Sports
Ranking all 66 Austin-area schools’ sports years
Each year, the American-Statesman ranks all high school athletic programs in the Austin area in a competition called the Breazeale Cup, named for longtime Statesman sports writer George Breazeale.
Schools accrue points based on their programs’ results throughout the school year. Georgetown won its second straight Cup last year, but there was a first-time winner this time around.
These are the rankings for 2024-25:
No. 1: Vandegrift (95 points)
It’s hard to imagine having a more impressive postseason across the board than what the Vipers accomplished this year.
In winning the cup for the first time, not only did the Class 6A athletics department produce state titles in football and boys soccer, it finished state runner-up in boys cross-country and girls golf and reached the state semifinals in girls soccer and volleyball. Every traditional team sport but one made the playoffs, which is even more impressive considering Vandegrift is in a tough nine-team district.
Scoring (95 points): Football 19, boys soccer 16, volleyball 13, girls soccer 10, boys cross country 7, girls golf 7, girls basketball 6, tennis 5, boys basketball 4, boys swimming 4, girls swimming 2, baseball 2
No. 2: Wimberley (91)
Like Vandegrift, the Class 4A Texans — who were far and away the top small school in the Austin area — were a heavyweight when it came to the playoffs. Wimberley won a state title in volleyball, finished runner-up in baseball and girls soccer and recorded a podium finish in team tennis. Though known for football, which again had a strong season by reaching the state semifinals, the Texans excelled across the board with points in nine sports.
Scoring (91 points): Volleyball 18, girls soccer 15, baseball 14, football 13, tennis 9, boys basketball 8, softball 6, girls basketball 4, track and field 4
No. 3: Westlake (79)
It was another strong year for the Class 6A Chaps, who are a regular at the top of this list. Outside of a state title for the boys golf team and runner-up finish for football, Westlake compiled most of its points thanks to incredible depth as it tallied points in an impressive 13 sports. The Chaps, who also had strong showings in volleyball and boys water polo, finished runner-up a year ago.
Scoring (79 points): Football 15, volleyball 10, boys water polo 9, boys golf 8, baseball 6, boys basketball 5, girls basketball 5, tennis 5, girls water polo 4, girls golf 4, girls swimming 4, girls soccer 2, boys soccer 2
No. 4: Georgetown (77)
There wasn’t much of a drop for the Eagles, who won the cup the last two years and are establishing themselves as the Austin area’s premier Class 5A athletic department. Scoring points in 10 sports, Georgetown won district titles in volleyball, football, tennis, girls basketball, girls soccer, softball and baseball, with both the volleyball and girls basketball teams reaching the state semifinals.
Scoring (77 points): Girls basketball 13, volleyball 12, girls soccer 10, baseball 9, softball 9, football 7, tennis 5, boys swimming 4, girls cross country 4, boys soccer 4
No. 5: Liberty Hill (76)
Known for football, it was a wildly impressive, across-the-board performance for the Panthers girls and boys that boosted the Class 5A department to its best Cup showing this decade. The boys soccer team won a state title while girls basketball reached the state championship game. Strong showings in baseball, softball and boys basketball also helped spur the school, which made the playoffs in all the traditional team sports.
Scoring (76 points): Boys soccer 16, girls basketball 12, baseball 12, boys basketball 11, softball 10, volleyball 8, football 4, girls soccer 2, tennis 1
No. 6: Lake Travis (74)
Like their rival Westlake, the Cavs are a regular at the top of this competition and won it in 2021 and 2022. The Class 6A school earned most of its points in the spring when it won district titles and made splashy playoff runs in girls soccer, boys soccer and baseball. Both golf teams had podium finishes at state. Lake Travis dropped three spots from last year’s third-place Cup finish.
Scoring (74 points): Girls soccer 15, baseball 12, boys soccer 11, football 8, boys golf 7, girls golf 7, boys basketball 4, softball 4, tennis 2, girls basketball 2, volleyball 2
No. 7: Cedar Park (67)
After barely missing out on the top 10 a year ago — they finished 12th — the Class 5A Timberwolves firmly found themselves in seventh place, mostly thanks to their girls teams. Girls soccer won a state title, volleyball finished state runner-up, girls swimming was fourth at state and the girls basketball team made a solid playoff run.
Scoring (67 points): Girls soccer 19, volleyball 15, girls basketball 8, boys soccer 6, girls swimming 6, tennis 5, wrestling 4, baseball 2, football 2
No. 8: Round Rock (62)
The Dragons can be relied upon to be good at almost everything, and this year was no different for the 6A department. Paced by girls soccer, baseball and boys water polo winning district titles, Round Rock scored points in 13 sports, which ties Westlake for most on this year’s list.
