Marquette volleyball head coach Tom Mendoza has his first two announced recruits.

On Friday — although the press release is dated for Wednesday, for some reason — Marquette volleyball announced the addition of two transfers for the 2025 season. Allie Korba, a 5’9” setter, is transferring over from Central Michigan for her final season of eligibility, while Julia Stanev, a 6’3” middle blocker, moves from Eastern Illinois to Marquette with two years of eligibility remaining.

Let’s go to the Marquette press release for the details on both women.

First, Korba:

Korba, a 5-foot-9 setter from Arlington Heights, Illinois, was the 2024 Mid-American Conference Setter of the Year at Central Michigan University after posting 1,137 assists over 126 sets in 2024. She played under current MU assistant coach Stef Jankiewicz the past three seasons in Mount Pleasant and helped the Chippewas to a No. 2 seed in the MAC tournament this past fall.

“We are excited to add Allie to the team,” Mendoza said. “She brings experience and leadership, coming in the reigning MAC Setter of the Year. We know Allie’s presence will be a difference maker in our gym.”

She posted 11 double-doubles with averages of 9.02 assists and 2.04 digs per frame in 2024. Korba notched a career-high 58 assists in a five-set victory at Akron in the regular season finale on Nov. 16 alongside nine digs and three blocks.

The John Hersey High School graduate played for Sky High Volleyball Club and spent her junior year as a prep player at Badger High School in Lake Geneva.

You have to figure that Korba made the transfer move largely because she wanted to tag along with Stef Jankiewicz, a two-time Missouri Valley Setter of the Year back in the day, after her 2024 campaign went so well under Jankiewicz’s direction. Barring a gigantic surprise, Korba will be Marquette’s starting setter in the fall. It’s either her or freshman Isabela Haggard, who did start at setter for Marquette in the spring matches, or Calli Kenny, who is listed as a setter/defensive specialist/right side hitter combination on the roster….. and had just one assist in her 14 sets played as a freshman in 2024.

And Stanev:

Stanev is a 6-foot-3 middle blocker from Reggio Emilia, Italy, a city northeast of Bologna located between Parma and Modena. She played two seasons at Eastern Illinois and was among the team’s block leaders both seasons, recording 99.0 total blocks as a freshman in 2023 and 79.0 last fall. Stanev averaged 0.96 blocks per frame over 54 matches in her first two seasons while hitting .250 (152-47-420) with 0.82 kills and 1.37 points per set.

“Adding Julia to the team will provide great depth and experience to our middle group,” Mendoza said. “She can impact the game both with her block and attack and she’s excited to compete at a highest level.”

Stanev played against the Golden Eagles twice while at EIU, once in the 2024 season opener and an NCAA First Round match in 2023 at Purdue. She finished her freshman season sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference with 1.04 blocks per set while helping the Panthers to an OVC title and a 28-5 overall record.

Stanev attended Liceo Linguistico G. Marconi School in Parma and played for Pallavolo Alsenese in Piacenza.

Well, we may as well pull up Stanev’s stats from those two matches, huh?

In 2023, she had one kill on two swings while only appearing in one of the three sets as the Golden Eagles swept the Panthers.

In 2024 — which was technically EIU’s very next match after losing to MU in the NCAA tournament — Stanev appeared in two of the sets in MU’s 3-0 sweep, and had an error on three swings.

Hattie Bray is guaranteed a starting spot at middle blocker, but the only other options on the roster are Morgan Daugherty, who saw intermittent playing time for Marquette in 2024, or freshman Kiera Schmidt, who enrolled at the start of spring semester. There seems to be an easy path for Stanev to get playing time right away, but we’ll have to wait to see what the rotation actually looks like in August.

Marquette hasn’t kicked their roster page over to 2025 yet, so I presume that no one is leaving from the spring roster. As far as I can tell, the three signed freshmen are still on track to enroll this summer, as is transfer Elena Radeff, all of whom committed and signed with Ryan Theis before he left for the Florida job. We’ll have to wait and see how all the pieces fit together, but it seems pretty clear from the schedule — depending on how much Mendoza was involved in picking the matches — that Marquette intends to continue being nationally relevant in 2025, no matter who’s pulling on the jerseys.

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Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University (APSU) first-year head volleyball coach Evan Amstutz announced the Governors’ 29-game 2025 schedule on Wednesday. 

The 2025 schedule features four tournaments and includes two first-time opponents, Seattle and Air Force.

“I can speak for the whole team when I say that we can’t wait to get after it this fall!” said Amstutz. “We made such huge strides as a unit this spring, and feel great about how this schedule allows us to prep for ASUN play! Our goal is to be the most dangerous team at the end of the year, and this slate prepares our girls extremely well for that!”

The Governors host Tusculum for an exhibition, August 24th, at the Winfield Dunn Center. 

The season officially opens with the Stacheville Challenge, where the Governors host Murray State, Xavier, and Tennessee Tech, August 29th-30th.

