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Outside Hitter Ryan Barnett Leads Waves Men’s Volleyball into NCAA Quarterfinals Fueled by Faith and Determination | Newsroom

Ryan Barnett was nervous. It was the middle of the volleyball season, and just beyond the locker room, the outside hitter knew the roaring crowd inside Pauley Pavilion was ready for the match to begin: Pepperdine versus the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)—a premier top 25 NCAA matchup. Barnett expected that the contest would […]

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Ryan Barnett was nervous. It was the middle of the volleyball season, and just beyond
the locker room, the outside hitter knew the roaring crowd inside Pauley Pavilion
was ready for the match to begin: Pepperdine versus the University of California,
Los Angeles (UCLA)—a premier top 25 NCAA matchup. Barnett expected that the contest
would demand his best, but he couldn’t shake the butterflies swarming in his stomach. 

Ryan Barnett zeroing in on a spikeRyan Barnett zeroing in on a spike

Lost in a cloud of doubt, the redshirt junior and team co-captain turned to Mark 4:40,
in which Jesus calms the stormy waters and asks his disciples, “Why are you so afraid?
Do you still have no faith?” These questions resonated deeply with the nervous Waves
volleyball player.

“That passage taught me that I can be nervous before a match, but once I step on the
court it’s just joy,” says Barnett. “I’m playing the sport that I love . . . and [I
can] surrender the outcome.”

Since embracing this perspective, Barnett has unlocked new dimensions in his game.
Playing with renewed freedom, he has propelled Pepperdine to a 20-9 record, culminating
in the team’s seventh Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Tournament title (where
the Waves defeated the Bruins in the semifinal) this April, and a berth in the NCAA
Championships. After fighting fear with faith in the locker room at Pauley Pavilion,
Barnett has realized his true potential as both an athlete and a leader.

Athletic Excellence

“Surreal” is the word Barnett uses to describe the last three weeks of the 2025 volleyball
season. During the final 10-game stretch, the six-foot-five outside hitter recorded
167 kills at a 0.340 attack percentage. Notably, in the MPFS conference tournament,
he hammered home 44 kills against the second- and the fifth-ranked teams in the nation
(UCLA and the University of Southern California, respectively) to propel the Waves
into the NCAA tournament they’re competing in this week in Columbus, Ohio. 

Barnett mid serveBarnett mid serve

This exceptional play solidified an already strong year for Barnett, who ranks in
the top 25 nationally for aces per set, hitting percentage, kills per set, and points
per set. On Monday, May 4, these accomplishments earned him recognition as a First-Team American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American—an honor he did not anticipate receiving.

“I’ve never really been ‘the guy’ playing volleyball,” Barnett explains. “I’m just
so grateful, happy, and joyful to go along with this [recent] ride. I really don’t
know how to put it into words.”

The “ride,” as Barnett refers to it, is the culmination of a four-year process grounded
in hard work. After redshirting his first year, the outside hitter began to rebuild
the physical components of his game. He focused on eating well and added extra weight
to his training routine. The goal, he claims, was to treat his body like a “machine.”
Despite the hard work, the junior was not in the starting lineup at the beginning
of this season. However, this setback did not deter him from staying the course and
keeping the faith.

“Ryan Barnett has been fantastic this season,” says Jonathan Winder (‘08), head coach of the Pepperdine men’s volleyball team, who, as a setter on the
same team he now leads, was a four-time All-American, a 2005 NCAA champion, and the
2007 AVCA National Player of the Year. “He’s been great about responding to challenges
and difficult conversations over the last couple of years. It hasn’t been an easy
journey. Nothing has been given to him. Ryan had to earn his way to where he is today.”

Barnett’s rise from role player to a First-Team All-American is a testament to his
perseverance and unwavering dedication. While his path toward the top might have been
unexpected given his late addition to the starting lineup, the motivations that spurred
him forward highlight his enduring commitment to athletic excellence.

