Sports
Serra gridders have high hopes with strong Spring-Summer showing
Serra quarterback Nicolas Johnson prepares to throw to a receiver in Saturday’s Los Angeles Chargers 11-on-11 Pass Football Invitational. (Photo by Joe Snyder) By Joe Snyder Over the past couple of months, Serra High’s football team participated in several Spring-Summer passing and other football fundamental events and head coach Scott Altenberg is seeking to bring […]


By Joe Snyder
Over the past couple of months, Serra High’s football team participated in several Spring-Summer passing and other football fundamental events and head coach Scott Altenberg is seeking to bring back contention for CIF-Southern Section and CIF-State crowns this fall.
The Cavaliers strength appears to be on defense, behind senior tackle Khary Wilder, a four-star recruit who already committed to Big 10 power Ohio State University. Fourth-year starting defensive lineman Daylon Reed is expecting a big season, along with University of North Carolina commit cornerback Marcellous Williams. Incoming junior cornerback-running back Wesley Ace is also getting a lot of Major Division I college offers, according to Altenberg. Also back is Mission League Defensive Player of the Year DeVohn Mosely, Jr., a safety on defense and a running back on offense.
Gone is quarterback Jimmy Butler, who is still undecided on his college decisions, and junior Nickolas Johnson appears to be favored as the starter. Sophomore Malik Tunai, though, could be one to watch. Both had some good passing games, including last Saturday’s Los Angeles Chargers 11-on-11 Classic at the Chargers Training Center in El Segundo.
Wide receivers Duvay Williams and Hakeem Crawford are key returning starters.
“We’re young at parts,” Altenberg said. “For us, we have a lot of guys back on defense. Offensively, Butler is gone and we are young.”
At the Chargers Invitational, Serra won two of three games with wins over Murrieta Valley and Agoura and a loss to Palos Verdes, last season’s CIF-Southern Section Division V and CIF-State Division IIA champion.
In a thrilling finale against Agoura, Duvay Williams caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Tunai to give the Cavaliers a 30-24 win. That was his second of two TDs in the game, with his other being 50 yards from Johnson. Brian Bose and Hakeem Crawford also scored touchdowns for Serra.
The Cavaliers begin the 2025 season against Palos Verdes, led by returning junior quarterback Ryan Rakowski, on Aug. 22 at El Camino College. Game time is 7 p.m. The Sea Kings figure to be in a close race with Inglewood, Lawndale Leuzinger, Culver City and Manhattan Beach Mira Costa for the prestigious Bay League title. Despite only a third-place finish in the rigorous Bay last season, P.V. defeated Santa Ana Foothill for the Southern Section Division V crown and Twelve Bridges from the Sacramento area for its first state championship.
The Cavaliers will be in a 7-on-7 passing tournament at Palos Verdes High Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m., before another highly regarded classic at powerhouse St. John Bosco in Bellflower on June 28 before ending that summer and going into the dead period before opening practice on July 28.
Serra continues to have a tough schedule. After visiting CIF-Los Angeles City Section school Hamilton High in the Palms District on Aug. 29, the Cavaliers have their first home game against Los Alamitos on Sept. 5. From there, Serra plays three consecutive road games at Orange Lutheran on Sept. 12, Oaks Christian in Westlake Village on Sept. 19 before opening the Mission League in what will be an early league showdown at Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth on Oct. 3. The Cavaliers, then, have their homecoming game against L.A. Loyola on Oct. 10 and have two more home league games against West Hills Chaminade on Oct. 17 and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame on Oct. 24. On Halloween (Oct. 31), Serra closes league at Bishop Amat in La Puente. All games start at 7 p.m.
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Former Serra star Smith on a hitting tear
The Dodgers ended up winning two of three from San Francisco, losing the first game, 6-2, on Friday before coming back with wins of 11-5 on Saturday and 5-4 on Sunday.
