Sports
The US dominated figure skating's world championships. It may face the Russians at the Olympics
BOSTON (AP) — It’s hard to imagine a better world championships for the American figure skating team, which captured gold in three of the four disciplines over the weekend for the first time in its history, and will take all of that momentum into an Olympic year.Last month, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia would try to ensure the participation of its athletes at the Winter Games, according to Russian news agency Tass. The statement came before the election of Kirsty Coventry as the new IOC president, and with her arrival came new hope for Russia that it could be allowed back into the Olympics.But there is an old rival potentially returning to the mix that wasn’t at worlds: the Russians.“We will defend the interests of our athletes and our Olympic team,” said Peskov, when asked recently about Russia’s potential involvement in the Milano-Cortina Games. “Settling this issue will require additional time and effort.”
The plan was greeted by athletes at the world championships this week with a mixture of confusion and disappointment, support and rejection. But most athletes that discussed the situation with The Associated Press said they simply didn’t care.
They have competed against Russians in every other Olympics. They would be fine with doing it again.
“The ISU has maintained its condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine,” the organization said in a statement.AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
They were part of the American squad that initially earned a silver medal at the 2022 Beijing Games. But when Russian star Kamila Valieva was disqualified for a doping violation after a protracted investigation, the U.S. was elevated to gold, and Chock and Bates finally received their medals alongside their teammates at the Paris Games last summer.Along with its gold medal Saturday night, the U.S. also stood atop the worlds podium with Alysa Liu, who broke a nearly two-decade drought for American women, and in the men’s competition with Ilia Malinin, who won a second straight title by more than 30 points to stamp himself as the overwhelming favorite for the Winter Games.Already, it appears Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to make inroads, offering the former swimmer his “sincere congratulations” on her win. Putin said in a statement issued by the Kremlin, “The results of the vote convincingly attest to your high authority in the sporting world and the recognition of your outstanding personal achievements.”“Our Olympic experiences, there’s been Russians at every Olympics so far, and looking to the next, should they be there, that will make the Olympic Games feel like there’s no caveat,” Bates said. “And if we can execute our plan and fulfill the goals we set for ourselves and stand atop the podium, we won’t worry about the rest of the field. We’ll just focus on the skating and the training and the preparation and enjoying what could be our last Olympic experience.”The last couple to accomplish that feat? Russians Oksana Grischuk and Evgeni Platov, who won four in a row from 1994-97.It’s difficult to predict which Russians will attempt to qualify for Milano-Cortina — the ISU received a list of candidates to vet by its Feb. 28 deadline — but whoever clears the threshold likely will contend in two events in particular: women and pairs.
The U.S. has not had a women’s Olympic champion since Sarah Hughes in 2002. It has never won in pairs.The country that has dominated Olympic figure skating over the past three-plus decades has been banned from competing in any international events since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Its best skaters have been forced to defect to other countries or, for those unwilling to do so, compete in a series of domestic events far outside of the global spotlight.This isn’t the first time that Chock and Bates have been through some uncertainty when it comes to the Russian team.Asked whether she thought the Russians should be at worlds, Liu replied simply: “I don’t know. Do you?”
Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova gave Russia gold and silver for the second consecutive Winter Games in Beijing, and a Russian has stood atop the podium in the women’s event for the past three Olympics. And in pairs, Russians have taken gold in five of the past eight Olympics, and its skaters took silver and bronze at the Beijing Games.But late last year, the International Skating Union announced that it had developed a strict procedure whereby a small number of Russian athletes could qualify for the Milano-Cortina Games in February. The plan created at the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee involves Russia nominating a single athlete or pair in each of the disciplines to compete in a qualifying event in Beijing later this year, provided they go through a rigorous background check.That time and effort is for others to expend, though. For skaters, the focus is on preparing themselves for an Olympic year.
“It’s something completely out of our control. We can never control who is going to be let in, and what the political ramifications are,” Bates continued. “It’s outside our control, and the more we focus on it, it distracts from where our focus needs to be.”The athletes would compete as neutral athletes, much like a small number did at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and only if they have no ties to the Russian or Belarusian military and have not publicly supported the invasion of Ukraine.
