Sports

Macalester Student-Athletes Honored at Year-End Celebration

Published

7 months ago

May 6, 2025

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ST. PAUL, Minn. – Macalester Athletics hosted its year-end celebration on Sunday, April 28 in Kagin Ballroom. Seniors were escorted into Kagin by bagpipes and welcomed into the Macalester M Club by club president Steve Cox ’76. Macalester Vice President for Student Affairs Kathryn Coquemont addressed the student-athletes, while Director of Athletics Donnie Brooks served as the Master of Ceremonies.

Several awards were handed out, as Macalester Athletics celebrated the 2024-25 school year.

Doug Bolstorff M Club Student-Athlete of the Year Award

This award is given to a student-athlete from a men’s and a women’s sport at Macalester who has contributed the most to the team’s success through athletic achievement, leadership and academic excellence.

Men’s Team Athlete – Arlo Heitler, track & field. Heitler had an outstanding indoor season this winter, setting school records in the 200 and 400 meters, and earning All-MIAC honors in the 400 with a third-place finish at the MIAC Indoor Championships. His school-record time in the 400 qualified him for his first NCAA Indoor Championships, where he placed 12th to receive All-American honorable mention. Also an honorable mention All-American outdoors a year ago, he has set school records in the 100 and 200 meters outdoors this spring. Heitler currently ranks 26th in the 400 in Division III heading into the MIAC Championships at Macalester Stadium May 9-10.

Co-Women’s Team Athlete – Peyton Starks, women’s basketball. This season, Starks became the first Macalester women’s basketball player to be named the MIAC Offensive Player of the Year. A three-time All-MIAC selection, she averaged 18.6 points per game this year, nearly three points per game more than the second-leading scorer in the conference. Starks is the only women’s basketball player to lead the MIAC in scoring for three straight years since the 1999-2000 season. Also a two-time All-Region player, she wasn’t just a scorer, as she ranked third in the MIAC in steals and eighth in rebounding. In 101 career games as a Scot, Starks scored 1,652 points to finish as the program’s second-leading scorer.

Co-Women’s Team Athlete – Verity Wray-Raabolle, swimming & diving. Wray-Raabolle had an amazing senior season in the pool. At the MIAC Championships, she won the 100-yard backstroke, finished second in the 50-yard freestyle and took third in the 200-yard backstroke. She also swam on four All-MIAC relay teams, including three conference champions, to help the Scots finish second in the MIAC, their highest finish in the program’s history. Wray-Raabolle’s 100-yard backstroke time in the 400-yard medley relay qualified her for the NCAA Championships, where she competed in three events. She was the only women’s swimmer from the MIAC to swim at nationals this year. Wray-Raabolle leaves Macalester having set two individual school records and four more school records as a member of the Scots’ relay teams.

Dorothy Michel Award – Peyton Starks, basketball and Livi Novello, soccer

This award honors the outstanding junior and a senior female student-athletes of the year at Macalester and was established by family, alumni and friends in memory of Dorothy Michel, chair of the women’s physical education department from 1946-1968.

Junior – Jess Palmer-Sammons was named the CWPA Most Valuable Player this season after leading the Scots with 49 goals, 65 points and 65 steals in 19 games. In a win over Carthage, she tied the school record for goals in a match with nine. Outside of the pool, Palmer-Sammons has a perfect GPA and volunteers at La Clinica, a Minnesota Community Care clinic that provides medical care to public insured or uninsured patients, in a Spanish-speaking community.

Senior – At the MIAC Swimming & Diving Championships this winter, Caroline Chapon competed in seven events and earned All-MIAC in six of them while receiving honorable mention in the other. She helped the Scots win three MIAC titles in the relays while taking second in both the 100-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly. This year Chapon set individual school records in the 100- and 200-yard individual medleys, and she is a part of four relay school records. She’s also been on the Academic All-MIAC team twice.

