They’ve both thought about what it’ll look like for their shirt to hang on a shelf this summer. 

“I’ve been stressing a little bit about this one just because I wanted it to look perfect,” Nelson said. “I feel like if it’s going to have a Nike swoosh on it, I want it to be like my best work ever.”

For him, he said, it’ll feel real when it’s printed. Until then, this seems like a dream.

“Every once in a while, it’ll hit me,” Pollner said. “I’ll be like, ‘Wow, I’m working for Nike right now.’ I feel like it hasn’t really hit me yet, what I’m doing.”

It’s not the only thing. She thinks back to a few months ago, when she told herself she’d never transfer from Ohio Wesleyan.

What would she tell herself now?

“I would tell myself to go for it,” she said. “I didn’t realize until I came out here this summer that change is scary, and that it’s hard to be by yourself and do big things.”

The change was probably the biggest risk she’s ever taken, she thinks.

“But also, I think the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. That’s probably what I would tell myself: Yeah, it’s going to be scary. It’s going to be hard to leave your friends. You’re comfortable where you are, but you have all these goals and ambitions and if you want to accomplish them, it’s going to require big risk and big change.”

Rossi and Pollner’s designs can be found on this year’s Nike Outdoor Nationals merchandise, available for purchase at Hayward Field during the June 19 – 22 event.

GREENWOOD, Ind. – After an incredible season on the court and in the classroom, three Ramblers of Loyola Chicago’s men’s volleyball were selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, per the organization’s announcement on Tuesday. Incoming seniors Brad Bell and Ryan McElligott each earned the first CSC academic honor of their careers while graduate Parker Van Buren collected his second.  

Bell, an accounting major, finished his junior year with a 3.82 GPA while making 22 starts in 23 matches. The Salem, Wis. native was second on the team in total blocks with 70.0, comprised of 63 block assists and seven solos, both career-bests. As a middle blocker, Bell was also a top offensive contributor with 111 kills and a .445 hitting percentage. Earlier this summer, he was named to the Academic All-MIVA Team for the second consecutive season.  

The nation’s No. 1 assist leader wears Maroon and Gold and excels inside the classroom; McElligott studies finance and holds a 3.70 GPA. In 27 matches, McElligott made 26 starts and totaled 1,016 assists, averaging 10.81 per set – good for first in the country and in the league. Hailing from Mundelein, Ill., the First Team All-Conference setter ranked second among the Ramblers in service aces with 32 and had 75 total kills on a .415 hitting percentage. Defensively, he contributed 164 digs and 69.0 blocks, second and third on the team, respectively. McElligott had a statement junior campaign, receiving MIVA All-Tournament Team honors in addition to his All-MIVA First Team selection, an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention and an Academic All-MIVA nod.  

Back-to-back MIVA Player of the Year and MBA graduate Van Buren capped his collegiate academic career with a 3.96 GPA. Starting in all of Loyola’s matches but one, Van Buren led the league and the team with 435 total kills, averaging 4.39 per set, on a career-best .403 hitting percentage; he is the program’s third all-career leader in kills (1,647). Van Buren also had the team and league-high 47 service aces, cementing his spot in the Ramblers’ record book as the third all-time service ace leader with 135 across his career. Born and raised in Cross Plains, Wis., Van Buren leaves Loyola as one of its most decorated student-athletes, garnering an All-MIVA First Team selection, MIVA Tournament MVP, his second AVCA All-American First Team honor and an Academic All-MIVA nod in 2025.  

The 2024-25 Academic All-District® Men’s At-Large teams, selected by CSC, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom. McElligott and Van Buren were both selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists and advanced to the national ballot, which is voted on by CSC members, and will be announced July 9.   

AUSTIN, Texas — Panther softball third baseman Kate Lappe has been selected to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Third Team, as announced by CSC on Tuesday. Lappe also joins Lauren Heinsch (women’s soccer), Kira Fallert (volleyball), and Tytan Anderson (men’s basketball) as Northern Iowa’s fourth Academic All-American honoree this year.

