CHICAGO – The Big Ten kicked off the 2025 season on Monday (July 28) afternoon with the start of its fourth annual Big Ten Media Days at the network studios in the Windy City.
 
Indiana head coach Steve Aird, junior middle blocker Ava Vickers and senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum represented the program and spoke on the team’s outlook for the season ahead. Below is a selection of quotes from the Hoosiers’ press conference in Chicago.

A full transcription, provided by ASAP, can be found attached.

Full video is linked in the story.

Opening Statement…

AIRD: “Good afternoon. Might start a little bit untraditionally, but if you know me this is how I roll. I want to start out the by congratulating the Penn State Nittany Lions and my close friend Katie Schumacher-Cawley on an amazing year. Katie and I were freshmen together at Penn State. From day one of campus, one of my great friends in life and just someone I love and adore. I’m proud of her. Proud as an alum. Congratulations to them.

 

I’m not here, and I think Katie would say the same thing, without Russ Rose being Russ Rose. Whenever I come to Big Ten events and Big Ten volleyball events, it’s important to me to remind people of the best to ever do it. I miss him. On that note, and I thought about this walking in the door, so many of these unbelievable coaches are moving on to new chapters. Whether it’s John [Cook] moving on or Mary Wise or Coach Rose, Coach Shoji, none of us would be here without incredible commitments from people who were driving mini vans with tank tops and trying to find row hotel rooms for players in the ’70s and ’80s and whatnot.

 

So much of these what athletes are exposed to today and get today and get to do comes from so many people who worked so hard for so many decades for this to be the case. I just wanted to maybe say a universal thank you. I look in the Big Ten head coaches’ room and it’s young and it’s exciting, but none of us would be where we are without those people being who they were and the athletes that have worked so hard to make this what Big Ten volleyball is now.

 

To Indiana, this is the most aligned program, deep top to bottom group of people that I’ve been around since 2013 when I won a championship at Penn State. The coaching staff is exceptional. The team and these guys will tell you, they were there all June, all July working. We have depth. We’ve got fantastic talent. Recruiting has gone exceptionally well. Again, full credit to my staff, Rachel Morris, Kevin Hodge and Matt Kearns and those guys working, working, working to evaluate talent and recruit.

 

We’ve had a couple good years. I think we’re right at the beginning of what’s going to be a pretty impressive stretch for the next three or four years, and I couldn’t be prouder to do that. To the administration, obviously Scott Dolson and Jeremy Gray and President Pamela Whitten. They care about volleyball. Indiana cares about volleyball. It’s why it’s exciting to go to work.

 

Finally, just to the Big Ten, a thank you to everyone involved, from Commissioner Petitti on down. They care about volleyball and you guys can tell. It’s really, really invigorating to be part of it and to be a small part of it, and excited to get into the year. With that, we will open things up, take some questions, and appreciate you guys being here with us today.

On playing a match in Gainbridge Fieldhouse this season…

AIRD: “I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for us. It’s exceptional. The opportunity to compete in places that have 14,000, 18,000 people. There are venues in the Big Ten that are certainly daunting when you see the crowds, but for us we talk about we want to develop professionals.

 

Over the last two or three years we’ve churned out six, seven, eight, nine kids that have played in professional leagues all over the world. We want to continue to do that. That’s an opportunity to see and feel what pro is.

Luckily, because of the state, volleyball has been so good for so long. Purdue has been so good for so long and Dave has done an unbelievable job of having a great program. We’re aspiring to get there.

 

When I took the job, they were dead last in the Big Ten. We’re better. We’re not where we want to be, but we’re getting closer and closer. I anticipate certainly both matches to be highly competitive and a great opportunity for young people to show up and see volleyball on that type of stage and to see role models like these two and aspire to be them one day.”

 

On bringing Ava [Vickers] and Avry [Tatum] to Big Ten Media Days…

VICKERS: “Yeah, it honestly means so much to us. Me especially, I’m from Indiana. I’m from Fishers, Indiana, so being able to, one, not only play here at a school that is in my home state and be able to represent it in this kind of light really just means the world for me, so I am super grateful for the opportunity to be here.