Among the Giant players at Dodger Stadium was former Serra High standout player Dominic Smith. Smith went 2-for-3 including a two-run home run in the first game on Friday. He went 1-for-3, drove in a run and scored once on Saturday. Right now, according to sources, he’s hitting .343 this year for the Giants. He is 12-for-35 with seven runs batted in.
In his 12-year career, Smith is currently hitting .247 with 485 hits, including 64 home runs.
Before being traded to the Giants by the Cincinnati Reds earlier this season, Smith played for the New York Mets, Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox. He was drafted out of Serra High in the first round by the Mets in 2013. He was the 11th overall pick. He led the Cavaliers to their only CIF-Southern Section baseball title, winning the Division III championship over Manhattan Beach Mira Costa 12 years ago at Dodger Stadium. He hit a homer over the stadium fence, one of the few high school baseballers to do so.
Correction from last week’s South Bay All-Star Softball Game: It was Carson pitcher Gaselkle Pantoja; not Pantija. Sorry for the spelling error.
In that game, the American and National teams battled to a 5-5 tie on June 4 at Torrance High.
Torrance also had girls’ beach volleyball pair Kiana Greer and Anisa Olivas land on the Daily Breeze all-South Bay second-team, named last week.
Pair of the Year went to Redondo sisters Addison and Avery Junk, who were very influential in keying the Sea Hawks to the CIF-Southern Section Division I championship with an inspiring 3-2 win over powerful rival, Manhattan Beach Mira Costa on May 3 at Long Beach City College.
They won the decisive split set match to help the Sea Hawks win their first CIF title in the brief three-year history of beach volleyball in the CIF. Mira Costa won the previous two crowns over Redondo in 2023 and 2024.
Head coach Mark Pa’aluhi was Coach of the Year for the Sea Hawks.
Also making all-area second-team were Libby Matsik and Spencer Clark of South Torrance.
Greer, meanwhile, was also CIF-Southern Section Division II shot put champion and finished fifth in the CIF-State Meet on May 31 at Buchanan High in Clovis.
Sports
Men’s Volleyball Adds Alex Knight as Assistant Coach
LOS ANGELES – UCLA head men’s volleyball coach John Hawks announced on Thursday that the program has hired Alex Knight as an assistant coach. Knight returns to Westwood after concluding his professional playing career in Germany in 2025 with SWD Powervolleys Düren in the German Bundesliga. He also played for the Bruins and received both […]

Knight returns to Westwood after concluding his professional playing career in Germany in 2025 with SWD Powervolleys Düren in the German Bundesliga. He also played for the Bruins and received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from UCLA, where he helped the Bruins win national titles in 2023 and 2024.
“We are thrilled to welcome Alex back home to Westwood,” head coach John Hawks said. “Alex brings a winning pedigree both from his time at UCLA where he was an AVCA All-American and a two-time national champion, and from his professional playing days. Alex is a Bruin through and through, and I can’t wait to see the impact he will make on the young men in our program.”
Knight had a successful season in Germany in 2025, helping his club team to the finals of the German Cup, and a sixth-place finish in the league standings at the end of the season. He returns to Westwood having made appearances in 109 matches for the Bruins between 2020 and 2024.
“I am so excited to be coming back home to UCLA,” Knight said. “My time as a student-athlete was a dream come true, but I know that there is unfinished business for me in Westwood. Thank you to Coach Hawks for giving me this opportunity — I can’t wait to step into this new role and help bring more National Championships home for this program.”
While at UCLA as a player, Knight played in a total of 109 matches, playing both at outside hitter and at libero. While playing primarily at outside hitter, Knight totaled 635 kills over five seasons between 2020 and 2024, with a career-high of 257 kills and a .332 hitting percentage as a redshirt junior in 2023. For his efforts, Knight was named a second-team AVCA All-American and a MPSF first-team selection.
