Sports
SDSU Athletics Announces Launch of Student-Athlete Recruitment and Retention Fund
SAN DIEGO — San Diego State Athletics proudly announces the launch of the Student-Athlete Recruitment and Retention Fund, a bold initiative designed to elevate Aztec Athletics as we enter a new era of college sports. This fund will play a critical role in strengthening our ability to recruit, retain, and support top-tier student-athletes as we prepare to transition into the Pac-12 Conference. All contributions are tax-deductible.
As the college athletics landscape evolves, particularly with the passing of the House Settlement that was approved earlier today (June 6, 2025), this fund ensures SDSU is prepared to meet the future head-on. With the implementation of the House Settlement on July 1, 2025, universities will be permitted to directly share revenue with student-athletes, in exchange for licensing their NIL, in addition to continuing to offer scholarships, housing, meals, and other essential benefits. Revenue sharing for schools will be capped at approximately $20.5 million in 2025-26, with increases in subsequent years.
San Diego State is committed to making forward-thinking investments that support the holistic development of our student-athletes. The Student-Athlete Recruitment and Retention Fund is the first step of significant investments we will make to remain competitive in this new chapter, ensuring that Aztec Athletics continues to thrive both on and off the field.
“As we prepare for our entry into the Pac-12, this fund is a vital step in ensuring we continue to compete for championships while also aligning SDSU Athletics with the future of college sports,” said SDSU director of athletics John David Wicker. “Our student-athletes deserve the very best, and this initiative allows us to directly invest in their experience while sustaining the proud tradition of Aztec excellence.”
Building on a Strong Foundation
We are incredibly grateful for the impactful work of the MESA Foundation and Aztec Link, whose leadership has driven tremendous progress in the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) space over the past several years. Their efforts have empowered student-athletes and their families with life-changing opportunities and helped SDSU remain competitive on the national stage.
Through collaboration with Aztec NIL, SDSU’s internal name, image, and likeness department, both collectives will continue to play a vital role moving forward by creating partnerships with businesses, charitable causes and through unique fan engagement opportunities. As the Student-Athlete Recruitment and Retention Fund comes online, MESA Foundation and Aztec Link will remain essential to SDSU’s NIL fundraising strategy, complementing our overall approach to the student-athlete experience.
How the Aztec Nation Can Get Involved
If you’ve previously supported NIL efforts through MESA Foundation or Aztec Link—thank you! As we navigate this new era, we have created an FAQ document to help cover common questions. When we learn more from the ruling and corresponding NCAA rule changes, we will update this link for FAQs.
Here’s how you can continue supporting Aztec student-athletes in this next phase:
- Continue your support through existing NIL channels to help create opportunities in our community for student-athletes.
- Make a donation or commit to a pledge to the Student-Athlete Recruitment and Retention Fund
- Purchase season tickets to our ticketed sports as another way to increase revenue that can be shared with student-athletes.
Make your gift today and help lay the foundation for our future in the Pac-12. Contributions to the Student-Athlete Recruitment and Retention Fund will also count toward exclusive donor recognition programs, including your Aztec Club priority points. If you’re interested in providing leadership-level support or have any questions, please contact the Aztec Club at (619)-594-6444 or aztecclub@sdsu.edu.
Supporters of MESA Foundation and Aztec Link will receive more information in the coming weeks about opportunities to continue supporting NIL while also participating in this new fund.
About San Diego State Athletics
San Diego State Athletics is dedicated to excellence in academics, competition, and personal growth for all student-athletes. With our move to the Pac-12 Conference in 2026, Aztec Athletics is poised for unprecedented opportunity and national prominence. This is more than a moment—it’s our future. And it starts now.
Sports
Meghan Scholz Added to San Diego Volleyball Roster
SAN DIEGO — DePaul middle blocker Meghan Scholz has been added to the San Diego volleyball roster as a transfer, head coach Jennifer Petrie announced on Tuesday evening.
“We’re tremendously excited to welcome Meghan to the Torero family,” said Petrie. “She is a highly talented, well-rounded player whose defensive prowess and competitive spirit will help elevate the standard in our gym.”
