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Track and field meet opened a whole world up to Vicki Keith

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4 months ago

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Track and field meet opened a whole world up to Vicki Keith

Published Aug 22, 2025  •  Last updated 5 hours ago  •  6 minute read

Voicl
Vicki Keith stands on the pool deck at the Boys & Girls Club in Kingston, where she is the Inclusion Advocate for BGC South East. Submitted photo: The Boys & Girls Club South East. Photo by Supplied photo /jpg, KI, apsmc

Editor’s note: Kingston native and swimming legend Vicki Keith pens the latest in our Community Speaker Series, reflecting on key moments in her life that led her to the waters and to philanthropy.

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I distinctly remember yelling “CLEAR” before I walked onto the field to retrieve a cluster of javelins, sticking out of the ground like quills on a befuddled porcupine.

As I approached the center of the field, I felt a whiff of air and turned in time to see a glint of steel hurtle inches from my head. I immediately realized if I hoped to survive my first coaching position, it was essential I create a better javelin retrieval plan.

It was the late 1970s. I was a high school student at LCVI and part of the Lancers track team. After one practice, the coach gathered us together to inform us that Kingston was hosting a track and field meet for athletes with physical disabilities, later that summer. He shared that the organizing committee was looking for local athletes to volunteer coach interested participants.

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I thought, “I can do that” and signed up to coach shot put and javelin. I stepped into the role with confidence well beyond what my scope of knowledge should have allowed, but with an abundance of passion and enthusiasm.

As I contemplated my new role, it seemed odd to me that people were planning on competing in events if they didn’t know the rules, hadn’t practiced the skills, or had otherwise trained. I learned there were so few sporting opportunities for youth with disabilities, this was the first chance many attendees had to experience the exhilaration of competing in a sport. I became even more excited to meet the participants, and share my knowledge of and passion for the sport.

When the competitors arrived, I observed that some were wheelchair users as I expected, but others were ambulatory and had a diverse range of movement and visual differences. The javelin that flew past my head, was thrown by one of the blind athletes, who was unaware I was in the field.

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My introduction to volunteering had come years before this experience. When my brothers and I were young, my parents actively identified core beliefs and qualities they wanted to instill in us. To fulfil this goal, they introduced us to programs and activities that integrated our interests, and these qualities. They registered me in a leadership program at the Y in Ottawa. I was 10 years old.

As part of this program, every Saturday, I volunteered as an assistant swim instructor. I remember watching a group of 20 rambunctious six- and seven-year-olds flock onto the pool deck for their swimming lesson. One boy arrived behind the others. He was pushed onto the pool deck in a wheelchair, and was lifted to the edge of the pool by his mom. My responsibility, I learned, was to support him within the lesson.

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It was his excited anticipation as he bounced in his wheelchair and then the pure joy on his face as I lowered him into the pool, that changed my life forever. With a flip of his foot and a sparkle in his eye, he would dolphin underwater and wait for me to bring him up to the surface for a breath. Eventually, I taught him to roll over on his back upon surfacing, so he could be more independent. I understood that water was his freedom. For half an hour each week, he was liberated from his wheelchair and able to move effortlessly, floating and drifting, plunging and surfacing, gulping air and repeating the actions with contagious joy.

This pivotal moment in my childhood continues to influence my life paths and choices even today. Volunteering became a part of who I am, not what I do.

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Vicki
Vicki Keith is pictured during her 80km butterfly swim along the shoreline of Lake Ontario in 2005. Photo by Rob Mooy – Kingston This Week /SunMedia

When I headed into my open-water swimming career, I had the opportunity to be the beneficiary of philanthropic giving. Each swim required 30 or more volunteers. We had navigators, weather specialists, lifeguards, food preparers, small boat operators ranging in age from teenagers through to mature adults. Some were family and friends, but others were complete strangers who joined the team to help someone unknown to them, achieve something all the experts deemed impossible.

I had people in the galley of the support boats, navigating and preparing food as they were tossed about in three-metre swells. Others woke up early, stayed up late or even missed whole nights of sleep. I repeatedly witnessed volunteers accept the discomfort of being cold, wet, hungry, sleep deprived, seasick etc. to support our mutual goal. It wasn’t uncommon to see business professionals who were more accustomed to taking leadership and mentorship roles, jump in to perform unskilled or more physical tasks, because it was essential to the overall success of the event.

