Sports

Last Night in Baseball

Published

7 months ago

June 10, 2025

There is always baseball happening — almost too much baseball for one person to handle themselves.

That’s why we’re here to help, though, by sifting through the previous days’ games, and figuring out what you missed, but shouldn’t have. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball:

Clarke makes the catch of the year, and then some

Robbing a home run rocks, even if it looks like it was handled pretty easily. Say, if a player gets to wait and wait at the wall, and can time their leap perfectly – that’s still a good time, and takes real skill! Which means that what Denzel Clarke pulled off on Monday night against the Angels was downright wild, because he didn’t get to camp under this would-be home run at all, and had to reach so far over the wall that he nearly went over it. He made the grab, though. Did he ever.

Whew. Dipping well over the wall, spinning in place to right himself, popping back into the field, then celebrating with a full-body flex. There was only one out before the grab, sure, but Clarke can be forgiven being so pumped up that he took a moment before remembering to check to see if anyone was on base. It’s one of the best catches you’ll ever see, and if you can’t take our word for it, you could ask someone who would know for sure. A man who made a great catch or two in his day: Torii Hunter.

It’s entirely possible that you didn’t know who Denzel Clarke was until this catch, or right now, and that’s understandable. He’s a rookie outfielder for the Athletics, who has played in all of 16 games as he didn’t debut until May 23. In these two-plus weeks, though, Clarke has made his mark. There’s the above catch, yes, but he had already won Electric Play of the Week honors in consecutive weeks, which only one other player (Riley Greene, h/t Sarah Langs) has done in the past since the award was instituted in 2019. Without any other context, that’s impressive, but then you remember Clarke has been up for just two weeks and is absolutely going to win a third week in a row for Monday’s robbery, and impressive doesn’t begin to cover it.

It’s not just getting all the way to the wall in center or robbing home runs, either. There’s more than the highlight-reel catches: the 25-year-old Clarke, in just 16 games, has amassed 0.6 wins above replacement per FanGraphs’ reckoning, and it’s entirely due to his glove. He’s hitting .219/.245/.294 in 53 plate appearances and striking out more than half the time, which outputs to a negative offensive WAR, but in a lineup as talented as the one the A’s have had this year, and with the significant problems their pitching staff has had that have basically negated that lineup’s production… Clarke’s glove could be worth him being a zero at the plate offensively.

And for what it’s worth, his minor-league numbers didn’t suggest a future offensive star by any means, but they did portend a better performance than this. With time, his big-league line could go from miserable to tolerable, and if the glove keeps putting up the kinds of numbers it has so far, that’s going to be more than enough for Clarke to be worth the lineup spot.

Rays spoil Anthony’s debut

The city of Boston was buzzing as Fenway welcomed the long-awaited arrival of top-prospect Roman Anthony – not just their top prospect, but in all of baseball this year. The Rays, however, stole the show.

The Rays scored a run in the top of the ninth to extend their lead to 7-5, but the Red Sox answered in the bottom of the frame with a pair to tie it up and send things to extras. Taylor Walls drove Junior Caminero in with a sac fly to give Tampa Bay their eighth run, and the Sox scored on a throwing error by Jonathan Aranda in the bottom of the 10th to stay alive, but they couldn’t keep the Rays’ offense down. In the 11th, Zack Kelly walked in a run with the bases loaded, and then Jake Mangum would follow with a single that scored Josh Lowe, giving the Rays a 10-8 lead that they would hold onto for the win.

Tampa Bay has quietly heated up after a subpar start to the season. They’ve now won six of their last seven and 15 of their last 19 games, including Monday’s 10-8 victory, to move into a tie for second place in the AL East with the Blue Jays.

Similarly to the Rays’ silent rise, Aranda, out of nowhere, is now fourth in the American League in batting average at .323 after hitting a combined .222 over the first 110 games of his career from 2022 through 2024. On Monday, he went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, pushing his line for the season to .323/.409/.490, good for a 158 OPS+. All of that helps make up for the throwing error, easy.

Anthony, by the way, didn’t record his first big-league hit in his four trips to the plate, but he did walk and drive in a run on a ground out in that rally in the bottom of the ninth.

