The 2025 regularseason schedules for the Taylor Ducks football and volleyball teams have been released, as both squads continue preparing for their upcoming campaigns set to begin in the coming months.
Football
The Ducks will open the 2025 football season on the road against Gatesville on Friday, Aug. 29. Taylor will host its home opener the following week against Pflugerville Connally on Friday, Sept. 5, before welcoming Lago Vista on Friday, Sept. 12.
Taylor will travel to La Grange on Friday, Sept. 19, and return home to host Manor New Tech on Friday, Sept. 26. The Ducks will visit Austin Achieve on Friday, Oct. 3, and host Austin Northeast on Friday, Oct. 10, ahead of a bye week.
Coming out of the break, Taylor will host Austin Eastside Memorial on Thursday, Oct. 23, before wrapping up the regular season with back-to-back road games against Austin LBJ on Friday, Oct. 31, and Austin Travis on Friday, Nov. 7.
The Ducks are coming off a 5-6 season in 2024, which included a second-place finish in district play and a firstround playoff loss to Somerset.
Volleyball
The Lady Ducks will open their 2025 season at home against Rockdale on Tuesday, Aug. 12, before competing in the Westwood Showcase from Aug. 14–16. Taylor will then hit the road to face area rival Thrall on Tuesday, Aug. 19, and participate in the Bastrop Invitational from Aug. 21–23.
Taylor returns home to host Academy on Tuesday, Aug. 26, before traveling to Giddings on Saturday, Aug. 30.
District play begins with back-to-back home matches against Connally on Friday, Sept. 5, and Lampasas on Tuesday, Sept. 9. The Lady Ducks will then visit McNeil on Friday, Sept. 12, and Jarrell on Tuesday, Sept. 16, followed by a home match against Burnet on Friday, Sept. 19. Taylor continues the road stretch at Gateway College Prep on Tuesday, Sept. 23, Salado on Tuesday, Sept. 30, and Lampasas again on Friday, Oct. 3.
Taylor will host Jarrell on Friday, Oct. 10, then face Burnet on the road Tuesday, Oct. 14. The Lady Ducks will close out the regular season by hosting Gateway Prep on Friday, Oct. 17, traveling to Marble Falls on Tuesday, Oct. 21, and returning home for the finale against Salado on Friday, Oct. 24.
The Lady Ducks are looking to bounce back after finishing 6-29 overall and 2-10 in district play last season, missing the playoffs.
The Taylor Lady Ducks volleyball team lines up for the national anthem before a regular season game versus Lampasas.
LONG BEACH, Calif. — UC San Diego men’s volleyball won both of its matches on Friday during day one of the North American Challenge. The two exhibition contests were played against Canadian schools Calgary and Alberta.
The Tritons beat Calgary 3-2 before immediately turning around and sweeping Alberta 3-0. Head coach Brad Rostratter largely used two different squads for the two contests. Only Ethan Hornyak and Tyler Stewart played in both matches, with both coming off the bench in the second exhibition.
Long Beach State is the host for all matches this weekend. The challenge resumes on Sunday at the Gold Mine on Long Beach State’s campus.
HOW IT HAPPENED – CALGARY
UC San Diego won set one with Calgary 25-17 before the Dinos took sets two and three by scores of 26-24 and 25-16. The Tritons then came back to win set four 25-23 and set five 15-12.
Luke Chandler led the Tritons with 18 kills, hitting .324 in the match. Aidan Powell added 13 kills and tied the team-high digs mark with eight. John Luers also had eight digs and powered the offense with 45 assists.
As a team the Tritons hit .259 and had 10 aces. Their nine total blocks helped hold Calgary to a .217 hitting percentage.
HOW IT HAPPENED – ALBERTA
The Alberta match saw the Tritons cruise to a 25-14 win in set one. Set two was much closer, with UC San Diego coming out on top after a 25-23 frame. Set three was then another comfortable scoreline as the Tritons won 25-12 to complete the sweep.
A stifling defensive effort saw the Tritons hold Alberta to a -0.111 hitting percentage. UC San Diego hit .271, adding six aces. Leo Pravednikov and Sebastiano Sani both registered solo blocks as the Tritons finished with eight total.
Sani was the team’s top offensive performer with 11 kills and a percentage of .368. Josh Ewert hit .263, adding eight kills and a team-high three aces. Cameron Wurl orchestrated the attack with 25 assists. He also had a team-high six digs.