 

TATUM: “To be able to transfer to a program that brought me in made me feel like I’m at home has been awesome. It’s great to come here and then return the favor and represent the team like I should.”

 

AIRD: “For us, it was pretty straightforward. We’ve got a lot of new faces. I think the conference will learn we have some really neat new players. But these two, especially over the last six to eight months, have done such an amazing job of bringing in the young people and getting them up to speed on just life.

 

They’re better human beings than they are volleyball players and they can both flat-out play, so that should tell you something. I enjoy seeing them every single day. It’s fun going to work and being around kids that are excited and fired up and love what you’re building and want to be part of what you’re building, and they’ve been that the whole way.

 

For me, like Russ had a great line that he said he wanted to recruit players with character, but also characters. So, I need people with — Avry’s a little spicy at times and I see a lot of myself from my playing days in her. And this one to my left [Ava Vickers], DJs, she models, she’s got a clothing line that probably just sold 10,000 units on social media.

They’re just really unique human beings, and every single day we talk about a lot of stuff that almost never comes back to volleyball, it is business, it’s life, it’s family, and we consider each other that and it’s been pretty cool.”

 

On getting Charlotte [Vinson] back on the court…

AIRD: “Yeah, her story is remarkable. For those in the room that don’t know, Charlotte Vinson a year ago had an infection and almost lost her life. I was at the hospital with the family. We didn’t know if she’d make it through the week or the day. She’s full go. She’s been in camp. She’s training. I think the girls will tell you she can flat-out play.

 

Obviously, she’s well trained and well coached. But the thing for me, it allows me some perspective because you get caught up in it and it’s hard and what we do is hard and we’re chasing great and it’s a hard thing to do. Then you see her and you remember there’s a lot more to life. So, there’s a perspective every day when I’m around her.

 

Listen, she’s competitive and she’s chippy and her game and her personality when she plays is one thing, but she has such an appreciation for things that we all take for granted all the time. I think that’s certainly a key point in the season that’s going to be an amazing lesson for all of us. Obviously thank God she’s with us and she’s going to be a really good player for a long time.

 

TATUM: “She’s just a stud and I’m so happy she’s with us.”

 

VICKERS: “Being able to play with her in high school, she was actually on the same team with me. I was a senior and she was a sophomore I believe. Just being able to see how her game has evolved and even her as a person has evolved has been so amazing and I am just so excited to see what her future holds for her.

 

On being impactful to the community…

VICKERS: “I feel like it’s a lot easier nowadays with NIL being an option. I feel like we’ve had some really great local businesses that have wanted to work with us and us with them, and a lot of times it isn’t even an NIL transaction it’s just genuinely our love for a lot of these local companies.

 

I think also when it comes to just going to school here at IU, we build relationships with professors and students on campus and just try to be the best representation of IU Volleyball outside of the court to be able to have the best fans and best environments inside of the court.”

 

TATUM: “Also going along with that, we do kids camp all through July, and I think it’s really important for us to kind of just be big role models for all those little girls. And I think when we are in the gym with them, I think being the best person we possibly can so we can be good role models for them has been super important. So, July is really important for us when it comes to the program and inspiring those little girls.”

Three South Bay teenagers who were in Southern California to compete in a water polo tournament say someone tried to break into their hotel room with a wire as they slept.

One of the girls, 17-year-old Charlotte, said she woke up early Friday morning to the sound of their hotel room door rattling. Someone was using a bent wire to try to open the door.

“Our first thought was it was someone trying to come in there and kidnap us,” Charlotte said. “We were all just really scared.”

Charlotte said she recorded video of the incident and then grabbed the wire. She even tried speaking to the person on the other side of the door.

“Honestly it was probably one of the most scariest things that has really ever happened to me,” she said.