Barnett celebrating the Waves NCAA title berthBarnett celebrating the Waves NCAA title berth

“I want to win, and I want to be the best,” he says. “But beyond that I want to keep
playing with the guys—my teammates. That’s the beauty of a team sport . . . On the
days we’re not feeling it mentally or physically, or if something happens in school,
we have each other to lean on.”

By focusing on the things that meant the most to him—a high personal standard and
the camaraderie of his teammates—Barnett has grown into one of the nation’s best collegiate
volleyball athletes and the leader of Pepperdine’s nationally ranked squad.

Learning to Lead

“When Coach Winder told Gabe [Dyer] and me that we would be team captains going into
this year, my only goal was to be a good leader,” Barnett explains. “I wasn’t focused
on having all these accolades or even playing. I was fine being a bench player, but
I was going to take these guys under my wing and show them the way.” 

This confidence was not a natural part of Barnett’s personality. He explains that
leadership is a skill he developed at Pepperdine through the mentorship of his athletic
coaches and professors. By leaning on wisdom from Coach Winder and professor Ned Colletti,
former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager, he gained the maturity needed to support
his teammates. 

Barnett celebrating with his teammatesBarnett celebrating the Waves NCAA Title berth

“Ryan Barnett has been not only a big inspiration but a huge help during the season,”
says Cole Hartke, a Pepperdine first year who has made an immediate impact on the
Waves volleyball team as the nation’s leading freshman scorer. “During the first few
weeks of practice, he pulled me aside and told me ‘It’s not going to be easy. There
will be ups and downs.’ There have been, and Ryan has been with me through all that.”

Harnessing his strong play and confidence, Barnett has succeeded in leading the Waves
to their current position as the sixth-ranked team in the nation with a real chance
of winning the NCAA title. At this point in his career—where faith is fueling his
sense of freedom on the court and the joy with which he competes—Pepperdine’s outside
hitter can look back on his trials and triumphs and feel a sense of contentment.

“The journey is everything,” says Barnett. “Reflecting on the journey, now, is better
than winning in and of itself.”

Barnett and the Waves take on Loyola Chicago in the NCAA quarterfinals on Thursday,
May 8, 2025, at 4:30 PM PDT. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.





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York Suburban boys’ volleyball swept in district final by Manheim Central

The Trojans couldn’t quite keep up with the top-seeded Barons, who captured the District 3 Class 2A title on Thursday night. Ryan Vandersloot  |  For The York Dispatch York Suburban wrestler lives out childhood dream of wrestling York Suburban wrestler Angela Imorhoa wrestles to claim her spot at the state level tournament in March at […]

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The Trojans couldn’t quite keep up with the top-seeded Barons, who captured the District 3 Class 2A title on Thursday night.

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MANHEIM — The York Suburban boys’ volleyball team knew it was not that far away from knocking off a heavyweight like Manheim Central. The two premier heavyweights in District 3 Class 2A had already played May 5, with the Barons escaping with a narrow sweep of the Trojans.

That setback, while disappointing, opened the eyes of coach Oliver Good’s players to the possibility that, if they played better in a rematch, a reversal of fortune was within reach. And with a pair of district playoff sweeps, the Suburban boys earned that very chance. But they couldn’t flip the script.

With a district title on the line Thursday evening in Manheim, the the match was nip-and-tuck early on, with the lead being traded back and forth a handful of times. Just as they did back on May 5, however, the Barons showcased a late-game kick that the Trojans couldn’t match. The top-seeded hosts won Set 1 by a 25-22 clip and never let up en route to a 25-17 victory in Set 2. The teams kept things close again in the third set before Manheim Central pulled away to win 25-19, close out a second sweep of Suburban and claim the program’s second District 3-2A title.

“I think we have to continue to work on the mental part of our game,” Good said afterwards. “They certainly were able to execute at a higher level than us today.”

While the Barons (21-1) were far from perfect, the Lancaster-Lebanon League powerhouse had far fewer miscues, especially late in sets. Those points — one here, one there — can add up quickly.

