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U.S. Men’s National Team Charges Back to Defeat China to Start 2025 VNL Week Two

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 25, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s National Team rallied from a 2-1 set deficit to defeat China, 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-11) in the opening match of the second week of Volleyball Nations League (VNL) on Wednesday at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The U.S. win was the ninth in its last 10 meetings with China.

The U.S. (3-2) will return to the court tomorrow, Thursday, June 26m at 5:30 p.m. PT to face North American rival Canada (2-3).

GET TICKETS TO WATCH THE U.S. MEN COMPETE IN HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS

The U.S. finished with 13 more kills than China (65-52), and though the U.S. men were outblocked 16-12 for the match, most of the blocks came in the first three sets as China had only one block in each of the final two sets. Both teams served three aces with China making three fewer errors.

Eleven U.S. players scored and all 14 played in the match. Outside hitter Jordan Ewert led all players with 16 kills and 18 points, adding a pair of blocks, and paced the team with six successful receptions.

“It was an important match for a lot of us, the first time getting to play in front of our friends and family representing the national team. For the first match having such a big crowd and supportive fans and then to get the ‘W’ is huge. It gives us a lot of confidence going into the rest of the week,” Ewert commented. “We were playing against a good team. They made adjustments and we had to make adjustments. We made those adjustments in the fourth set and it worked out. The fifth set is always a battle and we pulled it out. They were a great team and they did some impressive things defensively, so we had to adjust and did well.”

Opposite Kyle Ensing scored 12 points on 10 kills, a block and an ace. Outside hitter Jacob Pasteur recorded 11 kills and outside Ethan Champlin came in to start the fourth set and finished with 10 kills. In addition to running the offense, Micah Ma’a scored five points on three kills, a block and an ace. In just under two sets, veteran libero Erik Shoji registered five successful receptions and led the team with four digs.

“It was a 14-man effort. Everybody was on the floor at some point and eventually we found a combination that put together some really good volleyball. It’s not a bad thing to play a little extra as we are learning, even if it gives me a few more grey hairs,” head coach Karch Kiraly said. “I’m really proud of the way the guys responded after losing that third set. They came out really strong in the fourth and really strong in the fifth. It’s nice to come out to a lead. Whatever combination we put out, they were working and there was a lot of effort. It didn’t always work but credit to all the guys for enduring, for rolling with all the changes we threw at them.”

A perfect Pasteur pass led to a second consecutive kill by Ensign to give the U.S. a 16-10 lead in the first set. The U.S. was passing at a 71 percent efficiency at that point. The lead was still six points, 18-12, when China went on a 6-1 run to close the lead to one point.

A Pasteur kill made it 20-18 and with a 21-19 lead, Pasteur’s strong serve led to a well-placed tip by Ewert. Ensign followed with a block on an attempted tip for a 23-19 lead. China fought off two set points after falling behind 24-20 but a kill on a back row attack by Pasteur ended the set. Ensign led the team with seven points on six kills and his late block.

Strong serving sent China out to a 6-3 lead in the second set. The U.S. called a quick timeout and rebounded to even the set 7-7, but China scored the next three points and led by at least two points the remainder of the set. Pasteur led the U.S. with five kills in the set.

Trailing 21-17 in the second set, the U.S. suffered a big blow when three-time Olympian Shoji landed awkwardly after going up for a jump set and had to be assisted off the court.

The teams split the first 12 points of the third set before China ran off six consecutive points and forced the U.S. to use both of its timeouts. A block by Cooper Robinson after a strong serve by Matthew Knigge brought the U.S. within two points, 18-16. China scored five of the next six points to put the set out of reach. Through three sets, China was serving at 54 percent.

Champlin and Hobus entered the match in the fourth set and keyed a 7-1 U.S. start that forced China to use both its timeouts early in the set. The lead quickly grew to eight points 12-4 on a Champlin kill. China pulled no closer than five points the rest of the set.

Middle blocker Shayne Holdaway made his U.S. National Team debut in the set and served an ace for a 21-13 lead. Champlin ended the set with his seventh kill, hitting .545. Holdaway added two blocks for three points and Ewert recorded three kills.

Ewert scored the first two points of the deciding set, one on a tip and another on a block, and a Gabi Garcia kill put the U.S. ahead 3-0. Champlin made a perfect pass and then scored on a back row attack and Garcia pounded a ball as the U.S. scored five of the first seven points in the set.

China pulled within two points three times but could get no closer. With a 9-7 lead, the U.S. scored three consecutive points. After a net violation on China, Jeff Jendryk came up with a block and then Robinson put a ball away after a great dig by Ma’a and a set from Dagostino.