David C. Primrose Endowed Prize – Tyler Edwards, cross country/track & field

This prize recognizes the outstanding junior male student-athlete of the year at Macalester and was established by family, friends and former students in memory of David C. Primrose, director of physical education and Macalester’s track and field coach from 1926-1954.

Tyler Edwards was the Scots’ top finisher at both the MIAC Championships and the North Region meet. He earned All-MIAC honors with a 10th-place finish at the conference meet, helping Macalester finish third for the team’s highest finish in 53 years. On the track, he finished eighth in the 5000 meters at the MIAC Indoor Championships in March. Also an excellent student, Edwards was on the Academic All-District team and was named an All-Academic Athlete by the USTFCCCA.

George E. Scotten Endowed Prize – Hans Haenicke, soccer

This prize recognizes the outstanding senior male student-athlete of the year at Macalester and was established anonymously by fellow class member of George E. Scotten, class of 1921, honoring the man who directed the Macalester Admissions Office for 30 years.

A forward for the Scots, Hans Haenicke terrorized opposing defenses for four years, racking up 35 goals to rank fifth all-time at Mac. The team’s leading scorer each season, he is just the 18th men’s soccer player in MIAC history to be named All-MIAC all four years. Haenicke also is the second Scot to earn All-Region honors three times. Also a standout academically, Haenicke is a two-time Academic All-American.

Rising Scot Award

The Rising Scot Awards were created to recognize a first year or sophomore from a men’s team and a women’s team who has made an immediate impact on their sport while performing at a high level. Sophomore and first year Rising Scots were honored.

Co-Rising Scot Men’s Team First Year – John Ihrke started his career at Macalester with a solid cross country season, helping the Scots take third at the MIAC Championships while finishing second among all first years in the conference meet. At the MIAC Indoor Championships, he was named the Rookie of the Year after winning the 800 meters and taking fourth in the 600 meters. Last week, Ihrke ran the fastest time in the MIAC in the 800 and currently ranks 24th in Division III.

Co-Rising Scot Men’s Team First Year – Kean Pajarillaga was named the MIAC Co-Rookie of the Year for swimming after winning the 200-yard backstroke and taking fifth in both the 500-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke at the MIAC Championships. He also swam on three All-MIAC relays and two school-record relays.

Rising Scot Men’s Team Sophomore – Kasdan Blattman has been a walking highlight reel since joining the Scots’ men’s soccer team as a central midfielder, confounding his opponents with his speed and skill. This year he was named to the All-Region second team, one of a handful of sophomores to earn the honor. He is also a two-time All-MIAC selection.

Rising Scot Women’s Team First Year – Ariella Rogahn-Press started rewriting the Macalester record book almost immediately, breaking school records almost every time she raced. At the MIAC Indoor Championships, she was named the Rookie of the Year after placing second in the 200 meters and fourth in the 400 meters. Rogahn-Press qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 400 and finished sixth to earn All-American honors. Outdoors, she has the nation’s second-fastest 400 time and is ranked 30th in the 200.

Rising Scot Women’s Team Sophomore – Tess Bojorquez has been a standout player for the softball team as both a pitcher and hitter, ranking among the MIAC leaders in both areas. She has the sixth-most runs batted in and the seventh-lowest earned run average in the conference this season. In Game 2 against St. Olaf last Sunday, Bojorquez pitched all eight innings and then delivered a two-out, walk-off single that scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning. The win clinched a spot in the MIAC Playoffs for the Scots.

Academic Team of the Year

This award honors the top male and female teams that achieve the highest cumulative grade point averages.

Men’s Soccer

Women’s Tennis

Kofi Kup

The award is presented to the winners of the annual Kofi Kup competition for student-athlete involvement. This year’s winning team is Women’s Basketball.

The Rider Cup – Nicole Norton, volleyball/basketball and Austin Mills, football/track & field

This award is presented in memory of Janis Rider to a male and female student-athlete who excels in two or more sports, is a talented scholar and involved in community service.