Scoring (62 points): Girls soccer 11, boys water polo 11, baseball 9, girls basketball 6, girls water polo 4, boys cross country 4, girls cross country 4, volleyball 4, football 2, boys swimming 2, boys basketball 2, softball 2, tennis 1
No. 9: Johnson (56)
It was a banner campaign for the Hays County school, which was in only its third year as a Class 6A program. Moved south in redistricting, the Jaguars excelled with district titles and long playoff runs in volleyball, softball and girls water polo. Baseball and football also had fine years for Johnson, which makes its first top 10 Cup showing.
Scoring (56 points): Volleyball 11, girls water polo 11, softball 10, baseball 8, football 6, boys soccer 4, girls soccer 4, boys water polo 2
No. 10: Anderson (52)
If the Trojans have always been a sleeping giant waiting for an extended run in Class 5A — they’ve bounced back and forth between 6A the last three UIL realignment cycles — then this may have been their breakout year. Anderson made the playoffs in every traditional team sport but one and scored points in 12 of them. The baseball team won district and made a deep playoff run to lead the way, with the volleyball, girls soccer and girls basketball teams all claiming district titles.
Scoring (52 points): Baseball 11, volleyball 7, girls soccer 5, girls basketball 5, girls cross country 4, tennis 4, boys water polo 4, girls water polo 4, track & field 2, football 2, boys basketball 2, boys soccer 2
The rest of Central Texas
11. Dripping Springs (45): The Tigers continued to fare well in their third year in Class 6A, which was sparked by district titles and playoff runs to the state semifinals in baseball and softball.
12. Hendrickson (43): The Hawks were back on the edge of the top 10 — they were 14th a year ago with two fewer points — thanks to volleyball, girls basketball, boys soccer, girls soccer, softball and baseball all reaching at least the regional semifinals.
13. LASA (42): Are the Raptors the most underrated athletic department in the Austin area? LASA is more known for its academics, but it scored its second straight top-15 finish — it was 11th last year — behind a state runner-up finish in Class 5A team tennis and district titles in boys soccer, boys water polo and girls water polo.
14. Westwood (40): The Warriors received their traditional strong showing in team tennis with a third straight Class 6A title, while the girls water polo team won district and the girls soccer team had a strong playoff run. Westwood had nearly an identical finish to last year when it finished 16th with 39 points.
15. Lago Vista (39): Only Wimberley had a better showing among small schools than the Vikings, who made a gigantic leap from finishing 41st last year. Lago Vista recorded district titles in baseball, softball, girls basketball and boys basketball.
16. Thorndale (38): It was another solid overall performance for the Class 2A Bulldogs, who nearly matched last year’s 14th place showing. Thorndale won district titles and at least one playoff matchup in volleyball, boys basketball, softball and baseball.
17. Johnson City (37): Finishing 17th for the second year in a row, the Class 2A school west of Dripping Springs won state in volleyball and garnered district titles in baseball and softball.
18. Weiss (35): The Class 5A Pflugerville ISD school was consistent across the board, making the playoffs in all of the traditional team sports but one. Volleyball won a district title and reached the regional semifinals to lead the way.
19. Burnet (31): After an impressive sixth-place finish in 2023-24, the Class 4A Bulldogs dropped 13 spots. Burnet made the playoffs in all of the traditional team sports, led by a girls soccer team who won a district title.
20. Rouse (30): The Class 5A Raiders had their third straight top-20 finish, highlighted by softball’s district title and state semifinals run.
21. East View (29): Jumping up from 29th a year ago, the Class 5A Patriots were led by boys basketball and boys soccer, both of which won a district title and two playoff games. Softball also advanced to the regional semifinals.
T-22. Blanco (28): About to be led by former Liberty Hill football coach Kent Walker, the Class 3A Panthers had a solid year with district titles in football, volleyball and softball.
T-22. Vista Ridge (28): Competing in the rugged, nine-team District 25-6A, the Rangers received nearly half of their points from a boys soccer team that won district and reached the state semifinals. Girls basketball also won a district title.
T-24. Glenn (27): The Class 5A Grizzlies produced most of their points in the winter, when girls basketball won a district title, boys basketball reached the regional finals and boys soccer won district and advanced to the regional finals.
T-24. LBJ (27): One of the better performers out of Austin ISD, the Class 4A Jaguars were led by boys basketball winning a district title and reaching the state semifinals.
