Sports

LA Tech’s Most Unbreakable Records

Story Links Last week, I found myself pulled into the gravitational force that is Chris Low’s ESPN article on college football’s 10 most unbreakable records. Before I even clicked, I just knew Louisiana Tech had to be in there. I mean, c’mon — Troy Edwards torching Nebraska for 405 receiving yards? Or […]

Published

2 weeks ago

June 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Last week, I found myself pulled into the gravitational force that is Chris Low’s ESPN article on college football’s 10 most unbreakable records. Before I even clicked, I just knew Louisiana Tech had to be in there. I mean, c’mon — Troy Edwards torching Nebraska for 405 receiving yards? Or how about Colby Cameron’s video-game-level streak of 444 pass attempts without a single interception? Neither made the cut.

So, this got me to thinking, what are some of the records in Louisiana Tech history that could very well stand the test of time. At first, I thought about just football, but then I was curious about all the sports. Needless to say, this sent me spiraling down a fun rabbit hole. Let the deep dive begin.

SOCCER
Player – 6 goals scored by Amber Posthauer at Alcorn State (Aug. 25, 2019)
Amber Posthauer, a 5-foot firecracker in the midfield, had just four combined goals her first two seasons at LA Tech. That more than doubled in the second game of the 2019 season as the junior netted not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, but six goals at Alcorn State. The first one came in the 14th minute with a 1v1 solo win. Over the next 52 minutes, Posthauer turned the field into her personal highlight reel, capping the day with a one-touch finish from the left wing in the 68th. By the final whistle, she wasn’t just rewriting the stat sheet — she was etching her name into NCAA history. Her six-goal outburst remains tied for the fourth most in a Division I women’s soccer match (three have tallied seven). This record will most likely go unmatched.

Team – 5 consecutive games in overtime (2008)
This is technically cheating since the NCAA pulled the plug on regular season overtime back in 2022. But come on … five straight OT games in one season? That’s just wild. It all went down in 2008, a stretch of chaos the Bulldogs haven’t come close to replicating since (they’ve never had more than two in a row go to extras any other time). It kicked off with a 2-2 snow-globe showdown at Boise State, followed by a frozen 0-0 draw in Idaho. The drama followed them home where neither Fresno State nor Nevada could be dealt with in regulation. And just when you thought it might end, LA Tech played at San Jose State and you guessed it, another tie after 110 minutes on the pitch.

VOLLEYBALL
Player – 604 kills in a season by Katie Dow (1992)
There’s a reason Katie Dow has a permanent seat in the LA Tech Athletics Hall of Fame — and it’s because she absolutely murdered the volleyball stat sheet (don’t worry, it’s legal in volleyball lingo). Hailing from New Orleans, Dow unleashed a full-on kill storm at LA Tech. Her senior year? An avalanche of 604 kills, smashing her way to a program-record 29 wins. That’s 15.5 kills per match. Every. Single. Time. Yikes. The closest anyone’s come to chasing her thunder was the very next season when Sharla Richardson checked in with a mere 436. Katie wasn’t just spiking volleyballs — she was spiking history.

Team – 294 service aces in a season (1992)
Tennis courts aren’t the only place you can find service aces. Back in 1992, LA Tech turned the volleyball court into an ace factory, piling up a jaw-dropping 294 service aces in just the sixth year of the program’s existence. That’s a wild average of 7.5 aces per match in what many still call the greatest season in program history. It was an ace-arama of epic proportions. And let’s be real: that record might as well be written in stone — LA Tech hasn’t hit 200 service aces in a season in 20 years.

FOOTBALL
Player – 405 receiving yards by Troy Edwards at Nebraska (Aug. 29, 1998)
Of all the Bulldog records out there, this one might just be the crown jewel. It’s the 1998 season opener. The stage? Lincoln, Nebraska. The opponent? The defending national champion Cornhuskers. The crowd? 76,000+ packed into Memorial Stadium. The result? Troy Edwards going nuclear. He didn’t just torch Nebraska’s famed Blackshirts defense — he incinerated them. Catch after catch, yard after yard, until the final stat line read: 405 receiving yards. Yep, FOUR football fields worth of damage. Still an NCAA record to this day. He bested the old mark by 42 yards, and even in today’s era of video-game offenses, no one’s topped him. The bar was set in ’98, and it hasn’t budged. Legendary doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Team – 100 points against Clarke Memorial College (Oct. 27, 1922)
Back in 1922, LA Tech’s defense was straight-up stingy. The Bulldogs opened the season by blanking three straight opponents: Hendrix College, Louisiana State Normal (now Northwestern State), and Henderson Brown (now Henderson State). But on October 27, the offense said, “our turn,” and turned Clarke Memorial College’s inaugural football season into a full-blown track meet. Final score? 100 to zilch. That’s right — a Benjamin of points. Three weeks later, they nearly hit triple digits again, settling for a modest 89 (sadness). Over a century later, that 100-point game still stands untouched in the Bulldog record books — and probably always will. LA Tech flirted with it a few times, dropping 77 in more recent years. And in 2012, they had 70 on Idaho through just three quarters. But then they kindly called the dogs off.

