Sports
These 20 McQueen High athletes will sign college letters of intent to play at next level
Twenty McQueen High athletes will sign national letters of intent with colleges Tuesday during a signing-day ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in the Lancers’ big gym. Those players, which were provided by the school’s athletic administration, include: Division I * Shayne Patrick, swimming, Eastern Michigan University Division II * Jaxen McAdara, baseball, Cal State East Bay […]
Twenty McQueen High athletes will sign national letters of intent with colleges Tuesday during a signing-day ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in the Lancers’ big gym. Those players, which were provided by the school’s athletic administration, include:
Division I
* Shayne Patrick, swimming, Eastern Michigan University
Division II
* Jaxen McAdara, baseball, Cal State East Bay
Division III
* Lena Minetto, swimming, St. Olaf College
* Camren Bingham, track and field, University of Puget Sound
* Addysyn Hansen, lacrosse, Bryn Mawr College
Junior college
* Avery Hayes, soccer, Lake Tahoe Community College
* Carmen Damian, soccer, Lake Tahoe Community College
* Adriano DoPrado, soccer, Folsom Lake College
* Brian Bruk, soccer, Santa Rosa Junior College
* Alex Hancock, football Butte College
* Cadel Ayala, football, Saddleback College
* Peter Park-Li, baseball, Butte College
NAIA
* Bella Coronado, wrestling, Eastern Oregon University
* Berett Callison, wrestling, St. Ambrose (Iowa)
* Evan Krantz, wrestling St. Ambrose (Iowa)
* Anna Wangberg, softball, Bethel College
* Cole Draper, golf, Ottawa University
Athletics Union
* Alyssa Allan, soccer, University of Chester (England)
* Emma McNamara, soccer, University of Chester (England)
Club sport
* Max Lancaster, lacrosse, Boise State (club)
Sports
10 Bears named to CSC Track & Field Academic All-District Team
Story Links Women’s Academic All-District Teams Men’s Academic All-District Teams HICKORY, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Track & Field Teams have placed a total of 10 individuals on the CSC Academic All-District Team, with five coming from the men’s side and […]
HICKORY, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Track & Field Teams have placed a total of 10 individuals on the CSC Academic All-District Team, with five coming from the men’s side and five from the women’s.
The 2025 Academic All-District® Men’s Track & Field teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the track, in the field, and in the classroom.
Individuals named on the men’s side were Malachi Carter, Jacob Parkinson, Steven Phan, Isaac Riggs, and Liam Sutton. Being named on the women’s side were Elizabeth Kessler, Miranda Marr, Savannah Nippa, Damyja Ortiz, and Kimberley Owens.
Due to their combined performances on the track and in the classroom, Marr and Ortiz have been named finalists for the Academic All-American ballot, which will be announced on July 15th.
Eligible nominees were be based off TFRRS regional performance rankings at the time of nomination. Student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically. An undergraduate student-athlete must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale). A graduate student-athlete must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as both an undergraduate and a grad student unless they are in their first semester as a graduate student and don’t have an established graduate GPA. The cumulative grade point average may not be rounded up to 3.50.
Sports
Volleyball Releases Complete 2025 Schedule
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama volleyball announced its complete 2025 schedule Thursday, as head coach Rashinda Reed enters her fourth season at the helm of the Crimson Tide. In addition to the SEC slate that was released in April, the Crimson Tide’s schedule includes two home tournaments as well as a pair of road trips to […]
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama volleyball announced its complete 2025 schedule Thursday, as head coach Rashinda Reed enters her fourth season at the helm of the Crimson Tide.
In addition to the SEC slate that was released in April, the Crimson Tide’s schedule includes two home tournaments as well as a pair of road trips to Chattanooga and North Alabama. A midweek matchup against Wake Forest on Sept. 10 will also serve as part of the inaugural Showdown at the Net series between the SEC and the ACC.
Television broadcast information will be announced at a later date. All game dates and times are subject to change.
2025 ALABAMA VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
- Sept. 29 vs. UNC Asheville – 12:30 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Sept. 29 vs. Jacksonville – 7 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Sept. 30 vs. UAB – 3 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Sept. 5 at Chattanooga – 5 p.m. CT – Chattanooga, Tenn.
- Sept. 6 vs. Cincinnati – 2 p.m. CT – Chattanooga, Tenn.
- Sept. 10 vs. Wake Forest (Showdown at the Net) – 5 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Sept. 13 vs. Western Carolina – 1 p.m. CT – Florence, Ala.
