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Twins Minor League Report (5/15)

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7 months ago

May 16, 2025

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The Twins streak now stands at 11 consecutive wins, and they have had contributions from more than just the current 26-man roster. St. Paul played two games in Des Moines. You’ll want to see how #McCrusher did. You may not want to see how Marco Raya did? Wichita got some solid pitching, but very little offense. Speaking of offense, you will definitely want to see how things went in Cedar Rapids on Thursday night. An “electric” prospect began his rehab assignment with a couple of hits for the Mighty Mussels. And, a rough streak came to an end in the FCL. It was a busy day in the Twins organization on Thursday.

CURRENT W-L Records
Minnesota Twins: 24-20
St. Paul Saints: 21-18
Wichita Wind Surge: 20-16
Cedar Rapids Kernels: 21-14
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 16-20
FCL Twins: 5-3
DSL Twins: Scheduled to start on June 2.

TRANSACTIONS
On Thursday morning, the Twins optioned RHP Simeon Woods Richardson to St. Paul. LHP Kody Funderburk, who was the Twins 27th man for Wednesday’s double header, will remain with the team on the 26-man roster.

Infielder Armando Alvarez was activated by the Saints before their Thursday afternoon doubleheader.

Infielder Payton Eeles begins his rehab assignment following offseason knee surgery with the Mighty Mussels.

Unfortunately, Fort Myers put their top hitter, Jay Thomason, on the 7-Day Injured List with a right ankle sprain.

SAINTS SENTINEL
Game 1: St. Paul 3, Iowa 8
Box Score
Marco Raya needed 35 pitches to get through the first inning in his previous outing. Was Thursday’s start any better?

Matt Shaw singled to lead off but was erased on a fielder’s choice. He walked Jonathan Long, but Carlos Perez struck out. A walk to Christian Franklin filled the bases. James Triantos came to the plate. With a 2-2 count, on Raya’s 28th pitch, Triantos doubled to empty the bases. One pitch later, Raya was out of the inning.

In the bottom of the second inning, Raya got a groundout to start things. A walk to Shaw was followed by a strikeout and a pop out.

Raya started the third inning. He gave up a leadoff double but then got the next two batters to ground out. He walked a batter, and that was it for his day. Travis Adams came on and got the final out without any further damage.

Raya was charged with three runs on three hits and five walks in 2 2/3 innings. He had two strikeouts. He reached 67 pitches, but just 32 of them were strikes.

Adams had a rough fourth inning in which he gave up four runs, but with the doubleheader, he had to work through it and, to some degree, had to eat some for the team. He went the final 3 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on five hits and a walk.

Down 7-0 going into the fifth inning, the Saints tried to mount a comeback. Emmanuel Rodriguez led off with his fifth double. Jair Camargo followed with his second home run of the season to cut the deficit to 7-2.

Those two hits accounted for two of the Saints six hits in the game. Carson McCusker went 3-for-3 in the game.

Game 2: St. Paul 7, Iowa 8
Box Score
The Saints got out to an early lead in the second game, but the late-inning bullpen struggled to close the door in the bottom of the seventh and then again in the bottom of the eighth.

Let’s start with the positive, at least from the pitching standpoint. Darren McCaughan started and gave up one run on six hits over five innings. He walked one and struck out five batters. The lone run he gave up was on a Matt Shaw home run in the bottom of the first inning.

The Saints took the lead in the second frame. With two outs, Will Holland doubled to drive in Jeferson Morales. Holland scored on a wild pitch.

St. Paul added two more in the third inning. Carson McCusker led off with a double. He scored on a Mike Ford single. It was a bit station-to-station with Ford leading the way. Armando Alvarez singled Ford to second. Jair Camargo singled Ford to third. Next, Morales hit a sacrifice fly to left field, deep enough to score Ford from third.

Fast-forward to the top of the seventh inning. The Saints were ahead 4-1 and added one more for insurance. Mike Ford doubled and scored on an Emmanuel Rodriguez triple to make it 5-1. A good lead with just three outs to go.

Jacob Bosiokovic came in to replace Ryan Jensen who pitched a scoreless sixth inning despite giving up two hits and two walks. The I-Cubs came out attacking the zone. Just eight pitches into the bottom of the seventh, it was a one-run game at 5-4. Owen Caissie doubled. Jonathan Long switched places with him. Reese McGuire hit a two-run homer.