“They played in a state final before,” Good said of the Barons, the 2024 PIAA Class 2A runners-up. “We’re still learning how to play at a really high level and just how much mental focus its takes to maintain that.”

When the Trojans (16-3) were able to get the ball to outside hitter Trent Weinstein, things typically turned out for the best. Weinstein showcased his domination with a few booming kills that left the Manheim Central boys little chance to dig it out, but he was only able to tally nine kills over the three sets.

On the other side, sophomore Reagan Miller stood out as a sparkplug for the Barons. Amid a lineup with much taller hitters, Miller was able to create problems for the Suburban defense all night. He registered a match-best 11 kills, leading a group of four Manheim Central players with at least eight.

“He just got rolling today,” Good said, “and we didn’t really have an answer for him.”

Landon Mattiace finished with 10 kills for the Barons, while Dylan Musser and Weston Longenecker tallied eight apiece. The Trojans’ duo of Josh Slade and Zac Perryman had five kills each.

While the Trojans were understandably upset with the reality of not winning a district title, solace could be found down the road from a familiar place. It was but last year that Manheim Central dropped the D3-2A final against Exeter Township only to gain the ultimate payback with a victory over the Eagles in the state semifinals. The Trojans and Barons are both two victories away from making that happen again

Manheim Central will host the District 12 runner-up on Tuesday, June 3, while Suburban will travel to the Philadelphia area and visit the District 12 champ that same night. With a win, the Trojans would likely see state-ranked Holy Redeemer in the quarterfinals, with the winner potentially getting Manheim Central in the semifinals if the Barons keep rolling.

“We’re going to go to Philly Tuesday and do the best that we can,” Good said. “And hopefully we’ll get a chance to play (Manheim Central) again, but Tuesday is all we’re going to focus on right now.”



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Food trucks, military appreciation and beach volleyball highlight LiveOak Locale’s June community events

LiveOak Fiber has announced its June lineup of LiveOak Locale events, a monthly community series designed to connect residents across Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa counties through local partnerships and neighborhood gatherings. The fiber internet provider will support six community events throughout June, ranging from established local traditions to customer appreciation gatherings. “This is about […]

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LiveOak Fiber has announced its June lineup of LiveOak Locale events, a monthly community series designed to connect residents across Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa counties through local partnerships and neighborhood gatherings.

  • The fiber internet provider will support six community events throughout June, ranging from established local traditions to customer appreciation gatherings.

“This is about connection—real people, real stories, and real fast internet,” said Tiffany Orner, community engagement manager for LiveOak Fiber. “From coffee shops to festivals, LiveOak Locale is where real locals meet, real connections happen, and LiveOak Fiber brings the speed to match.”

Downtown Crestview Food Truck Friday – June 6

The month begins with downtown Crestview’s monthly Food Truck Friday, a community tradition that transforms Main Street into a lively hub of savory bites, sweet treats, and local connections. LiveOak Fiber will join the festivities as part of the LiveOak Locale initiative with a fully branded tent stationed at Main Street and Beech Avenue.

“Main Street’s getting delicious—and connected,” Orner said. “Whether you’re already part of the LiveOak family or just discovering us for the first time, we’re here to add real value to your evening through fast fiber, friendly faces, and a little food truck love.”

Attendees can scan LiveOak Fiber’s QR code to receive a $15 food truck voucher, with one voucher per household while supplies last. Vouchers must be redeemed by 8 p.m. and are accepted at most food trucks throughout the event.

Event Details:

  • Date & Time: Friday, June 6, 5-8:30 p.m.
  • Location: Main Street, Crestview
  • Features: Multiple food trucks, community gathering
  • LiveOak Offering: $15 food truck vouchers via QR code

LiveOak Fiber will support the 7th Special Forces Group at their annual Red Empire Community Day, an on-post celebration honoring military families. The event features military displays, family activities, and food trucks, with thousands expected on the parade field.

“This activation is part of our ongoing commitment to show up with purpose, build trust with military-connected households, and bring value to the communities we serve,” Orner said.

