ELITE EIGHT QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW
 
No. 7 Gannon vs. No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul
Thursday, December 11 • 2:30 PM (ET)
Sanford Pentagon – Sioux Falls, S.D.
 
The Matchup
The NCAA Division II Elite Eight opens with a high-profile quarterfinal as No. 7 Gannon challenges one of the most dominant programs in Division II history, No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul.
 
Gannon enters the national tournament for the second straight year and the fourth time in the last five seasons. Concordia-St. Paul arrives in Sioux Falls seeking its 10th national title under head coach Brady Starkey, who has built a 688-96 record over 22 seasons and has guided the Golden Bears to 13 Elite Eight appearances.
  
This will be the second all-time meeting between the two programs. The Golden Bears earned a 3–1 victory in a neutral-site match earlier this season on September 7.
 
Head-to-Head
Gannon is making its second straight trip to the Elite Eight and fourth in the last five years. The Golden Knights face a renowned Concordia-St. Paul team in the quarterfinals. The Golden Bears are in search of their tenth NCAA national championship, last winning in 2017. This marks the 13th trip to the Elite Eight in head coach Brady Starkey’s 22 seasons. Starkey owns an incredible 688-96 record as head coach. After losing to St. Cloud State in the NSIC championship match Concordia-St. Paul came back to defeat the Huskies in the Central Regional title game on Saturday, winning 3-2.
 
Series History: Concordia-St. Paul leads 1–0 (last meeting: Sept. 7, 2024 – CSP 3, Gannon 1)

Quotes from Gannon Head Coach Matt Darling

On facing Concordia-St. Paul:

“Concordia is one of the most storied Division II programs, and they have earned that status. Competing against them on this stage creates a tremendous challenge and an opportunity for our team.”

 

 On the Gannon team’s progress:

“I am proud of what this group has accomplished this season. They are a connected and resilient team, and I look forward to having another week with them.”

 

How Gannon Advanced: Atlantic Regional Champions

Gannon hosted the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional for the fourth straight year and came away with a second straight regional crown.  The Golden Knights opened up with a 3-0 win over CIAA champion and No. 8 seed Fayetteville State in the quarterfinals. Next was a familiar foe in No. 4 Pitt-Johnstown. After dropping the first set to the Mountain Cats the Golden Knights won the next three games for a 3-1 win. 

 

For the third time this season Gannon defeated Indiana (Pa.), prevailing by scores of 25-15, 25-15, 25-20. The Crimson Hawks had upset PSAC champion East Stroudsburg in the semifinals. Gannon is making its fourth trip to the Elite Eight in the last five years.

Atlantic Regional Results

Thursday, December 4 – Quarterfinals

No. 1 Gannon 3, No. 8 Fayetteville State 0

• Kills: Wake 15, Williams 11
• Assists: Arslan 38
• Blocks: Williams 4, Smith 3

Friday, December 5 – Semifinals
Gannon 3, Pitt-Johnstown 1

• Kills: Williams 17, Wake 11, Smith 10
• Assists: Arslan 47
• Digs: Fowler 13
• Blocks: Smith 5, Atwell 3, Arslan 3

Saturday, December 6 – Championship Match
Gannon 3, Indiana (Pa.) 0

• Kills: Yazicioglu 13, Wake 11
• Assists: Arslan 41
• Digs: Williams 11
• Blocks: Atwell 5, Smith 3, Yazicioglu 

 All-Tournament Honors
Gannon had five players named to the 12-member Atlantic Regional All-Tournament Team. They included Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian), Lauren Atwell (Mars, Pa./Mars Area), Alexis Fowler (Cranberry Township, PA/Eden Christian Academy), Sydney Wake (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) and Abbey Williams (Chicago, Ill./Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts).  Arslan was previously named to the All-Tournament Team in 2022 as a freshman.

 
Arslan earned her second career regional tournament honor, previously recognized in 2022.
 
National and Regional Accolades
AVCA All-Americans (Honorable Mention)

AVCA All-Atlantic Region – First Team

 
D2CCA All-Atlantic Region

• Arslan – First Team
• Atwell – Second Team
• Wake – Second Team

 
PSAC West Major Awards

 All-PSAC West

• First Team: Arslan, Atwell, Wake
• Second Team: Yazicioglu

 Record Book Performances
Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian) — Senior Setter

• 4,481 career assists (2nd all-time at Gannon)
• 1,375 assists this season (2nd all-time at Gannon)
• Also ranks in the top 10 in service aces, matches played, and sets played

Lauren Atwell (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) — Junior Middle Blocker

• 365 career blocks (3rd all-time)
• Top 10 in single-season hitting percentage

Additional Notes

• Kasey Smith (Meadville, Pa./Villa Maria) ranks 7th in single-season hitting percentage (.360)
• Atwell ranks 9th (.333)

 Gannon’s Elite Eight History
The Golden Knights are making their eighth appearance in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. They lost in the quarterfinals in 1991, ’92, and ’93 with head coach Gerry Burbules at the helm. Gannon returned to the Elite Eight in 2017 under head coach Matt Darling and posted a 3-0 win over Regis to advance to the semifinals, where Florida Southern edged the Golden Knights, 3-2. Gannon reached the Final Four for a second time in 2021, upsetting No. 4 seed Hillsdale, 3-1, before losing to host and top-seeded Tampa in the semifinals.
 