MEN’S BASKETBALL
Player – 33 rebounds by Charlie Bishop vs. Centenary (Feb. 28, 1967)
When Bulldog fans hear “Summerfield, Louisiana,” their minds jump straight to Karl Malone — and rightfully so. But before the Mailman was delivering dunks in Ruston, another towering talent put Summerfield on the map. Enter Charlie Bishop, LA Tech’s first-ever 7-footer and a true glass-cleaning machine. As a freshman in the 1966-67 season, Bishop made history on Feb. 28 against in-state rival Centenary by hauling in a jaw-dropping, backboard-busting 33 rebounds — a program record that still stands tall. And let’s be real … if legends like Mike Green or Paul Millsap couldn’t top it, that record is probably safe.

Team – Averaged 101.1 points per game (1971-72)
In the 1971-72 season opener, the Bulldog Basketball squad managed just 75 points against Louisiana College. Not exactly fireworks. But whatever legendary head coach Scotty Robertson said or did after that game — whiteboard wizardry or a locker room pep talk worthy of a Hollywood script — it worked. The ‘Dogs suddenly turned into a high-octane scoring machine, dropping 100+ points in 10 straight games. They lit up Southern Miss for 123 and casually hung 107 on Auburn like it was no big deal. By midseason, they were averaging a ridiculous 107.8 points per game, thrilling fans and torching nets coast-to-coast. The final tally? 101.1 points per game, a season average that feels more video game than real life. Spoiler alert: that ain’t happening again anytime soon.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Player – 2,979 career points scored by Pam Kelly (1978-82)
Just a year ago, Louisiana Tech celebrated 50 legendary years of Lady Techster basketball — and if you’ve ever stepped inside the Thomas Assembly Center, you know it’s more than just a gym. It’s a shrine. Look up, and the banners practically whisper stories of Final Fours, national titles, and unforgettable moments. Among them, hanging proudly, is the retired No. 41 jersey — Pam Kelly’s number. The pride of Columbia, Louisiana, Pam didn’t just play the game, she rewrote it. A three-time Kodak All-American, she poured in 2,979 career points with smooth precision, averaging 19.5 per game on an eye-popping 62.3% shooting. Nobody’s even sniffed her record since — not within 500 points. Let’s call it like it is: Pam Kelly didn’t just wear No. 41 … she was No. 1. The GOAT. (oh, and her program-record 1,511 career rebounds probably won’t be broken either).

Team – Ranked top two in the country for 70 consecutive weeks (1980-84)
Once upon a jump shot, the AP Women’s Basketball Top 20 was born thanks to Mel Greenberg of The Philadelphia Inquirer, who started it off in 1976-77. It didn’t take long for the Lady Techsters to crash the party, making their poll debut on Feb. 15, 1978, at No. 20. But they weren’t interested in just being invited — they were aiming for the throne. And on Christmas Day 1979, they unwrapped the No. 1 ranking like a perfectly timed present. From there, it was pure dominance: the Lady Techsters tipped off the 1980-81 season still at No. 1 and refused to let go, spending 70 straight weeks ranked in the top two nationally. During that reign? Two national titles, one runner-up finish, and a Final Four for good measure. They weren’t just a team in Ruston — they were the team, a powerhouse that became a permanent part of NCAA legend.

GOLF
Player – 64 career rounds at or under par by Victor Lange (2012-16)
When one of South Africa’s top amateurs, Victor Lange, signed with the Bulldogs in April 2012, big things were expected. And Victor? He delivered immediately. In his very first collegiate event — the Sam Hall Intercollegiate — he casually fired an eight-under to snag the title. Three straight rounds under par. No warm-up needed. Just instant greatness. That was the spark that ignited a legendary run. Over the next four seasons, Victor rewrote the LA Tech golf record book like it was his own personal scorecard. The crown jewel is probably his mind-blowing 64 career rounds of par or better — a number that still towers over the next best, James Swash, who sits at 50. With his silky-smooth lefty swing, three NCAA Regional appearances, and a CUSA Player of the Year honor in his bag, Victor Lange didn’t just play the game — he owned it.

Team – 6 team titles in one season (1975)
The 1975 Bulldog Golf season got off to a promising start, finishing third at the Mardi Gras Invitational. Apparently third place was simply not good enough. The team played seven more regular season tournaments. The result? They won six of them. Count ’em up. The Quandragle Meet (1st). The McNeese Invitational (1st). The Northeast Invitational (1st). The Louisiana Intercollegiate Invitational (1st). The Tech Invitational (of course 1st). Then head coach Wallace Martin led LA Tech to seven more team titles, but that was over the course of three other seasons. Six in one? That probably won’t be outdone.

