Despite falling short in the MPSF semifinals, No. 3 seed UCLA men’s volleyball (20-6, 10-2 MPSF) secured the second at-large bid in this week’s NCAA quarterfinals and will face No. 6 seed Belmont Abbey (17-8, 12-2 Conference Carolinas) on Thursday. Daily Bruin Sports’ men’s volleyball beat predicts how the Bruins will fare as they fight to three-peat as national champions.
Connor Dullinger Assistant sports editor Prediction: NCAA champions
I don’t know what to think about this team.
At the end of the regular season, I said the Bruins were “consistently inconsistent.”
[Related: Beat breakdown: UCLA men’s volleyball battles inconsistency in quest to avenge MPSF title]
AndI was exactly right to say that.
UCLA won 10 in a row before getting swept by then-No. 13 Grand Canyon on April 4. Andfollowing the loss, the Bruins won four consecutive before getting swept again by crosstown rivals USC and falling in five sets to Pepperdine in the MPSF semifinals.
There is no reason why I should believe in UCLA.
But just like I said before: Atthe MPSF tournament, the best team doesn’t always win, and there isn’t always a fairytale ending.
It is evident that UCLA isn’t the best team in the country, with powerhouses Long Beach State and Hawai’iidling in the bracket.
And the Bruins can be the nightmares to other squads’ championship dreams.
Just as the Bruins surprised me when they fell, they have equally surprised me when they’ve risen again.
And despite my inconsistent assessment of this year’s squad, I said at the beginning of this season that the Bruins have all the makings of a championship-caliber team.
This isevidenced by four newly honored 2025 AVCA All-Americans in outside hitter duo redshirt junior Cooper Robinson and junior Zach Rama and junior tandem setter Andrew Rowan and middle blocker Cameron Thorne.
Championship genetics reside in every fiber of the Bruins’ veins, cultivated by back-to-back national titles and a nation-leading 21 trophies.
Two weeks ago, I said this team lacks an identity.
Now, I’m saying this could be the year they three-peat.
Junior setter Andrew Rowan (left) sets the ball to redshirt junior middle blocker Sean McQuiggan (right). (Zimo Li/Photo editor)
Lex Wang Daily Bruin senior staff Prediction: NCAA champions
In my MPSF tournament takeaways, I wrote that I learned to expect the unexpected.
[Related: Beat Breakdown: Men’s volleyball writers discuss takeaways from the Bruins’ MPSF semifinals loss]
It was a bit of an evasive answer, because who hasn’t seen a top-seeded frontrunner get toppled by the underdog?
It’s a timeless trope that fuels every compelling sports narrative.
But when UCLA unexpectedly failed to get an automatic bid to Columbus, Ohio, I realized this could work in the Bruins’ favor come May.
UCLA can run with the big dogs – that much is clear.
Among the top 10 teams, it defeated then-No. 2 UC Irvine twice in the regular season, who in turn swept No. 1 Long Beach State – the team UCLA would likely face in the national championship – a month later. Furthermore, UCLA took both of its matches against then-No. 7 BYU and defeated Cal State Northridge – who also swept Hawai’i, the team UCLA would probably compete against in the semifinals.
Granted, I’ll admit that UCLA has yet to play Hawai’i since 2023. And, yes, UCLA lost to Long Beach twice while only taking one set combined in both matches.
It’s easy to overlook the sheer amount of talent on the Bruins’ roster when their shortcomings take center stage. But let outside hitter duo redshirt junior Cooper Robinson and junior Zach Rama’s top-30 ranked hitting percentages speak for themselves.
And don’t forget about freshman outside hitter Sean Kelly, who only got to shine for half the season yet still earned an All-MPSF honorable mention. Remember that junior setter Andrew Rowan is the only setter coming to Columbus who has two years of NCAA tournament experience under his belt.
SinceUCLA is no longer the top contender and comes into Thursday’s match as the No. 3 seed, viewers seem to largely be anticipating a Long Beach-Hawai’i contest in hopes of a Big West title replay.
I wonder if there’s a chance that the Bruins – arriving as a dark horse – can catch their opponents off guard. And I think with just enough willpower, that answer is yes – and that the Bruins just might be able to hold their own until the end.
Freshman outside hitter Sean Kelly digs the ball at Firestone Fieldhouse. (Selin Filiz/Daily Bruin staff)
Grant Walters Daily Bruin contributor Prediction: NCAA champions
An untarnished resume is a mark of success.
But it can also be a sign of a team’s inevitable collapse.
