CHICAGO – DePaul track and field is ready to return to competition on Saturday, Jan. 10, following a brief hiatus, as the Blue Demons head back to Gately Park. While the meet takes place at DePaul’s home venue, the shared facility will be hosted by Wisconsin this weekend as part of the Badger Midwest Invite. DePaul returns to the Badger Midwest Invite for the third consecutive season with hopes of strong performances on both the track and in the field.
 
The Field
DePaul will compete alongside a local field that includes Ball State, Chicago State, UIC, and Wisconsin. Field events begin at 2 p.m. CT, followed by track events at 3:55 p.m. CT, with finals slated for 5:40 p.m. CT.
 
December Rewind
The Blue Demons carry early momentum into the new year after competing in three December meets at Notre Dame, Boston University, and Gately Indoor. To open the year in South Bend, Ind., Jaiden Gary and Jaiah Hopf earned first-place finishes in the shot put and long jump, respectively, while Katelyn Welsh became DePaul’s first female pole vaulter in program history.
 
In Boston, Vivian Wyller posted a personal-best time of 17:11.22 in the 5,000 meters before an outstanding day for DePaul at its home meet, the Blue Demon Holiday Classic. The meet saw 12 individual event champions crowned, with 21 personal records set during the Blue Demons’ final competition of the 2025 calendar year.
 
Newcomers
To open the 2025–26 DePaul University Winter Quarter, the Blue Demons’ women’s track and field team welcomed two newcomers. Helen Baumgarten, an international product from Germany, enters her redshirt-junior campaign after transferring from New Orleans. The multi-event specialist reunites with first-year DePaul assistant coach Ben Hibbert.
 
Antioch, Ill., native and Ball State transfer Rosie Gonzales joins the Blue Demons as a freshman. Gonzales specializes in distance running and hails from Antioch Community High School, located roughly three miles south of the Illinois-Wisconsin border. Both newcomers join the fray hoping to make an immediate impact.
 
Follow along with DePaul at the Badger Midwest Invite: Live Results | Event Schedule | Blue Demons
 
Up Next
The Blue Demons compete locally at the Cardinal Opener on Saturday, Jan. 17, hosted by North Central College.

Well, thanks to so many of you guys that have come out this morning. We’re excited to, to be here. Um, my name is Kirsten Bernthal Booth. I’m the president of business operations for Love, Nebraska, and we have *** special announcement, um, before we open at home on Sunday. So I’m gonna now turn it over to Jordan Larson for *** few words. Hey everyone, welcome. Um, so I’m gonna kind of read this just because. We’re probably gonna be fumbled, so I’m gonna try to get through it, but I’ve read it probably 10 times, so hopefully, there’s no tears. Um, the season isn’t about an ending. It’s about celebrating that made the journey possible. Oh, after this year, I’ll be stepping away from competitive volleyball, and rather than making this the finish line, I want to spend this season honoring the people, places, and moments that shaped it all. Are you. Every gym, every jersey, every teammate coach, and Van has played *** role, and this year is my way of saying thank you. It’s been I’ve been incredibly fortunate to play this game alongside people who challenged me. Pushed me and supported me and believe in something bigger than myself. None of this would have happened alone. This season is for the shared work, the memories and lessons and for the love of the game that has been constant from the very beginning. So I wanna celebrate together, um, one more season competing, connecting and appreciate just how special this ride has been. Um, grateful for every step and ready for one more. And, um, I think just recognizing how special it is for me to be home and be able to do this in front of *** state that just really loves volleyball and this really isn’t about me. There’s been so many greats that have come on before me and maybe haven’t had. The proper buy to the game and um I hope this is just kind of setting that foundation for others to to follow suit.

CHICAGO – University of Evansville volleyball commit Wren Jones earned a prestigious honor today as she was announced as the 2025-26 Gatorade Arkansas Volleyball Player of the Year following her final season at Conway High School.
 
Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their excellence in sport, academics and community. The award recognizes Jones as Arkansas’ best high school volleyball player, and she joins an elite legacy that spans professional athletes and coaches to CEOs, such as Kerri Walsh Jennings (1995-96, Archbishop Mitty High School, CA), April Ross (1999-00, Newport Harbor High School, CA) and Campbell Flynn (2024-25, Mercy High School, MI). 
 
“Winning a Gatorade Player of the Year award puts Wren in elite company, and we couldn’t be prouder of her,” University of Evansville head volleyball coach Zach Weinberg said. “Winning this award goes beyond what she does on the court; it highlights her academics, her service to her community, and most importantly, her exemplary character. Wren is a phenomenal volleyball player, but an even better human being, and we couldn’t be happier that she is an Ace!”
 
