EVANSVILLE, Ind. – With the start of his first season at the helm of the University of Evansville volleyball program just over two months away, head coach Zach Weinberg has announced seven signees to the Purple Aces squad.
 
“With at least one player in each position, this class will provide us with a ton of depth and versatility across the board,” Weinberg said. “I am excited to get these seven integrated into our team and culture and see how they impact our growth on the court. Go Aces!”
 
McKenzie Laubach – Middle Blocker – Sanford, Fla.
 
Following two seasons at Eastern Kentucky, McKenzie Laubach makes her way to Evansville in 2025.  A native of Sanford, Fla., Laubach played in a total of seven matches in her first two collegiate campaigns with the Colonels. 
 
She graduated from Lake Mary High School in 2023 and enjoyed a stellar career that saw her earn First Team All-Seminole Athletic Conference honors as a senior.  In her final high school season, Laubach accumulated 155 kills, 90 blocks, 93 digs, and 45 service aces while leading her team to a district championship.  Included in that tally was a 16-kill performance versus Lyman HS.  Named her team’s MVP in her final campaign, Laubach was named to the Top 100 Watch List and was invited to the All-American Camp.
 
As a junior in 2021, she recorded 133 kills, 85 digs, 75 blocks, and 20 aces while earning Second Team All-Conference recognition.  Aside from earning four letters in volleyball, she was a 2-year letterwinner in varsity cheer and helped her team win state championships in 2020 and 2021.
 
Coach Weinberg on Laubach: “McKenzie will be a great addition to our middle blocker group, but she also provides us with a ton of versatility across the front row, having played every attacking position at some point in her career. Her heavy arm and the ability to run all sorts of offensive routes will position her to score lots of points for us.”
 
Makenzie Miller – Middle Blocker – Kansas City, Mo.
 
Makenzie Miller posted an impressive 290 kills in her senior season at Liberty North HS on her way to numerous accolades in 2024.  Included in those honors were All-District First Team, All-Conference First Team, AVCA Regional Team, Academic Team recognition, and Liberty North Offensive Player of the Year.  She hit .249 in her final season while registering 65 blocks. 
 
In her junior season, Miller finished with 135 kills, 65 blocks, and a .296 hitting tally.  Along with All-District and All-Conference recognition, she was named to the AVCA Phenom Watch List.  Her team took second place in the Missouri Class 5 State Championship.  Miller was a KMBC Athletic Scholarship Award recipient.  Some of her top high school performances include 14 kills and a .737 hitting tally against Staley and a 17-kill match while hitting .520 versus Lee’s Summit North.
 
Coach Weinberg on Miller: “Mak’s length and versatility will benefit our gym immediately. She is a very cerebral middle blocker with a high volleyball IQ, and her ability to score off of two feet will enhance our gym immediately, and her blocking presence will instantly put pressure on opposing offenses.”
 
Hinsley Everett – Outside Hitter – Norris City, Ill.
 
Reigning All-South Player of the Year Hinsley Everett makes the short trek from Norris City, Ill. to Evansville.  Named a First Team All-State player as both a junior and senior, Everett put up stellar statistics in her final two years at NCOE High School.
 
In her senior campaign, Everett finished with 326 kills, 76 blocks, 54 aces, and 113 digs while hitting .434.  She recorded an even higher kill total as a junior posting 369.  Aside from garnering All-State recognition, Everett earned the Offensive Award in her final two years while garnering Defensive Award honors as a sophomore.
 
Coach Weinberg on Everett: “Hinsley is a dynamic attacker who comes from a family of volleyball players. She is a physical attacker with experience on both Pins, and I expect her to make an instant impact on our pin group.”
 
Brooke Herdes – Outside Hitter – Evansville, Ind.
 
Evansville native Brooke Herdes signs with the UE program from Mater Dei HS where she earned four letters in volleyball along with two in basketball and two in lacrosse.  A team captain with her squad, Herdes reached the 1,000-kill mark in her career.
 
Herdes picked up numerous accolades during her high school career including Academic All-City, Academic All-State, First and Second Team All-Metro, and Indiana South Team.  She was a nominee for Player of the Year.
 