A native of Tomahawk, Wisconsin, Scholz will join the Toreros as a senior for the 2026 season. She spent the first three years (2023-2025) of her college career in Chicago, where she appeared in 84 matches and 284 sets for the Blue Devils while totaling 391 kills, 208 blocks (24 solo), 94 digs, 11 service aces, and nine assists.
Scholz appeared in 24 of DePaul’s 28 matches in 2025, recording 97 kills and 38 blocks. She recorded multiple blocks on 11 different occasions last season and had multiple kills in 19 of her 23 appearances.
She led the Blue Devils in blocks in both her freshman (2023) and sophomore (2024) seasons. Her debut college campaign saw her earn two BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors.
The Toreros will begin their pursuit of a second consecutive West Coast Conference title and NCAA Tournament berth in August 2026.
Sports
What to know about Kentucky, Wisconsin volleyball’s Final Four foe
Updated Dec. 17, 2025, 8:29 a.m. CT
The 2020 and 2021 NCAA volleyball national champions will be vying for a spot in the 2025 national championship match.
Wisconsin, of course, won the 2021 national championship. Kentucky won the 2020 national championship. Neither team has been playing on the final day of the season since then.
That will change as the Badgers and Wildcats face off in the NCAA regional semifinals on Thursday, Dec. 18, at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. The match will start roughly 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Pittsburgh-Texas A&M match, which will start at 5:30 p.m.
Sports
NCAA women’s volleyball championship: All-time winners list
The 2025 NCAA women’s volleyball championship will take place from Dec. 18-21 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The 2025 Final Four teams heading to Kansas City are Pittsburgh (Pitt), Kentucky, Texas A&M and Wisconsin.
In 2024, Penn State defeated Louisville to take home the title. Stanford has the most all-time championships, with nine titles to its name. Penn State takes second place with eight, followed by Nebraska in third with five.
Check out the all-time winners list for the NCAA women’s volleyball championship below:
2024: Penn State
2023: Texas
2022: Texas
2021: Wisconsin
2020: Kentucky
2019: Stanford
2018: Stanford
2017: Nebraska
2016: Stanford
2015: Nebraska
2014: Penn State
2013: Penn State
2012: Texas
2011: UCLA
2010: Penn State
2009: Penn State
2008: Penn State
2007: Penn State
2006: Nebraska
2005: Washington
2004: Stanford
2003: Southern California
2002: Southern California
2001: Stanford
2000: Nebraska
1999: Penn State
1998: Long Beach State
1997: Stanford
1996: Stanford
1995: Nebraska
1994: Stanford
1993: Long Beach State
1992: Stanford
1991: UCLA
1990: UCLA
1989: Long Beach State
1988: Texas
1987: Hawai’i
1986: Pacific
1985: Pacific
1984: UCLA
1983: Hawai’i
1982: Hawai’i
1981: Southern California
For more NCAA updates, check out the ESPN hub page with scores, rankings and more.
Sports
Forty-One Sun Belt Volleyball Student-Athletes Earn Academic All-District Honors
NEW ORLEANS – Forty-one Sun Belt Conference volleyball student-athletes have been selected to the 2025 Academic All-District® NCAA Division I Volleyball Team.
Four Sun Belt volleyball student-athletes selected as Academic All-District® honorees were selected for advancement to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members including App State’s Maya Winterhoff, Georgia Southern’s Kirsten Barrett and Reagan Barth and Texas State’s Samantha Wunsch.
Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced January 13, 2026.
The 2025 Academic All-District® Volleyball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
To qualify for All-District honors, a student-athlete must maintain a grade-point average of 3.50 or better and compete in at least 90% of the institution’s matches OR have started at least 66% of the institution’s matches.