1991 (No. 8 seed, Canyon, Texas) 

vs. West Texas A&M – L, 0-3 (14-16, 8-15, 4-15)
1992 (No. 8 seed, Portland, Ore.)
vs. Portland State – L, 0-3 (6-15, 5-15, 4-15)
1993 (Marquette, Mich.)
vs. CSU Bakersfield – L, 0-3 (8-15, 7-15, 6-15)
2017 (No. 7 seed, Pensacola, Fla.)
vs. No. 2 Regis – W, 3-0 (25-20, 28-26, 25-17)
vs. No. 3 Florida Southern – L, 3-2 (25-16, 15-25, 23-25, 26-24, 12-15)
2019 (No. 7 seed, Denver, Colo.) 
vs. No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney – L, 1-3 (25-19, 22-25, 17-25, 15-25)   
2021 (No. 5 seed, Tampa, Fla.)
vs. No. 4 Hillsdale – W, 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-16)
vs. No. 1 Tampa – L, 1-3 (21-25, 20-25, 25-23, 18-25) 
2022 (No. 5 seed, Seattle, Wash.)   
vs. No. 4 Cal St. LA – L, 0-3 (11-25, 14-25, 18-25)
2024 (No. 6 seed, Sioux Falls, S.D.)
vs. No. 3 Angelo State – L, 2-3 (26-28, 25-15, 25-17, 19-25, 6-15)
 
What’s at Stake
The winner of the Gannon–Concordia-St. Paul quarterfinal will advance to the NCAA Division II semifinals on Friday, December 12 at 5:00 p.m. (ET), facing the winner of No. 3 Point Loma vs. No. 6 Bentley.

I think I saw it rumored that he might portal…pretty nice stats against ACC-comparable competition…maybe he doesn’t see B12 starter to ACC starter as a logical move though…unless he’s just unhappy at Cincy

I don’t see us taking someone like Minchey…4-star or not, he’s only managed 15 attempts in 3 years. I think we’ll see someone with a proven on-field track college track record

LEXINGTON, Ky. (December 10, 2025) — Lubbock Christian University Volleyball added another milestone to its record-setting 2025 campaign on Tuesday, as seniors Lily Bickley and freshman Camdyn Sears were both named AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, becoming the first NCAA-era All-Americans in program history. The selections cap a landmark season in which the Lady Chaps finished 25–8, claimed their first Lone Star Conference Regular Season Championship, and earned the program’s first NCAA Division II postseason berth, advancing to the South Central Regional in Denver.
 
Bickley closes her LCU career as one of the most decorated and productive players of the rally-scoring era. The AVCA All-Region selection finished the season with 368 kills (fifth in LSC), a .325 hitting percentage (fifth in Lone Star Conference), 100 blocks (eighth in LSC), and 435 points (3.48 points per set ranked 16^th in LSC), ranking among the LSC’s top offensive threats while appearing in national statistical charts throughout the season. The First Team All-LSC selection ends her four-year career with 1,177 kills—the second-highest total in LCU’s rally-scoring era—and 266 total blocks, including 225 block assists, the fourth-highest rally-era total and top-10 overall in program history. Already the LSC’s Academic Player of the Year, Bickley’s All-America honor adds a fitting final accolade to a senior season in which she served as one of the league’s most efficient and consistent attackers.
 
Sears’ recognition completes one of the strongest freshman campaigns in school history. The LSC Freshman of the Year and Setter of the Year (first player in LSC history to claim those two honors in the same season) and AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention setter recorded a double-double in each of her final five matches, finishing the season with 23 double-doubles and solidifying herself among the most reliable setters in the South Central Region. She totaled 1,309 assists (ranks seventh nationally) — the 10th-best single-season total in program history and the second-best in LCU’s rally-scoring era—while adding 385 digs (12^th in LSC), 29 blocks, and directing an offense that ended the season leading the LSC in both kills per set and assists per set. The LSC Championship All-Tournament Team selection delivered 39 assists and 11 digs in LCU’s NCAA Tournament match, continuing a late-season surge that helped carry the Lady Chaps to their first postseason appearance.
 
The honors mark the 23^rd and 24^th All-America honors issued to LCU student-athletes in the volleyball program’s history, and Bickley and Sears mark the first pair of LCU volleyball student-athletes to claim All-America honors (same season) since Jordan Goings and Elissa Loynes were recognized in 2009. Bickley and Sears mark LCU’s first-ever All-America recipients in the NCAA era and the first recognized since Goings received recognition in 2009 during LCU’s NAIA era.
 

