By: Hunter McKay

KENNESAW, GA. – Entry listings for the men’s and women’s NCAA Outdoor Championships were released Thursday afternoon.  The Kennesaw State track and field program has a program record 24 athletes qualified for next week’s (May 28-31) East First Round meet at Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.

KSU will send 15 men and nine women to the NCAA East First. The men’s events are scheduled for May 28 and May 30 while the women’s events will be contested on May 29 and May 31. 

Athletes with the top 12 times/marks and the best 12 relay teams at both the East and West preliminaries will advance for the semifinals/finals of the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Or. June11-14. There is no decathlon or heptathlon competition at this part of the NCAA Championships. The top 24 decathlon and heptathlon marks in the nation earn an automatic berth to the finals of the NCAA Championships.
 
Keep up with Owls track and field teams by following KSU on Twitter at @KSUOwlNation and @KSUTrackFieldXC, on Instagram @ksuowlstrackxc or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook.
 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 23, 2025) — The 2025 USA Volleyball Open National Championship is set to bring a surge of energy and competition to the Colorado Convention Center in Denver from May 23-28.

As the longest-running adult volleyball championship in the United States, “Opens” welcomes athletes of all skill levels, ages and backgrounds for an unforgettable week of high-level play and camaraderie.

This year’s tournament is shaping up to be one of the largest in recent memory, with 531 teams registered—an increase of more than 100 teams from 2024. The growth reflects the continued strength and appeal of adult volleyball across the country.

One of the most exciting developments in 2025 is the return of the prestigious Open Division, which features elite-level competition and a $10,000 prize purse to be split among the top three finishers in both the men’s and women’s divisions.

Winners in all divisions will receive free entry into the 2026 USA Volleyball Open National Championship, which is scheduled for May 22-27 in Orlando, Florida.

First held in 1928, the Open National Championship remains the premier event for adult volleyball athletes in the United States, combining top-tier competition with the inclusive and spirited atmosphere that makes the event a highlight of the volleyball calendar.

PUEBLO, Colo. – Augusta University’s Avery Jaynes made history Thursday night at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, becoming the first Jaguar in program history to earn All-American honors in outdoor track and field. Jaynes placed fifth in the 10,000 meters, clocking a time of 29:55.56 at CSU Pueblo’s Thunderbowl Stadium.

The time not only secured a fifth-place national finish for Jaynes but also shattered both the Augusta University and Peach Belt Conference records in the event.

“To be able to get that special honor and earn All-American feels surreal,” Jaynes said. “It’s really the top mark to go for when it comes to competing in college, and I just feel blessed to be able to say I have achieved that. Being able to share this moment with friends, family, my coach, and my team means the world to me. None of this would have been possible without them by my side.”

Jaynes, a native of Brooklet, Georgia and graduate of Southeast Bulloch High School, competed in a highly competitive field at elevation, where William Amponsah of West Texas A&M captured the national title in 29:29.41.

Jaynes will return to the track on Saturday, May 24, to compete in the 5,000 meters, marking the final race of his collegiate career.

Live results and streaming for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships are available at NCAA.com.

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FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Purdue University Fort Wayne announced on Friday the discontinuation of its baseball and softball programs, effective immediately. The decision, which includes an expected cost savings of upwards of $1 million, is directly related to $6 million in budget cuts the university announced Thursday.

 

Purdue Fort Wayne remains fully committed to competing at the highest level of NCAA Division I athletics as a member of Horizon League and Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. This decision is rooted in the responsibility to maintain a stable, equitable, and high-quality athletics environment for all PFW student-athletes.

 

Senior leaders from the university and its Department of Intercollegiate Athletics are already working to assist those individuals who have been affected by the discontinuation of the two programs.

“This is one of the saddest days in my 25 years as a Mastodon,” Athletic Director Kelley Hartley Hutton said. “We know this news will upset our student-athletes, alumni and fans. It was not made lightly, and we are committed to supporting those affected through this transition.”

 

All student-athlete scholarships will be honored and support will be provided to student-athletes wishing to transfer. Those who choose to transfer will be eligible immediately at their next institution. Mental health resources are also being made available to all student-athletes.

 

“I have the utmost respect for Head Baseball Coach Doug Schreiber, Head Softball Coach Amber Bowman, and their student-athletes,” Hartley Hutton said. “They have consistently over-performed their given resources, facilities, and scholarship levels. We have not made the adequate investments into facilities and resources over the life of these programs, and when considering the current financial climate, it was determined that there was no feasible path to address those needs.”

 

Budget challenges across the university, in combination with a turbulent NCAA landscape, led to the need for an honest assessment of the long-term viability of multiple programs, Hartley Hutton said. The decision to eliminate baseball and softball was made following this evaluation.

“Like many universities across the country—especially regional universities like ours—we continue to navigate difficult financial terrain, uncertainty about future enrollment trends, increased competition, and diminished state and federal support,” said Purdue Fort Wayne Chancellor Ron Elsenbaumer. “We must align the university’s expenses with its revenue to ensure the long-term sustainability of the institution and to provide a first-rate education and experience for our students.”

With the sponsorship adjustment, Purdue Fort Wayne will now sponsor 14 NCAA Division I programs.

First impression?

Weathered by sun, sand, and plenty of good times since 1972, Charleston’s The Windjammer’s rambling building perches on the edge of Isle of Palms Beach. If it’s a weekend day, they are probably people playing beach volleyball right off the beach deck, next to the live music stage, and plenty of tropical-hued drinks being consumed by everyone milling about both inside and on the multiple decks.

How’s the crowd?

The crowd varies depending on the band that is playing, and time of day, but most keep it casual, and in the summer, most have on beach attire. The Windjammer welcomes all, from your grandmother who wants to sip a pina colada as she sits and watches the afternoon rays, to rowdy bachelor parties who are working on a night to remember.

How are the drinks?

Beach bar fantastic, served in a plastic cup. Daiquiris, pina coladas, Long Island Iced Teas, they got ’em, and they served thousands over the bar’s lifetime. The beer is in cans or bottles, and yes, they do have Red Bull if you need one. This is a high volume spot, and drinks are served fast from an experienced staff.

If there’s food, is it worth ordering something to eat?

The menu is full of satisfying versions of beach bar food, from fried shrimp baskets to hot dogs and hamburgers to tater tots and fries. Peel and eat shrimp are also a popular choice, as are the wings.

Did the staff do you right?

The bar staff can smile, keep the peace, wield a bottle opener like an extension of their hands, make drinks while listening to you order your next round, and still remember the ketchup for your fries.

Wrap it up: what are we coming here for?

You’re coming here to order that blue cocktail you’ve always secretly wanted, to grab a bite and a drink, to hear your favorite band from high school play as the sun sets on the beach, and of course to celebrate the weekend, summer, and life.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) –  The NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country Committee has announced the participants for the 2025 NCAA DI men’s and women’s outdoor track and field championships first round competitions. The Atlantic Coast Conference will be represented by 406 student-athletes.
 

The first round competitions are scheduled for Wednesday, May 28 – Saturday, May 31. The University of North Florida, in Jacksonville, Florida, will host the East first round and Texas A&M University, in College Station, Texas, will host the West first round. The qualifiers out of these two regions will compete in the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s outdoor track and field championships held June 11-14 in Eugene, Oregon.
 
The complete list of participants is available on the following website. All of the action from Jacksonville and College Station will be streamed on ESPN+.