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Republicans focus on trans athletes in their early attacks against Jon Ossoff in Georgia

In the early stages of the campaign, Republicans seeking to unseat Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff in one of the key races of the 2026 midterm elections are leaning heavily into attacks over transgender athletes in women’s sports. Two GOP-aligned groups launched ads on the issue in recent weeks. And GOP Rep. Buddy Carter hit the […]

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Republicans focus on trans athletes in their early attacks against Jon Ossoff in Georgia

In the early stages of the campaign, Republicans seeking to unseat Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff in one of the key races of the 2026 midterm elections are leaning heavily into attacks over transgender athletes in women’s sports.

Two GOP-aligned groups launched ads on the issue in recent weeks. And GOP Rep. Buddy Carter hit the airwaves with an ad prodding Ossoff on the issue soon after launching his campaign.

Republican candidates and campaigns have frequently leaned on culture war issues in recent years as a way to excite the base and frame Democrats as out of touch, particularly in red-leaning states. And they’re even more emboldened after President Donald Trump bombarded then-Vice President Kamala Harris with an onslaught of ads that attacked her support for transgender people during the 2024 election.

But while Democrats are gearing up for a difficult re-election fight for Ossoff in a state Trump won narrowly in 2024, they think the issue will be drowned out by voters’ concerns about the economy, particularly Trump’s handling of it. Even so, it’s an issue for which Democrats lack a consensus about how to respond to GOP broadsides, as prominent members of the party grapple with whether to embrace protecting the transgender community as part of their values, deflect the question, or come out against including transgender athletes in women’s sports.

Ossoff is the only Democratic incumbent defending a seat in a state Trump won last year, making him far-and-away the top target for Senate Republicans. Still, some Republicans admit that Ossoff will be difficult to beat, particularly now that Gov. Brian Kemp decided not to seek the seat.

The early Republican criticism of Ossoff points to the Democratic senator’s vote against legislation in February that would make it a Title IX violation (jeopardizing federal education funding) for states to allow transgender women and girls to participate in female sports. The bill failed to get the 60 votes it needed to advance in the Senate.

One Nation, the nonprofit aligned with Senate Republicans’ main super PAC, has spent at least $400,000 airing an ad reminiscent of a key tagline from one of Trump’s anti-Harris ads from last year: “Man-to-man defense isn’t woke enough for Ossoff, he’s playing for they/them.”

Carter’s opening salvo of ads included a spot touting the congressman’s MAGA credentials while a person purporting to be a transgender woman holds sports trophies and stands in front of a transgender pride flag talking about how Ossoff has been an ally to the community.

Asked about the GOP criticism of that vote, Ossoff campaign communications director Ellie Dougherty told NBC News in a statement that “American parents don’t need federal bureaucrats confirming our children’s genitalia,” a reference to how a state might enforce the mandate in the Republican bill.

Scott Paradise, who managed Republican Herschel Walker’s losing Senate campaign in 2022, told NBC News that Ossoff’s first Senate run in 2020 provided a “perfect storm” that allowed Ossoff to position himself as a “centrist” by narrowing his focus to “bread-and-butter issues.”

“If he’s talking about the economy or he’s talking about moments where he has stood with the right — whether it’s Middle East, to the extent he has on immigration — it’s easier for him to muddy the waters. But this is such a black-and-white issue in a center-right state” that allows Republicans to try to frame him as out of step, Paradise said.

Polling broadly shows the American public doesn’t support transgender women playing in female sports. Last month’s NBC News Stay Tuned Poll, powered by SurveyMonkey found that 75% opposed it and 25% supported it. Other national polling has found similar trends.

That’s one reason why Trump’s campaign focused heavily on the issue in ads, arguing that Harris was outside the mainstream and pointing to her past support for gender-affirming treatments for prison inmates. After the election, Democrats have disagreed over whether the party’s position on transgender rights, particularly in women’s sports, cost them electorally.

Asked about the attacks last month during an interview on “Political Breakfast,” a podcast hosted by Georgia’s public radio affiliate, Ossoff said the big early spending is a signal to him that “demonstrates the national GOP understands the strength that I’ll be bringing to this re-election campaign.”

