At a level of competition that brings out the best, overcoming each obstacle takes considerably more power, energy and grit than the last.

And with each challenge, the team is forced to look inside themselves and find out what type of competitors they truly are.

All roads lead to Columbus, Ohio, as No. 3 seed UCLA men’s volleyball (20-6, 10-2 MPSF) takes on No. 6 seed Belmont Abbey (17-8, 12-2 Conference Carolinas) on Thursday in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. The Bruins enter Ohio with the opportunity to claim their 22nd national title and three-peat for the first time since winning four in a row from 1981 to 1984.

Despite an early exit in the MPSF semifinals at the hands of Pepperdine, UCLA remains experienced on the national stage with a balanced attack.

Led by four AVCA All-Americans, including redshirt junior outside hitter and MPSF Player of the Year Cooper Robinson, the Bruins are third in the nation by team hitting percentage with a .367 clip, 10th in kills per set with 12.51 and 13th in assists per set with 11.62 – all while holding opponents to a .226 hitting percentage.

And first-year UCLA head coach John Hawks has helmed his squad to its third-straight regular season conference title.

Supporting Hawks on the hardwood, Robinson leads the team in kills, digs and service aces – with 335, 111 and 37, respectively – while his .387 hitting percentage is 11th in the country. Junior setter Andrew Rowan has continued his Bruin career by averaging over 10 assists per set and gaining his third AVCA All-American nomination in as many years in Westwood. And junior middle blocker Cameron Thorne has been a sparkplug in the frontcourt, ranking 13th nationally in blocks per set with 1.06 while posting a .530 clip.

“It’s been fun with this new group,” Thorne said. “There’s a lot of talent on this team, so when working in the lab with these guys, they make my job a lot easier because they do their jobs so well.”

Without senior outside hitter/opposite Ido David, the rest of the Bruin squad, notably junior outside hitter Zach Rama and freshman outside hitter Sean Kelly, have been able to fill in the gaps.

“He’s (Kelly is) so consistent and does his job great,” Rama said. “He’s got a cool, calm, collected sense about him. … People have been injured, and he’s answered the call.”

However, as UCLA discovered from this postseason, fortunes can quickly change amid the chaos of a tournament. And going against a scrappy, defensively minded Belmont Abbey squad, the Bruins may have reason to tread carefully and stay sharp.

The Crusaders punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament by sweeping Mount Olive in the Conference Carolinas title game.

Led by the conference tournament’s Most Valuable Player Zach Puentes and middle blocker Jibriel Elhaddad, Belmont Abbey ranks sixth nationally in blocks per set with 2.49 and holds opponents to a .187 hitting percentage, ranked third in the nation and second among NCAA tournament teams.

Elhaddad himself posts 1.157 blocks per set, seventh-most in the nation, and his team posts 11.35 assists per set and 12.42 kills per set, the 23rd and 15th marks in the country, respectively.

With its efficiency and star power, UCLA is favored to win on paper. However, within the chaos of the postseason anything can happen – if the Crusaders can shake the Bruins early and capitalize on unforced errors, they could hang around longer than expected.

“I feel like, for us, it’s about believing on our side and trusting what our guys do,” Hawks said. “It’s about standing together as a unit.”

The winner of this match will advance to face either No. 2 seed Hawai’i or No. 7 seed Penn State on Saturday in the national semifinal.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – – Belmont University volleyball head coach Fritz Rosenberg announced Thursday the hire of Andy Riesenberg as an assistant coach within the Bruin program.
 
Riesenberg brings nearly two decades of college and club volleyball experience to Nashville.
 
He spent the previous three seasons as recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at Akron.
 
During his time, the Zips defeated Top 100 programs Central Michigan and Western Michigan, among others.
 
Previously, Riesenberg trained and led two of the top volleyball clubs in America, Mintonette Sports in Columbus, Ohio, and Premier Academy in Toledo, Ohio.
 
Under USA Volleyball, Riesenberg led various-aged squads to 15 national qualifying bids in a two-year span.
 
His 2017 team won the USAV 16 Open National Championship in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
 
Dozens of athletes under Riesenberg’s direction have earned college scholarships, including several of the top NCAA Division I conferences including the MVC.
 
