Team USA volleyball simply can’t lose – at least, it seems impossible with former Illini star Jordyn Poulter at setter. But when she doesn’t play, it has been a whole different story.

The Americans clinched a spot in the VNL Finals in Poland on Saturday after beating Canada in five sets, but on Sunday they elected not to play their starters against China. It probably cost them a win. Team USA won the first two sets comfortably before dropping the next three to finish eighth out of 18 teams in preliminary play.

The U.S. Women’s National Team finishes VNL play in eighth place after dropping a five-setter to China. The final set was 18-16.

— USA Volleyball (@usavolleyball) July 14, 2025

The Americans finished preliminary play 7-5 overall, but they are 4-0 with Poulter as the team’s starting setter. And if Team USA has any chance of making a deep run 10 days from now in the VNL Finals, it needs Poulter, along with the rest of its starters, to play at the top of their game.

Moreover, the U.S. has a brutal first-round matchup against top-seeded Italy. The Italians are a perfect 12-0 and won eight of their matches via sweep. Team USA at full strength is good, but taking down Italy is going to be tough even with Poulter and the rest of the usual starters plugged in.

The VNL Finals in Poland begin on July 23. Quarterfinals play can be viewed on VBTV, Big Ten Network and CBS Sports Network.

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The University of North Florida Athletics recently announced two head coach contract extensions and schedule releases for multiple sports. 

UNF Athletics has extended the contracts of head softball coach Jeff Conrad and beach volleyball coach Doug Wright following historic seasons for both programs. The department also released the 2025-26 schedules for men’s and women’s soccer.

Conrad’s New Contract Details

Following the program’s first ASUN tournament title, NCAA Regional appearance, and NCAA Regional final, UNF Athletics has extended head softball coach Jeff Conrad through the 2029 season, according to his contract with UNF, which Spinnaker obtained.

Effective July 5, 2025, Conrad’s salary increased to $87,000 per year and includes a five percent raise each year if the program qualifies for the ASUN Conference Tournament, per the contract. 

“UNF Softball had a historic season that captured national attention. Coach [Jeff] Conrad has been an exceptional leader, and I’m proud to have him at the helm of our program,” athletic director Nick Morrow told UNF Athletics. “His commitment to recruiting, competitive success and the holistic development of our student-athletes continues to raise the standard for UNF Softball. I’m confident the program will achieve even greater success under his continued leadership.”

Additionally, Conrad receives $6,000 per year in automobile allowance, which comes out to $229.89 per pay period, according to the contract. Conrad is eligible for multiple bonuses based on the team’s academic and athletic performance.

If UNF finishes in the top 75 of the NCAA RPI rankings or wins ASUN Coach of the Year, Conrad receives a bonus of $500. For a top 50 finish, Conrad receives $1,000. A top 25 final season ranking nets Conrad $1,500. Conrad will also earn two weeks’ salary if the team achieves any of the following: a regular season ASUN championship, conference tournament championship, NCAA Regional and Super regional appearance and a team GPA over 3.0 in both semesters. 

If UNF makes its first College World Series, Conrad will receive four weeks of pay as a bonus. 

Wright’s New Contract Details

Beach volleyball head coach Doug Wright’s yearly salary will increase to $73,000 beginning July 5, according to the contract obtained by Spinnaker. As program leader, Wright has compiled a 100-48 record in four seasons, including a program record 25 wins last season and its second NCAA tournament appearance. 

His contract includes similar incentives to Conrad, with the only differences being two weeks of pay for each round advanced in the NCAA tournament and no bonus for finishing in the top 50 or 75 of the final rankings, according to the contract. Wright receives the same automobile allowance as Conrad. 

“Beach Volleyball has been one of the premier programs at North Florida, and Doug Wright is a major driving force behind that success,” Morrow told UNF Athletics. “The program secured back-to-back ASUN Conference Championship titles and maintained a top-20 AVCA ranking in 2025. Coach Wright is deeply committed to creating a first-class experience and a culture where every student-athlete can thrive.” 

Men’s Soccer Schedule Overview

With the 2025-2026 athletic season rapidly approaching, UNF Athletics released schedules for two sports that kick off game play — Men’s and Women’s soccer. 