UP NEXT
The Tritons will return to Long Beach State on Sunday to face the same two teams in the Tritons’ final exhibition matches ahead of the 2026 regular season. UC San Diego will first battle Alberta at 12:30 p.m. before squaring off with Calgary at 3:00 p.m. Live stats will be available HERE.
The Tritons open the regular season at home next Tuesday, Jan. 6. Jessup will visit LionTree Arena for a match that begins at 7:00 p.m.
About UC San Diego Athletics After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West inNCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world’s preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.comor follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
Introducing the All-Area volleyball teams from the Cannon Falls Beacon and Republican Eagle.
Alec Hamilton, community editor for the Beacon, and Martin Schlegel, sports editor for the Eagle, cooperated to put together two teams from their respective schools: Cannon Falls, Randolph, Red Wing, Goodhue and Lake City.
The head coaches were able to nominate up to three players for Player of the Year in addition to their nominations for all-area. Statistics and accomplishments were taken into account when forming all-area teams. Coaches’ votes and overall honors were used in naming a Player of the Year.
From head coach Sydney Boutelle: “Izzy Guetzlaff is a steady force and presence the Wingers rely on. Her consistent level of play with her kills and blocks spark momentum during their games. She is a player you look to when you need a side-out through moments of adversity and someone who carries the team effortlessly.”
Claire Meyers (Sophomore, Cannon Falls, outside hitter)
HVL All-Conference.
2025 Stats: 275 kills (led the team), 3.2 kills per set, 35.4% kill, 275 digs, 304 receptions (3.5 per set), 46 ace serves, 90.3% serving, 17 blocks.
From head coach Melissa Huseth: “Claire is a gifted, athletic player who embraced a major new challenge this season and made an immediate impact. In her first two years on varsity she played as a middle attacker with limited back-row responsibility. This year, we moved her to the outside and into a middle-back defensive role. She welcomed the transition and quickly became a force at the net and a gritty, reliable defender in the backcourt. Claire stays calm under pressure and gives her best at all times.”
Senior Izzie Reynolds. Alec Hamilton / Cannon Falls Beacon
Annie Reinitz (Senior, Red Wing, setter)
Republican Eagle/Cannon Falls Beacon Player of the Year, Big 9 All-Conference, MSHSL Academic Award, two-year team captain.
From head coach Sydney Boutelle: “For the past couple years, Annie Reinitz has been the floor general of Winger Volleyball. With grit, intelligence, and unwavering confidence, she has led her team through every moment — leaving a legacy of leadership, maturity, and excellence.”
Izzie Reynolds (Senior, Randolph, left side outside hitter/right side setter)
From head coach Karli O’Reilly: “Izzie is a student of the game. She is always watching film and looking for ways to grow as an athlete. She loves the game and she is very competitive.”
Sophomore Libby Sampson. Alec Hamilton / Cannon Falls Beacon
Libby Sampson (Sophomore, Cannon Falls, setter)
HVL All-Conference, surpassed 1,000 career assists (currently at 1,149), team captain.
From head coach Melissa Huseth: “Libby embodies everything you want in a setter. She is knowledgeable, consistent and a calm, confident leader with beautifully skilled hands. She worked hard to build strong connections with all of her hitters so she could meet their individual needs and put them in the best position to score. Libby plays hard for her teammates, is always striving to improve and brings a smile to the court every time she steps on it.”
Katie Tipton (Junior, Cannon Falls, libero)
HVL All-Conference, 1,000+ career digs, sixth in the state in digs last season according to MaxPreps, team captain.
From head coach Melissa Huseth: “Katie was arguably one of the strongest liberos in the state. She was instrumental in sustaining long rallies, covering a tremendous amount of court with confidence and consistency. Katie brings excellent ball control, an unwavering work ethic and a big heart to everything she does. She continues to sharpen her game and elevate her leadership—not only through her skills, but through her communication and defensive direction. Katie is someone you can always depend on.”
Junior Katie Tipton. Alec Hamilton / Cannon Falls Beacon
From head coach Amber Lohman: “Shelby is a great leader on and off the court. She not only led the team in kills, but also on digs and this is what makes her a great six-position player. She will be greatly missed next season.”
