Blackford Bruins

Blackford Bruins

Head coach: Courtney Miles (first season)

Last season: 16-18

Varsity returners: Sr. S Kaitlin Nuckols (560 assists, 20 kills, 18 aces, 122 digs); Sr. RS Kirsti Reed (67 kill, 10 aces, 45 digs, 10 blocks); Sr. MB Rachael Baker (117 kills, 11 aces, 69 digs, 23 blocks); Sr. MB Shelby Strine (107 kills, 27 digs, 39 blocks); Jr. L/S Hannah Simmons (5 kills, 17 aces, 56 digs); So. OH Victoria Bauer (11 kills, 21 aces, 75 digs); So. DS Peyton Hiestand (15 aces, 73 digs)

Varsity newcomers: Sr. L Whitney Bliss; Jr. DS/L Maysie Hayden; Jr. OH Darcie Robertson

Varsity departures: MB Madison Crist (228 kills, 33 aces, 220 digs, 60 blocks); DS Amanda Felver (5 kills, 20 aces, 145 digs); OH Krysta Nickols (83 kills, 25 aces, 244 digs, 5 blocks)

Season outlook: “Our main goal this year is building the confidence to persevere the entire length of a match in order to win the series,” Miles says. “We have many returning varsity players who have great potential this season.”

Blue River Vikings

Blue River Vikings

Head coach: ZoeAnn Chernowsky (sixth season)

Last season: 14-18

Varsity returners: Jr. OH Christina Hughes (316 Kills, 69 Aces); Jr. DS Sara Barnes (158 Digs); Jr. L Alyssa Sells (203 Digs, 44 Aces); Jr. OH Hope Crabtree (147 Digs, 39 Aces); So. MB Kyleigh Alcorn (104 Kills, 29.5 Blocks); So. MB Haley Morgan (17.5 blocks, 19 aces); So. S Brenna Morgan (131 digs, 34 aces, 702 assists)

Varsity newcomers: Jr. DS Karen Halstead; Fr. DS Mallery Sharp

Varsity departures: OH Bryanna Graat (297 Digs, 266 Kills, 37 Aces)

Outlook: “We are still a youthful team looking to build on some success from last season,” Chernowsky says.

Burris Owls

Burris Owls

Coach: John Rodriguez (first season at Burris)

Last season: 18-17

Varsity returners: So. DS Tiffany Hollihan (5 assists, 22 aces, 101 digs); Jr. S Lexi Johnson (3 assists); Jr. MB Taylor Harman (108 kills, 4 assists, 6 digs, 62 blocks); Jr. L Isabel Gothard (10 assists, 37 aces, 328 digs); Jr. S Emily Brinkman (187 assists, 3 aces, 12 digs); Jr. OH/MB Taylor Kring (187 kills, 6 assists, 36 aces, 49 digs, 36 blocks); Jr. OH Alyssa Peters (141 kills, 3 aces, 41 digs, 19 blocks); Jr. DS Marissa Dudley (14 aces, 5 digs); Sr. DS Jessica Craig (5 assists, 41 aces, 127 digs)

Varsity newcomers: Fr. OH/MB Abigail Ludwick

Varsity departures: OH Ari Anderson (111 kills, 17 blocks); OH Hannah Brinkman (145 kills, 49 aces, 188 digs); DS Esther Griffin (6 digs); MB Keyonna Morrow (118 kills, 34 aces, 13 blocks); S Mia Robertson (542 assists, 18 aces, 57 digs)

Season outlook: “I really like the effort of our backcourt players,” Rodriguez says. “Passing and defense has to be at a high level in order to bring back the Burris tradition.”

Central Bearcats

Central Bearcats

Coach: Wes Lyon (11th season, 327-54)

Last season: 24-10

Varsity returners: Sr. L Jessica Helms (557 digs, 69 service aces); Sr. DS Suzi Smith (150 digs, 36 service aces); Jr. OH Allyson Young (117 kills, 68 digs); So. MB Micah Leavell (199 kills, 38.5 blocks); So. OH Nikki Marshall (65 kills, 23 service aces)

Varsity newcomers: Sr. S Catherine Smith; Sr. DS Jordyn Cline; Jr. OH Savannah Jackson; Jr. MB Jordan Pointer; Fr. S/RS Lacee Adams; Fr. OH Kincaid Padgett; Fr. OH E’laisha Young

Varsity departures: S Sarah Dale (1,069 assists, 40 aces, 194 digs); OH Kaitlin Kerrigan (225 kills, 195 digs, 36 blocks); Jaydn’ Pegues (561 kills, 35 aces, 321 digs); OH Katiana Wilbanks (17 kills, 9 digs, 5 blocks)

Season outlook: “With 68 percent of the offense and the setter gone from last year, new players need to step up and become offensive threats,” Lyon says. “Our ball control and serving should help us stay competitive until the offense develops.”

Cowan Blackhawks

Cowan Blackhawks

Head coach: Pancho Alvarez (second season, 27-10)

Last season: 27-10, Class A state champions

Varsity returners: Sr. MB Kristina Flowers (213 kills, 44 blocks, 130 digs); Sr. DS Makayla Miller (144 digs, five aces); Sr. S Allie Curtis (44 digs); Sr. DS Kelsie Mace (93 digs, 11 aces); Jr. L Valorie Flick (738 digs, 25 aces)

Varsity newcomers: Jr. MB Diane Campbell; Jr. RS Mahalia Flick; Fr. S/RS Gabby Harrington; Jr. RS Alaya Miller; OH Jr. Caitlyn Kimbrough; Jr. DS Kelsey Harrington; Fr. MB/OH McKenzie Howell; So. S Abigail Huff; Fr. DS Taylin Oxley

Varsity departures: MB Mallory Bruner (229 kills, 48 blocks); OH Audrey Jones (147 kills, 45 aces, 79 digs); DS Jessica Mace (124 kills, 284 digs); S Madisen Mangus (905 assists, 60 aces, 153 digs); MB Kyanne Stewart (189 kills, 65 blocks)

Season outlook: “Hard work, motivation and defensive discipline will be the foundation of this team’s success,” Alvarez says. “Distribution of the ball and ability to terminate have been the focus during the summer, first several days of practice and will continue to be as the season progresses.”

Daleville Broncos

Daleville Broncos

Coach: Justin Richman (fourth season)

Last season: 18-15

Varsity returners: Sr. S Rosie Weber (792 assists, 178 digs, 102 aces); Sr. OH Lauren Wilson (214 digs, 346 kills); Sr. MB Meredith Witty (188 kills); Jr. OH Baylee Wright (25 kills); Jr. DS Erin Allen (151 digs, 26 aces); Sr. OH RuthAnne Shellabarger (5 kills, 3 aces); Jr. DS Lauren Irelan (7 digs, 21 aces); Jr. MB Hannah Huff (52 kills); Jr. L Hannah McKinney (195 digs, 51 aces)

Varsity departures: L Jayda Morris (535 digs, 31 assists kills)

Season outlook: “We finally have established experience and a gym culture,” Richman says. “Now we have to use that to our advantage by starting fast and finishing strong.”

