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U.S. Men’s National Team Falls to Germany in Five Sets at 2025 VNL

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 19, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s National Team fell to Germany, 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 17-25, 25-15, 15-12) in its next-to-last Volleyball Nations League (VNL) match on Saturday in Chiba, Japan.

The U.S. (6-5), which needs a win in its final match to possibly advance to the VNL finals, wraps up play tomorrow, Sunday, July 20 at 3:20 a.m. PT against host Japan (7-4).

“I loved how we kept battling. We had different people on in different sets and battled right to the end. Credit to Germany. They played really well in those last couple of sets. That is a really good team. They changed things up too and congratulations to them,” U.S. head coach Karch Kiraly said. “We need to reset. We have a chance to finish strong against a very good Japan team here on their home court. I’m sure it will be a sellout. It will be a great atmosphere and those are the most fun to play.”

Germany held slight advantages in kills (56-53) and blocks (9-8), while finishing with an 8-3 lead in aces. The U.S. made four fewer errors.

Opposite Kyle Hobus led all players with 17 kills and 18 points, adding a block and six digs.

“It was a thriller as all five-setters are. Our team made some really good defensive plays, but props to (Germany) for playing super well. I thought we were taking hard swings and making good plays on the net, recycling the ball and giving ourselves second chances,” Hobus said.

Outside hitter Ethan Champlin finished with 14 kills, a match-best nine successful receptions and five digs. Fellow outside Nolan Flexen scored 12 points on nine kills and a match-high three aces. Setter Micah Ma’a shared top honors with 11 digs, while adding a kill and a block.

Middle blocker Jeff Jendryk totaled seven points on five kills and two blocks, and opposite Gabi Garcia added four kills, coming in to swing late in the fourth set.

An ace gave Germany a 15-12 lead in the first set. The U.S. pulled within one point twice, first at 17-16 when a great Shoji dig keyed a rally finished by a Hobus kill.  Another ace gave Germany its biggest lead of the set, 21-17, and it led by at least two points the rest of the set. Champlin led the U.S. with four kills, three of which came in the final eight points of the set.

A float serve ace put Germany ahead 16-13 in the second set but the U.S. ran off four points in a row after a timeout on kills by Hobus and Champlin and back-to-back net touches by Germany. A Flexen ace put the U.S. ahead by two, 19-17.

Leading 22-21, a great up by Champlin highlighted a rally that Hobus finished with a kill. A Flexen kill that just caught the end line closed out the set and evened the match. Hobus scored eight points on seven kills and a block.

A Flexen serving run helped the U.S. race out to a 7-2 lead in the third set. His second ace made it 6-2 and Hobus followed with a kill. A Germany service error raised the U.S. lead to seven points, 12-5, which was followed by 17 consecutive side-outs.

A Germany ace cut the lead to four points, 21-17, but the U.S. scored the final four points with Flexen’s third ace finishing the set. Hobus finished the set with seven kills.

Leading the fourth set 9-6, Germany ran off the next six points to take a commanding nine-point lead. Merrick McHenry entered the match late in the set and recorded two quick blocks.

A Champlin kill and Jendryk block gave the U.S. a 2-0 lead in the deciding set but Germany went on a 6-2 run and did not trail again. Another Champlin kill brought the U.S. within a point, 11-10, but a service error followed by a Germany ace stretched the lead to three points. Garcia and Cooper Robinson, who entered the match in the fifth set, joined Champlin with two kills.

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

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
3 Mason Briggs (L, 6-0, Long Beach, Calif., Long Beach State, Southern California)
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)
9 Gabi Garcia (OPP, 6-7, San Juan, Puerto Rico, BYU)
14 Micah Ma’a (S, 6-3, Kaneohe, Hawaii, UCLA, Aloha)
15 Kyle Hobus (OPP, 6-7, San Pedro, Calif., CSUN, Southern California)
17 Andrew Rowan (S, 6-7, Trabuco Canyon, Calif., UCLA, 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)
23 Nolan Flexen (OH, 6-9, Rio Rancho, N.M., UC Irvine, Southern)
24 Merrick McHenry (MB, 6-7, Bedford, Texas, UCLA, North Texas)
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)
27 Michael Marshman (MB, 6-7, Glenmont, N.Y., St. Francis Univ., Excelsior Empire)

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 3

All times PDT; Matches will be shown live on VBTV and either CBS Sports Network or Big Ten Network

Week 3 Schedule
July 15 USA def. Türkiye, 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 29-27)
July 17 USA def. Argentina, 3-1 (25-23, 20-25, 25-20, 25-23)
July 19 Germany def. USA, 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 17-25, 25-15, 15-12)
July 20 at 3:20 a.m. vs. Japan

