Sports
Sarussi has MVP final season for UIC women’s track

Ally Sarussi had quite a senior sendoff with the Washington University women’s track and field team as part of its 2024 NCAA Division III national team champion. The 2020 Lyons Township High School graduate, however, still had one season of eligibility and a graduate degree to pursue.
“I was going to take a gap year, but then I kind of thought I have an opportunity to run another year,” Sarussi said. “I love track a lot so I might as well take the opportunity while getting my degree.”
As a grad student this spring, Sarussi had her best individual season for the University of Illinois Chicago. She was named the team’s Most Valuable Performer and athletic department’s Female Newcomer of the Year for non-freshmen after qualifying for the NCAA Division I postseason in the 1,500-meter run following her lifetime-best, school-record 4:19.35 at the Missouri Valley Conference Meet.
At the NCAA West First Round May 30 in Bryan-College Station, Texas, Sarussi was ninth in her heat (4:25.74) and 34th overall as the No. 40 seed among 48 entries.
“It was very cool to be able to go to that. It’s insane facilities and to get to compete with some of the best athletes in the nation was exciting, a rewarding experience,” Sarussi said. “My parents got to see me race there so it was a memorable way to cap off my career.”
She became the first UIC women’s track and field athlete to compete on the national level in a track event and the third in combined women’s and men’s track and field history. She has one more year of school at UIC as she pursues her doctorate in physical therapy after graduating from WashU with a degree in anthropology and minor in psychology.
“Winning the [MVP] award was cool but it was more fun to do the exciting things on the track and get to know my teammates better and develop some long-lasting relationships and push myself to a new level,” Sarussi said. “I definitely learned a lot about myself as a person and athlete in terms of how I was able to come onto the team and deal with this new training plan and how I was able to be coached by a totally different person. It really proved my adaptability.”
Sarussi’s competitiveness also helped. The MVC Meet May 17-18 in Carbondale could have been Sarussi’s finale. The 4:19.35 became her ultimate moment.
“I’m going to remember that conference final race for a long time,” Sarussi said.
She wanted to break 4:20 after a second-fastest 4:28.93 in prelims and personal-best 4:25.63 from the Drake Relays April 23. The top-three finish — just .15 ahead of fourth place — also gave Sarussi all-conference honors and put her on the awards podium after finishing fourth in the 800 (2:10.34) at the indoor MVC Meet. She also was part of the eighth-place 4 x 400 relay’s school-record 3:52.92.
Considering the West First Round’s slowest seed time was 4:22.50, Sarussi also advanced to NCAA’s because of the 4:19.35.
“I just competed the best I ever had to make the podium at conference,” Sarussi said. “I don’t really know how I did it. I was just pushing to get top three and to have that 4:19 come along with it, I knew my body could do it. It just took everything in me and everything had to go perfectly. I’ll definitely take that one with me.”
Previously, Sarussi was known mainly for 800s. At LTHS, she was part of all-state 4 x 800 relays in 2019 (3rd) and 2018 (7th). She never ran at state for cross country but joined LTHS teammates at Nike Cross Regionals.
For WashU, Sarussi had six top-eight Division III All-American performances – four individually and two in relays, including the 2023 indoor national championship with the distance medley relay. The COVID-affected 2020 season gave athletes like Sarussi an additional season of eligibility.
Approaching the 2024 outdoor nationals, Sarussi had been All-American three times in the 800 but began adding the 1,500 to help the Bears get team points. Sarussi just missed the 800 finals with 10th but was an All-American third in the 1,500 (4:28.74). The Bears (71 points) won their second national team title by 23.5 points after being third outdoors in 2023 and 2022.
“We worked for that for so long. Winning Division III nationals was such a highlight, such a way to cap it off. We had a really strong senior class,” Sarussi said. “Just through the four years at WashU and with UIC, I learned so much about drive and commitment. I really do love track a lot and it helped me grow so much as a person. It’s tested my perseverance and to set and reach new goals and have that happen alongside being a student, it’s something I’m proud of.”
Coming to UIC, Sarussi was fourth in the 800 (2:10.34) at the indoor MVC Meet after an injury-affected cross country season. With more specified training, she began to flourish in the 1,500.
Her first 1,500 outdoors happened to be at WashU March 28 in St. Louis (2nd in 4:30.06) – an emotional return with her UIC teammates and coaches while reuniting with former ones.
“I just felt really lucky to be there and lucky I’d gone to school there. The race didn’t go as well as I’d hoped but everyone brought me up and supported me,” Sarussi said.
After NCAAs, Sarussi went out a winner in her last competitive race “for the foreseeable future.”
At the Magis Mile June 7 at St. Ignatius, Sarussi won the Elite division and top-seeded final women’s race with a meet-best 4:46.89 mile (4:27.98 for 1,500 meters).
“I wanted to be competitive and try to win it. It was a good opportunity to do that against a field (mainly) of really good high school girls,” Sarussi said. “Definitely going into it, I was excited for one more time to get a good mile time while I was still in shape basically.”