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Over a million dollars was raised during my swimming career, in large part because we had an outstanding team of volunteers with vision, passion, and a desire to make a positive impact. When asked why they persisted through the physical and emotional exhaustion as well as the multitudes of discomforts, their answers were wide ranging. They spoke of their passion for the work the charity was performing, being captivated by the vision of using a sporting event to inspire and raise funds, the opportunity to be part of a team, or just for the adventure. Each one also voiced the desire to make a positive impact in their world.

In 2001, when the Kingston Y Penguins were established, I was heartened by the number of Kingstonians who reached out to volunteer and offer support. The Kingston YMCA offered pool space, students and adults with swimming backgrounds offered to become assistant coaches, and others offered their assistance supporting the programs either physically or financially to ensure the program’s continuation and growth.

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Keith
Vicki Keith, coach of the Kingston Y Penguins at the Kingston YMCA in a June 4, 2019 file photo. Photo by Ian MacAlpine /Ian MacAlpine/The Whig-Standard/

The Greater Kingston area has a multitude of charities and organizations who, like the Y Penguins, have dedicated citizens sharing their time and expertise. These individuals are making a positive impact in their community every day, but often don’t realize how far-reaching and powerful their time, support and other philanthropic gestures are.

I think back to the track and field event organizing committee 50 some years ago. They gave their time to create a special event, that would introduce sport to a population that was searching for something more in their lives. I am sure, the committee couldn’t have envisioned their part in the development of the Kingston Y Penguins Swim Team, all the records set, lakes swum and confidence built, by future generations. That single track and field event has lived on in the hearts of many and made a difference in thousands of lives.

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I have been told that small communities have the highest rate of volunteerism, because there is a stronger sense of community and a greater perception of the potential impact. Kingston may not be a small city, but it definitely has small town heart. We have thousands of volunteers who have identified a need in their community, and stepped in to take action. Some thrive as front-line volunteers, while others prefer a behind the scenes approach. We are diverse in who we are, why we want to volunteer and the type of volunteering we choose, but we are alike in our desire to make a commitment to something we believe in and our thirst to make a positive impact in our world.

I am grateful my parents had the foresight to guide me to such a rewarding path, and sincerely hope everyone has a chance to experience the satisfaction and exhilaration of volunteering at least once in their lives. At every age, volunteering is a great way to connect with like-minded people, build a culture of gratitude and empathy, and develop important communication, leadership, and team building skills.

Last, but not least, I would like to thank all our volunteers, past, present and future. Your commitment, passion and time has transformed more lives than you could ever imagine.

Vicki Keith is a world record holding open-water swimmer, founder and coach of the Kingston Y Penguins and Inclusion Advocate for BGC South East.

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Hawks Women’s Track & Field Have Strong Showing at the SCSU Art Kadish Invitational

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December 14, 2025

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NEW HAVEN, Conn. – On Friday and Saturday, the University of Hartford men’s indoor track & field team competed in their first two-day meet of the season placing in 2nd out of 11 teams in the Art Kadish Invitational hosted by Southern Connecticut State University. 

Rapid Recap:

  • Senior Destinee Majett (Brick Township, N.J.) headlined the Hawks throwing for a massive personal best in the women’s weight throw taking second place hitting a distance of 15.09 meters. Majett moved to third all-time in the event in program history with the throw. 

  • Junior Jordan Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) would also make her mark in the meet breaking the meet record for the pentathlon with a score of 3292. 

  • Senior Madison DiPasquale (Wallingford, Conn.) finished second in the women’s shot put event hitting 12.33 meters. 

  • Freshman Caroline McGinnis (Windsor Locks, Conn.) placed 8th in the women’s long jump at a distance of 4.85 meters. 

  • Freshman Jaya Pichay (South Windsor, Conn.) had a great showing in the 55 meter dash. Pichay finished the preliminaries in 4th place at a time of 7.47, before racing to a 5th place finish in the event at a personal best time of 7.43. 

  • Freshman Leah Valentino (Beacon Falls, Conn.) placed in first for the Hawks in the 600 meter at a time of 1:50.20. 

