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Louisville economy helped by volleyball Final Four at KFC Yum! Center

The volleyball championship is tied with the 2023 NCAA men’s basketball regional for the highest economic impact of any NCAA championship event the city has hosted. Video: One-on-one interview with Louisville volleyball coach Dan Meske Louisville Cardinals volleyball coach Dan Meske sits down with The Courier Journal to discuss his career and vision for the […]

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The volleyball championship is tied with the 2023 NCAA men’s basketball regional for the highest economic impact of any NCAA championship event the city has hosted.

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  • These numbers were determined by the Economic Impact Calculator from Destinations International, which Louisville Tourism has used since 2017.
  • Last year’s NCAA volleyball championship, which spanned four days, set multiple attendance records at the KFC Yum! Center.

Louisville is known nationally as basketball country. But those who live in the city are well aware of its love affair with volleyball.

The sport’s NCAA championship returned to Louisville in December — 12 years after it first hosted the event — and left a grand financial mark.

The 2024 national semifinals and final had an estimated economic impact of $12.7 million, Louisville Tourism director of sports market development Gen Howard told The Courier Journal. The accompanying American Volleyball Coaches Association convention had an estimated economic impact of $2.6 million, making for a total impact of $15.3 million. It’s tied with the 2023 NCAA men’s basketball regional for the highest economic impact of any NCAA championship event the city has hosted, Howard said.

These numbers were determined by the Economic Impact Calculator from Destinations International, which Louisville Tourism has used since 2017. D.I. is “the global association for destination professionals,” and its calculator is an industry standard used by more than 375 destination entities in North America. The calculator takes two types of data into account when evaluating the economic impact of a given event:

One, event-specific data.

Two, city-specific data.

Event-specific data includes information like type of event (in this case, a sporting event, but more specifically, a volleyball tournament), attendance (including athletes participating in the tournament or meet), ticket sales and length of stay. Louisville Tourism gets this information from the event producer. For the volleyball championship, that was the NCAA.

Last year’s NCAA volleyball championship, which spanned four days, set multiple attendance records at the KFC Yum! Center. The semifinals between Louisville vs. Pitt and Nebraska vs. Penn State on Dec. 19 had an announced attendance of 21,726 — an NCAA semifinals record. The final between Louisville and Penn State on Dec. 22 broke the national indoor record with an announced attendance of 21,860.

City-specific data remains unchanged by Louisville Tourism. This information takes into account eight different sources of industry information like local taxes (such as sales tax, which is 6% in Kentucky), cost of living and average room rate.

The 2012 NCAA final between Texas and Oregon was the fourth most attended volleyball match in Division I history at the time, attracting 16,448 to the KFC Yum! Center. It still sat inside the top 20 ahead of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The 2012 national semifinals between Oregon-Penn State and Texas-Michigan entertained 13,385 in-person fans, making those the 13th most attended volleyball match at the time.

The 2023 NCAA men’s basketball regional had an economic impact of $15.3 million, Howard told The Courier Journal. The regional semifinals between Alabama vs. San Diego State and Creighton vs. Princeton drew 20,289 spectators, according to NCAA records. The regional final between SDSU and Creighton drew 20,051 fans.

The city of Louisville has previously hosted the NCAA men’s cross-country championship in 2012, 2015 and 2017. And the 2023 NCAA Men’s Soccer College Cup was played at 15,300-seat Lynn Family Stadium. But it’s the KFC Yum! Center’s 22,090-seat capacity that makes it optimal for hosting high-profile events.

Louisville volleyball ended its 2024 campaign as national runner-up to Penn State. The Cards are now led by former associate head coach Dan Meske, who took over for Dani Busboom Kelly after she accepted the head coaching job at her alma mater Nebraska. U of L most recently defeated rival Kentucky 3-1 in a spring match April 18 at L&N Arena.

Reach college sports enterprise reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@gannett.com, and follow her on X @petitus25.





