The Big East and ESPN are reuniting in a six-year deal that will give added content from across 22 sports to the network’s direct-to-consumer platform set to launch in the fall. The pact, which will be with ESPN+, does not include a linear component, as those deals were struck a year ago with Fox, NBC and TNT Sports. This deal, which is not a sublicense (done directly with the conference), will see 25 non-conference men’s basketball games stream on ESPN+ (ESPN’s DTC service is inclusive of ESPN+) starting with the 2025-26 school year. The tonnage within the pact, which was previously with FloSports over the last three school years (under the Big East Digital Network banner), is a minimum of 75 women’s basketball games and 200 Olympic sports events. Sources close to the situation said that a rights fee is involved, and the Big East will produce all streamed games.

Proskauer’s Benjamin Freeman repped the Big East in negotiations alongside Commissioner Val Ackerman. Handling talks for ESPN were SVP/Programming & Acquisitions Nick Dawson and Director of Programming & Acquisitions Mallory Kenny.

The Big East’s relationship with ESPN dates back to the conference’s first national deal in 1980. That deal ran until 2013, when the Big East went to Fox Sports after the seven Catholic schools broke off from the football schools.

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Great Northwest Athletic Conference honored the top student-athletes in both academic and athletic achievement on Tuesday setting a conference record for the third-straight year with 426 recipients of the Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) Scholar-Athlete Award, presented by Barnes and Noble College.
 
There were 276 female athletes, and 150 male athletes honored.
 
The FAR Scholar-Athlete Award, presented by Barnes and Noble College, recognizes all student-athletes listed on any team at all GNAC institutions, regardless of sponsorship from the conference, that have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.85 or greater.
 

Hunter Beirne of the Seattle Pacific University Women’s Basketball team joins elite company after earning the award for an unprecedented sixth time in her career. 10 student-athletes garnered the award for the fifth time in their careers: Rilee White (Alaska Fairbanks Volleyball), Dyauni Boyce (Montana State Billings Women’s Basketball), Kate Bleffert (Northwest Nazarene Women’s Soccer), Allison Wolf (Northwest Nazarene Women’s Soccer), Maddy Vu (Saint Martin’s Track & Field), Annika Esvelt (Seattle Pacific Cross Country and Track & Field), Hannah Hair (Seattle Pacific Volleyball), Amity Deters (Western Oregon Track & Field), Lindie Larson (Western Oregon Track & Field), and Dylan Breuer (Northwest Nazarene Track & Field).
 
CWU once again boasts the most FAR Scholar-Athlete Award recipients for the fourth consecutive year with 68 honorees. Scottie Ellsworth (Volleyball) and Reese Schimmel (Softball) received the award for the fourth time in their careers. 11 CWU student-athletes received the award for the third time in their careers: Annelise Bauman (Women’s Soccer), Shelby Blodgett (Women’s Basketball), Payton Elenbaas (Track & Field), Kylee Gregory (Women’s Soccer), Madi Haack (Women’s Soccer), Lilly Thomas (Women’s Rugby), Cady Wilton (Softball), Quaid Hunt (Men’s Rugby), Taine Jones (Men’s Rugby), Brett McCalla (Football), and Kennedy McGill (Football).
 
A faculty athletic representative is a member of the faculty at an NCAA member institution who has been designated to serve as a liaison between the institution’s faculty and the athletic department. The FAR serves as a representative of the institution in conference and NCAA affairs. The role of the FAR is to “ensure that the academic institution establishes and maintains the appropriate balance between academics and athletics.”
 
See the full GNAC release HERE

CENTRAL WASHINGTON MALE HONOREES

CENTRAL WASHINGTON FEMALE HONOREES

*** – Four-Time FAR Award Recipient     ** – Three-Time FAR Award Recipient     * – Two-Time FAR Award Recipient

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 8, 2025) – Rallying from a 2-1 set deficit, the U.S. Girls U19 National Team edged Germany, 3-2 (25-18, 26-28, 17-25, 25-15, 15-13) in a Round of 16 match on Tuesday at the 2025 FIVB Girls U19 World Championship in Osijek, Croatia.

With the win, the U.S. (4-2) reached the quarterfinal round and will face Italy (6-0) tomorrow, Wednesday, July 9, at 12:15 p.m. PT. Watch on VBTV or on the Volleyball World YouTube channel. All four teams in the Round of 16, including the U.S., from Pool C reached the quarterfinals.

“Another five-set battle against a physical, well-coached and passionate German team. I am thrilled with our team’s ability to take lessons from our pool play matches,” U.S. head coach Keegan Cook said. “Our depth and flexibility were key once again to advancing in the tournament.”

The U.S. controlled the net with a 19-11 advantage blocking and also doubled up Germany in aces (8-4). Germany recorded 48 kills to 45 for the U.S.

MATCH STATISTICS

Libero Lily Hayes finished with match-highs of 15 digs and seven successful receptions. Setter Genevieve Harris totaled 23 assists and eight digs.

A balanced U.S. attack saw five players score either 12 or 13 points. Outside hitter Suli Davis scored 13 points on eight kills, three aces and two blocks, adding 13 digs and four successful receptions.

Middle blockers Jordan Taylor and Gabrielle Nichols combined for 13 blocks and each scored 13 points. Taylor contributed five kills and an ace with a match-high seven blocks, while Nichols registered seven kills and six blocks.

Outside hitter Cari Spears scored 12 points on 10 kills and two blocks, and opposite Henley Anderson contributed 12 points on 10 kills, one block and one ace. Outside Devyn Wiest totaled seven points on five kills and two aces.