Fresh off its first ASUN championship and NCAA tournament appearance, second-year head coach Jamie Davies and the UNF men’s soccer team look forward to another triumphant year. However, this won’t happen until UNF faces a gauntlet of a non-conference schedule, with its first four games on the road in two distant states. 

On Aug. 21, UNF opens its season against the University of Wisconsin Badgers in Madison. Following the power conference game, the Ospreys will stay in Wisconsin to face off with Marquette. Then, UNF travels cross country to California, where it will duel UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine.  

After Labor Day weekend, UNF returns to Hodges Stadium for a two-game homestand. UNF hosts a pair of games against Florida Atlantic (Sept. 4) and Georgia Southern (Sept. 8). Following the home stint, UNF will travel to South Carolina for two games and Georgia for its final non-conference road game. 

In this road trip, UNF visits Conway and Columbia to face Coastal Carolina and the University of South Carolina. For its last non-conference road matchup, UNF travels to Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. 

The complete schedule, including UNF’s ASUN schedule, is listed below:

• Aug 21: at Wisconsin
• Aug 24: at Marquette 
• Aug 28: at UC Santa Barbara 
• Aug 31: at UC Irvine 
• Sept 4: vs FAU (home opener)
• Sept 8: vs Georgia Southern
• Sept 12: at Coastal Carolina 
• Sept 16: at South Carolina
• Sept 20: at Mercer
• Sept 23: vs Trinity Baptist
• Sept 27: at Jacksonville (ASUN opener)
• Oct 4: vs FGCU (ASUN Home opener)
• Oct 7: at College of Charleston 
• Oct 11: vs Stetson
• Oct 18: at FGCU
• Oct 25: vs Jacksonville (Senior Night)
• Nov 1: at Stetson
• Nov 8: ASUN Quarterfinals 
• Nov 10: ASUN Semifinals
• Nov 15: ASUN Championship

Women’s Soccer Schedule Overview

Coming off a loss to Eastern Kentucky in the ASUN Quarterfinals, the UNF women’s soccer team, under the leadership of veteran coach Eric Faulconer, seeks to fulfill its destiny and win an ASUN tournament championship. 

When comparing both sports’ schedules, the women’s team will travel less in non-conference play. Despite this, the women’s team has three Power 4 teams (at UF on Aug. 24, at UGA on Aug. 28 and versus UCF on Sept. 11), compared to the men’s team with two on its schedule. 

A Power Four team is a school in the Southeastern Conference, Big 12 Conference, Big Ten Conference, or Atlantic Coast Conference. These are considered the schools with the biggest athletic success and reach.  

UNF opens its season in Washington, D.C., taking the field against Howard University on Aug. 14. Next, the Ospreys stay on the east coast and visit Campbell University on Aug. 17 in North Carolina. 

Then, the Ospreys return home on Aug. 21 to host FIU at Hodges Stadium. After their home opener, UNF goes back on the road to play UF, UGA and Kennesaw State on Aug. 31. After traveling south back to the first coast, UNF hosts Georgia Southern on. Sept 4. 

A complete schedule, including ASUN conference play, is listed below:

• Aug 14: at Howard
• Aug 17: at Campbell
• Aug 21: vs FIU (Home opener)
• Aug 24: at Florida 
• Aug 28: at Georgia
• Aug 31: at Kennesaw State
• Sept 4: vs Georgia Southern
• Sept 7: at College of Charleston
• Sept 11: vs UCF
• Sept 18: vs West Georgia (ASUN Opener)
• Sept 21: vs Queens
• Sept 28: vs Jacksonville
• Oct 2: at Stetson
• Oct 5: at FGCU
• Oct 9: vs FGCU
• Oct 12: vs Stetson (Senior Day)
• Oct 19: at Jacksonville
• Oct 22: at Queens
• Oct 25: at West Georgia
• Oct 30: ASUN First Round
• Nov 2: ASUN Quarterfinals
• Nov 6: ASUN Semifinals 
• Nov 9: ASUN Championship

___

For more information or news tips, or if you see an error in this story or have any compliments or concerns, contact editor@unfspinnaker.com.

Hempstead, NY – Hofstra University Head Athletic Trainer Evan Malings today announced the appointment of Kira Meerholz to the position of assistant athletic trainer. She joins the Pride following two years at High Point University in North Carolina and will work with Hofstra’s volleyball program. During her two years at High Point, Meerholz worked with the cross country and track and field teams as well as performed administrative tasks within the athletic training department.
 
