TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama volleyball has announced a third transfer portal addition to its 2026 roster with rising sophomore outside hitter Mya Allen following her freshman campaign at Saint Mary’s College.

Allen finished with 241 kills across 19 matches played for the Gaels in 2025, the second-highest total on the roster with an average of 3.39 kills per set. She also earned 20 aces, 112 digs and 25 blocks (9 solo, 16 assists). A San Antonio, Texas native, Allen finished with over 2,500 kills and 1,300 digs as a six-rotation hitter at Reagan High School. She set her school’s single-season kills record as a junior with 766 kills, earning 6A All-State and 28-6A District Offensive Player of the Year accolades. She was All-State and a District MVP as a senior and earned AVCA Second Team All-America honors.

Allen is the third student-athlete so far this offseason to transfer to Alabama, joining rising senior libero Dionii Fraga from Oklahoma and rising senior setter Ava Wallis from Coastal Carolina.

Mya Allen – Outside Hitter – San Antonio, Texas – Saint Mary’s College

• Earned 241 kills as a freshman at Saint Mary’s in 2025, finishing second on the team
• Also earned 20 aces, 112 digs and 25 blocks
• Finished her prep career at Reagan High School with over 2,500 kills and 1,300 digs
• Two-time 6A All-State
• 28-6A District Offensive Player of the Year as a junior and District MVP as a senior
• 2024 AVCA Second Team All-America

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the 2026 indoor and outdoor schedules for the track & field program Friday. 
 

UTRGV begins the indoor season Jan. 10 at the Leonard Hilton Memorial hosted by Houston. The Vaqueros will compete in three indoor meets prior to the Southland Conference (SLC) meet, including the Charlie Thomas Invitational hosted by Texas A&M Feb. 6-7. They’ll return to the Jarvis Scott Invitational at Texas Tech Feb. 13-14. 
 
The SLC Indoor Championships are scheduled for Feb. 25-26 at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala. Qualifying student-athletes will compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships running March 13-14 in Fayetteville, Ark. 
 

UTRGV’s outdoor season begins March 20-21 at the Wes Kittley Invitational hosted by Abilene Christian. The Vaqueros will compete in four meets through the month of April, starting with the Cactus Cup at Texas A&M-Kingsville. UTRGV will make its first appearance at the Golden Hour Invitational in Jacksonville, Fla. April 17-18 before heading to Baylor for the Michael Johnson Invitational running April 24-25. The Vaqueros close out the non-conference season April 30 at Houston’s Cameron Burrell Invitational. 
 
The SLC Outdoor Championships are scheduled for May 14-16 and will be hosted by Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches. Qualifying student-athletes will compete at the NCAA West First Round hosted by Arkansas May 27-30 and the NCAA Outdoor Championships hosted at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. set for June 10-13. 
 

“The 2026 schedule is designed to progress our student-athletes physically, mentally and competitively while continuing to elevate the national profile of UTRGV Track & Field,” head track & field/cross country coach Shareese Hicks said. “Each major meet was selected with clear developmental intent – from early season competitive readiness to postseason execution and long-term program growth. 
 

“Competing at Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Houston and Baylor this year places our athletes in some of the most competitive indoor and outdoor environments in the country. We are exposing our athletes to national caliber fields and building our student-athlete confidence by normalizing elite performances throughout all of our event groups,” Hicks continued. “Our 2026 schedule reflects our commitment to building a program that competes with confidence, purpose and consistency. By challenging our athletes in premier competitive environments, we are developing not only high-level performers, but resilient leaders prepared for success at the conference and national levels.” 

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Blue Bell/TSWA Class 3A All-State Volleyball Team

Published 6:48 am Friday, January 2, 2026

LONGVIEW – Division 1 champion Goliad and Division II champ Boyd took top honors in voting for the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 3A All-State Volleyball Team for the 2025 season.

The state champs shared Coach of the Year and Player of the Year honors.

Voting was conducted by TSWA members based on nominations from coaches and media members from around the state.