Nicole Norton – As a setter for the volleyball team, Norton registered over 1,500 assists to rank sixth in the program’s history. During her career, she went from starter to role player and back to starter and, according to Coach Mary Johnston, accepted her role and always put the team first. Each winter Norton seamlessly made the transition to basketball, providing toughness and skill as a guard for the women’s basketball team. As a senior, she led the Scots in field goal percentage. Norton also earned Academic All-District honors in both sports.

Austin Mills – In the fall, Mills led the Scots’ football team in sacks and tackles-for-loss, displaying a complete recovery from an injury that cost him the 2023 season. He was a disruptive force on the defensive line after transitioning to the line from the linebacker position. As a thrower for the track & field team, Mills broke the school record in the weight throw this winter and placed fifth at the MIAC Indoor Championships. Outdoors, he has the fourth-best mark in school history in the hammer throw and currently ranks seventh in the MIAC in that event.

Shield of Strength Awards

This award is given to a male and a female senior student-athlete who has shown commitment, leadership, and a strong work ethic in the weight room throughout their four years as a student-athlete; a person who has demonstrated the ability to be successful and help the teammates around them reach their full athletic potential.

Men’s Sport Athlete – Shun Mizuno

Women’s Sport Athlete – Madeleine Kemper

Iron Scot Awards

These awards are presented to those student-athletes who have met or exceeded strength and conditioning standards for their respective sports.

Baseball

Niko Alexander

Tommy Ball

Aram Dombalagian

Nathan Gumagay

Amrit Joshi

Evan Kang

Brandon Kim

Braden LaChapelle

Haruto Mizuno

Shun Mizuno

Bobby Munoz

Jacob Posner

Ryan Przespolewski

Elliott Rowley

Men’s Basketball

Armando Akapo-Nwagbo

Tom Andreae

Logan Davis

Robert Grace IV

Kyle Jilla

Noah Shannon

Eric Wentz

Women’s Basketball

Mary Daley

Acacia Edmond

Sydnee Smith

Men’s Golf

Ben d’Entremont

Jerry Miao

Women’s Golf

Ava Austria

Kirstyn Hope Barsola

Mia Cluff

Bailey Lengfelder

Football

Diego Agustin

Deijon Feliciano

Christian Jones

Riley Pearce

Men’s Soccer

Kasdan Blattman

Michael Myers

Keane Palmer

Sam Price

Women’s Soccer

Ava Arrendondo

Abigail Birkey

Avery Ellis

Julia Hanson

Annelise McGee

Softball

Safiya Butler

Sophie Futchko

Callia Holland

Alli Johnson

Martha Miller

Renee Nicholson

Men’s Swimming & Diving

Boden Allen

Charles Batsaikhan

Isaac Kisker

Peter Simpson

Ramier Villarama

Women’s Swimming & Diving

Caroline Chapon

Julia Goh

Sonya Green

Nadia Lanz

Abbie Martinson

Olga Merkadeau

Natalie Pollock

Claire Stretanski

Zahra Wooden

Anna Wurtz

Men’s Tennis

Owen Lindstrom

Women’s Tennis

Rose Burrow

Berkeley Cox

Savannah Haugen

Mary Jacobson

Elizabeth Trevathan

Megan Twomey

Men’s Track & Field

Arlo Heitler

Riley Hodin

Ataa Mensah

Daniel Powell

Women’s Track & Field

Roen Boyd

Tessa Myatt

Ariella Rogahn-Press

Seneca Wilson

Water Polo

Kendall Coney

Hannah Fasi

Mak Kratz

Myles Kratz

Alana Nadolski

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Women’s track and field begins indoor season at M City Classic

Published

7 minutes ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The St. Olaf College women’s track and field team turned in 13 performances that ranked on its all-time performers’ list at the season-opening M City Classic on Friday at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse.