From head coach Amber Lohman: “Ashlee showed great strength on the outside this year and has a great read on playing defense in the back row. I look forward to seeing her leadership out on the court next season.”
Senior Hadley Cooreman. Alec Hamilton / Cannon Falls Beacon
Gopher All-Conference, Gopher Conference Sportsmanship Award, team captain.
2025 Stats: 122 kills, 25 digs, 44 blocks.
From head coach Karli O’Reilly: “Hadley leads her teammates with kindness and perseverance. She stands out for her attacks and blocks in the front row. She is loved by everyone and absolutely shined as a varsity captain.”
Alexa Guetzlaff (Junior, Red Wing, outside hitter)
From head coach Sydney Boutelle: “Alexa Guetzlaff has proven herself as a true six-rotation weapon — explosive at the net and in the backrow. Her competitiveness fueled the Wingers’ determination all season long. Alexa stepped into a leadership role with confidence as a returner. As we look ahead, we know she will continue to lead with the same drive and excellence as the seniors this year.”
Senior Falon Hepola. Alec Hamilton / Cannon Falls Beacon
Alli Helmin (Senior, Lake City, middle blocker)
HVL All-Conference Honorable Mention.
2025 Stats: 198 kills, 27 blocks.
From head coach Katlyn Bade: “A dominant senior middle blocker whose presence at the net changed every match played.”
Falon Hepola (Senior, Cannon Falls, setter/opposite)
HVL All-Conference, Academic All-State, team captain.
2025 Stats: Injured most of the season. 138 assists (3.7 per set), 68 kills (1.8 per set), 79 digs, 24 ace serves, 92.9% serving.
From head coach Melissa Huseth: “This young lady is a true game changer. Her leadership, energy and talent propelled the Bombers through four successful seasons, including a state championship her freshman year. More importantly, she helped her teammates find confidence in themselves. I have genuinely enjoyed coaching Falon and watching her grow into a talented, fun, and caring young athlete. She has left a lasting, positive impact on Cannon Falls High School that extends far beyond her time on the volleyball court.”
Mackenzie Murray (Junior, Randolph, libero)
Junior Mackenzie Murray. Alec Hamilton / Cannon Falls Beacon
Gopher All-Conference Honorable Mention.
2025 Stats: 44 assists and 218 digs.
From head coach Karli O’Reilly: “Mackenzie is hardworking and coachable. She is quick on her feet and dependable in the back row. She is responsible, reliable and well-liked by her teammates.”
From head coach Amber Lohman: “Hazel stepped up with confidence this year as one of the setters in our 6-2 offence. She worked hard at making plays happen and led the team in set assists. I look forward to her confidence and leadership on the court next season.”
LONGVIEW – Division I state champion Decatur landed the two top honors in voting for the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 4A All-State Volleyball Team for the 2025 season.
Voting was conducted by TSWA members based on nominations from coaches and media members from around the state.
LONGVIEW – Division 1 champion Goliad and Division II champ Boyd took top honors in voting for the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 3A All-State Volleyball Team for the 2025 season.
The state champs shared Coach of the Year and Player of the Year honors.
Voting was conducted by TSWA members based on nominations from coaches and media members from around the state.
COACH OF THE YEAR: (Tie) Jess Odem, Goliad; Clark Oberle, Boyd
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: (Tie) Addy Delgado, Boyd; Addison Yendry, Goliad FIRST TEAM
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest volleyball team and head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer announced the signing of Amina N’Diaye on Saturday.
Having recently completed her first collegiate season at the University of Miami, N’Diaye will have three years of eligibility remaining upon joining the Demon Deacons’ roster for the 2026-27 school year. A native of Orlando, Fla., N’Diaye competes at the outside hitter position.
N’Diaye is Wake Forest’s third addition this offseason, as the program inked Andrea Roman and Catherine Burke during the month of December.
Amina N’Diaye | 6-1 | Outside Hitter | Orlando, Fla. | University of Miami
As a freshman for the nationally-ranked Hurricanes this past fall campaign, N’Diaye competed in 27 matches and 85 total sets played. She produced 139 kills (third on the roster), 78 digs and 31 blocks for the season. In seven different performances, N’Diaye tallied eight or more kills, as she also had multiple blocks 10 times. The hitter recorded double figures in kills on three occasions, including a season-high 12 versus Virginia Tech on Oct. 24. She impressed with a season-best four blocks on the road at then-No. 7 Louisville (Nov. 16). N’Diaye was also solid on the serving end, recording 24 service aces for the year with three showings of three-plus.
