The Kahnawake Survival School (KSS) Bantam and Juvenile baseball teams have completed their regular season games. Unfortunately, neither team was able to secure a win, but that doesn’t mean there are not bright spots to the season.

The Bantam team went 0-4, losing to West Island College, College Regina Assumpta, Loyola College, and Bialik High School, but they did earn all eight of their ethics points.

These points are awarded for sportsmanship and fair play – meaning that at time of writing, they could still qualify for the playoffs as one of the top two teams in their division if Lower Canada College and Selwyn House do not get to eight standings points through wins or fair play.

Lower Canada College currently has five points, three for a win and two for fair play, after playing only one game so far due to a rainout. Selwyn House has all of their ethics points in two games, but is so far winless.

Correction: A previous version of this story said the Watsonville boys’ volleyball team last won a league championship in 2016, which is not true. Watsonville won a league championship in 2022.

The historical run for the Watsonville boys’ volleyball team came to a crushing end following a loss to Alisal in the Central Coast Section postseason play-in match on May 8.  

Despite capturing the Pacific Coast Athletic League Cypress Division crown with a perfect 14-0 record in league play, the Wildcatz still had to claw their way in for a chance to qualify for the playoffs.    

They fell in three sets 25-16, 25-16, 25-18 to the Trojans—third place finishers in the PCAL Gabilan Division, which is two levels above the Cypress. 

“We worked so hard not to lose a single game, and be first within our division,” Watsonville senior and team captain Joshua Anaya said. “I think we should at least be considered to get into CCS rather than having to fight a team that’s third, not even the first [place] team in a different division.” 

Anaya and his fellow ‘Catz teammates put up a fight for most of the match, yet they were highly outmatched by a more seasoned Alisal squad that competed in the PCAL’s top tier this season. 

“The thing that makes it challenging is because a couple of us are young,” Anaya said. “The whole team for Aliso plays club, so it’s just a different tempo, different background to that.” 

Watsonville head coach Crystal Cornejo-Perez wasn’t too keen on having to play the Trojans, who had already swept the ‘Catz in three sets on March 11.  

“The boys definitely improved over the season, they did much better today,” she said. “I think we could have done better, but I also think it kind of sucks that we got set up with one of the top dogs in the toughest [division]. Just kind of felt they always try to shut the little ones out.”

The ‘Catz finished with a 15-9 overall record, including last week’s CCS play-in loss. It was a dramatic turnaround season for them after they finished with a 5-15 overall record in 2024, and placed fifth in the Mission Division with a 3-9 record in league play. 

This year they nearly swept through the Cypress Division by losing just five sets in league play, and en route to the program’s first league title since 2022 and third championship overall. 

“I wasn’t expecting much, however, I’m incredibly proud how far we’ve actually come,” Anaya said. “I think it’s a huge accomplishment coming from being a freshman going to CCS, and then finishing it off going to a play-in [match] senior year.” 

The closest match for them was a victory over Pajaro Valley in five 25-16, 25-12, 26-28, 22-25, 15-11 on April 28. Anaya had 15 kills and 16 digs that evening, while teammate junior Logan Franc finished with 20 kills and 11 digs.

“Repspectfully, the competition wasn’t as high as I expected,” Cornejo-Perez said. “Other schools were struggling with getting boys’ volleyball, so they had a lot of new players, as well. Luckily we had those experienced players that formed the little ones and taught them.”

However, the ‘Catz did finish 1-8 in non-league play with losses to formidable opponents such as Salians out of the PCAL Gabilan, and Mission Division champion Palma.

Alisal along with Palma each qualified and lost in the CCS playoffs that featured just three divisions: Open Division, D-I and D-II. Each one of those divisions was packed with even more challenging opponents from far and near. 

Perhaps it was the lack of experience, and strength of schedule, that caught up to this young group of ‘Catz. But either way, they should have a bright future ahead of them.