But Bosiokovic settled a bit. He got a fly out and a ground out. The Cubs called upon Carlos Perez to pinch hit, and he hit the third pitch he saw 413 feet to tie the game at 5-5.

To extra innings, we go, err, they went! In the top of the eighth, Jair Camargo was the Manfred Man on second base. Morales was hit by a pitch. Two outs later, there were still runners on first and third. However, Mickey Gasper came up big again for the Saints and drilled a two-run double.

With a two-run lead, the Saints turned to lefty Brady Feigl. With a runner on second base, Royce Lewis’s high school teammate Chase Strumpf hit Feigl’s seventh pitch out of the park for his seventh home run of the season. Game tied.

One pitch later, Matt Shaw must have been guessing first-pitch changeup because that’s what he got and he stayed back and drilled it over the wall in right-center field for the walkoff I-Cubs win.

The Iowa Cubs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. This roster is filled with top prospects despite recent promotions of RHP Cade Horton and C/1B Moises Ballesteros to the big leagues. For more on the Cubs, check out our sister site, North Side Baseball. Here are their Top 20 Cubs prospects.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 3, Arkansas 5
Box Score
The Wind Surge have been a bit streaky early this season. In this game, they got some solid pitching but just couldn’t push enough runs across the plate.

Lefty Aaron Rozek started and was charged with two runs on six hits and two walks over five innings. He had six strikeouts. John Klein came on and gave up an unearned run on one hit and one walk over his three innings. He had four strikeouts. Michael Martinez came in for the ninth inning and gave up two runs on two hits. The big blow was a two-run homer off the bat of Hunter Fitz-Gerald.

The battery did help itself a few times. Ricardo Olivar picked a runner off of third base. Rozek and Klein each picked a runner off of second base. In fact, in the top of the fifth, the second out came on Olivar’s pick off and was immediately followed by Rozek picking off a runner at second. That could be a momentum changer.

Down 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Ben Ross led off with a walk and stole second base. He scored on a Noah Cardenas double. Aaron Sabato lined a single to left, pushing Cardenas to third base. Tyler Dearden flew out, but it was deep enough to score Cardenas and tie the game at 2-2.

In the top of the sixth, Klein entered. With one out, an infield single with a throwing error put a runner on second base. The next batter grounded back to the mound, but a throwing error pushed the unearned run across the plate. Klein might have been Minnesota Upset, because he got the last two batters that inning to strike out.

In the bottom of the sixth, Kala’i Rosario doubled with one out and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Kyler Fedko drove him in with a sacrifice fly that tied things at 3-3.

Offensively, the Kernels managed just six hits and a walk. Rosario’s double was his fifth, and Cardenas’s was his fourth. Ross was the only Surge hitter to reach twice, on a single and a walk.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 15, Peoria 7
Box Score
This Cedar Rapids lineup is capable of this kind of offensive outburst on any given day or night. They have immense, and very young, talent and enjoy hitting. On Thursday night in Iowa, one of their key instigators returned to the lineup after missing a week, and things clicked throughout the lineup.

A week ago, Kyle DeBarge was hit by a pitch and hasn’t played since. He returned to the lineup and immediately had an impression. In addition, on Wednesday night, Kaelen Culpepper took off from third base on The Contact Play ® and slid arms-first into the catcher. It appeared that he may have had a stinger, but it could have been much worse. It was good to see him atop the lineup again on Thursday.

With one out in the bottom of the first inning, DeBarge walked. Brandon Winkour followed with a double, but a perfect relay got DeBarge at the plate. Fortunately, Gabriel Gonzalez crushed a home run to center field to give the Kernels a 2-0 lead.

High-ceiling Jose Olivares started for the Kernels. He put two zeroes on the board before giving up four runs in the top of the third inning.

So down 4-2 going to the bottom of the third, but Kernels batters went back to work. Jaime Ferrer led off with a single. Kaelen Culpepper was hit by a pitch. Kyle DeBarge singled to load the bases. Brandon Winokur drove in two runs with his 10th double of the season. Gabriel Gonzalez drove in two more when he switched spots with Winokur after hitting his 10th double. With one out, Khadim Diaw hit a long, two-run homer, his second of the season, to give the Kernels a six-run inning, and an 8-4 lead.