SOFTBALL
Player – 50 wins in the circle by Debbie Nichols (1988)
Before the 1988 season, legendary head coach Bill Galloway made it clear: the game plan was simple — give the ball to Debbie Nichols and get out of the way. The 5-foot-8 right-hander from Mesquite, Texas, had already dazzled as a freshman with 25 wins (a LA Tech rookie record), but that was just her warm-up act. As a sophomore, Nichols literally doubled her win total by racking up 50 wins — yes, FIFTY — out of 58 appearances. She allowed just 42 runs all season, fanned 207 batters, and issued only 40 walks. Oh, and her 36 shutouts? Still the NCAA Division I gold standard. She went on to become a three-time All-American and had her No. 13 jersey rightfully retired. And just to flex a little more — the second-most career wins in LA Tech history? That would be 41… also by Debbie Nichols. Total dominance. Total legend.

Team – 0.39 earned run average in a season (1983)

It was only year four for LA Tech Softball, but they weren’t playing like a rookie program — they were playing like rock stars with gloves. They blazed through the regular season, notching statement wins over the likes of Indiana, Kansas State, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and even tossing a no-no against eventual national champ Texas A&M (thanks, freshman phenom Stacey Johnson!). No wonder they punched their ticket to the Women’s College World Series. With Johnson and sophomore Tami Cyr dealing in the circle, LA Tech spun 26 shutouts, including three no-hitters and six one-hitters between them. A 0.39 team ERA? Excuse us while we pick our jaws up off the dirt. Other stellar teams in the 80’s tried their best that single-season ERA record, but no such luck by them or anyone else over the last 40+ years.

BASEBALL
Player – 12.2 innings pitched in a game by Richard Hunter (1990 vs. Arkansas State)
The box score is a mystery (could not find it anywhere in the archives), but one thing’s for sure — April 8, 1990, was an Ironman moment for Alexandria native Richard Hunter. The LA Tech sophomore took the hill in Ruston against Arkansas State and decided he wasn’t coming out. The game went into extra innings, and so did Richard. He battled for 12 and 2/3 innings in a 6-5 heart breaker, setting the program’s long-outing record (the previous mark was 11 innings by Keith Thibodeaux back in 1980). This is the same guy who according to a news article threw 166 pitches in a game against UL-Lafayette once, so yeah … dude had a rubber arm. Think anyone’s ever going to top that? Not likely.

Team – 21 innings played against Southern Arkansas (Feb. 16, 1985)
Bulldog fans had waited 287 days since the end of the 1984 season to watch their favorite baseball team again. LA Tech was set to open the 1985 season at J.C. Love Field on Feb. 16 against Southern Arkansas. The two teams were set to play a doubleheader in Magnolia the next day. Little did they know they would also play a doubleheader (and then some) in the season opener. The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard first thanks to an RBI by the catcher Pat Moore. The Muleriders would tie the game up in the fifth on a solo homer. The scoring would cease to exist … for another 15 innings! Four hours and 54 minutes after the first pitch, LA Tech walked it off thanks to a two-out, game-winning RBI by Jim Faircloth. The final score 2-1. The final inning count, 21. BLACKJACK! The closest the Bulldogs have gotten over the last 40 years is 16 innings. One of those came in the following season – 1986 – and another was as recent as 2023 at Florida Atlantic.

TENNIS
Player – 25 wins in a season by Zoie Epps (2025)
Heading into the 2025 season, if you asked me which LA Tech individual record was unbreakable, I would’ve quickly pointed at Marla Watson’s 22 singles wins from way back in 1982. That mark felt untouchable — especially in today’s college tennis world, where finishing matches has become a luxury thanks to clinch rules. But then Zoie Epps stepped on the court and said, “Hold my racket.” Not only did she finish all 28 of her singles matches (a feat in itself), she won 25 of them to best Marta. So yeah, I was wrong. And now, I’m doubling down: Zoie’s new record of 25 wins is the one to beat. Unless, of course, she decides to outdo herself in either of the next two years.

Team – 14 road wins in a season (1982)
The 1982 LA Tech tennis schedule was tough to say the least. A travel-heavy gauntlet featuring names like Ole Miss, Memphis, Notre Dame, Kansas, Auburn, and a slew of regional rivals. They basically lived out of a suitcase. Of their 27 matches that season, 19 were on the road. That’s not a schedule — that’s a tour. But the team didn’t flinch. They thrived. They won 14 matches, including a four-match road sweep to close the season over Arkansas State, Southern Arkansas, UL-Lafayette, and Northwestern State. Nowadays, plenty opponents flock to the LA Tech Tennis Complex for matches so the opportunities to stack road wins aren’t what they used to be. Yes, 2014 gave us a squad that picked up 12 road wins, but that ’82 crew were true road warriors.