First years accounted for 11 of the 13 performances that ranked on St. Olaf’s all-time list at the unscored meet, which included teams from the NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and club levels. In addition to the top-10 list performances, senior Ella Landis posted St. Olaf’s lone first-place finish at the meet by winning the one-mile run in 5:17.28.

In her first collegiate meet, first year Evangeline Sappington broke onto the program’s all-time performers’ list in both the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash. Sappington was the top Division III finisher and was 10th overall in the 200-meter dash (26.84), while also taking second among Division III competitors and 16th overall in the 60-meter dash. Sappington’s time in the 60-meter dash ranks second on the Oles’ all-time list – just four one-hundredths of a second off the record – and her time in the 200-meter dash is fifth.

Sophomore Izzi Jaeckle clocked in with St. Olaf’s No. 4 time in the 60-meter dash by placing 17th (8.10), while first year Ellie Semple also broke onto the list in 10th with a time of 8.28 seconds to finish 27th. Sophomore Logan Paulsen moved up to seventh on the Oles’ list with a sixth-place performance in the shot put (12.48m, 40′ 11 ½”), while first year Abigal Frei cleared 3.26 meters (10′ 8 ¼”) for a No. 5 all-time result and an eighth-place finish.

First years Svea Frantzich and Claire Stein recorded St. Olaf’s No. 8 and No. 10 scores in the pentathlon by finishing seventh (3,005) and eighth (2,993), respectively. Frantzich tied for third in the long jump (5.44m, 17′ 10 ¼”) and was sixth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.47), which both ranked on St. Olaf’s all-time list. Stein also tied for third in the long jump (5.44m, 10′ 10 ¼”) to highlight her day. First year Annika Walsh was the runner-up in the high jump (1.62m, 5′ 3 ¾”) – fifth all-time – and was seventh in the 60-meter hurdles (9.48) – ninth all-time – as part of a ninth-place finish in the pentathlon (2,881).

St. Olaf will be back in action in 2026 at the Ole Opener at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17 at Tostrud Center.

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Second-Screen Golf Experiences : Player Profiles

Published

38 minutes ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

At the 2025 JM Eagle LA Championship, IRCODE debuted Player Profiles, a new LIVE+ capability to bring fans closer to athletes without prompts, QR codes, or static triggers.

In addition to offering an on-site fan experience, IRCODE, as a Technology Partner, introduced an interactive viewer experience for fans at home. When players appeared on-screen, viewers used the IRCODE app to scan their screen and instantly accessed a full, interactive profile for shopping their favorite players’ gear, diving deeper into their stories and learning more about the causes that are meaningful to them.

Player Profiles leverages IRCODE’s patented EXACT Match technology and proprietary computer vision, and applies real-time visual recognition to usher in the next generation of second-screen entertainment.

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Catch Saturday’s Basketball and Indoor Track and Field Action

Published

2 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BEREA, Ohio – Fans can follow or watch Saturday’s Baldwin Wallace University basketball and indoor track and field action via live results, statistics or video.

The men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams open the 2025-26 season when it travels to Cleveland to compete in the Spartan Alumni Holiday Classic hosted by Case Western Reserve University inside the Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center at 11:00 a.m.

Live Results:

https://bwyellowjackets.cc/3MlDQcr

FloCollege On Demand Live Video:

https://bwyellowjackets.cc/3KFq6st

The men’s basketball team travels to New Concord for the first game of a men’s and women’s Ohio Athletic Conference and Hoops for Hunger Food Drive doubleheader against Muskingum University on Performance Court inside the Anne C. Steele Center at 1:00 p.m. Fans can receive free admission to the game with a donation of canned food, a non-perishable item, or a monetary contribution.

Tickets:

https://bwyellowjackets.cc/3WGuwll

Live Statistics:

https://bwyellowjackets.cc/493Gehq

FloCollege On Demand Live Video:

https://flosports.link/47hSw2V

The No. 21 nationally ranked women’s basketball team travels to New Concord for the second game of a women’s and men’s Ohio Athletic Conference and Hoops for Hunger Food Drive doubleheader against Muskingum University on Performance Court inside the Anne C. Steele Center at 4:00 p.m. Fans can receive free admission to the game with a donation of canned food, a non-perishable item, or a monetary contribution.

