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NCAA semifinals pits men’s volleyball against Hawaiʻi in 2023 championship rematch

A rematch over two years in the making could be telling of what may soon be a dogfight. And a shootout may exactly be what happen as No. 3 seed UCLA men’s volleyball (21-6, 10-2 MPSF) prepare to face No. 2 seed Hawaiʻi (27-5, 7-3 Big West) on Saturday evening at the Covelli Center in […]

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A rematch over two years in the making could be telling of what may soon be a dogfight.

And a shootout may exactly be what happen as No. 3 seed UCLA men’s volleyball (21-6, 10-2 MPSF) prepare to face No. 2 seed Hawaiʻi (27-5, 7-3 Big West) on Saturday evening at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio, for the NCAA tournament semifinals. UCLA enters the matchup having swept No. 6 seed Belmont Abbey in the quarterfinals, while Hawaiʻ’i defeated No. 7 seed Penn State in four sets in its first-round affair.

The last time the Bruins and the Rainbow Warriors squared off came in 2023 when the former defeated the latter in the national championship.

Although it’s been two years since that last contest, UCLA returns a roster headlined by four 2025 AVCA All-Americans – three of whom contributed to the program’s 20th NCAA title. Among the trio is junior setter Andrew Rowan, whose 60 assists against Hawaiʻi have been matched just one time since.

(Darlene Sanzon/Assistant Photo editor)
Junior setter Andrew Rowan (left) sets the ball to junior middle blocker Cameron Thorne (right) at Pauley Pavilion. (Darlene Sanzon/Assistant Photo editor)

Nonetheless, the three-time AVCA First Team All-American selection has continued to develop alongside his outside hitter duo redshirt junior Cooper Robinson and junior Zach Rama.

In UCLA’s quarterfinal victory over Belmont Abbey, Rowan posted 37 assists across three sets, helping produce a combined 24 kills for the pin-hitting duo on .529 and .476 hitting percentages, respectively.

While the Rainbow Warriors aren’t unfamiliar to these returning Bruins, new faces give first-year coach John Hawks new tricks to pull out of his sleeve.

Freshman outside hitter Sean Kelly has proved valuable in replacing senior Ido David, who has been in and out of the rotation because of injury and will most likely play as a serving specialist in the tournament. Just two years ago, the outside hitter/opposite led the squad in its championship game with 23 kills, but looks to be a non-factor here.

Kelly, a 2025 All-MPSF Freshman Team selection, has posted double-digit kills in seven of his last nine outings, with his last two performances featuring .400-plus hitting clips.

UCLA may need to rely on momentum going into its upcoming semifinal appearance to stymie a Hawai‘i team looking for vengeance from the 2023 finals.

Across three sets in the quarterfinals, the Bruins outscored the Crusaders by 25 points and held them under 20 points in two of the three frames. Additionally, the Bruins held a double-digit advantage in kills, blocks and assists.

(Andrew Diaz/Daily Bruin)
Junior middle blocker Cameron Thorne rises to strike the ball over the net for a kill. (Andrew Diaz/Daily Bruin)

Contributing to this success was junior middle blocker Cameron Thorne, whose six-block performance marked the seventh time he’s achieved such measure.

Throne’s two-way skillset – hitting at a .526 percentage and ranking 11th in the nation in blocks per set with 1.09 – may be vital to building a Bruin lead and mitigating the Rainbow Warriors’ attack, one spearheaded by 6-foot-11-inch setter Tread Rosenthal.

The 2025 AVCA First Team All-American selection ranks third in the nation in assists per set and has led Hawai‘i to the sixth-best hitting percentage in the country.

Receiving his passes is outside hitter Adrien Roure. The second 2025 AVCA First Team All-American ranks third in the country in kills per set but garnered just five kills and a -.038 hitting percentage against Penn State in the quarterfinals.