TRACK AND FIELD
Player – Chelsea Hayes 23 feet, 3.5 inch long jump at US Olympic Trials (July 1, 2012)
Crack open the LA Tech track and field record book and you’ll find plenty of jaw-dropping marks that seem etched in stone. Legends like Kim Francis and Trey Hadnot blazed tracks, while John Campbell and April Malveo turned throwing events into highlight reels. But one record comes with Hollywood-level drama — Chelsea Hayes and the long jump. The pride of New Orleans, Hayes had bounce built into her DNA. A natural-born leaper with LA Tech greatness already secured, she stepped onto the runway at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, with a dream and a prayer. Her best jump at that point? 21-10.75. Then came her first attempt: BOOM — 22-2.25. A new personal record. But still short of the podium. Then: foul. Foul. Foul. Foul. Four chances, four heartbreaks. One jump left. One shot at history. And Chelsea delivered. 23 feet, 3.5 inches. Good for second place and a spot on Team USA. Some records live on paper. Hers? It soared into legend.

Team – 9 consecutive years of having the 200m outdoor men’s conference champion (2006-14)
When it comes to speed, few did it better than former LA Tech track and field head coach (and future Hall of Famer) Gary Stanley. The man didn’t just build teams — he built a sprinting empire with 21 conference titles and 46 All-Americans. And perhaps nowhere was that greatness more blazing than in the sprints. In one event in particular, the Bulldogs practically owned podium at the conference tournament … and that was the men’s outdoor 200 meters. For nearly a decade, from Michael Coleman to Al Fullwood, Trey Hadnot to Dennis Richardson, LA Tech turned the event into a personal trophy collection — nine straight conference titles. That’s freaky fast and freaky incredible. And while the program has had its fair share of dominance elsewhere, this sprint streak might just be the gold standard.

BOWLING
Player – Allie Leiendecker named All-American for five straight years (2019-24)
On Nov. 15, 2018, LA Tech Bowling rolled a strike before the season even started — they signed Allie Leiendecker. Hailing from Wooster, Ohio, she was a walking trophy shelf with titles like the 2017 Junior Gold U20 champ and Teen Masters Varsity champ already in her back pocket. She came in hot her freshman year, racking up Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year, NTCA Rookie of the Year, and Second Team All-American honors. Then came four more seasons (COVID year being the extra), and with each one came the same result — All-American. LA Tech has had a couple of two-time All-Americans. But five times? That’s a category for Allie only. The All in Allie is practically short for All-American.

Team – Ranked in the top 25 for 40 consecutive polls (and counting)
LA Tech Bowling got rolling in 2004, but it took a couple of years before they really started making noise. That first strike came on Dec. 3, 2006, when they broke into the national rankings at No. 13. Then came a bit of a spare — a few scattered appearances, including a mini-hot streak in 2009-10 and a pair of cameos in 2010-11 — before the pins went quiet. Enter Matt Nantais. Hired in 2016, the new head coach wasted no time establishing LA Tech as a national program. By Dec. 4, 2017, LA Tech was back on the scene at No. 19 — and they’ve never looked back. Since then, they have been a mainstay in every one of the 39 National Tenpin Coaches Association’s (NTCA) polls, peaking at No. 4 in 2023. It’s been nothing but strikes since Nantais took over, and this bowling train shows no signs of slowing down.

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Sports

Precision-built high diving and open water venues at Sentosa ready for World Aquatics C’ships

SINGAPORE – Other than the integrated resort, theme parks and sandy beaches, visitors to Sentosa now have a new attraction to marvel at, following the completion of a 37m-high diving tower, the first of its kind in Singapore, ahead of the July 11-Aug 3 World Aquatics Championships (WCH) . At Palawan Green on July 7, […]

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9 minutes ago

July 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

July 11-Aug 3 World Aquatics Championships (WCH)

At Palawan Green on July 7, the organisers gave the media a tour of the high diving and open water swimming facilities, which had passers-by whispering in awe and curiosity.

As befitting of a daredevil sport which requires male athletes to hurl themselves off a 27m platform and female competitors to take a plunge from 20m before entering a 6m-deep cylindrical pool at speeds of up to 85kmh, the temporary high diving structure required precision engineering from its makers.

Six metres from the ground, the giant pool with a 17m diameter opens at a deck that accommodates about 600 spectators when the high diving competition takes place from July 24 to 27.

Marcus Ng, project director of Innovez Engineering – the firm behind the pool’s construction – shared that 108 curved steel panels, weighing a total of 21 tonnes, were held together by 6,400 bolts using a digital torque wrench to form the cylindrical pool.

The plates were assembled upwards one metre at a time, as the pool is gradually filled and stress-tested to ensure the water pressure does not affect the integrity of the structure.

Ng, a national water polo player from 2001 to 2006, said: “Other high diving pools are also of this shape. Instead of a rectangular pool, a circular shape is the most effective and efficient in terms of structure and material, and for us to build and tear it down fast.