In addition to Akron, Riesenberg has been a staff member at several NCAA Division I programs, including Auburn, Xavier, Southern Illinois, Ohio, Wright State, and Southern Indiana.
 
He was part of Ohio’s MAC Tournament championship team in 2015 that upset No. 10 Kentucky during the regular season.
 
The Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio native served as head coach at Wilmington College (OH) from 2019-21 and Lake Erie College (OH) from 2012-15.
 
Riesenberg earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mount St. Joseph University.

Follow Belmont volleyball on social media – @BelmontVB  on Twitter, @belmontvball on Instagram – for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont’s athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

 

#ItsBruinTime

 
 
 

COLUMBUS, Ohio >> Charlie Wade missed this.

The architect of the Hawaii men’s volleyball program’s success over the last decade had a rare week off during last year’s NCAA Championship in Long Beach, Calif.

Not every season is going to end the way a coach of 16 years at one school wants.

After not reaching the postseason last year, Wade began to realize during this season just how special it is to get to where he was on Wednesday, answering questions at a press conference ahead of UH’s 10th overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

“Kind of down the stretch of the regular season there, I thought about how we really had a chance with this team to get to the postseason,” Wade said. “They do a great job of making it a big deal and winning championships is a big deal. For this group of athletes we have, we were picked third in our league preseason and for us to be in a position to compete for a national championship this year is pretty special.”

The second-seeded Rainbow Warriors practiced inside of Covelli Center, which hosts the entire tournament, on the campus of Ohio State for the first time on Wednesday.

Hawaii (26-5) plays No. 7 seed Penn State (15-15), which had to win a play-in game against Daemen University to reach the final field of eight, in the second quarterfinal today at 7:30 a.m. Hawaii time.

It is the seventh time the two teams will meet in the NCAA Tournament. UH hasn’t played any other school more than twice in the tourney.

“We’re thrilled to play Penn State again. Mark Pavlik, the head coach, is one of the best coaches in the country and one of the best guys in college athletics,” Wade said. “It’s a great honor to play against their program and I think they are a lot better than they were in March.”

The Nittany Lions last played the Rainbow Warriors in the Outrigger Invitational, losing in straight sets.

Hawaii is 4-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament against Penn State and 18-10 overall.

UH will play its first game here since wining the first of back-to-back national championships in 2021.

Senior libero ‘Eleu Choy and middle blocker Kurt Nusterer were on the team back then, but didn’t play.

Choy, who had to wait five years after graduating from Farrington to assume the role of starter, will have a significant hand in the outcome for UH this time around.

“I find it pretty ironic that the first national championship was also here and now my last national championship is also here,” Choy said. “Very excited.”

After taking over as UH men’s coach in 2010, Wade first led the team to the NCAA Tournament in 2015 when the Warriors reached the play-in game.

Including that season, UH has advanced to the postseason six out of nine times, which excludes the COVID-19 pandemic season that was cut short in 2020.

Hawaii’s first national title was won in its last trip here in 2021 when UH swept UC Santa Barbara and Brigham Young.

Wade says there are some similarities, including the hotel the team is staying at, from four years ago. There’s also a level of confidence within the team gained by its recent stretch of performances that led UH to win the Outrigger Big West Men’s Volleyball Championship.

“I think I have found myself over the last couple of weeks just being more calm and more at ease with where we’re at and what we’re doing,” Wade said. “I think there’s a level of confidence I’ve seen with the guys and how they are communicating with each other, and the level of engagement that tells me that we’re ready to compete, and let’s enjoy the ride.”

Sophomore setter Tread Rosenthal said he hadn’t felt the magnitude of playing in the NCAA Tournament had sunk in yet on Tuesday, but imagined that would change the moment he stepped onto the Covelli Center court for Wednesday’s practice.

“I think I’m more excited to just get out there for the first time and get a good practice in at Ohio State,” Rosenthal said. “There’s obviously some nerves that come with being here for the first time, doing a press conference here for the first time, but it’s just kind of fun for us. We’ve done all of the hard work in our past, and we’re excited to just have fun now.”

Penn State, which swept its way through the EIVA tournament as the No. 3 seed to secure a NCAA berth, made it known it felt like the underdog against UH. Senior outside hitter Wil Kuhns, however, didn’t think it’d necessarily go the same way as the previous matchup.