“I am thrilled to welcome Kira to Hofstra,” said Malings. “She really stood out during the search process and will be a great addition to our athletic training staff.”
 
A 2023 graduate of the University of Alabama with a degree in athletic training, Meerholz worked with the Crimson Tide’s men’s basketball, football, volleyball, and softball programs between August 2020 and May 2023. In July 2022, she served as a summer intern with the University of Tennessee’s men’s and women’s basketball teams.
 
A native of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, Meerholz earned her master’s in sport management from the University of Florida in December 2024. She is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists.
 
 
 
 

Arkansas volleyball will bolster its bench with two familiar faces this season as Hannah Hogue and Courtney Jackson have been brought on to Jason Watson’s staff.

“Hannah and Courtney are two wonderfully talented athletes who helped our program reach new heights, now in a position to teach and guide our current athletes to equal success,” head coach Jason Watson said. “I’m thrilled that their experiences here at Arkansas have inspired them to remain and continue to give to our team. Looking forward to working with them as we begin a new season in the fall.”

Hannah Hogue steps into the role of assistant coach after a prolific four seasons at Arkansas 2021-2024. She became the team’s primary setter in 2023, with a career total of 3,056 assists, the sixth-most in program history. The Fort Smith native had a breakout season her junior year, helping lead Arkansas to its first-ever Elite Eight. She was named an All-America Honorable Mention, AVCA All-South region and All-SEC in 2023, and finished the season with 11.13 assists per set, third in the SEC and sixth nationally.

In addition to consistently and accurately pacing the Hogs’ offense, Hogue was a key piece of the team’s defensive efforts with a total 1,031 digs in her career. In her final season, she notched 19 double-doubles in 28 matches, including three 20-20s and two seven-match double-double streaks. Hogue tallied 44 total double-doubles over her four seasons, seventh-most ever.

Hannah was also critical to Arkansas’ success at the service line with back-to-back 30+ ace seasons as a junior and senior. Her 51 aces in 2023 were the third-most in a single season in program history and her 108 career check in at ninth.

One of the best liberos in the SEC and in the nation in recent years, Courtney Jackson will serve as Arkansas’ graduate assistant in 2025. Jackson was a mainstay in the Hogs’ lineup from the moment she set foot on campus, with 111 straight starts dating back to her freshman season.

As a rookie, Jackson was named to the SEC All-Freshman team after finishing ninth in the conference and first among freshmen in digs per set with 3.48. She only improved from there and continued to climb in the record book and on the national scene. In Arkansas’ historic 2023 slate, she registered 511 total digs, the fifth-most in any season for Arkansas. She also finished in second in the SEC in total digs and second in digs per set (4.02).

Jackson’s final season was her best yet as she finished with 4.49 digs per set, a career high. She posted 25 double-digit dig matches, five 20+ dig matches and set a new program record for single match digs with 40 at Tulsa on Sept. 12, the most by any Arkansas player since 2006. She consistently stuck in the top three of the SEC all season in digs per set and earned two SEC Player of the Week honors. Jackson was named AVCA All-Central Regional Honorable Mention and All-SEC for her efforts in 2024 and ranks third on the Arkansas career digs list with 1,738.

Hogue and Jackson join a strong list of Watson’s former players that have also been on his coaching staffs, including Arkansas All-American Jill Gillen and former Arkansas assistant, Arizona State All-American and Air Force Academy head coach Macey Donathan.

The Razorbacks kick off the 2025 season at the against Kennesaw State at the Shocker Volleyball Classic in Wichita, Kansas on Saturday, Aug. 30.

More Information

Visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com for the latest information on all things Arkansas Volleyball. You can also find the Razorbacks on social media by liking us on Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Volleyball) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@RazorbackVB).

EVANSTON, Ill. – 147 Northwestern student-athletes earned Big Ten Distinguished Scholar recognition, the conference announced on Monday, setting a new school record surpassing the mark of 142 Distinguished Scholar recipients set in 2021-22.
 
NU’s 2024-25 class of Distinguished Scholar Award recipients includes 19 students who maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA during the previous academic term, represented in bold on the list.
 