Coach Weinberg on Herdes: “When it comes to the freshman outsides, if Hinsley is the Thunder, then Brooke is the lightning. She is crafty with her attacking and her ball control will bring some stability to our gym.”
 
Ryan Scheu – Right Side – Evansville, Ind.
 
Ryan Scheu comes to UE following a successful career at Memorial HS.  A 3-time letterwinner in volleyball, Scheu lettered four times in lacrosse, and once in bowling and track/field.  Scheu put forth the top season of her career as a senior in 2024 accumulating 427 kills and 18 blocks following a junior season that saw her post 181 kills and 41 blocks.
 
Scheu put forth some of her top performances when it mattered most, totaling 28 kills against Heritage Hills and 27 versus Boonville in the 2025 Sectionals.  Memorial was the Sectional champion in each of her three seasons.  She was named a First Team All-SIAC and Academic All-State player in volleyball.  Her lacrosse accolades were even more impressive as she was named a Second Team All-State player along with earning a spot on the North/South All-Star Team.
 
Coach Weinberg on Scheu: “Ryan will slot into our right-side group, but she’ll cross-train on both pins. She is a dynamic athlete with a high touch point, and her high motor will allow her to grow quickly to the advanced level of play.”
 
Kendall Agler – Libero – Evansville, Ind.
 
Kendall Agler is the second signee from Memorial HS to join the Purple Aces squad.  Agler spent four years with the volleyball team earning letters in her final two seasons.  She was a Second Team All-Conference honoree while garnering Academic All-State accolades.  The 3-time Defensive Player Award winner was also the recipient of the Volleyball Kiwanis Award.
 
Agler contributed to three Sectional Championships with Memorial.  Aside from volleyball, Agler earned three letters in track while playing one season of basketball.
 
Coach Weinberg on Agler: “Kendall is a gritty defender who doesn’t like to see balls hit the floor. We will rely on her to help stabilize our serve receive instantly along with Maddie and Ainoah, has the ability to play any of the back row positions. Kendall’s grit and drive will be felt in our gym immediately.” 
 
Brynne Krangnes – Setter – Collierville, Tenn.
 
Brynne Krangnes posted 963 assists as a senior at Collierville HS on her way to multiple accolades.  She completed her career as a 2-time District 15 All-District Team honoree, 2024 Collierville HS Varsity Volleyball Most Valuable Player, 2023 Collierville HS Varsity Volleyball Player of the Year, and multiple tournament MVP honors.
 
Her team finished in the top eight in the State of Tennessee in all three of her seasons with the program.  Krangnes also participated in USAV Nationals each year.
 
Coach Weinberg on Krangnes: “Brynne will add to our setter depth and gives us more options in our gym. She is a good defensive setter and should have no problem grasping our offensive system.”
 

VINCENT, Ohio (WTAP) – Today marked the halfway point of Warren’s junior high volleyball camp. Up and coming Lady Warriors came to learn from coaches and players. The emphasis for this camp, as always, is the fundamentals. Building on the basics is how head coach Ann Skufca wants the campers to learn the game.

“Well, the best part is from our coaching staff, from the high school all the way down in the middle school, everybody’s on the same page,” Skufca says. “So we know what to look for if a kids not making the correct motion or play on the court, we know all right, let’s go make it better. And it’s very uniform going through across the board at all levels.”

 So far so good for the first session of campers. Coach Skufca has been thrilled with the young players’ efforts thus far.

“It is going phenomenal. We’ve had about 70 just junior high athletes come out for this camp and I could not be happier with how much love for the game in this community that these girls are showing. And it’s another day to get better for them.”

 Helping coach run the camp has been some of her players. For senior Mya Stemple, it’s been a full circle experience as she’s enjoyed working with the campers and her teammates.

“I remember going to these camps when we were really young and I definitely like sparked my interest of volleyball and it definitely was like a peak moment of me beginning to learn how to play volleyball,” says Stemple. “It’s been great. We’ve definitely been, like working together as a team and learning on having to build together while helping girls up and coming learn how to play volleyball.”

