The Australian women’s water polo team have inflicted more pain on the USA with another penalty shootout win over their Olympic rivals in Perth.
With former skipper and three-time Olympian Zoe Arancini announcing her retirement, the Stingers opened the Tri Nations series in style.
Playing their first match at home since winning silver at the Paris Olympics, the Australians posted a thrilling win after the scores were locked at 8-8 at the end of regulation time.
In Paris the Stingers downed the three-time Olympic champions in the semi-finals in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after the scores were also 8-8 at fulltime.
The celebrations were memorable when the Stingers toppled USA at the Olympics last year. (AP PHOTO)
After some huge saves in their latest shoot-out by goalkeepers Gabi Palm and Gen Longman, fellow Olympian Alice Williams slotted the winning goal.
Williams was everywhere, opening the scoring for Australia after converting a penalty, while she also found the back of the cage in the dying seconds of the first quarter to level the scores 2-2.
The Aussies added another two goals to their haul in the second quarter, courtesy of Abby Andrews and Olivia Mitchell.
In the third, a buzzer-beater goal from Dani Jackovich put the hosts back in it, trailing by one at the three-quarter time break.
Williams scored another in the fourth quarter, with Jakovich again nailing her shot in the final minutes to draw level at 8-8.
For proud veteran Bronte Halligan, it was a case of deja vu.
“An 8-8 score and then to go into penalties…the irony wasn’t lost on me. Almost 12 months ago we had the exact same score in the semi-final against them at the Olympics,” Halligan said.
“It was just a true dedication to the hard work the girls have put in all year and it was really exciting for our first official home game (this cycle) on home soil to come up with a big win in penalties.”
Meanwhile, Arancini, who isn’t playing in the series, confirmed her retirement from the international stage after a 16-year career.
Former captain Zoe Arancini has called time on a great career spanning three Olympics. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)
Arancini made her debut for the Aussie Stingers in 2009 and went on to amass 330 international caps and played in the Rio, Tokyo and Paris Games.
Having achieved podium success at every major international competition in world water polo, Arancini said the timing felt right to step away.
“I’ve done this for 16 years now, and to finish on such an amazing note at Paris 2024 is pretty special,” Arancini said.
“I’m ready for the next chapter of my life… I know it’s the right decision because I’m happy, I’m content, and it’s my choice.
“I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved, and I’m so excited for the next generation to step in.”
The Australians next face Italy on Sunday in Perth as the teams gear up for the world aquatic championships in Singapore next month.
AUSTIN, Texas. — The No. 3 Texas Volleyball team swept No. 25 Penn State (25-16, 25-9, 25-19). The Longhorns are now 25-3 on the season and will compete in the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the 20th-straight season.
Longhorns saw junior Torrey Stafford record a match-leading 21 kills, along with five digs and three blocks. It marks Stafford’s fourth game hitting over .500 this season with a .556 hitting percentage. Freshman Abby Vander Wal added 10 kills and two blocks while hitting .474. Fellow freshman Cari Spears totaled nine kills with three blocks and three digs. Spears recorded her seventh game over .400 (.467) hitting percentage tonight.
The Longhorns defense put up nine blocks, led by Nya Bunton and Ayden Ames, who each recorded four. It marks the fourth highest total for blocks in a three-set match for Texas. The Lions were limited to a .124 hitting percentage and finished 22 errors. Texas hit .452 as a team, its sixth time this season hitting over .400.
Set One: Penn State was held to a .167 hitting percentage with four service errors and eight attacking errors. Stafford led the set with six kills while hitting .455. Ramsey Gary added five digs for the Longhorns on defense.
Set Two: Texas dominated the second after extending the lead to 19-7 on an 11-0 run, with two consecutive block effort from Spears, Nya Bunton and Stafford. Texas took set two, 25-9. The Longhorns hit .700 while limiting the Lions at -.065. Spears notched six kills while Ella Swindle put up 10 assists. Texas totaled four blocks in the set, with Bunton contributing three.
Set Three: The Longhorns completed the sweep over Penn State, winning the third set 25-19. Stafford registered 11 kills while hitting .611, and Gary added six digs on defense. Saturday’s win marked the 11th-ranked win of the season for the Horns.
Texas will face off against No. 15 Indiana in the third round of the NCAA Tournament with the game time and date TBD.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Highlighted by nine top 10 finishes, Austin Peay State University’s track and field team concluded its first meet of the 2025-26 indoor season at Vanderbilt’s Winter Commodore Challenge, Saturday, at the David Williams II Recreation & Wellness Center.
Saturday’s events began with throws, as Emma Tucker highlighted Austin Peay’s performances in the weight throw with a sixth-place finish. The mark was Tucker’s first of two top 10 marks, as she also went on to finish eighth in the shot put later in the afternoon. Freshman China Giaimo paced the Govs in the shot put, recording an 11.98-meter toss in her first collegiate meet.