“It was rough from the start but it continued to go on, I think we built a family together,” Anaya said. “We were discouraged a little bit, however, each individual has grown so much. Overall, that was the important part of being able to play on this team, being together as one.” 

Anaya this season led the ‘Catz with 150 total kills and 43 served aces, and was second on the team with 112 digs, according to statistics on the Monterey Bay Preps website. Franc finished with a team-best 136 digs to go along with 40 aces and 131 kills, finishing just behind Anaya.

“As much as we joke around and everything, sometimes it’s time to be serious,” Anaya said. “However, we still have that mentality of we’re here for fun. We all hang out together, play video games. Just building that bond, knowing that we have each other’s backs.”

Other ‘Catz standouts this season included sophomore Ricardo Ramirez, who led the team with 251 assists, and senior Diego Hidalgo with 170 assists. Teammate senior Andres Cardenas was also a big contributor as he finished with 74 kills, 60 digs and 32 aces for Watsonville.

The rest of the group was made up of rising underclassmen in sophomores Edwin Cornejo and Danny Lopez, and freshmen Kaiden Peña and Khriss Reyes.  

“I felt it was a really young, inexperienced team, and I was really surprised with the outcome this year,” Cornejo-Perez said. “I was just gonna go with the flow, see what the season brought us. But the boys really impressed me, and they really took it home.”

City College’s beach volleyball team claimed a conference title and advanced to the state championships this season.

The Vaqueros had an overall 20-7 record and finished the Western State Conference (WSC) 11-1, only losing against Santa Monica College. They are co-champions of the WSC alongside Santa Monica College. Beach Volleyball hadn’t won a conference title since the 2022 season. 

The team’s hard work this season didn’t go unnoticed as they advanced to the state championships on May 8. They came up third in the state championships and almost advanced to the championship game. 

This season, the Vaqueros almost had an entire lineup of freshmen. In their first season, the freshmen accomplished a WSC title and advancement to the state championships.

The beach volleyball team season has come to an end, but based on the team’s results they had a successful, determined and hardworking season.

SAN FRANCISCO – You might soon see fewer volleyball nets at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

That’s because the city’s Recreation and Parks Department changed the rules, which is being met with pushback.

On any given day, dozens of volleyball nets are set up at the popular park with hundreds of players spiking and setting the ball for hours. 

And up until  now, there were very few rules at the park: People could set up a volleyball net just about anywhere where there’s space.

But San Francisco officials say all that wear-and-tear was too tough on the grass.

And they made some changes.

During odd-numbered months, you can set up nets in Peacock, Bunny and Sunbathers meadows.

And in the even months, you can set up at Robin Williams Meadow and Upper Big Rec Fields.

Outside of these time windows, you need a permit.

“Sometimes, large groups in parks are great and we appreciate the enthusiasm and we love to see people outdoors, enjoying themselves,” said SF Recs and Park spokesman Daniel Montes. “But sometimes, large groups can create wear and tear on the grass and impact shared space for other users.” 

The big turn-off for volleyball players is that there is only be a maximum of four nets per area, meaning a total of eight to 12 nets for the entire 1,000-acre park, when the community is used to dozens.

During a Recs and Park commission this week, many volleyball players spoke out.

“Grass volleyball is now the topic of discussion,” one person said. “However, unlike pickleball or roller skating, we’re not asking you to commit funds to build us a grass volleyball court or facility, we’re simply seeking reasonable rules and reasonable access.” 

If you break the rules, officials want to warn and inform you. But in the most extreme cases, you could face a citation.

Members of the volleyball community say they are actively meeting with park leaders to come up with better solutions.

The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2023-24 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.

It became one of the greatest single seasons in NCAA men’s volleyball history when Long Beach State’s Moni Nikolov stepped off the court Monday night—adding a national championship to his already impressive list of accolades from his freshman season. That’s when the question that had loomed all season came to the forefront of his career: Was this the last time we’d see Nikolov in the Black and Gold?