With the first set tied at 14, the U.S. used a 6-1 run to take a five-point lead as part of an 11-4 advantage over the final 15 points of the set. Spears scored four of the final eight U.S. points with three kills and a block. Anderson recorded an ace and a block down the stretch. Davis scored five points on four kills and a block.

The second set featured multiple lead changes and each team fighting off two set points before Germany scored the final three points of the set to square the match at a set apiece. Davis scored four points on two kills and two aces, and Nichols totaled four points on two kills and two blocks.

With the third set tied at 14 on an ace by Kelly Kinney, Germany scored eight consecutive points to take a 22-14 lead and finished the set on an 11-3 run. Anderson led the U.S. with four kills.

Trailing 10-9 in the fourth set, the U.S. went on a 6-0 run to take a five-point lead. The string included a block by Taylor and a kill by Spears on a ball that looked like it would be a Germany point but bounced off her and over the net to an open spot.

Anderson recorded consecutive kills, the first on a back set from Harris, for a 23-14 lead. Another Taylor block gave the U.S. set point, which it converted two plays later to send the match to a fifth set.

Taylor recorded three blocks in the set, adding two kills and an ace for six points. Nichols also contributed three blocks.

The deciding set was close from the outset. The U.S. took a two-point lead, 7-5, on a kill from Taylor and a block by Nichols on a rally kept alive by a great save from Spears. Two Wiest kills and a Taylor block gave the U.S. its biggest lead of the set, 11-8, but Germany scored the next two points to close within a point. The teams exchanged points the remainder of the set.

Spears scored for 12-10 and 13-11 leads and then came up with a huge block when Germany was swinging with a chance to tie the set at 13. Germany scored the next point but a hitting error on the final point sent the U.S. to the quarterfinals. Spears finished with four points on three kills and a block.

“I’m just so proud of our team and this win because every single person contributed to us winning the match,” Spears said. “Being test like this early was necessary because we know from here on out that every single match will be a fight. This was a huge win, and we’re so excited, but we know we have more games to win.”

2025 U19 National Team Roster for World Championship

(Name, Pos., Birth Year, Height, Hometown, School, Region)
3 Jordan Taylor (MB, 6-5, 2007, Houston, Texas, University of Minnesota, Lone Star)
5 Lily Hayes (L, 5-9, 2007, Tampa, Fla., Berkeley Prep HS, Florida)
6 Suli Davis (OH, 6-1, 2007, Euless, Texas, Brigham Young University, North Texas)
8 Abbey Emch (MB, 6-3, 2007, New Waterford, Ohio, University of Pittsburgh, Ohio Valley)
10 Isabelle Hoppe (S, 5-8, 2008, Gibsonia, Pa., Pine Richland HS, Ohio Valley)
11 Kelly Kinney (OH/OPP, 6-2, 2007, West Palm Beach, Fla., The Kings Academy, Florida)
12 Genevieve Harris (S, 5-11, 2007, Raleigh, N.C, Cardinal Gibbons HS, Carolina)
13 Gabrielle Nichols (MB, 6-3, 2007, Winston Salem, N.C., Penn State University, Carolina)
16 Cari Spears (OH, 6-3, 2007, Dallas, Texas, University of Texas, North Texas)
17 Lameen Mambu (OH, 6-0, 2007, Chantilly, Va., Georgia Tech, Chesapeake)
19 Henley Anderson (OPP/OH, 6-3, 2007, Dripping Springs, Texas, Dripping Springs HS, Lone Star)
20 Devyn Wiest (OH, 6-3, 2007, Peoria, Ariz., University of Utah, Arizona)

Alternates
1 Izzy Mogridge (S, 5-11, 2007, Lutz, Fla., Berkeley Prep HS, Florida)
2 Charlotte Vinson (OPP, 6-2, 2007, Muncie, Ind., Yorktown HS, Hoosier)
4 Kalyssa Blackshear (MB/OPP, 6-4, 2007, Torrance, Calif., University of Louisville, Southern California)
7 Ayanna Watson (OH/OPP, 6-3, 2007, Henderson, Nev., Bishop Gorman HS, Southern California)
9 Natalie Wardlow (MB/OPP, 6-5, 2007, Lincoln, Neb., Lincoln Southeast HS, Great Plains)
15 Logan Bell (L, 5-11, 2007, Beech Grove, Ind., Roncalli HS, Hoosier)
18 Aniya Warren (L, 5-8, 2007, Lockport, Ill., Benet Academy, Great Lakes)

Coaches
Head Coach: Keegan Cook (Minnesota)
Assistant Coach: Alyssa D’Errico (Utah)
Assistant Coach: April Sanchez (New Mexico)
Performance Analyst: Jon Wong (Florida State)
ATC: Cherryl Bueno (Coast to Coast AthletiCare)
Team Lead: Courtney Smith (NTDP)

2025 FIVB Girls U19 World Championship Schedule
All times Pacific/Osijek, Croatia
Matches live on VBTV and Volleyball World YouTube

July 2: USA def. Spain, 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-12, 25-23)
July 3: USA def. Peru, 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-18)
July 4: Poland def. USA, 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-17, 25-27, 16-14)
July 6: Bulgaria def. USA, 3-2 (25-15, 16-25, 27-25, 13-25, 15-5)
July 7: USA def. Türkiye, 3-1 (25-19, 20-25, 25-22, 25-23)
July 8: Round of 16: USA def. Germany, 3-2 (25-18, 26-28, 17-25, 25-15, 15-13)
July 11: Quarterfinals, 12:15 p.m.: USA vs. Italy
July 12: TBA Playoffs/Semifinals
July 13: Finals