Tickets:

https://bwyellowjackets.cc/3WGuwll

Live Statistics:

https://bwyellowjackets.cc/49Ist7Q

FloCollege On Demand Live Video:

https://flosports.link/4qu1Fyr

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2025 DII women’s volleyball championship: Bracket, schedule, scores

Published

2 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Here’s everything you need to know leading up to the first round of the 2025 DII women’s volleyball championship.

The championship bracket was revealed during a selection show on Monday, Nov. 24, live streamed here on NCAA.com. Twenty-three teams earned automatic qualification, with the remaining 41 teams selected at-large by the Division II Women’s Volleyball Committee. Teams from each of the eight regional sites received initial seeds Nos. 1-8.

🏆 Watch live: 2025 DII women’s volleyball championship rounds

2025 DII women’s volleyball championship bracket

Click or tap here for the 2025 interactive bracket

2025 NCAA DII women’s volleyball schedule

Regionals: Dec. 4-6
Quarterfinals: Thursday, Dec. 11
Semifinals: Friday, Dec. 12
National Championship: Saturday, Dec. 13

Selection show: 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, November 24
Regionals: Dec. 4-6
- Thursday, Dec. 4
  - No. 3 Indiana (Pennsylvania) 3, No. 6 Fairmont State 0
  - No. 3 Anderson (South Carolina) 3, No. 6 Augusta 1
  - No. 3 Lynn 3, No. 6 UAH 2
  - No. 6 Washburn 3, No. 3 Wayne State (Nebraska) 0
  - No. 3 Mercy 3, No. 6 Molloy 2
  - No. 2 East Stroudsburg 3, No. 7 Charleston (West Virginia) 0
  - No. 3 Ferris State 3, No. 6 Quincy 2
  - No. 2 Lenoir-Rhyne 3, No. 7 Lander 1
  - No. 7 Colorado Sch. of Mines 3, No. 2 UCCS 2
  - No. 3 Fresno Pacific 3, No. 6 Western Washington 0
  - No. 2 Barry 3, No. 7 Eckerd 0
  - No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul 3, No. 7 Central Oklahoma 0
  - No. 7 Holy Family 3, No. 2 Adelphi 2
  - No. 7 Rockhurst 3, No. 2 Ohio Dominican 0
  - No. 3 Angelo State 3, No. 6 Lubbock Christian 1
  - No. 5 Flagler 3, No. 4 Carson-Newman 1
  - No. 1 Gannon 3, No. 8 Fayetteville State 0
  - No. 7 Central Washington 3, No. 2 Simon Fraser 2
  - No. 1 Tampa 3, No. 8 Spring Hill 0
  - No. 8 UIndy 3, No. 1 Missouri-State Louis 2
  - No. 4 St. Cloud St. 3, No. 5 Missouri Western 1
  - No. 1 Bentley 3, No. 8 Bridgeport 1
  - No. 1 MSU Denver 3, No. 8 Colorado Mesa 0
  - No. 4 Pitt.-Johnstown 4, No. 5 Shepherd 0
  - No. 4 West Florida 3, No. 5 Palm Beach Atl. 2
  - No. 1 Wingate 3, No. 8 Emmanuel (Georgia) 1
  - No. 1 Point Loma 3, No. 8 CSUSB 2
  - No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney 3, No. 8 Oklahoma Baptist 2
  - No. 5 Post 3, No. 4 American Int’l 1
  - No. 5 Findlay 3, No. 4 Wayne State (Michigan) 2
  - No. 4 West Tex. A&M 3, No. 5 CSU Pueblo 1
  - No. 5 Alas. Fairbanks 3, No. 4 Alas. Anchorage 0
- Friday, Dec. 5
  - No. 2 Barry 3, No. 3 Lynn 0
  - No. 3 Indiana (PA) 3, No. 2 East Stroudsburg 1
  - No. 3 Anderson (SC) 3, No. 2 Lenoir-Rhyne 1
  - No. 3 Mercy 3, No. 7 Holy Family 1
  - No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul 3, No. 6 Washburn 0
  - No. 3 Ferris State 3, No. 7 Rockhurst 0
  - No. 3 Angelo State 3, No. 7 Colorado Sch. of Mines 0
  - No. 1 Bentley 3, No. 5 Post 1
  - No. 3 Fresno Pacific 3, No. 7 Central Washington 2
  - No. 1 Gannon 3, No. 4 Pitt.-Johnstown 1
  - No. 1 Tampa 3, No. 4 West Florida 1
  - No. 1 Wingate 3, No. 5 Flagler 1
  - No. 8 UIndy 3, No. 5 Findlay 1
  - No. 4 St. Cloud State 3, No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney 1
  - No. 1 MSU Denver 3, No. 4 West Tex. A&M 1
  - No. 1 Point Loma 3, No. 5 Alas. Fairbanks 1

