Sports

SBJ Unpacks

Published

7 months ago

May 21, 2025

In an era of geopolitical fragmentation and fraying alliances, one stage continues to unite people and nations across borders — not the U.N. or conference floor, but the sports arena. Global sports are fast becoming a dynamic vehicle for soft power — and private capital is now firmly in the driver’s seat.

No longer confined to shaping the business of sports, private equity, sovereign wealth funds and institutional investors are stepping into a new role: diplomats. They are forging transnational ties, exporting governance models and influencing global cultural conversation through strategic investment in teams, leagues and infrastructure.

This isn’t a metaphor — it’s a market signal. And those who recognize sports as both a platform for returns and a reputation tool are poised to lead the next era of global engagement. As traditional diplomatic channels grow more brittle, private capital is quietly, but powerfully, stepping in.

Consider Marc Lasry, co-founder of Avenue Capital Group. After a successful run in hedge funds and an exit from NBA ownership, Lasry launched the Avenue Sports Fund in 2023, raising $445 million by mid-2024. His targets? Undervalued, high-upside investments in African basketball and women’s sports.

But Lasry’s thesis goes beyond asset growth. His investment in African basketball echoes the NBA’s early global expansion — a bet not just on talent, but on exporting American-style governance, brand development and youth infrastructure. He’s seizing on momentum in women’s sports: 18.4 million viewers tuned in for this year’s NCAA women’s basketball final, surpassing the men’s game in some key demos. What Wall Street once dismissed as niche, he sees as the next growth frontier.

These moves illustrate a broader truth: Today’s strategic investors aren’t just buying equity — they’re buying influence. By backing leagues at inflection points, they help shape how sports — and by extension, culture, commerce and even national identity — evolve globally.

Since 2003, U.S. investors have quietly amassed stakes in more than a third of the Premier League. High-profile deals like Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s $5 billion acquisition of Chelsea FC, and RedBird Capital’s €1.2 billion purchase of AC Milan, aren’t just business plays. They’re long-term positioning in a global economy of sports.

What these investors bring isn’t just capital — it’s an American operating model: data analytics, dynamic ticketing, immersive fan engagement and expansive content strategies. But the savviest among them know that honoring legacy is key. Balancing tradition with innovation is more than good business — it’s cultural diplomacy.

This hybrid model is catching on. Franchises are no longer local assets, but global brands with geopolitical gravity. And by stewarding these institutions, U.S. investors are strengthening transatlantic ties and creating new lanes for partnership, trade and innovation.

The NFL, long a domestic powerhouse, went global in 2024 with two major steps: expanding internationally and allowing private equity into its ranks.

With regular-season games now in London, Munich, Madrid and São Paulo, the NFL is growing audiences and stimulating local economies through tourism, media rights and commercial development. It’s sports diplomacy in action — exporting American entertainment, values and systems in ways no ambassador could.

Simultaneously, the league opened its once-restricted ownership model, allowing select PE firms to acquire up to 10% of franchises. Approved players include Arctos, Ares Management, Sixth Street and a consortium featuring Blackstone, Carlyle, CVC and Dynasty Equity. Ludis Capital — led by former NFL star Curtis Martin — represents a new era when athlete investors blend legacy with institutional muscle.

While direct sovereign investment remains limited, these PE structures create compliant pathways for international capital to back America’s crown jewel in sports. This isn’t just financial innovation, it’s structural evolution.

Momentum is building. CAIS, a leading alternative investment platform, recently announced a dedicated sports fund connecting advisers to opportunities across leagues, media and infrastructure. By lowering the barrier to entry, CAIS is democratizing what was once a billionaire’s asset class. Now, family offices, RIAs and institutions can invest in an asset that is increasingly core: long-duration, culturally relevant and performance-driven.

In 2023, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) became the first sovereign wealth fund to directly invest in a major U.S. sports group: Monumental Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Washington Wizards, Capitals and Mystics. The deal was more than headline fodder — it was a strategic move.

The QIA investment funded upgrades in venue tech, programming and infrastructure across D.C.’s most diverse sports ecosystem. But it also marked sports as a geopolitical asset: a scalable, culturally resonant platform for soft power in the U.S.

This pattern extends globally. Formula 1’s expansion into Saudi Arabia, Qatar and emerging markets under Liberty Media since 2017 mirrors this strategy, with host nations using races to accelerate economic diversification and global branding. Sovereign wealth funds like Qatar’s QIA (investing in Audi’s F1 team) and Bahrain’s Mumtalakat (owning McLaren) now treat motorsport as a geopolitical chessboard, marrying infrastructure development with reputation management through high-profile events.