- Sept. 14 at North Alabama – TBD – Florence, Ala.
- Sept. 18 vs. Memphis – 6 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Sept. 20 vs. UCF – 5 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Sept. 26 at Auburn – 6 p.m. CT – Auburn, Ala.
- Sept. 28 at Florida – 12 p.m. CT – Gainesville, Fla.
- Oct. 3 at Mississippi State – 6 p.m. CT – Starkville, Miss.
- Oct. 5 vs. Texas A&M – 2 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Oct. 10 vs. LSU – 5 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Oct. 12 vs. Texas – 2 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Oct. 17 at Georgia – 6 p.m. CT – Athens, Ga.
- Oct. 19 at South Carolina – TBD – Columbia, S.C.
- Oct. 24 vs. Tennessee – 6 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Oct. 26 vs. Kentucky – 2 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Oct. 31 at Ole Miss – TBD – Oxford, Miss.
- Nov. 5 at Arkansas – 6 p.m. CT – Fayetteville, Ark.
- Nov. 7 at Oklahoma – TBD – Norman, Okla.
- Nov. 14 vs. Vanderbilt – 6 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Nov. 16 vs. Missouri – 2 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Nov. 21-25 at SEC Tournament (Savannah, Ga.)
Sports
MIAC honors winter/spring student-athletes with Academic All-Conference distinction
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Student-athletes in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) continue to achieve in both competition and the classroom. On Thursday, the MIAC announced its 2024-25 Winter and Spring Academic All-Conference honorees, including 1,418 student-athletes. Combined with the 870 fall-sport athletes honored in January, the overall total of Academic All-MIAC selections for the 2024-25 […]
On Thursday, the MIAC announced its 2024-25 Winter and Spring Academic All-Conference honorees, including 1,418 student-athletes. Combined with the 870 fall-sport athletes honored in January, the overall total of Academic All-MIAC selections for the 2024-25 academic year sets a new Conference high of 2,288, surpassing the previous record of 2,135, established last June.
The latest Academic All-Conference list spotlights more than 1,400 examples of student-athletes achieving excellence without compromise. This is the fourth consecutive June in which the MIAC’s overall Academic All-Conference list has exceeded 2,000 student-athletes. Seven sports matched or broke their single-season records, including men’s track & field (203), baseball (168), softball (127), men’s hockey (116), women’s basketball (85), men’s swimming & diving (65), and women’s golf (49).
Additional sport totals included women’s track & field (214), women’s swimming & diving (102), women’s hockey (95), women’s tennis (66), men’s tennis (54), men’s basketball (47), and men’s golf (27). For the full 2024-25 academic year, eleven MIAC sports matched or surpassed their single-season Academic All-Conference record, while six more finished within single digits of their all-time high.
To qualify for Academic All-MIAC status, student-athletes must be sophomores, juniors, or seniors by academic standards with a minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Students must also complete one full-time academic year at their current institution before becoming eligible for the honor. An athlete must be a member of a MIAC-sponsored varsity sports team, be academically and athletically eligible, have utilized a season of participation per NCAA and MIAC definitions, and have remained on the sports roster through the conclusion of the sports season to be eligible for Academic All-Conference honors.
The 2024-25 MIAC Academic All-Conference honorees can be found here, listed alphabetically by sport and then by institution. To see all-time honorees, please visit the MIAC Academic All-Conference archives.
Sports
WPVC 17 Armour Black wins AAU girls volleyball championship
When Amber McClain dove face-first into an aluminum bleacher to save one point during the championship match in the AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championships, she illustrated perfectly (and dangerously) just how determined the Winter Park Volleyball Club 17 Armour Black team was to win a national title for the first time. Spectators in the […]
When Amber McClain dove face-first into an aluminum bleacher to save one point during the championship match in the AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championships, she illustrated perfectly (and dangerously) just how determined the Winter Park Volleyball Club 17 Armour Black team was to win a national title for the first time.
Spectators in the stands gasped when the Winter Park High rising senior leaped over a soft padded barrier to punch the ball back into the court before crashing onto the bottom-row seating. She didn’t cry. She didn’t stop. She popped back up to her feet and scurried back onto the court to help finish the point, then staggered to the bench to be attended to by an athletic trainer at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center.
“All I was thinking about was keeping the point alive,” McClain said afterward. “And keeping us on track for the national championship.”
