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North Idaho Water Polo repeats as Junior Olympic national champions

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The North Idaho Water Polo girls 18U team defended its 2024 Junior Olympic Championship title last weekend by winning the Session III 2025 National Junior Olympics Tournament in Dallas.  

The Idaho Narwhals team is comprised of a very talented group of players — Jillian Provost, Alena Gonzalez, Gianna Gonzalez, Claire Thorpe, Rachel Tober, Amanda Bittleston, Daisy Whitney, Gracelyn Kenney, Priya Bevacqua, Addy Karoblis, Addy Wallace and goalie Reese Taylor. 

The team started out the tournament on July 31 with two rather easy victories: 16-6 vs Fleet out of Houston and 22-4 vs the Kraken out of San Antonio. The two victories put NIWP into the Platinum (top) division where the competition level would be higher. 

The next morning NIWP played against a strong New Haven Hydras team from Connecticut. In one of their more closely matched games, the NIWP Narwhals got an early lead and then slowly built it through the match, though the Hydras managed to stay within striking distance until the end, with NIWP winning 11-8. Later that day the team played the Houston Storm club. Idaho overwhelmed the opponent with numerous goals from the hole set and from its outside shooters. Goalie Reese Taylor knocked down almost all Houston’s attempts in route to a 15-3 finish.  

On the third day of the tournament, North Idaho matched up with another top seeded club — the Orlando United Black squad.  Orlando looked unstoppable with two very strong hole players and a variety of excellent shooters on the outside. The Narwhals looked tight and unsettled in the game. Orlando was able to repeatedly score by passing the ball into the set position and then either scoring or drawing ejections. Orlando’s outside shooters were also repeatedly finding the outside corners of the cage, making blocks from the defense difficult. Orlando won the game 16-6. Losing this game made the NIWP club’s journey more difficult — it would need to win the next three games in a row in order to win the championship.   

Later on the third day, NIWP played the Sea Monsters out of Cincinnati and quickly built an early lead, ultimately winning 14-3, giving the Narwhals an easy game and some much-needed rest. At this point, NIWP had an overall record of 5-1, which put it in the semifinals on the last day of the tournament.   

The next morning, the team played the Viper Pigeon team from Houston. The game was very close throughout the game, with defense taking a priority for both squads. After a very hard-fought first quarter and strong defense on both teams, the score remained 0-0.  

NIWP broke open the scoring in the second quarter, with Alena Gonzalez putting in the first goal of the game. Rachel Tober followed up with a penalty shot goal, giving NIWP a 2-0 lead. The teams then traded goals through the rest of the second and third quarters, giving the Narwhals a 4-3 lead going into the fourth quarter.  

The Houston team came out strong in the fourth and scored two natural goals to take the lead 5-4. Shortly afterward, NIWP earned an exclusion and Claire Thorpe scored on the resulting 6-5 play, tying the game. Both teams scored again in the quarter and the score was tied 6-6 going into the final minute of the game. 

After some quick passing, NIWP’s goalie Reese Taylor blocked a shot by the Pigeons. The Narwhals set up their offense and passed the ball to Rachel Tober who scored, giving NIWP a 7-6 lead with less than a minute remaining.  

Houston immediately called a timeout to install a play but its attempt was thwarted with a steal by Alena Gonzalez. NIWP then slowed down the game with 38 seconds left. Idaho worked the ball down the pool but did not realize Houston had dropped back two players. Jillian Provost covered one player but the other was left wide open in front of NIWP’s goal. The coaches screamed at the players to get back to cover the open player, but couldn’t be heard due to the crowd noise. 

Houston recovered the ball with 8 seconds left as time ran out on Idaho’s possession. In the scramble and confusion, the Houston goalie didn’t see the open player who was ready to score a goal and instead threw the ball to an outside attacker covered by Thorpe who pulled up and was able to tip the ball away. By the time the ball was recovered, time ran out and Idaho secured the win.   

The victory placed NIWP into the national championship game against the highly regarded Orlando United squad, who had crushed every team it had played, including NIWP, and looked unstoppable. Orlando’s average winning score was 17-5 in their six tournament games.   

The NIWP team decided to go with a much less scripted offense and defense in the championship game, with the coaching staff telling players to play with more abandon and a free-flowing offense. On defense, they went with their favorite piston defense (alternating defenders to the set position to reduce scoring opportunities from the hole set position while also covering the top shooters). 