Sports are no longer just entertainment — they are ecosystems of influence. As leagues evolve into global enterprises, the capital that fuels them must also evolve. In sports, nations compete. In sports investment, they collaborate.

For investors, this means embracing a dual mandate: generate strong, stable returns and drive global connectivity. That includes supporting youth development in emerging markets, building sustainable infrastructure and leveraging the cultural cachet of sports to open doors in otherwise closed markets.

For leagues and teams, the message is clear: Choose capital partners not just for their checkbooks, but for their vision. The right investor isn’t just a financier, but a force multiplier for growth, community impact and international engagement.

Private capital is no longer on the sidelines. It’s reshaping the rules, scaling the playbook and redrawing the map of global influence — one franchise at a time.

The question for investors and leagues alike is no longer if sports can be a platform for power. It’s whether they’re ready to wield this power and come together as a new force for good, forming perhaps the most unexpected but necessary foundation for global cooperation.

Stuart Holliday served as United States ambassador for special political affairs at the United Nations (2003-2005) and is chief executive officer of Meridian International Center.

Sports

Utah State Volleyball Quartet Named to CSC Academic All-District Team

Published

7 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State volleyball had four players named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, it was announced on Tuesday. Senior middle blocker Tierney Barlow, sophomore opposite side hitter Loryn Helgesen, sophomore setter Kaylie Kofe and sophomore outside hitter Mara Štiglic all received the honor, marking the second-straight season USU has received the maximum allotment of four honorees.

Kofe earned the distinction via a 3.81 GPA while majoring in marketing and leading the Aggie offense to a program-record .274 hitting percentage this season, ranking third in the nation with 11.08 assists per set and also earning Mountain West Player of the Year honors. Kofe is the only player in the nation with three matches of 60 or more assists. Her 1,330 total assists this season ranks fifth all-time at USU while she already sits in eighth for career assists at Utah State with 2,290. Kofe also added 32 kills, 28 aces, 285 digs and 37 total blocks on the year.

Barlow received the honor after posting a 3.97 GPA while majoring in integrated studies. This season, Barlow Utah State’s single-season program record for hitting percentage with a mark of .444, shattering the previous mark of .375 (min. 5 attempts per set) held by Denae Mohlman and set in 1997. Barlow is now the career record holder for hitting percentage, sitting at .418 for her career at Utah State, topping current assistant coach/director of operations Kennedi Hansen’s career mark of .362 (min. 1,000 attacks). Barlow recorded six matches of at least 17 attempts and zero hitting errors this season while no other player in the nation had more than four according to ESPN research. Barlow finished with 321 kills, 18 aces, 51 digs and 93 blocks on the season. She earned All-MW honors for the fourth time in her career.

Helgesen earned the award after recording a 3.57 GPA while majoring in psychology. Helgesen finished the season with 391 kills on a .295 hitting percentage, the 10th-highest hitting percentage in program history with at least five attempts per set. Helgesen also ranks seventh all-time for career hitting percentage at USU (min. 1,000 attempts) with a mark of .275 as an Aggie. Helgesen broke USU’s single-game hitting percentage record with at least 20 attempts, hitting .704 against Grand Canyon. Helgesen also added 26 aces, 96 digs and 68 blocks on the year. She earned All-MW honors for the first time in her career this season.

Štiglic earned the honor after posting a 3.68 GPA and majoring in marketing. Štiglic finished the season with a team-high 3.56 kills per set, totaling 431 kills alongside 29 aces, 146 digs and 63 blocks. Štiglic earned all-MW honors this season after ranking seventh in kills per set (3.63) and fourth in points per set (4.27) during conference play. Štiglic also ranked sixth in the MW with 0.31 aces per set, totaling 21. She hit double-digit kills in 17 of 18 matches during MW action, totaling nine kills in her lone match not reaching the plateau. Štiglic also recorded seven matches with multiple aces.

Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.

– USU –

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Ptacek, Zelenovic Named AVCA All-Americans

Published

7 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas volleyball’s Reese Ptacek and Jovana Zelenovic were named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-Americans, the organization announced on Wednesday.

The Honorable Mention All-America honors come after both Ptacek and Zelenovic were named First Team All-Big 12, leading one of the league’s most efficient and balanced offenses. Under first year head coach Matt Ulmer, the Jayhawks finished with a 24-11 and the program’s fourth appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16 all-time.