“Every steel panel had to be exactly the same, because if one panel is off, the whole pool would fail. We also have to ensure the bolts are not screwed on too tight that the panels would crack, or too loose such that there would be leaks. And of course, we have to make sure the water is crystal clear, well balanced and clean for the divers.”

Just a stone’s throw away is the open water swimming venue, where a 1,500 sq m pontoon has been set up for seven lung-busting events from July 15 to 20.

The pontoon for the open water diving events at the World Aquatics Championships in Sentosa.

ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Athletes will make six loops round the 1.66km course for the men and women’s 10km races and three laps for the 5km races.

The course will be reconfigured to 1.5km, 1km and 500m loops for the men’s and women’s 3km sprint knockout races, while there is also a 4×1.5km team event.

Palawan Green will also host the July 26-27 open water swimming events for the World Aquatics Masters Championships from July 26 to Aug 22.

Kenza Brouwer, assistant venue manager for Sentosa Island events at the WCH and course officer for open water swimming, said: “In preparation for the competition, we have been closely monitoring the water conditions, including water quality tests for bacteria and water temperature.

“We want to make sure that the athletes are swimming in a safe environment. Of course, it’s open water swimming, and there’s only so much we can control, but we will do our best to ensure the athletes’ safety. We will have contingency plans in place for all wet weather scenarios.”

Mark Chay, co-chairman of the WCH Singapore 2025 organising committee, thanked the various stakeholders and government agencies for helping to get all the venues ready, with the OCBC Aquatic Centre welcoming the water polo (July 11-24) and diving (July 26-Aug 3) competitions, and the WCH Arena set to host the artistic swimming (July 18-25) and swimming (July 27-Aug 3) events.

Adding that the venues will continue to be monitored and improved throughout, he said: “We will get feedback and work on it, and we expect to touch up all the way even during the events to make sure it’s a great experience for everyone.

“There are very few events bigger than this, but these will put us in good stead to host more international events. We hope to groom the next generation of athletes and also Singaporeans who are able to host such events.”

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Bryce Foster Named to Preseason All-Big 12 Team

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas football redshirt senior Bryce Foster was named Preseason All-Big 12 Team, the Big 12 Conference announced on Monday. The honor marks Foster’s first Preseason All-Big 12 designation, after being named to the All-Big 12 Second Team following the 2024 season. Foster, a native of Katy, Texas, enters his redshirt […]

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18 minutes ago

July 7, 2025

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas football redshirt senior Bryce Foster was named Preseason All-Big 12 Team, the Big 12 Conference announced on Monday.

The honor marks Foster’s first Preseason All-Big 12 designation, after being named to the All-Big 12 Second Team following the 2024 season.

Foster, a native of Katy, Texas, enters his redshirt senior season after starting all 12 games and paving the way for 211.4 rushing yards per game and allowing just 10 sacks as a unit in 2024. Following the 2024 football season, Foster earned Second Team All-America honors in the shot put at the 2025 NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships, as part of the Kansas track and field team.

Foster arrived at Kansas following three seasons at Texas A&M, starting 28 games and being named to the 2021 SEC All-Freshman Team, 2021 FWAA Freshman All-America Team and the 2021 The Athletic Freshman All-America First Team.

Foster is Kansas’ sole representative on the Preseason All-Big 12 team, while Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and Utah’s Devon Dampier was named Preseason Newcomer of the Year.

The Jayhawks will kick off the 2025 season with the grand opening of the new David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, August 23 when Kansas hosts Fresno State. The season-opener serves as the first of seven games coming to Lawrence in 2025, with a full schedule and tickets available here.

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Rens Takes Over Jimmie Men’s Volleyball

JAMESTOWN – Former NCAA Division I head coach Toby Rens is the new University of Jamestown men’s volleyball head coach. Rens has 22 seasons of collegiate head coaching experience, with a record of 425-309. He has been a head coach at Oswego State in DIII, Northern Michigan in DII and at DI programs Georgetown, Long […]

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19 minutes ago

July 7, 2025

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JAMESTOWN – Former NCAA Division I head coach Toby Rens is the new University of Jamestown men’s volleyball head coach.

Rens has 22 seasons of collegiate head coaching experience, with a record of 425-309. He has been a head coach at Oswego State in DIII, Northern Michigan in DII and at DI programs Georgetown, Long Island University Brooklyn, Pittsburgh, Chicago State and Maryland Eastern Shore.

Last season, Rens was the head coach at Poudre High School in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Rens replaces Downey Huynh, who stepped down after one season.

photo credit: University of Jamestown Athletics

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U.S. Women’s National Team Ready to Compete on Home Soil in Texas

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 6, 2025) – The U.S. Women’s National Team is bringing 16 athletes, including five with Texas ties, to round three of the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL), July 9-13, at the UT Arlington College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. Tickets are still available for all four U.S. matches. Buy your tickets […]

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23 minutes ago

July 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 6, 2025) – The U.S. Women’s National Team is bringing 16 athletes, including five with Texas ties, to round three of the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL), July 9-13, at the UT Arlington College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.