The Democrat called Republicans, particularly GOP political consultants, “obsessed and preoccupied with this issue.”

Thinking ahead about “top of mind” issues for voters in 2026, Ossoff added, will it be “whether or not federal bureaucrats are investigating the sexual biology of adolescent athletes? I don’t think so,” he added.

Amy Morton, a Democratic strategist in Georgia, elaborated that she believes the midterms will instead be a “referendum on the economy” and Trump’s handling of it, emphasizing the Democratic attacks on the GOP’s broad policy bill that’s working its way through Congress.

“They’re going to continue to lean into that issue because they don’t want to talk about the issues that are really impacting Georgians,” she said, adding, “They made a strategic decision to wrap their arms around Donald Trump so there won’t be a degree of separation between his failure as an executive and their failure.”

A Democratic strategist who worked on Sen. Raphael Warnock’s successful re-election in Georgia in 2022 added that, like their former boss, Ossoff’s high-profile elections have helped to define him in the state, making them skeptical that a GOP attempt to brand him as extreme will stick. They added that while Warnock’s 2022 Republican opponent, Herschel Walker, leaned heavily on social issues during his unsuccessful bid, Kemp won comfortably with a very different message on the same ballot, showing how a campaign can focus on the issues it wants and leave others to the side.

“You saw Brian Kemp run an extremely disciplined race on the economy. You were hard-pressed to get Kemp on the record about abortion in 2022 — the man was laser-focused on small businesses, jobs and the economy. That was the consistent message you heard out of Brian Kemp. You compare that to Herschel Walker and, you can do the math: 300,000 votes,” the Democrat said.

But the economy was also a top issue in the 2024 election, and Trump and the Republican Party still managed to turn their attacks on trans issues into a memorable tagline that stuck with some voters. That’s why one national Republican strategist told NBC News that the attack isn’t a “replacement” for a cogent economic argument, but “part of the equation.”

“It’s an issue that obviously had a massive impact in 2024. The Trump campaign’s ‘Harris is for they/them’ ad is one of the greatest ads of our generation in that it’s so simple and was so effective,” the strategist said.

Ads about transgender participants in women’s sports can run “on top of: Oh, he also voted to help ensure that illegal immigrants get government-paid health care and he voted against the Laken Riley amendment in 2024 before it was convenient,” the strategist added.

While the transgender sports attacks are drawing headlines, both sides have been running ads focused on spending in Washington, too. Democrats have attacked the GOP’s policy bill working its way through Washington, and Republicans hit Ossoff for backing former President Joe Biden’s signature spending bill in 2022.

Tharon Johnson, a Georgia Democratic strategist who worked for Biden’s 2020 campaign in the state, agreed that Republicans are “going to be hard-pressed to make Jon Ossoff into this radical,” in part because of his work both in office and on the campaign trail.

And while he believes the situation Harris found herself in last year isn’t the same one Ossoff finds himself in now, he said Democrats can still draw a lesson from it: “Respond sooner, and more effectively.”

So far, Ossoff’s response has been to stay focused on the economy and try to frame the debate as about local control.

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Who are the golden girls of Water Polo – The stories of the 15 Women who took Greece to the Top of the World

Is water polo our national sport? Based on our successes at both the club and national levels, it just might be. Greece has won Champions League titles in men’s and women’s water polo and has also achieved major successes with the national teams. Water polo is the only sport in the country with Olympic medals […]

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Is water polo our national sport? Based on our successes at both the club and national levels, it just might be.

Greece has won Champions League titles in men’s and women’s water polo and has also achieved major successes with the national teams.

Water polo is the only sport in the country with Olympic medals – both in men’s and women’s competitions. In 2004 in Athens, the women took silver, and the men did the same in 2021 in Tokyo.

Greece now has two gold medals in Women’s World Championships and four medals in the Men’s. These triumphs began in the 1990s and continue to this day.

The girls who won gold at the World Championship in Singapore grew up with youth national team successes, inspired by past generations that made history in major tournaments.