 Junior Elayna Greenwalt has had a similar experience. Going to camps like this one was a big part of her summers growing up.

“I was always like when I was a kid,” Greenwalt says. “I was always looking forward to coming to camp, getting better. I’m sure they’re thinking the same thing and as a coach, it’s being like getting fun to coach them.”

 For young camper Reagan Lawrentz, it’s been a great chance for her to get some work in with potential future teammates and coaches.

“Probably being able to serve like with all my friends and teammates, future teammates and the coaches,” says Lawrentz. “My setting skills and I’ve learned a lot from my serves.”

 Tomorrow will conclude the junior high camp. Warren will be back with their kids camp starting Monday of next week.

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Frankie Velez, a veteran with 30 years of coaching experience, including with Team USA, will be Wiley University’s new head volleyball coach, as announced by Director of Athletics Rafael Gonzalez. Velez will become the sixth head coach since 2005.

“When our head volleyball coaching position opened, I knew exactly who I wanted to hire,” Gonzalez said. “Coach Velez has a great track record and experienced incredible success. Most importantly, he knows the State of Texas and will be able to bring in quality athletes who will help turn our program into contenders for Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) titles.”

Velez joins the Wildcat coaching staff after spending the last 13 years coaching club volleyball in the Houston Area. Since 2020, he’s been with the Houston/Katy Stars. From 2001 to 2008, he was responsible for training athletes and coaches at Team Texas Elite. Velez played a key role in the program’s consistent participation in the USA Volleyball Junior National Tournaments each year. The team reached the semifinals from 2002 to 2006, with a notable final appearance in 2003.

“I’m excited to return to college and getting to stay in Texas, where I received my first collegiate position,” Velez said. “I love coaching and making a positive impact. I’m ready to get started, not only to build a strong team but also to help these young women succeed in life.”

From 1999-2001, Velez was on the coaching staff with USA Women’s National Volleyball Team. He served as an assistant coach under the legendary coach Toshi Yoshida. Velez helped with on-court training, preparing them for the 2000 Summer Olympics. He also served as the director of developmental camps.

“It was an amazing opportunity,” Velez said. “I not only learned more about the game but the mental aspects — how I should feel and think as a coach. Coach Yoshida taught me to be more in tune with myself.”

Velez’s first collegiate position was at Lon Morris College, serving as head volleyball coach from 2010 to 2012, where he met Gonzalez, who was serving as the head soccer coach at the time.

Velez inherits a Lady Wildcat squad that has won nine matches the last two seasons and missed the postseason for the first time since 2005. From 2006-2019, the Lady Wildcats were annual contenders for the Red River Athletic Conference championship, reaching at least the semifinals in seven straight seasons (2015-2022) and winning the conference tournament in 2008 and 2018. Velez said establishing the culture will be key to returning to that level of success and beyond.

“Winning will happen,” Velez said. “It’s going to be important for us to buy into the culture. We will focus on the fundamentals of communication, ensuring that it’s executed at a high level. The mental aspects of the game are just as important as the physical ones. It’s crucial that we approach the match with the right mindset, stay focused, and keep our emotions in check.”

Velez graduated from Houston Christian University, formerly Houston Baptist University, with Bachelor of Arts degrees in physical education and management with a background in Marketing and Economics. He has already begun recruiting and moved to Marshall with his son Noah.

Campbell County High School’s Reese Dorr has chosen her track and field career at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS). Dorr was a two-time state champion during her prep career. She earned all-state honors in indoor and outdoor track and field. Reese qualified for the indoor track state championships three times and all four years for the outdoor state track meet.

Dorr won the 2024 state championship in the pole vault at the Wyoming Indoor Track State Championships. Her best vault saw her clear 11 feet. She was also part of Campbell County’s victorious 4×100-meter relay at the 2022 Wyoming Outdoor Track and Field State Championships. Their time was 49.34 seconds. Dorr also won a pair of regional pole vault titles in 2023 and 2025 during the outdoor track seasons.