___
“It’s something we’ve grown accustomed to being in my four Olympics, and hopefully heading to a fifth,” said Evan Bates, who along with his partner, Madison Chock, won their third consecutive ice dance championship on Saturday night.
NCCAA VOLLEYBALL AWARDS
CEDARVILLE, Ohio – Madelyn Hensley has been named the 2025 NCCAA AVCA National Player of the Year.
She heads up the seven-player All-America First Team which includes Kaley Matney while Haley Koch earned a spot on the second team.
Hensley, a 6-foot-2 junior outside hitter from Dover, Delaware, joins CU Hall of Fame setter Kelsey Jones (2004) as the only Lady Jackets to be the NCCAA Player of the Year.
Hensley led Cedarville to a 24-6 record and the G-MAC South Division title with a 14-1 mark.
She was first in the NCCAA at 3.84 kills per set and ranked second in points (4.33).
Matney, a 5-9 senior setter from Fort Wayne, Indiana, topped the NCCAA at 11.10 assists per set.
Koch, a six-foot senior middle hitter from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, rated sixth in the NCCAA in hitting percentage (.375) and seventh in blocks (1.08).
Additionally, Koch, Matney, Paige Hale, Sydney Low, and Cassi Shields were recognized as NCCAA Scholar-Athletes which includes juniors, seniors, and graduate students who maintain a minimum 3.40 cumulative grade point average.
Updated Dec. 10, 2025, 3:48 p.m. ET
- The NCAA women’s college volleyball transfer portal opened on December 7, with hundreds of athletes entering.
- Numerous Division I players with Indiana high school roots have entered the transfer portal.
- The current transfer window for athletes closes on January 5, with another window opening in May.
The women’s college volleyball transfer portal officially opened Dec. 7, and hundreds of names entered.
Here is a list of the Indiana products at the Division I level who are on the move. We’ll be updating this list as they find their new homes.
The portal window closes Jan. 5. The spring window is set for May 1-15.
Email Brian Haenchen (bhaenchen@usatodayco.com) or Aaron Ferguson (aferguson@usatodayco.com) with portal-related updates.
Molly Beatty, Central Michigan (Herron)
A 5-foot-11 setter, Beatty logged 46 sets over 19 matches, totaling 204 assists, five aces, 44 digs, seven blocks and a kill. She notched a career-high 24 assists at Milwaukee in September. Beatty has three years of eligibility remaining.
Elena Chappell, New Hampshire (Zionsville)
A 2025 Zionsville grad, the 6-foot middle appeared in four matches for the Wildcats.
Reese Dunkle, Stanford (Center Grove)
A record-setting middle for the Trojans, the 6-3 Dunkle redshirted in her first season with the Cardinal.
Raegan Durbin, Middle Tennessee State (Western Boone)
An explosive pin hitter, Durbin was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team after collecting 339 digs, 254 digs, 27 total blocks and 37 service aces. She clocked 24-plus kills in three matches, including a career-high 26 terminations vs. Delaware, the fifth-best performance in CUSA this season.
Lauren Evans, Butler (Carmel)
Evans, a defensive specialist, appeared in 29 matches for a second consecutive season. She totaled 447 digs (717 career), 93 assists (152 career) and 36 aces (67 career). The former Greyhound has two years of eligibility remaining.
Addy Frye, Providence (Traders Point Christian)
Frye, a junior outside hitter and defensive specialist, played two seasons at Providence, accumulating 110 digs, 23 aces and 13 assists over 36 matches (119 sets).
Morgan Gaerte, Notre Dame (Angola)
Gaerte garnered first team All-ACC and AVCA Midwest Region first team plaudits in her second season with the Irish. She started all 28 matches, tallying 497 kills — the most by a Notre Dame player since 2008 and third most overall — 183 digs, 68 total blocks and 36 aces. She set a school record with 34 kills vs. Illinois and registered double-digit kills in 22 straight matches — the second longest streak in program history.
Lilly Howell, Charlotte (Muncie Burris)
The freshman right side appeared in seven matches, picking up 12 kills, two aces, nine digs and 15 total blocks.