Knight played a key role for the Bruins in both the 2023 and 2024 NCAA National Collegiate title runs. In the 2023 NCAA tournament, Knight recorded 21 kills, including 15 in the final, where the Bruins beat Hawai’i in four sets to claim their 20th national championship. After the tournament, Knight was named the most outstanding player of the tournament.
His role was different during the 2024 title run, as he played primarily at libero down the stretch for the Bruins. Knight finished the year with 89 kills, hit .350 on the year, recorded 70 digs, and played every set of the Bruins’ title run in the NCAA tournament as UCLA captured its 21st national championship.
UCLA men’s volleyball enters the 2026 season fresh off another strong season in 2025. The Bruins, under first-year head coach John Hawks, made the NCAA Championship title match for the third consecutive year, won over 20 matches for the third consecutive season, and claimed the MPSF regular season title for the third consecutive year. To conclude the season, outside hitter Cooper Robinson was named the MPSF Player of the Year, while Robinson, Zach Rama, Andrew Rowan, and Cameron Thorne were all named AVCA All-Americans.
Sports
18 Maine South Athletes Earn NISCA Academic All-American Status
Boys and girls swimmers from Maine South accounted for 18 of Illinois’ 83 NISCA academic All-American athletes to help Illinois rank No. 6 in the nation for most selections.A total of 22 boys and girls from the Journal-area were honored.To earn NISCA academic All-American honors, athletes must be a senior with a GPA above a […]

Boys and girls swimmers from Maine South accounted for 18 of Illinois’ 83 NISCA academic All-American athletes to help Illinois rank No. 6 in the nation for most selections.
A total of 22 boys and girls from the Journal-area were honored.
To earn NISCA academic All-American honors, athletes must be a senior with a GPA above a 3.75 and complete an application.
Maine South went all out and accounted for over 1/5th of the Illinois selections.
Only Texas (262), Michigan (210), Ohio (140), Pennsylva…
Sports
Multimillionaire athlete-turned-CEO says he never buys expensive clothes and only flies economy because he’s in constant fear of running out of cash
The U.K.’s football fans might be used to the idea of their favorite athletes taking private jets, suiting up in designer clothes, and spraying champagne after big wins. But former footballer-turned-entrepreneur Tom Beahon still pinches his pennies—that is, despite also cofounding the £950 million pound ($1.29 billion) premium sportswear brand Castore. “I’ve never bought an […]

The U.K.’s football fans might be used to the idea of their favorite athletes taking private jets, suiting up in designer clothes, and spraying champagne after big wins. But former footballer-turned-entrepreneur Tom Beahon still pinches his pennies—that is, despite also cofounding the £950 million pound ($1.29 billion) premium sportswear brand Castore.
“I’ve never bought an expensive watch, I don’t spend lots of money on clothes. I don’t fly business class…even to Australia, I flew economy,” Beahon recently told the Financial Times. “The whole concept of spending also just doesn’t make me happy.”
Beahon used to be a professional youth football player, starting off by playing for the Tranmere Rovers in his late teens, then joining Spanish club Jerez Industrial CF. But his athletic career abruptly came to an end in his early 20’s, as he and his brother Philip ditched the sport to work finance jobs in London, aiming to raise capital for their sportswear venture. Tom joined Lloyds Bank while Philip worked at Deloitte—and by 2015, Castore was up and running. But their pockets were incredibly tight.
For the first three years, the cofounders and co-CEOs paid themselves £1,000 ($1,355) a month in order to preserve money for the business. Tom said he moved back in with his parents, while Philip’s soon-to-be wife paid his rent. The ex-footballer noted these were “rough times financially,” but even after his sportswear business neared a £1 billion valuation in 2023, none of his frugal habits changed. In fact, he lives a low-key lifestyle out of concern he’ll hit rock-bottom by overspending—with no safety net to catch him.
“I did go through a period where I thought ‘I should do something nice,’ but I have always just been a saver rather than a spender,” Beahon said. “I don’t know if it’s because of my background or having lived through those three years where I was constantly in fear of running out of money.”
