Instagram.com/cevolleyball Ukraine’s women’s volleyball team won the Golden European League title on June 29 in Angelholm, Sweden, after it defeated Hungary in the final by a score of 3-1 (set scores of 25-16, 23-25, 25-16, 25-17). It was Ukraine’s third title for the women’s team. The Ukraine’s national women’s volleyball team won the Golden European…

The Montenegrin water polo team is traveling to the World Championships in Singapore, where for the first time after 12 years and Barcelona 2013, they will try to join the fight for medals.

The task is difficult, Montenegro is one of the youngest teams at the World Cup, but the rejuvenated team and new coach, a man who knows how to win medals – Dejan Savić, bring new energy.

“Sharks” captain Petar Tešanović, a goalkeeper from whom much is expected, spoke in an interview for Meridiansports about working with the new coach, the changes he brought and expectations at the World Cup.

The changes, he says, are definitely being felt…

“There are certainly changes in the way we work. Every coach has their own characteristic style and shapes the training sessions accordingly. The preparations in Makarska were basic, where we didn’t work much tactically, we concentrated more on ourselves, swimming, shooting. The emphasis was on the things we lack in the game,” said Petar Tešanović.

During preparations in Croatia, the “Sharks” took the opportunity to “sparm” with the home team, which will be our national team’s rival in Group D of the World Cup in Singapore.

There’s no need to waste words on the current world champions, Olympic and European vice-champions, but our national team has shown that it can match them in the pool.

“A few friendly matches with Croatia were good for us to see where we are currently. The Croatians are at the top of world water polo. This is confirmed by the European, world and Olympic medals from the last three competitions, but despite that, I think the players suit us in terms of water polo style. We don’t have much to hide from each other, we have similar systems and we know each other well. We have had several positive results with them recently.”

The changes are affecting the “sharks.” In addition to the coach, additional energy is provided by young water polo players who are slowly increasing their playing time in the senior team.

“When there is a change, this time it is the coach, there is also an additional injection of self-confidence. There will probably be a larger number of new guys. I expect four or five new faces for sure, so I assume that the youth will bring additional energy.”

The Montenegrin water polo team is working hard towards the goal of ending a five-year medal drought.

Tešanović believes that our team will manage to overcome the quarter-final barrier in Singapore.

Let us remind you that our representation at global championships has not passed this stage since 2013, when our only world medal was won in Barcelona.

“The team is young and in some ways inexperienced at that international level. It’s important that we go from match to match, not to get too carried away. I believe that we will have an easier path to reach the quarter-finals, than was the case in previous years where we had to struggle in the group stage and we are quite tired playing the matches in the knockout stage,” said the goalkeeper of the French Marseille, in an interview with Meridian Sport.

Reaching the knockout stage should not be a question.

The first-place team in the group will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the second- and third-place teams will start the knockout phase from the round of 16.

“I think we can now somehow calculate, conserve our energy and do our best to overcome that quarter-final obstacle, which has been holding us back for the last four, five years.”

Balša Vučković and Strahinja Gojković are the youngest members of this selection, at just under 20 years old, their first major competition with the senior national team awaits them.

“These are two players with enormous potential, born in 2005 and 2006. They have their entire careers ahead of them, they are certainly at the very beginning, so there are many mistakes, which is an integral part. I think they are very young, they learn quickly and adapt quickly. I am sure that they will continue to progress a lot in the coming years and will definitely become one of the key players of this national team.”

Vladan Spaić and Petar Tešanović are both national team and club teammates. The strong center will not be able to help the “Sharks” because of this, which could be a handicap in Singapore.

“Spaka (Vladan Spaić’s nickname) has been in the national team for almost 10 years. He will definitely miss his experience and the reputation he gained in world water polo. The most important thing is that he repairs those injuries, so that they do not return and do not hinder his further club and national team career.”

The competition in goal this season is particularly intense.

Besides Petar Tešanović and Lazar Andrić, Darko Đurović was one of the most responsible for Jadran M:tel’s trophies and successes this season.

“I think in a way it’s good that there is competition. At the moment there are three of us who defend at a high level, where we can push each other even more at every training session. There are some malice or bad thoughts between us, we always encourage each other, and in the end it’s up to the coach to choose the two best. I think it’s a healthy competition.”

