kAmx? 2 =2DE >:?FE6 492?86 @7 962CE[ u=2?282? 92D 564:565 E@ ;@:? E96 C6DE @7 E96 q2586CD’ E@A\C2?<65 C64CF:E:?8 4=2DD 3J 6?C@==:?8 62C=J E@ 368:? 4=2DD6D 2?5 H@C<@FED 😕 E96 DAC:?8 D6>6DE6C]k^Am

kAmu=2?282?[ 2 e\7@@E\b @FED:56 9:EE6C 7C@> #65@?5@ q6249[ r2=:7@C?:2[ @C:8:?2==J A=2??65 E@ DE2J 9@>6 E@ 4@>A6E6 H:E9 96C $r #@4[ 😕 A2CE E@ >2<6 FA 7@C >:DD:?8 =2DE D62D@? 2D D96 C64@G6C65 7C@> 66 DFC86CJ]k^Am

kAm$@ H9:=6 96C @E96C 4=2DD>2E6D — @FED:56 9:EE6C w2==6 %9@>AD@?[ >:55=6 3=@4<6CD {J??6J %2C?@H 2?5 zJ>@C2 $4@EE 2?5 D6EE6C xD236==6 w@AA6 — H6C6 86EE:?8 2 ;F>A DE2CE @? E96:C 4@==686 42C66CD[ u=2?282? H2D?’E 8@:?8 E@ ;@:? E96> F?E:= |2J]k^Am

kAmqFE 27E6C 2 4@FA=6 A9@?6 42==D 7C@> 4@249 z6==J $9677:6=5 =2DE H66<6?5[ u=2?282? 492CE65 2 ?6H 4@FCD6 7@C 96CD6=7]k^Am

kAm“xE’D 567:?:E6=J DFA6C 23CFAE[” u=2?282? D2:5] “xE H2D 2 D9@4< E@ >6 2D H6==]”k^Am

kAmu=2?282? D2:5 E96 7:CDE 42== 7C@> $9677:6=5 =2DE uC:52J H2D >@C6 @7 2 “4964< :?” E@ D66 9@H E9:?8D H6C6 8@:?8 2?5 96 2D<65 :7 D96 925 2?J D64@?5 E9@F89ED 23@FE ?@E 4@>:?8 😕 62C=J] %92E H2D 7@==@H65 3J 2 42== E96 ?6IE >@C?:?8 =6EE:?8 96C @H E92E D96 DE:== 925 E:>6 E@ 8@ E9C@F89 E96 25>:DD:@?D AC@46DD :7 D96 H:D965]k^Am

kAm“x H2D DE:== =:<6[ x >256 2 4@>>:E>6?E E@ >J 4=F3 E62> 2?5 x 4@F=5?’E D66 >JD6=7 =62G:?8[” u=2?282? D2:5]k^Am

kAmqFE E96? D96 DA6?E E96 C6DE @7 E96 52J 4@?E6>A=2E:?8 H92E D96 C62==J H2?E65 E@ 5@]k^Am

kAm“x E6?5 E@ ECJ E@ 36 2 A6@A=6 A=62D6C 2?5 x 5@?’E =:<6 =6EE:?8 A6@A=6 5@H?[ H9:49 😀 2 8@@5 2?5 2 325 E9:?8[” D96 D2:5] “qFE x ;FDE E@@< 6G6CJ@?6 @FE @7 E96 6BF2E:@? 2?5 ;FDE E9@F89E 23@FE H92E x C62==J H2?E65] %96 E9@F89E @7 36:?8 C625J 7@C 4@==686 😕 =:<6 ?:?6 52JD H2D?’E D42CJ E@ >6] xE 9@?6DE=J 6I4:E65 >6] (96? x >256 E96 564:D:@? E9C66 >@?E9D 28@ x H2D E6CC:7:65] x ;FDE H2D?’E C625J 2?5 4=F3 H2D DFA6C :>A@CE2?E E@ >6]k^Am

kAm“x C62=:K65 E92E E96 @?=J E9:?8 2E E9:D A@:?E <66A:?8 >6 96C6 H2D E96 92C5 4@?G6CD2E:@? x H2D 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E@ 92G6 H:E9 >J 4@249 2?5 >J E62>>2E6D] %92E ;FDE H2D?’E 2 8@@5 6?@F89 C62D@? 2?5 x 6H E92E :7 x DE2J65 x H2D 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 C68C6ED 2?5 x H@F=5 36 H:D9:?8 E92E x H2D E96C6]k^Am

