MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary’s Beach Volleyball continues to build their 2025-26 squad in the Spring recruiting window, signing Isla Johnson out of Harbor High School in Santa Cruz. Standing at 5-8, Johnson played outside hitter for her school’s indoor team, while enjoying a benedettaandexler66@gmail.com
dominant career on the sand as well in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League.

Over four years playing for the Pirates of Harbor High School, Johnson led her squad to four straight SCCAL Titles in beach volleyball, and two consecutive SCCAL Titles in indoor volleyball. On the hardwood, Johnson was a four time All-League honoree, culminating her prep career with League MVP honors.

Eugene, Ore. – Lilly Urban competed at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Thursday, placing third in the first flight and 11th overall with a best throw of 55.27m. 

Urban continued her form this season of having her best throw on her first throw, hurling the javelin 55.27m, and did not improve on her next two throws. Urban’s 11th place finish earned her All-America Second Team honors, her first All-America honor of her two year Nevada career. Urban also notched the highest finish in the NCAA Championship javelin competition by a Nevada athlete. 

Urban set the Nevada all-time record for javelin and will look to break more records next season, in her Junior year. 

This concludes the Nevada Track and Field outdoor season, the Pack will be back for indoor season with home meets starting this December. 

Nevada Results

Javelin

11. Lilly Urban – 55.27m 

IS EIGHT ENOUGH?: The Southern Regional boys volleyball team gathers around the NJSIAA Group 3 championship trophy and banner after defeating Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23 on June 12 in South Brunswick. (Photos by David Biggy)

Two years ago when the Southern Regional boys volleyball team defeated Bridgewater-Raritan for the NJSIAA Group 4 championship, Yeferson Figueroa had a chance to hold the trophy, but he didn’t have much of a part in the Rams’ success other than being a rah-rah guy from the sideline.

This season, as a senior, he finally occupied a roster position and actually played at various points of 12 sets. On June 12, he didn’t get into the Group 3 championship match against Scotch Plains-Fanwood, but he didn’t care.

“My mentality has always been that if I can’t be on the court, I have to help my people somehow, some way, whether that’s by being the loudest on the bench or encouraging them wherever they are,” Figueroa said after the Rams captured the title with a grueling, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23 victory in South Brunswick. “I love these guys, and I’d do anything for them. I told them before the match, ‘We’ve had so many great experiences, so why not end it all with one great note?’ And it feels amazing. It’s been a pleasure playing with all these guys.”

The Rams (30-1) didn’t play amazing volleyball against the Raiders – at times, they were downright sloppy – but they scored points when they mattered most.

SECURED: Southern Regional junior Van Miller delivers the winning kill in the third game of the Rams’ grueling title victory over Scotch Plains-Fanwood.

“We didn’t play well, but this, tonight, went way beyond volleyball,” said head coach Eric Maxwell, whose Rams now have won 11 state titles, including eight with the boys. “It was about toughness, sticking together, just keep fighting. A lot of it wasn’t pretty, but they just kept battling. Our guys know how to play volleyball, but the fight is what mattered tonight.”

With the first game tied 4-4, junior David Bruther delivered an ace to help set off a 7-1 spurt that gave Southern an 11-5 lead that SPF eventually trimmed to a point, 18-17. But after an Aiden Krinic kill to make it 19-17, Scotch Plains-Fanwood mixed in several points with several errors to remain behind by two, 21-19.

Southern middleman Van Miller hammered down a shot to make it 22-19 before the Rams closed out the set with kills from Jonah Krinic, Miller and Aiden Krinic.

The Raiders took a 5-1 lead in the second game, but it became more of a back-and-forth mess of mistakes by both squads. After Jonah Krinic scored on a block to tie the set at 22-22, Scotch Plains-Fanwood grabbed the lead with a kill, only to make a passing error that again knotted the set. SPF regained the lead on the next play; then Southern’s Jack Malandro hit a ball out of bounds to seal the second set for the Raiders.

SET IT UP: Southern Regional junior David Bruther winds up for a serve that dropped for an ace to give the Rams match point.

The third game was even more of a back-and-forth grind than the first two sets, with neither team going up by more than a point or two. After a net encroachment was called on Southern to give the Raiders (27-5) a 17-16 lead, Aiden Krinic bashed one of his 17 kills to tie the game, and the two teams traded punches from there.

Another net encroachment infraction by the Rams made it 22-21 in favor of Scotch Plains-Fanwood, but a passing error on the Raiders again created a deadlock before Aiden Krinic scored on another kill to push the Rams out in front to stay.

Then Bruther dropped the bomb – the delivery of a top-spin serve that fell between several Raiders, giving the Rams match point.