Notably, neither Rosenthal nor Roure were in college yet at the time of the last UCLA and Hawai’i matchup, meaning precedence is no easy indicator of repeated victory.

Hawai‘i might have all the motivation in the world to avenge its national championship loss two years ago, defeating No. 1 seed Long Beach State twice in the final five matches of the season.

But roster upheaval and new faces on both sides of the court will most likely make this a tightly-contested affair, incomparable to the one that took place in 2023.

Regardless of who wins, one of the squads will have the opportunity to face the winner of No. 1 seed Long Beach State and No. 5 seed Pepperdine for the chance to crown themselves the 2025 national champions.



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Central Michigan University

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan volleyball coach Arielle Wilson has named Erica Stahl to an assistant coaching position.   Stahl served the past two seasons as an assistant at Amherst (Mass.) College and coached at the club and high school levels in and around Indianapolis from 2015-22.   In 2022-23, Stahl served as a […]

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MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan volleyball coach Arielle Wilson has named Erica Stahl to an assistant coaching position.
 
Stahl served the past two seasons as an assistant at Amherst (Mass.) College and coached at the club and high school levels in and around Indianapolis from 2015-22.
 
In 2022-23, Stahl served as a graduate assistant at Fort Valley (Ga.) State.
 
Stahl played collegiately from 2012-14 at Butler and professionally in Spain and in Switzerland. At Butler, Stahl was an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Eastern Region honoree, All-America honorable mention, and All-Big East Conference accolades.
 
She remains among the top 10 in Bulldog history in blocks per set, total blocks, block assists, and hitting percentage.
 
Stahl holds two bachelor of arts degrees, one from Butler and the other from Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis.
 
 For the latest news and updates on CMU Volleyball, follow the team on X (@cmuvolleyball) and on Instagram (@cmuvolleyball).
 



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Untiedt signs with Coyote volleyball

Story Links VERMILLION, S.D. — South Dakota volleyball head coach Leanne Williamson has announced the addition of Louisville transfer Sam Untiedt to the 2025 roster. “I am very excited to announce the addition of Sam to this talented roster!  She is a relentless defender and will fit into our defensive culture immediately,” […]

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VERMILLION, S.D. — South Dakota volleyball head coach Leanne Williamson has announced the addition of Louisville transfer Sam Untiedt to the 2025 roster.

“I am very excited to announce the addition of Sam to this talented roster!  She is a relentless defender and will fit into our defensive culture immediately,” said Williamson. “Her willingness to train and learn is unmatched and I know that she is going to be a great addition to an already deep group of defensive players. She has played multiple positions during her club and high school games which has given her a high-level volleyball IQ. Her personality is going to fit in with this team immediately and I am excited to see the impact that she has on this program!”

The libero/defensive specialist appeared in 10 matches and 14 sets for the NCAA National Championship Runner-Up in her freshman season. Untiedt recorded one assist, three service aces and eight digs. She set a career-high with two aces against Northern Kentucky.

 

Untiedt played for head coach Jason Fisher at Heron Lake-Okabena High School where she was a four-time All-Red Rock Conference First Team selection and a three-time All-Area First Worthington Globe Team honoree. She amassed 572 kills, 1,197 digs, 1,285 assists, 82 blocks and 222 aces in her high school career.

 

Untiedt was named to the All-Breakdown Team in 2022 and 2023. Breakdown also highlighted Untiedt as the Featured Player of 2022 in the Minnesota High School Volleyball Guidebook. During her sophomore year, she was named Beck’s Player with Heart and was added to the Ultra Ankle Watchlist. Untiedt was a two-time Academic All-American and was named to the All-State Academic Team.

 

She played club for Kairos 18 Alpha where she was named to the AAU National All-American as well as being named their MVP in 2021. In 2023, USA Volleyball named Untiedt to their All-Tournament Team. She was a 15U AAU National Champion and was added to the Ultra Ankle Watchlist.