A Holdaway kill and Champlin’s 10th point in just a set and a half gave the U.S. five match points at 14-9. China scored two points before Garcia sealed the comeback win with a kill. Jendryk, Garcia and Champlin each scored three points in the set which saw six different U.S. players score.

U.S. Men’s Week Two Roster for 2025 VNL

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
4 Jeff Jendryk (MB, 6-10, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola Univ. Chicago, Great Lakes)
5 Kyle Ensing (Opp, 6-7, Valencia, Calif., Long Beach State Univ., Southern California)
6 Quinn Isaacson (S, 6-2, Plainfield, Ill., Ball State, Great Lakes)
7 Jacob Pasteur (OH, 6-4, Westminster, Md., Ohio State Univ., Chesapeake)
9 Gabi Garcia (OPP, 6-7, San Juan, Puerto Rico, BYU)
10 Kyle Dagostino (L, 5-9, Tampa, Florida, Stanford Univ., Florida)
12 Shane Holdaway (MB, 6-6, Huntington Beach, Calif., Long Beach State, Southern California)
14 Micah Ma’a (S, 6-3, Kaneohe, Hawaii, UCLA, Aloha)
15 Kyle Hobus (OPP, 6-7, San Pedro, Calif., CSUN, Southern California)
18 Cooper Robinson (OH, 6-7, Pacific Palisades, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
22C Erik Shoji (L, 6-0, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford Univ., Aloha)
25 Ethan Champlin (OH, 6-3, Oceanside, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
26 Matthew Knigge (MB, 6-7, New Egypt, N.J., Vassar, Garden Empire)
29 Jordan Ewert (OH, 6-5, Antioch, Calif., Stanford, Northern California)

Head Coach:  Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coach: Luka Slabe
Assistant Coach: Javier Weber
Performance Analyst: Nate Ngo
Physiotherapist: Aaron Brock
Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach: Tim Pelot
Senior Sports Dietitian: Shawn Hueglin
Mental Performance Coach: Andrea Becker
Team Manager: David Dantes
Consultant Coach: Chris McGown
Consultant Coach: Marv Dunphy
Team Doctors:  Eugene Yim, Mark Hutchinson, Michael Shepard, Warren Young

2025 Volleyball Nations League Schedule for Week 2
NOW Arena
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
All times PDT; Matches will be shown live on VBTV and either CBS Sports Network or Big Ten Network

June 25 USA def. China, 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-11)
June 26 at 5:30 p.m. vs. Canada
June 28 at 5:30 p.m. vs. Poland
June 29 at 5:30 p.m. vs. Italy

Week 1 Results
June 11: Ukraine def. USA, 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-23)
June 12 USA def. Iran, 3-2 (19-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-23, 17-15)
June 14 Slovenia def. USA, 3-1 (25-22, 27-25, 20-25, 25-23)
June 15 USA def. Cuba, 3-1 (25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23)



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Indy volleyball coach in viral video charged after allegedly sexting a minor

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INDIANAPOLIS — A viral video has led to criminal charges against an Indianapolis volleyball coach accused of sending sexually explicit images to someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced that Levi Garrett, 34, of Danville, faces attempted dissemination of matter harmful to minors, a Level 6 felony, following an independent investigation by the prosecutor’s office.

According to the probable cause affidavit, the charges stem from allegations that on March 2, 2025, Garrett engaged in explicit conversations and sent sexually graphic photos on the dating app Grindr to someone he believed was a minor.

A member of a private online investigative organization used a fake Grindr profile titled “tryna have fun” with a photo portraying themselves as a 14-year-old male named “Josh.” The decoy allegedly engaged with Garrett’s profile, “Hmu & find out.”

During the conversation, court documents show the minor texted Garrett, “U mind if I’m young,” and Garrett replied, “No I don’t mind.” When the decoy told Garrett, “I’m 14 but I down for whatever,” Garrett allegedly “liked” the message and proceeded to send three sexually explicit images, including photos of male genitalia and sexual activity.

The messages also allegedly included language about meeting for sex, with Garrett asking whether the encounter would be “safe or bareback.”

Court records show Garrett initially agreed to meet at a location in Greencastle but later blocked the account.

The case gained widespread attention in August when YouTuber JiDion, who is affiliated with the private investigative group, posted a 26-minute video titled “Volleyball Coach Gets EXPOSED” that has been viewed over 1.2 million times.

In the video, JiDion confronts Garrett at The Academy Volleyball Club located on East 30th Street, showing him screenshots of the alleged text exchanges and explicit photos.

Notably, the video showed several Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers at the scene during the confrontation. When JiDion urged them to arrest the coach, one officer stated, “I have run into this before. Our prosecutor will not touch this,” a response that was controversial to many of JiDion’s followers.

