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Team USATF Ready to Shine at World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25

Published

10 months ago

March 20, 2025

Team USATF Ready to Shine at World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25

400
World leader Chris Bailey, the fifth-fastest man in history with a 44.70 at the Tyson Invitational in Arkansas last month, was a comfortable winner at the USATF indoor meet and earned silver last year in Glasgow on the U.S. 4×400 squad. He also has Olympic and World Championships relay gold to his credit and was sixth in the 400 at Paris last summer. Joining him in the red, white and blue is World Indoor Tour winner Brian Faust, who was fourth at the USATF meet, and Jacory Patterson, also a 4×400 silver medalist at Glasgow. Patterson has the fastest 300 time in the world this year at 32.18 and was the USATF runner-up. Baylor’s NCAA silver medalist Nathaniel Ezekiel of Nigeria is the No. 7 all-time world indoor performer at 44.74 and will be a powerful contender for gold, as will Canada’s Christopher Morales Williams, the world indoor record holder at 44.49, and European champion Attila Molnar of Hungary, who has run 45.08 this year.

1500
Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen is the favorite on paper here after setting a world indoor record of 3:29.63 en route to a mile world record of 3:45.14 in France on Feb. 13. He was a double gold medalist at the European Indoors, taking the 1500 and 3000, and he is attempting the same double here. Isaac Nader of Portugal was third behind the Norwegian at the Euro meet and has a PB of 3:32.95, the second fastest entry mark. Sam Prakel was ninth at the 2022 World Indoors and finished second at the USATF meet. He has an indoor PB of 3:35.66. The other American is Luke Houser, a two-time NCAA indoor mile winner for Washington who set his indoor 1500 PB of 3:35.85 earlier this month at Boston. Ethiopia’s Samuel Tefera hasn’t run the 1500 indoors yet this season, but claimed gold at the 2018 and 2022 World Indoor titles. Tefera set an indoor world record of 3:31.04 in 2019, the mark that Ingebrigtsen took down this year. Neil Gourley of Great Britain is a veteran international championship competitor and has a PB of 3:32.48.

Pentathlon
Finland’s Saga Vanninen set the year’s top score with a 4,922-point tally at the European Championships. Her closest challenger on paper is Ireland’s Kate O’Connor, the European indoor bronze medalist at 4,781. USATF champion Timara Chapman put together a 4,555 PB at Ocean Breeze to nab one of the U.S. team spots, with Taliyah Brooks garnering a place based on her world ranking. The combined events entrants were all invited by World Athletics because of their world ranking positions. An Olympian at Paris in the heptathlon last year, Brooks has a pentathlon best of 4,580 from 2017.

60
Celera Barnes captured the national indoor title at Ocean Breeze with a season best 7.11 and was a semifinalist at Glasgow in 2024. She is joined by 2022 World Indoor silver medalist Mikiah Brisco, the third-place finisher at the U.S. championships and fifth at Glasgow last year. The American duo face a potent group of European challengers that is topped by Italy’s Zaynab Dosso, a returning bronze medalist who won the European Indoor title two weeks ago and has a best of 7.01. Poland’s Ewa Swoboda was the runner-up last year and has cracked seven seconds with a 6.98 PB, while Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji has the fastest lifetime best in the field at 6.96.

3000
None of the medalists from Glasgow 2024 return, but this race shapes up as a compelling matchup with the third-fastest woman in history, Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu, taking on teammate Birke Haylom, the world U20 indoor record holder who turned 19 in January. Hailu has a PB of 8:19.98 thatwas set in February at Lievin, France, while Haylom has run 8:25.37 this year. Shelby Houlihan and Whittni Morgan are the fourth- and fifth-fastest American ever indoors and have the ability to mount the medal stand. Houlihan, fifth in this event at the 2018 world indoor meet, was the runner-up at the USATF Indoors at Ocean Breeze and has a PB of 8:26.66 from 2020, with Morgan setting her PB of 8:28.03 earlier this year to win the Millrose Games. Australia’s Jessica Hull is No. 9 on the all-time world performer list with a PB of 8:24.39 and she earned silver in the 1500 at the Paris Olympics after a fourth-place finish in the 3000 at Glasgow.

800
One of the more exciting duels at the USATF Indoor Championships presented by Prevagen featured Nia Akins and Valery Tobias both dipping under 2:00, with Akins taking the crown in a PB of 1:59.31 and Tobias right on her heels with a 1:59.55 PB effort. They will go against world-leading Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia, the reigning champion, Paris silver medalist, and a 1:58.97 performer this year. St. Vincent’s Shafiqua Maloney is a multi-talented runner and has a season best of 1:59.07 that gave her the Millrose Games win. She was fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris. Prudence Sekgodiso of South Africa is the other entrant with a sub-2:00 clocking in 2025, bringing a best of 1:59.88.