Culpepper led off the fourth with a single, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. He was still standing there with two outs, but Gonzalez came through again, driving in the Twins 2024 top pick with his 11th double.

The fifth inning began with Khadim Diaw’s second home run of the game and third of the season, but they didn’t stop there, at 10 runs. Nate Baez singled. Caden Kendle singled. Baez scored on Jaime Ferrer’s double. It marked his fourth straight multi-hit game. Culpepper was hit by a pitch for the second time which loaded the bases again. DeBarge lined a double down the left field line and all three runners scored to stretch the lead to 14-4. With one out, Gonzalez lined his fourth hit of the game. This time it was a single to drive in DeBarge for the Kernels 15th run. All four of Gonzalez’s hits produced at least one run.

Samuel Perez tossed two scoreless innings to improve to 2-0. Paulshawn Pasqualotto gave up a solo homer but got three strikeouts in his inning. Gabriel Yanez gave up two runs on five hits over two innings. Juan Mercedes gave up a hit and a walk but no runs in the ninth.

Kaelen Culpepper – single, twice hit by pitch, stole base, three runs
Kyle DeBarge – single, double, two walks, two runs, 3 RBI
Brandon Winokur – two doubles, two runs, two RBI
Gabriel Gonzalez – single, two doubles, home run, two runs, six RBI
Danny De Andrade – single
Khadim Diaw – two home runs, two runs, three RBI
Nate Baez – two singles, two walks.
Caden Kendle – single
Jaime Ferrer – single, double, walk, two runs, one RBI.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 6, Jupiter 12
Box Score
Payton Eeles was in a lineup for the first time in 2025. He returned after having offseason knee surgery. In his first rehab game, he batted second and played second base. He went 2-for-3 and scored a run.

Following the game, Eeles told Twins Daily, “(It) felt really good tonight, excited to be out there again. Was out for way too long.”

Based on my DMs and messages, I think that Twins Daily readers are thrilled that Eeles is working his way back and we get to see his name in box scores again.

Maddux Houghton went 2-for-3 with two walks. He hit his first triple and scored three runs. He also stole two bases. Miguel Briceno went 2-for-4 with a walk. Peyton Carr walked three times.

Overall, the Mussels were 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position and left 12 on base.

Michael Carpenter gave up four runs on six hits over a career-high three innings. He had three strikeouts with no walks. Jakob Hall came on. He gave up seven runs on nine hits and a walk. He had five strikeouts. Ivran Romero gave up a run on two hits in his inning. He struck out two batters. Devin Kirby had a strikeout in a perfect inning.

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Twins 1, FCL Rays 2
Box Score
In the FCL Twins first game of the season, Eduardo Beltre hit a grand slam in his second at-bat. Since then, in these Twins Daily minor-league reports, his name hasn’t been mentioned with another hit. However, on Thursday, Beltre led off the game with a solid single, ending an 0-for-19 streak.

With one out, he stole second base, and one batter later scored on a single by Bryan Acuna to give the Twins a 1-0 lead after a half-inning.

Unfortunately, that was it for runs for the Twins. In fact, the only other hit was a double by Acuna.

Melvin Rodriguez got the start for the Twins. He gave up two runs on two hits and two walks. He had one strikeout. Ruddy Gomez got the next two innings. He gave up three hits, but no runs and no walks. He struck out three batters. Santiago Rojas pitched a perfect sixth inning.

Not a lot of highlights in this one Beltre’s streak ended, and Bryan Acuna had a single and his second double.

PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Hitter of the Day
Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids): 4-for-6, 2-2B(11), HR(5), 2 R, 6 RBI, 2 K.
Carson McCusker (St. Paul): 5-for-7, BB, 2-2B(11), R, K.

Pitcher of the Day
Darren McCaughan (St. Paul): 5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 5 K. 85 pitches, 55 strikes (64.7%)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our updated Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did on Thursday.

#3 – Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul) – Game 1: 1-for-3, 2B(5), R; Game 2: 2-for-4, 2B(6), 3B(1), RBI, K
#6 – Kaelen Culpepper (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-4, 2 HBP, 3 R, 2 K, SB(7).
#9 – Brandon Winokur (Cedar Rapids) – 2-for-4, 2-2B(10), 2 R, 2 RBI, K.
#11 – Kyle DeBarge (Cedar Rapids) – 2-for-4, 2 BB, 2B(6), 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 K.
#14 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) – 4-for-6, 2-2B(11), HR(5), 2 R, 6 RBI, 2 K
#16 – Eduardo Beltre (FCL Twins) – 1-for-2, BB, R, K, SB(4)
#18 – Yasser Mercedes (Fort Myers) – 1-for-5, 2 K. OF Assist.
#19 – Carson McCusker (St. Paul) – Game 1: 3-for-3, Game 2: 2-for-4, BB, 2-2B(11), R, K
#20 – Ricardo Olivar (Wichita) – 0-for-4.

