kAm%9@D6 D6DD:@?D 2C6 6IEC6>6=J G2=F23=6 2D 2 3C:586 7C@> @?6 D62D@? E@ E96 ?6IE] p 4@249 42? 8:G6 9@?6DE 7665324< 2?5 2 A=2J6C 42? 2D< :?7@C>65 BF6DE:@?D D@ 3@E9 A2CE:6D 2C6 @? E96 D2>6 A286] (2:E:?8 2 >@?E9 2==@HD 6G6CJ3@5J E@ E2<6 2 566A 3C62E9 C2E96C E92? ;F>A:?8 :?E@ H92E 42? 36 5:77:4F=E 4@?G6CD2E:@?D]k^Am

kAm$9677:6=5 6H 9:D H@C=5 H2D 492?8:?8 2 J62C 28@ H96? 96 H2D D4965F=:?8 E9@D6 >66E:?8D H9:=6 E96 q2586CD H6C6 @? 2 492CE6C 7=:89E 324< E@ |25:D@? 7@==@H:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^G@==6J32==^H:D4@?D:?\?63C2D<2\G@==6J32==\?422\E@FC?2>6?E\6=:E6\6:89E^2CE:4=604ce5hb_2\33b5\“67\3c`d\hffda4d454dc]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?6=:?6 D66>D D2?6 4@>A2C65 E@ H92E 96’D 72465 D:?46 (:D4@?D:?’D a_ad D62D@? 6?565 =2DE %9FCD52J H:E9 E96 8FE AF?49 E92E H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^G@==6J32==^H:D4@?D:?\G@==6J32==\72=E6CD\=2E6\DF776CD\7:G6\D6E\=@DD\E@\<6?EF4:7:?2=D^2CE:4=6034`bf657\hc4b\caae\3773\66_c4e44536e]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?:7:?2= >2E49k^2m 😕 z2?D2D r:EJ[ |:DD@FC:]k^Am

kAm“xE 92D 366? :?D2?:EJ 7@C >6[” $9677:6=5 D2:5 |@?52J 27E6C?@@?] “x 6H H6 H@F=5 86E E@ E9:D] w@H 72DE :E 8@E E@ E9:D 😀 2 =:EE=6 DFCAC:D:?8 E@ >6]”k^Am

kAmpD @7 |@?52J ?:89E — 2 E:>6 DE2>A 😀 92?5J E96D6 52JD 4@?D:56C:?8 (:D4@?D:?’D C@DE6C D66>D E@ 36 492?8:?8 3J E96 9@FC — $9677:6=5 925 =@DE D:I A=2J6CD E@ E96 EC2?D76C A@CE2= H9:=6 255:?8 EH@ <6J 255:E:@?D E@ E96 C@DE6C]k^Am

kAm%H@ 3:ED @7 3C62<:?8 ?6HD — @?6 8@@5[ @?6 325 — 5C@AA65 H:E9:? >:?FE6D @7 6249 @E96C |@?52Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^G@==6J32==^H:D4@?D:?\G@==6J32==\=2?5D\42=:7@C?:2\@FED:56\9:EE6C\7C@>\EC2?D76C\A@CE2=^2CE:4=60h22e_a_a\7`cc\c5bg\2cga\`ba7bd4e2h3e]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2? &r $2?E2 q2C32C2[ 4@>>:EE:?8 E@ E96 q2586CDk^2mj 2?5 D@A9@>@C6 @FED:56 9:EE6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^G@==6J32==^H:D4@?D:?\G@==6J32==\=@D6D\DE2CE6C\H9@\D9:?65\5@H?\E96\DEC6E49\E@\EC2?D76C\A@CE2=^2CE:4=60c7ae5b`_\e_ff\c756\24hd\f5gf36__`hd6]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2? E96 AC@8C2>k^2m]k^Am

kAm%96 492@D 3682? 7@C $9677:6=5 H:E9:? b_ >:?FE6D @7 9:> 2CC:G:?8 324< 2E E96 E62> 9@E6= 27E6C %9FCD52J 925 EFC?65 E@ uC:52J @? 2 4@=5 2?5 D25 ?:89E 😕 z2?D2D r:EJ] %92E’D H96? E96 7:CDE >6DD286 2CC:G65 E92E 2 A=2J6C H2?E65 E@ >66E H:E9 9:> E96 ?6IE 52J] |@C6 >6DD286D 925 2CC:G65 3J E96 E:>6 $9677:6=5 H@<6 FA =2E6C E92E >@C?:?8[ AC@>AE:?8 9:> E@ D6?5 2 8C@FA >6DD286 ?@E:7J:?8 A=2J6CD E92E E96J 4@F=5 368:? D4965F=:?8 >66E:?8D E92E H@F=5 E2<6 A=246 @G6C E96 7@==@H:?8 E9C66 52JD]k^Am