A walk-off grand slam for Naylor

We do see quite few walk-off wins these days, given the extra inning rules with the baserunner on second. That’s true enough. Josh Naylor didn’t need the baserunner in scoring position, though, in order to get his walk-off hit in the bottom of the 11th in Arizona. And that’s because the Diamondbacks‘ first baseman went deep to win, with the bases juiced. That’s right, a walk-off grand slam:

Sure, the D-backs just needed the one run to win, but there’s something to be said for how emphatic a grand slam is. For example: George Kirby’s 14-strikeout game was cause for optimism all day on Monday, given the Mariners had lost five in a row before his gem put a stop to that skid. There’s still reason to be optimistic for Seattle, but Naylor might have squashed a bit of it in the moment with a single swing of the bat. A walk-off homer? Painful. A walk-off grand slam? That exclamation point is way too pointy.

Sale fans double-digits, again

Chris Sale has been on a heater of late. The Braves‘ ace was just a bit off in his first five starts of the year, either giving up too many runs or walks or not lasting very deep into the games, and it resulted in a 6.17 ERA through his first 23.3 innings. Things have been just a little bit different in his nine starts since, however: over that stretch, Sale has amassed 57.1 innings, a 1.41 ERA, and 75 strikeouts.

On three separate occasions in those nine starts, Sale struck out 10 batters, and on Monday, he took down a season-high 11 by way of the K, with the Brewers his swing-and-miss victims this time around. The reigning NL Cy Young award winner now has a 2.74 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 80.2 innings, and while none of those figures are leading the league like they did last year, he’s not all that far off of the pace anymore, with that tough start all that’s holding him back at this point. Well, numbers-wise: it’s fair to say that he’s not being held back by anything at all on the mound these days, as the Brewers can attest to after Monday.

Phillies back?

The Phillies have been struggling of late, with June a nightmare for them so far that has included the conclusion of a sweep by the Brewers and a weekend sweep by the Pirates, of all teams. Maybe a big dub against the Cubs can right that ship a little, though – the Phillies have a ton of talent, after all, and aren’t nearly as helpless as they’ve looked this month. Monday night was a reminder of as much.

It had been a pitcher’s duel through the first nine innings, but the bats took over in extras. The Cubs had the first say, as Pete Crow-Armstrong picked up a double to score Kyle Tucker and give them a 3-2 lead in the top half of the 11th. The Phillies had an answer. JT Realmuto hit a single to right field, and Nick Castellanos got on his horse to tie the scoring run from second base. Two batters later, Brandon Marsh smoked a walk-off hit to deep center field.

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Practice grind begins for Hawaii men’s volleyball team

Published

46 minutes ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Hawaii junior outside hitter Louis Sakanoko sat down for an interview before the second men’s volleyball practice on Monday and took a deep breath.

“Man, I’m tired,” he said with a smile.

That’s the grind of having less than a week to prepare for the season as the No. 2-ranked Rainbow Warriors, who held their first official practices on Sunday, do what they can over five days to be ready to take the court on Friday in the season opener against New Jersey Institute of Technology at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

UH is holding three consecutive days of two-a-day practices before getting a day off for the holiday.

Friday’s match marks the first of eight over a 15-day period to start the season at home. Following UH’s match against Roberts Wesleyan on Jan. 16, the Rainbow Warriors won’t play at home again until March 4.

“We all know physically we can play with any team,” junior setter Tread Rosenthal said. “I think, mentally last year, we were a little immature at times, and we didn’t understand the full weight of every game matters and every point matters.”

Hawaii is coming off a 27-6 season that included a Big West Conference championship and an appearance in the national semifinals.

UH’s season ended in a three-set loss to UCLA, which went on to lose to Long Beach State in the final.

Hawaii returns six of its top seven kill leaders from last season, including Rosenthal, a third-year starter at setter who made the AVCA All-America first team last year.

Rosenthal was one of three Rainbow Warriors, along with sophomore outside Adrien Roure and opposite Kristian Titriyski, named to the Big West Men’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches Team on Monday.

Hawaii, which opens the season No. 2 in the country in the AVCA preseason rankings, was picked to finish second in the Big West behind Long Beach State in the preseason poll voted on by the league’s six head coaches.

UH defeated the Beach twice last year, including in the Big West tournament championship.

Hawaii was the only team to have three players selected to the preseason all-conference team.

“It’s fun to see the excitement surrounding the program and seeing the guys react to it,” Hawaii coach Charlie Wade said. “A guy like Roman (Payne), a guy like Trevell (Jordan) … I kind of laugh about it because they have no idea how much their lives are going to change in the next few months.”

