Skyhawks Fall To Chattanooga On Day 2 Of OVC Beach Volleyball Championship
Story Links
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Ohio Valley Conference Beach Volleyball Championship continued today as the University of Tennessee at Martin saw its 10-game winning streak come to an end against No. 1 seed Chattanooga, falling 3-0. The Skyhawks (23-9) will take on No. 4 seed Lindenwood in tomorrow’s […]
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Ohio Valley Conference Beach Volleyball Championship continued today as the University of Tennessee at Martin saw its 10-game winning streak come to an end against No. 1 seed Chattanooga, falling 3-0.
The Skyhawks (23-9) will take on No. 4 seed Lindenwood in tomorrow’s semifinals at 8 a.m. CT. The victor will advance to take on Chattanooga in a winner-take-all championship final at 11 a.m. CT.
After UT Martin’s Thursday match was the only one not affected by inclement weather, the Skyhawks and Mocs had to wait out a 2-hour and 45-minute lightning delay in the middle of their match today.
Two of the three final decisions went into third-set tiebreakers. After Kristin Phillips and Kylie Surratt were narrowly edged out (21-15, 21-16) at No. 5, the next two matchups were back-and-forth battles. Sydney Eckhardt and Reagan McGee started off strong at No. 4 but fell 19-21, 21-16, 15-12 before the delay.
Once play resumed, the third set at the No. 3 took place as Lauren Mariscal and Jenna Vallée were embroiled in a tight matchup. However, the Mocs (25-5) claimed the win with a 21-14, 19-21, 15-12 decision.
In other unfinished pairings, Kayla Bryant and Olivia O’Keefe were tied at 17-all in the second set after falling 21-17 in the opening set at No. 2. Riley Rushing and Dylan Sulcer were preparing to begin their second set at No. 1 after falling 21-14 in the first set.
Gallery: (4-25-2025) Beach VB at OVC Championship (Day 2)
Marshfield High School student breaks track & field legend Steve Prefontaine’s record | News
EUGENE, Ore. – History was made at Marshfield High School, as a senior at the school broke a record once held by a track and field legend. On May 2, Marshfield senior Bodey Lutes ran the 800-meter dash in 1:53.00, beating former Marshfield student Steve Prefontaine’s long-standing school record of 1:53.8. The Pirate track start […]
EUGENE, Ore. – History was made at Marshfield High School, as a senior at the school broke a record once held by a track and field legend.
On May 2, Marshfield senior Bodey Lutes ran the 800-meter dash in 1:53.00, beating former Marshfield student Steve Prefontaine’s long-standing school record of 1:53.8. The Pirate track start is now etched into school history, continuing a legend that began with “Pre.” Social media lit up with praise for Lutes, with commenters calling his time “an incredible accomplishment,” and some saying he deserves a mural just like Prefontaine.
Lute’s beat Prefontaine’s record just two months before the Prefontaine Classic is scheduled to arrive in Hayward Field for its 50th anniversary on July 5. The event will feature contests for running, pole vaults, shot put and other track and field staples.
Pair of First Team All-GAC Winners Highlight 2025 Track & Field Championships
Story Links
SHAWNEE, Okla. – The SWOSU track & field team wrapped up the 2025 Great American Conference Championships with six all-conference awards, highlighted by Marleigh West and Jaci Shelton’s First Team All-GAC honors. The Bulldogs accumulated 22 points, finishing eighth overall, while Oklahoma Baptist claimed its fourth consecutive conference title. On the academic […]
SHAWNEE, Okla. – The SWOSU track & field team wrapped up the 2025 Great American Conference Championships with six all-conference awards, highlighted by Marleigh West and Jaci Shelton’s First Team All-GAC honors. The Bulldogs accumulated 22 points, finishing eighth overall, while Oklahoma Baptist claimed its fourth consecutive conference title.
On the academic front, six SWOSU athletes earned spots on the Academic Honor Roll, boasting a minimum 3.5 GPA. The honorees included West, Shelton, Breegan Barnett, Samantha Kuzma, Makenlee Shieldnight, and Delaney York.
This season marked a milestone for the program, with two athletes earning First Team All-GAC selections for the first time since its inception in 2017. West led the charge, securing first-team honors with a third-place finish in shot put while earning honorable mention recognition in both discus and hammer throw. Shelton’s record-breaking discus throw of 42.98m earned her first-team honors and a third-place finish as the program’s new furthest throw.
Other notable performances included Deuna Miller’s sixth-place finish in the 100m, securing second-team honors, and Torri Tottress’s seventh-place finish in shot put, earning honorable mention.
West and Miller will compete at the West Texas A&M Last Chance Meet on May 11, aiming to qualify for the national championships later this month.