NCAA DII women’s volleyball championship history

Here is the full list of champions and runners-up since 1981:

Year	Champion (Record)	Coach	Score	Runner-Up	Site
2024	Lynn (33-3)	Adam Milewski	3-2	San Francisco St.	Sioux Falls, SD
2023	Cal State LA (24-10)	Juan Figueroa	3-1	West Texas A&M	Moon Township, PA
2022	West Texas A&M (33-4)	Kendra Potts	3-1	Concordia-St. Paul	Seattle, Wash.
2021	Tampa (34-2)	Chris Catanach	3-0	Washburn	Tampa, FL.
2020	Canceled due to Covid-19	—	—	—	—
2019	Cal State San Bernardino (33-0)	Kim Cherniss	3-1	Nebraska-Kearney	Denver, Co.
2018	Tampa (33-4)	Chris Catanach	3-2	Western Washington	Pittsburgh, Pa.
2017	Concordia-St. Paul (34-3)	Brady Starkey	3-0	Florida Southern	Pensacola, Fla.
2016	Concordia-St. Paul (32-4)	Brady Starkey	3-0	Alaska Anchorage	Sioux Falls, S.D.
2015	Wheeling Jesuit (39-4)	Christy Benner	3-0	Palm Beach Atlantic	Tampa, Fla.
2014	Tampa (33-1)	Chris Catanach	3-0	S’west Minnesota State	Louisville, Ky.
2013	Concordia-St. Paul (35-3)	Brady Starkey	3-0	BYU-Hawaii	Cedar Rapids, Iowa
2012	Concordia-St. Paul (34-4)	Brady Starkey	3-2	Tampa	Pensacola, Fla.
2011	Concordia-St. Paul (34-2)	Brady Starkey	3-0	Cal State San Bernardino	Cal State San Bernardino
2010	Concordia-St. Paul (32-4)	Brady Starkey	3-1	Tampa	Louisville, Ky.
2009	Concordia-St. Paul (37-0)	Brady Starkey	3-0	West Texas A&M	Concordia-St. Paul
2008	Concordia-St. Paul (37-1)	Brady Starkey	3-2	Cal State San Bernardino	Concordia-St. Paul
2007	Concordia-St. Paul (36-4)	Brady Starkey	3-1	Western Washington	Washburn
2006	Tampa (35-1)	Chris Catanach	3-1	North Alabama	West Florida
2005	Grand Valley State (32-1)	Deanne Scanlon	3-1	Nebraska-Kearney	Nebraska-Kearney
2004	Barry (34-1)	Dave Nichols	3-1	Truman	Barry
2003	North Alabama (33-7)	Matt Peck	3-0	Concordia-St. Paul	Cal State San Bernardino
2002	BYU-Hawaii (27-2)	Wilfred Navalta	3-0	Truman	West Texas A&M
2001	Barry (32-2)	Dave Nichols	3-0	South Dakota State	Grand Valley State
2000	Hawaii Pacific (28-0)	Tita Ahuna	3-0	Augustana (S.D.)	Augustana (S.D.)
1999	BYU-Hawaii (30-2)	Wilfred Navalta	3-0	Tampa	Battle Creek, Mich.
1998	Hawaii Pacific (31-5)	Tita Ahuna	3-1	North Dakota State	Kissimmee, Fla.
1997	West Texas A&M (37-1)	Debbie Hendricks	3-2	Barry	Cal State Bakersfield
1996	Nebraska-Omaha (35-2)	Rose Shires	3-2	Tampa	Central Missouri
1995	Barry (34-2)	Leonid Yelin	3-1	Northern Michigan	Barry
1994	Northern Michigan (32-4)	Mark Rosen	3-1	Cal State Bakersfield	Cal State Bakersfield
1993	Northern Michigan (38-1)	Jim Moore	3-1	Cal State Bakersfield	Northern Michigan
1992	Portland State (36-1)	Jeff Mozzochi	3-2	Northern Michigan	Portland State
1991	West Texas A&M (36-2)	Jim Giacomazzi	3-0	Portland State	West Texas A&M
1990	West Texas A&M (38-1)	Kim Hudson	3-0	North Dakota State	Cal State Bakersfield
1989	Cal State Bakersfield (21-15)	David Rubio	3-0	Sacramento State	Cal State Bakersfield
1988	Portland State (36-5)	Jeff Mozzochi	3-0	Cal State Northridge	North Dakota State
1987	Cal State Northridge (35-6)	Walt Ker	3-2	Central Missouri	Nebraska-Omaha
1986	UC Riverside (29-7)	Sue Gozansky	3-0	Cal State Northridge	Sacramento State
1985	Portland State (36-5)	Jeff Mozzochi	3-1	Cal State Northridge	Portland State
1984	Portland State (33-4)	Jeff Mozzochi	3-0	Cal State Northridge	Portland State
1983	Cal State Northridge (30- 6)	Walt Ker	3-2	Portland State	Florida Southern
1982	UC Riverside (31-5)	Sue Gozansky	3-0	Cal State Northridge	Cal State Northridge
1981	Sacramento State (28-6)	Debby Colbery	3-0	Lewis	UC Riverside