Delta Eagles

Delta Eagles

Coach: Heidi Zickgraf (sixth season, 110-57)

Last season: 17-13

Varsity returners: Sr. S Madison Bergren (952 assists, 172 digs), Sr. M Marissa Elam (213 kills, 58 blocks), Jr. L Teaghan Dishman (33 aces, 610 digs), Jr. DS Ericka Pursley (227 digs), So. OH Kaylee Nichols (119 kills, 62 digs), So. OH Audrey Woodin (143 kills, 22 blocks, 50 digs), So. DS Sarah Ogle (218 digs, 39 aces), Jr. DS/S McKenzie Sulfridge

Varsity newcomers: Sr. OH Emily Langguth, FR. DS Gabby Zgunda, FR S Kelsee Roe, FR. M Rebecka Vannatta, FR OH/MACamryn Campbell, So. OH/MA Maci Pickering, Sr. DS Alex Kennedy

Varsity departures: OH Destiny Coleman (7 kills); OH Lauren Cross (6 kills); OH Lauren Ogle (310 digs, 48 aces); MB Taylor Wright (341 kills, 59 blocks)

Season outlook: “The chemistry of the team will play a huge part this season,” Zickgraf says. “Several newcomers will be asked to play big roles and how they jell with the returning players is yet to be determined.”

Jay County Patriots

Jay County Patriots

Coach: Fred Medler (19th season)

Last season: 11-23

Varsity returners: Jr. OH Mallory Houck (67 kills, 207 digs); Jr. MB Bre McIntire (194 kills); Jr. MB/RS Emily Westgerdes (44 kills); OH Abby Wendel (83 digs); Jr. MB Ava Kunkler (121 kills); Jr. OH Kylie Osborne (150 kills)

Varsity newcomers: Jr. S Jessica Kerrigan; Jr. DS Faith Parr; So. OH Mallory Marshall; Jr. RS Michelle Wellman; Fr. S Lizzy Schoenlein

Varsity departure: S Hannah Ainsworth

Season outlook: “We will be young and interesting to watch this season,” Medler says. “Our success this season will depend on how much we have grown up, how well we respond to other teams and our ability to drive ourselves when things are not quite going our way.”

Monroe Central

Golden Bears

Monroe Central Golden Bears

Coach: Kelsey Brandl (second season)

Last season: NA

Varsity returners: Sr. DS Morgan Engle; Sr. DS Shaylee Stigleman; Jr. OH Lexi Hosier; So. S Zoee Kear; So. MB Morgan Haney; So. MB Emmarae Roberts; So. RS Mikaela McGrath; So. DS Maleah Huser

Varsity newcomers: Jr. DS Destiny Cope; So. OH/MB Andrea Butler; Fr. OH/RS Katarina DiBiasio

Varsity departures: OH Luren Muzzarelli; MB Abigail Silvers; DS Erin Hodge; OH Haley Fields; OH/RS Kayla Bogue

Season outlook: “We have a great group of players returning with a pair of strong seniors and a core group of youthful players,” Brandl says. “The culture of Monroe Central volleyball has begun to change and just the overall atmosphere is much more team-oriented and very strong.”

New Castle Trojans

New Castle Trojans

Coach: Randy Gardner (second season, 33-3)

Last season: 33-3

Varsity returners: Sr. OH Lauryn Gillis (583 kills, 259 digs, 85 blocks); Jr. MB Payton Anderson (266 kills, 58 blocks); Sr. MB Laryssa Welch (232 kills, 75 blocks); Jr. L Brianna Heffernan (357 digs, 22 aces); Sr. OH Megan Milikan (3 kills, 14 digs, 6½ blocks); Sr. S Abbey Renner (69 assists, 10 digs); Sr. DS Ashley Criswell; Jr. OH/DS Jennifer Barr (8 digs); Jr. DS Courtney Barr

Varsity newcomers: Sr. RS Allie Sabo; Jr. S Kiley Lingenfelter (1,137 assists, 53 aces, 100 digs, 27 blocks at Wapahani)

Varsity departures: OH Shae Baugh (29 kills, 35 blocks); DS Melinda Brunck (189 digs, 20 aces); OH Ciarra Leath (181 kills, 37 aces, 288 digs); S Taylor Patterson (1,115 assists, 157 kills, 232 digs, 49 blocks)

Season outlook: “This team should be better than last year’s team with the additions and seasoned players we have along the net, and our team chemistry will be better,” Gardner says. “Our strength should be our depth on the offensive end and our weakness could be our ball control early on this year.”

Randolph Southern Rebels

Randolph Southern Rebels

Coach: Chelsea Gibson (fourth season)

Last season: 18-15

Varsity returners: Sr. OH Mikayla Knoll (117 kills, 138 digs); Sr. DS Shianna Knoll (185 digs); Sr. OH Maddie Kramer (167 kills, 298 digs); Sr. DS Kara Snyder (131 digs); Jr. OH Morgan Gibson (154 kills, 31 blocks)

Varsity newcomers: Jr. MB Kylee Knotts; Jr. OH Mariah Rhoades; So. MB Ali Kosisko; So. DS Molly O’Connor

Varsity departures: Setter Hannah Franklin (563 assists, 276 digs); OH Taylor York (148 kills, 469 digs)

Season outlook: “The girls are all having fun and playing together,” Gibson says. “I believe the season will be enjoyable and competitive.”

Shenandoah Raiders

Shenandoah Raiders

Coach: Adam Leach (12th season, 211-121)

Last season: 11-22

Varsity returners: Sr. L Adrianne Trennepohl (127 digs); Jr. OH Micah Kimball (158 kills, 217 digs, 31 aces); Jr. L Ellie Rider (311 digs); Jr. RS Hanna Pugsley (138 kills)

Varsity newcomers: Jr. MB/OH Rachel Krathwohl; Fr. MB Avarie Powell; Fr. S Claire Trennepohl; Fr. S Rachel Axsom; So. MB/OH Brea Townsend; Fr. S Madison Wilson; Fr. OH Macee Rudy; Jr. RS Madison Mousty

Varsity departures: OH Andi Hise (166 kills); S Makayla Roseberry (543 assists); DS Jenna Conyers (98 digs)

Season outlook: “We will have plenty of talented newcomers who will need to respond well to being thrown into the proverbial fire that is ECI volleyball,” Leach says. “Our returners are preparing for the next level. We will be building a team with the highest expectations, while seeking our own identity.”

Southside Rebels

Southside Rebels

Coach: Adam Havice (11th season)

Last season: 8-20

Varsity returners: Jr. OH Hannah Wilhoite; Jr. OH Madison Smith; Jr. DS Danielle Nelson; Jr. OH Kashala Meadors; So. OH/MB Alayz’a Wright; So. DS Rachel Curtis; So. S Alexus Ray; So. OH Savannah Benslay; So. MB Ashley Skidmore; So. DS Breanna Antrim

Varsity newcomers: Fr. S Mekayla Johnson; Fr. MB Aaliyah Benning; Fr. DS Catie Reel; Fr. MB Jeniya Strong; Fr. MB Tazmyn Pegues; Fr. OH Adrianna Hardy

Varsity departures: DS Elizabeth Allison; S Brandi Montgomery; MB Jasmine Sutton; DS Lacey Whitted

Season outlook: “We have a lot of potential,” Havice says. “Our goal is to play hard and compete in every match.”