The teens were staying at the Marriott Delta Hotel in Garden Grove. Charlotte’s mother, her coach and other parents filed a police report. NBC Bay Area reached out to Marriott and the general manager of the hotel repeatedly to ask about the incident but have not received a response.

Charlotte’s mother, Tiffany, said she met directly with the hotel general manager who she said told her the incident involved a room check.

“They did confirm that it was an employee,” Tiffany said. “When I asked if the employee had been terminated, I was told that he was going to be terminated.”

After the incident, Charlotte said the hotel gave the girls a gift basket and balloons, and they later switched rooms.

Tiffany is relieved Charlotte is safe, but she wants someone to explain why someone was trying to get inside her daughter’s locked hotel room after midnight.

“I have no idea. Was it theft? Was it trafficking? I want to know,” Tiffany said. “The explanation that has been provided doesn’t add up.”

Charlotte said she could barely sleep after the scare.

“We were all just kind of freaking out,” she said. “Everyone was kind of in a panic in our room.”

She hopes speaking out will encourage other young athletes to be more aware of their surroundings, even in their locked hotel rooms.

EUGENE, Ore. — Eugene’s identity as “TrackTown USA” is more than just a nickname, it’s an economic engine. And this weekend’s USA Track and Field Championships are putting that engine into overdrive.

As thousands of athletes, fans, and media members flood into Hayward Field, the impact ripples far beyond the University of Oregon campus. From pizza shops to hotels, local businesses across the city are seeing a surge in foot traffic and revenue.

“We’re one of the closest restaurants that is able to feed big groups of people very easily,” said Colby Howard, an employee at TrackTown Pizza, located just a short walk from the stadium. “We have numerous big delivery orders going over to the field, and then all kinds of people coming into TrackTown as well. Keeps us nice and busy for sure.”

Howard says the uptick in customers is something even locals have learned to anticipate.

“I would say more foot traffic, definitely,” he said. “The locals actually know a little bit when events are going on to maybe not order TrackTown as much, because we’ll get longer wait times.”

TrackTown Pizza isn’t the only business benefiting from the busy weekend. Travel Lane County, which works closely with event organizers to coordinate logistics and visitor resources, says the impact of events like this stretches citywide.

“We’re really blessed here to be TrackTown USA and to host such a great lineup of track meets all year long,” said Andy Vobora, Vice President of Stakeholder Relations at Travel Lane County. “The impact on the economy is significant on any of these large events. You’ve got athletes, officials, coaches, staff, and, of course, all the fans and volunteers.”

Vobora estimates that last year’s track season brought in over $50 million in economic impact to the city, a number that continues to grow with every major meet.

“A weekend like this could bring in five, ten, even fifteen million dollars in economic impact,” Vobora said. “That money goes to hotels, restaurants, stores, and then it’s recirculated in the local economy.”

Part of Travel Lane County’s work includes printing and distributing a “Welcome to TrackTown” visitor guide, highlighting local restaurants, shopping areas, hiking trails, and scenic spots for out-of-town guests to enjoy between event sessions.

“We have people coming in all the time saying, ‘Oh, I haven’t been to Eugene in 20 years,’” Howard said. “They remember coming here while they were in college. The city and this place, it just sticks with people.”

And as the crowds continue to pour in for this year’s championship, it’s clear that TrackTown USA is still running strong…in every sense of the word.

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – The Big Ten Network announced its 2025 volleyball television schedule on Monday, with Nebraska slated for at least 19 regular-season national broadcasts.

The schedule includes the Huskers’ road match against Minnesota on Saturday, Nov. 8, airing on First Alert 6.

Of note, Nebraska senior outside hitter Taylor Landfair started her career with the Golden Gophers and won Big Ten Player of the Year and First-Team All-American honors in 2022.

According to a release, 12 of Nebraska’s 20 Big Ten matchups are set for national television coverage, highlighted by nine broadcasts over the final 11 conference showdowns.

