in action in 2026 at the Ole Opener at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17 at Tostrud Center.
Sports
Second-Screen Golf Experiences : Player Profiles
In addition to offering an on-site fan experience, IRCODE, as a Technology Partner, introduced an interactive viewer experience for fans at home. When players appeared on-screen, viewers used the IRCODE app to scan their screen and instantly accessed a full, interactive profile for shopping their favorite players’ gear, diving deeper into their stories and learning more about the causes that are meaningful to them.
Player Profiles leverages IRCODE’s patented EXACT Match technology and proprietary computer vision, and applies real-time visual recognition to usher in the next generation of second-screen entertainment.
Sports
Catch Saturday’s Basketball and Indoor Track and Field Action
BEREA, Ohio – Fans can follow or watch Saturday’s Baldwin Wallace University basketball and indoor track and field action via live results, statistics or video.
The men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams open the 2025-26 season when it travels to Cleveland to compete in the Spartan Alumni Holiday Classic hosted by Case Western Reserve University inside the Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center at 11:00 a.m.
Live Results:
https://bwyellowjackets.cc/3MlDQcr
FloCollege On Demand Live Video:
https://bwyellowjackets.cc/3KFq6st
The men’s basketball team travels to New Concord for the first game of a men’s and women’s Ohio Athletic Conference and Hoops for Hunger Food Drive doubleheader against Muskingum University on Performance Court inside the Anne C. Steele Center at 1:00 p.m. Fans can receive free admission to the game with a donation of canned food, a non-perishable item, or a monetary contribution.
Tickets:
https://bwyellowjackets.cc/3WGuwll
Live Statistics:
https://bwyellowjackets.cc/493Gehq
FloCollege On Demand Live Video:
https://flosports.link/47hSw2V
The No. 21 nationally ranked women’s basketball team travels to New Concord for the second game of a women’s and men’s Ohio Athletic Conference and Hoops for Hunger Food Drive doubleheader against Muskingum University on Performance Court inside the Anne C. Steele Center at 4:00 p.m. Fans can receive free admission to the game with a donation of canned food, a non-perishable item, or a monetary contribution.
Tickets:
https://bwyellowjackets.cc/3WGuwll
Live Statistics:
https://bwyellowjackets.cc/49Ist7Q
FloCollege On Demand Live Video:
https://flosports.link/4qu1Fyr
Sports
2025 DII women’s volleyball championship: Bracket, schedule, scores
Here’s everything you need to know leading up to the first round of the 2025 DII women’s volleyball championship.
The championship bracket was revealed during a selection show on Monday, Nov. 24, live streamed here on NCAA.com. Twenty-three teams earned automatic qualification, with the remaining 41 teams selected at-large by the Division II Women’s Volleyball Committee. Teams from each of the eight regional sites received initial seeds Nos. 1-8.
🏆 Watch live: 2025 DII women’s volleyball championship rounds
2025 DII women’s volleyball championship bracket
Click or tap here for the 2025 interactive bracket
2025 NCAA DII women’s volleyball schedule
- Regionals: Dec. 4-6
- Quarterfinals: Thursday, Dec. 11
- Semifinals: Friday, Dec. 12
- National Championship: Saturday, Dec. 13
- Selection show: 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, November 24
- Regionals: Dec. 4-6
- Thursday, Dec. 4
- No. 3 Indiana (Pennsylvania) 3, No. 6 Fairmont State 0
- No. 3 Anderson (South Carolina) 3, No. 6 Augusta 1
- No. 3 Lynn 3, No. 6 UAH 2
- No. 6 Washburn 3, No. 3 Wayne State (Nebraska) 0
- No. 3 Mercy 3, No. 6 Molloy 2
- No. 2 East Stroudsburg 3, No. 7 Charleston (West Virginia) 0
- No. 3 Ferris State 3, No. 6 Quincy 2
- No. 2 Lenoir-Rhyne 3, No. 7 Lander 1
- No. 7 Colorado Sch. of Mines 3, No. 2 UCCS 2
- No. 3 Fresno Pacific 3, No. 6 Western Washington 0
- No. 2 Barry 3, No. 7 Eckerd 0
- No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul 3, No. 7 Central Oklahoma 0
- No. 7 Holy Family 3, No. 2 Adelphi 2
- No. 7 Rockhurst 3, No. 2 Ohio Dominican 0
- No. 3 Angelo State 3, No. 6 Lubbock Christian 1
