Sports

Rematch Set for GCC Title Game

Story Links LOS ANGELES – For the third time in four years, eighth-ranked Fresno State and ninth-ranked Loyola Marymount will meet in the title game of the Golden Coast Conference Championship. The second-seeded Bulldogs earned a 19-12 win over third-seed Pacific in the first semifinal at the Burns Aquatic Center […]

Published

1 month ago

April 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LOS ANGELES – For the third time in four years, eighth-ranked Fresno State and ninth-ranked Loyola Marymount will meet in the title game of the Golden Coast Conference Championship.

The second-seeded Bulldogs earned a 19-12 win over third-seed Pacific in the first semifinal at the Burns Aquatic Center of the 2025 GCC Championship. The top-seeded Lions then setup the rematch with a 16-19 win over fourth-seeded San Diego State in the second semifinal in their home pool.

The teams met in last year’s championship and in 2022. Fresno State won both meetings, including a 13-12 overtime win a year ago. The Lions have won the last two regular season meetings, including a 11-9 win in overtime on March 22.

The championship will start at 1 pm with San Diego State and Pacific facing off in the third place game at 11 am.

SEMIFINAL RECAP

Game 1: No. 2 Fresno State 19, No. 3 Pacific 12

Box Score | Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview

No. 8 Fresno State (14-7) used a strong second half to pull away from No. 21 Pacific (13-10) to earn a 19-12 win in the first semifinal on Saturday. They have been to five straight finals, winning the last four.

Fresno State’s Brooke Ochoa led the scoring frenzy with an impressive seven goals, adding three assists for a 10-point day. Hailey Andress, Caitlyn Mossman, Abbey Simshauser, and Sidney Strickland each tallied two goals for the Bulldogs, showcasing a balanced offensive attack throughout the match.

On the other side, Pacific’s Dora Alaksza and Hila Futorian each found the back of the net four times. Alicia Petkov, Addison McGowan, and Lily Van Putten added to the Tigers’ tally.

The match started with both teams exchanging goals, but Fresno State gradually built up their lead, finishing the first quarter ahead 4-3. They maintained their momentum, ending the second quarter 7-5, before exploding for seven goals in the third period, which solidified their victory.

Pacific’s goalie Maja Lizy Dulic made eight saves, while Fresno State’s Ida Tully-Giles recorded five.

Game 2: No. 1 LMU 16, No. 4 San Diego State 10

Box Score | Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview

No. 9 Loyola Marymount (19-11) outscored San Diego State (15-14) 8-2 in the final quarter and a half to close out a 16-10 victory at the Burns Aquatics Center in Los Angeles. Yanah Gerber led the Lions with seven goals.

The match began with LMU establishing an early lead, scoring six goals in the first period alone, while SDSU managed to net four goals. The Lions’ Ruth Arino Ruiz and Sophia DeMattia contributed significantly to the early lead, combining for three critical goals, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

Despite SDSU’s efforts, including multiple goals from Shannon Murphy and Sammi Byers, they trailed at halftime, 8-5.

The Aztecs opened the third quarter with three straight goals to tie the game at 8-8 on a Mimi Stoupas goal with 5:17 to play in the third quarter. The Lions then answered with four straight of their own to take the lead for good.

SDSUs Mandy Lagerlof kept the Aztecs in it early, making 12. Alyssa Barnuevo had 11 saves for LMU.

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Sports

Transgender athlete AB Hernandez shares 2 California state titles

Trump signs executive order banning trans women from sports teams President Trump signed an executive order barring transgender women and girls from playing on school sports teams. The California Interscholastic Federation crowned two champions in a pair of events at Saturday’s state high school track and field meet when transgender athlete AB Hernandez placed first […]

Published

52 minutes ago

June 2, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The California Interscholastic Federation crowned two champions in a pair of events at Saturday’s state high school track and field meet when transgender athlete AB Hernandez placed first in the high jump and triple jump – and finished second in the long jump.

Hernandez shared the podium with her cisgender competitors following a rule change enacted last week that allowed athletes assigned female at birth to receive medals based on where they would have finished if a transgender athlete had not competed.

The awards ceremonies after the events did not produce any protests or disruptions – according to New York Times reporting from the meet in Clovis, California – as some had feared if Hernandez won a state title.

Hernandez and Brooke White of River City High School celebrated on the podium after the long jump as they “put their arms around each other, held their medals out from their chests and smiled for photos.”

Despite isolated protests outside and inside the stadium, cheers largely drowned them out, the Times reported.

Hernandez also was part of a three-way tie for first in the high jump after all three competitors cleared the same height.

The rule change was made after President Donald Trump demanded that Hernandez – a 16-year-old junior at Jurupa Valley High School in Riverside County – not be allowed to compete in girls track and field events at the state meet. Trump threatened to withhold federal funds to the state if it did not comply with an executive order he signed Feb. 5 seeking to bar transgender student athletes from playing women’s sports.