Union Rockets

Union Rockets

Coach: Crystal Key (first season at Union)

Last season: 16-20

Varsity returners: Sr. S Lisa Rodriguez (768 assists, 534 digs, 80 aces); Sr. OH Courtney Kinnaman (394 kills, 270 digs, 23.5 blocks); So. OH DeAnn Kauffman (306 kills, 40 aces, 398 digs); Sr. OH Mianna Casto (85 kills, 156 digs); So. RS Lexi Shore (12 aces, 86 digs); Sr. DS Aubrey Lindsey (255 digs); Sr. DS Heidi Holaday (90 digs); Sr. Hayley Nicholas (14 aces)

Varsity newcomers: Sr. MB Candise Deck, Fr. MB MacKyndsea Burke, Fr. MB Faithlan Ellis, Sr. DS Courtney Johnson, Fr. DS/S Becca Glaser, Jr. DS Taylor Johnson, Fr. DS Delaney McPhee

Varsity departures: OH Katie Lambert (362 digs, 43 aces)

Season outlook: “The Rockets will be returning several key players from last year, along with adding some youth who have some promising potential,” Key says. “Senior leadership will need to be strong as they direct the younger players to a successful season.”

Union City Indians

Union City Indians

Head Coach: Pam Thornburg (second season, 0-23)

Last season: 0-23

Varsity returners: Sr. S Kelsea Miller (146 assists, 55 digs); Sr. L Lyndsay Pearson (259 digs); Sr. MH Brittany Osborne (89 blocks, 42 kills, 10 aces); Sr. OH Brooke Bissell (27 kills, 47 digs); Sr. RH Brittany Sigler (30 kills,62 digs); Jr. MB Raelynn Mills (117 blocks, 24 kills, 10 aces)

Varsity newcomers: Jr. MH Reagan Bradbury, Michaela Dean, So. OH Hannah Lambdin, Fr. OH/MH Courtney Wise

Varsity departures: DS Delia Ulloa (94 digs); MH Mackenzie Beam (15 kills, 56 blocks); OH/DS Natasha King (74 digs, 10 aces, 16 kills); Makayla Honn (25 digs, 10 kills)

Season outlook: “We will impress a lot of people this year with our improvement,” Thornburg says. “We have grown so much since last year and with the addition of a few talented freshmen we should have a good season.”

Wapahani Raiders

Wapahani Raiders

Coach: Jared Richardson (first season)

Last season: 33-4, Class 2A state champions

Varsity returners: Sr. OH Lindi Thomas (468 kills, 214 digs, 37 aces); Sr. MB/OH Courtney Mitchell (215 kills, 99 total blocks, 32 aces); Sr. OH/MB Courtney Masters (24 kills, 54 total blocks); Jr. L Katie Foster (103 digs, 42 aces); Jr. OH/MB Addison Reynolds (23 kills, 24 blocks)

Varsity newcomers: Jr. S Megan Hicks; Jr. DS Courtlinn Boggs; So. DS Hannah Smith; Fr. OH/MB Chase Curry; Jr. DS/OH Ryhan Webster

Varsity departures: OH Aubreigh Applegate (475 kills, 375 digs, 45 blocks); OH Brittany Cline (266 kills, 124 digs, 52 blocks); MB Caitlyn Curry (1 kill, 2 blocks); DS Shawna Estep (34 aces, 49 digs); S Mackenzie Evans (212 assists); L Paige Williamson (495 digs, 32 aces); S Kiley Lingenfelter (1,137 assists, 53 aces, 100 digs, 27 blocks)

Season outlook: “Moving into 3A there will be new obstacles to overcome, but this team is made up of talented volleyball players with a will to win,” Richardson says. “New faces will need to step up in key positions and play pivotal roles this season.”

Wes-Del Warriors

Wes-Del Warriors

Coach: Biff Wilson (fifth season, 102-43)

Last season: 20-14

Varsity returners: Sr. OH Myranda Foster (18 kills); Sr. DS Natalie Heaton (418 digs, 46 aces); Sr. OH Maddie Prather (134 kills, 150 digs, 51 aces); Jr. OH Mariah Berry (50 kills); Jr. OH Megan Clark (105 kills); Jr. DS Chloe Kinsey (191 digs); Jr. DS Kristen Lansing (93 digs); Jr. S Kennedy Petro (799 assists, 237 digs); Jr. MB Mackenzie Whitehead (185 kills, 52 blocks); Soph. OH Alysa Sutton (182 kills, 135 digs, 60 aces)

Varsity newcomers: So. OH/MH Emily Hale; So. OH/MH Perrie Smalley; So S Haylie Spencer; Fr. DS Morgan Prather

Varsity departures: Sr. DS Allie Doster (194 digs); Sr. OH Hannah Sneed (207 kills, 93 digs)

Season outlook: “The Warriors return the bulk of last year’s young squad,” Wilson says. “This experience should be beneficial with the Warriors’ tough schedule. Our goal is to show consistent improvement throughout the season and challenge for a sectional championship in October.”

Winchester Falcons

Winchester Falcons

Head coach: Julie Smiley (first season back after two years off, fifth season overall)

Last season: 24-8

Varsity returners: Sr. MB Delaney Miller (266 Kills 78 Blocks); Sr. OH/MB Bailey Gates (206 Kills, 131 Digs); Sr. S Brandi Marquis; So. OH/DS Emily White (165 Digs); So. MB/OH Leah Malkey (54 Kills)

Varsity newcomers: Sr. L Hayley Myers; Jr. OH/DS Brianna Weist; So. RS/S Kaitlyn Chipley

Varsity departures: OH/MB Payton Smiley (314 Kills, 59 Aces, 228 Digs); S Chelsi Wall (769 Assists, 64 Kills, 137 Digs); MB/OH Kim Brutchen (59 Kills, 78 Digs, 28 Blocks); RS Lauren Peacock (33 Kills, injured most of season); DS Shelby Irelan (28 Aces, 95 Digs)

Season outlook: “While we will miss our seniors from last year, this team has the potential to maintain the solid performance seen from the Falcons last year,” Smiley says. “Last year’s libero is transitioning to an outside hitter, and we have a few new players who have big shoes to fill, but I have confidence in them.”

Yorktown Tigers

Yorktown Tigers

Coach: Stephanie Bloom (sixth season, 161-23)

Last season: 35-4, Class 3A state runner-up

Varsity returners: Sr. S Taylor Zwickl (308 digs, 73 kills, 53 aces); Sr. MB Rachel Hines (37 digs, 206 kills); Sr. RS Nicole Phillips (25 kills, 11 digs); Sr. DS Halle McKibben (35 digs, 11 aces); Sr. OH Kyleigh Brumley (31 digs, 13 kills, 10 aces); Junior MB Carson Malapit (42 digs, 149 kills); Jr. OH Karli Acree (204 kills, 131 digs, 39 aces); So. S Mimi Arrington (154 digs, 25 aces).

Varsity newcomers: Jr. OH Marlee Castner; Jr. DS Gabi Upchurch; So. DS Jade York; So. DS Brooke Hildreth; So. DS Kate Avila; Fr. OH Kendall Murr.

Varsity departures: OH Nikki Box (378 kills, 44 aces, 327 digs); OH Courtney Chowning (262 kills, 105 digs, 27 blocks); DS Harlie Holding (454 digs, 39 aces); DS Katie Miller (185 digs, 35 aces)

Season outlook: “This year presents a different challenge now that we’re competing in 4A,” Bloom says. “We have varsity returners who are excited about this new challenge and know what it takes to win along with newcomers who are pushing our upperclassmen to continue to compete at a higher level.”

—Compiled by Thomas St. Myer

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 15, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s National Team finished the first week of 2025 Volleyball Nations League with a 2-2 record after defeating longtime rival Cuba, 3-1 (25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23) on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The U.S. (2-2) will host the second week of VNL in Chicago with its first match against China (2-2) on June 25 at 5:30 p.m. PDT.