Payne, a 7-foot freshman from Carlsbad, Calif., and Jordan, a 6-foot-10 sophomore transfer from Grand Canyon, are two new middle blockers who should enter the rotation right away.

Quintin Greenidge, a 5-foot-8 junior transfer from Canada, is the replacement for departed senior ‘Eleu Choy at libero and has been called by Rosenthal as a name to watch early in the season.

“I think Quintin is a very legit libero on the international stage and he has been very consistent for us in the practice gym,” Rosenthal said. “I know that that will translate to our games.”

The Rainbow Warriors are as loaded as any team in the country. Whether it was experienced three-year players in the program like Rosenthal or Sakanoko, or a newcomer like Jordan, everyone who spoke to the media Monday talked about finding consistency in every play on the court.

“It’s nice to hear that it’s seeping through a little bit. I’ve heard it back from some of them, but words are easy, action and lifestyle is a whole different thing,” Wade said. “Everybody loves the idea of being a champion and playing in front of sold-out crowds. Not everybody loves the lifestyle and not everybody embraces showing up every day and being the best version of yourself possible on a daily basis. It’s hard. It’s hard for anyone at any stage of life, let alone 19- and 20-year-olds.”

Assistant coach Kupono Fey has been promoted to associate head coach, taking over the role previously held by Milan Zarkovic, who departed for UCLA in the offseason. Donan Cruz will continue on the staff as an assistant coach.

Hawaii’s January schedule includes a pair of doubleheaders on Jan. 14 and 16.

UH will rotate a morning 11 a.m. match and an evening 7 p.m. match against Rockhurst and Roberts Wesleyan.

Loyola-Chicago, which UH hosts on Jan. 8 and 9, begins the season ranked No. 7 in the country. NJIT is the second team outside of the Top 20.

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Andrea Roman Signs With Wake Forest Volleyball

Published

1 hour ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest volleyball and head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer announced the addition of Andrea Roman on Tuesday.

A transfer from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Roman will join the Demon Deacons’ roster for the 2026-27 school year with one final season of eligibility remaining. She spent each of the last three seasons as a member of the Trojans’ volleyball program.

Roman is the second individual to ink with the Deacs this winter, as Catherine Burke also recently signed on Dec. 17.

Andrea Roman | 5-4 | Defensive Specialist/Libero | Humacao, Puerto Rico | Little Rock

One of the country’s top defensive players this past fall as a junior, Roman ranked second in the NCAA in total digs, finishing the 2025 season with 632. That total was good for the most by a Trojan in a single season throughout program history at Little Rock. In addition, her 5.31 digs-per-set average ranked fourth nationally. Roman’s stellar play led to her being named the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Defensive Player of the Year while also earning First Team All-OVC honors. Her clips in total digs and digs-per-set average both led the league. She had four performances of 30-plus digs and 13 with 20 or more while recording three of the top 10 single-match dig marks in program history during the season.

As a sophomore in 2024, Roman played in all 32 matches while making appearances in 125 sets. She led the team with a then-program record 624 digs and averaging 4.99 per set. Roman ranked first in the conference in total digs and fifth among all NCAA players. Her total ultimately helped Little Rock reach a new best single-season mark in digs as a team (2,227) through program history. She also played a notable role in the team’s setting tempo, finishing with 161 total assists. By the conclusion of the season, Roman was named Second Team All-OVC.

During her freshman season, Roman led the Trojans in digs (315) while seeing action in 22 matches and 79 sets played. She was also third on the roster in service aces (80). In all but one of the final 16 matches of the season, Roman led Little Rock in digs.

Andrea Roman Career Accolades & Accomplishments

2025 OVC Defensive Player of the Year

2025 First Team All-OVC

2024 Second Team All-OVC

Ranks No. 1 all-time in single-season digs (632) at Little Rock

Ranks No. 2 all-time in career digs (1,571) at Little Rock

Five-time OVC Defensive Player of the Week honoree

Personal
Andrea is the daughter of Sylvia Gonzalez and Julio Roman – she also has two older siblings. In the classroom, Andrea plans to study Health & Exercise Science during her time on campus.