kAm$9677:6=5’D :?E6?E:@? H2D E@ 4@?5F4E E96 >66E:?8D 324< 😕 |25:D@?] $@>6 A=2J6CD 5:5?’E H2?E E@ H2:E[ D@ 96 DA6?E 23@FE a½ 9@FCD 4@?5F4E:?8 D:I @?6\@?\@?6 >66E:?8D @? 2 4@F49 @? E96 >6KK2?:?6 =6G6= @G6C=@@<:?8 E96 =@33J 2E E96 E62> 9@E6= 27E6C E96 q2586CD 925 C6EFC?65 7C@> 2EE6?5:?8 E96 p==\p>6C:42 32?BF6E] %92E’D H96C6 7:G6 A=2J6CD — k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^G@==6J32==^H:D4@?D:?\G@==6J32==\=@D6D\A2CE\E:>6\DE2CE6C\E@\EC2?D76C\A@CE2=^2CE:4=60ca7cfgea\abhh\c2d`\hfag\gh434dhfcbh3]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?^DA@CED^G@==6J32==^7@C>6C\9:89=J\C2?<65\H:D4@?D:?\G@==6J32==\C64CF:E\E@\6?E6C\EC2?D76C\A@CE2=^2CE:4=60_4c54234\fdac\cg__\hhcc\2bbgf7gc2457]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?^DA@CED^G@==6J32==^H:D4@?D:?\G@==6J32==\=@D6D\<6J\A=2J@77\4@?EC:3FE@C\E@\EC2?D76C\A@CE2=^2CE:4=60hh4d7f3a\_h5c\cee4\g2d_\g4d74bd7af5b]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?^DA@CED^G@==6J32==^H:D4@?D:?\G@==6J32==\=@D6D\EH@\56AE9\A=2J6CD\E@\EC2?D76C\A@CE2=^2CE:4=60_6`3665h\3743\ca`2\26c4\fb5fac_3eh7c]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?:55=6 3=@4<6C %@D:2 $6C27:?@HD<2k^2m — :?7@C>65 $9677:6=5 @7 E96:C 564:D:@?D E@ EC2?D76C] %96 D:IE9 A=2J6C H2D 4@?7FD65 23@FE $9677:6=5’D @C:8:?2= >6DD286 2?5 E9@F89E D96 H2D D:EE:?8 5@H? 7@C E96 EJA:42= 6?5\@7\D62D@? >66E:?8]k^Am

kAm%96 q2586CD 7=6H 9@>6 uC:52J[ 2?5 $9677:6=5 DA6?E >F49 @7 E96 7@==@H:?8 52J >66E:?8 H:E9 A=2J6CD :?D:56 9:D @77:46 2E z6==?6C w2==] w6 E@@< 2 3C62< 2E @?6 A@:?E E@ 8C23 2 3C2E 2E E96 4@?46DD:@? DE2?5 2E E96 &( u:6=5 w@FD6[ H96C6 2 (:D4@?D:? HC6DE=:?8 >2E49 H2D E2<:?8 A=246] $2EFC52J H2D E96 7:CDE E:>6 96 3642>6 2H2C6 E92E ‘2;28:4 H2D 4@?D:56C:?8 =62G:?8[ 2?5 D96’D E96 @?=J A=2J6C 2>@?8 E96 D:I\A24< @7 56A2CEFC6D E92E :D?’E C6=2E65 E@ 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 8@ 6=D6H96C6 7@C >@C6 A=2J:?8 E:>6]k^Am

kAm$9677:6=5 5:5?’E 325 >@FE9 2 D:?8=6 A=2J6C 5FC:?8 2 af\>:?FE6 A9@?6 :?E6CG:6H |@?52J] %96 @?=J E9:?8 96 4@>A=2:?65 23@FE 5FC:?8 E92E 42== H2D E96 E:>:?8 @7 E96D6 56A2CEFC6D[ 2?5 96 3=2>65 E92E @? E96 }rpp EC2?D76C A@CE2= H:?5@H @A6?:?8 367@C6 E96 D62D@? 6?565]k^Am