- No. 5 Flagler 3, No. 4 Carson-Newman 1
- No. 1 Gannon 3, No. 8 Fayetteville State 0
- No. 7 Central Washington 3, No. 2 Simon Fraser 2
- No. 1 Tampa 3, No. 8 Spring Hill 0
- No. 8 UIndy 3, No. 1 Missouri-State Louis 2
- No. 4 St. Cloud St. 3, No. 5 Missouri Western 1
- No. 1 Bentley 3, No. 8 Bridgeport 1
- No. 1 MSU Denver 3, No. 8 Colorado Mesa 0
- No. 4 Pitt.-Johnstown 4, No. 5 Shepherd 0
- No. 4 West Florida 3, No. 5 Palm Beach Atl. 2
- No. 1 Wingate 3, No. 8 Emmanuel (Georgia) 1
- No. 1 Point Loma 3, No. 8 CSUSB 2
- No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney 3, No. 8 Oklahoma Baptist 2
- No. 5 Post 3, No. 4 American Int’l 1
- No. 5 Findlay 3, No. 4 Wayne State (Michigan) 2
- No. 4 West Tex. A&M 3, No. 5 CSU Pueblo 1
- No. 5 Alas. Fairbanks 3, No. 4 Alas. Anchorage 0
- Friday, Dec. 5
- No. 2 Barry 3, No. 3 Lynn 0
- No. 3 Indiana (PA) 3, No. 2 East Stroudsburg 1
- No. 3 Anderson (SC) 3, No. 2 Lenoir-Rhyne 1
- No. 3 Mercy 3, No. 7 Holy Family 1
- No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul 3, No. 6 Washburn 0
- No. 3 Ferris State 3, No. 7 Rockhurst 0
- No. 3 Angelo State 3, No. 7 Colorado Sch. of Mines 0
- No. 1 Bentley 3, No. 5 Post 1
- No. 3 Fresno Pacific 3, No. 7 Central Washington 2
- No. 1 Gannon 3, No. 4 Pitt.-Johnstown 1
- No. 1 Tampa 3, No. 4 West Florida 1
- No. 1 Wingate 3, No. 5 Flagler 1
- No. 8 UIndy 3, No. 5 Findlay 1
- No. 4 St. Cloud State 3, No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney 1
- No. 1 MSU Denver 3, No. 4 West Tex. A&M 1
- No. 1 Point Loma 3, No. 5 Alas. Fairbanks 1
- Thursday, Dec. 4
NCAA DII women’s volleyball championship history
Here is the full list of champions and runners-up since 1981:
| Year | Champion (Record) | Coach | Score | Runner-Up | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Lynn (33-3) | Adam Milewski | 3-2 | San Francisco St. | Sioux Falls, SD |
| 2023 | Cal State LA (24-10) | Juan Figueroa | 3-1 | West Texas A&M | Moon Township, PA |
| 2022 | West Texas A&M (33-4) | Kendra Potts | 3-1 | Concordia-St. Paul | Seattle, Wash. |
| 2021 | Tampa (34-2) | Chris Catanach | 3-0 | Washburn | Tampa, FL. |
| 2020 | Canceled due to Covid-19 | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | Cal State San Bernardino (33-0) | Kim Cherniss | 3-1 | Nebraska-Kearney | Denver, Co. |
| 2018 | Tampa (33-4) | Chris Catanach | 3-2 | Western Washington | Pittsburgh, Pa. |
| 2017 | Concordia-St. Paul (34-3) | Brady Starkey | 3-0 | Florida Southern | Pensacola, Fla. |
| 2016 | Concordia-St. Paul (32-4) | Brady Starkey | 3-0 | Alaska Anchorage | Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| 2015 | Wheeling Jesuit (39-4) | Christy Benner | 3-0 | Palm Beach Atlantic | Tampa, Fla. |
| 2014 | Tampa (33-1) | Chris Catanach | 3-0 | S’west Minnesota State | Louisville, Ky. |
| 2013 | Concordia-St. Paul (35-3) | Brady Starkey | 3-0 | BYU-Hawaii | Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
| 2012 | Concordia-St. Paul (34-4) | Brady Starkey | 3-2 | Tampa | Pensacola, Fla. |
| 2011 | Concordia-St. Paul (34-2) | Brady Starkey | 3-0 | Cal State San Bernardino | Cal State San Bernardino |
| 2010 | Concordia-St. Paul (32-4) | Brady Starkey | 3-1 | Tampa | Louisville, Ky. |
| 2009 | Concordia-St. Paul (37-0) | Brady Starkey | 3-0 | West Texas A&M | Concordia-St. Paul |
| 2008 | Concordia-St. Paul (37-1) | Brady Starkey | 3-2 | Cal State San Bernardino | Concordia-St. Paul |
| 2007 | Concordia-St. Paul (36-4) | Brady Starkey | 3-1 | Western Washington | Washburn |
| 2006 | Tampa (35-1) | Chris Catanach | 3-1 | North Alabama | West Florida |
| 2005 | Grand Valley State (32-1) | Deanne Scanlon | 3-1 | Nebraska-Kearney | Nebraska-Kearney |
| 2004 | Barry (34-1) | Dave Nichols | 3-1 | Truman | Barry |
| 2003 | North Alabama (33-7) | Matt Peck | 3-0 | Concordia-St. Paul | Cal State San Bernardino |
| 2002 | BYU-Hawaii (27-2) | Wilfred Navalta | 3-0 | Truman | West Texas A&M |
| 2001 | Barry (32-2) | Dave Nichols | 3-0 | South Dakota State | Grand Valley State |
| 2000 | Hawaii Pacific (28-0) | Tita Ahuna | 3-0 | Augustana (S.D.) | Augustana (S.D.) |
| 1999 | BYU-Hawaii (30-2) | Wilfred Navalta | 3-0 | Tampa | Battle Creek, Mich. |