Petar Tešanović will be a member of Marseille next season.

With the first Champions League final, the historic season was completed with a double crown in France.

“A great, I can say historic season for Marseille. We managed to reach the Final Four of the Champions League, which no French team has managed to do, and we also won the double crown in France. I think the club’s leaders are satisfied, but I wouldn’t say they will stop there, we have already created a respectable team next season and I believe that we will be able to reach the Final Four again,” Petar Tešanović told Meridian Sport.

Of particular importance is his work with the legendary goalkeeper of the Montenegrin national team, now the coach of Marseille, Miloš Šćepanović.

“I also worked with him in the national team where he was an assistant coach, he worked especially with us, the goalkeepers. We have a great relationship, we know each other very well, we know how we breathe and it’s a real pleasure to work with him. I think he’s made a significant step forward in the last two, three seasons as a coach and is currently among the five or six best coaches in Europe.”

News

Air Force women defended their 1998 volleyball championship title by spiking all comers at this year’s armed forces tournament here May 2-7.

The double round-robin contest posed a long, rigorous week for all the volleyball-slamming women, who were also looking for spots on the U.S. team going to the Military World Games Aug. 6- 18 in Zagreb, Croatia. The Air Force went 6-0 to bring home the gold. The Navy placed second with 4-2, trailed by the Army, 2-4, and the Marines, 0-6.

That the Air Force went undefeated wasn’t for lack of effort from the other services. The Air Force just worked like a well- oiled machine, with precise passing, setting, spiking and blocking and strong defensive play.

“The Navy and Army teams really gave the Air Force a run for the money. Each game was tight. Hustle and good outside hitters worked well in favor of the Navy, and the Army’s team had great unity,” said Paul Prentice, base fitness center sports director. “The Marines couldn’t seem to get it together. They had a lot of good individual players, but it seemed as if they couldn’t work as a team. Their chemistry was off and it showed.”

A closing ceremony at the base officers club wrapped up the events. The six top players, four Air Force and two Army, were named the tournament all-star team and each received real gold coins.

The Air Force all-stars are 1st Lt. Billeye Juarez, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.; Capt. Jenny Block, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.; and Capts. Lisa Harrington and Christine Biler, both of Los Angeles AFB, Calif. Army members are lst Lt. DeAnn Machlan of Fort Campbell, Ky., and 1st Lt. Deanna Lehn of Fort Bliss, Texas.

Some of the women now head to the U.S. team trials at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., July 24 through Aug. 4. Winners there will advance to the Military World Games in Croatia, sponsored by the International Military Sports Council.

Air Force players named to attend the trials are Juarez, Block and Harrington; Capt. Erin Carmichael, Vance AFB, Okla.; 1st Lt. Denise Freimuth, Randolph AFB, Texas; 2nd Lt. Tara Shambart, Holloman AFB, N.M.; and 2nd Lt. Tracey Smith, Dover AFB, Del.

Army candidates are Machlan, Lehn, and Capt. Debra Miller of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

Navy members chosen are Lt. Lauren Nilsen, Naval Hospital Cherry Point, N.C.; Lt. j.g. Karen Schullian, USS Shiloh, Calif.; Lt. j.g. Marsha Heineman, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va.; and Ensign Stephanie Merrit, USS Tortuga, Va.

Marines making the cut are 1st Lt. Sue Bird, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.; Lance Cpl. Nyla Johnson, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego; and Lance Cpl. Alexis Montgomery, 3rd Marine Air Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.

[Karen Edge is a contract base newspaper reporter and editor at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas.]

Story by Karen Edge, Special to American Forces Press Service

A boys volleyball coach at Burnsville High School is facing charges after being accused of sexually assaulting an underage player.

Brooke Emily Reinhardt, 24, has been charged with three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct with an underage victim.

According to court documents, on Tuesday, Burnsville police received a report of possible criminal sexual conduct involving Reinhardt and a 17-year-old player.

A witness said Reinhardt was looking after his home in Burnsville while he was out of state between June 23 and 29, and after returning, he found the victim’s wallet in his apartment.

Court records note that the victim was interviewed and said he forgot his wallet, and Reinhardt sent him a text saying that he’d forgotten it in her car. The victim stated that Reinhardt gave him a ride to practice in Maple Grove on June 28 and waited for him to finish practice before bringing him home.

