CHAMPAIGN — Mia Lamberti was already drawing Division I interest as a freshman at Limestone. It got a little more specific during her sophomore season with the Rockets, with Big Ten and SEC programs in pursuit.

Lamberti spent the first half of June hitting multiple camps. First came a trip to Missouri on June 4 and then on to Kansas a day later. The Limestone junior attended Iowa’s elite prospect camp on Thursday and Illinois’ elite camp Saturday.

Lamberti’s whirlwind month continued Sunday when she became Illinois’ first commitment in the Class of 2027. The Illini’s future recruiting efforts also include a pair of 2026 commitments from Angola (Ind.) outside hitter Maya Harris and Hamilton Southeastern (Ind.) outside hitter Madison Miles.

Securing a commitment from Lamberti means Illinois is starting its 2027 recruiting class with a setter. Their newest commit has played six rotations for Limestone the past two seasons splitting her time at setter and opposite.  

Lamberti had 393 assists, 309 kills, 136 digs and 49 aces during her freshman season with the Rockets where she was a News-Gazette All-State Second Team selection.

The follow-up last fall was even better, with Limestone finishing as the Class 3A state runner-up. Lamberti flirted with a triple-double in the state championship match with 16 kills, 14 assists and six digs against Mahomet-Seymour. The Bulldogs dropped the first set to Lamberti and Rockets, but rallied for a 22-25, 25-22, 25-18 victory.

Lamberti totaled 452 assists, 454 kills, 181 digs and 64 aces for Limestone as a sophomore. That effort helped her earn N-G All-State First Team recognition as one of the top 18 players, regardless of class, statewide. Lamberti was one of two sophomores named to the First Team along with Bloomington Central Catholic’s Kampbell Niepagen.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 16, 2025) – USA Volleyball is proud to announce the athletes selected to represent the U.S. at the 2025 U23 NORCECA Continental Tour in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, June 20-22.

The event will feature top U23 pairs from across the NORCECA zone in three days of international competition. Teams will begin with pool play on June 20, followed by elimination rounds and medal matches on June 21-22.

Representing the U.S. are Alexis Durish and Audrey Koenig on the women’s side, and Ayden Keeter and Carson Barnes on the men’s side. All four athletes are current collegiate athletes—Durish and Koenig at Florida State University, and Keeter and Barnes at Webber University.

“Representing the U.S. is an incredible honor and a chance to carry on the proud legacy of American beach volleyball,” Durish said. “It reflects the culmination of my hard work, the unwavering support of those around me, and the resilience that’s shaped my journey. Every moment on the court is a tribute to the dedication and passion that brought me here.”

“Playing for my country is one of the greatest experiences of my life,” Keeter said. “Every time I step on the court, it’s bigger than just me. I’m representing my family, my teammates and everyone back home who’s supported me along the way. It’s an honor I don’t take for granted, and it pushes me to give everything I have, every single game.”

The women’s team will be coached by U.S. beach Olympian Nick Lucena, assistant coach at Florida State. University of Washington assistant coach Steven McFadden will lead the men’s side.

“It’s an honor to coach Team USA and work with these players,” Lucena said. “I’m humbled to have the chance to give back and help from the sidelines.”

“It’s an honor every time you get asked to compete on behalf of your country, and I think these guys are excellent representatives of USA Volleyball,” McFadden said. “They work hard, they’re creative with the game, and they play with joy.”

The U23 teams look to continue the momentum from the previous leg of the NORCECA Continental Tour in the Dominican Republic, where the U.S. women took gold and the men captured silver. Emma Donley and Portia Sherman topped the podium for the women, while Thomas Hurst and Gage Basey earned second place for the men.

Athletes
Alexis Durish (5-10, Venice, Fla., Florida State, Lone Star Region)
Audrey Koenig (6-3, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Florida State, Florida Region)
Carson Barnes (6-4, Ocean View, Del., Webber University, Chesapeake Region)
Ayden Keeter (6-1, Yorktown, Va., Webber University, Old Dominion Region)

Coaches
Women’s Head Coach: Nick Lucena (Florida State)
Men’s Head Coach: Steven McFadden (University of Washington)
Athletic Trainer: Arbhie Guce (Trif3ecta Athletic Training and Performance)
Team Leader: Megan Burgdorf (Beach Volleyball Consulting)

ALTHOUGH HER MOM and grandma ran track, Samirah Moody didn’t take up the sport until eighth grade and wasn’t a serious runner until midway through high school.

“Surprising, huh?” the winner said. “Some people tell me, ‘Oh, I’ve been doing track since I was so little.’ That was not my experience.”

Being a latecomer has its perks.

“I just feel really fresh,” Moody said. “I feel like I’m just learning every day.”