COACH OF THE YEAR: (Tie) Jess Odem, Goliad; Clark Oberle, Boyd

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: (Tie) Addy Delgado, Boyd; Addison Yendry, Goliad

FIRST TEAM

Middle blockers: Natalie Ceniceros, Denver City; Addison Yendry, Goliad; Belle Nichter, Boyd

Outside hitters: Berklee Billington, Bushland; Addy Delgado, Boyd; Kamdyn Scott, Tatum

Setter: Isabel Sanchez, Goliad

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Ava Permenter, Bushland

SECOND TEAM

Middle blockers: Shiloh Sluder, Troup; Abby Little, Bells; Maevyn Wunsch, Goliad

Outside hitters: Madeline Holder, East Bernard; LeAnn Wise, Stockdale; Aubree Bunker, Friona

Setter: Taydem Barker, Tatum

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Bryleigh Wallace, Boyd

THIRD TEAM

Middle blockers: Hannah Haffner, West Rusk; Taliyah Davenport, Clifton; London Helm, Grandview

Outside hitters: Raely Sebek, Huntington; Laynee Adams, Bushland; Kennedy Simon, Ponder

Setter: Cami McIntire, Boyd

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Cadence Negron, Troy

HONORABLE MENTION

Middle blockers: Brianna Tomerlin, Stockdale; Shae Collier, Troy; Madison Truitt, Eustace; Gaby Martinez, New Diana; Channing Barber, Hooks; Heidi Wheaton, Chisum; Madilynn Straight, Troy; Kameryn Thompson, Teague; Kyndal Selgelid, Rockdale; Morgan Adair, Peaster; Savannah Brackeen, Central Heights; Kamyah Lacy, West Rusk

Outside hitters: Kammi Maddox, Dalhart; Kaysen Foster, Tatum; Brystel Wise, Clifton; Addison Martin, Clifton; Mahayla McMahon, Mineola; Hannah Slater, Groesbeck; Kailyn Keeling, Lexington; Skylar Workman, Troy; Andee Bridges, White Oak; Harper Gerik, Columbus; Sophi Wallek, Goliad; Ella Grochoske, West

Setter: Myah Lichenberger, London; Madison Otter, Clifton; Zoe Dishman, Ponder; Ava Flowers, Leonard

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Karolynn Youngblood, Goliad; Caylie Neisner, Columbus

Introducing the 2025 All-News-Herald Volleyball First Team

SARAH GIROUX | Flat Rock: Arguably the Downriver area’s top team for a second straight year, Flat Rock made its first-ever trip to the Division 2 state championship game thanks to a host of players. Providing the most charisma for the Rams once more was Sarah Giroux, who is now a two-time all-state honoree. The junior led all local outside hitters with over 500 kills, doing so at a 34 percent hit rate, while also digging out over 300 shots and collecting over 50 aces.

MACY HARRISON | Allen Park Inter-City Baptist: The folks over at Inter-City Baptist collected their sixth regional title in program history and a big reason why was a strong final high school season from Macy Harrison. A three-sport standout at the school, Harrison was one of three Chargers to receive all-state status at season’s end. In addition to her over 700 assists, the senior setter was efficient in sneaking in over 100 kills as well, doing so at a near 40 percent clip.

MIA HYDE | Trenton: If there was one local team that was Flat Rock’s equal this past fall, it was the newly-crowned News-Herald Invitational champions at Trenton. A run to their eventual first-ever D1 regional crown was largely behind the swing of hitter Mia Hyde, who has earned first-team all-News-Herald honors now in three straight years. The senior all-state recipient finish with just over 400 kills, 355 digs, 46 blocks, and a strong 2.2 rating in the serve receive department.

CHLOE SMITH | Allen Park Inter-City Baptist: Few local players, if any, provided a strong back row presence for her team during the season than Chloe Smith did for Inter-City. One of those three aforementioned all-staters for the Chargers, no area libero dug out more shots than the 602 put up by Smith. The senior also posted over 50 assists, 62 aces, and an above-average 2.05 serve receive rating.

LILY KLEIN | Flat Rock: If there were ‘comeback player of the year’ honors to be had, Flat Rock’s Lily Klein would likely be the runaway winner. After missing all of the 2024 season due to injury, Klein returned to the middle to solidify a stout front-net presence for the Rams in the fall. The junior joined her teammate Giroux in being named all-state after tallying 252 kills at a 33.6 percent hit rate, as well as 69 blocks.