“They have a good offense. They have a lot of strengths, obviously they have a talented team,” Kuhns said. “I think it’s hard to look back at that match and compare and draw conclusions because I think we have evolved so much as a team and I’m sure so have they.”

NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship

At Covelli Center, Columbus, Ohio

Quarterfinals

Today

>> No. 3 UCLA (20-6) vs. No. 6 Belmont Abbey (17-8), 5 a.m.

>> No. 2 Hawaii (26-5) vs. No. 7 Penn St. (15-15), 7:30 a.m.

>> No. 1 Long Beach State (27-3) vs. No. 8 Fort Valley State (16-9), 11 a.m.

>> No. 4 Loyola Chicago (25-3) vs. No. 5 Pepperdine (20-9), 1:30 p.m.

>> TV: ESPN+

>> Radio: KKEA 1420 AM / 92.7 FM (UH match only)

Delivered by World Aquatics’ experts, the training course aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Discover Water programme and the responsibilities of Country Leads, guide the development of a structured curriculum, and equip participants with the skills to train and support local educators.

Launched on World Drowning Day 2024 ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the innovative programme offers a range of educational tools to enable young children from around the world to safely embrace aquatics sports and learn vital skills in an engaging manner.

Discover Water takes a collaborative approach with World Aquatics’ Members to executing activations, and the training course in Malawi was a key milestone in implementing the programme on the African continent.

Country Leads nominated by their National Federations enjoyed a range of interactive sessions, including discussions on the importance of developing physical literacy, planning for implementation of Discover Water Programme locally, identifying key partners, and building a national educators learning community.

In addition, the event concluded with the opportunity for the Country Leads to practise implementing Discover Water activities in Malawi, with 50 children aged between six and 12 learning about water safety, the environment and the Olympic values.

One of the most famous names in open water swimming, three-time Olympian Leonie Beck understands as well as anyone the life-changing impact that developing aquatic literacy at an early age can have.

“What made me love the water was I grew up with my siblings in the swimming pool in a sports team. Now I spend so much time in the water and I can really let my mind run free when I’m swimming, and this is something I really appreciate,” she reflected.

Beck was in attendance in Malawi to learn more about the Discover Water programme, and to promote water safety and participation in aquatic sports – two topics which are close to her heart.  She shared her experience and expertise with Country Leads as part of the training course, and wants to use her platform to give back to the global aquatics community and make a powerful impact on young people.

“As a swimmer, I am really happy to be part of the Discover Water programme. I think it is very important that everyone has the chance to learn swimming. This sport is such a great sport – it gives you so many skills you can have for the rest of your life, so it is always nice to participate,” Beck said.

“The experts who delivered the course, Viv Holt and Sven Spannekrebs, facilitated learning in an interactive and participation-based manner in order to develop the necessary skills of Country Leads to implement the Discover Water programme in their countries.”

Beck additionally highlighted that the vital role of World Aquatics and the global aquatics family through the Discover Water programme in helping to reduce the risk of drowning globally.

“The Discover Water programme not only provides the skills to teach children to swim, but also helps to develop an understanding on how to act in different bodies of water. The conditions are completely different if you are in a pool, the sea, a lake or a river,” she said.

“It is really important that the children understand that nature can act in a way you do not expect, and it can be really dangerous if you do not learn how to act with the current or waves, for example.

“I think everyone should have the possibility to learn swimming in a fun way. It is one of the most important things to prevent drowning.”

The training course in Malawi brought together Country Leads from across the continent, and they unanimously appreciated the opportunity to work with World Aquatics, meet with their peers, exchange knowledge and learn as a group.

“Meeting other Country Leads and not just individuals from my country was very important and it was such an eye-opener, because I got to learn about different situations and different countries. Some countries are advanced in certain areas we are not, and some countries I could share what we do in our country to help solve issues,” Puni Gaetsewe from Botswana commented.

Johathan Amoako-Atta from Ghana concurred, adding: “Having participants from various countries in Africa is good for all. I have colleagues I can rely on for further explanation or information, and we can help each other through listening.

“I really think having a well-rounded base gives you strength and the ability to enjoy what you are doing, and this goes beyond even swimming.”