“I was nervous, so bad. I just wanted to get that ball in,” Bruther said. “I knew we could handle the stuff on our side, but I wanted to make them do something big to make a play on us. When that ball hit the floor, I was so joyful. All glory to God, but it was 100% the best ace of my life.”

Bruther served the next ball into the net to make it 24-23, but Miller hammered down a kill, his 12th of the contest, to the left side to secure the championship – the first in Group 3 after winning seven Group 4 crowns.

FIRED UP: Southern senior Brody Reynolds clutches the trophy as the Rams celebrate.

“This one is especially different because it puts us ahead of Bridgewater-Raritan for the most state titles ever,” Aiden Krinic said. “There was so much tension. I played against Old Bridge in the sectional final last year, and this had more tension than that. The crowd wasn’t heckling me, but I felt it.”

Jonah Krinic finished with four kills, 11 digs and an ace, while Jack Malandro added six kills, Brody Reynolds tallied 19 digs, and Logan Homme ended with 41 assists to go with 11 digs.

“We have a very special bond on our team,” Jonah Krinic said. “Every moment we’re on the court, we’re together, and yesterday in practice we talked about this. Maxwell said that no matter what happens, we’re a family and we deserve to win it. We stay close, and that’s the way we win these big matches.”

— David Biggy

biggy@thesandpaper.net

While the event will be straight ‘shoot-out’ for the medals, the two best World Cup scores attained by an individual, duet or national team, will be combined with that attained in the Super Final, to determine the seasonal prize money standings.

Following three high-class World Cup legs – which have taken place across Europe (Paris, France), Africa (Somabay, Egypt) and North America (Markham, Canada), the 2025 series will conclude with a fourth different continent stop – Asia.

The setting, which will see the top 12-ranked nations in each discipline battle it out for highly sought-after Super Final honours, is also apt, with China having made history by claiming both the Team and Duet Olympic titles for the first time at last year’s Games.

They will again be among the major contenders across the 11 medal contests, which consist of Open Team, Women’s Duet, Mixed Duet, Men’s and Women’s Solo events.

Another nation expected to push for the top of the podium, across multiple disciplines, is Spain, with their new head coach – four-time Olympic medallist Andrea Fuentes – insisting they have arrived in China with a “winning mindset.”

“We thank World Aquatics for this cultural wealth (with four events across four continents) and honestly it’s been really cool,” says Fuentes, who guided her nation to medals in each of the 11 disciplines at the European Championships, which concluded just last week.

“I’m proud of the team’s mindset and as Paula (Ramirez) has said, we treat the Europeans as the ‘World semi-finals’ and here for the finals, it also prepares us for what comes in a month’s time, in Singapore (2025 World Aquatics Championships).”

Here, World Aquatics takes a look at some of the leading contenders in each of the disciplines ahead of the World Cup Super Final in China.

The clashes between Olympic silver medallists USA and Paris 2024 third-place finishers Spain, have been some of the most highly-anticipated and ultimately spectacular showings of the season so far and further ‘fireworks’ are predicted in China.

While the hosts have generally fielded younger athletes during the regular World Cup season, in preparation for the World Championships in July, several of those who helped the nation claim Olympic gold last year will now return to their line-up.

Paris 2024 champions Chang Hao, Feng Yu, Xiang Binxuan and Zhang Yayi bring medal-winning experience to the line-up and while the overall title is likely out of reach, they will be expected to push for the podium places with Spain and USA.

Heading into the Super Final Spain, as previously referenced, hold a strong lead in the overall rankings after consistently strong performances.

After contesting only the Team Technical discipline in Paris, which they won with a dazzling delivery of their routine to the Backstreet Boy’s ‘backstreet’s back’ track, they added they added the complete line-up to their programme in Somabay and Markham.

They have so far won each of the Technical finals and both of the Free contests and placed third at the European Championships in Funchal, Madeira, last week after debuting their new Acrobatic routine.

That will give other nation’s hope, with the USA as well as regular World Cup medallists Japan, the rapidly improving Italians, France – who were fourth at Paris 2024 – and the emerging young Ukrainian talents, each possessing strong podium potential.

With the Olympic Duet medal winners from each of the three nations – China, Great Britain and the Netherlands – yet to return to the discipline after post-Games breaks from the sport, the 2025 campaign has seen given new talents the opportunity to showcase their potential.

Spaniard’s Txell Ferre Gaset and Lilou Lluis Valette currently lead the overall standings, having placed first in Paris and second in Markham in the Tech discipline, but Lluis Vallette’s partnership with Iris Tio Casas in the Free event, might represent a better chance of gold.

They won in Markham last time out, and were second to the Italians – who will not compete in China – at the Europeans last week.