State athletics officials drafted the new rule to allow additional female athletes to take part in events in which a transgender athlete was competing.

“The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law and Education Code,” the federation said in a statement.

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Sports

Chavez named head volleyball coach at GRHS

Glen Roses Kelsi Chavez was named the new head volleyball coach at Glen Rose HS last month, replacing Sandy Langford, who accepted the head volleyball position at Nocona. Photo Credit: Jay Hinton photo Jay Hinton Glen Rose Reporter GLEN ROSE — When Kelsi Chavez was named the head volleyball coach at Glen Rose High School […]

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2 hours ago

June 2, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Jay Hinton Glen Rose Reporter GLEN ROSE — When Kelsi Chavez was named the head volleyball coach at Glen Rose High School last month, she…

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Sports

Transgender runner repeats as Washington high school (WIAA) state track and field champion

Amid spectator boos and jeers, and fellow student-athletes’ protests, East Valley of Spokane transgender senior Veronica Garcia accomplished what she set out to do – win another Class 2A girls 400-meter dash at the WIAA championships in Tacoma. As the defending champion, Garcia led from near-start to finish Saturday afternoon in winning the race in […]

Published

2 hours ago

June 2, 2025

Your Sports Nation

As the defending champion, Garcia led from near-start to finish Saturday afternoon in winning the race in 55.70 seconds at Mount Tahoma Stadium.

League rival Lauren Matthew, of West Valley of Spokane, finished second at 56.75. Cedarcrest’s Lydia Swenson was third at 57.72.

And yet, what should’ve been a joyous occasion for any repeat state-meet winner, Garcia was met by a wave of loud boss and leave-girls-sports-to-girls remarks from spectators sitting in the grandstands and standing around the infield fences, according to observers.

On the awards’ stand afterward, a couple the podium finishers refused to share the spotlight with Garcia as the event champion.

Another group of competing athletes wore T-shirts that read, “Keep Women’s Sports Female.”

After Garcia finished her day in the girls’ 4×400 relay, she spoke to a group of media members, including reporters from the (Spokane) Spokesman-Review, (Vancouver) Columbian, The Seattle Times and the (Tacoma) News Tribune.

“I’m really proud of myself,” Garcia told reporters. “I did what I came to do, and that’s good enough for me.”

For nearly two decades, the WIAA has allowed transgender students to compete in athletics, and in the gender-specific divisions in which they identify personally.

In other words, Garcia broke no rules Saturday. But that didn’t stop the loud sirens of disapproval shown by others in the stadium.

“I’ll be honest, I kind of expect it,” Garcia told reporters. “But it maybe didn’t have their intended effect. It made me angry, but not angry as in, ‘I wanted to give up,’ but angry as in, ‘I’m going to push.'”

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Sports

Dodgers Place Luis Garcia On 15

The Dodgers have placed right-hander Luis Garcia on the 15-day injured list due to a right adductor strain. The placement is retroactive to May 29. Righty Noah Davis was called up from Triple-A in the corresponding move. Now in his 13th Major League season, Garcia has a 4.50 ERA in 26 innings for Los Angeles, […]

Published

2 hours ago

June 2, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Dodgers have placed right-hander Luis Garcia on the 15-day injured list due to a right adductor strain. The placement is retroactive to May 29. Righty Noah Davis was called up from Triple-A in the corresponding move.

Now in his 13th Major League season, Garcia has a 4.50 ERA in 26 innings for Los Angeles, along with a below-average 19.8% strikeout rate and an ungainly 12.9% walk rate. Garcia’s 4.13 SIERA is a bit more favorable since the groundball specialist has been hampered by a .364 BABIP, but he is also allowing a lot of hard contact.

Garcia signed a minor league contract with L.A. in February and locked in $1.5MM in guaranteed salary when that contract was selected in advance of the Dodgers’ early Opening Day in Tokyo. While his results have been up and down over his lengthy career, Garcia has generally been pretty durable, which probably helped his bid to make the team given the injury woes that have only worsened for the Dodgers’ pitching staff as the season has developed.

Incredibly, Garcia is the 15th pitcher currently on the team’s injured list. (That number could be viewed as 16, if you consider that Shohei Ohtani is still going through his pitching rehab.) Some help may be coming soon, as manager Dave Roberts told MLB.com’s Sonja Chen and other media today that relievers Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates could both be activated within the next week.

Getting those two quality bullpen arms back is a nice boost for the team, but needless to say, pitching health is once again a major subplot of the Dodgers’ season. While the elite L.A. offense has carried the Dodgers back to first place in the NL West, pitching figures to be a deadline need for Los Angeles regardless of how many hurlers have returned from the IL by July 31.