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Cal Poly Stuns USC and Advances to Seventh Sweet-16 in Program History

Published

2 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LOS ANGELES — After months of preparation, Cal Poly’s historic Friday night culminated in a stunning five-set upset of fourth-seeded USC (25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 15-7), shattering every perfect bracket along the way.

The unseeded Mustangs (27-7) not only advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 for the first time since 2007, the seventh such appearance in program history, but also became the only team in the bracket to defeat two seeded opponents ranked lower than No. 6. Cal Poly’s last deep runs came in 2007, 1989, ‘87, ‘85, ‘84, and ‘82.

In a departure from their typical all-court offense, the Mustangs leaned on their pin hitters to secure a second straight ranked victory. Leading the charge was Emma Fredrick, who delivered a statement double-double with match-highs of 17 kills and 17 digs. Kendall Beshear and Annabelle Thalken followed with 12 kills apiece, with Beshear adding a pair of aces.

Freshman middle Charlotte Kelly anchored the net with a career-high seven block assists, part of a 10-block team effort that quieted USC’s top-50 offense to a .237 hitting percentage. Beshear (14 digs) and setter Emme Bullis (44 assists, 12 digs) also recorded double-doubles, helping limit USC’s top hitters, Leah Ford and London Wijay, to 19 kills on 55 swings.

Cal Poly stormed through the opening set behind relentless blocking, forcing an early USC timeout at 11-6. Despite a late Trojan push to narrow the gap to 22-18, a Caroline Walters timeout steadied the Mustangs, who closed out the frame 25-19.