kAm“xE’D D25 E92E H6 4@F=5?’E ;FDE k6>m36k^6>m[” $9677:6=5 D2:5 7@FC 52JD 27E6C E96 q2586CD 4@>A=6E65 2 ag\d 42>A2:8? E92E 6?565 H:E9 E96 D:IE9 u:?2= u@FC 2AA62C2?46 😕 9:D `b D62D@?D] “(6 4@F=5?’E 6?;@J 2 72?E2DE:4 D62D@? E@86E96C 2?5 E96 =2DE E:>6 E92E J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 2C@F?5 6G6CJ@?6]”k^Am

kAm$@>6 BF6DE:@?D E92E $9677:6=5 255C6DD65 H:E9 9:D FDF2= 42?5@C 2?5 :?D:89Eik^Am

kAms:5 96 DFDA64E 2?J @7 9:D A=2J6CD 925 2 7@@E @FE @7 E96 5@@C 367@C6 =2DE H66@?8 E96 EC2?D76CD[ 3FE w@C?6C[ $9255\r6C6D 2?5 r92? 2AA62C65 😕 9:89\=6G6C286 D:EF2E:@?D 5FC:?8 E96 6A:4 >2E49 GD] z6?EF4

kAmw:D 2?DH6C H2D 2 7:C> ?@]k^Am

kAm“%9:D H2D 2? 2==\E96\H2J\:? EJA6 @7 E62>[” $9677:6=5 D2:5] “%96C6 H2D ?@E9:?8 F?56C=J:?8 8@:?8 @?] xE H2D 2 E62> E92E C62==J 8@E 2=@?8 H6== E@86E96C[ E92E 6=6G2E65 6249 @E96C] %96 VH6V H2D >@C6 E92? E96 V>6]Vk^Am

kAm“x E9:?< ?@H252JD H92E :E 2==@HD J@F E@ 5@ 😀 6G6CJ J62C J@F 42? 6G2=F2E6 J@FC D:EF2E:@?] }@H H96? J@F 92G6 2? 286?E E92E 😀 H@C<:?8 7@C J@F[ x E9:?< E96J 3C:?8 E92E E@ J@FC 2EE6?E:@? 6G6? D@@?6C] Vp== C:89E[ =6E’D 6G2=F2E6 E9:D[ 5@ J@F H2?E E@ 5@ E9:DnV *@F 2C6 DE2C:?8 2E E92E BF6DE:@? AC@323=J D@@?6C E92? H92E J@F H@F=5 @E96CH:D6] %96C6 H2D?’E 2 D:?8=6 E9:?8 E92E H6 H@F=5 AC@323=J 5@ 5:776C6?E=J @? 2?J3@5J]”k^Am

kAm}6IE BF6DE:@? 7@C $9677:6=5i xD 3F:=5:?8 E96 EJA6 @7 56AE9 96 H2?ED 2?5 ?665D 92C56C E92? 6G6C 😕 E96 A@CE2= 6C2n u@C 6I2>A=6[ w@C?6C H2D?’E 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 DE2CE6C 2E (:D4@?D:? 7@C E96 ?6IE EH@ D62D@?D 3642FD6 DE2C r92C=:6 uF6C3C:?86C 😀 CF??:?8 E96 D9@H] qFE H92E 2 =FIFCJ E@ 92G6 2 3246D 2? p==\p>6C:42? 6=D6H96C6 2E E96 A:?D]k^Am

kAm“|2J36[” $9677:6=5 D2:5] “x E9:?< 6G6CJ D:EF2E:@? 😀 F?:BF6[ 2?5 :E’D 62DJ E@ 86?6C2=:K6] …k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< E96C6 2C6 >@C6 E9:?8D 4@>:?8 2E A6@A=6 E92? 6G6C 367@C6] |@C6 >@?6J 😕 E96:C 62CD] r6CE2:?=J E96 >@?6J 4@>A@?6?E 492?86D E96 6BF2E:@?] … (96? J@F 92G6 @?6 D49@@= D2J:?8 E9:D 2>@F?E 2?5 2?@E96C D2J:?8 2 5:776C6?E 2>@F?E[ J@F 5@?’E H2?E E96 68@ A2CE E@ 4@>6 :?[ 3FE :E’D C62==J 92C5 ?@E E@ 3642FD6 :E D9@HD 9@H >F49 D@>63@5J G2=F6D J@F H:E9 E96 >@?6J] %92E H2D ?6G6C E96 42D6 H:E9 E96 D49@=2CD9:A AC6G:@FD=J] $@ 68@ 😀 86EE:?8 😕 E96 H2J >@C6 3642FD6 @7 E96 >@?6J 2?5 3642FD6 @7 AC646AE65 G2=F6D[ 2?5 ?@H J@F 92G6 286?ED] p?5 D@ 😀 E96 56AE9 8@:?8 E@ 36 92C56Cn |2J36[ 3FE E96C6 H:== 36 @E96C J62CD H96C6 ?@3@5J =62G6D 2?5 :E’D 7:?6] xE DFC6=J 2AA62CD 2E E9:D >@>6?E 😕 E:>6 E@ D2J[ J629[ :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 92C56C] qFE x 5@?’E @H :7 x’> 2== E96 H2J 😕 @? E92E C:89E ?@H]”k^Am