T-26. Bastrop (26): Making a leap of 25 spots up the standings from 51st a year ago, the Class 5A Bears won a district title in football and reached the third round of the playoffs in girls basketball and boys soccer.
T-26. McCallum (26): The Class 5A Knights made the playoffs in all of the traditional team sports but one and were led by boys basketball winning a district title and girls soccer reaching the regional semifinals.
T-28. Cedar Ridge (24): The softball team won a loaded District 25-6A and advanced to the regional finals to lead the Raiders, who also won a district title in girls water polo. Cedar Ridge was 32nd last year.
T-28. La Grange (24): One of the better mascots in the area, the Leopards, this Class 4A school won a district title in boys basketball and went to the third round of the playoffs in baseball.
T-30. Bowie (23): Stuck in District 25-6A with heavyweights Lake Travis, Westlake and Dripping Springs, the Bulldogs did well by making the playoffs in most sports and were led by boys soccer reaching the regional finals.
T-30. Gateway Prep (23). Georgetown’s third high school that competes in Class 4A went to the regional finals in volleyball and won a district title in boys basketball.
T-30. Giddings (23): The Class 4A Buffaloes won playoff contests in volleyball, boys soccer, girls soccer, softball and baseball.
33. Thrall (22): A baseball team that finished as state runner-up provided more than half the points for the Tigers, who jumped up to Class 3A this classification cycle.
34. Granger (21): One of the area’s few Class 2A programs, the Lions’ year was highlighted by winning a district title in girls basketball and advancing to the regional semifinals in football.
35. Lampasas (20): Runs to the regional semifinals in football and baseball headlined the Class 4A Badgers’ year. Lampasas had nearly an identical finish in 2024 when it tied for 36th.
36. Manor New Tech (18): The Class 4A Titans made the playoffs in every traditional team sport but one and claimed a district title in boys soccer. They continue their move up the standings after finishing 55th in 2023 and 44th in 2024.
37. Austin Achieve (16): All of the Polar Bears’ points came from the boys soccer team winning the Class 4A Division II state title.
38. Stony Point (15): Life in District 25-6A isn’t easy for anyone. The boys basketball team winning a district title and advancing to the regional finals paced the Tigers, who also made the playoffs in volleyball and softball.
T-39. Pflugerville (14): Girls basketball had its traditionally strong season by reaching the regional semifinals. The Class 5A Panthers also won a playoff game in football for the first time in 12 years.
T-39. San Marcos (14): A run to the regional finals in girls basketball headlined the Class 6A Rattlers’ year, with baseball and both soccer teams also making the playoffs.
T-39. Smithville (14): Girls basketball and softball accounted for all of the school’s points as both programs won a district title and playoff game.
42. Leander (13): Softball reached the finals and boys basketball won a playoff game for the Class 5A Lions, who dropped from 18th last year.
T43. Austin High (12): Boys water polo advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the Class 6A Maroons, who also qualified for the postseason in football, volleyball, girls basketball and girls water polo.
T43. Hays (12): The Hawks made the Class 5A playoffs in volleyball, girls basketball, girls soccer, softball, boys water polo and girls water polo.
T45. Jarrell (11): The Class 4A school in northern Williamson County won a district title and two playoff games in girls basketball and made the playoffs in volleyball.
T45. Taylor (11): Girls soccer won a playoff game to pace the Class 4A Ducks, who fell 20 spots from a year ago.
T47. Travis (9): Postseason appearances in football, girls basketball, baseball and softball highlighted the year for the Class 4A Rebels.
T47. Marble Falls (9): Boys soccer won a playoff game for the Mustangs, who were in their third year in Class 4A and finished 38th last year.
T49. Bartlett (8): A Class 2A school that represents the northeastern edge of the Austin area — it’s actually in Bell County — the Bulldogs went to the regional finals in baseball.
T49. Eastside (8): The smallest AISD school made the playoffs in volleyball, boys basketball, baseball and softball.
51. McNeil (7): Just making the playoffs out of the brutal District 25-6A is an achievement, which the Mavericks did in football, boys soccer, baseball and tennis.
T52. Connally (6): The Class 5A Cougars won a playoff game in boys basketball and made the postseason in boys soccer.
T52. Luling (6): Boys basketball reached the second round of the playoffs for the Class 3A Eagles.
T52. Northeast (6): Both soccer teams made the playoffs during the school’s first year in Class 4A, with the boys team claiming a share of the district title.
T55. Cedar Creek (4): Boys basketball and girls soccer made the postseason for the Class 5A Eagles.
T55. Crockett (4): The school’s traditionally strong softball team had another good season by reaching the second round of the playoffs.