Such is the case with the 2007 New England Patriots – who lost in Super Bowl XLII despite boasting a 16-0 regular season record – or even the 2015 Kentucky Wildcats, who didn’t have a blemish on their record until the Final Four.
Overcoming adversity is something that builds championship DNA, which is what these teams lacked.
And the anguish of defeat is a luxury that often determines a team’s long-term success.
UCLA has been challenged this season, especially with its recent five-set MPSF semifinals loss to Pepperdine on April 25.
However, this has been a persistent theme throughout the season, since the squad experienced growing pains.
First-year coach John Hawks replaced John Speraw, who captured two national championships during his tenure, and program cornerstones middle blocker Merrick McHenry and outside hitter Ethan Champlin began their professional careers abroad.
Even with these moving pieces, the Bruins still accumulated 20 wins and defeated five top-10 teams in the process.
And the Bruins still have the talent to go the distance. Redshirt junior outside hitter Cooper Robinson and junior setter Andrew Rowan – both of whom were staple pieces on the 2024 national championship campaign and are newly minted2025 AVCA First Team All-Americans – spearhead an efficient Bruin attack that sports the third-best hitting percentage in the nation with a .367 clip.
Yet it is the Bruins’ breakout pin-hitting duo of junior Zach Rama and freshman Sean Kelly that could represent the squad’s X-factors, amassing a combined 132 kills and 15 aces across their last five outings.
UCLA has consistently grown throughconstant adversity.
And I expect them to answer the call again, especially with their backs against the wall.
Former Bruin coach John Speraw smiles from the sideline at Pauley Pavilion. (Edward Ho/Daily Bruin)
Jacob Nguyen Daily Bruin contributor Prediction: NCAA runner-up
The Bruins had all the potential in the world to win the MPSF championship.
Coming one game short may have been a decent expectation.
But losing in the semifinals to Pepperdine might have been a punch in the mouth.
UCLA finished the regular season with its worst record since 2021 – a clear sign that the gap between the reigning two-time national champions and everyone else is diminishing.
It would not faze me if the Bruins proved me wrong. However, I initially predicted UCLA would bounce back after being swept in the regular season finale by crosstown rivals USC. The squad’s faltering performance in the MPSF semifinals makes me question whether there’s enough resilience in the tank to three-peat.
The Bruins haven’t faced the Rainbow Warriors since besting them in the 2023 NCAA finals.
However, precedent is no accurate indicator of another UCLA triumph.
Nonetheless, the Bruins boast a trio of First-Team All-Americans, most notably junior middle blocker Cameron Thorne, who is coming off an 11-kill and six-block performance against the Waves.
UCLA has the chops to beat anyone, especially when you pair Thorne’s production with a trio of outside hitters in redshirt junior Cooper Robinson, junior Zach Rama and freshman Sean Kelly.
But volleyball isn’t like basketball.
Each individual set is a game of its own, and every play can typify a whole outcome.
Although past results from this season do not favor UCLA, there may be enough star power to win it all. Nonetheless, my prediction errs on the safer side.
ORLANDO, Fla. – America’s Athletic Classic has been named as one of 17 stops on the inaugural USATF Tour coming next year, the USA Track & Field announced last week.
Professional events at the 116th Drake Relays will serve as the fifth event on the USATF Tour schedule on Saturday, April 25. Tour administration developed the schedule to maximize athlete performance and provide unique competition opportunities for various disciples in the World Athletics ranking system.
“We are excited and eager for another iteration of America’s Athletic Classic,” Franklin P. Johnson Drake Relays Director Blake Boldon said. “The best collegians in the country will have the chance to compete alongside the world’s premier athletes and continue the storied tradition of the Drake Relays.”
The Tour schedule will get underway on March 28 at The Ten in San Juan Capistrano, California and conclude with a double-header, the Ed Murphey Classic in Memphis, Tennessee and Sunset Tour in Los Angeles, California.
Other historic meets like Mt. SAC (April 18) and the Penn Relays (Apr. 25) also occupy positions on the Tour calendar.
As part of the collaboration, USATF will provide all costs associated with drug testing, technical delegates, sanctioning, and insurance. It will prioritize Tour meets when allocating travel funding for tiered athletes and supplement the costs of any additional disciplines to the program if needed. USATF will also support the meets with marketing and media coverage of everything from ticket sales to performance highlights. It also announced today that it will award $50,000 in prize money to the male and female athlete who earn the highest number of World Athletics performance points in their three highest scoring competitions during the series.