FRIDAY PITCHING PROBABLES
Minnesota @ Milwaukee (7:10 PM CDT) – Joe Ryan (3-2, 2.74 ERA)
St. Paul @ Iowa (7:08 PM CDT) – RHP Zebby Matthews (2-1, 1.93 ERA)?
Arkansas @ Wichita (6:35 PM CDT) – LHP Christian MacLeod (0-1, 1.38 ERA)
Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 PM CDT) – Jeremy Lee (2-2, 8.20 ERA)
Fort Myers @ Jupiter (5:30 PM CDT) – RHP Dylan Questad (1-1, 3.86 ERA)
FCL Red Sox @ FCL Twins (11:00 AM CDT) – TBD

Please feel free to ask questions about the teams, the roster, and discuss Thursday’s games, or anything else Twins minor-league related!

Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins’ top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!

View Twins Top Prospects

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December 8, 2025

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Women’s Lacrosse Brings On 12 New Faces for 2026-27 Academic Year

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19 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

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RIVERDALE, NY – Manhattan Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Jenna Dingler has announced 12 additions to the Jaspers program ahead of the 2026-27 academic year, on Monday afternoon. These names include Mary Kate Cappiello, Gianna Cirelli, Gianna Felicetti, Maddie Francis, Gwen Gyurovits, Molly McCann, Maggie Piatt, Kennedy Poser, Ellie Scardina, Gabrielle Sohngen, Morgan Rodoff, and Capri Valentino.

Mary Kate Capiello – Midfield – Drexel Hill, PA

Prior to College: Four years of varsity lacrosse at Bonner Prendie Catholic High School … Stands at 92 goals and over 100 career assists … Four Time All-Catholic Selection … Played basketball, field hockey, track, and soccer as well at the varsity level … Team Captain for both basketball and lacrosse … Four years of student council.

Why Cappiello Chose Manhattan: “I chose Manhattan for the welcoming community and the way it felt like home right when I got to campus. I love both the coaches and atmosphere here.”

Dingler Quote: “Mary Kate is a versatile, athletic midfielder who brings a competitive edge and toughness to the midfield.”

Gianna Cirelli – Midfield – Mahopac, NY

Prior to College: Played three years of varsity lacrosse at Mahopac High School … Tallied 87 goals, 101 ground balls, 27 assists, and 63 draw controls in her ongoing career … Also been a varsity cheerleader, track runner, and tennis player … All-Section and All-League selections … Honor Roll first three years of high school.

Why Cirelli Chose Manhattan: “I chose to go to Manhattan University to play Division I women’s lacrosse because I love the beautiful campus and the supportive community it offers. Manhattan offers amazing opportunities to student-athletes, such as amazing training facilities and coaching to strong acadmemic support. This helps me balance both my academics and sports. Their psychology program is known to be amazing which will challenge and inspire me to grow both on and off the field. Manhatttan felt like the perfect place to call home while being able to pursue my passion for lacrosse and getting a great education, along with making lifelong friends.”

Dingler Quote: “Gianna is a small, but mighty attacker out of Mahopac High. She will bring speed, skill, and a high-level of playmaking ability to the offensive end.”

Gianna Felicetti – Attack – Lindenhurst, NY

Prior to College: Two seasons of varsity lacrosse at Kellenberg Memorial High School … Accumulated 70 draw controls, 25 goals, and 20 assists … Honor Roll student … Played at the club level for Long Island Top Guns.

Why Felicetti Chose Manhattan: “I love the atmosphere, coaches, campus, and location.”

Dingler Quote: “Gianna will bring size, power, and versatility to both the offense and the draw circle.”

Maddie Francis – Attack – Simsbury, CT

Prior to College: Four years of varsity lacrosse from Simsbury High School … Netted over 100 career points … CIAC Class L State Champions in the spring of 2025 with Simsbury … First Team All-State and CCC All-Conference past two seasons … High Honor Roll and AP Scholar.