| 1998 | Hawaii Pacific (31-5) | Tita Ahuna | 3-1 | North Dakota State | Kissimmee, Fla. |
| 1997 | West Texas A&M (37-1) | Debbie Hendricks | 3-2 | Barry | Cal State Bakersfield |
| 1996 | Nebraska-Omaha (35-2) | Rose Shires | 3-2 | Tampa | Central Missouri |
| 1995 | Barry (34-2) | Leonid Yelin | 3-1 | Northern Michigan | Barry |
| 1994 | Northern Michigan (32-4) | Mark Rosen | 3-1 | Cal State Bakersfield | Cal State Bakersfield |
| 1993 | Northern Michigan (38-1) | Jim Moore | 3-1 | Cal State Bakersfield | Northern Michigan |
| 1992 | Portland State (36-1) | Jeff Mozzochi | 3-2 | Northern Michigan | Portland State |
| 1991 | West Texas A&M (36-2) | Jim Giacomazzi | 3-0 | Portland State | West Texas A&M |
| 1990 | West Texas A&M (38-1) | Kim Hudson | 3-0 | North Dakota State | Cal State Bakersfield |
| 1989 | Cal State Bakersfield (21-15) | David Rubio | 3-0 | Sacramento State | Cal State Bakersfield |
| 1988 | Portland State (36-5) | Jeff Mozzochi | 3-0 | Cal State Northridge | North Dakota State |
| 1987 | Cal State Northridge (35-6) | Walt Ker | 3-2 | Central Missouri | Nebraska-Omaha |
| 1986 | UC Riverside (29-7) | Sue Gozansky | 3-0 | Cal State Northridge | Sacramento State |
| 1985 | Portland State (36-5) | Jeff Mozzochi | 3-1 | Cal State Northridge | Portland State |
| 1984 | Portland State (33-4) | Jeff Mozzochi | 3-0 | Cal State Northridge | Portland State |
| 1983 | Cal State Northridge (30- 6) | Walt Ker | 3-2 | Portland State | Florida Southern |
| 1982 | UC Riverside (31-5) | Sue Gozansky | 3-0 | Cal State Northridge | Cal State Northridge |
| 1981 | Sacramento State (28-6) | Debby Colbery | 3-0 | Lewis | UC Riverside |
Sports
Cal Poly Stuns USC and Advances to Seventh Sweet-16 in Program History
LOS ANGELES — After months of preparation, Cal Poly’s historic Friday night culminated in a stunning five-set upset of fourth-seeded USC (25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 15-7), shattering every perfect bracket along the way.
The unseeded Mustangs (27-7) not only advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 for the first time since 2007, the seventh such appearance in program history, but also became the only team in the bracket to defeat two seeded opponents ranked lower than No. 6. Cal Poly’s last deep runs came in 2007, 1989, ‘87, ‘85, ‘84, and ‘82.
In a departure from their typical all-court offense, the Mustangs leaned on their pin hitters to secure a second straight ranked victory. Leading the charge was Emma Fredrick, who delivered a statement double-double with match-highs of 17 kills and 17 digs. Kendall Beshear and Annabelle Thalken followed with 12 kills apiece, with Beshear adding a pair of aces.
Freshman middle Charlotte Kelly anchored the net with a career-high seven block assists, part of a 10-block team effort that quieted USC’s top-50 offense to a .237 hitting percentage. Beshear (14 digs) and setter Emme Bullis (44 assists, 12 digs) also recorded double-doubles, helping limit USC’s top hitters, Leah Ford and London Wijay, to 19 kills on 55 swings.
Cal Poly stormed through the opening set behind relentless blocking, forcing an early USC timeout at 11-6. Despite a late Trojan push to narrow the gap to 22-18, a Caroline Walters timeout steadied the Mustangs, who closed out the frame 25-19.
USC responded by edging ahead 15-13 at the second-set media timeout. But after 13 ties and five lead changes, Cal Poly surged late with a 21-18 advantage and never looked back, taking the set 25-20.
The Women of Troy rallied in the third, building their largest lead at 17-12 and holding on to win 25-20. Momentum carried into the fourth, where USC raced ahead to claim it 25-14 and force a deciding fifth set.
In the tiebreaker, Cal Poly’s second of the tournament, the Mustangs broke a 3-3 deadlock with a commanding 12-4 run, sealing the match and their spot in the Third Round.
Now, one of the finest teams in program history, and a standout in recent mid-major volleyball, travels to Lexington to face No. 1 seed and regional host Kentucky.
The NCAA will announce date and time details Saturday evening. Until then, San Luis Obispo’s humble Mustangs have plenty to celebrate.
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