Outside hitter Cooper Robinson led the U.S. with 18 points on 12 kills, four blocks and two aces, while leading all players with 11 successful receptions. Veteran middle blocker Jeff Jendryk scored 13 points on 10 kills, two blocks and an ace. He hit .714 for the match with 10 kills and no errors on 14 attacks.

“Cuba is a great team. They are going to bomb serve, and they are going to hit hard. We just had to ride the storm and stay patient with our game and wear them down over time. I’m really proud of our guys today. They are so much fun, and they bring a ton of energy. It’s just fun playing with these guys. It makes me feel young again,” said the 27-year-old Jendryk. “I have to give a shoutout to Cooper for just grinding all these games. It’s not easy and he definitely held his own. I’m super proud of him but proud of all the guys who came in. We all came in and made a difference. That’s what we need to do.”

The match was even in multiple statistical categories with Cuba ending with very slight advantages in kills (48-47) and blocks (13-11), while the U.S. served 11 aces to Cuba’s four. The U.S. scored 28 points on opposing errors, while giving away five fewer points.

“This group hasn’t been together a lot but boy, did they scrap and fight tonight. We came back strong (in the fourth set) and made some changes. It was a total team effort,” head coach Karch Kiraly commented.

Outside hitter Ethan Champlin reached double digits with 11 points on nine kills, a block and an ace. His serving keyed the U.S. second-set victory. Opposite Kyle Hobus recorded seven kills and fellow opposite Gabi Garcia scored six points on four kills, a block and an ace. Middle blocker Matthew Knigge scored six points on three kills, two blocks and an ace after he was called into service early in the match when Patrick Gasman went down with an injury.

“We are sending out thoughts to Pat on whatever it is he injured. We are hoping it is minor and that he recovers quickly. Props to Matt Knigge as the plan was not for him to play except in an emergency and the emergency happened,” Kiraly said.

Libero Mason Briggs registered five digs and four successful receptions. Champlin added five digs and three successful receptions. Setter Andrew Rowan led the offense.

Cuba led for most of the first set and still led 20-17 when the U.S. finished the set on an 8-2 run. Knigge put a ball straight down to give the U.S. a 22-21 lead. Hobus recorded back-to-back kills, the second off the Cuba block, for a 24-21 lead. After giving up one point, the U.S. sealed the set on a Champlin block. Hobus led all players with six kills.

Champlin served for six consecutive points in the second set to turn a 7-6 deficit to a 12-7 lead, culminating with an ace. A tough Champlin serve caused an overpass, leading to a Robinson kill, and Champlin scored on a back row attack on the following point during the six-point run.

An 8-4 Cuba run, ending with a block, cut the U.S. lead to two points, 18-16, but the U.S. ended the set on a 7-2 run to take a two-set lead. Robinson led the U.S. Men with five points on three kills and two blocks. Garcia served the final two points of the set, including an ace on set point.

Cuba jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the third set. A Robinson block brought the U.S. within two points, 8-6, before Cuba went on a 6-1 run that forced the U.S. to use both of its timeouts. Robinson scored five points for the second consecutive set with four kills and one block.

A Robinson kill on a back row attack gave the U.S. a 9-4 lead early in the fourth set, but Cuba went on a 11-5 run to take its first lead of the set and force the second U.S. timeout. A Garcia kill followed by two Cuba errors put the U.S. back ahead by two points, 17-15, and force Cuba to take its final timeout.

Jendryk recorded a kill for a 22-19 lead. Champlin kept a play going with a back pass recycle that led to a Robinson kill on a back row attack to stretch the lead back to four points, 23-19. Robinson scored on another back row attack to set up match point, 24-21. Cuba fought off two match points, the second on an ace, but a service error ended the match.

Robinson and Garcia each totaled five points in the fourth set on four kills and a block, while Jendryk and Champlin posted three kills apiece.

U.S. Men’s Week One Roster for 2025 VNL

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
3 Mason Briggs (L, 6-0, Long Beach, Calif., Long Beach State, Southern California)
4 Jeff Jendryk (MB, 6-10, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola Univ. Chicago, Great Lakes)
6 Quinn Isaacson (S, 6-2, Plainfield, Ill., Ball State, Great Lakes)
9 Gabi Garcia (OPP, 6-7, San Juan, Puerto Rico, BYU)
10 Kyle Dagostino (L, 5-9, Tampa, Florida, Stanford Univ., Florida)
15 Kyle Hobus (OPP, 6-7, San Pedro, Calif., CSUN, Southern California)
17 Andrew Rowan (S, 6-7, Trabuco Canyon, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
18 Cooper Robinson (OH, 6-7, Pacific Palisades, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
19 Patrick Gasman (MB, 6-10, Clovis, Calif., Univ. of Hawaii, Northern California)
23 Nolan Flexen (OH, 6-9, Rio Rancho, N.M., UC Irvine, Southern)
24 Merrick McHenry (MB, 6-7, Bedford, Texas, UCLA, North Texas)
25 Ethan Champlin (OH, 6-3, Oceanside, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
28 Matthew Knigge (MB, 6-7, New Egypt, N.J., Vassar, Garden Empire)
29 Jordan Ewert (OH, 6-5, Antioch, Calif., Stanford, Northern California)

Head Coach:  Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coach: Luka Slabe
Assistant Coach: Javier Weber
Performance Analyst: Nate Ngo
Physiotherapist: Aaron Brock
Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach: Tim Pelot
Senior Sports Dietitian: Shawn Hueglin
Mental Performance Coach: Andrea Becker
Team Manager: David Dantes
Consultant Coach: Chris McGown
Consultant Coach: Marv Dunphy
Team Doctors:  Eugene Yim, Mark Hutchinson, Michael Shepard, Warren Young

U.S. Men’s Week One Schedule for the 2025 Volleyball Nations League
Matches will be shown live and on-demand on VBTV, CBS Sports Network and Big Ten NetworkWeek 1: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
June 11: Ukraine def. USA, 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-23)
June 12 USA def. Iran, 3-2 (19-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-23, 17-15)
June 14 Slovenia def. USA, 3-1 (25-22, 27-25, 20-25, 25-23)
June 15 USA def. Cuba, 3-1 (25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese inserted himself into the endless discussion about venue selection for the Brisbane 2032 Games, saying on the “Two Good Sports” podcast on Friday that rowing could be moved to Sydney and tennis to Melbourne:

“I’ve been meeting with [Brisbane 2032 chief] Andrew Liveris as well as with the Queensland Premier [David] Crisafulli about where it goes.

“For example, are we really going to do rowing in Rockhampton on the Fitzroy River when there are some pretty good facilities at Penrith [in Sydney]?

“There’s a debate over tennis and what’s needed there in Brisbane as well.”

The Queensland government is having none of it; a spokesman said Friday, “we are working with all levels of government to implement the 2032 Games Delivery Plan, which will see Rowing in Rockhampton and Tennis played at the upgraded Queensland Tennis Centre.”

● NCAA ● Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork said last week that the $20.5 million distribution to its athletes will send $18 million to players in four sports only: football, men’s and women’s basketball, and women’s volleyball (despite a record of 14-16; average attendance: 3,518 this past season).

The remaining $2.5 million will be used to fund 91 new scholarships across all sports; Ohio State sponsors 36 teams in total.

Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said last Thursday that revenue-sharing will be distributed to football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball and women’s gymnastics, all of which had significant on-field success this season.

Observed: Note that both Ohio State and Oklahoma announced distributions to an equal number of men’s and women’s sports, a direct nod to Title IX in view of actions already filed, which are primarily about the unequal amounts of money to be paid … which were not announced.