The Bulgarian sensation has gone viral throughout his debut season, with new clips reaching millions of views after each match—played in front of sold-out crowds virtually everywhere the Beach competed. That attention has, of course, reached professional volleyball clubs across the globe, and many have speculated about his departure, expecting him to accept a high-level offer to play professionally.

Just four days after becoming a national champion, Nikolov confirmed those speculations, taking to Instagram to announce his departure from Long Beach State. Nikolov has not announced where he’ll continue his volleyball career.

“Every moment here has mattered. And leaving with a national title is more than I could’ve asked for. With gratitude and pride, thank you, Long Beach,” he wrote.

“It’s always exciting for your players to take any and all opportunities that will allow them to expect greatness in their life. That’s what our program is built on,” said LBSU coach Alan Knipe. “At this point, the options he has available to him are those that very few athletes get. As much as Long Beach State and myself would love to see him stick around and compete for us, he gets the opportunity to fulfill another one of his dreams and get himself ready to try and qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. I’m excited for him and what lies in front of him.”

Knipe has seen this story pan out before—when Nikolov’s older brother, Alex, went one-and-done at Long Beach State as a freshman in 2022. Together, the brothers have left behind a remarkable legacy at the Beach, becoming the only two players in NCAA history to win AVCA National Player of the Year honors as freshmen.

Both brothers also walked away with AVCA Newcomer of the Year and Big West Player of the Year honors. Moni added NCAA All-Tournament MVP honors to his resume on Monday night, capping off an incredible era of Nikolov volleyball in Long Beach.

“It speaks for itself,” Knipe said of the brothers’ accomplishments. “There are two players in NCAA history who achieved Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in the same season. They’re both from Long Beach State, and they’re both from the same family. Enough said. It’s a very special feat.”

It was Moni’s 6-foot-10 frame and remarkable athleticism at the setter position that made him the face of volleyball in the country this year. His soft hands, capable of delivering pinpoint sets, combined with the imposing height and physicality of an outside hitter, made him a nightmare for opposing teams.

Nikolov steps away from the NCAA scene after leading the Beach to a nation-best .398 hitting percentage. He finished fourth in the nation in assists this year with 1,030 (10 per set), while also averaging 1.56 kills per set. Nikolov also recorded the fastest serve in NCAA history at 84 mph, and became the new single-season aces record holder. He finished with 106 aces—breaking Curtis Abram’s 2011 record in 15 fewer sets.

“I think this was the most impactful season anyone’s been able to have,” Knipe said. “What he was able to do from the end line to the new reinvention of what the setting position looks like…The other side is the attention to men’s volleyball and the sellout arenas throughout the country that we played in. I think its gonna be hard for someone to find a player with a bigger impact in one season. And to do that in your freshman year is even more spectacular.”

After his championship win on Monday night, Nikolov called it “the best year of my life,” he told ESPN. Today, Nikolov took to social media to thank his coaches, the fans, and his teammates, whom he refers to as his brothers. 

“Dear Long Beach,” he wrote. “From day one, you gave me the tools to succeed on the court. I leave here not just with a championship, but with growth, perspective, and lifelong memories.”

The departure closes the door on the Nikolov era, during which the brothers set a new standard for what had already been one of the best programs in the nation. Many will now remember the Beach because of the Nikolovs, just as the Nikolovs will always remember the Beach. Take it from their father:

“At Long Beach, Alex and Moni were truly satisfied with everything,” he said. “The coaching staff, the teachers, the whole campus, and the people—everything. They love the Long Beach family.”

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University’s student-athletes posted the second-highest grade-point average in department history with a 3.401 grade-point average during the Spring 2025 semester.