Japan too will be strong across both disciplines, with Tomoka Sato regularly claiming Free discipline honours with Uta Kobayashi and Tech honours, alongside Moe Higa, this season.

The challenge posed by China’s duet; Lin sisters Yanhan and Yanjun, can also not be overlooked, with the siblings placing second in Markham and the pair keen to put down a marker ahead of the World Championships where they aim to continue their nation’s winning run at major events, following the Wang sister’s Olympic success last year.

The athletes in this field may have experienced the recent blow of learning the mixed duet discipline will not feature as part of the LA 2028 Olympic Games programme, but that has seemingly only provided further ‘fuel to the flame’.

The strength and creativity demonstrated in performances has only increased throughout the season and these will be among the major draws across the three days in Xi’an.

Jordi Caceres Iglesias of Spain may top the overall rankings, alongside Lazaro Cabaleiro Aurora, but he is only a reserve for this discipline. World champion Dennis Gonzalez Boneu is set to line-up with Iris Tio Casas (Free) and Mireia Hernandez Luna, after claiming European titles with each in Portugal last week.

They will be strong gold medal favourites again, but the chance to see individual star siblings Guo Muye and Sitong team up will offer a fascinating prospect for fans in venue and watching across the world.

Another fascinating recent pairing, who began their partnership with European silver earlier in the week, sees Olympic medallist Izzy Thorpe join Ranjuo Tomblin in each of the Mixed Duet disciplines.

Thorpe took time away from the sport following her history-making success, alongside Kate Shortman, at Paris 2024 and has joined Tomblin in a bid to create a possible World Championship medal-winning pair for Singapore 2025.

Tomblin himself has a growing reputation in the sport, having claimed maiden World Cup honours during 2025, including golds across Mixed Duet and Solo disciplines.

The subhead may suggest this is all about two men – and they are both strong contenders – but the men’s field possesses a host of seasoned performers who are capable of strong medal challenges across the Free and Tech disciplines.

With three victories so far this season, 17-year-old Guo Muye (CHN) leads the overall standings ahead of Spanish breakthrough star Jordi Canceres Iglesias and Britain’s Ranjuo Tomblin.

The latter underlined their strong form with a European title each last week, but Canceres Iglesias will only contest the Free event, as team-mate and icon Dennis Gonzalez Boneu takes on the Tech discipline.

With Gonzalez making history this season as part of the Spanish team line-up, he has devoted less time to solo events, but the World and European champion is likely to be a contender across this, as well as his team and Mixed Duet disciplines.

Gustavo Sanchez of Colombia is the most experienced athlete in the men’s field and a seasoned medal-winner, who along with Diego Villalobos Carrillo (MEX) and Viktor Druzin (KAZ), should have strong podium potential.

18-year-old Mari Alavidze of Georgia leads the overall standings despite only attaining one podium finish so far this season, with second place in the Women’s Solo Free in Markham.

Although a consistent performer, as is second-placed Rachel Thean of Singapore and Kazak swimmer Karina Magrupova, the major medal challenges are likely to be posed by other athletes in the field.

Germany’s Klara Bleyer has built on last season’s breakthrough campaign with a two solo titles on the World Cup circuit in 2025 and claimed a historic European title for her nation last week.

The progress of Olympic team bronze medal winning Spanish athlete Iris Tio Casas has been keenly watched this season, with the 22-year-old finally given the opportunity to showcase her individual talents and Tech success in Paris demonstrated her potential.

Vasilina Khandoshka may be sixth in the overall rankings, but that is largely owing to the fact she did not compete in Markham. Across the four events in the other two World Cup legs she placed on the podium in each, marking her out as a clear one-to-watch in China.

Doha 2024 World championship bronze medallist Xu Huiyan is the one many fans of the sport will be backing for success in her homeland though.

She won double gold in her solo debut at the Beijing leg of the 2024 World Cup and has placed no lower than second in her seven subsequent individual outings.

To find out where to watch the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup Super Final in Xi’an, China, check out our Where to Watch Guide. 

For a full run-down of the event schedule, visit World Aquatics’ Xi’an 2025 event page.

Mya Lesnar is a national champion — again.

And this time, the CSU senior did it at Hayward Field to become the Rams’ first outdoor national champ in 20 years.

Lesnar, the NCAA indoor shot put national champion in 2024, won the same event at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships on Thursday in Eugene, Ore., with a throw of 19.01 meters.

She came into this week’s meet as the top seed in the shot put and didn’t disappoint.

The daughter of WWE star Brock Lesnar hit the winning mark on her very first throw and was the only competitor to top 19 meters in the event. The victory came a year after she placed fifth in the event at the outdoor meet and continued the Rams’ tradition of strong throwers.