Scouting work had revealed Orlando was not only regarded as the best team in the tournament but had no apparent weaknesses. Orlando often ran a 2-post hole set with its two excellent hole set players, had many excellent perimeter shooters and got back quickly in the counter-attack and transition games. Their hole defenders were also very strong, often pushing out or fronting the opponent’s centers. 

NIWP’s offensive strategy had Gianna Gonzalez covering most of their set play with occasional support from Rachel Tober, Alena Gonzalez and Addy Karoblis. Jillian Provost took primary responsibility for set defense, with Karoblis and other filling in as needed. Priya Bevacqua also started for the Narwhals.  

One area NIWP found challenging throughout the tournament was exclusions — in the earlier game, this gave the Orlando many opportunities (nearly 20 during the course of the game) to score on 6-on-5 plays. However, NIWP’s 6-5 defense was excellent with the United team shut out of nearly everything but weaker outside shots or inside passes which were knocked down by Idaho’s inside players, while Reese Taylor did a fantastic job as goalie covering anything that got through.     

The game was low scoring and very close for the first half as both teams struggled to score against excellent defenses. NIWP scored first with an early goal by Tober on a penalty throw who then followed up a few minutes later with a natural goal. Bevacqua added to the early total with another nice outside shot, shocking the Orlando team with a three-goal lead in the first 2 minutes.  

Orlando took a time out to reset and was then able to score the next three goals, putting the game back into a tie. The teams swam back and forth repeatedly in the first half, with Alena Gonzalez finishing up the first quarter scoring with a nice assist from her sister, giving the Narwhals a 4-3 lead.    

Idaho’s defense looked increasingly strong during the game, allowing only one goal in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Narwhals’ offense continued to score, with Tober adding two more goals and Thorpe scoring on a 6-5 situation, giving Idaho a 7-4 lead at the half.  

In the third quarter, Orlando’s set player Fiona Pando was able to score twice from the hole. However, the Gonzalez sisters stepped up their scoring too, with Alena scoring a natural goal and Gianna putting the ball into the goal on two 6-5 plays, giving Idaho a 10-6 lead going into the 4th quarter.  

One concern for the coaches was that most of Idaho’s starters had multiple exclusions and additional exclusions would force them out of the game. The hole defenders needed additional support from the rest of the defense to cover the hole and allow them to not take unnecessary fouls.   

Provost added a goal on another 6-5 play, increasing the Narwals lead to 11-6. Orlando continued to fire shots from on top in what looked like an increasing desperate attempt to find goals. Orlando did find one with a couple minutes to go in the quarter, drawing the United team to 11-7. Shortly after however, Thorpe found the goal also off a nice assist from Karoblis on another 6-5 play, giving Idaho a secure 12-7 lead.  

The teams traded shooting opportunities, but no further goals were scored and as the clock ran out, the crowd stood on its feet, stomped their feet, rang cowbells and cheered while the players and coaching staff (Mark Collingham, Makenna Ferguson and Rylan Butera) jumped into the pool to celebrate.



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Longtime Utah volleyball coach Beth Launiere retires – Deseret News

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Beth Launiere, the longest-tenured volleyball coach in Utah history, has retired, the school announced Monday.

Over 36 years as Utah’s coach, Launiere amassed 689 wins and took Utah to the NCAA tournament 20 times.

With Launiere in charge, the Utes won six Mountain West titles and advanced to the Sweet 16 four times, most recently in 2019.

“After 36 years as the head volleyball coach at the University of Utah, I have made the difficult decision to announce my retirement,” Launiere said in a school press release.

“While it is not easy to walk away from a lifetime’s work, I am ready and excited to begin the next chapter of my life. Thank you to the hundreds of players whom I have had the privilege to coach, and the many assistant coaches, support staff and administrators who were my daily collaborators to build this program into what it is today.

“I will miss the daily interactions, but I know our relationships will last a lifetime. It has been an honor to represent one of the greatest universities in the country. I will forever love Utah and will always be a Ute!”

Utah was ranked in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll for 183 weeks under Launiere’s leadership, and the program produced 16 All-Americans.