In Greece, water polo is a… family sport. If the father played polo, the son or daughter is likely to play too. In the Singapore squad, girls like Maria Patra, Dionysia Koureta, Stefania Santa, and Athina Giannopoulou come from polo families.

Here are the 15 women who made history in Singapore:

Ioanna Stamatopoulou

Born in Piraeus with roots in Ilia, Ioanna will one day tell her children about winning gold at the World Championship and being voted Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.
She starred in the knockout rounds, especially in the final.
She started at Ethnikos and moved early to Olympiacos, where she made history in Greece and Europe, forming a long-standing duo with Chrysoula Diamantopoulou.
Now 27, she plays for Alimos.

Eleftheria Plevritou

The captain. She’s won nearly everything—except for an Olympic medal, which she hopes to claim in Los Angeles.
A brilliant attacker with sharp game sense, despite being only 28. She moved to Piraeus from Thessaloniki as a teen with her family.
Her older sister Margarita was a former national team captain, and her younger sister Vasiliki is also a world champion.
She played for years at Olympiacos, dominating Greece and Europe, and recently moved to Ferencváros in Budapest.
She studied Shipping at Piraeus University and considers coach Haris Pavlidis a second father.

Fotini Triha

What can one say about Fotini Triha? Only 20 years old and already a world champion.
She was also the tournament’s top scorer with 25 goals.
She scored 6 goals against Hungary in the opener, 5 against both Croatia and France—unstoppable.
She transferred from Nireas Chalandriou to Olympiacos and was coached by Olympic silver medalist Eftychia Karagianni.
She began playing in Marousi.

Stefania Santa

The apple didn’t fall far from the tree—daughter of Petre Santa, a legendary left-hander in Greek water polo.
Born in Romania, she has lived most of her life in Greece and proudly wears the blue and white.
Now 21, she plays for Olympiacos and is known for her powerful shot and playmaking skills.

Athina Giannopoulou

Daughter of Akis Giannopoulos, a goalkeeper for A.N.O. Glyfada’s historic team.
She helped Vouliagmeni win the Greek Championship and will play for Spain’s Sabadell next season.
She’s a scoring attacker, currently studying Business Administration, and speaks Spanish.
Her uncle is Kyriakos Giannopoulos, president of the Greek Swimming Federation.

Eleni Xenaki

A top-class center forward and left-hander—an invaluable combo in water polo.
Voted MVP of the final against Hungary.
Her mother, Mary Voulgari, also played polo at Ethnikos, but Eleni has long surpassed her.
A product of Vouliagmeni, she also played for Olympiacos and returned to N.O.V., with whom she won this year’s championship.

Eirini Ninou

A prolific scorer, started at Olympiacos and later played for Vouliagmeni, Glyfada, and Ethnikos.
She dreamed of being a polo player and studying architecture. At 16, she debuted in the World Championship in South Korea. Now, at 23, she’s a world champion.
She admires Giannis Antetokounmpo and reads Dan Brown religiously.

Maria Patra

Daughter of Vangelis Patras, a former star goalkeeper.
Unlike her father, she plays in defense and excels there.
She started at Panionios, spent years at Vouliagmeni, and now plays for Alimos.

Christina Siouti

A 21-year-old from Olympiacos’ youth system.
Began at Milon Neas Smyrnis, learned defense and goal-scoring early.
Plays with No. 7 at Olympiacos, No. 9 for Greece.
She played in the World Championship with a broken toe—an inspiring display.
She’s studying medicine.

Vasiliki Plevritou

The youngest of the Plevritou sisters.
The only one still playing for Olympiacos, she came from Thessaloniki as a little girl and became one of Europe’s best.
Known for her finesse shots and raw power.
On her sixth World Championship appearance, she finally reached the top.
She studies dentistry.

Sofia Tornarou

Another Olympiacos product who was trusted early by coach Haris Pavlidis.
Now 21, she also played for Ethnikos and Nireas Chalandriou.
Started as a center forward but now plays defense.