kAm~?6 >@C6 A6CE:?6?E BF6DE:@?i s@6D $9677:6=5 ECJ E@ E2=< A=2J6CD @FE @7 =62G:?8n }@E EJA:42==J[ E9@F89 $9677:6=5 D2:5 96 5:5 >2<6 2? 6I46AE:@? 😕 E96 42D6 @7 ‘2;28:4 😕 A2CE 3642FD6 96 925 2 5:77:4F=E E:>6 F?56CDE2?5:?8 9@H E96 D:EF2E:@? 925 492?865 D@ 5C2DE:42==J 😕 @?=J 2 76H 9@FCD]k^Am

kAm“x 2=H2JD E9@F89E E92E E9:D W6IA6C:6?46X D9@F=5 42E2AF=E J@F E@ E96 C6DE @7 J@FC =:76[” $9677:6=5 D2:5] “x7 J@F 766= =:<6 E96C6’D D@>6E9:?8 6=D6 E92E 😀 36EE6C 7@C J@F[ x’> ?@E 8@:?8 E@ D6== J@F @? D@>6E9:?8 E92E J@F 2=C625J @H 23@FE] p?5 x’> 46CE2:?=J ?@E 8@:?8 E@ >2<6 AC@>:D6D 23@FE A=2J:?8 E:>6 @C 2?JE9:?8 6=D6 =:<6 E92E 3642FD6 H92E 2> x 8@:?8 E@ E6== E96 ?6IE A6CD@? E92E 4@>6D 😕 >J @77:46n …k^Am

kAm“(96? J@F’C6 😕 E96 AC@76DD:@?[ E9:D 92AA6?D BF:E6 2 3:E] %96 8@2=[ x 5@?’E E9:?<[ 😀 E@ ;FDE ECJ E@ =@4< E96> 😕 7@C E96:C 42C66C] %96 8@2= 😀 7@C E96> E@ 92G6 6=6G2E65 =:G6D[ H92E6G6C :E 😀 E92E E96J’C6 5@:?8] x7 E92E’D 96C6[ :E’D 2H6D@>6] x7 E9:D E2<6D E96> E@ E96:C ?6IE DE6A E92E 😀 2 36EE6C D:EF2E:@? 7@C E96>[ >2?[ E92E’D H92E :E D9@F=5 36 23@FE]”k^Am

kAm$9677:6=5 2?5 E96 q2586CD H:== 36 ;FDE 7:?6] w6 2=C625J =2?565 2 E2=6?E65 >:55=6 3=@4<6C E9C@F89 E96 A@CE2= — k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^G@==6J32==^H:D4@?D:?\G@==6J32==\=2?5D\2==\2>6C:42?\7C@>\EC2?D76C\A@CE2=\E@\C6A=246\56A2CE:?8\DE2C^2CE:4=60a5d6cccg\_bbe\ce2c\2c53\d625db4`a`hd]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2? p==\p>6C:42? y26=2 pF8FDE6 7C@> u=@C:52k^2m — 2?5 25565 6IA6C:6?46 @? E96 @FED:56 😕 %C2G:D] p 9:89=J C682C565 C64CF:E:?8 4=2DD H:== 2CC:G6 E9:D @77D62D@?] !=2J6CD =62G:?8 @A6?D DA@ED 7@C @E96CD E@ ;@:? 2 AC@8C2> E92E 😀 4@?D:DE6?E=J 😕 E96 ?2E:@?2= E:E=6 4@?G6CD2E:@? H96? E96 D62D@? 368:?D]k^Am