Going into the NCAAs, the USC senior knew she should work on leaning in practice.

“You’ve got to prepare for the fire,” she said. “You know everyone’s fast.”

With an extra burst in the final 10m and, yes, a lean, Moody won by 0.003, edging fiery-haired South Carolina soph JaMeesia Ford.

Both clocked 11.14 against a 1.4 wind — with Moody’s time 11.136. Tima Godbless of LSU was 3rd followed by Florida’s Anthaya Charlton, the 5th-place finisher in the long jump and younger sister of Devyn, the WR holder in the indoor 60H. Both posted 11.19, with Godbless ahead by 0.006.

A year ago, Moody was undergoing knee surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus. “It’s been a bumpy road,” she said, noting her comeback revolved around “keeping the faith and showing up when it counts.”

Moody was 5th in the 60 at the Indoor and said she felt like herself again at the beginning of the outdoor season. “I had gone through the adversity prior to today, so this was a walk in the park.”

Just 50 minutes after the Women of Troy dominated the 4×1, Moody, who ran leadoff leg, was back on the starting line alongside teammates Dajaz Defrand and Brianna Selby.

Moody said the relay was about tradition, but “the 100 was really for me.”

In the heats, Moody posted a PR of 10.93 — well under her previous best of 11.02 — behind Charlton, who grabbed all of the attention with a PR of 10.87, the collegiate lead and No. 8 all-time collegiate mark. Ford, who dropped down this season from the 200/400 to the 100/200, also clocked 10.87 in the third heat. Godbless, who came in as the list leader at 10.91, equaled that time in her heat while placing 2nd behind Leah Bertrand of Ohio State, who also ran 10.91.

The final began with a false start, although no one was disqualified. The field ran 10–15m before they were called back.

After the restart, Moody was out well in lane 3 although Victoria Cameron of Tarleton State moved into the early lead from lane 1. Moody overtook Cameron, then held off Ford, whose 200 strength — she would go on to win that event later in the day — propelled her in the later stages.

Moody was confident the race was hers. “I kind of took a peek at like 60,” she said. “I was like ‘Alright, I’m in the clear; I’ve just got to keep pushing.’ I crossed the line screaming, so I knew.”

WOMEN’S 100 RESULTS

FINAL (June 14; wind –1.4)

1. Samirah Moody (USC) 11.14 (11.136);

2. **JaMeesia Ford (SC) 11.14 (11.139);

3. **Tima Godbless’ (LSU-Ngr) 11.19;

4. *Anthaya Charlton’ (Fl-Bah) 11.19;

5. Leah Bertrand’ (OhSt-Tri) 11.21;

6. *Shenese Walker’ (FlSt-Jam) 11.23;

7. *Dajaz Defrand (USC) 11.23;

8. ***Brianna Selby (USC) 11.25;

9. **Victoria Cameron (Tarl) 11.30.

SEMIS (June 12)

I(1.4)–1. Charlton’ 10.87 PR (6, 8 C);

2. Moody 10.93 PR; 3. Walker’ 11.06; 4. *Jassani Carter (USC) 11.22; 5. ***Indya Mayberry (TCU) 11.24; 6. ***Reign Redmond (Ga) 11.30; 7. ***Kelly Ufodiama (ECar) 11.41; 8. **Jade Brown (Az) 11.43.

II(2.2)–1. Bertrand’ 10.91w; 2. Godbless’ 10.91w; 3. Cameron 11.06w; 4. *Jasmine Montgomery (TxAM) 11.07w; 5. Iyana Gray (TCU) 11.20w; 6. *Camryn Dickson (TxAM) 11.20w; 7. Kailei Collins (How) 11.28w; 8. **Cynteria James (SC) 11.39w.

III(1.6)–1. Ford 10.87 PR (=6, =8 C);

2. Defrand 10.93 PR;

3. Selby 11.01 PR (=7, x AJ);

4. Alicia Burnett (Mo) 11.11; 5. *Kaila Jackson (Ga) 11.15; 6. ***London Tucker (TCU) 11.26; 7. ***Aniyah Kitt (Clem) 11.31; 8. Joella Lloyd’ (FlSt-Ant) 11.43.

LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Some young volleyball players at Lima Central Catholic got the chance to learn from former champions on Friday.

The “Thunderbird Legacy” camp brought back members of LCC’s 2007 state championship team to help teach skills to students in grades five through eight. The clinic was led by players from that title-winning squad and their former head coach, David Franklin. The focus was on building foundational skills and emphasizing teamwork.

“We always talked about giving back,” Franklin said. “We wanted to leave something—we were always talking about that: leave a tradition. This is a chance for us to give back and get together.”

Franklin said he hopes the camp becomes an annual tradition to develop future players and keep the Thunderbird legacy alive.