Ptacek, a native of Prescott, Wis., earns her first career All-America honors after hitting .314 with 331 kills, 136 blocks and 27 service aces during the 2025 season. Ptacek was recently named to the AVCA All-Region Team and was named to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List during the 2025 season.

Zelenovic, a freshman from Novi Sad, Serbia, finished a standout freshman season for the Jayhawks, leading the team with 485.5 total points, 375 kills, 46 service aces and a .276 hitting percentage. Defensively, Zelenovic posted 123 total blocks. Zelenovic was also named to the AVCA All-Region Team and was named as the Central Region’s Freshman of the Year.

Ptacek and Zelenovic are the latest Jayhawks to earn All-America honors, becoming the 14th and 15th Jayhawks to earn All-America honors all-time. Kansas has had multiple All-Americans in just eight seasons all-time, including 2025, 2024, 2023, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013.

See below for a full list of Kansas volleyball All-American honors:

Josi Lima 2003 Honorable Mention Caroline Jarmoc 2013 Third Team 2012 Second Team Chelsea Albers 2014 Honorable Mention 2013 Honorable Mention Sara McClinton 2013 Honorable Mention Erin McNorton 2013 Honorable Mention Cassie Wait 2016 Honorable Mention Ainise Havili 2017 Honorable Mention 2016 Third Team 2015 First Team 2014 Honorable Mention Kelsie Payne 2017 Third Team 2016 First Team 2015 First Team Madison Rigdon 2017 Honorable Mention 2016 Honorable Mention Caroline Bien 2021 Honorable Mention Reagan Cooper 2023 Third Team Camryn Turner 2024 Third Team 2023 Honorable Mention Toyosi Onabanjo 2024 Honorable Mention

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Colorado Volleyball Pin Attacker Ana Burilovic Named AVCA All-American

Published

7 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Colorado volleyball junior pin attacker Ana Burilovic (Split, Croatia) was selected to the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s (AVCA) All-America Third Team on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Burilovic’s selection makes her the volleyball program’s seventh All-American (sixth athlete), and she collects the fifth presented by the AVCA (since 1981). She becomes the Buffs’ first AVCA All-American since middle blocker Naghede Abu was named to the third team at the conclusion of the 2018 season. The Buffs also boast six previous AVCA All-American honorable mentions and two Volleyball Magazine All-American honorable mentions.

“We couldn’t be more proud of Ana’s efforts and achievements this season, and it’s gratifying to see her get the recognition she deserves,” head coach Jesse Mahoney stated. “She has grown into one of the premier six-rotation players in the country.”

Last week, Burilovic was named to the AVCA All-West Region First Team for the first time in her career, just a week after being selected to the 2025 All-Big 12 First Team. On Sept. 30, Burilovic was named AVCA Player of the Week and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after aiding the Buffs in their road sweep over then-No. 14 BYU and then-No. 23 Utah. She was named Big 12 OPOW again on Nov. 4, after leading Colorado’s win over Northern Colorado with 30 kills, hitting .329, nine digs, two blocks and one ace (Oct. 28). At the beginning of the season, Burilovic was selected to the 2025 Preseason Big 12 Team, and she was on the Anteater Classic and Buffs Invitational all-tournament teams.

Burilovic led the Big 12 in points per set with 5.47, good for sixth in the NCAA, and in kills per set with 4.71, good for ninth in the country. She was also third in conference for aces per set with 0.43, landing at 46th in the country. In the NCAA, Burilovic was also fifth for total points (656.0), seventh for total attacks (1,424), eighth for total kills (565), 17th for attacks per set (11.87), and 23rd for total aces (51).

In her 32 matches in 2025, she has accumulated 565 kills, 211 digs, 51 aces, 64 blocks and 19 assists. Burilovic has four kill-dig double-doubles on the season, now totaling 10 in her career. She has had 13 matches with 20 or more kills this season (a CU VB record). Burilovic surpassed 1,000 career kills at West Virginia, becoming the 19th Buff to total over 1,000 career kills. She now has 1,061 career kills, 521 career digs, 118 career aces and 116 career blocks.

At the end of the 2025 season, Burilovic leads the program in rally-scoring era aces with 115, putting her at eighth overall. She is also 15th in CU history for career kills (1,061), and second overall for kills in a single season with 537. Additionally, with two 30-kill matches against UCF (Oct. 2) and at Northern Colorado (Oct. 28), she is only the second player in Colorado Volleyball history to have two matches in a single season with over 30 kills.