From Coach Hulsmeyer

“I’m so happy to have Andrea joining us to bring depth and experience to our libero group. With Emma Farrell graduating, Andrea provides an experienced defender who averaged over five digs per set this past season and is someone who has seen a lot of tough serving in the OVC. Getting her to Wake Forest in January will allow us to acclimate her for the speed of the ACC. I’ve known her former coach, Van Compton, for many years, so not only is she a well-trained skilled player, she is also someone of great character. She will be a wonderful addition to the Wake Forest family.”

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Vote in the Lakeshore Elite volleyball player of the year poll

Published

1 hour ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dec. 30, 2025, 3:00 a.m. CT

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Meet the 2025 Press-Register All-Region volleyball team

Published

2 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

High school volleyball teams in the Coastal Region won three state championships this season and 13 teams earned spots in the AHSAA state championship tournament.

McGill-Toolen dominated Class 7A, winning its fourth straight title and 25th AHSAA state championship while Spanish Fort won its second straight Class 6A title and fifth overall, all coming since 2015. Mobile Christian won its second straight Class 3A championship.

Class 3A St. Luke’s won to the title match before falling to Mobile Christian while Class 5A UMS-Wright and Class 4A Orange Beach each earned spots in the final four.

Other teams winning to the Elite Eight were Class 7A Bayside and St. Paul’s, Class 6A Saraland, Class 5A Faith Academy, Class 4A St. Michael and Class 1A Millry and Leroy.

The Press-Register All-Region team is compiled by the AL.com high school sports staff with input from coaches.

AL.com named Player of the Year, Attacker MVP, Defensive MVP, Setter MVP and Coach of the Year. Award winners are listed separately, but considered first-team selections.

PRESS-REGISTER ALL-REGION VOLLEYBALL TEAM

(Players listed alphabetically)