“That fear never leaves you. It’s deeply branded on my soul—that day-to-day focus on cash, that paranoia.”
Fortune reached out to Beahon for comment.
Growing up with a frugal mindset has stuck with him
Beahon may not be splurging on silk pajamas and caviar for himself—but he’s more than happy to shell out on his parents. He said he likes to buy them nice holidays and business-class flights because they’re in the “getting to enjoy it” phase of life. Meanwhile, Beahon believes he’s still in the “building stage” with long hours, so no vacations are on his horizon.
Plus, he said it’s nice to be able to spoil his parents who never had the chance to enjoy such luxuries themselves. Beahon grew up proudly working class, living in northern England without much money. His family didn’t go on holidays, and he was well aware that others were better off than he was growing up. It’s another reason he’s so frugal today—and that perspective has stuck with Beahon in leading his highly lucrative athletic-wear business.
“When we started Castore, I vividly remember meeting other entrepreneurs and thinking, ‘There’s very few people like us,’” Beahon said. “Everyone else had a safety net—their parents had spare cash and, if it didn’t go well, they’d do something else and it would be okay. I didn’t feel like that.”
Unlike some silver-spoon-fed founders, Beahon’s family didn’t have a “spare £40,000 lying around.” With a teacher mom and construction-worker dad, Beahon recalled his parents making a “huge sacrifice” by offering to remortgage their house to give them a loan in launching Castore. Those dire circumstances 10 years ago feel very far away from the success his brand brings in now—but his pivot to entrepreneurism was about financial stability, not ultra-wealth, anyway.
“More than wanting to make a certain amount of money, I was driven by the feeling of security. My dad was always nervous about being made redundant, and it affected the family,” he said. “Being successful to the point of having security was always the goal.”
Other millionaires are still pinching their pennies too
Beahon isn’t the only one to skimp out on holidays and expensive clothes, despite being on the come-up of great financial success. Even the youngest self-made billionaire who knocked Taylor Swift off the top spot, Lucy Guo, still shops at Shein and pulls up to work in a Honda Civic.
Serial investor Mark Cuban also didn’t go on vacation for the first seven years of getting his technology company MicroSolutions off the ground. He said that at the time he was “broke as f-ck” living in a three-bedroom apartment with five other roommates, often sleeping on the floor. While all his other friends were going out on the weekends, he was head-down in growing his business out of fear that the whole thing “could fall into the sh-tter.” He later sold MicroSolutions to H&R Block for $6 million.
Actress Keke Palmer was also a millionaire at the age of 12—but just like Beahon, her humble upbringing guided the way she handled money forever. For the first 15 years of her career, all of her travel was business-related. And she still lives under her means in other ways; Palmer said that even with $1 million in her pocket, she’d still only rent out a $1,500 place and affordable car—no need for a Bentley. She got her penny-pinching habits from her parents, who worked with what they had.
“I learned from my parents very early on because they knew their limitations with money and finances,” Palmer told CNBC Make It earlier this year. “I believe in saving and frugality…I don’t play around with that.”
David’s Bridal CEO Kelly Cook may be leading one of the biggest bridal chains in the country, but her early career looked a lot different. Years ago she was barely scraping by, juggling weekend work as a bartender, her college courses, and caring for her young child. Cook described living off pinto beans and cornbread to make her money stretch, her take-home pay of $882 as a single mom barely covering her car note and rent. Now, the 58-year-old is helming a wedding giant with 200 stores across the U.S. and Canada, leading around 5,000 employees.
Sports
Ohio Volleyball Announces 2025 Nonconference Schedule
Story Links ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio volleyball team has released the nonconference portion of its 2025 schedule, as announced by interim head coach Kenzie Brinkman on Thursday, July 10. “We’re excited to unveil this season’s volleyball schedule. It’s a challenging lineup including a Pittsburgh team that made it to […]

ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio volleyball team has released the nonconference portion of its 2025 schedule, as announced by interim head coach Kenzie Brinkman on Thursday, July 10.