400
Powering to an indoor PB of 50.24 at Glasgow, Alexis Holmes earned bronze in 2024 and is among the favorites in Nanjing after taking the U.S. gold in a season best of 50.51. Also a silver medalist on the American 4×400 last year, Holmes takes on Norway’s Henriette Jaeger, the leading entrant at 50.44, along with training partner Amber Anning of Great Britain, who has clocked 50.57 this year. Rosey Effiong, the U.S. runner-up and an Arkansas teammate of Anning last year, is also a medal contender with a PB of 50.54.

60 Hurdles
One of the highlight events of the Championships, this one features reigning champion Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas, who set the world indoor record of 7.65 to take that gold last year, and returning bronze medalist Pia Skrzyszowska of Poland. Grace Stark was fifth in the 100H at Paris last summer and won the NCAA gold in that event for Florida. She set a lifetime best of 7.75 in the heats and clocked 7.76 in the final to earn silver at the USATF Indoors. Team USATF has three entrants in this event by virtue of Christina Clemons winning the World Indoor Tour title in 2020, and she and Amber Hughes round out a strong U.S. trio. Clemons was the silver medalist at the 2018 World Indoors and boasts a PB of 7.73 from 2018 that puts her fifth on the all-time U.S. indoor performer list. Hughes set her PB of 7.92 in 2024 and is making her global championship debut. The world leader this year is Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who jetted to a 7.67 to win the European title and move to equal-second on the all-time world performer list. Two other women to watch are 2023 NCAA indoor champion Ackera Nugent of Jamaica and Nadine Visser of the Netherlands both of whom have PBs of 7.72 to rank in the all-time world top 10.

Long Jump
Wunderkind Mattia Furlani of Italy just turned 20 in February and has the best mark in the world in 2025 at 8.37/27-5.5. Furlani was the silver medalist at Glasgow last year and then earned bronze at the Olympics in Paris. Seventh at Glasgow, Will Williams won the U.S. title last month and sports an 8.16/26-9.25 season best. The USATF runner-up, Cameron Crump, needs a return to the 2023 form that saw him blast a PB 8.39/27-6.5 if he wants to be in the medal chase. Solid outdoor marks from Tajay Gayle of Jamaica, the 2019 world outdoor champion, and Liam Adcock of Australia place them in the frame, and another Jamaican, Wayne Pinnock, earned Olympic silver at Paris and is opening his season in Nanjing. Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer, also a talented decathlete, has an outdoor PB of 8.45/27-8.75.

Triple Jump
Reigning Olympic and World Indoor champion Thea LaFond of Dominica and a pair of Cubans top the bill in an event that sorely misses world record holder Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela. LaFond has not yet competed in 2025, but won in Glasgow with a national record 15.01/49-3. Silver behind her went to Leyanis Perez of Cuba, and she will team up with compatriot Liadagmis Povea to give the island nation double medal potential. There is no U.S. entrant in this event.

Pole Vault
Anything can happen in any event, but a loss here by Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis would be a huge upset. A many-time world record setter of late, Duplantis raised his own global standard to 6.27/20-6.75 earlier this year and is a big favorite. Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis has been on a hot streak, too, improving his PB to 6.02/19-9 and tying for the European Indoor title with Menno Vloon of the Netherlands, another medal hopeful. Carrying the flag for Team USATF is Sam Kendricks, thrice a silver medalist at the World Indoors, including at Glasgow last year, and the former American indoor record holder with a PB of 6.01/19-8.5 in 2020. 38-year-old Renaud Lavillenie of France was a world record setter a decade ago, but is still capable of a podium spot based on his season best of 5.91/19-4.75.

800
What can Josh Hoey and Brandon Miller do to improve on the amazing race they ran at the USATF Indoor Championships? Hoey has had a magical 2025 campaign, setting American indoor records at 800 and 1000, and winning the national 800 crown in a record-setting 1:43.24. That made him the second-fastest man in indoor history and put the target on his back here. Miller, an Olympic semifinalist at Paris, moved to No. 9 on that world list with his runner-up 1:44.26 last month and won the 2022 NCAA indoor gold for Texas A&M. Eliott Crestan of Belgium was the bronze medalist at Glasgow and finished second behind Samuel Chapple of the Netherlands at the European indoors, and both men have dipped under 1:45 this season, as has Spain’s Elvin Canales.

NANJING, China – Coming off dominant performances at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Team USATF’s contingent for the 20th World Athletics Indoor Championships will look to improve upon the 20-medal effort that saw them quadruple the nearest nation’s tally last year in Glasgow as the first global championship meet of 2025 gets under way Friday at the Nanjing Sports Training Centre.

Men’s Event-by-Event Preview

Pole Vault
Defending champion Molly Caudery of Great Britain has the best entry mark at 4.85/15-11 but will face a stern challenge from a handful of women that includes European champion Angelica Moser of Switzerland and the two athletes who finished behind her at that meet, Tina Sutej of Slovenia and Marie-Julie Bonnin of France. Gabriela Leon won the NCAA outdoor crown for Louisville in 2022, was a World Championships finalist, and was the U.S. runner-up last month. She has a PB of 4.70/15-5, while Emily Grove placed third at the national championships with a season best 4.65/15-3.