Oklahoma State took what appears to be an interesting alternate path, with the “seven ticketed varsity sports” – football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball, women’s soccer and men’s wrestling – to receive funding. A post from athletic director Chad Weiberg noted “Others will get additional scholarships.”

● Anti-Doping ● A Bolivian physician who asked to have the banned diuretic furosemide to be added to a custom supplement to given to Bolivian swimmer Maria Jose Ribera – who then tested positive – has been banned for six years for “administration and complicity.”

The International Testing Agency reported the suspension period from from 12 June 2025 until 11 June 2031.

● Athletics ● With Betsy Saina now pregnant, USA Track & Field named Jessica McClain to replace her on the American World Championships team for Tokyo in September.

McClain will be a first-time U.S. national team member, and was fourth at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in 2024. She ran seventh at the 2025 Boston Marathon in 2:22:43.

● Shooting ● Interesting agreement by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) to share resources, best practices and cross-promotion ideas, with a special focus on medical issues, safeguarding and integrity.

Their first together was to “co-finance the attendance of legal delegates to the IOC Medical Conference and Prevention of Competition Manipulation Workshop in 2025.”

It would not appear that these federations would have much in common, so it will be fascinating to see what comes out of the agreement.

● Skiing ● U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced the third class of Stifel Award winners, given to athletes and staff on six teams, in multiple categories.

“Athlete of the Year” honors went to Lauren Macuga (alpine skiing), Jessie Diggins and Gus Schumacher (cross country), Alex Hall and Rell Harwood (freeski), Chris Lillis (freestyle aerials), Jaelin Kauf (freestyle moguls) and Saylor O’Brien (para alpine).

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Judo ● Japan struck early and hard at the IJF World Championships in Budapest (HUN), which will continue through 20 June, winning three of the first four weights and winning a medal in all four.

Paris 2024 bronze medalist Ryuju Nagayama won his first men’s 60 kg title – after two bronzes – over Romain Valadier-Picard (FRA) and new star Takeshi Takeoka won the 66 kg class against Nurali Emomali (TJK). Two-time Olympic champ Hifumi Abe was defeated in the quarters, but came back to win a bronze medal.

Younger sister Uta Abe, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champ at 52 kg, won her fifth Worlds gold, defeating Tokyo 2020 48 kg winner Distria Krasniqi (KOS) in the final. Italy’s Assunta Scutto finally moved up to gold in the women’s 48 kg division, taking Worlds bronzes in 2022 and 2023, then silver in 2024 and now gold in 2025, over Abiba Abuzhakynova (KAZ). Japan’s Wakana Koga won her third career Worlds medal with a bronze.

On Sunday, France’s 2024 Olympic silver star Joan-Benjamin Gaba won his first Worlds gold, in the 73 kg class, defeating 2022 Worlds bronzer Daniel Cargnin (BRA) in the final. Georgia’s Eteri Liparteliani won the women’s 57 kg class, her first individual Worlds medal; she defeated two-time Worlds medal winner Momo Tamaoki.

● Sailing ● Spain’s Jordi Xammar returned to the podium at the 470 World Championships, this time in the mixed-crew event introduced at the 2024 Olympic Games, teaming with Marta Cardona to win off Gdynia (POL) with 48 net points, the same as Germany’s Simon Diesch and Anna Markfort.

The tie was broken by the Spanish finishing fourth in the final, medal race, ahead of the Germans in fifth. In all, the Germans won four races to Spain’s two. Barely behind with 49 net points was Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris, who finished third in the medal race and would have won if they had been second!

It’s the second straight Worlds win for Xammar, who had Nora Brugman on board in 2024.

≡ HIGHLIGHTS ≡

● Artistic Swimming ● At the World Aquatics World Cup Super Final in Xian (CHN), China’s Haiyan Xu won the women’s Solo Technical, and then teamed with Yanjun Lin to win the women’s Duet Technical and the Duet Free.

Belarus’ Vasilina Khandoshka, the 2024 Worlds Solo Free bronzer, competing as a “neutral,” won the women’s solo Free, with Xu third.

Spain’s Dennis Gonzalez and Mirela Hernandez won the Mixed Duet Technical and the Mixed Duet Free. Mexico’s Diego Villalobos won the men’s Solo Technical, followed by Muye Guo (CHN) and Guo came back to take the Solo Free. China also won the Team Acrobatic, Team Technical and the Team Free.

● Athletics ● Great run from Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill at the Last Chance Sprint Series meet at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California on Friday, winning heat five of the men’s 100 m in 10.15 with a +1.2 wind reading.

That brings him into a tie at 114th in the world for 2025, and is a lifetime best. Now 31, his last recorded 100 was way back in 2013, running a very-wind-aided 9.98 (+5.0) for second in the National Junior College Championships. His prior legal best was 10.19 from 2012!

So Hill feels more confident than ever to try and race World Champion Noah Lyles, who hasn’t run a 100 m this season. However, Lyles hasn’t run as slow as 10.15 in a 100 since 2022, in a season opener in Florida. In fact, Lyles hasn’t run that slow after 1 May since he was in high school in 2016.

So, when’s the race and what are the stakes?

¶

Former Oklahoma State All-American Alex Maier is having a big year, winning the U.S. Half Marathon title in March, runner-up at the USATF 10-Mile Champs in early April, the Dusseldorf Marathon in late April (2:08:33 lifetime best) and now the USATF National 4-Mile Championships in Peoria, Illinois!

He ran away from Casey Clinger and Biya Simbassa, 18:03 to 18:06 to 18:07 in the final half-mile, for his third career USATF title.

Taylor Roe, the 2022 NCAA Indoor 3,000 m winner for Oklahoma State, took the women’s title for her third 2025 USATF gold, winning both the Half Marathon and 10-Mile. In Peoria, she crushed the field in 19:40, with Amanda Vestri a distant second in 20:02. Molly Born was third in 20:11.

● Canoe-Kayak ● Familiar faces on the podium at the ICF Slalom World Cup in Pau (FRA), with superstar Jessica Fox (AUS) taking the women’s C-1 final in 107.62 (2 penalties) over Gabriela Satkova (CZE: 110.89/0). Evy Leibfarth of the U.S. was sixth (114.97/2).

German Ricarda Funk, the Tokyo 2020 women’s K-1 winner, won her 12th career World Cup title in 102.0 (0), trailed by Eva Pietracha (FRA: 103.22/2), with Paris 2024 bronze winner Leibfarth in fourth (104.19/0).

Britain’s Ryan Westley got his first career World Cup win in the men’s C-1 in 97.74 (0) over Yohann Senechault (FRA: 98.13/0). German Noah Hegge, the Paris Kayak Cross bronze medalist, won the men’s K-1 in 91.48 (0), beating Anatole Delassus (FRA: 92.70/0).

Spain’s Pau Echaniz took the men’s Kayak Cross final, and teammate Miren Lazkano won the women’s Cross title.

● Cycling ● Slovenian star Tadej Pogacar, winner of four of the prestigious spring one-day races, prepped to defend his Tour de France title at the eight-stage Criterium du Dauphine in France, winning the first stage, then falling as low as ninth by the end of stage three.

But when the mountains came, so did Pogacar, winning stage six by 1:01 and re-taking the lead, then taking stage seven by 14 seconds over two-time Tour de France champ Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) and maintaining a 1:01 lead into Sunday.