After the four-match homestand, Austin Peay State University hits the road for 11-straight games beginning with the Billiken Invitational, where they face tournament host Saint Louis, Western Illinois, and Murray State, September 5th-6th.

Next, the APSU Govs travel to Edwardsville, Illinois, for the SIUE Cougar Classic to face SIU Edwards, Seattle, and Air Force, September 12th-13th. 

Following their stay in Illinois, the Govs head to Bowling Green, Kentucky, for the Alyssa Cavanaugh Classic, September 19th-20th, to face Bradley and Western Kentucky. 

The nonconference season ends with a midweek matchup against Tennessee State on September 23rd in Nashville. 

The Governors begin their fourth Atlantic Sun Conference season and close out the extended road trip with games against North Alabama and Central Arkansas, on September 26th and September 28th, respectively. 

APSU returns home for the first time in over a month, where it will play host to a pair of Bluegrass State foes in Eastern Kentucky, October 3rd, and Bellarmine, October 4th. 

The following weekend, the Governors face Jacksonville, October 10th, and North Florida, October 11th, at the Winfield Dunn Center. 

Austin Peay State University takes off to the Sunshine State to face Stetson, October 17th, and Florida Gulf Coast, October 19th.

The APSU Govs then return home to host Lipscomb, October 24th, and Queens, October 26th, before heading to Kentucky to face Bellarmine, October 31st, and Eastern Kentucky, November 1st.

The final home weekend of the season brings Central Arkansas on November 7th and North Alabama on November 8th.

The Governors conclude the regular season with the short trip down to Nashville to face Lipscomb, November 11th, before concluding the regular season with a November 15th contest against West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia.

The 2025 ASUN Volleyball Championship is November 20th-22nd, and is hosted on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers, Florida. 

For news and updates on APSU Volleyball, follow the volleyball team on X (@GovsVB) and Instagram (@govsvolleyball) or check back at LetsGoPeay.com.

This boys volleyball regional final matchup features the 6th-seeded Neuqua Valley Wildcats facing off against the Bolingbrook Raiders who come in as the number four seed. These two are familiar with each other as they faced off back in April, with Neuqua taking a 2-1 victory. The Wildcats seek another win against the host Raiders and a regional championship. This highlight is sponsored by BMO.

Bolingbrook takes the early advantage

The Raiders and the Wildcats trade point for point in the first set until Daniel Kaduthodil connects with Edison Ah-Yo for the kill to give the Raiders a 4-2 lead early in set one.

After a miscue from the Raiders, the Wildcats have possession until Kaduthodil puts it back over, keeping the scoring attack open for the Raider offense. Ah-Yo keeps the scoring going as he picks up a perfectly placed ace.

The Wildcats look for some momentum as the two engage in an intense rally before Dhruva Jasti connects with Blake Thompson for the kill, but the Wildcats still trail 10-6.

Thompson continues to give the Wildcats momentum as he can connect with back-to-back aces for the Wildcats, sparking a scoring run.

Wildcats comes alive in set one

The Raiders don’t appreciate all the scoring and look for a kill of their own; however, Chase Marston and Liam Mitchell are there for the block attempt.

Marston does not stop there, as the Raiders attempt another kill. It’s shut down before Jasti connects with Marston for another kill, giving the Wildcats a 16-15 lead, their first of the night.

Set point on the line as the Wildcats have taken a one point lead. The Raiders give it their all on an intense rally before Wildcat Vishwak Naramreddy puts it away with a kill, as the Wildcats take set one 25-23.

Set two is like the first as both team’s exchange points until Ah-Yo connects with a kill, giving the Raiders a 6-4 lead to start the second set

Raiders flip the script in set two

The Raider offense looks to stays in flow as Kaduthodil lands an ace. Kaduthodil looks to keep the momentum going off the serve, but Jasti connects with Thompson on the kill, but the Raiders hold a 9-8 lead in set two.

The Wildcats look to find some energy as they connect with Noah Cullen for another point. However, they still trail 15-13.

Neuqua looks to keep the momentum going, but Kaduthodil is there to set up Trevor Wardlow for the kill, sparking a scoring run for the Raiders, as they would go on to win the second set 25-22.

The final set is underway, and Marston starts it off with authority, with the first kill of the final set, setting the tone for the Wildcat offense in the third set.

Neuqua attempts to locate Martson for the kill, but it’s denied. However, Cullen is there for the put-back point.

Neuqua valley takes control to win boys volleyball regional

The Raiders look to get something going as the two engage in another intense rally, refusing to let up a point until the Raiders are met at the net by Marston and Mitchell as the Wildcats expand to a 15-11 lead.

Set and match point on the line for the Raiders they serve, but it comes up short. The Wildcats defeat the Bolingbrook Raiders 25-17, and Neuqua Valley wins its first boys volleyball regional championship since 2019. The Wildcats move on to the sectional semifinals on Saturday where they play the one seed,  the Glenbard West Hilltoppers’s at 1 pm.