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2025 Southern Arizona Beach Volleyball Pairs

Share Tweet Share Share Email Salpointe. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson) DIVISION II SEMIFINALSSalpointe Team TOP PAIRSChloe Zhang, Sr./Amelia Bartfalvi, Jr. SalpointeKallie George, Sr./Ameila Cutting, Fr. Ironwood Ridge COACHES OF THE YEARJalynn Ransom, SalpointeBill Lang, Ironwood Ridge FIRST FLIGHTChloe Zhang, Sr./Amelia Bartfalvi, Jr. SalpointeKallie George, Sr./Ameila Cutting, Fr. […]

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Salpointe. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson)

DIVISION II SEMIFINALS
Salpointe Team

TOP PAIRS
Chloe Zhang, Sr./Amelia Bartfalvi, Jr. Salpointe
Kallie George, Sr./Ameila Cutting, Fr. Ironwood Ridge

COACHES OF THE YEAR
Jalynn Ransom, Salpointe
Bill Lang, Ironwood Ridge

FIRST FLIGHT
Chloe Zhang, Sr./Amelia Bartfalvi, Jr. Salpointe
Kallie George, Sr./Ameila Cutting, Fr. Ironwood Ridge
Brooklyn Burgle, Jr./Eleanor Sharp, Sr. Salpointe
Rilynn Brown, Fr./Abbey Garner, Sr. Canyon del Oro
Lindon Bourn, Jr./Leah Stoneking, Jr. Catalina Foothills
Callen Hutchens, Fr./Nicole Monge, Jr. Salpointe

SECOND FLIGHT
Annabella Bruzzone, Fr./Reagan Burgle, Fr. Salpointe
Lydia Litkenhus, Jr./Briana Craig, Sr. Ironwood Ridge
Aubrey Schultz, Fr./Maria Lemas, Jr. Ironwood Ridge
Laila Adcock, Sr./Carly Axen, Sr. Catalina Foothills
Emma Brown, Sr./Kaydence Wren, Sr. Canyon del Oro
Faithlyn Lohmueller, Jr//Maisie Schmidt, Sr. Cienega

THIRD FLIGHT
Elizabeth Bruzzone, Jr./Shyla Forgacs, So. Salpointe
Kendyl Shields, So./Laura Cubillas, So. Ironwood Ridge
Genesis Othon, Fr./Sadie Price, So. Ironwood Ridge
Zoe Brown, So./Rebecca Vasquez, So. Catalina Foothills
Anna Coleman, Jr./Addison Lee, So. Canyon del Oro
Sydney Hellbush, Jr./Ava Terpning, Jr. Catalina Foothills

BOYS VOLLEYBALL ALL-STARS

TRACK & FIELD ALL-STARS

D-III GOLF ALL-STARS

TENNIS ALL-STARS










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Two more athletes punch their tickets to Eugene

Story Links Results Schedule of Events COLLEGE STATION, Texas –Kansas City’s Tory Lanham and South Dakota State’s Cody Larson highlight the third day of the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds for Summit League athletes. Kansas City In one of the final three […]

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas –Kansas City’s Tory Lanham and South Dakota State’s Cody Larson highlight the third day of the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds for Summit League athletes.

Kansas City

In one of the final three events of day three of the NCAA West Preliminary Round, Lanham punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships in the 200 meter while clocking the ninth-fastest time (20.33) at the meet. The Roo Sophomore ran a personal record by nearly two tenths of a second to finish fifth in his heat and grab his ticket to Eugene. 

North Dakota State

Adam Dugger was scheduled to compete in the triple jump, but did not record a jump. 

 

Oral Roberts

Jordan Wenger opened up competition at the NCAA West Preliminary rounds for the Golden Eagles in the men’s high jump. He cleared 6-10 ¼ (2.09m) on his second attempt but couldn’t get over 7-0 ¼ (2.14m) to stay alive in the competition ultimately placing 25th.  

South Dakota

 The South Dakota track and field program had five Coyotes competing in the NCAA West First Round Friday night in College Station, Texas, all putting up solid performances.

 

To start the day in the field, Landon Olson and Joe Lynch competed in the men’s high jump. Both competitors cleared 6-10 ¼ (2.09m) on their first attempts but couldn’t get over 7-0 ¼ (2.14m) to stay alive in the competition. Olson placed 18th and Lynch 22nd overall.

 

On the track, Jaden Damiano, Mikael Grace, and Mason Sindelar competed in quarterfinal round races. In the 110-meter hurdles, Damiano ran 13.75 to place 17th. Grace was off to a solid start in his race but got caught up on a hurdle and was unable to finish the race due to injury. In the men’s 800-meters, Sindelar ran a second consecutive race under 1:49, crossing the line in 1:48.96 and placed 20th. With the top 12 times advancing to the NCAA Championships, the three Coyotes see their season’s come to a close Friday night.