IMPD later responded to the backlash and clarified that the video lacked important context, noting that a police report was filed at the scene, Garrett was trespassed from the property, and detectives were informed about the allegations.

Following the viral incident, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office opened a formal investigation into the allegations.

“There are no shortcuts in the investigative process,” Mears said in a statement Monday. “When it comes to crimes against children, justice demands that an independent investigation occur and evidence be properly obtained, so that a case is built that will hold offenders accountable in a court of law.”

According to the affidavit, body camera footage from the incident shows Garrett identifying himself by name and providing his date of birth and phone number to officers, information that matched the Grindr profile under investigation.

Garrett is scheduled to appear for a change of plea hearing on January 27, 2026, at 9 a.m. in Marion County Superior Court.





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Volleyball Lands Four on CSC Academic All-District Team

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GREENWOOD, Ind. – College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced its annual All-District listing on Tuesday, including four Central Michigan Volleyball members.
 
To qualify, a student-athlete must hold a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.50, across both undergraduate and graduate courses, if applicable. Athletically, volleyball student-athletes must have either competed in 90% of their team’s contests for the season or started at least 66% of contests.
 
The list of honorees is below:
 
Senior Alina Anderson (Rockford, Mich. / Rockford / Ferris State)
Senior Abby Olin (Coopersville, Mich. / Coopersville / Michigan State)
Sophomore Izzy Swiercz (Hudsonville, Mich. / Hudsonville)
Sophomore Grace Thomas (Dublin, Ohio / Dublin Coffman)
 
Both Anderson and Olin earned the honor for the 2024 season.
 
For the latest news and updates on CMU Volleyball, follow the team in X (@cmuvolleyball) and on Instagram (@cmuvolleyball).
 



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Affidavit reveals AI-generated plan in alleged grooming case against Mesquite pastor’s son and volleyball coach

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An arrest affidavit obtained by CBS News Texas reveals more details about what led up to the arrest of a teacher and volleyball coach accused of grooming a teenage girl to have a sexual relationship with her, including the discovery of an AI-generated document outlining manipulation tactics.

Matthan Lough, 32, was arrested on Dec. 10 on a charge of child grooming, a third-degree felony. His father, Kevin Lough, was the senior pastor of the Christian Center of Mesquite, where some of the alleged grooming took place.

The victim and her mother filed a report with Mesquite police about Lough on Oct. 2. According to police, the victim’s mother found out about the relationship earlier that week.

Mesquite police: Grooming began more than two years ago

The affidavit outlines how the case began with an interaction at a party in the spring of 2023.

According to the affidavit, the victim met Lough at her cousin’s graduation party when he approached her while she was playing volleyball. The victim recognized Lough from church, as his wife was the worship leader for their youth group. Lough asked her if she would be interested in joining a club volleyball team he wanted to start at the church. 

It was not until the fall of 2024 that Lough held tryouts for the team, and the victim was given a spot, the affidavit said. The victim reported a series of unusual interactions with Lough over the following months in which he shared overly personal details about his life and marriage, then began to make flirty and inappropriate jokes, according to the report.

Lough’s inappropriate behavior escalated further over the summer of 2025, when he started sending the victim explicit messages and discussed committing murders, the affidavit said. Lough also repeatedly made sure the victim knew he was carrying a gun, making her fear for her safety.

In September, the affidavit describes the relationship turning physical. Lough allegedly kissed the victim at a church event. Later that month, he sexually assaulted her twice, the victim told police.

The relationship ended after the victim’s mother discovered the inappropriate messages on the victim’s devices. Her mother then contacted Lough’s wife.

Police said that after the victim filed the report, detectives obtained a search warrant and found an AI-generated document on Lough’s iPad titled “Hypothetical Counter-Influence Plan.” The document outlined phases such as “rebuild her autonomy” and “shift the power dynamic,” and provided guidance on how to achieve success.

Fallout from child grooming case

After the relationship was uncovered, police said Lough’s wife left Texas. Court records show she filed for divorce in October.

Lough’s father also resigned as senior pastor of the Christian Center of Mesquite. In a post on the church’s website, its board said the church would work to seek justice for the victim. It also said the church has “initiated an immediate internal review of all child protection policies, volunteer screening processes, and facility access logs to ensure the absolute safety of every child and youth within our care.”



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2025 NCAA women’s volleyball championship: How to watch, schedule

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Texas A&M shook up the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament when the No. 3 Aggies upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten Nebraska in their regional final. Now, the Aggies are headed to their first Final Four in program history.

No. 3 Wisconsin, which ousted Texas, another No. 1 seed, on its home court, and No. 1 seeds Kentucky and Pittsburgh join Texas A&M in the national semifinals, which take place Thursday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Aggies will take on Pitt in one semifinal, while Wisconsin and Kentucky will face off in the other. Neither Texas A&M nor the Panthers have won a national championship, though Pitt will play in its fifth straight Final Four. Both Wisconsin (2021) and Kentucky (2020) have won one national title.