For more prep sports highlights, visit the Naperville Sports Weekly page.

Sports

6 Hrs Ago

St Monica’s Preparatory School secured back-to-back wins in the Republic Bank National Primary Schools Mini Polo League senior male division, which continued at Diego Martin Community Pool on May 24 and 25.

Against Patna Government Primary, Lamar Rogers scored seven in St Monica’s convincing 13-4 victory. Rogers had a fiery start by scoring four in the first quarter while Prince Williams netted twice. At the end of the second period, St Monica’s held a six-goal lead at 10-4.

At the resumption, St Monica’s dominated the attack and shut Patna out. A goal each from Ethan See Wai, Levi Dolsingh, Marcellus Myer and Rogers across the final two quarters propelled St Monica’s to a victorious 13-4, with Patna unable to secure a goal after the half-time break.

Scoring for Patna were Andre Mcully, Isaiah Claverie, and Addon and Antonio Petters.

The next day, St Monica’s delivered another dominant display by sinking Mantaray Combined Schools’ team 8-1. Mantaray scored in the opening period through Malachi Garcia and held their 1-0 advantage up to half-time.

But three goals from Dolsingh and one from See Wai in the third quarter saw St Monica’s take control. Rogers scored twice, and Dolsingh and Williams once, in the final session to grab a comeback win.

Dunross Preparatory also left it late to get past a persistent Mantaray squad 8-7 in a nail-biter. Both teams were locked in at 4-4 at the half. They kept battling by scoring one each in the third, entering the final session tied at five apiece.

However, two goals from Taylan Diaz and one from Bradley Alexander saw Dunross go one better than Mantaray’s Kellon Diaz, who two goals in the last quarter.

In the same senior male division, Diamond Vale Government defeated Patna 11-5. Patna showed fight as both teams entered the final period on five goals each. However, six goals from Diamond Vale and none from Patna affirmed the former a comfortable win.

Scoring for the winners were Immanuel Phillip (four), Johana Azizan Saw (three), Mujahid Joseph (three) and Jahaan Belfon (one) while Addon Peters (two), Antonio Peters (one), Andre Mcully (one) and Jamaul Roxborough (one) netted for Patna.

St Monica’s and Dunross also dominated the senior female division with the former topping a Combined team one 8-3, and the latter getting past the same joint team 14-7. But when St Monica’s met Dunross, they reigned supreme with a 9-3 result.

In the junior female, St Monica’s showed mettle with a 10-2 triumph over Dunross. The junior male saw St Monica’s cruise past Mantaray 14-7, while Dunross also beat Mantaray 14-10.

A transgender high school athlete shrugged off scattered protests and heated criticism from President Donald Trump to reach the finals of multiple events at California’s state championships on Friday.

AB Hernandez, 16, was the top qualifier for Saturday’s finals in the girls’ long jump and girls’ high jump at the California State Track & Field Championships in Clovis, outside of Fresno.

Hernandez’s participation at the meeting has been the subject of intense controversy, with the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) scrambling to adjust competition rules this week as anger grew on all sides.

On Friday, a small plane circled the stadium pulling a banner that read: “No boys in girls sports!”

About a dozen protesters outside the venue sported T-shirts and signs reading “Save girls sports.”

On Tuesday, CIF officials announced that entry rules had been modified so that biological females were not excluded from competition due to the participation of trans athletes.

A day later, CIF issued another rule change — specifically targeting events in which Hernandez was qualified to compete — which mandates that any athlete who misses out on a podium finish behind a trans athlete would still receive a medal.

“If necessary, in the high jump, triple jump and long jump events at the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships, a biological female student-athlete who would have earned a specific placement on the podium will also be awarded the medal for that place and the results will be reflected in the recording of the event,” the federation announced in a statement.

The last-minute rules changes came after days of controversy which have included Hernandez being targeted by Trump on social media. 

The US President, who did not mention Hernandez by name, threatened to withhold federal funding from California in future if she was allowed to compete in this week’s championships, which got under way on Friday with finals due on Saturday.

“As a female, this transitioned person is practically unbeatable. THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,” Trump wrote.

“Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to…This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!”

Trump’s comment was followed by an announcement from the US Department of Justice that it had launched an investigation into whether California had violated Title IX, the law that prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs that receive federal funding.

Local and state officials have also criticised Hernandez’s participation, calling for the teenager to be prevented from competing.

At a press conference on Thursday, Clovis mayor Diane Pearce called for CIF to block Hernandez’s participation following their rule amendments earlier in the week.

“Today, I call on CIF to do the right thing. Updates one and two were not enough, but the third time can be the charm,” Pearce said. 

“CIF still has a chance to make it right by removing biological males from girls’ sports.”

bb/jgc

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