Triple Jump
Italy’s Andy Diaz Hernandez, the Paris Olympic Games bronze medalist and formerly of Cuba, exploded to a world-leading 17.71/58-1.25 to win the European indoor gold and he tops the entry list here. Max Hess of Germany also uncorked a big jump at the Euro meet, going 17.43/57-2.25 for silver, and Andrea Dallavalle gave Italy bronze to go with the Diaz Hernandez gold. The NCAA indoor champion for Miami last year, Russell Robinson was an Olympian in 2024 and placed second at the USATF Indoors. Robinson has an indoor PB of 16.86/55-3.75 that he set earlier this season. Two-time World Indoor gold medalist Will Claye is on the Mt. Rushmore of American triple jumping with nine career global medals and seven national titles. Claye set his indoor PB of 17.70/58-1 in winning the World Indoor gold in 2012 at Istanbul and is No. 3 on the all-time U.S. indoor performer list. Reigning champion Hugues Fabrice Zango of Burkina Faso has a career best of 18.07/59-3.5 but was subpar in his only competition this season.

Led by reigning World Indoor champion and world record holder Grant Holloway in the men’s 60 hurdles, the U.S. squad features 2025 world leaders in four events and ten athletes who earned medals at last year’s World Indoors.

1500
Americans took silver and bronze in Glasgow last year, leaving Sinclaire Johnson and Heather MacLean with a monumental task to match that effort in Nanjing. The giant obstacle standing in their way for a spot atop the podium is world indoor record-holder Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia. Tsegay set the world record of 3:53.09 in 2021, and she leads the world list in 2025 with a 3:53.92 best. The World Indoor champion in 2022, Tsegay is also a world outdoor champion at 5000 and 10,000, and she took silver in the 3000 at this meet last year. MacLean was third at the U.S. championships but bettered the American record at a last chance meet in Boston on March 2 with a 3:59.60 en route to a world-leading 4:17.01 mile. She was seventh in this event at the 2022 World Indoors. The 2019 NCAA champion in the outdoor 1500 for Oklahoma State, Johnson was sixth at the 2022 world outdoor meet and ran an indoor lifetime best of 4:06.05 to take silver at the USATF indoor meet in February. Tsegay’s Ethiopia teammate, Diribe Welteji, is also a huge threat for gold with a PB of 3:55.47 and a season best of 3:58.89.

High Jump
Olympic champion and reigning World Indoor gold medalist Hamish Kerr of New Zealand is one of two men in the field to have cleared a PB of 2.36/7-8.75, and he is competing in his first indoor meet of the season after winning his nation’s outdoor title two weeks ago. European indoor champion Oleh Doroshchuk of Ukraine was fourth at Glasgow last year and looks set to mount the podium based on recent form. Doroshchuk leads the world list at 2.34/7-8 and was sixth at the Olympic Games in Paris last summer. Just behind him at the Games was South Korea’s Sang-hyeok Woo, another 2.36/7-8.75 jumper who won the 2022 World Indoor gold and earned bronze last year. Eli Kosiba is the lone American entry and has a PB of 2.30/7-6.5.

60 Hurdles
It begins and ends with Grant Holloway. Undefeated in 76 straight indoor 60H races since 2014, Holloway has two straight World Indoor golds and the world indoor record at 7.27. He cruised to another U.S. title last month in 7.36, which leads the world list in 2025. Emerging Polish star Jakub Szymanski won the European title and has a PB of 7.39, while Cameron Murray set his PB of 7.41 to finish second to Holloway at the USATF meet. Murray was a semifinalist at Glasgow last year. Lorenzo Ndele Simonelli of Italy was the silver medalist in 2024, and France’s Wilhelm Belocian grabbed the runner-up spot at the European indoors behind Szymanski.

High Jump
Only one defeat marred an otherwise perfect slate in 2024 for Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who broke one of the oldest world records on the books with her 2.10/6-10.75 at the Paris Diamond League meet to take down the mark set in 1987 by Bulgaria’s Stefka Kostadinova. She was relegated to silver at Glasgow by Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers, and those two will go head-to-head again in Nanjing. Mahuchikh won the European title two weeks ago and is the world leader, while Olyslagers is making her season debut. U.S. hopes ride on Vashti Cunningham, who won her 15th national title at Ocean Breeze and was the 2016 World Indoor champion as a teen. Cunningham has an indoor PB of 2.00/6-6.75 and also has a silver from the 2018 World Indoors. NCAA outdoor champion for Kentucky in 2023, Charity Hufnagel was the runner-up at this year’s USATF Indoors with a PB 1.94/6-4.25.

60
The third-fastest man in history in the event with a PB of 6.40 from 2018, Ronnie Baker won the USATF title last month and has a season best of 6.50. Baker also earned the U.S. an additional slot with his World Indoor Tour victory in 2020, so Coby Hilton and Emmanuel Wells comprise the rest of the American trio. Hilton and Wells both clocked 6.58 at the USATF indoor meet, and Hilton got the nod for the runner-up spot. Both men are making their international championship debuts. This year’s fastest indoor performer at 6.49, Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu used that time to win the European title. Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy qualified for the meet with an outdoor 6.43 down under and has the best entry mark overall.

