ELLENSBURG — Longtime head coach Mario Andaya, who just completed his 30th season at the helm, has accepted a new position as the Deputy Director of Athletics and is turning over the reins to Lauren Hersesth, who joined the program in 2020 and served as associate head coach for the past three seasons. 

Andaya is proud of everything CWU Volleyball has accomplished during his tenure, including four conference championships and 13 consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II tournament. 

“The experience leading this program was more than I could have ever imagined when I began my coaching career over 30 years ago,” said Andaya, a former track and field athlete at Central who will begin his new position December 16. “All the people that I have shared this experience with throughout my tenure is what I will cherish the most. I am very sad to leave this current team and coaches, but I am so excited to see what they will accomplish in the future.” 

Andaya joined the CWU volleyball program in 1992 as a student assistant under the late John Pearson. He became junior varsity coach from 1993-94, and also served as assistant coach during the 1995 season. 

He was named head coach before the school’s penultimate season in the NAIA in 1996 and guided the program through its move to NCAA Division II. The Wildcats spent three years in the Pacific West Conference (1998-2000) before moving to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) in 2001. 

Under Andaya, the Wildcats have produced five 20-win seasons and 18 winning campaigns, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament every year since 2012. In 2024, Central had its best season since 2005, going 18-7 overall and 16-2 in conference play to capture the program’s third GNAC title. Andaya also earned his third GNAC Coach of the Year honor. 

The ‘Cats followed up their success this fall with another standout season, going 18-7 overall (14-4 GNAC) and earning a four-way tie for the GNAC regular season title, the program’s fourth under Andaya. The No. 7 seed Wildcats went on to defeat conference rival and No. 2 seed Simon Fraser 3-2 in the first round of the NCAA West Regional tournament on Dec. 4 before narrowly falling to Fresno Pacific 3-2 in the semifinals. 

Andaya completes his tenure at CWU as the winningest coach in program history with an overall record of 489-315. While he has mixed emotions about leaving the program he helped build into a Division II power, Andaya knows the Wildcats will be in capable hands with Herseth. 

“I am so excited for Lauren to step in as the new leader of this program and for the new era of CWU Volleyball,” he said, thanking Director of Athletics Dennis Francois and CWU President Jim Wohlpart for offering him a new role with CWU Athletics. “We have incredible people working in this department and institution, all who have high expectations and energy to achieve big things. I am excited to get started.” 

Herseth competed for the Wildcats from 2011-14, helping the program reach three NCAA tournaments. The former team captain finished ranked among the top 10 in program history for both sets and matches played. Herseth was a three-time GNAC All-Academic selection while majoring in Physical Education and School Health. She was heavily involved in CWU Athletics, during her time in Ellensburg serving three years as SAAC President and playing basketball during the 2013-14 season. 

Herseth said she is excited to transition into the head coaching role, and she talked about how much she benefited from working with Andaya over the past six seasons. 

“Coaching alongside Mario has been one of the greatest experiences of my life, and our program will continue to do great things because of what he built over the last 30 years,” Herseth said. “I am honored to be stepping into this new role, with an extremely fun and talented roster,  and I can’t thank Dennis and Mario enough for investing in and preparing me for this moment. I love this program, and I am committed to carrying on the legacy of CWU Volleyball.” 

Francois applauded Andaya’s commitment to both the volleyball program and CWU Athletics. He looks forward to tapping Andaya’s proven leadership skills to move the entire department forward. 

“Mario’s passion for CWU is unmatched, and his commitment to excellence is evident in everything he does,” Francois said. “I am confident he will approach his new role as Deputy Athletics Director with the same level of commitment, and he will be instrumental in the future success of all of our programs.” 

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The 6-0 setter, who was an American Volleyball Coaches Association Second Team All-American and a unanimous Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association First Team All-State selection, led Hamilton High School to a 39-8 record and the Division 1 state championship.

The Sussex, Wisconsin native amassed 953 assists and 307 digs, including 30 assists in Hamilton’s 3-0 win over Divine Savior Holy Angels High in the state final, and also recorded 162 kills, 67 aces and 63 blocks.

Baldwin is the second member of her family to earn Gatorade State Player of the Year honors. Her brother, Patrick, a 2022 NBA first-round draft pick by the Golden State Warriors, was the 2019-20 Wisconsin Boys Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year.

 

Follow Rutgers women’s volleyball on Facebook, X and Instagram.

– RU –

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Playing its first official match of the 2026 season after capturing the 2025 national championship, Long Beach State opened the year with a straight-set victory over Lindenwood on Friday afternoon inside the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid. The Beach controlled play throughout the match, earning a 3-0 win to begin the season at home.

The Beach set the tone early in the opening set, weathering a stretch of serving errors from both teams before gaining separation midway through the frame. After Lindenwood briefly surged ahead, Long Beach State responded with strong play at the net and efficient sideout execution. Wojciech Gajek and Alex Kandev helped spark the offense, while the Beach used a late run to pull ahead. A service ace by Skyler Varga brought up set point, and Kandev closed the frame with a kill to give Long Beach State a 25-21 advantage.