The 133.3 km finale had a challenging uphill finish, won by France’s Lenny Martinez, with Pogacar keeping close to Vingegaard, both 34 seconds behind, with Vingegaard second. That gave the race win to Pogacar by 59 seconds in 29:19:46, with Vingegaard second (+0:59) and Florian Lipowitz (GER: +2:38) in third. Matteo Jorgenson was the top U.S. placer, in sixth (+7:28).

¶

Swiss Marlen Reusser won the first stage of the Women’s World Tour’s Tour de Suisse and nursed just a three-second lead into Sunday’s fourth stage over Dutch star Demi Vollering.

The hilly final day was a showcase for Reusser, who attacked with 9 km left and rode away to a 3:19:36 victory on the 129.4 km route in and around Kussnacht. She won by 28 seconds over Kasia Niewiadoma (POL) and Vollering and took the overall race title in 13:03:00, 36 seconds ahead of Vollering and 1:56 up on Niewiadoma in third.

¶

The three-venue, six-race UCI BMX World Cup opened in Sarrians (FRA), with home favorite Arthur Pilard (FRA) winning by daylight over 2024 World Cup champ Izaac Kennedy (AUS), 31.105 to 31.564, with France’s Olympic silver winner Sylvan Andre third (31.65) and American Cameron Wood fourth (32.304).

Andre returned the favor on Sunday, winning stage 2 in 31.668 over Pilard (31.822) and Kennedy (32.405).

The Saturday women’s race was for Swiss two-time Worlds runner-up Zoe Claessens, winning easily in 34.156 over Olympic champ Saya Sakakibara (AUS: 35.084); American Payton Ridenour was eighth (37.387).

Canadian Molly Simpson, the 2023 Pan Am Games runner-up, won Sunday’s race in 34.555, ahead of Tokyo 2020 Olympic champ Bethany Shriever (GBR: 35.146) and 2024 Worlds bronze winner Delany Vaughn of the U.S. (35.765).

● Diving ● At the American Cup in Morgantown, West Virginia, 13-year-old U.S. national women’s 10 m champion ElliReese Niday scored a silver medal behind Japanese veteran Rin Kaneto, 354.45 to 326.40.

The men’s 3m went to American Max Weinrich at 437.80, ahead of teammate Carson Tyler (432.00) and Joshua Hedberg of the U.S. won the 10 m at 434.95.

Japan’s Haruki Suyama and Senri Ikuma won the men’s Synchro 3 m at 352.28, and Tyler combined with Hedberg to win the Synchro 10 m, scoring 430.29.

Canada’s Mia Vallee was a clear winner in the women’s 3 m with 315.50 points, and American pairs won both Synchro events. Anna Kwong and Sophie Verzyl won the 3 m at 277.56, and Bayleigh Crawford and Daryn Wright scored 268.65 as the only entrants in the 10 m.

● Football ● The 18th CONCACAF Gold Cup opened on Saturday in group matches with Mexico edging the Dominican Republic, 3-2 before 54,309 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California and will continue through 24 June. Playoff matches begin on 28 June.

The U.S. dominated its opener in Group D against Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday in San Jose, California.

The Americans, losers of four straight, were on offense from the start, and finally got a goal in the 16th, as forward Malik Tillman scored off a left-footed cross by forward Jack McGlynn, which he brought down at the far post and then smashed into the near edge of the Trinidad & Tobago goal for a 1-0 lead.

After three more saves by Trinidad & Tobago keeper Marvin Phillip, a slow backwards pass by defender Alvin Jones was intercepted by U.S. forward Diego Luna, who sprinted toward the T&T goal and sent a perfect cross to an onrushing Tillman in front of the net, and he slammed it into the net with his right foot for the 2-0 lead in the 41st.

Minutes later, Luna again found himself with the ball, running again down the left side in the 44th and all alone. He then dribbled toward the middle and smashed a hard shot toward goal that deflected off the foot of striker Patrick Agyemang and into the net for the 3-0 halftime lead.

The U.S. had 77% of possession and a 13-0 shots lead in a game which could have been 5-0 but for sharp work by Phillip.

The second half was not as consistent or sharp for the U.S., but sub forward Brenden Aaronsen got a fourth goal, with a seeing-eye shot under Phillip from the left side of the box in the 81st. Then, in the 84th, sub striker Haji Wright got a one-on-one situation against a defender in the box, dribbled to the middle of the box and sent a right-footed laser into the net for the 5-0 final.

The U.S. finished with 71% possession and a 21-3 edge on shots. The next U.S. game is Thursday in Austin, Texas vs. Gold Cup guest team Saudi Arabia.

¶

The FIFA Club World Cup, controversially expanded to 32 teams, opened on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida, with a 0-0 tie between Inter Miami (MLS) and Al Ahly (Egypt) in front of 60,927. Group play will continue to 26 June, with playoffs starting on 28 June.

● Gymnastics ● At the Pan American Championships in Panama City (PAN), American women scored a 1-3 in the All-Around, with Jayla Hang winning at 55.300 and Hezly Rivera third (52.667), behind Canada’s Lia Fontaine (53.966). Dulcy Caylor of the U.S. was fourth (52.600).

The American women won the team title by 164.765 to 151.633 over Canada, with Brazil third at 151.466.

In the individual finals reported Sunday, Panama’s Karla Navas won on Vault (14.334) with Hang third at 13.850. Gabrielle Hardie of the U.S. won on the Uneven Bars at 13.600, with Hang second at 13.533.

Canada’s Felix Dolci won the men’s All-Around at 80.150, ahead of Joshua Karnes of the U.S. (79.900), with Troy Christopulos fifth at 78.250. The U.S. men won the team title, scoring 238.800 to 233.500 for the Canadians.

The individual finals reported on Sunday had American Junnosuke Iwai taking the Floor Ex at 14.033, and Brandon Dang and Karnes going 1-2 on Pommel Horse at 13.500 and 13.267. Argentina’s Daniel Villafane won on Rings at 13.700, with Christopulos sixth at 13.033.

● Rowing ● Great Britain scored three wins in the Olympic classes at the World Rowing World Cup I in Varese (ITA), taking the men’s and women’s Eights, plus a gold for Lauren Henry in the women’s Single Sculls (7:13.54).

Italy took wins in the men’s Quadruple Sculls and by Laura Meriano and Alice Codato in the women’s Pairs (6:54.18).

Simon van Dorp edged Jacob Plihal of the U.S. in the men’s Single Sculls, 6:43.01 to 6:45.05, and Switzerland won the Double Sculls (6:11.81). New Zealand’s Oliver Welch and Benjamin Taylor were clear winners in the men’s Pairs (6:17.87), while Australia won the men’s Fours, with the U.S. in fifth place (5:53.51).

China’s Yunxia Chen and Ling Zhang won the women’s Double Sculls (6:43.24), with Katheryn Flynn and Grace Joyce of the U.S. fourth (6:51.42). The Dutch won the women’s Quadruple Sculls (6:20.27), but the American quartet of Camille Vandermeer, Azja Czajkowski, Teal Cohen and Kaitlin Knifton won the Fours in 6:21.50.

The U.S. women’s Eight, which included all of the crew from the winning Four, was second to Britain, 6:01.56 to 6:03.50.

● Shooting ● China dominated the ISSF World Cup for Pistol and Rifle in Munich (GER), winning four events and taking seven total medals.

Kai Hu won the men’s 10 m Air Pistol title, giving him a third straight World Cup gold, after taking the events in Buenos Aires (ARG) and Lima (PER). France’s Jean Quiquampoix, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champ, won the 25 m Rapid-Fire Pistol.