“We’re excited to unveil this season’s volleyball schedule. It’s a challenging lineup including a Pittsburgh team that made it to the final four for the last four years. It will push our team and showcase the incredible talent we’ve been building the last couple years,” Brinkman said. “With some awesome returners and some incredible new faces, fan can expect high-energy matches and unforgettable moments all season long.”
The Mid-American Conference announced the in-league matchups for the 2025 season in the beginning of April; the release is available HERE. The previously announced MAC schedule has one update, Ohio’s home series versus Western Michigan. The series will now be played on Thursday, Nov. 13 and Friday, Nov. 14.
Ohio will kick off the 2025 season in the Convocation Center with a home tournament, the Bobcat Invitational. The Bobcats will host Bucknell, Iowa State and Eastern Illinois on Friday, Aug. 29 to Sunday, Aug. 31. Ohio will play Bucknell on Friday at 7 p.m. ET. On Saturday, the Bobcats will face Iowa State at 5 p.m. ET. Ohio will conclude the tournament with Eastern Illinois on Sunday at 12 p.m. ET.
The Bobcats will start September with the Chattanooga Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn. Ohio will face Cincinnati on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. ET. On Friday, Sept. 5, the Bobcats will face tournament host, UT Chattanooga, at 12 p.m. ET. Ohio will conclude the Chattanooga Classic on Sunday, Sept. 6 against Jacksonville State at 12 p.m. ET.
Ohio will continue nonconference play at the Tru by Hilton Dayton Beavercreek Invitational in Dayton, Ohio. The Bobcats will kick off the tournament against Ohio State on Friday, Sept. 12 at 3 p.m. ET. On Saturday, Sept. 13, Ohio is set to face Pittsburgh at 2 p.m. ET. The Bobcats will conclude the tournament against Wright State on Sunday, Sept. 14 at 2 p.m. ET.
The final weekend of Ohio’s nonconference schedule will be played at the Charlotte Invitational in Charlotte, N.C. The Bobcats will play two matches on Friday, Sept. 19. Ohio will face Maryland Eastern Shore at 10:30 a.m. ET and tournament host, Charlotte, at 6:30 p.m. ET. Ohio is set to conclude the tournament with a match against Furman on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 12 p.m. ET.
2025 Volleyball Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2025 Ohio volleyball season are now available HERE. There are three seating options: Courtside ($105), Reserved ($75) and General Admission ($45). The sections for the reserved tickets are 1-4 behind the team bench while the rest of the arena is general admission.
#OUohyeah
Sports
2025 Providence Journal Rhode Island All State Boys Volleyball Team
Here’s how high-school athletes are chosen for The Providence Journal All-State awards The Providence Journal has been selecting high school All-State teams for more than 80 years. Here’s what goes into our calculation. Journal Staff The Providence Journal is proud to announce the 2025 All-State Volleyball first and second teams. The Journal Sports staff, with […]

Here’s how high-school athletes are chosen for The Providence Journal All-State awards
The Providence Journal has been selecting high school All-State teams for more than 80 years. Here’s what goes into our calculation.
Journal Staff
The Providence Journal is proud to announce the 2025 All-State Volleyball first and second teams. The Journal Sports staff, with some help from the coaches associations, determine the first- and second-team members. All first-team members were nominees for Player of the Year in that sport, and winners were announced at the All-State Awards show held June 18 at the Providence Performing Arts Center, featuring Rhode Island FC midfielder Clay Holstad.
The 2025 Providence Journal All-State Boys Volleyball
First Team
Ryan Harrington, North Kingstown
Outside hitter, senior
Harrington was a treat to watch over the last three seasons. He earned a spot on the Journal’s first-team All-State squad last season, and this year, he brings home more honors. The undersized outside hitter was a threat to win a point at any time and for that reason, he’s earned the Providence Journal’s Player of the Year award. Harrington also has a wicked serve and led NK to back-to-back runner-up finishes in Division I. North Kingstown will certainly miss Harrington as he competes for Stevenson University’s beach volleyball team next year.