kAm%9@D6 😕 492C86 9@A67F==J H:== C64@8?:K6 E96 6CC@C 😕 E96:C H2JD 2?5 492?86 E96 DE2CE 52E6 @7 E96 A@CE2= H:?5@H D@ 2E9=6E6D 5@?’E 92G6 E@ 36 >2<:?8 E@F89 564:D:@?D H9:=6 E96:C E62>D DE:== 2C6 4@>A6E:?8 😕 E96 }rpp %@FC?2>6?E] $9677:6=5 H:== 36 23=6 E@ E2<6 2 566A 3C62E9 2E D@>6 A@:?E 2?5 6G2=F2E6 H96E96C 96 ?665D E@ EH62< E96 H2J 96 4@?5F4ED 3FD:?6DD H:E9:? 9:D AC@8C2>]k^Am

kAmp A2DD:@?2E6 4@249 D@F?565 2 3:E E:C65 |@?52J[ 3FE $9677:6=5 5:5?’E 4@>6 @77 2D 3:EE6C 😕 2?J H2J]k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< J@F 86E 😕 2 A=246[ :7 J@F’C6 DA6?5:?8 J@FC E:>6 36:?8 6>@E:@?2= 😕 ;F58>6?E[ E96? 2D 2 4@249 J@F’C6 ;FDE 😕 E96 HC@?8 DA@E[” $9677:6=5 D2:5] “xE’D E@@ 62DJ E@ 86E E@ E92E WA=246X 2?5 E2<6 :E A6CD@?2=] *@F H@C< E96 D:EF2E:@?] *@F 5@ E92E 😕 2 >2E49] (92E6G6C :E :D[ J@F ;FDE H@C< E96 D:EF2E:@?] *@F 92G6 C6=2E:@?D9:AD H:E9 E96D6 8FJD — E92E <:?5 @7 >2<6D :E 2 =:EE=6 3:E E@F896C — 2?5 H:E9 D@>6 @7 E96 72>:=:6D] qFE :7 A6@A=6 42? 7:?5 2 D:EF2E:@? E92E 7:ED H92E E96J’C6 H2?E:?8 36EE6C[ x 5@?’E @H H92E E96 AC@3=6> :D] %96 @?=J AC@3=6> H:E9 >6 😀 E96 E:>:?8] v:G6 E96> D@>6 DA246[ =6E 4@@=6C 9625D AC6G2:=[ =6E 6G6CJ3@5J @A6C2E6 @? E96 D2>6 E:>6=:?6 2?5[ 7@C E96 =@G6 @7 v@5[ 8:G6 A6@A=6 2 76H 9@FCD E@ 46=63C2E6 H92E 4@F=5 @C D9@F=5 36 @?6 @7 E96 9:89=:89ED @7 E96:C =:G6D] %9:?8D 2C6 >@G:?8 72DE]”k^Am

kAm%@@ 72DE[ 2D 72C 2D $9677:6=5 😀 4@?46C?65]k^Am

Photos: Wisconsin volleyball 2025 season in photos

Contact Jim Polzin at jpolzin@madison.com.

Be the first to know

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

kAm&r $2?E2 q2C32C2 C65D9:CE D@A9@>@C6 tG2 %C2G:D 2??@F?465 @? x?DE28C2> 96C :?E6?E:@? E@ ;@:? E96 q2586CD 27E6C =625:?8 E96 v2F49@D H:E9 bff <:==D E9:D D62D@?] $96 A=2J65 😕 ae @7 E96 E62>’D b` >2E496D 2?5 2G6C2865 b]hb <:==D A6C D6E]k^Am

kAm“$@ 6I4:E65 2?5 8C2E67F= E@ 2??@F?46 >J 4@>>:E>6?E E@ 4@?E:?F6 >J 42C66C 2E (:D4@?D:?[” %C2G:D HC@E6] “%92?< J@F E@ 4@249 Wz6==JX $9677:6=5 2?5 E96 6?E:C6 DE277 7@C E9:D @AA@CEF?:EJ[ 2?5 E@ >J 72>:=J[ E62>>2E6D 2?5 4@2496D 7@C 2== E96 DFAA@CE 2=@?8 E96 H2J] v@ q2586CD]”k^Am

kAm%96 d\7@@E\`_ %C2G:D 62C?65 9@?@C23=6 >6?E:@? @? E96 p’rp’D !24:7:4 #68:@? 2H2C5D =:DE] $96 62C?65 2 DA@E @? E96 q:8 (6DE r@?76C6?46 D64@?5 E62> E9:D D62D@? 27E6C 36:?8 ?2>65 E96 q:8 (6DE uC6D9>2? @7 E96 *62C 😕 a_ac]k^Am

The Elyria Youth Track Club, a program of the Elyria Youth Sports Club, is set to partner with Oberlin College Track and Field for a clinic.