T55. Del Valle (4): The Cardinals made the playoffs in softball and boys soccer out of a tough District 26-6A.
T55. Elgin (4): A playoff win in football led to all the points for the Class 5A Wildcats.
T55. Hutto (4): Softball won a playoff game to account for all of the Hippos’ points as the school battled in District 25-6A.
T55. Lehman (4): Playoff appearances by both water polo teams paced the Lobos.
T61. Ann Richards (2): The all-girls school made the Class 5A playoffs in volleyball.
T61. Florence (2): Softball marked the only sport to make the postseason for the Class 3A Buffaloes.
T61. Lockhart (2): The Class 5A Lions made the playoffs in boys soccer.
T64. Akins (0): Being in a district with Dripping Springs, Lake Travis and Westlake made points tough to come by for the Class 6A Eagles.
T64. Navarro (0): A move into a tougher district left the Class 5A Vikings without any points.
T64. Manor (0): Playing in the brutal, nine-team District 25-6A didn’t make life easy for the Mustangs.
Sports
Two Scholar Athletes Highlight Academic Awards for Hornet Volleyball
Women’s Volleyball | 1/7/2026 2:00:00 PM
January 7, 2026 – Emporia State volleyball had two MIAA Scholar Athletes and six players in total earn MIAA Academic recognition for the 2025 season.
Mia Frisbie and Brailee Bogle were both MIAA Scholar Athletes for their performance on the court and in the classroom, as both were named Honorable Mention All-MIAA for the 2025 season.
Along with Frisbie and Bogle, Brenna Smith, Willow Deckinger, Sydney Fiatte and Camilla Ossola were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. All six players earned their second career recognition on the Academic Honor Roll.
To be recognized on the Academic Honor Roll, one must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.00 at the certifying member institution. The individual must also have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms.
To qualify as a Scholar-Athlete an individual must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.50 at the certifying member institution. The student-athlete must have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms. If competing in a championship sport of the MIAA, the student-athlete must also earn All-MIAA honors from the 2024 season.
MIAA Scholar Athletes
| Mia Frisbie | Sophomore | 3.98 | Health & Human Perf. | Overland Park, Kan. |
| Braile Bogle | Junior | 3.55 | Biology | Wichita, Kan. |
MIAA Academic Honor Roll
| Mia Frisbie | Sophomore | 3.98 | Health & Human Perf. | Overland Park, Kan. |
| Brenna Smith | Sophomore | 3.84 | Health & Human Perf. | St. Mary’s, Kan. |
| Willow Deckinger | Sophomore | 3.76 | English | Wichita, Kan. |
| Sydney Fiatte | Senior | 3.73 | Health & Human Perf. | Shawnee, Kan. |
| Camilla Ossola | Senior | 3.72 | Biology | Gavirate, Italy |
| Braile Bogle | Junior | 3.55 | Biology | Wichita, Kan. |
Sports
No. 7 Ramblers Start Season at No. 2 Rainbow Warriors
LEADING OFF
No. 7 Loyola Chicago opens its 2026 season with a two-match series at No. 2 Hawai’i on Thursday, Jan. 8 and Friday, Jan. 9. First serve for both matches is set for 11 p.m. CT.
QUICK HITS
- Loyola headlines the MIVA conference in the preseason poll; Ryan McElligott, Daniel Fabikovic and Aleksander Sosa tabbed Preseason All-MIVA. The Ramblers were picked seventh in the AVCA Preseason Poll.
- McElligott finished 2025 as both the MIVA and NCAA assists leader, averaging 10.9 per set.
- The Ramblers returned 15 student-athletes and welcomed five new faces, including two freshmen and three transfers.
- Assistant coach Dalton Solbrig lettered four years for the Rainbow Warriors from 2016-19. He was a member of two NCAA Tournament teams, including the national runner-up squad in 2019.
- Head coach Shane Davis enters his 14th season at Loyola, sporting a 289-92 (.759) career record. In his first season back, Davis led the Ramblers to a 25-4 ledger, their fourth MIVA Tournament title and fourth NCAA Tournament berth.
- 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Loyola’s men’s volleyball program, which is home to two of the university’s three NCAA national championship titles.
SCOUTING REPORT
Hawai’i kicked off its season with a two-match series sweep of NJIT (Jan. 2, Jan. 4), in which sophomore opposite Kristian Titriyski combined for 23 kills on .438 hitting. The 6-foot-8 Bulgarian national added five service aces against NJIT. As a team, the Rainbow Warriors hit .517 in both matches. Junior setter Tread Rosenthal led each match in assists, recording 26 in the first and 30 in the rematch. He also contributed 11 total blocks across the series.
