Rock Hill, S.C. — Kyle Gramit has been announced by Head Coach Heather Gearhart as an assistant women’s volleyball coach on June 2, 2025.

“I’m excited to have someone of Kyle’s coaching and moral caliber join our staff,” Gearhart said. “He has a plethora of experience both as a coach and a player and is well-known for his volleyball acumen and the way he translates it to his players. He is passionate about developing his student-athletes on and off the court and preparing them for life after sport. I am looking forward to the ways that Kyle will elevate our program and bring his men’s volleyball coaching and playing experience to our gym.”

Gramit is joining the Eagles after seven years as a men’s volleyball assistant coach in the MIVA at Queens University in Charlotte. Gramit helped guide the Royals to back-to-back MIVA Tournament appearances in consecutive seasons. Prior to joining the MIVA, he helped them to a runner-up finish in the IVA Tournament in 2019, 2021, and 2022. Additionally, Gramit aided in coaching the 2021 Off The Block Independent Teams Player of the Year, JP Payne, as well as 2023 First Team All-IVA honoree Matthew Pilch and 2023 Second-Team All-IVA honorees Daniel Leitao and Jack Brinkman. Gramit also led Guillermo Jordan to a 2023 IVA Co-Defensive Player of the Year honor after a standout season averaging 2.21 digs per set (including a team-leading 199 total digs). Most recently, senior Brian Camacho was named a 2025 Scholar-Athlete of the year for the Queens Athletics department.

 

“I am very excited to join the Winthrop volleyball community and continue the excellence that Heather has created in her program,” said Gramit. “I am ready to get in the gym and get to work to reach our goals.”

 

In 2019, Queens finished the season ranked No. 6 among NCAA schools in team digs per set. In the shortened 2020 season, hitter Tristan Santoyo was among the NCAA leaders with 3.67 kills per set and middle JP Payne ranked among the nation’s Top 25 with a .365 hitting percentage.

 

Gramit also has coaching experience at Georgia Southern University as an assistant coach for the women’s volleyball team and an assistant coach with both the men’s and women’s volleyball programs at Limestone University. He was also involved with the Sports Performance Volleyball Club as a coach for over eight years.

 

Prior to his start in coaching, Gramit enjoyed a successful six-year playing career overseas. His list of accomplishments include winning the league championship with Sarkat Volley in 2014 when he was the third leading scorer, winning three major Swedish championships with Falkenberg in 2010-11 and finishing in the top-five in scoring in his league on four occasions.

 

Gramit was a former standout at George Mason University, in the record books for career totals in blocks, kills, digs and service aces. He was a three-time Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association all-conference outside and opposite hitter and a second-team All-America choice as a junior and selected for the USA Youth National Team.

 

 

 

An athlete, a musician, an exceptional high school student with an infectious smile.

This is how community members in Milford, Massachusetts, described Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, an 18-year-old high school junior who was arrested by immigration authorities and sent to a detention center this weekend.

Gomes Da Silva was driving his father’s car on his way to volleyball practice with some of his teammates Saturday morning when immigration authorities stopped him.

Immigration authorities made the traffic stop because they were looking for Gomes Da Silva’s father, who is unlawfully present in the country, according to Todd Lyons, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

After learning Gomes Da Silva was also unlawfully present in the U.S., ICE officers took him into custody, Lyons said Monday at a news conference.

Gomes Da Silva was born in Brazil but has attended Milford Public Schools since he was 6 years old, friends said.

Though “he was not the target of the investigation,” he was arrested during a monthlong immigration enforcement operation in Massachusetts that has resulted in the arrests of nearly 1,500 immigrants, Boston’s ICE Field Officer Patricia H. Hyde said at the news conference.

“When we go out into the community and we find others who are unlawfully here, we are going to arrest them,” Hyde said. “We’ve been completely transparent with that.”

An ICE spokesperson told NBC News in an email statement Monday afternoon that Gomes Da Silva “remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.”

In addition to Gomes Da Silva, a number of parents and school community members have been detained by ICE in recent weeks, according to Kevin McIntyre, superintendent of Milford Public Schools.