As part of the LiveOak Locale initiative, the company will offer $15 food truck vouchers to attendees who scan their QR code and share contact information. Branded tent and yard signage will help families locate the LiveOak Fiber activation area.

Event Details:

  • Date & Time: Monday, June 9, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
  • Location: Camp Bull Simons Parade Field
  • Features: Military displays, family activities, food trucks
  • LiveOak Offering: $15 food truck vouchers via QR code

LiveOak Locale Social at Juana’s Pagodas and Sailors’ Grill – June 11

LiveOak Fiber will host a summer social that brings together the Juana’s Volleyball League and The Key Community’s Florida Panhandle Chapter, which supports transitioning service members and local veterans. The event blends regular volleyball league play with professional networking in a relaxed beachside environment.

  • “We’re not here to take over, we’re here to show up the right way for the people already at the heart of it all,” Orner said. “Flexible, authentic, and always community first.”

League players and community guests can step into the air-conditioned clubhouse overlooking the courts, where they can scan the LiveOak QR code to receive food and their first drink compliments of LiveOak Fiber.

“In a region where military families, long-time locals, and purpose-driven organizations live side by side, LiveOak Fiber doesn’t try to choose one audience,” Orner said. “We serve them all with respect, intentionality, and a commitment to showing up meaningfully at every level.”

Event Details:

  • Date & Time: Wednesday, June 11, 4-7 p.m.
  • Location: Juana’s Pagodas and Sailors’ Grill, 1451 Navarre Beach Causeway, Navarre
  • Features: Volleyball league play, networking for veterans and service members
  • LiveOak Offering: Heavy appetizers and first drink

LiveOak Locale Social at Papa’s Smokehouse – June 19

LiveOak Fiber will partner with Papa’s Smokehouse in Niceville for a double activation during both lunch and dinner service. The locally-owned BBQ restaurant represents the legacy of Jim Wells, who served his community for over 30 years as a nurse before teaming up with his son Colby to open the smokehouse just over a year ago.

“Papa’s is everything LiveOak Locale stands for: local ownership, neighborly service, and a passion for doing things the right way,” Orner said. “You’ll find Jim at the shop most mornings by 5:15 a.m., no shortcuts, just consistency, quality, and care.”

Guests can choose their preferred time slot and scan LiveOak Fiber’s QR code during either lunch or dinner service to receive a $15 food voucher. Vouchers are available while supplies last and must be redeemed by 7 p.m.

Event Details:

  • Date & Time: Thursday, June 19, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m.
  • Location: Papa’s Smokehouse, 205 John Sims Parkway, Niceville
  • Features: Local BBQ, family-owned business
  • LiveOak Offering: $15 lunch or dinner vouchers

LiveOak Locale Social at Willingham Seafood Company – June 26

LiveOak Fiber will team up with Willingham Seafood Company for an old-school shrimp boil featuring Gulf Coast classics prepared on-site. The pop-up event will serve shrimp, potatoes, corn and bold flavors with seating available both inside and outside.

  • “The kids have been out of school for a month and are eating like garbage disposals, and honestly, we’re here for it,” Orner said. “Let us help you keep them full while allowing you to kick back and connect.”

The event serves as an opportunity for residents to learn about LiveOak Fiber’s services while enjoying a traditional seafood meal. Take-home options will also be available.

Event Details:

  • Date & Time: Thursday, June 26, 4:30-7 p.m.
  • Location: 153 N John Sims Pkwy, Valparaiso
  • Features: On-site shrimp boil, Gulf Coast seafood
  • LiveOak Offering: Free food

LiveOak Locale Lineup – June 29

The month concludes with the LiveOak Locale Lineup, a monthly customer appreciation event created specifically to celebrate LiveOak Fiber customers in their neighborhoods. The pop-up style gathering features local partners Rolling Embers Brick Oven Pizza and The Thirsty Ranch, with drinks available for all ages.

“Each Lineup is a small token of appreciation to the individuals who trust us to power their homes,” Orner said. “No sales pitch, just solid fiber energy.”