The training allowed the participants to gain a greater understanding of the Discover Water programme, and provided important learnings to each of the Country Leads. This will enhance the delivery of Discover Water in their respective countries.

Gaetsewe reflected: “Physical literacy is important in the swimming sense, but it’s not just swimming. What I loved is that it’s the development of the whole being.

“I learned how to engage with kids and how to approach learning in a holistic manner. The teachings stay with them for life, and it’s lovely that from a very young age you start learning about other aspects of your lives.”

The focus on physical literacy in the training course was also appreciated by Amoako-Atta.

“This is the first time I am understanding physical literacy and the importance of having a well-rounded programme – not just the development of the physical skills, but it allowed us to understand how cognitive, social and psychological aspects can be developed through swimming. It is a very good base for children to learn and enjoy water, and ultimately bind themselves to be part of aquatics activities for life,” he said.

To support the implementation of Discover Water, World Aquatics developed a toolkit which includes activity sheets, guidance on programme development, observation and evaluation methods, and training guidance for local educators.

The launch of Discover Water followed research and extensive consultations with World Aquatics’ experts and partners to develop a programme which capitalises on the aquatics community’s unique position to promote water safety.

World Aquatics continues to make progress on working collaboratively with National Federations and implementing the programme globally.

Ivy League Outdoor Heptagonal Championships
Sat. May 10th and Sun. May 11th | New Haven, Conn. 
Live Results | ESPN+ | Schedule
 
PRINCETON, N.J. – The Princeton women’s track and field program will chase a historic third Triple Crown this weekend at the 2025 Ivy League Outdoor Heptagonal Championships, to be hosted by Yale in New Haven, Conn. 
 
After winning the 2024 Ivy cross country title last fall and the 2025 indoor Ivy championship this past winter, the Tigers will look to claim the outdoor title to complete their first Triple Crown since 2011. 
 
A Successful Outdoor Season 
The Tigers have had a strong outdoor season to date, building on the momentum they’ve accumulated all year. 
 
Three Tigers have set new program records this season, while many others have come close, landing themselves on the top-10 record book. 
 
Tessa Mudd broke the school record in the pole vault at the Virginia Challenge, where she cleared 4.40m/14′ 5.25″. 
 
At home in Weaver Stadium, Mena Scatchard ran the 5000m in just 15:48.24 at the Sam Howell Invitational to set a new program record. 
 
Also at Sam Howell, Adelaide Asante ran a 23.66 200m to break the program record by one hundredth of a second. 
 
Hannah Riggins is less than one second off from a new record in the 800, as the sophomore bumped up to second at the Larry Ellis Invitational last weekend with a time of 2:03.24.

Angela McAuslan-Kelly has been knocking on the door in the hammer throw, as she threw 64.78m/212′ 6″ to take second all-time at Larry Ellis. 

 

National Notice

Princeton is well represented on the current NCAA qualifying list. 

 

Georgina Scoot currently ranks 10th nationally in the triple jump with her mark of 13.35m/43′ 9.75″ from the Texas A&M 44 Farms Invite. She also ranks 10th in the long jump after clearing 6.49m/21′ 3.5″ at UVA. 

 

Shea Greene ranks 14th in the country in the javelin after throwing 54.22m/177′ 11″ at 44 Farms.

 

Mudd’s pole vault record is 20th in the nation. 

 

Scatchard’s 1500 time of 4:11.56 from Larry Ellis last weekend puts her at 25th in the country, while Riggins’s 800 time ranks 30th. 

 

McAuslan-Kelly’s hammer throw from last weekend currently ranks 30th nationally. 

 

Last Time Around

At last year’s outdoor Heps, the Tigers narrowly finished second as the title came down to the meet’s final event. 

 

The Tigers scored the 6th highest point total in Ivy History and crushed the Princeton record for the most points at a Heps meet, with a final score of 184. The most points at a Heps meet previously sat at 170.

 

In the fall, Princeton won its first cross country title since 2015. In the winter, the Tigers repeated their success with their first indoor championship win since 2011. 

 

Princeton won the Triple Crown in 1981 and 2011, and will now chase its historic third as the Tigers head up to New Haven this weekend.