Distinguished Scholar Award recipients must have earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in the previous academic year, must have been enrolled full time at the institution for the entire previous academic year (two semesters or three quarters) and earned a minimum GPA of 3.70 or better during the previous academic year, excluding any summer grades. The Academic All-Big Ten threshold is a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for a student’s academic career.
 

Name	Sport	Academic Year	Major	Hometown
Drew Dickson	Baseball	Junior	Learning and Organizational Change	Zionsville, Ind.
Tyler Ganus	Baseball	Graduate Student	Technology Entrepreneurship	Los Angeles, Calif.
Marty Kaplan	Baseball	Junior	Learning and Organizational Change	Santa Monica, Calif.
Preston Knott	Baseball	Senior	Learning and Organizational Change	Arlington, Texas
Trent Liolios	Baseball	Junior	Learning and Organizational Change	Newport Beach, Calif.
Bennett Markinson	Baseball	Senior	Data Science	Tarzana, Calif.
Cole Mascott	Baseball	Sophomore	Learning and Organizational Change	Newburyport, Massachusetts
Owen McElfatrick	Baseball	Junior	Learning and Organizational Change	Tampa, Fla.
Griffin Mills	Baseball	Sophomore	Learning and Organizational Change	Morristown, N.J.
Joshua Ramos	Baseball	Sophomore	Learning and Organizational Change	West Palm Beach, Fla.
Sonny Rao	Baseball	Senior	Communication Studies	Orlando, Fla.
Chad Readey	Baseball	Senior	Data Science	Flossmoor, Ill.
Nick Martinelli	Men’s Basketball	Junior	Communication Studies	Glenview, Ill.
Blake Smith	Men’s Basketball	Junior	Journalism	Blue Bell, Pa.
Caroline Lau	Women’s Basketball	Junior	Communication Studies	Westport, Conn.
Crystal Fuqu Wang	Women’s Basketball	Sophomore	Communication Studies	Beijing, China
Amelia Albers	Field Hockey	Junior	Journalism	Grand Rapids, Mich.
Olivia Bent-Cole	Field Hockey	Sophomore	Journalism	Philadelphia, Pa.
Regan Cornelius	Field Hockey	Senior	Political Science	New Albany, Ohio
Lane Herbert	Field Hockey	Senior	Biological Sciences	Celina, Texas
Katie Jones	Field Hockey	5th Year	Psychology	Bristol, England
Emilie Kirschner	Field Hockey	Sophomore	Journalism	Chapel Hill, N.C.
Faye Post	Field Hockey	Sophomore	Undeclared	Harveys Lake, Pa.
Maddie Zimmer	Field Hockey	Senior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Hershey, Pa.
Luke Akers	Football	Graduate Student	Project Management	Nashville, Tenn.
Lawson Albright	Football	Senior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Greensboro, N.C.
Jake Arthurs	Football	Graduate Student	Sports Administration	Wheaton, Ill.
Braydon Brus	Football	Junior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Glendora, Calif.
Jackson Carsello	Football	Senior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Northbrook, Ill.
Joe DeHaan	Football	Graduate Student	Educational Studies	Tinley Park, Ill.
Robert Fitzgerald	Football	Junior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Dallas, Texas
Donnie Gray	Football	Senior	Learning & Organztnl Change	New Haven, Conn.
Richie Hagarty	Football	Graduate Student	Sports Administration	New Palestine, Ill.
Will Halkyard	Football	Graduate Student	Master in Management	Glen Ellyn, Ill.
Nick Herzog	Football	Junior	Human Development in Context	Stillwell, Kan.
Joseph Himon II	Football	Junior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Little Rock, Ark.
Aidan Hubbard	Football	Senior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Cleveland, Ohio
Jack Lausch	Football	Junior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Chicago, Ill.
Camp Magee	Football	Sophomore	Learning & Organztnl Change	Orlando, Fla.
Sean McLaughlin	Football	Graduate Student	Sports Administration	Frankfort, Ill.
Xander Mueller	Football	Graduate Student	Sports Administration	Wheaton, Ill.
Jack Oyola	Football	Junior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Alpharetta, Ga.
Chris Petrucci	Football	Junior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Park Ridge, Ill.