Maria Myriokefalitaki

Her powerful 6-meter goal against Australia secured Greece’s semifinal spot.
She cried after the goal, moving the entire nation.
At 24, she’s a dominant center forward from Rethymno, playing for Olympiacos.
Wins ejections, scores goals, defends hard, and follows coach Antonis Vlontakis’ every instruction.

Alexia-Eugenia Tzourka

The second goalkeeper of the national team.
She joined for the World Cup in China and won gold on Easter Day.
Plays for Ethnikos, 28 years old. This was her World Championship debut.
She celebrated her birthday (July 23) with a gold medal—what better gift?

Dionysia Koureta

A rising talent from Patras, daughter of former NOP and Olympiacos player Michalis Koureta, now a referee.
Her uncle is Thessaly governor Dimitris Koureta.
A center forward, she plays for Olympiacos.
This was her first World Championship, and she’s also played for NE Patras and Glyfada.

Nefeli Krassa

The youngest player on the team, born in January 2008—still not 17.
Coach Haris Pavlidis included her in the squad for the first time in a World Championship, and she’s proven her potential with the youth national teams.
Now, she’s a world champion.
She plays for Nautical Club of Vouliagmeni.

These 15 remarkable athletes brought glory to Greece—each with a unique story, yet all bound by talent, resilience, and the love of the game.

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USOPC Follows Trump Order Banning Trans Athletes in Women’s Sports

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee updated its official policy Monday to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports across all of its governing bodies. The USOPC changed its stance citing President Trump’s February executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The Department of Justice has sued Maine and California for policies it […]

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The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee updated its official policy Monday to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports across all of its governing bodies.

The USOPC changed its stance citing President Trump’s February executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The Department of Justice has sued Maine and California for policies it says violate the executive order and Title IX.

The committee quietly published its policy on its website Monday before confirming it in an email to member organizations the next day.

“The USOPC is committed to protecting opportunities for athletes participating in sport,” the new policy reads. “The USOPC will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders with oversight responsibilities, e.g., IOC, IPC, NGBs, to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act, 36 U.S.C § 22501, et. seq.”

The Ted Stevens Act, initially passed in 1978 but amended several times since, established the USOPC and outlined its responsibilities.

USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland and president Gene Sykes confirmed the change in their Tuesday email to the “Team USA Community.” They wrote the USOPC had “a series of respectful and constructive conversations with federal officials” since Trump’s executive order.

“As a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations,” the email said. “Our revised policy emphasizes the importance of ensuring fair and safe competition environments for women. All National Governing Bodies are required to update their applicable policies in alignment.”

The new rules won’t just have an impact at the Olympic level. National governing bodies, which include organizations like USA Swimming and USA Fencing, are often involved at the lowest levels of their sport all the way up to the Olympics. USA Fencing has already taken the policy a step further by saying athletes “of the female sex” can compete in women’s categories, while the men’s category is open to all other athletes (cisgender men, transgender men and women, and nonbinary and intersex individuals).

Shortly after the executive order, the NCAA made a similar move to limit women’s sports to athletes assigned female at birth. The new IOC president Kirsty Coventry has also said she wants her organization to be a leader in the effort to “protect the female category.”

The post USOPC Follows Trump Order Banning Trans Athletes in Women’s Sports appeared first on Front Office Sports.

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Amstutz Finalizes Inaugural Roster Ahead of 2025 Season

Story Links CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University first-year head volleyball coach Evan Amstutz finalized the 2025 volleyball roster with the addition of nine newcomers, Wednesday. Nya Browne | USC Upstate | Nashville, Tenn. From just down I-24, Nya Browne joins the Governors after spending three seasons at USC […]

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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University first-year head volleyball coach Evan Amstutz finalized the 2025 volleyball roster with the addition of nine newcomers, Wednesday.

Nya Browne | USC Upstate | Nashville, Tenn.

From just down I-24, Nya Browne joins the Governors after spending three seasons at USC Upstate, where she appeared in 24 sets across 13 matches. She had a career-high four kills against UNC Asheville, Nov. 12, 2024 and six blocks against Charleston Southern, Nov. 2, 2024. Browne prepped at Hume-Fogg High School where she was a TCCAA All-State, All-Region, and All-District selection in her senior season in 2021. She also played for the Alliance Volleyball Club under coach Abbey West, where she was a team captain and a member of the 2022 second place USAV National Team. 