The 5-foot-11 senior outside hitter led the Wampus Cats to a 30-5 record and the Class 6A state championship this past season. Jones compiled 543 kills and 252 digs, including 25 kills and 16 digs in a 3-1 win over Fayetteville High School in the state final. Jones also recorded 51 service aces and 36 blocks while posting a .451 kill percentage. The MVP of the Class 6A state championship match, she concluded her prep volleyball career with 1,228 kills. 
 
Jones has volunteered locally with Community Connections, a nonprofit that works with special needs children. She has also donated her time as a youth volleyball coach and as part of multiple community service initiatives through her church youth group.
 
Jones has maintained a weighted 3.29 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a written letter of athletic aid to play volleyball at the University of Evansville this fall. 
 

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one state winner from each of the 50 states and Washington D.C., in 12 different sports: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, and boys and girls track & field. In total, 610 high school athletes are honored each year. From the pool of state winners, one national winner is selected in each of the 12 sports. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the winners in each sport. 
 

Men’s Volleyball | 1/9/2026 11:00:00 AM

The 2026 Empire 8 men’s volleyball season is set to begin on Saturday, January 10, 2026 with three teams in action. This will be the final season before the Empire 8 officially sponsors men’s volleyball as championship sport in 2027. Seven teams will compete this season with Hartwick College joining the group in their inaugural season. 

Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.

2026 Empire 8 Men’s Volleyball Players to Watch

(Sorted Alphabetically by Team)

 

ELMIRA COLLEGE – Head Coach Eddie Daoreuang

Luke Jata, Jr., OH, Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge – Jata finished the 2025 season with 216 kills and was ninth in the United Volleyball Conference in both kills (2.67) and points (3.49) per set last season

Nick Rohman, So., S, Levittown, NY/Division Avenue – Rohman finished his debut season averaging 6.43 assists per set, totaling 135. He will be looked at to be a leader for the Soaring Eagles in 2026. 

HARTWICK COLLEGE – Head Coach Joshua Bigford

Nate Roorbach, Fr., S, East Aurora, NY/East Aurora – Roorbach is set to take the court for the first time in his collegiate career in 2026. He will be exciting to watch in the Hawks’ debut season. 

Anthony Ruggiero, Fr., OH, Schenectady, NY/Guilderland – Ruggiero will also be playing in his debut season in 2026. He will be expected to take on a big offensive role for the Hawks. 

HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY – Head Coach Mark Corbin

Jerry Buno, So., S, Portland, OH/Skyview – Buno finished his season totaling 260 assists, averaging 3.61 assists per game. Defensively, he totaled 92 digs averaging 1.26 per set. 

Devin Cline, Jr., MH, Belmont, NY, Genesee Valley-Belfast – Cline was a top contributor offensively for the Highlanders last season. He was top-three in kills totaling 102. He averaged 1.55 kills per set. He hadded 12 service aces, 45 digs and 25 blocks in 2025. 

NAZARETH UNIVERSITY – Head Coach Eben Meyer

AJ Burda, Sr., S, Fairport, NY/Fairport – Burda led the Golden Flyers with 712 assists and averaged 7.19 assists per set. He was sixth in the UVC in assists per set. He also finished third on the team in digs totaling 151. 

Ryan Murphy, So., MB, Penfield, NY/Penfield – Murphy had an outstanding first season with the Golden Flyers. He led the team in blocks with 57. He ranked ninth in his conference in hitting percentage with .349. He registered 131 kills and 31 digs on the season. 

SUNY POLY – Head Coach Daniel Short

PJ Gottler, Sr., OH, Buffalo, NY/St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute – Gottler finished his junior season leading the team in kills with 340. He averaged 3.04 kills per set, putting him fifth in his conference, and hit at .275 percent. He was also third in his conference in service aces per set with 0.44 with 41 total. 

Thomas McNulty, Sr., LB, Port Jefferson Station, NY/ Comsewogue – McNulty, the 2025 Empire 8 Co-Libero/Defensive Player of the Year, had a stellar season. He totaled 350 digs, averaging 3.10 digs per set. His dig numbers led his conference. He also had an impressive .939 reception percentage. 

RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE – Reid Hartl

Dylan Fox, Jr., OPP, Albany, NY/Colonie – Fox, the 2024 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year, was a first team E8 all-conference pick last season. He finished is 2025 season with 325 kills and averaged 3.01 kills per set. He addd 164 total digs and 60 blocks. He finished second in his conference in total kills.