“After posting the second-best GPA in department history during the fall, our student-athletes have done it again by topping that mark this semester,” said Austin Peay Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison. “I am so proud of our Governors student-athletes and all their hard work during this record-breaking semester! However, none of this would be possible without the hard work of our student-athlete success team, so I want to thank Kristal McGreggor, Bobby Fieman, and Kendell Johnson. Our student-athletes and entire department’s continued commitment to the ‘Total Gov Concept’ can be seen in this sustained academic success.

It is the 16th consecutive semester the APSU athletics department has posted a 3.0 GPA or better and the 19th time in department history. All 15 Austin Peay varsity programs recorded at least a 3.0 GPA or better for the second-straight semester. In addition, the Governors’ cheer team also posted a 3.0 GPA or better for the second-consecutive semester.

Austin Peay also had nine teams finish with a 3.5-or-better team GPA, with two teams posting program record GPAs. The Governors women’s golf team led all programs for the second-straight semester with a 3.969 GPA – the highest single-semester GPA in department history, topping the previous record of 3.964, which was held by the women’s tennis team during the fall 2017 semester.

More than 80 percent of the department’s student-athletes received academic recognition. Seventy-eight of its 338 student-athletes posted a 4.0 GPA during the spring and were a part of the 151 student-athletes eligible for Austin Peay’s Dean’s List recognition, which the university will announce at a later date. Another 120 Governors were named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, which is awarded to graduate students with a 3.0 GPA and undergraduate student-athletes who finish a semester with a 3.0 GPA but do not qualify for the APSU Dean’s List.

A complete listing of the Spring 2025 Athletics Director’s Honor Roll follows this release. Individuals eligible for the Austin Peay Dean’s List are also noted.

Established in 1990-91, the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll recognizes the outstanding academic accomplishments of Austin Peay State University student-athletes. Student-athletes must be enrolled full-time and achieve a 3.0 grade-point average for a semester to earn recognition.

ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SPRING SEMESTER

• PERFECT, PERFECT, PERFECT. 78 Governors student-athletes posted a 4.0 GPA – the ninth time 60 or more student-athletes have posted an unblemished GPA.
• ALL HAIL. Six Austin Peay teams – women’s basketball, women’s golf, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, women’s cross country, and beach volleyball – saw their entire rosters post a 3.0 GPA or better and earn academic recognition. The women’s golf team was the only program to have 100 percent of their student-athletes qualify for the APSU Dean’s List.
• SMASH! BANG! Two Austin Peay teams – women’s golf and men’s cross country – set team semester GPA records.
• ON A ROLL. Sixteen varsity teams’ current streak of semesters with a 3.0 GPA (beginning in Fall 2013): baseball (18), beach volleyball (17), men’s basketball (2), women’s basketball (3), men’s cross country (3), women’s cross country (14), football (2), men’s golf (18), women’s golf (24), soccer (24), softball (20), men’s tennis (24), women’s tennis (24), women’s track & field (14), volleyball (24), and cheer (2).

Spring 2025 Austin Peay Athletics Academic Honor Roll

All student-athletes listed below received academic recognition during the semester. Any student-athletes listed without notation were members of the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll (3.0-3.499 GPA). Notations following a student-athlete’s name indicate the following: (DL) – Eligible for recognition on Austin Peay’s Dean’s List (Undergraduates with 12 hours earned and at least a 3.50 GPA); + – student-athlete played multiple sports, is counted only once in department totals.

BASEBALL (3.332 GPA)

Cody Airington

Nathan Barksdale (DL)

John Bay

Gavin Braunecker

Trevor Conley

Brady Cooper (DL)

Keaton Cottam

Chance Cox

Gus Freeman

Campbell Holt

Austen Jaslove (DL)

Cole Johnson (DL)

Dylan Kazee (DL)

Brody Lanham (DL)

Andres Matias (DL)

DJ Merriweather (DL)

Derrick Mitchell (DL)

Cameron Nickens

Deaton Oak (DL)

Davin Pollard

Paris Pridgen (DL)

Cannon Rice (DL)

Shawn Scott

Kade Shatwell (DL)

