COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 14, 2025) – USA Volleyball is sending two beach teams to compete at the Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay, Aug.18-22, 2025. The Games, held August 9-23, feature more than 4,000 athletes from 41 countries and serve as the largest sporting event in Paraguay’s history.

The Junior Pan American Games is a major multi-sport competition featuring athletes aged 17-22 from North, Central and South America. The competition offers 218 qualification spots for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima and valuable international experience for athletes working toward senior-level international representation. In beach volleyball, 16 teams per gender will compete at the Los Pynandi World Cup Stadium.

The first Junior Pan American Games was held in 2021, and this is the first time that USA Volleyball is sending beach teams to the event. The Junior Pan Am Games is also a Team USA event, meaning the athletes will represent not only USA Volleyball but the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee on the international stage.

The U.S. teams earned their spots at the USA Volleyball Junior Pan American Games Trials in January.

Portia Sherman and Emma Donley, who both play beach volleyball at Cal, will represent the U.S. on the women’s side. Thomas Hurst (UC Irvine) and Gage Basey (Colorado) are the U.S. men’s competitors.

Both pairs arrive with recent international success. Donley and Sherman won gold at the U23 NORCECA Tour stop in the Dominican Republic and took bronze at the 2025 NORCECA Beach Tour event in Honduras. Hurst and Basey earned silver at U23 NORCECA Dominican Republic and finished ninth at the 2025 World University Games.

UCLA assistant coach Kelly Reeves will coach the women’s team, and Beach Nation’s Mark Fishman will coach the men.

“The Pan American Games is a special tournament. It’s an opportunity not only to compete against some of the best athletes in the world, but also to represent the future,” Reeves said. “It’s a true honor to coach Emma and Portia on this journey. They come from a strong collegiate program at the University of California, Berkeley, and bring a great deal of experience and leadership. As a group, we’re excited, locked in, and ready to compete.”

“Talent wins games, but intelligence and teamwork win championships,” Fishman said. “Thomas and Gage are just getting better and growing as a team. They are two of the smartest young men in the game and their best is in front of them. I’m honored to represent the United States and be part of this amazing team.”

Women’s Roster
Portia Sherman (5-9, Goleta, Calif., Cal)
Emma Donley (6-4, Los Altos, Calif., Cal)

Men’s Roster
Gage Basey (6-5, Lyons, Colo., Univ. of Colorado)
Thomas Hurst (6-4, Plano, Texas, UC Irvine)

Coaches/Staff
Women’s Coach: Kelly Reeves (UCLA assistant coach)
Men’s Coach: Mark Fishman (Beach Nation)
Team Leader: Carolina Garbato (Beach NTDP)

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Central Washington University saw 110 student-athletes receive the Division II Athletics Director Association (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Award the association announced today for the 2024-25 athletics year.
 
The D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award is in its 18th year and recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level. For the first time since inception, there were more than 20,000 student-athletes recognized (22,756) from a record 202 institutions for the 2024-25 Academic Achievement Award. This year’s totals are the highest in the program’s history.
 
CWU’s 110 student-athletes were the second-most in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with Western Oregon leading the way with 113 total student-athletes honored. Five different GNAC institutions had student-athletes honored.
 
In order to qualify for the Academic Achievement Award, a student-athlete must:
 

• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Have attended a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college level work.
• Have been an active member of an intercollegiate team during his/her last academic year.

 
The Wildcats had the following breakdown of recipients of each NCAA Division II sport:
 
Baseball – 15
Football – 31
Men’s Basketball – 3

Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field – 7
Softball – 9
Women’s Basketball – 7

Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field – 15
Women’s Soccer – 15
Women’s Volleyball – 8
 
To view the full D2 ADA article click HERE
To view the full breakdown of CWU student-athletes click HERE
 

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – Preseason workouts are looking a little different for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros volleyball team this year. 
 
The NCAA allowed Div. I teams to start a few days earlier than usual in 2025. With the extra days and nine newcomers on the roster, head coach Todd Lowery is using a slow and steady approach to really emphasize things like passing angles, tempo of setting, seam coverage and other fundamentals to make sure everyone is on the same page and working toward the same goal. 
 