The victim initially told investigators that he had not spent any time with Reinhardt aside from their sport, but authorities found texts from Reinhardt on his phone about condoms and also saying that he had “a lot of things to delete.”

According to the criminal complaint, the victim told officers that he and Reinhardt had been hanging out more often, and that the two of them began dating about two or three months before. He initially told officials that they hadn’t done more than just kissing.

When asked about the texts about condoms, the victim then said that they had sex multiple times and that Reinhardt had sent him nude pictures, court documents state.

On Wednesday, police arrested Reinhardt and in interviews, she initially said that the relationship between her and the victim was as coach and player; however, she later admitted that in May, she and the victim engaged in sexual acts in her vehicle and had sex multiple times, including at both of their houses and the witness’s apartment.

Court records note that she also admitted to sending nude pictures of herself to the victim.

Reinhardt has her next court hearing scheduled for Aug. 6.

Peter was born in Cape Town, South Africa and grew up in Rhodesia. He was a Rhodesian Olympic breaststroke swimmer, played water polo and rugby. He was a Lieutenant in the Rhodesian African Rifles during the war. Peter held many positions both in South Africa and the USA in the Sales and Marketing field.

Peter passed away peacefully at home in Maitland, Florida on June 25, 2025 surrounded by his family after a long illness with Frontotemporal Dementia.

He is preceded in passing by his father, Derek Williams.

He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Desré, his mother, Kay Gibson, his brothers, Paul Williams (married to Carol), Glenn Williams (married to Nadia), his sister Karen Nel (married to Anthony), his children, Simon Williams (married to Megan), Lisa Williams (married to Stefan), his 8 grandchildren, Blake Burkey, Kate Burkey, Juliet Burkey, Madelyn Burkey, and Vele Burkey, Brianna Williams, Ava Williams, and Camden Williams.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to AFTD – The Association for Frontotemporal Dementia in Peter’s name https://www.theaftd.org/?campaign=488718

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DETROIT LAKES

— This year’s Northwest Water Carnival will be living up to its name, even more than usual.

In full compliance with a

new Minnesota state law,

the Detroit Lakes Jaycees will be providing free access to drinkable water for all ticketed events during the water carnival’s 10-day run, from Friday, July 11 through Sunday, July 20.

“We’re here to keep everyone happy and hydrated to the fullest,” says April Asleson, who is co-admiral of the 89th Northwest Water Carnival alongside Tyler Tretbar.

This means that the Jaycees will have free water on tap in large Gatorade jugs; allow guests to bring in their own bottled water (unopened); and offer bottled water for sale at a flat cost of $2 per bottle.

This will apply to all ticketed events, from the Kickoff Party on July 11 to the Bash on the Beach with Lonestar on July 19.

And on the other side of the spectrum, the Parade of the Northwest on Sunday, July 20 will be offering “no water” zones for spectators who don’t want to get wet, as well as signs for those parade participants who do not want their floats, vehicles or attire to be splashed/drenched with water from spectators. Both spectators and participants are asked to respect these restrictions — and for those who do want to get wet, the traditional “water wars” will kick off this year’s parade rather than taking place at the end.

Speaking of the parade, the traditional route is being upended this year, beginning from the staging area outside Kent Freeman Arena, proceeding east on West Lake Drive to the Pavilion, then north on Washington Avenue to Front Street. The parade will feature 150-plus entries, and is expected to continue for roughly two hours from start to finish.

More than 60 events are planned during the water carnival’s 10-day run, including traditional favorites like the Water Fights and Great Admiral’s Hat Hunt as well as a few new events like a rock-skipping contest during Family Day (July 13) and a jigsaw puzzle competition at the Pavilion (July 14).

The first night of the Bash on the Beach will also be a little different this year, with the event on Friday, July 18, catering specifically to teens, while the second night on Saturday, July 19, featuring Lonestar as the headliner, will have the traditional, adults-only format.

Pickleball, sand volleyball and bean bag tournaments; sky diving for adults and inflatable games for kids; lots of live music on tap; bingo, “Bearsbee” and more: This year’s Northwest Water Carnival is sure to make a splash. A full schedule can be found online at

dljaycees.com,

which is also where you can find ticketing and registration information for all the events.