Here are key facts about the 2025 NCAA Division I women’s volleyball tournament:

What is the remaining schedule?

*All times Eastern

Thursday, Dec. 18

Semifinal: No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 1 Pittsburgh – 6:30 p.m. on ESPN

“NCAA Women’s Volleyball Studio Show” – 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Semifinal: No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 1 Kentucky – 9 p.m. on ESPN

Sunday, Dec. 21

“NCAA Women’s Volleyball Preview Show” – 3 p.m. on ABC

Championship – 3:30 p.m. on ABC

How can fans watch?

Fans can catch all of the action in the ESPN App and in the NCAA women’s volleyball streaming hub.

How can fans access more college sports coverage from ESPN?

Check out the ESPN college sports hub page for the latest news, scores, rankings and more.



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Three Clarkson Volleyball Players Named to CSC Academic All-District List

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Seniors Ashley Currier and Marin Hangliter as well as sophomore Olivia Baxter of the Clarkson University Volleyball team have been named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Volleyball team. 

The 2025 Academic All-District® Volleyball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. To be eligible, student-athletes need to be of sophomore standing both athletically and academically, hold a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or better, and have participated in 90% of sets or have started at least two-thirds of their respective team’s matches. 

Baxter, a sophomore majoring in Chemical Engineering, was a Liberty League Second-Team All-Star thanks to her excellence in the back row. Baxter ranked 22nd nationally in digs per set (5.40 dps) and was 57th nationally in aces per set (0.63 aps).

Currier, a senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering, continued to be relied upon in a variety of roles for the Knights, averaging 7.09 assists, 0.95 kills, 2.50 digs, and 0.61 blocks per set. In a match against University of Rochester she nearly posted an incredibly rare feat, coming up just one kill short of a quadruple double (31 assists, 16 digs, 10 blocks, and 9 kills). 

Hangliter, a senior majoring in Environmental Engineering, finished the season averaging 2.62 kills per set, which ranked second on the team. She also was second in the Liberty League in aces per set with 0.64, which placed her 49th nationally in that category.  



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Three Tennessee Volleyball Players Earn CSC Academic All-District Honors

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Three Tennessee volleyball student-athletes College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team, as announced on Tuesday. Caroline Kerr makes the list for the second consecutive year, while Hayden Kubik and Gülce Güçtekin make the list for the first time in their careers.

This marks the first time in program history that three Lady Vols have been named to the Academic All-District Team. In Eve Rackham Watt‘s eight years as head coach, eight total players have earned Academic All-District honors. Tennessee has had two or more players selected to the All-District team now in three seasons, all coming under Rackham Watt.

CSC’s Academic All-America program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Both Kerr and Kubik earned spots on the CSC Academic All-America ballot, which will be announced on January 13, 2026.

Compiling a 3.87 GPA in the Sport Management program, Kerr garnered First Team All-SEC honors after leading the team with 945 assists. Kerr was a key force for a Tennessee attack that finished the season top 15 in both hitting percentage and kills per set. Kerr had 20 matches with 30 or more assists, including tying her career high with 57 against Florida on Oct. 15. 

One of the top setters in Tennessee history, Kerr currently ranks sixth all-time in both assists (3,259) and assists per set (10.65). The two-time All-American setter has led the team in assists in each of the last three seasons, eclipsing the 1,000-assist mark in both 2023 & 2024.

Earning her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies, Kubik had her best offensive season of her career in her final collegiate season. Kubik led the team in kills (390), kills per set (4.19), points (431.0), and points per set (4.63) this season. She had double-digit kills in 24 matches, reaching 20 or more on four occasions.

Kubik also ranked top ten in the conference in both kills per set and points per set in 2025. A stellar defender in the back row, Kubik finished third on the team with 209 digs. The First Team All-SEC selection had seven double-doubles on the campaign, all of which came against conference opponents.

Boasting a 4.00 GPA in Communication Studies, Güçtekin became an important piece to Tennessee’s defensive success. The senior libero  led the team in 2025 with 408 digs. Güçtekin finished the season ranking top five in the SEC in both digs and digs per set. She recorded double figure digs in 23 matches, including having 20 or more in six. She set a career-high of 30 digs at Kentucky on Nov. 9, becoming the first Tennessee player to reach 30 or more digs since Yelianoz Torres had 30 against Arkansas on Oct. 20, 2023.

Güçtekin eclipsed 1,000 digs in her career this season, and finishes her collegiate career with 1,293 digs. An all-around player in college, Güçtekin also finished with 423 assists and 117 aces.



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