Landon Slemp (DL)

Tre’ Speer (DL)

Brody Szako

Adam Walker

Solomon Washington

Jacob Weaver

BEACH VOLLEYBALL (3.839 GPA)

Grace Austin (DL)

Jordyn Beneteau (DL)

Anna Kate Clark (DL)

Alyson Cooper (DL)

Emily Freel (DL)

Angelena Greene (DL)

Bailey Lasater (DL)

Emma Loiars (DL)

Gabriella MacKenzie

Jordan Morris

MEN’S BASKETBALL (3.374 GPA)

Anton Brookshire (DL)

Me’Kell Burries

Darius Dawson

Hansel Enmanuel (DL)

Akili Evans

Terrell Gaines (DL)

Bowen Hammer

Isaac Haney

Quan Lax

Daniel Loos

Tate McCubbin

LJ Thomas (DL)

Sai Witt

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (3.531 GPA)

Rose Azmoudeh (DL)

Jordan Boddie

Jeanine Brandsma (DL)

Nisea Burrell

Abby Cater

La’Nya Foster

Anala Nelson (DL)

JaNiah Newell

Jenny Ntambwe

Briana Rivera

Anovia Sheals (DL)

Nariyah Simmons (DL)

Sa’Mya Wyatt (DL)

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY (3.669 GPA)

Lucas Bales (DL)

Jacob Bormet (DL)

Will Keefer (DL)

Richard Lebron (DL)

Christian Pastrana (DL)

Jacob Schweigardt (DL)

Jake Strader (DL)

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY (3.673 GPA)

Ashley Doyle (DL)

Shaye Foster (DL)

Sydney Freeman

Mary Kate French (DL)

Hallie Mattingly

Jaedyn Stalnecker (DL)

Taylah Upshaw (DL)

FOOTBALL (3.069 GPA)

Rocco Abbagnaro (DL)

Chase Allen (DL)

Kendyle Ball (DL)

Grace’son Beach (DL)

Davion Blackwell

Zak Bowden

Jabari Cathey

Andrew Chamblee

Kendrick Clark (DL)

Mekaih Collins

Matthew Corley (DL)

TJ Cox Jr.

Ethan Crite (DL)

Ward Dorris

Malaki Dowell (DL)

Eli Edwards (DL)

Gavin Edwards (DL)

Mike Evans

Davin Garinger (DL)

Tae Gayden

Samuel Green

Steven Head (DL)

Nicholas Hilliard

Davion Hood

Marcus Howard

Jake Johnson

Miada Jones

Chandler Kirton

Jade Kneeland

Christopher Leftrick (DL)

Jeffson Locke

Robert Merrill

Quincy Milhomme

Tyson Moody (DL)

Jaycob Neely (DL)

James Olsen (DL)

Antori Hamilton (DL)

Alec Pell

Shawn Phillips

Kinstin Reaves

Corey Richardson (DL)

Charles Ross

Courtland Simmons (DL)

Jermiah Skipworth Jr. (DL)

Austin Skoglund (DL)

Jase Skoglund

Austin Smith

Carson Smith

Kenneth Smith

Stratton Smith (DL)

Eli Sutton

Chandler Thomason (DL)

Ardarrius Williams

Breylon Wyatt

MEN’S GOLF (3.254 GPA)

Reece Britt (DL)

Caleb Brummitt (DL)

Grady Cox (DL)

Parker Elkins

Payne Elkins

Michael Long

Patton Samuels

Logan Spurrier

Will Swigart

WOMEN’S GOLF (3.969 GPA)

Jillian Breedlove (DL)

Kaley Campbell (DL)

Maggie Glass (DL)

Abby Hirtzel (DL)

Abby Jimenez (DL)

Erica Scutt (DL)

Autumn Spencer (DL)

SOCCER (3.638 GPA)

Ari Allen (DL)

Lindsey Arnold (DL)