The company plans to continue the monthly Lineup events, with July tentatively scheduled for Navarre Beach, depending on weather and vendor availability.

“It’s all part of LiveOak Locale’s mission to keep it local, keep it real, and keep it connected,” Orner said.

Event Details:

  • Date & Time: Sunday, June 29, noon-4 p.m.
  • Location: Navarre Beach
  • Features: Local food trucks, customer appreciation
  • LiveOak Offering: Free mocktails and pizza for LiveOak Fiber customers

All events are part of LiveOak Locale, which the company describes as “a movement” focused on pop-up events, local partnerships and community appreciation in the neighborhoods it serves. Complete event details and updates are available on the LiveOak Fiber website.





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12 Collegiate Water Polo Association Athletes Garner Spots on 2025 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches Division I All-America Team

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — 12 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) athletes are among 66 selections to the 2025 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) Division I All-America team. Divided into eight First Team, eight Second Team, eight Third Team and 42 Honorable Mention honorees, the ACWPC Division I All-America team is selected based on nominations […]

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BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — 12 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) athletes are among 66 selections to the 2025 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) Division I All-America team.

Divided into eight First Team, eight Second Team, eight Third Team and 42 Honorable Mention honorees, the ACWPC Division I All-America team is selected based on nominations and voting by the head coaches of each Division I varsity program.

2025 CWPA Champion Harvard University earns the most All-America awards among CWPA institutions with five, while Princeton University (three), Brown University, Bucknell University, Saint Francis University and the University of Michigan round out the honored institutions.

Princeton’s Kayla Yelensky (Sr., Stamford, Conn./Greenwich Academy) and Harvard’s Niki Piovan (Fr., Vouliagmeni, Greece/HAEF Athens College) lead the CWPA selections as the duo claim Third Team recognition.  The award marks the third All-America accolade for Yelensky who previously claimed Second (2024) and Third (2023) Team status, while Piovan collects her inaugural All-America nod.

10 athletes post Honorable Mention awards with Princeton goalkeeper Lindsey Lucas (Jr., Orinda, Calif./Miramonte) becoming a three-time All-America on the heels of prior Second (2024) and Third (2023) Team status.

2024 Honorable Mention selections Emma Gilbert (So., Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos), Ruby Hodge (Jr., San Juan Capistrano, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) and Maya O’Dea (So., Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson) of Harvard also repeat as All-America honorees, while Brown’s Claire Poissonnier (Sr., Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill), Bucknell’s Olivia Hopper (Fr., Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich), Princeton’s Rachael Carver (Sr., Laguna Beach, Calif./Laguna Beach), Saint Francis’ Caylah Olay (Jr., Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union), Michigan’s Ariadne Karampetsou (Fr., Athens, Greece/Costeas Geitonas School) and Harvard goalkeeper Orli Cooper (Fr., Greensboro, N.C./Guilford Home Educators) collect their inaugural All-America honors.

Since 2005, the mission of the ACWPC is to promote the development and advancement of collegiate water polo.  This shall be accomplished by providing its membership with professional education, services, training and a united voice.





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Athlete banned ‘due to OnlyFans account’

Canoeist Kurt Adams Rozentals believes his OnlyFans account is the reason he’s been banned from competing. (Instagram/@kurtsadams/Getty) British canoeist and Olympic Games hopeful Kurt Adams Rozentals says he has been banned from competing because he has an OnlyFans account. Rozentals, who competes in the canoe slalom, was suspended by the sports governing body Paddle UK […]

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On the left, Canoeist Kurt Adams Rozentals poses topless wearing a cardigan and necklace in a photo on his Instagram account. On the right, Kurt Adams Rozentals in a canoe competing.

British canoeist and Olympic Games hopeful Kurt Adams Rozentals says he has been banned from competing because he has an OnlyFans account.

Rozentals, who competes in the canoe slalom, was suspended by the sports governing body Paddle UK back in April due to an “investigation”.