kAm“w@?6DE=J[ x H@<6 FA $F?52J >@C?:?8 2?5 x 76=E :E 😕 >J 8FE E92E x 925 E@ 8@] x 6H :E H2D E96 C:89E 49@:46] &DF2==J[ x’> 2 DFA6C :?564:D:G6 A6CD@?[ 3FE x ;FDE 925 2 766=:?8] x H6?E 7C@> E@E2==J 36:?8 =:<6 ?@ H2J @? $2EFC52J E@ @? $F?52J x H2D =:<6[ x 92G6 E@ 8@[ E9:D 😀 H92E’D 36DE 7@C >6]”k^Am

kAmu=2?282?[ H9@ 2=C625J 925 8C25F2E65 7C@> |:C2 r@DE2 w:89 $49@@=[ H96C6 2D 2 D@A9@>@C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^G@==6J32==^C64CF:E:?8^H:D4@?D:?\G@==6J32==\2F5C6J\7=2?282?\D9677:6=5\a_ae^2CE:4=60ga`hdaa_\a55b\“67\2457\h7hah553364`]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?>2E6 @7 q2586CD D6EE6C r92C=:6 uF6C3C:?86C[k^2m H:== 2CC:G6 2E (:D4@?D:? @? %F6D52J[k^Am

kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ uF6C3C:?86C[ D96 2=D@ 92D 56G6=@A65 2 3@?5 H:E9 %9@>AD@?[ %2C?@H 2?5 $4@EE D:?46 E96J 2== 4@>>:EE65 E@ (:D4@?D:? 😕 yF?6 a_ac] p?5 D96 2=D@ 92D @H? k2 E:E=6lQp DF556? EH:DE 2?5 72>:=:2C =:?< =625 6=:E6 D6EE6C E@ (:D4@?D:? G@==6J32==Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^ab3chgdb\26d2\c4f_\2253\4267ed6dd_hb^Q E2C86ElQ03=2? 😕 a_ac]k^Am

kAmu=2?282?[ %9@>AD@?[ %2C?@H 2?5 w@AA6 8@E 2 492?46 E@ DA6?5 D@>6 E:>6 E@86E96C C646?E=J 2D E96J A2CE:4:A2E65 😕 E96 &?56C pC>@FC p==\p>6C:42? 6G6?E 😕 ~C=2?5@[ u=@C:52]k^Am

kAm“x’G6 @H? 2== E9C66 @7 E9@D6 8:C=D 7@C D@ =@?8 2?5 :E H2D C62==J ?:46 E@ D66 xD236==6 282:?[” u=2?282? D2:5] “x E9:?< x C62==J =F4<65 @FE H:E9 >J 4=2DD]”k^Am

kAmqFE 6G6? E9@F89 E9@D6 E9C66[ =:<6 2=>@DE 2== @7 E96 @E96C A=2J6CD 2E &?56C pC>@FC[ H6C6 6?C@==:?8 62C=J[ E92E 5:5?’E :?7=F6?46 u=2?282?’D A=2?D 2E E92E A@:?E]k^Am

kAm“tG6CJ3@5J E96C6 H2D 8@:?8 62C=J[ 3FE x 6H x 925 >256 >J 49@:46 2?5 :E 5:5?’E C62==J 492?86 2?JE9:?8 H:E9 >6[” D96 D2:5] “qFE @?46 z6==J 3C@F89E :E 324< FA :?E@ >J >:?5 2?5 2D<65 >6 282:?[ x H2D =:<6 x’== 86E E@ D66 E96> 282:? D@@?6C]”k^Am

kAmu=2?282? 2CC:G6D 2E (:D4@?D:? 2D E96 ?6H=J 2?@:?E65 }@] ` C64CF:E 😕 E96 ?2E:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^!C6A’@==6J32==]4@>Qm!C6A’@==6J32==]4@>k^2m[ H9:49 C646?E=J 3@@DE65 96C E@ E92E DA@E 7C@> }@] c 😕 :ED AC6G:@FD C2?<:?8] %2C?@H 😀 }@] c ?@H[ %9@>AD@? }@] d 2?5 w@AA6 }@] `_[ 8:G:?8 $9677:6=5 E96 >@DE 96C2=565 C64CF:E:?8 4=2DD 😕 9:D 42C66C]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 D96’D 9@?@C65 E@ 36 D@ 9:89=J C682C565[ u=2?282? 5@6D?’E E2<6 2?J C2?<:?8D E92E D6C:@FD=J 2?5 :D?’E BF:E6 DFC6 H92E D96 5:5 E@ >6C:E 96C ?6H DE2EFD]k^Am