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Sports
Amadi Garners MEAC Weekly Honor
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NORFOLK, Va. – With the first indoor meet completed, the Eagles earned a weekly conference honor, announced by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference on Wednesday afternoon. North Carolina Central’s Zion Amadi was named the MEAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week.
Amadi had podium finishes in two races at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-Off on Dec. 6, while moving up the school record books. He won the men’s 400m seeded race with a time of 47.78 seconds, which moved him up to third all-time at NCCU in the Division I era. Amadi now sits behind Gordon Lewis (47.11 – 2019) and Donnell Carter (47.70 – 2022).
The sophomore placed second in the 200m seeded race at the JDL Fast Track. Amadi would also break the school record in the event in 21.13 seconds. Lewis held that record since the 2019-20 season (21.27). Amadi broke meet records in both events as well.
The Eagles are back to work after the holiday break, staying local for the Dick Taylor Challenge on Jan. 16-17, hosted by North Carolina at the Eddie Smith Field House in Chapel Hill.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
Sports
Banwo, Lyons Receive MEAC Weekly Accolades
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MEAC Weekly Honors (12.10.25)
NORFOLK, Va. (December 10, 2025) – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) revealed its women’s track & field weekly accolades where Howard University swept the awards. The announcement came Wednesday afternoon.
Senior thrower Temi Banwo (Allen, Texas) won Field Athlete of the Week while junior sprinter Yahnari Lyons (Hampton, Ga.) took home Track Athlete of the Week.
At the HBCU & Ivy Challenge (Dec. 5), Banwo placed fourth in the shot put with a MEAC-best mark of 13.88 meters and earned bronze in the weight throw with another conference-leading toss of 16.92 meters.
For Lyons, she won the 200-meter dash with a MEAC-leading time of 24.11, which sits 11th in the country.
On Dec. 13, HU returns to the Northeast for the Seahawk Shootout, hosted by Wagner College.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com or the MEAC website at www.MEACSports.com.
Sports
Cincinnati Enquirer names 2025 girls volleyball all-city teams
Updated Dec. 10, 2025, 8:20 p.m. ET
The 2025 high school girls volleyball season brought two state championships to Cincinnati and a state runner-up to Northern Kentucky.
But more than that, the action on the court each night showcased some of the best talent each state had to offer.
Here are The Enquirer’s 2025 all-city teams for each division in Ohio, plus Northern Kentucky and Indiana.
Sports
Pitt volleyball to host 2026 Opening Spike Classic
Pitt volleyball will begin the 2026 campaign with two major tests, as the Panthers were announced as hosts for the Opening Spike Classic, featuring matchups against Kansas and Wisconsin.
The two-day event at Petersen Events Center will be televised nationally on ESPN and see Pitt play the Jayhawks Aug. 28 and Badgers on Aug. 30. Stanford and Wisconsin also play on the event’s first day, followed by the Jayhawks vs. the Cardinal on Day 2.
The Opening Spike Classic debuted last season with the Badgers playing host to matches featuring Kansas, Creighton and Texas.
“We’re excited to kick off opening weekend by hosting three of the best teams in the country,” Pitt coach Dan Fisher said in statement. “Fans can look forward to high-level volleyball right here in Pittsburgh. If we want to be the best, we have to play the best, and we’re doing that right away.”
The No. 1-seeded Panthers (28-4, 18-2 ACC) host No. 4 Minnesota at 7 p.m. Thursday in the NCAA Tournament regional semifinals.
A win over the Gophers would propel the Panthers, who have advanced to the Final Four for the last four consecutive seasons, to the Elite 8, where they’d face the winner of the regional semifinal match between No. 2 SMU and No. 3 Purdue.
Next year’s Opening Spike Classic participants — Stanford, Kansas and Wisconsin — are all also currently competing for a national title.
No. 4 Kansas faces No. 1 Nebraska on Friday night, while No. 2 Stanford and No. 3 Wisconsin square off in the afternoon.
The Opening Spike Classic is organized by PlayFly Sports in collaboration with JMI Sports, exclusive multimedia rights holder for Pitt Athletics.
“We are thrilled to be bringing this event back for a second year and to build on the momentum we created with the event launch last year,” said Michael Neuman, co-head of Playfly Sports Consulting. “The Opening Spike Classic is a celebration of women’s achievements in sports, and there is no better way to recognize that than by bringing together these top college volleyball teams to compete.”
Justin Guerriero is a TribLive reporter covering the Penguins, Pirates and college sports. A Pittsburgh native, he is a Central Catholic and University of Colorado graduate. He joined the Trib in 2022 after covering the Colorado Buffaloes for Rivals and freelancing for the Denver Post. He can be reached at jguerriero@triblive.com.
Sports
Nebraska Huskers Dominate All-Region Volleyball Honors
Nebraska is once again taking the collegiate volleyball world by storm, entering the 2025 NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. So it’s no surprise the Huskers dominated some of the sport’s top honors announced on Tuesday.
AVCA West All-Region Team
Bergen Reilly