USC responded by edging ahead 15-13 at the second-set media timeout. But after 13 ties and five lead changes, Cal Poly surged late with a 21-18 advantage and never looked back, taking the set 25-20.

The Women of Troy rallied in the third, building their largest lead at 17-12 and holding on to win 25-20. Momentum carried into the fourth, where USC raced ahead to claim it 25-14 and force a deciding fifth set.

In the tiebreaker, Cal Poly’s second of the tournament, the Mustangs broke a 3-3 deadlock with a commanding 12-4 run, sealing the match and their spot in the Third Round.

Now, one of the finest teams in program history, and a standout in recent mid-major volleyball, travels to Lexington to face No. 1 seed and regional host Kentucky.

The NCAA will announce date and time details Saturday evening. Until then, San Luis Obispo’s humble Mustangs have plenty to celebrate.

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No. 8-seed Penn State women’s volleyball defeats USF, advances to second round of NCAA Tournament | Penn State Volleyball News

Published

3 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Penn State was in the Lone Star State on Friday, taking on South Florida in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The teams met in Austin at the Gregory Gymnasium, home of the Texas Longhorns women’s volleyball team.

This wasn’t the first time the Nittany Lions and the Bulls have met; however, it was their first time in tournament play, but the blue and white have a 3-0 record over USF.

Penn State took out the Bulls 3-1 after a tight match with challenges and back-and-forth play to thank for that.

Middle blocker Maggie Mendelson opened up the scoring for the Nittany Lions, and right-side hitter Kennedy Martin went up over the net to make it two.

Outside hitter Maria Clara Andrade got the Bulls their first point of the night and USF’s first point in NCAA tournament play since its last appearance in 2003.

USF kept good coverage in the first set to keep the Nittany Lions at a distance, as well as landing kill after kill, which put it ahead of the Nittany Lions 15-10 halfway through the first set.

The blue and white came back with a crucial ace by libero Gillian Grimes, and Martin sent kills through USF’s defense, which tied the Nittany Lions 16-16. Setter Addie Lyon backed up Grimes and made good digs that kept the ball in play, which allowed the Nittany Lions to get to set point and take the first set 25-23.

Andrade kept the Nittany Lions on their toes, and she was there to give the blue and white a back-and-forth first set.

The second set started off strong for USF with outside hitter Addy Brus adding two kills to the Bulls’ score, both landing in the center of the Nittany Lions’ side of the court. Middle blocker Iyanna Garvin continued to get up over the net, as well, and Laila Ivey delivered a housed block, which shut down Penn State and kept a lead.

A crucial point that would close the gap between USF and Penn State was called a service error on Brus, but after it was challenged by the Bulls, the point was given to them as an ace. This put USF 15-10 halfway through the second set.

The Bulls reached set point 24-12 and took the second set 25-12.

The third set saw the blue and white take control by capitalizing on USF’s errors, getting it ahead of the Bulls. Outside hitter Caroline Jurevicius had a strong kill that gave the Nittany Lions some wiggle room, but that was closed by Ivey with a kill of her own.

Lyon kept racking up assists and setting up her offense for multiple kills to keep up with USF, which led halfway through the third set 16-14.

The Nittany Lions tied with the Bulls, 18-18, after an attack error by Brus. The point was challenged by USF, but the call remained the same after further review.

Penn State reached set point after the point was challenged by USF. Penn State took the third set 25-21.

Penn State continued its string of errors early in the fourth set, which the Bulls used to get a lead early on. Outside hitter Emmi Sellman delivered an important ace that closed a previously narrow gap between the Nittany Lions and the Bulls, and a kill by Jurevicius as well as an attack error by Andrade, tied the teams 10-10.

Penn State advanced to match point after it pulled away late in the fourth set, and took the fourth set 25-19, winning the match and moving on in the NCAA tournament.