The mission behind the new preseason approach is connected to the main goal UTRGV has every year – win a conference championship and reach the NCAA Tournament. In recent seasons, Lowery felt the team often peaked too early and ran out of gas when the season got long. This year, they’re slowing things down to focus on having a higher ceiling and playing their best volleyball late in the year to make a postseason run. 
 
“As we looked through the calendar we had a lot more practice time than we have in the past and it’s allowed us, with nine new faces, to want to get things right before we start throwing them together,” Lowery explained. “Our focus, by really breaking things down, is can we get to perfection by November instead of good enough by October. 
 
“We have the same goals everybody does – to win a championship. But stepping back from that is how do we continue to get better and learn from the things that we didn’t do well last year?” he continued. “That’s been a big focus – how do we collectively buy into this being bigger than ourselves? How does volleyball become our why? Our key is not losing control for a set or two and putting ourselves in bad positions. That’s what slowing things down is also allowing us to do, learning how to reset to our basics and stay disciplined.” 
 

The Vaqueros are doing two practices per day, going two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening, and spending an hour in the weight room after morning practice during the three weeks of preseason. Through the first 10 practices, they haven’t done any live six-on action. They’ve emphasized spot serving, hitting angles, blocking, defense, and will put all those lessons together for the first time during the orange & gray scrimmage. 
 
Lowery has been impressed with the work his team is doing so far. He said the “core group” of returners, including juniors setter Isabella Costantini, outside hitter Nadine Zech, and middle blocker Julianna Bryant all came back after spring ball more physical and healthy and ready to take a step up. Junior middle blocker Aaliyah Snead joined the team at midterm and has been a big plus in the gym through spring, summer and preseason workouts. 
 
UTRGV has five freshmen joining the ranks, and Lowery has liked what he’s seen in their first two weeks with the squad. Ana Julia Peixoto, Maria Angeliki Tsagkopoulou and Dimitra Nanou have stood out, but the whole group looks poised to contribute in Year 1 with the Vaqueros. 
 
“I don’t think we’ve been this far ahead with a group of freshmen in as long as I can remember. They bring a lot of good things to the table,” Lowery said. “They’re young and there are some things – serve receive, blocking – that are hard and take time and they might be struggling a bit. But they’re learning the technique that we want them to do in those things. As each of them develop in little things, they’re going to be really good.” 
 
The Vaqueros have developed a quick camaraderie despite over half the team being new. Lowery said they’re a fun group to work with because everyone in the gym truly wants to get better and they’re all pushing each other toward the same goals. UTRGV will continue to focus on the details as they implement more live play into practice as the countdown to match day draws near. 
 

Jackson Herbert  

Year: Junior 

Major: Computer Science 

Hometown: Ashburn, Virginia 

Spending another summer in Southern California playing beach volleyball isn’t just fun in the sun for George Mason University student athlete Jackson Herbert. The nuances and physical demands of the faster-paced beach game are considerably different from indoor volleyball, but he said playing has significantly elevated his indoor game. Now Herbert, a junior and men’s volleyball opposite from Ashburn, Virginia, feels he may be primed for a breakout season with the Patriots this year. 

“When I’m playing indoors, I feel like I’m flying because there’s nothing holding me down,” he said. 

Training Is a Beach: This summer, Herbert trained in the Los Angeles area, where his daily regime involved two to three hours of practice in the sand, followed by a dip in the ocean before grabbing a bite to eat, weightlifting, and recuperative time in the hot tub. Before finishing the day, he might have another dip in the ocean. Rinse and repeat. 

Doing It All: Opposites, also known as the right-side hitter, are versatile players who rotate through both the front and back row, with key responsibilities that include hitting, blocking, and occasionally setting. The two-person beach game requires all that, and then some. “You have to be able to pass, set, and serve well,” said Herbert. “You have to be able to do it all.” 

All in the Family: As a kid, Herbert would tag along with his parents who played in a co-ed league for Dulles Beach Volleyball. His mother soon enrolled him in volleyball clinics, and by age 10, he was competing in indoor volleyball. “My love for the sport grew from there,” he said.  