Tickets are still available for all four U.S. matches. Buy your tickets now.

Outside hitter Avery Skinner (Katy, Texas; Baylor) and middle blocker Asjia O’Neal (Southlake, Texas; Univ. of Texas; LOVB Austin) are among the key additions to the week three roster. Skinner helped the U.S. to a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and O’Neal has been part of VNL rosters since 2023.

The Texas connections don’t stop there. Outside hitters Logan Eggleston (Univ. of Texas, LOVB Austin) and Madisen Skinner (Katy, Texas; Univ. of Texas, LOVB Austin), along with middle blocker Brionne Butler (Kendleton, Texas; Univ. of Texas), will also suit up for the U.S. in Arlington.

Avery Skinner isn’t the only 2024 Paris Olympian making her return to the lineup. Setter Jordyn Poulter, a two-time Olympic medalist, is on the roster after being an alternate in week one. Middle blocker Dana Rettke will compete in week three as well, bringing the number of Olympians on the U.S. squad to three.

The Arlington roster also features four athletes making their 2025 VNL debut: Stephanie Samedy, Danielle Cuttino, Tia Jimerson and Taylor Mims.

Samedy has been a fixture on U.S. Pan American Cup teams since 2020, helping the team earn five medals in that time. Cuttino, a national team member since 2019, has competed in the last three VNL seasons.

Jimerson will make her first VNL appearance. She was a standout for LOVB Atlanta in its inaugural season, and prior to that, earned multiple “Best Blocker” honors during her time playing professionally in Hungary, Portugal and Germany. Mims, meanwhile, brings international experience from the Pan Am Cup and Pan Am Cup Final Six, where she helped the U.S. earn gold and bronze medals in 2023.

Rounding out the roster are Morgan Hentz, Rachel Fairbanks, Sarah Franklin, Roni Jones-Perry and Lexi Rodriguez, all of whom traveled with the team during at least one of the first two VNL weeks.

“We are excited to return to Arlington for another year,” said head coach Erik Sullivan. “It’s a great venue with great fans and it’s always special competing in front of a home crowd for VNL. I am looking forward to building on the momentum we gained from the end of week two, and I think this roster for week three brings a good mix of talent that will position us well to compete against some tough competition.”

The VNL brings together the world’s top 18 teams for three weeks of preliminary play, with each team competing in four matches per week. Only the top eight teams will earn a spot in the Final Round, where a VNL title will be on the line.

The U.S. Women are the reigning Olympic silver medalists and ranked No. 7 in the world. They have won the VNL three times (2018, ’19, ’21) since its inception in 2018. In 2024, they lost in the quarterfinals to eventual Olympic champion Italy,

U.S. Women’s Week Three Roster for 2025 VNL

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Illinois, Rocky Mountain)
3 Avery Skinner (OH, 6-1, Katy, Texas, Kentucky, Lone Star)
6 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer)
7 Lexi Rodriguez (L, 5-5, Sterling, Ill., Univ. of Nebraska Great Lakes)
8 Brionne Butler (MB, 6-4, Kendleton, Texas, Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
9 Madisen Skinner (OH, 6-2, Katy, Texas, Univ. of Kentucky and Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
11 Taylor Mims (Opp, 6-3, Billings, Mont., Washington St., Evergreen)
15 Rachel Fairbanks (S, 6-0, Tustin, Calif., Pitt, Southern California)
16 Dana Rettke (MB, 6-8, Riverside, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
18 Asjia O’Neal (MB, 6-3, Southlake, Texas, Texas, North Texas)
20 Danielle Cuttino (Opp, 6-4, Indianapolis, Ind., Purdue, Hoosier)
21 Roni Jones-Perry (OH, 6-0, West Jordan, Utah, BYU, Intermountain)
22 Sarah Franklin (OH, 6-4, Lake Worth, Fla., Univ. of Wisconsin, Florida)
25 Tia Jimerson (MB, 6-3, Sugar Hill, Ga., Univ. of Ohio, Southern)
33 Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-2, Brentwood, Tenn., Univ. of Texas, Southern)
34 Stephanie Samedy (Opp, 6-2, Clermont, Fla., Minnesota, Florida)

Coaches
Head Coach: Erik Sullivan
Assistant Coach: Mike Wall
Second Assistant Coach: Brandon Taliaferro
Second Assistant Coach: Tayyiba Haneef-Park
Second Assistant Coach: Joe Trinsey
Team Manager: Rob Browning
Team Doctors: William Briner, James Suchy, Chris Lee, Andrew Gregory
Physiotherapist: Kara Kessans
Physical Trainers: Shawn Hueglin, Shannon Boone
Mental Performance Coach: Andrea Becker, Katy Stanfill
Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham

Week 3 Schedule: Arlington, Texas (all times PDT)
Matches will be shown on VBTV, Big Ten Network and/or CBS Sports Network. Please check listings for BTN and CBSN.