The sportsman said that he had landed a place on the Great Britain (GB) World Class Programme a few years ago, a UK Spor-funded programme which works to support athletes to prepare for the Olympics. Yet Paddle UK had since removed him from the programme.

Paddle UK said in a statement, via Sky News, that Rozentals is under interim action pending the result of an investigation, but stressed that his suspension was not “disciplinary action”.

Yet Rozentals believes that the investigation is due to his account on subscription-based, video sharing platform OnlyFans, which is often used to host adult content. 

Rozentals said that he has been involved in canoe slalom for the past 15 years, and had earned medals on the international stage – including a C1 silver at the World Under-23 Championships in 2023.

Kurts Adams Rozentals competes in the Men's Canoe Single C1 during a Canoe Slalom British Senior team and Olympic selection trials at Lee Valley White Water Centre on April 22, 2019 in London
Kurts Adams Rozentals competing in 2019. (Getty)

Yet he began sharing content on the platform back in January in order to help him further fund his canoeing career.

While Paddle UK provided the athlete with an annual grant of £16,000, he said it wasn’t enough to sustain training and other living expenses.

“I don’t know how much you need but it’s certainly not £16,000,” Rozentals told the BBC.

“When you have to cover rent, travel, food… and most athletes who train full-time are all living in London.

“They’re very fortunate to have parent backing – I wasn’t. I never had the ability to move to London because of financial struggles so I was always doing the travel from the East Midlands, where I live, to London, back-and-forth, back-and-forth.”

In a post on social media in April, Rozentals said that he began making “edgy videos” on OnlyFans because “trying to live on the salary Paddle UK pays their athletes is near impossible”.

“I was sick of worrying how to pay rent, I was sick of being on the verge of homelessness. I did whatever it took to never be in that position. Was it unconventional? Sure. I’m not perfect. 

“But to ban me from racing… that’s f**king insane.”

Kurt Adams Rozentals told the BBC that he has made more than £100,000 in the near six months since starting his OnlyFans page. He currently has 39 videos on the platform, and warns in his OnlyFans bio that the content has “no limits, no filters” and is not suitable for under 18-year-olds.

Yet now he says he is being forced to decide between earning money on OnlyFans and chasing his Olympic Games dream.

“This is the hardest decision that I’ve ever faced in my life,” he told the BBC. 

“It’s a tough decision but unless something changes in the way athletes are paid I don’t see a way of working with Paddle UK”.

In its statement, Paddle UK said that Rozentals’ ban was put in place to “safeguard other athletes, staff, and volunteers due to the nature of the allegation”. Its disciplinary policy prevents its athletes from “offensive use of social media” and “offensive or immortal behaviour”.

It continued: “The investigation has been referred to independent investigation service Sport Integrity.

“Paddle UK is committed to ensuring a safe and open environment for all, and interim action under the Athlete Disciplinary Policy is only taken where necessary and proportionate.”

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UH women’s volleyball schedule features 3 other NCAA teams

The University of Hawaii announced a 29-match schedule with 17 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center for the 2025 Rainbow Wahine volleyball team on Wednesday. The five-time defending Big West Conference champions, who went 21-10 last season and advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament, will play three other returning NCAA teams […]

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Utah beach volleyball players upset with decision to shut down program

Colby Burleson walked into a meeting on the afternoon of April 29, expecting good news. Utah beach volleyball was coming off its best season in program history, finishing with a 21-14 record after losing to No. 10 Arizona State in the Big 12 semifinals. Burleson, formerly an assistant coach with the program, was hoping to […]

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Colby Burleson walked into a meeting on the afternoon of April 29, expecting good news.

Utah beach volleyball was coming off its best season in program history, finishing with a 21-14 record after losing to No. 10 Arizona State in the Big 12 semifinals.

Burleson, formerly an assistant coach with the program, was hoping to step up as the program’s next head coach following the retirement of Brenda Whicker at the end of the season. But, as he opened the door and strolled into the conference room, his optimism evaporated.

“I instantly had a pit in my stomach,” Burleson said.