Long Beach State took control in the second set behind dominant blocking and improved efficiency. After trailing early, the Beach rallied with a series of kills and net violations by Lindenwood to flip the momentum. A successful challenge swung the score in Long Beach State’s favor, igniting a decisive run that pushed the Beach into the media timeout with a lead. The Beach continued to apply pressure defensively, recording multiple stuff blocks, and an ace from Jake Pazanti sealed a convincing 25-16 win.

The third set proved more competitive, with Lindenwood creating early separation and forcing Long Beach State to respond. The Beach chipped away behind steady sideout play and timely serving, eventually evening the score and pulling ahead late. Ben Braun and Gajek anchored the defense at the net, while Long Beach State capitalized on Lindenwood errors to extend the lead. A triple block on match point ended the contest, securing a 25-20 victory and the sweep.

Skyler Varga and Alex Kandev paced the Beach with nine kills apiece, while Gajek added six kills. Braun finished with four kills on .500 hitting and was part of a strong blocking effort that saw Long Beach State total 12 team blocks. Pazanti directed the offense with 24 assists, and the Beach hit .338 as a team while holding Lindenwood to a .000 hitting percentage.

Long Beach State returns to action Saturday afternoon when the Beach host No. 13 McKendree at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid

At the conclusion of the 2025 season, BYU men’s volleyball head coach Shawn Olmstead held a final team meeting.

It was a chance for Olmstead to say good-bye to his seniors.

“We gave them huge hugs, told them thanks for everything, asked them to be our biggest fans and to continue to support us, then we dismissed them,” Olmstead said.

After the seniors left, Olmstead turned and looked at the eight remaining players: Two liberos, one setter, two middles, no right side and three outsides, two of which he was going to have to let go due to roster limits.

“It was the scariest sight I’ve ever had in my college coaching career,” Olmstead admitted.

Olmstead was excited about his incoming freshman class but concerned about going into the offseason without the experience of seniors Luke Benson, Miks Ramanis, Teon Taylor, Noa Haine and Keoni Thiim in the gym.

In April, Grand Canyon decided to cut its very successful men’s volleyball program and four talented Antelopes came on board, including former Cougar Trent Moser.

It’s no wonder Olmstead is optimistic for 2026.

“We got the GCU boys and that immediately changed everything,” Olmstead said. ” They brought experience and a breath of fresh air. We don’t need to entirely rely on these freshmen, so that was really big time. The former GCU coach (Jon Girten) was just texting me today saying he can’t wait to watch us play and he was rooting for us.”

The Cougars were picked to finish fifth in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and eighth in the AVCA preseason Top 25 poll.

Where were we?

BYU was 7-5 in MPSF play in 2025 and earned the No. 3 seed in the league tournament. The Cougars battled No. 6 Stanford but lost in five sets to end up 19-10 overall and No. 8 in the final AVCA poll.

BYU was second in the country in home attendance (3,994) and memorably sold out the Smith Fieldhouse on back-to-back nights against Hawaii.

Benson was first team All-MPSF and earned honorable mention AVCA All-American honors. Ramanis fought injury issues all season but was named second team All-MPSF.

New faces

Counting Moser, there are 11 newcomers on the BYU roster in 2026.

Moser, a 6-foot-7 senior pin hitter, posted 305 kills for the Cougars in 2023 and 2024 before transferring to Grand Canyon, where last season he totaled 274 kills (2.88 per set) and hit .318 for the Antelopes.

“The biggest thing for Trent is that he’s made a lot of personal growth,” Olmstead said. “He’ll tell you that. He got married, he got a lot stronger mentally and has the right priorities, what to focus on. Trent brings size, physicality and leadership. I’ve put it on him to help the young kids because he’s had unbelievable experience, and that’s brought great team culture.”

Moser is joined by three other GCU refugees in Kyle Zediker (6-5 So. S), Connor Oldani (6-5 So. RS) and Max Phillipe (6-6 Fr. MB). Olmstead said his three starting pin hitters will be Moser, 6-5 junior Teilon-Jonathan Tafuga (1.88 kills per set, .268 in 2025) and Oldani, who has moved to the right side.

“Connor is a team player with a great attitude,” Olmstead said. “We came back from Christmas and felt like we needed to get him reps on the right side. We went to him last week and said, ‘Connor, you’re one of our three best pin hitters and we want to get all three of them on the floor.’

“There was no pause in his response. He just said, ‘I’ll do whatever you want.’”

Oldani was a second team AVCA All-American at Brophy High School in Arizona before starting his college career at GCU.

The future

The freshman class includes two-time Utah 5A state MVP Trey Thornton (6-6 OH), legacy outside hitter Corbin Batista (son of former Cougar standout Victor Batista), Trevor Herget (6-3 OH), AJ Cottle (6-8 MB), returned missionary Tennison Lighthall (6-6 OH/OPP), Tyler James Johnson (6-0 S) and Phillipe.

“Our freshmen are good but they are still navigating things,” Olmstead said. “We need to get a pulse on that but what you’re going to see across the board is a volleyball level and a physicality we’ve never had with that many kids together in a freshman class. I can tell you that Trevor Herget just flies out of the gym and Tennison came back from his mission a man among boys.”