Anthony Guetti, So. S, Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa – Guetti finished his debut season with 813 assists and averaged 7.26 assists per set. These numbers put him fifth in his conference. He added 116 digs and 36 blocks on the season. 

ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY – Head Coach Matt Cohen

Casey Jackson, Sr., OH, Spencerport, NY/Spencerport – Jackson played in 88 sets over 27 matches in his 2025 season. He finished third on the team with 154 kills and fourth with 93 digs. He also amassed 21 service aces and 21 total blocks on his way to second team all-E8 honors. 

Sonepith Keoviengsamay, Jr., OH, Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy – Keoviengsamay, the 2024 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year, earned second team all-E8 honors last season after slamming 155 kills while hitting nearly .250 across 68 sets over 23 matches. 

 

Empire 8 Men’s Volleyball Returning All-Americans, All-Region & Major E8 Award Winners

• Dylan Fox, Russell Sage, Jr., OPP, Albany, NY/Colonie – 2024 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year
• Sonepith Keoviengsamay, St. John Fisher, Jr., OH, Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy – 2024 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The Southland Conference (SLC) announced the 2025 Volleyball All-Academic Awards on Friday and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) junior setter Isabella Costantini was named the Student-Athlete of the Year. 
 
Costantini and four teammates – sophomore outside hitter Martina Franco, freshman outside hitter Dimitra Nanou, redshirt sophomore middle blocker Julianna Bryant and senior right side Valentina Sarti Cipriani – all made the All-Academic Team. 
 
To be eligible for the All-Academic Team, volleyball student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or better with at least one semester completed at the nominating institution and must have participated in at least 50% of the team’s matches. To be eligible for Student-Athlete of the Year, the minimum GPA is 3.50 along with the other requirements. 
 
Costantini’s Student-Athlete of the Year award adds to a long list of accolades after UTRGV’s stellar 2025 season. Costantini was named the SLC Setter of the Year and to the All-Conference First Team for the second consecutive season. She made the SLC All-Tournament Team and was a three-time Setter of the Week honoree after helping UTRGV to the regular season championship and the conference tournament championship match. 
 
Costantini finished the season leading the conference with 10.62 assists/set, 57 aces and 0.54 aces/set. She totaled 1,115 assists while facilitating the offense to a program-record .275 hitting percentage. The CSC Academic All-District honoree was a multidisciplinary studies student at UTRGV focusing on kinesiology, biology and nutritional sciences. 
 
Franco, a kinesiology student, was named the SLC Newcomer of the Year and made the All-Conference First Team. She led UTRGV’s versatile offense averaging 3.44 kills/set and totaled 248 kills on .258 hitting in her first season with the Vaqueros. Franco tabbed six double-doubles as she averaged 2.43 digs/set and had three matches with 20+ kills. 
 
Nanou was voted as the SLC Freshman of the Year and made the All-Conference First Team. She tabbed eight double-doubles in her rookie season, recording a team-high 294 kills while averaging 3.09 kills/set on a .275 hitting percentage and 2.61 digs/set. She was second on the team with 39 aces and entered UTRGV’s freshman season record books by collecting top 5 marks in hitting percentage and aces. She is pursuing a degree in biology. 
 
Bryant made the All-Conference Second Team and the All-Tournament Team in her comeback season after her 2024 campaign was cut short due to injury. She led UTRGV averaging 1.03 blocks/set with 96 total blocks and recorded 2.09 kills/set on a .280 hitting percentage. Bryant, a criminal justice student, had six matches with five or more blocks and seven matches with double-digit kills. 
 
Cipriani entered the program record books as she tabbed the third-best single-season hitting percentage of .306 in program history. She contributed 2.53 kills/set and 0.61 blocks/set in her lone season at UTRGV. The mass communication student was extremely efficient, hitting over .400 in six matches and reached double-digit kills in nine contests. Her best hitting performance was a match at Northwestern State, when she collected 10 kills with no errors on 13 attempts for a .769 hitting percentage – the fifth-best single-match mark in program history. 
 