“We are all distraught by this news,” McIntyre told NBC Boston in a statement, adding that Milford Public Schools plays no part in immigration enforcement and supports all students and their families, including those who are immigrants.

“They are members of the community, students in our classrooms, athletes that compete representing Milford, musicians, artists, friends and neighbors,” the superintendent continued. “We will do everything in our power to support our students and families during these difficult times.”

A teammate of Gomes Da Silva who was in the car when they were pulled over by four vehicles and witnessed the ICE arrest Saturday texted their high school volleyball coach at around 8:30 a.m.

“I was sitting there thinking, ‘This can’t be happening,’” Andrew Mainini, the volleyball coach, told NBC Boston. “It’s one thing to see things happening in the world. It’s another to have them directly impact the people you work with and care for on a daily basis.”

‘Free Marcelo’

Gomes Da Silva was supposed to play the drums at his girlfriend’s high school graduation Sunday. His absence was palpable during Milford High School’s commencement as his bandmates performed without him, sparking a post-graduation protest demanding his release.

Hundreds of students still in their graduation gowns, teachers, relatives and other community members marched a mile to Milford Town Hall following the commencement ceremony — holding signs and chanting “Free Marcelo.”

Julianys Rentas Figueroa, Gomes Da Silva’s girlfriend, said she spoke with him on the phone after he was detained Saturday. He told her immigration authorities “put chains around his ankles, on his wrists,” Rentas Figueroa, still in her red graduation gown, told NBC Boston on Sunday. “I haven’t spoken to him since then. I don’t know how he’s doing.”

“I don’t understand why Marcelo was targeted. He’s been in Milford all his life,” Rentas Figueroa said.

Rentas Figueroa said Gomes Da Silva was transferred into two different holding facilities in Massachusetts over the weekend.

Diego Low, director of Metrowest Worker Center, an immigration advocacy group in Massachusetts, told NBC News that cousins of Gomes Da Silva had contacted the center after his detention.

“We are trying to support him,” Low said, adding that immigration attorneys are interceding on the family’s behalf to prevent Gomes Da Silva from being transferred to a detention center in another state.

Ana Julia Araujo, Gomes Da Silva’s cousin, said the 18-year-old’s younger siblings are questioning if they will ever him again.

Milford police said it was not involved, claiming ICE did not notify the department of the arrest.

“Marcelo is somebody that we don’t know. So, what does that tell you? If I don’t know you, if my officers don’t know you, there’s a reason we don’t know you. It’s because you’re probably not a troublemaker,” Chief Robert Tusino told NBC Boston.

Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement over the weekend that she is “disturbed and outraged” by Gomes Da Silva’s detention, adding that arrests like these are “making us all less safe.”

During Sunday’s protest, a friend of Gomes Da Silva who participated in the march told NBC Boston, “I am disgusted that I have to deal with this on graduation and see one of my greatest friends be taken away for no reason.”

“I just pray that we can make a difference because this is so depressing,” the girl, who was not named, said in tears.

STOCKTON, Calif. — Few freshmen in the country can claim three NorCal titles and two school records — but Jake Todden isn’t like most freshmen.

“I feel like I’m coming in as the underdog,” said Todden.

He may feel like an underdog, but his resume says otherwise. Todden is just wrapping up his freshman year at Delta College in Stockton, and he’s the only person on the track and field team who qualified for the Nike Under 20 USA Track and Field Championships, which takes place in Eugene Oregon.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity,” Todden said. “Put all the hard work in and then come out and compete.” 

Todden recently dominated at the NorCal Championships, coming in first in the shot-put, discus and hammer throw. Now, he turns his attention to the national championships.

“Anything can happen,” Todden said. “When you go into these championships, you just hope for the best. You hope the training efforts have paid off through the weeks, the months, the years. To go there and put it all on stage in front of everybody is pretty cool.”

Luckily for Jake, he’s trained by one of the best, Coach Tim Fua.

“When Jake came in this last year, we’d been training all year,” Fua said. “And this was one of the goals to move on past qualifying for the under 20s at the USAs, so this is a big deal. We’re pretty excited. He’s doing well.”

Todden is originally from Jackson, where he attended Argonaut High School, and now, he’s looking forward to representing Stockton on the big stage.