  • In the 55 meter hurdles event junior Caroline Crocker (Bernardston, Mass.) placed in second at a time of 8.48 seconds which was a new school record. Sophomore Tamara Greene (Hartford, Conn.) followed in fourth place at a time of 8.67 seconds. 

  • Freshman Maeve McGinnis (Windsor Locks, Conn.) scored points in the high jump competition coming in second clearing a height of 1.55 meters. 

Up Next: 

The Hawks will head to winter break returning to action on January 24th, competing at Wesleyan University. 

For the latest information on Hartford Athletics follow the Hawks on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.





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Saint Joseph’s Men Turn in Record Jumps and Relay Win at USM Alumni Open

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22 minutes ago

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December 14, 2025

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GORHAM, Maine – The Saint Joseph’s College men’s track and field team turned in a statement performance at the USM Alumni Open on Saturday, highlighted by two school records from freshman standout Stephen Pierre, a relay victory, and multiple New England Division III qualifying marks in the jumps and hurdles. 

“We brought great energy and effort today and were rewarded with some impressive marks. Our ability to cover events with talent and depth continues to grow and will be a key to our success at the conference level,” said Head Coach Mike Burleson.

“The caliber this group is competing at right now makes me incredibly proud,” added Associate Head Coach Troy Hendricks. “To be dropping school-record performances on just meet two of the season speaks to how bought-in they are. I’m excited to see the work they put in over winter break and where that momentum takes us when we come back at the start of the new year.”

SPRINTS AND RELAYS

Junior Jacob Schmader (Limington, Maine) and senior Noah Batoosingh (Scarborough, Maine) led a strong effort in the 300 meters, finishing third (36.82) and fifth (37.57), respectively, to pace the sprint group on the flat 200-meter oval.

Freshman Eli Benjamin (Rochester, N.H.) competed in the 55-meter dash, clocking 7.01 in the prelims to place ninth overall in a tight field.

Saint Joseph’s grabbed a win on the track in the 4×200-meter relay, as Batoosingh, sophomore John Read, freshman Eli Benjamin, and Schmader combined to run 1:34.17, crossing the line first and continuing the early-season momentum from the Elm City Classic.

In the 4×400-meter relay, the quartet of junior Aidan Mills (Ontario Center, N.Y.), sophomore Isaac Keresey (Pittsfield, Maine), junior Emilson Zoccolo (Lewiston, Maine), and sophomore Harrison Fields (Gray, Maine) placed second in 3:42.01, closing the meet with another strong relay showing for the Monks.

MID-DISTANCE AND DISTANCE

Senior Brayden Grant (Rochester, N.H.) turned in a solid performance in the 500 meters, placing fifth in 1:18.19.

In the 1000 meters, Mills led the way with a fourth-place finish in 2:55.79, followed by Fields in eighth at 3:03.49 and senior Kyle Benson (Biddeford, Maine) in ninth at 3:12.55, as the Monks continued to build depth through the middle-distance group.

Keresey posted one of the top distance marks of the day, finishing second in the mile with a time of 4:31.81, while Zoccolo added a 13th-place finish in 5:07.57.

In the 5000 meters, senior Jacob Pelletier (Augusta, Maine) clocked 16:04.76 to place fifth, and teammate Alexey Seredin (Peaks Island, Maine) ran 16:49.95 for 11th, giving Saint Joseph’s a strong presence in the longest event of the day.

HURDLES

The 55-meter hurdles proved to be a major highlight and a key event for the Monks.

Pierre, competing in his first collegiate hurdles meet, broke the school record and placed second in the final in 7.98, hitting the New England Division III provisional standard. Read followed in third at 8.01, also meeting the provisional standard, as the pair delivered a big 2–3 finish in the final.

The prelims were equally impressive, with Pierre (8.17), Read (8.21), and junior Tudum Monday (Lewiston, Maine) (8.24) all achieving New England Division III provisional qualifying times, giving Saint Joseph’s three hurdlers at championship-caliber level just two meets into the season.

JUMPS

Pierre produced another breakout performance in the long jump, where he broke his own school record and won the event with a mark of 6.81m (22′ 4.25″), an automatic qualifier for the New England Division III Championships. His series also included jumps of 6.78m and 6.71m, showcasing impressive consistency at a high level. Junior Devonte Prom (Portland, Maine) added a strong fifth-place finish at 5.75m (18′ 10.5″).