At that meeting, Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan told Burleson and a group of returning volleyball players that the U. was discontinuing the program.

“It was pretty cut and dry,” Burleson said. “There wasn’t a lot of explanation at that point. We were all pretty blindsided.”

In a news release, Harlan cited “little evidence of the sport expanding at this time” among the reasons the Utes decided to cut the sport.

“With the sport’s growth stunted, and without the home facilities with amenities that allow us to host championship-level events, we are not providing the world-class experience that we seek to provide to our student-athletes,” Harlan said.

The Ute athletic director noted that there are only three other teams in the Big 12, short of the six teams required for an automatic qualifier in the NCAA championship.

The program also lost money — about $157,000 in the 2024 fiscal year, according to the U.’s latest financial reports.

Harlan and the U. have promised to help the beach volleyball athletes find new teams if they don’t want to remain at Utah simply as students.

Still, multiple athletes who spoke to The Salt Lake Tribune said they were frustrated with the way Utah officials handled the matter, saying they were disheartened by the decision and felt disrespected in a follow-up meeting with Utah administrators.

“I think the main thing we’re really just upset about is the disrespect that [Harlan and Green] have shown us,” Utah senior Sonja Wessel said. “Obviously, there’s no easy way or easy time to cut a program.

“I think it was very disrespectful the way they handled it. They didn’t talk to us. They didn’t keep any of us in the loop.”

But the members of Utah’s now-defunct beach volleyball program said they are still fighting to save their team with the help of a prominent alum.

‘It was handled terribly’

Several days after the initial meeting with Harlan, the 18-member volleyball team requested a meeting with Harlan and Green to address the athletes’ concerns.

Some were frustrated they weren’t part of the initial meeting. Before the meeting, they prepared talking points and passed out papers with analytics. But at least four of the volleyball athletes who attended the meeting described the tone of U. officials as “defensive” and “disrespectful.”

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Lassonde Beach Volleyball Courts at the University of Utah, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

“We wanted to go in prepared, and we wanted to genuinely ask questions about the decision,” said Bella Vezzani, a senior starter on the team last season. “That respect was not reciprocated at all.”

Associate athletic director Charmelle Green “came in and said, ‘That’s my seat, and that’s my athletic director’s seat, so you guys can move down there,’” said Ellyn Collins, a graduate on the team.

Vezzani said it felt like “they were bossing us around from the start.”

“I just think the whole situation was a mess,” Collins said of the meeting. “Charmelle Green interrupted us several times, and we were interrupting them. It was ridiculous, and I thought it was handled terribly.”

U. officials said they “dispute the characterization” of the meeting.

“Athletics administration agreed to this second meeting, which lasted more than an hour, for three administrators to listen to concerns and answer questions,” a university spokesperson said in a statement. “We are very understanding of the disappointment and strong feelings associated with receiving and processing this decision, and in the meeting, we reaffirmed our commitment to supporting the student-athletes and offering as many services as possible to assist them throughout this process.”

In the end, some players said the hour-long meeting left many of the players more frustrated, angry and confused. But they said they still hold out hope there’s a chance for a reversal of the decision.

“This group of women, we have always kind of been the underdogs in this, especially in Utah,” Wessel said. “We’re going to fight as hard as we can.”

Maeve Griffin, a senior on the team, added: “What’s next on the agenda for us, as seniors and as a members of the team, is to advocate for the program and to keep fighting for female sports.”

An effort to save the program

Utah beach volleyball alum Melissa Powell says she is still “so passionate about this program” years after her last match as a Ute.

Now a professional beach volleyball player, Powell has remained close to Whicker, the program’s former head coach, and has even practiced with the team during the offseason. That’s why Powell said she knew she had to do something when she learned about the program’s fate.

Powell is currently preparing to open the Beach Box Utah complex, an Olympic-level indoor beach volleyball training facility in Pleasant Grove — and she wants it to be the new home of the Utes.