Zoẽ Beech, Spanish Fort

5-11, Sr., Middle

355 kills, 104 blocks, 404 digs, 59 aces

College: Undecided

Bennett Boulo, St. Paul’s

5-10, Sr., Setter/Right Side

1,091 assists, 354 kills, 51 blocks, 257 digs, 67 aces

College: Undecided

Grier Broughton, Bayside Academy

5-9, Sr., Outside Hitter

321 kills, 33 blocks, 171 digs, 20 aces

College: Undecided

Anna Grace Chason, Daphne

5-11, Sr., Right Side/Setter

1,024 assists, 233 kills, 37 blocks, 238 digs, 58 aces

College: Mississippi College

Caroline Downey, Spanish Fort

5-10, Sr., Outside Hitter

446 kills, 49 blocks, 336 digs, 55 aces

College: Mississippi College

Chloe Duggan, Faith Academy

5-6, Jr., Setter

701 assists, 43 kills, 25 blocks, 204 digs, 47 aces

College: Undecided

Haley Eldridge, Mobile Christian

5-6, Sr., Setter

1,006 assists, 43 kills, 34 blocks, 277 digs, 67 aces

College: Undecided

Baker Garside, St. Luke’s

5-6, Sr., Setter

1,018 assists, 99 kills, 9 blocks, 245 digs, 36 aces

College: Undecided

Victoria Holley, Spanish Fort

5-6, Sr., Libero

695 digs, 98 assists, 66 aces

College: Undecided

Cami Huff, McGill-Toolen

6-2, Sr., Middle

383 kills, 137 blocks, 23 digs

College: West Virginia

Hadley Kelly, Mobile Christian

6-1, Jr., Middle

463 kills, 139 blocks, 12 digs, 35 aces

College: Liberty

Catherine McClain, McGill-Toolen

5-9, Sr., Outside Hitter

538 kills, 41 blocks, 331 digs, 49 aces

College: Loyola

Payton McClarren, McGill-Toolen

5-2, Sr., Libero

534 digs, 75 assists, 69 aces

College: William Carey

Macey Moore, Gulf Shores

5-10, Sr., Setter/Right Side

336 kills, 430 assists, 77 blocks, 351 digs, 71 aces

College: North Florida beach volleyball

Kenly Nelson, Fairhope

5-11, Jr., Outside Hitter

333 kills, 49 blocks, 57 digs, 2 aces

College: Undecided

Charli Pearce, Saraland

6-0, Sr., Outside Hitter/Setter

368 kills, 504 assists, 36 blocks, 329 digs, 64 aces

College: South Alabama

Hayley Robinson, Bayside Academy

6-3, Sr., Right Side

370 kills, 70 blocks, 105 digs, 48 aces

College: Samford

Libby Rogers, Fairhope

5-8, Sr., Setter

710 assists, 166 kills, 33 blocks, 273 digs, 20 aces

College: Montevallo

Bella Rumley, Orange Beach

5-8, So., Outside Hitter

273 kills, 27 blocks, 42 digs, 46 aces

College: Undecided

Amelia Smith, St. Luke’s

6-0, Sr., Outside Hitter

543 kills, 50 blocks, 354 digs, 84 aces

College: UAH

Ella Clarie Sullivan, UMS-Wright

5-7, Sr, Libero

418 digs, 120 assists, 82 aces

College: Undecided

MK Whitehurst, Bayside Academy

5-3, Sr., Libero

504 digs, 59 assists, 44 aces

College: Undecided

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

AHSAA Volleyball 7A Championship — McGill-Toolen’s Alice Wood celebrates after wining set point in the third set to give McGill-Toolen a two-sets-to-one lead against Thompson during the AHSAA Class 7A volleyball state championship at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (Vasha Hunt | preps@al.com) Vasha Hunt

Alice Wood, McGill-Toolen

5-9, Jr., Setter

Region second-best 1,362 assists, region-best 27.8 assists per match average, 57 kills, 76 blocks, 302 digs, 61 aces

College: Kansas State

ATTACKER MVP

Daphne's Ella Lomax — Daphne’s Ella Lomax watches her attack during 2025 action. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)Dennis Victory

Ella Lomax, Daphne

5-11, Sr., Outside Hitter

Region-best 753 kills, region-best 13.45 kills per match average, 35 blocks, 313 digs, 81 aces

College: UNA

DEFENSIVE MVP

AHSAA Volleyball 3A Championship — Mobile Christian’s Melissa Patel dives for an attack during the AHSAA Class 3A volleyball state championship at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)Dennis Victory

Melissa Patel, Mobile Christian

5-5, Sr., Libero

684 digs, 57 assists, 40 aces

College: Southwest Baptist

SETTER MVP

AHSAA Volleyball 6A Championship — Spanish Fort’s Cailyn Boykin sets the ball against Hazel Green during the AHSAA Class 6A volleyball state championship at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)Dennis Victory

Cailyn Boykin, Spanish Fort

5-8, Jr., Setter

Region-best 1,638 assists, 68 kills, 32 blocks, 351 digs, 66 aces

College: Undecided

COACHES OF THE YEAR

Kate Wood, McGill-Toolen

Gretchen Boykin, Spanish Fort

Mallory Boyington, Mobile Christian

HONORABLE MENTION

Outside Hitter/Right Side: Brooklyn McIlwain, Faith Academy, Sr.; Alexis Scott, Mobile Christian, Sr.; Marissa Smith, St. Paul’s, Fr.; Skylar Courtney, UMS-Wright, Sr.; LillyAnne Doggette, Millry, Sr.; Myah Skanes, Saraland, Jr.; Jaedyn Lang, McGill-Toolen, Sr.; Breanna Stokley, Millry, Sr.; Chandler Thomas, UMS-Wright, Sr.

Middle: Chelsey McReary, T.R. Miller, Jr.; Reece Wilmott, Bayside Academy, Jr.; Mikadyn Cauley, Faith Academy, Jr.; Natalie Maxwell, Spanish Fort, So.; Gabi Berlage, Fairhope, Sr.; Maddie McKinley, Washington County, Sr.; Raina Gunter, Washington County, Sr.; Lily Willingham, Saraland, Sr.

Setter: Sophie Hester, Bayside Academy, Jr.; Grace Thigpen, Daphne, Sr.; Ivey Marston, St. Paul’s, Sr.; Ella Bilbo, Orange Beach, Sr.

Defensive Specialist/Libero: Ava Hodo, Orange Beach, Sr.; Emma Kate Frazier, St. Luke’s, Fr.; Kendall Dougherty, St. Paul’s, Sr.; Addy Busby, Fairhope, Jr.

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UNT Student-Athletes Boast Record Setting G.P.A.

Published

8 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

DENTON – This past fall semester UNT student-athletes achieved the highest departmental grade point average in Mean Green history with a 3.457.

For the first time ever all 14 athletic programs earned a semester G.P.A. above a 3.150. Six teams earned their highest semester G.P.A. in their respective program’s history and four others achieved their second highest semester G.P.A. in their program’s history.