Head coach Charlie Wade entered his 17th season at the helm of the program and boasts a 321-131 career record at Hawai’i. Last season, he led the Rainbow Warriors to their fourth overall Big West Tournament title and 10th NCAA Tournament appearance.
SERIES HISTORY
The Rainbow Warriors lead the all-time series, 13-3, with the Ramblers and are 12-3 at home against the MIVA opponent. In their last meeting, Loyola left Hawai’i 1-1 after falling 3-0 in match one then taking the second in a five-set thriller. This year’s two-match series marks Davis’ 11th overall matchup against Hawai’i, and his fifth as head coach.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Stream both matches on ESPN+. Follow men’s volleyball on Instagram and X @RamblersMVB for in-game updates.
Sports
South Tahoe High School graduate completes first year as NCAA Division I university head volleyball coach

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – For Shawn McLaughlin, a South Lake Tahoe native, being part of a team was something that came naturally.
Growing up in Tahoe, McLaughlin was accustomed to community involvement, watching as his father coached track and eventually varsity volleyball as the head coach at George Whittell High School.
“I used to joke that I was the youngest assistant coach in the country,” said McLaughlin. “I would just go around and help him keep stats.”
McLaughlin’s father was extremely successful as head volleyball coach, going on to win several state championships over his 18-year run at both Whittell and South Tahoe High Schools, allowing McLaughlin the opportunity to find interest in following in his footsteps.
Playing volleyball throughout his school years, McLaughlin was also part of a junior club team in the Bay Area before going on to play varsity volleyball at Lindenwood University in St. Louis.
After graduating from college, McLaughlin started volunteer coaching at a number of different schools including UC Davis, University of Nevada, Reno, University of the Incarnate Word, and more all around the country.
“My dad had a huge impact on my wanting to coach,” McLaughlin said, and pretty early on, he determined that a career in education was the direction he wanted to go in. “Volleyball is my means, in education, in growth and learning. I’ve always loved that element and I think that’s part of the reason that coaching has gone the way it’s gone.”
Among McLaughlin’s accomplishments, he brought many teams to their national tournaments through the club ranks. In addition, he won gold in 2014 at the USA Volleyball Junior National in 14’s USA. In terms of college, he’s been coaching for 15 years, winning several conference championships and attending the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament several times.
En route to becoming a Division I (D-I) coach, the opportunity presented itself in the form of his father running a club and bringing in college coaches.
“One of the coaches he brought in was Jamie Holmes, she was at UC Davis. I approached her and said ‘How do I get into this?’ and she said, ‘come be my volunteer,’” said McLaughlin. “It was a great start to my program and a great start to my career and that pushed me into the rest of it.”
McLaughlin is now in his first headcoaching opportunity at Lehigh University, a D-I school in Pennsylvania, and with his first year completed, the competitive program is allowing him to utilize the skills he’s learned over the years assisting other D-I coaches. “Now this is my opportunity to be super successful and to run my own ship.”

Despite suffering a major injury, his team was still able to overcome adversity and make it to the Patriot League Tournament, an unprecedented accomplishment for Lehigh.
“I think 2026 could be a really fun year for this team,” added McLaughlin, and with seven seniors on the team, they are striving to be victorious.
Although McLaughlin is now soaring high as head coach, he doesn’t forget his roots, and continues to return to South Lake Tahoe every Christmas.
“[South Lake Tahoe] is one of the best places in the world to grow up. It’s also a very active community,” McLaughlin said. “It’s just home. It still feels like home to me.”
Sports
What is LOVB? 2026 pro volleyball preview, rosters and what to expect
Jan. 7, 2026, 6:02 a.m. ET
If you’re still feeling the excitement of Texas A&M women’s volleyball’s first national title in program history, then look no further than League One Volleyball (LOVB) to serve up more elite action.
The second season of LOVB (pronounced “love”) gets underway Wednesday, Jan. 7, and opening week is filled with five marquee matchups, including a semifinal rematch Sunday between LOVB Atlanta and LOVB Austin, the defending champions.
A handful of All-American collegiate stars will make their professional debuts, including a trio that played in the NCAA title match. Texas A&M opposite hitter Logan Lednicky signed with LOVB Houston and middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla LOVB Salt Lake. Kentucky outside hitter Eva Hudson heads to LOVB Atlanta.