Home Away from Home: When it came time to choose a college, Herbert considered two things: location and brotherhood. As the oldest of three, he wanted to stay close to home so he could be involved in his siblings’ lives, supporting them at their tournaments and games whenever possible. He also values the tight-knit, open-door culture of George Mason’s men’s volleyball team. “I knew some of the guys before committing, and every interaction pulled me closer to George Mason,” he said. “It made the decision really easy.”  

Balancing Passions: A member of the Honors College, Herbert’s interest in technology comes naturally—his dad is a software developer, which inspired him to take cybersecurity and software development classes in high school. Enjoying what he learned, he decided to pursue computer science as a major. 

All the Way with Team USA: In October, Herbert, who previously played for the U.S. Beach Volleyball U19 and U21 teams, will join the U21 squad to compete in the 2025 FIVB U21 Beach World Championships in Puebla, Mexico. “It was an amazing experience,” he said of his previous opportunity with the national teams. “I’m excited to do this again.” 

Setting His Sights: Herbert hopes to earn spots with the U.S. Collegiate and U23 Beach Volleyball National teams next summer. Beyond college, he would like to play professionally on the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour—the premier professional beach volleyball league in the United States. “I’d like to continue doing this at the highest level.” 

Streaming Channel Offers 50+ Hours of New and Original Content Each Week, Complementing the Road to FIFA World Cup 26™ and Beyond 

Original Programming Lineup Features New Daily Shows and Exclusive Extended Editions of Telemundo’s Sports Coverage 

Live Event Coverage to Include Liga MX Femenil and Youth Leagues; Select US Soccer Youth Matches; Básquetbol LATAM; CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers; Select MMA Events and More 

MIAMI, Fla. – Aug. 14, 2025 – Telemundo announces the launch of Telemundo Deportes Ahora, its 24/7 Spanish-language Sports FAST channel, debuting today August 14 initially on Peacock, Xumo Play, the NBC News FAST hub, and Telemundo.com, with some content livestreaming on YouTube. Telemundo Deportes Ahora will roll out on additional platforms over the coming months. 

“With Telemundo Deportes Ahora, we’re giving Hispanic audiences another way to connect with the sports they love, complementing our sports offering and enhancing their viewing experience on the road to World Cup and beyond,” said Joaquin Duro, Executive Vice President of Sports, Telemundo.  

This new streaming channel delivers a dynamic, always-on sports viewing experience, with more than 50 hours of new Spanish-language content weekly, including original programming, live shows and select live sporting events, designed for today’s digital-first audiences. And as the countdown to FIFA World Cup 26™ intensifies, Telemundo Deportes Ahora will feature comprehensive coverage across fútbol and beyond, expert commentary and a fresh take on sports storytelling. Telemundo Deportes Ahora will complement Telemundo’s most valuable sports rights with additional properties, such as Básquetbol LATAM, select MMA events, Bare-Knuckle Boxing, and Pro-Paddle League. 

Telemundo’s roster of award-winning sports talent will contribute to FAST channel programming, delivering extended and dedicated coverage. Andres Cantor, Carlota Vizmanos, Diego Balado, and Luis Omar Tapia will expand their Premier League coverage; Jorge Calvo, José Luis López Salido, and Miguel Gurwitz will provide additional Liga MX content; and Isabella Echeverri will supplement U.S. Soccer programming on Telemundo Deportes Ahora.  

Telemundo will premiere new live studio shows exclusively for Telemundo Deportes Ahora. Below are the daily live shows airing Monday through Friday offering real-time coverage of the day’s top headlines, spirited debates, analysis and exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the sports world debuting with the launch:  

• Telemundo Deportes Al Día – 1 p.m. ET: Hosted by Carmen Boquín, the show kicks off the day with the freshest sports news and a preview of the day’s programming. Carmen delivers key headlines and sets the stage for the rest of the sports coverage. 

• Puesta a Punto – 6 p.m. ET: An engaging show filled with debate, analysis, and in-depth commentary. Telemundo’s roster of award-winning sports talent brings their experience and insight, inviting audiences to take part in the conversation. 

