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Kentucky volleyball’s 2025 non-conference schedule will include entire 2024 Final Four

After leading his squad to the Elite Eight last season, Kentucky volleyball head coach Craig Skinner has put together another challenging schedule in hopes of making an even deeper run in 2025. The program released its non-conference schedule for the upcoming season earlier this week, and it’s loaded with some of the sport’s best teams. […]

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After leading his squad to the Elite Eight last season, Kentucky volleyball head coach Craig Skinner has put together another challenging schedule in hopes of making an even deeper run in 2025.

The program released its non-conference schedule for the upcoming season earlier this week, and it’s loaded with some of the sport’s best teams. All four of last season’s Final Four contenders make up Kentucky’s 10-game non-conference slate for the 2025 campaign. That includes Pittsburgh, which beat the Wildcats in the Elite Eight back in December, along with Louisville, Penn State, and Nebraska. Penn State went on to win the national title over Louisville.

Kentucky will face Penn State and Louisville on the road, while the matchups with Pitt and Nebraska will take place in neutral settings at Fort Worth (TX) and Nashville (TN), respectively. The likes of Washington, SMU, and New Hampshire — all NCAA Tournament teams in 2024 — are also on the Wildcats’ non-conference schedule. UK will host Ohio State for its lone exhibition.

This kind of difficulty isn’t anything new to Skinner, though. Kentucky faced a similarly tough slate of non-conference foes last season. It paid off in the long run.

UK battled the likes of Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, Louisville, and Stanford prior to SEC action, teams all ranked among the nation’s top 10 at the time. The ‘Cats actually lost all of those games, but the early challenges allowed Skinner’s team to find a groove and post a 14-2 record in the SEC, secure another league championship, and earn a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament. UK finished with an overall record of 23-8.

Kentucky’s SEC schedule was released last month, and like most of the non-conference schedule, times and TV assignments will be announced later this summer.

Kentucky Volleyball 2025 Non-Conference Schedule

DATE OPPONENT
August 23rd (EXH) Ohio State
August 30th @ Lipscomb
August 31st vs. Nebraska | Noon ET on ABC (Nashville, TN)
September 5th @ Penn State
September 6th vs. New Hampshire (State College, PA)
September 10th vs. Pittsburgh | 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN (Fort Worth, TX)
September 13th vs. SMU
September 14th vs. Houston
September 18th @ Louisville
September 20th vs. Washington



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Chaminade volleyball adds 9 players

Chaminade women’s volleyball coach Kahala Kabalis Hoke announced her nine-player recruiting class for the 2025 season on Wednesday. Division I transfers Audrah Radford (6-2, outside hitter, Utah State) and Alizaysha Sopi (6-2, OH, Tennessee State) are among the group. Sopi is a Kapolei graduate. The class includes three incoming freshmen from local high schools. They […]

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Water Polo Releases 2025 Schedule

Story Links 2025 Fordham Water Polo Schedule Bronx, N.Y. – (June 26, 2025) – Coming off the team’s most successful season in program history, the four-time defending MAWPC champion Fordham Rams have released their 2025 schedule for the upcoming water polo season.   The schedule […]

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Bronx, N.Y. – (June 26, 2025) – Coming off the team’s most successful season in program history, the four-time defending MAWPC champion Fordham Rams have released their 2025 schedule for the upcoming water polo season.   The schedule has the most challenging run to date for the Rams, featuring 13 contests against opponents that received votes in the final poll of 2024, including four that participated in the National Collegiate Championship.
 
Right out of the gate, Fordham will be in the Bruno Classic, August 30-31, taking on MIT and Harvard on day one in Providence, Rhode Island, while taking on Pacific and LIU on day two in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
 
Week two will be a special one for the Rams at the Princeton Invitational, September 6-7.  Fordham will open Saturday’s action against the defending national champion, UCLA, followed by an exhibition contest against Ferencvaros (FTC) a Hungarian-based club team that recently won the Champions League.  Fordham then completes the weekend of competition on Sunday against Santa Clara.
 
After an off week, the Rams start MAWPC league play with three road contests, September 20-21.  Fordham plays at Mercyhurst on September 20th, while matching up with Bucknell and Mt. St. Mary’s the following day at the Bison Invitational.
 
Starting on September 27th, Fordham will have five straight home contests beginning with N.C.C. participant Princeton coming to the Messmore Aquatic Center for the start of a home-and-home series with the match at Princeton slated for November 1st.  The Rams will also face Wagner later that day in a league match.  Fordham is also scheduled to host Iona on October 10th, as well as MAWPC opponents Navy and George Washington on October 11th.
 