While most events will be broadcast live on USATF.tv, events with existing broadcast agreements will remain on those platforms. Ticket, broadcast, and entry information for all meets can be found here.
SALT LAKE CITY—Utah Volleyball head coach Beth Launiere announced her retirement Monday afternoon, bringing to a close her storied 36-year run as the leader of Utah’s volleyball program.
The program’s all-time winningest head coach (689-439), Launiere retires as the third-longest tenured head coach in the history of Utah Athletics behind only Greg Marsden, who led Utah’s gymnastics program for 40 years (1976-2015), and Don Reddish, head coach of Utah’s men’s swimming program for 37 years. Launiere also is the second-winningest head coach in department history behind Marsden (1,048-208-8).
“After 36 years as the head Volleyball coach at the University of Utah, I have made the difficult decision to announce my retirement,” Launiere said. “While it is not easy to walk away from a lifetime’s work, I am ready and excited to begin the next chapter of my life. Thank you to the hundreds of players whom I have had the privilege to coach, and the many assistant coaches, support staff and administrators who were my daily collaborators to build this program into what it is today. I will miss the daily interactions, but I know our relationships will last a lifetime. It has been an honor to represent one of the greatest universities in the country. I will forever love Utah and will always be a Ute!”
Launiere built Utah Volleyball from the ground up, beginning in 1990, as she turned Utah into a perennial top25 program. Under her watch, the Utes were ranked in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll 183 weeks, including twice achieving a program-record 45 consecutive weeks ranked, from 2000-2002 and again from 2019-2022.
“It is nearly impossible to put into words the impact Beth Launiere has made at the University of Utah,” said Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan. “Her legacy as one of the greatest coaches in the history of Utah Athletics is well-established, and the number of student-athletes, coaches and staff she has influenced in such a positive way stands at the top of her lengthy list of accomplishments. The standard of excellence and winning culture that Beth has created and sustained here for nearly four decades cements her place in Utah Athletics history. She will be greatly missed, but her established standard and culture will carry forward. Please join me in saluting Beth Launiere on her incredible career.”
Launiere led Utah to 20 NCAA Tournament appearances, including back-to-back in her final two seasons.
The 2025 Utes showed grit and determination going 4-1 in their last five matches of the regular season to punch their ticket to dance, including two top25 wins over No. 23 BYU and No. 13 Kansas. In 2024, Utah earned a No. 4 seed and hosted the first and second rounds at the Jon M. Huntsman Center to cap a season in which it ranked No. 23 in the final AVCA poll.
The Utes made four Sweet 16 appearances under Launiere, in 2001, 2008, 2017 and 2019.
With Launiere leading the way, Utah earned six conference championships (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008, all in the Mountain West), and notched 20 of the 25 20-win seasons in program history—including a record 28 wins in 2006.
Under Launiere’s watch, 16 athletes earned 24 All-America honors including Kim Turner who was the first Utah Volleyball player to receive the honor in 2003 and is the only Utah Volleyball player with a jersey retired in the Huntsman Center rafters. Turner is joined by Dani Drews who was recognized all four years she suited up for the Utes (2018-21) and is the most decorated Utah Volleyball player in program history, and most recently Kamryn Gibadlo who earned the recognition during 2024’s NCAA Tournament run.
Launiere’s coaching tree is equally impressive, having identified some of the best and brightest up-and-coming talent in the collegiate volleyball world. Most notably, Arizona State’s JJ Van Niel and BYU’s Heather Olmstead served as assistant coaches on Launiere’s staffs over the years.
Van Niel has recently shot up the coaching ranks, being named the Big 12 Coach of the Year two seasons in a row (2024 and 2025) and the AVCA’s Pacific Region Coach of the Year (2024) while leading the Sun Devils to a record of 84-13 since taking over the program in 2022. Van Niel spent three seasons in Salt Lake City with Launiere from 2015-17, two as an assistant head coach and one as associate head coach.
Olmstead has made her own noise with the Cougars, leading BYU to a 279-55 record in 10 seasons at the helm, earning the 2018 AVCA National Coach of the Year, and holding the highest active winning percentage of any NCAA Division I women’s volleyball coach (min. three seasons) at .848.
Launiere leaves the Utes as a four-time AVCA West Region Coach of the Year (2001, 2006, 2008, 2019), a three-time Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year (2004, 2006, 2008), a Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2019) and a five-time Don Reddish Award winner (1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005).
FOLLOW THE UTES
For an inside look at the Utah Volleyball program, including tournament, roster and news updates, fans can follow the Utes on social media (Twitter: @UtahVolleyball | Instagram: @utahvolleyball).