Fourteen student-athletes across the country were selected to the AVCA All-America Third Team, 14 to the second team and 14 to the first team. Fifty-seven were also named Honorable Mention. A full list of the honorees can be found at avca.org.

Under 10th-year head coach Jesse Mahoney, Colorado finished the 2025 season 23-9 and went 12-6 against Big 12 opponents. Coach Mahoney has led the Buffs to a 164-135 record in his 10 seasons at the helm. The Buffs made their 22nd appearance in the NCAA tournament after the conclusion of the regular season, sweeping American in the first round before falling to four-seed Indiana in the second round. The Buffs’ last match against the Hoosiers marks the 12th second round appearance in program history. Colorado has 20 wins this season, marking the program’s 13th 20-win season and its first since 2022. With 23 wins this season, this is the most in a season since 2017 and ties for the third-most wins in a season in program history.

For more information on the Colorado volleyball team, please visit cubuffs.com/vb. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffsvb on Instagram, X, and Facebook.

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Cassidy Hartman earns AVCA All-American Honorable Mention staus

Published

7 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its annual All-American selections on Wednesday morning ahead of the NCAA Tournament semifinals with UNI’s Cassidy Hartman earning All-American Honorable Mention recognition.

The announcement marks the 17th All-American selection in program history and 16thin the Bobbi Petersen era (1997, 2001-pres.). A full list of UNI’s AVCA All-American can be found below.

The 2025 MVC Player of the Year and a First Team All-MVC selection, Hartman led the league with 4.64 kills per set, along with 2.74 digs per frame, 58 total blocks and 19 aces during her junior season. Starting all 32 matches during her junior season, Hartman recorded ten or more kills in 27 matches this season, as well as six matches with 20+ kills, including a career-high 26 terminations at Southern Illinois in the regular season.

She also posted 14 double-double outings. A three-time MVC Player of the Week this season and a member of the Capital Credit Union Classic All-Tournament Team back in September, Hartman earned AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention honors in 2024.

Hartman helped lead the Panthers to a 26-6 record overall, a 16-0 mark in MVC play and the program’s fourth consecutive MVC regular season and tournament titles, as well as a run to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

UNI’S AVCA ALL-AMERICANS

1999 – Shannon Perry (3rd Team)

2002 – Molly O’Brien (3rd Team)

2009 – Ellie Blankenship (Honorable Mention)

2009 – Bre Payton (Honorable Mention)

2010 – Bre Payton (2nd Team)

2010 – Ellie Blankenship (3rd Team)

2010 – Michelle Burrow (Honorable Mention)

2011 – Bre Payton (2nd Team)

2011 – Krista DeGeest (Honorable Mention)

2013 – Shelby Kintzel (Honorable Mention)

2017 – Heather Hook (Honorable Mention)

2017 – Karlie Taylor (Honorable Mention)

2017 – Piper Thomas (Honorable Mention)

2018 – Piper Thomas (Honorable Mention)

2019 – Karlie Taylor (Honorable Mention)

2024 – Kira Fallert (Honorable Mention)

2025 – Cassidy Hartman (Honorable Mention)

UNI volleyball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Volleyball), X (@UNIVolleyball) and on Instagram (@univolleyball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.

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Kentucky Volleyball Final Four Watch Party Set for Thursday at Drake’s Lansdowne – UK Athletics

Published

8 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Big Blue Nation is invited to cheer on Kentucky Volleyball in the NCAA Final Four at the official watch party hosted at Drake’s Lansdowne, on Thursday, Dec. 18.

The Wildcats face Wisconsin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Texas A&M vs. Pitt match, which begins at 6:30 p.m. ET. Kentucky’s match is expected to start around 9 p.m. ET.

Fans at the Lansdowne location can enjoy UK Volleyball promotional items and giveaways, with tables available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Landsdowne Drakes is located at 3347 Tates Creek Road in Lexington,

Can’t make it to Lansdowne? All Drake’s locations in Kentucky will show the match, so you can find a spot near you to support the Wildcats.

Drake’s Kentucky Locations:
Lexington

Lansdowne – 3347 Tates Creek Road
Brannon Crossing – 390 E. Brannon Road, Nicholasville
Hamburg – 1880 Pleasant Ridge Drive
Leestown – 1735 Sharkey Way

Louisville

Hurstbourne – 2651 S. Hurstbourne Parkway
Outer Loop – 3501 Outer Loop
Paddock Shops – 3921 Summit Plaza Drive
St. Matthews – 3939 Shelbyville Road

Other Locations

Elizabethtown – 151 The Loop
Bowling Green – 3267 Ken Bale Blvd
Owensboro – 3050 Highland Pointe Drive
Florence – 6805 Houston Road
Danville – 2596 South Danville Bypass
Pikeville – 175 Lee Ave.