Sports

Mars, Seneca Valley and more first-round matchups – Butler Eagle

Mars’ Sean Brennan (19) with a shot on goal against Bethel Park in a WPIAL Class 2A boys lacrosse quarterfinal game Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Mars wins 18-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle The PIAA released the 2025 state baseball, softball, boys volleyball and boys and girls lacrosse brackets this weekend. […]

Published

2 hours ago

June 2, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The PIAA released the 2025 state baseball, softball, boys volleyball and boys and girls lacrosse brackets this weekend.

Four Butler County teams have made states, which begin Monday. Nine-time WPIAL champion Mars boys lacrosse is seeking a fifth straight PIAA title game appearance, and is joined by the girls team, which just won its third straight WPIAL title.

This marks the eighth time that Seneca Valley’s baseball team has made the state tournament and the first since 2014. The Raiders’ boys volleyball team is aiming to make a run after falling short in the WPIAL title match.

Here are the first-round matchups, sites and times for every Butler County team.

Related Article: PIAA baseball: Seneca Valley to square off with McDowell in opening round

Related Article: WPIAL boys volleyball: North Allegheny denies Seneca Valley first gold in Class 3A championship

PIAA baseball tournament: Local matchups, sites, times

Monday, June 2

4 — Class 6A first round: McDowell at Seneca Valley

PIAA boys lacrosse tournament: Local matchups, sites, times

Tuesday, June 3

6:30 — Class 2A first round: Lower Dauphin at Mars

PIAA girls lacrosse tournament: Local matchups, sites, times

Tuesday, June 3

5 — Class 2A first round: Twin Valley at Mars

PIAA boys volleyball tournament: Local matchups, sites, times

Tuesday, June 3

5:30 — Class 3A first round: Seneca Valley at Central York

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Sports

Michigan State Athletics

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State head volleyball coach Kristen Kelsay has rounded out her staff for the 2025 season, announcing the additions of Matt Jackson as an assistant coach and four-year Spartan letterwinner Julia Bishop as a graduate assistant Sunday. “I am thrilled to add Matt and Julia to our staff,” said Kelsay. “Matt is […]

Published

3 hours ago

June 2, 2025

Your Sports Nation

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State head volleyball coach Kristen Kelsay has rounded out her staff for the 2025 season, announcing the additions of Matt Jackson as an assistant coach and four-year Spartan letterwinner Julia Bishop as a graduate assistant Sunday.

“I am thrilled to add Matt and Julia to our staff,” said Kelsay. “Matt is a welcome addition to our Spartan family and the perfect piece to round out our coaching staff. Julia is a Spartan through and through and I cannot wait to see her coaching career flourish, starting with her alma mater.”

Big time in the 517!

Completing our coaching staff is Matt Jackson as our assistant coach and Julia Bishop as our graduate assistant!#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/BP8AEGITiM

— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) June 1, 2025

Jackson arrives in East Lansing after serving as a club coach at Winter Park Volleyball Club in Winter Park, Florida, since 2014. At WPVC, Jackson worked as a head coach for players between the ages of 12 and 18 and also worked as WPVC’s lead mentor, leading a group of 25 mentors.

Since 2023, Jackson has served as the program lead at West Orange High School in Winter Garden, Florida, coaching both the varsity and freshman volleyball teams.

Jackson, who hails from Ococee, Florida, holds VertiMax and USA Volleyball IMPACT certifications. He graduated from the University of Central Florida in December 2018 with a degree in sport and exercise science and was a setter on UCF’s club volleyball team.

“I am thrilled to be joining Michigan State at such an exciting time with the return of head coach Kristen Kelsay to the program and such an amazing staff,” said Jackson. “I am looking forward to joining MSU at a time where things are on the up and can’t wait to see where we can take this program. I would like to thank Coach Kristen for giving me an opportunity to join this staff and Coach Aaron and Shawna from WPVC for giving me a platform to grow as a coach and be ready for this opportunity.”

Bishop, a setter at MSU from 2021-24, finished her career as one of just five three-time captains in program history. In four seasons, she logged 1,761 assists, 572 digs, 131 kills and 56 service aces. Last October, Bishop was named one of 18 recipients of the American Volleyball Association (AVCA) Coaches 4 Coaches Scholarship, awarded to young coaches and recent college graduates who have interest in coaching volleyball. She was the only active undergraduate student-athlete to earn the scholarship in 2024.

The Dearborn, Michigan, native is the owner of Zone1 Volleyball Training, where she attends and coaches interscholastic volleyball camps throughout the state of Michigan.

Bishop graduated from MSU with a degree in computational data science this spring. She is a three-time College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honoree, three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and 2023 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.

“I’m incredibly grateful and excited to be joining the Michigan State volleyball staff,” said Bishop. “It is a privilege to come back in this new role and contribute to a program and university that have given me so much. I’d like to thank Coach Kristen Kelsay and the entire staff for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I am thrilled to start this next chapter! Go Green!”

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