Russian “neutral” Ilia Marsov and Norway’s Jon-Hermann Hegg traded places in the rifle events, with Marsov winning the 10 m Air Rifle over Hegg and Hegg taking the 50 m Rifle/3 Positions.

The women’s pistol winners included Inder Singh Suruchi (IND) in the 10 m Air Pistol event, beating Olympic silver winner Camille Jedrzejewsji (FRA), and China’s Yujie Sun on the 25 m Pistol final, ahead Paris Olympic champ Ye-jin Oh (KOR). 

The 10 m Air Rifle went to China’s 2024 World Junior Champion Zifei Wang, and Norwegian star Jeanette Hegg Duestad won the 50 m Rifle/3 Positions gold, with American Sagen Maddalena in fourth.

Hu and Qianxun Yao teamed to win China’s fourth gold, in the Mixed Team 10 m Air Pistol, while India’s Arya Borse and Arjun Babuta took the Mixed Team 10 m Air Rifle final.

● Skateboard ● At the World Skate Tour: Street in Rome (ITA), Japan’s 2023 World Champion, Sora Shirai was the winner in a tight men’s final battle with countrymen Toa Sasaki – the 2024 World Champion – and Ginwoo Onodera, 188.07 to 187.93 to 187.16.

The women’s final went to Australia’s 2022 Worlds silver medalist, Chloe Covell, at 181.38 in a rout. Second was Funa Nakayama (JPN: 16.00) and Ibuki Matsumoto (JPN: 159.00) finished third.

● Sport Climbing ● Britain’s Erin McNeice, 21, scored a dominating win at the IFSC World Cup in Bouldering in Bern (SUI), winning the final with 99.5 points, easily ahead of American Annie Sanders (84.4) and Japan’s Tokyo 2020 Combined silver medalist Miho Nonaka (84.3). It’s McNeice’s third win of the season and her first in Boulder.

China’s Yufei Pan won his first career World Cup gold, in the men’s Boulder final, scoring 84.2 to edge France’s Mejdi Schalck (84.1), the 2023 Worlds runner-up. Japan’s Sorato Anraku was third (83.7), his fifth straight Boulder World Cup with a medal this season. American Colin Duffy was seventh.

● Swimming ● The Australian Team Trials in Adelaide concluded on Saturday, with the meet producing three world-leading performances:

● Men/50 m Free: 21.30, Cameron McEvoy
● Women/200 m Free: 1:54.43, Mollie O’Callaghan
● Women/200 m Back: 2:04.47, Kaylee McKeown

There were also four more swims now ranked no. 2 in the world for 2025, including Sam Short in the men’s 400 m Free (3:41.03), Lani Pallister in the 200 m Free (1:54.89) and Pallister in the 1,500 m Free (15:39.14, no. 3 performer all-time), plus Alex Perkins in the 50 Fly (25.36).

The on-fire Pallister also won the 800 m Free in a fabulous 8:10.84, moving her to no. 3 all-time, but also no. 3 on the world list for 2025 behind historic swims from Katie Ledecky of the U.S. and Canada’s Summer McIntosh.

¶

France scored a 1-2 in the men’s World Aquatics Open Water World Cup III in Setubal (POR), with Rio 2016 Olympic bronzer Marc-Antoine Olivier near the front throughout and then sprint to the touch in 1:53:28.1 to 1:53:29.8 for Sacha Velly. Germany’s Oliver Klemet won the bronze in 1:53:33.6. Dylan Gravely was the top American, in 12th (1:53:40.2).

Australia’s Moesha Johnson, the Paris Olympic silver medalist, took the women’s 10 km race in 1:53:39.6, clearly ahead of Paris bronze winner Ginevra Taddeucci (ITA: 1:53:41.4) and France’s Carolina Laure Jouisse (1:53:43.1). Brinkleigh Hansen of the U.S. was 20th (1:57:57.4).

In the 3 km Sprint racing (1,500 m-1,000 m-500 m), Hungary’s David Betlehem won the men’s final in 6:12.0 over Logan Fontaine (FRA: 6:12.9), and Japan’s Ichika Kajimoto won the women’s final in 6:41.6, over Jouisse (6:43.5).

● Water Polo ● After a 13-12 win over Australia in the opener of a three-game series, the U.S. men’s National Team lost, 13-12, to the Aussies on Wednesday (11th) in San Juan Capistrano, California.

Australia had a 7-6 lead at the half and 12-11 at the end of three, with Luke Pavillard scoring with 4:41 to go for the 13-11 lead, which proved to be the winning goal. Hannes Daube and Marko Vavic each scored four for the U.S.

On Friday at Chapman University in Orange, California, Australia won 14-11, despite four goals each from Daube and Nicolas Saveljic. The U.S. had a 7-5 halftime lead and the game was tied at 9-9 entering the fourth, but the Aussies put up five goals to one for the U.S. to take the victory.

● Wrestling ● The U.S. Freestyle teams for the 2025 UWW World Championships were mostly set at the Final X matches in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, with some familiar names and a shocker among the results.

Paris Olympic silver medalist Spencer Lee won the men’s 57 kg final over Penn State frosh Luke Lilledahl, 7-2 and 6-0, while Zahid Valencia, the 2023 Worlds bronzer at 86 kg, defeated four-time World Champion Kyle Dake, 4-1 and 5-3.

Rio 2016 Olympic 97 kg champ Kyle Snyder swept his matches against Hayden Zillmer, 8-0 and 8-2. In the 125 kg class, NCAA champion Wyatt Hendrickson – who defeated Tokyo Olympic champ Gable Steveson in the NCAA finals this year – defeated Trent Hillger by 10-0 and then 20-14 in a wild second match.

The shocker came at 70 kg, where 2022 Worlds silver winner Yianni Diakomihalis was defeated by Minisink Valley (State Hill, New York) High School senior P.J. Duke, on hi way to Penn State in the fall. Diakomihalis won the first bout by 10-0, but Duke fought back for a 17-10 win in the second. Duke then won by pin in 4:07 in the third match to earn a Worlds team berth.

Four more first-time U.S. Worlds team members won places, with Real Woods (65 kg), David Carr (74 kg), Levi Haines (79 kg) and Trent Hidlay (92 kg) all winning. The 61 kg class final has been postponed to July due to injury.

The women’s team similarly has five veterans and five newcomers. Rio 2016 Olympic champ Helen Maroulis made her 15th U.S. team, this time at 57 kg with two pins of Amanda Martinez. Jacarra Winchester, the 2023 Worlds runner-up, advanced at 59 kg over Abigail Nette, losing the first match, but then winning by 9-7 and 10-0. Paris Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades won at 68 kg with 10-4 and 5-2 wins over Brooklyn Hays. Two-time Worlds medal winner Macey Kilty swept her matches at 65 kg and 2024 Worlds bronzer Kylie Welker defeated Dymond Guilford by 2-1 and 9-1.

Newcomers to the U.S. Worlds team will be Adaugo Nwachukwu at 62 kg, defeating two-time Worlds silver winner Kayla Miracle, 14-8, 3-4, 8-4; Audrey Jimenez (50 kg), Felicity Taylor (53 kg), Cristelle Rodriguez (55 kg) and Alexandria Glaude (72 kg). Glaude won by walkover, as Olympic 68 kg champ Amit Elor withdrew.

¶

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OMAHA — Coastal Carolina Baseball continues it’s MCWS run on Sunday with a winner’s bracket game against Oregon State at 7 p.m. ET inside Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. The No. 13 national seed Chanticleers (54-11) and Beavers (48-14-1) have only met once — in a game that resulted in a 4-4 tie in Seattle in 2019.