Join us and be part of the excitement as Kentucky Volleyball competes for a spot in the national championship match!

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Florida Volleyball Adds Three Transfers to 2026 Roster

Published

8 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida volleyball announced Wednesday that outside hitter Kamryn (Kami) Chaney, middle blocker Brianna (Bri) Holladay and outside hitter Selena Leban will join the Gators for the upcoming 2026 season.

Arriving for the spring 2026 semester, Holladay and Leban each bring one year of collegiate experience, while Chaney arrives with three.

“Selena and Bri are talented freshmen who offer both production and upside,” Florida Head Coach Ryan Theis said. “Kami gives us a proven point scorer and while we’ll add a few more pieces between now and August, we’re thrilled with this start.”

The trio joins incoming freshman opposite/outside hitter Nadi’ya Shelby as newcomers on Florida’s 2026 roster.

Details on Chaney, Holladay and Leban are below.

Kamryn (Kami) Chaney

Position: Outside Hitter

Class: Senior

Height: 6-1

Hometown: Park Forest, Illinois

Previous Teams: Vanderbilt (2025), Princeton (2023-24)

High School: Marist

At Vanderbilt
Honors:

TSWA Volleyball Player of the Week – Sept. 23

Recorded a double-double vs. UC Irvine (19 kills/11 digs)

Black Student-Athlete Group Executive Board – Treasurer

2025 as a junior: Saw action in 17 matches and led the Commodores attack 12 times and behind the service line in eight matches… Finished with double-digit kills 12 times, including three with 20 or more… Season-best 22 kills against California (Sept. 10)… Matched career-best six aces against Western Kentucky (Sept. 16)… Led Vanderbilt in aces with 33 and totaled 218 kills, .182 hitting %, 94 digs,25 blocks and 264.5 points…Averaged 4.01 points per set, 3.30 kills per set, 0.50 aces per set, 1,42 digs per set and 0.38 blocks per set

At Princeton
Honors:

Ivy League Player of the Year (2024)

First Team All-Region (2024)

First Team All-Ivy League (2024)

Ivy League All-Tournament Team (2024)

#9, Most Kills in A Season (421, 2024)

Second Team All-Ivy League (2023)

4x Ivy League Player of the Week (Nov. 18 2024, Nov. 4 2024, Oct. 21 2024, Sept. 16 2024)

Ivy League Rookie of the Week (Oct. 16, 2023)

2024 as a sophomore: Led the Ivy League and ranked 16th nationally in points-per-set (5.20) … led the Ivy league and ranked 24th nationally in kills-per-set (4.43) … led the Ivy League in points (494) and kills (421) … ranked second in the Ivy League in service aces (48) and service aces-per-set (0.42) … her season-high 34 kills that came on a .484 hitting percentage against High Point on Sept. 21 were the eighth-most kills recorded in a five set match by any player in the 2024 season … became the first Ivy League player Maddie Lord of Penn of Penn on Oct. 11, 2014, to have 34 kills in a match … recorded 12 double-doubles … exceeded 20 kills in eight matches … tallied 25 kills, a season-high 16 digs and a season-high seven blocks on Sept. 13 against St. John’s … recorded 25 kills on a .532 hitting percentage, 13 digs and two service aces against Yale on Nov. 1 … accumulated 24 kills on a .404 hitting percentage and four digs against Yale on Oct. 5 … had 24 kills, hit .358 and had four digs on Sept. 28 against Penn … contributed 23 kills on a .400 hitting percentage and 11 digs at Cornell on Oct. 19 … finished with 22 kills, 10 digs and three blocks at UMBC on Sept. 21 … compiled 20 kills on a .357 hitting percentage, 10 digs and four blocks on Nov. 16 at Harvard