• El Pelotazo Ahora – 11 p.m. ET: Hosted by Diego Arrioja, Pablo Mariño, and Verónica Rodríguez with regular contributions by Adriana Monsalve, the show serves as an extension of the network’s late-night sports show with a 360° approach, energetic hosts, guests, and lively debates, delivering a fresh take on the day’s most talked-about sports moments. 

Telemundo Deportes Ahora will also present a suite of original programming designed to keep fans informed and entertained around key sports properties. Shows such as Fútbol MX, Fútbol US Soccer and Tercer Tiempo Ahora deliver the latest stories, biggest goals and expert breakdowns across Mexican, U.S. and global fútbol plus other major sports moments around the games. For Premier League fans, the channel will offer a rich slate of complementary content, including weekly highlight reels (Zona de la Premier League), player profiles (Historias y Leyendas de la Premier League), pre- and post-match analysis (Previa de la Premier League and Repaso de la Premier League), as well as legacy specials (Campeones de la Premier League). 

In addition to its live offerings, Telemundo Deportes Ahora will offer weekly original programming, including: 

• Panorama Deportivo: A comprehensive look at the U.S. sports landscape, hosted by Jorge Calvo. This informative program dives into national trends with in-depth reporting and analysis, providing audiences with a full, detailed snapshot of the current sports scene. 

• Somos o No Somos: Hosted by Gurwitz, this is a fresh, energetic, and opinion-driven talk show that brings bold perspectives to the table. Whether the debate gets heated or stays lighthearted, this is the space for passionate takes on the week’s biggest topics. 

• Mundo PX Sports: A front-row seat to the world of extreme sports. This weekly show features news, highlights, exclusive interviews, mini-docs, and stunning scenery—all produced with a cinematic lens that captures the thrill of adrenaline-fueled action. 

Telemundo Deportes Ahora joins Telemundo’s growing FAST channel lineup, including Telemundo Al Día (news, entertainment, reality, and sports), Noticias Telemundo Ahora (24/7 Spanish-language news), Telemundo Acción (high-energy action series) and Caso Cerrado (Telemundo’s iconic courtroom show). This expansion reinforces Telemundo’s commitment to diverse, on-demand content. For more information on Telemundo Deportes Ahora channel visit www.telemundo.com. 

Telemundo Deportes, the sports division of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, is the leading U.S. Spanish-language sports production brand, home to the biggest live events and most relevant sports content across all platforms, including Telemundo, Universo, Peacock, and digital and social media channels. Telemundo Deportes produces 24/7 sports news and entertainment, led by a diverse, award-winning commentary team, and delivers a robust lineup of studio programming and live events, including exclusive Spanish-language coverage of FIFA events, including FIFA World Cup 2026™, and U.S. Soccer through 2026, the Premier League, Chivas de Guadalajara, NFL’s Sunday Night Football, NBA, the Olympic Games, and other major sporting events.  

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About NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises:  

NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises leads the media industry in the production and distribution of Spanish-language content for U.S. Hispanics and audiences around the world. The company serves U.S. Hispanics through its national broadcast network, the cable network Universo, and digital platforms including the Telemundo app, a suite of FAST channels, and streaming services, such as Peacock, among others. The Telemundo Network offers Spanish-language entertainment, news, and sports content reaching 95% of U.S. Hispanic TV households in 210 markets through 30 owned stations and 91 affiliate stations. Telemundo also owns an independent station serving Puerto Rico. Anchored on Telemundo Studios, the network is the #1 producer of scripted Spanish-language content in the U.S., and the only network to produce original content specifically for US Hispanic audiences. Offering over 600 hours of reality TV shows a year, and top-rated live specials such as the Billboard Latin Music Awards and Miss Universe, Telemundo is considered the undisputed Home of Live TV in Hispanic media. The network is also the exclusive Spanish-language home of the world’s two most popular sporting events, the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games. NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises is a division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. 

Media Contacts:  

Eva Mejicanos; Eva.Mejicanos@nbcuni.com; (786) 459-4057 

Melissa Lopez; Melissa.Lopez1@nbcuni.com; (786) 889-3914