Junior setter Bergen Reilly showcased Nebraska’s excellence on multiple levels. She was one of five Huskers named to the AVCA West All-Region Team, which is an impressive accomplishment on its own. This marks her third straight year earning All-Region recognition, and she has continued her high-level play this season. Thanks in part to Reilly’s elite setting, Nebraska is on track to break the single-season school record with a .353 team hitting percentage. That mark leads the nation and is the best posted by any Big Ten team since Penn State in 2009.
This set is ridiculous. Happened in Nebraska’s season opener in August. Turned out to be a sign of what was to come during Bergen Reilly’s junior campaign.
She’s the 2025 Big Ten Player of the Year & Setter of the Year. #Huskers @BergenReilly @1011_News pic.twitter.com/8EJTVkwMji
— Kevin Sjuts (@kevinsjuts) December 3, 2025
Reilly’s standout season did not end there. She was also named the AVCA West Region Player of the Year, becoming the fourth Husker and the third in a row to earn the honor, joining Kelly Hunter (2017), Merritt Beason (2023) and Lexi Rodriguez (2024). She continues to collect accolades this season as the 2025 Big Ten Setter of the Year and a First-Team All-Big Ten selection. She also earned the 2025 Big Ten Volleyball Player of the Year, the first time she has received that award.
Rebekah Allick

Senior middle blocker Rebekah Allick is putting together one of the strongest seasons of her Husker career. She continues to be a reliable presence on both sides of the net, contributing efficient offense while anchoring Nebraska’s front-row defense. Her play earned her All-Big Ten First Team honors for the first time, a deserved recognition after years of consistent contributions.
POWER from Rebekah Allick.
📺: ESPN+ x @HuskerVB pic.twitter.com/PLd7Dn9UQk
— Big Ten Volleyball (@B1GVolleyball) December 6, 2025
Allick has also climbed into rare company in the program’s rally-scoring era. With 536 career blocks, she now ranks fifth all-time at Nebraska, a mark that also places her fifth among active Division I players. Her presence at the net has been a integral part of Nebraska’s identity this season, and she continues to rise to the moment when it matters most.
Laney Choboy

Junior libero Laney Choboy has been the steady heartbeat of Nebraska’s backcourt all season. She’s the one holding things down defensively, reading attacks and keeping rallies alive with the kind of confidence and toughness every championship team needs. Her efforts earned her a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team.
Relive all of Laney Choboy’s great saves on this play 🤯
📺: FS1 pic.twitter.com/6rI7zxaMjR
— Big Ten Volleyball (@B1GVolleyball) November 7, 2025
Choboy has already totaled 276 digs on the year and counting, a testament to just how reliable she is in big moments. She’s delivered several standout performances, including a career-best 20 digs against Illinois and another strong night with 15 at Minnesota. When the Huskers need a spark on defense, she’s almost always the one providing it.
Andi Jackson