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH TODAY – UTAH 360
Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
Blinn Cross Country Head Coach Jesse Parker (Joe Alberico)
The Blinn College Athletics Department is excited to invite former Buccaneer track and field and cross country athletes and coaches to the first Blinn College TFXC Alumni Reunion.
Blinn men’s and women’s cross country head coach Jesse Parker will host former Bucs coaches and runners at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, inside the Multi-Purpose Room at the Kruse Center on the Blinn-Brenham Campus. Refreshments and entertainment will be provided.
The event will coincide with the Blinn women’s and men’s basketball doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. at the Kruse Center.
To RSVP, please visit www.blinn.edu/athletics-forms/xctf-rsvp.html. For more information, please contact Jesse Parker at jesse.parker@blinn.edu.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Blinn’s track and field programs were considered national powerhouses across all levels of collegiate athletics. The Buccaneers captured a combined 18 indoor and outdoor NJCAA men’s track and field national championships, winning nine consecutive titles in both indoor and outdoor competition between 1987 and 1995. Blinn also won back-to-back NJCAA men’s cross country national championships in 1993-94. Numerous Buccaneers also made appearances in the Olympic Games.
Blinn relaunched cross country in the fall of 2024, fielding both men’s and women’s programs. Since the relaunch, the Buccaneer men and women have made two appearances in the NJCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Championships and two appearances in the NJCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Half Marathon Championships.
This Week’s Events Saturday, December 13
Women’s Basketball hosts Niagara – 2:00 p.m. {BUY TICKETS – all tickets $8.88} 80’s Weekend :: $1 Hot Dogs // KidZone // Postgame Layups on the Court (age 12 & younger) Sunday, December 14
Men’s Basketball hosts Oakland City – 2:00 p.m. {BUY TICKETS} 80’s Weekend :: $1 Hot Dogs // KidZone // Postgame Layups on the Court (age 12 & younger)
Viking of the Week Izabella Zingaro, Women’s Basketball
Averaged 17.5 points per game – shooting 83-percent from the floor on the week – while also averaging 7.0 rebounds per contest.
Women’s Basketball
-The Vikings return home for one game this week, hosting Niagara on Saturday.
-Saturday’s game will be played in Woodling Gymnasium, where the Vikings are 3-0 this season.
-Last time out, Cleveland State started Horizon League play, going 1-1 including a 72-55 victory at Oakland.
Men’s Basketball
-The Vikings will have a single game this week, hosting Oakland City on Sunday.
-Sunday’s game will mark the second inside Woodling Gymnasium for the Vikings, a place where they picked up a 109-56 victory over Waynesburg earlier this year.
-Last time out, Cleveland State started Horizon League play, with Jaidon Lipscomb averaging 19.0 points and the duo of Priest Ryan and Josiah Harris averaging 9.0 rebounds through the first two #HLMBB games.
Track & Field
-Cleveland State opened the 2025-26 indoor season with three school records.
-The Vikings are now off until the Falcon Early Bird Open on Friday, Jan. 9.
-Natalie Keller set the 5000 mark with a time of 17:54.57 at the YSU Open.
-Olivia Todd and Madison Morris followed it up with school records in the 300 at the Tom Wright Open.
Two Hope College juniors have claimed MIAA Athlete of the Week distinction: Parker Hovey in men’s basketball and Dylan Terpstra in men’s track and field.
Hovey (Hart, Michigan / Hart) is the MIAA Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week for the first time.
Terpstra (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) is the MIAA Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week for the first time.
Hovey averaged 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.0 blocks over two games: a 71-64 victory at Ohio Northern University on Friday and a 60-59 win at Ohio Wesleyan University on Saturday.
The 6-foot-5 forward matched his career high with 21 points on 80% field-goal shooting at Ohio Wesleyan (8-of-10). He sank two go-ahead free throws with 10 seconds remaining and made all five of his attempts at the foul line.
Terpstra clocked the fastest 400-meter time in NCAA Division III on Friday with a school-record run of 48.16 seconds at Grand Valley State University’s Holiday Open.
The communication major eclipsed Brandon Wolliston’s 2017 Flying Dutchmen record in the event on GVSU’s 300-meter track and topped a field of 18 runners during the season-opening meet.
Terpstra also led off the second-place 4×400 relay that finished in 3:20.58.
TEMPE – No. 2 seed Sun Devil Volleyball is ready for its fourth NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal appearance in program history, facing No. 3 seed Creighton at the Lexington Regional on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 11 a.m. MST/1 p.m. EST on ESPN2.