Dayan Malavé | Youngstown State | Manati, Puerto Rico

Hailing from Manati, Puerto Rico, Dayan Malavé joins the Govs after spending three seasons at Youngstown State. During her time with the Penguins, Malavé appeared in 314 sets across 83 matches, where she had 376 kills for an average of 1.20 per set with a career-high of 12 at UConn, Aug. 31, 2024. She ended her career at YSU with a .268 hitting percentage and with 257 blocks, with a career-high of seven in five matches. Prior to her time with the Penguins, Malavé spent the 2020-21 seasons at Iowa Western Community College, where she appeared in 188 sets across 58 matches and was a part of back-to-back NJCAA National Championship teams. She had a hitting percentage of .375 in her two seasons at Iowa Western, with an average of 2.41 kills and 1.09 blocks per set. 

Taylor Sass | Hillsborough CC | Tampa, Fla.

A native of Tampa, Florida, Taylor Sass comes to Clarksville after spending two seasons at Hillsborough Community College where she appeared in 202 sets across 60 matches. She totaled 584 kills in two seasons with an average of 2.89 per set, with a career-high 23 kills against Blinn College, Sept. 7, 2024. She had a .182 hitting percentage overall, with a .229 percentage in her sophomore season. Sass totaled 457 digs in her time at Hillsborough, with 240 digs in her freshman campaign.

Nicole Okojie | Prosper HS | Prosper, Texas

From Prosper, Texas, Nicole Okojie comes to Clarksville after her prep career at Prosper High School where she was a 6-A honorable mention. 

Sarah Butler | Naperville Central HS | Naperville, Ill.

Hailing from Naperville, Illinois, Sarah Butler joins the Governors after prepping at Naperville Central High School under head coach Brie Isaacson. Butler compiled 1,815 assists in her four-year career and was named a Naperville Sun 2023 All-Area Team Honorable Mention and a 2024 All-Area Team selection. She was also named to the Illinois Prep Volleyball top 150 High School Players of 2024 List, best of the class of 2025, and on the PrepVolleyball.com 2025 Watchlist.

Remmi Cooke | Nelson County HS | Bardstown, Ky.

Remmi Cooke joins the Governors after prepping at Nelson County High School. The Bardstown, Kentucky native ended her career with over 1,000 kills and a state record of 44 kills in the 2A State Championship match. Cooke was a two-time Kentucky state MVP, a three-time all-district team member, a three-time 2A All-Region Team selection, and a part of the KVCA Second Team.

Peyton Liming | Park Hill South HS | Parkville, Mo.

Peyton Liming comes to Clarksville after prepping at Park Hill South High School where she played under coach Barbra Bell. During her prep career, Liming surpassed 1,000 kills in four seasons and had 30 kills in a five-set match which was a program record. The Parkville, Missouri native was an All-Conference Gold Division and All-District Gold Division selection from 2021-25. Outside of Park Hill South High School, Liming played for the MAVS KC 19 Elite Club team for coach Kelley Kelley. 

Brooklynn Merrell | Obra D. Tompkins HS | Katy, Texas

Brooklynn Merrel joins the Governors after prepping at Obra D. Tompkins High School where she played for her mother, Allison Merrel. A native of Katy, Texas, Merrel went to the state finals in 2022 as a sophomore and was a first-team all district team selection and a second team selection in 2021. 

Sianna Dykes | Howland HS | Warren, Ohio

Sianna Dykes joins the squad after prepping at Howland High School for coach Amanda Lingenfelter. The Warren, Ohio native was an All-Ohio Honorable mention in 2024 and holds the school record for most blocks in a season with 98. Dykes was named the district and conference Player of the Year for the 2024 season. 

The Governors are back in action at 2 p.m., Aug. 24 for an exhibition against Tusculum and then host the Stacheville Challenge for their first home matches of the regular season, Aug. 29-30, in the Winfield Dunn Center.