Charles Pincince, Cranston East
Outside hitter, senior
Pincince was one of the most powerful hitters in the state this past season. His calm demeanor on the court made him the perfect go-to for Cranston East in crunch time and he always delivered. The senior led the Thunderbolts to their first state championship with a five-set win over North Kingstown. Pincince was named to the second team last year, but jumps up to the state’s highest honors for the first time in his career this season.
Cody Tow, North Kingstown
Outside hitter, senior
Tow makes his second consecutive appearance on the Providence Journal All-State first team. His reliable play at the net gave North Kingstown plenty of hitting options over the years. Tow finished with 236 kills this past spring and 24 aces. He also made the Journal’s second team as a sophomore.
Christopher Benell, La Salle
Middle, senior
La Salle wasn’t able to defend its title this season, but that didn’t stop Benell from having a standout spring. The 6-foot-4 middle blocker delivered big hits and was tremendous defensively for the Rams. He finished with 20 solo blocks, and 71 total, with 166 kills. This is his first appearance on the Journal’s All-State team.
Dennis Dixon, Cranston East
Middle, senior
Dixon was probably the most athletic player in the state this past season. His defense helped power Cranston East to the state crown and his hitting ability was a welcome addition. Dixon’s vertical made him a threat, but his best trait was his ability to hang in the air longer than most. The senior could wait until the last second before delivering a hit and it was impossible to defend.
Caleb Xum, Cranston East
Setter, senior
Xum was the best setter in the state this past season. But he made the unselfish move to libero for the state championship. The senior’s defense was more important to Cranston East’s title chances than his ability to direct the offense. Xum was all over the court in the championship match and the Thunderbolts benefited from it as they upset North Kingstown.
Stephen Dufour, North Kingstown
Libero, senior
Dufour lands on the Providence Journal All-State first team for the second straight season. The senior tallied 253 digs this past season with 16 aces in the defensive specialist position. He helped lead NK to a runner-up finish for the second consecutive spring.
The 2025 Providence Journal All-State Boys Volleyball Second Team
OH — Jamilson De Pina Almeida, Central Falls, Senior
OH — Jahmir Evans, La Salle, Senior
OH — Masiah Prak-Preaster, Coventry, Senior
MB — Jackson Colton, Lincoln, Senior
MB — Henry Kenyon, Westerly, Junior
S — Sebastian DeCubellis, Lincoln, Senior
L — Ty Cotta, La Salle, Senior
Sports
Volleyball to Celebrate 50 Years in 2025 – Ole Miss Athletics
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss volleyball program is set to honor the many who have impacted the program as it celebrates fifty years in advance of the 2025 regular season. Throughout the entirety of the 2025 season, Ole Miss athletics and the volleyball program will honor and recognize many who have contributed to […]

Throughout the entirety of the 2025 season, Ole Miss athletics and the volleyball program will honor and recognize many who have contributed to the success and legacy of the program.
Fans also have the opportunity to ensure success over the next 50 years of Ole Miss volleyball by donating a $50 gift to the Grove Collective in support of the program.
The program has tallied over 800 wins, reached five NCAA Tournaments and won the 2017 NIVC championship. Nineteen student-athletes have earned All-SEC honors, 16 have earned AVCA All-Region and three have been named All-Americans as the program has blossomed over generations of standout student-athletes.
The success of the program has built on the foundation of countless student-athletes who have gone on to earn a degree from the University of Mississippi and take their talents throughout the world.
Be sure to follow OleMissVB on all social platforms and stay tuned for content throughout the season featuring former coaches and players.
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss Volleyball on X at @OleMissVB, on Instagram at @olemissvb and on Facebook at Ole Miss Volleyball. See exclusive photo and video content from behind the scenes and connect in real time with everything Ole Miss.
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