3000
Ingebrigtsen’s difficult distance double will require some serious tactical nous in spite of his status as the outdoor world record holder at 7:17.55. He won a pedestrian affair at the European Indoors in 7:48.37, but will be up against Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi, a 7:26.20 man who was the silver medalist in the 10,000 at Paris last summer, and Aregawi’s 18-year-old teammate, Biniam Mehary, who set a world U20 record with his 7:29.99 outing in February. Dylan Jacobs is the eighth fastest man in U.S. history with a PB of 7:30.45 at the Millrose Games. Jacobs won the NCAA indoor 5000 for Tennessee in 2023 and was the outdoor NCAA champion at 10,000 in 2022. Former Air Force Academy star Sam Gilman dropped his PB to 7:34.69 earlier this month at Boston and was third at the USATF Indoors. One other dangerous challenger is Ethiopia’s Getnet Wale, the 2020 World Indoor Tour winner who is No. 6 on the all-time world performer list at 7:24.98.

Shot Put
The world lead belongs to Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri at 21.95/72-0.25, but he bombed out in qualifying at the European Indoors. Fabbri was the bronze medalist at Glasgow, though, and earned outdoor world silver in 2023. Those medals along with his outdoor PB of 22.98/75-4.75 make him a solid contender. Two-time World Indoor champion Tom Walsh of New Zealand earned silver last year and has a PB of 22.90/75-1.75. Walsh won the New Zealand national outdoor gold two weeks ago with a season best 21.24/69-8.25. USATF champion Tripp Piperi was eighth at the 2022 world outdoor championships and is poised for his first global indoor competition. Piperi has a PB of 21.74/71-4. U.S. leader Roger Steen threw an indoor PB 21.94/71-11.75 at a small meet in Wisconsin in February to move to No. 10 on the all-time U.S. indoor performer list before taking the runner-up spot at the USATF meet.

Shot Put
The most-anticipated women’s field event in Nanjing has defending champion Sarah Mitton of Canada, world leader and European champion Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands, and American record holder Chase Jackson vying for the top step on the podium. Jackson bettered her own American indoor record with a 20.24/66-5 toss in Poland in February and followed up with another U.S. indoor title at Ocean Breeze. She has a silver and bronze from previous World Indoor meets, but has yet to match the double World Outdoor golds she achieved in 2022 and 2023. Mitton brings a best of 20.68/67-10.25 into the meet, set at Karlsruhe last month, and Schilder threw a massive PB of 20.69/67-10.75 to win the Euro gold. Because Jackson won this year’s World Indoor Tour, the U.S. has three berths in the shot, and two-time World Indoor finalist Maggie Ewen will seek to improve on a seventh-place finish last year and a fifth-place effort in 2022. Jessica Ramsey, the 2021 Olympic Trials champion, makes her first World Indoor Championships appearance and ranks seventh on the all-time U.S. indoor performer list.

Heptathlon
Sander Skotheim of Norway came away best in a titanic battle at the European Indoors, scoring 6,558 points to move to third on the all-time world performer list. Germany’s Till Steinforth, a redshirt at Nebraska, earned bronze with a PB 6,388, and Johannes Erm of Estonia was fourth with a 6,380 PB. Americans Heath Baldwin and Harrison Williamsearned invitations because of their world ranking in the combined events. Baldwin was the Olympic Trials decathlon champion and placed 10th at the Olympic Games in Paris. He also earned silver in the NCAA indoor heptathlon for Michigan State with a 6,238 PB score. Williams was seventh in the decathlon at Paris after a third-place effort at the Olympic Trials. He has a PB of 6,042 in the heptathlon, set in 2019.

Women’s Event-by-Event Preview

Long Jump
Monae’ Nichols is the top returner after claiming silver at Glasgow, and she won the USATF Indoor Championships last month. Sixth at the Paris Olympic Games, Nichols set her indoor PB of 6.85/22-5.75 at last year’s meet. Spain’s Fatima Diame earned bronze in Glasgow in 2024, but was only fifth at the European Championships earlier this month. Making her international championship debut, Claire Bryant was second at the U.S. championships and has a best of 6.72/22-0.75 this season. The leading entry mark is 6.98/22-10.75 by Anthaya Charlton of the Bahamas, who was fourth at the NCAA indoor meet for Florida.

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Capital University to upgrade its fieldhouse for fall

Published

59 minutes ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Capital athletes and students can expect a revamped track and field facility just in time for the fall semester.

The track will be resurfaced with state-of-the-art materials, BSS 2000 RE surface, which are used at The Ohio State University and the University of Oregon’s tracks.