 



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Five-time state champ Keyanna O’Tey will run for University of Michigan

STURGIS — Keyanna O’Tey will go down as one of the most decorated student athletes in the history of Sturgis High School. She earned it, posting five state championships during her time as a Trojan in the sport of track and field. Now at the end of the summer, O’Tey will officially enroll and become […]

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STURGIS — Keyanna O’Tey will go down as one of the most decorated student athletes in the history of Sturgis High School. She earned it, posting five state championships during her time as a Trojan in the sport of track and field.

Now at the end of the summer, O’Tey will officially enroll and become a student at the University of Michigan. There, she will run for the Maize and Blue as she fulfills one of her dreams as being a Division I athlete.

And she leaves SHS having helped lead the Trojans to the team’s first track and field title. It came earlier this year at Hamilton High School, a dominant performance by the orange and black from the beginning of the day.

“Extremely happy with the outcome,” O’Tey said after it was all said and done. “I definitely think we deserve this. With all the practices and training and hard work we put in all year, I’m happy to be a part of this team.”

O’Tey ran to five state titles during her time at Sturgis. She won the 100 and 200 dashes her sophomore year, plus the 100 dash last year as a junior as well. This year’s finals saw her run to Top Three spots in both events, where she set new school records at the state finals in Hamilton — running a time of 11.64 in the 100 and 24.26 in the 200.

But when it came to talking following the finals, O’Tey was quick to give thanks to her teammates and the entire SHS track and field family.

“So proud of everyone here. From the parents bringing food to my teammates giving it all, just extremely grateful for everything,” she said. “After all this, hearing them call our names today, I certainly prefer winning as a team. I think it’s more special that way, more exciting. This whole team, it’s so awesome to be a part of this.”

O’Tey helped Sturgis win state titles in the 400 relay with Tenley Banaszak, Angela Cary and Hannah Garbine, plus the 800 relay with Garbine, Sydney Bir and Addison Eicher.

And, earlier in the year, she was named the MVP at the Wolverine Conference Championships held in Three Rivers. O’Tey also earned her second consecutive Baker Award win as the most outstanding female athlete at the St. Joseph County track and field meet.

“I’m happy for her. I feel like she’s really found a place where she can call home for the next four years,” Sturgis coach Lesley Starkey said of O’Tey. “Seeing her first place, I knew she had potential. But seeing all the work she has put in over the last four years has been great as well. I think she is capable of doing big things in the Big Ten.”

In the classroom, O’Tey said she has plans to study psychology while in Ann Arbor. She wants to someday work with children in that realm and offer both guidance and the ability to listen, if needed.

“It’s nice, but I’m kinda scared for the future to be honest. I want to work with kids,” she said.

She also has a hidden talent as she loves to play the violin. First chair as well in the orchestra.

“A lot of people don’t know that. Rasean (older brother) played an instrument, so little me trying to always be like Rasean had to play an instrument as well,” O’Tey said.

This past year, the Wolverine track and field team finished tied for 10th in the Big Ten at the indoor championships and was ninth at the outdoor championships. They qualified for the post season in both sports.

Collegiate sports have changed in recent years, with NIL, roster limits and scholarships. Both Starkey coaches (J.B. included) have had quite a bit to learn throughout the process of recruitment, but now that O’Tey is sealed up with Michigan, they feel pretty up to speed.

Starkey, who ran both cross country and distance for the Michigan track teams during her time in Ann Arbor, said O’Tey should fit in just fine with the program.

“Her times and performances have spoken for themselves. She can compete at that level, no doubt,” Starkey said. “I think she will continue to get even better when she gets there, being around athletes of equal talent should help her excel in a true training environment.”

O’Tey also earned co-Outstanding Athlete of the Year honors for Sturgis at the 102nd annual Exchange Club All-Sports Banquet with Madison Webb, the male selected was Gavyn Moore. The athletes are chosen based on their athletic careers at Sturgis and each needed to have earned at least five varsity letters during their time at SHS.

Contact Sports Editor Brandon Watson at bwatson@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @BwatsonSJ.