 

Four Coyote women will look to join the pole vault trio of Tre Young, Gen Hirata, and Anna Willis at the NCAA Championships by competing tomorrow (Saturday). Lydia Knapp competes in the discus throw at 1 p.m. and Danii Anglin will jump in the high jump at 3:30 p.m. On the track, Sara Reifenrath will look to qualify for the NCAA Championships in two events, running in the 400-meters at 6:50 p.m. and in the 200-meters at 7:50 p.m. Averi Schmeichel will take her shot at advancing in the 400-meter hurdles at 7:25 p.m.

 

South Dakota State

Cody Larson punched his ticket to Eugene in the 3000-meter steeplechase after finishing second in his heat but 11th overall with a time of 8:39.60. Teammate Josh Becker did not finish the race. In the 110-meter hurdles, Pierre Lear ran 14.40 to place 21st.

 

Junior Grayson Ring was not able to clear the opening height of 6-8¼ (2.04m) in the high jump.

In other field event action, the discus trio of Ethan Fischer, Caymen Genheim, and Caiden Fredrick hit the ring for the discus throw. The top 12 punched tickets to Eugene, Oregon in the event, and Fredrick wound up placing 33rd with a throw of 179-3 (54.65m). Caymen Gebheim took 37th with a throw of 176-11 (53.92m). Ethan Fischer finished 46th with a throw of 164-6 (50.14m).





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No. 8 Women’s Crew Advances All Three Boats to Semifinals at NCAA Championship

WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – Brown women’s crew completed a successful first day at the 2025 NCAA Championship on Friday morning, sending all three crews to the semifinals on Saturday. Each crew finished in the top three of their heat races and competed hard against some familiar programs, most notably Washington and Princeton.  The V8, stroked […]

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WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – Brown women’s crew completed a successful first day at the 2025 NCAA Championship on Friday morning, sending all three crews to the semifinals on Saturday. Each crew finished in the top three of their heat races and competed hard against some familiar programs, most notably Washington and Princeton. 

The V8, stroked by Jessica McGrady and coxed by Summer Balla-Kellett, posted a final time of 6:14.999 and came in second place en route to securing a spot in tomorrow’s semifinal race. Brown’s top boat continues to build on a strong regular season in Loyalty Chair for Women’s Crew Head Coach Tessa Gobbo-Zimmerman’s ’13 first year at the helm of the program. 

The 2V8, stroked by Isla Wilding and coxed by Caitlyn Roddy, crossed the finish line in 6:22.905 and took home a third place finish behind Virginia and Washington. The A4, stroked by Adair Beck and coxed by Brooke Halvorsen, posted a final time of 7:15.728 and also took home a third place finish in their heat.

MAY 31 SEMIFINAL RACE DAY SCHEDULE

V8 – 7:12 a.m.

2V8 – 7:36 a.m.

A4 – 7:44 a.m.

WHERE TO WATCH

You can catch the Bears in action tomorrow morning on NCAA.com with the link below or on the team schedule.

2025 Women’s Crew NCAA Championship – Day 2 

FULL LINEUPS AND RESULTS

V8


Stanford – 6:11.533

Brown – 6:14.999

Michigan – 6:20.126

Harvard – 6:22.721

Syracuse – 6:24.539

B: Eugenia Rodriguez-Vazquez

2: Hannah Hickson

3: Nadia Vondeling

4: Matilda Damon

5: Caroline Schmitz

6: Mary Claire Warren

7: Holly Crews

S: Jessica McGrady

C: Summer Balla-Kellett

2V8

Washington – 6:18.700

Virginia – 6:20.845

Brown – 6:22.905

Penn – 6:34.792

Oregon St. – 6:36.405

B: Lizzie Hedeman

2: Calissa Snyder Cox

3: Tessa Tomkinson

4: Sadie Bell

5: Riley Cooper

6: Ava Rothmeyer

7: Audrey Roche

S: Isla Wilding

C: Caitlyn Roddy

A4

Washington – 7:11.573

Princeton – 7:14.789

Brown – 7:15.728

Oregon St. – 7:20.369

Penn – 7:20.674

B: Annie Herring

2: Louisa McLaughlin

3: Orla Fitzgerald

S: Adair Beck

C: Brooke Halvorsen

 

Gallery: (5-30-2025) 2025 Women’s Crew NCAA Championship

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For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on Twitter, @BrownU_Bears on Instagram, like BrownUBears on Facebook, and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.





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Preview and how to watch live VNL action

The top women’s volleyball stars in the world begin the road to Łódź in the 2025 Women’s Volleyball Nations League (4 June – 27 July). Eighteen national teams from across the world will battle it out in the preliminary round, which takes place across nine pools and runs until 13 July. They will play for […]

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The top women’s volleyball stars in the world begin the road to Łódź in the 2025 Women’s Volleyball Nations League (4 June – 27 July).