DANERIS GOMEZ | Allen Park Inter-City Baptist: Staying at the front of the net, Inter-City figures to give opposing teams problems there with Daneris Gomez in the fold for multiple years to come. Still only a sophomore, Gomez took a big jump forward for a Chargers team that came up just shy of reaching the state semifinals in D4. She ended the year with 224 kills, a .387 hit percentage, and just under 70 blocks.

SIMONE CICOTTE | New Boston Huron: One of the stronger and more battle-tested programs locally this fall was Huron, which housed one of the more touted hitters in Simone Cicotte. An all-Huron League and all-region honoree, Cicotte “showcased exceptional versatility” according to Chiefs head coach Devon Newman. The senior and Madonna University signee logged well over 300 kills as well as north of 30 blocks and aces each.

BAILEY ELLIS | Allen Park: It was another strong season on the hardwood for Allen Park, which is no stranger to possessing one of the area’s top hitters on an annual basis. This year for the Jags, that honor went to Bailey Ellis, who was the team’s “go-to attacker on the outside” according to head coach Brooke Martin. The senior was named both all-Downriver League and all-region after finishing with 400 kills, 30 blocks, and 30 aces.

SONIAH ROBINSON | Brownstown Woodhaven: Elsewhere in the Downriver League, another program with a tradition of boasting strong hitters on the outside is Woodhaven. Their best such performer on the outside for the past two seasons now has been Soniah Robinson, who earns first-team all-area honors for a second straight season. Robinson, who recently signed to play at Aquinas College next year, finished the year with over 200 kills and digs each, as well as 30 aces.

KASSIDY KORNDORFER | Trenton: Perhaps the most prolific at arguably the most important position on the floor, Kassidy Korndorfer took a considerable leap forward after being named second-team all-News-Herald in 2024. No local setter tallied more assists this past season than the 920 put up by Korndorfer. The junior all-region standout did a little bit of everything for the Trojans, evident by her 200+ digs along with 62 aces in the service game.

HANNAH HESSE | Flat Rock: Another repeat all-area honoree, Hannah Hesse “continues to improve every year” according to Flat Rock head coach Morgan Delhey. Though they’ve had to navigate using two superb setters, Hesse has helped paved the way for the Rams’ recent success in the sport. The junior was named both all-Huron League and all-region after setting up over 700 Flat Rock points. She also finished with well over 200 digs.

LILY MACDONALD | Allen Park: A fixture on the back row for Allen Park each of the last two seasons, Lily MacDonald “kept consistency in high intensity moments” per Coach Martin. Another returning first-team all-area honoree from the year prior, MacDonald wrapped up her high school career for the Jags having earned both all-DRL and all-region status. She finished with 500 digs and a very strong 2.6 serve receive rating.

GIABELLA DEANGELO | Gibraltar Carlson: A largely young but talented Carlson program took another step forward. Perhaps the biggest sign of such was a strong sophomore campaign from Giabella DeAngelo, who Marauders head coach Regan Sliwinski says the team relied on regularly for her “steady play and ability.” An all-region libero at season’s end, DeAngelo collected over 250 digs while also serving at a rate just shy of 92 percent.

KYLEE AGUIRRE | Trenton: Much like her setter teammate Korndorfer, Trenton’s Kylee Aguirre makes the jump up to first-team all-News-Herald after a strong final prep season on the hardwood. An all-Downriver League honoree, the senior defensive specialist finished with an area-best 380 digs at her position. She also provided a lot of value in the serve receive department with an above-average 2.1 mark.

MADELINE FRANK | Allen Park Inter-City Baptist: There has been a strong core of players for several seasons at Inter-City and Madeline Frank has been one steady piece of that. A two-time all-area honoree in basketball at the school as well, Frank is a hitter by trade but often finds herself wearing several hats for the Chargers. In addition to just under 200 kills, the senior recorded over 400 digs and a 2.07 pass rating.

REAGAN HIGDON | Flat Rock: The team over at Flat Rock may very well own the best 1-2 hitting combo in the Downriver area with Reagan Higdon opposite of Sarah Giroux. A three-time all-area honoree in track during the spring, Higdon finished the volleyball season with over 250 kills, 300 digs, and 100 aces. Coach Delhey praised the senior for her consistency in “defense and serve receive” also.