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Mountain West Announces The 2025 Women’s Volleyball Revised Conference Schedule – Mountain West Conference

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With the addition of Grand Canyon University to the league, the Mountain West announced a revised Conference schedule to include the GCU Lopes for the 2025-26 season. Conference action is set to begin on Sept. 25 and will conclude on Saturday, Nov. 22. The revised slate still includes an 18-match format with […]

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With the addition of Grand Canyon University to the league, the Mountain West announced a revised Conference schedule to include the GCU Lopes for the 2025-26 season. Conference action is set to begin on Sept. 25 and will conclude on Saturday, Nov. 22.

The revised slate still includes an 18-match format with each team playing nine home contests and nine road games. To keep up with MW Women’s Volleyball be sure to visit the  Mountain West Network or download the Mountain West App.. The MW App is available on Apple, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV. Be sure to download and watch Mountain West women’s volleyball games throughout the season.

Conference action will determine the seeding for the 2025 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Volleyball Championship, which is set to start on Wednesday, Nov. 26, and will conclude Saturday, Nov. 29. The Conference tournament will be held at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas and the champion will receive the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in December.





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Jackson, Murray, Reilly Named to AVCA Watch List – University of Nebraska

Nebraska volleyball student-athletes Andi Jackson, Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly were named to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List on Wednesday. The three Husker juniors are among 30 players who are part of the Player of the Year Watch List.  The Player of the Year Watch List was compiled by the AVCA Division […]

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Nebraska volleyball student-athletes Andi Jackson, Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly were named to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List on Wednesday. The three Husker juniors are among 30 players who are part of the Player of the Year Watch List. 

The Player of the Year Watch List was compiled by the AVCA Division I Women’s Volleyball Awards Committee. They will also be the group working on the additional phases of the Player of the Year process. Midseason additions to the list will come in October, and the semifinalists will be named in November. Finalists will be announced on Dec. 15, and the Player of the Year Award will be presented in Kansas City at the AVCA Awards Banquet on Friday, Dec. 19. 

Jackson, a junior middle blocker, had a breakout year in 2024, earning AVCA All-America First Team and unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honors. Jackson averaged 2.62 kills per set with a .439 hitting percentage, which ranked sixth in the nation and fourth in school history. She also put up 1.18 blocks per set. 

Murray, a junior outside hitter, was an AVCA Second Team All-American last year after earning third-team honors as a freshman. Murray led the Huskers in 2024 with 3.40 kills per set and a team-high 39 service aces. She is a two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection. Murray was selected to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team last season and was the NCAA Lincoln Regional Most Outstanding Player. 

Reilly, a junior setter, is the first player in Big Ten history to win Big Ten Setter of the Year as both a freshman and sophomore, and she is coming off her second straight AVCA All-America Second Team honor. Reilly averaged 11.08 assists per set in 2024 while leading the Huskers to a .284 hitting percentage, their best since 2016.  

AVCA Player of the Year Watch List
(10 more student-athletes to be announced on July 24)

First Name Last Name School Pos. Year
Cheridyn Leverette UCLA OH Sr.
Maggie Li UCLA OH Jr.
Ava Martin Creighton University OH Sr.
Alexis Shelton University of Oklahoma OH Sr.
Kennedy Martin Penn State University RS Jr.
Izzy Starck Penn State University S So.
Olivia Babcock University of Pittsburgh RS Jr.
Bre Kelley University of Pittsburgh MB RS-Sr.
Ifenna Cos-Okpalla Texas A&M University MB Sr.
Logan Lednicky Texas A&M University RS Sr.
Brooklyn DeLeye University of Kentucky OH Jr.
Eva Hudson University of Kentucky OH Sr.
Nia Washington Louisiana State University OH Sr.
Flormarie Heredia Colon University of Miami (FL) OH Sr.
Andi Jackson University of Nebraska MB Jr.
Harper Murray University of Nebraska OH Jr.
Bergen Reilly University of Nebraska S Jr.
Elia Rubin Stanford University OH Sr.
Caroline Kerr University of Tennessee S RS-Jr.
Kamryn Gibadlo University of Utah OH Jr.

 



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