The 2025 MVC Most Valuable Player, Kate Lappe earns CSC Academic All-America honors for the first time for the Panther softball team since 2000 with a 3.72 GPA in accounting and finance. A junior from Bondurant, Iowa, Lappe was a Preseason All-MVC Third Base selection and was named MVC Player of the Week twice and D1Softball.com National Player of the Week once during the 2025 regular season. She was named All-MVC First Team Third Base and MVC All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the season. 

Lappe finished the 2025 campaign with 61 hits, 34 runs, and 48 RBIs for a .433 batting average and a .915 slugging percentage. Her 19 home runs are tied for second on UNI’s single-season home runs record list while her batting average and slugging percentage are solo-second in each single-season category along with her .542 on-base percentage. Through the MVC Tournament, Lappe led the league in batting average, home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and total bases and was second in home runs per game, RBIs, RBIs per game, and total walks.

UNI’s All-Time CSC Academic All-Americans

• 1974 – Paul James (Football) – First Team
• 1977 – Mark Enright (Men’s Basketball) – Honorable Mention
• 1977 – Mike Kemp (Men’s Basketball) – Honorable Mention
• 1978 – Tim Weber (Baseball) – Second Team
• 1980 – Owen Docktor (Football) – Second Team
• 1982 – Ray Storck (Men’s Basketball) – Honorable Mention
• 1984 – Randy Kraayenbrink (Men’s Basketball) – Second Team
• 1985 – Mary Bernhardt (Volleyball) – First Team
• 1986 – Mary Bernhardt (Volleyball) – First Team
• 1987 – Mary Bernhardt (Volleyball) – First Team
• 1989 – Kris Schroeder (Volleyball) – Second Team
• 1991 – Mike Schulte (Football) – Second Team
• 1992 – Gary Steffensmeier (Wrestling) – Third Team
• 1992 – Karen Vande Voort (Softball) – Third Team
• 1994 – Karen Vande Voort (Softball) – Second Team
• 1995 – Kate Galer (Volleyball) – Third Team
• 1996 – Kate Galer (Volleyball) – First Team
• 1998 – Jon Judisch (Track & Field) – Third Team
• 1999 – Brad Meester (Football) – First Team
• 2000 – Levente Timar (Track & Field) – Third Team
• 2000 – Kylie Sloan (Softball) – Third Team
• 2001 – Ryan Brunner (Baseball) – Third Team
• 2001 – Levente Timar (Track & Field) – Third Team
• 2002 – Travus Welsch (Baseball) – Third Team
• 2002 – Balaza Csillag (Track & Field/Cross Country) – Third Team
• 2002 – Jill Arganbright (Volleyball) – Second Team
• 2003 – Dirk Homewood (Track & Field/Cross Country) – First Team
• 2003 – Jill Arganbright (Volleyball) – First Team
• 2003 – Jill Arganbright (Volleyball) -First Team
• 2003 – Molly O’Brien (Volleyball) – Second Team
• 2003 – Katie Miller (Women’s Basketball) – Third Team
• 2004 – Dirk Homewood (Track & Field/Cross Country) – Second Team
• 2005 – Dirk Homewood (Track & Field/Cross Country) – First Team
• 2006 – James Lindgren (Football) – First Team
• 2007 – Nick Baima (Wrestling) – Third Team
• 2008 – Mat Clark (Track & Field/Cross Country) – First Team
• 2008 – Josh Mahoney (Football) – Second Team
• 2009 – Mat Clark (Track & Field/Cross Country) – First Team
• 2009 – Ryan Grenko (Track & Field/Cross Country) – Second Team
• 2009- Josh Mahoney (Football) – First Team
• 2010 – Ben Boothby (Football) – Second Team
• 2011 – Ben Boothby (Football) – First Team
• 2011 – Jacqui Kalin (Women’s Basketball) – Second Team
• 2013 – Jacqui Kalin (Women’s Basketball) – First Team
• 2013 – Shelby Kintzel (Volleyball) – First Team
• 2013 – Macy Ubben (Volleyball) – Second Team
• 2015 – Holly Salzbrenner (Track & Field/Cross Country) – Third Team
• 2015 – Isaac Ales (Football) – Second Team
• 2015 – Jacob Rathmacher (Football) – First Team
• 2015 – Karter Schult (Football) – First Team
• 2016 – Karter Schult (Football) – First Team
• 2017 – Marcus Weymiller (Football) – Second Team
• 2018 – Alex Jackson (Track & Field/Cross Country) – First Team
• 2018 – Marcus Weymiller (Football) – First Team
• 2019 – Alex Jackson (Track & Field/Cross Country) – First Team
• 2022 – AJ Green (Men’s Basketball) – Second Team
• 2023 – Tyrell Gordon (Wrestling) – Third Team
• 2024 – Lauren Heinsch (Women’s Soccer) – Second Team
• 2024 – Kira Fallert (Volleyball) – Second Team
• 2025 – Tytan Anderson (Men’s Basketball) – Second Team
• 2025 – Kate Lappe (Softball) – Third Team