The Rams then have their longest road trip of the season to the west coast from October 21-26.  The trip begins on October 21st with a road game at Long Beach State, who the Rams defeated in last year’s N.C.C. quarterfinals.  Two days later, Fordham makes the trek to Berkeley for a highlight match-up against Cal on October 23rd
 
Fordham will then participate in the annual Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament in Santa Clara, California.  On October 24th, the Rams face UC Merced, while the following day will have another highlight match against fellow 2024 N.C.C. semifinalist Stanford on October 25th.  The trip then concludes against San Jose State on October 26th.
 
Following the second match with Princeton, the Rams then return to league play with road games at George Washington (Nov. 2), Navy (Nov. 2), and Wagner (Nov. 7).  Fordham then has their final four regular season games at home, starting with a tripleheader on November 8th against Bucknell, Mt. St. Mary’s, and Mercyhurst to conclude MAWPC play.  The home finale will be on November 15th against Brown.
 
The regular season leads to the 2025 MAWPC Championship, which will be held, November 21-23, at Fordham University’s Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center in the Bronx, as the Rams will look for their fifth consecutive championship and another N.C. Championship berth.
 
The N.C. Championship is set for December 5-7 at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.



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U.S. Girls U19 Team Ends 2025 Pan American Cup Pool Play 3-0

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 26, 2025) —The U.S. Girls U19 National Team completed pool play undefeated after a 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-14, 27-25) victory over Puerto Rico on Thursday in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The U.S. (3-0) will meet the winner of the Costa Rica-Dominican Republic match in the semifinals tomorrow, Friday, June 27, at 1:30 […]

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 26, 2025) —The U.S. Girls U19 National Team completed pool play undefeated after a 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-14, 27-25) victory over Puerto Rico on Thursday in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

The U.S. (3-0) will meet the winner of the Costa Rica-Dominican Republic match in the semifinals tomorrow, Friday, June 27, at 1:30 p.m. PT.

The U.S. held a double-digit advantage in kills (57-46) for the third consecutive match and finished with two more blocks (8-6). Puerto Rico led in aces 12-9, with half of them in the final set.

MATCH STATISTICS (PDF)

Outside hitters Kari Knotts and Ireland Real finished with identical numbers with 19 points on 16 kills, a block and two aces. Knotts led the team with 10 digs and seven successful receptions, while Real added nine digs.

Middle blocker Taylor Harrington led all players with six blocks, adding six kills and an ace for 13 total points. Megan Hodges also reached double digits with 12 points on 11 kills and one ace.

Libero Cala Haffner and setter Marissa Jones each recorded eight digs with Hodges contributing seven.

“It was a hard-fought match, and I’m just so proud that my team showed up today,” Jones said. “We faced adversity, especially during the first set, but we all just came together, and individually everyone stepped up and gave it their all the whole entire match. We continue to trust our training and believe in our coaches. I’m so proud of the outcome, and we’re focusing on continuing to get better.”

Puerto Rico took a lead it never relinquished in the first set at 9-8. A Harrington kill, Hodges ace and Knotts kill late in the set brought the U.S. within two points, 22-20, before Puerto Rico scored the final three points. Knotts and Real each recorded four kills with Harrington scoring four points on two kills and two blocks.

A Kyla Williams ace put the U.S. ahead 5-1 to start the second set and force a quick timeout. The lead grew to six points, 9-3, before a 7-1 surge by Puerto Rico evened the set at 10. The U.S. called timeout and scored the next five points, scoring the first three on a Real kill and two Jones aces.

A Knotts kill put the U.S. up 19-16 but Puerto Rico scored the next three points to tie the set. The U.S. finished the set with a 6-1 run with Crooks scoring four points on kills, three of which were tooled off the block. Knotts also registered four kills in the set and Real, who ended the set on a kill, scored four points on three kills and an ace.

The U.S. led 10-8 in the third set before going on a 5-0 run that put them in control. Puerto Rico managed just six points the rest of the set as the U.S. took a 2-1 set lead. Hodges led all players with six kills and Knotts scored five points on three kills and two aces. Harrington added four points on two kills and a pair of blocks.

Both teams took advantage of a lengthy delay before the start of the fourth set to show off their dancing skills. Once play resumed, each team put together mini runs in the first half of the set. The U.S. used a 4-0 run to take a 13-10 lead and force a Puerto Rico time out.

Puerto Rico used its second 4-0 stretch of the set to take the lead, 17-16. Play continued to go back and forth for the remainder of the set with Puerto Rico earning set points at 25-24 and 26-25 before the U.S. scored the final three points, one on a Knotts kill and the last two on hitting errors. Real paced the U.S. with seven points on five kills, a block and an ace. Knotts totaled six points on five kills and a block.