2023 as a freshman: Led the Tigers and ranked second in the Ivy League in points per set (3.86) … led the Tigers and ranked fourth in the Ivy League kills per set (3.27) … led the Tigers and ranked 10th in the Ivy League in service aces per set (0.33) … tied the team-high and ranked 10th in the Ivy League in service aces (24) … appeared in 21 matches and 73 sets … recorded 42 digs and 32 blocks … had a season-high 25 kills on a .417 hitting percentage in the Tigers’ win over Dartmouth on Nov. 10 … recorded 17 kills, three digs and two service aces at Harvard on Oct. 6 … finished with 16 kills, five service aces and three digs in the Tigers’ win at Dartmouth on Oct. 7 … tallied 13 kills, a season-high six service aces, four digs and three blocks on Oct. 14 in Princeton’s win over Cornell … finished with 15 kills, four digs and three blocks at UMBC on Sept. 8 … had a season-high four blocks in the Tigers’ victory over Penn on Sept. 22 … had double digit kills in 13 matches

Why Chaney chose the University of Florida
“Florida checked all the boxes for me. They have the best combination of elite academics and high-level athletics which is super important for me. How could I say no to Gainesville and the opportunities Florida can bring? Go Gators!”

Career Stats
Year	S	MP	Kills	E	TA	Hit. Pct.	A	SA	SErr	D	BS	BA	TB	BErr	PTS
2023	73	21	239	126	650	0.174	2	24	34	47	6	26	32	2	282.0
2024	95	26	421	151	968	0.279	16	40	62	222	10	46	56	5	494.0
2025	66	17	218	113	578	0.182	6	33	67	94	2	23	25	3	264.5
Totals:	234	64	878	390	2,196	0.222	24	97	163	363	18	95	213	10	1,040.5

Brianna (Bri) Holladay

Position: Middle Blocker

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6-3

Hometown: Leesburg, Va.

Previous Teams: Virginia Tech

High School: Riverside

At Virginia Tech
Honors:

Earned All-Tournament Team honors at both the Blue Hen Invitational and the Seahawk Classic

Named MVP of the Hokie Invitational

2025 as a freshman: In her rookie campaign, the Leesburg, Va., native appeared in 30 of Virginia Tech’s 31 matches, recording 108 blocks. She led the Hokies in blocks in 12 matches and posted five or more blocks 11 times during the season. Holladay added three double-digit kill performances and recorded her first career double-double with a career-high 13 kills and 10 blocks in Virginia Tech’s season finale against Syracuse on Nov. 28.

High School: Earned First Team All-State, All-Region and All-District selections in 2024… Named the 2024 State Player of the Year… Earned 2024 County Player of the Year honors and was named First Team All-Metropolitan… Earned Earned First Team All-State, All-Region and All-District selections in 2023… Named to the Second Team All-Metropolitan in 2023… Is an AP Scholar with Distinction… Earned the Academic Excellence Award four times.

Why Holladay chose the University of Florida
“I chose Florida Volleyball because the program represents a legacy of excellence that inspires every player to set a higher standard. I value the opportunity to represent Florida on the court and develop under the guidance of the new coaching staff. The passionate Gator fan base and strong support for student-athletes create an environment where I know I will be pushed to excel. Beyond athletics, the university’s strong academic reputation, particularly in engineering, will prepare me for a career after volleyball.”

Career Stats
Year	S	MP	Kills	E	TA	Hit. Pct.	A	SA	SErr	D	BS	BA	TB	BErr	PTS
2025	95	30	158	49	332	.328	5	7	12	20	10	98	108	12	224.0
Totals:	95	30	158	49	332	.328	5	7	12	20	10	98	108	12	224.0

Selena Leban

Position: Outside Hitter

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6-0

Hometown: Nova Gorica, Slovenia

Previous Teams: Kansas

High School: Gimnazija Šiška

At Kansas
2025 as a freshman: Appeared in 21 of the Jayhawks’ 35 matches, posting double-digit kills seven times and double-digit digs four times. Recorded back-to-back double-doubles, including a career-best 20 kills and 11 digs against then-No. 2 Penn State on Aug. 25, followed by 14 kills and 10 digs against then-No. 8 Wisconsin on Aug. 29.

High School: Competed for Slovenia on the national stage since 2019, beginning with the U16/U17 European Championship…. The European Golden League in 2024 was her 10th competition within the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV)… In 42 career CEV matches, Leban has recorded 289 kills, 52 service aces and 32 blocks…. Also competed in the 2020 and 2023 European Cups for her club.

Career Stats
Year	S	MP	Kills	E	TA	Hit. Pct.	A	SA	SErr	D	BS	BA	TB	BErr	PTS
2025	67	21	147	74	425	.172	11	15	32	126	1	28	29	5	177.0
Totals:	67	21	147	74	425	.172	11	15	32	126	1	28	29	5	177.0