Why Francis Chose Manhattan: “I chose Manhattan because I loved the lacrosse program and absolutely fell in love with the campus! I love having all the opportunities that Manhattan offers me!”

Dingler Quote: “Maddie will come in as a creative attacker, bringing quickness, vision, and playmaking ability to our offense.”

Gwen Gyurovits – Attack – Voorheesville, NY

Prior to College: Five years of varsity lacrosse at Voorheesville High School … Accumulated 130 goals and 96 assists for a total of 226 points … Three-Time First-Team Colonial Council All-Star … Times Union Athlete of the Week … Also played two years of varsity soccer.

Why Gyurovits Chose Manhattan: “I chose Manhattan because the coaches along with the players on the team had great energy and made me feel very welcome when I first met them. The campus and its location was appealing. Along with the campus, I loved the city environment around it.”

Dingler Quote: “Coming in as a dynamic draw specialist and midfielder, Gwen adds strength, skill, and fierce competitiveness to our unit.”

Molly McCann – Goalkeeper – Hatboro, PA

Prior to College: Played varsity lacrosse at Upper Moreland High School … Recorded over 100 career saves in her first season as goalkeeper … Breakout Player of the Year (2024) … Member of National Honors Society … Top 9% of graduating class.

Why McCann Chose Manhattan: “I chose Manhattan University because overall it was such a great fit for me. The campus is beautiful in a perfect location, a good mixture of the neighborhood of Riverdale and a 35 minute subway to Times Square and just over 90 minutes from my home. Manhattan was filled with such friendly people walking on campus, professors, coaches, and teammates. Manhattan is very well known for their engineering program which I want to pursue in college, as they just got a new building for engineering! Being a part of a great conference like the MAAC, I’m looking forward to my upcoming years at Manhattan!”

Dingler Quote: “As a lifelong lacrosse player, Molly brings energy, competitiveness, and a steady presence between the pipes. She will be ready to make an immediate impact.”

Maggie Piatt – Attack – Indianapolis, IN

Prior to College: Four years of varsity lacrosse at Bishop Chatard High School … Led the state in assists, led team for last three seasons in both goals and assists … All-Conference and All-Area selection … Honorable Mention All-State … National Honors Society member and Honor Roll selection.

Why Piatt Chose Manhattan: “I chose Manhattan for the diversity, as well as a new experience away from home.”

Dingler Quote: “Maggie brings size, power, and versatility to the offense and draw circle.”

Kennedy Poser – Midfield – Monmouth Beach, NJ

Prior to College: Two years of varsity lacrosse at Ranney School … Tacked on 76 goals, 74 ground balls, 14 assists, 128 draw controls, and 33 forced turnovers … Shore conference Leader in goals scored and draw controls (2025) … First-Team Independence Division (2025).

Why Poser Chose Manhattan: “I chose Manhattan because I wanted to both be in the city and play lacrosse.”

Dingler Quote: “Coming in as a skilled, competitive midfielder, Kennedy brings speed, talent, and a strong work ethic.”

Ellie Scardina – Defense – Farmingdale, NY

Prior to College: Played varsity lacrosse at both Farmingdale and Saint Dominic High School in Oyster Bay … Two-time All-League … Accumulated 31 caused turnovers, 22 goals, and 16 assists … Varsity starter since freshman season … Two-time scholar athlete.

Why Scardina Chose Manhattan: “I chose Manhattan because I love the atmosphere and the welcoming I got when I first stepped onto campus, it felt like home.”

Dingler Quote: “Coming in as a tough and talented defender, Ellie brings grit, discipline, and a lockdown presence to the defense.”

Gabrielle Sohngen – Defense – Port Jefferson Station, NY

Prior to College: Four years of varsity lacrosse at Comsewogue High School … Anchored the defense for her team in that time … Unsung Hero Award and Warrior Award … Also plays varsity field hockey … National Honors Society member.

Why Sohngen Chose Manhattan: “I chose to attend Manhattan University because of the atmosphere and people. The team dynamic is amazing and it felt like home to me. The teammates, coaches, and staff all made me feel so welcomed. I love that the classes are smaller which enables me to get more individualized instruction and enforces a better learning environment.”

Dingler Quote: “Being a hardworking defender, Gabrielle adds toughness, determination, and a team-first approach.”