Great American Conference Championships Wednesday-Friday, April 30-May 2
Shawnee, Okla. (Hurt Memorial Athletic Complex) Final Results (link)
Santa Clara Athletics Celebrates 2024-25 With Annual Student-Athlete Awards
Story Links
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – While the 2024-25 year is not quite completely in the books just yet, Santa Clara Athletics celebrated their student-athletes for the achievements both on the field, in the classroom and in the community with their annual student-athlete awards. The night saw a total of 11 […]
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – While the 2024-25 year is not quite completely in the books just yet, Santa Clara Athletics celebrated their student-athletes for the achievements both on the field, in the classroom and in the community with their annual student-athlete awards. The night saw a total of 11 awards handed out, culminating with women’s soccer winning the Vic Corsiglia One Shining Moment Award for their road victory at BYU in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, and men’s golfer J.P. Odland and women’s basketball star Oliva Pollerd winning male and female athlete of the year honors, respectively. The full list of winners is below.
Jim Jennings Award:
Awarded to a male and female non-student athlete for their volunteer service to the athletic department.
AnnaMarie Van Buiten (Beach Volleyball Manager)
Tomas Donaldson (Women’s Soccer Manager)
Jay D. Farwell Award:
Given to the senior male and female student-athlete with the highest GPA.
Lauren Lietzke (Volleyball)
Brennan Mallett (Men’s Soccer)
Inclusive Excellence Award:
This award is presented annually to student-athlete(s) who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the Santa Clara Athletics Department’s goal of advancing excellence through diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Kyla Acres (Softball)
Jim Shea Award:
This award recognizes a male or female student athlete who has courageously led their team through selfless actions, and been a campus community leader. Jim Shea was the first Santa Clara student-athlete whose life was cut short while serving in the Vietnam War.
Abbey Charpentier (Softball)
Brenton Knapper (Men’s Basketball)
DJ Frandsen Award:
A male or female student- athlete who used perseverance and spirit to overcome adversity to serve as a role model of inspiration. The award is in memory of David Frandsen Jr. former basketball manager who inspired many in his battle with cancer.
Marisa Bubnis (Women’s Soccer)
John Kim (Men’s Tennis)
Marygrace Colby Award
Given annually to a senior female student-athlete who best demonstrates qualities of character, desire and competitive spirit on and off the field. Mary Grace Colby was Santa Clara’s first women’s athletic director.
Lauren Grover (Volleyball and Women’s Basketball)
Henry Schmidt Award
Given annually to a male student-athlete who best demonstrates attitude, character, desire, competitive spirit on and off the field of play. He was Santa Clara’s first athletic trainer, a position he held for 50 years.
Zach Fales (Men’s Water Polo)
Carroll Williams Award
Asenior student-athlete who best defines what it means to be a Santa Clara student-athlete, someone who excels in the classroom, on the field of play, and makes outstanding contributions to the community. Carroll Williams served as SCU long-time basketball coach and athletic director.
Libby Slater (Women’s Water Polo)
Connor Menke (Men’s Rowing)
Vic Corsiglia One Shining Moment Award
An award given to any male or female team or student-athlete for a “one shining” moment. This award is presented annually to an individual or team and represents a pinnacle achievement during the season of play.
Women’s Soccer defeats BYU in 2025 NCAA Tournament
TCU reigns supreme as NCAA beach volleyball champions in Gulf Shores
The annual NCAA Beach Volleyball Tournament was held in Gulf Shores over the weekend, where over a dozen schools competed for the national title.16 schools from across the nation competed in the weekend tournament, ranging from the likes of Florida State, Texas, LSU and Stanford, but TCU and Loyola Marymount (LMU) ultimately met in the […]
The annual NCAA Beach Volleyball Tournament was held in Gulf Shores over the weekend, where over a dozen schools competed for the national title. 16 schools from across the nation competed in the weekend tournament, ranging from the likes of Florida State, Texas, LSU and Stanford, but TCU and Loyola Marymount (LMU) ultimately met in the National Championship, which was played on Sunday morning.
Leading up to Sunday, LMU upset the four-time defending champions, USC, in the quarterfinals before coming back from behind to defeat UCLA, one of only three schools to even reach the finals, in the semifinals to punch their ticket to the National Championship game. Meanwhile, TCU defeated Georgia State, Texas and Cal Poly en route to their championship appearance.
In the end, TCU claimed their first national title, finishing with a 32-5 overall record, becoming the first school other than USC and UCLA to win the national championship. The Trojans won the first two, along with the most recent four in a row, while the Bruins won two straight from 2018 to 2019.
TCU’s Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno, both of whom took a year off to participate in the Paris Olympics last year, came back and helped the Horned Frogs seal the victory in the final match. They lost their first game 18-21 to LMU’s Michelle Shaffer and Anna Pelloia but rallied to win the final two 21-15 and 15-6.
Sunday’s championship game was played in single-elimination duals with 10 players split into five pairs from each team. The dual meet match is played in five best-of-three sets, with each pair’s match being worth one point.