Hunter Renner	Football	Graduate Student	Civil & Environmental Engineering	Mishawaka, Ind.
Evan Smith	Football	Junior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Birmingham, Ala.
Najee Story	Football	Senior	Psychology	Solon, Ohio
Mac Uihlein	Football	Senior	Information Systems	Lake Forest, Ill.
Hunter Welcing	Football	Graduate Student	Information Design & Strategy	Deer Park, Ill.
Ben Wrather	Football	Graduate Student	Master in Management	Powell, Ohio
Audrey Bannister	Cross Country	Senior	American Studies	Dublin, Ohio
Erin Boler	Cross Country	Sophomore	Economics	Niskayuna, N.Y.
Ava Criniti	Cross Country	Sophomore	Undeclared	Lexington, Massachusetts
Whitney Currie	Cross Country	Senior	Biological Sciences	Grand Rapids, Michigan
Ava Earl	Cross Country	Senior	Political Science	Girdwood, Alaska
Serena Frolli	Cross Country	Junior	Mechanical Engineering	Ancona, Italy
Mallory Grubb	Cross Country	Junior	Economics	Amherst, N.Y.
Katherine Hessler	Cross Country	Graduate Student	Post Baccalaureate	Grand Rapids, Michigan
Jackie Holman	Cross Country	Sophomore	Data Science	San Francisco, Calif.
Fiona Lenth	Cross Country	Senior	Economics	Portland, Oregan
Maggie Mason	Cross Country	Senior	Neuroscience	Cary, Ill.
Mia Mraz	Cross Country	Junior	Journalism	Broomfield, Colo.
Maddy Powers	Cross Country	Sophomore	Undeclared	Queensbury, N.Y.
Cameron Adam	Men’s Golf	Senior	Learning and Organizational Change	Edinburgh, Scotland
Akshay Anand	Men’s Golf	Junior	Data Science	Redmond, Wash.
Daniel Svard	Men’s Golf	Junior	Learning and Organizational Change	Jarfalla, Sweden
Dianna Lee	Women’s Golf	Junior	Communication Studies	San Diego, Calif.
Jiayi Wang	Women’s Golf	Junior	Learning and Organizational Change	Shanghai, China
Francesca Argentieri	Lacrosse	Junior	Journalism	Syracuse, N.Y.
Serafina DeMunno	Lacrosse	Senior	Communication Studies	Lake Barrington, Ill.
Jane Hansen	Lacrosse	Graduate Student	Sports Communication Certificate	Cohasset, Massachusetts
Hannah Johnson	Lacrosse	Senior	Human Development in Context	Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Megan Mallgrave	Lacrosse	Senior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Spring Lake, N.J.
Lucy Munro	Lacrosse	Junior	Psychology	Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Cara Nugent	Lacrosse	Senior	Computer Science	Boxford, Massachusetts
Talia Reading	Lacrosse	Sophomore	Communication Studies	Littleton, Colo.
Jaylen Rosga	Lacrosse	Junior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Saint Paul, Minn.
Madison Smith	Lacrosse	Sophomore	Learning & Organztnl Change	Mill Valley, Calif.
Claire Snyder	Lacrosse	Graduate Student	Leadership for Creative Enterprises	Surrey, British Columbia
Madison Taylor	Lacrosse	Junior	Human Development in Context	Wantagh, N.Y.
Kathryn Welch	Lacrosse	Junior	Industrial Engineering	Pearl River, N.Y.
Sammy White	Lacrosse	Senior	Communication Studies	Timonium, Md.
Italo Addimandi	Men’s Soccer	Sophomore	Learning & Organztnl Change	Miami, Fla.
Gregory Cook	Men’s Soccer	Sophomore	Undeclared	Las Vegas, Nev.
Jason Gajadhar	Men’s Soccer	Junior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Toronton, Ontario
Tyler Glassberg	Men’s Soccer	Sophomore	Learning & Organztnl Change	Melville, N.Y.
Reese Mayer	Men’s Soccer	Graduate Student	Data Science	Owings Mills, Md.
Danh Tran	Men’s Soccer	Senior	Economics	Happy Valley, Ore.
Ramira Ambrose	Women’s Soccer	Senior	Economics	Plymouth, Minn.
Josie Aulicino	Women’s Soccer	Graduate Student	Post Baccalaureate	Northville, Michigan
Nicole Doucette	Women’s Soccer	Graduate Student	Sports Administration	Lake Bluff, Ill.
Ingrid Falls	Women’s Soccer	Graduate Student	Analytics Management Certificate	Lake Forest, Ill.
Reiley Fitzpatrick	Women’s Soccer	Junior	Political Science	Ashburn, Va.
Kennedy Roesch	Women’s Soccer	Senior	Communication Studies	San Diego, Calif.
Brooke Miller	Women’s Soccer	Junior	Journalism	Naperville, Ill.
Bridget Mitchell	Women’s Soccer	Graduate Student	Analytics Management Certificate	Lake Forest, Ill.