In the triple jump, Monday won the event with a mark of 13.03m (42′ 9″), good for a New England Division III provisional qualifying performance. Junior Christopher Godefroy (Windsor Locks, Conn.) placed fifth at 11.64m (38′ 2.25″), while Peters finished seventh with a best of 10.96m (35′ 11.5″). 

In the high jump, Benjamin continued his strong start by clearing 1.83m (6′ 0″) for second place, while sophomore Martinho Codo (Lewiston, Maine) jumped 1.73m (5′ 8″) to finish fourth. 

THROWS

The Monks’ young and deep throws group continued to gain momentum across both the shot put and weight throw.

In the shot put, sophomore Anthony Vasquez (Westbrook, Maine) led the way with a ninth-place finish at 10.07m (33′ 0.5″), followed by senior Alexander Greslick (Windham, Maine) in 10th at 9.80m (32′ 2″). Freshman Brandt Bishop (Marblehead, Mass.) threw 9.10m (29′ 10.25″), classmate Daven Duquette (Berlin, N.H.) recorded 9.07m (29′ 9.25″), and fellow freshman Cameron Gonyer (Berlin, N.H.) added a mark of 7.99m (26′ 2.75″). Junior Gabryel Balch (Strafford, N.H.) rounded out the group at 7.31m (23′ 11.75″).

In the weight throw, Vasquez placed fifth with a throw of 9.75m (32′ 0″), Gonyer finished sixth at 9.73m (31′ 11.25″), and Duquette took seventh with 9.60m (31′ 6″). Greslick added an eighth-place mark of 9.48m (31′ 1.25″), while Balch finished 10th at 9.09m (29′ 10″), giving Saint Joseph’s five athletes over nine meters and valuable early-season depth in the event.

FULL RESULTS

Men’s 55 Meters

Men’s 300 Meters

Men’s 500 Meters

Men’s 1000 Meters

Men’s 1 Mile Run

Men’s 5000 Meters

Men’s 55-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)

Men’s 55-Meter Hurdles (Finals)

Men’s 4×200-Meter Relay

  • Batoosingh, Read, Peters, Schmader – 1:34.17 (1st)

Men’s 4×400-Meter Relay

  • Mills, Keresey, Zoccolo, Fields – 3:42.01 (2nd)

Men’s High Jump

Men’s Long Jump

Men’s Triple Jump

Men’s Shot Put

Men’s Weight Throw



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Monks Women Sweep Relays, Break Three School Records at USM Alumni Open

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38 minutes ago

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December 14, 2025

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GORHAM, Maine – The Saint Joseph’s College women’s track and field team continued its impressive start to the 2025-26 indoor season at the USM Alumni Open on Saturday, collecting three school records, three event victories on the track, and three New England Division III provisional qualifying performances.

“We brought great energy and effort today and were rewarded with some impressive marks. Our ability to cover events with talent and depth continues to grow and will be a key to our success at the conference level,” said Head Coach Mike Burleson.

“The caliber this group is competing at right now makes me incredibly proud,” added Associate Head Coach Troy Hendricks. “To be dropping school-record performances on just meet two of the season speaks to how bought-in they are. I’m excited to see the work they put in over winter break and where that momentum takes us when we come back at the start of the new year.”

SPRINTS AND RELAYS

The Monks showed depth in the short sprints, advancing two to the final in the 55 meters. Sophomore Ellie Leech (Berwick, Maine) and freshman Emma Jones (Poland, Maine) finished seventh (8.08) and eighth (8.09), respectively, after running 8.02 (Leech) and 7.98 (Jones) in the prelims. Junior Alexis Cowan (Nottingham, N.H.) clocked 8.07, freshman Kaitlin Tallman ran 8.13, and first-year Hallye King (Owls Head, Maine) posted 8.31 to round out a strong preliminary group.

In the 200 meters, freshman Olivea Miller (Livermore Falls, Maine) placed second in 27.37, hitting the New England Division III provisional standard, while Jones added a seventh-place finish in 28.87.

The Monks swept both relays on the day. In the 4×200-meter relay, the quartet of Audrey Bilodeau (Lewiston, Maine), Ava Smart (South Portland, Maine), Jones, and Tallman posted a winning time of 1:53.49. The 4×400-meter relay of Bella Koepsell (Falmouth, Maine), Alexia Young (Rochester, N.H.), Cheri Willems, and Amber Pendleton (Warren, Maine) closed the meet with another victory, clocking 4:30.61.