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)

Week 2 Results
June 25 USA def. China, 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-11)
June 26 USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 30-28)
June 28 Poland def. USA, 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-22)
June 29 Italy def. USA, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-18)



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WEEK TWO CIAA INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

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Charlotte, NC (December 16, 2025) – Week Two of CIAA Indoor Track and Field continued to showcase high level performances as competition intensified across early season meets. The conference saw distance excellence and strong field event execution as athletes built momentum heading deeper into the indoor season. The CIAA recognizes two student athletes for their standout performances during the week. 

WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK 

Faith Kiplimo, Fayetteville State 

Sophomore distance runner Faith Kiplimo delivered a breakthrough performance at the JDL Early Bird Meet, recording a personal best time of 4:51.07. Her effort earned a second place finish overall while setting a new Fayetteville State school record. The mark also met the NCAA Division II provisional qualifying standard and currently ranks Kiplimo No. 1 in the Atlantic Region and No. 5 nationally in Division II. Her performance continues to establish Fayetteville State as a force in women’s distance events. 

WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK 

Sheree Wright, Fayetteville State 

Senior high jumper Sheree Wright opened her season with a strong and composed showing at the JDL Early Bird Meet. Wright cleared 1.57 meters (5-01.75) to earn a fourth place finish in a competitive field. Her consistency and execution highlighted an encouraging start to her indoor campaign and provided a solid foundation as the season progresses. 

Media Contact 

Anna M. Butzlaff 

Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications 

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) 

abutzlaff@theciaa.com 

About the CIAA 

Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the United States and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management for both 2018 and 2019. 

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. 





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Men’s Volleyball Single Game Tickets ON SALE NOW!

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LA JOLLA, Calif. – Single game tickets for the 2026 UC San Diego men’s volleyball season are on sale now!
 
This season’s home slate features 14 matches – including six Big West contests – inside LionTree Arena.

Single match tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors, youth, and faculty/staff. Tickets are available for purchase by visiting UCSDTritons.com or by calling the Triton Box Office at (858) 534-1430.

Season tickets are also currently available and are $50 for adults and $40 for seniors, youth, and faculty/staff. You can purchase season tickets on the same page at UCSDTritons.com.

For additional information, contact the box office via email at triton-tix@ucsd.edu.

 

UC San Diego is looking to continue to rise among the Big West and the national rankings. The 2025 Tritons went 18-12 overall, the program’s most wins under head coach Brad Rostratter, who heads into his fourth season at the helm. UC San Diego was ranked as high as No. 10 in the country.

 


















2026 HOME SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
Jan. 6 Jessup 7pm
Jan. 9 Daemen 7pm
Jan. 11 Rockhurst 7pm
Jan. 23 UCLA 7pm
Feb. 11 CUI 7pm
Feb. 16 UC Merced 2pm
Feb. 27 Vanguard 7pm
March 3 CSUN (Big West) 7pm
March 9 Princeton 7pm
March 28 UC Irvine (Big West) 7pm
April 3 Long Beach State (Big West) 7pm
April 10 Hawai’i (Big West) 7pm
April 11 Hawai’i (Big West) 7pm
April 18 UC Santa Barbara (Big West) 7pm

* Schedule subject to change

A complete 2026 Triton men’s volleyball schedule is available by clicking here.

——

About UC San Diego Athletics

After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world’s preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.



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UTSA Volleyball lands four on CSC Academic All-District squad – UTSA Athletics

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GREENWOOD, Ind.–The Collegiate Sports Communicators announced its 2025 Volleyball Academic All-District awards on Tuesday, recognizing graduate student Brooke Elliott, junior Miranda Putnicki, sophomore Ally Tribe, and classmate Caroline Tredwell.

Elliott has a perfect 4.0 and is pursuing a master’s in business administration after graduating cum laude in health care management.

Putnicki was chosen thanks to a 3.69 in business marketing and topped the team in blocks, swatting 84 of the opposition attacks.

Tribe, a speech pathology student with a 3.53 GPA, led the Roadrunners with 275 kills and was second in digs with 267.

Rounding out the quartet, Tredwell recorded a stellar 3.97 GPA in marketing, finishing second on the team with 297.5 points thanks to 230 kills and 79 blocks.

This marks back-to-back seasons with four Roadrunners earning the accolade, and UTSA has placed a student-athlete on the All-District team each of the past three seasons. 