This is the first of the two regional semifinal matches in Lexington, Ky. on Thursday. No. 1 seed Kentucky plays Cal Poly 30 minutes following Arizona State’s match. The winner of both matches will face each other in the regional final on Saturday, Dec. 13. The time will be determined following all matches on Thursday. It will be either 5 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. EST and will be on ESPN. The winner of this region will advance to the national semifinals in Kansas City on Dec. 18.
For Arizona State, this is the fourth trip to the round of 16 in program history, second in the last three years. The other years were 2023, 1995 and 1994. Additionally, this is the second time in school history ASU has won two matches in the NCAA Tournament, both under head coach JJ Van Niel. The program record improves to 14-21, 5-2 under Van Niel.
How to follow The Sun Devils will take on the Bluejays in the first regional semifinal match across the nation on Thursday, starting at 11 a.m. MST. It will be live on ESPN2, with live stats available as well. Updates will be provided on social media on X (@SunDevilVB) and Instagram (@sundevilvolleyball). More information can be found on the NCAA Championship website.
Sun Devil outlook No. 8 Arizona State (28-3, 17-1 Big 12)
Head coach JJ Van Niel has changed the Sun Devil Volleyball program in his three seasons. He has guided the team to back-to-back Big 12 Championships and three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, going 86-13 overall, 5-2 in the postseason. He has been the conference coach of the year in each of his first three seasons as a head coach, the third NCAA volleyball coach to achieve this across the country. The other two are Mary Wise (Florida, 1991-93) and Geoff Carlston (Ohio University, 2003-06).
The regional semifinal match will be Van Niel’s 100th match as a head coach. He has a 86-13 record (.868), all while in Tempe these last three seasons. Of the eight head coaches in the program before him, he has more wins than four of them. He has the best winning percentage of any ASU volleyball head coach through 100 matches, regardless of a win or loss in the regional semifinal.
Arizona State is guaranteed at least the second-best winning percentage in program history, currently at .903, which would be second behind 2024’s .909 (30-3). The top three winning percentages in team history are under Van Niel.
Junior opposite Noemie Glover, the Big 12 Player of the Year, has been a force for the Sun Devils this year, particularly in the last three matches. She has hit over .500 in all three wins. She’s hit that clip or better five times. This year, she’s had double-digit kills in all but one match she’s played in, four times surpassing 20 kills.
Not far behind Glover in kill total is senior Bailey Miller, also having a strong offensive season. She’s having her most productive season yet, currently at 383 kills, 50 more than any other year. She’s had double-digit kills in 15 of the last 16 matches and leads the team in double-doubles with 10.
The block has been a big factor in Arizona State’s success this year. There have been 21 matches this season that the team has had double-digit blocks. Three on the roster have over 100 blocks: Colby Neal (168), Ella Lomigora (132) and Glover (108). Neal ranks nationally in blocks, currently No. 7 in blocks per set (1.50) and No. 8 in total blocks.
Opponent outlook No. 11 Creighton (27-5, 16-0 BIG EAST)
The Bluejays have had a strong season, going undefeated in conference play and winning their sixth-consecutive BIG EAST title. This is their third-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinals, fifth overall.
Hosting the first two rounds, Creighton made the third round after a tough 3-2 win in the first round against Northern Colorado followed by a 3-1 win over UNI in the second round.
This will be the second meeting between ASU and Creighton, first since 2002, which the Sun Devils won.
No. 2 Kentucky (27-2, 15-0 SEC)
The Wildcats have won the last 24-straight matches heading into this weekend. They won the SEC Tournament and have won nine SEC titles in a row. Their two losses on the year were to Pitt and Nebraska.
As a No. 1 seed (No. 2 overall), Kentucky hosted the first two rounds and is hosting this regional. Kentucky beat Wofford in straight sets in the first round, then beat No. 8 seed UCLA in four sets to advance to the regional semifinals.
ASU trails in the all-time series against Kentucky, 1-2. However, all meetings were decades ago, the last meeting being in 1986, which ASU won.
Cal Poly (27-7, 14-4 Big West)
The Mustangs won the Big West Championship to earn the autobid for the NCAA Tournament, their first postseason appearance since 2018.
This is Cal Poly’s seventh appearance in the regional semifinal in team history, the first since 2007. The Mustangs are the only team in this year’s tournament to take down two seeded teams.
Arizona State leads 4-2 in the all-time series against Cal Poly, last winning in 2021 in straight sets.