July 9 at 5:30 p.m. vs. Thailand
July 10 at 5:30 p.m. vs. Dominican Republic
July 12 at 5:30 p.m. vs. Canada
July 13 at 5:00 p.m. vs. China

Week 1 Results: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
June 4 Italy def. USA, 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 30-28)
June 5 Brazil def. USA, 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-19)
June 6 Czechia def. USA, 3-2 (23-25, 20-25, 25-17, 25-20, 27-25)
June 8 USA def Korea, 3-0 (25-13, 28-26, 25-17)

Week 2 Results: Belgrade, Serbia
June 18 USA def. Serbia, 3-2 (25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 22-25, 15-11)
June 19 Poland def. USA, 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-18)
June 21 USA def. Netherlands, 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-19)
June 22 USA def. France, 3-2 (25-22, 26-24, 20-25, 21-25, 15-13)

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Jacob Bartlett’s Rapid Rise From Academy Star to SKC Starter

Jacob Bartlett going up for a header (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) We’ve only just reached the halfway point of the year, but it’s fair to say that 2025 has marked a meteoric rise for Jacob Bartlett. Over the past six months, he has gone from plying his trade at Notre Dame University to signing […]

Published

45 minutes ago

July 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Jacob Bartlett going up for a header (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images)

We’ve only just reached the halfway point of the year, but it’s fair to say that 2025 has marked a meteoric rise for Jacob Bartlett. Over the past six months, he has gone from plying his trade at Notre Dame University to signing a professional contract with his boyhood club. From making his debut against one of the greatest soccer players of all time to becoming a vital cog in midfield for Sporting Kansas City, the 19-year-old is only getting started.

“It’s definitely a dream come true, and I’m incredibly blessed to be in this situation. Every day, I wake up and thank God for it,” Bartlett said in an exclusive RG interview. “To be able to represent my family, my club, and Kansas City as a whole—it’s a privilege I don’t take for granted. I come to work every day and give everything I have. Our academy director, Declan Jogi, has been with me through everything. They instill core values in you when you enter the club, and I think I’ve carried them with me on and off the field.”

A Family of Athletes

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Jacob is the product of a sports-driven family. His father, Richard, played football and track and field at Doane University, while his mother, Dena, played basketball and softball at Doane. His brother Alec (32) played college soccer at Creighton and Drake before going pro with USL sides Des Moines Menace and Charlotte Independence from 2013 to 2016. His sister Grace (21) is entering her final year with Grand Canyon University’s soccer team, and his brother Lucas (27) is starting in central defense for fellow MLS side D.C. United.

“My relationship with Lucas has definitely grown over the past couple of years. He’s one of my best friends—someone I can confide in about anything. He’s not only my brother but someone I look up to every day. Our household has always been super competitive; nobody likes to lose. Whether it’s board games, soccer, or basketball, everyone wants to win. My brothers have been pushing me since I was a little kid, and there’s always a competitive drive between us in the offseason. My brother, sister, and I train together all the time.”

Whether in his own backyard or on the grass fields of Overland Park, Kansas, Jacob’s passion for soccer took root early. After scoring in a 3v3 game, his mother bought him a Lionel Messi jersey—he didn’t take it off for weeks. A decade later, he would mark Messi in his professional debut. Bartlett joined Sporting Kansas City’s academy at age 12 and quickly rose through the ranks. By 14, he was traveling nationally for youth tournaments; by 16, he was training with the first team.

“I had quite a different high school experience from your typical teenager. I was pretty much gone every weekend and missed out on a lot. Around sophomore or junior year, I started taking it seriously as a possible career. I began watching what I ate, tracking my sleep, staying hydrated, and taking care of my body after games and training.”

“I don’t think people understand the sacrifices you have to make—being away from family and friends on holidays and birthdays, missing school dances. But my family kept me grounded. They assured me that if I wanted to keep chasing this dream, that’s what it would take. Looking back, I don’t regret it. It was hard, but it was worth it.”

From College Fields to MLS Stadiums

In 2023, Bartlett joined Sporting Kansas City’s preseason tour and became a regular in first-team training. After graduating high school, he enrolled at Notre Dame, where he started eight of 16 matches for the Fighting Irish. But in January 2025, he left Indiana and returned home to sign a first-team contract with Sporting Kansas City.

“Looking back at all the years and everything I missed—all the sacrifices—it was emotional when the contract was offered. It was a special moment. But I still have so much to do. Every day, I come in to prove myself. I’m always striving for more. My mentality going into preseason was to be the fittest and hardest-working player. Whether I have my best or worst game, if I give full effort, I can sleep knowing I gave it my all.”