Mission accomplished.
McClain had a battle-wound bandage on her forehead when she returned to play. She wore a big smile and later a gold medal as one of the 10 girls on WPVCs 17 Open AAU title team.
Winter Park was leading 17-12 in the second set when McClain made her crash landing. WVCA finished a 25-21, 25-20 Tuesday victory over Far Out 17 of Grand Rapids, Michigan. That secured the first AAU girls Open division championship for a club born in 2011 as a little sister to established Orlando area travel team programs such as Orlando Tampa Volleyball Academy, Top Select and Game Point Volleyball.
WPVC, armed with five members of the Winter Park High team that won the Class 7A state championship in November, went 11-0 over four days to make history.
McClain’s fearless dive was part of a surge WPVC delivered after trailing 7-4 in Game 2. The comeback began with Winter Park High’s Amelia Mancino running off six service points — three on ace serves and three on attacks by Isabella Umpierre, another WPHS standout.
“We came in wanting to win it all and this is the moment we’ve all been waiting for,” Umpierre said after the championship match.
The WPVC squad started Tuesday with a 2-0 win against Illini Elite of Illinois and then scored a nail-biting 25-23, 26-24 semifinal victory against perennial power Sports Performance of Illinois. SPVB (11-1) built big leads in both sets before succumbing to WPVC’s resolve.
The Winter Park club was down 14-6 in the first set before going on a 9-1 spree that included a stuff block by Katelyn Landis (West Orange High) and crucial kills by McClain and lethal lefthander Umpierre off sets by Elle Mottola (Boone).
Sports Performance went back ahead 22-20 on two big blocks. WPVC again had the answer. Paige Lehman (Winter Park) dove for two digs that led to a kill by Umpierre, McClain scored on a quick set by Mottola, and Mancino (Winter Park) ended the game with a kill.
WPVC trailed 15-10 in the second set but chipped its way back to a 21-21 tie and went ahead 23-22 on a block by Maddey Cruse (Lake Mary Prep). A Mancino dig forced a SPVB error for a 24-22 lead and Winter Park completed its championship run with an emphatic stuff-block by Umpierre, a 5-foot-10 hitter.
Umpierre, Mancino and Mottola were selected to the 14-player tournament All-American team.
“We’re a family. To do this together is amazing,” said Mottola.
She joined WPVC as a 10-and-under player, as did Lehman and Mancino. Others signed up as the program continued its climb.
Defensive specialist Isabel Bertelsen (Winter Park) and Landis were the first off the bench for a team that includes Gwenyth Berry (Horizon) and Cassidy Flakes (West Orange).
Winter Park overcomes Kissimmee Osceola to reach 7A girls volleyball final
WPVC players who have committed to colleges are Berry (Citadel), Bertelsen (Oregon State), Cruse (Embry-Riddle), Mancino (Appalachian State), Mottola (Arizona State) and Umpierre (UC-Davis).
WPVC beat teams with better-rated prospects to take the title. They did the same while winning a USA Volleyball 17 Open qualifier tournament in Salt Lake City in April — a feat Jackson said was “a huge deal”. Next up is the USA Volleyball 17 Open national tournament, which tips off Monday and runs through July 3 in Dallas.
The WPVC 16 Armour Black team tied for fifth in the AAU 16 Open division with a 9-2 record. Jordyn Lehman, a Winter Park HIgh defensive standout heading into her junior year, was picked to the All-American team.
“Both these teams have cemented a history for WPVC,”: said Matthew Jackson, who was head coach for both the 16s and 17s. “They love to compete. And to see how they’ve bought into each other over these years has been so great.”
Jackson, a former Ocoee high player and West Orange’s head coach for the past two seasons, is leaving the Warriors and WPVC, where he has coached since 2014. After leading West Orange to a 16-5 district title season he landed an assistant coaching job at Michigan State, starting July 7.
His top assistant, Wylie Devlin, is a former Winter Park High multi-sport star who played volleyball collegiately at USF.
The Game Point 17 Rox team went 10-1 and tied for fifth in the 17 Open bracket. Its only loss was vs. Far Out 25-21, 17-25, 15-9 in a quarterfinal. Kissimmee Osceola teammates Jordin Southall and Cate Palmi joined Innovation’s Aylani Correa as standouts for the GP squad coached by Sindee Snow.
The 52nd AAU nationals continues with boys play beginning Monday and running through July 7. The WPVC 17 Armour Black boys are one of the favorites in the 17 Open competition (Monday through July 3).