kAm“x H2D 9@?6DE=J D9@4<65[” D96 D2:5] “x H2D D@ 4@?7FD65 3642FD6 E96 =2DE E:>6 E96 C2?<:?8D 42>6 @FE[ x H2D =:<6 7:7E9 @C D@>6E9:?8] x 5@?’E E9:?< x 5:5 2?JE9:?8 😕 E92E E:>6 7C2>6 E92E H@F=5 92G6 ?646DD2C:=J 3F>A65 >6 FA E@ }@] `[ D@ x H2D 4@?7FD65]k^Am

kAm“xE’D @3G:@FD=J DFA6C 4@@= E92E 2 C2?<:?8 AFED >6 FA E96C6[ 3FE x 5@?’E E9:?<[ 8@@5 @C 325[ E92E 567:?6D >6 2D 2 A=2J6C] u@C H92E6G6C C62D@? E96J 5:5 E92E[ x H@F=5’G6 366? 6BF2==J 2D 92AAJ :7 x H2D ;FDE 😕 E96 E@A `_] %92E 5@6D?’E C62==J >2EE6C 😕 >J 9625] p== E92E >2EE6CD 😀 9@H x D9@H FA @? E96 4@FCE]”k^Am

kAm(:E9 E96 56A2CEFC6 @7 @FED:56 9:EE6CD |:>: r@=J6C W8C25F2E:@?X 2?5 k2 E:E=6lQu@C>6C (:D4@?D:? G@==6J32== DE2CE6C ;@:?D q:8 `a AC@8C2>Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^c“db2ae\“`4\c3d6\g3gd\ccge5dgbce“^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?AD@? 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 36 😕 E96 >:I 7@C A=2J:?8 E:>6 2E E92E A@D:E:@? 2=@?8 H:E9 C65D9:CE ;F?:@C vC246 t82?[ D@A9@>@C6 |25:D@? “F6DE 2?5 C65D9:CE ;F?:@C k2 E:E=6lQ%C2?D76C @FED:56 9:EE6C 7@==@HD 4@??64E:@? 😕 4@>>:E>6?E E@ (:D4@?D:? G@==6J32==Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^ceb_7eeb\7b64\c6bh\h3h`\e37afh5da7_`^Q E2C86ElQ03=2? &r $2?E2 q2C32C2]k^2mk^Am

kAm“%92E’D >J 8@2=[ 3FE x’> ?@E 6IA64E:?8 2?JE9:?8[” u=2?282? D2:5] “%92E’D 2 3:8 C62D@? x 492?865 >J 564:D:@? 3642FD6 E92E 3642>6 >@C6 :>A@CE2?E E@ >6] $@[ @3G:@FD=J[ x’> 8@:?8 E@ 5@ 2?JE9:?8 x 42? E@ 62C? E92E DA@E[ 3FE x 92G6 ?@ 6IA64E2E:@?D 3642FD6 6G6CJ 8:C= 96C6 😀 2 9:89 =6G6= 2E9=6E6 2?5 56D6CG6D 2 DA@E] $@ x’> 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E@ H@C< 2H7F==J 92C5]”k^Am

kAmu=2?282? 2=C625J 92D 366? H@C<:?8 E@ 255 >FD4=6 E@ 96C D=6?56C 7C2>6 2?5 D96 @HD E92E AC@46DD H:== 36 2446=6C2E65 2D D96 368:?D E@ H@C< H:E9 q2586CD DEC6?8E9 2?5 4@?5:E:@?:?8 4@249 z6G:? $49F=EK]k^Am

kAm“%92E A2CE 😀 C62==J 4@@= 2?5 😀 2 9F86 A:646 E@ H9J x’> 8@:?8 62C=J 3642FD6 x @H E96 (:D4@?D:? DEC6?8E9 AC@8C2> H:== 86E >6 E@ 2 8@@5 DA@E[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmpD 6I4:E65 2D D96 😀 E@ 86E @? H:E9 96C ?6H 25G6?EFC6[ u=2?282? @HD D96’== >:DD 96C 7C:6?5D 2?5 72>:=J 324< 9@>6] p?5 D96’== 2=D@ >:DD 96C 72G@C:E6 5:?:?8 DA@E — x?\}\~FE qFC86C] $96 >256 DFC6 E@ >2<6 @?6 =2DE DE@A 367@C6 9625:?8 @FE E@ 8C23 96C FDF2= @C56C @7 EH@ 4966D63FC86CD H:E9 6G6CJE9:?8 3FE @?:@?[ 2?:>2= 7C:6D W4966D6 DAC625 2?5 8C:==65 @?:@?DX 2?5 2 sC] !6AA6C]k^Am

kAmxE’D 2 D24C:7:46[ D96 D2:5[ “3FE E92E’D @?6 x’> H:==:?8 E@ >2<6]”k^Am

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Incoming Rutgers volleyball freshman Brooke Baldwin was named the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year.
 