 Keep up with UTSA Volleyball on goutsa.com, and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSAVBall, Twitter @UTSAVolleyball, and on Instagram @utsa_vb.

-UTSA-





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Virginia Volleyball | Four Cavaliers Named CSC Academic All-District Honorees

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Four members of the Virginia volleyball team have been named to the 2025 Academic All-District team as selected by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) it was announced by the organization with the release of the annual team on Tuesday (Dec. 16).

The Virginia selections include Zoey Dood, Teagan Hogan, Kate Johnson and Hannah Scott.

Johnson makes her second appearance on the all-district team while Dood, Hogan and Scott are honored for the first time.

Individuals selected to all-district teams advance to the CSC Academic All-America Ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced in January. For more information about CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-America Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.





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Texas A&M Graduates 57 Student-Athletes at Fall Commencement – Texas A&M Athletics

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BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M Athletics is set to graduate 57 student-athletes at fall commencement ceremonies inside Reed Arena Dec. 17-18.
 
“Congratulations to all of our student-athletes who will receive their degrees this week,” Director of Athletics Trev Alberts said. “The hard work and dedication required to compete at the highest levels both athletically and in the classroom cannot be understated. I am impressed daily with how much our student-athletes prioritize their education. It is our goal as a department to see these young men and women achieve everything they desire from their collegiate experience, and at Texas A&M they have the opportunity to do that.”
 

Texas A&M saw student-athletes from 12 different sports receive degrees at fall commencement. Of the 57 graduates, 17 earned master’s degrees and football led the way with 17 individuals walking the stage.
 
“In a time of constant change in college athletics, it can sometimes feel as though education and earning a degree are no longer the priority,” Executive Associate Athletics Director of Academics and Student-Athlete Engagement Dr. Dan Childs said. “At Texas A&M, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the holistic development of our student-athletes. Our coaches, administrators and support staff work tirelessly to ensure success both on the field and in the classroom. We are proud to celebrate our Fall 2025 graduates and look forward to the incredible impact they will make in the next chapter of their lives.”
 
For more information on commencement ceremonies, visit aggieonestop.tamu.edu.
 
Texas A&M Athletics Fall Graduates



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Three Bears Named to CSC Academic All-District® One Volleyball Team

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BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — Three members of the Bridgewater State University volleyball program have been selected to the 2025 Academic All-District® One Division III Women’s Volleyball Team by the College Sports Communicators (CSC).

Earning the honor from Bridgewater State are senior outside hitter Kim Gowell (Durham, N.H.) and junior outside hitters Ava Crane (Dartmouth, Mass.) and Lily Welch (Hanson, Mass.

Gowell and Welch are both two-time recipients of the CSC Academic All-District® award while Crane is a first time honoree.

The three Bears are among 14 members of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) to garner the accolade. They are joined by MCLA’s Elizabeth Brown, Addison Decaro, Audrey Melson and MaKayla Schuerer; Westfield State’s Allie Hill, Erica Majka, Hanna Nihill and Emily Washkalavitch; and Katie Cueva, Alexia Mitchell and Paige Thomason of Worcester State.

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 field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

To be eligible for all-academic honors, a student-athlete must be a starter or a key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at her current institution and be nominated by her sports information director. A student-athlete must have also played in at least 90% of her team’s matches for the 2025 season or started in 66% of the matches.

Gowell is a psychology major with a minor in philosophy as well as studio art minor. She currently checks in with an outstanding 3.827 grade point average. The Durham, New Hampshire native appeared in 72 matches over four seasons in a BSU uniform and notched 498 kills, 18 assists, 41 aces, 188 digs and 59 blocks (nine solo).

A native of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Crane is a health science major with a 3.709 career GPA. The 2025 All-MASCAC honoreee has amassed 313 kills, 53 assists, 108 aces, 568 digs and 38 blocks (nine solo) in 45 matches over her first two seasons with the Bears.

Welch, who calls Hanson, Massachusetts home, has produced an impressive 3.80 GPA while majoring in marketing. A two-time All-MASCAC selection and two-time MASCAC Tournament MVP, Welch has played in 62 matches for the Bears over her first three seasons and checks in with 563 career kills to go along with 39 assists, 60 aces, 573 digs, and 122 blocks (26 solo).

Gowell, Crane and Welch helped the BSU volleyball team post a 17-5 record in 2025 including a perfect 8-0 conference mark. The Bears captured the MASCAC Tournament title with a 3-1 championship match win over Framingham State University and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second straight season and 11th time in program history.

2025 CSC Academic All-District® Division III Volleyball Teams (PDF)



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