Winter Park Volleyball Club seeks ‘unprecedented’ title in AAU Nationals | Varsity Weekly
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
Originally Published:
Sports
ASUN-UAC TO CREATE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE IN 2026
Story Links CONWAY, Ark. _ The Atlantic Sun Conference announced today a groundbreaking strategic alliance creating a consortium of two conferences (Atlantic Sun and United Athletic Conference), bringing together three Texas universities which are currently part of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) with the five football-playing ASUN schools to create an all-sports […]
CONWAY, Ark. _ The Atlantic Sun Conference announced today a groundbreaking strategic alliance creating a consortium of two conferences (Atlantic Sun and United Athletic Conference), bringing together three Texas universities which are currently part of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) with the five football-playing ASUN schools to create an all-sports United Athletic Conference beginning July 1, 2026.
The WAC announced Wednesday that Southern Utah and Utah Tech will be leaving the conference to join the Big Sky Conference, effective July 1, 2026, leaving UT Arlington, Abilene Christian and Tarleton State as the only three full members of the WAC. ACU and Tarleton State were already competing in the football-only incarnation of the UAC.
The new alliance is expected to strengthen and improve operational efficiency across both conferences and across the university campuses. It will create new growth opportunities across the southeast, and position both conferences for continued success in the future. The consortium will be led by current ASUN Commissioner Jeff Bacon, who will serve as its Executive Director, providing experienced leadership for this new venture. Current WAC Commissioner, Rebekah Ray, will assume a leadership role within the consortium.
“The landscape of collegiate athletics has changed rapidly in recent years, and this strategic alliance creates innovative opportunities for collaboration and increased efficiencies for all of the institutions involved,” said Matt Whiting, UCA director of athletics. “I am excited for what this means for the University of Central Arkansas and our Athletics Department as we enter a new era of college athletics.”
“As we navigate the changing world of collegiate athletics, I am excited about the opportunities presented in this strategic alliance and further strengthening our partnership and future with our current United Athletic Conference peers,” said UCA President Dr. Houston Davis. “This alliance positions the University of Central Arkansas well geographically, creating greater experiences for our student-athletes and fans.”
In 2026, the WAC will rebrand to the United Athletic Conference (UAC), which is the brand currently used to recognize the ASUN-WAC Football Alliance. This rebrand will better recognize the new membership composition of the Conference with all seven (7) UAC football-playing members housed within one conference, and the shift in geographic footprint.
The UAC will welcome new members Austin Peay State University, the University of Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky University, the University of North Alabama and the University of West Georgia. The addition of five football-playing members (identified above) will bring total UAC membership to 8 members, including 7 football-playing members along with UT Arlington.
Remaining ASUN membership will include Bellarmine University; Florida Gulf Coast University; Jacksonville University; Lipscomb University; the University of North Florida; Queens University of Charlotte, and Stetson University.
Both the ASUN and the UAC will continue to operate separate championships as independent conferences. Championship formats and locations will be determined at a later date for sports that are not already contracted. The ASUN basketball tournament will remain in Jacksonville, Fla., and the UAC basketball tournament location is to be determined.
The UAC and the ASUN will remain independent conferences, each with their own automatic qualifiers (AQ’s) for NCAA postseason play. Both conferences will also continue to meet the NCAA sport sponsorship and membership standards. Membership will continue to be a top priority for both conferences. Through the President’s leadership the Consortium will evaluate potential opportunities for growth and best alignment of Institutions.
Sport sponsorship for the conferences will be as follows:
ASUN:
• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swim & Dive and Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swim & Dive, Tennis, Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball
UAC:
• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Football, Tennis and Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball
“As many in the media and the public have mentioned, and as many other Division I conferences have discussed, the Division I Conference membership landscape at our level has become unsustainable and confusing,” the ASUN said. “We now have conferences that stretch from coast to coast, and conference membership often consists of a mix of football and non-football playing member institutions, public and private institutions, or institutions whose geography does not align well.
“In addition, conferences and institutions are looking for ways to reduce or streamline expenses, unlock new revenue streams, forge scheduling alliances, and prepare for the modern world of intercollegiate athletics.
“Through the formation of a consortium, this alliance allows two similarly situated conferences to partner together to resolve many of these challenges at once: better aligning our membership; reducing expenses; collectively leveraging assets such as media rights; providing members of both conferences games
and home games in multiple sports; and situating both conferences for streamlined decision making.”