What You Need To Know

The project could result in championship events being hosted at the university

The resurfaced track will all for better safety and performance

Construction should be completed before the 2026-2027 athletic season

“This project extends beyond indoor track — sports like tennis, pickleball, basketball and volleyball will benefit from this state-of-the-art training surface,” said Darrell Bailey, director of Athletics. “In addition to supporting our student-athletes year-round, the facility will serve as a versatile venue for major campus-wide events, including commencement, the Undergraduate Research Symposium, and other programs that bring our entire community together.”

Besides aesthetic benefits, the resurfaced track will allow for better safety, performance and competitive opportunity. Shock absorbtion and greater durability would be just some of the most important upgrades.

“This new surface elevates the standard of our training environment and enhances our capacity to compete and train at a high level. It’s a significant step forward for our program, and it reflects the commitment our institution and alumni have made to supporting Capital track and field,” said Ian Kellogg, director of Cross Country/Track and Field.

The upgrades will also position the university to host championship events in the future, which would not have been a possibility before.

“From updated courts and a better practice facility for all sports that utilize it, to a significant facelift for the Cap Center overall, this investment positions Capital to provide one of the finest training environments in Division III,” said April Novotny, vice president for Advancement and chief development officer. “[Donors] support not only strengthens the student-athlete experience but also ensures our athletes train on an elite surface and positions Capital to welcome more competitive opportunities in the years ahead.”

Construction should be completed before the 2026-2027 athletic season.

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Calallen’s Aubrey Navarro signs to run D1 track at SFA

Published

1 hour ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — It was college signing day for one Calallen senior. Aubrey Navarro inked her commitment to run sprints for Stephen F. Austin University track and field.

She holds Calallen high school records in the 100, 200 and long jump according to MaxPreps. Navarro made it to Regionals her freshman season. Her journey was not easy, battling injuries the last two seasons. So to make it this far is a huge accomplishment.

“It means a lot because it’s just like so many things have happened lately, and to making it to go D1 and competing at a collegiate level is just a dream that I’ve always wanted since I was little,” Navarro.

Her 100 meter dash personal best time is 11.72 seconds, which she ran at the 97th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays on March 26, 2025.

Calallen's Aubrey Navarro signs with SFA

Navarro began running track when she was 5-years-old at Pure Speed Performance with Coach Rueben Flowers. She’s excited to represent Corpus Christi at the Division 1 level.

“It means a lot because not a lot of people in the Coastal Bend go for track, or do track or really are into track like I am,” Navarro. “It just means a lot to know that I can be a role model for others that really want to do it.”

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No. 11 CSUN Opens 2026 Season With Three Matches at UCSB Asics Invitational

Published

4 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

CSUN THIS WEEK:

UCSB ASICS INVITATIONAL

MATCH #1

CSUN Matadors (0-0) vs. Maryville Saints (0-0)

Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 – 7:00 p.m. PT

Rob Gym – Santa Barbara, Calif.

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Live Stats

MATCH #2

CSUN Matadors vs. Harvard Crimson

Friday, Jan. 9, 2026 – 2:00 p.m. PT

Rob Gym – Santa Barbara, Calif

ESPN+

Live Stats

MATCH #3

CSUN Matadors vs. Kentucky State Thorobreds

Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 – 4:30 p.m. PT

Rob Gym – Santa Barbara, Calif

ESPN+

Live Stats

In-game X updates: @CSUNMensVB

CSUN Men’s Volleyball Media Notes

FOR STARTERS

The preseason 11th-ranked CSUN Men’s Volleyball team (0-0, 0-0 Big West) opens the 2026 season, its 50th season of men’s volleyball, against Maryville on Thursday at the UCSB Asics Invitational in Santa Barbara. The match is the first of three for the Matadors at the annual tournament held at Rob Gym on the UCSB campus. CSUN opens the tournament Thursday against Maryville at 7 p.m., before taking on Harvard on Friday at 2 p.m. The Matadors conclude the three-day event on Saturday, taking on Kentucky State at 4:30 p.m. Fellow Big West teams UC Irvine and host UC Santa Barbara round out the six-team field this weekend.

FOLLOW YOUR MATADORS ONLINE

All nine matches of UCSB’s Asics Invitational will stream live on ESPN+ and will have live stats available (links at GoMatadors.com). CSUN home matches this season will also stream live on the ESPN+ platform, with Darren Preston handling a majority of the play-by-play this season.

Fans can also follow CSUN Matador men’s volleyball online at the official home of CSUN athletics, www. GoMatadors.com for related links to the match, including any live stats, audio, and video. Fans are also encouraged to check the CSUN Athletics Department’s official X feed (@ GoMatadors) and the volleyball-specific feed (@CSUNMensVB) for news and notes throughout the week, as well as updates of matches in progress.

CSUN RANKED 11TH IN 2026 AVCA PRESEASON MEN’S VOLLEYBALL POLL

After finishing the 2025 season ranked ninth in the final AVCA National Collegiate Poll, CSUN opens the 2026 season ranked 11th in the national preseason poll (Dec. 23). The Matadors, who finished 18-11 in 2025, finished in the top 10 in the final poll for the first time since 2018 and the second time in the last seven seasons. After being ranked in all 18 polls last season, CSUN received 238 points in the preseason poll to rank ninth.