During her 36-year career at Utah, Launiere was rewarded with three Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year awards and one Pac-12 Coach of the Year award in 2019.

In her final season, Launiere and the Utes made the NCAA Tournament, finishing the season with a 15-15 record with wins over No. 23 BYU and No. 13 Kansas before losing to the University of Northern Iowa in the first round of the NCAAs.

Launiere will leave a lasting legacy as the volleyball program’s greatest coach.

Utah athletic director Mark Harlan wasted no time naming her successor, appointing Alyssa D’Errico as the sixth head coach in program history.

“Alyssa D’Errico is a tremendous identifier of talent and is elite in developing student-athletes and building genuine relationships,” Harlan said. “With her championship pedigree, All-America playing experience, and the three years she has spent at the University of Utah as associate head coach, she is uniquely equipped to take over leadership of our volleyball program.

“I’m thrilled to appoint Alyssa as our new head coach, and excited to see her establish herself as this program’s leader, building on the legacy that Beth Launiere has built.”

D’Errico is a three-year assistant of Launiere’s, joining the program ahead of the 2023 season.

“I want to sincerely thank Mark Harlan, Charmelle Green and Jason Greco for their trust and support in giving me this opportunity to lead Utah volleyball,” said D’Errico in a press release.

“Of course, I also must thank Beth Launiere. I am deeply grateful to Beth for bringing me out here to be a part of this incredible volleyball program and athletic department. Her countless contributions to our sport, her care for the athletes, and the legacy she leaves behind are inspiring — truly leaving the program better than she found it.

“As I step into this role, I am honored and energized to help guide our program into the next era, with new heights in sight and a strong vision for sustained excellence. I look forward to building on our foundation, elevating our competitive standard, and fostering a culture where our student-athletes thrive on and off the court.”

Utah head coach Beth Launiere talks with her players between sets during the NCAA tournament match against Marquette at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News



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Nevada volleyball’s team leaders in kills, assists and digs enter the transfer portal

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The Nevada volleyball team’s leader in kills (Haylee Brown), assists (Audrey Jensen) and digs (Kinsley Singleton) all entered the transfer portal Monday, as reported by College Volleyball Transfers and shared by those players on Instagram.

Brown was an All-Mountain West honorable mention selection in 2025 after transferring to Nevada following two seasons at Georgia Washington. The 6-foot-2 outside hitter from Maricopa, Ariz., hammered 351 kills, which were 165 more than the team’s second most. She led the Wolf Pack with 374 points and added 36 blocks. Brown will have one season of eligibility remaining at her next school.

Jensen was Nevada’s top freshman and starting setter, racking up a team-best 658 assists (391 more than second place) and adding 63 kills, 49 blocks (third on team), 203 digs (second on team) and 26 services aces (second on team). The 6-footer from Parker, Colo., was one of the Mountain West’s top rookies and started a team-high 27 of 28 matches for Nevada, racking up 116 points. She will have three seasons of eligibility remaining at her next school.

Singleton is a 5-4 libero from Phoenix who led Nevada with 361 digs while adding 104 assists. The defensive specialist also had a team-best 28 service aces and was one of Nevada’s top players each of the last two years. She will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at her next school.

Nevada volleyball has struggled with player retention for several seasons and lost stars Gabby McLaughlin and Tehya Maeva to Syracuse last season with McKenna Dressel also transferred to Mississippi State. The Wolf Pack went 8-20 overall and 4-14 in the MW this season, ranking 11th out of 12 schools under second-year head coach Shannon Wyckoff-McNeal.

With the transfer departures, Nevada would retain just one of its top-five players last season in matches started in sophomore-to-be Kamryn Tifft, whose 20 starts were the fourth most on the team.



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Adrian College SID, Mike Prang, Earns Distinguished CSC 30 Under 30 Recognition

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GREENWOOD, Ind. — College Sports Communicators announced its 30 Under 30 Class of 2025 on Monday afternoon, naming 30 of the nation’s top collegiate athletic communicators under the age of 30 to its recipient’s list. Landing his name on the list is Adrian College’s own, Mike Prang, who serves as the Sports Information Director, leading the charge for all 53 athletic programs in the department for the last 5+ years.

The annual honor recognizes emerging athletics communications professionals at all levels of college sports in strategic, creative, and digital spaces.