“This is not a merger, but a forward-thinking alliance. We are proactively building a modern structure for intercollegiate athletics that benefits everyone involved. This alliance provides great leverage for two conferences and long-term stability amongst like-minded and similarly situated institutions.”
ASUN RELEASE
Sports
Quarles and Vukelja Earn Men’s Track & Field CSC Academic All-District Honor
Story Links The 2025 Academic All-District Men’s Track & Field Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC), were announced on Tuesday. The CSC Academic All-America program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Carlos Quarles and Nikola Vukelja were recognized as Academic District honorees. Carlos […]
The 2025 Academic All-District Men’s Track & Field Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC), were announced on Tuesday. The CSC Academic All-America program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
Carlos Quarles and Nikola Vukelja were recognized as Academic District honorees.
Carlos Quarles, Second Year, Tampa, Florida
- Recorded a 3.87 in Sports Management
- A Sun Conference All-Academic selection
- Named an NAIA Scholar-Athlete
- Competed in the 200m, the 400m, and the 4x400m relay
- Logged three top-10 finishes in the 4x400m relay
- Had a personal record in the 100m dash, posting a time 11.40
- Set a PR in the 60m dash with a time of 7.13 at the Keiser Winter Open, placing 12th
Nikola Vukelja, Third Year, Krusevac, Serbia
- Posted a 4.00 in Exercise and Sports Science
- Earned Sun Conference All-Academic honors for the second straight year
- Named an NAIA Scholar-Athlete of the second time in his career
- Raced in the mile run, the 600m, the 800m, the 1500m, and the 3000m steeplechase
- Had three top-10 finishes
- Finished eighth in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Sun Conference Championships (Apr 26-27) (11:49.97)
- Set a PR in the 1,500m run at the Emory Thrills in the Hills (Mar 27-29) with a time of 4:15.60
- Placed eighth in the 600m run with a time of 1:29.12 at the Celebration Pointe Classic (Feb 7)
For all the latest on Keiser track and field, follow @keisertf on X and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
General athletic news can be found at KUSeahawks on Facebook, kuseahawks on Instagram, and kuseahawks on X.
Professor Steven Bank on college soccer’s future in the wake of the House v. NCAA settlement
10 Bears named to CSC Track & Field Academic All-District Team
Volleyball Releases Complete 2025 Schedule
Bruins GM second-guesses decision about 2024 draft pick
Elite Motorsports Ready for Busy Weekend in Ohio
Inaugural NASCAR in-season tournament: Bracket and more info
UNITS® Moving and Portable Storage to Sponsor Landmark NASCAR Event at Lime Rock Park
Overwatch 2 Season 17 Battle Pass Unveils 8-Bit Skins, Double Mythics, and New Map Features
Steelers Player Had Classy Move After George Pickens Bailed on Youth Football Camp
Three Sign with the Pack for the 2026 Season
MIAC honors winter/spring student-athletes with Academic All-Conference distinction
WPVC 17 Armour Black wins AAU girls volleyball championship
Tiffany Anderson Named to Middle Atlantic Conference Academic Honor Roll
ASUN-UAC TO CREATE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE IN 2026
T.J. Puchyr agrees to buy Rick Ware Racing with plans to build a 3-car NASCAR team
has always dreamed in Mercurial. Now his initials are on the boots.
The new Kyl…
Former South Carolina center Nick Pringle commits to Arkansas basketball, John Calipari
Portal Update – Basketball and Gymnastics Take Hits
Deputies investigating incident that caused panic at Pace youth sports complex
This is poetry in motion.
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoNASCAR Weekend Preview: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
-
Health3 weeks agoBold and unapologetic
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoNASCAR Through the Gears: Denny Hamlin has gas, a border needs crossing, and yes, that’s a Hemi
-
NIL3 weeks agoShai Gilgeous
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoNASCAR Race Today: Mexico City start times, schedule and how to watch live on TV
-
Health3 weeks agoNew Era Begins As House Settlement Approved
-
High School Sports2 weeks agoHighlights of the Tony Awards
-
Health2 weeks agoGymnast MyKayla Skinner Claims Simone Biles 'Belittled and Ostracized' Her amid Riley …
-
NIL2 weeks agoTennessee law supersedes NCAA eligibility rule
-
College Sports2 weeks agoFisk to discontinue history-making gymnastics program after 2026 | Area colleges