“You know coming from a small town to a city like Stockton, a lot more pressure,” Todden said. “But I think I can do it.” 

So what is Jake’s secret to throwing the farthest?

“Bang Energy,” said Todden. “I took one sip of it and threw a huge PR, 58 feet. One sip and I’m going.” 

Off the field, Jake holds a 3.6 GPA and is currently being recruited by several major programs including Cal and UCLA. He takes off for the championships in a couple of weeks.

There is also a GoFundMe page to support Jake’s efforts to go to the track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -A new era is beginning for the Bay High School volleyball program. Bay A.D. Jamie Bukowski announcing Monday the school has hired Sarah Livingstone as the Tornadoes new Head Coach for both the Indoor and Beach Volleyball programs at Bay.

If you’ve followed volleyball in our area that name should be familiar to you. Sarah was a 4-year varsity player at Arnold and then a 2-year player at Gulf Coast. Sarah number 14 in the attached video here. She finished her degree at FSU Panama City. Bukowski adding Livingstone also brings valuable coaching experience from her time with Emerald Coast Volleyball Club and, most recently, as the Varsity Assistant Coach at Bay the past two seasons. Sarah succeeds coach Sierra Burris who stepped down after a six year run in the job. The Tornadoes 8-17 last season. As the A.D. Bukowski puts it “We’re thrilled to have Coach Livingstone leading our programs and look forward to continued growth and success under her leadership.”

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A young woman who tragically died after becoming ill while participating in the Cork City Marathon on Sunday has been identified. Ellen Cassidy, 24, from Old Mallow Road in Cork city, was running the half-marathon when she became seriously ill and collapsed near the finish line around 1pm yesterday.

She was treated by emergency services at the scene on Patrick Street before being urgently transported to Cork University Hospital where she was sadly pronounced dead a short time later. Cork City Council issued a statement on Sunday afternoon confirming the tragedy.

“Cork City Council is deeply saddened to confirm that a participant in the Cork City Marathon has tragically passed away,” it said. “The person was attended to immediately by the emergency services on the scene. Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased.”

Ms Cassidy was a talented swimmer who participated in numerous competitions over the years at both a national and international level with Munster and Ireland.

At the age of 9 she joined Dolphin Swimming Club in Mayfield, located on the north­side of Cork city, and her focus was on the 200m and 100m Backstroke. Ms Cassidy represented Ireland at the European Junior Championships in 2018, while she also represented Ireland at International Schools level.

The well-liked young lady took on the role of swimming and water polo club captain while studying at University College Cork, graduating last year, and was also an alumna of St. Angela’s College Cork.

Ms Cassidy shone in her sporting endeavours as part of Mardyke Arena UCC’s Emerging Talent Programme in 2018, where she competed at national level swimming.

In the wake of Sunday’s tragic events, Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, councillor Honore Kamegni, expressed his “heartfelt condolences” to Ms Cassidy’s family.

He conveyed his sombre feelings: “It is with deep sadness that I heard the passing of a woman in her 20s at the Cork Marathon today,” which he shared on X.

Adding, “She became unwell at the finish line on Patrick Str. Immediate medical attention was provided to her. My heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones.”

Over 11,000 competitors laced up for the Cork city marathon, joining the ranks in full marathon, half marathon, and 10km races this Sunday.

Historic times are coming to Oklahoma Wesleyan University, as the announcement was made that OKWU would officially be fielding an NAIA men’s volleyball team.

The first coach in program history is Kyle Liechti, a Stillwater native with lots of coaching experience in volleyball.

Liechti began his coaching career at Stillwater High School as the head girl’s volleyball coach. After Stillwater, Liechti became an assistant coach at Dillard University for their women’s volleyball program in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

After Dillard, Liechti ventured to Talladega College in Alabama, and switched to the men’s side. Liechti was a part of the first university in Alabama to start a men’s volleyball program and the only HBCU program in the NAIA. In the first two years of the program, Talladega put together an appearance in the NAIA national tournament and had two NAIA All-Americans.

Oklahoma Wesleyan men’s volleyball will start their first ever season in the NAIA next spring.