MID-DISTANCE AND DISTANCE

Freshman Amber Pendleton continued her strong start to the season with a school-record performance in the 500 meters, winning the event in 1:27.86. Willems followed with a third-place finish in 1:34.57, giving Saint Joseph’s two of the top three spots.

In the 300 meters, junior Ava Smart broke the school record, placing third in 44.07, just ahead of Bilodeau, who finished fourth in 44.86.

Senior Alexia Young collected a runner-up finish in the 1000 meters, posting a time of 3:31.00, while Koepsell ran to second place in the mile in 5:48.35.

HURDLES

Sophomore Madalyn Guindon (Saco, Maine) turned in a solid performance in the 55-meter hurdles, placing fourth in 10.60 to add more points for the Monks’ track group.

JUMPS

The vertical and horizontal jumps again proved to be a strength for Saint Joseph’s.

In the high jump, Miller cleared 1.47m (4′ 9.75″) to finish second, while junior Breya Whitman (Auburn, Maine) cleared 1.37m (4′ 6″) for fifth.

The long jump saw Cowan lead the way with a seventh-place finish at 4.74m (15′ 6.75″). Sophomore Olivia Bean (South Portland, Maine) followed in eighth at 4.68m (15′ 4.25″), while Tallman placed 13th (4.55m / 14′ 11.25″). King (3.97m / 13′ 0.25″) and junior Samira Mohamed (Westbrook, Maine) (3.59m / 11′ 9.5″) rounded out the Monks’ long jump contingent.

Bean and sophomore Ella Labrie (Gorham, Maine) powered a huge day in the triple jump, combining for a 1–2 finish and two championship-caliber marks. Bean won the event with a school-record leap of 10.72m (35′ 2″), hitting the New England Division III provisional standard, while Labrie took second at 10.65m (34′ 11.25″), also surpassing the provisional mark.

THROWS

Leech led the Monks in the shot put with a best of 10.19m (33′ 5.25″), followed by sophomore Jemima Kabangu at 9.72m (31′ 10.75″). Freshman Grace Cunningham (Burnham, Maine) threw 8.71m (28′ 7″), and junior Haley Lang recorded a mark of 7.99m (26′ 2.75″).

Cunningham highlighted the weight throw with a 10.74m (35′ 3″), while Lang added a mark of 7.77m (25′ 6″) as the Monks’ throwers continued to build on their early-season progress.

FULL RESULTS

Women’s 55 Meters

  • Emma Jones – 7.98 (prelims, 7th) / 8.09 (finals, 8th)

  • Ellie Leech – 8.02 (prelims, 8th) / 8.08 (finals, 7th)

  • Alexis Cowan – 8.07 (prelims, 9th)

  • Kaitlin Tallman – 8.13 (prelims, 10th)

  • Hallye King – 8.31 (prelims, 13th)

Women’s 200 Meters

Women’s 300 Meters

Women’s 500 Meters

Women’s 1000 Meters

Women’s Mile

Women’s 55-Meter Hurdles

Women’s 4×200-Meter Relay

  • Bilodeau, Smart, Jones, Tallman – 1:53.49 (1st)

Women’s 4×400-Meter Relay

  • Koepsell, Young, Willems, Pendleton – 4:30.61 (1st)

Women’s High Jump

Women’s Long Jump

Women’s Triple Jump

  • Olivia Bean – 10.72m (35′ 2″) (1st, school record, NE DIII provisional)

  • Ella Labrie – 10.65m (34′ 11.25″) (2nd, NE DIII provisional)

Women’s Shot Put

Women’s Weight Throw

  • Grace Cunningham – 10.74m (35′ 3″) (13th)

  • Haley Lang – 7.77m (25′ 6″) (19th)

     



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Natalie Wardlow provides boost for Wisconsin Volleyball

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41 minutes ago

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December 14, 2025

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AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Wisconsin volleyball team was in need of a boost, and Natalie Wardlow was glad to provide it.