“We are proud to recognize and honor the rising talent and amazing achievements of so many incredible individuals with the latest 30 Under 30 class,” said 2025-26 CSC President Patrick Crawford. “College Sports Communicators, at its core, is an organization that is driven by the strengths, skills and passions of its members. As new communicators join our ranks and begin to build their careers, we are fortunate to take this opportunity to celebrate the best of CSC’s young professionals. This class is representative of both the diversity of our membership and the breadth of our overall community. Congratulations to this year’s honorees.”

The 28-year old from Carol Stream, Illinois attended Loras College in Iowa, where he studied Sport Management, worked as an Athletic Communications student-worker, and played on the varsity Baseball team. Prang graduated in the Fall of 2019 before relocating up to Michigan where he joined the Bulldogs’ Athletic Communications staff shortly after in December 2019.

Mike first began his tenure at Adrian as the Assistant Sports Information Director, where he assisted in athletic communication operations for just over a year before he was promoted to the head Sports Information Director role in March 2021. Since then, Mike has been stewarding the operations of the largest Athletic Department in the nation, overseeing the everyday tasks of covering 53 athletic programs, from graphic design to social media and statistics among other duties.

During his time as a Bulldog, Mike has traveled to four NCAA Division III Frozen Fours and two National Championship games, as well as the 2021 NCAA DIII College World Series. His experience also includes attending three NCAA DIII Baseball Regionals, hosting one Regional, and traveling to a Super Regional. He has hosted four NCAA Men’s Wrestling Regionals—two at Loras and two at Adrian—along with one Women’s Wrestling Regional and two Women’s Wrestling National Championships. Additionally, he traveled to the NCAA DIII Women’s Golf National Championship and has hosted six NCAA DIII Tournament Hockey games. His work has taken him to a Men’s Rugby National Championship, an NCAA DIII Track & Field Championship, and three NCAA Tournament Men’s Basketball games, including two at Loras and one for Adrian. He also served as the official scorer for the 2019 NCAA DIII Women’s Volleyball National Championship (Final 8) and has covered two Bass Fishing National Championships. Mike has also been around for three ACHA Hockey National Championship victories at Adrian.

Mike handled the redesign of the adrianbulldogs.com website in 2021, reshaping the image of the department online. In addition, he has helped grow the department’s social media following, increasing the Instagram follower count by 6,000+, the Twitter follower count by 4,000+, and the Facebook follower count by roughly 3,500+ in just over five years. As the lead point of media contact for the department, Mike also works with local media outlets to promote Adrian Athletics through television and radio, including the likes of Adrian College TV, BCSN, 96.5 The Cave, and more.

“I’m truly honored to receive the CSC 30 Under 30 Award. This recognition reinforces my commitment to growing within the profession,” said Prang. “Working with 53 athletic teams at Adrian College has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. The success of our teams and student-athletes, along with the relationships I’ve built with them, continues to motivate me every day. Thank you so much to those who nominated me for the award, and to those who have helped me grow into the SID that I am today. I can’t take all the credit for this honor. I’m incredibly thankful for every member of the Adrian College Sports Information staff, past and present. To our student workers and interns, thank you for all you do. I couldn’t do my job the same without you.”

To bolster his resume, Mike is a two-time D3SIDA Regional SID of the Year nominee and an active member of the College Sports Communicators Young Professionals Committee (YPC), where he also serves on the YPC Programming Subcommittee. In the summer of 2024, he was selected as a speaker for the CSC U-Summit. Additionally, he contributes to institutional recognition efforts as a member of the Adrian College Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.

“I’m excited to keep growing Adrian College Athletics and to continue sharing the stories and promoting the amazing teams and student-athletes who proudly call themselves Bulldogs,” added the newest 30 Under 30 recipient.

Adrian College congratulates Mike Prang on this prestigious honor and extends their gratitude for everything Mike continues to do for the Athletic Department. He will be honored at the 2026 CSC Convention in Las Vegas next summer.



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D’Errico Named Head Coach of Utah Volleyball Program

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SALT LAKE CITYAlyssa D’Errico has been named head coach of the Utah volleyball program, Director of Athletics Mark Harlan announced today. D’Errico, who has served as the Utes’ associate head coach for the past three seasons, becomes just the sixth head coach in program history, succeeding 36-year head coach Beth Launiere who announced her retirement earlier today.
 