The NCAA Beach Volleyball Tournament has become a new but iconic addition to the Gulf Shores area. Last December, a five-year agreement was reached that would keep the tournament in Gulf Shores until 2031 after what was initially supposed to be a two-year stint in California, according to previous reporting from Gulf Coast Media. However, NCAA and city officials decided to move it from Huntington Beach back to Gulf Shores this year in wake of the wildfires that impacted southern California in January. The event will return to the West Coast next year as originally scheduled before returning to Gulf Shores from 2027 through 2031.
The agreement to bring the sport’s culminating tournament to the Alabama Gulf Coast is thanks to the city’s ability to grow with the event, with the NCAA setting attendance records each year since the sport was originally sanctioned for championship play in 2016, GCM previously reported. Before then, the American Volleyball Coaches Association sand championships were held in Gulf Shores since 2012.
“The commitment to invest and support these championships in terms of facilities, staffing, marketing and more were integral data points to our decision-making process. We feel the efficiency of scale that can be realized with these long-term commitments between the NCAA and our hosts provides an opportunity for more enhancement of these championships, leading to an increased student-athlete and fan experience moving forward,” said Anthony Holman, NCAA vice president of championships and alliances, in a Dec. 9, 2024, announcement about the three-year extension of 2029-2031.
Improvements on the sand included additional spectator stadium seating and hospitality space. The television compound, marketing resources and student-athlete experiences were also mentioned as enticing amenities for the top collegiate beach volleyball players in the country.
GCM reported in March that the tournament was part of Alabama’s Beaches — formerly Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports & Events — earning the second-highest economic impact in the state in 2024. Across 123 events on the beach, Alabama’s Beaches recorded 123,641 hotel nights and an economic impact of $80.4 million.
With 91 events, Foley Sports Tourism recorded 31,615 hotel nights helped bring in an economic impact of $47 million to the city for the fifth-highest economic impact in the state last year. Birmingham was the leader where 150 events led to 261,989 hotel nights and an economic impact of nearly $250 million.
Raijon-Koger Reaches New Heights at Duke Twilight as NCCU Caps Regular Season
Story Links
Duke Twilight – Womens Results
Duke Twilight – Mens Results
DURHAM, N.C. – In the final tune-up before the MEAC Outdoor Championships, the North Carolina Central men’s and women’s track & field teams competed at the Duke Twilight […]
DURHAM, N.C. – In the final tune-up before the MEAC Outdoor Championships, the North Carolina Central men’s and women’s track & field teams competed at the Duke Twilight at Morris Williams Stadium on Sunday. Sophomore Jonathan Raijon-Koger claimed the men’s high jump crown for a season and college career best of 2.09m.
Raijon-Koger has been steadily increasing his leaps this outdoor season. His ranges were between 1.95m and 2.06m in every meet until Sunday’s outburst of 2.09m to win the men’s high jump. He’s now tied for 8th in the Southeast region this year.
Fellow Eagle Theodore Skinner joined Raijon-Koger in the top five, clearing 2.01m (5th) in the event. After his performance in the Raleigh Relays earlier this spring, Skinner still stands at 7th in the Southeast region.
Tia Lucas is now tied for 2nd on the HBCU Outdoor Performance list and 10th in the Southeast region after her 2nd-place finish in the women’s high jump at Duke. Lucas earned a new personal record of 1.71m.
On the track, Nyree Bacchus came in third in the women’s 400m with a new personal record of 53.42. That new time moves her to 4th on the 2025 HBCU Performance List in the 400 event.
Both relay teams posted top-five performances in the 4×100. The women’s team, comprised of Melanne Sutton, August Freeman, Gianna Marquez and Bacchus crossed the line in 2nd (46.89). The men’s relay team featuring Allen Barnes, Zion Amadi, Alan Webster and Deshaun Johnson took 5th (40.47).
Some other personal records from NCCU included Naa’Irah Andrews (women’s shot put – 10.90m), Ryan Chong (men’s 3000m steeple – 10:15.47), Laila Jackson (2:08.89), Kayla Johnson (2:09.50) and Navi McDowell (2:17.37), all in the women’s 800m, Marquez (women’s 400m hurdles – 1:01.78), Sutton (women’s 200m – 23.86) and D. Johnson (men’s 100m – 10.58).
NC Central turns its attention to the 2025 MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships on May 15-17 at William Price Stadium in Norfolk, Va.
NCCU Top-Five Finishes
Women’s 400m
Nyree Bacchus – 3rd (53.42)
Men’s High Jump
Jonathan Raijon-Koger – 1st (2.09m)
Theodore Skinner – 5th (2.01m)
Women’s High Jump
Tia Lucas – 2nd (1.71m)
Men’s 4x100m Relay
Barnes, Johnson, Amadi, Webster – 5th (40.47)
Women’s 4x100m Relay
Sutton, Bacchus, Freeman, Marquez – 2nd (46.89)
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