Madelyn Kocik also finished the day with a pair of top 10 performances, beginning with an eighth-place finish in the long jump with a 5.61-meter leap – her best mark since finishing second at the 2025 Atlantic Sun Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships. A Portland, Texas native, Kocik later went on to finish fifth in the triple jump with an 11.97-meter mark – the second-best mark of her career and her longest jump since recording a 12.12-meter jump last season at Vanderbilt’s Commodore Challenge (Jan. 11).
Three Governors competed in the 600-meter for Austin Peay with all three finishing in the top 10. Sophomore Taylin Segree paced the trio with a 1:33.28 time and fifth-place finish, while Alexis Arnett (1:34.03) and Mia McGee (1:34.57) finished seventh and 10th, respectively. It was the first time that any of the Govs had competed in the 600 in their collegiate career.
Wrapping up the Govs’ events for the day, Taylah Upshaw placed fourth in the 1,000-meter, setting a personal best with a time of 3:01.03.
Up Next
Austin Peay returns to action in mid-January when it returns to Nashville to the Vanderbilt Invitational, Jan. 16-17, at the David Williams II Recreation & Wellness Center
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For news and updates throughout the 2025-26 track & field season, follow the Governors on X and Instagram (@GovsXCTF) or check back at LetsGoPeay.com.
The UW-Oshkosh women’s volleyball team celebrates its semifinal win Thursday in the NCAA Division III Championship. Photo by Ashtin Elder of Kodiak Creative.
The University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh women’s volleyball team swept University of La Verne (California) Saturday to claim its first national title and the 51st for UW-Oshkosh.
The championship took place at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois, where a busload of Titan students and staff arrived Saturday to cheer on their team.
UWO did not drop a set across its six wins in the national tournament, which is a first in 21 years.
Izzy Coon, Lauren Grier, Callie Panasuk and Samantha Perlberg (Most Outstanding) were all named to the All-Tournament Team.
The team is coached by Jon Ellmann of Neenah, who was inducted into the Wisconsin Volleyball Coach’s Association Hall of Fame in 2021.
DAVENPORT, Iowa– Members of the Wartburg indoor track and field program competed at the Frigid Bee Opener, hosted by St. Ambrose. Maddie Merna was victorious in the 5000m and Hannah Ramsey was victorious in the 800m.
Scoring Link
Women’s Results: 5000m
1 Maddie Merna 17:29.94
2 Karle Kramer 17:57.89
3 Lily Peterson 18:02.58
4 Claire Hoyer 18:09.55
5 Ava Vance 18:17.07
6 Morgan Engel 18:26.72
We are tracking all remaining undefeated teams in DI women’s volleyball for the 2025 season. Only Nebraska is left standing after Texas fell to Texas A&M in a five-setter on Friday, Oct. 31.
Since 1981, there have been only four programs — five teams — to finish a season undefeated and win a national title: Penn State (2008, 2009), Southern California (2003), Nebraska (2000) and Long Beach State (1998).
READ MORE: Every undefeated national champion in college volleyball history
Penn State holds the longest win streak in DI women’s volleyball history with 109 match victories from 2007-10, with the Nittany Lions winning four consecutive titles (2007 through 2010). The 2009 title team is the most recent undefeated champion.
Will there be another team to etch its name into history this season? Follow along here:
Undefeated DI women’s volleyball teams in 2025
Rankings are from the AVCA:
No. 1 Nebraska (32-0): The Huskers’ extend their win-streak to 32 after most recently sweeping Kansas State on Saturday, Dec. 6 in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Next: vs. Kansas (NCAA Tournament)
Here’s everything you need to know regarding the 2025 NCAA DII women’s volleyball championship, including selection show info and schedule for the entire tournament.
BOSTON, Mass. – The Providence College men’s and women’s track teams competed at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener at Boston University on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. The women’s team was paced by junior Maeve O’Neill (Cork, Ireland) who won the 600 meters in 1:28.09.
Also for the women’s team, junior Kiera Hall (Christchurch, New Zealand) won her heat and finished 14th in the mile (4:54.98). Friar senior Cara Laverty (Derry, Ireland) finished 20th in the 3,000 meters in 9:25.43 while freshman Gemma Galvin (Clare, Ireland) placed 40th in the 3,000 meters in her first collegiate indoor race in 9:41.57.
For the men’s team, senior Zane Powell (Auckland, New Zealand) and sophomore Daniel Prescott (Christchurch, New Zealand) ran in the 3,000 meters. Powell finished 54th (8:09.62) while Prescott placed 63rd (8:13.87).
In the 5,000 meters, sophomore Elliott Pugh (Tauranga, New Zealand) won his heat in 14:08.90 while sophomore Ryan LoCicero (Bloomfield, N.J.) placed third in the same heat in 14:19.00.
The Friars return to action on Jan. 17 at the Harvard Beantown Challenge in Cambridge, Mass.
For more information on the Providence College men’s and women’s indoor track teams, follow @FriarsXCTrack on X and Instagram.