The players on LOVB’s six teams have a combined 21 NCAA Division I titles, 101 AVCA All-American awards and 23 Olympic medals. Here’s what you need to know ahead of season two:

College stars will add instant impact
Here’s a handful of college players that will begin their rookie season:
- Rebekah Allick, Nebraska, LOVB Madison: The 6-4 middle blocker racked up a team-high 128 blocks (19 solo) and 259 kills on .450 hitting. She was named AVCA second-team All-American.
- Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, Texas A&M, LOVB Salt Lake: The 6-foot-2 middle blocker lead the nation with 199 total blocks (22 solo) and had a team-high 1.69 blocks per set. The AVCA first-team All-American was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team.
- Eva Hudson, Kentucky, LOVB Atlanta: The 6-1 outside hitter was named the SEC Player of the Year after hitting .319 with 4.59 kills per set and 546 total kills. She was a finalist for national player of the year finalist after leading Kentucky to the 2025 title game.
- Logan Lednicky, Texas A&M, LOVB Houston: The 6-3 opposite hitter led the Aggies’ championship squad in points (534), kills (467) and kills per set (4.10) and hit .310. She recorded double-digit kills in 29 of 33 matches her senior season and was named a AVCA second-team All-American.
- Bailey Miller, Arizona State, LOVB Austin: The 6-foot-3 outside hitter was named first-team All-Big 12 after recording 462.5 points, 392 kills, 3.29 kills per set and 39 service aces.
- Maya Sands, Missouri, LOVB Houston: The 5-foot-7 Illinois native was named the SEC Libero of the Year after recording 511 digs, including a career-high 32 against South Carolina on Oct. 24. She also had 108 assists.
LOVB Austin reloads ahead of title defense
Despite finishing the regular season with a 5-11 record, LOVB Austin got hot in the postseason and cemented itself as the inaugural champion. They did so with reverse sweeps of LOVB Salt Lake in the quarterfinals and top-seeded LOVB Atlanta in the semifinals, before taking down LOVB Omaha in the title match behind dominant performances by Logan Eggleston (22 points) and Madisen Skinner (21 points). Skinner, who finished the season ranked fourth overall in points (227) and kills (201), was named the Finals MVP.
Skinner and Eggleston are among 10 players returning as LOVB Austin looks to defend its title. Skinner, Eggleston, Asjia O’Neal, Zoe Jarvis and newcomer Bella Bergmark all won an NCAA title together at Texas in 2022. Skinner, Bergmark and O’Neal successfully defended the Longhorn’s title in 2023. Skinner, who also won a NCAA title with Kentucky in 2020, has won four championships in the past five years.
LOVB Austin suffered a major offseason blow after Chiaka Ogbogu, the middle blocker of the year with a league-high 53 blocks, accepted an offer to play in Turkey. But head coach Erik Sullivan will rely on Molly McCage and O’Neal to shore up Austin’s league-leading defense. McCage had 39 blocks last year, fourth in the league. Austin has the talent to pull off a repeat, but it’s paramount they get off to a better start.
LOVB Nebraska looks to continue momentum
LOVB Austin wasn’t the only team to undergo a dramatic postseason turnaround. LOVB Nebraska (formerly LOVB Omaha) finished at the bottom of the standings with a 5-11 record, but went on a Cinderella run in the playoffs. LOVB Nebraska took out LOVB Madison in the quarterfinals and reverse swept LOVB Houston in the semifinals. LOVB Nebraska was subsequently swept in the finals by LOVB Austin, but its deep playoff run highlighted the team’s potential.
LOVB Nebraska will be led by team co-owner Jordan Larson, who finished top 5 in the league in aces (14). She’s not the only Nebraska alum. Libero Lexi Rodriguez is returning and will look to take on a more prominent role after two-time U.S. Olympic medalist libero Justine Wong-Orantes left to move closer to home.
LOVB Nebraska also signed renowned Brazilian middle blocker Ana Carolina da Silva. The 34-year-old led the Brazilian national team to two Olympic medals — silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics — in addition to two world championships. LOVB Nebraska was the only team shut out of the end of season awards last season, but that’s likely to change if the team can recapture its postseason magic.
LOVB Atlanta seeks redemption
LOVB Atlanta is stacked. The team is made up of three-time Olympic medalist Kelsey Cook, the league’s inaugural MVP, in addition to McKenzie Adams (outside hitter of the year) and Tia Jimerson (who ranked second in blocks with 52). The team dominated the regular season with a 13-3 record, but was upset in the semifinals by LOVB Austin. “There was just a lot left out on the court,” Cook said after the shocking loss.