Since reclaiming a spot in the AVCA national poll in 2023, the Matadors have been ranked in the top 20 in 36 consecutive polls and 46 of the last 49 AVCA national polls since the 2023 season. CSUN has been a fixture in the national polls historically, having previously been ranked in the AVCA Top-15 for 62 consecutive weeks and 262 of the last 289 weekly polls dating back to the 2002 season.

UCLA opens the 2026 season ranked first in the preseason poll, collecting 12 of 24 first-place votes and 481 total points. Hawai’i is second after receiving seven first-place votes and 473 points, followed by defending national champions Long Beach State, which received five first-place votes and 460 points. The remainder of the preseason top five includes Pepperdine and USC with UC Irvine, Loyola Chicago, BYU, Stanford, and UC San Diego rounding out the preseason top 10. The second half of the preseason top-20 poll includes the Matadors, Lewis, Penn State, Ohio State, McKendree, Ball State, UC Santa Barbara, Princeton, George Mason, and Lincoln Memorial.

SCOUTING THE ASICS INVITATIONAL FIELD

Maryville (0-0) opens its fifth season of men’s volleyball on Thursday in Santa Barbara. The Saints were picked to finish second in their inaugural season as members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Maryville earned four first-place votes and 43 total points to finish second to Rockhurst in the polling. Junior OH Makai Scott returns after leading the Saints with 307 kills (3.37 kps) and 211 digs last season. After finishing 19-9 in 2025, the Saints return 13 players while adding six newcomers in 2026. All-time series: Thursday’s match marks the first-ever meeting between the Matadors and Saints in men’s volleyball.

Harvard (0-0) opens the 2026 season on Thursday against UC Irvine. The Crimson, who finished 9-15 in 2025, were picked to tie for fifth in the EIVA Coaches’ Preseason Poll. Seniors Zach Berty and Brian Thomas were named as Players to Watch by the conference’s seven head coaches. Berty averaged 2.22 kills per set in 2025, while Thomas averaged 0.94 blocks per set to lead the team. All-time series: Friday’s match is the seventh meeting all-time between CSUN and Harvard, with the Matadors holding a 5-1 edge in the series. The two teams also met at the UCSB Invitational in 2019, with CSUN pulling out a five-set win.

Kentucky State (0-0) also opens its 2026 season in Santa Barbara. The Thorobreds, who were picked to finish sixth in the SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) Preseason Poll, will open against UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, before taking on UC Irvine and the Matadors to conclude the weekend. All-time series: Saturday’s match marks the first-ever meeting between the Matadors and Thorobreds in men’s volleyball.

CSUN AT THE UCSB ASICS INVITATIONAL

Thursday’s match against Maryville marks CSUN’s 25th appearance in UC Santa Barbara’s annual tournament in the last 29 years. The Matadors are 56-37 (.602) all-time in the tournament dating back to 2001. Last season, the Matadors finished 3-0 in the tournament with wins over Tusculum (3-0), Missouri S&T (3-0), and Menlo (3-1).

Since 2019, the Matadors are 8-7 in UCSB’s annual event, finishing 1-2 three times (2019, 2023, 2024) and 2-1 in 2019. After the 2021 tournament was canceled due to the COVID pandemic, CSUN was scheduled to open the 2022 season in Santa Barbara but due to COVID protocols within the program, the Matadors were forced to withdraw, snapping a streak of 16 consecutive appearances. In 2019, CSUN dropped a five-set decision to Grand Canyon, which snapped a streak of 11 straight Matador wins in the tournament dating back to a loss to Princeton in 2015. CSUN won its first-ever UCSB Invitational championship in 2009 after upsetting No. 2 UCLA (3-1) and defeating No. 14 UCSB (3-1) and No. 8 Stanford (3-1). The Matadors then won their second straight crown in 2010, topping UCSB (3-1), California Baptist (3-1), and BYU (3-1).

THREE MATADORS NAMED AVCA ALL-AMERICAN, ALL-BIG WEST IN 2025

For the first time since 2018, CSUN had three student-athletes named to the All-Big West First Team in 2025. The Matadors had three first-team selections as senior Donovan Constable, redshirt sophomore Jalen Phillips, and freshman Stilian Delibosov were all named to the top team. The last time CSUN had three players named first team was 2018, when Eric Chance, Arvis Greene, Jr., and Dimitar Kalchev earned top honors. All three players went on to earn AVCA All-America honors as Phillips was named to the First Team and Constable and Delibosov earned honorable mention accolades.

NEW FACES IN 2026

In addition to returning 10 letterwinners and five starters from the 2025 season, CSUN welcomes an impressive list of newcomers in 2026. The group includes a trio of 2025 redshirts, including sophomore Owen Douphner, who steps in for departed All-American Donovan Constable at setter. Transfer Jordan Lucas (Grand Canyon) and redshirt freshman Grayson Albers (Sacramento) each open their first season on the active roster in 2026. CSUN also welcomes a trio of true freshmen in 2026 that includes Kingston Jerome, Joel Eanes, and Noah Douphner. Jerome comes to CSUN from Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas, Nev., while Eanes is a 6-9 opposite from Kellam High School in Virginia Beach, Va. Douphner is a local product from nearby Stevenson Ranch and the younger brother of the CSUN setter.