Junior middle blocker Andi Jackson has been one of Nebraska’s most consistent and explosive attackers this season. She continues to elevate her game year after year, earning All-Big Ten First Team honors for the second consecutive season.
ANDI. FREAKING. JACKSON.
ARE YOU KIDDING????? 🤭🤭🤭🤭
🎥: ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/U4rR21nfcu
— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB) December 6, 2025
Jackson has also established herself as one of the most efficient hitters in the country. Her hitting percentage not only leads the nation but also stands as the best single-season mark in Nebraska volleyball history. Combined with her reliable performance at the net defensively, Jackson has become a foundational piece of the Huskers’ success.
Harper Murray

Junior outside hitter Harper Murray has emerged as one of Nebraska’s top offensive threats this season, setting career highs with 3.51 kills per set and a .299 hitting percentage. Her strong play earned her All-Big Ten First Team honors for the first time.
HARPER MURRAY ISN’T PLAYING AROUND 🤫#NCAAWVB x 🎥 ESPNU / @HuskerVB pic.twitter.com/qy97P7nUn2
— NCAA Women’s Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) December 10, 2023
Murray contributes in every phase of the game. She averages 2.14 digs per set, leads the team with 30 aces, and adds 58 blocks, giving her a team-leading 4.16 points per set. Her all-around skill and steady production make her a key piece of the Huskers’ success.
Honorable Mention
Virginia Adriano

Freshman opposite hitter Virginia Adriano is already giving a glimpse of Nebraska’s future, earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in her debut season. Originally from Turin, Italy, Adriano has quickly made an impact on both sides of the net, averaging 2.20 kills per set with a .284 hitting percentage, along with 0.66 blocks per set and 14 service aces.
You can hear the force when Virginia Adriano makes contact with the. ball 😳
📺: Big Ten Network pic.twitter.com/zz1nBAMbVR
— Big Ten Volleyball (@B1GVolleyball) September 7, 2025
She has risen to the occasion in conference matches as well, contributing 2.34 kills per set with a .318 hitting percentage. Beyond her on-court contributions, Adriano’s presence shows the growing opportunities for international athletes in college volleyball, opening doors for future players from around the world. Her all-around play and poise as a freshman indicate she will be a major contributor for the Huskers for years to come.
Taylor Landfair

Senior outside hitter Taylor Landfair has been a key player for Nebraska this season, hitting a career-best .316 and averaging 2.09 kills per set, which earned her All-Big Ten Second Team honors.
TAYLOR. LANDFAIR.
THAT’S THE TWEET. #GBR pic.twitter.com/eHPbCZmucI
— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB) November 15, 2025
Landfair’s impact goes beyond this season. She was a 2022 AVCA All-American and has appeared in the most career matches of any active Division I player, with 151 contests. She also ranks 20th among active Division I players with 1,517 career kills, reflecting her consistency and durability throughout her Husker career.
Head Coach

The players can only go as far as their head coach allows, and Nebraska head coach Kelly Busboom has given them every opportunity to flourish. Busboom was honored as the AVCA West Region Coach of the Year.
In her first year at the helm, Busboom led the Huskers to a perfect 30-0 regular-season record, including a 20-0 mark in Big Ten competition. Her debut earned her AVCA West Region Coach of the Year honors and the Big Ten Coach of the Year award, making her the first coach in program history to capture a conference title in their inaugural season.
Given the dedication and performance of these players, it was clear that Busboom was the coach most deserving of such recognition.
These awards and honors are well-earned, but they also tell a bigger story. The Huskers extended their win streak to 32 with a sweep of Kansas State on Saturday, Dec. 6, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, remaining undefeated. This team is full of talented players who understand what it takes to win.
Week after week, they perform at the highest level, delivering a masterclass in volleyball and making a definitive statement in the collegiate game. Many of these athletes are on their way to becoming Nebraska volleyball legends, leaving a lasting mark on the program.
More From Nebraska On SI
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
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