ABOUT COLLEGE SPORTS COMMUNICATORS

College Sports Communicators was founded in 1957 and is a 3,200+ member national association for strategic, creative and digital communicators across intercollegiate athletics in the United States and Canada. 

From its founding in 1957 until the 2022 name change, the organization was known as College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

The organization, which celebrated its 65th year during the 2021-22 academic year, is the second oldest management association in all of intercollegiate athletics. College Sports Communicators became an affiliated partner with NACDA (National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics) in December of 2008.

UNI softball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Softball), X (@UNISoftball), and on Instagram (@unisoftball). The 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.

After five years with the Red and Blue, Meredith Schamun will not be returning as head coach for the Penn women’s volleyball team after accepting an assistant coaching job for the University of Illinois, Penn Athletics announced Monday.

Schamun’s resignation comes just days after Alyssa Bert was newly announced as an assistant coach for the program.

Schamun credited University of Illinois head coach Chris Tamas and Senior Associate Director Breanna Shamaila for her move.

“I’m honored to step into a program with a tradition of competitive success and a family atmosphere,” Schamun said. “From my first conversation with coach Tamas, I knew Illinois volleyball aligned perfectly with my goals and passion for the game. I can’t wait to hit the ground running with Chris, Jen, Eli, and the rest of the Illini FamILLy!”

Schmaun ended her time with the Quakers following a 7-7 Ivy conference record in the 2024-25 season. Under Schmaun, the Quakers were victorious against Brown 3-0, marking their first victory against Brown since 2015. Similarly, a 3-1 victory against Princeton was the first since 2019. Overall, the Quakers boasted a 13-10 conference record in 2024, a stark improvement from the 4-20 conference record from 2023. 

Before coming to Penn in March of 2020, Schamun served as assistant coach at Villanova for two seasons, where she led the Wildcats to an overall 39-23 record. Schamun helped bring the Wildcats to a second-place ranking in the Big East Conference in hitting percentage. She also coached All-Big East team member Emma Decker, who would go on to become Villanova’s all-time assist leader. 

Schamun previously also coached for Tulane University from 2015 to 2016, where she led the program to a fifth place finish in the American Athletic Conference, and directed volleyball operations at the University of Central Florida from 2014 to 2015. 

Schamun trained award-winning players during her time working for the Red and Blue. Sophomore middle blocker Adell Murray and junior outside hitter Zada Sanger both earned All-Ivy Honorable Mentions during the 2024 season. Sanger led the Quakers with 260 kills, while Murray’s .341 hitting percentage and 54 blocks led the program.  

 “We interviewed several great candidates and as the process went on, it was clear that Meredith’s experience as an assistant and head coach will help Illinois volleyball tremendously as we transition into the new era of college athletics,” Tamas said.  “She has a vast recruiting background as well as a deep knowledge of X’s and O’s of our game. Her passion and drive for coaching and developing players will add our continued success here at Illinois.”

One of Oregon’s top two-sport athletes is headed just a little down Interstate 84 for college.

On Tuesday morning, Baker’s Rasean Jones announced on his social media that he’s committed to Boise State.

Jones is a standout at Baker in both football and track and field.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver is considered a three-star recruit per 247Sports, which lists him as the No. 6 recruit in Oregon’s class of 2026. Jones will likely be considered one of the top recruits in Idaho next year, as he is moving to Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian, Idaho for his senior year.