 

A native of Okbena, Minnesota, Untiedt will major in medical biology at South Dakota.

 

Stay up to date with all things Coyotes by following South Dakota Athletics on Facebook /SDCoyotes, X (Twitter) @SDCoyotes, and Instagram @sdcoyotes#GoYotes x #WeAreSouthDakota





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Aquatics GB Names 28 Swimmers To 2025 European Junior Championship Team

Courtesy: Aquatics GB A 28-strong British team has been announced for the European Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships which take place this July in Samorin, Slovakia. Europe’s most talented junior swimmers will gather in Samorin this summer as Slovakia hosts its first European-level swimming competitions. The European Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships (for athletes born between 2007-2011) […]

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Courtesy: Aquatics GB

A 28-strong British team has been announced for the European Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships which take place this July in Samorin, Slovakia.

Europe’s most talented junior swimmers will gather in Samorin this summer as Slovakia hosts its first European-level swimming competitions.

The European Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships (for athletes born between 2007-2011) will take place at the x-bionic sphere from 1st-6th July, following the staging of the second European Aquatics U23 Swimming Championships at the same venue a week earlier.

Among the standout names selected to the British team based on performances at April’s Aquatics GB Swimming Championships is Amelie Blocksidge – who has both her 800m and 1500m Freestyle European junior titles from Vilnius 2024 to defend having already impressively claimed her latest senior British titles in both events this year at just 16 years old.

A host of further 2025 medallists from London are included in the roster for Samorin, with Jack Brown, Jasmine Carter, Blythe Kinsman, Filip Nowacki, Amalie Smith and Hollie Wilson all aiming build upon the performances that saw them secure a place on a British podium last month as they now prepare to go head-to-head with the best junior swimmers on the continent.

Carter, Kinsman and Nowacki additionally each claimed an individual European junior medal in Lithuania last July, and are joined again by Theodora Taylor, Skye Carter and Phoebe Cooper who achieved the same feat as Great Britain finished seventh on the medal table in 2024 – with three of the GB team’s 13 medal haul coming from relay events.

Nowacki is also coming off setting a new British Age Record for 17-year-old boys in the 200 breast at the AP Race International meet in a time of 2:10.53, lowering his month-old best time of 2:11.09.

Looking ahead to what is always a hugely valuable and entertaining meet, Euan Dale (Performance Pathway Lead – Swimming) commented:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the next generation to test themselves on the international stage. The focus will be on growth, development, and embracing the experience as a team.

“We’re especially excited about the relays – nothing captures the spirit of Great Britain more than athletes coming together with a team-first mentality to take on the best that Europe has to offer.”

Details of live streaming and results links still to be announced, with all latest event details published on the European Aquatics website.

aquatics gb team for european aquatics swimming championships (1st-6th july 2025):

  • Hayden Annan, RTW Monson
  • Amelie Blocksidge, City of Salford
  • Jack Brown, Plymouth Leander
  • Hannah Capron, Repton
  • Jasmine Carter, Basildon Pheonix
  • Skye Carter, Basildon Pheonix
  • Jake Chesworth, Maxwell
  • Phoebe Cooper, City of Sheffield
  • Annabelle Compton, Wycombe District
  • Rio Daodu, Mount Kelly
  • Dean Fearn, Aberdeen Dolphins
  • Toby Godsell, Millfield
  • Joshua Inglis, Mount Kelly
  • Blythe Kinsman, Mount Kelly
  • Isobel Liptrot, Wigan BEST
  • Harry Milne, Repton
  • Imogen Myles, Sevenoaks
  • Filip Nowacki, Millfield
  • Llewellyn Porter, Camden Swiss
  • Matilda Potter, City of Leeds
  • Edith Price, Mount Kelly
  • Daniel Ransom, City of Leeds
  • Abbie Roscoe, Wirral Metro
  • Gabriel Shepherd, City of Leeds
  • Amalie Smith, RTW Monson
  • Theodora Taylor, Torfaen Dolphins
  • Hollie Wilson, City of Leeds
  • Emma Wood, City of Leeds