2025 U.S. Girls U19 National Team for the NORCECA Pan American Cup
(Name, Position, Height, Birth Year, Hometown, High School, Region)

1 Taimane Ainu’u (S, 5-11, 2009, Kapolei, Hawaii, Iolani HS, Aloha)
2 Nejari Crooks (OPP, 6-1, 2009, High Point, N.C., Wesleyan Christian Academy, Carolina)
3 Cala Haffner (L, 5-8, 2009, Fort Wayne, Ind., Carroll HS, Hoosier)
4 Taylor Harrington (MB, 6-3, 2009, Arlington, Va., Wakefield HS, Chesapeake)
5 Olivia Henry (OH, 6-5, 2009, Bayside, N.Y., IMG Academy, Florida)
6 Megan Hodges (MB/OPP, 6-5, 2009, Ladera Ranch, Calif., San Juan Hills HS, Southern California)
7 Marissa Jones (S, 6-2, 2009, Atlanta, Ga., Woodward Academy, Southern)
8 Kari Knotts (OH, 6-3, 2010, Marietta, Ga., Hightower Trail MS, Southern)
11 Westley Matavao (OH, 6-0, 2009, Ontario, Calif., Mater Dei HS, Southern California)
13 Shayla Rautenberg (MB, 6-3, 2009, Pleasant Dale, Neb., Milford HS, Great Plains)
14 Ireland Real (OH, 6-4, 2009, San Clemente, Calif., Santa Margarita Catholic HS, Southern California)
18 Kyla Williams (MB, 6-4, 2009, Cleveland, Ohio, Gilmour Academy, Ohio Valley)

Alternates
9 Pulelehua Laikona (L, 5-8, 2009, Gilbert, Ariz., Mesa HS, Arizona)
10 Leilani Lamar (OH, 6-2, 2009, Tampa, Fla., Tampa Preparatory School, Florida)
12 McKenna McIntosh (OH, 6-1, 2009, Stockton, Calif., St. Mary’s HS, Northern California)
15 Josalyn Samuels (S, 6-1, 2009, Harrisburg, S.D., Harrisburg HS, North Country)
16 Marlee Steiner (MB, 6-4, 2009, St. Louis, Mo., Lindbergh HS, Gateway)
17 Caroline Ward (OPP, 6-0, 2009, Lizton, Ind., Tri-West Hendricks HS, Hoosier)
19 Shaye Witherspoon (OH, 6-3, 2009, Wildwood, Mo., Lafayette HS, Gateway)

Coaches
Head Coach: Jamie Morrison (Texas A&M)
Assistant Coach: Michelle Chatman Smith (LOVB)
Assistant Coach: Maggie Eppright (LOVB)
Performance Analyst: Michael Bouril (Mississippi State)
Athletic Trainer: Rebecca Himes (PVF)
Team Lead: Alex Purvey (NTDP)

2025 Girls U19 Pan American Cup Schedule
All times Pacific
All matches will be livestreamed on Volleyball Canada YouTube

June 24:  USA def. Venezuela, 3-0 (25-9, 25-23, 25-21)
June 25: USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-23)
June 26: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-14, 27-25)
June 27: 1:30 p.m. USA vs. Costa Rica/Dominican Republic
June 28: Medal Match, TBA



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Canada falls to host Americans in Volleyball Nations League | National Sports

HOFFMAN ESTATES – Canada dropped a 3-0 decision to the United States in Volleyball Nations League play on Thursday at the NOW Arena.  All three sets were close, but the host side pulled out a 25-23, 25-22, 30-28 victory. Canada captain Fynn McCarthy had eight attacks, four blocks and an ace. “Once we solidified our […]

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HOFFMAN ESTATES – Canada dropped a 3-0 decision to the United States in Volleyball Nations League play on Thursday at the NOW Arena. 

All three sets were close, but the host side pulled out a 25-23, 25-22, 30-28 victory. Canada captain Fynn McCarthy had eight attacks, four blocks and an ace.

“Once we solidified our reception and service tonight, we were able to play at a much higher level and we put more pressure on them,” said Canada head coach Dan Lewis.

Canada is 14th in the 18-team preliminary standings. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025. 

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Water Polo to Host Jr. ‘Bows Summer Camp

Registration for the Jr. ‘Bows 2025 Summer Water Polo camp is under way. The camp is scheduled for July 11-13 at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex and is open to players ages 13-18 of all skill levels. The clinic will focus on developing a love for water polo in players and participants will receive instruction […]

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Registration for the Jr. ‘Bows 2025 Summer Water Polo camp is under way. The camp is scheduled for July 11-13 at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex and is open to players ages 13-18 of all skill levels. The clinic will focus on developing a love for water polo in players and participants will receive instruction on fundamental offensive and defensive movements, positional skills, shooting, and general tactics. Camp sessions will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and will be led by the UH water polo coaching staff and assisted by student-athletes from the reigning Big West champion…





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