MATADORS IN THE BIG WEST

The 2026 season marks CSUN’s ninth as a member of the Big West in men’s volleyball. With a 3-7 regular season record in 2025, the Matadors are 18-52 (.257) in 70 Big West matches over eight seasons since the conference’s inaugural campaign in 2018. CSUN finished 5-5 in the first Big West season in 2018 before finishing 3-7 in 2019, 2024, and 2025, 2-8 in 2021 and 1-9 in both 2022 and 2023. Prior to 2018, the Matadors played 25 seasons as a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) from 1993-2017 and 16 seasons in the Western Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (WIVA) from 1977-92.

EDWARDS IN FOURTH SEASON AS CSUN HEAD COACH

Theo Edwards is in his fourth season as CSUN’s head coach in 2026 after leading the Matadors back into the AVCA national rankings in his first three seasons. Now in his 16th season at CSUN, Edwards was named the successor to Jeff Campbell on Dec. 9, 2022. CSUN finished 12-16 in Edwards’ first season (1-9 in the Big West) in 2023 and the Matadors have steadily improved in each of Edwards’ three seasons. CSUN finished 13-16 in 2024 and 18-11 in 2025. Under Edwards’ leadership, CSUN earned a No. 7 national ranking on Mar. 10 of the 2025 season, its highest national ranking in seven seasons. The Matadors finished the 2025 season with a No. 9 national ranking, also its best since 2018.

LOOKING AHEAD

Following three matches at the UCSB Asics Invitational, the Matadors will remain on the road for two more matches next week. CSUN will travel to the Midwest for the 2026 Under Armour Invitational at Lindenwood in St. Charles, Mo. The Matadors will take on the host Lions on Jan. 16 before meeting Purdue Fort Wayne on Jan. 17 at 2:00 p.m. PT.

#GoMatadors

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Sports

Jenna Ibieta named head coach of Loyola indoor, beach volleyball programs – Crescent City Sports

Published

5 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Jenna Ibieta steps into her new role after earning SSAC Assistant Coach of the Year honors in November

NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola University New Orleans indoor and beach volleyball program has a familiar face grabbing the reins, as Jenna Ibieta was named the new head coach for the two teams, Assistant Vice President of Athletics Brett Simpson announced Wednesday. Ibieta made the move to her new role after serving as assistant coach for the indoor fall 2025 season.

She’s the eighth head coach in program history.

“We’re excited to announce Jenna Ibieta as our next Head Volleyball Coach at Loyola University New Orleans,” Simpson said. “Jenna has already made a significant impact on our program through her leadership and deep understanding of the game, earning SSAC Assistant Coach of the Year honors this past season. With head coaching experience at the high school level, extensive club coaching in New Orleans, and a strong background as a student-athlete at Tulane, she is well-positioned to lead our program forward and build on our recent success.

Ibieta joined the Wolf Pack in May and helped the indoor team collect 29 wins, the second-most in program wins, the program’s first SSAC Championship title, and the second NAIA national tournament appearance in three years. She was also named the SSAC Assistant Coach of the Year.

“This is home for me, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead these programs,” Ibieta said. “What last season’s group accomplished set a strong foundation, and with a talented recruiting class coming in, I’m excited to continue building a culture grounded in excellence. I’m looking forward to what’s ahead and honored to be part of the ongoing growth and success of the Indoor and Beach programs.”

Ibieta’s roles with the program have been leading the recruiting efforts, player development, travel logistics, and on-court training, with a focus on offensive systems. She coached five members of the SSAC All-Conference team, including SSAC Freshman and Attacker of the Year Isis Harink, all-conference first-teamers Alexa Palmer and Kala Emanuelli, along with Harink, and members of the second team: Ivana De Carvalho Peixe and Samantha Guillotte.

Before joining the Loyola staff, Ibieta spent the four years prior in Lafayette, serving as the Head Volleyball Coach at Acadiana High School (2024–2025) and Sacred Heart Grand Coteau (2021–2024), while also working as an Admissions Coordinator. She brings additional experience from the club volleyball scene, having coached with the Cajun Elite and Louisiana Volleyball programs during that four-year stretch.

A former collegiate setter at Tulane University (2017–2019), Ibieta tallied 1,497 assists and 556 digs over her career. She was named to the All-State Sugar Bowl Collegiate Classic All-Tournament Team, was a member of the Tulane Athletic 3.0 Club, and earned American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team honors in 2018–2019. She holds a B.S. in Communications with minors in Sociology and Business.