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3 things that stood out from Wisconsin volleyball's NCAA Tournament opening sweep

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Polzin: Wisconsin volleyball talking points from NCAA Tournament sweep of Eastern Illinois

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From Carlini to Hilley to Fuerbringer: Wisconsin volleyball’s unmatched setter lineage grows

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Wisconsin volleyball lands surprise pick on All-Big Ten first team

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Wisconsin volleyball learns its NCAA Tournament seed, opening opponent

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3 takeaways from Wisconsin volleyball's match against Minnesota

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Kentucky volleyball score, Creighton vs UK NCAA Tournament, KY Final 4

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December 14, 2025

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Updated Dec. 13, 2025, 7:49 p.m. ET

LEXINGTON — Top-seeded Kentucky volleyball defeated third-seeded Creighton in three sets Saturday at Historic Memorial Coliseum to advance to the NCAA Tournament National Semifinal.

Brooklyn DeLeye led the Wildcats in kills with 18. Lizzie Carr led the team in blocks (five). And Kassie O’Brien led UK with 40 assists.

Kentucky will battle the winner of No. 1 Texas vs. No. 3 Wisconsin on Thursday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, for a spot in the national championship game. It’ll be UK’s second Final Four and first since it won the 2020 NCAA championship.

The Wildcats will return to the court Thursday in Kansas City, Missouri, for their Final Four match.

Click here to learn more.

Coverage during the match:

The Wildcats complete the sweep over the Bluejays, becoming the first team to secure a spot in Kansas City, Missouri, for the national semifinals.

There have been seven ties and three lead changes in this set. Ten of the Wildcats’ 15 points came from kills. DeLeye leads all players with 16, followed by Hudson’s 12 and Thigpen’s eight. DeLeye also has three blocks, tied with Washington and one behind Carr.



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Texas vs Wisconsin in Elite Eight

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1 hour ago

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December 14, 2025

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The Longhorns celebrate defeating Indiana in a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament match in Gregory Gymnasium in Austin, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. The Longhorns will advance to Elite Eight with a 3-0 win.

The Longhorns celebrate defeating Indiana in a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament match in Gregory Gymnasium in Austin, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. The Longhorns will advance to Elite Eight with a 3-0 win.

Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

Way back in August, Texas volleyball travelled to Wisconsin and rolled to a 3-0 win over the Badgers in its second game of the season.

But that result is irrelevant, Texas coach Jerritt Elliott said Saturday, a day before his top-seeded Longhorns face No. 3 Wisconsin in an Elite Eight matchup at Gregory Gymnasium. And that match might as well have taken place last season.

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“They’re a completely different team, and so are we,” he said. “We’ve been able to add a lot of layers on since the preseason, and we had some young players. I think what you’re going to find is just two well-trained teams that are going to battle and having a big-time match.”

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Texas, Wisconsin part of current blue-blood volleyball crop

Both programs certainly have big-time bona fides, especially in recent years. Wisconsin (27-4), a traditional Big Ten Conference power, is seeking its fifth Final Four berth in the past seven years and its second national title after winning the 2021 championship. Texas (26-3), out of the SEC, has been in three of the past five Final Fours and won back-to-back national championships in 2022 and 2023.

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Recent history favors the Longhorns, even if Elliott dismisses the previous matches. Texas has won four consecutive contests over the Badgers, including a 3-1 triumph in a 2023 national semifinal in Tampa, Fla.

But at this level of play, said Indiana coach Steve Aird, early-season results don’t mean much. Aird’s team got swept by both Wisconsin and Texas this year. After his team’s season-ending defeat Friday to the Longhorns, he said Texas would be tough to beat in Gregory Gymnasium but thinks Wisconsin’s experience could negate some of that home-court advantage.

Indiana Hoosiers middle blocker Madi Sell (1) reacts to a game-point call as Texas volleyball plays Indiana in a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament match in Gregory Gymnasium in Austin, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. The Longhorns will advance to Elite Eight with a 3-0 win.

Indiana Hoosiers middle blocker Madi Sell (1) reacts to a game-point call as Texas volleyball plays Indiana in a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament match in Gregory Gymnasium in Austin, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. The Longhorns will advance to Elite Eight with a 3-0 win.

Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

“With the top teams that are used to playing deep into the tournament, they’re a little bit more at ease with the environment and the event,” he said. “I love the Big Ten. I think it’s the best volleyball conference in the country, and it does prepare you. I think there’s a reason why there’s five or so teams that were advancing to the Sweet 16. Texas is good enough to beat anyone in the country if they play well, and I’d say the same thing about a variety of the Big Ten teams on any given night.”

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Texas setter Ella Swindle agreed that each squad has played its way into contention for a national title next week in Kansas City, Mo., regardless of who wins the region.

“I feel like both teams are just a lot more developed at this point in the year,” she said. “At the beginning of the season, we were kind of just figuring out who we are and who we wanted to be. So now, at this point, I feel like we know our identities, and we’re ready to go out and battle.”

RELATED: Jerritt Elliott excited about new Texas volleyball arena, says it may open for 2029 season

Wisconsin volleyball: Charlie Fuerbringer sets tone

Wisconsin certainly seems more prepared to battle Swindle and a loaded Texas lineup than in August. Since sophomore All-American setter Charlie Fuerbringer returned from a midseason injury, the Badgers have been almost unstoppable. They’ve won 10 straight matches since she came back to the court in a Nov. 9 match against Indiana and a total of 12 in a row. In that span with Fuerbringer, Wisconsin has a hitting percentage under .350 just twice.

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The Badgers have hit better than .400 twice in the NCAA Tournament, including a sizzling rate of .420 in Friday’s 3-1 win over a splendid defensive team in Stanford.

“I think we just (have) a lot of trust in one another,” said Fuerbringer, who led the Big Ten with 12.2 assists per set. “I mean, for me, if one of our hitters got blocked or made an error (against Stanford), they were right back in the huddle saying, ‘Got you next ball.’ ”

Mimi Colyer v Torrey Stafford: Matchup of star outside hitters

No one has gotten more balls to the court for Wisconsin than Mimi Colyer, the Badgers’ counterpart to Texas star outside hitter Torrey Stafford.

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Two of the premier attackers in the nation share plenty of similarities. Stafford, a junior, transferred to Texas after a pair of All-American seasons at Pittsburgh while Colyer joined Wisconsin following an All-American career at Oregon. Stafford hits at a rate of .368 for the season, one of the highest for any outside hitter in the SEC. Colyer counters with a .341 hitting percentage, one of the best in the Big Ten for a pin player.

And both enter Sunday’s showdown on the heels of a scorching performance. Stafford fired 19 kills on 28 swings without a hitting error in the Sweet 16 win over Indiana while Colyer hammered 27 kills on 51 swings against Stanford.

Texas Longhorns outside hitter Torrey Stafford (4) celebrates a point as Texas volleyball plays Indiana in a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament match in Gregory Gymnasium in Austin, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. The Longhorns will advance to Elite Eight with a 3-0 win.

Texas Longhorns outside hitter Torrey Stafford (4) celebrates a point as Texas volleyball plays Indiana in a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament match in Gregory Gymnasium in Austin, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. The Longhorns will advance to Elite Eight with a 3-0 win.

Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

“I want to get in these big games and be competitive and play with a group of girls that want to win, that need to win,” Colyer said after the win over Indiana. “And I think our team is doing just that. I think we’re gelling at the right time, and we’re gaining so much momentum, and there’s so much trust. This team is just really, really good. We’re firing on all cylinders.”

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But Texas is clicking in the NCAA Tournament as well. The Longhorns have hit better than .400 over their three matches, and freshmen Cari Spears and Abby Vander Wal provide effective complements to Stafford.

Sure, Stafford and Colyer may draw the focus on both defenses as well as the television cameras, said Elliott. But don’t discount the rest of two deep, talented squads, added the Texas coach.

“They’re both able to take over matches at any point in time,” he said. “What a great thing for TV, what a great thing for our team to be able to figure out how to be able to manage that, and what a great thing for Wisconsin to try to figure out how they’re going to stop (Stafford). But there’s also five other really good players (on the court) that can take over a match. I think it’s going to be a team effort. There’s so many things that go into play, but it’s fun for media and it’s fun to see those guys take major-league swings every single time at each other. But there’s other players that can do the same thing.”

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Texas vs Wisconsin: How to watch

What: NCAA Tournament Elite Eight match

Where: Gregory Gymnasium

When: 6:30 p.m. Sunday

TV/streaming: ESPN



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