Eighteen national teams from across the world will battle it out in the preliminary round, which takes place across nine pools and runs until 13 July. They will play for the chance to head to the finals in Poland at the end of July, to be contested between eight nations.

Olympic gold medallists and reigning women’s VNL champions Italy are the team on top going into the 2025 edition, and they begin with a mouth-watering clash and rematch of the Paris 2024 gold medal match against the USA.

Olympic bronze medallists Brazil are keen to go one step further and win a competition they have finished as runners-up in on three occasions. Another former finalist and title contender is Japan, who fell in the 2024 final to champions Italy.

Read on for the key details of this year’s Volleyball Nations League.



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University of Oklahoma Athletics

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 18 Oklahoma men’s track and field team closed out its last day of NCAA West First Rounds Friday night at E.B. Cushing Stadium. BJ Green (triple jump), Ralford Mullings (discus), Kyren Washington (high jump) and Floyd Whitaker (triple jump) advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., June […]

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 18 Oklahoma men’s track and field team closed out its last day of NCAA West First Rounds Friday night at E.B. Cushing Stadium. BJ Green (triple jump), Ralford Mullings (discus), Kyren Washington (high jump) and Floyd Whitaker (triple jump) advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., June 11-14 with top-12 finishes in their respective events.
 
Ralford Mullings secured Oklahoma’s first qualification of the day with second place in the men’s discus. The Kingston, Jamaica, native tossed 67.21m (220’6.00″) on his third attempt, with both of his two legal marks eclipsing 67 meters.
 
The triple jump wrapped simultaneously, with the Sooners adding two more entries to the final site. BJ Green extended his No. 1-ranking in the nation with a PR of 16.94m (55’7.00″) (+1.4) to claim the west regional title. His mark improves his position at No. 2 all-time in OU history and he will make his third appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene. Floyd Whitaker also had a career day, posting a personal-best 16.27m (53’4.50″) (+1.0) on his final attempt for fifth place in the field. With this mark, he climbs to No. 5 on OU’s all-time performance list.
 
Kyren Washington added the Sooners’ final entry to the championships Friday evening. The sophomore tied for first in the high jump with a 2.17m (7′.1.50″) clearance, soaring over every bar from 2.04 meters on without a single miss.
 
In the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, Evans Biwott entered the race ranked 47th in the west region. The freshman improved with a 15th-place finish and a career-best 8:42.60 time, jumping to No. 3 all-time in OU’s outdoor history books.
 
A select group of women’s athletes are set to compete on the final day of events Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. CT. Live results of the meet can be viewed on Flash Results and a broadcast of the regional will air on ESPN+ at 5 p.m. CT.
 
CONNECT WITH THE SOONERS

For more information on Oklahoma Track & Field, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Track) and like Oklahoma Sooners Track & Field and Cross Country on Facebook.





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Sarawak Nets MSSM Gold With All-PASC Water Polo Lineup

KUCHING: Sarawak’s water polo team clinched gold at the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Aquatic Championship 2025, held at the MBJB Aquatic Centre, Larkin Arena in Johor Bahru from May 24 to 28. Coach Voon Yong Hui expressed pride in the team’s performance, especially given the challenges faced during the season. “I’m happy with the […]

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KUCHING: Sarawak’s water polo team clinched gold at the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Aquatic Championship 2025, held at the MBJB Aquatic Centre, Larkin Arena in Johor Bahru from May 24 to 28.

Coach Voon Yong Hui expressed pride in the team’s performance, especially given the challenges faced during the season.

“I’m happy with the result we achieved. It wasn’t easy, as several of our senior players are currently sitting for exams.

“Our juniors stepped up and performed exceptionally well. They have a bright future ahead,” he told Sarawak Tribune when contacted recently.

All seven players on Sarawak’s water polo team come from the Power Aquatic Swimming Club (PASC), highlighting the club’s key role in nurturing young talent.

Their presence formed the backbone of the state team and contributed significantly to Sarawak’s success at the national-level championship.

The seven PASC athletes who formed the core of the gold-winning squad are Bryan Lee Ming Yik, Jeremiah Luk Kah, Jon Marcus Ling Kwong Cheng, Ong Zong Lian, Presley Phang Yi Qi, Samuel Chong Yue Yang, and Tay Kee Ren.



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