Morgan Rodoff – Defense – Lansdale, PA

Prior to College: Four years of varsity lacrosse at North Penn High School … All-League Suburban One … Honor Roll selection.

Why Rodoff Chose Manhattan: “I chose Manhattan for the location, the academics, and the super welcoming team and coaching staff.”

Dingler Quote: “Steady and strong, Morgan brings good energy, a relentless work ethic, and a commanding defensive presence.”

Capri Valentino – Attack – Allentown, NJ

Prior to College: Four years of varsity lacrosse and team captain at Notre Dame High School in Lawrence, NJ … Career statistics include 137 goals, 121 assists for a total of 258 points, along with 50 ground balls, 16 draw controls, and three forced turnovers … All-Trentonian Attacker of the Year … All-CVC First-Team … Honor Roll selection.

Why Valentino Chose Manhattan: “I chose Manhattan because I loved the coaching staff, and I’ve been going to NYC since I was little and I cannot wait to live there. I’m super excited to be a part of the lacrosse program, it seemed like a family and I can’t wait to take part in the team bonding.”

Dingler Quote: “A highly decorated attacker, Capri brings creativity, precision, and a pure scorer’s mindset. Her vision of the attack will add a ton of value to our offensive unit.”

Follow Manhattan Women’s Lacrosse on X (@ManhattanWLax) and Instagram (@ManhattanWLacrosse_).

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Vixen Volleyball Serves Up Comeback Season • Sweet Briar College

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35 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

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Starting in August, Williams Gym welcomed back the sound of balls bouncing, sneakers squeaking, and the scoreboard buzzing as Vixen volleyball returned to Sweet Briar.

Previously active from 1979-2010, the volleyball program saw success on the court with three student-athletes named to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) All-Conference Team in 1995, 2001, and 2002. In spring 2025, Vixen Athletics announced the return of the program, giving new life to volleyball at Sweet Briar. To lead that charge, AJ Escobar was tapped to serve as head coach.

Girl hits volleyball Mila Mutabdzija ’28 returns the ball.“Our goal was to try and get 1% percent better every day. We focused on small statistical increments and really understanding what volleyball means to Sweet Briar,” Escobar said.

Starting a new program involves facing numerous challenges, chief among them recruiting a team and preparing for competition. In lieu of taking a year to plan and recruit, Escobar jumped right in to start a season of independent competition. This year’s roster was composed of 12 student-athletes, including returning students, incoming first years, and transfers. Escobar, accompanied by Gracyn Wright ’28, came to Sweet Briar from St. Andrews University following the announcement of the university’s closure.

“From the moment he arrived on campus, Coach Escobar has shown exactly the kind of vision, energy, and resilience we were looking for to bring volleyball back to Sweet Briar,” said Director of Athletics Donna Meyer Hodgert ’89. “He has faced every obstacle head-on—from a roster of largely inexperienced athletes to jumping straight into NCAA competition without a recruiting year—and he’s done it with unwavering positivity. Coach Escobar’s determination, and belief in our student-athletes have already reenergized our program and laid a foundation for the future of Sweet Briar volleyball.”

When looking at the current student body to fill out the team’s roster, Escobar sought out athletes that understand Sweet Briar and know what it means to be a Vixen.

“Many on the team were already a part of the College. They know how the school runs, they know what’s expected, and they know how to be a part of Sweet Briar,” Escobar said. “That was my biggest thing when I was holding tryouts in August, finding athletes that fit those criteria. We also benefited from students who brought true athleticism to the team.”

Among those who joined the team as a returning student was Clara Delattre ’25, a senior leader on campus who brought a lot of assistance to Escobar and the team. The comeback season featured a full schedule of 21 games, offering the Vixens many opportunities to strengthen their skills and build the foundation of the program.

“Rebuilding the volleyball team has been an incredible experience,” said Rachael Hunt ’29. “I met an amazing group of girls, forged strong bonds that I’ve never found anywhere else, and my athletic capabilities were explored in ways that have been unique to this team.”

Volleyball players block ball Two Vixens block a shot from the opposing team.For Escobar, the main focus of the season, and the program long-term, is to build competitiveness. While the team didn’t earn any wins during its inaugural season, they saw consistent and impressive improvement, including a 31% decrease in average reception errors and a 49% increase in digs per game from the first seven games to their last seven games. Looking ahead, Escobar has an ambitious three-year plan, from securing a conference win next year to making the ODAC tournament by their fourth season back.