The game will be televised by ESPN2, air on the Chanticleer Sports Network and will be available on the Chanticleer Mobile App. Entering the game, the Chants have the most wins in the country (54) and the nation’s longest active winning streak (24 games). Coastal beat Arizona in its opening game while OSU knocked off Louisville.

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STREAKS, STORYLINES, SIDEBARS

• Coastal Carolina is back in the MCWS after nine years.
• Coastal Carolina ranks among the national leaders in both pitching and hitting with a team ERA of 3.23 and a slash line of .292 /.410 /.451 and has outscored opponents 482-227.
• HC Kevin Schnall was named Sun Belt Coach of the Year and Perfect Game Coach of the Year.
  
  Jacob Morrison is 11-0, a First-Team All-American, the NCBWA District 4 Player of the Year and was a finalist for the National Pitcher of the Year Award.
• C Caden Bodine (.330, .464 OBP) — finalist for the Buster Posey Award and a PG Second-Team All-American, 1B Colby Thorndyke (.306, 40 RBI) and LF Sebastian Alexander (.318, 10 HR, 27 SB) lead a lineup that has slugged 66 home runs and tallied 440 RBIs.
• Starters Morrison, Riley Eikhoff and Cameron Flukey have combined to go 25-3 with 261 strikeouts and two complete games. 
• Coastal’s bullpen has plenty of arms — no pitcher that has thrown at least 20 innings has an ERA higher than 3.51, led by Ryan Lynch (8 SV, 0.59 ERA, 34 Ks) and Domenick Carbone (6 SV, 2.54 ERA, 49 Ks).

 

HOW THE MEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES WORKS …

• The MCWS runs from June 13-22/23 in Omaha … eight teams play a double-elimination first round in two four-team brackets … the winners of the two brackets will play a best-of-three MCWS Finals, with the first game set for Saturday, June 21 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

It’s Opening Day for recruiting for the high school class of 2027! (I don’t want to make you feel old but we’re talking about the college class of 2031.)

June 15, 2025, otherwise known as the first day of allowable athletic recruiting for rising high school juniors by NCAA Division I and Division II coaches, is finally here. Today, student-athletes in the class of 2027 can both initiate and receive communications –including email, text messages, social media messages, phone calls, and video calls– with college coaches. They can also make verbal commitments for the 2027-28 school year. (NCAA Division III coaches are not constrained by this rule; they can make contact and recruit year-round.)

Contact between coaches and prospective student-athletes, whether off-campus or on-campus (on-campus visits include both official and unofficial visits) may not begin until August 1st.

In the past, the NCAA has published separate recruiting calendars of allowable events for Division I baseball, women’s basketball, men’s basketball, football, men’s golf, women’s lacrosse, men’s lacrosse, softball, women’s volleyball, beach volleyball, and cross country/track and field. Recruiting timelines for all other Division I sports, including swimming and diving, are spelled out in a separate recruiting calendar.

As of today, the NCAA has only published the recruiting 2025-26 calendars for women’s and men’s basketball.

Each of the calendars lists the allowable and non-allowable contact periods for their respective sports. Over the last several years, the NCAA has sought to make the lives of prospective student-athletes and college coaches less stressful by curbing early recruiting (gone are the days when coaches were getting verbal commitments from 8th-graders) and giving coaches a break from year-round recruiting.

Contact Periods Defined

• Recruiting Period: Authorized athletics department staff may make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations.
• Quiet Period: A quiet period is that period of time when it is permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts only on the member institution’s campus. No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts or evaluations may be made during the quiet period.
• Dead Period: A dead period is that period of time when it is not permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts or evaluations on or off the member institution’s campus or to permit official or unofficial visits by prospective student-athletes to the institution’s campus.
• Recruiting Shutdown: A recruiting shutdown is a period of time when no form of recruiting (e.g., contacts, evaluations, official or unofficial visits, correspondence or making or receiving telephone calls) is permissible.

Following the House vs NCAA settlement, the swimming and diving recruiting landscape will change in significant ways. To begin with, those schools that have opted into the agreement will have roster limits for 2025-26 and beyond. In most cases, this will mean fewer recruiting spots for the 2027-28 school year. On the other hand, the NCAA’s scholarship limits (14.1 per women’s team and 9.9 per men’s team) are no longer in effect and these schools will now be allowed –but not required– to offer full scholarships to every member of the team.

Class of 2027

The phones were likely ringing off the hook this morning for some of the biggest names in the high school class of 2027. Those include Luke Mijatovic, who has been named to Team USA for the upcoming World Aquatics Championships, and prospective members of the World Junior Championships squad: Audrey Derivaux, Brayden Capen, Collin Holgerson, Daisy Collins, Luke Vatev, Rylee Erisman, Shareef Elaydi, Thomas McMillan. In addition, the youngest members of the 2024-25 National Junior team will be on many coaches’ lists: Anthony Dornoff, Colin Jacobs, and Mia Su.

Other top recruits from the cohort include Davis Jackson, Ellis Crisci, Griffin Oehler, Hayden Vicknair, Joey Campagnola, Juan Vallmitjana, and Trent Allen; as well as Abby Chan, Adalynn Biegler, Alyssa Ton, Bianca Nwaizu, Blakely Hammel, Carly Afanasewicz, Chloe Teger, Emily Wolf, Nikki Nixon, Sadie Buckley, Sarah Paisley Owen, and Vivienne Zangaro.

Top 2027 boys, alphabetically:

Athlete	Hometown
Anthony Dornoff	Cerritos, CA
Brayden Capen	Lisle, IL
Colin Jacobs	Bradenton, FL
Collin Holgerson	Chattanooga, TN
Davis Jackson	Raleigh, NC
Ellis Crisci	Lawrence, KS
Griffin Oehler	Rockville, MD
Hayden Vicknair	Signal Mountain, TN
Joey Campagnola	Seminole, FL
Juan Vallmitjana	Fort Lauderdale, FL
Luka Mijatovic	Pleasanton, CA
Luke Vatev	Clarendon Hills, IL
Shareef Elaydi	Santa Clara, CA
Thomas McMillan	Saint Charles, IL
Trent Allen	Carmel, IN

Top 2027 girls, alphabetically:

Athlete	Hometown
Abby Chan	Madison, AL
Adalynn Biegler	Big Lake, MN
Alyssa Ton	Fountain Valley, CA
Audrey Derivaux	Haddonfield, NJ
Bianca Nwaizu	Irvine, CA
Blakely Hammel	Jacksonville, FL
Carly Afanasewicz	Pearl River, NY
Chloe Teger	Villa Park, CA
Daisy Collins	Chapel Hill, NC
Emily Wolf	Fishers, IN
Mia Su	Sunnyvale, CA
Nikki Nixon	Raleigh, NC
Rylee Erisman	Windermere, FL
Sadie Buckley	Fairfax, VA
Sarah Paisley Owen	Atlanta, GA
Vivienne Zangaro	Long Beach, NY

In past years, there was a recruiting dead period during “signing week,” which began on the second Wednesday in November. But with the dissolution of the National Letter of Intent program following the House settlement, it is unclear if there will still be a dead period in November. We can assume the following shutdown periods will remain in place:

Swimming and Diving Recruiting Shutdown Periods

• One week in August
• The final 14 days of December
• The first week of January
• The third and fourth weeks in February during the most popular period for conference championships

(NOTE: If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected]. Do not leave it in the comments.