Ibieta’s volleyball roots run deep. As a standout player at Metairie Park Country Day, she led her team to four LHSAA State Championships (2012–2014, 2016) and was named Louisiana Miss Volleyball in 2016. She holds the school record with over 5,000 career assists and was a four-time all-state selection. Her coaching journey began early, contributing to NOLA Volleyball during her high school and college years.

Volleyball excellence runs in the family, too. Her mother, Julie Stempel Ibieta, is a former LSU volleyball standout and co-director of NOLA Volleyball. Her father, Juan Ibieta, played baseball at Tulane. Her brothers, Justin and Jake, are also involved in collegiate athletics — Justin as a graduate assistant with Tulane Football and Jake as a member of the LSU football team.

A reception to introduce Coach Ibieta will take place at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12, in the University Sports Complex’s Hall of Fame Room.

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Two Scholar Athletes Highlight Academic Awards for Hornet Volleyball

Published

5 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Women’s Volleyball | 1/7/2026 2:00:00 PM

January 7, 2026 – Emporia State volleyball had two MIAA Scholar Athletes and six players in total earn MIAA Academic recognition for the 2025 season.

Mia Frisbie and Brailee Bogle were both MIAA Scholar Athletes for their performance on the court and in the classroom, as both were named Honorable Mention All-MIAA for the 2025 season.

Along with Frisbie and Bogle, Brenna Smith, Willow Deckinger, Sydney Fiatte and Camilla Ossola were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. All six players earned their second career recognition on the Academic Honor Roll.

To be recognized on the Academic Honor Roll, one must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.00 at the certifying member institution. The individual must also have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms.

To qualify as a Scholar-Athlete an individual must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.50 at the certifying member institution. The student-athlete must have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms. If competing in a championship sport of the MIAA, the student-athlete must also earn All-MIAA honors from the 2024 season.

MIAA Scholar Athletes

Mia Frisbie	Sophomore	3.98	Health & Human Perf.	Overland Park, Kan.
Braile Bogle	Junior	3.55	Biology	Wichita, Kan.

MIAA Academic Honor Roll

Mia Frisbie	Sophomore	3.98	Health & Human Perf.	Overland Park, Kan.
Brenna Smith	Sophomore	3.84	Health & Human Perf.	St. Mary’s, Kan.
Willow Deckinger	Sophomore	3.76	English	Wichita, Kan.
Sydney Fiatte	Senior	3.73	Health & Human Perf.	Shawnee, Kan.
Camilla Ossola	Senior	3.72	Biology	Gavirate, Italy
Braile Bogle	Junior	3.55	Biology	Wichita, Kan.

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Sports

No. 7 Ramblers Start Season at No. 2 Rainbow Warriors

Published

5 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

LEADING OFF
No. 7 Loyola Chicago opens its 2026 season with a two-match series at No. 2 Hawai’i on Thursday, Jan. 8 and Friday, Jan. 9. First serve for both matches is set for 11 p.m. CT.

QUICK HITS

Loyola headlines the MIVA conference in the preseason poll; Ryan McElligott, Daniel Fabikovic and Aleksander Sosa tabbed Preseason All-MIVA. The Ramblers were picked seventh in the AVCA Preseason Poll.

McElligott finished 2025 as both the MIVA and NCAA assists leader, averaging 10.9 per set.

The Ramblers returned 15 student-athletes and welcomed five new faces, including two freshmen and three transfers.

Assistant coach Dalton Solbrig lettered four years for the Rainbow Warriors from 2016-19. He was a member of two NCAA Tournament teams, including the national runner-up squad in 2019.

Head coach Shane Davis enters his 14th season at Loyola, sporting a 289-92 (.759) career record. In his first season back, Davis led the Ramblers to a 25-4 ledger, their fourth MIVA Tournament title and fourth NCAA Tournament berth.

2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Loyola’s men’s volleyball program, which is home to two of the university’s three NCAA national championship titles.

SCOUTING REPORT
Hawai’i kicked off its season with a two-match series sweep of NJIT (Jan. 2, Jan. 4), in which sophomore opposite Kristian Titriyski combined for 23 kills on .438 hitting. The 6-foot-8 Bulgarian national added five service aces against NJIT. As a team, the Rainbow Warriors hit .517 in both matches. Junior setter Tread Rosenthal led each match in assists, recording 26 in the first and 30 in the rematch. He also contributed 11 total blocks across the series.

Head coach Charlie Wade entered his 17th season at the helm of the program and boasts a 321-131 career record at Hawai’i. Last season, he led the Rainbow Warriors to their fourth overall Big West Tournament title and 10th NCAA Tournament appearance.

SERIES HISTORY

The Rainbow Warriors lead the all-time series, 13-3, with the Ramblers and are 12-3 at home against the MIVA opponent. In their last meeting, Loyola left Hawai’i 1-1 after falling 3-0 in match one then taking the second in a five-set thriller. This year’s two-match series marks Davis’ 11th overall matchup against Hawai’i, and his fifth as head coach.

FOLLOW THE ACTION

Stream both matches on ESPN+. Follow men’s volleyball on Instagram and X @RamblersMVB for in-game updates.

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