Bartlett quickly made his mark, winning the preseason beep test that measures aerobic capacity. A month later, he debuted professionally in the Concacaf Champions Cup against Inter Miami, playing both legs and notching an assist in the second match. He went toe-to-toe with stars like Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Messi.

“To be honest, I don’t think you could write it any better. I’m incredibly thankful the staff trusted me, and it gave me a ton of confidence. Making my debut against some of the greatest players ever—it’s a blessing.”

He started SKC’s first two MLS matches against Austin FC and San Jose Earthquakes before briefly moving to the bench. He returned to the starting XI against Dallas. After a rough start that saw SKC earn just one point from six games and lose to Des Moines in the U.S. Open Cup, manager Peter Vermes was dismissed after 16 years, and Kerry Zavagnin took over as interim coach. Since then, Bartlett has started each of the past 16 matches, playing the full 90 in their last six.

“I’d love to keep playing and build minutes as time goes on. I’m chasing my next contract because nothing is guaranteed. I don’t know what’ll happen tomorrow, but I can show up every day with the same mentality and work ethic and let the rest follow.”

Built For The Big Stage

Despite signing a pro deal, Jacob still lives at home with his parents, who continue to support his goals. He’s enrolled in online classes at Notre Dame, majoring in finance and minoring in constitutional studies. Off the pitch, he spends time golfing, playing pickleball, hanging with friends, and relaxing with his four dogs—Nelly, Remi, Colt, and Maddie—while enjoying his mom’s homemade goulash.

“My parents are always there for me and want what’s best. It’s nice to come home, open up, and be vulnerable—whether I’ve had a good day or a tough one. Having that support is a huge help.”

A lifelong fan of holding midfielders like Toni Kroos and Sergio Busquets, Bartlett has also played at right back and center back, but he feels most comfortable in the No. 6 role. From that deep midfield position, he helps orchestrate buildup play, disrupt opposition attacks, and provide defensive cover. He ranks fourth in the squad for accurate long balls per 90 (3.9), third in interceptions per 90 (1.5), and second in blocks per 90 (0.6).

“I’m trying to stay level-headed. It’s that inner drive to get better every day. I’m aggressive—I try to win the ball back quickly—and I use my stamina to keep up. Whether it’s distributing to Manu [García] or stopping a counterattack, I’ll do whatever helps the team win.”

That combination of work ethic, intelligence, and grit has made him essential to Sporting Kansas City’s midfield. With an upswing in form—seven points from their last three games—SKC is back in the playoff race.

At just 19, Bartlett is living a reality most Kansas City kids dream of: starting for the team he grew up supporting. After missing the postseason in 2024, he’s determined to help turn things around.

“We didn’t start how we wanted, but the locker room has stayed positive. That’s still our mindset—we’re pushing for the playoffs, and beyond that, an MLS Cup. As part of the back line, we want to keep the ball out of the net and rack up clean sheets. We trust our attack to do the rest. We can definitely make the playoffs. There’s no doubt in my mind about how far this team can go.”

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Orlando solidifies reputation as an international sports destination

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando has proudly established itself as a premier international sports hub by welcoming the 2025 AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships, the world’s biggest volleyball event, happening from June 13 to July 7. 2025 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior National Volleyball Championships Orlando has reaffirmed why it’s one of the world’s premier international […]

Published

47 minutes ago

July 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

2025 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior National Volleyball Championships Orlando has reaffirmed why it’s one of the world’s premier international sports destinations, hosting the 2025 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior National Volleyball Championships, the world’s largest volleyball tournament.

“We are so thankful for our community partners when it comes to arranging the AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships,” said Jo Mirza, President of AAU.

The event at the Orange County Convention Center attracted over 6,500 teams and an estimated 325,500 athletes, coaches and spectators from across the United States and multiple countries, setting new participation and attendance records.

Mirza continues, “Without the Orange County Convention Center, Greater Orlando Sports Commission and Visit Orlando, we wouldn’t be able to host this premier event for AAU’s largest sport.”

“The AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships have become a cornerstone event in our region’s sports tourism portfolio,” said Greater Orlando Sports Commission President and CEO Jason Siegel.

The successful 2025 AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships boost Orlando’s reputation for major sports events and demonstrate its ability to host top-tier competitions. It also highlights Orlando’s capacity to manage large visitor crowds effectively.

Siegel continues, “This year’s record-setting tournament underscores the power of strategic, long-term collaboration with partners like Visit Orlando, Orange County, and the Orange County Convention Center.”

This year’s tournament ended on FIVB’s World Volleyball Day, July 7, showcasing volleyball’s unifying power and cultural impact. Orlando, a trusted host for nearly 30 years, has consistently provided top youth sports experiences and set a national standard.

Thanks to its ongoing focus on top-notch venues and teamwork in hosting events, Orlando is set to stay at the forefront of sports tourism, welcoming and supporting both amateur and professional competitions.

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