Sports
Navy Athletics Finishes 98th out of 365 Schools in the Learfield Directors Cup


ANNAPOLIS, Md.–Navy Athletics finished 98 out of 365 schools in the NACDA Learfield Directors Cup for the 2024-25 athletic season. The Mids scored 191.8 points, which was the most of any Service Academy, the second-most of any Patriot League school (Boston University finished 73rd with 314.5 points) and the second-most of any American Athletic Conference school (USF finished 78th with 294.75 points).
The Learfield Directors Cup is given annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics to the colleges and universities with the most success in collegiate athletics. Points for the NACDA Directors’ Cup are based on order of finish in various championships sponsored by the NCAA or, in the case of FBS football, the coaches’ poll and bowl wins.
A first-place finish in a sport earns 100 points, second place 90 points, third place 85 points, fourth place 80 points, and lesser values for lower finishes (exact numbers beyond fourth place depend on the sport.
NCAA Division I counts the top 19 sports at each school with the following breakdown: Four sports that must be counted are baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and women’s volleyball. The next highest 15 sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender, will be used in the standings (except men’s water polo, which is the only NCAA sponsored sport that NACDA does not give points for. For FBS Football: the top 25 teams are awarded points based on their final rank in the coaches poll, while 26th place is considered a tie between every non-ranked bowl winner and the next available rank is considered a tie between every non-ranked bowl loser.
Navy scored 72 points in the fall (27 points by men’s cross country, 45 points by football), 85.5 points in the winter (32.5 points from men’s gymnastics and 53 points from wrestling) and 34.3 points in the spring (9.3 points by women’s golf and 25 points by women’s lac
Sports
The top NCAA volleyball players in transfer portal
Dec. 17, 2025, 8:46 a.m. ET
The 2025 NCAA women’s college volleyball tournament is down to the Final Four with Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin and Texas A&M advancing to the semifinals, but it’s never too early to look ahead to next season.
As the NCAA crowns a national champion this weekend, some of the biggest names in the sport have entered the transfer portal in search of a new home for the 2026 season. Penn State setter Izzy Starck is among the hundreds of players entering the portal after the defending champion Nittany Lions were ousted in the second round of the tournament.
Here are the best players available in the transfer portal, as of Wednesday:
NCAA women’s volleyball transfer portal
Izzy Starck, Penn State, So.: The 2024 AVCA National Freshman of the Year and second-team All-American appeared in four games for Penn State before stepping away for the season to prioritize her mental health. The 6-foot-1 setter said her hiatus wasn’t a “goodbye forever,” but her time at Penn State has officially come to an end. Starck averaged 10.89 assists per set her freshman season.
Ayden Ames, Texas, So.: The 6-4 middle blocker averaged 1.52 kills and 1.11 blocks per set with a .368 hitting percentage. She recorded a career-best eight total blocks in the first round of the NCAA tournament vs. Florida A&M on Dec. 5 before Texas was upset by Wisconsin in the Elite Eight.
Jovana Zelenovic, Kansas, Fr.: The 6-7 hitter from Serbia was named to the All-Big 12 first team after leading the Jayhawks in kills (375) and service aces (46) with a .276 hitting percentage. Zelenovic was named the AVCA Central Region Freshman of the Year and was unanimously voted to the Big 12’s All-Rookie Team.
Natalie Ring, Marquette, Sr.: The 6-1 outside hitter set career highs in kills (497) and kills per set (4.60), ranked 17th nationally, while hitting .274. She was unanimously named to the All-Big East first team and selected for the 2025 AVCA third team.
Jaela Auguste, Florida, So.: The 6-2 middle blocker was named to the All-SEC first team after averaging 2.69 kills per set and 106 total blocks. The 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year hit .344 her sophomore season and was named to the 2025 AVCA third team.
Alex Bower, BYU, So.: The 5-11 setter was named to the All-Big 12 first team after recording a team-high 10.63 assists per set and 1,265 total assists this season, which ranks 10th in the nation. Bower isn’t the only Cougar to hit the transfer portal: Big 12 Freshman of the Year Suli Davis has committed to SMU.
Kaia Castle, Ohio State, Fr.: The 6-4 middle blocker led the team with 91 blocks and 0.88 per set. She broke the Buckeye’s single-match block record with 15 blocks vs. Troy on Sept. 21.