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Purdue volleyball to face Indiana in Gainbridge Fieldhouse

Purdue volleyball coach Dave Shondell, players on Sweet 16 matchup Purdue plays Louisville in Thursday’s Sweet 16. Hear what the Boilermaker coach and players said about the matchup. Less than two years after Purdue volleyball coach Dave Shondell jokingly quipped about playing a match at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Boilermakers will be center stage in […]

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Less than two years after Purdue volleyball coach Dave Shondell jokingly quipped about playing a match at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Boilermakers will be center stage in the some of the state capital’s most prestigious venues.

It’s not the famed race track, but the latest schedule announcement has Purdue facing rival Indiana on Oct. 16 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which has a capacity of more than 18,000.

The Boilermakers announced earlier this month they’ll play Butler, coached by Dave Shondell’s son Kyle, at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Sept. 9.

Purdue also has a scheduled match against Tennessee on Aug. 31 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

The Big Ten volleyball schedule was released on Wednesday. Coming off a Sweet 16 appearance, Purdue opens the 2025 season Aug. 15 at home against Valparaiso and also has non-conference matches scheduled against USF (in Knoxville), Georgia Tech, Bowling Green, Kansas, Houston, SMU, Ball State and Indiana University-Indianapolis.

The Boilers begin Big Ten play Sept. 25 at home against Washington. Purdue’s conference schedule includes:

Home and away − Illinois, Indiana (at Purdue and at Gainbridge Fieldhouse), Minnesota

Home − Washington, Nebraska, Penn State, Iowa, Maryland, Oregon, Northwestern,

Away − USC, UCLA, Ohio State, Rutgers, Michigan State, Michigan, Wisconsin

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.



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Samantha Paulsen Named a 2024

Story Links UMD Bulldogs “ALLETE” Moments: Classroom Throughout this year, UMD Athletics is partnering with Minnesota Power, ALLETE to highlight the Bulldogs accomplishments in the 3 C’s: Classroom, Competition, Community.  University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball senior right side hitter Samantha Paulsen  was named a 2024-25 NSIC Women’s Honor Student-Athlete Award winner Wednesday. One of 15 […]

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Samantha Paulsen Named a 2024

UMD Bulldogs “ALLETE” Moments: Classroom

Throughout this year, UMD Athletics is partnering with Minnesota Power, ALLETE to highlight the Bulldogs accomplishments in the 3 C’s: Classroom, Competition, Community. 

University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball senior right side hitter Samantha Paulsen  was named a 2024-25 NSIC Women’s Honor Student-Athlete Award winner Wednesday.

One of 15 student athletes to earn the honor and an exercise science major with a 4.00 GPA, Paulsen is entering the University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy program this summer after earning the program’s “Year-One Scholarship”. The scholarship is competitively awarded to incoming students based on academic excellence, potential for high professional contributions, and enhancement of diversity components underrepresented in the physical therapy profession. A NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award winner, and a multi-year winner of D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award, Paulsen is a multi-year member of the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence. 

The native of Chisago Lakes, Minn. finished her athletic career as a member of three  NSIC All-Conference teams, a NSIC Player of the Week, tied for 11th most kills in a NSIC contest, and in the top-10 for career hitting percentage in UMD volleyball history. Paulsen was engaged in multiple UMD and community volunteer activities, including membership on the DEI Council, working as an overnight caregiver and companion for elderly individuals, as well as a Volunteer at Essentia Health’s inpatient and outpatient physical therapy clinics. 

The NSIC Honor Student-Athlete Award is the result of member institutions of the NSIC nominating one male and one female student-athlete for the Britton and Kelly Awards. The nominees must meet the following criteria: a grade point average of 3.5 or better (on a 4.0 scale); evidence of academic excellence beyond the minimum grade point average (scholarship prizes and other academic recognition), evidence of participation in the life of the institution, and evidence of participation in at least two-thirds of the varsity events of the individual’s primary sport. The award is voted on by the NSIC Faculty Athletic Representatives.