Gina Muzi	Women’s Soccer	Graduate Student	Leadership for Creative Enterprises	Waukesha, Wis.
Presley Nevadomsky	Women’s Soccer	Sophomore	Data Science	Arcadia, Calif.
Megan Norkett	Women’s Soccer	Sophomore	Undeclared	Naperville, Ill.
Emma Phillips	Women’s Soccer	Senior	Communication Studies	Munster, Ind.
Lauren Boyd	Softball	Graduate Student	Sports Administration	Union, Mo.
Bridget Donahey	Softball	Junior	Learning and Organizational Change	Phoenix, Ariz
Kelsey Nader	Softball	Junior	Industrial Engineering	Canton, Michigan
Grace Nieto	Softball	Senior	Psychology	Farmington Hills, Mich.
Kansas Robinson	Softball	Junior	Learning and Organizational Change	Ind.polis, Ind.
Lauren Sciborski	Softball	Senior	Learning and Organizational Change	South Lyon, Mich.
Aaron Baltaytis	Men’s Swimming & Diving	Sophomore	Data Science	Tenafly, N.J.
David Gerchik	Men’s Swimming & Diving	Sophomore	Computer Science	Haifa, Israel
Matthew Lucky	Men’s Swimming & Diving	Junior	Neuroscience	Harrisburg, N.C.
Diego Nosack	Men’s Swimming & Diving	Sophomore	Undeclared	Beaverton, Ore.
David Vinokur	Men’s Swimming & Diving	Sophomore	Undeclared	Scottsdale, Ariz
Jack White	Men’s Swimming & Diving	Junior	Economics	Chicago, Ill.
Tonahuc Zinn	Men’s Swimming & Diving	Junior	Social Policy	Santa Ana, Calif.
Claudia Chang	Women’s Swimming & Diving	Sophomore	Data Science	Edina, Minn.
Lindsay Ervin	Women’s Swimming & Diving	Junior	Political Science	Irvine, Calif.
Kenisha Gupta	Women’s Swimming & Diving	Senior	Psychology	Mumbai, India
Mackenzie Lanning	Women’s Swimming & Diving	Junior	Environmental Sciences	Louisville, Kentucky
Shauntel Lim	Women’s Swimming & Diving	Junior	Psychology	Palo Alto, Calif.
Justine Murdock	Women’s Swimming & Diving	Senior	Statistics	Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Sydney Smith	Women’s Swimming & Diving	Sophomore	Biomedical Engineering	Houston, Texas
Max Bengtsson	Men’s Tennis	Senior	Applied Mathematics	Winnetka, Ill.
Chad Miller	Men’s Tennis	Junior	Learning and Organizational Change	Cincinnati, Ohio
Britany Lau	Women’s Tennis	Graduate Student	Master in Management	Kinnelon, N.J.
Autumn Rabjohns	Women’s Tennis	Sophomore	Learning and Organizational Change	Lake Forest, Ill.
Kiley Rabjohns	Women’s Tennis	Senior	Communication Studies	Lake Forest, Ill.
Kennedy Hill	Volleyball	Junior	Legal Studies	Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Gigi Navarrete	Volleyball	Sophomore	Learning & Organztnl Change	Palos Heights, Ill.
Sienna Noordermeer	Volleyball	Junior	Economics	Los Angeles, Calif.
Kathryn Randorf	Volleyball	Junior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Rylen Reid	Volleyball	Junior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Rolling Meadows, Ill.
Sophia Summers	Volleyball	Graduate Student	Learning Sciences	Portland, Ore.
Drew Wright	Volleyball	Sophomore	Human Development in Context	Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Luis Bazan	Wrestling	Sophomore	Learning & Organztnl Change	Winter Park, Fla.
Jacob Bostelman	Wrestling	Sophomore	Learning & Organztnl Change	Parker, Colo.
Joseph Martin	Wrestling	Senior	Learning & Organztnl Change	Clovis, Calif.
Massey Odiotti	Wrestling	Sophomore	Undeclared	Wilmette, Ill.
Andre Rocker	Wrestling	Junior	Political Science	Byfield, Massachusetts
Aiden Vandenbush	Wrestling	Senior	Computer Science	Random Lake, Wis.
Alex Chen	Fencing	Sophomore	Journalism	Toronto, Ontario
Anna Damratoski	Fencing	Junior	Mechanical Engineering	Peapack, N.J.
Asha Henry	Fencing	Senior	Cognitive Science	Takoma Park, Md.
Juliana Hung	Fencing	Junior	Communication Studies	San Francisco, Calif.
Allison Lee	Fencing	Junior	Political Science	Kinnelon, N.J.
Megumi Oishi	Fencing	Junior	English	Portland, Ore.
Rowan Park	Fencing	Senior	Gender & Sexuality Studies	Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Samantha Serban	Fencing	Junior	Political Science	Chatham, N.J.
Karina Vasile	Fencing	Sophomore	Biological Sciences	Bucharest, Romania
Karen Wang	Fencing	Sophomore	Chemical Engineering	Houston, Texas