Another season brings a chance at redemption, although LOVB Atlanta will be without their superstar outside hitter. Cook announced her pregnancy in October out for the 2026 season. Adams is capable of carrying the load, ranked top five among outside hitters in the league last season in points (193), kills (163), digs (146), blocks (20) and aces (10). LOVB Atlanta also added Kentucky grad Eva Hudson, who should fit seamlessly into the lineup after being named the SEC player of the year and a national player of the year finalist.
LOVB is expanding (teams + moms)
LOVB is expanding from six teams to nine next season in 2027, with the addition of LOVB Los Angeles, LOVB Minnesota and LOVB San Francisco, but that’s not the only way to the league is growing. Three-time Olympic medalist Kelsey Cook is one of several LOVB players preparing for motherhood.
Cook (LOVB Atlanta) announced her pregnancy in October and her U.S. national teammate Justine Wong-Orantes (LOVB Houston) is expecting a baby boy in March. In fact, Cook and Wong-Orantes revealed they are due two weeks apart.
LOVB Madison middle blocker Anna Hall is returning to LOVB after giving birth to son Louie last September. Hall revealed she was pregnant with her son during LOVB’s inaugural season.
2026 LOVB team rosters
Here’s a look at each team’s roster, by position:
LOVB Atlanta roster
Head coach: Paulo Coco
- Liberos: Beatrice Negretti, Piyanut Pannoy
- Middle Blockers: Magdalena Jehlarova, Tia Jimerson, Onye Ofoegbu, Jess Robinson
- Outside Hitters: McKenzie Adams, Kelsey Cook, Miroslava Paskova, Julia Sangiacomo, Eva Hudson
- Opposite Hitters: Carly Dehoog, Tessa Grubbs, Ivonee Montano
- Setters: Rachel Fairbanks, Ella May Powell
LOVB Austin roster
Head coach: Erik Sullivan
- Liberos: Kotoe Inoue, Zoe Jarvis
- Setters: Carli Lloyd, Brie O’Reilly
- Outside Hitters: Madi Banks, Logan Eggleston, Leah Hardeman
- Opposite Hitters: Khat Bell, Juliann Faucette, Madisen Skinner, Bailey Miller
- Middle Blockers: Bella Bergmark, Magdalena Jurczyk, Molly McCage, Asjia O’Neal
LOVB Houston roster
Head coach: Sanja Tomašević
- Liberos: Lauren Briseño, Justine Wong-Orantes, Maya Sands
- Middle Blockers: Anita Anwusi, Raphaela Folie, Amber Igiede, Jazmine White,
- Outside Hitters: Julia Brown, Madi Kingdon Rishel, Sara Loda, Jess Mruzik, Karin Palgutova
- Opposite Hitters: Grace Frohling, Jordan Thompson, Logan Lednicky
- Setters: Kaisa Alanko, Micha Hancock
LOVB Madison roster
Head coach: Matt Fuerbringer
- Liberos: Milica Medved, Anna Pogany
- Middle Blockers: Ana Beatriz Correa, Anna Hall, Annayka Legros, Callie Schwarzenbach, Rebekah Allick
- Outside Hitters: Claire Chaussee, Anna Haak, Mariena Hayden, Andrea Mitrovic, Indrė Sorokaitė
- Opposite Hitters: Xiangyu Gong, Temi Thomas-Ailara
- Setters: Lauren Carlini, Argentina Ung
LOVB Nebraska roster
Head coach: Suzie Fritz
- Liberos: Annie Cesar, Lexi Rodriguez
- Middle Blockers: Ana Carolina da Silva, Candelaria Herrera, Emily Thater, Iga Wasilewska
- Outside Hitters: Anne Buijs, Alexis Hart, Jordan Larson, Vicky Savard, Jaali Winters, Julia Hanson
- Opposite Hitters: Kimberly Drewniok, Audriana Fitzmorris
- Setters: Gabby Blossom, Laura Dijkema
LOVB Salt Lake roster
Head coach: Tama Miyashiro
- Liberos: Manami Kojima, Mary Lake
- Middle Blockers: Tori Dixon, Sophie Fischer, Serena Gray, Haleigh Washington, Ifenna Cos-Okpalla
- Outside Hitters: Dani Drews, Alexa Gray, Maddie Haynes, Claire Hoffman, Roni Jones-Perry
- Opposite Hitters: Heidy Casanova, Skylar Fields
- Setters: Madi Bugg, Jordyn Poulter
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Sports
National Finalists Unveil 2026 LMU Beach Volleyball Schedule
LOS ANGELES – The six-time defending West Coast Conference Champions and 2025 NCAA Tournament finalists look to continue to rewrite history this spring. The LMU beach volleyball team, ranked second in the nation to close out last season, has announced the completed schedule for the 2026 season.