Southland Volleyball All-Academic Awards 
Student-Athlete of the Year: Isabella Costantini, UTRGV
 
All-Academic Team
Isabella Costantini, UTRGV
Martina Franco, UTRGV
Dimitra Nanou, UTRGV
Julianna Bryant, UTRGV
Valentina Sarti Cipriani, UTRGV

Gracie Campbell, East Texas A&M

Rendi Fetty, East Texas A&M

Haley Mullaney, East Texas A&M

Jade Washington, East Texas A&M
Allana Archie, Houston Christian University
Katy Barger, Houston Christian University
Joya Euhus, Houston Christian University
Peyton Fadal, Houston Christian University
Hannah Redrow, Houston Christian University
Alex Beauchamp, UIW
Vanessa Eregie, UIW
Finley Evans, UIW
Kyla Malone, UIW
Alexa Gonzalez, Lamar
Lyric Jordan, Lamar
Hailey McElrath, Lamar
Taisha Rhone, Lamar
Daniella Udegbunam, Lamar
Neal Grace Berry, McNeese
Lauren Fuller, McNeese
Ava Henry, McNeese
Kinga Ziolkowska, McNeese
Vanae Sapp, New Orleans
Alessandra Meoni, New Orleans
Defne Eciroglu, New Orleans
Lani Alleman, New Orleans
Courtney Roundtree, New Orleans
Tierney Terrell, Nicholls
Olivia Bush, Northwestern State
Julia Whitfield, Northwestern State
Emmarie McFarland, Northwestern State
Samaya Wesson, Northwestern State
Makenna Tryon, Northwestern State
India Bennett, Southeastern
Ainsley Driska, Southeastern
Lily Morgan, Southeastern
Alexis Logarbo, Southeastern
Peyton Stokley, Southeastern
Caroline Kahle, Stephen F. Austin
Kyanna Creecy, Stephen F. Austin
Jayden Flynn, Stephen F. Austin
Izabella Ortiz, Stephen F. Austin
Katherine Holtman, Stephen F. Austin

Brooklyn Jaeger, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Virginia Ban Der Werff, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Kenna Buchanan, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Katelyn Krienke, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Kaitlyn Baumann, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

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CONWAY, S.C. — Coastal Carolina signed four student-athletes during the early signing period, announced head coach Steve Loeswick on Friday.

Talia Johnson will enroll early and join the Chanticleers this spring, while Abby Bucey, Isabele Filardo, and Viara Parapunova will join the program for the fall semester.

“We’re incredibly excited to welcome this group into our Coastal volleyball family,” Loeswick said. “This class brings a great balance of size, athleticism, ball control, and international experience; each of these student-athletes fits the culture and competitive mindset we’re building within our program. They are high-level competitors who love the game and are eager to grow, and we can’t wait to get them on campus and in teal.”

Bucey is a 5-foot-7 libero from Tampa, Fla., who attends Plant High School and plays for No Name Volleyball Club. As a sophomore, she helped Plant capture the 2023 Florida High School Athletic Association Class 7A state championship and earn runner-up finishes in each of the following two seasons. She received AAU All-America honors in 2023.

“Abby is an elite-level libero who brings toughness, consistency, and leadership to the backcourt,” Loeswick said. “She reads the game extremely well and has a great platform. Coming from No Name Volleyball Club, she has been trained at a high level and will immediately raise the level of our ball control and defensive culture.”

Filardo is a 6-foot-1 outside hitter from Brazil who attended Vila Militar College and competed on the club circuit for Círculo Militar do Paraná. She led her team to a second-place finish at the 2025 Brazilian National Teams Championships after capturing the title at the 2025 Brazilian Youth Games National Championship.

“Isabele brings a wealth of international experience that is rare at this stage,” Loeswick said. “Competing at a high level both indoors and on the beach while representing Brazil has shaped her into a versatile, skilled and composed athlete. Her physicality and volleyball IQ will be a big asset to our program.”

Johnson is a 6-foot outside hitter from Savannah, Ga., who attends Richmond Hill High School and plays for ClubSAV. She was voted the 2025 Georgia High School Association Class AAAAAA Player of the Year and Co-Offensive Player of the Year. Johnson also earned Georgia Volleyball Coaches Association Class AAAAAA all-state honors. She was selected to the 2024 AVCA All-Region Team after being named to the AVCA Phenom Watch List before the season.

“Talia is a dynamic pin attacker with great size and physicality,” Loeswick said. “She can score in a variety of ways and plays with confidence and intensity. Her work ethic and competitive edge really stood out to us, and we believe she has a high ceiling in our system.”

Parapunova is a 5-foot-11 outside hitter from Bulgaria who helped lead her national team to the 2025 FIVB U19 World Championship and the 2024 CEV U18 European Championship. She also competed for Levski Sofia on the club circuit, helping her team earn a silver medal at the 2025 Bulgarian Cup.

“Viara is a high-level competitor who has already proven herself on the international stage,” Loeswick said. “She plays with speed, intensity and a strong all-around game, and her experience against top global competition will translate well to the collegiate level.”