LONG BEACH, Calif. – With the season just around the corner, the Long Beach State Men’s Volleyball team will host the North American Challenge, a preseason exhibition tournament featuring four teams from the United States and Canada. The two-day event will take place Friday, January 2, and Sunday, January 4, with matches held at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid.

Joining the Beach in the tournament are UC San Diego, Calgary, and Alberta, bringing together a competitive mix of NCAA and U SPORTS programs for early-season action. The tournament will feature eight total matches across the two days, providing fans with a full slate of high-level volleyball.

Schedule
Friday, January 2

Sunday, January 4

Following each match, a Player of the Match from each team will be recognized. At the conclusion of the tournament, an All-Tournament Team will be selected.

Tickets can be purchased HERE.

Live statistics for all matches will be available via BeachLiveStats.StatBroadcast.com.
 

Pitt received a commitment from former Kentucky middle blocker/right-side hitter Jordyn Dailey.

Dailey is a redshirt sophomore and will have two years of eligibility. The 6-foot-2 North Carolina native racked up 188 kills, 116 blocks and 42 digs over the past two seasons. Dailey recorded 142 kills, 82 blocks and a .314 hitting percentage in 2024. Her numbers dipped to 46 kills, 34 blocks and a .211 hitting percentage in 2025.

Pitt lost middle blocker Ryla Jones to Penn State through the transfer portal.

HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston volleyball program and head coach Brenda Gray announced the signing of six student-athletes to play for the Bearkats for the 2026 season. 

The signing class consists of outside hitters Annika Brooks, Brenlin Garlitz, Justice Rachal, Kameron Rector, Lauren Pyle and Sarah Odell. 

“All of these young ladies bring a passion and energy that Sam Houston Volleyball thrives upon,” head coach Brenda Gray said. “They all come with numerous accolades both on the court and in the classroom.” 

 

Annika Brooks • 6-3 • RS • Halletsville, Texas • Sacred Heart Catholic School / Blinn College  

Blinn College 

– 2025 second team all-conference selection 

 

Ovilla Christian School 

– 2021 second team all-district selection as freshman 

– 2022 first team all-district selection as a sophomore 

– 2022 honorable mention all-area 

– 2023 first team all-district selection as a junior 

– 2023 TAPPS first team all-state selection 

– 2023 honorable mention all-area selection 

– 2023 TAPPS academic all-state selection 

– 2024 first team all-district selection as a senior 

– 2024 TAPPS first team all-state selection 

– 2024 TAPPS academic all-state selection 

 

Texas Tornadoes (Club) 

– 17s bid to nationals 

– 18s bid to nationals  

Gray on Brooks … 

“Annika brings size and a blocking presence to our game on the right side. We are so fortunate to have her join us this spring.” 

Brenlin Garlitz • 5-10 • S • Waxahachie, Texas • Ovilla Christian School 

Ovilla Christian School 

– 2022 TAPPS second team all-district selection as freshman 

– 2023 TAPPS first team all-state 

– 2024 TAPPS first team all-state 

– 2024 Ellis County All-Star Team 

– 4-time state champion 

 

Texas Advantage Volleyball (Club) 

– NRG 15s bid to nationals 

– NRG 16s bid to nationals 

– TAV 18s Black: 5th at nationals  

Gray on Garlitz … 

“We are excited to bring in a dynamic setter to help run our floor. Brenlin runs a quick offense and brings a passion and love for the game that is undeniable.” 

 

Justice Rachal • 5-8 • OH • Cypress, Texas • Bridgeland HS  

Bridgeland HS 

– 2-time first team all-district selection 

– District Offensive Player of the Year 

– AVCA Phenom Watch List 

– 2-time academic all-district selection 

– GHVCA postseason second team choice 

– 2023 honorable mention all-district selection 

 

TAV Houston (Club) 

– GJNC 16U all-tournament team (Liberty) 

– GJNC Third place 17 American 

– GJNC 17U all-tournament team (American) 

Gray on Rachal … 

“Justice will be a crowd favorite from the start. She has a contagious energy and a vertical leap that will add to the excitement on the outside position.”  

Kameron Rector • 5-11 • OH • Midlothian, Texas • Midlothian HS 

Midlothian HS 

– 2023 District Utility Player of the Year 

– 2024 Academic All-District selection 

– 2025 district MVP 

 

Mad Frog (Club) 

– Girls Junior National Championship 

– All-Tournament team 

– 16 & Under USA Tournament 

Gray on Rector … 

“Kameron is just so solid all around and will bring a defensive prowess and ball control that a team always needs to continue their success.” 

Lauren Pyle • 5-8 • S • Longview, Texas • Hallsville HS / Tyler JC

Tyler JC 

– 2025 Region XIV Setter of the Year 

 

Hallsville HS 

– 2021 first team all-district selection 

– 2021 honorable mention all-state 

– 2022 District Setter of the Year 

– 2022 all-state selection 

– 2023 District MVP 

– 2023 All-East Texas Player of the Year 

– 2023 all-state selection 

– 2023 academic all-state selection 

 

East Texas Alliance (Club) 

– 17s bid to nationals 

– Won Lonestar Classic 

Gray on Pyle … 

“It is good for us to get an experienced floor leader on the roster and we are excited to have her join us in the spring to begin running our offense and bring her expertise that she delivered in junior college”.  

Sarah Odell • 5-11 • OH • Tomball, Texas • Tomball HS 

Tomball HS 

– 2023 first team all-District 15-6A selection 

– 2024 and 2025 District 15-6A Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year 

– 2024 and 2025 first team all-District 15-6A 

– 2024 and 2025 academic all-District 15-6A 

– Played club at North Houston Elite Volleyball 

 

Gray on Odell … 

“There is an explosiveness to the outside that is needed in this league, which Sarah immediately gives us as a complete, six-rotation player who will help balance our offense.” 