Audrey Hudson, Wright State (Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger)
Hudson was limited to five matches by injury last season as a freshman. She returned this season, totaling 42 sets over 18 matches. She posted 35 kills, four assists, an ace, 68 digs and a block.
Bella Humphrey, Auburn (McCutcheon)
The sophomore libero totaled 11 digs, 11 aces and four assists over 19 matches (59 sets) in her two seasons with the Tigers.
Ava Hunter, Loyola Chicago (Hamilton Southeastern)
The freshman appeared in 72 sets nad made 10 starts over 21 matches. She totaled 10 kills, 414 assists, 14 aces, 130 digs and four blocks
Aniya Kennedy, Ball State (LaPorte)
A redshirt junior outside hitter/opposite, Kennedy did not appear in any matches this fall. She had 749 kills, 89 digs, 100 blocks, three assists and an ace in her two seasons at Ball State.
Maddie Kmetz, Western Michigan (Andrean)
A redshirt junior setter, Kmetz appeared in 19 matches in 2025, registering 39 assists, 106 digs, a block and a kill.
Kaleigh Meritt, Samford (Evansville Reitz)
The redshirt junior outside hits the portal with 1,143 career kills (.228 hit%), 766 digs, 107 total blocks and 78 aces to her name. She’s also tallied 29 assists.
Ava Smith, Florida Gulf Coast (Park Tudor)
The 2022 Park Tudor graduate has seen action in two of her three seasons at FGCU, recording 215 kills, 48 digs, 47 blocks and six assists over her 44 matches played (130 sets).
Alaleh Tolliver, Butler (North Central)
A 5-10 sophomore from Indianapolis, Tolliver appeared in 56 matches across her two seasons, picking up 572 kills, 65 aces, 23 assists, 438 digs and 58 blocks.
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Single game tickets are now available for the 2026 Men’s Volleyball season!
The Gauchos will play 14 home matches this season, beginning with the annual ASICS Invitational from Jan. 8-10. UC Santa Barbara will host seven top 10 teams, including No. 1 Long Beach State and No. 2 UCLA.
General admission tickets are available for all 13 matches at $12 each. Additionally, group pricing for parties of 10 or more is available for all matches, with tickets costing $7 per person. Tickets are also available for six neutral site matches during the ASICS Invitational.
Click here or call the UC Santa Barbara Ticket Office at (805) 893-UCSB (8272) to purchase group tickets.
Rowan hit the ground running with their opening meet at Friday’s Fasttrack Season Opener at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island, New York.
The team looked strong all around, and head coach Dustin Dimit was pleased with the results.
“That’s probably our best opening we’ve ever had with five or six guys already hitting marks,” Dimit said. “Just really impressed with how far along we already are.”
Seniors Kwaku Nkrumah and Jason Agyemang finished one and two in the 60-meter hurdles. Nkrumah edged out Agyemang by 0.0002 seconds. This is the first time this season that the two previous national champions have competed.
The Profs dominated in the high jump, as Rowan took four of the top five spots. Jamile Grantt took home first place with a 2.08-meter effort.
Freshman Anthony Parker also made his debut for the Profs and won the long jump (7.08 meters).
“To be able to go out there and win against Division I teams as well as hit marks that will get them to the NCAA championship is just outstanding,” Dimit said. “It really shows a bright future.”
Rowan will return to Ocean Breeze Complex after the winter break, on Jan. 16 for the Gotham cup.
Over the break, Dimit’s message is clear, and that’s to continue to put in the work.
“We got more work to do over the break,” Dimit said. “We’re really proud of the work they put in the fall, but none of that matters if we don’t put in this month of work over break before we come back.”
For comments/questions about this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email [email protected]
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The third round of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship kicks off this Thursday, December 11, as four Atlantic Coast Conference remain standing in the tournament. All four of the third-round matches featuring ACC teams will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
No. 1-seeded Pitt swept Michigan in the second round to advance to its sixth consecutive regional semifinal. The Panthers will host the Pittsburgh Regional, taking on Minnesota at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 11.
No. 2-seeded SMU will also head to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to play in its first-ever regional semifinal appearance, as the Mustangs face off against No. 3-seeded Purdue approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the Pitt-Minnesota match. The winners of both matches will play in the Regional Final on Saturday, December 13.