A press conference to introduce D’Errico and celebrate Launiere’s career is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m., at Crimson Court.
 
Alyssa D’Errico is a tremendous identifier of talent and is elite in developing student-athletes and building genuine relationships,” Harlan said. “With her championship pedigree, All-America playing experience, and the three years she has spent at the University of Utah as associate head coach, she is uniquely equipped to take over leadership of our volleyball program. I’m thrilled to appoint Alyssa as our new head coach, and excited to see her establish herself as this programs’ leader, building on the legacy that Beth Launiere has built.”

Through three seasons in Salt Lake City, D’Errico has made her presence known, helping the Utes improve from an 11-19 record in 2023 to 25-6 in 2024, including a return to the NCAA Tournament for the 19th time and a final AVCA ranking of 23rd. She helped guide Utah to its 20th NCAA Tournament appearance in 2025. Primarily responsible for the defense, D’Errico has overseen all scouting and training concerning that side of the net, as well as Utah’s serve/receive strategy.

 

“I want to sincerely thank Mark Harlan, Charmelle Green and Jason Greco for their trust and support in giving me this opportunity to lead Utah Volleyball,” said D’Errico. “Of course, I also must thank Beth Launiere. I am deeply grateful to Beth for bringing me out here to be a part of this incredible volleyball program and athletic department. Her countless contributions to our sport, her care for the athletes, and the legacy she leaves behind are inspiring—truly leaving the program better than she found it. As I step into this role, I am honored and energized to help guide our program into the next era, with new heights in sight and a strong vision for sustained excellence. I look forward to building on our foundation, elevating our competitive standard, and fostering a culture where our student-athletes thrive on and off the court.”

D’Errico came to Utah after six seasons on the staff at Dayton. Hired in 2017, she was promoted to associate head coach in 2019, and served as the program’s recruiting coordinator. D’Errico specialized in the blocking and defensive efforts for the Flyers, while also being involved in all aspects of recruiting and program-wide decisions. She helped guide Dayton to two A-10 regular season championships (2020, ’21) and four A-10 Tournament championships (2018-21). Additionally, the Flyers saw two athletes earn A-10 Libero of the Year honors under D’Errico’s watch while coaching four All-Americans and leading the Dayton defense to a top-30 ranking in 2020 and ’21. D’Errico’s astounding early efforts as a coach was recognized by the AVCA in 2018 as part of its Thirty Under 30 honorees.

 

D’Errico began her coaching career at Louisville from 2015-2016, where she was instrumental in helping the Cardinals to their first ACC Championship shortly after her arrival, and coaching 2015 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year Molly Sauer.

“I couldn’t be more pleased for Alyssa D’Errico to be named the next head volleyball coach at the University of Utah,” said Beth Launiere. “She has great knowledge of the game, and a work ethic second to none.  Alyssa is a leader who invests in her players in both time and care, and is a tremendous role model for young women. Her exceptionalism as a four-time NCAA Women’s Volleyball National Champion was a prelude to her extraordinary attributes as a coach and what she brings to the profession. I have no doubt Alyssa will maintain the culture we have strived to create and continue Utah Volleyball’s winning tradition.”

D’Errico’s competitive spirit became immediately apparent during her impressive college career at Penn State as a member of four Big Ten championship and national championship teams from 2007-2010 where she served as team captain for three of those seasons. She is the only player in NCAA Division I volleyball history to have won four national championships after winning state championships in her last three years of high school.

 

The 2010 All-Big Ten honorable mention selection was a member of the Nittany Lions’ record-setting 109- match win streak, and won 24-straight NCAA tournament matches through her four seasons in Happy Valley. D’Errico amassed 1,245 career digs, 146 career aces, and was named the 2011 NCAA Woman of the Year to wrap up her illustrious collegiate career.

After graduating, D’Errico placed her sights on Europe, playing three seasons overseas as a libero with stops in Spain, Croatia and France. During her professional career, D’Errico was the MVP of the Princess Cup, a four-time Superliga weekly MVP, and a “Super 7” All-League honoree with the Feel Volley Alcobendas Club in Spain. 