Katie Dalton, Kansas, Sr.: The 6-1 setter led the Jayhawks with 780 assists and 8.76 assists per set. She recorded 55 assists vs. Iowa State on Oct. 10. She was named to the All-Big 12 second team.
Zoe Humphrey, Tennessee, Fr.: The 6-2 middle blocker was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team after recording 75 kills on .381 hitting and 68 blocks. She had a career-high eight blocks against South Carolina on Sept. 26.
Gabi Placide, Ole Miss, Jr.: The 6-0 outside hitter averaged 4.48 kills per set for Ole Miss this season, which ranks 23rd in the nation. She started her collegiate career at Northern Colorado before transferring to Ole Miss.
Marina Crownover, Missouri, Jr: The 5-11 setter led the Tigers in assists (965) and assists per set (9.37) this season, adding 231 digs and 31 service aces. She recorded a season-high 54 assists vs. Auburn on Oct. 12.
NCAA women’s volleyball transfer portal: Players on the move
There’s already movement in the transfer portal. Here’s some players who have committed to a new team, as of Wednesday Dec. 17:
- BYU freshman outside hitter Suli Davis is transferring to SMU after leading all rookies nationally in total kills (541) and kills per set (4.55). She recorded a career-high 28 kills against both Utah on Nov. 14 Arizona on Nov. 19.
- Florida redshirt junior setter Alexis Stucky is transferring to Penn State after racking up 1,062 assists and 10.31 assists per set this season.
- Tennessee sophomore outside hitter Paityn Chapman is transferring to Illinois after averaging 165 kills and 2.46 kills per set with a .297 hitting percentage with the Lady Vols.
- Arizona sophomore setter Avery Scoggins is transferring to Vanderbilt after recording 1,190 assists and 10.62 assists per set this season, which both rank in the top 20 in the nation.
- Marquette freshman setter Isabela Haggard is transferring to Baylor after recording 997 assists and 257 digs in her rookie campaign. She was named the co-Big East Freshman of the Year
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Sports
Kentucky vs. Wisconsin volleyball: Time, TV channel, preview for the NCAA semifinal
7:06 pm, December 16, 2025
Before the Wildcats and Badgers take the court at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, let’s take a look at how the two teams compare statistically.
| Kentucky | Statistic | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| 29-2 (15-0 SEC) | Record | 28-4 (17-3 Big Ten) |
| No. 1 | NCAA seed | No. 3 |
| .295 | Hitting % | .325 |
| 13.93 | Assists per set | 14.26 |
| 2.47 | Blocks per set | 2.43 |
| .180 | Opp hitting % | .184 |
| 137/225 | Service aces/errors | 85/235 |
6:58 pm, December 16, 2025
Kentucky and Wisconsin won four matches to get to the national semifinals in Kansas City, with UK advancing with a dominant home tournament stretch, losing only one set so far. Wisconsin had slightly more drama, winning at top-seeded Texas in the regional finals.
| No. 1 Kentucky | Round | No. 3 Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Def. Wofford, 3-0 | First | Def. Eastern Illinois, 3-0 |
| Def. No. 8 UCLA, 3-1 | Second | Def. North Carolina, 3-0 |
| Def. Cal Poly, 3-0 | Regional semifinals | Def. No. 2 Stanford, 3-1 |
| Def. No. 3 Creighton, 3-0 | Regional finals | Def. No. 1 Texas, 3-1 |
Sports
Pitt vs. Texas A&M volleyball: Time, TV channel, preview for the NCAA semifinal
Reaching the national semifinals in women’s volleyball is no small task. Since Dec. 4, teams have battled through a demanding NCAA tournament, with every match bringing them one step closer to a national title. Let’s take a look at how Texas A&M and Pitt powered their way into the Final Four.
| NO. 2 PITT | ROUND | NO. 3 TEXAS A&M |
|---|---|---|
| Def. UMBC, 3-0 | First | Def. Campbell, 3-0 |
| Def. Michigan, 3-0 | Second | Def. No. 6 TCU, 3-0 |
| Def. No. 4 Minnesota, 3-0 | Regional semifinals | Def. No. 2 Louisville, 3-2 |
| Def. No. 3 Purdue, 3-1 | Regional finals | Def. No. 1 Nebraska, 3-2 |
👉 Check out the full schedule, scores from the 2025 women’s volleyball tournament
Texas A&M (27-4)
No. 3 Texas A&M punched its ticket to the semis with a stunning 5-set upset of unbeaten Nebraska. The 3-2 victory not only marked the Aggies’ first Final Four appearance in program history, but it also etched them into the record books, becoming the first team since 2015 to eliminate a No.1 overall seed before the national semifinals.