Mississippi Valley State University is making history—again. The HBCU announced Tuesday that Dr. Alecia Shields-Gadson will take the reins as Director of Athletics, becoming just the second woman in the university’s history to hold the position.

The hire is more than symbolic; it signals a renewed, strategic push for excellence in MVSU’s athletic department.

Shields-Gadson brings over 25 years of experience and a reputation for bold, student-focused leadership to the Delta Devils. She officially starts on July 15.

“This is about blazing a new path,” Shields-Gadson said in a statement. “My vision for MVSU Athletics is one of growth, excellence, and unwavering commitment to our most prized possessions—our student-athletes.”

A Proven Playmaker in HBCU Athletics

If you follow HBCU athletics, you’ve seen her impact. Shields-Gadson most recently served as Deputy Athletic Director at Alcorn State, where she oversaw strategic planning and departmental execution. But it was at Delaware State University that she made national waves.

As Director of Athletics at DSU, she helped launch the country’s first Division I women’s varsity wrestling program—a historic move that put the school on the map. DSU’s 19 varsity programs saw a resurgence during her tenure, capturing conference championships and earning national postseason bids. She also facilitated a $1 million private donation—the largest of its kind for Hornets athletics.

“She’s transformational,” said Mississippi Valley State University President Dr. Jerryl Briggs, Sr. “Dr. Shields-Gadson has a proven track record in athletics administration that will be instrumental as we elevate MVSU Athletics and the overall student-athlete experience.”

Not Just a Title—A Legacy in the Making

Dr. Alecia Shields-Gadson has held leadership positions across multiple HBCUs, including Coppin State and Alcorn State, where she started her career as head track and field coach. She’s a former NCAA Leadership Development Fellow and has served on prominent national committees, including the NCAA Division I Council and Competition Oversight Committee.

Her career has been defined by advocacy, equity, and opportunity—not just for athletes, but for women in sports leadership.

At MVSU, she steps into a program ripe for growth. The Delta Devils have passionate fans, a strong alumni network, and a new leader who knows how to build from the ground up.

Her focus? Competitive success, financial sustainability, and academic excellence for student-athletes. That includes enhancing facilities, improving Title IX compliance, and expanding the program’s visibility on and off the field.

Academic Roots, Athletic Vision

A Southern University alum with a journalism degree, Shields-Gadson earned a master’s from Alcorn State and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Delaware State. Her academic credentials complement her athletic prowess, creating a leadership style that’s as analytical as it is inspiring.

Mississippi Valley State University has also acknowledged the role of Collegiate Consulting in the national search process, which led to the landmark hire.

Now, with a seasoned architect at the helm, MVSU looks to carve out a new chapter in HBCU athletics—one led by a woman determined to leave her own legacy.

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