Powell sent a letter to Harlan and the Ute athletic administration on May 3, offering Beach Box as a place to host practices and tournaments for free.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Keana Smalls reacts after scoring a point for Utah, in beach volleyball action between Utah and Colorado Mesa, in the first home tournament in history for the University of Utah, Saturday, April 13, 2019.

“It makes sense to me that — if I’m offering resources for free or getting the community to rally behind these girls — it would be a no-brainer to reinstate,” Powell said.

The Ute alum doubled down on her offer by including the services of Pompilio Mercadante, Brazil’s beach volleyball head coach in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, as the program’s next head coach. She said she offered to pay his entire salary.

The university spokesperson confirmed they had received Powell’s proposal.

“We have had dialogue with Melissa Powell, and are appreciative of her concern and passion for the beach volleyball program. Conversations between Melissa and athletics administration will remain private,” a university spokesperson said.

The U. said it began reviewing the viability of the program in January.

“This was a very thorough and comprehensive process that resulted in a definitive decision shortly before the end of the season. We determined it would be best to inform the team immediately upon the conclusion of their season,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

According to the U.’s latest financial report, beach volleyball brought in nearly $223,000 in revenue for the 2024 fiscal year but had $380,000 in expenses — a net loss of about $157,000.

Beach volleyball wasn’t, though, the only program to lose money. Utah’s baseball team recorded a $2.17 million loss in 2024, for example.

“I think it sends a horrible message,” she said. “I’m scared for women’s sports, because if they’re just looking at this [as a] revenue perspective … I’m worried we’re going to get rid of all women’s sports.”

The U. received a $14 million donation to support women’s sport initiatives this year.

A Utah spokesperson said the U. “remains confident” in its Title IX compliance following a comprehensive review. Scholarship funds previously allocated to beach volleyball will be moved to the U.’s other women’s athletics programs.

Powell followed up with Green via text on Tuesday, May 20, asking if she “ever got a chance to talk to Mark [Harlan]” about the offer.

Green replied: “Both Mark [Harlan], and I are aware of your desire to support in the areas of facility access, coaching and fundraising. Thank you.”

On May 27, Powell followed up with an email to Green, Harlan and other members of Utah’s athletic administration, asking for an answer regarding her proposal. In the email, Powell said, “I simply ask for clarity at this point so I can determine the best next steps moving forward.’

As of publication, Powell said she had not received a response from either Harlan or Green.

“I really hope that they consider it at least,” Powell said. “Hopefully, they give me the time of day to let me know that they’ve considered it and whether or not they’re denying or accepting it.”

‘All flipped right in front of us’

With Ellyn Collins’ Utah career likely over, she is trying to make decisions about what’s next for her future.

Collins said she was hoping to transfer to play indoor volleyball in her home state of Washington, while pursuing a teaching certificate. However, because the administration did not inform the team until April 29, she says she has missed application deadlines for schools there.

“The applications for these programs were due two months ago,” Collins said, “They said that they would help us and try and reach out to those programs. But it’s so much work at this point to make it all happen.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students play on the Lassonde Beach Volleyball Court at the University of Utah, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

“My plan right now is, honestly, to just be done and go home and figure out my life for a year and go on from there.”

If any of the athletes want to stay at the U., the school will honor their scholarships until they complete their undergraduate degrees or through the projected completion of their athletics eligibility, whichever comes first.

“Utah will do all that it can to facilitate the process,” for those wanting to leave the program, Harlan said in a news release.

According to a statement from a university spokesperson, Utah’s athletic administration is working closely with beach volleyball athletes to help manage and resolve issues regarding signed apartment leases, including reimbursement for deposits lost due to terminating a lease.

As players and former members of the program continue to survey next steps, hope still remains for those wanting the beach volleyball program to be reinstated. In a petition organized by members of the program, they’ve amassed over 5,500 signatures in support of their cause.

But that hope dwindles as time passes.

“We were just so excited to come back,” Collins said. “Then, in a week, we literally all had to just change the trajectory of our lives.

“It was all flipped right in front of us.”

Note to readers • This story is available to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers only. Thank you for supporting local journalism.



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