Dorr earned varsity letters four times in outdoor track and field, three times in indoor track, and also in volleyball at CCHS. She has played club softball with Wicked 307. Dorr was part of two club state championships. Reese had offers to play softball at the next level but chose to pole vault collegiately.

She was a member of the National Honor Society and was a Salutatorian this year at Campbell County High School in Gillette. Dorr plans to study nursing and specialize in Labor and Delivery.

UCCS is in Colorado Springs, CO. The Mountain Lions compete at the NCAA Division II level. They are members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).

TOD, the sports and entertainment streaming platform in the MENA region, has extended its exclusive digital streaming rights for the English Premier League (EPL) for another three seasons. This renewal cements TOD’s position as the sole destination in the region where fans can watch every match of one of football’s most popular leagues.

The extension underscores TOD’s dedication to delivering premier live sports content with an enhanced digital experience. Viewers will continue to enjoy full coverage of all Premier League matches — including games featuring top clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City — available in HD and 4K across mobile devices, smart TVs and desktops.

Speaking about the deal, John-Paul McKerlie, VP of Marketing and Sales at TOD, said: “The Premier League holds a special place in the hearts of football fans across the region, and we are proud to continue being their home for it. This extension reflects our ongoing mission to deliver not just games, but unforgettable moments, through live coverage, available in multiple languages and in the highest quality possible.”

In addition to live and on-demand match coverage, TOD’s offerings include real-time match statistics, instant highlights, and multi-angle replays. The platform also provides personalised content in Arabic, English and French, tailored to local audiences for a more engaging experience.

The new EPL season on TOD will offer fans across MENA seamless access to every match from the kickoff, reinforcing the platform’s reputation as a digital hub for global sports. Alongside the Premier League, TOD remains the regional home of other major sports events including the UEFA Champions League, LaLiga, NBA, and Formula 1, solidifying its status as a comprehensive sports streaming destination.

All Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City matches, along with every other Premier League team, will be streamed live on TOD when the new season kicks off.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland State volleyball head coach Chuck Voss announced the 2025 schedule Wednesday, featuring a 29-match slate, including 13 matches inside Woodling Gymnasium.
 
Tickets are on sale now for the 2025 slate, including season tickets, single-match tickets and group packages. Season tickets are just $75 for all 13 matches, while single-match tickets are $12 (general admission) or $10 (youth 12 and under). Fans can purchase tickets online by CLICKING HERE.
 
Fans that are interested in group packages can call the Cleveland State Ticket Office at (216) 687-4848 for more information and to purchase.
 
Cleveland State will begin the season at the Wyoming Tournament (August 29-31), facing Colorado, Tulsa and the host Cowgirls throughout the three-day event.
 
The Vikings will then open their home slate on Wednesday, September 3, hosting Akron as part of the CSU Invitational. To round out their first weekend inside Woodling Gymnasium, the Vikings will host American (Friday, September 5) and ETSU (Saturday, September 6).
 
Next up for Cleveland State will be the NC State Tournament (September 12-14), where the Vikings will face Coastal Carolina, Duke and the host Wolfpack.
 
Cleveland State will then close out non-league play by hosting Kent State on Thursday, September 18, before traveling to Akron on Friday, September 19.
 
The Vikings, who will begin Horizon League play as the defending #HLVB Tournament Champions, will kick off the league slate with a trio of road matches, traveling to Northern Kentucky (September 26-27) and Oakland (September 30), before hosting Wright State (October 3-4) in a weekend series for the first league matches inside Woodling Gymnasium.
 
Cleveland State will then return to the road for matches at Green Bay (October 10-11) and Purdue Fort Wayne (October 17-18), before opening a five-match homestand against RMU (October 24-25).
 
Also included in this homestand will be a midweek matchup against Oakland (September 28) and a weekend series against IU Indy (October 31-November 1).
 
Next up for the Vikings will be a roadtrip to Youngstown State (November 6-7), before hosting Milwaukee (November 14-15) in the regular season finale.
 
The 2025 Horizon League Tournament is set for Friday, November 21 through Sunday, November 23, hosted by the regular season champions.