No. 2 seed Stanford will take on No. 3 seed Wisconsin on Friday, December 12, in the Cardinal’s 22nd NCAA regional semifinal appearance since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1998. The Cardinal will hit the court at 2:30 p.m. ET in Austin, Texas, at the Austin Regional.
No. 2 seed Louisville will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, to take on No. 3 seed Texas A&M in the Cardinals’ 11th regional semifinal appearance. The match will take place at 6 p.m. ET on Friday.
In the final AVCA/Taraflex Poll of the regular season (December 1), Pitt led the ACC in the No. 4 spot with Stanford (No. 5), SMU (No. 7), Louisville (No. 9), Miami (No. 13) and North Carolina (No. 19) filling out the rest of the Top 25. The ACC has the most teams of any conference in the top 10.
Noting ACC Volleyball
- Pitt and Stanford earned a share of the 2025 ACC Volleyball Championship title, with Stanford earning the AQ to the national tournament after a head-to-head win against Pitt.
- Pitt right side hitter Olivia Babcock was named the ACC Player of the Year, while Panthers’ teammate Bre Kelley was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. SMU’s Averi Carlson was tabbed the ACC Setter of the Year, while Louisville’s Kalyssa Blackshear was named ACC Freshman of the Year. Stanford head coach Kevin Hambly was named the ACC Coach of the Year.
- The ACC had the most teams in the final regular season NCAA DI Volleyball RPI Top 10, headlined by Pitt (No. 5), Stanford (No. 7), SMU (No. 8), and Louisville (No. 9).
- At the end of the regular season, Miami’s Flormarie Heredia Colon led the nation in kills with 719, kills per set with 6.25, total points with 815.0 and points per set with 7.09.
- Duke’s Jolene Nagel announced her retirement after 27 seasons leading the Blue Devils’ volleyball program.
- SMU earned its highest ranking in program history at No. 7 in the AVCA DI Volleyball Top 25 poll released on Monday, October 20.
- Miami’s Heredia Colon, Pitt’s Olivia Babcock and Stanford’s Elia Rubin were named as semifinalists for the AVCA Division I Player of the Year.
- Florida State’s Chris Poole ranks first among active NCAA Division I coaches with 955 victories in 39 seasons. Duke’s Jolene Nagel ranks fifth on that list with 717 career wins.
- Pitt head coach Dan Fisher reached his 400th career win on September 10, in the Panthers’ win over No. 3 Kentucky.
- Stanford’s Kevin Hambly reached his 400th career win on Friday, November 14, in an upset win over No. 3 Pitt.
- Virginia Tech’s Marci Byers reached her 300th career win on Friday, November 28, in a win over Syracuse.
- SMU’s Sam Erger reached her 100th career win on Saturday, December 6.
- SMU’s Malaya Jones was named the AVCA Division I National Player of the Week on Tuesday, September 2.
- Pitt’s Olivia Babcock was named the AVCA Division I National Player of the Week on Tuesday, October 21.
- Miami’s Flormarie Heredia Colon was named the AVCA Division I National Player of the Week on Tuesday, November 11.
- SMU’s Malaya Jones was named the AVCA Division I National Player of the Week for the second time this season on Tuesday, December 2.
- The ACC finished non-conference play with an overall record of 129-55 (.701), headlined by 10 wins against AVCA Top 25 teams and the inaugural ESPN Events “Showdown at the Net” title, after winning nine of the 16 matches against the SEC.
Weekly Schedule (All Times Eastern)
Thursday, December 11
Pittsburgh Regional | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
#17 Minnesota at #4 Pitt | 7 p.m. | ESPN2
#7 SMU vs. #12 Purdue | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2
Friday, December 12
Austin Regional | Austin, Texas
#5 Stanford vs. #10 Wisconsin | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN2
Lincoln Regional | Lincoln, Nebraska
#9 Louisville vs. #6 Texas A&M | 7 p.m. | ESPN2
VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The Valley City State University Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams will be in Fargo on Thursday, December 11th for the NDSU Dakota Alumni Classic at the Shelly Ellig Indoor and Track and Field facility on the campus of North Dakota State University.
