CHICAGO, Ill. – The Milwaukee women’s track & field team opened its season at the Blue Demon Holiday Invitational hosted by DePaul University on Friday.
 
“I thought it was a good season opener for us” head coach Andrew Basler stated. “We didn’t bring a full squad, but I felt that the athletes we brought really stepped up and started us off on a strong foot.
 
Anna Szepieniec led the way for the Panthers, securing victories in three events on the day. Szepieniec took home first-place in the 60-meter hurdles (8.53) and secured a new personal best in the prelims with a time of 8.49. She also finished at the top of the podium in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.68, the third best time in program history, and in the long jump (5.76m).
 

The Black & Gold claimed the top two spots in the 400-meter dash, with Leah Handshoe taking first with a time of (56.88), and Katie Burns following closely behind, crossing the finish line in 56.91. Taylor Thimmesch added a fourth-place finish in the event as well, registering a time of 57.78
 
Also finding the top of the podium was Olivia VanZeeland who cleared 1.72m in the high jump.
 
Success in the high jump continued for Milwaukee with Kallie Volk taking second, soaring over 1.66m.
 
“Our women’s 400 group performed really well,” added Basler. “We had some seniors in the high jump that showed another strong event for us with VanZeeland taking some attempts at school records. Szepieniec had an awesome start to her junior campaign with a top third best 200 in school history, second best in the 60m hurdles and a really good long jump performance from short approach.”
 
In her first meet as a Panther, freshman Kara Meeteer secured a second-place finish in the 300-meter dash, clocking a time of 42.90.
 
“Overall, very happy with how things went. We have a good sense of where we are at and a good sense of what we have to work on going forward,” concluded Basler.
 

LINCOLN, Neb. – Playing in their fourth Sweet 16 in program history, the Kansas Jayhawks fell to the unbeaten Nebraska Cornhuskers, 3-0, in the NCAA Volleyball Regional Semifinal at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb., on Friday.

Kansas finishes its season at 24-11 (13-5 Big 12) in its first year under head coach Matt Ulmer, while it was Kansas’ fourth appearance in the Sweet 16 in program history. Nebraska improves to 33-0 (20-0 Big Ten) and will take on No. 3-seed Texas A&M in the Elite 8 on Sunday, Dec. 14.

Nebraska hit .450 for the match, recording 41 kills, 10 blocks and only five errors. The Cornhuskers were led by Rebekah Allick and Andi Jackson with nine kills each, while Reilly Bergen led the way with 30 assists.

For the Jayhawks, freshman Jovana Zelenovic led the team with seven kills on 22 attacks, while senior Katie Dalton added 11 assists. Kansas hit .029 as a team.

Nebraska wasted no time getting started, jumping out to a 4-0 lead early in the first set. Kansas found its first point on a kill by freshman Selena Leban, but the Cornhuskers would extend their lead to 8-1, forcing a Kansas timeout. 

Kansas stayed aggressive and found points from seniors Dalton and Rhian Swanson to make the score 10-3. After another first set timeout for the Jayhawks, Kansas rallied for three-straight points to cut into the deficit at 13-6. Nebraska would grow its lead to as many as 13 and would go on to take the opening set, 25-12.

The second set started with both teams trading the opening points, before Nebraska rallied for three-straight points to open with a 4-1 lead. Kansas would strike back with points from Zelenovic, sophomore Reese Ptacek, sophomore Grace Nelson and Swanson and Dalton to bring the score to 10-7 early in the second set. Nebraska would then score three-straight points to force a KU timeout at 13-7.

After Kansas scored back-to-back points, Nebraska rallied for six-straight points to take an 11-point lead at 20-9. Nebraska would go on to finish on a 5-0 run to finish the second set, 25-11.

Nebraska remained in control going into the third set by claiming an early 5-1 advantage to force a Kansas timeout. Out of the timeout, Nebraska expanded its lead to 8-2, before Kansas responded with two-straight points on Nebraska errors to make the score 8-4. The Cornhuskers’ attack was too much as they would pull ahead 13-6 midway through the third set. 

The Cornhuskers continued their success late in the third set, hitting .621 as a unit in the third set. Nebraska would go on to pull away to clinch the match with a third set win, 25-12.

FARGO, N.D. — The University of Jamestown women’s track and field team continued their indoor season with strong performances at the NDSU Alumni Classic, showcasing talent across sprints, jumps, and pole vault events.

Competing against tough regional competition, the Jimmies demonstrated growth and competitive spirit throughout the meet.

Sprint Highlights

Freshman Emily Erhardt placed 19th in the 400 Meters with a time of 1:07.33.

Jumping Events

Sophomore Sydney Ulrich earned 10th place in the Long Jump with a mark of 4.90 meters (16’1″). Sophomore Monica Goven posted a 9th-place finish in the Triple Jump with a leap of 10.12 meters (33’2.5″). Sophomore Ruth Harris followed with a 12th-place finish in the Triple Jump, recording a mark of 9.62 meters (31’6.75″).

Pole Vault

Sophomore Ruth Harris cleared 3.10 meters (10’2″) in the Pole Vault, securing 11th place.

WHATS NEXT?

The Jimmies return to the track on January 15th at the Northern State Dual in Aberdeen, S.D.

One of the Hillsdale College women’s track and field team’s top competitors unwrapped a nice early Christmas present for herself on Friday afternoon.

Senior Tara Townsend traveled solo to the Akron Haynes Lancaster Open, looking to get one final crack at her signature event, the pole vault, before heading off to Christmas break.

The trip proved more than fruitful for Townsend, as she cleared three bars on the first attempt to set a new personal best clearance of 4.20 meters, and in the process breaking the Great Midwest Athletic Conference indoor record in the event of 4.16 meters held by Morgan England of Findlay since 2021.

Townsend placed second behind defending MAC pole vault champion Cassidy Allen of Akron at the meet, and with the vault moved into the top spot in the nation in NCAA DII to date in the event.

It’s the latest in a successful run at Hillsdale for Townsend, who earned her first All-American honor in the pole vault at the 2025 NCAA DII Outdoor Championships this past May. Her latest accomplishment sees her closing in on the indoor program record of 4.25 meters, held by multi-time All-American and Hillsdale College Athletics Hall of Famer Kayla Caldwell since 2013.

Townsend and the Chargers are off for the Christmas break, and will return to Akron for the Al Campbell Invitational for their first meet back in action on Jan. 16.

Nebraska volleyball entered the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament after sweeping Kansas State last Saturday. The Huskers faced the Kansas Jayhawks, who defeated Miami in four sets.

Nebraska dominated the match from start to finish, sweeping Kansas (25-12, 25-11, 25-12) and allowing just 35 total points. The Huskers, meanwhile, earned 41 kills off 80 attacks for a .450 hitting percentage. The Huskers’ defense, meanwhile, posted 10 blocks and 48 digs to hold Kansas to 25 kills off 103 attacks and a .029 hitting percentage.

Rebekah Allick finished perfect on the night to lead, going 9-of-9 in attacks. Andi Jackson also delivered nine kills for Nebraska while also leading the team in blocks with five. Harper Murray put together a strong outing for the Huskers, tallying seven kills, 10 digs and four blocks.