D’Errico is not only accomplished as a college coach, but has built an extensive resume with USA Volleyball, having spent eight years with the organization in various roles including serving as an assistant on the 2020 Youth National Team, an assistant coach for the U17-U18 National Team Development Program summer training series in 2023 and 2024, an assistant coach for the U17-U18 NTDP spring training series in 2024, the head coach for the U18-U20 NTDP spring training series in 2025, and the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Program evaluator in 2025. Most recently, D’Errico served as an assistant coach for the 2025 U19 National Team that took home the silver medal at the World Championships this past summer.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ALYSSA D’ERRICO

 

Penn State Head Coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley:

“I am absolutely thrilled for Alyssa and for Utah Volleyball. She is stepping into a program built on excellence under Beth, and there is no doubt she will honor that foundation while elevating it even further. Alyssa’s energy, passion, and unwavering commitment to doing things the right way will only strengthen the culture and push the program to new heights. 

 

She has always led with heart, humility, and an incredible competitive drive, and Utah is gaining not only a great coach but an even better person. I couldn’t be happier for her and for the bright future ahead.”

 

Former Penn State Head Coach Russ Rose:

“Alyssa arrived at Penn State with terrific skills, natural leadership and confidence, and she graduated with four Big Ten and four National Championships on her resume. She received numerous academic and athletic awards, and was always committed to the University, the team and its members.

 

After a brief professional playing career, Alyssa entered the coaching track and experienced great mentoring at Louisville with Anne Kordes, at Dayton with Tim Horsman, and then of course with Beth Launiere at the University of Utah. At each of her stops she gained not only meaningful experience, but the benefits of working with elite coaches.

 

I’m confident that Alyssa will continue to excel and build on the exceptional tradition established by Beth, and I expect to see great things in the future.”

 

 Dayton Head Coach Tim Horsmon:

I’m really excited for Alyssa to get this opportunity as the head coach of the Utah program. Utah made a great hire. She’s won as a player, winning four national championships, and she continues to win as a top-25 coach. 

 

I’m not sure I’ve been around someone so passionate about this sport or our profession. Alyssa is smart, hard-working and connects with her players on and off of the court. She is a real pro, and more importantly a great human being who demonstrates great character in all things she does. I couldn’t be happier for one of my favorite people in this world.”

 

 Minnesota Head Coach Keegan Cook:

“Congratulations to the University of Utah on the hiring of Alyssa D’Errico.  Simply put, there is no one better prepared or more capable of seizing this opportunity than Alyssa.  The Utes have ensured that the legacy of leadership and championship-caliber coaching at the University of Utah will continue.”

 

 Michigan State Head Coach Kristin Kelsay:

“I can’t think of anyone better than Alyssa D’Errico to lead the Utah Women’s Volleyball Program. Alyssa is a champion on and off the court and will lead the Utes with character, integrity, and her competitive fire. Alyssa’s passion to grow the game of volleyball and her relational leadership will mentor, guide, and challenge the student-athletes in her program. I am so excited for this next chapter of Utah Volleyball with Alyssa at the helm”

 

 Oregon Head Coach Trent Kersten:

Huge congratulations to Alyssa D’Errico on being named the head coach at University of Utah. She’s a phenomenal coach and an even better person. Beth built an incredible foundation there, and Alyssa is the perfect leader to honor that legacy while putting her own stamp on the program. I’m excited to see Utah Volleyball thrive under her leadership.”

 

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS FOR 2026 UTAH VOLLEYBALL AVAILABLE NOW

 https://utahutes.evenue.net/events/VBNS

 

FOLLOW THE UTES

For an inside look at the Utah Volleyball program, including tournament, roster and news updates, fans can follow the Utes on social media (Twitter: @UtahVolleyball | Instagram: @utahvolleyball).

 

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH TODAY – UTAH 360

 





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The Return of “Rocket”: Noah Taitz’s Journey From the Sideline to Center Stage

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By Jason Erickson

Noah Taitz walked into college basketball with a clean jumper, four state titles from Bishop Gorman, and a future that seemed to be pointing straight upward. He will leave it as someone very different. Six years reshaped him in ways he never expected. Those years were filled with stops and starts, injuries, uncertainty, growth, and eventually a sense of peace he was not sure he would ever find again. His final season at Utah Valley is not just a closing chapter. It is the first one in a long time that feels whole.