The last Rams outdoor national champion, Loree Smith, won the hammer throw in 2005. And Lesnar was joined by two other throwers at this week’s meet: Kajsa Borrman was 21st in the hammer earlier Thursday and Klaire Kovatch will throw in the discus on Saturday.

The easy part for Utah Valley was to accept the invitation to join the Big West Conference.

Now comes the hard work of getting ready to make the move.

The Wolverines have more than a year left to compete in the Western Athletic Conference and while some sports — men’s basketball, baseball and women’s soccer, for example — seem ready to take on the challenge, others will have to step up their game to be competitive in the Big West.

“It’s something we’ve been talking about with our coaches,” UVU Director of Athletics Jared Sumison said. “We’re excited to be in the WAC for the next year and that will give us time to prepare. We need to get better competitively in some sports. Our facilities are really good but there are a couple where we can do some upgrades and get prepared for the Big West move.

“We’re in a place right now where our coaches are already preparing for recruiting and for the opportunity ahead of us. It’s a more competitive league so a lot of our sports are going to have to ramp up. It comes down to fundraising and friend-raising.”

UVU Vice President Val Peterson said he sees great advantages in the Big West in terms of competition, stability and level of play.

“Facilities will be something we’ll continue to work on,” Peterson said. “On the drawing board we have a student athletic academic building. We need to continue to maintain our academics. It’s important to us an as institution to have success in the classroom. Our coaches are recruiting to be competitive in the Big West.

“I think our coaches are up to the challenge and are excited about it. They are already out looking for the right student-athletes to be part of our program. The college athletic landscape continues to change very rapidly and we’re making sure we’re adjusting to that. I think our profile fits nicely with the Big West.”

League commissioner Dan Butterly said as the Big West moves to 11 teams his office will take an active role in helping Utah Valley prepare for membership.

“UVU is the largest public institution in the state of Utah,” Butterly said. “They have a strong, diversified academic profile, tremendous leadership and a strong athletic program with many championship teams. We’ll be ramping UVU up to the Big West bylaws and our policies and procedures. We’ll be getting to know their staff. One big initiative will be working with UVU in changing their conference logo out in all of their facilities.”

When Utah Valley joins the Big West on July 1, 2026, it will be the only program in the conference not based in California.

“As we looked at UVU, we did our campus visit early in February,” Butterly said. “We can see how easy it is to get to UVU and we enjoyed walking through their facilities. One of our board members said, ‘We’re not named the Big California, we’re named the Big West.’ We’re excited to get the state of Utah back to the footprint of the Big West.”

Utah State competed in the Big West from 1978 to 2005.

“Our fans have really started to travel better,” Peterson said. “It will be a lot easier for our fans to go to California and a lot of our fans are already planning trips to our games out there. Utah Valley will be a better traveling school as we go into the Big West.”

Big West Conference 2026

Hawaii and Cal Davis are headed to the Mountain West Conference and Utah Valley will join the Big West, making it an 11-team league. Here’s what the Big West will look like in 2026.

Cal Poly

The Mustangs swept the Big West 2025 Track and Field Championships, winning both the men’s and women’s team titles, and also won both of the league’s cross country titles.

Cal State Bakersfield

The Roadrunners made the transition to Division I in 2006 and became a full member in 2010. Bakersfield’s last league championship came in 2004 (men’s swimming and diving).

Cal State Fullerton

The Titans women’s golf team won the Big West Championship and was the first-ever No. 10 regional seed to advance to the NCAA Finals.

Long Beach State

The 49ers won the 2025 NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship, defeating back-to-back defending champion UCLA in three sets.

Cal State Northridge

The Matadors are one of just 45 schools in the nation with a beach volleyball program. The men’s soccer team reached the third round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament.

UC Irvine

The Anteaters won their first-ever Big West Commissioner’s Cup for the 2024-25 season, getting top three points in 11 of the 17 league-sponsored sports.

UC Riverside

The Highlanders produced five national championship teams in baseball and women’s volleyball at the Division II level.

UC San Diego

The Tritons accepted a No. 12 seed in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, losing to No. 5 Michigan 68-65 in the first round to finish with a 30-5 record.

UC Santa Barbara

The Gauchos Manu Duah was the No. 1 selection in the 2025 Major League Soccer SuperDraft by San Diego FC.

California Baptist

The Lancers compete in 21 intercollegiate varsity sports including water polo, stunt, cheerleading and dance.

Utah Valley

The Wolverines join the Big West on July 1, 2026 and will have the premier soccer facility in the league. The $20. million UCCU Stadium, which seats 3,000 spectators and includes luxury seats, opens this fall.