HOUSTON – The Rice men’s and women’s track and field teams had a combined nine student-athletes named to the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team, an award that honors those who excel both in meets and in the classroom, the organization announced.
 
The men’s and women’s track and field programs were both recipients of the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team awards. The women’s team under head coach Jim Bevan posted a 3.7305 GPA, which ranks sixth among all qualified teams, while the men’s team under head coach Jon Warren posted a 3.495 GPA.
 
In order to qualify for an individual athlete recognition, the athlete must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 (4.0 scale) and be within the top 96 (indoors) or regional top 48 (outdoors) in their respective events. In order to qualify for team recognition, a program must finish with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA (4.0 scale).
 
This year’s Rice honorees on the women’s team are Saniya Friendly (sports medicine and exercise physiology), Riana Green (sport management), Julia Johannesdottir (undeclared), Alice Taylor (sports medicine and exercise physiology), Josie Taylor (earth, environmental & planetary sciences) and Mckyla Van der Westhuizen (sports medicine and exercise physiology).
 
The Rice men receiving recognition are Cal Abdulky (business), Jack Greaves (mechanical engineering) and Juan Marais (biosciences).
 

Women’s Volleyball | 7/22/2025 12:41:00 PM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University women’s volleyball team has been named a recipient of an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2024-25 academic year, the organization announced on Monday. The Cardinals have earned the honor 11 years in a row and 17 times in program history. 

Established in 1992-93, the award, sponsored by INTENT, honors high school and collegiate volleyball programs across the nation that maintain a year-long grade-point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale). A record 1,450 programs earned the award this year, according to the AVCA. 

The Cardinals, who won the Empire 8 Conference and reached the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2024, posted a 3.46 GPA as a team during the 2024-25 academic year. They had four players earn College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors and 15 players named to the Empire 8 Conference President’s List (including spring and fall). 

St. John Fisher opens its 2025 season on the road against Ithaca College at 3 p.m. Friday, August 29. 

 

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Pepperdine beach volleyball has received the 2025 AVCA Team Academic Award, given by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The award celebrates collegiate and high school volleyball teams that maintained a year-long team grade-point average of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale. It marks the ninth straight year that Pepperdine has received this honor.

The Waves had an astounding year in the classroom, with 12 of 14 team members landing on the WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll for maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater.

Overall, the team logged a GPA over 3.5, contributing to the department’s record-setting year in the classroom.

Pepperdine is one of 1,450 collegiate and high school programs nationwide to receive this year’s award, which sets a new record for the most teams honored in the award’s history. The award, established in the 1992–93 academic year, continues to grow in prestige and significance across all levels of the sport, from high school to collegiate programs. 

For more information and to see the full list of honorees, visit HERE.

About the American Volleyball Coaches Association  

The association’s mission is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy, and professional development. The membership includes more than 10,000 collegiate, professional, high school, club, and youth volleyball coaches—primarily in the United States. The AVCA represents women’s volleyball, men’s volleyball, and beach volleyball coaches, and works to increase exposure and recognition for the sport of volleyball. 

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The three-time defending champions of the Big West have added Riley Killip to the coaching staff, joining Long Beach State as an Assistant Coach.
 
“I’m excited to welcome Riley Killip to the Long Beach State men’s golf program as our new assistant coach,” said Long Beach State Head Coach Rob Murray. “Riley has played at many different levels and had success at every stop. Riley’s blend of on-course expertise and analytical skills will add new depth and energy to our program.
 
“With his data-driven take on player development and his background in sports analytics, he’ll help us break down key performance stats, fine-tune our practice routines, and build tailored strategies that sharpen decisions out on the course. Riley’s addition will give our student-athletes a stronger edge in competition and guide the team to more success and championship wins.”
 
Killip played Division I golf for two seasons at Pacific, highlighted by a 68 at the Grand Canyon Invitational. He transitioned to the Tigers after two successful seasons at Concordia-Portland as well as playing for one season at Sonoma State.
 
Remaining at Pacific as a Social Media Assistant following his graduation, Killip also earned a Master’s Degree in Sports Data Analytics from Ole Miss, and then joined the staff at Stanford where he has continued to work in Digital Media for the last two years. 
 
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the Men’s Golf program and the Long Beach family,” added Killip. “Coach Murray has established a strong culture of excellence, and I’m eager to bring my experience to help the team continue to pursue championships.”
 

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Lauren Roy and Sir Jonathan Sims will be competing for both Tarleton State and their respective countries starting on Wednesday at the 2025 World University Games in Rhine-Rhur at the Lohrheidestadion.
 
The World University Games are comprised of the top athletes across the world currently attending university institutions. Overall, the World University Games expand across 19 sports, ranging from Archery to basketball to volleyball to athletics (track and field). Tarleton State is the only member of the WAC to have athletes representing them this year.
 
Roy will compete first running in the sixth heat of the women’s 200 at 5:10 a.m. CT on Wednesday morning. The semifinals will be held on Thursday at 11:40 a.m. CT with the finals later in the day on Thursday at 2:25 p.m. CT.
 
Sims will be competing in the men’s long jump. The opening round will be held on Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. CT with the finals slated for Thursday at 11:18 a.m. CT.
 
All events will be streamed online here and through Discovery+ (subscription required).
 
Lauren Roy will be running the 200-meter dash while representing Tarleton State and Team Ireland. The senior is one of the 45 women competing in the event, representing 32 different countries. Roy is the only member of Team Ireland racing in the 200. She will be competing against the other 44 women for 24 spots in Thursday’s semifinals. Roy will need to finish in the top three in her heat or in the next best six overall among the six heats to be a part of the 24 advancing women. Once in the semifinals, eight will reach the finals with the top two in each heat and the next best two claiming the eight spots.
 
Roy ranks as the second-fastest athlete in her heat this season. Roy’s personal and season best of 23.27 is the second best this year to Kristie Edwards of Australia. Overall, Roy ranks eighth this season amongst the 45 athletes.
 
Sir Jonathan Sims will be competing in the long jump for Team USA and Tarleton State. He is one of two members of Team USA competing in the event alongside UConn student-athlete Marc Morrison. Sims is one of 43 athletes competing across 33 different countries. Sims will
 
Sims ranks 10^th overall in the field this season. Sims’ best leap of 7.97 meters came at the Michael Johnson Invitational earlier this spring at Baylor University. This will be his first time competing in Germany for Team USA. However, Sims spent four years of his early childhood living across the country of Germany.
 
The pair of Texans will look to add to the international exposure that Tarleton State has already received this year. Last week, Roy was a member of Team Ireland’s 4×100 relay squad that set the new Ireland national record. Freshman Prestina Ochonogor earned gold at the African U20 Championships last week in the women’s long setting a new meet record of 6.71 meters.
 
Sir Jonathan Sims and Victoria Cameron will be in action from July 31 – August 3 in Eugene, Ore. For the USATF National Championships. Roy, Ochonogor and Lokesh Sathyanthan will also be competing in their national championships later in August. The group will be competing for a chance to represent their countries at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan in September.