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.

LOS ANGELES – No. 5 USC men’s volleyball (0-0) opens the 2026 season on Saturday (Jan. 10) at home against St. Thomas Aquinas (0-0). The Trojans and Spartans meet for the first time with first serve set for 5 p.m. PT at Galen Center.
 
The Trojans were 11-3 on their home floor last spring and are 7-3 in season openers under 11th-year head coach Jeff Nygaard. USC returns the lion’s share of a squad that ranked as high as No. 3 in 2025, finished second in the MPSF standings, and advanced to the conference championship match. Five Trojan returners were recognized by the AVCA’s All-America committee including first-team selection OH Dillon Klein and second-team choice MB Parker Tomkinson. S Caleb Blanchette, LIB Johnny Dykstra, and OH Sterling Foley all received All-America honorable mention.
 
Among notable departures, USC will need to replace points scored by OPP Jack Deuchar and must find someone to step in for the departed MB Guy Genis. OPP Noah Roberts and OH Christian Connell were each notable contributors last season and the Trojans benefit from the return of MB Wesley Smith who sat out the 2025 season due to injury.

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).

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Winthrop University volleyball Head Coach Heather Gearhart has announced two transfers to Rock Hill for the 2026 squad, Kimanni Rugley, a middle blocker from Pearland, Texas and Cami Roberts, a setter from Myrtle Beach, S.C. 

---

Kimanni Rugley | Middle Blocker | 6’1 | Pearland, Texas | North Dakota 

Rugley is joining the Eagles after spending her freshman season at North Dakota, where she appeared in 66 sets, totaling 77 kills, 107.0 points, 42.0 total blocks all while hitting a .232 clip. 

Rugley hit a career-high .818 with nine kills against UT Martin, for the highest hit percentage in a five-set match in UND history and achieved seven games with five or more kills. 

In her high school career, finished as a senior with a .449 attack percentage, ranking among the top 45 marks nationally and fourth in the state of Texas. She was a three-time All-District selection, earning first-team honors in 2022 and 2023, and was named conference offensive player of the year twice (2022, 2023) after being tabbed conference defensive player of the year in 2021. She was named conference MVP in 2023, earned two All-America selections, and was part of 143 wins over four seasons at PHS. 

Rugley on why she chose Winthrop: 
“The campus and gym are really gorgeous, after talking with Coach Heather and hearing about the goals she has for the team it was not only best for her but best for me and the team and I’m so excited to become a part of the group.” 

Gearhart on Rugley: 
“I am excited to have Kimanni join us after a strong start to her collegiate career. She will strengthen our middle group and be a great physical presence on both sides of the ball. The energy she plays with is infectious, and we are excited to have her personality join our group. She is going to add a lot to our program on and off the court right away.” 

---

Cami Roberts | Setter | 6’0 | Myrtle Beach, S.C. | Johnson County CC 

Roberts is joining Winthrop after a year at Johnson County Community College in Kansas, after playing in 29 sets, totaling 148 assists for 5.10 assists per set. 

Roberts collected a career-high 38 assists against Central Methodist University JV in just three sets. 

The South Carolina native won districts with Grand Strand Juniors/Coast United and punched a ticket to the national tournament and was ranked 9th nationally. 

Off the court, Roberts was the vice president and one of the founders at my club called the One Love club in high school and went to Washington D.C. to speak to representatives to get it placed in all high schools and I was a leader at FCA at my previous university. 

Roberts on why she chose Winthrop: 
“I chose Winthrop because I absolutely fell in love with the campus and the people when I went my junior year and also, I wanted to be closer to home because I’m a big family girl. And I just love the environment and Rock Hill in general.” 

Gearhart on Roberts: 
“I am looking forward to adding Cami to our program after having known her for several years. She is a very steady competitor and will add a calm demeanor on the second contact for us. Cami has a ton of potential still left in her game, and I am excited to see her development take off in our gym. She is a well-rounded person in general that will fit right in with our culture, and I am so happy to have her back in her home state.” 

---

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
To keep up with the latest news on the Winthrop volleyball program by following on social media (Twitter / Instagram / Facebook).