Additional televised appearances — including potential selections by Nebraska Public Media — will be revealed later. Any remaining home or Big Ten road contests not picked up for national TV will be available to stream on B1G+.

Copyright 2025 WOWT. All rights reserved.

By Robert Wilson

      Madison-Ridgeland Academy volleyball team began its defense of the first state championship in that sport in school history with three victories without a defeat this weekend at Jackson Academy.

      MRA defeated Starkville Academy 2-0, Heritage Academy 2-0 and Hartfield Academy 2-1.

      The Lady Patriots played without Mississippi Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year Falon Humphries for the first time in six seasons. She is a freshman at the University of North Florida this fall.

      Humphries led MRA to a 36-8 record and the MAIS Division I state title, defeating five-time defending state champion Jackson Academy in three sets for the title. She is MRA’s all-time kills leader (1,092) and single season kills leader (513 in 2024).

      But MRA coach Ross Dorr returns five of his seven starters from last year and also added a talented transfer to the mix. 

      “We will be a very experienced team this season with five senior starters, four of those young ladies won their first MRA volleyball trophy in Mississippi five seasons ago when I first started my coaching career,” said Dorr, a former MRA, Southern Miss and Delta State basketball player. “They are literally the program’s foundation and have seen the culture evolve and grow to what it is today, a championship program. Their goal is a repeat, but I have seen them put in more work this offseason than any other before it. They know success only comes before work in the dictionary – my favorite coachism. We have transitioned some players to different roles to fill our holes and it should be successful. (Junior) Emerson Dorr (Coach Dorr’s daughter) will replace Falon. We converted Emerson to a pin hitter from an All-MAIS setter-opposite side hitter where she set the school assist record. She should be able to put up significant kills. (Senior pin hitter) Selah Sandridge has proven to be one of the hardest working players I’ve had the pleasure to coach. She has definitely earned the right to be our team captain through broken bones, pulled muscles, hard losses and emotional victories. (Seniors) Reese Roundtree and Lily Sistrunk will alternate from middle blocker to opposite hitter depending on our need, and (6-foot-6 senior) Alyssa Dampier (daughter of former Mississippi State and NBA center Erick Dampier) will return to the middle from opposite last season where she will be highly effective as a deterrent to the opposing teams’ hitters. Freshman Libero Macy Gladden is taking over for (Itawamba Community College signee Chloe Carr (who graduated last year). Senior (and Jones County Junior College commitment) Kiera Hariel, a transfer from JA, is starting at setter.”

“I think that everyone is very excited for this upcoming season,” Emerson Dorr said. “The expectations are very high for us to defend our title, but I think that has helped drive us to compete and improve. We have a bunch of great new pieces that I am looking forward to coming together as we move throughout the season. I’m excited to create something super special with this group and doing it for our awesome group of seniors.”

“We are all really looking forward to this season,” Sandridge said. “We all have the goal to go and get a back-to-back championship, which has helped motivate us to go and compete. Our new pieces we have added have been a huge help and I’m excited to see how we all come together! I’m excited to see how this season goes and have a great last season with this team.”

“I’m really looking forward to playing my first season as a patriot and being a part of an incredible team,” Hariel said. “I want to leave my mark at MRA and hopefully win that ring at the end of the season.”

“I am excited to see how much this talented team continues to grow over the season,” Dampier said. “Everyone is very hardworking and dedicated on and off the court. I’m hoping to make more history by winning back-to-back championships.”

“Winning was an amazing accomplishment for our program, and it was definitely a boost to our team’s confidence, however, this is a new season, and we need to stay focused and continue to build on that success. I want to see my girls coming to practice each day with getting better on their minds. Winning is great, but if you are not improving with each practice of game, then I am not doing something right as a coach.”

      MRA goes for its fourth straight win Thursday when it goes to Memphis to play 2024 MAIS Division III runner-up West Memphis, Ark., Christian School, then plays 2024 MHSAA Class 7A runner-up Ocean Springs next Tuesday in Hattiesburg.