LCU Volleyball All-America Honorees

NAIA Era

NCAA Era (2013–Present)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After a first successful meet of the indoor season, the USC Upstate men’s track and field team has collected two Big South Athlete of the Week honors.

Jeremiah Harris was named the Big South Men’s Track Athlete of the Week following his performance at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-Off. Harris currently sits first in the Big South for the men’s 200m with his time of 21.53. His time was both a personal best and moved him to second all-time in school history.

Picking up the second weekly award for the Spartans was Collin Bui-Hayes. Tabbed the Big South Men’s Freshman of the week, Bui-Hayes sits second in the Big South for the 60m. In his first collegiate meet, the freshman posted a time of 6.88, a personal best. The time ranks him fourth all-time in school history.

Connect with the Spartans     

Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics     

Twitter | @UpstateXCTrack @UpstateSpartans     

Instagram | @UpstateXCTrack @UpstateSpartans     

YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans 

INVEST IN CHAMPIONS – Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here!

 

Tayler Gray has been named McNeese volleyball head coach, Vice President and Director of Athletics Heath Schroyer announced the hiring on Wednesday.
 
Gray, a former Sam Houston assistant coach spent two stints with the Bearkats following a short stint as assistant coach at UT-Arlington. 
 
“When searching for someone to take the reins of our volleyball program, it was important to me to find an energetic coach who recruits tenaciously, is a fierce competitor and is passionate about developing athletes both on and off the court” said Schroyer.
 
“Coach Gray checks every box. We’re thrilled to welcome her to our university, and I can’t wait to see the mark she’ll make on this program and within our community.”
 
Gray has spent a total of 16 years at Sam Houston, both as a student-athlete and a member of the coaching staff.  She has also served as a Health and Kinesiology adjunct professor since 2014.
 
“First and foremost, I give all glory to God for this incredible opportunity,” said Gray.  “I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to Athletic Director Heath Schroyer, Senior Woman Administrator Bridget Martin, and the entire hiring committee for their trust and belief in my vision to lead the McNeese Volleyball program.
 
“I am thrilled to be returning to the Southland Conference and am beyond excited to get to work building something special at McNeese. Lastly, I want to thank my family for their unwavering love, support, and belief in me throughout this journey.”
 
From 2014-2020, she was a member of a Sam Houston staff that accumulated 87 SLC wins, several all-conference selections, 10 student-athletes were named to the All-Academic Team, two Student-Athletes of the Year and over 25 Player of the Week honors. 
 
In 2019 Sam Houston advanced to the second round of the NIVC and in 2020 advanced to the WAC Championship.
 
The dual-sport athlete was a member of the volleyball team from 2010-13 and the softball team from 2011-14.  Gray was a member of the 2012 Southland Conference Volleyball Championship team, a two-time all-SLC performer on the volleyball court where she earned All-SLC first team honors in 2012 and second team honors in 2013.  She was named team MVP in 2012 and 2013 and was selected Sam Houston’s Female Athlete of the Year in 2013.
 
In the classroom, Gray was twice named to the SLC All-Academic team (2012, 2013) and served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee both those years.
 
She concluded her volleyball playing career with 2,352 assists, where she still ranks in the Top 10 at Sam Houston.
 
Gray also spent one season (2018-2019) as an assistant coach at UT-Arlington before returning to Sam Houston.
 
Gray also has experience on the national level, serving as assistant coach for the 2024 USAV All-Star Championship (17U Team).
 
Gray graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (2013) along with two master’s degrees, Master of Arts in Health (2015) and a Master of Business Administration (2020), all from Sam Houston.
 
COLLEGIATE COACHING EXPERIENCE
2014-2025       Assistant Coach, Sam Houston
2018-2019       Assistant Coach, UT-Arlington
 
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
2010-2013       Sam Houston (VB)
2011-2014       Sam Houston (SB)
 
HONORS
2013                All-SLC (1^st team/VB)
2012                All-SLC (2^nd team/VB)
 
EDUCATION
2020               Master of Business Administration (Sam Houston)
2015                Master of Arts in Health (Sam Houston)
2013                Bachelor of Science in Public Health/Minor in Psychology (Sam Houston)
 

NORFOLK, Va. (December 10, 2025) – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) uncovered its men’s track & field weekly awards where Howard University sophomore Drew Dillard (Silver Spring, Md.) claimed the league’s Field Athlete of the Week. The announcement came Wednesday afternoon.
 

At the HBCU & Ivy Challenge (Dec. 5), Dillard won the high jump with a MEAC-best mark of 2.07 meters, which currently ranks 21^st nationally.
 
Senior sprinter Dylan Gaines (Houston) received honorable mention after winning the 200-meter dash a time of 21.52.
 
North Carolina Central sophomore Zion Amadi was named MEAC Track Athlete of the Week.
 
On Dec. 13, HU returns to the Northeast for the Seahawk Shootout, hosted by Wagner College.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com or the MEAC website at www.MEACSports.com.