N’Diaye helped Miami wrap the season with an appearance in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament before earning a final national ranking of No. 16 by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top-25 Coaches Poll.
During her high school days, N’Diaye was a volleyball standout at Lake Brantley High School, north of Orlando. She totaled over 1,000 kills en route to becoming the Patriots’ all-time leader in that area. N’Diaye was also named a two-time AAU All-American and participant of the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program (NTDP) for four straight years from 2020-24.
Personal
Amina is the daughter of Nicole Delahoussaye and Mamadou N’Diaye, the latter being a retired NBA player and current assistant coach for the men’s basketball team at the University of Cincinnati. Amina also has two siblings – Adam and Laila.
From Coach Hulsmeyer
“I’m so happy about the chance to have Amina join us at Wake Forest. She has been a six-rotation outside who already has ACC experience in her first season at Miami recently. I have watched her develop over the last several years and believe in her potential and ability.”
Utah State announced the hire of TCU assistant coach and Team USA developement coach Keith Smith its next head coach of women’s volleyball Saturday morning. After losing the highly successful Rob Neilson to BYU, the Aggies will turn to Smith to carry on the dominance of their volleyball program that has won five combined regular season and conference tournament titles and made four NCAA Tournament appearances since 2021.
“I am grateful to Cameron Walker and the search committee for trusting me with the opportunity to continue Utah State volleyball’s rich history,” said Smith in a USU press release. “My goal is not to rebuild the program, but to retool it for long-term, sustainable success that keeps it on an upward trajectory.”
Smith has not served as a head coach at the college or national team level, though he brings a solid resume of recruiting, developement and coaching across his roles as an assistant coach with four different collegiate women’s volleyball programs and the USA National Development Program. At each of his stops across college teams, those programs had great success including 20+ win seasons, record recuiting classes, historic upsets and apperances (and wins) in the NCAA Tournament.
Last year, Smith was hired as an assistant coach at TCU and in what was ultimately his lone year with the program, he helped the Horned Frogs rise to its highest-ever rank in the American Volleyball Coaches Assotiation Poll, reaching No. 9 in the rankings. TCU also made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament as a six seed and won its first-round game against Stephen F. Austin before falling to eventual NCAA-champion Texas A&M in the second round. Prior to his tenure at TCU, Smith spent three seasons at Auburn. In 2022, Smith helped the team to a 22-win season, the program’s most wins since 1998 and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, just the second in program history at the time for the Tigers.
Smith’s time at Auburn and TCU were both with the women’s volleyball team, though his stop before that was with his alma mater, the Grand Canyon men’s volleyball team. He served as a volunteer assistant coach in 2016 and then as a full-time assistant from 2018-21 and cut his teeth as a top-flight recruiter, highlighted by the team’s 2021 recruiting class. Grand Canyon had the eighth-best recruiting class in the nation, which included signing 10 of the top 50 recruits. Thanks to that accomplishment, he received an AVCA 30 Under 30 recognition as one of the best coaches nationally under the age of 30.
Splitting his time with Grand Canyon was a one-year stint at Providence with its women’s volleyball team. In that lone season, Smith helped the team to an 11-game win streak to start the 2017 campaign and also record the team’s first winning record in 10 years.
“I’m excited to welcome Keith to Utah State as our new head volleyball coach,” said Utah State Athletics Director Cam Walker in the press release. “He’s a proven recruiter with a strong track record of developing players. From the start of the hiring process, his professionalism and expertise were evident, and his attributes and vision aligned with those of our volleyball student-athletes, making him the ideal choice to advance Utah State volleyball. His background with USA Volleyball will be invaluable as the program works to reach the next level.”
Keith Smith Coaching History
TCU Women’s Volleyball (Ast. Coach) – 2025
Auburn Women’s Volleyball (Ast. Coach) – 2022-24
Grand Canyon Men’s Volleyball (Ast. Coach) – 2018-21
Providence Women’s Volleyball (Ast. Coach) – 2017
Grand Canyon Men’s Volleyball (Volunteer Ast. Coach) – 2016