“In three years, I’d love to be established in the ODAC as a fierce team, having a consistent and competitive atmosphere,” he said. “The support from Donna Hodgert, Brian Hensley, Nicole Schimmenti, our athletic trainers, and everyone in Athletics, as well as President Hutson, throughout a chaotic start was absolutely amazing and fantastic. I’m very appreciative of them. They do their jobs very well. Thank you.”

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Introducing Vandal Volleyball’s Fall Signees, Gabby Marshall & Zola Zuccolo

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51 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

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MOSCOW, Idaho – As they prepare for the upcoming season, Idaho Volleyball continues to strengthen the foundation of the program’s culture. The additions of incoming freshmen Gabby Marshall and Zola Zuccolo reflect the commitment head coach Romana Redondo Kriskova and her staff have made to bringing in athletes who elevate the standard through both mindset and character.

Coming off of a season with a team composed mostly of athletes in their first tear in black and gold, Idaho finished with one of the more successful campaigns since the program’s most recent conference championship appearance in 2018. For a program on a rise unseen in recent years, Marshall and Zuccolo are the next pieces to pursue Idaho’s return to the postseason.

MEET GABBY

An incoming freshman middle blocker from Hershey, Pa, Marshall is one of two newcomers joining the Vandals’ 2026 roster. She spent four years competing with Fusion Volleyball Club and was a three-year starter at Hershey High School, where she established herself as a dominant presence at the net on both offense and defense.

The 6’2″ middle brings tremendous length to the net, posting an 8’2″ standing reach and a 10-foot flat approach jump. Her size, paired with strong timing and anticipation, allows her to consistently shut down opponents’ attacks, disrupt offensive rhythm, and anchor the defense.

Marshall is also engaged in service, volunteering with Special Olympics and initiatives supporting students with developmental delays or additional needs. Academically, she plans to major in Biology and pursue a Bachelor of Science degree.

“I’ve always loved the quote “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard,'” said Marshall. “What drew me to Idaho was just how different it was from all the other colleges I had offers from. The team and the coaches were exactly what I was looking for. I’m so excited to be a Vandal that it still feels a little weird saying it.”

MEET ZOLA

Coming to Idaho from Beaverton, Oregon, Zuccolo brings strong club and high-school experience, adding depth to the setter position. She was a two-year varsity starter at Jesuit High School, helping lead the program to the 6A State Championship and an undefeated 12–0 league record. After her senior season, she earned OSAA First Team All-State honors. Zuccolo also competed with Athena Volleyball Academy, where she played on the 18 Gold National Team.

Zuccolo had an outstanding high school career, capped by an even stronger senior season at Jesuit. As the Crusaders’ setter, she recorded 567 assists, ranking among the top five totals in the state of Oregon. She also added 143 digs, 44 service aces, and 22 total blocks. Her offensive impact and all-around consistency position her well to make a strong transition at the collegiate level.

FOLLOW THE VANDALS

To stay up to date with Vandal Volleyball, follow the team on Instagram (vandalvolleyball), X (IdahoVolleyball) and visit govandals.com

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No. 12 BYU to face No. 22 Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl – BYU Athletics – Official Athletics Website

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2 hours ago

December 8, 2025

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PROVO, Utah — No. 12 BYU has accepted an invitation to play No. 22 Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, on Saturday, Dec. 27. The game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast nationally on ABC.

The Cougars (11-2) and Yellow Jackets (9-3) are being featured in the 36th edition of the annual bowl game played in Florida that first began in Miami as the Blockbuster Bowl in 1990. This year’s game will be the third year under Pop-Tarts’ title partnership and the 25th played at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium.

This is BYU’s 42nd bowl invitation which ranks No. 24 all-time among FBS teams. Georgia Tech is playing in its 48th bowl game, ranking No. 15.

Series History
This will be the fifth meeting between BYU and Georgia Tech in a series that started in 2002. The Cougars own a 3-1 advantage to date, with a 2-0 record in Provo and 1-1 mark in Atlanta. This will be the first bowl matchup and neutral site game between the two schools. The last meeting was 38-20 BYU win at LaVell Edwards Stadium in 2013. Georgia Tech won the first game in Atlanta by a 28-19 score.

Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech achieved a 9-3 record, including victories over then No. 12 Clemson and eventual ACC Champion Duke, to earn a No. 22 final CFP ranking on Sunday. Like BYU, the Yellow Jackets started the year with an 8-0 record to earn a top-10 ranking in the major national polls. Tech is coming off a hard-fought 16-9 defeat against now SEC champion No. 3 Georgia in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Georgia Tech and BYU played one common opponent during the 2025 season. The Yellow Jackets opened the year with a 27-20 victory over Colorado of the Big 12 in Boulder. The Cougars also visited Boulder this year, opening Big 12 Conference play on the road against the Buffaloes with a 24-21 come-from-behind victory.

The Yellow Jackets boast an offense that ranks No. 12 in the nation, producing 466.3 yards per game with a balanced attack. Tech is ranked No. 19 in rushing offense at 203 yards on the ground on average and No. 29 in passing offense at 263.3 yards per game.

BYU Cougars
Led by 2025 Big 12 Coach of the year Kalani Sitake, BYU achieved its fourth double-digit victory season in the past six years and was one of just 10 FBS teams to finish the 2025 regular season with 11 or more victories. The Cougars reached the 11-win mark for the second consecutive season and for the fourth time under Sitake among a total of 14 overall 11-victory campaigns in the history of the program.

The Cougars have tied for the best conference record in back-to-back seasons and this year finished as the league runner-up after falling for the second time this year to No. 4 Texas Tech on Saturday in the Big 12 Championship game. Sitake has led the Cougars to 22-4 over the past two seasons, the sixth-best record in all of the FBS with a an .846 win percentage.

BYU’s strong complementary football features the No. 19 scoring defense at 19.0 points per game and No. 34 scoring offense with 31.9 points per game. The Cougars were also among the best red zone teams on both sides of the ball, with the defense allowing scores just 72.92 percent of the time to rank No. 9 nationally and the offense scoring at a 92.45 percent clip inside the 20 for No. 10.

Ticket Info

BYU tickets for the Pop-Tarts Bowl go on sale on Monday morning. The Cougar Club and Corporate Sponsors will receive emails with their exclusive purchasing time windows and related codes and links to purchase tickets on Monday morning before tickets go on sale to the general public beginning at 11:15 a.m. MT. Fans can get more information about purchasing bowl tickets at BYUtickets.com.

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Eagles Flash Potential Despite Defeat at No. 3 South Carolina

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2 hours ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

COLUMBIA, S.C. – North Carolina Central gave an inspired effort in a 106-42 women’s basketball loss to national powerhouse South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena on Sunday.

Tierney Coleman scored a team-high 14 points for the Eagles, who led briefly early and gave glimpses of their potential as their non-conference season winds down. The NCCU guard was 5 of 8 from the floor, including a career-tying four three-pointers on six attempts. She added four rebounds and two steals.

Coleman scored 11 first-half points as the Eagles were energetic early. Aniya Finger, who finished with nine for the game, knocked down her first career three-pointer for a 3-2 NCCU lead.

Dianna Blake canned a short jumper to put the Eagles ahead 5-4, and Victoria Morris added a corner jumper to extend the margin to 7-4.

In the opening five minutes, NCCU was 4 of 8 from the floor for 50 percent, including 2 of 3 behind the three-point line for 67 percent.

The third-ranked Gamecocks stormed ahead 26-11, but Coleman wowed the crowd with a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the first quarter.

USC (9-1 overall) led the rest of the game, but the Eagles gave maximum effort. In the first half, the Eagles led the Gamecocks in field goal percentage (43.5 percent to 40.5 percent) and three-point field goal percentage (40 percent to 20 percent). NCCU was on fire in the second quarter, making 62.5 percent of its shots.

Coleman shot 4 of 7 in the first half, including 3 of 5 behind the three-point arc. She added three rebounds and two assists.

The Eagles (1-8 overall) made their last three jumpers to end the first half, including a Coleman three-pointer to slice the margin to 42-25. The Gamecocks led 46-25 at halftime.

The Gamecocks took complete control in the second half, winning the third quarter 28-2.

The Eagles continued to battle in the fourth quarter. Morris scored four points and Coleman and Aysia Hinton both added three points while Najah Lane dished out three assists in the final frame.

NEXT UP

The Eagles are off the rest of the week before traveling to face High Point on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m.

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.

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