The clinic will take place from 5-7 p.m. Jan. 7 at Oberlin College.

The clinic, open to all Elyria Youth Track athletes, will focus on showing young athletes fundamental and advanced techniques directly from Oberlin College Track and Field athletes and coaches, according to Aric Bowens, CEO of Elyria Youth Sports Club.

“I know last year, we went to an indoor track meet — our whole organization — and we got to meet Coach Izzy (Alexander, assistant coach for Oberlin College Track and Field),” Bowens said. “Since then, myself and Coach Izzy have been in communication with how can we get our kids infused with Oberlin College Track?”

According to Alexander, athletes participating in the clinic will learn a variety of skills and techniques in different stations at the college indoor track.

Youngsters will have exposure to different aspects of track through stations incorporating horizontal jumping into a sand pit, throwing shot puts, running sprints and relay racing, she said.

“This particular event is the first community event that we’re being involved with that specifically relates to track and field, so that’s something we’re really excited about,” Alexander said. “We hope to make it an annual event.”

With the clinic, Alexander said a vision is to help the youngsters feel more comfortable in their athletic ability, but also make them familiar with Oberlin College and the athletes they will interact with.

Athletes also can have a vision for what their future could look like if they wish to further their track career, Alexander said.

“If you can see it, you can be it,” she said. “They can realize that college and being a collegiate athlete is something that they can achieve, too, because they will have been more familiar with Oberlin.

“Track and field really has been a transformative part of our lives, and this event is kind of a way to give back and a way to foster continued participation.”

Alexander said the Oberlin College Track and Field team has continued to nurture its presence in the community by partnering with organizations like Oberlin Community Services, Oberlin Heritage Center and the Western Reserve Land Conservancy.

The Track and Field Clinic also marks a positive first step in a strong relationship with the Elyria Youth Track Club.

“We’re really thrilled to host this event,” Alexander said. “They’ve been really terrific to work with.”

Bowens said there are around 50 athletes in the Track Club who practice throughout the year, and participate in training like weight lifting and conditioning.

This “invaluable experience” for young track athletes will help strengthen their athletic ability, and connect them to different resources and organizations in Lorain County.

“I think it is an amazing opportunity,” Bowens said. “We’re super excited, just for this experience for our children.

“We would love to continue to keep the relationships going and growing for our organization.”

For more information, email elyriayouthsportsclub@gmail.com.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State was the unanimous pick to win the 2026 EIVA title in a vote of the conference’s coaches. The poll was released on Monday along with a list of Players to Watch, which included the Nittany Lions’ Ryan Merk and Owen Rose.

Penn State received all seven first-place votes to finish atop the preseason poll, coming in ahead of NJIT (34 points) and George Mason (32) in second and third. Rounding out the poll were Princeton (26), Charleston (22), Harvard (22), and Sacred Heart (11).

Princeton won last year’s regular season title, but Penn State put it together at the right time. The Nittany Lions swept all three matches in the EIVA Tournament to win the championship as the third-seeded team.

Merk is a three-time All-American for the Nittany Lions, earning second team recognition in as a sophomore and honorable mention status as a freshman and junior. The libero is a three-time first-team All-EIVA selection.

Rose was an AVCA honorable mention All-American as a sophomore in 2024. He is also a three-time All-EIVA selection, making the first team as a freshman and sophomore and the second team last season as a junior.

Merk and Rose are the team’s two captains this season.

Penn State opens the 2026 season with four straight home matches. The Nittany Lions host Mount Olive (Jan. 9), Manhattan (Jan. 10), St. Thomas Aquinas (Jan. 15), and Lewis (Jan. 17) during that stretch.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Nebraska volleyball closed the season ranked No. 3 in the final AVCA Coaches Poll, finishing 33–1 after spending the entire season atop the rankings before the postseason.

Texas A&M rose to No. 1 in the final poll after winning the national championship over Kentucky. The Aggies earned 61 first-place votes and 1,525 points to finish 29–4, while Kentucky ends the year ranked second at 30–3 as the national runner-up.

Pittsburgh and Wisconsin round out the top five, with Wisconsin making a five-spot jump to finish No. 5. Creighton closes the season ranked No. 10 at 28–6, while Cal Poly enters the final Top 25 at No. 21 after being unranked last week.

Penn State fell out of the Top 25 despite receiving votes, marking the program’s first absence from the final poll since 1988 and ending a streak of 565 consecutive weeks ranked.

Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.

Copyright 2025 KOLN. All rights reserved.