MUST-SEE: Texas A&M upsets unbeaten Nebraska in regional final
Pitt (30-4)
No. 1 Pitt continued its dominant postseason run with a 3-1 win over No. 3 Purdue at home, earning a spot in the Final Four and its fifth straight national semifinal appearance. Despite their sustained success, Pitt is still chasing their first national title. The Panthers reached the semis in 2024, ultimately losing to Louisville in four sets. Now, with another shot at reaching the championship, Pitt is determined to flip last year’s narrative.
Neither program has taken home the trophy, and now only one question remains: Who wants it more? We will find out on Thursday, Dec. 18. Follow along here for live updates throughout the exciting match and live stats.
Sports
Hood Jr., Andrews, Garnett honored as MVC Track and Field Athletes of the Week
ST. LOUIS – Indiana State track and field earned three of the four Missouri Valley Conference Athlete of the Week honors following a strong start to the Sycamores’ season at the John Gartland Invitational. Casey Hood Jr., Reneisha Andrews and Aliseonna Garnett all earned conference accolades Wednesday morning for their performances in the season opener.
Hood Jr. was tabbed the MVC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week, Andrews earned MVC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week and Garnett was named MVC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week. Andrews and Hood Jr. both rank in the top 10 nationally in the 60m, Hood Jr. also owns a top-15 national ranking in the 200m and Garnett owns top-25 national rankings in both throws events.
Hood Jr. started his 2025-26 season with a bang, claiming first-place finishes in both the 60m and 200m with meet record times at the John Gartland Invitational. The 2025 Second Team All-American clocked times of 6.71 in prelims and 6.63 in finals to win the 60m, breaking meet and facility records in the process, and he closed out his season debut with a 21.87 in the 200m, breaking the meet record by more than three-tenths of a second. Hood Jr.’s 60m time ranks third in the nation this season and is also the fastest in both the MVC and Great Lakes Region, while his conference-leading 200m time is also second in the Great Lakes Region and 13th nationally.
Andrews made an instant impression in her Indiana State debut, breaking meet and facility records in the 60m at the John Gartland Invitational. The Trinidad and Tobago native ran a 60m time of 7.51 in prelims and followed that with a 7.40 in finals, both of which broke the meet and facility records in the event. Andrews’ 60m time ranks ninth in the nation this season while also leading both the MVC and Great Lakes Region in the event.
Garnett recorded a pair of commanding first-place finishes in the throws events at the John Gartland Invitational, posting conference leading and top-25 national marks in both the shot put and weight throw. Her weight throw mark of 18.77m (61-7) was a career best in the event, while her throw of 15.48m (50-9.5) was the second-best mark of her career in the event. Garnett leads the MVC and ranks in the top three of the Great Lakes region in both throws events this season, with her shot put mark sitting 13th in the nation and her weight throw mark ranked 22nd in the nation.
The weekly honor is the seventh of Hood Jr.’s career, having earned MVC Track Athlete of the Week honors twice during the 2025 outdoor season and four times during the 2025 indoor season. Andrews and Garnett both earned their first career MVC weekly honor.
Indiana State returns to action after the calendar flips to 2026, as the Sycamores play host to longtime rival Illinois State for the Coughlan-Malloy Cup January 17 inside the Indoor Track and Field Facility.
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on the Sycamore Track & Field and Cross Country teams, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from the both the App Store and the Google Play Store.
– #MarchOn –
Sports
Indy volleyball coach in viral video charged after allegedly sexting a minor
INDIANAPOLIS — A viral video has led to criminal charges against an Indianapolis volleyball coach accused of sending sexually explicit images to someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced that Levi Garrett, 34, of Danville, faces attempted dissemination of matter harmful to minors, a Level 6 felony, following an independent investigation by the prosecutor’s office.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the charges stem from allegations that on March 2, 2025, Garrett engaged in explicit conversations and sent sexually graphic photos on the dating app Grindr to someone he believed was a minor.