The Lions will once again open play at the Hawaii’s OUTRIGGER Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic in a loaded field that features games against Cal, USC, UCLA, Texas, Stanford, and Hawaii over three days in February. Last season, LMU went 5-1 in the opening event at Queen’s Beach.
LMU will make their home debuts on Feb. 27 and 28, hosting Concordia, Long Beach State, Boise State, and CSUN on the LMU Beach Volleyball Courts on campus.
The next two weekends will feature Friday and Saturday matches in Long Beach and Manhattan Beach to begin March.
The Lions return home for a single battle against Concordia on March 20 before heading to Malibu for Saturday matches against Pepperdine and Tulane.
The next three weekends feature travel to Santa Cruz, Tallahassee, then San Luis Obispo.
The final regular season competion returns to campus for home matches against USC, CSUN, and Grand Canyon on April 17-18.
The West Coast Conference Championship returns to Ocean Park Beach in Santa Monica from April 23-24, 2026.
The NCAA Championships will once again be played in Gulf Shores, Ala., from May 1-3, 2026, to determine the National Champion.
All home matches are free to attend this season on LMU’s campus.
Donate Today:
Fans interested in making a contribution to the Lions Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will help provide a transformational student-athlete experience athletically, academically, and culturally for every LMU student-athlete. We appreciate your continued support of LMU Athletics.
Follow Along With The Action:
For complete coverage of Loyola Marymount University athletics, visit LMULions.com. We encourage you to follow along with all the action on social media as well. Follow along by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, and following us on Instagram.
Sports
Tulane Names Derek Schroeder as Volleyball Head Coach
Schroeder brings 17 years of head coaching experience, most recently serving three seasons as the head coach at Jacksonville State. He has amassed a 279-234 career record and secured five conference titles.
“We are thrilled to welcome Derek to our team,” said Harris. “His extensive head coaching experience and proven leadership on the court will be invaluable as we pursue our goals. We believe his track record of success will inspire our student-athletes and elevate our program to new heights.”
During his tenure with Jacksonville State, Schroeder developed two All-Conference USA performers: First Team honoree Kayla Williams and All-Freshman team selection Charlee Solomon. He also helped the Gamecocks increase their win total in each of his three seasons.
“Derek’s impressive coaching background and dedication to player development make him the perfect fit for our program,” said Charvi Greer, Tulane’s Deputy Athletic Director for Student Services and Senior Woman Administrator. “We look forward to his leadership and the positive impact he will bring to Tulane’s success.”
Prior to Jacksonville State, Schroeder led Mercer University’s volleyball program for six seasons. As head coach of the Bears, he earned 81 wins from 2017 to 2022. Notably, in just his second season, he guided Mercer to 16 wins—more than any other Southern Conference season in program history—and secured the program’s first SoCon regular-season titles in 2020 and 2021.
In 2021, Schroeder was named the Southern Conference Coach of the Year, and three Mercer players earned All-SoCon honors, including Libero of the Year Megan Smith.
Schroeder spent eight seasons (2008-16) at the helm of the Samford volleyball program. Prior to his arrival, the program has mustered just single-digit win totals in three of the four previous seasons. He promptly led the team to a 28-5 record, the SoCon North Division title and the finals of the SoCon Championship in his first season. During his time with the Bulldogs, he led the program to 169 wins with seven winning seasons and a pair of trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2011 and 2014.
While leading the Bulldogs, Schroeder posted more than 20 wins four times. He also won the SoCon North Division a total of four times and coached three different SoCon Players of the Year, in addition to a Freshman of the Year honor and one SoCon Libero of the Year.
“I am incredibly honored to join Tulane University and lead its Green Wave volleyball program,” Schroeder said. “I look forward to working with our student-athletes, building a strong team culture, and competing at the highest level. Tulane’s vibrant community and commitment to excellence excite both my wife and I, and we can’t wait to get started in Uptown.”
Schroeder’s coaching career began at Furman in 2003, where he served as an assistant coach for four years. He then spent the 2007 season as an assistant at Saint Louis, leading the Billikens to a 23-7 record before accepting the head coaching position at Samford.
A native of Wheatley, Ontario, Canada, Schroeder is a 1998 graduate of the University of Windsor, earning his bachelor’s degree in human kinetics. He will be joined in Uptown by his wife Jenna and their great dane Luna.
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2026 season at TulaneTix.com. For questions, please contact the Tulane Ticket Office at 504-861-WAVE (9283).
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