If it were up to head coach Charlie Wade, the University of Hawai‘i men’s volleyball team would never start its season this early.

The Rainbow Warriors, who began their preseason practices on Sunday, will officially begin their 2026 campaign on Friday against the New Jersey Institute of Technology. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. Although the ‘Bows have routinely started their seasons on the first Friday of the year, that doesn’t mean Wade has to like it.

“I’ve advocated that the first match can’t be before (Martin Luther King Jr. Day),” Wade said on Monday. “Let them actually have a holiday and then come back and practice for a couple of weeks. But how it goes, everybody kind of ramps it up, practices for a few days and then starts playing.”

One of the few positives Wade sees in the compressed preseason schedule is the fact that the Rainbow Warriors are not in class yet, which allows them the time to focus on an intense schedule featuring two practices a day leading up to the opener.

Trips to the practice gym have been frequent in recent days. Inside of it is a collection of world-class athletes, a roster featuring players from seven different countries and four separate states. Although there’s only one senior among the 19 players, the Rainbow Warriors are a team with clear national championship expectations in 2026.

The Rainbow Warriors have played in four national championship matches under Wade, winning it all in 2021 and 2022. The ‘Bows went 27-6 in 2025 and were swept by UCLA in the national semifinals. In 2026, UH returns five of its seven starters in that semifinal match, not counting star opposite hitter Kristian Titriyski, who missed the last eight matches due to an ankle injury.

Despite its losses in personnel, the Rainbow Warriors have reloaded. After losing beloved assistant coach Milan Zarkovic to UCLA, Wade got Maui native and former Ball State head coach Donan Cruz to join the staff. Meanwhile, the void left by former starting libero ‘Eleu Choy will likely be filled by Canadian national teamer Quintin Greenidge, a newcomer in Mānoa who will have two years of college eligibility remaining.

When Grand Canyon University decided to immediately scrap its nationally ranked men’s volleyball program following the 2025 season to focus on other sports, the Rainbow Warriors were able to benefit by signing freshman All-American Trevell Jordan and former GCU commit Thatcher Fahlbusch. Jordan is competing for one of the two starting spots at middle blocker, along with Ofeck Hazan, Justin Todd, Alex Parks and 7-foot freshman Roman Payne.

“None of us saw it coming,” Jordan said of Grand Canyon punting on men’s volleyball. “The team and squad (at UH) has been really inviting. They’ve been working with me to get me more accommodated to here, as it’s a big move from where I originally was from.”

Jordan immediately became one of the most coveted players in the NCAA transfer portal upon entering. He was already familiar with a handful of players on the UH roster after playing with them on multiple United States national teams.

“He had offers to go to every top program in the country, and ironically, they were pushing him to make a fast decision, and they pushed him towards us,” Wade recalled. “I was the one saying, ‘Hey, I’m in for the long haul. I want you here. Take your time to figure it out.'”

Running the show for the Rainbow Warriors is Tread Rosenthal, the team’s 6-foot-11 setter who established himself as the team’s unquestioned leader as a sophomore in 2025.

“I think last year we showed that we had the potential to be the best team on any given night, but I think this year we need to be the best team every night no matter what,” Rosenthal said. “I think that just comes with working with together to get it more consistent.”

Added Wade: “It’s year three (for Rosenthal). It’s the payoff year, right? By the third year, you can see there’s just kind of a calm confidence to him that he’s kind of been there, done that. He clearly is the leader of the team. These are his guys. A lot of them are here because of him. Looking for even bigger and better things from him this year for sure.”

Hawai‘i will start off the year as the No. 2 team in the country following the release of the preseason AVCA poll, which had UCLA in the top spot. External expectations are high for the Rainbow Warriors, but internal expectations are higher.

“My freshman year, we didn’t go to the championship. My sophomore year, we lost in the the semis,” junior outside hitter Louis Sakanoko said. “We have to get the championship now. I feel like the whole team knows we could win the championship. We have the team for it, but now we need to be consistent enough to beat every single team every night. And we’re just really, really excited to prove that to everyone.

“We all want to win a national championship. That’s the goal. We won the Big West last year, that was wonderful for sure, but we want that big one.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.

Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.

LONGVIEW, Texas (AP) — Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 1A all-state volleyball team, distributed by The Associated Press:

FIRST TEAM

Middle blockers: Landry Bennett, Blum, jr.; Rylee Sears, Water Valley, jr.; Addison Spaith, Neches, sr.

Outside hitters: Kinsley McPherson, Blum; McCaylen Woods, Water Valley, soph.; Haley Scott, Blum, jr.

Setter: Tallie Rufino, Blum, jr.

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Addie Koetting, Blum, sr.

Player of the year: Kinsley McPherson, Blum

Coach of the year: Lauren McPherson, Blum

SECOND TEAM

Middle blockers: Emerson Fite, Sulphur Bluff, sr.; Janaye Coston, Water Valley, jr.; Jessica Rohde, Round Top-Carmine, sr.

Outside hitters: Bree Dooley, Round Top-Carmine, soph.; Zaylee Peyton, Sulphur Bluff, sr.; Marae Pounds, Chester, sr.

Setter: Madi Collett, Sulphur Bluff, sr.

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Audrey Gatlin, Medina, sr.

THIRD TEAM

Middle blockers: Callie Weddle, Perrin Whitt, jr.; Caitlyn Battreal, Oglesby, jr.; Braylee Clark, Woodson, sr.

Outside hitters: Brenna Briles, Forestburg, jr; Emilee Silva, Aspermont, soph.; Crista Zirkel, Medina, jr.

Setter: Madison Markwardt, Round Top-Carmine, soph.

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Ana Servin, Sulphur Bluff, sr.

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