For more information about CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
Sun Belt Academic All-District Selections
Lou Johnson, App State
Maya Winterhoff*, App State
Addison Heidemann, App State
Ali Morris, App State
Erin Madigan, Arkansas State
Devyn Lewis, Arkansas State
Libby Gee-Weiler, Arkansas State
Addison Collum, Arkansas State
Anna Rita, Coastal Carolina
Emma Van Elslande, Coastal Carolina
Ava Wallis, Coastal Carolina
Emily Fowler, Coastal Carolina
Mayte Camacho, Georgia Southern
Lydia Seymour, Georgia Southern
Kirsten Barrett*, Georgia Southern
Reagan Barth*, Georgia Southern
Shanelle Martinez, Georgia State
Nazli Guvener, Georgia State
Alessia Cappai, Georgia State
Grace Wenrich, James Madison
Rebecca Watkins, James Madison
Julia McNeley, James Madison
Elli Barry, Marshall
Marae Reilly, Marshall
Bella Thompson, Marshall
Kate Kilpatrick, Old Dominion
Adrienne Peji, Old Dominion
Elisa Maggi, Old Dominion
Lillie Johnson, Southern Miss
Morgen Durgens, Southern Miss
Brynn Botkin, Southern Miss
Sadie McAda, Southern Miss
Brooke Bentke, Texas State
Anna Blaine, Texas State
Bailey Hanner, Texas State
Samantha Wunsch*, Texas State
Amiah Butler, Troy
Kalina Calvillo, Troy
Jaci Mesa, Troy
Olivia Kwiatkowski, Troy
Morgan Howard, ULM
Sports
Track and Field Announces 2025-26 Indoor Track and Field Schedule
The Spiders open the new year with the VCU Rams Indoor Invite on Jan. 9 in Richmond, before traveling to the Wesley A. Brown Invitational at the Naval Academy on Jan. 16-17. Richmond will compete in a split weekend on Jan. 23-24, sending athletes to the VMI Invitational in Lexington, Va., and the Liberty Open in Lynchburg, Va.
Action continues Jan. 30-31 with another split meet, as the Spiders take part in the Penn State National Open in University Park, Pa., and the Patriot Games hosted by George Mason in Fairfax, Va.
February competition begins at the VMI Winter Relays on Feb. 6-7, followed by the ECAC/IC4A Championships at Boston on Feb. 7. The Spiders return to Liberty for the Darius Dixon Invitational on Feb. 13, then head back to Boston for the David Hemery Valentine Invitational on Feb. 14. The regular season concludes with the Father Diamond Invitational at George Mason on Feb. 20.
Postseason action begins at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 27-28, with qualifying athletes advancing to the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 13.
A complete schedule with meet times and additional details will be available on RichmondSpiders.com as the season approaches.
Sports
Former volleyball coach charged after viral video sparks investigation
Updated Dec. 16, 2025, 7:03 p.m. ET
A former volleyball coach who appeared in a viral sting operation video back in August has been formally charged. Levi Garrett, 34, was charged with dissemination of matter harmful to minors following an investigation.
A probable cause affidavit states he allegedly sent sexually explicit photos of himself to someone he thought was an underage boy. He appeared in a viral video by YouTuber Jidon Adams, prompting an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police detective to open up a case against him.
-
Motorsports3 weeks agoJo Shimoda Undergoes Back Surgery
-
NIL2 weeks agoBowl Projections: ESPN predicts 12-team College Football Playoff bracket, full bowl slate after Week 14
-
Motorsports7 days agoSoundGear Named Entitlement Sponsor of Spears CARS Tour Southwest Opener
-
Rec Sports3 weeks agoHow this startup (and a KC sports icon) turned young players into card-carrying legends overnight
-
Rec Sports3 weeks agoRobert “Bobby” Lewis Hardin, 56
-
NIL3 weeks agoIndiana’s rapid ascent and its impact across college football
-
Motorsports3 weeks agoPohlman admits ‘there might be some spats’ as he pushes to get Kyle Busch winning again
-
Sports3 weeks ago
Wisconsin volleyball sweeps Minnesota with ease in ranked rivalry win
-
Motorsports1 week agoDonny Schatz finds new home for 2026, inks full-time deal with CJB Motorsports – InForum
-
Motorsports3 weeks agoIncreased Purses, 19 Different Tracks Highlight 2026 Great Lakes Super Sprints Schedule – Speedway Digest