Running it back

The Cougars are solid at setter with 6-2 senior Tyler Herget (9.59 assists, 1.62 digs per set) returning for his third season as the starter.

“Tyler is just our ‘Steady Eddie,’” Olmstead said. “I’m not the kind of coach that’s looking to recruit for flashy and Tyler has exactly what we’re looking for in a setter. He’s coachable and looks at the game like I do. It’s his last year, his last hurrah and we’re excited for him.”

The libero spot will be held down by 6-0 senior Jackson Fife (294 career digs), another two-year starter. Versatile Bernardo Adam (6-3 Sr. libero) has great energy and serving specialist Ian Little (6-5 Jr. OH) is a lefty who can contribute.

In the middle, the competition has been strong between Cottle, returner Gavin Chambers (6-9 So.) and Phillipe to replace Taylor and Niko Hales, who started as a freshman and is serving a church mission in Barcelona, Spain.

The schedule

Olmstead has never shied away from playing big matches, but the expansion of the men’s college game has created a different kind of schedule for the Cougars in 2026. Some of it is built in: Concordia, Menlo College and Vanguard have joined the MPSF in the past few seasons and this year the addition of UC Merced and Jessup makes it a 10-team league.

In an effort to help grow the men’s game, BYU opens with a pair of matches against St. Francis and also plays Lincoln Memorial, Merrimack and Fort Valley.

There are still those big matches as well, with the Cougars facing No. 6 UC Irvine and No. 17 UCSB in the non-conference and No. 9 Stanford, No. 4 Pepperdine, No. 5 USC and top-ranked UCLA in MPSF play.

Outlook

The NCAA had expanded the post-season tournament to 12 teams, which is a big deal for a BYU program that has been just short of qualification throughout the past dozen years. Tough facts: The Cougars have ended their season with a five-set loss ten times since 2004. More recently, BYU’s past four losses in the MPSF Tournament have all be in five sets.

“Right now I can tell you the kind of team were are,” Olmstead said. “We’ve been very consistent. We’re a pretty physical group and can still get a little more fine tuned. There is unbelievable effort on every play, which we need. I think we’ll have better floor defense than what we’ve had in the past. We’ve been a dominant blocking program but I felt like we were not giving ourselves enough chances with our defense. We’ve talked a lot about that, about putting our guys in situations where they need to find a way to win, to be assertive and smart. I think we’ve got some guys like that this year who aren’t afraid to put the team on their shoulders.”

BYU Men’s Volleyball

Five Things to Watch in 2026

1. Introduction are in order

BYU fans will need to consult the game program to get it all straight with 11 players who weren’t on last year’s roster.

2. Welcome home

Trent Moser, who played for the Cougars in 2023 and 2024, transferred to Grand Canyon and had a terrific year in 2025. He’s back — bringing three other GCU players with him — and will make a huge difference as one of BYU’s top pin hitter.

3. Gaining momentum

There are some huge MPSF matches at the end of the regular season schedule, so it will be important for the Cougars to pick up good wins and confidence in the non-conference.

4. Home sweet home

The Smith Fieldhouse continues to be the hottest ticket on campus and one of the best places in the country to watch a college volleyball match. Last year, BYU was second in the country in average home attendance (3,994).

5. Big finish

BYU’s last four losses in the MPSF Tournament have all been in five sets. Somehow, the Cougars need to find a way to come out on top in close matches to get to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021.

MATCH #1 • Saturday, January 10 • 5 p.m. PT

No. 5 USC (0-0) vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (0-0)

Galen Center • Los Angeles, Calif.

SERIES RECORD: First meeting

TV/STREAM: B1G+ (Andrew Giesler & Alex Buettgen)

OPPONENT WEBSITE: STACAthletics.com

FIRST SERVE (TL;DR)

• USC is led by 11th-year head coach Jeff Nygaard, a three-time Olympian in indoor and beach volleyball and a two-time NCAA champion.
• The Trojans are ranked fifth in the AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll.
• USC is 35-21 all-time in season openers; 7-3 under Nygaard.
• For the third year in a row, USC will open its season with an opponent it meets for the first time: Fort Valley State (2024), Daemen (2025).
• Last year, the Trojans went 11-3 at home and only lost to a No. 2-ranked UC Irvine and twice to 13th-ranked Stanford.
• USC returns five players that were recognized by the AVCA All-America committee in 2025 including first-team choice OH Dillon Klein and second-team selection MB Parker Tomkinson. S Caleb Blanchette, OH Sterling Foley, and LIB Johnny Dykstra each received All-America honorable mention.
• The Men of Troy will play 16 home matches in 2026 and will play in Southern California for all but two regular-season matches (at BYU, April 10-11).
• In 2025, the Trojans the NCAA in blocks (2.86 bps) and led the MPSF in kills (13.11 kps, 5th NCAA), assists (12.24 aps, 3rd NCAA), and digs (8.82 dps). USC was also second in the MPSF in hitting percentage (.344, 4th NCAA).