His college career began under circumstances no freshman could have prepared for. Taitz arrived at Stanford in September of 2020, right as the pandemic turned everything upside down. Instead of meeting new classmates or walking around campus, he spent seven months inside a strict bubble. There were no fans in the arena, no in person classes, daily testing, and very little social life. “My freshman year was brutal… depressing,” he said. “I worked so hard to get there, and my first impression was like, this place is horrible.” His sophomore season brought moments that felt a little more normal, but something still felt off. His role on the team was not evolving, and the environment never fully settled for him. After two seasons, he made the difficult choice to leave.

The move to LMU looked perfect at first. Sunshine, a beautiful campus, and friends everywhere he turned. But basketball nearly disappeared from his life. A calf strain from Stanford, which once seemed manageable, unraveled into something far more complicated. Hoping to speed up his recovery, he tried a series of aggressive treatments that instead pushed him backward. Even simple things like climbing stairs triggered painful spasms in his calves. “I literally had doctors not sure if I would ever play again,” he said.

Even then, he kept showing up. He attended every practice, every film session, and every meeting. He could not play, but he refused to walk away. Progress came in slow, almost invisible steps that were just enough to keep him believing. Nearly two full years passed before his body finally started to respond. Looking back, he says that stretch of life hardened something inside him. “It taught me mental toughness,” he said. “If I could get through that, I can get through anything.”

A real turning point arrived in the summer of 2024. Back home in Las Vegas, he trained every day with Charles Sams, a trainer who understood exactly how hard to push and when to ease off. It was the first time in years Taitz genuinely felt himself coming back.

Returning to Las Vegas meant more than training. It meant time with the people who keep him grounded. Both of his parents live in Vegas, each remarried, and Noah is the older brother to three much younger siblings. His sisters, Victoria and Ella, are nine years old, and his brother, Travis, is seven. The age gap is so wide that he jokes he feels more like an uncle than a brother. The truth is that he is protective of them in a way that reveals how much he cares. Whenever he is home, he makes a point to visit both sides of the family. His siblings have grown up watching him from a distance, seeing their big brother on TV more often than seeing him at the dinner table. Being home reminded him why he kept fighting through the darkest parts of his injury. They were watching, and he wanted them to see him finish what he started.

Still not fully cleared, he entered the transfer portal on the final possible day. Utah Valley reached out and asked him to visit. He came to Orem, went through a workout, and caught fire in a shooting drill, hitting 23 of 25 threes. The staff saw enough. More importantly, they believed in him. “I was grateful they were willing to take a chance on me,” he said. “They knew I was not fully back yet, but they still believed.”

Utah Valley became exactly what he needed. For the first time since high school, he was healthy enough to be available for every game. “It was my first time winning at the college level,” he said. “My first time playing every game. First time really enjoying everything again.” A moment during the winter stands out in his mind. It was the first time he dunked comfortably in practice. Later, in the season opener, he drove baseline and hammered home his first in game dunk since January of 2022. His mom was in the stands. “She had not seen me do that since high school,” he said. “That was a cool moment.”

Ask what he hopes people think when they hear his name and he does not hesitate. “A good person. A good teammate. A winner,” he says. His teammates might describe him as meticulous or even obsessive about organization. He prides himself on knowing scouting reports cold and helping direct teammates even when he is not on the floor. “My composure is my biggest value to the team,” he said. “Guys can rely on me in those moments.”

His nickname, Rocket, goes back to eighth grade, when a skinny kid from Vegas kept surprising people with dunks. “The rocket emoji started flying around, and I just ran with it,” he laughs. His number, seven, is a nod to his hometown and to good fortune. It is also the first time in his college career that he has been able to wear it.

When he thinks about the wide eyed freshman who arrived at Stanford, he cannot help but smile. “I showed up a boy,” he said. “Now I am a man.” The injury forced him to take responsibility for every part of his health. Sleep, hydration, nutrition, supplements, all of it mattered. The time away also gave him a coach’s view of the game that now slows everything down for him.

After everything he has been through, the bubble, the injury, the doubt, and the slow climb back, this season carries a different kind of weight. The dream is simple. The NCAA Tournament. Utah Valley has never been. He has not either. “That is the ultimate goal,” he said. “It would be the first time in school history.”