 

The 30 student-athletes nominated for the NSIC’s two most prestigious awards will also be recognized as NSIC Male and Female Honor Student- Athletes of the Year at their respective institutions. Dierks and Andrews will be recognized Tuesday, July 8 at the NSIC Hall of Fame Banquet in Moorhead, Minn. and will each receive a $3,000 post-graduate scholarship.

About Minnesota Power, ALLETE:

Our bold vision centers on our commitment to climate, customers and communities. We’re a clean-energy leader under our EnergyForward strategy, already delivering 50% renewable energy ahead of all other Minnesota utilities. Now we’re doubling down on that with a vision to deliver 100% carbon-free energy to customers reliably and affordably by 2050. Learn more at: https://www.mnpower.com/CarbonFreeEnergyVision

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Big Ten Announces 2025 Volleyball Schedule

The Maryland Volleyball program announced its 2025 Big Ten schedule as released by the conference on Wednesday. “The release of the Big Ten volleyball schedule is always an exciting moment, but this year feels especially significant,” said Head Coach Adam Hughes. “With the defending national champion in Penn State and eight NCAA Tournament teams from […]

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The Maryland Volleyball program announced its 2025 Big Ten schedule as released by the conference on Wednesday.

“The release of the Big Ten volleyball schedule is always an exciting moment, but this year feels especially significant,” said Head Coach Adam Hughes. “With the defending national champion in Penn State and eight NCAA Tournament teams from last year, the depth of this conference is as strong as ever.”

The Terrapins will open their 20-match conference slate with three consecutive road match-ups. Maryland begins the season on Thursday, Sept. 25, against Iowa, followed by a trip to Nebraska on Saturday, Sept. 27. The Terps then head to New Jersey for a match against Rutgers on Friday, Oct. 3.

Maryland kicks off October with four consecutive home contests, starting with a visit from defending national champion Penn State on Sunday, Oct. 5. The Terps will then host Illinois on Friday, Oct. 10, followed by Wisconsin on Sunday, Oct. 12. They wrap up the home stand on Wednesday, Oct. 15 with a second matchup against Rutgers.

The Terps will travel to East Lansing to take on Michigan State on Sunday, Oct. 19 before heading to the West Coast. There, they will face USC on Thursday, Oct. 23 and UCLA on Saturday, Oct. 25.

“We’re thrilled for our first-ever trips to UCLA and USC, expanding our reach in this new era of Big Ten volleyball,” said Hughes. “With the possibility that this could be the final season of the 20-match conference slate, every match carries a little extra weight.”

Maryland wraps up October with a home matchup against Indiana on Friday, Oct. 31.

The Terps open November with a trip to the Midwest to face Northwestern on Sunday, Nov. 2. They return home for back-to-back matches against Ohio State on Friday, Nov. 7 and Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 8.

Maryland then hits the road for back-to-back contests, playing Purdue on Friday, Nov. 14 and Indiana on Sunday, Nov. 16.

The Terps close out the final month of conference play with a home match against Minnesota on Friday, Nov. 21, followed by a road trip to State College to face Penn State on Sunday, Nov. 23. Maryland concludes the regular season with home matches against Washington on Wednesday, Nov. 26 and Oregon on Friday, Nov. 28.

Game times and television designations will be announced at a later date.

The program returns top contributors from the 2024 season, like Sydney Bryant, Katie Scherer, Ally Williams, Eva Rohrbach, and Jonna Spohn. The program also welcomes a strong transfer class, welcoming Ajack Malual (Tennessee), Haley Melby (Kentucky), Olivia Ruy (Arkansas) and Annika Sokol (UTSA) to College Park.



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