This marked the 13th consecutive semester of a 3.0 or better department wide grade point average and the seventh consecutive semester that UNT improved on the previous semester’s departmental G.P.A.

“The Fall 2025 semester was an outstanding one for Mean Green Athletics in the classroom,” said UNT VP/Director of Athletics Jared Mosley. “Our student-athletes continue to demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence, and their success is a direct reflection of the support and expectations we have in place. I want to thank our academic services team, led by Suzanne Dickenson, for their leadership and dedication in supporting our student-athletes and helping them reach their full potential both on the field and in the classroom.”

For the sixth consecutive semester the UNT women’s golf team led the way for the department as they earned a 3.907 fall semester G.P.A.

The Mean Green tennis team has now recorded a team G.P.A. of 3.0 or better for 28 consecutive semesters. The UNT soccer team and swim and dive team have both also maintained streaks of 20-plus consecutive semesters with a team G.P.A. above a 3.0.

Fifty-two UNT student-athletes this past fall earned a 4.0 grade point average. The Mean Green women’s track team led the way as they had 11 student-athletes named to the prestigious 2025 Fall President’s List. The tennis team had the highest percentage of student-athletes earning President’s List honors as 72% of its roster had a 4.0 G.P.A.

The UNT men’s basketball, men’s cross country, men’s track and field, women’s basketball, women’s cross country and women’s track and field teams all earned their highest semester G.P.A.s in program history.

Lastly, 47 UNT student-athletes earned their diplomas this past fall.

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Spencer McLachlin Named Head Coach at UC San Diego

Published

15 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LA JOLLA, Calif. – Third-year USC women’s volleyball associate head coach Spencer McLachlin was hired for his first appointment as a head coach and will lead the UC San Diego women’s volleyball program, UCSD Director of Athletics Andy Fee announced on Tuesday, Dec. 23.

McLachlin becomes the eighth head coach in UCSD program history and will coach the Tritons in their final season as members of the Big West (2026) before the program transitions to the West Coast Conference ahead of the 2027 campaign. He joins JJ Van Niel (Arizona State), Tyler Hildebrand (Saint Mary’s College), and Amy Pauly (Orlando Valkyries) as former USC assistants under Brad Keller who have moved into head coaching positions.

“This opportunity is no surprise and has been a long time coming for Spencer,” said Keller. “UCSD is getting one of the best coaches in the game. Spencer and I have worked together in many different phases of our careers, and I know USC is in a better place with a brighter future for everything he has done here. Spencer is an innovator, a creator, and most importantly, a dreamer. Our game needs more leaders like him. I couldn’t be prouder of what he has done and for this new opportunity for him and his family.”

In his three seasons at USC, McLachlin helped lead the Women of Troy to three straight NCAA tournament appearances. The Trojans advanced to the second round in each of their three postseason berths. Most recently, McLachlin helped USC reach 25 wins and finish in a tie for third place in the Big Ten. Six Trojans received awards on all-conference teams and USC led the league in blocking (2.76 bps). The Trojans also ranked second (12th in the NCAA) in total blocks (322.5) and were second for opponent hitting percentage (.184). OH London Wijay earned AVCA All-America honorable mention.

With McLachlin on staff in 2024, USC advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the third straight year and finished 22-10 overall with a 13-7 mark in the Big Ten (tied for sixth). Setter Mia Tuaniga was named to the AVCA All-America third team. In his first season with the Women of Troy, McLachlin helped USC go 19-13 with a 12-8 mark in the Pac-12 for a fifth-place finish. That season, OH Skylar Fields was honored with AVCA All-America first-team recognition.

McLachlin is married to former USC volleyball standout opposite hitter Diane Copenhagen (2004-07), a 2004 Pac-10 All-Freshman Team selection. The McLachlins are parents to two daughters, Leila and Malia, and a son named Koa.

The 14th-ranked Trojans (25-7, 15-5 Big Ten) finished the regular season tied for third in the Big Ten and were awarded one of 33 at-large berths—and a hosting bid—into the 2025 NCAA tournament. USC made its fourth straight appearance in the tourney under sixth-year head coach Brad Keller (41st all-time) and moved into the second round for the fourth consecutive year with a 3-0 sweep of Princeton. The Women of Troy were eliminated from postseason play in a hard-fought five-set loss to Cal Poly in the second round.

For more information on the USC women’s volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/WVB. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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