And somehow, fittingly, the WAC Tournament will be played for the final time in his hometown of Las Vegas. “It feels like the stars have aligned,” he said. “Hopefully we are cutting down nets in Vegas.”

Six years. Three schools. One injury that nearly took the game from him. What remains is a player who refused to quit and a season that means more than anyone in the arena will ever know. He is ready for the moment he worked so long to reach. The Rocket is back and he’s ready for the moment he worked so long to reach.

 






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The 16 remaining NCAA volleyball tournament teams, re-ranked

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I re-ranked the remaining 16 teams in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament. I took the original seeding made by the committee and re-ranked the teams based on tournament play only — not the entire season. 

I am keeping the top 4 seeds the top 4 teams: Nebraska, Kentucky, Texas and Pitt.

No. 1 Nebraska

📝 CATCH UP: 2025 DI women’s volleyball tournament bracket, schedule, and scores

No. 2  Kentucky

Kentucky Volleyball

Kentucky was the only team to drop a set in the first two rounds, but I decided not to move the Wildcats down a spot because UCLA was a strong contender. 

No. 3 Texas 

I was really impressed with Texas’ dominating sweep over Penn State. The Longhorns held PSU to nine points in the second set. 

🤘 TEXAS FIGHT: Relive the Longhorn’s win over Penn State

No. 4 Pitt

No. 5 SMU

SMU volleyball

After Pitt, I have SMU at No. 5. The Mustangs showcased incredible performances early. They set an NCAA tournament record with a .618 hitting percentage in the first round, hit .370 in a sweep over Florida and looked impressive even after their star hitter Jadyn Livings went out with an injury. 

No. 6 Wisconsin

I moved Wisconsin all the way up to No. 6, the biggest mover in my re-rankings. I think the Badgers are the hottest team in the country right now and look so dangerous with the return of Charlie Fuerbringer. They absolutely steam rolled through the first two rounds, even over a dark horse North Carolina team where they hit over .360. Mimi Colyer hit over .400 and the offense looked lights out. 

No. 7 Arizona State

After Wisconsin, I have Arizona State staying put in its original seed spot. The Sun Devils dropped a set to Utah State, so I didn’t move them up, but outside of that one set they handled the Aggies pretty handedly. I like how they have been spreading the offense out a lot more outside of just Noemie Glover. 

🐴 WHO TO WATCH: Michella Chester’s darkhorses of the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament

No. 8 Texas A&M

I have Texas A&M jumping up a spot from its original seeding to No. 8. I liked how the Aggies looked against a strong TCU team, coming back from behind to close it out in four. I thought this team had the talent of a No. 2 seed all along, so I’m moving them up. 

No. 9 Stanford 

Stanford drops a bit from its original seeding after dropping a set in the first round to Utah Valley and one to Arizona in the second. The Cardinal are playing without Logan Parks, and it has made a big difference offensively. 

No. 10 Louisville

Louisville also drops to No. 10 after surviving a five-set battle with Marquette. The Cardinals escaped with the win after falling behind two sets to one. 

📺 WATCH: Louisville survives Marquette in a thriller

No. 11 Indiana

Indiana volleyball

Indiana takes a jump from their original seeded to No. 11. They handled a strong Colorado team in a straight sweep which was really impressive. The Hoosier offense looks really efficient right now while running their quick tempo. 

No. 12 Minnesota

Minnesota also moves up a spot with two sweeps through the first two rounds with outside Julia Hanson balling out. The Gopher freshmen are also looking really strong and are coming into their own at the right time of the season. 

No. 13 Purdue

I have Purdue at No. 13, around its original seeding after dropping just a set to Baylor in the second round. 

No. 14 Creighton

Creighton takes a drop in the re-rank after getting pushed to five by Northern Colorado in the first round and playing a really close battle with UNI.

No. 15 Kansas 

Kansas volleyball celebrates

That leaves Kansas at No. 15. I was impressed by Kansas taking down Miami in four sets, so I moved the Jayhawks up a spot from their original seeding.

No. 16 Cal Poly

Finally, Cal Poly goes from unseeded to No. 16 after being the sole unseeded team to make the regionals. They are all around a great volleyball team and I am so excited to see them battle in Lexington. 

👀 TAKE A LOOK: Greatest upsets in NCAA women’s volleyball tournament history





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