A member of a private online investigative organization used a fake Grindr profile titled “tryna have fun” with a photo portraying themselves as a 14-year-old male named “Josh.” The decoy allegedly engaged with Garrett’s profile, “Hmu & find out.”
During the conversation, court documents show the minor texted Garrett, “U mind if I’m young,” and Garrett replied, “No I don’t mind.” When the decoy told Garrett, “I’m 14 but I down for whatever,” Garrett allegedly “liked” the message and proceeded to send three sexually explicit images, including photos of male genitalia and sexual activity.
The messages also allegedly included language about meeting for sex, with Garrett asking whether the encounter would be “safe or bareback.”
Court records show Garrett initially agreed to meet at a location in Greencastle but later blocked the account.
The case gained widespread attention in August when YouTuber JiDion, who is affiliated with the private investigative group, posted a 26-minute video titled “Volleyball Coach Gets EXPOSED” that has been viewed over 1.2 million times.
In the video, JiDion confronts Garrett at The Academy Volleyball Club located on East 30th Street, showing him screenshots of the alleged text exchanges and explicit photos.
Notably, the video showed several Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers at the scene during the confrontation. When JiDion urged them to arrest the coach, one officer stated, “I have run into this before. Our prosecutor will not touch this,” a response that was controversial to many of JiDion’s followers.
IMPD later responded to the backlash and clarified that the video lacked important context, noting that a police report was filed at the scene, Garrett was trespassed from the property, and detectives were informed about the allegations.
Following the viral incident, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office opened a formal investigation into the allegations.
“There are no shortcuts in the investigative process,” Mears said in a statement Monday. “When it comes to crimes against children, justice demands that an independent investigation occur and evidence be properly obtained, so that a case is built that will hold offenders accountable in a court of law.”
According to the affidavit, body camera footage from the incident shows Garrett identifying himself by name and providing his date of birth and phone number to officers, information that matched the Grindr profile under investigation.
Garrett is scheduled to appear for a change of plea hearing on January 27, 2026, at 9 a.m. in Marion County Superior Court.
Sports
Volleyball Lands Four on CSC Academic All-District Team
To qualify, a student-athlete must hold a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.50, across both undergraduate and graduate courses, if applicable. Athletically, volleyball student-athletes must have either competed in 90% of their team’s contests for the season or started at least 66% of contests.
The list of honorees is below:
Senior Alina Anderson (Rockford, Mich. / Rockford / Ferris State)
Senior Abby Olin (Coopersville, Mich. / Coopersville / Michigan State)
Sophomore Izzy Swiercz (Hudsonville, Mich. / Hudsonville)
Sophomore Grace Thomas (Dublin, Ohio / Dublin Coffman)
Both Anderson and Olin earned the honor for the 2024 season.
For the latest news and updates on CMU Volleyball, follow the team in X (@cmuvolleyball) and on Instagram (@cmuvolleyball).
-
Motorsports3 weeks agoJo Shimoda Undergoes Back Surgery
-
Motorsports7 days agoSoundGear Named Entitlement Sponsor of Spears CARS Tour Southwest Opener
-
NIL2 weeks agoBowl Projections: ESPN predicts 12-team College Football Playoff bracket, full bowl slate after Week 14
-
Rec Sports3 weeks agoHow this startup (and a KC sports icon) turned young players into card-carrying legends overnight
-
Rec Sports2 weeks agoRobert “Bobby” Lewis Hardin, 56
-
NIL3 weeks agoIndiana’s rapid ascent and its impact across college football
-
Motorsports3 weeks agoPohlman admits ‘there might be some spats’ as he pushes to get Kyle Busch winning again
-
Sports2 weeks ago
Wisconsin volleyball sweeps Minnesota with ease in ranked rivalry win
-
Motorsports1 week agoDonny Schatz finds new home for 2026, inks full-time deal with CJB Motorsports – InForum
-
Motorsports3 weeks agoIncreased Purses, 19 Different Tracks Highlight 2026 Great Lakes Super Sprints Schedule – Speedway Digest