Alec Baumgardt (DL)

Lauryn Berry (DL)

Vivian Burke

Paige Chrustowski (DL)

Brynn Connell (DL)

Sophie Davidson

Ellie Dreas (DL)

Kaylee Hansen (DL)

Clara Heistermann (DL)

Mackenzie James (DL)

Zoey Kalilimoku

Kerigan Kivisto (DL)

Haley Lindquist

Lindsey McMahon (DL)

Alexa Minestrella

Paige Myers

Olivia Prock

Kiley Reese

Kylie Wells

Carolyne Young

Hannah Zahn (DL)

SOFTBALL (3.613 GPA)

Kylie Campbell

Maddy Connolly Hojas (DL)

Maggie Daughrity (DL)

Ashley Diaz

Kiley Hinton

Brie Howard (DL)

Macy Krohman (DL)

Sam Leski (DL)

Ashley Martin

Samantha Miener

Kam Moore (DL)

Emberly Nichols (DL)

Katie Raper (DL)

Raylon Roach

Macee Roberts (DL)

Kayleigh Roper

Sammie Shelander (DL)

Skylar Sheridan (DL)

Jada Sovey (DL)

Emma Thompson (DL)

MEN’S TENNIS (3.768 GPA)

Glen Arnet (DL)

Giovanni Becchis (DL)

Tom Bolton (DL)

Sota Minami (DL)

Riichi Nagatake (DL)

Aeneas Schaub (DL)

Hogan Stoker (DL)

Javier Tortajada (DL)

Bodi van Galen (DL)

Lucas Ranciaro

WOMEN’S TENNIS (3.850 GPA)

Sophia Baranov (DL)

Luca Bohlen (DL)

Alice Bolton (DL)

Pauline Bruns (DL)

Yu-Hua Cheng (DL)

Asia Fontana (DL)

Ayden Kujawa

Elena Thiel (DL)

Denise Torrealba (DL)

TRACK & FIELD (3.371 GPA)

Alexis Arnett (DL)

Busiwa Asinga

Isis Banks

Trinity Bracey

Alijanae Cole

Marcia Dejesus (DL)

Ashley Doyle (DL)

Myra Eriksson

Shaye Foster (DL)

Sydney Freeman

Mary Kate French (DL)

Denim Goddard

Gabrielle Hoskins

Madelyn Kocik (DL)

Hallie Mattingly

Mia McGee

Gabrielle Miller

Chloe Peterson

Seven Pettus (DL)

Neveah Schmeling (DL)

Taylin Segree (DL)

Jaedyn Stalnecker (DL)

Emma Tucker

Taylah Upshaw (DL)

VOLLEYBALL (3.419 GPA)

Reagan Anderson (DL)

Maggie Duyos (DL)

Addi Hultquist

Dani Kopacz

Reaghan Larkin (DL)

Luci Lippelgoos (DL)

Aubrey Stitcher (DL)

Gianna Tagoa’i (DL)

Abby Thigpen

Lauren Wallace (DL)

CHEER (3.144 GPA)

Emma Barnes (DL)

Gracie Brock (DL)

Delaney Brown

Coree Collier (DL)

AJ Crowder

Zach Darnell (DL)

Parris Eddison

Anna Germano

Ellie Gladwell

Anneliese Joyner (DL)

Gabby Lorenzo

Maddy Lund

Gabriella Mignano

Dawn Phillips

Elleigh-Kate Phillips (DL)

Alyssia Ray (DL)

Gillian Reed

Isabella Schmidt (DL)

Emma Stewart (DL)

Bailey Vining (DL)

Caitlin Vining (DL)

DANCE

Jenna Bricks

Faith Collins

Madeline Cummins (DL)

Sydney Fleming (DL)

Grace Henderson (DL)

Abbrianna Manners (DL)

Madelyn Steele (DL)

Maggie Tate

Chesny Wood

Taylor Woods (DL)

Katie Young