The men are coming off a fourth-place finish at the Mike Thorson Open in Bismarck at the University of Mary on Saturday. Cameron Champagnie took first in the triple jump with a jump of 13.58m. The men had 18 top eight finishes on the day and scored 91 team points.
On the women’s side, Frida Barrera continues to impress. The freshman took second in the 1 Mile run and the 800m run. He time in the 1 Mile run of 5:21.61 set the school record in that event by 4.67 seconds. He time in the 800m of 2:26.69 was 2.45 seconds off the school mark. The women had nine top eight finishes and scored 59 team points which was good enough for third place.
The field events on Thursday begin at 12:00 p.m. with the weight throw. The running events will begin at 4:30 p.m. with the preliminaries of the 60m hurdles.
Live results can be found here
Hensley is NCCAA AVCA Player of the Year
ACC doubles down on College Football Playoff expansion after Notre Dame fallout
Recruits from Indiana, Reese Dunkle
2026 Men’s Volleyball Single Game Tickets on Sale Now!
With Kyle Tucker’s likely exit, Craig Counsell seems comfortable with youth movement
Rowan Men’s Indoor Track and Field starts season at Fasttrack – The Whit
Four ACC Teams Advance to Third Round of 2025 NCAA Volleyball Championship
Viking track and field in Fargo on Thursday.
2025 Big 12 Volleyball National Honors
$2.5 million SEC QB pledges to donate entire NIL money if a G5 team wins National Championship
Volleyball Returns to National Stage, Faces Concordia-St. Paul in NCAA Quarterfinal
Isabella Robusto returns to ARCA Menards Series with Nitro Motorsports
NFL Teams Approve $32 Million Investment in Professional Flag Football League
Brendan Sorsby from Cincy would be interesting
Historic Pairing: Bickley, Sears Collect AVCA All-America Recognition
First Tee Winter Registration is open
Fargo girl, 13, dies after collapsing during school basketball game – Grand Forks Herald
CPG Brands Like Allegra Are Betting on F1 for the First Time
Volleyball Recaps – November 18
F1 Las Vegas: Verstappen win, Norris and Piastri DQ tighten 2025 title fight
Two Pro Volleyball Leagues Serve Up Plans for Minnesota Teams
Utah State Announces 2025-26 Indoor Track & Field Schedule
Sycamores unveil 2026 track and field schedule
Redemption Means First Pro Stock World Championship for Dallas Glenn
Texas volleyball vs Kentucky game score: Live SEC tournament updates
Bowl Projections: ESPN predicts 12-team College Football Playoff bracket, full bowl slate after Week 14
How this startup (and a KC sports icon) turned young players into card-carrying legends overnight
Robert “Bobby” Lewis Hardin, 56
Jo Shimoda Undergoes Back Surgery
Indiana’s rapid ascent and its impact across college football
Why a rising mid-major power with an NCAA Tournament team opted out of revenue-sharing — and advertised it
NBA Legend Michael Jordan to Join NBC Sports as Special Contributor
Falcons mailbag
Portal Update – Basketball and Gymnastics Take Hits
has always dreamed in Mercurial. Now his initials are on the boots.
The new Kyl…
-
Rec Sports2 weeks agoFirst Tee Winter Registration is open
-
Rec Sports2 weeks agoFargo girl, 13, dies after collapsing during school basketball game – Grand Forks Herald
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoCPG Brands Like Allegra Are Betting on F1 for the First Time
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoF1 Las Vegas: Verstappen win, Norris and Piastri DQ tighten 2025 title fight
-
Sports2 weeks agoTwo Pro Volleyball Leagues Serve Up Plans for Minnesota Teams
-
Sports2 weeks agoUtah State Announces 2025-26 Indoor Track & Field Schedule
-
Sports2 weeks agoSycamores unveil 2026 track and field schedule
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoRedemption Means First Pro Stock World Championship for Dallas Glenn
-
Sports2 weeks agoTexas volleyball vs Kentucky game score: Live SEC tournament updates
-
NIL1 week agoBowl Projections: ESPN predicts 12-team College Football Playoff bracket, full bowl slate after Week 14