Jones was a second team all-state selection in Class 4A last fall. Like some of his Baker teammates, Jones struggled to stay healthy during the 2024 season as the Bulldogs fell to 1-8 and were last in the Greater Oregon League.

He also had offers from Idaho, Oregon State and Washington State.

Boise State is coming off a big 2024 season where the Broncos went 12-2 and won the Mountain West Conference. Boise State’s season ended on Dec. 31 in the College Football Playoff against Penn State.

For some Oregon high school sports fans, Jones is perhaps better known for his talents on the track. He’s a three-time Class 4A state champion in both the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles, and has been the state’s top boys hurdler for years.

Jones’ personal best in the 110-meter (14.02) and 300-meter hurdles (37.03) are both No. 3 all-time in the state. The state record in the 110-meter hurdles is 13.73 set by David Douglas’ Bob Gray in 1988 and the 300-meter hurdle record is 36.1 set by Aloha’s Ken Scott in 1979.

According to Jones’ father, Jebron, he will just be focusing on football at Boise State.

Follow @ASUNSports
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A total of 48 Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) student-athletes were named to the 2025 Academic All-District® Women’s At-Large Teams, announced Tuesday by College Sports Communicators. The ASUN representatives included 19 Women’s Golf student-athletes, 17 Beach Volleyball and 12 Women’s Lacrosse student-athletes across 10 schools, with six schools leading the conference with six selections. 

The honor recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes at-large honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. 

Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members.

2025 ASUN CSC Academic All-District Women’s At-Large Selections

Austin Peay (6)

Jordan Morris, Beach Volleyball

Jillian Breedlove, Women’s Golf

Kaley Campbell, Women’s Golf

Maggie Glass, Women’s Golf

Abby Hirtzel, Women’s Golf

Erica Scutt, Women’s Golf

Bellarmine (1)

Lauren Stewart, Women’s Golf

EKU (6)

Dili Sitanonth, Women’s Golf

Gabriella Armitage, Beach Volleyball

Paityn Walker*, Beach Volleyball

Reagan Sandlin, Beach Volleyball

Emily-Kate Lonergan, Beach Volleyball

Madalyn Richardson, Beach Volleyball

FGCU (6)

Lousiane Gauthier*, Women’s Golf

Posie Farrelly, Women’s Golf

Leonie Wulfers, Women’s Golf

Jaci Carpenter*, Beach Volleyball

Nicole De Oliveria*, Beach Volleyball

Kaitlyn Luebbers*, Beach Volleyball

Lipscomb (4)

Tzunami Polito, Women’s Golf

Lauren Thompson, Women’s Golf

Katya Tibbetts, Women’s Golf

Casey Yu, Women’s Golf

North Alabama (6)

Kerigan Klauber, Women’s Golf

Hannah Dees, Women’s Golf

Ryenne Gepford, Beach Volleyball

Lucy Wedding, Beach Volleyball

Selma Robinson*, Beach Volleyball

Katy Floyd*, Beach Volleyball

North Florida (6)

Kaitlyn Schroeder, Women’s Golf

Kaitlynn Washburn, Women’s Golf

Mackenzie Murphy, Beach Volleyball

Hayden Wooldridge, Beach Volleyball

Madison Espy, Beach Volleyball

Presley Murray, Beach Volleyball

Queens (4)

Maria Fernandez, Women’s Golf

Kayleen Favreau*, Women’s Lacrosse

Elise Grissett, Women’s Lacrosse

Avery McMullin, Women’s Lacrosse

Liberty (3)

Kendall Coss, Women’s Lacrosse

Mackenzie Lehman, Women’s Lacrosse

Katie Colavito*, Women’s Lacrosse

Kennesaw State (6)

Kendal Elison, Women’s Lacrosse

Shannon Harrington, Women’s Lacrosse

Alyssa Angelo, Women’s Lacrosse

Devon Webb, Women’s Lacrosse

Aislinn Pendergast, Women’s Lacrosse

Natalia Cruz, Women’s Lacrosse