BRISTOL DAVENPORT | Southgate Anderson: Despite the team’s relative struggles during the season, Anderson’s Bristol Davenport made a strong first impression on the high school circuit. Splitting time between outside hitter and defensive specialist, the freshman for the Titans was named both all-DRL and all-region after finishing with 233 kills, 148 digs, 36 aces, and a 91.1 serve receive percentage.

BRENNA PIERSON | Allen Park: Another local player earning first-team honors for a second straight season is Allen Park’s Brenna Pierson, who Coach Martin says “showed strong consistency while staying aggressive.” No local middle blocker racked up more kills than the 300 put up by the senior Pierson, who also collected 70 blocks and over two dozen aces. All of that was good enough to earn all-DRL and all-region honors.

RYLIE HAWKINS | Wyandotte Roosevelt: On a team where underclassmen logged a majority of the playing time, it was a senior in Rylie Hawkins who was arguably the most important piece for Roosevelt. A second-team all-area honoree a season ago, Hawkins was named to the all-region team after averaging over three kills and roughly one block and ace per set for the Bears. She also turned in hit and serve rates of 30 and 93 percent, respectively.

ALLISON GUYETTE | Riverview Gabriel Richard: No local program enjoyed a bigger turnaround from 2024 than Gabriel Richard and head coach Elizabeth Clemence. The unquestioned driving force for the Pioneers was Allison Guyette, who the charismatic Clemence dubbed the team MVP and praised for being “steady and very reliable on the court.” The senior setter earned all-Catholic honors in the Catholic League after putting together a strong stat line of 625 assists, 146 kills, and 102 aces.

AVA RYAN | New Boston Huron: The bigest reason for why Cicotte and her fellow Huron teammates received countless point opportunities was the play of Ava Ryan at the setter position. An all-conference and all-region performer, Ryan displayed “smart decision-making and precise ball placement” according to Coach Newman. The senior for the Chiefs finished with just shy of 600 assists, a little more than 200 digs, and served an incredible 98 percent rate.

STELLA SOBUSH | Wyandotte Roosevelt: Another one of the few upperclassmen that Roosevelt regularly leaned on was Stella Sobush, who like her teammate Hawkins was named all-region at season’s end. An all-conference recipient in the Downriver League as well, Sobush averaged around four digs across the Bears’ 80+ sets played on the season. The junior was also strong in the serve game with a 2.2 receive rating at a 91 percent serving mark.

SLOANE HASLER | Riverview Gabriel Richard: One would be hard-pressed to find an underclassman who played well above her class than Richard’s Sloane Hasler. The season-long production speaks for itself for Hasler, who Coach Clemence says “consistently held her own in her position.” In addition to her near 500 digs, the freshman libero for the district-champion Pioneers served at a very reliable 95 percent rate.

ELLE DWYER | Flat Rock: Helping fill out their group of all-region starters, Elle Dwyer shined as flat rock’s No. 1 defensive specialist all season long. Dwyer, who “steps in to any defensive role” according to Coach Delhey, received all-Huron League status as well after picking up well over 200 digs on the back row. The junior for the Rams also chipped in with just under 30 aces.

Introducing the 2025 All-News-Herald Volleyball Second Team

FAITH BALLANTYNE | Grosse Ile: Arguably their best and most important player, Faith Ballantyne consistently delivered for a Grosse Ile team that played its best ball late in the season. The senior Ballantyne was named all-Huron League and all-region after averaging over four kills and digs per game, serving at a 91 percent success rate, and posting an above-average serve receive rating as well.

Hoboken, N.J. – Looking to defend their Middle Atlantic Conference Championship, the Stevens Institute of Technology men’s volleyball team was selected first in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll, it was announced Friday.
 
The Ducks collected 62 points and six first-place votes, with Messiah earning 58 points and the remaining three first-place votes. Rounding out the top four were Misericordia (51 points) and Stevenson (40 points).
 
Arcadia was slotted fifth with 35 points, while Widener registered 29 points to place sixth. Rounding out the poll were Eastern (25 points), King’s (16 points), and Hood (8 points).
The Ducks, who won their fourth consecutive MAC Championship last season, open the 2026 campaign by hosting St. Joseph’s (Long Island) and Drew in a tri-match on January 16.
 
2026 MAC Men’s Volleyball Preseason Poll